Homozygous variant in TKFC abolishing triokinase activities is associated with isolated immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Triokinase and FMN cyclase (TKFC) is a bifunctional enzyme involved in fructose metabolism. Triokinase catalyses the phosphorylation of fructose-derived glyceraldehyde (GA) and exogenous dihydroxyacetone (DHA), while FMN cyclase generates cyclic FMN. TKFC regulates the antiviral immune response by interacting with IFIH1 (MDA5). Previously reported pathogenic variants in TKFC are associated with either a multisystemic disease or isolated hypotrichosis with loose anagen hairs. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing identified a homozygous novel variant in TKFC (c.1624G>A; p.Gly542Arg) in an individual with a complex primary immunodeficiency disorder. The variant was characterised using enzymatic assays and yeast studies of mutant recombinant proteins. RESULTS: The individual presented with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease and multiple bacterial and viral infections. Clinical investigations revealed hypogammaglobulinaemia, near absent natural killer cells and decreased memory B cells. Enzymatic assays showed that this variant displayed defective DHA and GA kinase activity while maintaining FMN cyclase activity. An allogenic bone marrow transplantation corrected the patient's immunodeficiency. CONCLUSION: Our report suggests that TKFC may have a role in the immunological system. The pathological features associated with this variant are possibly linked with DHA/GA kinase inactivation through a yet an unknown mechanism. This report thus adds a possible new pathway of immunometabolism to explore further.

Semi-quantitative group testing for efficient and accurate qPCR screening of pathogens with a wide range of loads.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic infections pose a significant threat to global health, affecting millions of people every year and presenting substantial challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Efficient and timely testing plays a critical role in disease control and transmission prevention. Group testing is a well-established method for reducing the number of tests needed to screen large populations when the disease prevalence is low. However, it does not fully utilize the quantitative information provided by qPCR methods, nor is it able to accommodate a wide range of pathogen loads. RESULTS: To address these issues, we introduce a novel adaptive semi-quantitative group testing (SQGT) scheme to efficiently screen populations via two-stage qPCR testing. The SQGT method quantizes cycle threshold (Ct) values into multiple bins, leveraging the information from the first stage of screening to improve the detection sensitivity. Dynamic Ct threshold adjustments mitigate dilution effects and enhance test accuracy. Comparisons with traditional binary outcome GT methods show that SQGT reduces the number of tests by 24% on the only complete real-world qPCR group testing dataset from Israel, while maintaining a negligible false negative rate. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our adaptive SQGT approach, utilizing qPCR data and dynamic threshold adjustments, offers a promising solution for efficient population screening. With a reduction in the number of tests and minimal false negatives, SQGT holds potential to enhance disease control and testing strategies on a global scale.

3-Tetrazolyl-ß-carboline derivatives as potential neuroprotective agents.

3-Tetrazolyl-ß-carbolines were prepared by the Pictet-Spengler approach using a tryptophan analogue as building block, in which the carboxylic acid was replaced by the bioisosteric tetrazole group. Knowing that ß-carbolines are often associated with psychopharmacological effects, the study of the 3-tetrazolyl-ß-carbolines as potential neuroprotective agents against Parkinson's disease was investigated. The evaluation of neuroprotective effects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridin-1-ium (MPP+)-induced cytotoxicity allowed to identify compounds with relevant neuroprotective activity. One derivative, 3-(1-benzyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-ß-carboline, stood out for its low cytotoxicity and excellent performance, preventing cell death induced by this neurotoxin. The most promising compounds were also evaluated for their neuroprotective properties against iron (III)-induced cytotoxicity. However, only one 3-tetrazolyl-ß-carboline derivative slightly reduced iron-induced cytotoxicity. Overall, the neuroprotective properties of 3-tetrazolyl-ß-carbolines have been demonstrated and this finding may contribute to the development of new therapies for Parkinson's disease.

Balance Control Impairments in Usher Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To explore postural disability in Usher Syndrome (USH) patients using temporal posturographic analysis to better elucidate sensory compensation strategies of deafblind patients for posture control and correlate the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale with posturographic variables. DESIGN: Thirty-four genetically confirmed USH patients (11 USH1, 21 USH2, 2 USH 4) from the Otolaryngology Outpatient Clinic and 35 controls were prospectively studied using both classical and wavelet temporal analysis of center of pressure (CoP) under different visual conditions on static and dynamic platforms. The functional impact of balance was assessed with the ABC scale. Classical data in the spatial domain, Sensorial Organization Test, and frequency analysis of the CoP were analyzed. RESULTS: On unstable surfaces, USH1 had greater CoP surface area with eyes open (38.51 ± 68.67) and closed (28.14 ± 31.64) versus controls (3.31 ± 4.60), p < 0.001 and (7.37 ± 7.91), p < 0.001, respectively. On an unstable platform, USH consistently showed increased postural sway, with elevated angular velocity versus controls with eyes open (USH1 [44.94 ± 62.54]; USH2 [55.64 ± 38.61]; controls [13.4 ± 8.57]) (p = 0.003; p < 0.001) and closed (USH1 [60.36 ± 49.85], USH2 [57.62 ± 42.36]; controls [27.31 ± 19.79]) (p = 0.002; p = 0.042). USH visual impairment appears to be the primary factor influencing postural deficits, with a statistically significant difference observed in the visual Sensorial Organization Test ratio for USH1 (80.73 ± 40.07, p = 0.04) and a highly significant difference for USH2 (75.48 ± 31.67, p < 0.001) versus controls (100). In contrast, vestibular (p = 0.08) and somatosensory (p = 0.537) factors did not reach statistical significance. USH exhibited lower visual dependence than controls (30.31 ± 30.08) (USH1 [6 ± 11.46], p = 0.004; USH2 [8 ± 14.15], p = 0.005). The postural instability index, that corresponds to the ratio of spectral power index and canceling time, differentiated USH from controls on unstable surface with eyes open USH1 (3.33 ± 1.85) p < 0.001; USH2 (3.87 ± 1.05) p < 0.002; controls (1.91 ± 0.85) and closed USH1 (3.91 ± 1.65) p = 0.005; USH2 (3.92 ± 1.05) p = 0.045; controls (2.74 ± 1.27), but not USH1 from USH2. The canceling time in the anteroposterior direction in lower zone distinguished USH subtypes on stable surface with optokinetic USH1 (0.88 ± 1.03), USH2 (0.29 ± 0.23), p = 0.026 and on unstable surface with eyes open USH1 (0.56 ± 1.26), USH2 (0.072 ± 0.09), p = 0.036. ABC scale could distinguish between USH patients and controls, but not between USH subtypes and it correlated with CoP surface area on unstable surface with eyes open only in USH1(ρ = 0.714, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: USH patients, particularly USH1, exhibited poorer balance control than controls on unstable platform with eyes open and appeared to rely more on proprioceptive information while suppressing visual input. USH2 seems to use different multisensory balance strategies that do not align as well with the ABC scale. The advanced analysis provided insights into sensory compensation strategies in USH subtypes.

Naturally occurring genetic diseases caused by de novo variants in domestic animals.

With the advent of next-generation sequencing, an increasing number of cases of de novo variants in domestic animals have been reported in scientific literature primarily associated with clinically severe phenotypes. The emergence of new variants at each generation is a crucial aspect in understanding the pathology of early-onset diseases in animals and can provide valuable insights into similar diseases in humans. With the aim of collecting deleterious de novo variants in domestic animals, we searched the scientific literature and compiled reports on 42 de novo variants in 31 genes in domestic animals. No clear disease-associated phenotype has been established in humans for three of these genes (NUMB, ANKRD28 and KCNG1). For the remaining 28 genes, a strong similarity between animal and human phenotypes was recognized from available information in OMIM and OMIA, revealing the importance of comparative studies and supporting the use of domestic animals as natural models for human diseases, in line with the One Health approach.

Impact of palliative care at end-of-life Covid-19 patients - a small-scale pioneering experience.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, the outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was declared a pandemic, resulting in numerous fatalities worldwide. To effectively combat the virus, it would be beneficial to involve professionals who specialize in symptom control for advanced illnesses, working closely with other specialties throughout the illness process. This approach can help manage a range of symptoms, from mild to severe and potentially life-threatening. No studies have been conducted in Portugal to analyse the intervention of Palliative Medicine at the end of life of Covid-19 patients and how it differs from other specialties. This knowledge could help determine the importance of including it in the care of people with advanced Covid-19. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to examine potential differences in the care provided to patients with Covid-19 during their Last Hours and Days of Life (LHDOL) between those who received care from Palliative Medicine doctors and those who did not. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study spanning three months (Dec 2020 to Feb 2021), the duration of the Support Unit especially created to deal with Covid-19 patients. The database included clinical files from 181 patients admitted to the Support Unit, 27 of which died from Covid-19. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were identified in the care provided. Specifically, fewer drugs were administered at the time of death, including drugs for dyspnoea, pain and agitation, suspension of futile devices and use of palliative sedation to control refractory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: End-of-life care and symptomatic control differ when there's regular follow-up by Palliative Medicine, which may translate less symptomatic suffering and promote a dignified and humane end of life.

Association of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis serostatus with age at first calving, calving interval, and milk production in dairy cows.

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of bovine paratuberculosis, also known as Johne's disease. This infection is responsible for negative effects, ranging from reduction of milk production to reproductive compromise and increased susceptibility to other diseases such as mastitis. Contradictory information on the association between this infection and reproductive performance has been reported in dairy cows. The aim of this work was to investigate associations between individual cow MAP seropositivity and lifetime reproduction and production performance. The MAP serum ELISA (IDEXX MAP Ac) results from all the 13,071 adult cows present on 191 farms and corresponding birth- and calving-date records obtained from the National Association for Genetic Improvement of Dairy Cattle were used. Cows and farms were classified as positive or negative, based on ELISA results. Outcomes assessed were age at first calving (AFC), intercalving intervals (ICI) from first to fourth interval, and average milk production per day of productive cycle (Milk-305/ICI, a ratio between 305-d corrected milk production and the number of days of the respective calving interval). Multilevel mixed models were used to investigate the association of cow MAP status with AFC, ICI, and Milk-305/ICI. Three levels were considered in the models: "measurement occasion," the first level, was nested within cows and cows were nested within farms. The "measurement occasion" is the time point to which all the observed measures (between 2 successive parturitions, such as milk production and somatic cell count) were referred. Our results indicate that MAP-positive cows have a significantly lower 14-d mean AFC than MAP-negative cows. The overall average ICI in our study was 432.5 d (standard deviation: 94.6). The average ICI, from first to fourth, was not significantly affected by MAP seropositivity. No significant effect of MAP positivity was found on the overall ICI. In relation to Milk-305/ICI, MAP-positive cows did not produce significantly less milk than negative cows across their productive lifetime. We observed higher but nonsignificant Milk-305/ICI (kg/d) in MAP-positive cows. In our study, the proportion of MAP-positive cows within lactations remained similar across all lactations, suggesting that seropositivity did not increased drop-off rate.

ChatGPT as an item calibration tool: Psychometric insights in a high-stakes examination.

INTRODUCTION: ChatGPT has attracted a lot of interest worldwide for its versatility in a range of natural language tasks, including in the education and evaluation industry. It can automate time- and labor-intensive tasks with clear economic and efficiency gains. METHODS: This study evaluated the potential of ChatGPT to automate psychometric analysis of test questions from the 2020 Portuguese National Residency Selection Exam (PNA). ChatGPT was queried 100 times with the 150 MCQ from the exam. Using ChatGPT's responses, difficulty indices were calculated for each question based on the proportion of correct answers. The predicted difficulty levels were compared to the actual difficulty levels of the 2020 exam MCQ's using methods from classical test theory. RESULTS: ChatGPT's predicted item difficulty indices positively correlated with the actual item difficulties (r (148) = -0.372, p < .001), suggesting a general consistency between the real and the predicted values. There was also a moderate significant negative correlation between the difficulty index predicted by ChatGPT and the number of challenges (r (148) = -0.302, p < .001), highlighting ChatGPT's potential for identifying less problematic questions. CONCLUSION: These findings unveiled ChatGPT's potential as a tool for assessment development, proving its capability to predict the psychometric characteristics of high-stakes test items in automated item calibration without pre-testing in real-life scenarios.

Efficacy of preoperative and postoperative medications in reducing pain after non-surgical root canal treatment: an umbrella review.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed, using an umbrella review, existing systematic reviews on medications to prevent and control postoperative endodontic pain to guide professionals in choosing the most effective drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search in the PubMed (MEDLINE), LILACS, SciELO, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Reviews, and Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) databases retrieved 17 systematic reviews. The study included only systematic reviews of clinical trials with or without meta-analyses evaluating effectiveness of medications in reducing pain after non-surgical endodontic treatment. RESULTS: The evidence showed that steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids effectively controlled pain within six to 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone, prednisolone, paracetamol, and mainly ibuprofen provided higher postoperative pain relief. The quality of evidence of the reviews ranged from very low to high, and the risk of bias from low to high, suggesting the need for well-designed clinical trials to provide confirmatory evidence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This review emphasizes the efficacy of developing protocols for pain control after endodontic therapy.

Chronic Pain and Joint Hypermobility: A Brief Diagnostic Review for Clinicians and the Potential Application of Infrared Thermography in Screening Hypermobile Inflamed Joints.

Joint hypermobility syndromes, particularly chronic pain associated with this condition, including Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), present diagnostic challenges due to their multifactorial origins and remain poorly understood from biomechanical and genomic-molecular perspectives. Recent diagnostic guidelines have differentiated hEDS, HSD, and benign joint hypermobility, providing a more objective diagnostic framework. However, incorrect diagnoses and underdiagnoses persist, leading to prolonged journeys for affected individuals. Musculoskeletal manifestations, chronic pain, dysautonomia, and gastrointestinal symptoms illustrate the multifactorial impact of these conditions, affecting both the physical and emotional well-being of affected individuals. Infrared thermography (IRT) emerges as a promising tool for joint assessment, especially in detecting inflammatory processes. Thermal distribution patterns offer valuable insights into joint dysfunctions, although the direct correlation between pain and inflammation remains challenging. The prevalence of neuropathies among hypermobile individuals accentuates the discordance between pain perception and thermographic findings, further complicating diagnosis and management. Despite its potential, the clinical integration of IRT faces challenges, with conflicting evidence hindering its adoption. However, studies demonstrate objective temperature disparities between healthy and diseased joints, especially under dynamic thermography, suggesting its potential utility in clinical practice. Future research focused on refining diagnostic criteria and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of hypermobility syndromes will be essential to improve diagnostic accuracy and enhance patient care in this complex and multidimensional context.

Analyzing soccer match sprint distances: A comparison of GPS-based absolute and relative thresholds.

This study compared the most common absolute sprint threshold (> 25.2 km/h) with relative and individualized thresholds (> 70%, > 75%, > 80%, > 85% and > 90% of peak match speed). Twenty elite soccer players, competing in the first division of the Portuguese League, were monitored using GNSS equipment during thirty-four official matches. Peak match speed was retrieved as the individual maximal speed reached during the full season. Distances were registered when speed overcame the absolute and the relative thresholds. Mean ± SD of peak speeds and distances covered were calculated, and Pearson correlation (r) and mean paired differences were performed to analyze relationships and differences between thresholds. The peak match speed was 32.9 ± 1.4 km/h. Correlations between distances covered using the absolute and relative thresholds varied from very strong (> 70%: r = 0.84, p < .001; > 75%: r = 0.89, p < .001; and > 80%: r = 0.88, p < .001), strong (> 85%: r = 0.79, p < .001), to moderate (> 90%: r = 0.59, p < .001). Overall, the > 75% (ES: 0.23 [95% CI: 0.16, 0.31]) and the > 90% (ES: -1.65 [95%CI: -1.85, -1.48]) relative thresholds presented the smallest and largest differences, respectively, with the absolute threshold. Differences were also found when considering the playing positions. While the distances covered by central midfielders were similar between the absolute and > 80% thresholds (-0.03 [-0.16, 0.10]), fullbacks covered largely more distance -1.88 [-2.42 -1.50]) in the absolute threshold than in the > 80% threshold. The distances covered by players varied based on the selected threshold, affecting the distances covered by different playing positions. Being the highest speed threshold within displacements thresholds, the absolute sprint threshold showed greater similarity to lower rather than higher relative thresholds.

Understanding the age-related alterations in the testis-specific proteome.

INTRODUCTION: Fertility rates in developing countries have declined over the past decades, and the trend of delayed fatherhood is rising as societies develop. The reasons behind the decline in male fertility with advancing age remain mysterious, making it a compelling and crucial area for further research. However, the limited number of studies dedicated to unraveling this enigma poses a challenge. Thus, our objective is to illuminate some of the upregulated and downregulated mechanisms in the male testis during the aging process. AREAS COVERED: Herein, we present a critical overview of the studies addressing the alterations of testicular proteome through the aging process, starting from sexually matured young males to end-of-life-expectancy aged males. The comparative studies of the proteomic testicular profile of men with and without spermatogenic impairment are also discussed and key proteins and pathways involved are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION: The difficulty of making age-comparative studies, especially of advanced-age study subjects, makes this topic of study quite challenging. Another topic worth mentioning is the heterogeneous nature and vast cellular composition of testicular tissue, which makes proteome data interpretation tricky. The cell type sorting and comorbidities testing in the testicular tissue of the studied subjects would help mitigate these problems.

High Throughput Read-Across for Screening a Large Inventory of Related Structures by Balancing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Human Knowledge.

Read-across is an in silico method applied in chemical risk assessment for data-poor chemicals. The read-across outcomes for repeated-dose toxicity end points include the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and estimated uncertainty for a particular category of effects. We have previously developed a new paradigm for estimating NOAELs based on chemoinformatics analysis and experimental study qualities from selected analogues, not relying on quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) or rule-based SAR systems, which are not well-suited to end points for which the underpinning data are weakly grounded in specific chemical-biological interactions. The central hypothesis of this approach is that similar compounds have similar toxicity profiles and, hence, similar NOAEL values. Analogue quality (AQ) quantifies the suitability of an analogue candidate for reading across to the target by considering similarity from structure, physicochemical, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion), and biological perspectives. Biological similarity is based on experimental data; assay vectors derived from aggregations of ToxCast/Tox21 data are used to derive machine learning (ML) hybrid rules that serve as biological fingerprints to capture target-analogue similarity relevant to specific effects of interest, for example, hormone receptors (ER/AR/THR). Once one or more analogues have been qualified for read-across, a decision theory approach is used to estimate confidence bounds for the NOAEL of the target. The confidence interval is dramatically narrowed when analogues are constrained to biologically related profiles. Although this read-across process works well for a single target with several analogues, it can become unmanageable when, for example, screening multiple targets (e.g., virtual screening library) or handling a parent compound having numerous metabolites. To this end, we have established a digitalized framework to enable the assessment of a large number of substances, while still allowing for human decisions for filtering and prioritization. This workflow was developed and validated through a use case of a large set of bisphenols and their metabolites.

VMD as a Platform for Interactive Small Molecule Preparation and Visualization in Quantum and Classical Simulations.

Modeling and simulation of small molecules such as drugs and biological cofactors have been both a major focus of computational chemistry for decades and a growing need among computational biophysicists who seek to investigate the interaction of different types of ligands with biomolecules. Of particular interest in this regard are quantum mechanical (QM) calculations that are used to more accurately describe such small molecules, which can be of heterogeneous structures and chemistry, either in purely QM calculations or in hybrid QM/molecular mechanics (MM) simulations. QM programs are also used to develop MM force field parameters for small molecules to be used along with established force fields for biomolecules in classical simulations. With this growing need in mind, here we report a set of software tools developed and closely integrated within the broadly used molecular visualization/analysis program, VMD, that allow the user to construct, modify, and parametrize small molecules and prepare them for QM, hybrid QM/MM, or classical simulations. The tools also provide interactive analysis and visualization capabilities in an easy-to-use and integrated environment. In this paper, we briefly report on these tools and their major features and capabilities, along with examples of how they can facilitate molecular research in computational biophysics that might be otherwise prohibitively complex.

De Novo Design of κ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists Using a Generative Deep-Learning Framework.

Likely effective pharmacological interventions for the treatment of opioid addiction include attempts to attenuate brain reward deficits during periods of abstinence. Pharmacological blockade of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) has been shown to abolish brain reward deficits in rodents during withdrawal, as well as to reduce the escalation of opioid use in rats with extended access to opioids. Although KOR antagonists represent promising candidates for the treatment of opioid addiction, very few potent selective KOR antagonists are known to date and most of them exhibit significant safety concerns. Here, we used a generative deep-learning framework for the de novo design of chemotypes with putative KOR antagonistic activity. Molecules generated by models trained with this framework were prioritized for chemical synthesis based on their predicted optimal interactions with the receptor. Our models and proposed training protocol were experimentally validated by binding and functional assays.

Treatment of salt from hides curing stage by electrocoagulation for use in the pickling stage of the tanning industry.

The raw materials for the tanning industry, namely hides and skins, are preserved (curing stage) and carried with common salt, i.e., sodium chloride (NaCl). Proceeding to conversion into leather, pickling is a key stage of the tannery process, which entails high demand of water and salt. In this work, the salt-derived brine (SdB) generated from the curing of hides was treated by iron-driven electrocoagulation (EC), aiming at its later application in the pickling stage of the tanning industry, promoting a transition to zero waste emission policy. Focusing on reducing the brine's total organic carbon (TOC), central composite rotational design and response surface methodology were adopted to study the effect of electrolysis time (6.2-14.2 min) and current density (74-431 A·m-2) on the treatment of the SdB (≅ 7.5 % wt. NaCl). The quality of the treated brines was then assessed in pickling trials and compared with virgin brine. 68-83 % removal of TOC from the SdB were achieved under electrolysis time ranging 6.2-14.2 min and current density ranging 126-252 A·m-2. Under these operating ranges the quality of the wet-blue leathers was guaranteed. Lowest power consumption (0.44 kWh·m-3) was achieved under electrolysis time of 6 min and current density of 126 A·m-2, yielding 68 % removal of TOC. Moreover, the shrinkage temperature of the hides was improved with treated brine (103.5 °C-110.5 °C) compared to virgin brine (103.0 °C). The present study provides strong evidence that contaminated salt from the curing stage can be valorised within the tanning industry through electrocoagulation treatment and then used in another production stage, instead of being landfilled.

CFTR modulates aquaporin-mediated glycerol permeability in mouse Sertoli cells.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an anion channel that is crucial for fluid homeodynamics throughout the male reproductive tract. Previous evidence shed light on a potential molecular partnership between this channel and aquaporins (AQPs). Herein, we explore the role of CFTR on AQPs-mediated glycerol permeability in mouse Sertoli cells (mSCs). We were able to identify the expression of CFTR, AQP3, AQP7, and AQP9 in mSCs by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence techniques. Cells were then treated with CFTRinh-172, a specific CFTR inhibitor, and its glycerol permeability was evaluated by stopped-flow light scattering. We observed that CFTR inhibition decreased glycerol permeability in mSCs by 30.6% when compared to the control group. A DUOLINK proximity ligation assay was used to evaluate the endogenous protein-protein interactions between CFTR and the various aquaglyceroporins we identified. We positively detected that CFTR is in close proximity with AQP3, AQP7, and AQP9 and that, through a possible physical interaction, CFTR can modulate AQP-mediated glycerol permeability in mSCs. As glycerol is essential for the control of the blood-testis barrier and elevated concentration in testis results in the disruption of spermatogenesis, we suggest that the malfunction of CFTR and the consequent alteration in glycerol permeability is a potential link between male infertility and cystic fibrosis.

Efficacy of Duddingtonia flagrans (Bioverm®) on the biological control of buffalo gastrointestinal nematodes.

We evaluated the efficacy of Bioverm®, a commercial product containing Duddingtonia flagrans, on the control of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) gastrointestinal nematodes. We randomly divided 12 buffaloes into two groups of six animals. In the treated group, each animal received a Bioverm®`s single dose of 1g (105 chlamydospores of D. flagrans) to 10 kg of live weight; in the control group, each animal received 1g of corn bran for each 10 kg of live weight as a placebo. Fecal samples were individually collected from 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h after treatments. To examine 1) viability of chlamydospores passed through the gastrointestinal tract, 2 g of faeces and 1000 infective larvae (L3) were added to Petri dishes with 2% water-agar, and 2) to examine larval predation by D. flagrans during fecal cultures, 2000 L3 were added. In the Petri dishes, were observed significant reductions (p < 0.01) in the treated group after 48 (56.7%) and 60 h (91.5%). In the fecal cultures, significant reductions (p < 0.01) occurred in the treated group from 36 h (75%), with larval reduction up to 72 h. High larval predation rate occurred 60 h after Bioverm® administration. Bioverm® maintained viability and predation capacity after passage through the buffalo's gastrointestinal tract, showing efficacy on gastrointestinal nematodes.

Flagella are an important virulence factor in the subclinical persistence of Escherichia coli in bovine mammary gland.

We compared the virulence profile and REP-PCR genotypes of Escherichia coli strains isolated from subclinical and clinical mastitis cases and dairy farm environments in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, to determine virulence factors and genotypes potentially associated with subclinical persistence in the udder. The virulence profile was obtained by the search for three virulence genes: lpfA (long polar fimbriae), fliC (flagella), and escN (type III secretion system). Subclinical isolates exhibited mainly the fliC gene (33.33%) and fliC + escN genes (30.30%). Clinical isolates exhibited mainly fliC + escN genes (50%) and environmental isolates the lpfA + escN genes (58.04%). Strains isolated from subclinical mastitis showed 6.75 times more positivity to fliC than environmental isolates. Thirty-four genotypes were observed in the REP-PCR analysis, and clinical mastitis isolates indicated more genetic proximity to dairy farm environment isolates than subclinical mastitis isolates. In conclusion, the results suggested that flagella may be an important virulence factor for mammary persistent E. coli infection in cattle, however, none of the E. coli REP-PCR genotypes were associated with subclinical infection.

Male Sex Hormones, Metabolic Syndrome, and Aquaporins: A Triad of Players in Male (in)Fertility.

Infertility is becoming a chronic and emerging problem in the world. There is a resistant stigma that this health condition is mostly due to the female, although the literature supports that the responsibility for the onset of infertility is equally shared between both sexes in more or less equal proportions. Nevertheless, male sex hormones, particularly testosterone (T), are key players in male-related infertility. Indeed, hypogonadism, which is also characterized by changes in T levels, is one of the most common causes of male infertility and its incidence has been interconnected to the increased prevalence of metabolic diseases. Recent data also highlight the role of aquaporin (AQP)-mediated water and solute diffusion and the metabolic homeostasis in testicular cells suggesting a strong correlation between AQPs function, metabolism of testicular cells, and infertility. Indeed, recent studies showed that both metabolic and sexual hormone concentrations can change the expression pattern and function of AQPs. Herein, we review up-to-date information on the involvement of AQP-mediated function and permeability in men with metabolic syndrome and testosterone deficit, highlighting the putative mechanisms that show an interaction between sex hormones, AQPs, and metabolic syndrome that may contribute to male infertility.