Reduced nuclear protein 1 expression improves insulin sensitivity and protects against diet-induced glucose intolerance through up-regulation of heat shock protein 70.

We recently reported that deletion of the stress-regulated nuclear protein 1 (Nupr1) protected against obesity-associated metabolic alterations due to increased beta cell mass, but complete Nupr1 ablation was not advantageous since it led to insulin resistance on a normal diet. The current study used Nupr1 haplodeficient mice to investigate whether a partial reduction in Nupr1 expression conferred beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis. Islet number, morphology and area, assessed by immunofluorescence and morphometric analyses, were not altered in Nupr1 haplodeficient mice under normal diet conditions and nor was beta cell BrdU incorporation. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests indicated that there were no significant changes in in vivo insulin secretion and glucose clearance in Nupr1 haplodeficient mice, and beta cell function in vitro was normal. However, reduced Nupr1 expression decreased visceral fat deposition and significantly increased insulin sensitivity in vivo. In contrast to wild type animals, high fat diet-fed Nupr1 haplodeficient mice were not hyperinsulinaemic or glucose intolerant, and their sustained insulin sensitivity was demonstrated by appropriate insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation, as determined by Western blotting. At the molecular level, measurements of gene expression levels and promoter activities identified Nupr1-dependent inhibition of heat shock factor-1-induced heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression as a mechanism through which Nupr1 regulates insulin sensitivity. We have shown for the first time that Nupr1 plays a central role in inhibiting Hsp70 expression in tissues regulating glucose homeostasis, and reductions in Nupr1 expression could be used to protect against the metabolic defects associated with obesity-induced insulin resistance.

Standardization of allergen products: 3. Validation of candidate European Pharmacopoeia standard methods for quantification of major birch allergen Bet v 1.

BACKGROUND: The BSP090 project aims at establishing European Pharmacopoeia Reference Substances in combination with the corresponding ELISA methods for the quantification of major allergens in allergen products. Two sandwich ELISAs proved suitable for quantification of Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, in preceding phases of BSP090. METHODS: Two Bet v 1-specific ELISA systems were compared with respect to accuracy and precision in a ring trial including 13 laboratories. Model samples containing recombinant rBet v 1.0101 as well as native birch pollen extracts were measured independently at least three times in each facility. The assessment was completed with a comparative quantification of Bet v 1 in 30 marketed birch allergen products in one laboratory, simulating the future use as reference method. RESULTS: In the collaborative study, both candidate ELISAs confirmed their suitability to quantify recombinant and native Bet v 1. ELISA-A showed higher precision and lower interlaboratory variability, yet ELISA-B exhibited slightly higher accuracy. Subsequent parallel measurement of Bet v 1 in a panel of 'real-life' birch allergen products indicated better repeatability of ELISA-B. Both systems detected substantial differences in Bet v 1 content between allergen products, but the effect was more pronounced using ELISA-B due to persistently higher values compared to ELISA-A. CONCLUSIONS: In the collaborative study, no deciding differences were observed between the two candidate ELISAs. Further comparison under conditions simulating the intended use combined with the criterion of long-term availability enabled the selection of one Bet v 1-specific ELISA for proposal as European Pharmacopoeia standard method.

Improve intra-uterine insemination in rabbits using ultra-high temperature skim milk as extender to keep semen at room temperature.

Two experiments were carried out to examine in vitro quality and in vivo fertility of rabbit semen diluted in ultra-high temperature (UHT) skim milk. In the first experiment, pooled ejaculates of 10 adult rabbits were divided in three aliquots. Each aliquot was diluted in saline solution, TrisC or UHTm extender and kept at room temperature for 24 h. Sperm quality assessment was performed during all the incubation periods. In the second experiment, 27 adult rabbit does were inseminated with semen incubated for 5 h. Embryo recovery was performed 96 h after insemination. Results showed that treatments diluted in UHTm registered the highest values of spermatozoon with total motility, intact and functional plasma membrane and greater number of embryos recovered in rabbit does. We conclude that UHT skim milk would be a good extender for improved intra-uterine insemination in rabbits and to keep sperm cells for several hours at room temperature.

Effect of seminal plasma on post-thaw quality and functionality of corriedale ram sperm obtained by electroejaculation and artificial vagina.

We have already shown that seminal collection method affects seminal plasma composition and sperm quality in Corriedale rams. In this study, we evaluated the effect of seminal plasma collected by electroejaculation or artificial vagina on sperm resistance to cryodamage. Seminal plasma of five rams of the Corriedale breed collected by artificial vagina or electroejaculation was added before freezing to sperm cells collected by the two methods, and post-thaw quality parameters were evaluated. We found that seminal plasma has no effect on sperm resistance to cryodamage. However, we observed significantly higher percentages of sperm with intact and functional plasma membrane, intact acrosome and greater fertilizing potential after thawing in samples obtained by electroejaculation. This study demonstrates that sperm collected by electroejaculation are more resistant to damage caused by cryopreservation than those collected by artificial vagina.

An overview of animal science research 1945-2011 through science mapping analysis.

The conceptual structure of the field of Animal Science (AS) research is examined by means of a longitudinal science mapping analysis. The whole of the AS research field is analysed, revealing its conceptual evolution. To this end, an automatic approach to detecting and visualizing hidden themes or topics and their evolution across a consecutive span of years was applied to AS publications of the JCR category 'Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science' during the period 1945-2011. This automatic approach was based on a coword analysis and combines performance analysis and science mapping. To observe the conceptual evolution of AS, six consecutive periods were defined: 1945-1969, 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2005 and 2006-2011. Research in AS was identified as having focused on ten main thematic areas: ANIMAL-FEEDING, SMALL-RUMINANTS, ANIMAL-REPRODUCTION, DAIRY-PRODUCTION, MEAT-QUALITY, SWINE-PRODUCTION, GENETICS-AND-ANIMAL-BREEDING, POULTRY, ANIMAL-WELFARE and GROWTH-FACTORS-AND-FATTY-ACIDS. The results show how genomic studies gain in weight and integrate with other thematic areas. The whole of AS research has become oriented towards an overall framework in which animal welfare, sustainable management and human health play a major role. All this would affect the future structure and management of livestock farming.

Electroejaculation increases low molecular weight proteins in seminal plasma modifying sperm quality in Corriedale rams.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seminal collection method (artificial vagina or electroejaculation) on the protein composition of seminal plasma and sperm quality parameters in Corriedale rams. To address this question, we assessed the effect of seminal collection method on motility, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, mitochondrial functionality and the decondensation state of nuclear chromatin in sperm cells. Volume, pH, osmolarity, protein concentration, total protein content and protein profile using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and 2-D polyacrylamide electrophoresis of seminal plasma collected with artificial vagina and electroejaculation were also analysed. The main findings from this study were that ejaculates obtained with electroejaculation had (i) a higher number of spermatozoa with intact plasma membrane and functional mitochondria and (ii) a higher proportion of seminal plasma, total protein content and relative abundance of low molecular weight proteins than ejaculates obtained with artificial vagina. Five of these proteins were identified by mass spectrometry: binder of sperm 5 precursor; RSVP14; RSVP22; epididymal secretory protein E1 and clusterin. One protein spot with molecular weight of approximately 31 kDa and isoelectric point of 4.8 was only found in the seminal plasma from electroejaculation.

[Urine incontinence referral criteria for primary care]. / Criterios de derivación en incontinencia urinaria para atención primaria.

Despite the high incidence of urinary incontinence (UI), health professional awareness of this disease is low, which in itself is not serious but significantly limits the lives of the patients. The Primary Care associations, Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria [SEMERGEN], Sociedad Española de Médicos Generales y de Familia [SEMG], Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria [semFYC]) along with the Asociación Española de Urología (EAU) have developed this consensus with the proposal of making GPs aware, and to help them in the diagnosis, treatment and referral to Urologists. The first goal in primary care must be the detection of UI, thus an opportunistic screening at least once in the lifetime of asymptomatic women > 40 years old and asymptomatic men > 55 years old. The diagnosis, based on medical history and physical examination, must determine the type and severity of the UI in order to refer severe cases to the Urologist. Except for overactive bladder (OAB), non-pharmacological conservative treatment is the first approach to uncomplicated UI in females and males. Antimuscarinics are the only drugs that have demonstrated efficacy and safety in urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and OAB. In men with mixed symptoms, excluding severe obstruction cases, a combination therapy of alpha-blockers and antimuscarinics should be chosen.

Virulence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella enterica isolated from foods, humans, and the environment in Mexico.

Salmonella enterica genotypic and phenotypic characteristics play an important role in its pathogenesis, which could be influenced by its origin. This study evaluated the association among the antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and origin of circulating S. enterica strains in Mexico, isolated from foods, humans, and the environment. The antimicrobial susceptibility to fourteen antibiotics by the Kirby-Bauer method (n = 117), and the presence of thirteen virulence genes by multiplex PCR (n = 153) and by sequence alignments (n = 2963) were evaluated. In addition, a set of S. enterica isolates from Mexico (n = 344) previously characterized according to their genotypic and phenotypic print was included to increase the coverage of the association analysis. Strains with the presence of sopE and strains with the absence of sspH1 were significantly associated with multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes (p < 0.05). The origin of the strains had significant associations with the antimicrobial profiles and some virulence genes (hilA, orgA, sifA, ssaQ, sseL, sspH1, pefA, and spvC) (p < 0.05). Animal-origin food isolates showed the highest frequency of MDR (57.2 %), followed by human isolates (30.0 %). Also, sspH1, pefA, and spvC were found in major frequency in human (32.4 %, 31.0 %, 31.7 %) and animal-origin foods (41.6 %, 10.6 %, 10.6 %) isolates. The findings highlighted that antimicrobial profiles and specific virulence genes of S. enterica strains are related to their origin. Similar genotypic and phenotypic characteristics between human and animal-origin foods isolates were found, suggesting that animal-origin foods isolates are the most responsible for human cases. The revealed associations can be used to improve risk estimation assessments in national food safety surveillance programs.

Mean glandular dose in the mammary gland and dose of radiation in the thyroid gland and lens in women with and without breast implants during different modalities of mammography.

There have always been concerns about the secondary effects of diagnostic methods that use ionizing radiation. During mammography, the parameters to be concerned about are the mean glandular dose and the scatter dose. We evaluated the dose of radiation to the breast, thyroid gland, and lens in digital mammography in women with and without implants, in tomosynthesis in women with and without implants, and in contrast-enhanced mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 212 women with and without disease who were attended at the Centro Clínico de Estereotaxia, CECLINES, in Caracas, Venezuela, between June 2017 and August 2017; the women were classified into five groups according to the mammographic modality used to evaluate them and whether or not they had implants. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics for the study population. We used the Mann-Whitney U to compare the mean glandular dose and dose in the thyroid gland and lens between groups. RESULTS: The mean glandular dose and the dose of radiation received in the thyroid and lens were within the acceptable range. In a few exceptions, the mean glandular dose per view was slightly higher than 3 mGy. The scatter dose to the thyroid gland and the lens during mammography has a very small contribution to the annual dose equivalent. CONCLUSION: The mean glandular dose and the scatter dose to the thyroid gland and lens delivered during tomosynthesis and 2D mammography in women with implants were higher than those delivered during other mammographic techniques in women without implants.

Oleaceae-induced pollinosis in an area with exposure to olive and ash trees.

BACKGROUND: Navarre, in Northern Spain, is an area with moderate exposure to olive and ash tree pollen. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relevance of ash as a cause of pollinosis in our region. METHODS: The study sample comprised 85 patients from Navarre with clinical symptoms of pollinosis. Specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) was determined to Fra e 1, Ole e 1, and a mixture of amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of Ole e 9 (Ole e 9 NC) (ADVIA-Centaur). At the same time, the presence of sIgE to other pollen allergens was studied. Prick tests were performed with ash pollen (n=33) and olive pollen (n=85) and the symptomatic period was recorded (n=85). As a control group, we studied the serum of 98 patients with olive pollen allergy, intense exposure to olive pollen, and no exposure to ash. RESULTS: Sensitization to Oleaceae was detected in 24/85 patients in the study group (28.2%). In this group, the mean (SD) level of IgE to Fra e 1 was 8.5 (10) kU(A)/L and to Ole e 16.07 (7.88) kU(A)/L (P < .001). In the control group, these figures were 103.64 (132.19) kU(A)/L and 86.43 (118.5) kU(A)/L (P < .001), respectively. In all patients with positive sIgE to Fra e 1, IgE to Ole e 1 was also detected (concordance index, kappa = 1), both in the study group and in the control group. Patients who were sensitized to Fra e 1 did not present a longer symptomatic period and their symptoms did not have an earlier onset. CONCLUSION: We did not find evidence of clinically relevant sensitization to ash in Navarre.

Cucumber anaphylaxis in a latex-sensitized patient.

We report the case of a 76-year-old woman who experienced dizziness, vomiting, dyspnea, thoracic erythema, and vaginal itching within 5 minutes of eating cucumber. She had been diagnosed 3 months earlier with papaya urticaria and latex sensitization. The results of skin prick tests were positive for cucumber, watermelon, papaya, and latex and negative for melon and profilin extracts. ImmunoCAP for latex-specific serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E was positive. Cucumber-specific serum IgE was negative. Immunoblot analysis using patient serum revealed a 30- to 32-kDa protein band in the cucumber (peel) and papaya extracts. Immunoblot inhibition with latex extract demonstrated inhibition of the band in both extracts. Immunoblot inhibition with cucumber-papaya and papaya-cucumber revealed inhibition of the same band in the cucumber and papaya extracts, respectively. We present a case of IgE-mediated allergy to cucumber and papaya. Our results strongly suggest that the allergen(s) implicated are associated with latex sensitization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of cucumber-latex and cucumber-papaya cross-reactivity.

[Use of the flexible laryngeal mask in rheumatoid arthritis with the patient in lateral decubitus position]. / Mascarilla laríngea flexible en decúbito lateral y artritis reumatoide.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease leading to synovitis and joint deformities. The hands are often affected but in some cases there may be involvement of the temporomandibular, the atlantoaxial, and cricoarytenoid joints. For insertion of the mask, a patient may be placed in supine, lateral, or prone position with minimal complications. A 46-year-old woman with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis and mild atlantoaxial joint involvement was programed for removal of a large tumor from soft tissue near the right scapula. She was placed on her left side for surgery. After induction of anesthesia a flexible laryngeal mask was inserted without shifting her spinal column. At the end of the procedure, the mask was removed without complications and she orally assessed pain as 0. The flexible laryngeal mask can be used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with little need to move the cervical spine. Insertion can take place in lateral decubitus position, thus avoiding movements that might worsen the patient's underlying disease.

Mean glandular dose in the mammary gland and dose of radiation in the thyroid gland and lens in women with and without breast implants during different modalities of mammography. / Dosis glandular promedio en glándula mamaria y dosis de radiación en glándula tiroides y cristalino en mujeres con y sin implantes mamarios durante diferentes modalidades mamográficas.

There have always been concerns about the secondary effects of diagnostic methods that use ionizing radiation. During mammography, the parameters to be concerned about are the mean glandular dose and the scatter dose. We evaluated the dose of radiation to the breast, thyroid gland, and lens in digital mammography in women with and without implants, in tomosynthesis in women with and without implants, and in contrast-enhanced mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 212 women with and without disease who were attended at the Centro Clínico de Estereotaxia, CECLINES, in Caracas, Venezuela, between June 2017 and August 2017; the women were classified into five groups according to the mammographic modality used to evaluate them and whether or not they had implants. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics for the study population. We used the Mann-Whitney U to compare the mean glandular dose and dose in the thyroid gland and lens between groups. RESULTS: The mean glandular dose and the dose of radiation received in the thyroid and lens were within the acceptable range. In a few exceptions, the mean glandular dose per view was slightly higher than 3mGy. The scatter dose to the thyroid gland and the lens during mammography has a very small contribution to the annual dose equivalent. CONCLUSION: The mean glandular dose and the scatter dose to the thyroid gland and lens delivered during tomosynthesis and 2D mammography in women with implants were higher than those delivered during other mammographic techniques in women without implants.

Occupational asthma caused by turbot allergy in 3 fish-farm workers.

We report 3 patients (26, 31, and 33 years) who worked at the same fish farm for several years. They experienced symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma while classifying fish by size. Their asthma gradually worsened to the extent that it became persistent and required daily medication with inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Symptoms improved during weekends and holidays. All 3 patients could eat turbot. Our study showed that the patients were allergic and that sensitization was probably by inhalation. The allergens were parvalbumin in 1 case and a different allergen in the remaining 2 patients.

Selective allergy to lobster in a case of primary sensitization to house dust mites.

Allergy to only 1 kind of seafood is uncommon. We report a case of selective allergy to lobster. We studied a 30-year-old man who suffered generalized urticaria, facial erythema, and pharyngeal pruritus after eating lobster. He had a more than 10-year history of mild persistent asthma and sensitization to house dust mites. The study was performed by skin prick test, and prick-prick test, oral food challenge, specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E determinations by CAP (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden) and ADVIA-Centaur (ALK-Abelló, Madrid, Spain), and IgE-immunoblotting. The patient's serum recognized 2 allergens of around 198 kDa and 2 allergens of around 65 kDa from the lobster extract, allergens of around 15, 90, and 120 kDa from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract, and allergens of around 15 and 65 kDa from Dermatophagoides farinae extract. Serum did not recognize purified shrimp tropomyosin. Immunoblot-inhibition assay results indicated cross-reactivity between lobster and mite allergens. This is the first report of selective allergy to lobster.