Association of positive psychological variables with disease activity, functional disability and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease which has shown positive correlations between negative psychological variables and disease activity in transversal studies and in the follow-up. However, the association of positive psychological variables with disease parameters including disease activity (DAS-28), functional disability (HAQ) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has not been investigated. Patients with RA attending the external consultation of a third level hospital were invited to participate and fill in a questionnaire with personal, disease and psychological variables; body mass index was also obtained as well as ESR. A total of 49 patients were included. The three dependent variables correlated among them, with the highest correlation for DAS-28 and HAQ (r=0.645, p<0.01), followed by somatization and HAQ (r=0.614, p<0.01) or DAS-28 (r=0.537, P<0.01). In addition, HAQ showed negative correlations with environmental mastery (r=- 0.366, p<0.01), personal growth (r=-0.292, p<0.05) and monthly extra money (r=-0.328, p<0.05), and borderline negative correlations with emotion perception (r=-0.279, p=0.053) and self-acceptance (r=-0.250, p=0.08). ESR showed a significant negative correlation with emotion perception (r=-0.475, p<0.01). In conclusion, we observed important correlations of positive psychological variables with disease activity, functional disability and ESR that could be addressed in order to prevent or treat these disease features.

Double-balloon enteroscopy in two dogs.

It is difficult to insert a flexible endoscope deep into the small intestine. A new method, double-balloon enteroscopy, has been developed to improve access to the small intestine, and the aim of this study was to evaluate its usefulness for examination of the small intestine of dogs. The method uses two balloons, one attached to the tip of the endoscope and another attached to the tip of an overtube. The double-balloon endoscope is advanced through the intestine by being held alternately by the balloon on the endoscope and the balloon on the overtube. The technique was applied in two dogs of medium size, using both oral and anal approaches, and it was possible to examine the whole surface of the mucosa of their small intestines.

Posthatch development of the axial musculature of the common dentex Dentex dentex, L (Teleostei).

The common dentex is a promising candidate for Mediterranean aquaculture. The present work is aimed at describing the development of the axial musculature from hatching to postlarval life. Transmission electron microscopy, histochemical (NADH-TR and mATPase) and immunohistochemical techniques (S-58 and TUNEL) have been used. At hatching superficial red and deep white muscles can be distinguished. Presumptive dermomyotome (external) cells are initially located over the superficial red muscle but shortly (2 days) tend to concentrate towards the epaxial and hipaxial limits of the myotome. Then, these cells enter the myotome and spread around and within the white muscle thus being apparently responsible for the stratified hyperplasia of the myotome. Mosaic hyperplasia is activated during the second half of the larval period and initially relies on differentiation of a population of atypical premyoblastic cells (APC). APC are mononuclear cells with euchromatic nuclei, cytoplasms full of thin longitudinally projected tubules, occasional mitochondria and scattered ribosomes. By the end of the larval period these cells tend to disappear, partly due to apoptosis, but postlarval mosaic hyperplasia continues by differentiation of presumptive myosatellite cells. APC are an unexpected and singular finding of this study which deserves more research, so as to further characterize their ancestry, developmental programme and fate. In addition to the white and superficial red muscle fibres, intermediate (pink) and tonic fibres appear during larval metamorphosis. Later, during the early postlarval life, a new type of slow twitch red muscle fibre is differentiated (red adult type).

Muscle cellularity at cranial and caudal levels of the trunk musculature of commercial size sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758).

In eight specimens of Atlantic sea bass of commercial size (congruent with 350 g) muscle cellularity was studied at two selected sampling levels of the trunk axial musculature: caudal (anal opening) and cranial (fourth radius of the dorsal fin). The following parameters were quantified at both sampling levels: white muscle cross-sectional area, white muscle fibre diameter (900-1200 fibres), muscle fibre number and muscle fibre density. Results showed a higher total cross-sectional area at cranial than at caudal level (P < 0.05), what is related with their different gross morphology. However, the white muscle fibre size distribution, as well as the muscle fibre number and density did not show significant differences between them. This study contributes to typify muscle fibre sampling in sea bass of commercial size what is of great interest for morphometric studies where white muscle cellularity is commonly correlated with textural or organoleptic parameters.

Red muscle development of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata (L.): structural and ultrastructural morphometry.

The transverse red and white muscle area, the superficial red muscle fibres area and their percentages of mitochondria (%mit), myofibrils (%myof) and sarcoplasm (%sarc) were determined in the Mediterranean teleost gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata (L.). Fish aged from hatching to 78 days were studied. The proportional growth of the red and white muscles was higher for the red muscle in the first half of the larval stage (1-35 days). Then the opposite relationship was observed. The hypertrophic growth of the superficial muscle fibres was continuous except in the first week after hatching. The percentage of mitochondria and percentage of myofibrils showed a significant change just after the half of the larval stage. Whereas the %mit of the superficial muscle fibres was higher than %myof from the first week after hatching to 35 days (average 66.64%), then the %mit decreased significantly and at 73-78 days both parameters were close to an average value of 50%. The meaning of these morphological changes is discussed in relation to the functional role of the red muscle of larvae and the onset of the gills respiration.

Temperature effect on muscle growth of the axial musculature of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

In order to determine the temperature effect on the axial muscle growth of sea bass, a stock of larvae was subjected to the following incubation and cultivation temperatures, respectively: 15 degrees C/ambient, 15/17 degrees C, 17 degrees C/ambient and 17/17 degrees C. In all groups the cross-sectional area of white and red muscles and the number and average area of the white and red muscle fibres were quantified. Results showed that the embryonic period, pre-larval phase and the end of metamorphosis were accelerated at higher temperatures. During the endogenous feeding period, muscle growth took place by fibrillar hypertrophy, and was not influenced by the temperature. Thereafter (external feeding) muscular hyperplasia began, and growth of all the muscular parameters was favoured by the effect of high incubation and cultivation temperatures, with the latter having higher influence. High incubation temperature had an slight effect on muscle growth and body length, which was only observed from 15 days. Metamorphosis finished at 3 +/- 0.4 cm in all the larvae, but this length was earlier reached at higher temperatures. At 120 days, the largest growth was obtained in the larvae maintained at a higher temperature.

Effect of two thermal regimes on the muscle growth dynamics of sea bass larvae, Dicentrarchus labrax L.

Muscle growth was studied in larvae of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., reared at two temperatures: real ambient temperature ( congruent with 15 degrees C during vitelline phase and increased gradually) and 19 degrees C from fertilization until the end of larval development. Muscle cellularity, body length and body weight were measured. Early temperature influenced larval development and so, pre-larval phase finished earlier at 19 degrees C than at ambient temperature (4 and 6 days, respectively). Temperature also affected muscle growth such that at hatching and at mouth opening hypertrophy of muscle fibres was greater at 19 degrees C (P < 0.05), whereas hyperplasia was similar in both groups. After 25 days, the cross-sectional area of the white muscle was greater at 19 degrees C (P < 0.05), which was mainly associated with a higher proliferation of new white muscle fibres. At this stage the body length was also higher at 19 degrees C. Metamorphosis finished earlier in fish reared at 19 degrees C (52 days) than at natural temperature (82 days). At this developmental stage body length and cross-sectional area of the myotome were similar in both groups. However, muscle cellularity differed between groups. Thus, hypertrophy of muscle fibres was higher in fish reared at ambient temperature (P < 0.05), whereas proliferation of new muscle fibres was higher at 19 degrees C (P > 0.05).

Revisión: influencia de la temperatura sobre el desarrollo y crecimiento muscular de la lubina Dicentrarchus labrax L / Temperature effect on muscle growth and development of the sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L

La presente revisión recopila los principales resultados hallados en la lubina, referidos al efecto de la temperatura(Tª) sobre el desarrollo larvario y el crecimiento muscular a lo largo de las diferentes etapas de su ciclobiológico.Durante las fases iniciales de desarrollo, las altas Tªs aceleran el desarrollo embrionario y larvario de lalubina, aunque este hecho no siempre se acompaña de un mayor crecimiento corporal y del miotomo al fi nal decada estadío de desarrollo. Durante la fase vitelina de esta especie predomina la hipertrofi a fibrilar, siendo dichoparámetro el único que manifi esta cierta influencia de la Tª durante este periodo.Con el comienzo de la alimentación exógena, incrementan ambos parámetros fibrilares: hipertrofia e hiperplasiafibrilares. Las altas Tªs aumentan ambos parámetros, aunque el efecto es más signifi cativo sobre la hiperplasia.Al final de cada estadío de desarrollo (fase vitelina y metamorfosis larvaria), la lubina presenta diferenciasintraespecíficas en la respuesta frente a la Tª. Tales diferencias se manifiestan en una diferente contribución relativade la hipertrofia e hiperplasia fibrilares al total del miotomo, lo que puede estar asociado a diferencias genéticas.Por otra parte, la aplicación de altas Tªs durante las fases iniciales de desarrollo ejerce un efecto positivosobre el crecimiento muscular en estadíos larvarios posteriores y comienzo de la fase postlarvaria, aunque dichoefecto se pierde progresivamente. En el periodo estival, alevines de 15g cultivados siempre en agua a Tª ambiental,presentan un crecimiento muscular muy elevado, lo que les permite al final del verano adquirir el mismonúmero y tamaño fibrilar que ejemplares previamente cultivados a mayor Tª. Posteriormente, la aplicación deincrementos de Tª durante el periodo invernal determina un mayor crecimiento hiperplásico de los juveniles delubina, con respecto a los peces mantenidos a Tª ambiente. No obstante, al final del 2º verano (≈ 350g) la constituciónfibrilar vuelve a equipararse en todos los peces, con independencia del tratamiento térmico previo

This revision presents the main results on sea bass, related with termal effects on both larval developmentand muscle growth throughout the different phases of its biological cycle.During the initial phases, high temperature accelerates the larval development, whereas the growth of bothbody and total myotome is not always greater at higher T at the end of each developmental stage. During thevitelline phase, the growth is mainly due to hypertrophy, being this parameter more infl uenced by T than thehyperplasia.From exogenous feeding, both hypertrophy and hyperplasia increase. Both parameters are infl uenced byhigh T, although hyperplasia is usually more significantly influenced.At the end of each stage (vitelline phase and larval metamorphosis), sea bass shows intraspecifi c differenceson the response to T. Such differences are represented by a different relative contribution on hypertrophy andhyperplasia to the total transverse area of the myotome, that can be associated to genetic differences. On theother hand, the application of high T during initial phases shows a positive effect on muscle growth duringsubsequent larval and postlarval stages. However, the positive effect of the early temperature on the postlarvalmuscle growth is progressively reduced due to the increase of the environmental T during the summer months.In this period, muscle growth of fi ngerlings (15g) reared at ambient T is very high, so that at the end of thesummer fi sh show a similar number and size of muscle fi bres that specimens previously reared at high T. Onthe other hand, water heating during winter months increases hyperplasic muscle growth of sea bass postlarvae,although muscle cellularity at the end of the second summer (≈ 350g) was similar in both preheated and nonpreheatedfish

Revisión: desarrollo y crecimiento de la musculatura axial de la lubina Dicentrarchus labrax L / Review: development and growth of the axial musculature of the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, L

Se compendian en este trabajo los estudios realizados sobre el desarrollo y crecimiento de la musculaturaaxial de la lubina Dicentrarchus labrax L., incluyéndose también algunos resultados y conclusiones relevDicentrarchus relevantesen otras especies. En el momento de la eclosión, la larva de lubina presenta dos estratos musculares: músculorojo superfi cial y músculo blanco, ambos con un apreciable grado de inmadurez histológica. Desde la eclosiónhasta el momento de la apertura de la boca las fi bras musculares rojas y blancas crecen únicamente por hipertrofia. Sin embargo, con el inicio de la alimentación externa, la larva de lubina inicia un periodo de intenso crecimientomuscular hipertrófi co e hiperplásico. Hasta el fi nal de la fase larvaria, además de importantes cambiosestructurales y en las isoformas de miosina de las fi bras rojas y blancas, se diferencia progresivamente el músculointermedio o rosa. Durante la fase postlarvaria, los procesos de maduración histológica de la musculaturapersisten hasta el comienzo de la edad juvenil (≈ 6 meses). En alevines y juveniles de lubina, la dinámica delcrecimiento muscular está infl uenciada por la época del año, en función de factores medioambientales como latemperatura y el fotoperiodo. Esta infl uencia afecta de forma muy acentuada a la hiperplasia muscular, la cualdescribe una secuencia alternante con valores máximos durante el verano e inicio del otoño

This work summarizes the previous information on the development and growth of the axial musculature ofthe sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. Relevant results and conclusions from other teleost species in these subjectsare also included. At hatching, the axial musculature of sea bass larvae has two strata: the superfi cial redand the deep white muscles, both with an evident histological immaturity. Hypertrophy of red and white musclefi bres is the unique mechanism of muscle growth since hatching to mouth opening. After mouth opening, larvae enter a period of intense muscle growth by both hypertrophy and hyperplasia of muscle fi bres. Throughout thelarval phase, red and white muscle fi bres undergo structural changes and a progressive replacement of differentmyosin isoforms. The intermediate pink muscle is evident towards the end of the larval life. Histological maturationof muscle fi bres persist during the postlarval life until the beginning of the juvenile period (≈ 6 month).In fi ngerlings and juveniles, muscle growth dynamics is seasonally infl uenced by environmental factors such astemperature and photoperiod. Muscle fi bre recruitment is particularly affected so that it is maximum in summerand minimum in winter

Crecimiento muscular en larvas de lubina atlántica, Dicentrarchus labrax L., cultivadas a diferentes temperaturas / Muscle growth in larvae of Atlantic sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., reared at different temperatures

Dos lotes de lubina atlántica fueron mantenidos a 19ºC durante el período embrionario (desde la fertilización hasta la eclosión). Tras la eclosión, cada lote fue subdividido en 2 tanques de cultivo larvario que fueron mantenidos a temperatura natural y 19ºC, respectivamente, hasta los 40 días posteclosión. La temperatura natural fue inicialmente de @ 15ºC y aumentó gradualmente. En ambos grupos se cuantificaron el área transversa de los músculos blanco y rojo, así como el tamaño y número de sus fibras. Tras la eclosión, las prelarvas cultivadas a mayor temperatura (19ºC) finalizaron la fase vitelina antes que las prelarvas mantenidas a temperatura natural (3 y 4 días posteclosión, respectivamente). Durante esta fase de alimentación endógena, el crecimiento muscular tuvo lugar únicamente por hipertrofia de las fibras blancas y rojas, y no se observó influencia de la temperatura sobre dicho crecimiento. Tras la reabsorción del saco vitelino, en larvas de 20 días de ambos grupos se apreció un fuerte incremento hipertrófico e hiperplásico, siendo la generación de fibras mayor en larvas cultivadas a 19ºC (P < 0,05). Este hecho muestra un correlación positiva entre hiperplasia y velocidad de crecimiento tras el comienzo de la alimentación exógena, mientras que, durante la fase de alimentación endógena, el crecimiento del miotomo fue bajo y asociado a la hipertrofia de sus fibras. Posteriormente, a los 40 días, todos los parámetros musculares fueron mayores a 19ºC de cultivo, de forma significativa para todos ellos, excepto para el número de fibras rojas. (AU)

Distribución fibrilar de la musculatura en lubina, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) Salvaje y cultivada de tamaño comercial: estudio por sectores / Muscle fibre distribution in wild and reared sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) of commercial size: study by muscle blocks

La constitución fibrilar de la musculatura de la lubina, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), de tamaño comercial (≅350 g) fue estudiada en dos poblaciones: salvaje y cultivada, en diferentes sectores de la sección transversal de la musculatura axial de las zonas craneal y caudal del miotomo. Los parámetros musculares cuantificados fueron el tamaño fibrilar (diámetro) y la densidad de fibras blancas. Los resultados encontrados muestran diferencias en la constitución fibrilar de los sectores del miotomo analizados. Tanto a nivel caudal como craneal estas diferencias se establecen cuando se comparan los sectores más internos (b y c) con los más externos (a y d), de tal forma que el tamaño fibrilar era menor en los extremos apicales. No obstante, esta tendencia se invierte a nivel caudal de los ejemplares cultivados. Además, a nivel caudal, el sector c presenta diferencias en la media del tamaño fibrilar entre ejemplares cultivados y salvajes (P=0.001) (AU)

Muscle cellularity was studied in wild and reared sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., at commercial size (≅350 g), in different muscle blocks from transversal section of the axial musculature at both craneal and caudal levels of the miotome. Muscle parameters quantified were white muscle fibre diameter and white muscle fibre density. Results show different muscle cellularity among the studied blocks. Such differences are made evident when inner blocks (b and c) are compared with apical zones (a and d) and so, muscle fibre size was smaller on the apical zones. However, this tendency is reversed at caudal level from reared specimens. Also, at caudal level, the muscle fibre size on the block c presented differences between both wild and reared specimens (AU)