Evaluation of Bovine Embryo Biopsy Techniques according to Their Ability to Preserve Embryo Viability

The purpose of this research was to evaluate three embryo biopsy techniques used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in cattle and to recommend the least invasive one for current use, especially when PGD is followed by embryo cryopreservation. Three hundred bovine embryos were biopsied by either one of the needle, aspiration or microblade method, and then checked for viability by freezing/thawing and transplantation to recipient cows. The number of pregnancies obtained after the transfer of biopsied frozen/thawed embryos was assessed 30 days later using ultrasounds. The results were significantly different between the three biopsy methods: the pregnancy rate was of 57% in cows that received embryos biopsied by needle, 43% in cows that received embryos biopsied by aspiration, and 31% in cows that received embryos biopsied by microblade. Choosing an adequate biopsy method is therefore of great importance in embryos that will undergo subsequent cryopreservation, as it significantly influences their viability after thawing

Surgery of high grade gliomas - pros in favor of maximal cytoreductive surgery

Background: Malignant glioma is themost common primary brain tumour inadults. More and more studies are focusedon the role of surgery in prolonged medianof survival and survival at two years. Thepurpose of this study is to add somearguments in favour of radical surgery inmalignant glioma.Material and Methods: The study is based433 cases of high grade cerebral gliomaoperated between 01.01.2000-31.12.2009 atthe Department of Neurosurgery, ClujCounty Emergency Hospital. We analyzedage, gender, type and duration ofsymptoms, type of surgery, pathologicaldiagnosis and the correlation of thesefactors with overall survival. Data for longterm follow up were available for 266patients.Results: The results shows, according totheir histological features, the fallowingdispersions: astrocitomas grade III (28%),glioblastoma multiforme (64%), high gradeoligodendrogliomas (5%) and high gradeependimomas (3%). The global survivalrate was 47 % at 12 months, 26,3% at 18months and 16,7% at 24 months. The ageand type of surgery are prognostic factorsthat significantly influenced the survival at12, 18 and 24 months (9,3 months age <65years versus 7,1 months age >65 years; 9,2months GTR versus 6,4 months STR-at 12months monitoring; 11,7 months age <65versus 7,7 months age >65; 11,5 monthsGTR versus 7,1 months STR-at 18 monthsmonitoring; 12,8 months age <65 versus 8months age >65; 12,6 months GTR versus7,5 months STR –at 24 monthsmonitoring).Conclusions: Our study shows that longterm postoperative outcome after radicalsurgical resection are better than the resultsof either partial resection or simple biopsy;in terms of duration of survival (thedifference of mean survival at 12, 18 and 24months monitoring was 2,8 months, 4,4months and 5,1 months respectively infavour of patients with gross total removal)

Multiferroic (Nd,Fe)-doped PbTiO3 ceramics with coexistent ferroelectricity and magnetism at room temperature

We report the structural, dielectric, elastic, ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties of multiferroic (Nd, Fe)-doped PbTiO3 perovskite ceramics with composition (Pb 0.88 Nd 0.08 )(Ti 0.94 Fe 0.04 Mn 0.02 )O 3 , prepared by different solid state reaction methods: the first one based on a single-stage calcination (Method I) and the second based on a double-stage calcination (Method II). Structural, dielectric and anelastic measurements evidenced a double phase transition for samples prepared by Method I, which has been attributed to phase separation. This phase separation has been confirmed also by TEM and HRTEM investigations. Samples prepared by Method II showed a single phase transition from paraelectric to ferroelectric phase. We found coexistent ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, also at room-temperature, but only for ceramics prepared by Method II. The crucial role of calcination process for avoiding phase separation and obtaining homogeneous structures with ferroelectric and ferromagnetic order is underlined

Glutathione peroxidase activity and its relationship with somatic cell count, number of colony forming units and protein content in subclinical mastitis cows milk

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the relationship between milk and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, casein concentration, somatic cell count (SCC) and colony forming units (CFU) in cows with subclinical mastitis. Following these tests carried out on 84 lactating cows, 10 of them were classified as cows with subclinical mastitis (SCC values above the limit of 400,000 cells mL -1 ) and 74 as normal. After microbiological processing of the subclinical mastitis milk samples, nine microorganism species have been isolated, represented by seven bacteria and two types of fungi. Comparative analysis of GPx activity in milk revealed significant differences (p = 0.0013), the average of this parameter is higher for mastitis than normal milk. GPx activity in blood shows no significant changes in cows with subclinical mastitis compared to healthy ones. The average quantity of caseins in mastitis milks was lower compared with regular milks, the difference being significant (p = 0.0007). Mastitis milk GPx activity was directly correlated with the total SCC (r = 0.019) and CFU (r = 0.1785). Correlation coefficient between GPx activity and caseins in mastitis milk showed indirect trend (r = -0.2606). The positive correlation between SCC and GPx activity suggests that this enzyme may have potential to detect subclinical mastitis in dairy cows

Protected areas: a resource or constraint for local people?

We investigated local people’s perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes toward conservation planning and management in Chitral Gol National Park in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. A literature review was undertaken to unravel the historic drivers behind the formation of this protected area. Key informant interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of current governance approaches adopted by the park management authorities. Community-based questionnaire surveys and key-informant interviews focused on local communities’ knowledge and awareness of the objectives of the park, people’s role in decision-making, social characteristics, and resource use structures. The information from these surveys was evaluated within the context of good governance and sustainability of park management. Results show a lack of awareness and a low level of participation in protected area management, but a high degree of willingness in the communities to participate in conservation activities. An analysis of the survey data suggests that the park authorities enforce strict protection measures within the park, but this approach lacks a strong vision of sustainability. The surveys reveal that the local people have a very strong sense of belonging to the place and are willing to contribute to the protection of the PA. A large majority of the respondents rely on electronic media as their main source of information, which could potentially form the best medium for conservation campaigning in the region. With these findings in mind, we propose changes to the current governance model for effective and sustainable management of the park in the future

Kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin cct in the arcuate nucleus to control activity of the GnRH pulse generator in Ewes

Recent work has led to the hypothesis that kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons in the arcuate nucleus play a key role in GnRH pulse generation, with kisspeptin driving GnRH release and neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin acting as start and stop signals, respectively. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by determining the actions, if any, of four neurotransmitters found in KNDy neurons (kisspeptin, NKB, dynorphin, and glutamate) on episodic LH secretion using local administration of agonists and antagonists to receptors for these transmitters in ovariectomized ewes. We also obtained evidence that GnRH-containing afferents contact KNDy neurons, so we tested the role of two components of these afferents: GnRH and orphanin-FQ. Microimplants of a Kiss1r antagonist briefly inhibited LH pulses and microinjections of 2 nmol of this antagonist produced a modest transitory decrease in LH pulse frequency. An antagonist to the NKB receptor also decreased LH pulse frequency, whereas NKB and an antagonist to the receptor for dynorphin both increased pulse frequency. In contrast, antagonists toGnRHreceptors, orphanin-FQ receptors, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor had no effect on episodic LH secretion.Wethus conclude that the KNDy neuropeptides act in the arcuate nucleus to control episodic GnRH secretion in the ewe, but afferent input from GnRH neurons to this area does not. These data support the proposed roles forNKBand dynorphin within theKNDyneural network and raise the possibility that kisspeptin contributes to the control ofGnRHpulse frequency in addition to its established role as an output signal from KNDy neurons that drives GnRH pulses.National Institutes of Health Grants R01-HD039916 and RO1-HD017864.http://press.endocrine.org/journal/endoam201