Ocular surface analysis in patients affected with rheumatic diseases

Objective. The international criteria for primary Sjogren's Syndrome (SS I) diagnosis (Vitali et al. 2002) include the Schirmer test I and vital dye staining as tests for ocular surface involvement, but diagnosis can be reached also when the item for ocular signs is not satisfied. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the ocular surface in patients with Sjogren's Syndrome, non- Sjogren's autoimmune diseases and Sicca Syndrome, to understand whether the SS I diagnosis can be targeted also on other tests related to the ocular surface status. Methods. Clinical and cytological data were collected from 122 patients: 40 patients had diagnosis of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome, 51 a non Sjogren's autoimmune disease and 31 had symptoms of dry eye. A validated questionnaire on symptoms was filled by each patient; clinical tests included: Schirmer test I, Jones test, Ferning test, Break Up Time, corneal aesthesiometry, tear clearance test, vital dye staining of the ocular surface, scraping and impression conjunctival cytology. Data were statistically evaluated by using SPSS software and Mann-Whitney analysis on unpaired data. Results. Data show that the subjective symptoms score, tear production, tear turnover, corneal sensitivity and ocular surface integrity are affected in SS I patients, with a statistically significant difference when matched to the other two groups. Conclusions. Our results suggest to enlarge the spectrum of ocular surface analysis, to support and orient a differential diagnosis among the autoimmune diseases

Molecular regulation of muscle development and growth in Senegalese sole larvae exposed to temperature fluctuations

Author's accepted version (post-print).NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Aquaculture (2014). Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Aquaculture (2014), 432. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2014.04.035.The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a marine flatfish that is naturally exposed to high temperature fluctuations (12 - 28 ºC) in the wild, with a life cycle predominantly estuarine during larval and juvenile phases. Farming of this species has largely improved in the past years but marked fluctuations of temperature during production still contribute to variation on growth and muscle cellularity, particularly if they occur during early stages of development. Such thermal plasticity of muscle growth must arise through changes in a multitude of physiological and molecular pathways, in which epigenetic gene regulation is likely to play an essential role. In the present work, we review recent studies addressing molecular, physiological and morphological aspects of the thermal plasticity of somatic growth in Senegalese sole larvae and early juveniles, thus aiming to improve sole rearing in aquaculture production. The present study shows that temperature during specific time frames of ontogeny has both short- and long-term effects on growth and muscle cellularity of Senegalese sole. Nevertheless, Senegalese sole also seems to rapidly adapt to environmental temperature through a set of epigenetic mechanisms and physiological responses such as regulation of feed intake, even at early developmental stages

The role of posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth on online information use in breast cancer survivors

ObjectiveChanges perceived as both positive (eg, posttraumatic growth [PTG]) and negative (eg, posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS]) have been associated with intensive Internet use among breast cancer survivors. In this multicenter study, we analyzed the role of PTG and PTSS on the amount of time spent looking for online cancer information, its content, and its psychological impact. MethodsPosttraumatic stress symptoms and PTG were assessed in 182 breast cancer survivors by using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory questionnaires. Subjects also completed a questionnaire about their behavior when looking for online illness-related information (ie, time spent, type of contents, and psychological impact). ResultsPosttraumatic stress symptoms positively correlated with the amount of time spent looking for cancer-related information, including both medical and psychosocial content. By contrast, PTG showed no relationships with the amount of time, but with a predominant search for cancer-related psychosocial information. The psychological impact of online information was associated with participants' levels of PTG and/or PTSS. Whereas PTG was related to a decrease of women's hope, PTSS was linked to the perception of being less conscious or inadequately informed about the illness, thereby increasing feelings of distress. ConclusionsPosttraumatic stress symptoms and PTG show relationships with the amount of time spent online, the type of information accessed online, and the psychological impact of Internet use. Health professionals should prescribe online information according to the psychological response to cancer. There is a need for professional-led online resources to provide patients with timely information as well as support sites to facilitate psychological adjustment

Deslocamento e estimativa de gasto energético de ovinos manejados com diferentes métodos de pastoreio e ofertas de forragem em campo natural

The Trial was conducted at an 8.4ha natural grassland area, subdivided into 12 experimental units of 0.7 each in the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, when were tested two grazing methods (continuous and rotational(CS and RS) and two herbage allowances (HA; 12 and 18 kg dry matter/100 kg live weight; 12 and 18%), resulting in four treatments: CS12, CS18, RS12 and RS18. The displacement was measured during a 24h period using GPS devices fixed on the ewes back. Together with this evaluation was made a grazing behavior evaluation to synchronize the displacement with the grazing activity. With the GPS data (total and grazing displacement) the energy expenditure was predicted using equations reported in the literature. The herbage allowance did not influence the displacement and the estimations of energy expenditure. The CS presented a higher displacement than RS. Under the assumptions of estimations of energy expenditure, a higher level along all day and during grazing would be expected in the CS. Depending of the pasture quality, variations in the grazing methods could become an important management tool.O ensaio foi conduzido em 8,4ha de campo nativo, dividido em 12 unidades experimentais com 0,7ha, testando dois métodos de pastoreio (lotação contínua e rotativa; LC e LR) e duas ofertas de forragem (12 e 18 kg MS/100 kg PV; 12 e 18%) com ovelhas em gestação, gerando quatro tratamentos: LC12, LC18, LR12 e LR18. Foram medidos os deslocamentos durante um período de 24h utilizando-se aparelhos de GPS fixado na região das cruzes dos animais e o deslocamento na atividade de pastejo e procura de alimento, por meio de sincronização dos dados dos GPS e comportamento ingestivo, qual foi avaliado na ocasião. Com os deslocamentos medidos os gastos energéticos foram estimados por meio de formulas matemáticas repostadas na literatura. As OF não modificaram o deslocamento dos animais durante 24 horas ou em pastejo. O deslocamento só foi influenciado pelos métodos de pastoreio, onde os animais sob lotação contínua se deslocaram mais. Assumindo as estimativas de gasto energético, um alto nível de gasto durante o dia e na atividade de pastejo é observada no método contínuo. Dependendo da qualidade da pastagem, variações no método de pastoreio podem se tornar importantes ferramentas de manejo

Study of using marker assisted selection on a beef cattle breeding program by model comparison

[EN] A data set of a commercial Nellore beef cattle selection program was used to compare breeding models that assumed or not markers effects to estimate the breeding values, when a reduced number of animals have phenotypic, genotypic and pedigree information available. This herd complete data set was composed of 83,404 animals measured for weaning weight (WW), post-weaning gain (PWG), scrotal circumference (SC) and muscle score (MS), corresponding to 116,652 animals in the relationship matrix. Single trait analyses were performed by MTDFREML software to estimate fixed and random effects solutions using this complete data. The additive effects estimated were assumed as the reference breeding values for those animals. The individual observed phenotype of each trait was adjusted for fixed and random effects solutions, except for direct additive effects. The adjusted phenotype composed of the additive and residual parts of observed phenotype was used as dependent variable for models' comparison. Among all measured animals of this herd, only 3160 animals were genotyped for 106 SNP markers. Three models were compared in terms of changes on animals' rank, global fit and predictive ability. Model 1 included only polygenic effects, model 2 included only markers effects and model 3 included both polygenic and markers effects. Bayesian inference via Markov chain Monte Carlo methods performed by TM software was used to analyze the data for model comparison. Two different priors were adopted for markers effects in models 2 and 3, the first prior assumed was a uniform distribution (U) and, as a second prior, was assumed that markers effects were distributed as normal (N). Higher rank correlation coefficients were observed for models 3_U and 3_N, indicating a greater similarity of these models animals' rank and the rank based on the reference breeding values. Model 3_N presented a better global fit, as demonstrated by its low DIC. The best models in terms of predictive ability were models 1 and 3_N. Differences due prior assumed to markers effects in models 2 and 3 could be attributed to the better ability of normal prior in handle with collinear effects. The models 2_U and 2_N presented the worst performance, indicating that this small set of markers should not be used to genetically evaluate animals with no data, since its predictive ability is restricted. In conclusion, model 3_N presented a slight superiority when a reduce number of animals have phenotypic, genotypic and pedigree information. It could be attributed to the variation retained by markers and polygenic effects assumed together and the normal prior assumed to markers effects, that deals better with the collinearity between markers. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.We are grateful to the Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP), Merialilgenity and Conselho Nacional de apoio a Pesquisa (CNPq) for the financial support, to Agro-Pecuaria CFM for data set and the Institut de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agroalimentarias de Cataluña (IRTA) as the host institution for its full backing while preparing the research and the manuscript.Rezende, F.; Ferraz, J.; Eler, J.; Silva, R.; Mattos, E.; Ibáñez-Escriche, N. (2012). Study of using marker assisted selection on a beef cattle breeding program by model comparison. Livestock Science. 147(1-3):40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2012.03.017S40481471-