Fluoroquinolone-mediated inhibition of cell growth, S-G2/M cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in canine osteosarcoma cell lines.

Despite significant advancements in osteosarcoma research, the overall survival of canine and human osteosarcoma patients has remained essentially static over the past 2 decades. Post-operative limb-spare infection has been associated with improved survival in both species, yet a mechanism for improved survival has not been clearly established. Given that the majority of canine osteosarcoma patients experiencing post-operative infections were treated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, we hypothesized that fluoroquinolone antibiotics might directly inhibit the survival and proliferation of canine osteosarcoma cells. Ciprofloxacin or enrofloxacin were found to inhibit p21(WAF1) expression resulting in decreased proliferation and increased S-G(2)/M accumulation. Furthermore, fluoroquinolone exposure induced apoptosis of canine osteosarcoma cells as demonstrated by cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, and activation of caspase-3/7. These results support further studies examining the potential impact of quinolones on survival and proliferation of osteosarcoma

Risk Assessment Due to Debris Flows in Paz de Río-Colombia

Paz de Río is an important economic area of Colombia where iron mines produce most of the mineral for the steel production in the country. Along the La Chapa creek some debris flows have occurred since 1963 producing economic losses and human deaths at Santa Teresa village. Economical losses are related to disruption of the main access to La Chapa iron mine facilities, and flooding of Paz de Río due to damming of Chicamocha River, the main drainage system of the region, which is blocked by debris flows. The local authority for Natural Disaster Management (CREPAD) jointly with the Universidad Nacional de Colombia carries out the risk evaluation related to potential debris flows along the creek. The study models the debris flow using the FLO2D software considering the geological, geomorphologic, topographic and hydrological setting of the area. As main sediment source we considered the potential volume of material supplied by a large landslide at the upper part of the creek basin, known locally as the Mesa Alta landslide, whereas sediment production due to landslides within the basin was considered as point inflows along the creek. Physical vulnerability was evaluated by using the Leone (1999) approach, which considers the flow height and its relation with the structure height, whereas social vulnerability was evaluated by considering factors as population density, people age, literacy level and economical income. Risk assessment was based on the Liu and Lei (2003) approach in which risk is defined graphically considering critical threshold curves obtained from vulnerability and hazard values. Risk for different elements within the influence area of the creek was evaluated and mitigation measures including engineering works were proposed, the influence of these measures on hazard and risk was also evaluated

Fasting Reduces the Incidence of Delayed-Type Vomiting Associated with Doxorubicin Treatment in Dogs with Lymphoma.

Fasting reduces gastrointestinal cellular proliferation rates through G1 cycle blockade and can promote cellular protection of normal but not cancer cells through altered cell signaling including down-regulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of fasting on delayed-type chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in dogs receiving doxorubicin. This prospective randomized crossover study involved intended administration of two doses of doxorubicin. Cancer-bearing dogs were randomized to be fasted for 24 hours beginning at 6 P.M. the night before the first or second doxorubicin administration, and all treatments were administered within an hour before or after 12 P.M. Dogs were fed normally before the alternate dose. Circulating IGF-1 concentrations were determined from serum samples obtained immediately before each doxorubicin treatment. Data from 35 doses were available from 20 dogs enrolled. Dogs that were fasted exhibited a significantly lower incidence of vomiting, when compared to fed dogs (10% compared to 67%, P = .020). Furthermore, among the 15 dogs that completed crossover dosing, vomiting was abrogated in four of five dogs that experienced doxorubicin-induced vomiting when fed normally (P = .050). No differences in other gastrointestinal, constitutional, or bone marrow toxicities or serum IGF-1 levels were observed

Maximum efficiency phothochemistry and potential photosynthetic index in melon plants (Cucumis melo) treated with low temperatures

La fluorescencia de la clorofila se utiliza para determinar la eficiencia fotoquímica de las plantas ante diferentes condiciones ambientales. Existen índices como Fv/Fm y PI abs que son indicadores indirectos del rendimiento cuántico del fotosistema II (PSII). El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la eficiencia fotoquímica máxima del PSII y el potencial fotosintético en plantas sometidas a bajas temperaturas. La experiencia se llevó a cabo en la EEA, Santiago del Estero y en la Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustria, UNSE. Los tratamientos consistieron en plantas de melón (cv. Sweet Ball) sin estímulo de frío (testigo) y plantas con estímulo de frío durante la noche con rangos térmicos de 0ºC a 10ºC y de -3ºC a 0ºC. Se evaluó la eficiencia fotoquímica máxima (Fv/Fm), índice de potencial fotosintético (PI abs) y concentración de malondialdehido (MDA) en hoja. En las plantas estimuladas con frío se obtuvo menor Fv/Fm, PI abs e incrementos en la concentración de MDA.Measurements of the chlorophyll fluorescence is used to examine the photochemical efficiency of plants a wide range of environmental conditions. The quantum yield of non-cyclic electron transport is directly proportional to the efficiency of excitation of the reaction centers of Photosystem II (PS II) and can be determined by indexes such as Fv / Fm and PI abs. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and photosynthetic potential in plants treated with low temperatures. The experiment was conducted at the Estación Experimental Agropecuaria (EEA) INTA y la Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustria de la Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero (UNSE). Treatments consisted of melon plants (cv. Sweet Ball) without (control) and with low night temperatures between 10°C and 0ºC to -3ºC to 0°C. Photochemical efficiency (Fv / Fm), photosynthetic potential index (PI abs) and in turn MDA concentration increased.Fil: Rodriguez Torresi, A. O.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Yonny, Melisa Evangelina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Nazareno, M.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: Galmarini, Claudio Romulo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Mendoza-San Juan. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Bouzo, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Practical application of a Bayesian network approach to poultry epigenetics and stress

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 812777. We also greatly appreciate funding from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) grants #2018-01074 and #2017-00946 to CG-B. FP appreciates funding from São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil) projects #2016/20440-3 and #2018/13600-0.Background: Relationships among genetic or epigenetic features can be explored by learning probabilistic networks and unravelling the dependencies among a set of given genetic/epigenetic features. Bayesian networks (BNs) consist of nodes that represent the variables and arcs that represent the probabilistic relationships between the variables. However, practical guidance on how to make choices among the wide array of possibilities in Bayesian network analysis is limited. Our study aimed to apply a BN approach, while clearly laying out our analysis choices as an example for future researchers, in order to provide further insights into the relationships among epigenetic features and a stressful condition in chickens (Gallus gallus). Results: Chickens raised under control conditions (n = 22) and chickens exposed to a social isolation protocol (n = 24) were used to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs). A total of 60 DMRs were selected by a threshold, after bioinformatic pre-processing and analysis. The treatment was included as a binary variable (control = 0; stress = 1). Thereafter, a BN approach was applied: initially, a pre-filtering test was used for identifying pairs of features that must not be included in the process of learning the structure of the network; then, the average probability values for each arc of being part of the network were calculated; and finally, the arcs that were part of the consensus network were selected. The structure of the BN consisted of 47 out of 61 features (60 DMRs and the stressful condition), displaying 43 functional relationships. The stress condition was connected to two DMRs, one of them playing a role in tight and adhesive intracellular junctions in organs such as ovary, intestine, and brain. Conclusions: We clearly explain our steps in making each analysis choice, from discrete BN models to final generation of a consensus network from multiple model averaging searches. The epigenetic BN unravelled functional relationships among the DMRs, as well as epigenetic features in close association with the stressful condition the chickens were exposed to. The DMRs interacting with the stress condition could be further explored in future studies as possible biomarkers of stress in poultry species.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Medical geography in the study of hepatitis A, in the Coffee-triangle region, Colombia, 2007-2011

Objectives: There are few studies of geographical characterization of viral hepatitis. For this reason, we after estimating the incidence rates for Hepatitis A (HAV), we developed epidemiological GIS-based maps for this viral disease, within a well-defined geographic region (the coffee triangle) in Colombia. Study design: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of surveillance data and GIS-based developing of epidemiological maps. Methods: Surveillance cases data (2007-2011) were used to estimate annual incidence rates using reference population data, on hepatitis, to develop the first maps of HAV in the 53 municipalities of the coffee-triangle region of Colombia (departments Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda). GIS used was Kosmo® 3.1. To summarize and compare the data among municipalities and departments (as units of analysis) we generate indicators such as accumulated incidence rates (AIR) and incidence rates ratios. Results: 1518 HAV cases were reported, 47% from Quindío, 30% Caldas and 22% Risaralda. Quindio presented with the highest AIR (131.54) among all the administrative units under study (Caldas, AIR: 46.39; Risaralda, AIR: 37.62). Interestingly, the highest rates in Quindio, during the period, could be related to the increased number of cases reported in two municipalities from 2008 (Quimbaya, AIR ratio: 4.0 and Montenegro: 3.61). The causes that underlie this augmentation will be subject to further research. Conclusions: Incidence rates for HAV is still high in the region. Showing epidemiological data, particularly in maps would allow planning actions oriented to interventions at the different forms of transmission that this disease has, which is highly important for decisions in public health policies

Testing the Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Base on Blood Lactate Levels after a Strenuous Exercise

INTRODUCTION: The lactate is an intermediate metabolic, its production in the skeletal muscle increase during the exercise, principally in anaerobic condition that include oxygen deficiency in the skeletal muscle during the exercise. The lactate is released to systemic blood, where it participate in the Cori cycle, although in the blood, the metabolite can modify the blood’s pH. For the last condition, the human has some mechanism to attenuate the lactate effects on the pH in blood PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was evaluate the effect of the sodium bicarbonate ingestion on the lactate blood levels before and after an acute strenuous exercise in undergraduate students. METHODS: Five male (21.2 ± 21.5 years; 78 ± 9.73 kg) were recruited. Two strenuous exercise test of 4 minutes were performed. An interval of 24 hours was present between exercise sessions. The test consisted in intervals of 30 seconds to maximum intensity and with periods of submaximal intensity for 30 seconds. The lower intensity consisted of continuous aerobic activity to ≈ 60% of HRmax. The first test was performed without NaHCO3 ingestion. Contrary, the second exercise session was performed with NaHCO3 ingestion (300mg/kg body weight). The NaHCO3 ingestion was performed 2 hours previous to exercise. RESULTS: Without sodium bicarbonate ingestion, the lactate before physical effort was 1,74mmol, SD 2,15mmol, the lactate after to physical effort was 7,94mmol, SD 9,73, the oxygen in blood before to physical effort was 99% SD 0%, the oxygen after to physical effort was 96,6% SD 1,74%, the systolic blood pressure before physical effort was 122mmHg, SD 11,66mmHg, the diastolic blood pressure was 91,2 mmHg, SD 10mmHg, after physical effort the systolic blood pressure was 131,2mmHg. SD 11,90mmHg, the diastolic blood pressure was 76mmHg, SD 12,58mmHg. With sodium bicarbonate ingest, the lactate before physical effort was 0.4mmol, SD 0.56mmol, lactate after physical effort was 6.73, SD 7,31mmol, the oxygen in blood before physical effort was 99% SD 0%, after to physical effort was 96.66%, SD 0.47%. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the bicarbonate ingestion does not change significantly the blood lactate concentrations after a strenuous exercise. Our current data could be consequence by the low sample size. Therefore, we suggest perform a new study with a bigger sample than the current work

Characterization of Pulmonary Metastases in Children With Hepatoblastoma Treated on Children\u27s Oncology Group Protocol AHEP0731 (The Treatment of Children With All Stages of Hepatoblastoma): A Report From the Children\u27s Oncology Group.

Purpose To determine whether the pattern of lung nodules in children with metastatic hepatoblastoma (HB) correlates with outcome. Methods Thirty-two patients with metastatic HB were enrolled on Children\u27s Oncology Group Protocol AHEP0731 and treated with vincristine and irinotecan (VI). Responders to VI received two additional cycles of VI intermixed with six cycles of cisplatin/fluorouracil/vincristine/doxorubicin (C5VD), and nonresponders received six cycles of C5VD alone. Patients were imaged after every two cycles and at the conclusion of therapy. All computed tomography scans and pathology reports were centrally reviewed, and information was collected regarding lung nodule number, size, laterality, timing of resolution, and pulmonary surgery. Results Among the 29 evaluable patients, only 31% met Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) for measurable metastatic disease. The presence of measurable disease by RECIST, the sum of nodule diameters greater than or equal to the cumulative cohort median size, bilateral disease, and ≥ 10 nodules were each associated with an increased risk for an event-free survival event ( P = .48, P = .08, P = .065, P = .03, respectively), with nodule number meeting statistical significance. Ten patients underwent pulmonary resection/metastasectomy at various time points, the benefit of which could not be determined because of small patient numbers. Conclusion Children with metastatic HB have a poor prognosis. Overall tumor burden may be an important prognostic factor for these patients. Lesions that fail to meet RECIST size criteria (ie, those \u3c 10 mm) at diagnosis may contain viable tumor, whereas residual lesions at the end of therapy may constitute eradicated tumor/scar tissue. Patients may benefit from risk stratification on the basis of the burden of lung metastatic disease at diagnosis