Follicular wave synchronization using buserelin in llama (Lama glama)

The objective of the study was to synchronize follicular wave emergency using busereline in a group of llamas that were at different stages of their follicular waves. We used 16 non-pregnant, nonlactating females divided according to their follicular dynamics determined ultrasonographically three days previously, into 4 groups: I: follicles smaller than 6 mm; II: growing follicles from 7 to 10 mm; III: maturing follicles from 8 to 14 mm and IV: regressing follicles, decreasing over two consecutive days. The animals received 8 µg of busereline (day 0) and ovarian activity was followed using ultrasound scanning until a dominant follicle (? 7 mm) was detected. The smallest mean maximum follicular diameter was observed on day 3, there being no significant differences between the 4 groups (P=0.50). The time interval from the GnRH injection to the detection of a follicle ? 7 mm was 6.25 ± 1.29 days in group I; 5.5 ± 1.8 days in group II; 5.5 ± 1.1 days in group III and 8.66 ± 1.88 days in group IV. The moment of the detection of a dominant follicle was not statistically different (P=0.26). In conclusion, the use of busereline in llamas that are in different follicular phases synchronizes the emergence of the follicular wave and permits starting superstimulatory treatments between days 3 and 6 after its injection.Fil: Ferrer, M.S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Agüero, A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Chaves, M.G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Russo, A.F. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Rutter, B. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaEl objetivo del estudio fue sincronizar la emergencia de la onda folicular mediante la aplicación de buserelina, en animales que se encontraban en diferentes fases de su dinámica folicular. Se utilizaron 16 hembras vacías no en lactancia divididas en 4 grupos en base a su dinámica folicular determinada ultrasonográficamente durante los 3 días previos: I: folículos menores a 6 mm; II: folículos en crecimiento entre 7 y 10 mm; III: folículos en fase estática entre 8 y 14 mm y IV: folículos en regresión luego de dos mediciones consecutivas en descenso. Los animales recibieron 8 µg de buserelina (día 0) y se realizó el seguimiento de la actividad ovárica mediante ultrasonografía hasta detectar la presencia de un folículo dominante (mayor o igual a 7 mm). El menor diámetro folicular máximo promedio en los 4 grupos se observó el día 3 no existiendo diferencias significativas entre los grupos (P= 0,50). El tiempo transcurrido desde la aplicación del análogo de GnRH hasta la detección de un folículo mayor o igual a 7 mm fue de 6,25 ± 1,29 días para el grupo I; 5,5 ± 1,8 días para el grupo II; 5,5 ± 1,1 días para el grupo III y 8,66 ± 1,88 días para el grupo IV. No hubo diferencias significativas en el momento de la detección del folículo dominante (P=0,26). En conclusión la aplicación de buserelina en llamas que se encuentran en distintas fases de su dinámica folicular, sincroniza la emergencia de la onda folicular y permite comenzar los tratamientos superestimulatorios entre los días 3 y 6 de la aplicación

Non-Scissors-Mode Behaviour of Isovector Magnetic Dipole Orbital Transitions Involving Isospin Transfer

We study the response of isovector orbital magnetic dipole (IOMD) transitions to the quadrupole-quadrupole ($Q \cdot Q$) interaction, to the isospin-conserving pairing interaction (ICP) and to combinations of both. We find qualitatively different behaviours for transitions in which the final isospin differs from the initial isospin versus cases where the two isospins are the same. For $N=Z$ even-even nuclei with $J^{\pi}=0^+, T=0$ ground states such as $^8Be$ and $^{20}Ne$, the summed $T=0 \to T=1$ IOMD from the ground state to all the $J=1, T=1$ states in the $0 \hbar \omega$ space does not vanish when the $Q \cdot Q$ interaction is turned off. The pairing interaction (ICP) alone leads to a finite transition rate. For nuclei with $J=0^+, T=1$ ground states such as $^{10}Be$ and $^{22}Ne$, the summed $T=1 \to T=1$ IOMD $does$ vanish when the $Q \cdot Q$ interaction is turned off, as is expected in a good scissors-mode behaviour. However this is not the case for the corresponding sum of the $T=1 \to T=2$ IOMD transitions. In $^{22}Ne$ (but not in $^{10}Be$) the sum of the $T=1 \to T=2$ IOMD transitions is remarkably insensitive to the strengths of both the $Q \cdot Q$ and the ICP interactions. In $^{22}Ne$ an energy weighted-sum is similarly insensitive. All our calculations were carried out in the $0 \hbar \omega$ space.Comment: 19 pages (including 5 figures). submitted to Nucl. Phys.

Orbital and Spin Magnetic Dipole Strength in a shell model calculation with ΔN\Delta N=22 excitations: ^8\mbox{Be}

The magnetic dipole strength and energy-weighted strength distribution is calculated in ^8\mbox{Be}, as well as the separate orbit and spin parts. All $\Delta N$=$2$ excitations over and above (and including) the configuration $0s^4$$0p^4$ are included. The interaction has a central, two-body spin-orbit and a tensor part. The energy- independent and energy-weighted {\underline orbital} strength distribution is remarkably insensitive to the presence or absence of the spin-orbit or tensor interaction -not so the spin strength. The energy-weighted strength distribution can be divided into a low enegy and a high energy part. The high energy orbital part is somewhat less but close to the low energy part, in fair agreement with a prediction that they be equal by de Guerra and Zamick and by Nojarov. There is a wide plateau separating the low energy part from the high energy part.Comment: 12 pages (4 figs/on request) \#RU944

Antifungal activity of amphotericin B conjugated to nanosized magnetite in the treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis

This study reports on in vitro and in vivo tests that sought to assess the antifungal activity of a newly developed magnetic carrier system comprising amphotericin B loaded onto the surface of pre-coated (with a double-layer of lauric acid) magnetite nanoparticles. The in vitro tests compared two drugs; i.e., this newly developed form and free amphotericin B. We found that this nanocomplex exhibited antifungal activity without cytotoxicity to human urinary cells and with low cytotoxicity to peritoneal macrophages. We also evaluated the efficacy of the nanocomplex in experimental paracoccidioidomycosis. BALB/c mice were intratracheally infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and treated with the compound for 30 or 60 days beginning the day after infection. The newly developed amphotericin B coupled with magnetic nanoparticles was effective against experimental paracoccidioidomycosis, and it did not induce clinical, biochemical or histopathological alterations. The nanocomplex also did not induce genotoxic effects in bone marrow cells. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that amphotericin B coupled to magnetic nanoparticles and stabilized with bilayer lauric acid is a promising nanotool for the treatment of the experimental paracoccidioidomycosis because it exhibited antifungal activity that was similar to that of free amphotericin B, did not induce adverse effects in therapeutic doses and allowed for a reduction in the number of applications