Identification of a tachykinin-related peptide with orexigenic properties in the German cockroach

A number of evidences suggest that tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) of insects can stimulate food consumption after being released from the midgut to the hemolymph. The idea of the present work has been to test this hypothesis in the anautogenous cockroach Blattella germanica. First, we have identified the peptide LemTRP-1 (APSGFLGVR-NH2) from brain extracts, by means of an ELISA developed with a polyclonal antibody against this peptide. ELISA studies have also shown that, whereas brain LemTRP-1 levels were fairly constant, midgut levels increase to a maximum on day 3 after adult emergence, falling thereafter until the end of the gonadotrophic cycle. Interestingly, maximum values of food consumption are concomitant with the decrease of LemTRP-1 immunoreactivity in the midgut. Furthermore, starvation decreases LemTRP-1 immunoreactivity in midgut, whereas in the hemolymph it increases. Finally, injection of synthetic LemTRP-1 to adult females significantly stimulates food consumption. The whole observations suggest that LemTRP-1 is released from the midgut to the hemolymph when sustained food consumption is required to maintain vitellogenesis at the highest levels, and that LemTRP-1 in the hemolymph stimulates food consumption in these days. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (projects AGL2002-01169 and AGL2005-00773 (X.B.) and BFU2006-01090 (J.L.M.)) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2005 SGR 00053) are gratefully acknowledged.Peer Reviewe

Detection of pathogenic Bacteria by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy: Influence of the immobilization strategies on the sensor performance

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is applied to detect pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 bacteria via a label free immunoassay-based detection method. Polyclonal anti-E.coli antibodies (PAb) are immobilized onto gold electrodes following two different strategies, via chemical bond formation between antibody amino groups and a carboxylic acid containing self-assembled molecular monolayer (SAM) and alternatively by linking a biotinylated anti-E. coli to Neutravidin on a mixed-SAM. Impedance spectra for sensors of both designs for increasing concentrations of E. coli are recorded in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The Nyquist plots can be modeled with a Randle equivalent circuit, identifying the charge transfer resistance RCT as the relevant concentration dependent parameter. Sensors fabricated from both designs are able to detect very low concentration of E. coli with limits of detection as low as 10-100 cfu/ml. The influence of the different immobilization protocols on the sensor performance is evaluated in terms of sensitivity, dynamic range and resistance against nonspecific absorption

Epidemiological study of canine mammary tumors: age, breed, size and malignancy

A retrospective study was carried out on 858 female canine patients who were attended at the Surgery Service of the Clinical Veterinary Hospital of the University of Extremadura (Spain), during a period of 5 years (2008-2012). This study aims to determine the incidence of mammary tumors in the canine species of this region together with the analysis of several epidemiological variables (breed, age, and size) and the histopathological variable tumor malignancy. Three groups of patients were considered: (I) general group including all patients (n=858), (II) oncological patients (n=376), and (III) patients with mammary tumors (n=227). Oncology represented the most common pathology for female dogs (n=376, 43.82%), with mammary tumors being the most frequent neoplasms (n=227, 60.37%). Mixed breed dogs were more likely than purebred dogs to suffer from mammary tumors, with these tumors being more frequently malignant. It was also found that large-sized patients show a greater predisposition to malignant mammary tumors. In patients with tumors, age at diagnosis was significantly associated with a higher malignancy rate. The results of the study confirm the importance of oncology in the veterinary clinic in the region. Mammary tumors represent the most frequently diagnosed neoplasia in female dogs. Old age, mixed breed and large size predispose to its development and represent risk factors for malignancy

Anàlisi del temps d'infermeria dedicat als malalts amb ventilació mecànica invasiva a una unitat de monitoratge d'un servei d'urgències

Respiración artificial; Enfermería; Gestión del tiempoRespiració artificial; Infermeria; Gestió del tempsArtificial Respiration; Nursing; Time ManagementL'objectiu va ser descriure i analitzar el temps d'estada dels pacients que varen precisar ventilació mecànica invasiva (VMI) per la COVID-19 a una unitat de monitoratge (UMO) d'un servei d'urgències d'un hospital comarcal. Es van recollir les dades dels pacients que van precisar VMI a la UMO des de juliol de 2020 fins a l'actualitat. Les dades de l'estudi van ser utilitzades i recollides emprant l'eina electrònica de gestió de dades REDCap, localitzada al servidor intern de l'hospital. Es van incloure 117 pacients que van precisar VMI amb infecció per COVID-19, el 78,4% homes. La mediana de temps que van estar els pacients a la nostra UMO des de l'inici de la VMI fins al trasllat a l'UCI va ser de 195 minuts (RIQ=130). El 57,8% dels pacients es van traslladar a l'UCI de l'Hospital Josep Trueta, l'11,2% a la de l'Hospital Santa Caterina i la resta, 31% a les UCI d'hospitals fora de la província de Girona. Si tenim en compte la divisió territorial en clústers, el 22,4% es van traslladar fora. El temps d'estada a la UMO dels pacients que van precisar VMI va ser elevat, tractant-se d'un hospital comarcal. La majoria de pacients es van traslladar a les UCI de Girona o del clúster Nord Girona. Així i tot, hi ha un alt nombre de pacients que van haver de ser traslladats a altres centres, fet que reflecteix la manca de llits de crítics en el nostre entorn

Viroid infection and rootstocks affect productivity and fruit quality of the Tunisian citrus cultivar Maltaise demi sanguine

In Tunisia, sweet orange citrus cultivars are usually grafted on sour orange rootstock. However, this rootstock is susceptible to Citrus tristeza virus (CTV). A trial was established in 2005 to evaluate the performance of newly introduced rootstocks compared to sour orange, using the sweet orange cultivar ‘Maltaise demi sanguine’ as the grafted scion. The effect of single or mixed viroid infections were monitored over 12 years. Once established, tree growth, cumulative yield, tree performance and fruit quality of ‘Maltaise sweet orange’ were assessed from 2008. Mixed viroid infections caused significant decreases (39 to 60%) in the canopy volume of ‘Maltaise’ grafted on Carrizo citrange, Swingle citrumelo, Cleopatra mandarin, Rangpur lime, Volkamer lemon and Trifoliate orange. The cumulative yield of trees grafted on’Alemow’ (Citrus macrophylla) and inoculated with Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) was 76% less than the healthy control. Mixed infections caused production decreases of 56% from trees grafted on Swingle citrumelo and 69% from those grafeted on Trifoliate orange. When quality parameters of fruit from trees infected with each viroid, and combinations of viroids were compared, no significant differences were recorded.

Viroid infection and rootstocks affect productivity and fruit quality of the Tunisian citrus cultivar Maltaise demi sanguine

In Tunisia, sweet orange citrus cultivars are usually grafted on sour orange rootstock. However, this rootstock is susceptible to Citrus tristeza virus (CTV). A trial was established in 2005 to evaluate the performance of newly introduced rootstocks compared to sour orange, using the sweet orange cultivar ‘Maltaise demi sanguine’ as the grafted scion. The effect of single or mixed viroid infections were monitored over 12 years. Once established, tree growth, cumulative yield, tree performance and fruit quality of ‘Maltaise sweet orange’ were assessed from 2008. Mixed viroid infections caused significant decreases (39 to 60%) in the canopy volume of ‘Maltaise’ grafted on Carrizo citrange, Swingle citrumelo, Cleopatra mandarin, Rangpur lime, Volkamer lemon and Trifoliate orange. The cumulative yield of trees grafted on’Alemow’ (Citrus macrophylla) and inoculated with Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) was 76% less than the healthy control. Mixed infections caused production decreases of 56% from trees grafted on Swingle citrumelo and 69% from those grafeted on Trifoliate orange. When quality parameters of fruit from trees infected with each viroid, and combinations of viroids were compared, no significant differences were recorded.

Bone marrow characterization in COPD: a multi-level network analysis

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow (BM) produces hematopoietic and progenitor cells that contribute to distant organ inflammation and repair. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by defective lung repair. Yet, BM composition has not been previously characterized in COPD patients. METHODS: In this prospective and controlled study, BM was obtained by sternum fine-needle aspiration in 35 COPD patients and 25 healthy controls (10 smokers and 15 never-smokers). BM cell count and immunophenotype were determined by microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. Circulating inflammatory (C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-8) and repair markers (HGF, IGF, TGF-β, VEGF) were quantified by ELISA. Results were integrated by multi-level network correlation analysis. RESULTS: We found that: (1) there were no major significant pair wise differences between COPD patients and controls in the BM structural characteristics; (2) multi-level network analysis including patients and controls identifies a relation between immunity, repair and lung function not previously described, that remains in the COPD network but is absent in controls; and (3) this novel network identifies eosinophils as a potential mediator relating immunity and repair, particularly in patients with emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results suggest that BM is activated in COPD with impaired repair capacity in patients with more emphysema and/or higher circulating eosinophils