288 research outputs found
Meeting the Vitamin A Requirement: The Efficacy and Importance of β
Vitamin A is essential for life in all vertebrate animals. Vitamin A requirement can be met from dietary preformed vitamin A or provitamin A carotenoids, the most important of which is β-carotene. The metabolism of β-carotene, including its intestinal absorption, accumulation in tissues, and conversion to vitamin A, varies widely across animal species and determines the role that β-carotene plays in meeting vitamin A requirement. This review begins with a brief discussion of vitamin A, with an emphasis on species differences in metabolism. A more detailed discussion of β-carotene follows, with a focus on factors impacting bioavailability and its conversion to vitamin A. Finally, the literature on how animals utilize β-carotene is reviewed individually for several species and classes of animals. We conclude that β-carotene conversion to vitamin A is variable and dependent on a number of factors, which are important to consider in the formulation and assessment of diets. Omnivores and herbivores are more efficient at converting β-carotene to vitamin A than carnivores. Absorption and accumulation of β-carotene in tissues vary with species and are poorly understood. More comparative and mechanistic studies are required in this area to improve the understanding of β-carotene metabolism
A review of phosphorus homeostasis and the impact of different types and amounts of dietary phosphate on metabolism and renal health in cats
Elevated concentrations of serum phosphate are linked with progression and increased case fatality rate in animals and humans with chronic kidney disease. Elevated concentrations of serum phosphate can be a risk factor for development of renal and cardiovascular diseases or osteoporosis in previously healthy people. In rodents, an excess intake of dietary phosphorus combined with an inverse dietary calcium : phosphorus ratio (<1 : 1) contributes to renal calcification. Renal injury also has occured in cats fed experimental diets supplemented with highly soluble phosphate salts, especially in diets with inverse calcium : phosphorus ratios. However, not all phosphorus sources contribute similarly to this effect. This review, which focuses on cats, summarizes the published evidence regarding phosphorus metabolism and homeostasis, including the relative impact of different dietary phosphorus sources, and their impact on the kidneys. No data currently shows that commercial cat foods induce renal injury. However, some diets contain high amounts of phosphorus relative to recommendations and some have inverse Ca : P ratios and so could increase the risk for development of kidney disease. While limiting the use of highly soluble phosphates appears to be important, there are insufficient data to support a specific upper limit for phosphate intake. This review also proposes areas where additional research is needed in order to strengthen conclusions and recommendations regarding dietary phosphorus for cats
Relevant but neglected habitat types by the Directive 92/43 EEC in southern Italy
The 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive is the main European Union legal tool concerning nature conservation. The habitat types listed in Annex I to the Directive are phytosociology-based. It is widely acknowledged that phytosociological analysis is a crucial approach for habitats characterization and for monitoring their conservation status. Based on bibliographic investigations and new field survey campaigns, a list of habitat types neglected by the Habitats Directive is here presented and described for southern Italy. In this paper, 8 new habitat types and 13 subtypes are proposed. For each of these proposed new habitat types, a wide range of information, including ecology, chorology, species composition, syntaxonomy, threats, and conservation status, is here provided. To supply more detailed phytogeographical and coenological information about the proposed new habitat types, distribution maps based on 10 x 10 km reference grids and phytosociological tables including unpublished releves were carried out
Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for the Enumeration and Characterization of Mineralo-Organic Nanoparticles in Feline Urine
Urinary stone disease, particularly calcium oxalate, is common in both humans
and cats. Calcifying nanoparticles (CNP) are spherical nanocrystallite
material, and are composed of proteins (fetuin, albumin) and inorganic
minerals. CNP are suggested to play a role in a wide array of pathologic
mineralization syndromes including urolithiasis. We documented the development
of a clinically relevant protocol to assess urinary CNP in 9 healthy cats
consuming the same diet in a controlled environment using Nanoparticle
Tracking Analysis (NTA®). NTA® is a novel method that allows for
characterization of the CNP in an efficient, accurate method that can
differentiate these particles from other urinary submicron particulates. The
predominant nanoscale particles in feline urine are characteristic of CNP in
terms of their size, their ability to spontaneously form under suitable
conditions, and the presence of an outer layer that is rich in calcium and
capable of binding to hydroxyapatite binders such as alendronate and
osteopontin. The expansion of this particle population can be suppressed by
the addition of citrate to urine samples. Further, compounds targeting
exosomal surfaces do not label these particulates. As CNP have been associated
with a number of significant urologic maladies, the method described herein
may prove to be a useful adjunct in evaluating lithogenesis risk in mammals
Percutaneous Trans-Thoracic Procedures in Children With Tumors of Thoracic Wall, Mediastinum and Lung. The Experience of a Single Institution
Background
While percutaneous trans-thoracic procedures (PTTP) are commonly performed in adults with
tumors of thoracic wall, mediastinum and lung, the experience is limited in children, in whom
however less invasive methods should be the choice for the diagnosis or the identification of
small pulmonary nodules that need to be removed, sparing lung tissue. The results of the PTTP
performed by the interventional radiologists in our Pediatric Surgery Department are analyzed.
Methods
CT-guided biopsies, utilizing a 64-slice CTscanner, with low-radiation dose, were performed
applying the coaxial technique with 16-18G needles with a single tissue path. For localization
of lung nodules before surgery, two 20G-hook wires were positioned beyond the nodule. CT
images after each manipulation of the needles were obtained. US-guided biopsies were
performed either with or without coaxial technique through a needle bracket. Younger patients
required sedation. All patients underwent a chest radiogram two hours after the procedure and
remained under observation for 24 hours.
Results
From January 2015 to March 2019, 23 procedures were performed in 22 patients (Age:16M-
19Y): 6 patients underwent CT-guided biopsy (4 lung nodules, 2 mediastinal mass); 3
underwent 4 CT-guided hook-wire localization of pulmonary nodules, just before surgery; 13
underwent US-guided biopsy (posterior mediastinum 2; anterior mediastinum 5,
thoracic/intrathoracic mass 5). Adequate core biopsies were obtained in all patients, except
three, who underwent thoracoscopy/thoracotomy. The hook-wires were successfully
positioned in all cases, as confirmed by histology. After the procedure, two patients presented
perilesional hemorrhage and one pneumothorax, but they did not required treatment.
Conclusion
PTTP were successful in most patients, without significant complications. These techniques
should be encouraged to avoid diagnostic aggressive surgical approaches in children with
cancer. For all cases a multidisciplinary team is essential to discuss the indications and planning
the procedures
Contribution to the floristic knowledge of Lipari and Panarea Islands (Sicilia, Italy)
The inventory of the taxa collected in 2022 during the annual field trip of the Working Group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution of the Italian Botanical Society is reported. The field trip was held from 19th to 22th April in the islands of Lipari and Panarea (Aeolian Islands, Sicilia). Overall, 1,664 herbarium specimens were deposited in public and private herbaria. The flora documented for the studied area amounts to 386 specific and subspecific taxa, belonging to 241 genera and 74 families. Centaurea aeolica, Helichrysum litoreum (Asteraceae), and Dianthus rupicola subsp. aeolicus (Caryophyllaceae) were the only three Italian endemics found in the study area, whereas 48 alien taxa were recorded. Dimorphotheca ecklonis (Asteraceae), Nassella tenuissima (Poaceae), Solanum torvum (Solanaceae), and Viola wittrockiana (Violaceae) are casual alien species new to Sicilia, whereas Oenothera odorata (Onagraceae) is a new naturalized alien species for the Italian vascular flora
Contribution to the floristic knowledge of the Maddalena Mountains (Basilicata and Campania, southern Italy)
The inventory of the taxa collected during the annual field trip of the working group for Floristics, Systematics
and Evolution of the Italian Botanical Society is reported. It was held in 2013 along the Maddalena
Mountains, a mountain ridge of the southern Apennines located between the Basilicata and Campania
administrative regions (southern Italy), considered as being poorly characterized in terms of vascular flora.
A total of 701 units belonging to 74 plant families were recorded including two varieties and four hybrids.Thirty-five taxa resulted endemic to Italy and only 11 alien species were detected, while 36 taxa are new
or confirmed for the regional floras of Basilicata and/or Campania. In particular, 12 taxa are new for
Basilicata, while four are confirmed. Regarding Campania, 14 taxa resulted new for the regional flora and
five were confirmed
Contribution to the floristic knowledge of the head of the Po Valley (Piedmont, north Italy)
In 2014, the annual field trip of the working group for Floristics, Systematics, and Evolution of the Italian
Botanical Society was held in Piemonte (northern Italy), at the head of the Po Valley. This valley, at whose
extremity is located the Monviso (3,841 m a.s.l.), belongs to the Cottian Alps about which very little is
known from a floristic point of view. An inventory of the taxa of vascular plants collected during the field
trip is reported here. The research led to the identification of 3,546 exsiccata, kept in nine public and nine
private collections. A total of 669 taxa belonging to 79 plant families were recorded. Six taxa resulted
endemic to Italy and three exclusive to Piemonte, while only nine alien species were detected; six taxa are
new and five confirmed for the regional flora
ERNICA guidelines for the management of rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease
Background Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a serious congenital bowel disorder with a prevalence of 1/5000. Currently, there is a lack of systematically developed guidelines to assist clinical decision-making regarding diagnostics and management. Aims This guideline aims to cover the diagnostics and management of rectosigmoid HSCR up to adulthood. It aims to describe the preferred approach of ERNICA, the European Reference Network for rare inherited and congenital digestive disorders. Methods Recommendations within key topics covering the care pathway for rectosigmoid HSCR were developed by an international workgroup of experts from 8 European countries within ERNICA European Reference Network from the disciplines of surgery, medicine, histopathology, microbiology, genetics, and patient organization representatives. Recommendation statements were based on a comprehensive review of the available literature and expert consensus. AGREE II and GRADE approaches were used during development. Evidence levels and levels of agreement are noted. Results Thirty-three statements within 9 key areas were generated. Most recommendations were based on expert opinion. Conclusion In rare or low-prevalence diseases such as HSCR, there remains limited availability of high-quality clinical evidence. Consensus-based guidelines for care are presented.Peer reviewe
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