Evaluation of the effects of the recommended oral dose of diflubenzuron on bovine sperm and oocyte quality using CASA and OPU-IVEP

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate potential effects of diflubenzuron on the production and quality of gametes, and on in vitro embryo production (IVEP) outcomes, in cattle.MethodsTwo experiments were performed, the first to evaluate effects on semen, and the second on cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) and on IVEP. Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) bulls (n = 14) or heifers (n = 16) were allocated into control (CG) or treatment (DIF) groups. All groups received a mineral mix supplement added (DIF) or not (CG) with diflubenzuron (30 mg/head/day), during 8 weeks. Animals were weighed and blood samples were collected throughout the experimental period. Every other week, bulls were subjected to semen collection and heifers to transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration sessions. Semen underwent physical and morphological evaluation, and samples were stored for further computer-assisted sperm analysis. The COC recovered were evaluated according to morphology and those classified as viable were sent to an IVEP laboratory.ResultsDiflubenzuron had no effect (P > 0.05) on average body weight or in any blood hematological or biochemical endpoints, regardless of gender. In experiment 1, there was no difference (P > 0.05) between DIF and CG groups for sperm concentration, morphology, or kinetics. In experiment 2, there was also no effect of diflubenzuron on the number of total, viable, or grade I oocytes, as well as on cleavage or blastocyst rates (P > 0.05).DiscussionIn summary, the oral administration of diflubenzuron, within the recommended dose, has no short-term negative effects on sperm production and quality or on oocyte yield and developmental potential in vitro, in cattle

Segurança clínica da aplicação intra-ovariana bovina de células-tronco mesenquimais alogênicas

A basic premise of reproductive physiology is that females have a finite and non-renewable stock of germinative cells, which results in a decrease in reproductive capacity over time. For female bovines, a further factor associated with this decrease is follicular puncture (ovum pickup - OPU), a technique widely used for production of embryos in vitro. As such, it is necessary to seek therapeutic or preventive options for fertility problems, and one potential option is treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which exercise a paracrine effect in combating inflammatory and degenerative processes. However, as important as evaluating the efficacy of such treatments is an evaluation of safety. In this context, the current study was carried out with the application of 2.5 x 106 allogenic MSC derived from adipose tissue, to the ovarian cortex of healthy nelore (n = 5) and girolando (n = 5) cows. The animals were subsequently evaluated by ultrasonography, clinical examination, number of viable oocytes collected, and rate of embryo production. None of the animals presented any clinical alteration or any alteration on ultrasonography after receiving the MSC. Furthermore, comparison between the number of viable oocytes, embryos produced, and rate of embryo production before and after MSC application did not show a difference. Based on these data, it can be concluded that intraovarian application of 2.5 x 106 adipose-derived MSC is safe, and this technique represents a potential for study as a therapy in cases of ovarian degeneration or lesions.Una premisa básica de la fisiología reproductiva es que las hembras tienen un stock finito y no renovable de células germinativas, lo que resulta en una disminución de la capacidad reproductiva con el tiempo. Para las hembras bovinas, otro factor asociado a esta disminución es la punción folicular (ovum pickup - OPU), técnica ampliamente utilizada para la producción de embriones in vitro. Por tanto, es necesario buscar opciones terapéuticas o preventivas para los problemas de fertilidad, y una opción potencial es el tratamiento con células madre mesenquimales (MSC), que ejercen un efecto paracrino en la lucha contra los procesos inflamatorios y degenerativos. Sin embargo, tan importante como evaluar la eficacia de tales tratamientos es una evaluación de la seguridad. En este contexto, el presente estudio se llevó a cabo con la aplicación de 2,5 x 106 MSC alogénicas derivadas de tejido adiposo, a la corteza ovárica de vacas nelore (n = 5) y girolando (n = 5) sanas. Posteriormente, los animales se evaluaron mediante ultrasonografía, examen clínico, número de ovocitos viables recogidos y tasa de producción de embriones. Ninguno de los animales presentó alteración clínica ni alteración ecográfica tras recibir la MSC. Además, la comparación entre el número de ovocitos viables, los embriones producidos y la tasa de producción de embriones antes y después de la aplicación de MSC no mostró ninguna diferencia. En base a estos datos, se puede concluir que la aplicación intraovárica de 2,5 x 106 MSC derivadas de tejido adiposo es segura, y esta técnica representa un potencial de estudio como terapia en casos de degeneración o lesiones ováricas.Uma premissa básica da fisiologia reprodutiva é que as fêmeas possuem um estoque finito e não renovável de células germinativas, o que resulta em uma diminuição da capacidade reprodutiva ao longo do tempo. Para as fêmeas bovinas, outro fator associado a essa diminuição é a punção folicular (ovo pickup - OPU), técnica amplamente utilizada para produção de embriões in vitro. Assim, é necessário buscar opções terapêuticas ou preventivas para problemas de fertilidade, sendo uma opção potencial o tratamento com células-tronco mesenquimais (CTM), que exercem efeito parácrino no combate a processos inflamatórios e degenerativos. No entanto, tão importante quanto avaliar a eficácia de tais tratamentos é a avaliação da segurança. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo foi realizado com a aplicação de 2,5 x 106 MSC alogênicas derivadas do tecido adiposo, no córtex ovariano de vacas nelore (n = 5) e girolando (n = 5) hígidas. Os animais foram posteriormente avaliados por ultrassonografia, exame clínico, número de oócitos viáveis coletados e taxa de produção de embriões. Nenhum dos animais apresentou qualquer alteração clínica ou ultrassonográfica após receber o MSC. Além disso, a comparação entre o número de oócitos viáveis, embriões produzidos e taxa de produção de embriões antes e depois da aplicação de MSC não mostrou diferença. Com base nesses dados, pode-se concluir que a aplicação intraovariana de MSC de origem adiposa 2,5 x 106 é segura, e essa técnica representa um potencial para estudo como terapia em casos de degeneração ou lesões ovarianas

Herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 em complexos cumulus‑oócito coletados de vacas infectadas naturalmente

The objective of this work was to investigate the presence of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV‑1) in follicular fluid and in cumulus‑oocyte complexes (COC) recovered from naturally infected cows but with no clinical signs of the disease. Cows that were seropositive (n=38) or seronegative (n=8, control) to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis were selected after a serum neutralization test in microplates. The presence of the virus was investigated by PCR in COC and in follicular fluid. Viral DNA was not found in any of the samples. The obtained results suggest that serologically positive cows with no clinical signs of the disease offer negligible risk of transmitting BoHV‑1 by COC or follicular fluid.O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a presença do herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 (BoHV‑1) no fluido folicular e em complexos cumulus‑oócito (COC) coletados de vacas naturalmente infectadas mas sem sinais clínicos da doença. Vacas soropositivas (n=38) ou soronegativas (n=8, controle) para o vírus da rinotraqueíte infecciosa bovina foram selecionadas por prova de soroneutralização em microplacas. A presença do vírus foi investigada por PCR em COC e fluido folicular. O DNA viral não foi encontrado em qualquer das amostras. Os resultados obtidos são indicativos de que vacas soropositivas, mas sem sinais clínicos da doença, oferecem risco negligível de transmissão do BoHV‑1 por COC ou fluido folicular

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Summary Background Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence. Findings We pooled data from 2181 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in 65 million participants in 200 countries and territories. In 2019, we estimated a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations (the Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for boys; and the Netherlands, Montenegro, Denmark, and Iceland for girls) and those with the shortest populations (Timor-Leste, Laos, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea for boys; and Guatemala, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste for girls). In the same year, the difference between the highest mean BMI (in Pacific island countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Bahamas, Chile, the USA, and New Zealand for both boys and girls and in South Africa for girls) and lowest mean BMI (in India, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Chad for boys and girls; and in Japan and Romania for girls) was approximately 9–10 kg/m2. In some countries, children aged 5 years started with healthier height or BMI than the global median and, in some cases, as healthy as the best performing countries, but they became progressively less healthy compared with their comparators as they grew older by not growing as tall (eg, boys in Austria and Barbados, and girls in Belgium and Puerto Rico) or gaining too much weight for their height (eg, girls and boys in Kuwait, Bahrain, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mexico; and girls in South Africa and New Zealand). In other countries, growing children overtook the height of their comparators (eg, Latvia, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Iran) or curbed their weight gain (eg, Italy, France, and Croatia) in late childhood and adolescence. When changes in both height and BMI were considered, girls in South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some central Asian countries (eg, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and boys in central and western Europe (eg, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, and Montenegro) had the healthiest changes in anthropometric status over the past 3·5 decades because, compared with children and adolescents in other countries, they had a much larger gain in height than they did in BMI. The unhealthiest changes—gaining too little height, too much weight for their height compared with children in other countries, or both—occurred in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, New Zealand, and the USA for boys and girls; in Malaysia and some Pacific island nations for boys; and in Mexico for girls. Interpretation The height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. METHODS: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. FINDINGS: The number of people aged 30-79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306-359) million women and 317 (292-344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584-668) million women and 652 (604-698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55-62) of women and 49% (46-52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43-51) of women and 38% (35-41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20-27) for women and 18% (16-21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. INTERPRETATION: Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings. FUNDING: WHO

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30-79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306-359) million women and 317 (292-344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584-668) million women and 652 (604-698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55-62) of women and 49% (46-52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43-51) of women and 38% (35-41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20-27) for women and 18% (16-21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings. Copyright (C) 2021 World Health Organization; licensee Elsevier

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30–79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30–79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306–359) million women and 317 (292–344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584–668) million women and 652 (604–698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55–62) of women and 49% (46–52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43–51) of women and 38% (35–41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20–27) for women and 18% (16–21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30–79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30–79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306–359) million women and 317 (292–344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584–668) million women and 652 (604–698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55–62) of women and 49% (46–52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43–51) of women and 38% (35–41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20–27) for women and 18% (16–21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions

New Applications Of Three-dimensional Data Acquisition, Modelling, And Printing In Animal Sciences: A Case Report

Precision phenotyping is a new approach to improve the selection and management of farm animals, and consequently livestock production, productivity, and wellbeing. It requires new tools to obtain large amounts of biometric data. This work aims to investigate the feasibility of the rapid generation of 3D models for the recovery, analysis, and storage of biometric information in cattle. Structured infrared light scanning was used to obtain 3D data of dairy cows, and digital models were created using a real-time 3D scanning software and edited with a software for processing triangular meshes. Measurements and comparisons were performed using a 3D inspection and metrology software. Physical models were generated by additive manufacturing and laser scanned to evaluate differences to the original 3D models. Animal movement limited the quality of whole body scans as expected, though useful partial body scans were obtained from areas of interest, such as the thurl and udder. Biometric measurements in 3D models presented slight differences compared to the ones made in live animals, and were consistent with results of other works, such as subjective scoring or ultrasonography. Comparing 3D models from different animals by superposition was useful to demonstrate the pattern of deposition or mobilization of subcutaneous fat. Finally, the 3D printed models showed minor differences when re-digitalized and compared to the original 3D models. Results show that 3D data acquisition, modelling, and printing techniques can be used to obtain biometric information from cattle, as well producing physical models for research and educational purposes.Published versio