Recommendations and guidelines for applied nutrition experiments in rabbits

[EN] The aim of this paper was to draw up a set of recommendations for applied nutrition and feeding trials with rabbits, in relation to certain aspects such as determining the nutritive value of raw materials or diets in growing or reproducing animals, studying digestive physiology and obtaining growth and reproduction parameters. We deal first with animals, size of the sample, housing conditions, diets, handling, measurements, and the data analyses relevant to the design of the experiment are described. Secondly, we give a list of recommended items and include some comments.This study was partly supported by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION (ERAFE program and the COST 848 Action).Fernández-Carmona, J.; Blas, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ.; Maertens, L.; Gidenne, T.; Xiccato, G.; García, J. (2005). Recommendations and guidelines for applied nutrition experiments in rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 13. doi:10.4995/wrs.2005.516SWORD1

Anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation in blood oranges during postharvest storage at different low temperatures

[EN] Blood oranges require low temperature for anthocyanin production. We have investigated the activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation in the pulp of Moro blood and Pera blond oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) stored at either 4 or 9 degrees C after harvesting. Both temperatures stimulated anthocyanin accumulation in blood but not in blond oranges. Nonetheless, blood orange fruits stored at 9 degrees C reached a darker purple coloration, higher anthocyanin contents and enhanced upregulation of genes from the flavonoid pathway in the pulp and juice than those kept at 4 degrees C. Our results indicated that dihydroflavonol channeling toward anthocyanin production was boosted during the storage at 9 degrees C compared to 4 degrees C, providing more leucoanthocyanidins to enzymes downstream in the pathway. Finally, despite both low temperatures stimulated the expression of key transcription factors likely regulating the pathway, their expression profiles could not explain the differences observed at 9 and 4 degrees C. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work was support by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil) project (FAPESP 2014/12616-9) and Fundecitrus. LC was funded by grant from FAPESP (2014/23447-3).Carmona-López, L.; Alquézar-García, B.; Marques, VV.; Peña, L. (2017). Anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation in blood oranges during postharvest storage at different low temperatures. Food Chemistry. 237:7-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.076S71423

Significado de la celularidad peritoneal basal: más allá del diagnóstico de infección peritoneal en diálisis peritoneal

Resume

La sobrehidratación persistente asocia un riesgo significativo de infección peritoneal por gérmenes entéricos en pacientes tratados con diálisis peritoneal

[Abstract] Background: Overhydration (OH) complicates frequently the clinical course of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients, and keeps a controversial association with the risk of peritoneal infection. The main objective of this study was to disclose an association between persistent OH and the risk of enteric peritonitis in a relatively large sample of patients undergoing PD. Method: Following a prospective design, we monitorized systematically body composition of patients treated with PD in our unit (2011–2016), searching for a correlation with the ensuing risk of peritonitis, with an emphasis on the association between persistent OH (main study variable) and the risk of infection by enteric pathogens (main outcome). Essential demographic, clinical and laboratory variables with a potential influence on the risk of peritonitis were recorded. We used multivariate survival analysis to clarify the specific effect of different body composition parameters on the main outcome. Main results: We included 139 patients for analysis (mean follow-up 24 months). Sixty-three patients suffered at least one peritonitis, and 17 had at least one diagnosis of enteric peritonitis. Univariate analysis disclosed a general trend to an increased risk of enteric peritonitis in overhydrated patients, as evidenced by associations of this outcome with mean extracellular water/intracellular water (ECW/ICW)(p = 0007), OH/ECW (p = 0033) and ECW/total body water (ECW/TBW)(p = 0004) ratios, but not with absolute OH values. Multivariate analysis confirmed similar associations or trends (RR 3,48, 95 % CI 1,03–14,59, p = 0,046, highest versus lowest tertile of ECW/ICW, RR 2,31, 95 % CI 0,98-6,56, p = 0,061, highest versus lowest tertile of OH/ECW, and RR 6,33, 95 % CI 1,37-19,37, p = 0,011, highest versus lowest tertile of ECW/TBW). On the contrary, no apparent association was detected between OH and the overall risk of peritoneal infection.[Resumen] Antecedentes y objetivos. La sobrehidratación (SH) es frecuente, y a menudo persistente, en pacientes tratados con diálisis peritoneal (DP), y mantiene una asociación controvertida con el riesgo de infección peritoneal. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue desvelar una posible asociación entre la presencia de SH y el riesgo subsiguiente de infección peritoneal por gérmenes entéricos, en una población relativamente amplia de pacientes tratados con DP. Método Según diseño prospectivo, monitorizamos de manera sistemática la composición corporal de pacientes tratados con DP en nuestra unidad (2011-2016), buscando una posible correlación con el riesgo de peritonitis durante el seguimiento, con un interés particular en la asociación entre SH persistente (variable de estudio principal) y el riesgo de infección peritoneal por patógenos entéricos (variable resultado principal). Para el análisis tuvimos en cuenta variables demográficas, clínicas y de laboratorio con influencia potencial en el riesgo de infección peritoneal. Utilizamos técnicas de análisis multivariante para clarificar el efecto específico de diferentes parámetros de composición corporal sobre la variable resultado principal. Resultados principales. Incluimos 139 pacientes, con seguimiento medio de 24 meses. Sesenta y tres pacientes sufrieron al menos una peritonitis, y 17 al menos una infección por gérmenes entéricos. El análisis univariante mostró una tendencia general a mayor riesgo de infección peritoneal entérica en pacientes sobrehidratados, que se hacía evidente cuando se usaba el cociente agua extracelular/agua intracelular (AEC/AIC) (p=0,007), el cociente SH/AEC (SH/AEG) (p=0,033), o el cociente AEC/agua corporal total (AEC/ACT) (p=0,004), pero no cuando se usaba la SH absoluta, como variable de estudio. El análisis multivariante confirmó estas asociaciones o tendencias (RR: 3,48; IC 95%: 1,03-14,59; p=0,046, tercil mayor versus menor para AEC/AIC, RR: 2,31; IC 95%: 0,98-6,56; p=0,061, tercil mayor versus menor para SH/AEC, y RR: 6,33; IC 95%: 1,37-19,37; p=0,011, tercil mayor versus menor para AEC/ACT). Por el contrario, no observamos asociación consistente entre SH y riesgo general de infección peritoneal. Conclusión. La SH persistente asocia un riesgo significativo de infección peritoneal por patógenos entéricos, en pacientes tratados con DP

Corticotrophin-Releasing Factor (CRF) through CRF1 Receptor Facilitates the Expression of Morphine-Related Positive and Aversive Memory in Mice

Different studies have elucidated the mechanisms underlying the formation and expression of drug-related cue memories; corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a critical role in reward- and aversion-driven associative learning. In the present chapter, we have evaluated whether CP-154,526, a selective CRF1 receptor (CRF1R) antagonist, or genetic deletion of CRF1R (KO mice) have comparable effects on conditioned place preference (CPP) and conditioned place aversion (CPA) learning. We also investigated CP-154,526 effects on morphine-induced CPP activation of CRF, CREB phosphorylation, and thioredoxin (Trx1) expression in dentate gyrus (DG), a brain region involved in memory consolidation, and the role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis in CPA expression and extinction. The CRF1R antagonist abolished the acquisition of morphine CPP, Trx-1 and BDNF increased expression, and pCREB/Trx-1 co-localization in the DG. The increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) plasma levels observed after CPA expression was attenuated in CRF1R KO mice, suggesting a role of HPA axis in aversive memories. Altogether, these results suggest a critical role of CRF, through CRF1R, in molecular changes involved in memory formation and consolidation and may facilitate the development of effective treatments for opioid addiction

¿Existe relacion entre los parametros de composicion corporal y el riesgo de infección peritoneal (IP) en dialisis peritoneal (DP)?: estudio longitudinal

Resumen de comunicación ora

Long-Term Trends in the Incidence of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis Disclose an Increasing Relevance of Streptococcal Infections: A Longitudinal Study

[Abstract} Background. The selective impact of strategies for prevention of PD-related peritonitis (PDrP) may have modified, in the long term, the causal spectrum, clinical presentation and outcomes of these infections. Objectives. To compare trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms during a 30-year period, with a particular focus on streptococcal infections. To analyze the clinical presentation and outcomes of these infections. Secondarily, to investigate how the isolation of different species of streptococci can influence the clinical course of PDrP by this genus of bacteria. Method. Following a retrospective, observational design we investigated 1061 PDrP (1990–2019). We used joinpoint regression analysis to explore trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms, and compared the risk profile (Cox), clinical presentation and outcomes (logistic regression) of these infections. Main results. Our data showed a progressive decline in the incidence of PDrP by staphylococci and Gram negative bacteria, while the absolute rates of streptococcal (average annual percent change +1.6%, 95% CI -0.1/+3.2) and polymicrobial (+1.8%, +0.1/+3.5) infections tended to increase, during the same period. Remarkably, streptococci were isolated in 58.6% of polymicrobial infections, and patients who suffered a streptococcal PDrP had a 35.8% chance of presenting at least one other infection by the same genus. The risk profile for streptococcal infections was comparable to that observed for PDrP overall. Streptococcal PDrP were associated with a severe initial inflammatory response, but their clinical course was generally nonaggressive thereafter. We did not observe a differential effect of different groups of streptococci on the clinical presentation or outcome of PDrP. Conclusions. Time trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms have granted streptococci an increasing relevance as causative agents of these infections, during the last three decades. This behaviour suggests that current measures of prevention of PDrP may not be sufficiently effective, in the case of this genus of microorganisms

Dataset supporting the proteomic differences found between excretion/secretion products from two isolates of Fasciola hepatica newly excysted juveniles (NEJ) derived from different snail hosts

Here we present the proteomic profile datasets of two Fasciola hepatica NEJ isolates derived from different snail hosts: Lymnaea viatrix and Pseudosuccinea columella. The data used in the analysis are related to the article ‘A proteomic comparison of excretion/secretion products in Fasciola hepatica newly excysted juveniles (NEJ) derived from Lymnaea viatrix or Pseudosuccinea columella’ (Di Maggio et al., 2019

Textural properties of synthetic nano-calcite produced by hydrothermal carbonation of calcium hydroxide

The hydrothermal carbonation of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) at high pressure of CO2 (initial PCO2 1/4 55 bar) and moderate to high temperature (30 and 90 1C) was used to synthesize fine particles of calcite. This method allows a high carbonation efficiency (about 95% of Ca(OH)2-CaCO3 conversion), a significant production rate (48 kg/m3 h) and high purity of product (about 96%). However, the various initial physicochemical conditions have a strong influence on the crystal size and surface area of the synthesized calcite crystals. The present study is focused on the estimation of the textural properties of synthesized calcite (morphology, specific surface area, average particle size, particle size distribution and particle size evolution with reaction time), using Rietveld refinements of X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations. This study demonstrate that the pressure, the temperature and the dissolved quantity of CO2 have a significant effect on the average particle size, specific surface area, initial rate of precipitation, and on the morphology of calcium carbonate crystals. In contrast, these PTx conditions used herein have an insignificant effect on the carbonation efficiency of Ca(OH)2. Finally, the results presented here demonstrate that nano-calcite crystals with high specific surface area (SBET 1/4 6-10m2/g) can be produced, with a high potential for industrial applications such as adsorbents and/or filler in papermaking industry