Distribution of melanopsin positive neurons in pigmented and albino mice: evidence for melanopsin interneurons in the mouse retina.

Here we have studied the population of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in adult pigmented and albino mice. Our data show that although pigmented (C57Bl/6) and albino (Swiss) mice have a similar total number of ipRGCs, their distribution is slightly different: while in pigmented mice ipRGCs are more abundant in the temporal retina, in albinos the ipRGCs are more abundant in superior retina. In both strains, ipRGCs are located in the retinal periphery, in the areas of lower Brn3a(+)RGC density. Both strains also contain displaced ipRGCs (d-ipRGCs) in the inner nuclear layer (INL) that account for 14% of total ipRGCs in pigmented mice and 5% in albinos. Tracing from both superior colliculli shows that 98% (pigmented) and 97% (albino) of the total ipRGCs, become retrogradely labeled, while double immunodetection of melanopsin and Brn3a confirms that few ipRGCs express this transcription factor in mice. Rather surprisingly, application of a retrograde tracer to the optic nerve (ON) labels all ipRGCs, except for a sub-population of the d-ipRGCs (14% in pigmented and 28% in albino, respectively) and melanopsin positive cells residing in the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) of the retina. In the CMZ, between 20% (pigmented) and 24% (albino) of the melanopsin positive cells are unlabeled by the tracer and we suggest that this may be because they fail to send an axon into the ON. As such, this study provides the first evidence for a population of melanopsin interneurons in the mammalian retina

Anxiety as a stigma: The stereotype of the anxious person in the clinical, health-care professional, and general population

El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue la evaluación de la teoría implícita o estereotipo que diferentes grupos de población tienen de las personas con ansiedad clínica. Para ello se administró un listado de adjetivos para la heteroevaluación de la persona ansiosa a un total de 400 participantes, distribuidos en cuatro grupos: pacientes con trastorno de ansiedad, población general, médicos y diplomados en enfermería. A los pacientes ansiosos se les volvió a administrar el listado de adjetivos para su autoevaluación. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo mediante la prueba de χ2 para determinar las diferencias entre grupos en relación a los adjetivos más utilizados. Seguidamente se realizaron dos ANOVAs para establecer diferencias entre grupos a partir de la hetero-evaluación y para comprobar si había diferencias entre la heteroevaluación y la autoevaluación de las personas con trastornos de ansiedad. Los resultados muestran diferencias en la percepción de las personas ansiosas por parte de los 4 grupos; pero solo en el grupo general se detectan creencias prejuiciosas en el estereotipo que muestran de las personas ansiosas. Dichos hallazgos ponen de manifiesto las diferencias en los estereotipos de cada población referentes a las personas con ansiedad clínicaThe implicit theory or stereotype of anxious personality was assessed in different samples. A list of adjectives was administered for hetero-evaluation to 400 participants, divided into four groups: Patients with anxiety dicorders, general population, doctors, and nurses. Anxious patients were re-administered the list of adjectives for self-evaluation. A descriptive study was conducted using χ2 to discriminate the adjectives used between groups. Two ANOVAs were performed to establish differences between groups from hetero-evaluation and to test the presence of differences between the hetero- and the self-evaluation. Results showed the existence of differences between the clinically anxious group, the group of doctors and the group of nurses in the stereotype of anxious individuals, although no evidence of stigma was found. However, the general population group showed a perceptual bias of anxious individuals, which may indicate readiness to stigmatize these patients

Silver nanoparticles/free-standing carbon nanotube Janus membranes

Janus materials are attracting intense interest due to their exceptional possibilities in the design of structures with specific properties. In this work, Janus structures were constructed by the functionalization of free-standing single-walled carbon nanotube (FS-SWCNT) membranes with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) electrodeposited on one face of the free-standing structure. The modification of the FS-SWCNT films with AgNPs was carried out from an ionic liquid solution, a green and environmentally friendly procedure. Before the functionalization of the free-standing membranes, the optimal electrodeposition conditions of AgNPs from an ionic liquid in different carbon substrates were studied. We demonstrate by UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry that the functionalization of the FS-SWCNT membranes on only one face is achieved, remaining unmodified the other face, as SEM images confirm. Moreover, the morphology of AgNPs, and, consequently, the properties of the Janus structures strongly depend on the specific electrodeposition conditions selected, determining their future applicability.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2014-61914-EXP, CTQ2014-55583-R, TEC2014-51940-C2-2R, CTQ2015-71955-REDT) and Junta de Castilla y León (BU033-U16)Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2014-61914-EXP, CTQ2014-55583-R, TEC2014-51940-C2-2R, CTQ2015-71955-REDT) and Junta de Castilla y León (BU033-U16

Hipoadrenocorticismo primario canino: reporte de caso

Un canino macho Cocker Spaniel de 6 meses de edad fue presentado a la Clínica para Pequeños Animales de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, con historia de vómito y diarrea de una semana de duración. El paciente presentaba hiperkalemia, y los electrocardiogramas realizados fueron compatibles con este hallazgo. El diagnóstico de hipoadrenocorticismo primario fue confirmado mediante la realización de una prueba de estimulación con ACTH. Posteriormente a la muerte súbita del paciente, el examen microscópico de las glándulas adrenales reveló cambios histológicos compatibles con la enfermedad de Addison. El hipoadrenocorticismo primario es un desorden endocrino poco común que afecta principalmente pacientes caninos; está caracterizado por la destrucción inmunomediada de las cortezas adrenales, lo cual conduce a deficiencia de glucocorticoides, mineralocorticoides y hormonas sexuales adrenales. La historia de los pacientes afectados es variable y los signos clínicos son usualmente inespecíficos; las pruebas de laboratorio, por lo general, revelan hiperkalemia e hiponatremia, resultantes de la pérdida de la secreción de aldosterona. La historia, el examen clínico, la ecografía abdominal y los hallazgos de laboratorio pueden indicar enfermedad de Addison, sin embargo, la prueba de estimulación con hormona adrenocorticotrópica (ACTH) es considerada como la prueba de oro para el diagnóstico definitivo de la entidad. La enfermedad de Addison no tiene cura, pero puede ser manejada con terapia médica para reemplazar las deficiencias de mineralocorticoides y glucocorticoides

Consequences of long-distance transport on the behavior and health of young-bulls that may affect their fitness to adapt to feedlots

Some studies have shown that long distance journeys and the type of trailer compartment have consequences on farm animal welfare. However, there is little evidence to indicate how these consequences affect the fitness of young bulls to adapt to a novel and challenging environment such as an intensive industrial feedlot. Therefore, the objective of our study was to evaluate the consequences of long-distance transport and trailer compartment on the behavior and health of young bulls during the first 60 days after arrival to the feedlot. An evaluation protocol was conducted to record individual behavior (scan sampling) and health indicators of young bulls from days 1-10 and 51-60 after arrival. In addition, three ocular thermal images were taken per animal in a chute during weighing, one each on day 0, day 2 (48 h) and day 50. From our results, the thermophysiological profile, maintenance behaviors and health indicators suggest that there are two distinct groups of consequences affecting animal fitness during the first two months in the feedlot. The first was linked to post-transport fatigue (PTF) that seemed to disappear after the 10 days post-arrival at feedlot. The second was related to signs of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) that began 6 days post-transport and persisted until day 60. In addition, the trailer compartments known as the belly and the deck were shown to be problematic for animal welfare, where the transport in the belly was linked to fatigue after transport, while transport in the deck was associated with respiratory problems. Our study underscores the importance of applying preconditioning practices in cow-calf rearing systems at least a couple of months prior to the long-distance journey, in addition to implementing good loading practices to select which animals are best suited for a given compartment. Our results may be useful to minimize the impacts of PTF and BRD, to propose best practices for livestock transport in countries with similar production systems and agroecosystems

Formulation and optimization of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with riolozatrione: a promising nanoformulation with potential anti-herpetic activity

Riolozatrione (RZ) is a diterpenoid compound isolated from a dichloromethane extract of the Jatropha dioica root. This compound has been shown to possess moderate anti-herpetic activity in vitro. However, because of the poor solubility of this compound in aqueous vehicles, generating a stable formulation for potential use in the treatment of infection is challenging. The aim of this work was to optimize and physiochemically characterize Eudragit® L100-55-based polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with RZ (NPR) for in vitro anti-herpetic application. The NPs formulation was initially optimized using the dichloromethane extract of J. dioica, the major component of which was RZ. The optimized NPR formulation was stable, with a size of 263 nm, polydispersity index < 0.2, the zeta potential of –37 mV, and RZ encapsulation efficiency of 89 %. The NPR showed sustained release of RZ for 48 h with release percentages of 95 and 97 % at neutral and slightly acidic pH, respectively. Regarding in vitro anti-herpetic activity, the optimized NPR showed a selectivity index for HSV-1 of ≈16 and for HSV-2 of 13

Towards an eco-friendly coffee rust control : compilation of natural alternatives from a nutritional and antifungal perspective

Hemileia vastatrix (HV) is the pathogen responsible for the coffee leaf rust (CLR) disease that has spread globally. CLR causes losses of up to a billion dollars annually and affects all types of crops regardless of their production regime (organic or inorganic). Additionally, smallholders produce approximately 80% of coffee in developing countries. The condition causes losses of up to a billion dollars annually. It affects all types of crops regardless of their production regime (organic or inorganic). Approximately 80% of coffee is produced by smallholders in developing countries. Until the 90s, shaded-production systems and native varieties were encouraged; however, the rapid spread of CLR has forced farmers to migrate towards inorganic schemes, mainly due to a lack of knowledge about natural alternatives to pesticides that can be implemented to control HV. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to compile the currently existing options, emphasizing two key factors that guarantee efficient rust control: selective fungicidal activity against HV and the nutrition of coffee crops. Thus, by comprehending how these natural compounds (such as plant, bacteria, fungi, animals, or algae metabolites) impact coffee rust proliferation. Furthermore, since a various range of biochar effects contributes to the control of foliar fungal pathogens through modification of root exudates, soil properties, and nutrient availability, which influence the growth of antagonist microorganisms, we present a review of the pathogen-suppressive effects of biochar, and new control strategies suitable for organic schemes can be developed.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A Sustained Increase in Intracellular Ca2+ Is Required for the Acrosome Reaction in Sea Urchin Sperm

AbstractThe acrosome reaction (AR), necessary for fertilization in many species, requires an increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). In sea urchin sperm, the AR is triggered by an egg-jelly factor: the associated [Ca2+]i elevation lasts minutes and involves two Ca2+ permeable channels. Both the opening of the second channel and the onset of the AR occur ∼5 s after treatment with egg factor, suggesting that these events are linked. In agreement, removal of Ca2+ from sea water or addition of Ca2+ channel blockers at the time when opening of the second channel is first detected inhibits AR and causes a “rapid” (t1/2 = 3–15 s) decrease in [Ca2+]i and partial inhibition of the intracellular pH change associated with the AR. Simultaneous addition of NH4Cl and either EGTA, Co2+, or Ni2+ 5 s after egg factor prevents the partial inhibition of the evoked pHi change observed but does not reverse AR inhibition. Therefore, the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i caused by the second Ca2+ channel is needed for the sperm AR. Experiments with agents that induce capacitative Ca2+ uptake (thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid) suggest that the second channel opened during the AR could be a store-operated Ca2+ channel