Weaving the nest: extracellular matrix roles in pre-metastatic niche formation

The discovery that primary tumors condition distant organ sites of future metastasis for seeding by disseminating tumor cells through a process described as the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) formation revolutionized our understanding of cancer progression and opened new avenues for therapeutic interventions. Given the inherent inefficiency of metastasis, PMN generation is crucial to ensure the survival of rare tumor cells in the otherwise hostile environments of metastatic organs. Early on, it was recognized that preparing the “soil” of the distal organ to support the outgrowth of metastatic cells is the initiating event in PMN development, achieved through the remodeling of the organ’s extracellular matrix (ECM). Remote restructuring of ECM at future sites of metastasis under the influence of primary tumor-secreted factors is an iterative process orchestrated through the crosstalk between resident stromal cells, such as fibroblasts, epithelial and endothelial cells, and recruited innate immune cells. In this review, we will explore the ECM changes, cellular effectors, and the mechanisms of ECM remodeling throughout PMN progression, as well as its impact on shaping the PMN and ultimately promoting metastasis. Moreover, we highlight the clinical and translational implications of PMN ECM changes and opportunities for therapeutically targeting the ECM to hinder PMN formation

OSMOLARITY AND APOPTOSIS IN IVF BOVINE EMBRYOS

The aim of this research was to establish the optimal conditions for culture of bovine embryos obtained in vitro and the effects of osmolarity on development and apoptosis. The embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure were divided into two different groups. The embryos from the control group were cultured for 7 days in B2-Menezo. The embryos from the experimental group were cultured in medium with NaCl, having variation of concentration and osmolarity. Results showed that there are differences in development stage and apoptosis. Increasing the concentration from 90 to 120mM NaCl generated decreasing of the blastocyst stage (P<0.05), and also the apoptosis was increased in the blastocyst stage. The optimum concentration of NaCl was 90mM and the optimum osmolarity of the medium was between 260-280 mOsmol for the studied IVF bovine embryos, affecting positively the embryos development

Canine behaviour type index in experimental Units trial

We ran the present research in canine behaviour over 18 months, on the premises of Experimental infrastructure of Horia Cernescu Research Unit, under behaviour study project of animal lodging Research contract no. 4833 / September, 4, 2014. The study considered a 360 dogs group, data being extracted from our (March, 31, 2015 to July, 31, 2017) pet databases. The research is structured based on Canine Behaviour Type Index (CTBI) 12 types canine behaviour, considering three psychological interactive factors further itemized into (1) Environmental (either Organized or Spontaneous); (2) Social (Alpha, Beta, or Gamma); (3) Motivation (either Medium or High), i.e. 12 possible outcomes. The breed type (χ2=818.59, at p < 0.000), age (F=9.31, at p < 0.001) and period of staying (F=3.185, at p ≤ 0.001) appear to be associated with CBTI. The older dogs resulted more like Dreamer (SBM) and Aristocrat (SAM) behaviour types, while younger more like Adventurer (SBH) and Rebel (SAH). Our study results cannot sustain gender association hypothesis based on CBTI profiles (χ2=17.31, at p = 0.099), suggesting, nevertheless, that CBTI is a useful tool in canine behaviour research, in matters of pets’ owners – research financed by private funds, win-win case

Application of infrared Thermography in rabbit orthopaedic models

The rectal or internal temperature (BT) is a reference method for body temperature. BT and ear temperature (BTear) were recorded in rabbit orthopaedic experimental model - White New Zeeland rabbits (N = 14), for a six day post-surgery period. Ear (BTear) temperature measured with infrared thermography (IRT) camera was compared with rectal body temperature (BT) measured with digital thermometer. Each BTear and BT methods were studied by analysis of variance and for BT classes such as: hypothermia (BTh≥ than 38,5оC), normothermia (BTn) and hyperthermia or fever (BTf ≥ 40,0 оC). Mean differences, linear regression and Pearson correlation were analysed. BTear was positively correlated with rectal temperature (BT); r=+0.579 at p <0.001. The regression equation model was statistically acceptable (p<0.001) and value of internal body temperature can be estimated on ITR measurements by relation: BT (оC) = 25.498 + BTear x 0.361 with R2=0.336. This study demonstrates that IRT technology, a passive and non-contact technology can be effectively used for estimating BT changes in rabbits

DEVELOPMENT OF THE REAL-TIME PCR METHODOLOGY FOR TESTING MYCOTOXIGENIC MICROORGANISMS IN GRAPE MARC

Agro-industrial waste management is an important problem of modern society as agriculture and food industry are important sources of waste. Wine production generates a considerable amount of winemaking waste (grape marc). Grape marc can be a source of natural dyes, antioxidants and could have various applications, if it is confirmed that it does not contain technogenic contaminants or unwanted microorganisms, for example, producers of mycotoxins. The paper developed the Real -Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Real-Time PCR) methodology for testing the presence of potentially mycotoxogenic fungal species capable of producing ochratoxin A (OTA), which could be applied before grape marc processing. Based on the non-ribosomal peptide sequence of OTA, involved in ochratoxin biosynthesis, the primers have been developed for the detection of microorganisms potentially capable of producing ochratoxin A

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Comparative study on fitness traits and reproductive efficiency in Turcana and Tsigai ewes

L

Comparative study of laparascopic surgery of female genital appratus in sow and bitch

The advantages of using the laparoscopic surgry to the detriment of traditional surgery are reducing pain and post surgery complications and obtaining a better view of the area. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of using ultrasonic scalpel and bipolar scissors in laparocopic ovariectomy (OV) and ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in bitch and sow. Also, it has been tried to assess the degree of difficulty of the ovariectomy and the ovariohysterectomy, espectively in the two species. The study was conducted on 6 animals (two sows and four bitches). The introduction of the pneumoperitoneum induction was performed using the Veress needle. The surgeries were performed through the abdominal cavity using three trocars helping to introduce the laparoscope, an atraumatic forceps and the ultrasound scalpel or the bipolar scissors, following a previous skin incision. Using the ultrasonic scalpel successfully complements other instruments such as the traumatic forceps, scissors and haemostatic tool. Through its excellent haemostatic capacities there have been not registered significant blood loos as a consequence of the surgical removal of the ovaries or the uterus with the ovaries, when either the ultrasonic scalpel or bipolar scissors were used. Due to the difficulty of surgical laparoscopic removal of the sow genital apparatus, connected to the similarities in the the two species genital apparatus, it is reasonable to conclude that the surgery in sow is a model for the surgery in bitch

Genetic polymorphism of CSN2 gene in Banat White and Carpatina goats

The main objective of the current study was to obtain preliminary results on genetic polymorhism of A and C variants at the CSN2 locus in indigenous Romanian goat (Banat White, Carpatina) breeds using a rapid and efficient genotyping method, TaqMan assay (Applied Biosystems, USA). Hair follicle samples were taken from 73 Banat White and 82 Carpatina purebred goats from Arad, Caras-Severin and Timis counties. After the optimization of the genotyping assay it was found that the most frequent allele at the CSN2 locus was C in Banat White breed, while CSN2*A and CSN2*C showed similar frequencies in Carpatina breed (0.51 and 0.49, respectively). All three genotypes were detected in the two studied breeds, however, AA was the least frequent, especially in Banat White. The studied polymorphisms are potential markers for milk production in the studied breeds and the results will be useful in future works aimed at identifying possible associations with milk production traits, in order to test the feasibility of producing hypoallergenic organic goat milk