Water intake in sheeps fed different levles of prickly pear (Opuntia Ficus Indica) in Brazil

En 45 ovinos machos Santa Inés (peso vivo medio de 27,50 ± 0, 48 kg) se evaluó el consumo de agua, al consumir raciones con niveles crecientes (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) de nopal (Opuntia fícus indica Mill) en sustitución al maíz molido. El diseño fue en bloques al azar con nueve repeticiones. El consumo de materia seca respondió de modo cuadrático, perjudicando el peso final, que disminuyó, con el aumento del nopal en la dieta. Aumentó el consumo de materia natural disminuyendo el de agua, el consumo total de agua aumentó en el tratamiento con mayor cantidad de nopal. La relación de consumos: agua voluntaria/ materia seca, disminuyó al aumentar el nopal. El nopal constituye una reserva de agua para ovinos Santa Inés en condiciones semiáridas de Brasil.The water intake in 45 male (27.50 ± 0.48 kg of mena body weight) Santa Ines sheep fed with increasing levels (0, 25, 50, 75, 100% DM basis) of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica Mill) to replace corn was studied. A completely randomized block design with nine replications per treatment was used. Quadratic behavior was observed for the intake of dry matter, hitting the final weight, which decreased with increasing the cactus in the diet. There was an increase in the intake of natural material and a decrease in voluntary water intake; total water intake increased, and the ratio of intakes: water/dry matter, decreased in the treatment with larger cactus proportion. The pryckly pear constitues a water reservoir for Santa Inês sheep in Brazilian semiarid conditions

LÍQUIDO FOLICULAR EQÜINO NA MATURAÇÃO IN VITRO DE OÓCITOS BOVINOS

O desenvolvimento embrionário de oócitos bovinos maturados in vitro (MIV) foi avaliado em meio suplementado com líquido folicular eqüino (Lfe). Foram distribuídos 1045 oócitos em 11 repetições formando três grupos tratamentos (T1, T2, T3) e um controle (C). O meio de maturação utilizado foi o TCM-199 acrescido de piruvato de sódio, hormônio folículo estimulante recombinante (rFSHh) e hormônio luteinizante equino (LHe). Suplementou-se esse meio com 10% de soro de égua em estro para o grupo controle e para T1, T2 e T3, o meio foi suplementado com 5, 10, e 20% de LFe, respectivamente. Os oócitos foram maturados in vitro (MIV) por 24h. A fecundação in vitro (FIV) foi realizada em meio Talp-Fert. A MIV e a FIV foram realizadas em estufa a 39ºC com 5% de CO2 em ar e umidade saturada. Os zigotos foram cultivados em meio SOFaaci, sob óleo mineral no interior de bolsas plásticas gaseificadas. As taxas de clivagem e de blastocistos foram observadas diariamente (D), e em D7, foram superiores (P0,05) às do grupo controle. Em D9, a taxa de blastocistos do T2 foi superior (P0,05). O LFe, na concentração de 10% pode ser utilizado, em substituição ao soro de égua em estro para suplementar o meio de MIV de oócitos bovinos. Equine follicular fluid on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes Abstract Embryo development of bovine oocytes was evaluated using maturation medium supplemented with equine follicular fluid (eFF). One thousand and forty five (1045) oocytes were distributed in 11 replications forming three treatment groups (T1, T2 e T3) and one Control (C). TCM-199 added with sodium pyruvate, rFSHh and LHe was used as maturation medium. This medium was supplemented with 10% estrous mare serum for Control group, and 5, 10, and 20% eFF, respectively, for T1, T2 e T3 groups. In vitro maturation (IVM) of all groups was performed during 24h. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed in TALP-FERT medium. IVM and IVF were carried out in an incubator at 39ºC with 5% CO2 in air and saturated humidity. Zygotes were cultured in SOFaaci medium, under mineral oil in gasified bags. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were daily observed (D), and at D7, were higher (P0.05) for those from control group. At D9, blastocyst rate of T2 was higher (P0.05). The eFF, at a 10% concentration, can replace the use of estrous mare serum to supplement the IVM medium of bovine oocytes

Polyphenols journey through blood-brain barrier towards neuronal protection

Age-related complications such as neurodegenerative disorders are increasing and remain cureless. The possibility of altering the progression or the development of these multifactorial diseases through diet is an emerging and attractive approach with increasing experimental support. We examined the potential of known bioavailable phenolic sulfates, arising from colonic metabolism of berries, to infuence hallmarks of neurodegenerative processes. In silico predictions and in vitro transport studies across blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cells, at circulating concentrations, provided evidence for diferential transport, likely related to chemical structure. Moreover, endothelial metabolism of these phenolic sulfates produced a plethora of novel chemical entities with further potential bioactivies. Pre-conditioning with phenolic sulfates improved cellular responses to oxidative, excitotoxicity and infammatory injuries and this attenuation of neuroinfammation was achieved via modulation of NF-κB pathway. Our results support the hypothesis that these small molecules, derived from dietary (poly)phenols may cross the BBB, reach brain cells, modulate microglia-mediated infammation and exert neuroprotective efects, with potential for alleviation of neurodegenerative diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Economic outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents versus bypass surgery for patients with left main or three-vessel coronary artery disease: One-year results from the SYNTAX trial

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of alternative approaches to revascularization for patients with three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease (CAD). Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that, despite higher initial costs, long-term costs with bypass surgery (CABG) in multivessel CAD are similar to those for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The impact of drug-eluting stents (DES) on these results is unknown. Methods: The SYNTAX trial randomized 1,800 patients with left main or three-vessel CAD to either CABG (n = 897) or PCI using paclitaxel-eluting stents (n = 903). Resource utilization data were collected prospectively for all patients, and cumulative 1-year costs were assessed from the perspective of the U.S. healthcare system. Results: Total costs for the initial hospitalization were $5,693/patient higher with CABG, whereas follow-up costs were$2,282/patient higher with PCI due mainly to more frequent revascularization procedures and higher outpatient medication costs. Total 1-year costs were thus $3,590/patient higher with CABG, while quality-adjusted life expectancy was slightly higher with PCI. Although PCI was an economically dominant strategy for the overall population, cost-effectiveness varied considerably according to angiographic complexity. For patients with high angiographic complexity (SYNTAX score > 32), total 1-year costs were similar for CABG and PCI, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for CABG was$43,486 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Conclusions: Among patients with three-vessel or left main CAD, PCI is an economically attractive strategy over the first year for patients with low and moderate angiographic complexity, while CABG is favored among patients with high angiographic complexity

Age-related shift in LTD is dependent on neuronal adenosine A(2A) receptors interplay with mGluR5 and NMDA receptors

Synaptic dysfunction plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), since it drives the cognitive decline. An association between a polymorphism of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) encoding gene-ADORA2A, and hippocampal volume in AD patients was recently described. In this study, we explore the synaptic function of A2AR in age-related conditions. We report, for the first time, a significant overexpression of A2AR in hippocampal neurons of aged humans, which is aggravated in AD patients. A similar profile of A2AR overexpression in rats was sufficient to drive age-like memory impairments in young animals and to uncover a hippocampal LTD-to-LTP shift. This was accompanied by increased NMDA receptor gating, dependent on mGluR5 and linked to enhanced Ca(2+) influx. We confirmed the same plasticity shift in memory-impaired aged rats and APP/PS1 mice modeling AD, which was rescued upon A2AR blockade. This A2AR/mGluR5/NMDAR interaction might prove a suitable alternative for regulating aberrant mGluR5/NMDAR signaling in AD without disrupting their constitutive activity