Testicular histology of Anurans that deposit eggs out of the water

Anuran amphibians show the largest diversity of amphibian reproductive modes,many of which imply egg deposition out of the water. This kind of egg depositionrequires specialisations to avoid egg desiccation. Physiological, anatomical and ethological traits integrate to define these modes. In particular, morphological featuresof the urogenital system correlate with these reproductive modes and the environmental conditions where egg-laying occurs. In this study, we describe the testicularhistology and spermatogenesis of the nest-building frog Leptodactylus latinasus, andwe compare it with other species that breed out of water. We found variations in testis size, the thickness of interstitial tissue, tunica albuginea, and peritubular tunics,flagellum length, and in the shape and size of the spermatozoal nucleus. Certainspecifics? characters differed at the species level, but not between families. Suchvariation could be an indicator of spermatozoal performance and environmentalconstraints under which fertilisation takes place.Fil: Pucci Alcaide, Ana. Instituto de Morfología Animalfundación Miguel Lillotucumán; ArgentinaFil: Pucci Alcaide, Franco Jose. Instituto de Morfología Animalfundación Miguel Lillotucumán; ArgentinaFil: Michel, Adriana Azucena. Instituto de Morfología Animalfundación Miguel Lillotucumán; ArgentinaFil: Ponssa, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentin

Histology of the ovary and oviduct of the direct developing frog oreobates discoidalis (anura: strabomantidae)

Oreobates discoidalis es un anuro que se reproduce en entornos húmedos y protegidos, depositando sus huevos relativamente grandes directamente en tierra y exhibiendo desarrollo directo. En este estudio, se describe la histología de los órganos sexuales de hembras maduras durante el periodo reproductivo de esta especie. Las hembras de O. discoidalis presentan ovarios compuestos por un solo lóbulo, así como folículos ováricos tipo 3 con sectorización citoplasmática debido a la acumulación de plaquetas vitelinas. En algunos de estos folículos, el epitelio es de tipo cuboidal, y la teca está formada por dos capas en los folículos ováricos tipo 3. En cuanto al oviducto, se observa una predominancia de glicoconjugados ácidos con una distribución laberíntica, organizados de manera fibrilar y granular. Este estudio ha permitido identificar características particulares en la arquitectura de los compuestos glucídicos y en el seguimiento de los compuestos oviductales en hembras de O. discoidalis, las cuales serían adecuadas para un modo de puesta fuera del agua.Oreobates discoidalis is an anuran that reproduces in moist and sheltered habitats, laying relatively large eggs directly on land, and undergoing direct development. In this study, we describe the histology of the sexual organs of mature females during the reproductive period. Our observations reveal ovaries consisting of a single lobe, type 3 ovarian follicles exhibiting sectorization of the cytoplasm due to the accumulation of vitelline platelets, with some of these follicles exhibiting cubic epithelium, and theca formed by two layers in type 3 and 4 ovarian follicles. The oviduct is dominated by acid-type glycoconjugates exhibiting a labyrinthine distribution, organized in a fibrillar and granular manner. This study has revealed distinctive features in the architecture of glucid compounds and the monitoring of oviductal compounds in females of O. discoidalis. These characteristics would be suitable for a water-independent mode of reproduction.Fil: Pucci Alcaide, Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Pucci Alcaide, Franco Jose. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Ponssa, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Michel, Adriana A.. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentin

A System for the Analysis of Snore Signals

AbstractSleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) is a disease consisting in the nocturnal cessation of oronasal airflow at least 10 seconds in duration. The standard method for SAS diagnosis is the polysomnographic exam (PSG). However it does not permit a mass screening because it has high cost and requires long term monitoring.This paper presents a preliminary software system prototype for snoring signal analysis, whose main goal is to support the doctor in SAS diagnosis and patient follow-up. The design of the system is modular to allow a future hardware implementation in a portable device for personal snore collection and monitoring

Cardiovascular evaluation, including resting and exercise electrocardiography, before participation in competitive sports: cross sectional study

Objective To evaluate the clinical usefulness of complete preparticipation cardiovascular screening in a large cohort of sports participants

An integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach to identify the main Torymus sinensis venom components

During oviposition, ectoparasitoid wasps not only inject their eggs but also a complex mixture of proteins and peptides (venom) in order to regulate the host physiology to benefit their progeny. Although several endoparasitoid venom proteins have been identified, little is known about the components of ectoparasitoid venom. To characterize the protein composition of Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) venom, we used an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach and identified 143 venom proteins. Moreover, focusing on venom gland transcriptome, we selected additional 52 transcripts encoding putative venom proteins. As in other parasitoid venoms, hydrolases, including proteases, phosphatases, esterases, and nucleases, constitute the most abundant families in T. sinensis venom, followed by protease inhibitors. These proteins are potentially involved in the complex parasitic syndrome, with different effects on the immune system, physiological processes and development of the host, and contribute to provide nutrients to the parasitoid progeny. Although additional in vivo studies are needed, initial findings offer important information about venom factors and their putative host effects, which are essential to ensure the success of parasitism

Cystatin C as a nmarker of renal function Immediately after liver transplantation

To verify whether cystatin C may be of some use as a renal function marker immediately after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), we compared serum cystatin C (S(Cyst)), serum creatinine (S(cr)), and creatinine clearance (C(cr)) levels with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). On postoperative days 1, 3, 5, and 7, S(Cyst) and S(cr) was measured in simultaneously drawn blood samples, whereas C(cr) was calculated using a complete 24-hour urine collection. The GFR was determined on the same days by means of iohexol plasma clearance (I-GFR). The correlation between 1/S(Cyst) and I-GFR was stronger than that of 1/S(cr) or C(cr) (P< 0.01). In the case of moderate reductions in I-GFR (80-60 mL/minute/1.73 m), S(cr) remained within the normal range, whereas the increase in S(cyst) was beyond its upper limit; for I-GFR reductions to lower levels (59-40 mL/minute/1.73 m), S(cr) increased slightly, whereas S(cyst) was twice its upper normal limit. When we isolated all of the I-GFR values on days 3, 5, and 7 that were > or = 30% lower than that recorded on the first postoperative day, S(Cyst)(P< 0.0001) and S(cr) (P< 0.01) levels were increased, whereas C(cr) remained unchanged (P = 0.09). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area-under-the-curve analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of S(cyst) was better than that of S(cr) and C(cr). S(cyst) levels of 1.4, 1.7, and 2.2 mg/L respectively predicted I-GFR levels of 80, 60, and 40 mL/minute/1.73 m. In conclusion, cystatin C is a reliable marker of renal function during the immediate post-OLT period, especially when the goal is to identify moderate changes in GFR

Mutational analysis of Peroxiredoxin IV: exclusion of a positional candidate for multinodular goitre

BACKGROUND: Multinodular goitre (MNG) is a common disorder characterised by an enlargement of the thyroid, occurring as a compensatory response to hormonogenesis impairment. The incidence of MNG is dependent on sex (female:male ratio 5:1) and several reports have documented a genetic basis for the disease. Last year we mapped a MNG locus to chromosome Xp22 in a region containing the peroxiredoxin IV (Prx-IV) gene. Since Prx-IV is involved in the removal of H(2)O(2) in thyroid cells, we hypothesize that mutations in Prx-IV gene are involved in pathogenesis of MNG. METHODS: Four individuals (2 affected, 2 unrelated unaffected) were sequenced using automated methods. All individuals were originated from the original three-generation Italian family described in previous studies. A Southern blot analysis using a Prx-IV full-length cDNA as a probe was performed in order to exclude genomic rearrangements and/or intronic mutations. In addition a RT-PCR of PRX-IV was performed in order to investigate expression alterations. RESULTS: No causative mutations were found. Two adjacent nucleotide substitutions were detected within introns 1 and 4. These changes were also detected in unaffected individuals, suggesting that they were innocuous polymorphisms. No gross genomic rearrangements and/or restriction fragment alterations were observed on Southern analysis. Finally, using RT-PCR from tissue-specific RNA, no differences of PRX-IV expression-levels were detected between affected and unaffected samples. CONCLUSIONS: Based on sequence and genomic analysis, Prx-IV is very unlikely to be the MNG2 gene