Physical Properties and Ionic Concentration of the Bovine Cervical Mucus at the Moment of Inseminating: Spontaneous Estrous and Induced Estrous

Objective of the investigation was to characterize biochemically the cervical mucus collected prior to the artificialinsemination of Holstein heifers comparing spontaneous oestrus with induced oestrus. The concentration of sodiumand potassium was determined through flame photometry, chlorine ions by Schoenfeld reaction, magnesium andcalcium was determined through colorimetry in micro plates. pH (reactive tape) and degree of crystallization (opticalmicroscope) were also evaluated. Natural estrous was detected by observing the behavior of the heifers twice a dayand by observing the characteristics of the vulva. In order to induce oestrous, an intra vaginal device was placedwith 1 gm of progesterone and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate were injected (Day 0). On day 8 the device waswithdrawn and 0-150 mg of D-Cloprostenol and 1 mg of Estradiol Cypionate were provided. 56 hours afterwithdrawal, the device was inseminated and at 60 days of pregnancy determined. The cervical mucus of heifers withspontaneous oestrus showed lower content of sodium and potassium, higher magnesium and chlorine, and biggerproportion of sodium/potassium from that obtained by induce oestrus. When comparing the pregnant with the emptyheifers, it was discovered that at the moment of insemination, the pH value and the degree of crystallization ofpregnant heifers was significantly lower, same as the concentrations of potassium and magnesium. Sodium washigher in this group. Pregnancy was always related to high ionic level generating an osmotic force that draws waterto the cervical mucus, characteristic fundamental in transport of sperms.Fil: Bernardi, S. F.. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Savia, Caren Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Argentino de Información Científica y Tecnológica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Secretaria de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro Binacional de Investigación en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: de Paz, L. J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Argentino de Información Científica y Tecnológica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Humanidades y Artes. Secretaria de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro Binacional (Argentina- Italia) de Investigaciones en Criobiología Clí­nica y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, J. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Secretaria de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro Binacional de Investigación en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Marini, Pablo Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

"Green oncology": a new paradigm for medical oncology

n/

2022 update

Funding Information: This study was funded by European League Against Rheumatism. Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.Objectives: To provide an update of the EULAR rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management recommendations addressing the most recent developments in the field. Methods: An international task force was formed and solicited three systematic literature research activities on safety and efficacy of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and glucocorticoids (GCs). The new evidence was discussed in light of the last update from 2019. A predefined voting process was applied to each overarching principle and recommendation. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendation were assigned to and participants finally voted on the level of agreement with each item. Results: The task force agreed on 5 overarching principles and 11 recommendations concerning use of conventional synthetic (cs) DMARDs (methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide, sulfasalazine); GCs; biological (b) DMARDs (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab including biosimilars), abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, sarilumab and targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs, namely the Janus kinase inhibitors tofacitinib, baricitinib, filgotinib, upadacitinib. Guidance on monotherapy, combination therapy, treatment strategies (treat-to-target) and tapering in sustained clinical remission is provided. Safety aspects, including risk of major cardiovascular events (MACEs) and malignancies, costs and sequencing of b/tsDMARDs were all considered. Initially, MTX plus GCs is recommended and on insufficient response to this therapy within 3-6 months, treatment should be based on stratification according to risk factors; With poor prognostic factors (presence of autoantibodies, high disease activity, early erosions or failure of two csDMARDs), any bDMARD should be added to the csDMARD; after careful consideration of risks of MACEs, malignancies and/or thromboembolic events tsDMARDs may also be considered in this phase. If the first bDMARD (or tsDMARD) fails, any other bDMARD (from another or the same class) or tsDMARD (considering risks) is recommended. With sustained remission, DMARDs may be tapered but should not be stopped. Levels of evidence and levels of agreement were high for most recommendations. Conclusions: These updated EULAR recommendations provide consensus on RA management including safety, effectiveness and cost.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Interwoven Convoluted Element Frequency Selective Surfaces with Wide Bandwidths

The interweaving of abjacent convoluted elements of crossed dipoles is shown to give reductions in operating frequencies of almost 15 times for single layer surfaces. The frequency stability with oblique incidence is observed to be significantly better than for simple crossed dipoles. At normal incidence the fractional reflection band width increases to more than 60% and the common bandwidth for oblique incidence upto 45º is 46%

Critical assessment of pressure estimates in volcanic plumbing systems: The case study of Popocatépetl volcano, Mexico

Most geobarometers use chemical compositions of minerals and their host melt to estimate crystallization pressures. Crystal structural parameters such as cell and site volumes are not usually considered despite their known sensitivity to pressure. Here, we compare two clinopyroxene geobarometers based upon electron microprobe analysis alone and coupled with single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The case study is the plumbing system of Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico), which consists of three distinct magma reservoirs in upper, middle and lower crustal depths, represented by three compositionally and texturally distinct clinopyroxene populations (T1, Mg# core 82, and low-Ca with a lower wollastonite component). These clinopyroxenes are augites of limited compositional variability, although yielding a significant increase in cell (V cell) and M1 site (V M1) volumes from low-Ca and T2 core clinopyroxenes to T1 (core and rim) and T2 (rim) clinopyroxenes. This variation is not due to chemical or temperature effects but is linked to their depth of crystallization. The application of the geobarometer based on chemical composition alone is unable to distinguish the three different reservoirs postulated on volcanological and petrological grounds. In contrast, the application of the geobarometer based on both structural parameters and chemical composition yields a remarkable correlation between the calculated cell volume and the estimated depth of crystallization of the different clinopyroxenes, including core to rim differences. These results have twofold implications. First, the determination of the structural parameters of clinopyroxenes is the only method to resolve the actual distribution of Mg, Fe2+, Fe3+ in the M1 and M2 structural sites and, given the sensitivity of cell and site volumes to pressure, permits to improve geobarometric estimates in volcanic plumbing systems. Second, the quantitative determination of the crystallization depth of the different clinopyroxenes has permitted to rescale the depth of the three different reservoirs in the plumbing system of the Popocatépetl Volcanic Complex located from ~30 km b.s.l. (low-Ca clinopyroxene) to ~18 km b.s.l. (T2 clinopyroxene core) and ~10–0 km b.s.l. (T1 clinopyroxene core and rim, T2 clinopyroxene rim) within the crustal structure of the Morelos platform. This provides further support to the complex plumbing system of the Popocatépetl Volcanic Complex consisting of polybaric storage layers of variable interconnected and interacting transient magma reservoirs

Effects of H2O2 exposure on human sperm motility parameters, reactive oxygen species levels and nitric oxide levels

Research has revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) negatively affect sperm function, both in vivo and in vitro. Sperm preparation techniques for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are potential causes for additional ROS production. This study aimed to correlate the concentration of exogenous H2O2 with sperm motility parameters and intracellular ROS and nitric oxide (NO) levels to reiterate the importance of minimising ROS levels in ART. Human spermatozoa from 10 donors were incubated and exposed to different exogenous H2O2 concentrations (0, 2.5, 7.5 and 15 μm). Subsequently, motility was determined using computer-aided semen analysis, while ROS (2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate) and NO (diaminofluorescein-2/diacetate) were analysed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Results showed that H2O2 did affect the sperm parameters. Exogenous H2O2 was detrimental to motility and resulted in a significant increase in overall ROS and NO levels. A significant increase in static cells was seen as well. It is important to elucidate the mechanisms between intracellular ROS levels with sperm motility parameters. While this experiment demonstrated a need to reduce exogenous ROS levels during ART, it did not illustrate the cause and effect relationship of intracellular ROS and NO levels with sperm motility. Further research needs to be conducted to define a pathological level of ROS