Desmopressin in canine mammary carcinoma: Comments on the importance of the administration route

Several years ago, we proposed the haemostatic peptide desmopressin (1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin; dDAVP) as a potential anti-metastatic agent to be used during surgical excision of locally advanced tumours. A prospective randomized study in 28 intact dogs with mammary carcinomas receiving perioperative intravenous dDAVP infusions (1 μg/kg) demonstrated a significant survival benefit in dogs with moderately (grade 2) or poorly differentiated (grade 3) tumours.1 dDAVP is known to exert anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects in laboratory models, by acting on AVPR2 vasopressin receptors present in tumour and endothelial cells. Moreover, dDAVP can induce the release of von Willebrand factor (VWF) from microvascular endothelium into blood circulation. Beyond its critical function in primary haemostasis, VWF plays a protective role against metastatic dissemination. An abrupt increase in VWF blood levels is able to interfere with the arrest of circulating cancer cells at target organs and also to induce apoptosis in micrometastatic foci.2 The article entitled “A prospective randomized trial of desmopressin in canine mammary carcinoma” recently published in Veterinary and Comparative Oncology by Sorenmo et al retested dDAVP as a surgical adjuvant in 24 dogs with mammary carcinomas.3 They reported that few dogs developed metastatic disease in this study, and no significant benefit of perioperative dDAVP administration was observed. We completely agree with the authors in the sense that subgroup comparisons between the high-risk subgroups were very underpowered, since none of the dogs with grade 2 tumours developed metastasis and only one dog with a grade 3 tumour was randomized to receive dDAVP.3 More to the point, all intact dogs underwent ovariohysterectomy as part of their treatment in this study, thus reducing the risk of metastasis and possibly diminishing the impact of perioperative dDAVP on survival. However, it is important to note that Sorenmo et al used a nasal spray formulation of dDAVP administered by the subcutaneous route,3 instead of an intravenous infusion as in our previous study.1 Even though subcutaneous administration is the standard of care in bleeding disorders, it was clearly demonstrated that dDAVP is ineffective by the subcutaneous route in experimental metastasis assays in mice. A clear dose-dependent anti-metastatic action was observed by using the intravenous injection (dDAVP doses ranging from 0.3 to 2 μg/kg), while no significant effects were obtained with similar doses by the subcutaneous route.4 Although a haemostatic factor such as VWF is involved, anti-metastatic effects of dDAVP are not directly associated with the coagulation process.4 VWF is a multifunctional protein and its role in resistance to metastasis is independent of its role in haemostasis,2 probably requiring the rapid peak concentrations associated with high intravenous doses to favour the elimination of early metastatic cells. Finally, we agree with the authors in that a prospective randomized trial in dogs bearing grade 3 mammary tumours should be conducted with the aim of resolving discrepancies between studies. However, in order to confirm the therapeutic benefits of perioperative dDAVP, compound should always be administered using the intravenous route. In this setting, maintenance therapy based on additional postoperative doses of dDAVP, or its synthetic analog with enhanced cytostatic activity [V4Q5]dDAVP,5 could be used to consolidate the effect against dormant metastasis or disseminated tumour cells.Fil: Alonso, Daniel Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Oncología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Turic, Esteban. Biogénesis Bagó; ArgentinaFil: Garona, Juan. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Oncología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Online Business Cards Generator

Vizitky jsou stále nedílnou součástí marketingu. Vizitka představuje snadný způsob výměny základních kontaktních informací mezi jednotlivci. Tato bakalářská práce se zabýva popisem a tvorbou webové aplikace, pomocí níž si bude každý moci vytvořit vlastní vizitku podle předem připravených šablon. Výsledkem webové aplikace je PDF soubor s vytvořenými vizitkami.Business cards are still an integral part of marketing. Business card represent an easy way to exchange basic contact information between individuals. This thesis deals with the design and creation of a web application, through which anyone will be able to create his own business card from already prepared templates. The result of web application is a PDF file with created business cards.

Separators, sedimentation tanks including the functions of the retention basins Jeneweinova

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá problematikou separátorů a sedimentačních nádrží, včetně funkce retenční nádrže Jeneweinova v Brně. Popisuje základní fyzikální a hydrodynamické vlastnosti vod a rozděluje její znečištění. Dále se zabývá popisem jednotlivých separačních a sedimentačních nádrží, jejich účel a využití. Zabývá se vznikem povodní a využití retenčních nádrží jako protipovodňové ochrany. Součástí práce je popis retenční nádrže Jeneweinova, její návrh, účel a funkce.The subject of this bachelor thesis are the issues of separators and sedimentation tanks, including function of retention basin Jeneweinova in Brno. The current work describes the basic physical and hydrodynamic specifics of water and divides the water pollution. The bachelor thesis describes also particular separation and sedimentation tanks, their purpose and usage. Our study follows up the causes for flooding and utilization of retention basin as flood protection. A part of this thesis is the description of retention basin Jeneweinova, their design, purpose and functions.

Navigation in Public Transport

Táto diplomová práca sa zaoberá problematikou cestovania v mestskej hromadnej doprave. V prvej časti autor informuje hlavne o podobných aplikáciách a teórií potrebnej k pochopeniu problematiky. V druhej časti autor popisuje návrh a fungovanie mobilnej a serverovej aplikácie vrátane použitých technológií. Vytvorená mobilná aplikácia má za úlohu navigovať užívateľa z jedného bodu do druhého, v čo najkratšom čase, pričom by malo byť možné nahradiť aktuálnu trasu rýchlejšou.This master's thesis deals with the issue of traveling in public transport. In the first part the author informs about similar applications and theories necessary for understanding the problems. In the second part, the author describes the design and behavior of the mobile and server application, including the used technologies. Created mobile application has the task of navigating the user from one point to another in the shortest possible time, while it should be possible to replace the current route with faster one.

Genetics of general cognitive ability

General cognitive ability (g) is a general mental ability to reason, solve problems, comprehend complex ideas, think abstractly, learn quickly and learn from experience. Currently used IQ tests are excellent predictors of g. Heritability estimates for g range between 0.30 and 0.75 making it one of the most heritable human behavioural traits. Many behavioural phenotypes, including g, can be described as complex traits. Inheritance of such traits is governed by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors contributing to total variance in g are likely to be numerous and additive in nature. In order to identify some of the genetic loci contributing to the total variance in g two approaches were employed. First, a genome-wide association study and second, candidate gene study. Genome-wide association study involved testing 1847 microsatellite markers with an average spacing of 2cM. Markers were initially screened on "original" DNA samples. This was followed by testing all positive findings on an independent "replication" sample set. Only one marker, D4S2460, was significant when all the stages of the study were completed. Investigation of candidate genes involved testing of known Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) promoter polymorphisms and Calcium/calmodulin dependant protein kinase II alpha (CaMKII-a) polymorphisms identified in our laboratories through mutation detection techniques. None of the polymorphisms in either of the two genes showed statistically significant association with a general cognitive ability

Bloggar som informationskälla : om mat som miljöproblem

This thesis focuses on how environmental information concerning food issues is situated and communicated on Swedish environmental blogs. Social media as a form of communication is a current society phenomenon and the Internet is a dominating source of information. A total of 11 Swedish environmental blogs were studied. Five of them function as main objects of information and the six remaining function as additional support sources. Selected blogs were studied through qualitative methods. We used three combined methods which were observations based on netnography, text analysis and structured asynchronous e-mail interviews. The sociocultural theory of human learning was used as a theoretical framework. A use of social media and blogs can be seen as a sociocultural practice in which users are taking part in a communicative interaction where people learn from each other. As another theoretical framework we used consumer culture theory, with focus on ethical consumption, as a way of understanding contemporary culture. We found that blogs emanate from a subjective point of view applied on one´s own family and domestic areas. Consumption and production were the dominating categories on the blogs. These were introduced as information about ethical consumption and a desire to teach others their skills. Concerning sources, the bloggers chose other blogs, social media and organisations with an environmental focus. Social media is often used as a source of information. Credibility and reliability determine the source to use and critical thinking of information from a blog is up to the reader. Social media, including blogs, are powerful sources of information which is problematic because it could be improperly used. Therefore, it is important to deal with critical source evaluation when blogs are used as information sources

The Role of AI in Cervical Cancer Screening

In the last few years internet-based technologies played an important role in reinventing various medical procedures and facilitating quick access to medical services and care, particularly in the remote areas of China. The use of artificial intelligence and cloud computing in clinical laboratory setting for slide analysis contributed to standardized cytology and pathology diagnosis but more importantly slide analysis with artificial intelligence has a huge potential to compensate for a country wide lack of pathologists and systematic quality control. While well-established automated slide scanning is already in use, we added intelligent algorithms located in a secure cloud for the better slide readings, and mobile phone microscopes to capture those regions of Hubei province where laboratory infrastructure is supported by high-speed internet and 5G networks. These technological advances allowed us to bring an important pathology expertise across the large areas of China

Effects of parenteral supplementation with minerals and vitamins on oxidative stress and humoral immune response of weaning calves

We aimed to evaluate the effects of injectable mineral and vitamin supplementation on weaning calves subjected to a low-stress (fence-line) weaning system. Seven-month-old Aberdeen Angus female calves (n = 40, 152 ± 11 kg body weight) from a selenium-deficient area of extensive cattle production on natural grass were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 20 each). One group received subcutaneous supplementation with copper, zinc, selenium, manganese and vitamins A and E (SG), and the other was given sterile saline solution (CG). The animals were supplemented twice, seven days before weaning (day −7) and on the day of weaning (day 0), and they were evaluated 30 (+30) and 60 (+60) days after weaning. Total antioxidant status (TAS), selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, body weight, and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated. Additionally, antibody titers were assessed prior to and after each immunization with a vaccine containing bovine herpes virus type 1 (BoHV-1). On day +30, body weight (p = 0.03) was higher in SG, whereas TAS (p = 0.02) and GPx (p = 0.0038) activity were lower in CG and remained constant in SG. Antibody titers increased in SG and CG following immunization, being higher in SG on days +30 and +60 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, parenteral supplementation of minerals and vitamins with antioxidant effects in a low-stress weaning system prevented the decrease in TAS and GPx activity, improved antibody response and had positive effects on body weight.Fil: Mattioli, Guillermo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas. Laboratorio de Nutrición Mineral y Fisiología Reproductiva; ArgentinaFil: Rosa, Diana Esther. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas. Laboratorio de Nutrición Mineral y Fisiología Reproductiva; ArgentinaFil: Turic, Esteban. Biogénesis Bagó; ArgentinaFil: Picco, Sebastian Julio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas. Laboratorio de Nutrición Mineral y Fisiología Reproductiva; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET- La Plata. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando Noel Dulout". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Genética Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Raggio, Santiago José. Biogénesis Bagó; ArgentinaFil: Hamad Minervino, Antonio Humberto. Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará; BrasilFil: Fazzio, Luis Emilio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas. Laboratorio de Nutrición Mineral y Fisiología Reproductiva; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Patología. Cátedra de Patología Especial Veterinaria; Argentin

Effect of Injectable Copper and Zinc Supplementation on Weight, Hematological Parameters, and Immune Response in Pre-weaning Beef Calves

Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) deficiency may cause poor weight gain, hematological changes, and immune failure in extensive beef cattle breeding systems. Diagnosis of the deficiency is based on plasma Cu and Zn concentrations; however, there are discrepancies regarding data interpretation. Here, plasma Cu and Zn concentrations are discussed as risk markers. We evaluated the effect of parenteral Cu and Zn supplementation on their plasma concentrations, weight gain, hematological parameters, and antibody titers to bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1). Pre-weaning calves (n = 40; 99 ± 8 kg bw) from a typical breeding area of Argentina with background Cu and Zn deficiency were used. They were assigned to two homogeneous groups in a completely randomized design. Calves were subcutaneously injected with 0.3 mg/kg Cu and 1 mg/kg Zn (supplemented group), or saline solution (control), every 40 days during 120 days. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations, hematological parameters, and weight were recorded. On days 40 and 80 of the trial, calves were vaccinated with inactivated BoHV-1. Antibody immune response was measured on days 80 and 120. Data were analyzed with a mixed model for repeated measures over time. Before treatment, plasma Cu was low and Zn was adequate in both groups. After treatment, plasma Cu increased and remained within a normal range, whereas plasma Zn remained constant. Supplemented animals had higher weight gain (p < 0.01); higher hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05); and higher immune response to BoHV-1 (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that Cu and Zn supplementation improved daily weight gain and the immune response of pre-weaning calves.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Effects of Copper and Zinc Supplementation on Weight Gain and Hematological Parameters in Pre-weaning Calves

Cow-calf operations may be affected by trace mineral deficiencies, particularly copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) deficiency, which may decrease the calf daily weight gain and alter hematological parameters. We evaluated the effect of Cu and Zn supplementation on pre-weaning calves (n = 40; 92 ± 6 kg initial body weight) from the Salado River basin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Calves were divided into four groups (n = 10 each) and subcutaneously administered 0.3 mg/kg Cu (Cu group), 1 mg/kg Zn (Zn group), Cu and Zn together (Cu + Zn group), and sterile saline solution (control group) every 40 days for 120 days. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations, hematological parameters, and weight were recorded every 40 days. A completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial treatment design was used and data were analyzed with a mixed model for repeated measures over time. Cu and Zn were detected in plasma after the second sampling. Cu × Zn interaction was significant (p = 0.09), being Cu concentration higher in the Cu + Zn than in the Cu group. Differences in weight gain (Zn × time interaction; p   0.1). On the other hand, none of the treatments altered any of the hematological parameters assessed (p > 0.1). Our results show the risk of lower weight gain due to Zn deficiency in pre-weaning calves raised in the Salado River basin.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria