113 research outputs found
Apoptotic cell death in canine hair follicle
Apoptotic cell death is an essential homeostatic mechanism involved in the control of cellular turnover in a variety of adult tissues. Cytoplasmic and nuclear condensation morphologically define this process whose biochemical hallmark is extensive DNA fragmentation into discrete oligonucleosomic units. Hair follicle growth and regression has been shown to be correlated with apoptosis in humans, mice, rats and guinea pigs. The present study was carried out to evaluate its implication in canine hair biology in order to define the spatio-temporal relationship between apoptosis and the hair cycle in dogs. As assessed by terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase-mediated d-UTP nick-end-labelling (TUNEL) and by basic histological and ultrastructural assays, apoptotic cells appeared both in the growing and in the regressing follicle epithelium showing the well characterized morphological features described in the previous relevant literature
Glycoconjugates in Sheep Buccal Glands Investigated by Conventional and Lectin Histochemistry
Sheep buccal glands consist of mucous acini capped by demilunes. Information on the chemical structure of their secretory glycoconjugates were obtained by means of a battery of peroxidase conjugated lectins with affinity for specific terminal and / or internal sugars. Neuraminidase procedures followed by lectin staining were also used to visualize the carbohydrate sequence. Stored secretions in mucous acinar cells contained glycoconjugates with N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid linked to αN-acetylgalactosamine and galactosyl (β1→3) N-acetylgalactosamine. Demilunar cells displayed fucose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine and a, N- acetylgalactosamine residues. Cells lining duct system showed a very strong staining at the apical surface and in the cytoplasm with UEA I, LTA and Con
Expression of mesenchymal stem cell marker CD90 on dermal sheath cells of the anagen hair follicle in canine species
The dermal sheath (DS) of the hair follicle is comprised by fibroblast-like cells and extends along the follicular epithelium, from the bulb up to the infundibulum. From this structure, cells with stem characteristics were isolated: they have a mesenchymal origin and express CD90 protein, a typical marker of mesenchymal stem cells. It is not yet really clear in which region of hair follicle these cells are located but some experimental evidence suggests that dermal stem cells are localized prevalently in the lower part of the anagen hair follicle
Cultivation area affects the presence of fungal communities and secondary metabolites in Italian durum wheat grains
In this study, durum wheat kernels harvested in three climatically different Italian cultivation areas (Emilia Romagna, Umbria and Sardinia) in 2015, were analyzed with a combination of different isolation methods to determine their fungal communities, with a focus on Fusarium head blight (FHB) complex composition, and to detect fungal secondary metabolites in the grains. The genus Alternaria was the main component of durum wheat mycobiota in all investigated regions, with the Central Italian cultivation area showing the highest incidence of this fungal genus and of its secondary metabolites. Fusarium was the second most prevalent genus of the fungal community in all cultivation environments, even if regional differences in species composition were detected. In particular, Northern areas showed the highest Fusarium incidence, followed by Central and then Southern cultivation areas. Focusing on the FHB complex, a predominance of Fusarium poae, in particular in Northern and Central cultivation areas, was found. Fusarium graminearum, in the analyzed year, was mainly detected in Emilia Romagna. Because of the highest Fusarium incidence, durum wheat harvested in the Northern cultivation area showed the highest presence of Fusarium secondary metabolites. These results show that durum wheat cultivated in Northern Italy may be subject to a higher FHB infection risk and to Fusarium mycotoxins accumulation
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
Background
Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres.
Methods
This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries.
Results
In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia.
Conclusion
This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
Abstract
Background
Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres.
Methods
This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries.
Results
In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia.
Conclusion
This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries
Histochemical characterisation of complex carbohydrates expressed in the alimentary tract of chickens
This study characterised the composition of surface and secretion complex carbohydrates in the alimentary tract of organically and intensively housed chickens. Histochemical labeling was carried out on samples of oesophagus, glandular stomach and proximal duodenum using (1)alcianblue(AB) at pH2.5 combined with neuraminidase digestion(Sial) with or without saponification(KOH), (2)AB atpH1 and 0.5, (3)periodic acid-Schiff(PAS), (4)combined AB–PAS stain, and(5) both low and high iron diamine stains combined with enzymatic treatments specific for glycosaminoglycans.
Semi-quantitative scoring of the histochemical staining indicated abundant acidic sulfated glycoconjugates in each alimentary tract region, in addition to the presence of sialoglycoderivatives in the oesophagus. These complex carbohydrate components are likely to have various functions including the provision of a protective viscelastic barrier and a role in the defence against specific pathogens. The findings provide a starting point for a more in-depth study of alimentary tract glycoconjugates in poultry
Equine mandibular gland: in situ characterisation of sialoderivatives
Sialic acids modulate the
metabolite transport across membranes and may be involved
in protection against pathogenic agents. Presence of
sialoderivatives in the equine mandibular gland requires
further study.
Presence of
Sialoderivatives were visualized, by means of mild and strong periodate
oxidation and alcoholic saponification, combined with lectin
histochemistry and sialidase digestion in order to
hypothesise roles for detached sialoderivatives.
Mandibular glands were removed from 8 mature
horses of both sexes and subjected to histochemical procedures,
including periodate oxidation, saponfication and lectin
staining. Controls were based upon the omission of peroxidaseconjugated
lectins and respective enzyme-free buffers.
The reactivities of PNA and RCA I lectins were affected
by sialidase treatment, whether preceded by saponification or
not, showing that the dimer N-acetyl-sialic acid- -Gal was
linked (1-3)GalNAc and (1-4)GlcNAc. In acinar cells the
sequence sialic acid- -Gal(1-3)GalNAc showed sialic residues
acetylated at C4 only and at C4 and C7 and/or C8 and/or
C9( 2-6Gal) in both sexes, while in female mandibular gland
also C4 and C9( 2-3Gal) acetylated residues were present.
Sialic acid linked to -Gal(1-4)GlcNAc was prevalently C4 and
C7 and/or C8 and/or C9( 2-6Gal and 2-3Gal) acetylated,
whereas only a minor quantity showed acetyl groups at C7
and/or C8 and/or C9( 2-6Gal) in the acinar cells of both sexes.
The great variety of sialic acid residues
expressed by equine mandibular gland could assume an
important role in the defensive mechanisms towards
pathogen agents and, compared with those of cattle,
probably represents an example of molecular species-specificity
related to different alimentary habits
Characterization of sialoderivatives acting as influenza virus receptors in equine respiratory tract
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