Fat area and lipid droplet morphology of porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation with trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid and forskolin

Lipid droplets (LD) in porcine oocytes form a dark mass reaching almost all cytoplasm. Herein we investigated changes in fat areas, cytoplasmic tone and LD morphology during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes cultured with 100mM trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10,c12 CLA) or 10mM forskolin at different time periods. Four groups were constituted: control, excipient, t10,c12 CLA and forskolin, with drugs being supplemented during 44 to 48h and the initial 22 to 24h in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In Experiment 3, forskolin was supplemented for the first 2 h. Matured oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed boar semen and cleavage rate recorded. Before and during IVM, samples of oocytes were evaluated for LD, total and fat areas and fat gray value or for meiotic progression. Results showed that forskolin supplementation during 44 to 48 h or 22 to 24 h inhibits oocyte maturation (exp. 1: forskolin = 5.1±8.0%, control = 72.6±5.0%; exp. 2: forskolin =24.3±7.4%, control =71.6±5.6%) and cleavage (exp. 1: forskolin=0.0±0.0%, control=55.4±4.1%; exp. 2: forskolin=8.3±3.3%, control=54.5±3.0%). Forskolin also reduced oocyte and fat areas. In Experiment 3, forskolin negative effect on oocyte maturation and cleavage disappeared, although minor (P<0.03) LD and oocyte fat areas were identified at 22 to 24 h of IVM. Oocytes supplemented with t10,c12 CLA during 44 to 48h presented a lighter (P<0.04) colour tone cytoplasm than those of control and forskolin. In conclusion, t10,c12 CLA and forskolin were capable of modifying the distribution and morphology of cytoplasmic LD during porcine oocyte maturation, thus reducing its lipid content in a time-dependent manner

A utilização de sémen fresco na fertilização in vitro de embriões ovinos melhora a qualidade dos blastocistos na raça portuguesa Merino

A produção de embriões em ovinos é uma tarefa difícil, exigindo experiência e condições onerosas, principalmente na produção de embriões in vivo. A recolha sistemática de oócitos em animais de matadouro ou em animais vivos por ovum pick-up, permite a produção in vitro de embriões (IVP), em larga escala e menos dispendiosa, nos pequenos ruminantes. Esta possibilidade é importante não só como fonte de embriões mas também de oócitos e zigotos para fins comerciais ou de investigação, facilitando a sua disponibilidade em tecnologias emergentes tais como a clonagem ou a transgénese. Para IVP foram desenvolvidos vários protocolos de maturação, utilizando fertilização in vitro (IVF) com sémen fresco ou congelado. Em Portugal, a produção de embriões in vitro foi somente realizada com sémen congelado dada a sua disponibilidade em condições de rotina. Contudo, o sémen fresco poderá melhorar a produção de embriões frescos ou criopreservados. Este trabalho teve como objectivo comparar a eficiência da IVP em ovinos usando diferentes protocolos de maturação de oócitos e IVF com sémen fresco ou congelado. Oócitos (n=1768) recolhidos em matadouro foram maturados em meio TCM199 com 100 μM cisteamine, 10 ng mL-1 EGF, 10 μg mL-1 E2 e gentamicina (mat A, n=692) ou suplementada com 10 μg mL-1 FSH e 0,3 mM piruvato de sódio (mat B, n=707) a 39 ºC e 5% CO2 durante 22h. O sémen fresco (FS) e congelado/descongelado (TS) de carneiros de raça Merino Branco (n=3) foi lavado ou submetido a swim-up, respectivamente. Após a fertilização (18h p.i.), os presumíveis zigotos foram cultivados em meio de fluido sintético do oviducto (SOF) enriquecido com aminoácidos e BSA a 38,5 ºC, em atmosfera humidificada com 5% O2, 5% CO2 e 90% N2 até ao estadio de 2-4-8 células. Após clivagem, o desenvolvimento embrionário prosseguiu até ao estadio de blastocisto em meio SOF, BSA e 10% FCS. A qualidade foi avaliada no dia 6-7, classificando-se como bons, médios e maus, baseado nos parâmetros IETS. Os dados das taxas de produção embrionária foram analisados utilizando ANOVA. Foi utilizado o teste de Mann-Whitney U para avaliação da qualidade dos embriões. Os diferentes protocolos de maturação não interferiram (p>0,05) quer com as taxas de maturação quer com as taxas de produção de embriões. A qualidade embrionária foi superior (p=0,004) na fertilização com sémen fresco (bom: FS=40,1±8,0% vs TS=32,9±5,6%; média: FS=20,1±4,7% vs TS=35,7±5,8%; má: FS=39,8±9,8% vs TS=31,4±7,6%). Em conclusão, estes resultados preliminares mostram que o sémen fresco de carneiro pode ser facilmente utilizado para fertilização in vitro e melhora a qualidade dos embriões produzidos.#Embryo production in sheep is a difficult task demanding experience and expensive facilities, particularly when dealing with in vivo embryo production. Easy ways to obtain ovine embryos consist of collecting oocytes at slaughterhouses or systematically pick them up from live animals, allowing a large scale and cheaper in vitro embryo production (IVP) for small ruminants. Those are important sources of embryos, oocytes and zygotes for commercial, laboratorial and research proposes, making easier the availability of resources for emerging techniques like cloning or transgenesis. For IVP, several oocyte maturation protocols have been developed using fertilization (IVF) either with fresh or frozen-thawed semen. In Portugal, IVP has been done through IVF using cryopreserved semen because it is easily available for routine use. However, the use of fresh semen could improve embryo production and cryopreservation results. The aim of this work was to compare the efficiency of in vitro embryo production in ovine using different oocyte maturation protocols and fresh or frozen semen for IVF. Abattoir-derived oocytes (n=1768) were matured in TCM199, 10 μM cysteamine, 10 ng mL-1 EGF, 10 μg mL-1 E2 and gentamicin (mat A, n=692) or plus 10 μg mL-1 FSH and 0.3 mM sodium piruvate (mat B, n=707) at 39 ºC and 5% CO2 for 22h. Prior to fertilization, either fresh (FS) or frozen/thawed (TS) semen from Merino rams (n=3) was washed or submitted to swim-up respectively. Presumptive zygotes (18h p.i.) were cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) enriched with aminoacids and 6 mg mL-1 BSA at 38.5 ºC, under 5% O2, 5% CO2 and 90% N2 in an humidified atmosphere until the stage of 2-4-8 cell embryos. After assessing cleavage, embryo development proceeded until the blastocyst stage in SOF+BSA and 10% FCS. Quality was evaluated on D6-7 by scoring embryos as good, fair and bad based on IETS guidelines. Data from embryo production rates were analysed using ANOVA. Mann-Whitney U test was used for embryo quality evaluation. Different maturation protocols did not interfere (P>0.05) either on maturation or on embryo quality or production rates. Embryo quality was higher (P=0.004) when fertilization was accomplished with fresh semen (good: FS=40.1±8.0% vs TS=32.9±5.6%; fair: FS=20.1±4.7% vs TS=35.7±5.8%; bad: FS=39.8±9.8% vs TS=31.4±7.6%). Preliminar results show that ram fresh semen can be easily used for in vitro fertilization and improves the quality of produced embryos

A Pilot Study on the Metabolic Impact of Mediterranean Diet in Type 2 Diabetes: Is Gut Microbiota the Key?

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been recommended for type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment. The impact of diet in shaping the gut microbiota is well known, particularly for MD. However, the link between MD and diabetes outcome improvement is not completely clear. This study aims to evaluate the role of microbiota modulation by a nonpharmacological intervention in patients with T2D. In this 12-week single-arm pilot study, nine participants received individual nutritional counseling sessions promoting MD. Gut microbiota, biochemical parameters, body composition, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Adherence to MD [assessed by Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score] increased after the intervention. Bacterial richness increased after 4 weeks of intervention and was negatively correlated with fasting glucose levels and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio also increased after 4 weeks. In contrast, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and HOMA-IR were only decreased at the end of study. Alkaline phosphatase activity was assessed in fecal samples and was negatively correlated with HbA1c and positively correlated with bacterial diversity. The results of this study reinforce that MD adherence results in a better glycemic control in subjects with T2D. Changes in gut bacterial richness caused by MD adherence may be relevant in mediating the metabolic impact of this dietary intervention.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Climate change : strategies for mitigation and adaptation

The sustainability of life on Earth is under increasing threat due to humaninduced climate change. This perilous change in the Earth's climate is caused by increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily due to emissions associated with burning fossil fuels. Over the next two to three decades, the effects of climate change, such as heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, storms, and floods, are expected to worsen, posing greater risks to human health and global stability. These trends call for the implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Pollution and environmental degradation exacerbate existing problems and make people and nature more susceptible to the effects of climate change. In this review, we examine the current state of global climate change from different perspectives. We summarize evidence of climate change in Earth’s spheres, discuss emission pathways and drivers of climate change, and analyze the impact of climate change on environmental and human health. We also explore strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation and highlight key challenges for reversing and adapting to global climate change

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income&nbsp;countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was &lt;1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of&nbsp;countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified

A smart pipe energy harvester excited by fluid flow and base excitation

This paper presents an electromechanical dynamic modelling of the partially smart pipe structure subject to the vibration responses from fluid flow and input base excitation for generating the electrical energy. We believe that this work shows the first attempt to formulate a unified analytical approach of flow-induced vibrational smart pipe energy harvester in application to the smart sensor-based structural health monitoring systems including those to detect flutter instability. The arbitrary topology of the thin electrode segments located at the surface of the circumference region of the smart pipe has been used so that the electric charge cancellation can be avoided. The analytical techniques of the smart pipe conveying fluid with discontinuous piezoelectric segments and proof mass offset, connected with the standard AC–DC circuit interface, have been developed using the extended charge-type Hamiltonian mechanics. The coupled field equations reduced from the Ritz method-based weak form analytical approach have been further developed to formulate the orthonormalised dynamic equations. The reduced equations show combinations of the mechanical system of the elastic pipe and fluid flow, electromechanical system of the piezoelectric component, and electrical system of the circuit interface. The electromechanical multi-mode frequency and time signal waveform response equations have also been formulated to demonstrate the power harvesting behaviours. Initially, the optimal power output due to optimal load resistance without the fluid effect is discussed to compare with previous studies. For potential application, further parametric analytical studies of varying partially piezoelectric pipe segments have been explored to analyse the dynamic stability/instability of the smart pipe energy harvester due to the effect of fluid and input base excitation. Further proof between case studies also includes the effect of variable flow velocity for optimal power output, 3-D frequency response, the dynamic evolution of the smart pipe system based on the absolute velocity-time waveform signals, and DC power output-time waveform signals

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

AbstractOptimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was &lt;1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified.</jats:p

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/images/research_banner_face_lab_290.jpgunderweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity