Nueva legislación sobre la protección de los animales utilizados en investigación

La legislación sobre protección de los animales utilizados para experimentación y otras finalidades científicas fue revisada en el año 2010 con la publicación de la Directiva 010/63/EU. Para su implementación en España se acaba de publicar el Real Decreto 53/2013 de 1 de febrero. Esta revisión presenta como novedad la incorporación de nuevas especies a proteger, la obligatoriedad de la evaluación desde el punto de vista ético, incluyendo la definición del grado de severidad y la promoción de centros para el desarrollo de alternativas. También persigue una mayor transparencia propiciando la publicación de resúmenes no técnicos de los proyectos de investigación.The legislation for the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes was revised in 2010 with the publication of Directive 010/63/EU. The Spanish Government has just published the Royal Decree 53/2013 of 1 February that implements the EU Directive. The new legislation presents the novelty of adding new species to protect, a mandatory ethical review, including the definition of the degree of severity and the creation of centers to promote the development of alternatives. In addition, it promotes greater transparency by encouraging the publication of non-technical summaries of research projects

E. coli infection disrupts the epithelial barrier and activates intrinsic neurosecretory reflexes in the pig colon

This study aims to assess the barrier integrity and possible activation of enteric neural pathways associated with secretion and motility in the pig colon induced by an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) challenge. 50 Danbred male piglets were used for this study. 16 were challenged with an oral dose of the ETEC strain F4+ 1.5 × 109 colony-forming unit. Colonic samples were studied 4- and 9-days post-challenge using both a muscle bath and Ussing chamber. Colonic mast cells were stained with methylene blue. In control animals, electrical field stimulation induced neurosecretory responses that were abolished by tetrodotoxin (10−6M) and reduced by the combination of atropine (10−4M) and α-chymotrypsin (10U/mL). Exogenous addition of carbachol, vasoactive intestinal peptide, forskolin, 5-HT, nicotine, and histamine produced epithelial Cl− secretion. At day 4 post-challenge, ETEC increased the colonic permeability. The basal electrogenic ion transport remained increased until day 9 post-challenge and was decreased by tetrodotoxin (10−6M), atropine (10−4M), hexamethonium (10−5M), and ondansetron (10−5M). In the muscle, electrical field stimulation produced frequency-dependent contractile responses that were abolished with tetrodotoxin (10−6M) and atropine (10−6M). Electrical field stimulation and carbachol responses were not altered in ETEC animals in comparison with control animals at day 9 post-challenge. An increase in mast cells, stained with methylene blue, was observed in the mucosa and submucosa but not in the muscle layer of ETEC-infected animals on day 9 post-challenge. ETEC increased the response of intrinsic secretory reflexes and produced an impairment of the colonic barrier that was restored on day 9 post-challenge but did not modify neuromuscular function

Mast cell-mediated splanchnic cholestatic inflammation

Introduction Splanchnic mast cells increase in chronic liver and in acute-on-chronic liver diseases. We administered Ketotifen, a mast cell stabilizer, and measured the mast cells in the splanchnic organs of cholestatic rats. Material and Methods These groups were studied: sham-operated rats (S; n = 15), untreated microsurgical cholestasic rats (C; n = 20) and rats treated with Ketotifen: early (SK-e; n = 20 and CKe; n = 18), and late (SK-l; n = 15 and CK-l; n = 14). Results The cholestatic rats showed systemic and splanchnic impairments, such as ascites, portal hypertension, and biliary proliferation and fibrosis. The rats also showed a splanchnic increase of TNF-α, IL-1β and MCP-1, and a reduction of IL-4, IL-10 and antioxidants. An increase of VEGF in the ileum and mesenteric lymphatic complex was associated with a liver reduction of TGF-β1. Ketotifen reduces the degree of hepatic insufficiency and the splanchnic inflammatory mediators, as well as VEGF and TGF-ß1 levels. Ketotifen also reduces the connective tissue mast cells in the mesenteric lymphatic complex of cholestatic rats, while increases the hepatic mucosal mast cells. Conclusions In cholestatic rats, Ketotifen improves liver function and ascites, and also reduces pro-inflammatory mediators in the splanchnic area. The decrease in connective tissue mast cells in the mesenteric lymphatic complex due to the administration of Ketotifen would lead to the improvement of the inflammatory splanchnic response, and consequently the abovementioned complications

Lipopolysaccharides Facilitate Colonic Motor Alterations Associated to the Sensitization to a Luminal Antigen in Rats

Enteric dysbiosis is a risk factor for dietary proteins-associated intestinal alterations, contributing to the development of food allergies and the symptomatology of functional gastrointestinal disorders, mainly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We explored if a dysbiotic-like state, simulated by intraperitoneal administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), facilitates the sensitization to a luminal antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), in rats. Rats were exposed to oral OVA for 1 week, alone or with LPS. Thereafter, colonic histology, goblet cell density, mucosal eosinophils and mucosal mast cell (MMC) and connective tissue mast cell (CTMC) were evaluated. Colonic expression (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction) of interleukins, IFN-α1 and integrins was assessed to determine local immune responses. Luminal and wall adhered microbiota were characterized by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Colonic contractility (in vitro) served to assess functional changes associated to OVA and/or LPS. Neither OVA nor LPS, alone or combined, lead to structural alterations, except for a reduced goblet cell density in OVA-LPS-treated rats. MMC density was unaffected, while CTMC counts increased within the submucosa of OVA-LPS-treated animals. Marginal immune activation (IFN-α1 up-regulation) was observed in OVA-LPS-treated rats. LPS induced a dysbiotic-like state characterized by decreased luminal bacterial counts, with a specific loss of clostridia. LPS facilitated Clostridium spp. wall adherence, an effect prevented by OVA. Colonic contractility was altered in OVA-LPS-treated animals, showing increased basal activity and enhanced motor responses to OVA. Changes in gut microbiota and/or direct effects of LPS might enhance/facilitate local neuroimmune responses to food antigens leading to motor alterations similar to those observed in IBS

Early socialization and environmental enrichment of lactating piglets affects the caecal microbiota and metabolomic response after weaning

The aim of this study was to determine the possible impact of early socialization and an enriched neonatal environment to improve adaptation of piglets to weaning. We hypothesized that changes in the microbiota colonization process and in their metabolic response and intestinal functionality could help the animals face weaning stress. A total of 48 sows and their litters were allotted into a control (CTR) or an enriched treatment (ENR), in which piglets from two adjacent pens were combined and enriched with toys. The pattern of caecal microbial colonization, the jejunal gene expression, the serum metabolome and the intestinal physiology of the piglets were assessed before (-2 d) and after weaning (+ 3d). A differential ordination of caecal microbiota was observed after weaning. Serum metabolome suggested a reduced energetic metabolism in ENR animals, as evidenced by shifts in triglycerides and fatty acids, VLDL/LDL and creatine regions. The TLR2 gene showed to be downregulated in the jejunum of ENR pigs after weaning. The integration of gene expression, metabolome and microbiota datasets confirmed that differences between barren and enriched neonatal environments were evident only after weaning. Our results suggest that improvements in adaptation to weaning could be mediated by a better response to the post-weaning stress

Different responses of the blockade of the P2Y1 receptor with BPTU in human and porcine intestinal tissues and in cell cultures

Background: Gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxation is accomplished by activation of P2Y 1 receptors, therefore this receptor plays an important role in regulation of gut motility. Recently, BPTU was developed as a negative allosteric modulator of the P2Y 1 receptor. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of BPTU on purinergic neurotransmission in pig and human gastrointestinal tissues. Methods: Ca 2+ imaging in tSA201 cells that express the human P2Y 1 receptor, organ bath and microelectrodes in tissues were used to evaluate the effects of BPTU on purinergic responses. Key results: BPTU concentration dependently (0.1 and 1 µmol L −1) inhibited the rise in intracellular Ca 2+ evoked by ADP in tSA201 cells. In the pig small intestine, 30 µmol L −1 BPTU reduced the fast inhibitory junction potential by 80%. Smooth muscle relaxations induced by electrical field stimulation were reduced both in pig ileum (EC 50 = 6 µmol L −1) and colon (EC 50 = 35 µmol L −1), but high concentrations of BPTU (up to 100 µmol L −1) had no effect on human colonic muscle. MRS2500 (1 µmol L −1) abolished all responses. Finally, 10 µmol L −1 ADPβS inhibited spontaneous motility and this was partially reversed by 30 µmol L −1 BPTU in pig, but not human colonic tissue and abolished by MRS2500 (1 µmol L −1). Conclusions & inferences: BPTU blocks purinergic responses elicited via P2Y 1 receptors in cell cultures and in pig gastrointestinal tissue. However, the concentrations needed are higher in pig tissue compared to cell cultures and BPTU was ineffective in human colonic tissue

A Latency-Aware Real-Time Video Surveillance Demo: Network Slicing for Improving Public Safety

© 2021 IEEE.  Personal use of this material is permitted.  Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other worksWe report the automated deployment of 5G services across a latency-aware, semidisaggregated, and virtualized metro network. We summarize the key findings in a detailed analysis of end-to-end latency, service setup time, and soft-failure detection timeThe research leading to these results has received funding from the EC and BMBF through the METRO-HAUL project (G.A. No. 761727) and OTB-5G+ project (reference No. 16KIS0979K

Nueva legislación sobre la protección de los animales utilizados en investigación

La legislación sobre protección de los animales utilizados para experimentación y otras finalidades científicas fue revisada en el año 2010 con la publicación de la Directiva 010/63/EU. Para su implementación en España se acaba de publicar el Real Decreto 53/2013 de 1 de febrero. Esta revisión presenta como novedad la incorporación de nuevas especies a proteger, la obligatoriedad de la evaluación desde el punto de vista ético, incluyendo la definición del grado de severidad y la promoción de centros para el desarrollo de alternativas. También persigue una mayor transparencia propiciando la publicación de resúmenes no técnicos de los proyectos de investigación.The legislation for the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes was revised in 2010 with the publication of Directive 010/63/EU. The Spanish Government has just published the Royal Decree 53/2013 of 1 February that implements the EU Directive. The new legislation presents the novelty of adding new species to protect, a mandatory ethical review, including the definition of the degree of severity and the creation of centers to promote the development of alternatives. In addition, it promotes greater transparency by encouraging the publication of non-technical summaries of research projects