Positive Impact of Physical Exercise for Managing Stereotypies in Dogs

Stereotypies in dogs are repetitive behavioral patterns that occur always in the same sequence but do not play any role. This altered behavior may thus take over the animal’s life, changing its sleep patterns and eating habits. The drive to adopt the specific behavior becomes increasingly stronger, to the extent that the animal may sometimes even mutilate parts of its own body, such as the tail and limbs. The overall approach to the problem through retraining of owners, environmental modification and enrichment and proper use of psychotropics proved necessary for restoring the patients’ balance. However, it was also necessary to introduce a physical exercise routine with a canine motorized treadmill and/or daily walks. Although exercise itself may contribute to increased anxiety in the animal, the potential benefits justify considering its introduction for managing dogs with stereotypies.Fil: Ostrovsky, G.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, F.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Risso, Analia Lorena. 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: Pellegrino, Francisco Javier. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marchionni, M.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Aversa, D.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Corrada, Yanina Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Cortical Tension Allocates the First Inner Cells of the Mammalian Embryo

Every cell in our body originates from the pluripotent inner mass of the embryo, yet it is unknown how biomechanical forces allocate inner cells in vivo. Here we discover subcellular heterogeneities in tensile forces, generated by actomyosin cortical networks, which drive apical constriction to position the first inner cells of living mouse embryos. Myosin II accumulates specifically around constricting cells, and its disruption dysregulates constriction and cell fate. Laser ablations of actomyosin networks reveal that constricting cells have higher cortical tension, generate tension anisotropies and morphological changes in adjacent regions of neighboring cells, and require their neighbors to coordinate their own changes in shape. Thus, tensile forces determine the first spatial segregation of cells during mammalian development. We propose that, unlike more cohesive tissues, the early embryo dissipates tensile forces required by constricting cells via their neighbors, thereby allowing confined cell repositioning without jeopardizing global architecture.Fil: Samarage, Chaminda R.. Monash University; AustraliaFil: White, Melanie D.. Monash University; AustraliaFil: Alvarez, Yanina Daniela. Monash University; Australia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fierro González, Juan Carlos. Monash University; AustraliaFil: Henon, Yann. Monash University; AustraliaFil: Jesudason, Edwin C.. National Health Service Scotland; Reino UnidoFil: Bissiere, Stephanie. Monash University; Australia. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Fouras, Andreas. Monash University; AustraliaFil: Plachta, Nicolas. Monash University; Australia. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; Singapu

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

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

Expanding Actin Rings Zipper the Mouse Embryo for Blastocyst Formation

Transformation from morula to blastocyst is a defining event of preimplantation embryo development. During this transition, the embryo must establish a paracellular permeability barrier to enable expansion of the blastocyst cavity. Here, using live imaging of mouse embryos, we reveal an actin-zippering mechanism driving this embryo sealing. Preceding blastocyst stage, a cortical F-actin ring assembles at the apical pole of the embryo's outer cells. The ring structure forms when cortical actin flows encounter a network of polar microtubules that exclude F-actin. Unlike stereotypical actin rings, the actin rings of the mouse embryo are not contractile, but instead, they expand to the cell-cell junctions. Here, they couple to the junctions by recruiting and stabilizing adherens and tight junction components. Coupling of the actin rings triggers localized myosin II accumulation, and it initiates a tension-dependent zippering mechanism along the junctions that is required to seal the embryo for blastocyst formation. Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo to seal it and allow formation of the blastocyst cavity.Fil: Zenker, Jennifer. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; SingapurFil: White, Melanie D.. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Gasnier, Maxime. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Alvarez, Yanina Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Lim, Hui Yi Grace. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Bissiere, Stephanie. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Biro, Maté. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Plachta, Nicolas. Institute Of Molecular And Cell Biology; Singapu

Quantifying transcription factor-DNA binding in single cells in vivo with photoactivatable fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Probing transcription factor (TF)-DNA interactions remains challenging in complex in vivo systems such as mammalian embryos, especially when TF copy numbers and fluorescence background are high. To address this difficulty, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be combined with the use of photoactivatable fluorescent proteins to achieve selective photoactivation of a subset of tagged TF molecules. This approach, termed paFCS, enables FCS measurements within single cell nuclei inside live embryos, and obtains autocorrelation data of a quality previously only attainable in simpler in vitro cell culture systems. Here, we present a protocol demonstrating the applicability of paFCS in developing mouse embryos by outlining its implementation on a commercial laser-scanning microscope. We also provide procedures for optimizing the photoactivation and acquisition parameters and determining key parameters describing TF-DNA binding. The entire procedure can be performed within ∼2 d (excluding embryo culture time), although the acquisition of each paFCS data set takes only ∼10 min. This protocol can be used to noninvasively reveal cell-to-cell variation in TF dynamics, as well as critical, fate-predicting changes over the course of early embryonic development.Fil: Zhao, Ziqing Winston. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; SingapurFil: White, Melanie D.. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Alvarez, Yanina Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Zenker, Jennifer. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Bissiere, Stephanie. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; SingapurFil: Plachta, Nicolas. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology; Singapu

Long-Lived Binding of Sox2 to DNA Predicts Cell Fate in the Four-Cell Mouse Embryo

10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.032Cell165175-8