The antiquity of hydrocephalus: the first full palaeo-neuropathological description

The Pathology Museum of the University of Florence houses a rich collection of anatomical specimens and over a hundred waxworks portraying pathological conditions occurring in the nineteenth century, when the museum was established. Clinical and autopsy findings of these cases can still be retrieved from the original museum catalogue, offering a rare opportunity for retrospective palaeo-pathological diagnostics. We present a historical case of severe hydrocephalus backed by modern-day anthropological, radiological and molecular analyses conducted on the skeleton of an 18-month-old male infant deceased in 1831. Luigi Calamai (1796-1851), a wax craftsman of La Specola workshop in Florence, was commissioned to create a life-sized wax model of the child's head, neck and upper thorax. This artwork allows us to appreciate the cranial and facial alterations determined by 30 lb of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulated within the cerebral ventricular system. Based on the autopsy report, gross malformations of the neural tube, tumours and haemorrhage could be excluded. A molecular approach proved helpful in confirming sex. We present this case as the so-far most compelling case of hydrocephalus in palaeo-pathological research

Topographical localisation of glucidic residues and their variations in the canine zona pellucida during folliculogenesis.

In the present ultrastructural study, horseradish peroxidase-labelled lectins, in conjunction with antiperoxidase antibody and protein A-gold, were used to characterise and localise the oligosaccharide sequences of zona pellucida glycoproteins at different stages of follicular development in the canine ovary. Deacetylation and sialidase digestion were also performed before lectin cytochemistry. The zona pellucida of oocytes present in unilaminar primary follicles reacts with WGA- and RCA-I-lectins. The zona pellucida of oocytes present in bilaminar and trilaminar secondary follicles displays positivity to WGA, RCA-I, Con-A, UEA-I, and sialidase/SBA. This labelling pattern persists in the zona pellucida of oocytes present in antral tertiary follicles with the exception of WGA and RCA-I reactive sites which are differently distributed throughout the zona pellucida. The topographical distribution of these carbohydrates is not uniform throughout the zona pellucida, indicating the regionalization of oligosaccharide chains within three concentric bands of the zona matrix: an inner surface close to the oocyte plasma membrane, an intermediate portion and an outer layer in contact with the follicular cells. Our results demonstrated variations in the presence and distribution of the carbohydrate residues in the canine zona pellucida during different stages of follicular growth. We also observed the presence of vesicles in both the ooplasm and granulosa cells, showing a similar lectin binding pattern to that of the zona pellucida

Clinical Efficacy of the GnRH Agonist (Deslorelin) in Dogs Affected by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Evaluation of Prostatic Blood Flow by Doppler Ultrasound.

In six German Shepherds dogs, GnRH agonist implants (Deslorelin) were inserted subcutaneously one month after histological confirmation of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostatic volume (PV), characteristics of ejaculate, serum testosterone concentrations and Doppler parameters of prostatic and subcapsular arteries were detected at different time intervals, for 6 month. The prostatic volume showed a significantly reduction starting at day 37. The decrease in sperm concentration, motility and increase in morphological abnormal sperm were observed from day 22 to day 37, when it was no longer possible to obtain the ejaculate. The values of peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity in prostatic and subcapsular arteries showed from day 11 a gradual decrease, significant at day 22 until day 37 and reaching the lowest values at day 52 until the end of observation. The power Doppler pixel intensity of both arteries showed a gradual decrease from day 5 until day 52. In particular, a significant decrease was observed for both arteries from day 11. Testosterone serum concentration decreased to undetectable levels by day 11 until the end of the observations. All these Doppler parameters and testosterone values were positively correlated with the prostatic volume. Furthermore, testosterone values were positively correlated with peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity and pixel numbers. The use of implants containing GnRH analogues, even in asymptomatic subjects, is effective for the control of BPH and the application of Doppler exam of prostatic blood flow represent an non-invasive tool for monitoring the response of medical treatment

On Unit Free Assessment of The Extent of Multilateral Distributional Variation

Multilateral comparison of outcomes drawn from multiple groups pervade the social sciences and measurement of their variability, usually involving functions of respective group location and scale parameters, is of intrinsic interest. However, such approaches frequently mask more fundamental differences that more comprehensive examination of relative group distributional structures reveal. Indeed, in categorical data contexts, location and scale based techniques are no longer feasible without artificial and questionable cardinalization of categories. Here, Ginis' Transvariation measure is extended and employed in providing quantitative and visual multilateral comparison tools in discrete, continuous, categorical, univariate or multivariate settings which are particularly useful in paradigms where cardinal measure is absent. Two applications, one analyzing Eurozone cohesion in terms of the convergence or divergence of constituent nations income distributions, the other, drawn from a study of aging, health and income inequality in China, exemplify their use in a continuous and categorical data environment

Asinara male donkey (Equus africanus asinus var. Albina) and stallion (Equus ferus caballus) reproductive characteristics: Correlations between testicular blood supply and sperm production

The Asinara donkey is a rare small albino variety of feral donkey listed as "critical" by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and by the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) in 2022. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the reproductive characteristics of healthy male Asinara donkeys through andrological evaluation and testicular echo-color-Doppler examination to assess correlations between testicular blood supply and sperm production and to compare it with horse reproductive characteristics. Eight healthy donkeys and stallions were subjected to semen collection and evaluation, ultrasound and Doppler evaluation of the testicles and serum testosterone determination. The testosterone concentrations in donkeys were 1.42 ± 0.69 ng/ml while in horses were 1.90 ± 0.63 ng/ml within the normal values reported in these species. Horses had greater mean and total testicular volume, semen gel-free volume, and total sperm number than donkeys (P < 0.001). Blood flow analysis of the testicular artery in both locations was a relatively simple procedure. The waveforms recorded in a convoluted location (-con) of the testicular artery were characteristic of the high-resistance vessel, while in the marginal location (-marg) were of low-resistance. It was also recorded a gradual decrease in peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), mean velocity (MV) and testicular arterial blood flow (TABF) values along the peripheral course of the testicular artery. Therefore, donkeys had greater PSV-con (P ≤ 0.01), PSV-marg (P < 0.01), MV-con (P < 0.001), MV-marg (P < 0.01), testicular arterial blood flow rate (TABFr-con) (P < 0.001) and TABFr-marg (P < 0.01) than horses. Conversely, pulsatility index (PI-con) was higher in horses (P < 0.05). The comparative analysis between the Doppler parameters and the reproductive/seminal characteristics showed a positive correlation of TTBF-con with Testosterone (ρ = 0.976, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.905, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively), with Total Testicular Volume (ρ = 0.952, p < 0.01 and ρ = 1.000, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively), and with Total spermatozoa concentration (ρ = 0.905, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.813, p < 0.05 in donkeys and horses, respectively). Additionally, only in the donkey there was a positive correlation with Semen gel free volume (ρ = 0.881, p < 0.01) and Spermatozoa concentration × ml (ρ = 0.786, p < 0.05). The testosterone concentration was positively correlated in both species with Total testicular volume (ρ = 0.976, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.905, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively) and Total sperm concentration (ρ = 0.881, p < 0.01 and ρ = 0.976, p < 0.01 in donkeys and horses, respectively). It was also correlated positively with Semen gel free volume (ρ = 0.857, p < 0.01) and spermatozoa concentration (ρ = 0.762, p < 0.05) in donkeys. Finally, the PI-con (ρ = − 0.786, p < 0.05) was negatively correlated with Semen gel free volume in the donkeys. The results of this study show that Total Testicular Blood Flow is the parameter, together with testosterone, most positively correlated with testicular volume and total sperm concentration in both species. Furthermore, differences in both reproductive and testicular hemodynamic characteristics between the Asinara donkey and stallion are highlighted, suggesting that caution should be taken in transferring knowledge from one species to another. New data on reproductive aspects, seminal characteristics, testicular blood flow perfusion in healthy Asinara donkeys were reported and these may represent reference value for further research or clinical applications

Indagini istologiche, immunocitochimiche ed ultrastrutturali su quattro casi di tumore a cellule della granulosa-teca della cavalla

SUMMARY - The histological, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of Leydig-like cells were investigated in four equine gjanulosa-theca cells tumore (GTCT). Proliferation of thè granulosa-theca cells in a follicular pattern was thè prominent microscopie finding in each tumor. Neoplastic cells were also arranged in cords, trabecular pattems or in solid insular masses. The amount of stremai or thecal reactions varied both in thè different cases and within thè same tumor. Leydig-like cells were present arnong theca cells in 3 cases. Immunocytochemical staining for testosterone was strongly positive in these cells. Ultrastructurally they were similar to thè interstitial cells of thè testìs. The rcsults of thè present study show that thè number of Leydig-like cells is related to plasma testosterone concentration and that they appear to be a source of thè testosterone production

Severity and justness do not moderate the relation between corporal punishment and negative child outcomes: A multicultural and longitudinal study

There is strong evidence of a positive association between corporal punishment and negative child outcomes, but previous studies have suggested that the manner in which parents implement corporal punishment moderates the effects of its use. This study investigated whether severity and justness in the use of corporal punishment moderate the associations between frequency of corporal punishment and child externalizing and internalizing behaviors. This question was examined using a multicultural sample from eight countries and two waves of data collected one year apart. Interviews were conducted with 998 children aged 7–10 years, and their mothers and fathers, from China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States. Mothers and fathers responded to questions on the frequency, severity, and justness of their use of corporal punishment; they also reported on the externalizing and internalizing behavior of their child. Children reported on their aggression. Multigroup path models revealed that across cultural groups, and as reported by mothers and fathers, there is a positive relation between the frequency of corporal punishment and externalizing child behaviors. Mother-reported severity and father-reported justness were associated with child-reported aggression. Neither severity nor justness moderated the relation between frequency of corporal punishment and child problem behavior. The null result suggests that more use of corporal punishment is harmful to children regardless of how it is implemented, but requires further substantiation as the study is unable to definitively conclude that there is no true interaction effect

The effects of the iPlayClean Education Programme on doping attitudes and susceptibility to use banned substances among high-level adolescent athletes from the UK: A cluster-randomised control trial

Background: This study examined the effects of the iPlayClean anti-doping intervention on attitudes towards doping and susceptibility, and whether delivery mode affected the results. Methods: A total of 1,081 high-level UK athletes (14-18 years old, 904 males, 177 females) were cluster-randomised to the control (11 teams/organisations/schools, 314 athletes), face-to-face group presentation (8 teams/organisations/schools, 254 athletes), online (11 teams/organisations/schools, 251 athletes), or face-to-face presentation with online access (5 teams/organisations/schools, 262 athletes). Results: Compared to the control group, all modes of the iPlayClean anti-doping education programme reduced favourable attitudes towards doping immediately after the intervention, which was sustained across all intervention groups 8 weeks later. All delivery modes impacted doping susceptibility immediately after the intervention, in comparison to the control group, but the effects were only sustained for the face-to-face presentation group. Conclusion: Contrary to findings within previous anti-doping interventions, we have shown that doping attitudes can be changed and that the results can be sustained across all modes of delivery, 8 weeks later. Research is required to assess for how long these changes are sustained, and how often anti-doping education should be delivered to high-level athletes to reinforce clean play values