Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, semen quality and sperm longevity in fractionated stallion semen

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are gelatinases that take part in several reproductive processes. The aim of this study was to measure levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in fractionated stallion ejaculates, and to evaluate the association between these components and semen quality, and sperm longevity during cooled storage. Semen quality were assessed separately for sperm-rich fractions (HIGH), sperm-poor fractions (LOW), and whole ejaculate samples (WE) from 33 stallions. After cooled storage with SP either present or removed, sperm motility and DFI were determined. The relative activity of the pro-form of MMP-2, active MMP-2 and total MMP-9 were evaluated using gelatin zymography, and all were present in all fractions of the stallion's ejaculate, with higher relative activity of the latent than active forms and the highest relative activity in the HIGH fraction. The relative activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were positively correlated to sperm concentration and total sperm count, but only in the HIGH fraction and not in LOW or WE. The relative activities of MMPs were not related to differences in sperm longevity during cooled storage, measured as sperm motility and DFI. There was a harmful effect of SP on DFI during storage, but this effect was not associated with differences in the relative activities of MMPs. In conclusion, the relative activities of MMPs are not useful as markers for semen quality (other than sperm concentration), or sperm survival during storage in horses. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

PAP treatment in patients with OSA does not induce long-term nasal obstruction.

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked DownloadWe hypothesized that positive airway pressure treatment would induce nasal obstruction and decrease nasal cavity due to mucosal swelling. We further hypothesized that subjective and objective nasal obstruction at baseline would negatively affect positive airway pressure adherence. A total of 728 patients with sleep apnea were investigated in the Icelandic Sleep Apnea Cohort at baseline and 2 years after starting positive airway pressure. Patients underwent home sleep apnea testing at baseline. Questionnaires were answered and acoustic rhinometry was completed at baseline and follow-up. The proportion of patients reporting subjective nocturnal nasal obstruction was reduced (baseline: 35% versus follow-up: 24%; p < 0.001). Small interior nasal dimensions increased (p < 0.001) independent of adherence to treatment. Small nasal volume at baseline was a determinant for becoming a non-user of positive airway pressure treatment (odds ratio 2.22, confidence interval 95% 1.35-3.67, p = 0.002). Subjective nasal obstruction decreased 2 years after initiating positive airway treatment in sleep apnea, and objectively small nasal dimensions increased. Small nasal volume at baseline was a negative predictor for positive airway pressure treatment adherence. Maybe most importantly, positive airway pressure treatment did not cause long-term objective or subjective nasal obstruction.United States Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA ACTA from Region Skane FoU from Region Skan

”Social utveckling i skolan” – en studie om hur gruppen kan påverka individen

I skolan arbetar varje dag lärare med elever sammansatta i olika grupper. För att skolarbetet ska kunna flyta på och kunskap införskaffas krävs det att eleverna i de olika grupperna ska fungera bra tillsammans. Lpo 94 skriver om hur skolan ska sträva efter en levande social gemenskap där man känner trygghet. Socialisationsprocessen är den process där individen anpassas efter gruppens och samhällets krav, där ibland finns regler, attityder samt beteendemönster. Individen ska också kunna anpassa sig efter andra regler och beteende i situationer som kräver detta. Prosociala egenskaper innebär att individen kan agera utifrån vad som är bäst för andra, man delar med sig, hjälper och skyddar andra

Imagens em conflito: infâncias em mudança e o estado de bem-estar social na Suécia. Reflexões sobre o século da criança

Em 1900, Ellen Dey publicou o livro O Século da Criança, que antevia uma sociedade melhor e manifestava uma esperança que o século a se iniciar seria o século da criança. A Infância, de fato, adquiriu novos sentidos nas décadas seguintes. O objetivo deste artigo é esboçar as mudanças fundamentais do papel da criança na sociedade sueca, assim como do significado de infância. Procura-se ressaltar a estreita relação entre a implantação do Estado de bem-estar social e os seus novos e diversos grupos profissionais e instituições, e o desenvolvimento de novas noções de infância. Também se enfatiza as contradições inerentes às modernas noções de infância e como a ambição de dar forma à infância e realizar ideais por meio de medidas assistenciais de natureza diversa criou uma infância diferente daquela que se pretendia. A infância romântica foi substituída por uma infância planejada e racional.<br>During the very year of the 20th century, Ellen Key wrote the book The Century of the Child. The book presented a vision of a better society and expressed the hope that the 20 th century would be the century of the child. And childhood did indeed acquire new meanings in the decades to come. The overall aim of this paper is to outline fundamental changes in the role of children in Swedish society and the meaning of childhood. The paper points at the close relationship between the development of the welfare state and its different new professional groups and intitutions and the development new notions of childhood. The paper points at the contradictions inherent in modern notions of childhood. It also points at the how the ambitions to form childhood and realize ideals through welfare measures of different kinds created a different kind of childhood than was intended. The romantic childhood was replaced by a planned and rational childhood