Sex differences in flea infections among rodent hosts: is there a male bias?

Recognizing patterns of parasite distribution among wildlife hosts is of major importance due to growing risk of transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans. Thus, sex-dependent parasite distribution in higher vertebrates is extensively studied, and males are often found more parasit- ized than females. Male-biased parasitism may be the result of weaker immunocompetence of male hosts owing to the im- munosuppressive effect of androgens. Moreover, larger hosts (males) may demonstrate higher parasite infestation levels than smaller individuals (females), as they constitute a better nutritional resource for parasites and provide them with a greater variety of niches. In the present work, we investigated sex-dependent patterns of flea distribution among three com- mon rodent species (Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus). We hypothesized that males have a higher flea infestation than females. We confirm male-biased parasitism in A. agrarius and M. glareolus, but not in A. flavicollis. Additionally, flea infestation increased with body mass in A. agrarius, but not in A. flavicollis and M. glareolus. The detected differences in parasite distribution among sexes are probably the result of immunosuppressive effects of androgens and spatial behavior of males.The research was supported by the Science and Technology Foundation (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education), grant no. SFRH/BD/ 31602/2006 and the budget of the Department of Systematic Zoology (Faculty of Biology AMU, Poznań )Parasitology Researc

Videodermoscopy in the Assessment of Patients with Ocular Demodicosis

Introduction: There is growing evidence of the potential uses of dermoscopy in diagnostics of demodicosis. No previous studies have analyzed dermoscopic features in patients with ocular demodicosis. Objectives: To evaluate the potential usefulness of videodermoscopy in diagnostics of ocular demodicosis. Methods: It was a single-center prospective observational study in which results of videodermoscopic examination of the eyelids were compared to the results of classic microscopic examination in patients with suspected ocular demodicosis and healthy volunteers. Results: Study group included 16 women and 15 men. In fifteen (48.4%) patients, microbiological examination of epilated eyelashes was positive. The results of forms filled by the patients concerning known subjective clinical symptoms of ocular demodicosis revealed no significant differences between the group with positive and negative results of microscopic examination. The presence of Demodex tails and madarosis observed during dermoscopic assessment correlated positively with positive results of microscopic examination. At least one Demodex tail was found in 86.7% (13/15) cases with positive results of microscopic examination. In the two remaining cases microscopic evaluation showed the presence of Demodex brevis. In 37.5% (6/16) of patients with negative results of microscopic examination, videodermoscopy showed the presence of Demodex tails. Conclusions: Videodermoscopy may facilitate the diagnostics of ocular demodicosis. Patients reporting clinical symptoms suggesting ocular demodicosis but negative results of videodermoscopic examination should be referred to classical microscopic examination to exclude the presence of Demodex brevis. In patients with negative microscopic examination results and symptoms suggesting ocular demodicosis, dermoscopy-guided microscopic re-evaluation could be considered

Variation in pelvic shape and size in Eastern European males: a computed tomography comparative study

Background The significantly accelerated development of human society in the last millennium has brought about changes in human behavior and body mass that may have influenced human bone morphology. Our objective was to analyze the variation in pelvic shape and size in males from modern and medieval populations. Methods We obtained 22 pelvic girdles of adult males from a medieval cemetery located in Cedynia, Poland. The control group comprised 31 contemporary male pelves from individuals inhabiting the same region. The analyzed parameters were: interspinous distance (ISD), intercristal distance (ICD), intertuberous distance (ITD), anatomic conjugate of the pelvis, height of the pelvis (HP), iliac opening angle (IOA), iliac tilt angle (ITA), and ISD/ITD/HP ratio. Geometric morphometrics was used to analyze differences in shape in the pelves. All analyses were carried out on three-dimensional CT reconstructions of pelves. Results ISD, ICD, and IOA were significantly greater in modern pelves than in those from Cedynia, but no significant differences were seen between the two groups in ITD, anatomical conjugate, HP, or ITA. ISD/ITD/HP ratios were significantly lower in the Cedynia group. Geometric morphometrics revealed significant differences in pelvic shape between the analyzed groups. Discussion The pelves of modern males are larger, wider, and flatter than those of medieval males. Changes in the set of daily activities that produce mechanical loading and estimated body mass may constitute the main factors explaining pelvic variability. However, differences in ontogenesis should also be taken into consideration, especially since growth in past populations is often found to be reduced relative to modern populations

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Investigation of the effects of ketamine on cognitive flexibility and feedback sensitivity of rats in the probabilistic reversal learning task

Cechą charakterystyczną osób cierpiących na depresję jest ich zwiększona wrażliwość na negatywne informacje zwrotne. Do badania zaburzeń w przetwarzaniu informacji zwrotnych służy test probabilistycznego przeuczania (TPP), który opracowany został na potrzeby badań wzajemnych relacji między tą funkcją a gietkością poznawczą, która również może ulegać zaburzeniu w depresji. Odkrywanie potencjalnych nowych antydepresantów wymaga istnienia testów przedklinicznych, dzięki którym możliwa jest ocena powyższych funkcji u zwierząt. Instrumentalna wersja TPP dla gryzoni ma potencjał do stania się takim narzędziem.Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena wpływu ketaminy (KET) - prototypowego antydepresantu o natychmiastowym działaniu – na wrażliwość szczurów na informacje zwrotne oraz giętkość poznawczą za pomocą TPP. Zdrowe szczury zostały nauczone instrumentalnej wersji TPP. Prawidłowe wykonanie zadania wymagało od zwierząt ignorowania sporadycznych fałszywych informacji zwrotnych, które nie odzwierciedlały ogólnej wartości ich wyborów oraz przeuczania się reguł zadania za każdym razem, gdy wartość wyborów ulegała zamianie. Po wyuczeniu zadania, zbadano wpływ trzech dawek ketaminy (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg i 20 mg/kg) na wrażliwość na informacje zwrotne i giętkość poznawczą zwierząt w godzinę, jeden i dwa dni po podaniach.W wyniku podania najwyższej z testowanych dawek (20 kg/kg) zaobserwowano natychmiastowy i trwały spadek proporcji zachowań unikowych w odpowiedzi na negatywne informacje zwrotne. Ponadto, nie zaobserwowano zmian w umiejętności przeuczania zwierząt, co jest zgodne z wynikami poprzednich badań. Wyniki sugerują, że ketamina zmniejsza wrażliwość na negatywne informacje zwrotne oraz wskazują na udział tej funkcji neuropsychologicznej w przeciwdepresyjnym działaniu ketaminy.One of the core features of depressed patients is their increased sensitivity to negative feedback. The probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) task was designed to measure feedback sensitivity and its interplay with cognitive flexibility, which is also implicated to be affected by depression. In order to evaluate potential novel antidepressants, it is necessary to develop preclinical tests capable of tapping into these functions in other animals. The instrumental version of the PRL task for rodents might be such a tool.The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a prototypic rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine (KET) on feedback sensitivity and cognitive flexibility of rats in the PRL paradigm. Healthy rats were trained in an operant version of the PRL task. In order to complete the task successfully the animals had to ignore false feedback, which did not signal the overall value of their choices and – additionally - relearn the rules of the task every time contingencies were reversed. When the task was attained at sufficient level, we evaluated the effect of KET (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) on feedback sensitivity and cognitive flexibility 1, 24 and 48 hours after KET administration.The results show that acute administration of the highest dose of KET (20 mg/kg) used in the study, immediately and long-lastingly decreased the proportion of avoidance behaviours following negative feedback. Furthermore, we show that KET did not induce any changes in the ability of the animals to reverse learned contingencies, which is in line with previous findings. Present results show that KET might decrease sensitivity to negative feedback and suggest a possible neuropsychological mechanism responsible for its antidepressant action

Validation and Test-Retest Reliability of New Thermographic Technique Called Thermovision Technique of Dry Needling for Gluteus Minimus Trigger Points in Sciatica Subjects and TrPs-Negative Healthy Volunteers

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and test-retest reliability of Thermovision Technique of Dry Needling (TTDN) for the gluteus minimus muscle. TTDN is a new thermography approach used to support trigger points (TrPs) diagnostic criteria by presence of short-term vasomotor reactions occurring in the area where TrPs refer pain. Method. Thirty chronic sciatica patients (n=15 TrP-positive and n=15 TrPs-negative) and 15 healthy volunteers were evaluated by TTDN three times during two consecutive days based on TrPs of the gluteus minimus muscle confirmed additionally by referred pain presence. TTDN employs average temperature (Tavr), maximum temperature (Tmax), low/high isothermal-area, and autonomic referred pain phenomenon (AURP) that reflects vasodilatation/vasoconstriction. Validity and test-retest reliability were assessed concurrently. Results. Two components of TTDN validity and reliability, Tavr and AURP, had almost perfect agreement according to κ (e.g., thigh: 0.880 and 0.938; calf: 0.902 and 0.956, resp.). The sensitivity for Tavr, Tmax, AURP, and high isothermal-area was 100% for everyone, but specificity of 100% was for Tavr and AURP only. Conclusion. TTDN is a valid and reliable method for Tavr and AURP measurement to support TrPs diagnostic criteria for the gluteus minimus muscle when digitally evoked referred pain pattern is present

Dry Needling Related Short-Term Vasodilation in Chronic Sciatica under Infrared Thermovision

Vasomotor responses to dry needling (DN) of trigger points (TrPs) under infrared thermovision (IRT) camera control and TrPs coexistence in chronic sciatica patients have never been studied. Materials and Methods. Fifty consecutive chronic sciatica patients were enrolled in the study. DN under IRT control was performed for all patients regardless of gluteus minimus (GM) active TrPs examination. Then, the vasomotor response and its agreement with TrPs examination were evaluated. Results. The prevalence of GM active TrPs was 32%. DN provokes intensive vasodilatation for TrPs-positive patients only, with the localization dependent on referred pain during the procedure (r=0.896;  P=0.000) not the daily complaint. The increase of vasodilatation was, for example, for thigh, TrPs-positive +30.29% (P<0.05) versus TrPs-negative +4.08%. Additionally, a significant skin temperature increase was observed for TrPs-positive only, for example, thigh +1.5 ± 1.3°C (maximum) and +1.2 ± 1.0°C (average) (both P<0.05). Conclusion. GM active TrPs prevalence among chronic sciatica patients was around one in three. Every TrPs-positive subject presented with vasodilatation under IRT in the area of DN related referred pain. Although TrPs involvement in chronic sciatica patients is possible, further studies on a bigger group of patients are still required