Enrofloxacin-based therapeutic strategy for the prevention of endometritis in susceptible mares

Enrofloxacin (EFX) is often used empirically to prevent uterine infections in mares in order to improve efficiency on Commercial Embryo Transfer Farms. This study investigated the uterine distribution of EFX and its metabolite ciprofloxacin (CFX) in mares and assessed the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of EFX against various common pathogens as a basis for establishing a rational dosing schedule. Plasma and uterine pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were performed in two groups (n = 5) of healthy mares following intravenous (i.v.) administration of EFX at either 2.5 and at 5 mg/kg bodyweight. Plasma and endometrial tissue samples, taken before for up to 48 h after treatment were analysed by Reverse Phase HPLC. MIC values for wild strains of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (β-haemolytic streptococci) ranged from 0.25-2 and 1.5-3.0 μg/mL respectively. In terms of tissue distribution, the sum of the endometrial concentrations of the parent drug (EFX) and its active metabolite (CFX) (in terms of AUC), exceeded those in plasma by 249% and 941% following administration of EFX at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg respectively. After i.v. treatment with EFX at 5 mg/kg, endometrial concentrations of EFX and CFX above the MIC value were detected for 36-48 and 22-43 h posttreatment for Gram-negative and -positive isolates respectively. Concentrations above MIC were maintained for much shorter periods at the lower (2.5 mg/kg) treatment dose. Based on these results, a conventional dose (5 mg/kg) of EFX given prebreeding followed by two further doses at 36-48 h postbreeding are proposed as a rational strategy for using of EFX as a preventative therapy against a variety of common bacterial strains associated with equine endometritis.Fil: González, C. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatología. Laboratorio de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, L.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatología. Laboratorio de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fumuso, E..Fil: García, J..Fil: Rivulgo, M..Fil: Confalonieri, A..Fil: Sparo, M..Fil: Sánchez Bruni, S.

Immunoanalytical Approach for Detecting and Identifying Ancestral Peptide Biomarkers in Early Earth Analogue Environments

Several mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques have been used in the search for molecular biomarkers on Mars. A major constraint is their capability to detect and identify large and complex compounds such as peptides or other biopolymers. Multiplex immunoassays can detect these com-pounds, but antibodies must be produced for a large number of sequence-dependent molecular targets. Ancestral Sequence Re-construction (ASR) followed by protein "resurrection" in the lab can help to narrow the selection of targets. Herein, we propose an immunoanalytical method to identify ancient and universally conserved protein/peptide sequences as targets for identifying ancestral biomarkers in nature. We have developed, tested, and validated this approach by producing antibodies to eight previously described ancestral resurrected proteins (three beta-lactamases, three thioredoxins, one Elongation Factor Tu, and one RuBisCO, all of them theoretically dated as Precambrian), and used them as a proxy to search for any potential feature of them that could be present in current natural environments. By fluorescent sandwich microarray immunoassays (FSMI), we have detected positive immunoreactions with antibodies to the oldest beta-lactamase and thioredoxin proteins (ca. 4 Ga) in samples from a hydrothermal environment. Fine epitope mapping and inhibitory immunoassays allowed the identification of well-conserved epitope peptide sequences that resulted from ASR and were present in the sample. We corroborated these results by metagenomic sequencing and found several genes encoding analogue proteins with significant matches to the peptide epitopes identified with the antibodies. The results demonstrated that peptides inferred from ASR studies have true counterpart analogues in Nature, which validates and strengthens the well-known ASR/protein resurrection technique and our immunoanalytical approach for investigating ancient environments and metabolisms on Earth and elsewhere

Design for additive manufacturing in the medical sector. Tools and cases

This work presents a review of the three main axes that constitute the knowledge base when designing products for additive manufacturing in the medical industry: technology, materials and design tools. Through four different study cases of diverse medical products that match the existing categories in the established classification of standards, different design approaches and strategies are presented and suggested as feasible solutions that generate medical products. These cases studies intend to cover some categories where additive manufacturing can be used in the medical sector: a post-surgery protection cast developed using reverse engineering technologies and free-form modelling tools customized not only regarding anatomic shapes but also in terms of aesthetics, a surgical simulator that improves the surgeon’s education process in a non-expensive manner, which could also be shared and spread combining soft and hard parts, a hip surgery retractor designed together with experts that increase the performance of the commercial solutions and a bone replacement implant with an innovative approach that combines engineering polymers with metallic surface coatings. All these case studies present the diversity of possible applications when working with the medical industry, as well as the required skills and knowledge needed to start with this task. Beside this, it has been stated the convenience of engineers to work hand by hand with medical professionals, combining skills and visions to innovate and improve the patient’s journe

Effects of dietary chromium-yeast level on growth performance, blood metabolites, meat traits and muscle fatty acids profile, and microminerals content in liver and bone of lambs

To assess the effect of dietary supplement levels of chromium-yeast (Cr-yeast) on growth performance, blood glucose and triglycerides, fatty acid (FA) profile in intramuscular fat, carcase and meat traits, iron, copper, chromium and zinc concentrations in liver and bone, 24 Rambouillet male lambs (29.2 ± 0.17 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to four diets with 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6mg Cr/kg DM. The growth performance trial lasted 49 d. Supplemental Cryeast did not affect growth performance and carcase characteristics (p>.05), but reduced (p<.05) perirenal and intramuscular fat, as well as 3 h post-feeding blood glucose and triglycerides concentration. In liver, Fe and Cu concentration decreased (p<.05), while Cr concentrations in liver increased with increasing Cr-yeast dietary levels. In bone, Fe decreased (p<.05) as Cryeast dietary levels increasing, and Cr-yeast supplementation increased Cr concentrations (p<.05). As Cr-yeast dietary level increased, palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) SFA decreased linearly (p<.05), while palmitoleic (C16:1n-7), vaccenic (C18:1n-7), linoleic (C18:2n-6) and arachidic (C20:4) unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) increased linearly (p<.01). In conclusion, Cr-yeast did not affect growth performance and carcase quality, but decreased the perirenal and intramuscular fat, blood glucose and triglyceride content, and Fe and Cu concentrations in liver as increased Cr-yeast levels in the diet. Because supplemental Cr-yeast improved index of atherogenicity and unsaturated to saturated FA ratio in muscle of lambs, it could be of human nutritional interest

In-situ methane enrichment in continuous anaerobic digestion of pig slurry by zero-valent iron nanoparticles addition under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions

The effect of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) addition on methane production during anaerobic digestion of pig slurry was assessed. Experiments were conducted using two experimental set-ups: batch and long-term continuous operation at a fixed nZVI dosage. Two different temperature operation ranges (mesophilic and thermophilic) were assessed. Biogas production and methane content were monitored, and the specific methanogenic activity of the biomass and nZVI oxidation state were evaluated at different timesThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (INIA project RTA2015-00079-C02-01). The support of the CERCA Program and of the Consolidated Research Group TERRA (ref. 2017 SGR 1290), both from the Generalitat de Catalunya, is also acknowledged.Peer ReviewedPostprint (updated version

Predictors of Ascending Aorta Enlargement and Valvular Dysfunction Progression in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Aneurisma; Estenosis aórtica; Válvula aórtica bicúspideAneurisma; Estenosi aòrtica: Vàlvula aòrtica bicúspideAneurysm; Aortic stenosis; Bicuspid aortic valveBicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients are at high risk of developing progressive aortic valve dysfunction and ascending aorta dilation. However, the progression of the disease is not well defined. We aimed to assess mid-long-term aorta dilation and valve dysfunction progression and their predictors. Patients were referred from cardiac outpatient clinics to the echocardiographic laboratories of 10 tertiary hospitals and followed clinically and by echocardiography for >5 years. Seven hundred and eighteen patients with BAV (median age 47.8 years [IQR 33–62], 69.2% male) were recruited. BAV without raphe was observed in 11.3%. After a median follow-up of 7.2 years [IQR5–8], mean aortic root growth rate was 0.23 ± 0.15 mm/year. On multivariate analysis, rapid aortic root dilation (>0.35 mm/year) was associated with male sex, hypertension, presence of raphe and aortic regurgitation. Annual ascending aorta growth rate was 0.43 ± 0.32 mm/year. Rapid ascending aorta dilation was related only to hypertension. Variables associated with aortic stenosis and regurgitation progression, adjusted by follow-up time, were presence of raphe, hypertension and dyslipidemia and basal valvular dysfunction, respectively. Intrinsic BAV characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors were associated with aorta dilation and valvular dysfunction progression, taking into account the inherent limitations of our study-design. Strict and early control of cardiovascular risk factors is mandatory in BAV patients

Effects of organic chromium supplementation to finishing lambs diet on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality

The objective of this study was to evaluate supplemental organic chromium (Cr) to finishing lambs on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Eighteen Suffolk lambs (age (4.5±0.2) mon; (25.8±3.6) kg body weight (BW)) were randomly assigned to three levels of supplemental organic Cr (0.0, 0.2 and 0.4 mg kg–1 dry matter (DM)) in a complete random design. Growth performance was evaluated for 70 d, and then lambs were slaughtered to study carcass characteristics and chemical composition of meat. Orthogonal contrasts were performed (contrast one-average level 0.2 ppm Cr vs. average level 0.4 ppm Cr; contrast two-level 0 vs. average levels (0.2+0.4) ppm Cr). Orthogonal polynomials were used to estimate the linear and quadratic effects of Cr concentrations. Growth and carcass performance were not affected by supplemental organic Cr. Muscle conformation and leg perimeter linearly increased (P<0.05) as organic Cr level increased in the diet. Kidney fat decreased linearly (P<0.05) as supplemental Cr increased. In Longissimus dorsi (LD), the ash content decreased linearly, and shear force (kg cm–2) increased (P<0.05) as organic Cr level increased in the diet. It is concluded that organic Cr did not affect growth performance, but it improved positively the muscle conformation, reduced kidney fat, whereas in LD there was an increment in shear force in finishing carcass lambs

Correction to: Dimensions of leisure-time physical activity and risk of depression in the “Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra” (SUN) prospective cohort

After publication of our article [1] we have been notified that Table 2 was incorrectly formatte

Influence of Loading Conditions on the Mechanical Performance of Multifilament Coreless UHMWPE Sutures Used in Orthopaedic Surgery

This work studies the influence of loading velocity and previous cyclic loading history on the stiffness and strength of a multifilament coreless ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) surgical suture. Thread samples (n = 8) were subjected to a load-to-failure test at 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mm/s without previous loading history and after 10 cycles of loading at 1–10 N, 1–30 N, and 1–50 N. The experimental data were fitted to mathematical models to compute the stress–strain relation and the strength of the suture. The bilinear model involving two stress–strain ratios for lowand high-strain intervals was the best fit. The ratio in the low-strain range rose with loading speed, showing mean increases of 5.9%, 6.5%, 7.9%, and 7.3% between successive loading speeds. Without a previous loading history, this ratio was less than half than that at high strain. However, 10 cycles of 1–30 N or 1–50 N significantly increased the stress–strain ratio at a low strain level by 135% and 228%, respectively. The effect persisted after 2 min but vanished after 24 h. No influence was found on the suture strength. In conclusion, the stiffness of the studied suture was influenced by the strain level, loading velocity, and recent cyclic loading history. Conversely, the suture strength was not affected.This research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España, grant number RTI2018-094339-B-100, and the Consejería de Economia, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidades de Andalucia, Spain, grant number P20-00294. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamentos de Santander, Boyacá y Cundinamarca

Por medio de este documento se recopilan las experiencias violentas y el impacto psicosocial que ha generado el conflicto armado Colombiano en diferentes zonas del país, se abordaran casos puntuales como el de don Modesto Pacayá, indígena y padre trabajador quien sin darse cuenta termino haciendo parte de las filas de grupos armados y hoy tiene la oportunidad de narrar su historia de víctima-victimario y sobreviviente, de otro lado está el relato de la comunidad de Peñas Coloradas un grupo de campesinos de diferentes departamentos, que huyendo de la violencia fundaron una comunidad en el Caquetá pero de allí también los sacaron corriendo esta vez por miembros de la fuerza pública quien irónicamente se supone los debe proteger, finalmente atreves de un análisis reflexivo y la herramienta de foto voz los integrantes del grupo de trabajo dan cuenta del paso de la guerra por los departamentos de Santander, Boyacá y Cundinamarca, de Santander se dice que su gente es “verraca echada para delante” gracias a lo cual ha podido superan el horror de ataques de grupos armados, la violencia de género, la inseguridad y el vandalismo consecuencia de la migración Venezolana, en Boyacá se replican las historias de violencia y desplazamiento forzado y Cundinamarca es escenario de un lamentable flagelo infantil.This document compiles the violent experiences and the impact generated by the Colombian armed conflict in different areas of the country. It will address specific cases such as that of Mr. Modesto Pacayá, an indigenous man and working father who unwittingly ended up joining the ranks of armed groups and today has the opportunity to tell his story as a victim- victimizer and survivor, On the other hand, there is the story of the Peñas Coloradas community, a group of peasants from different departments who, fleeing from violence, founded a community in Caquetá, but were also run out of there, this time by members of the security forces who, ironically, are supposed to protect them, Finally, through a reflective analysis and the photo-voice tool, the members of the working group give an account of the passage of the war through the departments of Santander, Boyacá and Cundinamarca, of Santander it is said that its people are " cows forward " thanks to which they have been able to overcome the horror of attacks by armed groups, gender violence, insecurity and vandalism resulting from Venezuelan migration, in Boyacá the stories of violence and forced displacement are replicated and Cundinamarca is the scene of an unfortunate scourge of children