Cortisol influence on testicular testosterone secretion in domestic cat: An in vitro study

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of corticosteroids (exogen) on in vitro testosterone secretion after stress by transportation (40 minutes). Feline testes (Felis silvestris catus) were incubated in the following media: TCM 199; TCM 199 + hCG 10_7M; TCM 199 + hydrocortisone 10_7M, or TCM 199 + hCG + hydrocortisone. The animals (n=21) were allocated into three groups: (S) that arrived at 3 h prior to surgery, (A) that remained in the laboratory for 36 h before being submitted to surgical procedure, and (C) that were also allowed to remain for 36 hours in the laboratory before the surgical procedure, but whose testes had been incubated with hydrocortisone prior to incubation in the referred media. The results showed that group S secreted higher levels of testosterone, regardless of the culture media. It is noteworthy that the suppressing action of hydrocortisone sodium succinate led to a reduction in the testosterone concentration, despite the presence of hCG.

The seasonal and ovarian status effects on in vitro production of domestic cat embryos between Equator and Tropic of Capricorn

From the Tropic of Capricorn to Equator, the seasonality of domestic cat is known to be absent, i.e., these animals are considered non-seasonal breeders at these regions. We hypothesized that this particularity might have some influence on in vitro embryo production. The aim of this experiment was to determine the percentage of cleavage and morulae and blastocyst formation produced from oocytes recovered from queen ovaries of three distinct status - follicular, luteal or inactive - during two different reproductive seasons experienced by cats in southeast of Brazil (22°53'09" S and 48°26'42" W) - non breeding season (NBS), comprehending January to March; and breeding season (BS), August to October. Thirty queens were neutered. Ovaries were classified according to their status and were sliced in PBS for cumulus oocyte complex (COC) releasing. Grade I COC were washed three times in H-MEM supplemented with BSA, glutamine, sodium pyruvate, cysteine, streptomycin and penicillin. Oocytes were incubated in groups of 20-30 in 400µL of DMEM supplemented with FSH, LH, estradiol, IGF-I and basic fibroblast growth factor under mineral oil for 30 or 36 hours at 38°C in humidified environment of 5% de O2, 5% CO2 and 90% N2. COC were fertilized in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with BSA, cysteine, pyruvate and streptomycin/penicillin (culture medium) with fresh semen selected through swim up technique. Eighteen hours later, the presumptive zygotes were denuded, the percentage of cleavage was determined and every 10 zygotes were transferred to 100mL drops of culture medium for culture during three days. After 72 hours of culture the percentage of morulae formation was evaluated and these structures were transferred to drops of the same culture medium. At the eighth day of culture blastocyst formation was analyzed. During NBS, from a total of 272 (inactive), 162 (luteal) and 134 (follicular) fertilized oocytes, the percentage of cleaved zygotes, morulae and blastocysts derived from inactive ovaries were 24.63, 16.54 and 8.09 respectively; for those derived from luteal ovaries, the percentage was 21.6, 12.96 and 8.64, and for those from follicular ovaries, they were 24.62, 16.41 and 8.21. Considering BS, from a total of 102 (inactive), 198 (luteal) and 86 (follicular) fertilized oocytes, the relative frequency (%) of cleaved zygotes, morulae and blastocysts derived from inactive ovaries were 64.7, 41.17 and 23.53 respectively; for those derived from luteal ovaries, the percentage was 64.14, 40.41 and 23.73, and for those from follicular ovaries, they were 63.95, 39.54 and 24.41. The results of this experiment demonstrate that no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was verified in the frequency of cleaved embryos and morulae and blastocyst formation when comparing the three ovarian conditions in the same season. However the breeding season presented better results considering cleavage and morulae and blastocyst formation.

Isolation of a ß-galactoside-binding lectin from cat liver

A lectin from cat liver has been identified and purified by affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-Sepharose. One hundred micrograms of lectin was obtained from one cat liver with a purification factor of 1561. The lectin agglutinates trypsin-treated rabbit and cow erythrocytes. Hemagglutination was inhibited only by saccharides containing ß-galactosyl residues, of which the 1-amine-1-deoxy-ß-D-galactose was the most potent one by inhibiting hemagglutination at a concentration of 12.5 mM, followed by melibiose, trehalose and galactose. The lectin has a subunit molecular mass of 14.4 kDa determined by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions and a pI of 4.85. Compared with the composition of lectins from calf heart and porcine heart, cat liver lectin contains approximately the same amount of cysteine, half the amount of glycine, twice as much arginine and threonine, and three times the amounts of tyrosine and methionine. Cat liver lectin contains four cysteine residues per subunit, all of them in the reduced form. Their lack of reactivity towards thiol-reactive supports suggests they are not exposed on the lectin surface. The protein apparently has a blocked N-terminus. The purified lectin was stable for up to 20 months stored at +4ºC in buffer supplemented with 4 mM ß-mercaptoethanol. Results indicated that this lectin belongs to the family of soluble ß-galactoside-binding lectins, also known as galectins, which are expressed in a wide range of vertebrate tissues.

Moderate intensity physical training accelerates healing of full-thickness wounds in mice

Physical training influences the cells and mediators involved in skin wound healing. The objective of this study was to determine the changes induced by different intensities of physical training in mouse skin wound healing. Ninety male C57BL6 mice (8 weeks old, 20-25 g) were randomized into three physical training groups: moderate (70% VO2max), high (80% VO2max), and strenuous intensity (90% VO2max). Animals trained on a motorized treadmill for 8 weeks (Elesion: physical training until the day of excisional lesion, N = 10) or 10 weeks (Eeuthan: physical training for 2 additional weeks after excisional lesion until euthanasia, N = 10), five times/week, for 45 min. Control groups (CG) trained on the treadmill three times/week only for 5 min (N = 10). In the 8th week, mice were anesthetized, submitted to a dorsal full-thickness excisional wound of 1 cm², and sacrificed 14 days after wounding. Wound areas were measured 4, 7, and 14 days after wounding to evaluate contraction (d4, d7 and d14) and re-epithelialization (d14). Fragments of lesion and adjacent skin were processed and submitted to routine histological staining. Immunohistochemistry against alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was performed. Moderate-intensity training (M) until lesion (M/Elesion) led to better wound closure 7 days after wounding compared to controls and M/Eeuthan (P < 0.05), and both moderate-intensity groups showed better re-epithelialization rates than controls (M/Elesion = 85.9%, M/Eeuthan = 96.4% and M/CG = 79.9%; P < 0.05). Sections of M/Elesion and M/Eeuthan groups stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Picrosirius red and α-SMA showed the most mature granulation tissues among all trained groups and controls. Thus, moderate-intensity physical training improves skin wound healing.

Cat Scratch Disease in kidney transplant receptors: is it a rare or underdiagnosed pathology?

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is an infectious disorder which appears after cat scratching particularly in children and adolescents. Bartonella henselae is the etiologic agent more frequently involved. There are only a few recent reports demonstrating the disease after transplantation, although the illness is not infrequent in immunologically competent people. Indeed CSD in transplant receptors has only been recently emphasized in the literature and it was concluded that fever and lymphadenopathy in patients who had been exposed to cats should prompt clinicians to maintain a suspicion for the infection. In this report CSD infecting a renal transplanted adolescent complaining of headache, blurred vision and fever, presenting a cat scratching lesion in the right arm, with a bilateral painful cervical lymphadenopathy was related. He also presented indirect immunofluorescency identifying that the two subtype's titles of Bartonella-henselae and quintana- were elevated. Treatment with doxicicline e rifampicin was introduced and the patient became asymptomatic in about 3 weeks.

String figures : a study of Cat`s-Cradle in many lands

UANL

« Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite» : exploring the mental health fallout of urban bed bug infestation in Montréal, Québec

Problématique : La littérature scientifique ne contient actuellement aucune étude épidémiologique portant sur la relation entre l’exposition à une infestation de punaises de lit (Cimex lectularis) et la santé mentale. L’objectif de cette étude est d’explorer la relation entre le statut d’exposition aux punaises de lit et des mesures de dépression, anxiété et perturbation du sommeil. Méthodes : Cette recherche est une étude transversale basée sur une analyse secondaire des données provenant de N=91 adultes locataires de logements insalubres qui ont répondu à un questionnaire de santé au moment d’interventions médico-environnementales menées par la direction de santé publique de Montréal entre janvier et juin 2010. Le questionnaire de santé inclut le « Questionnaire de santé du patient (QSP-9) », qui est un outil mesurant les symptômes associés à la dépression, l’outil de dépistage d’anxiété généralisée (GAD-7) et les items 1-18 de l’indice de la qualité du sommeil de Pittsburgh (PSQI). L’association entre une exposition autorapportée à une infestation de punaises de lit et le niveau de perturbation du sommeil selon la sous-échelle correspondante du PSQI, les symptômes dépressifs selon le QSP-9 et les symptômes anxieux selon le GAD-7, a été évaluée en utilisant une analyse de régression linéaire multivariée. Des données descriptives relatives aux troubles de sommeil autodéclarés et à des comportements reliés à un isolement social, dus à une exposition aux punaises de lit, sont aussi présentées. Résultats : L’échantillon comprenait 38 hommes et 53 femmes. Parmi les 91 participants, 49 adultes ont signalé une exposition aux punaises de lit et de ce nombre, 53,06% (26/49) ont déclaré des troubles de sommeil et 46,94% (23/49) des comportements d’isolement social, en raison de l’exposition. Les adultes exposés à des punaises de lit ont obtenu des résultats significativement plus élevés sur le QSP-9 (p=0,025), le GAD-7 (p=0,026) et sur la sous-échelle mesurant la perturbation du sommeil (p=0,003) comparativement à ceux qui n’étaient pas exposés. Conclusions : Cette première étude exploratoire met en évidence une association significative entre l’état d’exposition aux punaises de lit et des troubles de sommeil, ainsi que des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs, indiquant que ceux qui sont exposés aux punaises de lit représentent un groupe possiblement à risque de développer des problèmes de santé mentale. Ces résultats viennent en appui aux initiatives des décideurs pour organiser des efforts coordonnés d’éradication au niveau des villes et des provinces.

Physiology of the blood of cat fishes

The vast areas of derelict swamps covered by macrophyton and swarmed by insects scattered in different parts of India are at present either under total negligence or utilized as waste disposal dumps. Eventhough Indian subcontinent is ranked among the first ten fish producing countries in the world, the fish production is not at par with the increasing need of protein in the average Indian diet. So the water areas which become unusable for conventional human activities like the swamps could be used for fish culture which would increase the availability of protein in the form of fish flesh, thus providing new opportunities to the fishermen. But the conversion of swamps for fish culture would entail considerable expenditure. Hence the significance of a group of fresh water fishes which have made their favourable abode the muddy swamps of tropics depending partly on accessory _respiration to survive in the inimical environment. The homeostasis achieved in such a hostile, hypoxic medium make them excellent choices for culture in the derelict freshwater bodies of India. These air breathing fishes form an economically important group which are highly esteemed as food fishes in many parts of South Asia and Africa. Though their natural habitat seems to be the marshes, they have also conquered other freshwater bodies like ponds, tanks, rivers and flooded paddy fields. They can also tolerate slightly brackish waters. They are known for their nutritive, invigorating and therapeutic qualities and are recommended by physicians as diet during convalescence (Jhingran, 1982)

Cat??logo ayudas t??cnicas

Cat??logo que recoge las ayudas t??cnicas que facilita la Consejer??a de Educaci??n, ciencia e Investigaci??n de la Regi??n de Murcia, destinadas a los alumnos con necesidades educativas especiales. Se especifican las caracter??sticas t??cnicas, medidas, destinatarios y objetivos de uso de las mismas. El objetivo del presente Cat??logo es que todos los profesionales que trabajan con alumnos con necesidades educativas especiales (acnees) conozcan la existencia de estas ayudas t??cnicas y el tipo de alumno a quien van dirigidas, con el fin de que una vez detectada la necesidad puedan solicitarlas f??cilmente. As?? mismo se especifican las caracter??sticas t??cnicas y medidas de cada ayuda, estableciendo un sistema de c??digos seg??n medidas y accesorios, con el fin de poder concretar al m??ximo el tipo de material necesario y agilizar el procedimiento de dotaci??n. Se recogen en anexos el procedimiento de solicitud y los formularios

Cat??logo de ??rboles y arbustos

Los profesores del Departamento de Biolog??a y Geolog??a de este IES elaboraron esta gu??a como ayuda a aquellos que se acercan por primera vez al conocimiento de los ??rboles y arbustos de su entorno m??s cercano, aquel que se circunscribe a los jardines del Instituto y al ??rea recreativa pr??xima, ambos situados en Vegadeo (Asturias). La mayor parte de las especies descritas son plantas cultivadas procedentes de jardines y viveros cuya utilizaci??n ornamental se encuentra muy extendida por lo que a pesar no formar parte de la flora aut??ctona de Asturias su presencia en calles y parques urbanos es tan com??n que no resultan extra??as al observador. Este material forma parte de un programa del Departamento, en el que adem??s de visitas, salidas, estudios fuera del recinto y tareas de mantenimiento del jard??n del IES se editaron varios trabajos relacionados con el mismo. En ??l se encuentran una introducci??n explicativa a la gu??a; el cat??logo de ??rboles y arbustos (nombre popular, nombre cient??fico, clasificaci??n, descripci??n, h??bitat, origen y distribuci??n, usos, ilustraciones); un glosario, un ??ndice de especies, clave dicot??mica para principiantes y un plano del ??rea catalogado con la ubicaci??n de cada especie.

Educaci??n y pol??tica en Espa??a, 1936-1951 : una aproximaci??n al estudio de la ideolog??a Nacional-Cat??lica

Esbozar los trazos argumentales b??sicos del discurso ideol??gico, elaborado y transmitido en la escuela, a partir del examen de los objetivos de la pol??tica educativa y de las pr??cticas escolares, formaci??n del maestro y estudio de los contenidos incorporados a los libros de texto. Sistema Educativo y pol??tica educativa en el r??gimen franquista. Adopci??n de todo el bagaje de m??todos y terminolog??a aportado por la teor??a desarrollada en el marco de los estudios de la socializaci??n pol??tica funcionalista; aplicados, teniendo en cuenta que el fen??meno socializador no es nunca neutro. Documentaci??n, legislaci??n, maestros e inspectores. Instrumentos conceptuales de an??lisis, tomados de teor??as de la socializaci??n pol??tica y aquellas desarrolladas por la perspectiva sociol??gica y pol??tica marxista. Frente a la interpretaci??n aideol??gica en el franquismo, existe una ideolog??a que traduc??a la conciencia de clase de las fuerzas componentes del bloque en el poder. En el centro de la cual, estuvo una concepci??n integrista del catolicismo. Control cat??lico de la educaci??n frente a las posiciones pol??ticas y doctrinales de FE y de la JONS, extensible a los diferentes ??rganos educativos institucionales. La actitud de estatismo pragm??tico del r??gimen le lleva a conservar los elementos o trazos marcadamente falangistas; y a negar la creaci??n de universidades propias a la iglesia cat??lica, que pod??a suponer una autonomizaci??n progresiva. Funci??n fundamental supuso para el r??gimen, operar sobre el Sistema Educativo.

El paper socio-educatiu del cercle d'obrers cat??lics de Palma (1877-1898). 'El papel socio-educativo del c??rculo de obreros cat??licos de Palma (1877-1898)'

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n.

Evaluation of the Larval Therapy in the Healing Process of Infected Wounds with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Rabbits

Introduction. During the last two decades the larval therapy has reemerged as a safe and reliable alternative for the healing of cutaneous ulcers that do not respond to the conventional treatments. Objective. To evaluate the use of the larvae of Lucilia sericata as a treatment for infected wounds with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an animal model. Materials and methods. Twelve rabbits were randomly distributed in 3 groups: the first group was treated with larval therapy; the second was treated with antibiotics therapy and to the third no treatment was applied, therefore was established as a control group. To each animal a wound was artificially induced, and then a suspension of P. aeruginosa was inoculated into the lesion. Finally, every rabbit was evaluated until the infection development was recognized and treatment was set up for the first two groups according with the protocols mentioned above. Macroscopic evaluation of the wounds was based on the presence of edema, exudates, bad odor, inflammation around the wound and the presence of granulation tissue. The healing process was evaluated by monitoring histological changes in the dermal tissue. Results. Differences in the time required for wound healing were observed between the first group treated with larval therapy (10 days) and the second group treated with conventional antibiotics therapy (20 days). Conclusion. The L. sericata larva is and efficient tool as a therapy for infected wounds with P. aeruginosa.

Cat??logo monumental del municipio de B??rcena de Cicero

Esta obra recopila las obras de arte que se integran en el Municipio de B??rcena de Cicero. La autora analiza exhaustivamente cada representaci??n art??stica y la contextualiza. La estructura de la publicaci??n es la siguiente: 1. Introducci??n-presentaci??n. 2. Coordenadas Hist??ricas. 3. Adal-Treto. 4. Ambrosero. 5. B??rcena de Cicero. 6. Cicero. 7. Moncali??n. 8. Anexo.

Un projecte d'escriptura a partir dels paratextos : els cat??legs editorials. 'Un proyecto de escritura a partir de los paratextos : los cat??logos editoriales'

Bibliograf??a p.58-59