Possible mechanism by which zinc protects the testicular function of rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in testicular function of rats due to cigarette smoke exposure and the possible mechanism by which zinc protects against these alterations. Methods: MaleWistar rats (60 days old) were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (G1, n = 10); exposed to cigarette smoke (G2, n = 10; 20 cigarettes/day/9 weeks) and exposed to cigarette smoke and supplemented with zinc (G3, n = 8; 20 cigarettes/day/9 weeks; 20 mg/kg zinc chloride daily for 9 weeks, by gavage). After the treatment period, the animals were euthanized, and materials were collected for analyses. Results: G2 rats showed a reduction in body mass; impaired sperm concentration, motility, morphology and vitality; and increased malonaldehyde and thiol group levels and superoxide dismutase activity as compared to G1. Zinc prevented the reduction of sperm concentration and the excessive increase of lipid peroxidation and induced an increase in plasma testosterone levels, wet weight of testis and thiol group concentration. Conclusions: Exposure to cigarette smoke led to harmful effects on testicular function at least partially due to the exacerbation of oxidative stress. Supplementary zinc had an important modulator/protector effect on certain parameters. The mechanism of zinc protection can be through an increase of SH concentration. Thus, zinc supplementation may be a promising addition to conventional treatments for male infertility related to smoking. Copyright © 2012 by Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences.

Corpus Luteum Development and Function after Supplementation of Long-Acting Progesterone During the Early Luteal Phase in Beef Cattle

Contents: Strategic supplementation of P4 may be used to increase conception rates in cattle, but timing of supplementation in relation to ovulation, mass of supplementary P4 and formulation of the P4-containing supplement has not been determined for beef cattle. Effects of supplementation of long-acting progesterone (P4) on Days 2 or 3 post-ovulation on development, function and regression of corpus luteum (CL) were studied in beef cattle. Cows were synchronized with an oestradiol/P4-based protocol and treated with 150 or 300 mg of long-acting P4 on Day 2 or 3 post-ovulation (6-7 cows/group). Colour-doppler ultrasound scanning and blood sample collection were performed from Day 2-21.5. Plasma P4 concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) from Day 2.5-5.5 in the Day 2-treated groups and from Day 3.5-5.5 in the Day 3-treated cows than in the control group. CL area and blood flow during Day 2-8.5 did not differ (p > 0.05) among groups, suggesting no effect of P4 treatment on luteal development. The frequency of cows that began luteolysis before Day 15 was greater (p < 0.04) in cows treated with 300 mg than in the controls, but there were no differences between non-treated and 150 mg-treated cows. The interval from pre-treatment ovulation to functional and structural luteolysis was shorter (p < 0.01) in the combined P4-treated groups than in the control cows. In conclusion, was showed for the first time that long-acting P4 supplementation on Day 2 or 3 post-ovulation increases P4 concentrations for ≥3 day, has no effect on luteal development, but anticipates the beginning of luteolysis in beef cattle. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Chemical control of morning glory as a function of water restriction levels

Among the herbicides recommended for the dry season and registered to sugarcane crop, amicarbazone, isoxaflutole and the association diuron + hexazinone + sulfomethuron-methyl can be highlighted. These are pre-emergence herbicides efficient against broad-leaved weeds. Morning glory causes large losses in infested sugarcane fields by bending the stalks and interfering in harvesting. In this study the effectiveness of pre-emergence herbicides for two species of morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia and Ipomoea grandifolia) was evaluated. Treatments were arranged in completely randomized factorial design (4 x 7). There were four periods of water restriction (0, 30, 60 and 90 days), seven chemical treatments [diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1387 + 391 + 33.35 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1507.5 + 425 + 36.25 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1658.25 + 467.5 + 39.87 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron­methyl (1809 + 510 + 43.5 g a.i. ha-1), amicarbazone (1190 g a.i. ha-1), amicarbazone + isoxaflutole (840 + 82.5 g a.i. ha-1)] and a control with no application. At 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the restoration of moisture, control was visually evaluated. After the final evaluation, the dry mass of morning glories was measured. At 90 days of water restriction, diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl was more effective to control I. hederifolia than the amicarbazone + isoxaflutole tank mixture. The four diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron­methyl doses have reduced morning glory dry mass to zero; whereas treatments with amicarbazone have not. The most effective treatment for morning glory control was diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl. This result may be due to a possible synergistic interaction.

Search for narrow resonances and quantum black holes in inclusive and b-tagged dijet mass spectra from pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Determination of the top-quark pole mass and strong coupling constant from the t(t)over-bar production cross section in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cardiovascular risk and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing dialysis: sleep study, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life: a prospective, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most serious public health problems. The increasing prevalence of CKD in developed and developing countries has led to a global epidemic. The hypothesis proposed is that patients undergoing dialysis would experience a marked negative influence on physiological variables of sleep and autonomic nervous system activity, compromising quality of life.Methods/Design: A prospective, consecutive, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial is proposed to address the effect of dialysis on sleep, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in patients with CKD. The measurement protocol will include body weight (kg); height (cm); body mass index calculated as weight/height(2); circumferences (cm) of the neck, waist, and hip; heart and respiratory rates; blood pressures; Mallampati index; tonsil index; heart rate variability; maximum ventilatory pressures; negative expiratory pressure test, and polysomnography (sleep study), as well as the administration of specific questionnaires addressing sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life.Discussion: CKD is a major public health problem worldwide, and its incidence has increased in part by the increased life expectancy and increasing number of cases of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Sleep disorders are common in patients with renal insufficiency. Our hypothesis is that the weather weight gain due to volume overload observed during interdialytic period will influence the degree of collapsibility of the upper airway due to narrowing and predispose to upper airway occlusion during sleep, and to investigate the negative influences of haemodialysis in the physiological variables of sleep, and autonomic nervous system, and respiratory mechanics and thereby compromise the quality of life of patients.

Free radical entrapment and crystallinity of resin composites after accelerated aging as a function of the expiration date

This study evaluated the spin concentration and the crystallinity in different classifications of dental composites as a function of the material condition (new, aged and expired). Specimens were obtained according to the factors: composites: Filtek P60, Filtek Z250, Filtek Z350XT, and Filtek Silorane; and material conditions: new, aged, and expired. The syringe composites underwent an accelerated aging protocol (Arrhenius model). The magnetic properties of the composites were characterized using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and the concentration of spins (number of spins/mass) was calculated. The crystallinity of the composites tested was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD). Filtek P60 and Filtek Z250 presented similarities in terms of spin concentration and crystallinity, irrespective of the material condition. The aging protocol influenced the composite Filmic Z350XT that exhibited a significant increase in the spin concentration. Besides, lower intensity peaks of the organic matrix and amorphous silica were also observed for both aged and expired Filtek Z350XT. Although a significant lower spin concentration was observed for the silorane composite in comparison to that of the methacrylates, a decrease in the relative intensity of peaks of the amorphous region related to the organic components in the diffractograms was observed. The material conditions tested influence the crystallinity and the magnetic properties of the composites evaluated. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural and functional characterization of the chaperone Hsp70 from sugarcane. Insights into conformational changes during cycling from cross-linking/mass spectrometry assays

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aspergillus niger beta-Glucosidase Has a Cellulase-like Tadpole Molecular Shape INSIGHTS INTO GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASE FAMILY 3 (GH3) beta-GLUCOSIDASE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Low mass enhanced probability of pion in hadronic matter due to its Landau cut contributions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Assessment of structural cardiac abnormalities and diastolic function in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: The main manifestation of hyperglycaemia during pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus. It can herald diabetes mellitus type 2 and its deleterious long-term effects, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess diastolic function in women with gestational diabetes mellitus, one of the first signs of future cardiovascular disease.Methods: A total of 21 women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 23 healthy pregnant women (control group) between 34 and 37weeks of gestation underwent echocardiographic assessment. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus was made in agreement with the American Diabetes Association criteria. Echocardiographic images obtained were analysed according to the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography. Data were analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient, analysis of variance and Student's t-test.Results: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus had higher posterior wall and interventricular septum thickness, increased left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index, lower early diastolic annular velocity and early diastolic annular velocity/late diastolic annular velocity ratio. There was a positive correlation between left ventricular mass index and fasting glucose and pregnancy body mass index.Conclusion: Patients with gestational diabetes mellitus seem to have a different diastolic profile as well as a mildly dysfunctional pattern on echocardiogram, which may show a need for greater glycaemic control.

Quasimodular instanton partition function and the elliptic solution of Korteweg-de Vries equations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Determination of estrogenic mycotoxins in environmental water samples by low-toxicity dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A novel, simple, rapid and eco-friendly method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using a bromosolvent was developed to determine six estrogenic mycotoxins (zearalenone, zearalanone, alpha-zearalanol, beta-zearalanol, alpha-zearalenol and beta-zearalenol) in water samples by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the negative mode (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The optimal conditions for this method include the use of 100 mu L bromocyclohexane as an extraction solvent (using a non-dispersion solvent), 10 mL of aqueous sample (adjusted to pH 4), a vortex extraction time of 2 min, centrifugation for 10 min at 3500 rpm and no ionic strength adjustment. The calibration function was linear and was verified by applying the Mandel fitting test with a 95% confidence level. No matrix effect was observed. According to the relative standard deviations (RSDs), the precision was better than 13% for the repeatability and intermediate precision. The average recoveries of the spiked compounds ranged from 81 to 118%. The method limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) considering a 125-fold pre-concentration step were 4-20 and 8-40 ng L-1, respectively. Next, the method was applied to the analysis of the environmental aqueous samples, demonstrating the presence of beta-zearalanol and zearalanone in the river water samples. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of uremic solutes on reactive oxygen species in vitro model systems as a possibility of support the renal function management

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Pure spinor partition function using Padé approximants

In a recent paper, the partition function (character) of ten-dimensional pure spinor worldsheet variables was calculated explicitly up to the fifth mass-level. In this letter, we propose a novel application of Padé approximants as a tool for computing the character of pure spinors. We get results up to the twelfth mass-level. This work is a first step towards an explicit construction of the complete pure spinor partition function.