Alterations to oxidative stress markers in dogs after a short-term stress during transport

While methods to evaluate antioxidant capacity in animals exist, one problem with the models is induction of oxidative stress. It is necessary to promote a great enough challenge to induce measurable alterations to oxidative parameters while ensuring the protocol is compatible with animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to evaluate caged transport as a viable short-term stress that would significantly affect oxidative parameters. Twenty adult Beagle dogs, maintained on the same diet for 60 d prior to the transport, were included in the study. To simulate the stress, the dogs were housed in pairs in transport cages (1·0 m × 1·0 m × 1·5 m), placed on a truck coupled to a trailer and transported for a period of 15 min. Blood collection was performed immediately before and again 3 h after the transportation to evaluate oxidative parameters in blood serum, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), sequestration activity of the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•), protein carbonylation (PC), total sulfhydryl groups (SH), alpha-tocopherol (αToc) and retinol (Ret). PC, SH and αToc were not significantly changed in the study; however, TBARS, TAC and DPPH increased, whereas Ret decreased after the transport. Although the lack of a control group of dogs not submitted to transport is a limitation to be considered, we conclude that the transport model is effective in inducing an antioxidant response in dogs and relevant blood parameters show sensitivity to this proposed model.

Improvements of nutrition behavior fitness and body fatness with a short-term after school intervention program

The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing worldwide and lifestyle changes are the most important strategies in managing this prevalence. This study aimed to describe the intervention effects of nutrition and physical activities offered as an after school short-term on outcomes of healthy nutrition practices, fitness and lowering fatness. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a convenience sample of 59 caucasian children, aged 7.7 ± 1.4 years old (52.5% girls) registered on a private school of a middle-size town located in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The school-based 12-week intervention consisted of 2 weekly 60 minutes section, during 3 months, including a nutritional education and a physical activity curriculum. Anthropometric data was measured for all children at baseline and after 12 weeks. All parents were contacted and requested to complete questionnaire about child’s eating behavior at baseline and after the 12-week program. After the intervention, children showed an increasing in the intake of fruits (64.3%), vegetables (61.9%), and water (52.0%). Overall, 83.3% of the children changed eating behavior according to the questionnaire responded by the parents. Waist circumference was significantly lower and abdominal strength improved after participating in the intervention program. Mean height and weight were significantly higher in boys and girls after a 12-week intervention. Although mean values of BMI remained the same after the intervention it was observed a decreasing in the prevalence of obesity among the children. Thus our study showed that a school-based intervention program focused on nutritional education and physical activity program promoted waist circumference reduction and decreased obesity without affecting the height growth along with improved fitness and healthy eating behavior. This intervention program would be feasible and replicable in others schools around the country.

Mandibular fractures in short-finned pilot whales, <i>Globicephala macrorhynchusi>

This study’s objective was to investigate mandibular fractures in 50 short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, from two mass strandings. Based on current theories that this species is sexually dimorphic and polygynous, hypotheses were: (1) males should suffer more frequent or more substantial mandibular fractures than should females, and (2) fracture occurrence should increase with male reproductive maturity and potential correlates of maturity, such as age and length. Fractures were described and correlated with physical characteristics to infer possible explanations for injuries. Mandibular fractures were surprisingly common in males and females, being found in more than half of the animals examined (27/50, or 54% overall; 17/36 or 47% of females and 10/14 or 71% of males). Length was the only correlate of fracture presence; the proportion of animals showing evidence of fracture increased with length. These results offer some support to initial hypotheses, but there must be another set of consequences that contribute to mandibular fractures in females. A combination of intra- and interspecific interactions and life history characteristics may be responsible for fractures. Further research from a larger sample of this and other cetacean species are suggested to help elucidate both the causes and implications of mandibular fractures.

Short-term creatine supplementation decreases reactive oxygen species content with no changes in expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes in skeletal muscle

The effect of short-term creatine (Cr) supplementation upon content of skeletal muscle-derived-reactive oxygen species (ROS) was investigated. Wistar rats were supplemented with Cr (5 g/kg BW) or vehicle, by gavage, for 6 days. Soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were removed and incubated for evaluation of ROS content using Amplex-UltraRed reagent. The analysis of expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase 1 and 2, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) were performed. Direct scavenger action of Cr on superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide was also investigated. Short-term Cr supplementation attenuated ROS content in both soleus and EDL muscles (by 41 and 33.7%, respectively). Cr supplementation did not change expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Basal TBARS content was not altered by Cr supplementation. In cell-free experiments, Cr showed a scavenger effect on superoxide radical in concentrations of 20 and 40 mM, but not on hydrogen peroxide. These results indicate that Cr supplementation decreases ROS content in skeletal muscle possibly due to a direct action of Cr molecule on superoxide radical.

Reduced occurrence of programmed cell death and gliosis in the retinas of juvenile rabbits after short-term treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab

OBJECTIVE: Bevacizumab has been widely used as a vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist in the treatment of retinal vasoproliferative disorders in adults and, more recently, in infants with retinopathy of prematurity. Recently, it has been proposed that vascular endothelial growth factor acts as a protective factor for neurons and glial cells, particularly in developing nervous tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bevacizumab on the developing retinas of juvenile rabbits. METHODS: Juvenile rabbits received bevacizumab intravitreously in one eye; the other eye acted as an untreated control. Slit-lamp and fundoscopic examinations were performed both prior to and seven days after treatment. At the same time, retina samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to detect autophagy and apoptosis as well as proliferation and glial reactivity. Morphometric analyses were performed, and the data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: No clinical abnormalities were observed in either treated or untreated eyes. However, immunohistochemical analyses revealed a reduction in the occurrence of programmed cell death and increases in both proliferation and reactivity in the bevacizumab-treated group compared with the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab appears to alter programmed cell death patterns and promote gliosis in the developing retinas of rabbits; therefore, it should be used with caution in developing eyes.

Short-term efficacy of physical interventions in osteoarthritic knee pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials

Abstract Background Treatment efficacy of physical agents in osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) pain has been largely unknown, and this systematic review was aimed at assessing their short-term efficacies for pain relief. Methods Systematic review with meta-analysis of efficacy within 1–4 weeks and at follow up at 1–12 weeks after the end of treament. Results 36 randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified with 2434 patients where 1391 patients received active treatment. 33 trials satisfied three or more out of five methodological criteria (Jadad scale). The patient sample had a mean age of 65.1 years and mean baseline pain of 62.9 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Within 4 weeks of the commencement of treatment manual acupuncture, static magnets and ultrasound therapies did not offer statistically significant short-term pain relief over placebo. Pulsed electromagnetic fields offered a small reduction in pain of 6.9 mm [95% CI: 2.2 to 11.6] (n = 487). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS, including interferential currents), electro-acupuncture (EA) and low level laser therapy (LLLT) offered clinically relevant pain relieving effects of 18.8 mm [95% CI: 9.6 to 28.1] (n = 414), 21.9 mm [95% CI: 17.3 to 26.5] (n = 73) and 17.7 mm [95% CI: 8.1 to 27.3] (n = 343) on VAS respectively versus placebo control. In a subgroup analysis of trials with assumed optimal doses, short-term efficacy increased to 22.2 mm [95% CI: 18.1 to 26.3] for TENS, and 24.2 mm [95% CI: 17.3 to 31.3] for LLLT on VAS. Follow-up data up to 12 weeks were sparse, but positive effects seemed to persist for at least 4 weeks after the course of LLLT, EA and TENS treatment was stopped. Conclusion TENS, EA and LLLT administered with optimal doses in an intensive 2–4 week treatment regimen, seem to offer clinically relevant short-term pain relief for OAK.

Short-term variability of picoplankton across wind-shear region south of Gran Canaria

Máster en Oceanografía

Short-term variability and trophic interactions within planktonic community in subtropical waters of he Canary Islands (Northeast atlantic)

ES]Los giros subtropicales abarcan grandes áreas del océano donde la productividad del ecosistema se sostiene a través del reciclado de materia y energía. En estas aguas, la interacción entre la disponibilidad de recursos y la presión de los niveles tróficos superiores determina la dinámica de la comunidad planctónica. Sin embargo, en aguas subtropicales, el conocimiento de la variabilidad temporal o el papel de los diferentes componentes de la comunidad dentro de la red trófica es bastante limitado. En esta tesis se evalúa la variabilidad a corto plazo de los diferentes componentes de la comunidad planctónica. El picoplancton dominó la comunidad salvo durante la época productiva, en la que los organismos autótrofos de mayor tamaño desempeñaron un papel destacado. Nuestros resultados muestran como la variabilidad estacional está relacionada con fuerzas “bottom-up”, mientras que los procesos “top-down” dominan a una escala de tiempo más corta. Encontramos que el microzooplancton ejerce un gran impacto sobre la comunidad microbiana, en organismos tanto autótrofos como heterótrofos. Además, observamos un acoplamiento muy estrecho entre estos consumidores y sus presas. Otro mecanismo que regula la estructura planctónica es la depredación de los migradores verticales sobre el zooplancton. Así, la variabilidad del mesozooplancton epipelágico está controlada por un ciclo de depredación vinculado a la iluminación de la luna. En este trabajo realizamos una simulación de esta variabilidad con la que se obtuvieron valores de mortalidad comunitaria de los que derivamos el flujo de carbono activo hacia la zona mesopelágica. Estos valores calculados de transporte activo de carbono son del mismo orden de magnitud que el flujo gravitacional en aguas subtropicales. En el Atlántico noreste la comunidad marina también podría estar influenciada por las tormentas de polvo sahariano que ocurren con gran frecuencia en la zona. En este sentido, se estudió la respuesta de la comunidad planctónica en un período de deposición de polvo atmosférico de gran intensidad, en el año 2010, sin observar una clara respuesta en términos de producción primaria. Por el contrario, la biomasa de diatomeas y mesozooplancton sí se vio aumentada en gran medida tras el paso de una fuerte tormenta de polvo del Sáhara, mientras que los organismos autótrofos de menor tamaño se vieron afectados negativamente. Los resultados de esta tesis suponen una contribución importante para entender la dinámica planctónica tan compleja en los ecosistemas subtropicales, y además, pone de manifiesto la necesidad de llevar a cabo muestreos oceanográficos a escalas de tiempo más cortas.

Short-term variability of picoplankton across the wind-shear region south of Gran Canaria

[EN]We have studied the short-term variability -at temporal scale of days and spatial scale of 5 km- of the hydrographic field, organic and inorganic nutrients, chlorophyll and picoplanktonic abundances, across a 40 Km section crossing a frontal system south of Gran Canaria, where anticyclonic eddies in early-stages of formation and convergent fronts have been widely reported in the past. Each cruise consisted in a 3-4 daily-repeated section, and was carried out at the same period of the year (May) during two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). The main goal of our study was to analyze the picoplankton response to short-term variability at scales not considered in regular oceanographic samplings, even in regions with complex hydrographic fields.

Clinicopathologic findings in thoroughbred horses during a high speed – short term competition

The aim of this study was to examine whether a real high speed-short term competition influences clinicopathological data focusing on muscle enzymes, iron profile and Acute Phase Proteins. 30 Thoroughbred racing horses (15 geldings and 15 females) aged between 4-12 years (mean 7 years), were used for the study. All the animals performed a high speed-short term competition for a total distance of 154 m in about 12 seconds, repeated 8 times, within approximately one hour (Niballo Horse Race). Blood samples were obtained 24 hours before and within 30 minutes after the end of the races. On all samples were performed a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical and haemostatic profiles. The post-race concentrations for the single parameter were corrected using an estimation of the plasma volume contraction according to the individual Alb concentration. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and the percentage of variation from the baseline values were recorded. Pre- and post-race results were compared with non-parametric statistics (Mann Whitney U test). A difference was considered significant at p<0.05. A significant plasma volume contraction after the race was detected (Hct, Alb; p<0.01). Other relevant findings were increased concentrations of muscular enzymes (CK, LDH; p<0.01), Crt (p<0.01), significant increased uric acid (p<0.01), a significant decrease of haptoglobin (p<0.01) associated to an increase of ferritin concentrations (p<0.01), significant decrease of fibrinogen (p<0.05) accompanied by a non-significant increase of D-Dimers concentrations (p=0.08). This competition produced relevant abnormalities on clinical pathology in galloping horses. This study confirms a significant muscular damage, oxidative stress, intravascular haemolysis and subclinical hemostatic alterations. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis, the medical relevance and the impact on performance of these alterations in equine sport medicine.

Short-term changes in magnetic resonance imaging and disease activity in response to infliximab

To characterise and quantify short-term changes in local inflammation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to correlate the findings with clinical disease activity in response to infliximab in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Effects of short-term overfeeding with fructose, fat and fructose plus fat on plasma and hepatic lipids in healthy men

The present study aimed to assess the effects of excess fat, fructose and fat-plus-fructose intakes on intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL).