Ultrasound and clinical findings from metacarpophalangeal joint assessments in show jumping horses in training

Ana Lúcia M. Yamada,Marcelo Pinheiro,Marília F. Marsiglia,Stefano Carlo F. Hagen,Raquel Yvonne A. Baccarin,Luís Cláudio L. C. da Silva 대한수의학회 2020 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.21 No.3

The aims of this study were to determine the morphological patterns, physical examination characteristics and ultrasound findings of show jumping horses in training and to establish a score-based examination model for physical and ultrasound foBackground: Physical exercise is known to cause significant joint changes. Thus, monitoring joint behavior of athletic horses is essential in early disorders recognition, allowing the proper management. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the morphological patterns, physical examination characteristics and ultrasound findings of show jumping horses in training and to establish a score-based examination model for physical and ultrasound follow-ups of metacarpophalangeal joint changes in these animals. Methods: A total of 52 metacarpophalangeal joints from 26 horses who were initially in the taming stage were evaluated, and the horses’ athletic progression was monitored. The horses were evaluated by a physical examination and by B-mode and Doppler-mode ultrasound examinations, starting at time zero (T0), which occurred concomitantly with the beginning of training, and every 3 months thereafter for a follow-up period of 18 months. Results: The standardized examination model revealed an increase in the maximum joint flexion angles and higher scores on the physical and ultrasound examinations after scoring was performed by predefined assessment tools, especially between 3 and 6 months of evaluation, which was immediately after the horses started more intense training. The lameness score and the ultrasound examination score were slightly higher at the end of the study. Conclusions: The observed results were probably caused by the implementation of a traininBackground: Physical exercise is known to cause significant joint changes. Thus, monitoring joint behavior of athletic horses is essential in early disorders recognition, allowing the proper management. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the morphological patterns, physical examination characteristics and ultrasound findings of show jumping horses in training and to establish a score-based examination model for physical and ultrasound follow-ups of metacarpophalangeal joint changes in these animals. Methods: A total of 52 metacarpophalangeal joints from 26 horses who were initially in the taming stage were evaluated, and the horses’ athletic progression was monitored. The horses were evaluated by a physical examination and by B-mode and Doppler-mode ultrasound examinations, starting at time zero (T0), which occurred concomitantly with the beginning of training, and every 3 months thereafter for a follow-up period of 18 months. Results: The standardized examination model revealed an increase in the maximum joint flexion angles and higher scores on the physical and ultrasound examinations after scoring was performed by predefined assessment tools, especially between 3 and 6 months of evaluation, which was immediately after the horses started more intense training. The lameness score and the ultrasound examination score were slightly higher at the end of the study. Conclusions: The observed results were probably caused by the implementation of a training regimen and joint adaptation to physical conditioning. The joints most likely undergo a pre-osteoarthritic period due to work overload, which can manifest in a consistent or adaptive manner, as observed during this study. Thus, continuous monitoring of young athlete horses by physical and ultrasound examinations that can be scored is essential. g regimen and joint adaptation to physical conditioning. The joints most likely undergo a pre-osteoarthritic period due to work overload, which can manifest in a consistent or adaptive manner, as observed during this study. Thus, continuous monitoring of young athlete horses by physical and ultrasound examinations that can be scored is essential.llow-ups of metacarpophalangeal joint changes in these animals....

Intron 4 VNTR (4a/b) Polymorphism of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Is Associated with Breast Cancer in Mexican Women

Ramírez-Patiño Ramiro,Figuera Luis Eduardo,Puebla-Pérez Ana María,Delgado-Saucedo Jorge Ivan,Legazpi-Macias María Magdalena,Mariaud-Schmidt Rocio Patricia,Ramos-Silva Adriana,Gutiérrez-Hurtado Itzae A 대한의학회 2013 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.28 No.11

The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene plays an important role in several biological functions. Polymorphisms of the eNOS gene have been associated with cancer. It has been suggested that the VNTR 4 a/b polymorphism may affect the expression of eNOS and contributes to tumor promotion in the mammary gland. We examined the role of the eNOS4 a/b polymorphism by comparing the genotypes of 281 healthy Mexican women with the genotypes of 429 Mexican women with breast cancer (BC). The observed genotype frequencies for control and BC patients were 0.6% and 0.7% for a/a (polymorphic); 87% and 77% for a/a (wild type); and 12% and 22% for a/b respectively. We found that the odds ratio (OR) was 1.9, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.29-2.95, P=0.001 for genotypes a/a-a/b, b/c. The association was also evident when comparing the distribution of the a/a-a/b genotypes in patients with high levels of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.14-3.28; P=0.015); undergoing menopause with high levels of SGOT (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.84); and with high levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.56-8.22). The genotypes a/a-a/b are associated with BC susceptibility in the analyzed samples from the Mexican population.

Garlic Powder Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Stress

Ana Carolina Razo-Rodríguez,Yolanda I. Chirino,Dolores Javier Sánchez-González,Claudia María Martínez-Martínez,Cristino Cruz,José Pedraza-Chaverri 한국식품영양과학회 2008 Journal of medicinal food Vol.11 No.3

cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent successfully used in the treatment of a wide range of tumors. Nevertheless, nephrotoxicity has restricted its clinical use. The use of more than a few antioxidants has shown that reactive oxygen species are involved in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In the present work the effect of garlic powder, a recognized antioxidant, on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative and nitrosative stress was studied. Rats were fed with a 2% garlic powder diet for 4 weeks. A single injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) induced tubular damage and an increase in the following markers of renal injury 3 days later: blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase. The cisplatin injection also increased 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal immunostaining in renal cortex and medulla. It was found that the garlic powder feeding was able to prevent by 40–59% the alterations in the markers of renal injury studied, by 33% the histological damage, and by 38–75% the increase in markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress. It is concluded that the ability of garlic powder to ameliorate cisplatin-induced renal injury is associated with its antioxidant properties. Our data support the use of garlic powder as a renoprotective agent.

A Girl with 15q Overgrowth Syndrome and dup(15)(q24q26.3) that Included Telomeric Sequences

María de los Ángeles Gutiérrez-Franco,María de la Luz Madariaga-Campos,Ana I. Vásquez-Velásquez,Esmeralda Matute,Roberto Guevara-Yáñez,Horacio Rivera 대한진단검사의학회 2010 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.30 No.3

Distal 15q trisomy or tetrasomy is associated with a characteristic phenotype that includes mild to moderate intellectual disability, abnormal behavior, speech impairment, overgrowth, hyperlaxity, long face, prominent nose, puffy cheeks, pointed chin, small ears, and hand anomalies (mainly arachno- and camptodactyly). We present the case of a 13-yr-old girl with the main clinical features of 15q overgrowth syndrome and a 46,XX,dup(15)(q24q26.3)[117]/46,XX[3].ish dup(15)(q24q26.3) (SNPRN+,PML+,subtel++,tel++) de novo karyotype. The findings in this case are consistent with those in the previous distal 15q trisomy cases that presented with overgrowth and mental retardation. Further, the rearranged chromosome had a double set of directly oriented telomeric and subtelomeric sequences. (Korean J Lab Med 2010;30:318-24)

Homozygous LPL p.Gly188Glu Mutation in a Mexican Girl With Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency

Ana Gabriela Colima Fausto,Juan Ramón González García,Teresita De Jesús Hernández Flores,Norma Alejandra Vázquez Cárdenas,Nery Eduardo Solís Perales,María Teresa Magaña Torres 대한진단검사의학회 2017 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.37 No.4

Dear Editor, Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a rare disease characterized by severe hypertriglyceridemia due to mutations in the LPL gene. It shows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern and has a general prevalence of 1:1,000,000 [1]. Patients typically present abdominal pain, hemorrhage, failure to thrive, jaundice, eruptive xanthomas, lipemia retinalis, neurological complications, hepatosplenomegaly, and life-threatening pancreatitis [2]. The LPL gene is located on chromosomal band 8p22, contains 10 exons, and codes for a 475-amino acid protein that is active only in its dimeric form. The LPL protein has two functions in lipid metabolism: it hydrolyzes triglycerides and functions as a ligand [3]. The aim of this work is to describe the biochemical, clinical, and molecular features of a Mexican girl with LPL deficiency.

Metformin treatment reduces motor and neuropsychiatric phenotypes in the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington disease

Ana Sanchis,María Adelaida García-Gimeno,Antonio José Cañada-Martínez,María Dolores Sequedo,José María Millán,Pascual Sanz,Rafael P. Vázquez-Manrique 생화학분자생물학회 2019 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.51 No.-

Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative condition for which there is no cure to date. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase has previously been shown to be beneficial in in vitro and in vivo models of Huntington’s disease. Moreover, a recent cross-sectional study demonstrated that treatment with metformin, a well-known activator of this enzyme, is associated with better cognitive scores in patients with this disease. We performed a preclinical study using metformin to treat phenotypes of the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington disease. We evaluated behavior (motor and neuropsychiatric function) and molecular phenotypes (aggregation of mutant huntingtin, levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuronal inflammation, etc.). We also used two models of polyglutamine toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans to further explore potential mechanisms of metformin action. Our results provide strong evidence that metformin alleviates motor and neuropsychiatric phenotypes in zQ175 mice. Moreover, metformin intake reduces the number of nuclear aggregates of mutant huntingtin in the striatum. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is reduced in mutant animals, is partially restored in metformin-treated mice, and glial activation in mutant mice is reduced in metformin-treated animals. In addition, using worm models of polyglutamine toxicity, we demonstrate that metformin reduces polyglutamine aggregates and restores neuronal function through mechanisms involving AMP-activated protein kinase and lysosomal function. Our data indicate that metformin alleviates the progression of the disease and further supports AMP-activated protein kinase as a druggable target against Huntington’s disease.

Gigantomastia as a Cause of Pulmonary Hypertension

Juan Pablo Castillo,Ana María Robledo,Laura Torres-Canchala,Lady Roa-Saldarriaga 대한성형외과학회 2022 Archives of Plastic Surgery Vol.49 No.3

Reduction mammaplasty is the gold standard treatment for gigantomastia. We report one female patient with juvenile gigantomastia associated with severe pulmonary hypertension where her pulmonary pressure decreased significantly after the surgery, improving her quality of life. A 22-year-old female patient with gigantomastia since 10 years old, tricuspid regurgitation, and pulmonary thromboembolism antecedent was admitted to the emergency department. Her oxygen saturation was 89%. Acute heart failure management was initiated. An echocardiogram reported left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) of 70% with severe right heart dilation, contractile dysfunction, and arterial pulmonary pressure (PASP) of 110mm Hg. A multidisciplinary team considered gigantomastia could generate a restrictive pattern, so a Thorek reduction mammoplasty with Wise pattern was performed. Presurgical measurements were: sternal notch to nipple-areola complex, right 59 cm, left 56 cm. Three days after surgery, the patient could breathe without oxygen support. In the outpatient followup, patient referred reduction of her respiratory symptoms and marked improvement in her quality of life. Sixmonths after surgery, a control echocardiogram showed a LVEF of 62% and PASP of 85mm Hg. Pulmonary hypertension may be present in patients with gigantomastia. Reduction mammoplasty may be a feasible alternative to improve the cardiac signs and symptoms in patients with medical refractory management.

Evaluation of nutritional characteristics and bioactive compounds of soursop-yoghurt and soursop-frozen dessert

Lucila J. Virgen-Ceceña,Luis M. Anaya-Esparza,Ana V. Coria-Téllez,María de Lourdes García-Magaña,Hugo S. García-Galindo,Elhadi Yahia,Efigenia Montalvo-González 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.5

The nutritional quality, sensory attributes,polyphenols and acetogenins content in yoghurt and frozendessert formulated with soursop pulp were investigated. The addition of soursop pulp to yoghurt and frozen dessertimproved the sensory attributes and the nutritional qualityof soursop dairy products resulting in a composition of 0.92and 2.17% of dietary fiber, 11.25 and 9.84 mg/100 g ofvitamin C as well as 243.02 and 490.98 mg/100 g of totalpolyphenols, respectively. Acetogenins were extractedfrom both dairy products using maceration, sonication,microwave and Soxhlet. Sonication showed to be faster andsafer than the other methods for acetogenins extraction. Higher annonacin (an acetogenin) content was found inyoghurt (38 ng/g) than in frozen dessert (15 ng/g). Thequantification of bioactive compounds implied thenutraceutical properties to yoghurt and ice cream whenthey are added with soursop pulp. The results are useful forthe consumers seeking healthier foods.

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Trigona carbonaria Honey from Australia

Livia Persano Oddo,Tim A. Heard,Antonio Rodríguez-Malaver,Rosa Ana Pérez,Miguel Fernández-Muiño,María Teresa Sancho,Giulio Sesta,Lorenzo Lusco,Patricia Vit 한국식품영양과학회 2008 Journal of medicinal food Vol.11 No.4

Stingless bees (Tribe Meliponini) are a diverse group of highly eusocial bees distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics. Trigona carbonaria honey, from Australia, was characterized by traditional physicochemical parameters (acidity, sugars, diastase, electrical conductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural, invertase, nitrogen, and water content) and other compositional factors (flavonoids, polyphenols, organic acids, and water activity), as well as total antioxidant capacity and radical scavenging activity. For the Australian T. carbonaria, the traditional analytical parameters were similar to those previously reported for neotropical stingless bee honey and confirm that honeys produced by Meliponini bees possess several physicochemical properties that are distinctly different from Apis mellifera honey, with higher values of moisture (26.5 ± 0.8 g of water/100 g of honey), water activity (0.74 ± 0.01), electrical conductivity (1.64 ± 0.12 mS/cm), and free acidity (124.2 ± 22.9 mEq/kg of honey) and a very low diastase activity (0.4 ± 0.5 diastase number) and invertase activity (5.7 ± 1.5 invertase number). The sugar spectrum was quite different from that of A. mellifera honey, with 20.3 ± 2.9 g of maltose/100 g of honey. The values of pH (4.0 ± 0.1), lactonic acidity (4.7 ± 0.8 mEq/kg of honey), sucrose (1.8 ± 0.4 g/100 g of honey), and fructose/glucose ratio (1.42 ± 0.13) fell in the same ranges as those of A. mellifera honey. Citric (0.23 ± 0.09) and malic (0.12 ± 0.03) acid concentrations (in g/kg of honey) of T. carbonaria honeys were in the range described for A. mellifera honey. D-Gluconic was more concentrated (9.9 ± 1.3 g/kg of honey), in the range of Italian Castanea, Thymus, Arbutus, and honeydew honeys. Flavonoid content was 10.02 ± 1.59 mg of quercetin equivalents/100 g of honey, and polyphenol contents were 55.74 ± 6.11 mg of gallic acid equivalents/100 g of honey. The antioxidant activity, expressed as percentage of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cation (ABTS.+) decolorization, was 233.96 ± 50.95 μM Trolox equivalents, and free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) depletion was 48.03 ± 12.58 equivalents of ascorbic acid. All reported values are averages ± standard deviation. The antioxidant activity can represent an important added value for T. carbonaria honey, to initiate a medicinal approach for both nutritional and pharmaceutical applications, besides further physicochemical characterization.

Fluoroscopic Characterization of Colonic Dysmotility Associated to Opioid and Cannabinoid Agonists in Conscious Rats

Susana Díaz-Ruano,Ana E López-Pérez,Rocío Girón,Irene Pérez-García,María I Martín-Fontelles,Raquel Abalo 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2019 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.25 No.2

Background/Aims Gastrointestinal adverse effects have a major impact on health and quality of life in analgesics users. Non-invasive methods to study gastrointestinal motility are of high interest. Fluoroscopy has been previously used to study gastrointestinal motility in small experimental animals, but they were generally anesthetized and anesthesia itself may alter motility. In this study, our aim is to determine, in conscious rats, the effect of increasing doses of 2 opioid (morphine and loperamide) and 1 cannabinoid (WIN 55,212-2) agonists on colonic motility using fluoroscopic recordings and spatio-temporal maps. Methods Male Wistar rats received barium sulfate intragastrically, 20–22 hours before fluoroscopy, so that stained fecal pellets could be seen at the time of recording. Animals received an intraperitoneal administration of morphine, loperamide, or WIN 55,212-2 (at 0.1, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg) or their corresponding vehicles (saline, Cremophor, and Tocrisolve, respectively), 30 minutes before fluoroscopy. Rats were conscious and placed within movement-restrainers for the length of fluoroscopic recordings (120 seconds). Spatio-temporal maps were built, and different parameters were analyzed from the fluoroscopic recordings in a blinded fashion to evaluate colonic propulsion of endogenous fecal pellets. Results The analgesic drugs inhibited propulsion of endogenous fecal pellets in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions Fluoroscopy allows studying colonic propulsion of endogenous fecal pellets in conscious rats. Our method may be applied to the noninvasive study of the effect of different drug treatments and pathologies. Background/Aims Gastrointestinal adverse effects have a major impact on health and quality of life in analgesics users. Non-invasive methods to study gastrointestinal motility are of high interest. Fluoroscopy has been previously used to study gastrointestinal motility in small experimental animals, but they were generally anesthetized and anesthesia itself may alter motility. In this study, our aim is to determine, in conscious rats, the effect of increasing doses of 2 opioid (morphine and loperamide) and 1 cannabinoid (WIN 55,212-2) agonists on colonic motility using fluoroscopic recordings and spatio-temporal maps. Methods Male Wistar rats received barium sulfate intragastrically, 20–22 hours before fluoroscopy, so that stained fecal pellets could be seen at the time of recording. Animals received an intraperitoneal administration of morphine, loperamide, or WIN 55,212-2 (at 0.1, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg) or their corresponding vehicles (saline, Cremophor, and Tocrisolve, respectively), 30 minutes before fluoroscopy. Rats were conscious and placed within movement-restrainers for the length of fluoroscopic recordings (120 seconds). Spatio-temporal maps were built, and different parameters were analyzed from the fluoroscopic recordings in a blinded fashion to evaluate colonic propulsion of endogenous fecal pellets. Results The analgesic drugs inhibited propulsion of endogenous fecal pellets in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions Fluoroscopy allows studying colonic propulsion of endogenous fecal pellets in conscious rats. Our method may be applied to the noninvasive study of the effect of different drug treatments and pathologies.