Feline alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (fAGP) modifies both its serum concentration and its glycan moiety during diseases. fAGP is hyposialylated in cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), but not ...in clinically healthy cats or in cats with other diseases. This study was aimed to determine whether hyposialylated fAGP influences phagocytosis. A flow cytometric method based on ingestion of fluoresceinated bacteria and adapted to feline blood was used to assess phagocytosis of leukocytes incubated with 'non-pathological' fAGP (purified from sera with normal concentrations of AGP) and 'pathological' fAGP (purified from sera with >1.5mg/mL hyposialylated AGP). The flow cytometric method provided repeatable results for neutrophils (coefficients of variations, CVs <15%) but not for monocytes (CVs>20%) which had also a high individual variability. Compared with saline solution and with non-pathological fAGP, pathological fAGP significantly decreased phagocytosis in neutrophils and monocytes. This study demonstrated that hyposialylated fAGP down-regulates the phagocytic activity of feline neutrophils.
Innocenti R, Rigacci L, Restelli U, et al J Blood Med. 2019;10:21-27.On page 24, Figure 2, the key for the figure was incorrect. Read the original article
Semen cryostorage remains the only proven method to preserve fertility in men with cancer. However, the necessity and the justification of banking spermatozoa have been questioned because it has been ...reported that only a small percentage of patients are referred for assisted reproductive technologies using frozen semen.
A 15-year cryopreservation program involving 776 men with malignant diseases who were referred to the study institution for semen cryopreservation before proceeding with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy was reviewed. Data regarding cancer diagnosis, age, semen quality, and use of frozen semen were analyzed.
Sperm banking was not performed for 90 of the 776 subjects (11.6%) because of azoospermia. Sperm quality was reduced in men with testicular carcinoma. To date, 36 of the 686 patients who had banked spermatozoa (5.2%) have attended the clinic for assisted conception treatments using frozen spermatozoa. Cumulative rates related to the use of frozen semen at 4, 8, and 12 years were 4.5%, 8.7%, and 11.8%, respectively. Relevant factors demonstrated to be significantly associated with a lower probability of using frozen material were a younger age at the time of cryostorage and a diagnosis of testicular carcinoma.
The rate of referral for assisted reproductive techniques in patients who have banked their semen is low but tends to rapidly increase extending the length of follow-up. The cumulative percentage of use is at least above 10% but a longer follow-up is required to draw definitive conclusions. A diagnosis of testicular carcinoma is associated with a lower rate of use when compared with other cancers. Cancer 2003;97:1624-9.
Summary
A positive effect of selecting spermatozoa under high magnification during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been described, but a clear explanation has not been given yet. Previous ...works have shown that high magnification selected spermatozoa have significantly better chromatin status than unselected cells; on the other hand, it has been reported that spermatozoa with no morphological defects can also be negatively associated with embryo quality and pregnancy outcome attributable to DNA fragmentation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sperm morphology is correlated with DNA fragmentation, both in normozoospermic and teratozoospermic patients. A prospective cohort study involving 32 subjects was recruited over a 3‐month period. Spermatozoa were fixed on a slide for TUNEL assay and evaluated using an epifluorescent light microscope equipped with a video monitor. Single TUNEL‐positive or ‐negative cells were evaluated for morphology at ×4400 magnification. Each spermatozoon was then classified according to morphological normalcy or specific defects. The median percentage of typical forms was 11 and 0%, in the normozoospermic and teratozoospermic groups respectively (p = 0.001). In normozoospermic samples, the percentage of TUNEL‐positive morphologically normal spermatozoa was 4%. By comparison, spermatozoa showing a vacuolated head or a small non‐oval head had a significantly higher incidence of DNA fragmentation in both groups (12 and 13%, 19 and 13% respectively; p < 0.05). In contrast, spermatozoa showing a pyriform head had a DNA fragmentation rate similar to typical forms (3 and 5%, in normozoospermic and teratozoospermic respectively). This study shows that specific defects evaluated in fixed spermatozoa under high‐power magnification are more likely to be associated with DNA fragmentation. High‐magnification evaluation of spermatozoa can therefore reduce the probability of selecting cells carrying fragmented DNA during ICSI.
Highlights • GK-1 was recombinantly expressed fused to the pVIII surface protein of the paghemid M13 (FGK1). • Intranasal and parenteral co-immunization of FGK1 with the influenza vaccine increase ...specific levels of antibodies in mice. • Parenteral co-immunization of FGK1 with the influenza vaccine increases levels of specific IgG in pigs. • A new low costly adjuvant, adequate for veterinary purposes is developed.
Generally pig breeding efficiency is defined as the number of piglets weaned per sow per year, so in every pig breeding programmes, great emphasis is placed on improving reproductive traits in sow ...lines and generally, the evaluation of litter size is carried out in most selection planes. Usually, the reproduction breeding goal is to increase the number of piglets born, but this trait, as reported by Hanenberg et al. (2001) gives an undesirable correlation with the number of stillborn piglets. Litter size is the result of a large number of traits as number of total piglets born, number of born alive, stillbirth, weaned survival; as reported by Tummaruk et al. (2000) the variation in these parameters is influenced by genetic value of the sow and by environmental factors, such as management and season. Regarding the genetic influence on the litter size, we know that the breed can influence the number of born, but its interaction with stillbirth is not significant, although Leenhouwers et al. (1999) found an higher stillbirth incidence in purebred than in crossbred litters...
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an effective technology in post-stroke rehabilitation of the upper limbs. Because of the complexity of the system, traditional linear controllers are still ...far to drive accurate and natural movements. In this work, we apply reinforcement learning (RL) to design a nonlinear controller for an upper limb FES system combined with a passive exoskeleton. RL methods learn by interacting with the environment and, to efficiently use the collected data, we simulated large numbers of experience episodes through artificial neural network (ANN) models of the electrically stimulated arm muscles. The performance of the novel control solution was compared to a PID controller on five healthy subjects during planar reaching tasks. Both controllers correctly drove the arm at the target position, with a mean absolute error < 1°. The RL control significantly outperformed the PID in terms of setting time, position accuracy and smoothness. Future trials are needed to confirm these promising results.
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