Tailoring the cell organelles and thus changing cell homeostatic behavior has permitted the discovery of fascinating metabolic features enabling enhanced viability, differentiation, or quenching ...inflammation. Recently, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been accredited as an effective cell manipulation technique with promising therapeutic potential. In this prospective, in vitro results revealed that 808-nm laser light emitted by a hand-piece with a flat-top profile at an irradiation set up of 60 J/cm2 (1 W, 1 W/cm
2
; 60 s, continuous wave) regulates bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) differentiation toward osteogenesis. Considering the importance of actin cytoskeleton reorganization, which controls a range of cell metabolic activities, comprising shape change, proliferation and differentiation, the aim of the current work is to assess whether PBM therapy, using a flat-top hand-piece at higher-fluence irradiation on BMSCs, is able to switch photon signals into the stimulation of biochemical/differentiating pathways involving key activators that regulate de novo actin polymerization. Namely, for the first time, we unearthed the role of the flat-top hand-piece at higher-fluence irradiation on cytoskeletal characteristics of BMSCs. These novel findings meet the needs of novel therapeutically protocols provided by laser treatment and the manipulation of BMSCs as anti-inflammatory, osteo-inductive platforms.
The objective of the study was to review current literature to determine whether the topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes healing in experimentally-induced full-thickness skin ...wounds in animals. The hypothesis was that the adjunct of PRP has a positive effect on wound healing. An electronic search was carried out on the following databases: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Research Gate, Cochrane Wounds Group, Veterinary Information Network. No publication date nor language restrictions were applied. Randomised and not randomised controlled clinical trials comparing PRP with placebo or with other treatments were included. The reduction of open wound area in PRP-treated (test) wounds compared to control wounds was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were healing time and number of healed cases in test group compared to control. The following effect sizes were calculated: the Hedges' g for continuous variables; the odds ratio for binary data. Eighteen controlled clinical trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis, with a total of 661 wounds. All studies were published in the period 2007-2016. Eight studies were carried out on rodent/lagomorph mammals and 10 on non-rodent/lagomorph mammals. In all included studies, control wounds underwent placebo or were left untreated. The PRP group showed a better healing performance than the control group in each outcome. The effect size was statistically significant considering the primary outcome and the overall aggregation of the three outcomes. The effect size, although in favour of the treatment with PRP, was not significant considering the healing time and the number of healings. The overall heterogeneity was mild or moderate. Five studies reported a high risk of selection bias. The publication bias was always mild or absent. The results support the hypothesis of the positive effects of the PRP when compared to control groups in the treatment of experimentally-induced full-thickness skin wounds in animals. PRP can therefore be considered an effective adjunctive therapy in stimulating second intention healing of acute wounds in healthy animals.
The literature has supported the concept of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in bone regeneration as one of the most important applications in oro-maxillofacial reconstructions. However, the fate of ...the transplanted cells and their effects on the clinical outcome is still uncertain. Photobiomodulation (PBM) plays an important role in the acceleration of tissue regeneration and potential repair. The aim of this
study is to evaluate the effectiveness of PBM with 808 nm diode laser therapy, using a flat-top hand-piece delivery system at a higher-fluence (64 J/cm
) irradiation (1 W, continuous-wave) on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The BMSCs of 3 old female Balb-c mice were analyzed. The cells were divided into two groups: irradiated group and control group. In the former the cells were irradiated every 24 h during 0 day (T0), 5 (T1), 10 (T2), and 15 (T3) days, whereas the control group was non-irradiated. The results have shown that the 64 J/cm
laser irradiation has increased the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). Runx2 is the most important early marker of osteoblast differentiation. The higher-fluence suppressed the synthesis of adipogenic transcription factor (PPARγ), the pivotal transcription factor in adipogenic differentiation. Also, the osteogenic markers such as Osterix (Osx) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were upregulated with an increase in the matrix mineralization. Furthermore, western blotting data demonstrated that the laser therapy has induced a statistically valid increase in the synthesis of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) but had no effects on the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) production. The data has statistically validated the down-regulation of the important pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin IL-6, and IL-17 after 808 nm PBM exposition. An increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1rα and IL-10 was observed. These
studies provide for first time the initial proof that the PBM of the 808 nm diode laser therapy with flat-top hand-piece delivery system at a higher-fluence irradiation of 64 J/cm
(1 W/cm
) can modulate BMSCs differentiation in enhancing osteogenesis.
Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is an important pathogen of horses. It is spread worldwide and causes significant economic losses. The ORF33 gene has a conserved region that is often used as target ...in diagnostic PCR protocols. Single nucleotide point (SNP) mutations in ORF30 are usually used to distinguish between neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic genotypes. An ORF68 SNP-based scheme has been used for grouping different isolates. Recently, the highest number of variable sites in EHV-1 from the UK has been found in ORF34. In this study, EHV-1 positive samples from Italian horses with a history of abortion were investigated by amplifying and sequencing the ORF30, ORF33, ORF34 and ORF68 genes. Most animals were infected by the neuropathogenic type A2254G. A 118 bp deletion was found at nucleotide positions 701–818 of the ORF68 gene, making impossible to assign the samples to a known group. Sequencing of the ORF34 gene with a newly designed nested PCR showed new SNPs. Analysis of these sequences and of those obtained from genetic databases allowed the identification of at least 12 groups. These data add depth to the knowledge of EHV-1 genotypes circulating in Italy.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a clinically accepted tool in regenerative medicine and dentistry to improve tissue healing and repair and to restore the functional disability. The current
study aimed to ...investigate the photobiomodulatory effects of 980 nm wavelength (the real energy at the target: ~0.9 W, ~0.9 W/cm
, 60 s, ~55 J/cm
and a single energy ~55 J in CW) on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast, delivered with flattop profile in comparison to the standard profile. The laser groupings and their associated energies were: Group 1 - once per week (total energy 110 J); Group 2 - three times per week (alternate day) (total energy 330 J); Group 3 - five times per week (total energy 550 J). The metabolic activity and the osteoblasts maturation were analyzed by alkaline phosphatase assay, alizarin red S histological staining, immunoblot and/or double immunolabeling analysis for Bcl2, Bax, Runx-2, Osx, Dlx5, osteocalcin, and collagen Type 1. Our data, for the first time, prove that laser irradiation of 980 nm wavelength with flat-top beam profile delivery system, compared to standard-Gaussian profile, has improved photobiomodulatory efficacy on pre-osteoblastic cells differentiation. Mechanistically, the irradiation enhances the pre-osteoblast differentiation through activation of Wnt signaling and activation of Smads 2/3-βcatenin pathway.
Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widespread in many countries and cause economically relevant, slow, and persistent diseases in sheep and goats. Monitoring the genetic diversity of SRLVs is ...useful to improve the diagnostic tools used in the eradication programs. In this study, SRLVs detected in Spanish Assaf sheep with different grades of lymphoproliferative mastitis were sequenced. Genetic characterization showed that most samples belonged to type A and were closer to Spanish SRLV isolates previously classified as A2/A3. Four samples belonged to subtype B2 and showed higher homology with Italian B2 strains than with Spanish B2 isolates. Amino acid sequences of immuno-dominant epitopes in the gag region were very conserved while more alterations were found in the LTR sequences. No significant correlations were found between grades of mastitis and alterations in the sequences although samples with similar histological features were phylogenetically closer to each other. Broader genetic characterization surveys in samples with different grades of SRLV-lesions are required for evaluating potential correlations between SRLV sequences and the severity of diseases.
This
in vitro
study was carried out to evaluate the potential antibacterial properties of canine non-transfusional hemo-components. Therapeutic formulations commonly used for regenerative medicine ...purposes (platelet-rich plasma, platelet gel, platelet lysate, fibrin glue), considering both leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor formulations, but also platelet-poor plasma and activating substances (thrombin, calcium gluconate), were tested to detect elements with potential antimicrobial properties. The antibacterial effect was tested on different bacterial strains (
Staphylococcus aureus
subspecies
aureus, Staphylococcus cohnii
subspecies
cohnii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
subspecies
pneumoniae
) isolated from canine wounds and classified as susceptible, multidrug-, extensively, and pandrug-resistant bacteria toward a known panel of human and veterinary antibiotics. The evaluation was carried out by agar gel diffusion method (Kirby–Bauer) and micro-inhibition in broth using microplates and spectrophotometer reading. The study findings confirmed the hypothesized antibacterial properties of canine non-transfusional hemo-components. A more effective bacteriostatic effect was found against Gram-negative bacteria, drug-resistant too. The presence of leukocytes or platelets does not appear to be essential for the antibacterial effect. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the exact mechanism of action of the antimicrobial activity. However, non-transfusional hemo-components could be a useful natural aid in controlling bacterial infections in dogs.
In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population ...dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius Homopus signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out.
Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 10
± 61 × 10
colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 10
± 13 × 10
CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90-100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi.
Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence.
A study in an intensive Italian rabbit farm was carried out to assess the effect of age category and anatomical site on detection of
and to describe the diversity of spa-types within farm, including ...workers. On 400 rabbits of different age, 2066 samples from the ear, nose, axilla, groin, perineum and lesions were analyzed and 595
were isolated. In total, 284 (71.0%) were colonized by
in at least one anatomical site and 35 animals (8.8%) had lesions.
prevalence was higher in adults than other age categories. Ear (29.4%) and nose (27.2%) were the most frequently colonized sites. The presence of lesions due to
was strongly associated with the colonization of at least one body site and the risk of lesions was proportionate to the number of sites colonized by
. In addition, a genotypic characterization was performed for 96
strains randomly selected. All isolates resulted as low-virulence methicillin-sensitive-
(LV-MSSA). Five different clonal lineages were found: spa-t2802, the most frequently detected (53.1%), also in human samples; spa-t491 (38.5%); spa-t094; t605; and spa-t2036. Strains t094, t491 and t2036 have not been isolated in Italy before.
The breeding of meat rabbits is an important sector in the livestock industry in Italy. The focus of this study was to describe the antibiotic resistance profile distribution among the ...Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus isolated in a rabbit farm. From 400 animals of different ages and three farm workers, 96 randomly selected strains isolated from various anatomical sites and lesions were analysed. According to spa typing and the resistance profiles towards veterinary and human antibiotics, 26 pathotypes were identified. The highest resistance was observed against Tetracyclines (92.3%) and Macrolides (80.8%), while almost all were susceptible to Penicillins, according to the limited use of β-lactams on the farm. In total, 92.3% of pathotypes were multidrug resistant (MDRs). Two MDR pathotypes belonging to the t2802 spa type were isolated from both farmers and rabbits. Age categories harboured significantly different pathotypes (p = 0.019), while no association was found between pathotypes and lesions (p = 0.128) or sampling sites (p = 0.491). The antibiotic resistance was observed to increase with the time spent in the farm environment (age category). The selective pressure exerted by antibiotic use acted by giving advantage to more resistant strains rather than by lowering susceptibility to various drug categories within strains.