•Silver catfish were acclimated in hypoxia and posteriorly exposed to Mn.•Hypoxia acclimation decreased Mn accumulation in vital organs of silver catfish.•Hypoxia acclimated fish showed reduced ...oxidative damages in different vital organs.•Hypoxia acclimation prevents molecular changes in pituitary hormones.•Hypoxia acclimation reduces Mn toxicity and oxidative damages, possibly by hormesis.
The aim of this study was to assess the Mn toxicity to silver catfish considering Mn accumulation and oxidative status in different tissues, as well as pituitary hormone expression after acclimation to hypoxia. Silver catfish acclimated to hypoxia for 10 days and successively exposed to Mn (9.8mgL−1) for an additional 10 days exhibited lower Mn accumulation in plasma, liver, kidneys and brain and prevented the hematocrit decrease observed in the normoxia group. Hypoxia acclimation also modified Mn-induced oxidative damage, which was observed by lower reactive species (RS) generation in gills and kidneys, decreased lipid peroxidation (LP) levels in gills, liver and kidneys and decreased protein carbonyl (PC) levels in liver, kidneys and brain. Manganese accumulation showed positive correlations with LP levels in gills and kidneys, as well as with PC levels in gills, liver and brain. In addition, hypoxia acclimation and Mn exposure increased catalase (CAT) activity in gills and kidneys and Na+/K+-ATPase activity in gills, liver and brain. Silver catfish that were acclimated under normoxia and exposed to Mn displayed increased pituitary prolactin (PRL) and decreased somatolactin (SL) expression. Interestingly, hypoxia acclimation prevented hormonal fluctuation of PRL and SL in fish exposed to Mn. These findings indicate that while the exposure of silver catfish to Mn under normoxia was related to metal accumulation and oxidative damage in tissues together with endocrine axis disruption, as represented by PRL and SL, hypoxia acclimation reduced waterborne Mn uptake, thereby minimizing oxidative damage and changes in hormonal profile. We hypothesized that moderate hypoxia is able to generate adaptive responses, which may be related to hormesis, thereby ameliorating Mn toxicity to silver catfish.
Postoperative pain and persisting fatigue represent critical concerns for patients receiving lung transplantation. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the trajectory of symptoms in a patient ...who presented with a posttransplant musculoskeletal syndrome after double redo-lung transplantation and attended therapeutic sessions of global postural re-education during the symptomatic phase. A 32-year-old woman with interstitial lung disease underwent double lung transplantation. At 23 months, functional parameters deteriorated, and the patient was placed on the active list for a second double-lung transplantation. Twenty months after re-transplantation, the patient reported continuous thoracic-lumbar musculoskeletal pain exacerbated by moving or performing the standard motor activities. Lower body flexibility improved during the observation period changed from -10 cm to 0 cm at the Chair Sitand- Reach Test. Leg strength improved as well, and the patient was able to perform more repetitions at the Squat Test, improving from 14 to 39. Pain intensity changed from 7 to 4 on a numerical rating scale. We observed that outcomes strictly related to treatment, with lower body flexibility, pain intensity, and physical function improving over time. As a result global postural re-education proved to be effective in this patient.
OBJECTIVES
In the era of minimally invasive surgery, preoperative detection of pleural adhesions can be very useful for the assessment of surgical approach, because pleural adhesions are the main ...contraindication to video-assisted thoracoscopy. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of transthoracic ultrasound in the detection of pleural adhesions prior to thoracic surgery.
METHODS
From February 2010 to January 2011, 142 consecutive patients (male, 98; female, 44; age range, 36-83 years, mean age, 63.4 years) undergoing surgical thoracic intervention (except for pneumothorax) were preoperatively scanned by two different surgeons. According to thoracic wall projections of lung segments, we created a nine-region topographic map, in which every pulmonary area was scanned to assess the presence or the absence of 'gliding sign' (lesion-by-lesion analysis). During operations the surgeon, blinded to the prediction, confirmed or excluded each suspected adhesion or documented other adhesions not previously identified.
RESULTS
A total of 1192 predictions were made. Ultrasound predictions were confirmed 1124 times and refuted 68 times. Sensitivity was 80.6% (95% confidence interval, 0.740-0.872) and specificity 96.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.949-0.973). The positive predictive value was 73.2% and the negative predictive value was 97.4%.
CONCLUSIONS
Transthoracic ultrasound is an effective method for predicting pleural adhesions before thoracic surgery in experienced hands. Its safety, feasibility and low cost make it a useful method for the planning of minimally invasive surgical interventions.
This study evaluated the sedative and anesthetic effects of the essential oils (EO) of Hyptis mutabilis (Rich.) Briq. and their isolated components on silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). Quantitative ...chemical differences between the EOs obtained from leaves and inflorescences were verified, and a new chemotype rich in globulol was described. Although there were no significant differences in the time of induction for sedation and anesthesia between the EOs, only the leaf EO at 344 mg/L anesthetized all fish without side effects. Fractionation of the leaf EO was carried out by column chromatography. The isolated compounds (+)-1-terpinen-4-ol and (-)-globulol showed different activity from that detected for the leaf EO in proportional concentrations and similar sedation to a eugenol control at 10 mg/L. However, fish exposed to 1-terpinen-4-ol (3 and 10 mg/L) did not remain sedated for 30 min. Anesthesia was obtained with 83-190 mg/L globulol, but animals showed loss of mucus during induction and mortality at these concentrations. Synergism of the depressor effects was detected with the association of globulol and benzodiazepine (BDZ), compared with either drug alone. Fish exposed to BDZ or globulol+BDZ association showed faster recovery from anesthesia in water containing flumazenil, but the same did not occur with globulol. In conclusion, the use of globulol in aquaculture procedures should be considered only at sedative concentrations of 10 and 20 mg/L, and its mechanism of action seems not to involve the GABAA-BDZ system.
The influence of dietary fatty acids (FA) on mania-like behavior and brain oxidative damage were evaluated in rats. First generation of rats born and maintained under supplementation with soybean-oil ...(SO), fish-oil (FO) or hydrogenated-vegetable-fat (HVF), which are rich in n−6, n−3 and trans (TFA) FA, respectively, until adulthood, were exposed to an amphetamine (AMPH)-induced mania animal model to behavioral and biochemical evaluations.
While AMPH caused hyperlocomotion in HVF and, to a less extent, in SO- and FO-groups, a better memory performance was observed in FO group. Among vehicle-groups, HVF increased reactive species (RS) generation and protein-carbonyl (PC) levels in cortex; FO reduced RS generation in hippocampus and decreased PC levels in hippocampus and striatum. Among AMPH-treated animals, HVF exacerbated RS generation in all evaluated brain areas and increased PC levels in cortex and striatum; FO reduced RS generation in hippocampus and decreased PC levels in hippocampus and striatum. FO was related to higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in cortex and striatum, while HVF was associated to higher incorporation of TFA in cortex, hippocampus and striatum, besides increased n−6/n−3 FA ratio in striatum. While a continuous exposure to TFA may intensify oxidative events in brain, a prolonged FO consumption may prevent mania-like-behavior; enhance memory besides decreasing brain oxidative markers. A substantial inclusion of processed foods, instead of foods rich in omega-3, in the long term is able to influence the functionality of brain structures related to behavioral disturbances and weaker neuroprotection, whose impact should be considered by food safety authorities and psychiatry experts.
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•Intake of foods rich in trans fatty acids (TFA) is growing in Western countries.•TFA can facilitate responses to amphetamine in rats of the first generation.•Brain incorporation of TFA was related to oxidative and behavioral disturbances.•Brain incorporation of omega-3 improved memory and reduced oxidative damages.•Processed foods increase vulnerability to develop neuropsychiatric diseases.
Abstract Here we evaluated the influence of physical exercise on behavior parameters and enzymatic status of rats supplemented with different dietary fatty acids (FA). Male Wistar rats fed diets ...enriched with soybean oil (SO), lard (L), or hydrogenated vegetable fat (HVF) for 48 weeks were submitted to swimming (30 min/d, five times per week) for 90 days. Dietary FA per se did not cause anxiety-like symptoms in the animals, but after physical exercise, SO group showed a better behavioral performance than L and the HVF groups in elevated plus maze (EPM). In Barnes maze, HVF group showed impaired memory acquisition as compared to L group, and exercise reversed this effect. SO-fed rats showed an improvement in memory acquisition after 1 day of training, whereas lard caused an improvement of memory only from day 4. HVF-fed rats showed no improvement of memory acquisition, but this effect was reversed by exercise in all training days. A lower activity of the Na+ K+ -ATPase in brain cortex of rats fed lard and HVF was observed, and this effect was maintained after exercise. Similarly, the HVF diet was related to lower activity of hippocampal Na+ K+ -ATPase, and exercise reduced activity of this enzyme in the SO and L groups. Our findings show influences of dietary FA on memory acquisition, whereas regular exercise improved this function and was beneficial on anxiety-like symptoms. As FA are present in neuronal membrane phospholipids and play a critical role in brain function, our results suggest that low incorporation of trans FA in neuronal membranes may act on cortical and hippocampal Na+ K+ -ATPase activity, but this change appears to be unrelated to the behavioral parameters primarily harmed by consumption of trans and less so by saturated FA, which were reversed by exercise.
Exposure to hypoxia has shown beneficial adjustments in different species, including silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen), especially in situations of aquatic contamination with pollutants such as ...manganese (Mn). Considering that hypoxia is seasonal in the natural aquatic environment, we decided to assess whether these adaptive mechanisms could be maintained when reoxygenation is established. Silver catfish acclimated to moderate hypoxia (∼3 mg L−1, 41% O2 saturation) for 10 days and subsequently exposed to Mn (∼8.1 mg L−1) for additional 10 days displayed lower (47%) Mn accumulation in the gills, and it was maintained (62.6%) after reoxygenation, in comparison to normoxia. Oxidative status in the gills allowed us to observe increased reactive species (RS) generation and protein carbonyl (PC) level together with decreased mitochondrial viability induced by Mn under normoxia. Inversely, while hypoxia per se was beneficial on RS generation and PC level, this acclimation was able to minimize Mn toxicity, as observed by the minor increase of RS generation and the minor reduction of mitochondrial viability, together with decreased PC level. Interestingly, after reoxygenation, part of the protective influences observed during hypoxia against Mn toxicity were maintained, as observed through a lower level of PC and higher mitochondrial viability in relation to the group exposed to Mn under normoxia. Only groups exposed to Mn under hypoxia showed increased activity of both catalase (CAT) and Na+/K+-ATPase in the gills, but, while CAT activity remained increased after reoxygenation, Na+/K+-ATPase activity was decreased by Mn, regardless of the oxygen level. Based on these outcomes, it is possible to propose that environment events of moderate hypoxia are able to generate rearrangements in the gills of silver catfish exposed to Mn, whose influence persists after water reoxygenation. These responses may be related to the adaptive development, reducing Mn toxicity to silver catfish.
Moderate hypoxia generates rearrangements in the gills of Silver catfish, exerting beneficial and persistent protection against Mn toxicity.
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•Aquatic hypoxia acclimation and subsequent reoxygenation reduce Mn accumulation in silver catfish gill.•Hypoxia acclimation produces changes in gill morphology persistent after reoxygenation.•Hormesis by low oxygen can reduce Mn toxicity to silver catfish.
The present study describes the effect of a single dose of dexamethasone administered to mares at time of breeding. In an initial experiment, the authors investigated safety of treatment. In a second ...experiment the effect of treatment on the uterine environment, fetal development and pregnancy outcome was examined. In the final part of the study, mares susceptible to persistent mating induced endometritis were identified, by means of a risk factor score system and the effect of treatment evaluated. Results indicated that dexamethasone administered at breeding time did not negatively impact on mares medical and reproductive traits. A reduced inflammatory response was observed post-mating in treated versus control mares and mares with multiple risk factors for susceptibility to persistent mating induced endometritis showed improved pregnancy rates following treatment. The authors concluded that a single dose of dexamethasone administered at the time of breeding is safe and can be used to modulate the uterine inflammatory response to breeding in susceptible mares.
•We evaluate the effects of trans fatty acids (TFA) ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on a second generation of rats.•Hydrogenated vegetal fat (HVF) group showed TFA incorporation in the rats ...skin.•Deleterious effects of UVR on the rat skin were intensified by HVF supplementation.•Fish oil (FO) supplementation prevented the UVR-induced oxidative damages.•Foods rich in TFA eaten lifelong may favor the development of skin diseases related to sunlight.
We evaluated the influence of dietary fats on ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced oxidative damage in skin of rats. Animals from two consecutive generations born of dams supplemented with fats during pregnancy and breastfeeding were maintained in the same supplementation: soybean-oil (SO, rich in n-6 FA, control group), fish-oil (FO, rich in n-3 FA) or hydrogenated-vegetable-fat (HVF, rich in TFA). At 90days of age, half the animals from the 2nd generation were exposed to UVR (0.25J/cm2) 3×/week for 12weeks. The FO group presented higher incorporation of n-3 FA in dorsal skin, while the HVF group incorporated TFA. Biochemical changes per se were observed in skin of the HVF group: greater generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lower mitochondrial integrity and increased Na+K+-ATPase activity. UVR exposure increased skin wrinkles scores and ROS generation and decreased mitochondrial integrity and reduced-glutathione levels in the HVF group. In FO, UVR exposure was associated with smaller skin thickness and reduced levels of protein–carbonyl, together with increased catalase activity and preserved Na+K+-ATPase function. In conclusion, while FO may be protective, trans fat may be harmful to skin health by making it more vulnerable to UVR injury and thus more prone to develop photoaging and skin cancer.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of manganese (Mn) on silver catfish exposed to different levels of dissolved oxygen. Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) were exposed to increasing ...concentrations of Mn (4.2, 8.4 or 16.2mgL−1) under either normoxia (100 percent saturation) or moderate hypoxia (51.87 percent saturation) for 15 days. Under normoxia, Mn exposure increased lipid peroxidation (LP) in brain and kidney; it increased gluthatione (GSH) levels in brain and decreased catalase (CAT) activity in both tissues. Moderate hypoxia was able to prevent Mn-induced LP in brain and to reduce this oxidative parameter in kidney; GSH level was increased in brain, while CAT activity was reduced in both tissues. Activity of isolated mitochondria of liver and gills was reduced by Mn exposure under both levels of dissolved oxygen, but this effect was more prominent in normoxia. As expected, liver, kidney and gills showed an increase of Mn accumulation according to waterborne levels, and these parameters presented positive relationship. The highest waterborne Mn (8.4 and 16.2mgL−1) resulted in greater accumulation under normoxia, indicating that moderate hypoxia can stimulate mechanisms capable of reducing Mn accumulation in tissues (though not in blood). Moderate hypoxia can be considered a stress factor and Mn an aquatic anthropogenic contaminant. Therefore we hypothesized that these two conditions together are able to invoke defense mechanisms in juvenile silver catfish, acting in a compensatory form, which may be related to adaptation and/or hormesis.
► Silver catfish were exposed to Mn under normoxia and moderate hypoxia. ► Under moderate hypoxia, Mn caused lower lipid peroxidation in brain and kidney. ► Under hypoxia, Mn was related to mitochondrial survival in liver and gills. ► Normoxia caused higher Mn accumulation in liver, kidney and gills, but not in plasma. ► Moderate hypoxia reduces Mn toxicity and oxidative damages, possibly by hormesis.
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