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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members are responsible for endothelial cells' growth, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and differentiation and proliferation of non-endothelial cell types. VEGF and its receptors are found in mammalian lymphoid organs. The present study was conceived to determine (a) the presence and localization of angiogenic VEGF and its receptors (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 [Flt1/fms], fetal liver kinase 1 [Flk1]/kinase insert domain receptor [KDR], Fms-like tyrosine kinase 4 [Flt4]) and vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) in the quail spleen; and (b) whether their expressions in the spleen components change during the post-hatching growth of the organ, using immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical stainings showed that VEGI, VEGF, and VEGF receptors were expressed in many components, including the vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, ellipsoid-associated cells (EACs), and immune cells, of quail spleen and that VEGF and its receptors' immunostaining intensity scores (ISs) varied depending on the post-hatching growth period, while VEGI-IS did not change. In addition, ISs of VEGI, VEGF, Flt1/fms, and Flt4 in EACs were weak to moderate, while flk1/KDR-IS in EACs adjacent to the capsule of Schweigger-Seidel sheaths (ellipsoids) was higher than other proteins, supports a more important and specific role of Flk1/KDR in the EAC function. These specific expressions of VEGI, VEGF, flt1/fms, flk1/KDR, and flt4 proteins in splenic cell types suggest their particular roles, in the functional development of splenic components and thus, are critical to post-hatching maturation of quail spleen. These findings indicate that the expression levels of VEGF, Flt1/fms, and Flt4, except Flk1/KDR, are low in the quail spleen, and only a few components of the spleen express VEGF, Flt1/fms, and Flt4 under normal conditions., (© 2024 The Authors. The Anatomical Record published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

In most mammals, leptin plays central and peripheral roles in a wide range of metabolic activities including feed consumption and digestion, energy expenditure and the regulation of carbohydrate-fat accumulation. Ghrelin is a strong appetite-stimulating hormone, while obestatin has the opposite effect of ghrelin. The latter is released during feeding, causing a sense of satiety. This study aimed to reveal if the metabolic hormones, as well as OB-R and GHS-R, were present in bull and ram abomasums. Streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method was implemented to determine the expressions and localizations of metabolic hormones and their receptors, and obestatin. Immunoreactivity for leptin and obestatin was present in the cytoplasms of luminal and glandular cells, while smooth muscle cells were immunoreactant for ghrelin, in both bull and ram abomasums. Immunoreactivity for OB-R was present in luminal and glandular cell, parietal cell cytoplasms, and blood vessels. Immunoreactivity for GHS-R, on the other hand, was found in glandular epithelial cell cytoplasms and parietal cell cytoplasms, in both bull and ram abomasums. Leptin immunoreactivity was detected in the glandular epithelial cells and stroma, and particularly in the parietal cells. Ghrelin immunoreactivity was not observed in glandular epithelial cells. Obestatin immunoreactivity was found intensely in the bull abomasum, while moderate immunoreactivity was observed in the ram abomasums. As such, leptin, ghrelin and obestatin hormones were expressed in bull and ram abomasums, similar to the abomasums of other species. It is believed that these hormones play important roles in the digestive system activities and the regulation of energy in bulls and rams., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Development of wearable data acquisition systems with applications to human-machine interaction (HMI) is of great interest to assist stroke patients or people with motor disabilities. This paper proposes a hybrid wireless data acquisition system, which combines surface electromyography (sEMG) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. It is designed to interface wrist extension with external devices, which allows the user to operate devices with hand orientations. A pilot study of the system performed on four healthy subjects has successfully produced two different control signals corresponding to wrist extensions. Preliminary results show a high correlation (0.42-0.75) between sEMG and IMU signals, thus proving the feasibility of such a system. Results also show that the developed system is robust as well as less susceptible to external interferences. The generated control signals can be used to perform real-time control of different devices in daily-life activities, such as turning ON/OFF of lights in a smart home, controlling an electric wheelchair, and other assistive devices. Such a system will help decrease the dependency of disabled people on their caretakers and empower them to perform their daily-life activities independently.