Search

Abstract Twisted testicular appendages had difficult differential diagnosis with testicular torsion. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the number, shape, size and determine the laterality pattern of the testicular and epididymal hydatids and evaluate the correlations between the length and width of the testicular and epididymal hydatids with testicular measurements. We analyzed 60 fixed cadavers and 16 patients with prostate cancer without previous hormonal treatment undergoing bilateral orchiectomy, totalizing 76 units and 152 testicles. In relation to the testicular appendices, we analyzed the following situations: absence of testicular and epididymis appendages, presence of a testicular appendix, presence of epididymis appendix, and presence of testicular and epididymis appendix. We measured the length, width and thickness of the testis and classified the appendages as sessile or pedicled. Chi-square test was used to verify associations between categorical variables. McNemar Test was used to verify differences between the percentages of right and left appendages. Correlations between quantitative measures were evaluated using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (p

Abstract Modeling the adhesion of viscoelastic rough surfaces is a recent challenge in contact mechanics. Existing models have primarily focused on simple systems with smooth topography or single roughness scale due to the co-action of roughness and viscoelasticity leading to elastic instabilities and rate-dependent behavior, resulting in complex adhesion dynamics. In this study, we propose a numerical model based on a finite element methodology to investigate the adhesion between a randomly rough profile and a viscoelastic half-plane. Approach-retraction simulations are performed under controlled displacement conditions of the rough indenter. The results demonstrate that viscous effects dampen the roughness-induced instabilities in both the approach and retraction phases. Interestingly, even when viscous effects are negligible, the pull-off stress, i.e., the maximum tensile stress required to detach the surfaces, is found to depend on the stiffness modulus and maximum load reached during the approach. Furthermore, when unloading is performed from a relaxed state of the viscoelastic half-plane, both adhesion hysteresis and pull-off stress are monotonic increasing functions of the speed. Conversely, when retraction begins from an unrelaxed state of the material, the maximum pull-off stress and hysteretic loss are obtained at intermediate velocities.

Abstract 1H NMR-based metabolomics was used to study the effect of abrupt weaning on the blood metabolome of beef calves. Twenty Angus calves (258 ± 5 kg BW; 5 to 6 months old) were randomly assigned to a non-weaned (NW) group that remained grazing with their dam or a weaned (W) group that underwent abrupt separation from their dam to a separate paddock on d 0 of the study. Body weight, behaviour, and blood samples for cortisol and metabolomics were measured at d 0, 1, 2, 7, and 14 of the study. On d 1 and 2, W calves spent less time grazing and ruminating, and more time vocalising and walking, had a greater concentration of cortisol, NEFA, 3-hydroxybutyrate, betaine, creatine, and phenylalanine, and lesser abundance of tyrosine (P

Abstract The productivity of beans is greatly influenced by the different edaphoclimatic conditions in the Agreste-Sertão region, requiring the identification of adapted and stable genotypes to minimize the effects of the interaction between genotypes per environments (GxE). The objective of this work was to analyze the adaptability and stability of carioca bean pre-cultivars in three municipalities in the Agreste-Sertão of Pernambuco using the AMMI model in its Bayesian version BAMMI and compare the results with the frequentist approach. According to the results, the BAMMI analysis showed better predictive capacity, as well as better performance in the study of adaptability and stability. The cultivar BRS Notável stood out in terms of main effect and stability. Adaptability of genotypes to specific locations was also observed, enabling the use of the positive effect of the GxE interaction, which was more evident with the BAMMI model. From this work, the flexibility of BAMMI model to deal with data resulting from multi-environmental experiments can be seen, overcoming limitations of the standard analysis of the AMMI model.

Abstract Food production is heavily dependent on soil phosphorus (P), a non-renewable mineral resource essential for plant growth and development. Alas, about 80% is unavailable for plant uptake. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may promote soil P efficient use, although the mechanistic aspects are yet to be completely understood. In this study, plant and fungal variables involved in P acquisition were investigated in maize inbred lines, differing for mycorrhizal responsiveness and low-P tolerance, when inoculated with the symbiont Rhizoglomus irregulare (synonym Rhizophagus irregularis). The expression patterns of phosphate transporter (PT) genes in extraradical and intraradical mycelium (ERM/IRM) and in mycorrhizal and control maize roots were assessed, together with plant growth responses and ERM extent and structure. The diverse maize lines differed in plant and fungal accumulation patterns of PT transcripts, ERM phenotypic traits and plant performance. Mycorrhizal plants of the low-P tolerant maize line Mo17 displayed increased expression of roots and ERM PT genes, compared with the low-P susceptible line B73, which revealed larger ERM hyphal densities and interconnectedness. ERM structural traits showed significant correlations with plant/fungal expression levels of PT genes and mycorrhizal host benefit, suggesting that both structural and functional traits are differentially involved in the regulation of P foraging capacity in mycorrhizal networks.

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on biomineralization of enamel. Sixty C57Bl6 male mice were used, which were assigned into three groups: celecoxib (n = 20) or indomethacin (n = 20) treatment for a period of 28 days or received no medication (control group, n = 20). Visual inspection and microcomputed tomography were used to analyze enamel morphology. Scanning electron microscopy–Energy dispersive X-ray and Knoop microhardness test were used to quantify chemical element content (Ca, P, C, O) and enamel microhardness, respectively. Tissues were collected to investigate the synthesis, activity or nuclear translocation of metalloproteinase-20, transcription factor Runx2, dentin sialoprotein and cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme by means of immunohistochemistry, in situ zymography and indirect immunofluorescence. Treatment with indomethacin and celecoxib reduced the Ca and P content, microhardness and mineral density in enamel. Treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs caused an accumulation of metalloproteinase-20 and overall increased enzymatic activity in enamel matrix, while the synthesis of the transcription factor Runx2 was inhibited by these drugs. Interestingly, indomethacin inhibited Runx2 translocation to the nucleus whereas celecoxib did not. Those findings show that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs impact the enamel biomineralization and could be involved in the etiology tooth enamel defects if used during the period of tooth formation and mineralization.

Abstract One of the most common malformations of the central nervous system is related to embryonic neural tube alterations. We hypothesized that anencephaly affects the development of the uterus during the human second trimester of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to study the biometric parameters of the uterus in fetuses with anencephaly and compare them with normocephalic fetuses at that important. In our study, 34 female fetuses were analyzed, 22 normal and 12 anencephalic, aged between 12 and 22 weeks post-conception (WPC). After dissection of the pelvis and individualization of the genital tract, we evaluated the length and width of the uterus using the Image J software. We compared the means statistically using the Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney test and performed linear regression. We identify significant differences between the uterus length (mm)/weight (g) × 100 (p = 0.0046) and uterus width (mm)/weight (g) × 100 (p = 0.0013) when we compared the control with the anencephalic group. The linear regression analysis indicated that 80% significance was found in the correlations in normocephalic fetuses (12.9 to 22.6 WPC) and 40% significance in anencephalic fetuses (12.3 to 18.6 WPC). The measurements of the uterus were greater in anencephalic group but there are no difference in the uterine width and length growth curves during the period studied. Further studies are required to support the hypothesis suggesting that anencephaly may affect uterine development during the human fetal period.

Abstract This study aimed to determine the relationship between the metabolome and changes in growth rate (i.e., liveweight change, LWC) and molasses-lick block supplement intake (MLB) of grazing cattle. Weaner beef cattle were fed for 220 days with a sequence of feed types and blood samples, growth rate, and supplement intake were taken on five points in time. The relative abundance (RA) of plasma metabolites were determined using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Sixty-four per cent of the metabolites identified were associated with LWC but only 26% with MLB intake (P

Abstract In the present work, we established two novel embryonic cell lines from the mosquito Aedes fluviatilis containing or not the naturally occurring symbiont bacteria Wolbachia, which were called wAflu1 and Aflu2, respectively. We also obtained wAflu1 without Wolbachia after tetracycline treatment, named wAflu1.tet. Morphofunctional characterization was performed to help elucidate the symbiont-host interaction in the context of energy metabolism regulation and molecular mechanisms of the immune responses involved. The presence of Wolbachia pipientis improves energy performance in A. fluviatilis cells; it affects the regulation of key energy sources such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, making the distribution of actin more peripheral and with extensions that come into contact with neighboring cells. Additionally, innate immunity mechanisms were activated, showing that the wAflu1 and wAflu1.tet cells are responsive after the stimulus using Gram negative bacteria. Therefore, this work confirms the natural, mutually co-regulating symbiotic relationship between W. pipientis and A. fluviatilis, modulating the host metabolism and immune pathway activation. The results presented here add important resources to the current knowledge of Wolbachia-arthropod interactions.

Abstract Social dilemmas are mixed-motive games. Although the players have a common interest in maintaining cooperation, each may try to obtain a larger payoff by cooperating less than the other. This phenomenon received increased attention after Press and Dyson discovered a class of strategies for the repeated prisoner’s dilemma (extortionate strategies) that secure for themselves a payoff that is never smaller, but can be larger, than the opponent’s payoff. We conducted an experiment to test whether humans adopt extortionate strategies when playing a social dilemma. Our results reveal that human subjects do try to extort a larger payoff from their opponents. However, they are only successful when extortionate strategies are part of a Nash equilibrium. In settings where extortionate strategies do not appear in any Nash equilibrium, attempts at extortion only result in a breakdown of cooperation. Our subjects recognized the different incentives implied by the two settings, and they were ready to “extort” the opponent when allowed to do so. This suggests that deviations from mutually cooperative equilibria, which are usually attributed to players’ impatience, coordination problems, or lack of information, can instead be driven by subjects trying to reach more favorable outcomes.

Abstract Positive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)—wheat plant symbiosis have been well discussed by research, while the actual role of the single wheat genotype in establishing this type of association is still poorly investigated. In this work, the genetic diversity of Triticum turgidum wheats was exploited to detect roots susceptibility to AMF and to identify genetic markers in linkage with chromosome regions involved in this symbiosis. A tetraploid wheat collection of 127 accessions was genotyped using 35K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and inoculated with the AMF species Funneliformis mosseae (F. mosseae) and Rhizoglomus irregulare (R. irregulare), and a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was conducted. Six clusters of genetically related accessions were identified, showing a different mycorrhizal colonization among them. GWAS revealed four significant quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis, located on chromosomes 1A, 2A, 2B and 6A. The results of this work enrich future breeding activities aimed at developing new grains on the basis of genetic diversity on low or high susceptibility to mycorrhization, and, possibly, maximizing the symbiotic effects.

Abstract Field release of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti has emerged as a promising solution to manage the transmission of dengue, Zika and chikungunya in endemic areas across the globe. Through an efficient self-dispersing mechanism, and the ability to induce virus-blocking properties, Wolbachia offers an unmatched potential to gradually modify wild Ae. aegypti populations turning them unsuitable disease vectors. Here we describe a proof-of-concept field trial carried out in a small community of Niterói, greater Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Following the release of Wolbachia-infected eggs, we report here a successful invasion and long-term establishment of the bacterium across the territory, as denoted by stable high-infection indexes (> 80%). We have also demonstrated that refractoriness to dengue and Zika viruses, either thorough oral-feeding or intra-thoracic saliva challenging assays, was maintained over the adaptation to the natural environment of Southeastern Brazil. These findings further support Wolbachia’s ability to invade local Ae. aegypti populations and impair disease transmission, and will pave the way for future epidemiological and economic impact assessments.

Abstract Analyze the biometric parameters and the size (area) of abdominal wall defect (AWD) in fetuses with gastroschisis and omphaloceles and correlate them with the herniated internal organs. We studied 22 fetuses (11 with AWDs and 11 without anomalies). In all fetuses we evaluated the xiphopubic distance (XPD) and iliac crest distance (ICD). In fetuses with AWDs we dissected the abdominal wall and measured the width and length of the defect for calculating its area and studying the correlation between the size of the defect with the organs that were herniated. For statistical analysis, the Anova and Tukey post-test were used (p

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of subclinical vascular damage in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We enrolled PMR patients having major cardiovascular risk factors (MCVRF) and, as controls, patients with MCVRF. All underwent: color Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), the anterior–posterior abdominal aortic diameter (APAD), and the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis; the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) to measure arterial stiffness together with the ankle-brachial index (ABI) to investigate the presence of lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease. Finally, we measured the serum levels of adipocytokines implicated in vascular dysfunction. As a result, 48 PMR and 56 MCVRF patients were included. An increase of IMT (1.07/0.8–1.2 vs 0.8/0.8–1.05; p = 0.0001), CAVI (8.7/7.8–9.3 vs 7.6/6.9–7.8; p

Abstract Wolbachia, an intracellular endosymbiont present in up to 70% of all insect species, has been suggested as a sustainable strategy for the control of arboviruses such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. As Mayaro virus outbreaks have also been reported in Latin American countries, the objective of this study was to evaluate the vector competence of Brazilian field-collected Ae. aegypti and the impact of Wolbachia (wMel strain) upon this virus. Our in vitro studies with Aag2 cells showed that Mayaro virus can rapidly multiply, whereas in wMel-infected Aag2 cells, viral growth was significantly impaired. In addition, C6/36 cells seem to have alterations when infected by Mayaro virus. In vivo experiments showed that field-collected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes are highly permissive to Mayaro virus infection, and high viral prevalence was observed in the saliva. On the other hand, Wolbachia-harboring mosquitoes showed significantly impaired capability to transmit Mayaro virus. Our results suggest that the use of Wolbachia-harboring mosquitoes may represent an effective mechanism for the reduction of Mayaro virus transmission throughout Latin America.

Abstract Oocytes that undergo in vitro maturation (IVM) are metabolically abnormal and accumulate excess lipid content. However, the mechanism of lipid accumulation and the role of cumulus cells in this process are unclear. Recently, it was shown that fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) performed intra- and extracellular fatty acid transport. We postulated that FABP3 might be responsible for fatty acid transport from cumulus cells to the oocytes via transzonal projections (TZPs) during IVM. Transcript and protein levels of FABP3 were analyzed in both in vivo- and in vitro-matured cumulus-oocyte-complexes and were increased in IVM samples. Further analysis showed increased lipid content in oocytes and cumulus cells in IVM samples compared to in vivo-derived. We therefore speculated that altered traffic of fatty acids via FABP3 during IVM was the mechanism leading to the excess of lipids accumulated within IVM oocytes. Furthermore, we demonstrated an increase in FABP3 levels and lipid content during the first 9 h of IVM, further strengthening the possibility of fatty acid transport via FABP3 and TZPs. Additionally, disruptions of TZPs during IVM decreased lipid accumulation in oocytes. Our results shed light on a possible mechanism involving FABP3 and TZPs that causes excess lipid accumulation in oocytes during IVM.

Abstract Non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCLP) is a common congenital malformation with a multifactorial model of inheritance. Although several at-risk alleles have been identified, they do not completely explain the high heritability. We postulate that epigenetic factors as DNA methylation might contribute to this missing heritability. Using a Methylome-wide association study in a Brazilian cohort (67 NSCLP, 59 controls), we found 578 methylation variable positions (MVPs) that were significantly associated with NSCLP. MVPs were enriched in regulatory and active regions of the genome and in pathways already implicated in craniofacial development. In an independent UK cohort (171 NSCLP, 177 controls), we replicated 4 out of 11 tested MVPs. We demonstrated a significant positive correlation between blood and lip tissue DNA methylation, indicating blood as a suitable tissue for NSCLP methylation studies. Next, we quantified CDH1 promoter methylation levels in CDH1 mutation-positive families, including penetrants, non-penetrants or non-carriers for NSCLP. We found methylation levels to be significantly higher in the penetrant individuals. Taken together, our results demonstrated the association of methylation at specific genomic locations as contributing factors to both non-familial and familial NSCLP and altered DNA methylation may be a second hit contributing to penetrance.

The mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s. is a primary malaria vector throughout sub-Saharan Africa including the islands of the Comoros archipelago (Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mayotte and Mohéli). These islands are located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in eastern Africa. Previous studies have shown a relatively high degree of genetic isolation between the Comoros islands and mainland populations of A. gambiae, but the origin of the island populations remains unclear. Here, we analyzed phylogenetic relationships among island and mainland populations using complete mitochondrial genome sequences of individual A. gambiae specimens. This work augments earlier studies based on analysis of the nuclear genome. We investigated the source population of A. gambiae for each island, estimated the number of introductions, when they occurred and explored evidence for contemporary gene flow between island and mainland populations. These studies are relevant to understanding historical patterns in the dispersal of this important malaria vector and provide information critical to assessing their potential for the exploration of genetic-based vector control methods to eliminate this disease. Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype networks were constructed from mitogenome sequences of 258 A. gambiae from the four islands. In addition, 112 individuals from seven countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar were included to identify potential source populations. Our results suggest that introduction events of A. gambiae into the Comoros archipelago were rare and recent events and support earlier claims that gene flow between the mainland and these islands is limited. This study is concordant with earlier work suggesting the suitability of these oceanic islands as appropriate sites for conducting field trial releases of genetically engineered mosquitoes (GEMs).

Inspired by advances in wearable technologies, we design and perform human-subject experiments. We aim to investigate the effects of applying safe actuation (i.e., auditory, gustatory, and olfactory) for the purpose of regulating cognitive arousal and enhancing the performance states. In two proposed experiments, subjects are asked to perform a working memory experiment called n-back tasks. Next, we incorporate listening to different types of music, drinking coffee, and smelling perfume as safe actuators. We employ signal processing methods to seamlessly infer participants' brain cognitive states. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed safe actuation in regulating the arousal state and enhancing performance levels. Employing only wearable devices for human monitoring and using safe actuation intervention are the key components of the proposed experiments. Our dataset fills the existing gap of the lack of publicly available datasets for the self-management of internal brain states using wearable devices and safe everyday actuators. This dataset enables further machine learning and system identification investigations to facilitate future smart work environments. This would lead us to the ultimate idea of developing practical automated personalized closed-loop architectures for managing internal brain states and enhancing the quality of life.