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Background: Frailty represents a complex clinical syndrome of decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Little is known regarding interaction between frailty status and outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Our study aims to assess the prevalence of frailty and its impact on in-hospital adverse outcomes of patients aged = 75 years admitted for acute coronary syndromes. Methods: In this retrospective, single centre, observational study were included patients aged = 75 years admitted for acute coronary syndromes between January 2011 and December 2015. Frailty was assessed using the Fried criteria. The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary endpoints included the occurrence of re-infarction, stroke and major bleeding. Results: Of the 502 patients included, 126 were classified as frail. These patients were older (mean age 78±5.5 vs. 76.2±5.5 years; p=0.020), more often male (68.3%) and had a higher risk profile according to GRACE (151.4±18.8 vs. 132.1±16.8; p<0.001), TIMI (4.3±1 vs. 3.1±1; p<0.001) and CRUSADE (34.6±9.4 vs. 25.8±9.5; p<0.001) scores at admission. All-cause in-hospital mortality was significantly more frequent in frail patients (11.9% vs. 5.6%; p<0.001), as well as re-infarction (7.4% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001), stroke (8.7% vs. 0.5%; p=0.002) and major bleeding (7.9% vs. 1.6%; p=0.002). On multivariate analysis, frailty remained independently associated with the primary endpoint (OR 5.63, [2.05-10.35]; p<0.001). Conclusion: Frailty, identified by Fried criteria, is frequent in elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes, and it is an independent prognostic predictor for in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveEpimedium (EPI) is a common Chinese herb with neuroprotective effects against a variety of central nervous system disorders, especially spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we performed network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses to reveal the mechanism underlying EPI treatment of SCI, then validated its efficacy using animal models.MethodsThe active ingredients and targets of EPI were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and their targets annotated on the UniProt platform. SCI-related targets were searched from OMIM, TTD, and GeneCards databases. We employed the STRING platform to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network then visualized the results using Cytoscape (3.8.2) software. We also subjected key EPI targets to ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, then docked the main active ingredients with the key targets. Finally, we established an SCI rat model to evaluate efficacy of EPI in treating SCI and validate the effects of different biofunctional modules predicted by network pharmacology.ResultsA total of 133 EPI targets were associated with SCI. GO terms and KEGG pathway enrichment results showed that EPI’s effect in treating SCI was significantly associated with inflammatory response, oxidative stress and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results indicated that EPI’s active ingredients have a high affinity for the key targets. Results from animal experiments revealed that EPI not only markedly improved Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores in SCI rats, but also significantly improved p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT ratio. Moreover, EPI treatment not only mediated a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) but also increased both superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). However, this phenomenon was successfully reversed by LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor.ConclusionEPI improves behavioral performance in SCI rats through anti-oxidative stress, which may be mediated by activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

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Abstract Associations between gut microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC) have been widely investigated. However, the replicable markers for early-stage adenoma diagnosis across multiple populations remain elusive. Here, we perform an integrated analysis on 1056 public fecal samples, to identify adenoma-associated microbial markers for early detection of CRC. After adjusting for potential confounders, Random Forest classifiers are constructed with 11 markers to discriminate adenoma from control (area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.80), and 26 markers to discriminate adenoma from CRC (AUC = 0.89), respectively. Moreover, we validate the classifiers in two independent cohorts achieving AUCs of 0.78 and 0.84, respectively. Functional analysis reveals that the altered microbiome is characterized with increased ADP-l-glycero-beta-d-manno-heptose biosynthesis in adenoma and elevated menaquinone-10 biosynthesis in CRC. These findings are validated in a newly-collected cohort of 43 samples using quantitative real-time PCR. This work proves the validity of adenoma-specific markers across multi-populations, which would contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

Fracture of femur of new born is rare during normal delivery or caesarean section. It may occur in difficult delivery in new born or after caesarean section due to unnoticed trauma at the time of extraction of baby. Usually noticed immediately after birth as swelling of thigh. We report the case of a female new born caesarean section delivered with fracture of left femur in primipara with breech presentation.

The influence of rice, maize, and sorghum raw material particle size in extruded dry dog food on the digestibility of nutrients and energy and the fecal concentration of fermentation products was investigated. Three diets with similar nutrient compositions were formulated, each with 1 starch source. Before incorporation into diets, the cereals were ground into 3 different particle sizes (approximately 300, 450, and 600 μm); therefore, a total of 9 diets were in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (3 cereals and 3 particle sizes). Fifty-four beagle dogs (12.0 ± 0.1 kg BW) were randomly assigned to the diets, with 6 dogs per diet. The digestibility was measured with the chromium oxide method. The data were evaluated with ANOVA considering the carbohydrate source, grinding effect, and interactions. The means were compared with the Tukey test and polynomial contrasts (P < 0.05). With the same grinding procedure, rice was reduced to smaller particles than other cereals. The cereal mean geometric diameter (MGD) was directly related to starch gelatinization (SG) during extrusion. For rice diets, the MGD and SG did not change nutrient digestibility (P > 0.05); only GE digestibility was reduced at the largest MGD (P < 0.01). For maize and sorghum diets, the total tract apparent nutrient digestibility was reduced for foods with greater MGD and less SG (P < 0.01). A linear reduction in nutrient digestibility according to cereal particle size was observed for sorghum (r2 < 0.72; P < 0.01). Higher concentrations of fecal total shortchain fatty acids (SCFA) were observed for sorghum diets (P < 0.05) than for other diets. The rice diets led to the production of feces with less lactate (P < 0.05). The increase in raw material MGD did not influence fecal SCFA for rice diets, but for the dogs fed maize and sorghum foods, an increase in propionate and butyrate concentrations were observed as MGD increased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, for dogs fed different particle sizes of the cereal starches in the extruded diets, the digestibility and fecal characteristics were affected, and this effect was ingredient dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource availability influences sexual selection within populations and determines whether behaviours such as territoriality or resource sharing are adaptive. In Thoropa taophora, a frog endemic to the Atlantic Coastal Rainforest of Brazil, males compete for and defend limited breeding sites while females often share breeding sites with other females; however, sharing breeding sites may involve costs due to cannibalism by conspecific tadpoles. We studied a breeding population of T. taophora to determine (i) whether this species exhibits polygynous mating involving female choice for territorial males and limited breeding resources; (ii) whether limited breeding resources create the potential for male-male cooperation in defence of neighbouring territories; and (iii) whether females sharing breeding sites exhibit kin-biased breeding site choice, possibly driven by fitness losses due to cannibalism among offspring of females sharing sites. We used microsatellites to reconstruct parentage and quantify relatedness at eight breeding sites in our focal population, where these sites are scarce, and in a second population, where sites are abundant. We found that at localities where the appropriate sites for reproduction are spatially limited, the mating system for this species is polygynous, with typically two females sharing a breeding site with a male. We also found that females exhibit negative kin-bias in their choice of breeding sites, potentially to maximize their inclusive fitness by avoiding tadpole cannibalism of highly related kin. Our results indicate that male territorial defence and female site sharing are likely important components of this mating system, and we propose that kinship-dependent avoidance in mating strategies may be more general than previously realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No abstract available.

Artificial insemination (AI) is currently the major biotechnique used worldwide to disseminate superior genetics and to improve reproductive efficiency in bovine herds. Conversely, reports from different parts of the world indicate low pregnancy rates in cattle submitted to AI, due to both mistakes in heat detection or a high incidence of anestrous. In dairy cattle, the use of AI following visual detection of estrus is relatively easier to be used because their routine of management is intense (milking two to three times a day), allowing a frequent contact with cows for estrus observation. However, for beef cattle, the implementation of AI programs based on estrus detection is harder to be used because of several management conditions. Beef cows are frequently raised extensively, with great walking distances between their pasture to the corral where the AI is performed, the number of employers designated for cattle management is reduced and they have several activities besides reproduction. Because of the necessity of at least two periods of estrus observation per day and the conduction of cattle to the corral around 12 h following estrus detection to be inseminated, the AI is somehow unfeasible in beef farms. The development of timed AI (TAI) enabled insemination of cows in commercial scale, because it allows the programmed AI of large number of cows in the same day without the need for estrus detection. Besides, the use of TAI in early postpartum dairy and beef females reduces the interval partum-conception and, consequently the interval between parturitions, which has a dramatic effect on farm economic return. For beef cattle, TAI also brings the advantages of concentrating around half of the conceptions at the first days of the breeding season and stimulating cyclicity and a synchronous estrus return in cows that did not become pregnant at TAI. Thus, the calving season is also concentrate in the best periods of the year to generate offspring with greater weight and potential of development. TAI programs are currently important tools of reproductive management to improve reproductive performance of cattle. The adequate incorporation of these programs has the potential to enhance reproductive efficiency of livestock and consequently increase overall productivity of the farm.

The removal efficiency of activated carbons prepared from rice husk and coconut shell in the adsorption of methylene blue (azo dye) from the synthetic industrial wastewater was investigated in a batch system. Rice husk and coconut shell were both processed into activated carbon by carbonizing at 600 oC and activated with 3.0 M H3PO4 at 80 oC for 3h. Synthetic solutions of methylene blue were prepared and the adsorption process was carried out by varying initial, methylene blue concentration, adsorbent dosage, and contact. The results showed that higher values of adsorbent dosage and contact time favored the adsorption of methylene blue from the simulated waste water. Activated carbon from coconut shell proved a better adsorbent compared to the activated carbon obtained from rice husk as coconut shell has the highest percentage removal for methylene blue.

Objective To determine the normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival population of the Coatis and the Crab-eating raccoons housed in captivity in the Pernambuco and Paraiba states of Brazil. Animals studied Ten healthy Coatis and 10 healthy Crab-eating raccoons were selected for this study. Animals are from three zoos situated at the Pernambuco and Paraiba States in the north-east of Brazil. Procedures After ophthalmologic examination, swabs from healthy animals were carefully collected in order to avoid contamination. Samples were identified and submitted to the laboratory. Swabs were plated for culture on ovine blood agar (8%) and agar Levine and incubated at 37 °C and observed 24 and 48 h. Results Staphylococcus spp. was the most common microorganism isolated from conjunctival sac. Shigella spp. comprised the Gram-negative genera isolated. Escherichia coli were isolated from the right eye of one Coati that had no growth at contralateral eye. Nine eyes from coatis and 10 from Crab-eating raccoons had no microorganisms isolated. Conclusion Our results were in accordance with previous studies indicating Staphylococcus sp., followed by Corynebacterium spp. as the most common inhabitant of the eyes of most mammalian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]