Effects of consumption of contaminated feed with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the rat tibia: analysis by Raman spectroscopy and mechanical properties

Lasers in Medical Science - Studies reported the harmful effects of 2,4-D on body tissues, provoking changes in the anatomy and physiology of the kidneys, liver, and testicles. Thus, the objective...     

Pinealectomy interferes with the circadian clock genes expression in white adipose tissue

Melatonin, the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, is secreted in a circadian manner (24‐hr period), and its oscillation influences several circadian biological rhythms, such as the regulation of clock genes expression (chronobiotic effect) and the modulation of several endocrine functions in peripheral tissues. Assuming that the circadian synchronization of clock genes can play a role in the regulation of energy metabolism and it is influenced by melatonin, our study was designed to assess possible alterations as a consequence of melatonin absence on the circadian expression of clock genes in the epididymal adipose tissue of male Wistar rats and the possible metabolic repercussions to this tissue. Our data show that pinealectomy indeed has impacts on molecular events: it abolishes the daily pattern of the expression of Clock, Per2, and Cry1 clock genes and Pparγ expression, significantly increases the amplitude of daily expression of Rev‐erbα, and affects the pattern of and impairs adipokine production, leading to a decrease in leptin levels. However, regarding some metabolic aspects of adipocyte functions, such as its ability to synthesize triacylglycerols from glucose along 24 hr, was not compromised by pinealectomy, although the daily profile of the lipogenic enzymes expression (ATP‐citrate lyase, malic enzyme, fatty acid synthase, and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase) was abolished in pinealectomized animals.     

Reticencia vacunal: análisis del discurso de madres y padres con rechazo total o parcial a las vacunas

Objective

To analyse and understand vaccination hesitancy discourses, particularly those of people who have decided not to vaccinate their sons and daughters.

Lung Ultrasound for the Emergency Diagnosis of Pneumonia,Acute Heart Failure,and Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Asthma in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Lung ultrasound can accelerate the diagnosis of life-threatening diseases in adults with respiratory symptoms.

Neuronal protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B hinders sensory-motor functional recovery and causes affective disorders in two different focal ischemic stroke models

Ischemic brain injury causes neuronal death and inflammation. Inflammation activates protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Here, we tested the significance of PTP1B activation in glutamatergic projection neurons on functional recovery in two models of stroke: by photothrombosis, focal ischemic lesions were induced in the sensorimotor cortex (SM stroke) or in the peri-prefrontal cortex (peri-PFC stroke). Elevated PTP1B expression was detected at 4 days and up to 6 weeks after stroke. While ablation of PTP1B in neurons of neuronal knockout (NKO) mice had no effect on the volume or resorption of ischemic lesions, markedly different effects on functional recovery were observed. SM stroke caused severe sensory and motor deficits (adhesive removal test) in wild type and NKO mice at 4 days, but NKO mice showed drastically improved sensory and motor functional recovery at 8 days. In addition, peri-PFC stroke caused anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze and open field tests), and depression-like behaviors (forced swimming and tail suspension tests) in wild type mice 9 and 28 days after stroke, respectively, with minimal effect on sensory and motor function. Peri-PFC stroke-induced affective disorders were associated with fewer active (FosB⁺) neurons in the PFC and nucleus accumbens but more FosB⁺ neurons in the basolateral amygdala, compared to sham-operated mice. In contrast, mice with neuronal ablation of PTP1B were protected from anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors and showed no change in FosB⁺ neurons after peri-PFC stroke. Taken together, our study identifies neuronal PTP1B as a key component that hinders sensory and motor functional recovery and also contributes to the development of anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors after stroke. Thus, PTP1B may represent a novel therapeutic target to improve stroke recovery. All procedures for animal use were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Ottawa Animal Care and Veterinary Service (protocol 1806) on July 27, 2018.Key Words: adhesive removal test, anxiety, depression, elevated plus maze, forced swimming test, Iba1, interleukin-1β, microglia, open field test, tail suspension test, tumor necrosis factor-α

Chinese Library Classification No. R453; R741; R364.5     

Recurring Candida albicans esophagitis in a HIV-infected patient undergoing long-Term antiretroviral therapy, and with absent-negligible immunodeficiency.

A patient with HIV infection developed the first episode of AIDS-defining opportunism (severe Candida albicans esophagitis) with an underlying CD4+ lymphocyte count of 1,025 cells/microL. After treatment with a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), taken with insufficient compliance and leaving a residual viral load, our patient suffered from two relapses of esophageal candidiasis, which occurred three months and seven years later, when his CD4+ lymphocyte count was 930 and 439 cells/microL, respectively, and a viral load slightly above 10(4) copies/mL was still present. Also in the HAART era, Candida esophagitis remains one of the most common AIDS-defining diseases, but a presentation with a concurrent CD4+ count above 1,000 cells/microL remains a rare exception, as well as the two isolated, subsequent relapses, occurred with a CD4+ count ranging from 439 to 930 cells/microL, and a residual HIV viremia due to insufficient adherence to the prescribed HAART regimens. Our case report represents the opportunity to revisit the epidemiology and, especially, the pathogenesis of this opportunistic fungal complication in HIV-infected patients and in other subjects at risk, on the ground of an extensive literature review, and to explore possible alternative supporting factors other than the crude absolute CD4+ lymphocyte count, with emphasis on the possible role of a persisting HIV viremia, and other potential contributing factors. Clinicians engaged with immunocompromised patients and subjects with HIV disease, should be aware that a Candida esophagitis may occur and relapse also when the cell-mediated immunity, as measured by a simple CD4+ cell count, do not show relevant abnormalities.