scholarly journals Impact of nutrition on canine behaviour: current status and possible mechanisms

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bosch ◽  
B. Beerda ◽  
W. H. Hendriks ◽  
A. F. B. van der Poel ◽  
M. W. A. Verstegen

Each year, millions of dogs worldwide are abandoned by their owners, relinquished to animal shelters, and euthanised because of behaviour problems. Nutrition is rarely considered as one of the possible contributing factors of problem behaviour. This contribution presents an overview of current knowledge on the influence of nutrition on canine behaviour and explores the underlying mechanisms by which diet may affect behaviour in animals. Behaviour is regulated by neurotransmitters and hormones, and changes in the availability of their precursors may influence behaviour. Tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, may affect the incidence of aggression, self-mutilation and stress resistance. The latter may also be influenced by dietary tyrosine, a precursor to catecholamines. As diet composition, nutrient availability and nutrient interactions affect the availability of these precursors in the brain, behaviour or stress resistance may be affected. PUFA, especially DHA, have an important role as structural constituents in brain development, and dietary supply ofn-3 andn-6 PUFA could modify aspects of the dopaminergic and serotonergic system and, consequently, cognitive performance and behaviour. Finally, persistent feeding motivation between meals can increase stereotyped behaviour and aggression and decrease resting time. This feeding motivation may be altered by dietary fibre content and source. At present, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the role of nutrition in canine (problem) behaviour through the above mentioned mechanisms. Studies that explore this relationship may help to improve the welfare of dogs and their owners.

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Gkorezis ◽  
Victoria Bellou

Purpose The detrimental effect of workplace ostracism on core employee and organizational outcomes has received increasing attention. However, very little is known about its impact on group related outcomes. Given that workplace relationships play a salient role in enhancing employee willingness to share information and knowledge, the present paper examines the link between workplace ostracism and information exchange. In doing so, we also highlight the mediating role of a novel construct, namely self-serving behavior. Design/methodology/approach To test our hypotheses, we conducted two studies using both a scenario paradigm (54 students) and a field study (172 working adults). Findings Results indicated that self-serving behavior fully mediates the effect of workplace ostracism on employee information exchange. Research limitations/implications Both studies have limitations that need to be considered. The scenario paradigm lacks realism whereas the cross-sectional nature of our survey cannot infer causality. As regards the latter, data were collected using a single source and thus common method variance may exist. Originality/value The present study provides novel insights into the outcomes of workplace ostracism and the underlying mechanisms that account for its negative effect. Moreover, it adds to limited current knowledge on self-serving behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 4523
Author(s):  
Robert Walsh ◽  
David Tan

Cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers in women around the world however therapeutic options in the advanced and recurrent setting are limited. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have been considered an attractive option given the viral etiology of cervical cancer although the majority of patients do not benefit from their use. This review summarises current knowledge and use of immune checkpoint blockade in cervical cancer as well as discussing the challenges faced in their clinical application, namely, the role of biomarker-driven ICI use, potential mechanisms of resistance, strategies to overcome such resistance and additional immunotherapy options beyond ICI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning-Ning Liu ◽  
Qiang Ma ◽  
Yang Ge ◽  
Cheng-Xiang Yi ◽  
Lu-Qi Wei ◽  
...  

AbstractThe correlations between microbiota dysbiosis and cancer have gained extensive attention and been widely explored. As a leading cancer diagnosis worldwide, lung cancer poses a great threat to human health. The healthy human lungs are consistently exposed to external environment and harbor a specific pattern of microbiota, sharing many key pathological and physiological characteristics with the intestinal tract. Although previous findings uncovered the critical roles of microbiota in tumorigenesis and response to anticancer therapy, most of them were focused on the intestinal microbiota rather than lung microbiota. Notably, the considerable functions of microbiota in maintaining lung homeostasis should not be neglected as the microbiome dysbiosis may promote tumor development and progression through production of cytokines and toxins and multiple other pathways. Despite the fact that increasing studies have revealed the effect of microbiome on the induction of lung cancer and different disease status, the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies remained unclear. Herein, we summarized the recent progresses about microbiome in lung cancer and further discussed the role of microbial communities in promoting lung cancer progression and the current status of therapeutic approaches targeting microbiome to alleviate and even cure lung cancer.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5669
Author(s):  
Akbar Lulu Marzan ◽  
Sarah Elizabeth Stewart

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. This dismal survival rate can be attributed to several factors including insufficient diagnostics, rapid metastasis and chemoresistance. To identify new treatment options for improved patient outcomes, it is crucial to investigate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to pancreatic cancer progression. Accumulating evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and microvesicles, are critical players in pancreatic cancer progression and chemoresistance. In addition, extracellular vesicles also have the potential to serve as promising biomarkers, therapeutic targets and drug delivery tools for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In this review, we aim to summarise the current knowledge on the role of extracellular vesicles in pancreatic cancer progression, metastasis, immunity, metabolic dysfunction and chemoresistance, and discuss their potential roles as biomarkers for early diagnosis and drug delivery vehicles for treatment of pancreatic cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Nermeen Khasawneh

Museums are educational, cultural and recreational centers; cares for objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical value and other artifacts linked to the cultural and popular heritage of particular people, exhibiting and preserving these collections for subsequent generations. Heritage is the basis of civilization as it represents the nation's memory and a bridge linking its authenticity with its present and future as well as the foundations of its representation and identity. The aims of this retrospective study are to review the consistence and historical development of the Jordanian museums and to evaluate its current status, its contribution in sustainable tourism industry and to adjoin a new contribution to the current knowledge in this field. This study based on two approaches; the first was conducted on the numbers of visitors to five selected museums in Jordan for the years 2016-2017, taking into account the residence variable. The second approach used a sort specially designed questionnaires, written in Arabic and English languages were given non- selectively to (120) visitors, designed to determine the role of museums in supporting tourism in Jordan. Data were collected and a descriptive analysis was performed. The findings of this study revealed that museums play a prominent role in supporting the tourism industry through its active educational and recreational activities (94.33%), supporting domestic tourism (92.67%), and promote loyalty and national identity (92.33%). Our study confirmed the vital role of museums in the tourism industry, which in turn provides a fundamental tributary to the Jordanian Gross Domestic Product. The diversified Jordanian museums with its authentic holdings, in addition to the unique tourist destinations call for immediate support to boost Jordanian tourism globally.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (142) ◽  
pp. 20180165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Sánchez ◽  
Claudine Chaouiya

In the chicken, sex determination relies on a ZZ (male)/ZW (female) chromosomal system, but underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. The Z-dosage and the dominant W-chromosome hypotheses have been proposed to underlie primary sex determination. We present a modelling approach, which assembles the current knowledge and permits exploration of the regulation of this process in chickens. Relying on published experimental data, we assembled a gene network, which led to a logical model that integrates both the Z-dosage and dominant W hypotheses. This model showed that the sexual fate of chicken gonads results from the resolution of the mutual inhibition between DMRT1 and FOXL2, where the initial amount of DMRT1 product determines the development of the gonads. In this respect, at the initiation step, a W-factor would function as a secondary device, by reducing the amount of DMRT1 in ZW gonads when the sexual fate of the gonad is settled, that is when the SOX9 functional level is established. Developmental constraints that are instrumental in this resolution were identified. These constraints establish qualitative restrictions regarding the relative transcription rates of the genes DMRT1, FOXL2 and HEMGN. Our model further clarified the role of OESTROGEN in maintaining FOXL2 function during ovary development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqi Liao ◽  
Chang Liu ◽  
Lan Wang ◽  
Cong Sui ◽  
Hanwang Zhang

Reproductive disorders, including intrauterine adhesion (IUA), premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), are great threats to female reproduction. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells derived–extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have presented their potentials to cure these diseases, not only for the propensity ability they stemmed from the parent cells, but also for the higher biology stability and lower immunogenicity, compared to MSCs. EVs are lipid bilayer complexes, functional as mediators by transferring multiple molecules to recipient cells, such as proteins, microRNAs, lipids, and cytokines. EVs appeared to have a therapeutic effect on the female reproductive disorder, such as repairing injured endometrium, suppressing fibrosis of endometrium, regulating immunity and anti-inflammatory, and repressing apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) in ovaries. Although the underlying mechanisms of MSC-EVs have reached a consensus, several theories have been proposed, including promoting angiogenesis, regulating immunity, and reducing oxidate stress levels. In the current study, we summarized the current knowledge of functions of MSC-EVs on IUA, POI, and PCOS. Given the great potentials of MSC-EVs on reproductive health, the critical issues discussed will guide new insights in this rapidly expanding field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Qingyun Guan ◽  
Zixu Wang ◽  
Jing Cao ◽  
Yulan Dong ◽  
Yaoxing Chen

Obesity and its complications have become a prominent global public health problem that severely threatens human health. Melatonin, originally known as an effective antioxidant, is an endogenous hormone found throughout the body that serves various physiological functions. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to its unique function in regulating energy metabolism, especially in glucose and lipid metabolism. Accumulating evidence has established the relationship between melatonin and obesity; nevertheless, not all preclinical and clinical evidence indicates the anti-obesity effect of melatonin, which makes it remain to conclude the clinical effect of melatonin in the fight against obesity. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge of melatonin in regulating obesity-related symptoms, with emphasis on its underlying mechanisms. The role of melatonin in regulating the lipid profile, adipose tissue, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as the interactions of melatonin with the circadian rhythm, gut microbiota, sleep disorder, as well as the α7nAChR, the opioidergic system, and exosomes, make melatonin a promising agent to open new avenues in the intervention of obesity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 117864692093868
Author(s):  
Niklas Joisten ◽  
David Walzik ◽  
Alan J Metcalfe ◽  
Wilhelm Bloch ◽  
Philipp Zimmer

Emerging evidence highlights the substantial role of the kynurenine pathway in various physiological systems and pathological conditions. Physical exercise has been shown to impact the kynurenine pathway in response to both single (acute) and multiple (chronic) exercise training stimuli. In this perspective article, we briefly outline the current knowledge concerning exercise-induced modulations of the kynurenine pathway and discuss underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we expose the potential involvement of exercise-induced kynurenine pathway modulations on energy homeostasis (eg, through de novo synthesis of NAD+) and finally suggest how these modulations may contribute to exercise-induced benefits in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alen Faiz ◽  
Janette K. Burgess

Asthma is a complex disease regulated by the interplay of a large number of underlying mechanisms which contribute to the overall pathology. Despite various breakthroughs identifying genes related to asthma, our understanding of the importance of the genetic background remains limited. Although current therapies for asthma are relatively effective, subpopulations of asthmatics do not respond to these regimens. By unlocking the role of these underlying mechanisms, a source of novel and more effective treatments may be identified. In the new age of high-throughput technologies, gene-expression microarrays provide a quick and effective method of identifying novel genes and pathways, which would be impossible to discover using an individual gene screening approach. In this review we follow the history of expression microarray technologies and describe their contributions to advancing our current knowledge and understanding of asthma pathology.


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