Injection site sarcomas in other species than the domestic cat

Injection site sarcomas (ISS) are tumours of tissues of mesenchymal origin that occur at an injection site. These tumours have been mainly described in cats as Feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS), but suspected cases have also been described in other species such as dogs. In other species than the domestic cat, these tumours are however much rarer. As a result, the body of literature is limited. This review aims to summarize the knowledge regarding ISS in species other than the domestic cat. In general, it seems that ISS can occur in a wide range of animals and that similar treatment strategies are employed as in cats. Like in cats, it seems that the benefit of the reasons for injection (such as vaccination and microchip implantation) could outweigh the risk of ISS development in other species.

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Targeted Genetic Reduction of Mutant Huntingtin Lessens Cardiac Pathology in the BACHD Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine ◽

10.3389/fcvm.2021.810810 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Saemi Park ◽

Shu Hon Christopher Luk ◽

Raj S. Bains ◽

Daniel S. Whittaker ◽

Emily Chiem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Huntington's Disease ◽

Huntington’S Disease ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

The Body ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Wide Range

Individuals affected by Huntington's disease (HD) present with progressive degeneration that results in a wide range of symptoms, including cardiovascular (CV) dysfunction. The huntingtin gene (HTT) and its product are ubiquitously expressed, hence, the cardiomyopathy could also be driven by defects caused by its mutated form (mHTT) in the cardiomyocytes themselves. In the present study, we sought to determine the contribution of the mHTT expressed in the cardiomyocytes to CV symptoms. We utilized the BACHD mouse model, which exhibits many of the HD core symptoms, including CV dysfunction. This model allows the targeted genetic reduction of mHTT expression in the cardiomyocytes while maintaining the expression of the mHTT in the rest of the body. The BACHD line was crossed with a line of mice in which the expression of Cre recombinase is driven by the cardiac-specific alpha myosin-heavy chain (Myh6) promoter. The offspring of this cross (BMYO mice) exhibited a dramatic reduction in mHTT in the heart but not in the striatum. The BMYO mice were evaluated at 6 months old, as at this age, the BACHD line displays a strong CV phenotype. Echocardiogram measurements found improvement in the ejection fraction in the BMYO line compared to the BACHD, while hypertrophy was observed in both mutant lines. Next, we examined the expression of genes known to be upregulated during pathological cardiac hypertrophy. As measured by qPCR, the BMYO hearts exhibited significantly less expression of collagen1a as well as Gata4, and brain natriuretic peptide compared to the BACHD. Fibrosis in the hearts assessed by Masson's trichrome stain and the protein levels of fibronectin were reduced in the BMYO hearts compared to BACHD. Finally, we examined the performance of the mice on CV-sensitive motor tasks. Both the overall activity levels and grip strength were improved in the BMYO mice. Therefore, we conclude that the reduction of mHtt expression in the heart benefits CV function in the BACHD model, and suggest that cardiomyopathy should be considered in the treatment strategies for HD.

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Creating the Wind

Latin American and Latinx Visual Culture ◽

10.1525/lavc.2020.2.4.14 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 14-31

Author(s):

Élodie Dupey García

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Communities ◽

The Body ◽

Historical Sources ◽

Natural Behavior ◽

Sensory Experiences ◽

Identity And Agency ◽

Wide Range ◽

Late Postclassic ◽

Comparative Examination ◽

Meteorological Phenomenon

This article explores how the Nahua of late Postclassic Mesoamerica (1200–1521 CE) created living and material embodiments of their wind god constructed on the basis of sensory experiences that shaped their conception of this divinized meteorological phenomenon. In this process, they employed chromatic and design devices, based on a wide range of natural elements, to add several layers of meaning to the human, painted, and sculpted supports dressed in the god’s insignia. Through a comparative examination of pre-Columbian visual production—especially codices and sculptures—historical sources mainly written in Nahuatl during the viceregal period, and ethnographic data on indigenous communities in modern Mexico, my analysis targets the body paint and shell jewelry of the anthropomorphic “images” of the wind god, along with the Feathered Serpent and the monkey-inspired embodiments of the deity. This study identifies the centrality of other human senses beyond sight in the conception of the wind god and the making of its earthly manifestations. Constructing these deity “images” was tantamount to creating the wind because they were intended to be visual replicas of the wind’s natural behavior. At the same time, they referred to the identity and agency of the wind god in myths and rituals.

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Advances and Applications of Water Phytoremediation: A Potential Biotechnological Approach for the Treatment of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Water

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105215 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5215

Author(s):

Cristián Raziel Delgado-González ◽

Alfredo Madariaga-Navarrete ◽

José Miguel Fernández-Cortés ◽

Margarita Islas-Pelcastre ◽

Goldie Oza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Plant Species ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Pollution Sources ◽

Water Contaminants ◽

Biotechnological Approach ◽

Wide Range ◽

Great Relevance ◽

Multidisciplinary Perspective ◽

Viable Method

Potable and good-quality drinking water availability is a serious global concern, since several pollution sources significantly contribute to low water quality. Amongst these pollution sources, several are releasing an array of hazardous agents into various environmental and water matrices. Unfortunately, there are not very many ecologically friendly systems available to treat the contaminated environment exclusively. Consequently, heavy metal water contamination leads to many diseases in humans, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and cytotoxicity, among others. To solve this problem, there are a plethora of emerging technologies that play an important role in defining treatment strategies. Phytoremediation, the usage of plants to remove contaminants, is a technology that has been widely used to remediate pollution in soils, with particular reference to toxic elements. Thus, hydroponic systems coupled with bioremediation for the removal of water contaminants have shown great relevance. In this review, we addressed several studies that support the development of phytoremediation systems in water. We cover the importance of applied science and environmental engineering to generate sustainable strategies to improve water quality. In this context, the phytoremediation capabilities of different plant species and possible obstacles that phytoremediation systems may encounter are discussed with suitable examples by comparing different mechanistic processes. According to the presented data, there are a wide range of plant species with water phytoremediation potential that need to be studied from a multidisciplinary perspective to make water phytoremediation a viable method.

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Development and Validation of a New Scoring Tool to Evaluate the Clinical Evolution of Adult Patients with Nonsegmental Vitiligo

Dermatology ◽

10.1159/000511890 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

María Luisa Peralta-Pedrero ◽

Denisse Herrera-Bringas ◽

Karla Samantha Torres-González ◽

Martha Alejandra Morales-Sánchez ◽

Fermín Jurado Santa-Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Surface ◽

Task Force ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

The Body ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Similar Response ◽

Clinical Evolution ◽

Wide Range ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Extreme Groups

Background: Vitiligo has an unpredictable course and a variable response to treatment. Furthermore, the improvement of some vitiligo lesions cannot be considered a guarantee of a similar response to the other lesions. Instruments for patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) can be an alternative to measure complex constructions such as clinical evolution. Objective: The aim of this study was to validate a PROM that allows to measure the clinical evolution of patients with nonsegmental vitiligo in a simple but standardized way that serves to gather information for a better understanding of the disease. Methods: The instrument was created through expert consensus and patient participation. For the validation study, a prospective cohort design was performed. The body surface area affected was measured with the Vitiligo Extension Score (VES), the extension, the stage, and the spread by the evaluation of the Vitiligo European Task Force assessment (VETFa). Reliability was determined with test-retest, construct validity through hypothesis testing, discriminative capacity with extreme groups, and response capacity by comparing initial and final measurements. Results: Eighteen semi-structured interviews and 7 cognitive interviews were conducted, and 4 dermatologists were consulted. The instrument Clinical Evolution-Vitiligo (CV-6) was answered by 119 patients with a minimum of primary schooling. A wide range was observed in the affected body surface; incident and prevalent cases were included. The average time to answer the CV-6 was 3.08 ± 0.58 min. In the test-retest (n = 53), an intraclass correlation coefficient was obtained: 0.896 (95% CI 0.82–0.94; p < 0.001). In extreme groups, the mean score was 2 (2–3) and 5 (4–6); p < 0.001. The initial CV-6 score was different from the final one and the change was verified with VES and VETFa (p < 0.05, n = 92). Conclusions: The CV-6 instrument allows patient collaboration, it is simple and brief, and it makes it easier for the doctor to focus attention on injuries that present changes at the time of medical consultation.

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Hydromechanics of low-Reynolds-number flow. Part 2. Singularity method for Stokes flows

Journal of Fluid Mechanics ◽

10.1017/s0022112075000614 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 787-815 ◽

Cited By ~ 300

Author(s):

Allen T. Chwang ◽

T. Yao-Tsu Wu

Keyword(s):

Exact Solutions ◽

Stokes Flow ◽

Fundamental Solutions ◽

The Body ◽

Circular Cylinders ◽

Geometrical Parameters ◽

Flow Problems ◽

Singularity Method ◽

Wide Range ◽

Body Shapes

The present study further explores the fundamental singular solutions for Stokes flow that can be useful for constructing solutions over a wide range of free-stream profiles and body shapes. The primary singularity is the Stokeslet, which is associated with a singular point force embedded in a Stokes flow. From its derivatives other fundamental singularities can be obtained, including rotlets, stresslets, potential doublets and higher-order poles derived from them. For treating interior Stokes-flow problems new fundamental solutions are introduced; they include the Stokeson and its derivatives, called the roton and stresson.These fundamental singularities are employed here to construct exact solutions to a number of exterior and interior Stokes-flow problems for several specific body shapes translating and rotating in a viscous fluid which may itself be providing a primary flow. The different primary flows considered here include the uniform stream, shear flows, parabolic profiles and extensional flows (hyper-bolic profiles), while the body shapes cover prolate spheroids, spheres and circular cylinders. The salient features of these exact solutions (all obtained in closed form) regarding the types of singularities required for the construction of a solution in each specific case, their distribution densities and the range of validity of the solution, which may depend on the characteristic Reynolds numbers and governing geometrical parameters, are discussed.

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A Computational Study on the Role of Parameters for Identification of Thyroid Nodules by Infrared Images (and Comparison with Real Data)

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21134459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 4459

Author(s):

José R. González ◽

Charbel Damião ◽

Maira Moran ◽

Cristina A. Pantaleão ◽

Rubens A. Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Numerical Study ◽

Computational Study ◽

Internal Heat ◽

Heat Transfer Process ◽

The Body ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Infrared Sensors ◽

Wide Range

According to experts and medical literature, healthy thyroids and thyroids containing benign nodules tend to be less inflamed and less active than those with malignant nodules. It seems to be a consensus that malignant nodules have more blood veins and more blood circulation. This may be related to the maintenance of the nodule’s heat at a higher level compared with neighboring tissues. If the internal heat modifies the skin radiation, then it could be detected by infrared sensors. The goal of this work is the investigation of the factors that allow this detection, and the possible relation with any pattern referent to nodule malignancy. We aim to consider a wide range of factors, so a great number of numerical simulations of the heat transfer in the region under analysis, based on the Finite Element method, are performed to study the influence of each nodule and patient characteristics on the infrared sensor acquisition. To do so, the protocol for infrared thyroid examination used in our university’s hospital is simulated in the numerical study. This protocol presents two phases. In the first one, the body under observation is in steady state. In the second one, it is submitted to thermal stress (transient state). Both are simulated in order to verify if it is possible (by infrared sensors) to identify different behavior referent to malignant nodules. Moreover, when the simulation indicates possible important aspects, patients with and without similar characteristics are examined to confirm such influences. The results show that the tissues between skin and thyroid, as well as the nodule size, have an influence on superficial temperatures. Other thermal parameters of thyroid nodules show little influence on surface infrared emissions, for instance, those related to the vascularization of the nodule. All details of the physical parameters used in the simulations, characteristics of the real nodules and thermal examinations are publicly available, allowing these simulations to be compared with other types of heat transfer solutions and infrared examination protocols. Among the main contributions of this work, we highlight the simulation of the possible range of parameters, and definition of the simulation approach for mapping the used infrared protocol, promoting the investigation of a possible relation between the heat transfer process and the data obtained by infrared acquisitions.

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Polymer-Drug Conjugates as Nanotheranostic Agents

Journal of Nanotheranostics ◽

10.3390/jnt2010005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 63-81

Author(s):

Sajana Manandhar ◽

Erica Sjöholm ◽

Johan Bobacka ◽

Jessica M. Rosenholm ◽

Kuldeep K. Bansal

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Release ◽

Treatment Options ◽

The Body ◽

Drug Conjugates ◽

Imaging Characteristics ◽

Wide Range ◽

Systemic Side Effects ◽

Theranostic Agents ◽

The Stability

Since the last decade, the polymer-drug conjugate (PDC) approach has emerged as one of the most promising drug-delivery technologies owing to several benefits like circumventing premature drug release, offering controlled and targeted drug delivery, improving the stability, safety, and kinetics of conjugated drugs, and so forth. In recent years, PDC technology has advanced with the objective to further enhance the treatment outcomes by integrating nanotechnology and multifunctional characteristics into these systems. One such development is the ability of PDCs to act as theranostic agents, permitting simultaneous diagnosis and treatment options. Theranostic nanocarriers offer the opportunity to track the distribution of PDCs within the body and help to localize the diseased site. This characteristic is of particular interest, especially among those therapeutic approaches where external stimuli are supposed to be applied for abrupt drug release at the target site for localized delivery to avoid systemic side effects (e.g., Visudyne®). Thus, with the help of this review article, we are presenting the most recent updates in the domain of PDCs as nanotheranostic agents. Different methodologies utilized to design PDCs along with imaging characteristics and their applicability in a wide range of diseases, have been summarized in this article.

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Sustainable Sources from Aquatic Organisms for Cosmeceuticals Ingredients

Cosmetics ◽

10.3390/cosmetics8020048 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 48

Author(s):

Carmen G. Sotelo ◽

María Blanco ◽

Patricia Ramos ◽

José A. Vázquez ◽

Ricardo I. Perez-Martin

Keyword(s):

Social Issues ◽

Good Condition ◽

Aquatic Organisms ◽

The Body ◽

Fishing Activity ◽

Marine Biomass ◽

Cosmetic Industry ◽

Wide Range ◽

Long Life ◽

By Products

Long life expectancy of populations in the developing world together with some cultural and social issues has driven the need to pay special attention to health and physical appearance. Cosmeceuticals are gaining interest in the cosmetic industry as their uses fulfills a double purpose: the requirements of a cosmetic (clean, perfume, protect, change the appearance of the external parts of the body or keeping them in good condition) with a particular bioactivity function. The cosmetics industry, producing both cosmetics and cosmeceuticals, is currently facing numerous challenges to satisfy different attitudes of consumers (vegetarianism, veganism, cultural or religious concerns, health or safety reasons, eco-friendly process, etc.). A currently growing trend in the market is the interest in products of low environmental impact. Marine origin ingredients are increasingly being incorporated into cosmeceutical preparations because they are able to address several consumer requirements and also due to the wide range of bioactivities they present (antioxidant, whitening, anti-aging, etc.). Many companies claim “Marine” as a distinctive marketing signal; however, only a few indicate whether they use sustainable ingredient sources. Sustainable marine ingredients might be obtained using wild marine biomass through a sustainable extractive fishing activity; by adopting valorization strategies including the use of fish discards and fish by-products; and by sustainably farming and culturing marine organisms.

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Prevalence of Hand Malformations in Patients With Moebius Syndrome and Their Management

Hand ◽

10.1177/1558944721994265 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155894472199426

Author(s):

Jose E. Telich-Tarriba ◽

David F. Navarro-Barquin ◽

Karol Verdezoto-Gaibor ◽

Alexander Cardenas-Mejia

Keyword(s):

Upper Extremity ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Abducens Nerve ◽

Poland Syndrome ◽

Statistical Association ◽

Moebius Syndrome ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reconstructive Procedures ◽

Nerve Paralysis ◽

Wide Range

Background: Moebius syndrome is a disorder characterized by facial and abducens nerve paralysis. Patients can present a wide range of upper extremity malformations. Literature focused on orthopedic manifestations of Moebius syndrome shows variability in the prevalence and clinical presentation of upper extremity anomalies. The aim of this work is to evaluate the prevalence of upper extremity malformations in patients with Moebius syndrome, clarify its various clinical presentations, and present treatment strategies for their management. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study including patients with Moebius syndrome and upper extremity malformations between 2012 and 2019. Data include demographic characteristics, Moebius syndrome subtype, type of malformation, affected extremity, and surgical procedures underwent. Quantitative data were recorded as mean (standard deviation [SD]), and qualitative data were expressed in terms of totals and percentages. Statistical association between Moebius syndrome subtype and development of upper extremity anomalies was evaluated using binary logistic regression. Results: Twenty-five out of 153 patients (16.3%) presented upper extremity malformations (48% male). Mean age of presentation was 9.08 ± 9.43 years. Sixty-eight percent of the malformations were unilateral. The most common presentations included Poland syndrome and simple syndactyly with 8 cases each (32%), followed by 5 cases of brachysyndactyly (20%), 3 cases of amniotic band syndrome (12%), and 1 case of cleft hand (4%). No statistical association was found between Moebius syndrome subtype and odds ratio for development of upper extremity anomalies. Thirteen patients (52%) underwent reconstructive procedures. Conclusion: Poland syndrome and syndactyly are the most common anomalies in patients with Moebius syndrome. Patients may present with a wide range of hand malformations, each patient should be carefully evaluated in order to determine whether surgical treatment is needed and to optimize rehabilitation protocols.

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Electromechanical fields in a hollow piezoelectric cylinder under non-uniform load: flexoelectric effect

Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids ◽

10.1177/10812865211020785 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 108128652110207

Author(s):

Olha Hrytsyna

Keyword(s):

Analytical Solutions ◽

Point Group ◽

The Body ◽

Small Scale ◽

Gradient Theory ◽

Local Mass ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mass Displacement ◽

Local Mass Displacement ◽

Local Gradient

The relations of a local gradient non-ferromagnetic electroelastic continuum are used to solve the problem of an axisymmetrical loaded hollow cylinder. Analytical solutions are obtained for tetragonal piezoelectric materials of point group 4 mm for two cases of external loads applied to the body surfaces. Namely, the hollow pressurized cylinder and a cylinder subjected to an electrical voltage V across its thickness are considered. The derived solutions demonstrate that the non-uniform electric load causes a mechanical deformation of piezoelectric body, and vice versa, the inhomogeneous radial pressure of the cylinder induces its polarization. Such a result is obtained due to coupling between the electromechanical fields and a local mass displacement being considered. In the local gradient theory, the local mass displacement is associated with the changes to a material’s microstructure. The classical theory does not consider the effect of material microstructure on the behavior of solid bodies and is incapable of explaining the mentioned phenomena. It is also shown that the local gradient theory describes the size-dependent properties of piezoelectric nanocylinders. Analytical solutions to the formulated boundary-value problems can be used in conjunction with experimental data to estimate some higher-order material constants of the local gradient piezoelectricity. The obtained results may be useful for a wide range of appliances that utilize small-scale piezoelectric elements as constituting blocks.

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