Validating a non-invasive technique for monitoring physiological stress in the samango monkey

The non-invasive monitoring of physiological stress can provide conservation and wildlife managers with an invaluable tool for assessing animal welfare and psychological health of captive and free-ranging populations. A significant decrease in free-ranging primate populations globally and an increase in captive-housed primates have led to a need to monitor the stress and general welfare of these animals. We examined the suitability of three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for monitoring stress-related physiological responses in the samango monkey, Cercopithecus albogularis erythrarchus. We conducted an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge on a male and female at the National Zoological Garden, Pretoria, South Africa. Individual faecal samples were collected 8 days pre- and post-ACTH administration and subsequently analysed for faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations. During the study, biological stressors occurred for both the male and female. Two of the three EIAs tested (11-oxoetiocholanolone I and II) were able to reliably monitor fGCM alterations throughout the study period in both sexes. The 11-oxoetiocholanolone I EIA, however, had the lowest mean deviation from the calculated baseline value and was thus chosen as the preferred assay. Both the physiological activation of the stress response and the biological response to a stressor could be monitored with the chosen assay. The successful establishment of a reliable, non-invasive method for monitoring adrenocortical activity in C. albogularis erythrarchus will now allow conservationists, scientific researchers and wildlife managers to evaluate the level of stress experienced, and general welfare, by animals in captivity as well as free-ranging populations.

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Interpretation of body-mounted accelerometry in flying animals and estimation of biomechanical power

Journal of The Royal Society Interface ◽

10.1098/rsif.2013.0404 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (87) ◽

pp. 20130404 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

R. J. Spivey ◽

C. M. Bishop

Keyword(s):

Flapping Flight ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Gradual Transition ◽

Vertical Acceleration ◽

Storage And Retrieval ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Kinematic Measures ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Phase Arrangement ◽

Asymptotically Cubic

An idealized energy fluctuation model of a bird's body undergoing horizontal flapping flight is developed, focusing on the biomechanical power discernible to a body-mounted accelerometer. Expressions for flight body power constructed from root mean square dynamic body accelerations and wingstroke frequency are derived from first principles and presented in dimensionally appropriate units. As wingstroke frequency increases, the model generally predicts a gradual transition in power from a linear to an asymptotically cubic relationship. However, the onset of this transition and the degree to which this occurs depends upon whether and how forward vibrations are exploited for temporary energy storage and retrieval. While this may vary considerably between species and individual birds, it is found that a quadrature phase arrangement is generally advantageous during level flight. Gravity-aligned vertical acceleration always enters into the calculation of body power, but, whenever forward acceleration becomes relevant, its contribution is subtractive. Several novel kinematic measures descriptive of flapping flight are postulated, offering fresh insights into the processes involved in airborne locomotion. The limitations of the model are briefly discussed, and departures from its predictions during ascending and descending flight evaluated. These findings highlight how body-mounted accelerometers can offer a valuable, insightful and non-invasive technique for investigating the flight of free-ranging birds and bats.

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The accuracy of non-invasive 3D-CT virtual bronchoscopy technique in comparison with invasive technique

International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries ◽

10.24911/ijmdc.51-1538516450 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Basmah Altuwayjiri

Keyword(s):

Invasive Technique ◽

Virtual Bronchoscopy ◽

3D Ct ◽

Non Invasive

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USING DOPPLER TO ASSESS THE FETAL HEALTH FOR THE PREDICTION OF GESTATIONAL OUTCOME

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2014.4_5.1 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 9-18

Author(s):

Thi Linh Giang Truong ◽

Vu Quoc Huy Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Umbilical Artery ◽

Functional Method ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Fetal Health ◽

Uterine Arteries ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Key Words Doppler

Background: Assessment of fetal health plays the most important role in prenatal care because of influence of the prediction of gestational outcome. One of the main aims of routine antenatal care is to identify the ‘ at risk ‘ fetus in order to apply clinical interventions which could results in reduced perinatal morbidity and mortality. Doppler ultrasound is a non invasive technique whereby the movement of blood is studied by detecting the change in frequence of reflected sound, Doppler blood flow velocity waves form of fetal side (umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery ...) and maternal side ( uterine arteries) are discussed and monograms for routine practice are presented. Recently this method is important tool for qualifying high risk pregnancies and help early forecasts the health of the babies and mothers disorder. Doppler sonography in obstetrics is a widely accepted functional method of examining the prediction of gestational outcome. Key words: Doppler, umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery, uterine arteries

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Pulmonary Stretch and Lung Mechanotransduction: Implications for Progression in the Fibrotic Lung

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22126443 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 6443

Author(s):

Alessandro Marchioni ◽

Roberto Tonelli ◽

Stefania Cerri ◽

Ivana Castaniere ◽

Dario Andrisani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Spontaneous Breathing ◽

Elastic Limit ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Fibrous Tissue ◽

Ventilatory Support ◽

Biological Response ◽

Alveolar Epithelium ◽

Strain Curve ◽

Mechanical Forces

Lung fibrosis results from the synergic interplay between regenerative deficits of the alveolar epithelium and dysregulated mechanisms of repair in response to alveolar and vascular damage, which is followed by progressive fibroblast and myofibroblast proliferation and excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix. The increased parenchymal stiffness of fibrotic lungs significantly affects respiratory mechanics, making the lung more fragile and prone to non-physiological stress during spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation. Given their parenchymal inhomogeneity, fibrotic lungs may display an anisotropic response to mechanical stresses with different regional deformations (micro-strain). This behavior is not described by the standard stress–strain curve but follows the mechano-elastic models of “squishy balls”, where the elastic limit can be reached due to the excessive deformation of parenchymal areas with normal elasticity that are surrounded by inelastic fibrous tissue or collapsed induration areas, which tend to protrude outside the fibrous ring. Increasing evidence has shown that non-physiological mechanical forces applied to fibrotic lungs with associated abnormal mechanotransduction could favor the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. With this review, we aim to summarize the state of the art on the relation between mechanical forces acting on the lung and biological response in pulmonary fibrosis, with a focus on the progression of damage in the fibrotic lung during spontaneous breathing and assisted ventilatory support.

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Non-invasive technique for real-time myocardial infarction detection using faster R-CNN

Multimedia Tools and Applications ◽

10.1007/s11042-021-10957-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

H. M. Mohan ◽

P. V. Rao ◽

H. C. Shivaraj Kumara ◽

S. Manasa

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Real Time ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Non Invasive

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Thermal Liquid Biopsy (TLB) Focused on Benign and Premalignant Pancreatic Cyst Diagnosis

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11010025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Sonia Hermoso-Durán ◽

Guillermo García-Rayado ◽

Laura Ceballos-Laita ◽

Carlos Sostres ◽

Sonia Vega ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liquid Biopsy ◽

Pancreatic Cyst ◽

Point Of View ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Background Current ◽

Interesting Point ◽

Pancreatic Lesion ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Patient Diagnosis ◽

New Biomarkers

Background: Current efforts in the identification of new biomarkers are directed towards an accurate differentiation between benign and premalignant cysts. Thermal Liquid Biopsy (TLB) has been previously applied to inflammatory and tumor diseases and could offer an interesting point of view in this type of pathology. Methods: In this work, twenty patients (12 males and 8 females, average ages 62) diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst benign (10) and premalignant (10) cyst lesions were recruited, and biological samples were obtained during the endoscopic ultrasonography procedure. Results: Proteomic content of cyst liquid samples was studied and several common proteins in the different groups were identified. TLB cyst liquid profiles reflected protein content. Also, TLB serum score was able to discriminate between healthy and cysts patients (71% sensitivity and 98% specificity) and between benign and premalignant cysts (75% sensitivity and 67% specificity). Conclusions: TLB analysis of plasmatic serum sample, a quick, simple and non-invasive technique that can be easily implemented, reports valuable information on the observed pancreatic lesion. These preliminary results set the basis for a larger study to refine TLB serum score and move closer to the clinical application of TLB providing useful information to the gastroenterologist during patient diagnosis.

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Stress and the costs of extra-territorial movement in a social carnivore

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2009.0032 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 439-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Andrew J Young ◽

Steven L Monfort

Keyword(s):

Chronic Stress ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Delayed Dispersal ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Suricata Suricatta ◽

Related Distribution ◽

Selection For ◽

Animal Societies ◽

Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Costs associated with extra-territorial movement are believed to have favoured the evolution of delayed dispersal and sociality across a range of social vertebrates, but remain surprisingly poorly understood. Here we reveal a novel mechanism that may contribute substantially to the costs of extra-territorial movement: physiological stress. We show that subordinate male meerkats, Suricata suricatta , exhibit markedly elevated faecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (a non-invasive measure of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity) while conducting extra-territorial prospecting forays. While brief increases in glucocorticoid levels are unlikely to be costly, chronic elevations, arising from prolonged and/or frequent forays, are expected to compromise fitness through their diverse negative effects on health. Our findings strongly suggest that prolonged extra-territorial movements do result in chronic stress, as the high glucocorticoid levels of prospectors do not diminish on longer forays and are no lower among males with greater prospecting experience. A generalized ‘stress’ of extra-territorial movement may therefore have strengthened selection for delayed dispersal and sociality in this and other species, and favoured the conduct of brief forays over extended periods of floating. Our findings have implications too for understanding the rank-related distribution of physiological stress in animal societies, as extra-territorial movements are often conducted solely by subordinates.

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Effects of Intensive Meditation on Sex-Role Identification: Implications for a Control Model of Psychological Health

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1982.51.1.44 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 44-46

Author(s):

Deane H. Shapiro ◽

Johanna Shapiro ◽

Roger N. Walsh ◽

Dan Brown

Keyword(s):

Psychological Health ◽

Sex Role ◽

Control Model ◽

Significant Shift ◽

Male And Female ◽

Role Identification ◽

Masculinity And Femininity ◽

Meditation Retreat ◽

The Impact ◽

Female Subjects

This study assessed the impact of a 3-mo. meditation retreat on 15 respondents' self-perceived masculinity and femininity. As hypothesized, male and female subjects, who on pretest perceived themselves to be more stereotypically feminine than normative samples, on posttest reported a significant shift to even greater endorsement of feminine adjectives and less endorsement of masculine adjectives.

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Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81073-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah A. Boyle ◽

Noé U. de la Sancha ◽

Pastor Pérez ◽

David Kabelik

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Fragment Size ◽

Hair Shaft ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Trapping Methods ◽

Free Ranging

AbstractSpecies that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

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