Minocycline improves learning and memory functions in ischemic stroke rats via reduction of cerebral ischemia-induced neuroinflammation and apoptosis

Purpose: To study the effect minocycline on learning and memory functions in ischemic stroke rats, and the underlying mechanism. Methods: 60 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, ischemic brain damage (6 and 24 h MACO) groups; and 6 and 24 h minocycline groups, with 12 rats in each group. The volume of cerebral infarction, neuronal cell apoptosis, NF-κB protein expression, learning and memory ability, and the number of Iba-1+CD206-positive cells, and CD206/CD68 mRNA expressions in sham group, 6 h MACO group and 6 h minocycline group were determined and compared. Results: The number of iba-1 +CD206-positive cells, expression level of CD206 mRNA, frequency of platform crossing, and percentage of third quadrant route in 6 h minocycline group were significantly higher than the corresponding values in 6 h MACO group. However, the cerebral infarction volume, number of Nini-positive cells, and the NF- B protein expression levels were markedly reduced, relative to corresponding values in 6 h MACO rats. The number of iba-1+CD206-positive cells was significantly lower in 6 h MACO rats than in sham rats, while the expression level of CD68 mRNA was significantly higher (p < 0.05). The number of TUNEL-positive cells in 6 and 24 h minocycline groups were markedly lower than that in 6 h MACO group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Minocycline improves learning and memory of ischemic stroke rats by relieving the neuroinflammation induced by cerebral ischemia and cell apoptosis. Thus, the compound can be further developed for management learning and memory deficits in stroke patients.

Effect of Topical PTH 1-34 Functionalized to Biogran® in the Process of Alveolar Repair in Rats Submitted to Orchiectomy

(1) Background: There are many therapies for osteoporosis control and bone maintenance; anabolic drugs such as teriparatide and bone grafts help in the repair process and stimulate bone formation. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of repaired bone in the presence of PTH (teriparatide) associated with Biogran® (biomaterial) through a sonochemical procedure after extraction in rats. (2) Methods: The insertion of Biogran® with PTH in the alveolus was performed 30 days after incisor extraction. Euthanasia occurred after 60 days. (3) Results: The use of local treatment of PTH loaded with Biogran® in healthy rats promoted good results for micro-CT, with an increase in percentage and bone volume, number and trabecular separation and less total porosity. Greater immunostaining for Wnt, β-Catenin and osteocalcin proteins and lower expression for Thrombospondin-Related Adhesive Protein (TRAP), which shows an increase in the number of osteoblasts and inhibition of osteoclast action. However, the treated orchiectomized groups did not obtain such expressive results. (4) Conclusion: The use of Biogran® with PTH improved alveolar repair in rats. However, new researches with more efficient doses must be studied to collaborate effectively with the formation of a quality bone after the orchiectomy.

Effect of obstructive sleep apnea on cerebrovascular compliance and cerebral small vessel disease

Reduced cerebrovascular compliance is the major mechanism of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also promotes SVD development, but the underlying mechanism was not elucidated. We investigated the association among OSA, cerebrovascular compliance, and SVD parameters. This study retrospectively included individuals ≥ 50 years of age, underwent overnight polysomnographic (PSG) for the evaluation of OSA, and performed MRI and transcranial Doppler (TCD) within 12 months of interval without a neurological event between the evaluations. TCD parameters for the cerebrovascular compliance included middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA PI) and mean MCA resistance index ratio (MRIR). SVD parameters included white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, number of lacunes, enlarged perivascular space (ePVS) score, and the presence of microbleeds or lacunes. Ninety-seven individuals (60.8% male, mean age 70.0±10.5 years) were included. MRIR was associated with higher respiratory distress index (B = 0.003; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001–0.005; P = 0.021), while MCA PI was not associated with any of the PSG markers for OSA severity. Apnea-hypopnea index was associated with the log-transformed total WMH volume (B = 0.008; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001–0.016; P = 0.020), subcortical WMH volume (B = 0.015; 95% CI 0.007–0.022; P<0.001), total ePVS score (B = 0.024; 95% CI 0.003–0.045; P = 0.026), and centrum semiovale ePVS score (B = 0.026; 95% CI 0.004–0.048; P = 0.019), and oxygen-desaturation index with periventricular WMH volume, independently from age, MCA PI, and MRIR. This study concluded that OSA is associated with reduced cerebrovascular compliance and also with SVD independently from cerebrovascular compliance. Underlying pathomechanistic link might be region specific.

The Prognostic Performance of Rotational Thromboelastometry for Excessive Bleeding and Increased Transfusion Requirements in Hip Fracture Surgeries

Background Hip fracture surgeries are associated with considerable blood loss, while the perioperative coagulopathy is associated with the bleeding risk of these patients. We aimed to evaluate the ability of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to detect patients at high risk for excessive bleeding and increased transfusion requirements. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study of 221 patients who underwent hip fracture surgeries. ROTEM analysis was performed preoperatively and immediately postoperatively. Blood loss parameters including blood loss volume, number of transfused red blood cell (RBC) units, and drop in hemoglobin levels were recorded. ROTEM parameters were compared between patients with and without excessive bleeding, and between patients with and without increased transfusion requirements (i.e., ≥2 RBC units). Results The postoperative FIBTEM MCF value ≤15 mm had 66.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.7–74.1%) sensitivity and 92.0% (95% CI: 80.7–97.7%) specificity to prognose excessive bleeding, and preoperative FIBTEM MCF value ≤15 mm had 80.4% (95% CI: 73.5–86.2%) sensitivity and 91.2% (95% CI: 80.7–97.0%) specificity to prognose increased transfusion requirements. Preoperative FIBTEM MCF ≤11 mm and postoperative FIBTEM MCF ≤15 mm were associated with considerably increased risks of excessive bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 44.8, 95% CI: 16.5–121.3, p < 0.001; and OR: 23.0, 95% CI: 7.8–67.0, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion ROTEM parameters demonstrated high prognostic accuracy for excessive bleeding and increased transfusion requirements. This can enable implementation of blood sparing strategies in high-risk patients, while blood banks could be better prepared to ensure adequate blood supply.

Structural and Surface Modifications by Varying Precursor Concentrations on Spray Deposition of Zno Thin Films

Zinc Oxide thin films have been deposited on glass substrates using zinc acetate as starting precursor at different concentrations 0.05–0.3 M in steps of 0.05 M by spray pyrolysis method at the constant substrate temperature of 350º C. Lattice structure of the prepared ZnO films were characterized by X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Diffraction pattern revealed hexagonal wurtzite structure with cell edges a = 3.2530 Å, c = 5.2092 Å and density 5.66 g/cm3, which is almost equal to the standard values a = 3.2556 Å, c = 5.2070 Å and 5.6525 g/cm3 (COD No: 96-900-4180). Structural parameters such as dislocation density, lattice stress, unit cell volume, number of crystallites per unit area have been calculated and its dependency with thickness was studied. As the film thickness increases, the crystallite size also increases. Through FTIR, chemical bonds and their stretching vibrations confirmed the metal-oxide phase formation. Scanning electron microscope images showed the formation of good quality film with regularly distributed spherical shaped grains. Roughness values of the films were attained from the Atomic force microscope images. In overall observations, precursor concentration has significant effect on film thickness which in turn modified the structural, optical and morphology properties of the prepared ZnO thin films.

An evaluation of factors affecting pain during transrectal ultrasonographic prostate biopsy: a real-life scenario in a retrospective cohort study

Background Periprostatic infiltration anesthesia (PPIA) and intrarectal topical anesthesia (IRTA) are recommended methods to control pain in transrectal ultrasonographic prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx). This study evaluates the factors affecting pain during TRUS-Bx, considering the pathologies involved in anorectal pain etiology and comparing the effectiveness of local anesthesia techniques in providing patient comfort. Material and Methods We retrospectively evaluated 477 consecutive patients with TRUS-Bx for elevated Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), abnormal rectal examination findings, or both. Patients were grouped as local anesthesia methods for pain control during TRUS-Bx. Both groups were compared in terms of age, body mass index, clinical T stage, PSA, prostate volume, number of biopsy cores, type of anesthesia, previous biopsy history, and presence of prostate cancer. We used a visual analog pain scale (VAS) to evaluate the patient’s pain status; pre-procedure (VAS-0), during probe insertion (VAS-I), administration of anesthetic (VAS-A), and simultaneous with the biopsy procedure itself (VAS-Bx). For PPIA and IRTA, 4 ml lidocaine 20 mg/ml injection and 5 g 5% prilocaine-5% lidocaine cream was used, respectively. Results The PPIA was used 74.2% (n = 354) and IRTA was used for 25.8% (n = 123) patients. VAS-0, VAS-I, and VAS-A scores are similar between groups. VAS-Bx was significantly higher in the IRTA than in the PPIA (3.37 ± 0.18 vs. 2.36 ± 0.12 p > 0.001). Clinical T stage (OR: 0.59), number of biopsy cores (OR: 1.80), and type of anesthesia application (OR: 2.65) were independent variables on TRUS-Bx for pain. Conclusion Three factors play roles as independent variables associated with the pain in TRUS-Bx; abnormal rectal examination findings, collection of more than twelve core samples during the biopsy, and the type of anesthesia used. Compared with PPIA, IRTA does not improve pain related to probe insertion, and using IRTA results in higher pain scores for biopsy-related pain. Thus, we recommend a PPIA to lower biopsy-related pain.

Crop Regulation in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) through Induced Water Stress and Ethrel Application

The present investigation was carried out at ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India during 2017 to 2019 to regulate crop production in pomegranate at the desired period with higher number of bisexual flower for higher quality fruit yield and to minimize fruit splitting through water stress, pruning and ethrel application. Pooled data analysis revealed that horticultural interventions, chemical treatments and their interactions significantly improved plant volume, bisexual flower number, maturity index, fruit yield with significant reduction in fruit splitting, mite and fungal spot incidence. Among different treatment combinations, maximum canopy volume, number of bisexual flowers, maturity index, fruit yield and lower fruit splitting were recorded (8.56 m3, 85.11 plant-1, 47.81, 124.01 q ha-1 and 1.87 kg plant-1) in withholding irrigation during June+pruning+thinning+ethrel 2 ml l-1 as compared to absolute control (3.41 m3, 75.62 plant-1, 33.35, 85.66 q ha-1 and 2.41 kg plant-1), respectively. The mite and fungal spot incidence were recorded minimum (4.72 and 8.50%) in withholding irrigation during June+pruning+thinning+ethrel 3 ml l-1 application in comparison to maximum recorded in absolute control (29.73 and 33.68%), respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that withholding irrigation during June+pruning+thinning with ethrel 2 ml l-1 treatment significantly improved quality fruit yield with higher number of bisexual flowers and reduced fruit splitting through induction of flowering and fruit growth during optimal climatic conditions.

O conhecimento taxonômico na obra elementos de botânica geral e médica (1877), De joaquim monteiro caminhoá

Joaquim Monteiro Caminhoá (1836-1896) foi um dos mais atuantes cientistas do Império do Brasil. Contudo, sua trajetória enquanto estudioso da Botânica ainda não foi devidamente estudada, e as suas produções científicas ainda não foram analisadas criticamente de forma densa. Temos como objetivo analisar a obra Elementos de Botânica Geral e Médica, de autoria de Joaquim Monteiro Caminhoá, publicada em 1877, em particular o capítulo intitulado Taxonomia, que integra o volume número dois, e a sua contribuição para o processo de emergência e consolidação das ciências naturais no Império do Brasil. Joaquim Monteiro Caminhoá (1836-1896) was one of the most active scientists of the Brazilian Empire. However, his trajectory as a Botany scholar has not yet been properly studied, and his scientific productions have not yet been critically analyzed in a dense manner. Our objective is to analyze the work Elements of General and Medical Botany, by Joaquim Monteiro Caminhoá, published in 1877, in particular the chapter entitled Taxonomy, which integrates volume number two, and its contribution to the process of emergence and consolidation of natural sciences in the Empire of Brazil.

Bin packing with lexicographic objectives for loading weight- and volume-constrained trucks in a direct-shipping system

We consider a packing problem that arises in a direct-shipping system in the food and beverage industry: Trucks are the containers, and products to be distributed are the items. The packing is constrained by two independent quantities, weight (e.g., measured in kg) and volume (number of pallets). Additionally, the products are grouped into the three categories: standard, cooled, and frozen (the latter two require refrigerated trucks). Products of different categories can be transported in one truck using separated zones, but the cost of a truck depends on the transported product categories. Moreover, splitting orders of a product should be avoided so that (un-)loading is simplified. As a result, we seek for a feasible packing optimizing the following objective functions in a strictly lexicographic sense: minimize the (1) total number of trucks; (2) number of refrigerated trucks; (3) number of refrigerated trucks which contain frozen products; (4) number of refrigerated trucks which also transport standard products; (5) and minimize splitting. This is a real-world application of a bin-packing problem with cardinality constraints a.k.a. the two-dimensional vector packing problem with additional constraints. We provide a heuristic and an exact solution approach. The heuristic meta-scheme considers the multi-compartment and item fragmentation features of the problem and applies various problem-specific heuristics. The exact solution algorithm covering all five stages is based on branch-and-price using stabilization techniques exploiting dual-optimal inequalities. Computational results on real-world and difficult self-generated instances prove the applicability of our approach.