Variations in facial conformation are associated with differences in nasal microbiota in healthy dogs

Background Extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence nasal microbiota (NM) in humans. Very few studies investigated the association between nasal microbiota and factors such as facial/body conformation, age, and environment in dogs. The objectives are to investigate variations in NM in healthy dogs with different facial and body conformations. A total of 46 dogs of different age, living environment and from 3 different breed groups were recruited: 22 meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large breed dogs, 12 brachycephalic dogs and 12 terrier breeds. The nasal bacterial microbiota was assessed through sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (V1-V3 regions) amplicons. Results We showed major differences in the NM composition together with increased richness and α-diversity in brachycephalic dogs, compared to meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large dogs and dogs from terrier breeds. Conclusion Healthy brachycephalic breeds and their unique facial conformation is associated with a distinct NM profile. Description of the NM in healthy dogs serves as a foundation for future researches assessing the changes associated with disease and the modulation of NM communities as a potential treatment.

Diet-induced changes in titer support a discrete response of Wolbachia-associated plastic recombination in Drosophila melanogaster

Plastic recombination in Drosophila melanogaster has been associated with a variety of extrinsic and intrinsic factors such as temperature, starvation, and parasite infection. The bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis has also been associated with plastic recombination in D. melanogaster. Wolbachia infection is pervasive in arthropods and this infection induces a variety of phenotypes in its hosts, the strength of which can depend on bacterial titer. Here we test the hypothesis that the magnitude of Wolbachia-associated plastic recombination in D. melanogaster depends on titer. To manipulate titer, we raised Wolbachia-infected and uninfected flies on diets that have previously been shown to increase or decrease Wolbachia titer relative to controls. We measured recombination in treated and control individuals using a standard backcrossing scheme with two X-linked visible markers. Our results recapitulate previous findings that Wolbachia infection is associated with increased recombination rate across the yellow-vermillion interval of the X chromosome. Our data show no significant effect of diet or diet by Wolbachia interactions on recombination, suggesting that diet-induced changes in Wolbachia titer have no effect on the magnitude of plastic recombination. These findings represent one of the first steps toward investigating Wolbachia-associated plastic recombination and demonstrate that the phenotype is a discrete response rather than a continuous one.

Root proteome alterations in sugarcane promoted by the regrowth cycle in commercial production

The decrease in agricultural productivity in successive cutting of sugarcane plants is associated with several extrinsic and intrinsic factors. However, no studies have focused on the physiological potential of sett roots in successive cuts in sugarcane culture. There have been no proteomic studies on sugarcane sett roots at different stages of cutting. In this study, the UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS system and bioinformatics tools were used to identify proteins of sett roots in the first and fifth cuts of sugarcane cultivar RB966928 in the sprouting stage. Differences in the proteome of sett roots of RB966928 in the first and fifth cuts detected in this study supports the hypothesis that the proteome of sett roots may change after successive cuts in sugarcane culture. A reduction in the number of proteins was observed in the roots of the fifth cut, whereas 34% of proteins, identified exclusively in the first cut, were absent in the fifth cut. Proteome analysis of sett roots in the first and fifth cuts showed that the changes after successive cuts were quantitative (number of proteins) and mainly qualitative. In this study, the detailed list of proteins identified in the first cut but absent in the fifth cut is relevant. The findings of this study may aid further research that employ biotic or abiotic elicitors to induce gene expression of essential proteins absent in sett roots of the fifth cut, and thus increasing the agricultural productivity and longevity of cane fields

Macrophage Related Chronic Inflammation in Non-Healing Wounds

Persistent hyper-inflammation is a distinguishing pathophysiological characteristic of chronic wounds, and macrophage malfunction is considered as a major contributor thereof. In this review, we describe the origin and heterogeneity of macrophages during wound healing, and compare macrophage function in healing and non-healing wounds. We consider extrinsic and intrinsic factors driving wound macrophage dysregulation, and review systemic and topical therapeutic approaches for the restoration of macrophage response. Multidimensional analysis is highlighted through the integration of various high-throughput technologies, used to assess the diversity and activation states as well as cellular communication of macrophages in healing and non-healing wound. This research fills the gaps in current literature and provides the promising therapeutic interventions for chronic wounds.

Late Stage Decomposition of Embalmed Cadavers

Decomposition is a natural process that begins approximately four minutes after death and continues until the body is degraded to simpler biochemical components which are gradually recycled back to the environment. This process is dependent on extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Embalming is a chemical preservation technique that aims to preserve the external appearance of the body in good condition for an indeterminate period. In Spain, there is a lack of experimental studies carried out to analyse the variables that affect decomposition in embalmed bodies, therefore, in accordance with the conclusions reached by previous authors, it is hypothesised that embalmed bodies show quantifiable characteristics during the late stage decomposition which distinguish them from control, unembalmed, cadavers. An anthropological and statistical analysis was performed on 14 individuals from Cementerio Sur de Madrid exhumed after ten years according to the Mortuary Health Law of the Autonomous Region of Madrid. The preliminary results obtained showed that there is a qualitative and statistically significant relationship between the variables evaluated, being the presence or absence of soft tissue the most notable difference. The mortuary or thanatopraxy treatments performed before the burial and the microenvironmental conditions of the burial positively influence the soft tissue preservation on embalmed bodies. These results contribute to the understanding about the decomposition rate of an embalmed cadavers in cemeteries, and the related extrinsic variables.

The Anti-Ageing and Whitening Potential of a Cosmetic Serum Containing 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic Acid

Skin ageing has many manifestations such as wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors, especially solar ultraviolet light (UVB), contribute to skin ageing; its main features are brown spots, alterations in melanin pigmentation, and a decrease in collagen and hyaluronic acid linked to oxidative stress. Several studies showed that topical products containing ingredients with antioxidant activity can reduce oxidative damage; to provide a maximum anti-ageing effect to the skin, topical products can combine various ingredients. C-SHOT SERUM contains a combination of two molecules with a proven anti-ageing activity: a high percentage (30%) of a more stable vitamin C derivative, 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid, and lactic acid (1%). The product showed a high biocompatibility, assessed through an MTT assay on keratinocytes and on Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RHE, SkinEthic); the anti-ageing activity was demonstrated on human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes by a statistically significant increase in collagen production and a reduction of a UVB-induced DNA damage marker (γ-H2AX histone), indicating DNA protection. Moreover, a depigmenting activity, shown by a highly significant decrease in melanin content on treated Reconstructed Human Pigmented Epidermis (RHPE), was assessed. According to the data of our study, the tested product contrasts the effect of skin ageing and irregular pigmentation due to the physiological decline of the skin.