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The objective of the study was to understand the influence of climatic variations in a semiarid environment on serum testosterone, testicular morphology and semen quality in collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). Reproductive metrics (semen quality, testicular morphometry and testosterone serum profiles) of 10 mature males were measured monthly for 18 months. Meteorological data (rainfall, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and radiant heat load) also were recorded during the same period. Rainfall regimes were classified in different classes (Class 1: months with no rain; Class 2: months with up to 50 mm of rain; and Class 3: months with >50 mm of rain). Among rainfall classes, average air temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) were different. Climatic changes between rainfall classes did not lead to overall variations of testicular size, testosterone production, and semen metrics. However, relative humidity recorded before semen collection (one day, one week, or over 51-55 days) was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with semen motility metrics (total motility, beat cross frequency and straightness) and sperm subpopulations (medium and static sperm), as well as with volume. Negative correlations (P < 0.05) were revealed between air temperature and the same semen motility patterns and volume. Additionally, radiant head load measured on the day of semen collection negatively influenced (P < 0.05) sperm straightness. This study demonstrates for the first time that no seasonal changes could be detected overt the 18-month period on the serum testosterone, testicular morphology and semen quality of collared peccaries raised in the Caatinga biome; however, it is expected that long term environmental changes will influence the reproductive physiology of species leaving in that habitat., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In collared peccaries, the development of artificial insemination (AI) is scarce, requiring search for alternative methods for the evaluation of sperm fertilizing ability. Thus, the aims of this study were to estimate the binding capability of collared peccaries sperm, using swine oocytes and the egg perivitelline membrane, and to evaluate the prognostic value of sperm parameters on the in vitro interactions among sperm and heterologous substrates. Eleven ejaculates were collected by eletroejaculation and evaluated for viability and morphology by light microscopy, for functionality by hypo-osmotic swelling test, for plasma membrane integrity by epifluorescence microscopy, and for sperm motility by computerized analysis. Subsequently, for analysis of the in vitro interactions, sperm samples were cultured in an incubation medium with swine oocytes and egg perivitelline membrane for 18 h and 20 min, respectively, at 38.5 °C and humidified atmosphere. The sperm-oocyte interaction rate was 100% with sperm penetrating 19.8+ 5.5% of oocytes. The average values of bound sperm and penetrated sperm per oocyte were 39.4 + 4.6 and 2.5 + 0.7, respectively. Already for perivitelline membrane binding assay, all samples presented sperm bound (100%) with average of 140.6 ± 19.4 bound sperm (range 33.9-308.7). Moreover, positive correlations were observed for the number of sperm bound to swine oocytes and osmotic response (r = 68.5%; P = 0.02), membrane integrity (r = 65.1%; P = 0.03), and straightness (r = 66.5%; (P = 0.03), as weel as for the number of sperm bound to egg perivitelline membrane and sperm viability (r = 74.0%; P = 0.01), total motility (r = 63.6%; P = 0.04), and linearity (r = 70.5%; P = 0.02). Finally, a negative correlation among slow (r = -80.5%; P = 0.01) and static (r = -84.3%; P = 0.01) sperm with the egg perivitelline membrane was observed. In conclusion, swine oocytes and perivitelline membrane can be used as indicators for the functional evaluation of the binding capability of sperm derived from collared peccaries. These tests could be incorporated into the routine of semen technologies., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Goniothalamin (GTN), a styryl-lactone, is a secondary metabolite naturally found in its enantiomeric form (R) in plants of the genus Goniothalamus (Annonaceae). The antiproliferative activity against human tumor cell lines reported in several studies suggest that the α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone moiety emerges as a key Michael acceptor for cysteine residues or other nucleophilic biological molecules. Our group reported on the in vivo activity of (R)- and (S)-GTN as well as its racemic form (rac-GTN) in both Ehrlich solid tumor and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice, without side effects in the effective doses. Despite the rich body of data on the in vitro GTN biological activity, much less is known about its in vivo pharmacological action. Herein we describe the gastroprotective activity of rac-GTN on chemical-induced gastric ulcers models in rats. GTN has a potent gastroprotective effect on ethanol-induced ulcers (effective dose50=18mg/kg) and this activity is dependent on sulfhydryl compounds and prostaglandins generation, but independent of nitric oxide (NO), gastric secretion and mucus production. We hypothesize that goniothalamin may act as a mild irritant, inducing the production of sulfhydryl compounds and prostaglandins, in a process known as adaptive cytoprotection. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that Michael acceptors are the most potent inducers of antioxidant response (as activation of Nrf2 pathway) through generation of mild oxidative stress and that gastroprotective activity of goniothalamin is inhibited after pre-treatment with NEM (N-ethylmaleimide) and NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), highlighting the importance of sulfhydryl compounds and prostaglandins on GTN activity., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates obtained by microbiological culture of respiratory samples from Brazilian CF patients were studied by recA based PCR, screened by specific PCR for virulence markers and genotyped by RAPD. Forty-one isolates of B. cepacia complex were identified by culture and confirmation of identity and genomovar determination obtained in 32 isolates, with predominance of B. cenocepacia (53.1%). Virulence markers were not consistently found among isolates. Genotyping did not identify identical patterns among different patients. B. cenocepacia was the most prevalent B. cepacia complex member among our patients, and cross-infection does not seem to occur among them.

Purpose: To compare distance-corrected, near, and intermediate visual acuities as a measurement of depth of focus and spherical aberration of eyes implanted with aspheric and spherical intraocular lenses (IOLs)., Design: Randomized prospective study., Participants: One hundred twenty eyes of 60 patients with bilateral cataract implanted with 3 IOL models (AcrySof IQ, AcrySof SN60AT [Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX], and Sensar AR40 [Allergan Surgical, Irvine, CA])., Methods: Pupil diameter was analyzed by using a Colvard pupillometer (OASIS Medical, Inc., Glendora, CA) under photopic, mesopic, and scotopic conditions. Distance (6 m), intermediate (1 m), and near (0.33 m) visual acuities were measured with distance correction in place 90 days after surgery. Wavefront analysis (LadarWave; Alcon Laboratories) was performed using 5-mm and measured photopic pupil diameter at 30 and 90 days after surgery., Main Outcome Measures: To evaluate spherical aberration and depth of focus (by means of distance-corrected near and intermediate visual acuity) in patients implanted with aspheric and spherical IOLs., Results: Photopic pupil sizes in each group were similar at 30 days after surgery. At 90 days after surgery, mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution distance-corrected near visual acuity (+/-standard deviation [SD]) was 0.50+/-0.20 in the AcrySof IQ group, 0.38+/-0.17 in the AcrySof SN60AT group, and 0.45+/-0.16 in Sensar AR40 group. Mean spherical aberration values (+/-SD) were 0.03+/-0.05 microm in the AcrySof IQ group, 0.24+/-0.04 microm in the AcrySof SN60AT group, and 0.14+/-0.07 microm in the Sensar AR40 group. The AcrySof IQ group showed a statistically significant lower induction of spherical aberration and worse distance-corrected near visual acuity. The AcrySof SN60AT group showed statistically significant higher mean spherical aberration values and better distance-corrected near and intermediate visual acuity., Conclusions: The reduction of total spherical aberration after aspheric IOL implantation may degrade distance-corrected near and intermediate visual acuity.