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Purpose: To compare scanning-slit retinoscopy automated refraction spherical equivalent (ARSE) to subjective manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) in normal eyes with four different types of intraocular lenses (IOLs)., Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study., Methods: A total of 279 pseudophakic eyes that underwent lens extraction at a private center with implantation of either a wavefront shaped IOL (Acrysof® Vivity, DFT015), a nonapodized diffractive trifocal IOL (Acrysof® Panoptix), or a monofocal IOL with negative spherical aberration (Tecnis ZCBOO) or aberration-free (Envista Mx60E). Patients who had an automated refraction measurement with retinoscopy refractometer and aberrometer (NIDEK OPD Scan III, Nidek Technologies) and subjective refraction data 1-2 months postoperatively were included in the study. Main outcome measured was the difference between automated refraction and subjective refraction., Results: Sixty-one eyes implanted with a DFT015 IOL, 78 eyes with a TFNT00 IOL, 40 with a ZCBOO IOL and 100 with a Mx60E IOL were enrolled in this study. Statistically significant myopic results were observed when using ARSE compared to MRSE in the DFT015 (-0.95 ± 0.64, -0.33 ± 0.65, P < .001), TFNT00 (-0.43 ± 0.36, -0.2 ± 0.35, P < .001), ZCBOO (-0.81 ± 0.63, -0.4 ± 0.69, P = .008) and Mx60E (-0.75 ± 0.65, -0.45 ± 0.52; P < .05) IOL groups. The absolute difference between the 2 methods was statistically significant in the DFT015 IOL group (0.65 ± 0.49; P < .05)., Conclusion: Automated refraction yields myopic results in pseudophakic eyes with monofocal and presbyopia correcting IOLs and may be used with caution. Manifest refraction "push-plus" technique should be used in all pseudophakic eyes to avoid over-minus prescriptions, especially in patient with residual refractive error following cataract surgery., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The ability to accurately predict antibody-antigen complex structures from their sequences could greatly advance our understanding of the immune system and would aid in the development of novel antibody therapeutics. There have been considerable recent advancements in predicting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) fueled by progress in machine learning (ML). To understand the current state of the field, we compare six representative methods for predicting antibody-antigen complexes from sequence, including two deep learning approaches trained to predict PPIs in general (AlphaFold-Multimer and RoseTTAFold), two composite methods that initially predict antibody and antigen structures separately and dock them (using antibody-mode ClusPro), local refinement in Rosetta (SnugDock) of globally docked poses from ClusPro, and a pipeline combining homology modeling with rigid-body docking informed by ML-based epitope and paratope prediction (AbAdapt). We find that AlphaFold-Multimer outperformed other methods, although the absolute performance leaves considerable room for improvement. AlphaFold-Multimer models of lower quality display significant structural biases at the level of tertiary motifs (TERMs) toward having fewer structural matches in non-antibody-containing structures from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Specifically, better models exhibit more common PDB-like TERMs at the antibody-antigen interface than worse ones. Importantly, the clear relationship between performance and the commonness of interfacial TERMs suggests that the scarcity of interfacial geometry data in the structural database may currently limit the application of ML to the prediction of antibody-antigen interactions., (© 2024 The Protein Society.)

Blepharitis is a common ophthalmic condition with multiple etiologies and no definitive, universal treatment. The treatment modalities for managing lid margin diseases vary depending on the disease's cause, location, and severity. For anterior blepharitis, management options include eyelid hygiene with warm compresses, eyelid scrubs, baby shampoo, and over-the-counter eyelid cleansers. Topical antibiotics and antibiotic-steroid combination drops/ointments for the eye and eyelid may accompany these. For posterior blepharitis/meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), at-home warm compress or in-office administration of heat therapy/thermal pulsation treatment that aims to clear obstruction in the meibomian glands and restore meibum secretions to maintain a healthy tear film is recommended. In addition to the above treatment strategies, various other compounds to manage lid margin diseases are in the late stages of development. This review summarizes the available treatment modalities or those in the pipeline for treating blepharitis and MGD., (Copyright © 2024 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

The eyelid margin is vital to ocular surface integrity. Much peer-reviewed literature has been established in eyelid margin inflammation, better known as blepharitis. The purpose was to review and understand the impact of eyelid margin disease. Anterior blepharitis causes inflammation at the eyelash base, ciliary follicles, and the palpebral skin. Posterior blepharitis occurs when there is inflammation with the posterior eyelid margin disease. In common usage, the term "blepharitis" used alone almost always refers to anterior blepharitis. Classification of eyelid margin disease should be based on etiopathogenesis, location, primary vs secondary, and chronicity. Blepharitis has several etiopathologies (infectious, inflammatory, and squamous). Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) can refer to the functional and/or structural problems with the meibomian gland. Meibomitis (or meibomianitis) occurs when there is inflammation associated with the MGD. The presence of blepharitis and/or MGD (with or without inflammation) can affect the ocular surface and thereby affect anterior segment and cataract surgeries. This review article evaluates the differential diagnoses of eyelid margin disease, including various forms of blepharitis, MGD, and meibomitis., (Copyright © 2024 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Introduction: Human rabies (HR) is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by lyssaviruses with increase in the number of cases post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic., Methodology: We report a case of human rabies in a patient from a rural area of Ceará, northeastern Brazil in 2023, who was bitten by a white-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix jacchus jacchus). The patient was co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was diagnosed by minimally invasive autopsy (MIA)., Results: MIA offers many advantages related to biosafety, and speed of sample acquisition; and markedly reduces disfigurement of the body compared with complete autopsy. It is a great alternative in COVID-19 patients., Conclusions: New methods such as MIA are a promising tool for diagnosis, and have the potential to improve family cooperation and support rabies surveillance., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Arthur BG Farias, Marcos M Sousa, Ruth Maria O de Araujo, Kelma M Maia, Madalena Q de Azevedo, Nancy C de Oliveira Caetano, Karene F Cavalcante, Liana P Mello, Larissa Leao F de Sousa, Sami de Andrade C Gadelha, Deborah N de Melo, Ana Karine B Carneiro, Tânia Mara S Coelho, Antônio Silva L Neto, Francisco Edson B Abreu, Kellyn Kessiene de S Cavalcante, Silvia F Costa, Luciano P de Goes Cavalcanti, Lauro V Perdigão Neto.)

Introduction: Recent research indicates that some brain structures show alterations in conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Among them, are the basal ganglia that are involved in motor, cognitive and behavioral neural circuits., Objective: Review the literature that describes possible volumetric alterations in the basal ganglia of individuals with ASD and the impacts that these changes have on the severity of the condition., Methodology: This systematic review was registered in the design and reported according to the PRISMA Items and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023394787). The study analyzed data from published clinical, case-contemplate, and cohort trials. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, using the Medical Subject Titles (MeSH) "Autism Spectrum Disorder" and "Basal Ganglia". The last search was carried out on February 28, 2023., Results: Thirty-five eligible articles were collected, analyzed, and grouped according to the levels of alterations., Conclusion: The present study showed important volumetric alterations in the basal ganglia in ASD. However, the examined studies have methodological weaknesses that do not allow generalization and correlation with ASD manifestations., (© 2024 International Society for Developmental Neuroscience.)

Comparing accuracies of structural protein-protein interaction (PPI) models for different complexes on an absolute scale is a challenge, requiring normalization of scores across structures of different sizes and shapes. To help address this challenge, we have developed a statistical significance metric for docking models, called random-docking (RD) p-value. This score evaluates a PPI model based on how likely a random docking process is to produce a model of better or equal accuracy. The binding partners are randomly docked against each other a large number of times, and the probability of sampling a model of equal or greater accuracy from this reference distribution is the RD p-value. Using a subset of top predicted models from CAPRI (Critical Assessment of PRediction of Interactions) rounds over 2017-2020, we find that the ease of achieving a given root mean squared deviation or DOCKQ score varies considerably by target; achieving the same relative metric can be thousands of times easier for one complex compared to another. In contrast, RD p-values inherently normalize scores for models of different complexes, making them globally comparable. Furthermore, one can calculate RD p-values after generating a reference distribution that accounts for prior information about the interface geometry, such as residues involved in binding, by giving the random-docking process access the same information. Thus, one can decouple improvements in prediction accuracy that arise solely from basic modeling constraints from those due to the rest of the method. We provide efficient code for computing RD p-values at https://github.com/Grigoryanlab/RDP., (© 2023 The Protein Society.)

This study evaluated the effects of laser application of diverse wavelengths applied simultaneously and on different skins. The sample included two participants, a woman with light skin with abdominal hair and a woman with dark skin and hair on the inner part of the lower limbs, who received a laser therapy session. After 45 days from laser application, abdominoplasty and thigh dermolipectomy surgery were performed. In the control sample, the hair follicles were in the anagen phase, showing the presence of Bcl-2 expression. In the treated areas, follicles were observed in an advanced phase (telogen), with the presence of CK-18 and negativity of Bcl-2, highlighting the phase of hair loss at that moment and the complete apoptosis of the investigated follicle. Significant difference was observed in the comparison of the anagen phase ( p  = .00) and it similarly occurred in the comparison of the telogen phase ( p  = .00). The presence of a greater amount of follicles in the anagen phase in the control area and follicles in the telogen phase in the treated area demonstrates the efficiency of the laser at different wavelengths when reaching different skin phototypes and hair thickness, being reinforced by apoptosis and cell proliferation markers. Therefore, the hair-removal process has been optimized with various laser wavelengths.

There is limited research exploring the knowledge and experiences of genetic healthcare from the perspective of people with intellectual disability. This study, conducted in New South Wales (Australia), addresses this gap. Eighteen adults with intellectual disability and eight support people were interviewed in this inclusive research study. The transcribed interviews were analysed using inductive content analysis. The findings were discussed in a focus group with ten adults with intellectual disability and in three multi-stakeholder advisory workshops, contributing to the validity and trustworthiness of the findings. Five main themes emerged: (i) access to genetic healthcare services is inequitable, with several barriers to the informed consent process; (ii) the experiences and opinions of people with intellectual disability are variable, including frustration, exclusion and fear; (iii) genetic counselling and diagnoses can be profoundly impactful, but translating a genetic diagnosis into tailored healthcare, appropriate support, peer connections and reproductive planning faces barriers; (iv) people with intellectual disability have a high incidence of exposure to trauma and some reported that their genetic healthcare experiences were associated with further trauma; (v) recommendations for a more respectful and inclusive model of genetic healthcare. Co-designed point-of-care educational and consent resources, accompanied by tailored professional education for healthcare providers, are required to improve the equity and appropriateness of genetic healthcare for people with intellectual disability., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To determine tolerance to residual astigmatism and visual performance in eyes implanted with a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) designed to extend the depth of focus (Tecnis Eyhance, DIB00; Johnson & Johnson Vision) compared to eyes implanted with a standard monofocal IOL (Tecnis ZCB00; Johnson & Johnson Vision)., Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled consecutive patients who underwent routine cataract surgery and implantation of either the DIB00 (n = 20) or ZCB00 (n = 20) IOL. Astigmatic defocus was induced with a plus cylinder from +0.50 to +2.00 diopters (D) in 0.50-D steps for each astigmatic orientation (against-the-rule [ATR], with-the-rule [WTR], and oblique). Outcome measures included the comparison of mean visual acuity at each step of defocus, astigmatic defocus curves, and near and intermediate visual acuity., Results: Eyes implanted with the DIB00 demonstrated greater astigmatic tolerance and were more likely to maintain 20/40 or better visual acuity with up to +2.00 D of induced ATR and oblique astigmatism than the ZCB00 IOLs. The DIB00 group showed 1.3 lines better visual acuity at 2.00 D of ATR astigmatic defocus and 1 line better than the ZCB00 group at 1.50 D of oblique astigmatic defocus. Although the distance visual acuity was comparable, near and intermediate visual acuities (both distance-corrected and uncorrected) were better for the DIB00 IOL than for the standard ZCB00 IOL., Conclusions: The monofocal IOL designed to extend the depth of focus (DIB00 group) showed greater tolerance to induced astigmatism in ATR and oblique orientations and superior uncorrected and distance-corrected near and intermediate visual acuity than the standard monofocal IOL of the same IOL platform. [ J Refract Surg . 2023;39(4):222-228.] .

Purpose: To evaluate the prediction of postoperative anatomical lens position (ALP) using intraoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) lens anatomy metrics in patients who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery., Methods: Intraoperative SD-OCT (Catalys; Johnson & Johnson Vision) and postoperative optical biometry (IOLMaster 700; Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) were used to assess anterior segment landmarks, including lens thickness, lens volume, anterior chamber depth, lens meridian position (LMP), and measured ALP. LMP was defined as the distance from the corneal epithelium to the lens equator, and ALP was defined as the distance from the corneal epithelium to the IOL surface. Eyes were divided into groups according to axial length (> 22.5 mm, 22.5 to 24.5 mm, and > 24.5 mm) and IOL type (Tecnis ZCB00 [Johnson & Johnson Vision]; AcrySof SN-60WF [Alcon Laboratories, Inc], or enVista MX60E [Bausch & Lomb]) to further analyze the correlation between LMP and ALP. Theoretical effective lens position was back-calculated using a specific formula. Primary outcome was correlation between postoperative measured ALP and LMP., Results: A total of 97 eyes were included in this study. Linear regression analysis displayed a statistically significant correlation between intraoperative LMP and postoperative ALP ( R 2 = 0.522; P < .01). No statistically significant correlation was observed between LMP and lens thickness ( R 2 = 0.039; P = .06) or between ALP and lens thickness ( R 2 = 0.02; P = .992). The greatest predictor for ALP was LMP (β = 0.766, P < .001; R 2 = 0.523)., Conclusions: Intraoperative SD-OCT-measured LMP correlated better than anterior chamber depth and axial length to postoperative ALP. Further studies are necessary to analyze the impact of preoperative or intraoperative LMP measurements on postoperative refractive outcomes. [ J Refract Surg . 2023;39(3):165-170.] .

Found in humid regions and waterways and popularly used to treat gastrointestinal problems among other applications, the present study evaluated the M. aquatica essential oil (OEMa) as a therapeutic alternative to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Produced by steam distillation, chemical composition of OEMa was determined by GC-MS analysis. The ethanol-induced ulcer and the dose-repeated acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced gastrointestinal lesions models in rats evaluated, respectively, the prophylactic and curative effects of EOMa on peptic ulcers. The EOMa's effect on gastric secretion, gastric mucus and gastrointestinal motility were evaluated in in vivo models. The curative effect of EOMa on acute colitis was evaluated using the DSS-induced colitis model in mice. Obtained in 0.17% yield (w/w), with carvone (54.82 ± 1.39 g/100 g oil) as the main constituent, EOMa (at 75 mg/kg) showed potent gastroprotective effect (> 90%) mediated by non-protein sulfhydryl compounds (NPSH) and nitric oxide (NO) modulation alongside reduction in gastric secretion volume and total acidity. EOMa did not affect gastric mucus production and gastrointestinal motility. In dose-repeated ASA-induced gastrointestinal lesions model, EOMa (at 25 mg/kg) promoted the inflammatory process resolution both in gastric and duodenal walls by modulating NPSH, NO and myeloperoxidase levels. Despite delaying in 2 days the clinical symptoms worsening, EOMa (at 25 mg/kg) was not able to protect colon tissues from DSS-induced acute colitis as evidenced by macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological parameters. This is the first report of Mentha aquatica essential oil as a promising herbal medicine for peptic ulcers treatment together with an adjuvant effect in IBD., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

A 27-year-old woman had BrightOcular iris implants placed for cosmetic purposes that changed eye color from brown to blue bilaterally. Of note, BrightOcular implants are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States and have been associated with severe ocular complications. In keeping with their design, they were placed in the anterior chamber (AC) in both eyes of this patient; surgery was performed outside the United States. As has been described previously and tragically in other cases, she developed chronic inflammation, intolerable glare, angle-closure glaucoma, corneal edema, and cataracts in both eyes. For medically unmanageable elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), she underwent diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) in both eyes, and eventually, an Ahmed tube shunt (New World Medical, Inc.) was placed in the right eye. Although she was advised and urged to have the iris implants removed, despite her ocular issues, she refused removal until intolerable glare and reduced vision ensued. Ultimately, both iris implants were extracted 5 years after implantation by a U.S. surgeon; the procedures resulted in corneal decompensation and progressive cataract development. Subsequent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was performed for the right eye, but it failed because of contact with the glaucoma tube shunt. She sought additional consultation and presented with the following findings: corrected distance visual acuity was 20/400 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye, IOP of 18 mm Hg in the right eye and 16 mm Hg in the left eye, pupils were nonreactive and fixed, and extraocular muscles and central visual field were normal. Pachymetry was 868 μm in the right eye and 653 μm in the left eye. Anterior segment examination in the right eye revealed a failed corneal graft with 3+ edema, peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) for 360 degrees, shallow AC, Ahmed tube shunt at the 11 o'clock position and remnant iris adherent to the graft-host junction for 270 degrees, 3+ posterior subcapsular cataract, and 2+ cortical cataract (Figure 1JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202208000-00024/figure1/v/2022-08-01T210317Z/r/image-tiff). The sclera revealed multiple circular and circumferential atrophic blue spots consistent with high-energy transscleral CPC (Figure 2JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202208000-00024/figure2/v/2022-08-01T210317Z/r/image-tiff). In the left eye, she had remnant fixed dilated iris for 270 degrees, missing iris superiorly for 3 clock hours, an adequate AC, and 2+ cortical cataract (Figure 3JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202208000-00024/figure3/v/2022-08-01T210317Z/r/image-tiff). Posterior segment examination revealed a 0.5 cup-to-disc ratio in both eyes with normal vessels, macula, vitreous, and retinal periphery, bilaterally. Given this constellation of findings, how would you proceed?, (Copyright © 2022 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Brain benefits from physical exercise associated with antioxidant supplements such as flaxseed oil. This low cost and simple association may improve hippocampal plasticity, which may work as a preventive and effective therapy in neuroprotection and neuroplasticity processes. This work evaluated the effects of physical exercise with flaxseed oil supplementation (Linum usitatissimum L.) in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. We separated male Wistar rats into four experimental groups: control group (sedentary), a sedentary group with a supplemental diet of flaxseed oil, a group under exercise program with flaxseed oil supplementation, and a group exclusively under exercise program. The swimming exercise consisted of a progressive 28‑day protocol followed by behavioral assessment, brain perfusion, microtomy, immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cellular morphology, and optical density analysis. We used the ANOVA test with Tukey's post‑test for behavioral analysis. The exercise program with flaxseed oil supplementation was able to alter the GFAP expression in astrocytes in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus and modulate the behavioral aspects of memory and anxiety.

Purpose: To compare the refractive predictability of intraoperative aberrometry (IA, ORA, Alcon) and Barrett True-K/Universal II formulas for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations in post-corneal refractive surgery and normal eyes., Methods: Retrospective study of normal and post-corneal refractive surgery eyes that underwent cataract surgery with IA at tertiary academic center. Preoperatively, IOL power calculations were performed using Barrett Universal II (normal eyes) or Barrett True-K (post-corneal refractive surgery eyes) formulas. Intraoperatively, aphakic IA measurements were used for IOL power calculations. Mean absolute refractive prediction error (MAE) and the percentage of eyes with prediction error within ±0.50, ±0.75 and ±1.00 D were calculated. Refractive predictability was also evaluated in short, normal, and long eyes., Results: Two hundred and seventy-three eyes were included in the analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between the MAE of preoperative formulas and IA for post-hyperopic laser vision correction (LVC), post-myopic LVC, post-radial keratotomy (RK) and normal eyes. For prediction error within ±0.5 D in post-corneal refractive surgery eyes, range of agreement between Barrett True-K and IA ranged from 28% (7/25) of the time in post-RK eyes to 49% (40/81) of the time in post-hyperopic LVC; the corresponding value for Barrett Universal II/IA was 62% (64/103) in normal eyes. When there was disagreement, IA outperformed Barrett True-K in post-hyperopic LVC eyes and Barrett formula outperformed IA in post-myopic LVC, post-RK, and normal eyes., Conclusion: IA appears to be comparable to Barrett formulas for IOL power calculations in post-corneal refractive surgery and normal eyes. In post-hyperopic LVC, IA yields better results compared to Barrett True-K formula; in real-life scenarios, IA reveals statistical advantage over the Barrett True-K no history formula for eyes post-hyperopic LVC., Competing Interests: Dr Larissa Gouvea reports grants from Alcon Lab, during the conduct of the study. Professor Wallace Chamon reports personal fees from Johnson & Johnson, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2021 Gouvea et al.)

Purpose: To characterize crystalline lens dimensions derived from in vivo spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and identify associations among these parameters, ocular biometry, and age., Methods: In this retrospective study, lens thickness (LT), lens diameter (LD), and lens volume (LV) were measured intraoperatively using SD-OCT in 293 eyes undergoing lens surgery. Correlations among LT, LD, LV, age, axial length (AL), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine whether a combination of biometric data could predict LD and LV., Results: Wide variations were observed in LT (3.6-5.7 mm), LD (7.5-11.9 mm), and LV (119.9-312.4 mm 3 ) of aging eyes. Correlations among the 3 lens dimensions were statistically significant (LV-LT: r = 0.785; P < .001; LV-LD: r = 0.696; P < .001; and LT-LD: r = 0.121; P = .039). With age, the correlation coefficients of LT, LD, and LV were 0.526, 0.326, and 0.573, respectively (P < .001). Although there was significant correlation of AL with LT (r = -0.137; P = .002) and LD (r = 0.268; P < .001), it was not significant with LV (r = 0.084; P = .15). Subgroup analysis revealed that 19.8% of long eyes had LD >1 standard deviation (SD) above and that 5.2% had LD <1 SD below the mean LD., Conclusions: Dimensions of the aging lens vary considerably and are most accurately characterized by direct measurement of LT, LD, and LV, rather than making assumptions based on AL. These findings challenge historically proposed relationships between LD and AL and represent a normative dataset of contemporary geometric features of the aging lens, possibly aiding in surgical decision making and future developments in lens surgery., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The location and distribution of the calcium-binding protein calbindin-D28k (CB) has been considered to be of great value as a neuronal marker for identifying distinct brain regions and discrete neuronal populations. In the amygdaloid complex (AC), the balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs is controlled by CB immunoreactive interneurons. Alterations of inhibitory mechanisms in the AC may play a role in the emotional symptomatology of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and psychiatric disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder. The present investigation examined the distribution and morphology of CB-containing neurons, neuropils and fibers in marmoset monkey ACs by using immunohistochemical and morphometrical methods. We recognized four types of CB cells in the AC: type 1 (multipolar), type 2 (spherical or bipolar), type 3 (pyramidal) and type 4 (halo cells), a cell type specific to the marmoset located in the basal and central nuclei. We detected CB cells in all nuclei and areas of the AC, where most of the cells were present in the deep nuclei (lateral, basal, accessory basal and paralaminar). In the superficial nuclei (the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract, medial nucleus, periamygdaloid cortex and cortical nuclei), the CB cells were abundant in layers 2 and 3. The intercalated nuclei contained small densely packed cells. The CB neuropils were particularly dense in layer 1 of the superficial nuclei, in the deep nuclei and in the amygdalohippocampal area. Large CB immunoreactive neurons in the white matter and fibers with varicosities were found in the myelin tracts that surrounded the AC. These findings are the first step in determining whether some of these cells are specifically disrupted in pathological states., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Forced swimming is a common exercise method used for its low cost and easy management, as seen in studies with the hippocampus. Since it is applied for varied research purposes many protocols are available with diverse aspects of physical intensity, time and periodicity, which produces variable outcomes. In the present study, we performed a systematic review to stress the neurobiological effects of forced swim exercise on the rodent hippocampus. Behavior, antioxidant levels, neurotrophins and inflammatory markers were the main topics examined upon the swimming effects. Better results among these analyses were associated with forced exercise at moderate intensity with an adaptation period and the opposite for continuous exhausting exercises with no adaptation. On further consideration, a standard swimming protocol is necessary to reduce variability of results for each scenario investigated about the impact of the forced swimming on the hippocampus., Forced swimming is a common exercise method used for its low cost and easy management, as seen in studies with the hippocampus. Since it is applied for varied research purposes many protocols are available with diverse aspects of physical intensity, time and periodicity, which produces variable outcomes. In the present study, we performed a systematic review to stress the neurobiological effects of forced swim exercise on the rodent hippocampus. Behavior, antioxidant levels, neurotrophins and inflammatory markers were the main topics examined upon the swimming effects. Better results among these analyses were associated with forced exercise at moderate intensity with an adaptation period and the opposite for continuous exhausting exercises with no adaptation. On further consideration, a standard swimming protocol is necessary to reduce variability of results for each scenario investigated about the impact of the forced swimming on the hippocampus.

Aim: To evaluate the bacterial composition of collared peccary semen and foreskin mucosa, and to verify the sensitivity of isolates to antimicrobials used in semen conservation and to Aloe vera gel, which is an alternative external cryoprotectant., Methods and Results: Nine foreskin mucosa and ejaculate samples from adult animals were used. Sperm characteristics and bacterial load were evaluated in fresh semen. The preputial mucosa and semen bacterial isolates were identified and tested against five concentrations of each antimicrobial (streptomycin-penicillin and gentamicin) and A. vera gel. Corynebacterium sp. and Staphylococcus sp. were isolated in greater numbers than others in both semen (64·10 and 20·51%, respectively) and the foreskin mucosa (60·60 and 24·25%, respectively), and ranged from 0·4 to 21 × 10 5 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. The average load of Corynebacterium sp. was negatively correlated (P < 0·05) with the sperm membrane integrity (r = -0·73055) and curvilinear velocity (r = -0·69048). Streptomycin-penicillin and gentamicin inhibited most micro-organisms, and A. vera showed lower antimicrobial activity., Conclusion: Several Gram-positive bacteria are present in semen and foreskin mucosa of collared peccary, and the benefits of using primarily penicillin-streptomycin and gentamicin antimicrobials in the bacterial control of diluted semen of these animals are strongly indicated., Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides insight into the reproductive microbiota of captive male-collared peccary. This work provides a theoretical basis to assist reproductive biotechnologies for ex situ conservation of the species., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Purpose: To analyze factors affecting depth of focus (DOF) and near vision functionality in eyes implanted with aspheric monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs)., Methods: This prospective study included 111 eyes of 74 patients that underwent phacoemulsification with monofocal IOL implantation. Ninety-one normal eyes were randomized to receive aberration-free (n = 30) or negative-spherical aberration (SA) IOLs (n = 61). Twenty post-hyperopic femto-LASIK eyes received aberration-free IOLs. Corneal higher-order aberrations (SA, coma, trefoil, and corneal asphericity) for a 6 mm pupil were measured by Scheimpflug tomography. Ray-tracing metrics (visual Strehl optical transfer function [VSOTF], effective range of focus [EROF], sphere shift [SS], EROF-SS), pupil size measurements at far and near, and ocular and corneal SA were obtained using ray-tracing aberrometry. Distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) and subjective defocus curves up to ±4.0 diopters were evaluated., Results: Multivariable logistic regression found corneal profile and IOL type to be determinants of extended DOF with monofocal IOLs. The aberration-free IOL group showed significantly better DCNVA and higher total SA than the negative-SA group. Post-hyperopic LASIK eyes showed significantly better DCNVA; higher negative SA, coma, and Q value (P < .05), and smaller pupil size (P = .05) than normal eyes implanted with aberration-free IOLs., Conclusion: Corneal profile and type of IOL implanted were the most important factors influencing near vision functionality with aspheric monofocal IOLs. Higher positive SA in the aberration-free group potentially led to better DCNVA than the negative-SA group in normal eyes. Hyperprolate corneas had better DOF curves and DCNVA than normal corneas. NOTE: Publication of this article is sponsored by the American Ophthalmological Society., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare biometry measurements obtained by a partial interferometer biometer (IOLMaster 500) to the new Scheimpflug tomography with an integrated axial length biometer module (Pentacam AXL)., Patients and Methods: Cataract patients who underwent biometric measurements with the IOL Master 500 and the Pentacam AXL from July to November 2017 were enrolled in this study. Comparisons were performed for axial length (AL), keratometry (K), and anterior chamber depth (ACD). The Pearson correlation coefficient and the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated. Paired Student's t -tests and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the differences between devices., Results: One hundred and sixty-six eyes of 92 patients were analyzed. There were no statistically significant differences in AL (p=0.558) or flat K (p=0.196) values between the IOL Master 500 and Pentacam AXL measurements. Statistically significant differences were found between the two devices with respect to steep K, ACD, and mean K measurements (p<0.001)., Conclusion: Both devices provided similar measurements of AL and flat K, though there were statistically significant differences in ACD, steep K, and mean K measurements., Competing Interests: Dr. Ambrosio and Dr. Waring are consultants for Oculus®, Wetzlar, Germany from which they received grants and persona fees. Dr. Ambrosio also reports personal fees, non-financial support from Zeiss, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2020 Haddad et al.)

Purpose: To assess optical quality dynamics using a double-pass (DP) system in patients with dry eye disease (DED)., Methods: Seventy-six eyes with DED and 44 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent ocular surface evaluation including fluorescein corneal staining and Schirmer's II test. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was used to assess subjective symptoms. Optical quality dynamics and tear film instability was analyzed using a DP system (HD Analyzer TM , Visiometrics, Spain). Mean objective scatter index (OSI), maximum and minimum OSI, difference between maximum and minimum OSI (ΔOSI) were recorded with 40 consecutive scans over 20 s., Results: The DED group had pronounced impairment of optical quality compared to the control group. Mean OSI (4.29±4.07), minimum (3.22±3.51) and maximum (5.72±4.52) OSI, ΔOSI (2.50±1.96), OSDI score (36.94±16.55), and fluorescein corneal staining (0.79±0.96) were statistically significantly higher than controls ( p <0.05). Schirmer's II test was statistically significantly lower in the DED group compared to controls (10.08±7.85, 26.41±6.75, respectively; p <0.001). Three patterns of dynamic changes of OSI were proposed: ladder (continuous increase of OSI), seesaw (instability of OSI without improvement after blinking), and plateau (steady-high OSI). The ladder group showed the highest value of maximum OSI (6.93±4.13; p =0.03) and ΔOSI (3.76±2.08; p <0.001)., Conclusion: DP imaging system provides an objective measurement of the visual quality in DED. Tear film instability may be assessed by dynamic changes of OSI over 20 s. In particular, the highest OSI values were observed in the ladder pattern group., Competing Interests: Dr. Waring is a consultant and shareholder to Visiometrics and reports personal fees from Johnson & Johnson Vision, personal fees from Allergan, personal fees from Shire, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2019 Gouvea et al.)

The establishment of protocols for the control of the ovarian function of collared peccaries is recommended for the development of assisted reproductive techniques. The goals were to (1) compare a gonadotropin combination with prostaglandin analogue to synchronize timing of onset of estrus among animals, and (2) elucidate the effects of the most desirable protocol for performing an artificial insemination study and macroscopic evaluation of the ovaries. Three of five females treated with a double administration of 120 μg prostaglandin (cloprostenol) at a 9-day interval expressed symptoms of estrus 9 days after the second injection. One female presented estrus after 6 days, whereas other did not respond to the treatment. All females (5/5) treated with a single dose containing 400 IU eCG and 200 IU hCG manifested estrus 6 days after the hormone injection. In a second experiment, ten females that were estrous synchronized using eCG/hCG, were artificially inseminated with fresh semen and monitored for pregnancy every 30 days. Although there was no detection of fetuses by ultrasonic examination, seven females (7/10) had greater than basal progesterone values for 60 days after the treatments were imposed. Ovaries from two females treated with eCG/hCG were collected 6 days post-injection. There was confirmation of an ovarian stimulation as a result of the presence of 88 and 25 antral follicles, as well as three and eight hemorrhagic structures in ovaries of each female, respectively. It, therefore, is proposed that eCG/hCG can be used as an effective treatment for estrous synchronization in collared peccaries., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

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.)

Purpose: To study correlations of crystalline lens anatomy and position parameters obtained using intraoperative spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) in cataract patients., Methods: This retrospective study evaluated biometry data from 600 eyes of 399 cataract patients (mean age: 69±8.4 years) using intraoperative anterior segment SD-OCT during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. Lens anatomy and position parameters (anterior chamber depth [ACD] - center of the anterior cornea to the anterior lens capsule, lens thickness [LT] - distance between anterior and posterior lens capsules, and lens meridian position [LMP] - distance from center of the anterior cornea to intersection of the anterior and posterior lens) obtained with intraoperative SD-OCT, were correlated among themselves and with noncontact axial length (AL). Equatorial plane position (EPP) (distance between the plane of the lens equator and anterior capsule) was also studied. Pearson's coefficients ( r -values) were determined for all correlation pairs., Results: There was a moderate correlation between AL and ACD ( r =0.451; P <0.001). LMP was found to correlate strongly with ACD ( r =0.77; P <0.001) but very weakly with AL ( r =0.089; P =0.04). There was a moderately strong inverse correlation between LT and ACD ( r =-0.586; P <0.001) but the correlation between LT and AL and LT and LMP was found to be weak ( r =-0.155; P <0.001 and r =-0.121, P =0.003, respectively). Correlation of the ratio of EPP/LT and LT was weakly positive ( r =0.267; P <0.001)., Conclusion: LMP correlated strongly with ACD but only minimally with AL. LT correlated fairly strongly with ACD but only minimally with LMP. This should stimulate additional research into the relationships among ocular and crystalline lens anatomy and IOL position after cataract surgery., Competing Interests: Disclosure Dr Haddad and Dr Yeh have no financial or proprietary interest in any product mentioned herein. Dr Waring and Dr Rocha are consultants for Johnson & Johnson Vision. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Mucositis is one of the commonest side effects in cancer patients undergoing treatment with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, and it currently lacks appropriate and effective treatment. Acmella oleracea , a species of flowering herb from South America, contains spilanthol, an alkylamide that has several pharmacological properties, including anesthetic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of spilanthol in intestinal mucositis in Swiss mice induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an antineoplastic agent administered systemically for the treatment of many different cancers. The repeated administration of 5-FU resulted in intestinal mucositis and consequent decreased food intake, together with weight loss, in all the animals. Daily administration of spilanthol significantly lowered the severity of intestinal mucositis, reducing histopathological changes and increasing the villus height in the animals treated with spilanthol at a dosage of 30 mg/kg (p < 0.0044) compared to a group exposed only to 5-FU. A decrease of myeloperoxidase activity was also observed in the animals treated with 30 mg/kg of spilanthol (p < 0.05), although several pro-inflammatory cytokines were not quantifiable in any group. In conclusion, the data demonstrated that spilanthol effectively reduced inflammation in a mouse model of intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU, and that the compound might be a promising therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of this condition., Competing Interests: All authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiulcerative and antinociceptive activities of milk proteins using the induced gastric ulcer with ethanol rat model and the acetic acid-induced writhing mouse model. Casein (CN), (100, 300, and 1000 mg kg -1 ) doses presented antiulcerative activity on a dose-dependent manner with values of 30.8%, 41.4%, and 57.0% of inhibition measured using the ulcerative lesions index (ULI), respectively. Whey protein concentrate (WPC), (100, 300, and 1000 mg kg -1 ) doses presented antiulcerative activity on a dose-dependent manner with values of 48.9%, 65.5%, and 68.22% of ULI inhibition, respectively. CN, casein hydrolysates (CNH), WPC, and whey protein hydrolysates (WPH), (3, 10, and 30 mg kg -1 ) doses presented antinociceptive activity using the acetic acid-induced writhing in the mouse model. CN (30 mg kg -1 ) presented a value of 40% of inhibition writhing, and CNH (30 mg kg -1 ) presented antinociceptive activity with a value up to 46% of writhing inhibition. WPC (30 mg kg -1 ) presented a value of 52.50%, and WPH (30 mg kg -1 ) presented antinociceptive activity with a value up to 88.00% of writhing inhibition. In conclusion, CN and WPC demonstrated in vivo antiulcerative properties and represent a promising alternative to be used as protectors of the gastric mucosa. CNH and WPH demonstrated in vivo antiulcerative properties and represent a promising alternative to be used as natural analgesic.

The influence of environmental factors in a semiarid climate on characteristics of fresh and frozen/thawed sperm collected from collared peccaries ( Pecari tajacu ) was assessed. Semen from 11 male collared peccaries was collected by electroejaculation during the peaks of the dry and rainy periods while rainfall indices, air temperatures, relative humidity levels, and wind speeds were measured. The number, motility, morphology, osmotic response, and membrane integrity of sperm in the collected ejaculates were assessed. Samples were then frozen in liquid nitrogen, thawed, and reassessed. The rainfall index of the rainy period (73.2 mm) was significantly higher than that of the dry period (13.6 mm) and the relative humidity was significantly higher during the rainy period (74.6%) than it was during the dry period (66.8%). Air temperature and wind speed did not differ between the two periods. Characteristics of sperm in the fresh samples were not affected by environmental parameters. In contrast, computerized analysis revealed that sperm in samples frozen during the rainy period exhibited better post-thaw membrane integrity (28.6 ± 6%), motility (29.5 ± 7.7%), and rapid sperm population (13.7 ± 6.2%) than did sperm in samples frozen during the dry period (23.4 ± 3% membrane integrity, 14.6 ± 4.1% motility, and 4.1 ± 1.2% rapid sperm; p  < 0.05). Other characteristics of the frozen/thawed sperm did not differ depending on the period in which they were collected. We demonstrated that environmental parameters did not affect the quality of fresh sperm, but could influence the freezability of sperm collected from collared peccaries raised under a semiarid climate.

Several studies have shown the protective effect of dairy products, especially α-lactalbumin and derived hydrolysates, against induced gastric ulcerative lesions. The mucus strengthening represents an important mechanism in the defense of gastrointestinal mucosa. Previously, a hydrolysate from casein (CNH) and a hydrolysate from whey protein concentrate rich in β-lactoglobulin (WPH) demonstrated a stimulatory activity on mucus production in intestinal goblet cells. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible antiulcerative activity of these two hydrolysates in an ethanol-induced ulcer model in rats. All tested samples significantly reduced the ulcerative lesions index (ULI), compared with the saline solution, using doses of 300 and 1000 mg kg -1 body weight with decreases up to 66.3% ULI. A dose-response relationship was found for both hydrolysates. The involvement of endogenous sulfhydryl (SH) groups and prostaglandins (PGs) in the antiulcerative activity was evaluated using their blockage. The antiulcerative activity of WPH showed a drastic decrease in presence of N-ethylmaleimide (from 41.4% to 9.2% ULI). However, the CNH antiulcerative properties were not significantly affected. The cytoprotective effect of WPH appears to depend on a PG-mediated mechanism. In conclusion, CNH and WPH demonstrated in vivo antiulcerative properties and represent a promising alternative as protectors of the gastric mucosa.

As a non-threatened hystricognath rodent species, Spix's yellow-toothed cavies can be used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive techniques for the conservation of closely related species. The objective was to establish a functional protocol for cryopreservation of epididymal sperm from these cavies. Twelve sexually mature males, ∼2 y old and weighing ∼300 g, were euthanized. Sperm were recovered by retrograde flushing of the vas deferens and cauda epididymis with Tris extender. Thereafter, sperm were extended in Tris plus 20% egg yolk, with 3%, 6% or 9% glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), placed in 0.25 mL straws and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Sperm concentration, motility (using computer-assisted sperm analysis; CASA), plasma membrane integrity, osmotic response, morphology and sperm binding-ability were determined in fresh and frozen-thawed sperm. For most sperm endpoints, glycerol was a more desirable cryoprotectant than DMSO. Data (mean ± SEM) were similar with use of 3%, 6%, and 9% glycerol (P > 0.05) in osmotic response (40.66 ± 6.3%, 42.5 ± 7.1%, and 39.5 ± 5.0% respectably), and membrane integrity (55.17 ± 5.5%, 68.4 ± 4.1%, and 59.1 ± 4.9% respectably). Among concentrations assessed, the use of 6% glycerol resulted in the greatest (P < 0.05) post-thaw values for total motility (60.9 ± 4.4%), rapid subpopulation motility (27.7 ± 3.1%) and sperm-binding capability (227.0 ± 20.2). In conclusion, epididymal sperm from the Spix's yellow-toothed cavies (G. spixii) are optimally cryopreserved in Tris extender with 6% glycerol and 20% egg yolk., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the long-term visual outcomes of six eyes of 3 patients up to 13 years following the Laser Anterior Ciliary Excision (LaserACE) procedure., Methods: Three male patients of ages 59, 59, and 60 presented for evaluation at Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina at 8, 10, and 13 years after the LaserACE procedure for presbyopia, respectively. All 3 patients had a history of laser vision correction (LVC) prior to LaserACE treatment. Visual performance was evaluated using ray-tracing aberrometry, specifically higher-order aberrations, visual Strehl of the optical transfer function (VSOTF), depth of focus (DoF), and effective range of focus (EROF). VSOTF was computed as a function of defocus using a through-focus curve. Subjective DoF was overlaid on the VSOTF through-focus curve to establish the best image quality metric threshold value for correlation between subjective and objective DoF. EROF was determined by measuring the difference in diopters between the near and distance DoF curves, at 50% of VSOTF., Results: Distance-corrected visual acuity, distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity, and distance-corrected near visual acuity for all patients remained at 20/20 or better up to 13 years postoperatively. EROF averaged 1.56 ± 0.36 (D) for all eyes., Conclusions and Importance: LaserACE provided improvement in near vision functionality in these LVC patients with long-term stability. The LaserACE procedure is not on the visual axis, therefore these patients could still receive correction to their hyperopic regression.

Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans are environmental fungi that cause cryptococcosis, which is usually treated with amphotericin B and fluconazole. However, therapeutic failure is increasing because of the emergence of resistant strains. Because these species are constantly isolated from vegetal materials and the usage of agrochemicals is growing, we postulate that pesticides could be responsible for the altered susceptibility of these fungi to clinical drugs. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of the pesticide tebuconazole on the susceptibility to clinical drugs, morphophysiology, and virulence of C. gattii and C. neoformans strains. The results showed that tebuconazole exposure caused in vitro cross-resistance (CR) between the agrochemical and clinical azoles (fluconazole, itraconazole, and ravuconazole) but not with amphotericin B. In some strains, CR was observed even after the exposure ceased. Further, tebuconazole exposure changed the morphology, including formation of pseudohyphae in C. neoformans H99, and the surface charge of the cells. Although the virulence of both species previously exposed to tebuconazole was decreased in mice, the tebuconazole-exposed colonies recovered from the lungs were more resistant to azole drugs than the nonexposed cells. This in vivo CR was confirmed when fluconazole was not able to reduce the fungal burden in the lungs of mice. The tolerance to azoles could be due to increased expression of the ERG11 gene in both species and of efflux pump genes ( AFR1 and MDR1 ) in C. neoformans Our study data support the idea that agrochemical usage can significantly affect human pathogens present in the environment by affecting their resistance to clinical drugs., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.)

Cryptococcosis, an invasive fungal infection distributed worldwide that affects both domestic and wild animals, has incredible rates regarding treatment failure, leading to the necessity of the development of new therapies. In this way, we aimed to evaluate the probiotic (Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus paracasei ST-11, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) and antimicrobial photodynamic alternative therapies against Cryptococcus gattii in a murine model. Although previous studies suggest that these therapies can be promising against cryptococcosis, our experimental conditions for both probiotic and antimicrobial photodynamic therapies (aPDT) were not able to improve the survival of mice with cryptococcosis, even with the treatment combined with fluconazole. Our results may help other researchers to find the best protocol to test alternative therapies against Cryptococcus gattii., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Motivation: Transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-Seq) is a microbial systems-level tool, that can determine on a genome-wide scale and in high-throughput, whether a gene, or a specific genomic region, is important for fitness under a specific experimental condition., Results: Here, we present MAGenTA, a suite of analysis tools which accurately calculate the growth rate for each disrupted gene in the genome to enable the discovery of: (i) new leads for gene function, (ii) non-coding RNAs; (iii) genes, pathways and ncRNAs that are involved in tolerating drugs or induce disease; (iv) higher order genome organization; and (v) host-factors that affect bacterial host susceptibility. MAGenTA is a complete Tn-Seq analysis pipeline making sensitive genome-wide fitness (i.e. growth rate) analysis available for most transposons and Tn-Seq associated approaches (e.g. TraDis, HiTS, IN-Seq) and includes fitness (growth rate) calculations, sliding window analysis, bottleneck calculations and corrections, statistics to compare experiments and strains and genome-wide fitness visualization., Availability and Implementation: MAGenTA is available at the Galaxy public ToolShed repository and all source code can be found and are freely available at https://vanopijnenlab.github.io/MAGenTA/ ., Contact: vanopijn@bc.edu., Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online., (© The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com)

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.)

The increasing demand for safe food without preservatives or pesticides residues has encouraged several studies on natural products with antifungal activity and low toxicity. In this study, ethanolic extracts from leaves and fruit residues (peel and seeds) of three Brazilian savanna species (Acrocomia aculeata, Campomanesia adamantium and Caryocar brasiliense) were evaluated against phytopathogenic fungi. Additionally, the most active extract was chemically characterized by ESI-MS and its oral acute toxicity was evaluated. Extracts from C. brasiliense (pequi) peel and leaves were active against Alternaria alternata, Alternaria solani and Venturia pirina with minimal inhibitory concentrations between 350 and 1000 µg/mL. When incorporated in solid media, these extracts extended the lag phase of A. alternata and A. solani and reduced the growth rate of A. solani. Pequi peel extract showed better antifungal activity and their ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of substances widely reported as antifungal such as gallic acid, quinic acid, ellagic acid, glucogalin and corilagin. The oral acute toxicity was relatively low, being considered safe for use as a potential natural fungicide.

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in preterm infants is currently applied using intermittent positive pressure (2 positive-pressure levels) or in a conventional manner (one pressure level). However, there are no studies in the literature comparing the chances of failure of these NIV methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of failure of 2 noninvasive ventilatory support systems in preterm neonates over a period of 48 h., Methods: A randomized, prospective, clinical study was conducted on 80 newborns (gestational age < 37 weeks, birthweight < 2,500 g). The infants were randomized into 2 groups: 40 infants were treated with nasal CPAP and 40 infants with nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV). The occurrence of apnea, progression of respiratory distress, nose bleeding, and agitation was defined as ventilation failure. The need for intubation and re-intubation after failure was also observed., Results: There were no significant differences in birth characteristics between groups. Ventilatory support failure was observed in 25 (62.5%) newborns treated with nasal CPAP and in 12 (30%) newborns treated with NIPPV, indicating an association between NIV failure and the absence of intermittent positive pressure (odds ratio [OR] 1.22, P < .05). Apnea (32.5%) was the main reason for nasal CPAP failure. After failure, 25% (OR 0.33) of the newborns receiving nasal CPAP and 12.5% (OR 0.14) receiving NIPPV required invasive mechanical ventilation., Conclusions: Ventilatory support failure was significantly more frequent when nasal CPAP was used., (Copyright © 2015 by Daedalus Enterprises.)

Natural products using plants have received considerable attention because of their potential to treat various diseases. Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verlot is a native tropical American vine with healing properties employed in folk medicine for wound healing, inflammation, and gastrointestinal colic. Applying nanotechnology to plant extracts has revealed an advantageous strategy for herbal drugs considering the numerous features that nanostructured systems offer, including solubility, bioavailability, and pharmacological activity enhancement. The present study reports the preparation and characterization of chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (NPs) charged with A. chica standardized extract (AcE). Particle size and zeta potential were measured using a Zetasizer Nano ZS. The NP morphological characteristics were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Our studies indicated that the chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate mass ratio of 5 and volume ratio of 10 were found to be the best condition to achieve the lowest NP sizes, with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 150±13 nm and a zeta potential of +45±2 mV. Particle size decreased with AcE addition (60±10.2 nm), suggesting an interaction between the extract's composition and polymers. The NP biocompatibility was evaluated using human skin fibroblasts. AcE-NP demonstrated capability of maintaining cell viability at the lowest concentrations tested, stimulating cell proliferation at higher concentrations. Antiulcerogenic activity of AcE-NP was also evaluated with an acute gastric ulcer experimental model induced by ethanol and indomethacin. NPs loaded with A. chica extract reduced the ulcerative lesion index using lower doses compared with the free extract, suggesting that extract encapsulation in chitosan NPs allowed for a dose reduction for a gastroprotective effect. The AcE encapsulation offers an approach for further application of the A. chica extract that could be considered a potential candidate for ulcer-healing pharmaceutical systems.

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.)

We verify the efficiency of a protocol for estrus synchronization in captive female collared peccaries (Pecaricari tajacu) using the prostaglandin analog D-cloprostenol. Five adult female collared peccaries received an intramuscular administration of 60 µg D-cloprostenol, which procedure was repeated after a 9-day interval. For 10 days after second the D-cloprostenol administration, females were monitored for changes in external genitalia, ovarian ultrasonography, vaginal cytology and reproductive hormonal dosage. As a result, four females synchronized their estrous at 9.5 ± 0.5 days after the second administration of the prostaglandin analog. Such females showed external signs of estrus, including vulvar opening, hyperemic vaginal mucosa, and vaginal mucus, concomitant with an increase in the proportion of superficial cells (52.2 ± 9.9%) verified through vaginal cytology. An estrogen peak of 22.7 ± 3.4 pg/ml was detected by hormonal dosage, and the presence of anechoic follicles measuring 0.29 ± 0.05 × 0.32 ± 0.07 mm were detected in the ovary by ultrasonography. Given these findings, we suggest that D-cloprostenol may be effective for use in estrus synchronization in collared peccaries.

Purpose: To evaluate the change of epithelial and flap thickness after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) in correlation with the spherical equivalent refraction treated and clinical outcomes., Design: Prospective, randomized, contralateral-eye study., Methods: Forty myopic eyes underwent LASIK using an excimer laser with refraction ranging from -1.00 to -7.25 diopters (mean -3.25±1.9). Flap creation was randomized between eyes, using the IntraLASE FS60 laser (IL) in 1 eye and WaveLight FS200 laser (FS) in the contralateral eye. SD OCT was used to evaluate the epithelial and flap thickness profiles and corneal power preoperatively and at 1 week and 1, 3, and 9 months postoperatively. Manifest and wavefront refractions were performed at each postoperative visit., Results: Statistically significant epithelial thickening was observed in both IL and FS groups as early as 1 month postoperatively (P=.033 and P=.042), but this stabilized between 3 (P=.042 and P=.035) and 9 months (P=.043 and P=.041). Femtosecond-LASIK flaps were thicker in the IL group in comparison to the FS group at 3 and 9 months postoperatively (P=.003 and P=.005, respectively). There was a statistically significant correlation between the magnitude of preoperative myopic refraction and the central epithelial thickness at 1, 3, and 9 months (Pearson correlation coefficients 0.485, 0.587 and 0.576) (P=.0021, P=.0010, and P=.0011), respectively. SD OCT corneal power maps showed steepening at 3 and 9 months along with mild myopic shift., Conclusion: Progressive epithelial and flap thickening with increased corneal power were observed after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis for myopia with consequent stabilization between 3 to 9 months postoperatively. The magnitude of epithelial and flap thickness remodeling correlated to the preoperative myopic refractive error., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)