7 OESTRAL RESPONSE AND FERTILITY IN DAIRY COWS TREATED WITH PROGESTERONE FOR 6 DAYS PRIOR TO OESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION WITH PROSTAGLANDIN F2α

The present study tested whether the increase in serum progesterone concentrations for 6 days before oestrus synchronization with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2) increases oestral response, pregnancy rate, and reduces the incidence of twin births in dairy cattle. Seven hundred and eighty-three first-service dairy cows were synchronized with 2 injections of PGF2 14 days apart, starting on Day 35 postpartum. Six days before the second PGF2 injection, cows were assigned to 2 groups: P4 and control. The P4 group (n = 387) received a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device and an intramuscular injection of 500 mg of progesterone. The control group (n = 396) did not receive the progesterone-releasing intravaginal device or progesterone injection. Cows were inseminated 12 h after exhibiting oestrus. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 40 and 45 days after insemination by rectal palpation and the cumulative pregnancy rate on Day 90 postpartum was determined retrospectively through the individual records. The response to the progesterone treatment varied according to the parity of the cows (P < 0.05). Thus, progesterone administration improved the percentage of cows detected in oestrus in multiparous [192/255 (75.2%) v. 161/267 (60.2%)] but not in primiparous [93/132 (70.4%) v. 90/129 (69.7%)] cows. Progesterone treatment increased pregnancy rate in multiparous [53/192 (27.6%) v. 27/161 (16.7%)] but not in primiparous cows [25/93 (26.8%) v. 29/90 (32.2%)]. Likewise, progesterone administration increased the cumulative percentage of pregnant cows on day 90 postpartum in multiparous [149/255 (58.4%) v. 129/267 (48.3%)] but not in primiparous cows [77/132 (58.3%) v. 82/129 (63.5%)]. The incidence of twin births was lower (P = 0.07) in cows treated with progesterone [1/74 (1%)] than in the control group [4/53 (7%)]. It is concluded that progesterone administration before oestrus synchronization with PGF2 in first service dairy cows improves oestral response, increases pregnancy rate, and percentage of pregnant animals on Day 90 postpartum in multiparous cows, but not in primiparous cows, and decreases the incidence of twin births. This research was supported by PAPIIT-UNAM research grant (IN219811-3).

Uranium and thorium sequential separation from norm samples by using a SIA system

This study presents a sequential radiochemical separation method for uranium and thorium isotopes using a novel Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) system with an extraction chromatographic resin (UTEVA). After the separation, uranium and thorium isotopes have been quantified by using alpha-particle spectrometry. The developed method has been tested by analyzing an intercomparison sample (phosphogypsum sample) from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with better recoveries for uranium and thorium than the obtained by using a classical method (93% for uranium using the new methodology and 82% with the classical method, and in the case of thorium the recoveries were 70% for the semi-automated method and 60% for the classical strategy). Afterwards, the method was successfully applied to different Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) samples, in particular sludge samples taken from a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and also sediment samples taken from an area of influence of the dicalcium phosphate (DCP) factory located close to the Ebro river reservoir in Flix (Catalonia). The obtained results have also been compared with the obtained by the classical method and from that comparison it has been demonstrated that the presented strategy is a good alternative to existing methods offering some advantages as minimization of sample handling, reduction of solvents volume and also an important reduction of the time per analysis.

Comparative study of different analytical methods for the determination of 238U, 234U, 235U, 230Th and 232Th in NORM samples (Southern Catalonia)

Uranium and thorium isotopes from sludge samples taken from an area of influence of a dicalcium phosphate factory, located close to the Ebro River reservoir in Flix, and from mineral raw materials (coal and phosphate) which were deposited in Tarragona Harbour (Catalonia) have been measured. To do that, several procedures to determine these isotopes have been applied and compared in terms of accuracy, precision and total analysis time. In particular, digestion procedures, such as one based on conventional acidic digestion or another based on the use of microwave digestion, have been tested. Moreover, different radiochemical separation procedures have been applied. In this regard, one method based on liquid-liquid extraction using TBP/Xylene and another based on the use of extraction chromatography using UTEVA resins have been compared. Firstly, the different proposed methods were tested by analyzing a phosphogypsum sediment and a moss-soil sample from two different intercomparison exercises. The microwave digestion - UTEVA method provided the best results (recoveries higher than 82% for uranium and thorium isotopes) and was then applied to the NORM samples. The obtained results showed that the higher uranium and thorium activities values were found in phosphate raw material and in the more superficial samples located in sludge sediments next to the dicalcium phosphate factory.

Depression in the elderly: study in a rural city in southern Catalonia

Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric diseases among the elderly, and frequently go without diagnosis and treatment. However, evidence regarding the prevalence of depression related to the diagnostic systems utilized and the sociocultural variations in the different communities investigated (rural-urban) is contradictory. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression in a rural area in the south of Catalonia, analysing the different age groups, identifying the causal factors of depression and determining whether there are gender differences. The descriptive and quantitative study includes 157 women and 160 men. The qualitative study evaluates 14 men and 52 women diagnosed with depression. Our results indicate a high risk of depression in elderly participants of our small rural community. Widowers suffer more depression than widows and the loneliness, illness, and task of caregiver were predictive variables for depression in these elderly men. The loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living associated with ageing has a greater effect on depression disorders in men than in women.

Distribution of naturally occurring radioactive materials in sediments from the Ebro river reservoir in Flix (Southern Catalonia, Spain)

Industrial waste containing radioactive isotopes (from U-decay series) was released into Ebro river basin due to the activity of a dicalcium phosphate (DCP) plant for a period of more than two decades. Gross alpha, gross beta, (40)K, (226)Ra and (210)Pb activities were determined in several sludge samples taken at different depths from different points in the area of influence of the DCP plant located in Flix. Samples were collected from two different zones: one in front of the DCP plant and the second in front of a wastewater treatment plant installed several years after the DCP plant. The data obtained verify the influence of industrial DCP production on radioactivity levels present in the area.

In vivo behavior of complete human oral mucosa equivalents: characterization in athymic mice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The interest in tissue engineering as a way to achieve repair of damaged body tissues has led to the carrying out of many studies whose results point to the potential effectiveness of these methods. In a previous study, we reported the obtaining of complete autologous oral mucosa equivalents (CAOMEs), characterized by oral immature keratinocytes and stem cells on an autologous plasma and fibroblast scaffold. The purpose of this study is to show their behavior in vivo, by using them as free grafts in experimental animals, and to demonstrate their potential capacity to regenerate oral mucosa.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We engineered CAOMEs, as previously described. All CAOMEs thus obtained were used as free grafts in nu/nu mice. To assess their evolution in vivo, we studied their histological and immunohistochemical features by using AE1/AE3 pancytokeratin, the 5/6 cytokeratin pair, cytokeratin 13, laminin 5, collagen IV, vimentin, p-63 and Ki-67, at 7, 14 and 21 d.

RESULTS

The structure became progressively closer to that of oral mucosa samples. Cytokeratin 5/6 staining became increasingly intense in the basal and suprabasal layers, and cytokeratin 13 was exclusively positive in the superficial layers. The basal membrane was completed in 21 d. Vimentin showed a correct formation of the chorion. The increasingly positive staining of p-63 and Ki-67 indicated that the regeneration process was taking place.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows the potential regenerative capacity of the CAOMEs by their ability to reach maturity similar to that seen in oral mucosa.

Presence of naturally occurring radioactive materials in sludge samples from several Spanish water treatment plants

Sludge samples from eleven potable water treatment plants (PWTP), three waste water treatment plants (WWTP) and an industrial water treatment plant (IWTP), located in different areas of Spain, mainly in Catalonia, were analyzed for their radiological content in order to determine whether they could be considered as industries affected by naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). In general, samples from the PWTPs showed higher activity values for the alpha and gamma emitting isotopes than the WWTPs and the IWTP. For example, samples from the area located in the north of Catalonia show values of (234)U, (235)U and (238)U in the range of 84.4-792.1 Bq/kg, 3.3-26.8 Bq/kg and 63.8-585.9 Bq/kg, respectively. In general, for PWTP, the values obtained for the gamma emitter and alpha emitter isotopes showed that both the geology and the industrial activities correlate with the values measured. The magnitude of these results demonstrates the need to measure the radionuclide content of these samples before reaching a decision about their final disposal.

No interaction between methyl jasmonate and ozone in Pima cotton: growth and allocation respond independently to both

Ozone (O3) is damaging to plants, inducing signalling pathways involving antagonism between jasmonates and ethylene. These pathways mediate O3 responses, particularly to acute exposure, and their manipulation protected several species against acute and chronic O3. We use chronic daily exposure of up to 163 ppb O3, and twice weekly application of up to 320 microg plant(-1) methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to test two hypothesizes: 1) a low rate of MeJA does not affect growth but increases O3 sensitivity; 2) a high rate inhibits growth but reduces O3 sensitivity. Both hypotheses were rejected. Growth declined with increases in both MeJA and O3. MeJA at 40 microg plant(-1) caused no direct effect, and at 160 microg plant(-1) reduced growth similarly at all O3. Neither rate altered O3 sensitivity. These additive responses are not consistent with protection by MeJA in this system. They may reflect inter-specific differences in signalling, since O3 concentrations used here exceeded some reported acute exposures. Alternatively, parallel responses to O3 and MeJA may suggest that O3-induced jasmonates play a developmental role in chronic response but no protective role in the absence of lesions characteristic of acute exposure. MeJA appears useful as a probe of these mechanisms.

Lytic bone lesions in lupus-associated myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is associated with numerous causes other than hematologic malignant neoplasms, including autoimmune diseases. We describe a 44-year-old woman who suffered bone lytic lesions with extramedullary haematopoiesis in the setting of myelofibrosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Macrophages are novel sites of expression and regulation of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4)

Obesity is linked to a low-level chronic inflammatory state that may contribute to the development of associated metabolic complications. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipokine associated with parameters of obesity including insulin resistance indices, body mass index, waist circumference, lipid profile, and recently, with circulating inflammatory factors. Due to the infiltration of adipose tissue in obesity by macrophages derived from circulating monocytes and, on the other hand, the existence of a close genetic relationship between adipocytes and macrophages, we decided to examine if RBP4 is expressed in monocytes and/or primary human macrophages. While we did not detect expression of RBP4 in undifferentiated monocytes, RBP4 expression became evident during the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and was highest in differentiated macrophages. Once we demonstrated the expression of RBP4 in macrophages, we checked if RBP4 expression could be regulated by inflammatory stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), or the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We observed that while RBP4 expression was strongly inhibited by TNF-alpha and LPS, it was not affected by IL-6. Our results highlight the complexity behind the regulation of this adipokine and demonstrate that RBP4 expression in macrophages could be modulated by inflammatory stimuli.

Measurement of radioactivity in bottled drinking water in Spain

The radioactive parameters in the Spanish regulations on water intended for human consumption (law decree 140/2003) have been determined in 30 different brands of some of the most common bottled mineral waters produced and consumed in Spain. These waters are not included in this legislation but if their consumption increases, the dose of radiation in the population may also increase. After gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, gross beta without potassium contribution and tritium activity had been determined, only a few samples (16% of the samples analysed) were over the normative limit for gross alpha activity (0.1 Bq/l), whereas all the samples were below the normative limits for the other parameters. For samples with high gross alpha activity values, (226)Ra and (224)Ra were determined. The values were between 0.01 and 1.52 Bq/l, and between 0.01 and 0.38 Bq/l, respectively, so alpha activity should be considered to be of natural origin.

La leptospirose: une cause inhabituelle d'uvéite antérieure

INTRODUCTION

Leptospirosis is an anthropozoonosis, which affect 100000 people by year worldwide.

CASE REPORT

Leptospirosis and IgA deficiency were revealed in a young man by acute anterior uveitis, after canyoning practice in the French West Indies.

DISCUSSION

Uveitis should be added to the ocular phenotype of leptospirosis.