Cortical recovery of swallowing function in wound botulism

Background  

Botulism is a rare disease caused by intoxication leading to muscle weakness and rapidly progressive dysphagia. With adequate therapy signs of recovery can be observed within several days. In the last few years, brain imaging studies carried out in healthy subjects showed activation of the sensorimotor cortex and the insula during volitional swallowing. However, little is known about cortical changes and compensation mechanisms accompanying swallowing pathology.     

Gene expression profiles of mouse spermatogenesis during recovery from irradiation

Background  

Irradiation or chemotherapy that suspend normal spermatogenesis is commonly used to treat various cancers. Fortunately, spermatogenesis in many cases can be restored after such treatments but knowledge is limited about the re-initiation process. Earlier studies have described the cellular changes that happen during recovery from irradiation by means of histology. We have earlier generated gene expression profiles during induction of spermatogenesis in mouse postnatal developing testes and found a correlation between profiles and the expressing cell types. The aim of the present work was to utilize the link between expression profile and cell types to follow the cellular changes that occur during post-irradiation recovery of spermatogenesis in order to describe recovery by means of gene expression.     

Combination of diffusion tensor and functional magnetic resonance imaging during recovery from the vegetative state

Background  

The rate of recovery from the vegetative state (VS) is low. Currently, little is known of the mechanisms and cerebral changes that accompany those relatively rare cases of good recovery. Here, we combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the evolution of one VS patient at one month post-ictus and again twelve months later when he had recovered consciousness.     

Opportunistic versus life-cycle-oriented decision making in multi-loop recovery: an eco-eco study on disposed vehicles

Purpose  

Multinational companies have recently been encouraged by government policies to implement Extended Producer Responsibility. One objective is to stimulate high-level recovery, and the other is to introduce life cycle thinking. This paper studies decision making in recovery, comparing opportunistic decision making with short-term profit maximization (usually leading to one loop) versus a life-cycle perspective (leading to multiple loops). The question is (1) which business benefits this brings as well as reduction of environmental impact and (2) whether companies should be inclined to think multi-loop and if so how governments could stimulate this.     

Ultrasonically guided transvaginal oocyte recovery from calves treated with or without GnRH

We investigated the effect of GnRH given after gonadotropin stimulation on follicle growth and oocyte quality in young calves in a transvaginal oocyte recovery program. A 60 mg MPA pessary was inserted into each of nineteen 5-mo-old Friesian calves for 7 d; on Day 5 they received 140 mg, s.c. FSH (Folltropin) and 200 IU, i.m. PMSG and on Day 8 ten of the calves received 40 micrograms, i.m. GnRH (Fertagyl). Follicles were measured and aspirated on Day 9 using an ultrasound unit with a 6 MHz transvaginal probe (Toshiba). Oocytes from individual calves were recovered, graded and cultured in maturation media for 2 h (+GnRH group) or 22 h (-GnRH group), then fertilized and cultured for 6 d in SOF containing 0.8% BSA and amino acids. Oocyte viability (Class A,B or C) and embryo morphology were recorded. This procedure was repeated on the 19 calves plus 5 others 1 m.o. later, after random allocation to their respective groups. Approximately 70% of the calves responded to gonadotropin stimulation (> 2 follicles over 5 mm in diameter). Calves receiving GnRH tended to have both a higher number of follicles > 2 mm in diameter (27.1 vs 18.7) and of aspirated follicles (22.0 vs 14.1); however, there was a large variability between individuals (0 to 83 follicles and 0 to 73 aspirated). The total number of oocytes collected (10.8 vs 10.9) was not affected by GnRH treatment, probably due to the poor recovery rates in the highly stimulated calves from the +GnRH group, but GnRH did improve the proportion of viable oocytes (6.5 vs 4.1) due to a lower number of Class E oocytes (1.4 vs 4.5; P < 0.05). In the GnRH group, 40% of the viable oocytes had matured at the time of collection versus 0% in the group not treated with GnRH. The necessity of different culture runs between times and treatments prevented any meaningful comparison between groups for embryo development. Following the transfer of 19 morula/blastocyst-stage embryos to recipients, 3 pregnancies were detected by ultrasound examination on Day 60, with 1 oocyte originating from the +GnRH group and 2 from the -GnRH group.     

Use of cerebral state index to predict long-term unconsciousness in patients after elective craniotomy with delay recovery

Background  

The major difficulty in postoperative care in patients after craniotomy is to distinguish the intracranial deficits from the residual effect of general anesthesia. In present study, we used cerebral state index (CSI) monitoring in patients after craniotomy with delayed recovery, and evaluated the prediction probability of CSI for long-term postoperative unconsciousness.     

Metabolism during anaesthesia and recovery in colic and healthy horses: a microdialysis study

Background  

Muscle metabolism in horses has been studied mainly by analysis of substances in blood or plasma and muscle biopsy specimens. By using microdialysis, real-time monitoring of the metabolic events in local tissue with a minimum of trauma is possible. There is limited information about muscle metabolism in the early recovery period after anaesthesia in horses and especially in the colic horse. The aims were to evaluate the microdialysis technique as a complement to plasma analysis and to study the concentration changes in lactate, pyruvate, glucose, glycerol, and urea during anaesthesia and in the recovery period in colic horses undergoing abdominal surgery and in healthy horses not subjected to surgery.     

Impact of GnRH analogues on oocyte/embryo quality and embryo development in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: a case control study

Background  

Despite the clinical outcomes of ovarian stimulation with either GnRH-agonist or GnRH-antagonist analogues for in vitro fertilization (IVF) being well analysed, the effect of analogues on oocyte/embryo quality and embryo development is still not known in detail. The aim of this case-control study was to compare the efficacy of a multiple-dose GnRH antagonist protocol with that of the GnRH agonist long protocol with a view to oocyte and embryo quality, embryo development and IVF treatment outcome.     

TBP2 is a substitute for TBP in Xenopus oocyte transcription

Background  

TATA-box-binding protein 2 (TBP2/TRF3) is a vertebrate-specific paralog of TBP that shares with TBP a highly conserved carboxy-terminal domain and the ability to bind the TATA box. TBP2 is highly expressed in oocytes whereas TBP is more abundant in embryos.     

Effect of ingested sodium bicarbonate on muscle force, fatigue, and recovery

Verbitsky, O., J. Mizrahi, M. Levin, and E. Isakov.Effect of ingested sodium bicarbonate on muscle force, fatigue, and recovery. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(2):333-337, 1997.The influence of acute ingestion ofNaHCO₃ on fatigue and recovery ofthe quadriceps femoris muscle after exercise was studied in six healthymale subjects. A bicycle ergometer was used for exercising under three loading conditions: test A, loadcorresponding to maximal oxygen consumption; testB, load in test A + 17%; test C, load intest B but performed 1 h after acuteingestion of NaHCO₃.Functional electrical stimulation (FES) was applied to provokeisometric contraction of the quadriceps femoris. The resulting kneetorque was monitored during fatigue (2-min chronic FES) and recovery (10-s FES every 10 min, for 40 min). Quadriceps torques were higher inthe presence of NaHCO₃(P < 0.05): withNaHCO₃ the peak, residual, andrecovery (after 40 min) normalized torques were, respectively, 0.68 ± 0.05 (SD), 0.58 ± 0.05, and 0.73 ± 0.05; withoutNaHCO₃ the values were 0.45 ± 0.04, 0.30 ± 0.06, and 0.63 ± 0.06. The increasedtorques obtained after acute ingestion ofNaHCO₃ indicate the possibleexistence of improved nonoxidative glycolysis in isometric contraction,resulting in reduced fatigue and enhanced recovery.

     

The effects of voluntary, involuntary, and forced exercises on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and motor function recovery: a rat brain ischemia model

Background

Stroke rehabilitation with different exercise paradigms has been investigated, but which one is more effective in facilitating motor recovery and up-regulating brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after brain ischemia would be interesting to clinicians and patients. Voluntary exercise, forced exercise, and involuntary muscle movement caused by functional electrical stimulation (FES) have been individually demonstrated effective as stroke rehabilitation intervention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these three common interventions on brain BDNF changes and motor recovery levels using a rat ischemic stroke model.

Methodology/Principal Findings

One hundred and seventeen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups: Control (Con), Voluntary exercise of wheel running (V-Ex), Forced exercise of treadmill running (F-Ex), and Involuntary exercise of FES (I-Ex) with implanted electrodes placed in two hind limb muscles on the affected side to mimic gait-like walking pattern during stimulation. Ischemic stroke was induced in all rats with the middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model and fifty-seven rats had motor deficits after stroke. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, rats were arranged to their intervention programs. De Ryck''s behavioral test was conducted daily during the 7-day intervention as an evaluation tool of motor recovery. Serum corticosterone concentration and BDNF levels in the hippocampus, striatum, and cortex were measured after the rats were sacrificed. V-Ex had significantly better motor recovery in the behavioral test. V-Ex also had significantly higher hippocampal BDNF concentration than F-Ex and Con. F-Ex had significantly higher serum corticosterone level than other groups.

Conclusion/Significance

Voluntary exercise is the most effective intervention in upregulating the hippocampal BDNF level, and facilitating motor recovery. Rats that exercised voluntarily also showed less corticosterone stress response than other groups. The results also suggested that the forced exercise group was the least preferred intervention with high stress, low brain BDNF levels and less motor recovery.     

Induction and inhibition of oocyte maturation by EDCs in zebrafish

Background  

Oocyte maturation in lower vertebrates is triggered by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), which acts on unidentified receptors on the oocyte surface and induces the activation of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) in the oocyte cytoplasm. We previously described the induction of oocyte maturation in fish by an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), diethylstilbestrol (DES), a nonsteroidal estrogen.     

Disrupted montane forest recovery hinders biodiversity conservation in the tropical Andes

Aim

Andean montane forests are biodiversity hotspots and large carbon stores and they provide numerous ecosystem services. Following land abandonment after centuries of forest clearing for agriculture in the Andes, there is an opportunity for forest recovery. Field-based studies show that forests do not always recover. However, large-scale and long-term knowledge of recovery dynamics of Andean forests remains scarce. This paper analyses tropical montane forest recovery trajectories over a 15-year time frame at the landscape and tropical Andean scale to inform restoration planning.

Methods

We first detect “potential recovery” as areas that have experienced a forest transition between 2000 and 2005. Then, we use Landsat time series analysis of the normalized difference water index (NDWI) to classify four “realized recovery” trajectories (“ongoing”, “arrested”, “disrupted” and “no recovery”) based on a sequential pattern of 5-yearly Z-score anomalies for 2005–2020. We compare these results against an analysis of change in tree cover to validate against other datasets.

Results

Across the tropical Andes, we detected a potential recovery area of 274 km² over the period. Despite increases in tree cover, most areas of the Andes remained in early successional states (10–25% tree cover), and NDWI levelled out after 5–10 years. Of all potential forest recovery areas, 22% showed “ongoing recovery”, 61% showed either “disrupted” or “arrested recovery”, and 17% showed “no recovery”. Our method captured forest recovery dynamics in a Peruvian arrested succession context and in landscape-scale tree-planting efforts in Ecuador.

Main conclusions

Forest recovery across the Andes is mostly disrupted, arrested or unsuccessful, with consequences for biodiversity recovery and provision of ecosystem services. Low-recovery areas identified in this study might be good candidates for active restoration interventions in this UN Decade on Restoration. Future studies could determine restoration strategies and priorities and suggest management strategies at a local planning scale across key regions in the biodiversity hotspot.     

An optimised recovery method for thermophilic Campylobacter from liver

Background  

The past three decades have witnessed the rise of Campylobacter enteritis in man from virtual obscurity to notoriety, with present isolation rates superseding those of other enteric pathogens such as Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. in most developed countries. Although campylobacters are not completely new to applied bacteriology, they have evaded traditional isolation techniques used for the isolation of pure cultures, apart from single isolations that were free from competing organisms. Offals, in particular liver have been decribed as both a source of campylobacters, as well as a route of transmission of this organism to human. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an optimum method for the recovery of Campylobacter spp. from porcine liver.     

Biochemical heterogeneity,migration, and pre-fertilization release of mouse oocyte cortical granules

Background  

Oocyte cortical granules are important in the fertilization of numerous species including mammals. Relatively little is known about the composition, migration, and pre-fertilization release of mammalian oocyte cortical granules.     

An optimized rapid bisulfite conversion method with high recovery of cell-free DNA

Background

Methylation analysis of cell-free DNA is a encouraging tool for tumor diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis. Sensitivity of methylation analysis is a very important matter due to the tiny amounts of cell-free DNA available in plasma. Most current methods of DNA methylation analysis are based on the difference of bisulfite-mediated deamination of cytosine between cytosine and 5-methylcytosine. However, the recovery of bisulfite-converted DNA based on current methods is very poor for the methylation analysis of cell-free DNA.

Results

We optimized a rapid method for the crucial steps of bisulfite conversion with high recovery of cell-free DNA. A rapid deamination step and alkaline desulfonation was combined with the purification of DNA on a silica column. The conversion efficiency and recovery of bisulfite-treated DNA was investigated by the droplet digital PCR. The optimization of the reaction results in complete cytosine conversion in 30 min at 70 °C and about 65% of recovery of bisulfite-treated cell-free DNA, which is higher than current methods.

Conclusions

The method allows high recovery from low levels of bisulfite-treated cell-free DNA, enhancing the analysis sensitivity of methylation detection from cell-free DNA.

     

Oxidative stress is associated with aluminum toxicity recovery in apex of pea root

Aims

Although many studies on the mechanism of Al toxicity and tolerance have been conducted independently, events occurring during the recovery process from Al injury is limited. This study was to investigate Al toxicity recovery mechanism focusing in morphological and physiological aspect.

Methods

We investigated the mechanisms underlying Al toxicity recovery in terms of oxidative stress using the pea root apex as a model system.

Results

The accumulation of reactive oxygen species was remarkably high in the root under continued Al treatment but decreased in the recovering root. The superoxide anion exuded in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) showed a similar tendency with respect to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. A similar pattern of lignin content and superoxide dismutase activity was observed among the treatments, while the increased peroxidation in the root under continued Al treatment did not decline with recovery treatment. A longitudinal section of the root under continued Al treatment showed the accumulation of superoxide anion, lignin and peroxide (H₂O₂) at the epidermal and outer cortex region where the Al induced injuries, including ruptures, are detected.

Conclusions

Oxidative stress is associated with the mechanism of Al toxicity recovery. The recovery process might include the elongation of the central cylinder as a consequence of the oxidative stress-induced formation of the zonal region (ZR). The results further suggest a plausible role for the ZR in the programmed cell death-like function involved in Al toxicity recovery.     

Studies of the role of steroid hormone in the regulation of oocyte maturation in cattle

Background  

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the steroid hormone(s) secreted from cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) is a prerequisite for bovine oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion using aminoglutethimide (AGT), a P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage inhibitor.     

Effect of adiponectin on bovine granulosa cell steroidogenesis,oocyte maturation and embryo development

Background  

Adiponectin is an adipokine, mainly produced by adipose tissue. It regulates several reproductive processes. The protein expression of the adiponectin system (adiponectin, its receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 and the APPL1 adaptor) in bovine ovary and its role on ovarian cells and embryo, remain however to be determined.     

Potential targets of transforming growth factor-beta1 during inhibition of oocyte maturation in zebrafish

Background  

TGF-beta is a multifunctional growth factor involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities. Unlike mammals, the function of TGF-beta in the reproduction of lower vertebrates, such as fish, is not clear. Recently, we showed that TGF-beta1 inhibits gonadotropin- and 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP)-induced maturation in zebrafish. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying this action.