Reproductive and age classes do not change spatial dynamics of foraging long-fingered bats (Myotis capaccinii)

Spatial dynamics of foraging long-fingered bats (Myotis capaccinii) were studied in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula. We analysed the locations of 45 radio-tracked individuals during three discrete periods through the breeding season and measured the spatial parameters related to their foraging behaviour in order to test whether variations in spatial use occur. Colony range, measured as the minimum convex polygon through all the radiolocations, was 345 km², but the area used during each period was smaller. During pre-breeding, foraging bats gathered at two stretches of different tributary rivers; during lactation, they scattered throughout the river system; and during weaning, they aggregated at a stretch of the main river. Individuals on average flew 5.7 km from roosts to foraging areas, with a maximum absolute distance of 22.7 km. Individual foraging ranges were measured linearly, because the bats foraged mostly along rivers; their values averaged 1.3 km/night and overlapped extensively between neighbouring bats (>65% on average). The sampling period, rather than the bats’ reproductive status, age, or sex, explained the observed variability in spatial distribution and size of hunting sites. We did not find differences in spatial parameters between lactating females and non-lactating bats, nor between juveniles and adults. This is the first study to split the independent effects of season and population class in order to enable unconfounded interpretations of the spatial dynamics of foraging reproductive females and juveniles. We speculate that the relationship between colony size and prey availability ruled the observed changes in foraging area through seasons. The considerable overlap in individual foraging ranges may be a necessary adaption to large colonies forced by the specific roost requirements of the long-fingered bat and the narrow foraging niche they appear to occupy.     

Cardiac protein changes in ischaemic and dilated cardiomyopathy: a proteomic study of human left ventricular tissue

The development of heart failure (HF) is characterized by progressive alteration of left ventricle structure and function. Previous works on proteomic analysis in cardiac tissue from patients with HF remain scant. The purpose of our study was to use a proteomic approach to investigate variations in protein expression of left ventricle tissue from patients with ischaemic (ICM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Twenty-four explanted human hearts, 12 from patients with ICM and 12 with DCM undergoing cardiac transplantation and six non-diseased donor hearts (CNT) were analysed by 2DE. Proteins of interest were identified by mass spectrometry and validated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. We encountered 35 differentially regulated spots in the comparison CNT versus ICM, 33 in CNT versus DCM, and 34 in ICM versus DCM. We identified glyceraldehyde 3-phophate dehydrogenase up-regulation in both ICM and DCM, and alpha-crystallin B down-regulation in both ICM and DCM. Heat shock 70 protein 1 was up-regulated only in ICM. Ten of the eleven differentially regulated proteins common to both aetiologies are interconnected as a part of a same network. In summary, we have shown by proteomics analysis that HF is associated with changes in proteins involved in the cellular stress response, respiratory chain and cardiac metabolism. Although we found altered expression of eleven proteins common to both ischaemic and dilated aetiology, we also observed different proteins altered in both groups. Furthermore, we obtained that seven of these eleven proteins are involved in cell death and apoptosis processes, and therefore in HF progression.     

Variability of NT-proBNP and its relationship with inflammatory status in patients with stable essential hypertension: a 2-year follow-up study

Background

The variability of NT-proBNP levels has been studied in heart failure, yet no data exist on these changes over time in hypertensive patients. Furthermore, studies on the relationship between natriuretic peptides and inflammatory status are limited.

Methodology/Principal Findings

220 clinically and functionally asymptomatic stable patients (age 59±13, 120 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up, and NT-proBNP was measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months. No differences in NT-proBNP were found with respect to the basal stage in the hypertrophic group, but significant changes were found in non-hypertrophic subjects. The reproducibility of NT-proBNP measurements was better in patients with hypertrophy than in the non-hypertrophic group for the three intervals (stage I-basal; stage II-stage I; stage II-basal) with a reference change value of 34%, 35% and 41%, respectively, in the hypertrophic group. A more elevated coefficient of correlation was obtained in the hypertrophic group than in patients without hypertrophy: basal versus stage I (r = 0.79, p<0.0001 and r = 0.59, p<0.0001) and stage I versus stage II (r = 0.86, p<0.0001 and r = 0.56, p<0.0001). Finally, levels of NT-proBNP significantly correlated with sTNF-R1 (p<0.0001) and IL-6 (p<0.01) during follow-up. A multivariate linear regression analysis showed that sTNF-R1 is an independent factor of NT-proBNP.

Conclusions/Significance

This work shows that there is good stability in NT-proBNP levels in a follow-up study of asymptomatic patients with stable hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. As a consequence, assessment of NT-proBNP concentrations may be a useful tool for monitoring the follow-up of hypertensive patients with hypertrophy. Measured variations in peptide levels, exceeding 35% in a 12-month follow-up and 41% in a 24-month follow-up, may indicate an increase in cardiovascular risk, and therefore implies adjustment in the medical treatment. In addition, this study shows a link between neurohormonal and inflammatory activation in these patients.     

Different expression of adrenoceptors and GRKs in the human myocardium depends on heart failure ethiology and correlates to clinical variables

Downregulation of β(1)- adrenergic receptors (β(1)-ARs) and increased expression/function of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) have been observed in human heart failure, but changes in expression of other ARs and GRKs have not been established. Another unresolved question is the incidence of these compensatory mechanisms depending on heart failure etiology and treatment. To analyze these questions, we quantified the mRNA/protein expressions of six ARs (α(1A), α(1B), α(1D), β(1), β(2), and β(3)) and three GRKs (GRK2, GRK3, and GRK5) in left (LV) and right ventricle (RV) from four donors, 10 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IC), 14 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), and 10 patients with nonischemic, nondilated cardiopathies (NINDC). We correlated the changes in the expressions of ARs and GRKs with clinical variables such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-systolic and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVESD and LVEDD, respectively). The main findings were 1) the expression of the α(1A)-AR in the LV positively correlates with LVEF; 2) the expression of GRK3 and GRK5 inversely correlates with LVESD and LVEDD, supporting previous observations about a protective role for both kinases in failing hearts; and 3) β(1)-AR expression is downregulated in the LV and RV of IC, in the LV of DC, and in the RV of NINDC. This difference, better than an increased expression of GRK2 (not observed in IC), determines the lower LVEF in IC and DC vs. NINDC.     

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast: A rare case report

BackgroundSquamous cells are normally not found inside the breast. Therefore, a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is an exceptional phenomenon and the management of this type of disease is still debated.AimClinical outcome assessment of a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.Materials and methodsWe report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast (T1cN0M0) in a 51-years-old woman who underwent breast conserving surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT).ResultsWith a follow up of 43 months, the patient is alive with no evidence of local or distant recurrence. The patient had Grade 2 acute skin toxicity. No late skin or respiratory toxicity was observed.ConclusionsPure primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive disease, often treatment-refractory. Our case shows that the addition of RT after breast conserving surgery, allows to achieve a high local control without adding severe toxicity. A multidisciplinary approach seems to be the optimal management for early stages in this rare disease.     

Diet and prey selection in the trawling long-fingered bat

The diet of the long-fingered bat Myotis capaccinii is poorly known, and there is no previously recorded information on this species' prey preferences. To investigate these subjects, we captured 51 individuals at a nursery cave in the Iberian Peninsula, from pre-breeding to post-lactation seasons. Each bat's diet composition was assessed by faecal content analysis and its foraging places (rivers, pools and channels) identified by radio-telemetry. To estimate prey availability, we sampled arthropods in the individual bats' identified foraging places and also emulated the bats' hunting technique. The bats' diet comprised of arthropods, dominated by small insects with aquatic larvae and flying adult phases. The most consumed taxon was Nematocera (mainly Chironomidae), including adults and pupae, which were also found to be the most abundant prey over water. Other frequently consumed prey were brachycerans, lepidopterans, arachnids, trichopterans and neuropterans. Diet proportions were compared with prey availability to infer a rank of preferences. The preferred prey were lepidopterans and arachnids, both having a terrestrial life cycle and a bigger size than any other taxa consumed. Without discarding the possible underestimation of prey's aerial availability, the observed preference pattern seems to be a consequence of selection for size more than for specific taxa. Apparently M. capaccinii efficiently exploit water-related prey according to availability when the bats hunt low over the water's surface, and are also able to take more profitable prey found higher in the air.     

Impact of glomerular filtration rate on urinary BNP and NT-proBNP levels in heart failure

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its inactive amino-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are diagnostic tools for heart failure (HF), but less is understood regarding the effects of renal function on their urinary concentrations. The objective was to analyze the influence of renal function, as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), on BNP and NT-proBNP concentrations in 90 HF outpatients (65 ± 12 years; 73% men), grouped according to eGFR below or above 60 mL/min. Patients with worse eGFR had higher serum NT-proBNP (p < 0.01) and BNP (p < 0.01) than patients with higher eGFR: NT-proBNP, but urinary levels did not reach statistical differences. In addition, a direct significant correlation between filtered load of serum NT-proBNP or BNP with their concentrations in urine was found in patients with eGFR above 60 mL/min (r = 0.66, p < 0.001 and r = 0.338, p < 0.05) and below 60 mL/min (r = 0.63, p < 0.001 and r = 0.406, p < 0.01). However, after normalizing urinary natriuretic peptide concentrations by their filtered load, we obtained a significant inverse and exponential relation in patients with worse renal function for NT-proBNP and BNP (r = -0.87, p = 0.001; and r = -0.71, p < 0.001, respectively) and in patients with eGFR>60 mL/min (r = -0.84, p < 0.001; and r = -0.72, p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, similar urinary NT-proBNP and BNP excretion was obtained in patients with high or low eGFR. Furthermore, despite the direct correlation between filtered load of serum natriuretic peptides with their urinary levels, an inverse an exponential relationship was obtained after normalizing urinary concentrations. Therefore, glomerular filtration does not seem to be the major determinant of both urinary peptide concentrations.