Effect of Ilizarov tibial lengthening on limb blood flow

The experiment in 23 adult dogs was based on the study of volumetric blood flow velocity in the superficial femoral artery and femoral vein, pulse changes in blood filling of the m. gastrocnemius in the conditions of tibial lengthening to 17.5-23% from the initial length. Complex changes in the blood flow parameters were revealed after surgical intervention and within 7 distraction days. When the distraction ended, the volumetric blood flow velocity in the femoral artery was reduced by 19% and the blood flow out of the vessel was improved by 17%. When fixation was over, the volumetric blood flow velocity in the vessel increased by 37% and the improved outflow preserved. At each experimental stage, there was an increased volumetric blood flow velocity in the femoral vein as compared to its value in the control group, its correspondence to the superficial femoral artery as well as similar dynamics in blood flow changes in the femoral vessels and m. gastrocnemius. The findings show that the vascular system of bone regeneration provides accelerated arterial blood transportation into the venous system during organotypical bone area formation.     

Protandrous migration and variation in morphological characters in Emberiza buntings at an East Asian stopover site

The effect of the timing of spring migration on reproductive success differs between the sexes. As a consequence, various sex‐specific tactics relating to the timing of migration have evolved in migratory avian groups. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain differential migration to breeding or wintering grounds, and inter‐ and intrasexual size differences are often considered one of the proximate mechanisms. We investigated arrival patterns in the spring by individuals of each sex, sexual size dimorphism and related morphological variables, and the relationship between size variation and arrival date in five bunting species that passed through an East Asian migratory flyway stopover site in 2006–08. Males of all the study species arrived before females, and significant sexual dimorphism was observed. Several morphological characters, including total length, wing‐length and tail‐length, contributed to the size variation. Although larger males arrived earlier, there was no relationship between arrival date and size in females. Our study confirmed that East Asian buntings display a discriminated protandrous migration pattern at the stopover site as well as at the breeding grounds. This is consistent with the view that larger body size in males is favoured due to its association with early arrival to help ensure access to the best resources and hence enhanced mating success.     

Effect of Shin Lengthening and Regular Exercise on Limb Arteries

The luminal diameter of arteries increases with the natural growth of the body. The wall elasticity and the luminal diameter of arteries also temporarily increased on shin lengthening by the Ilizarov technique in patients with limb-length discrepancy. Notwithstanding an increase in the supplied tissue mass, these parameters were not stabilized at a new, higher level. The luminal diameter was shown to depend on the contractility of the corresponding muscles. Regular training reduced the wall elasticity and increased its orthostatic change in choreography students. Athletes displayed a dependence of the popliteal artery lumen on the muscle contractility; however, the luminal diameter of the popliteal artery was relatively low in athletes.     

Effect of porcine placenta steroid extract on myogenic satellite cell proliferation, transdifferentiation, and lipid accumulation

Intramuscular long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) play an important role in energy production and initiation of mitochondrial oxidation of lipids. Herein, we report a natural porcine placenta steroid extract (PPSE) that stimulates transdifferentiation and lipid accumulation in bovine myogenic satellite cells (MSCs). The steroids hormones in PPSE were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and presence of LCFA was established using gas chromatography. At 70% confluent growth, cells were treated with PPSE, LCFAs, transdifferentiation cocktail and commercially available steroid hormones. The working concentrations of all chemicals were manipulated similar to PPSE. The cells were observed for morphological changes and subjected to quantitative analysis of lipid deposition on Days 2, 4, and 6 of treatment. PPSE-treated MSCs exclusively transformed into lipid-accumulated adipose-like cells (ALCs). However, myotubes or adipocytes were formed in cells treated with other chemicals. Expression of different genes was studied to ascertain the molecular mechanism involved in ALC formation. CD36, fatty acid binding protein 4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma were up-regulated. The expression of CD36 was established through immunocyto-chemical analysis. A viability assay was used to confirm the effect of PPSE on proliferation of MSCs. Hence, a natural steroid extract from porcine was found as a nontoxic mixture, which induces lipid accumulation and transdifferentiation of MSCs to ALCs. From the gene expression studies, it was established that the extract works almost in homogenous manner with other lipid inducers.     

Injection drug use and HIV/AIDS transmission in China

INTRODUCTION Although sexual transmission accounts for most of the AIDS epidemic globally, HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs) is a growing problem worldwide. First de- tected in China in 1989 among drug abusers on the Yunnan border, HIV/AIDS subse…     

Diameter of the Main Arteries of the Lower Extremities after a Bicycle Ergometer Test

The linear blood flow velocity and the diameter of main arteries of the lower extremities were measured before and after a 30-min bicycle ergometer exercise in 18- to 22-year-old healthy male volunteers not involved in professional sports (controls), as well as in highly qualified wrestlers and track-and-field athletes. In comparison to the control group, the track-and-field athletes have wider arteries, whereas the wrestlers have stronger muscles. The arteries become wider during the first minutes after the bicycle ergometer exercise, which is accompanied by a decrease in the linear velocity of the blood flow. The athletes, especially the track-and-field athletes, have a shorter transitional period. The arterial blood flow in an extremity shows a 20% increase in the first minutes after the test; the shortest recovery period for this parameter was found in the track-and-field athletes.     

Transmission potential,skin inflammatory response,and parasitism of symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil is caused by the protozoan Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi and it is transmitted by sandfly of the genus Lutzomyia. Dogs are an important domestic reservoir, and control of the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) to humans includes the elimination of infected dogs. However, though dogs are considered to be an important element in the transmission cycle of Leishmania, the identification of infected dogs representing an immediate risk for transmission has not been properly evaluated. Since it is not possible to treat infected dogs, they are sacrificed when a diagnosis of VL is established, a measure that is difficult to accomplish in highly endemic areas. In such areas, parameters that allow for easy identification of reservoirs that represents an immediate risk for transmission is of great importance for the control of VL transmission. In this study we aimed to identify clinical parameters, reinforced by pathological parameters that characterize dogs with potential to transmit the parasite to the vector.

Results

The major clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs from an endemic area were onicogriphosis, skin lesions, conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, and weight loss. The transmission potential of these dogs was assessed by xenodiagnosis using Lutzomyia longipalpis. Six of nine symptomatic dogs were infective to Lutzomyia longipalpis while none of the five asymptomatic dogs were infective to the sandfly. Leishmania amastigotes were present in the skin of all clinically symptomatic dogs, but absent in asymptomatic dogs. Higher parasite loads were observed in the ear and ungueal region, and lower in abdomen. The inflammatory infiltrate was more intense in the ears and ungueal regions of both symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. In clinically affected dogs in which few or none Leishmania amastigotes were observed, the inflammatory infiltrate was constituted mainly of lymphocytes and macrophages. When many parasites were present, the infiltrate was also comprised of lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as a larger quantity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).

Conclusion

Dogs that represent an immediate risk for transmission of Leishmania in endemic areas present clinical manifestations that include onicogriphosis, skin lesions, conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, and weight loss. Lymphadenopathy in particular was a positive clinical hallmark since it was closely related to the positive xenodiagnosis.