Consequences of transvaginal follicular puncture on well-being in cows

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of repeated follicular puncture used in the ovum pick-up technique on the welfare of cows. The evaluation relies on the physiological measurement of stress, milk production criteria, immune status, and the histological examination of ovaries. Two groups of five Holstein cows were submitted to epidural anaesthesia and genital palpation with insertion of an intravaginal ultrasound probe for transvaginal puncture (the puncture was not performed in the control group). Animals were manipulated twice a week for 8 weeks (16 manipulation sessions). The blood cortisol concentrations increased after each session; however, the concentrations were the same in both the control and the punctured groups. Two adrenocorticotrophic hormone challenge tests, performed before the first session and after the last session, showed an unchanged adrenal sensitivity through repeated puncture sessions. The transvaginal puncture did not affect milk production, or blood and milk somatic cell counts. Ovariectomies were performed on another group of four Holstein cows at various intervals (0 to 30 days) after five similar puncture sessions. Histological examination of the ovaries 4 days after puncture revealed blood-filled follicles and haemorrhagic foci in ovarian stroma, but the examination 30 days after the last puncture session demonstrated very limited, if any, fibrosis. On the basis of the criteria chosen for this study, repeated transvaginal follicular puncture on its own does not impact adversely on the welfare of cows.     

Mid-infrared spectroscopy as a tool for rapid determination of internal quality parameters in tomato

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of predicting the quality parameters of tomato by mid-infrared spectroscopy. For 2 years, tomato samples, representing a large variability in the chemical composition, were scanned using the attenuated total reflectance accessory of a Fourier transform spectrometer in the wavenumber region between 4000 and 400 cm⁻¹_. Calibration models were developed using partial least squares (PLS) regression method and were tested with internal validation sample set in the first year. Different spectral preprocessing techniques were investigated and different spectral regions were selected to optimise the calibration models. In addition, the models obtained in 2007 were used to predict the soluble solids, dry matter and total acidity in tomato harvested in 2008.     

断层侧向封闭性的粘土涂抹势研究方法及应用

在深入分析粘土涂抹成因及其发育影响因素的基础上，根据粘土涂抹势与断层侧向封闭性之间的对应关系，建立了一套利用粘涂抹势研究断层侧向封闭性的方法，并将春应用于松辽盆地三站气田扶余和杨大城子油层的侧向封闭性研究中，其研究结果较客观地反映了该气田内气水分布规律，表明该方法对于断层侧向封闭性的研究是可行的。     

Role of carboxyl pendant groups of medium chain length poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoate)s in biomedical temporary applications

The poly(3‐hydroxyoctanoate) (PHO) is a biodegradable polyester containing hydrophobic side chains. One way to obtain more hydrophilic polyester consisted in the introduction of polar groups in the side chains. Carboxyl groups (PHO₇₅COOH₂₅) were introduced by chemical modifications. The role of carboxyl groups was investigated in the first part as potential support for cell seeding by studying the cell adhesion and proliferation, and in the second part as potential drug carrier by comparing the abilities of PHO and PHO₇₅COOH₂₅ to form degradable particles. Measurements of human bladder RT112 cells adhesion were done with or without collagen IV. Adhesive RT112 cells were counted by a colorimetric MTT test. The results showed that the COOH pendant groups of PHO₇₅COOH₂₅ films promoted cell adhesion after 4 h of incubation. The proliferation of cells is not improved after 4 days of incubation because of a reorganization of macromolecular chains and reorientation of COOH groups. This surface restructuration when the film was in contact with water was showed by contact angle measurements. We showed that the presence of COOH groups modified the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and enhanced the formation of particles. Stable lyophilisable particles were then obtained with diblock copolymer P(HO₇₅COOH₂₅‐b‐CL); the caprolactone block (CL) was necessary to improve particles stability. The results showed that the release of doxorubicin from the particles is enhanced in presence of hydrophilic and degradable block (PHO₇₅COOH₂₅). It was possible to obtain a degradable functional polyester based on PHO with carboxyl pendant groups to improve degradation rate by simple hydrolysis required for drug delivery systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Increased sialylation of polymeric immunoglobulin A1: mechanism of selective glomerular deposition in immunoglobulin A nephropathy?

Monoclonal antibodies which recognize antigenic determinants expressed by T-cells and Ig-bearing cells, respectively, allowed lymphocyte subpopulations involved in allograft rejection of muscle transplants to be identified in the teleost fish Dicentrarchus labrax (L.). The monoclonal antibody DLT15 first allowed recognizing T-cells involved in an in vivo antigen-driven cellular response in teleosts. Immunohistochemical studies showed a high density of lymphocytes in allografts and provided evidence of predominance of T-cells. The heterogeneity of the cell populations recognized by the antibodies was evidenced by the different size, cytology, and staining patterns of T-cells and Ig-bearing cells.     

Optical coherence tomography of macular thickness after cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate macular thickness changes after uneventful cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and compare the findings with those of flare and cell measurements of the anterior chamber. SETTING: Clinique Sourdille, Nantes, France. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 41 eyes having uneventful cataract surgery with a clear corneal small incision and intracapsular fixation of a foldable intraocular lens were evaluated by OCT and laser flare and cell measurements preoperatively and 1, 8 to 12, and 30 to 60 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Some postoperative increase in macular thickness was noted in 11 eyes. This was not related to a higher postoperative flare. Visual consequences were proportional to the macular elevation. CONCLUSION: Clinical and subclinical thickness changes, without breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier, can be detected after cataract surgery. Most of these changes resolve spontaneously, but their mid- and long-term significance is unknown.     

Management of severe burns during the 1st 72 hours

Early and efficient management of severely burned patients facilitates outcome improvement. Pre-hospital care includes fluid loading with 2 mL.kg-1/% burn over the first six hours, sedation and analgesia, prevention of hypothermia and ventilatory support for either critically burned patients or facial, cervical or pulmonary burn injury. The transient stay in a general hospital before transfer to a burn centre allows extension of initial care, the critical investigation for associated injuries (intoxication, multiple trauma) and to perform initial local treatment with sterile coverage or vaseline gauze after a revised assessment of the burned skin area, and possibly escharotomies. The main aim of care in the burn centre is to control hypovolaemia and to obtain maximal tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery to burned tissues, as well as to healthy organs. To manage the burn shock (initially hypovolemic and later on hyperdynamic) catecholamines are often indicated when appropriate fluid loading remains insufficient. Mechanical ventilation is indicated in case of either a deep extensive burn over 60% of total body surface area, or facial and cervical burns or severe pulmonary burn injury from smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide intoxication, tracheobronchial thermal injury and blast injury. Because of the severity of burn-related pain, and the stimulus linked to intensive care, continuous sedation is usually required. Early surgical treatment such as escharotomies, excision and grafting, which cause significant pain as well as blood loss, and hydrotherapy, often require general anaesthesia. Burn injury can modify the volume of distribution and the pharmacokinetics of anaesthetic agents. Finally, chemical or electrical burn, radiation, associated CO intoxication or multiple trauma, as well as burn injury in infants, raise specific problems. With improvement in early intensive care, the survival rate of the most severely burned patients is obviously improving. New techniques in skin substitution will probably further improve the final outcome.     

5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in the radiotherapy of brain tumors in rats

Glial neoplasms of the human central nervous system have defied treatment, in part because of the limited selectivity of available cytotoxic agents. The thymidine analog 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine radiolabeled with the Auger electron emitter 125I (125IUdR) is highly toxic to dividing cells when it is deoxyribonucleic acid incorporated, but it is relatively innocuous when located outside the nucleus. Previous studies have shown that 125IUdR has significant antineoplastic potential against mammalian cells in vitro and direct administration of 125IUdR is effective therapy for ovarian ascites tumors in mice and neoplastic meningitis in rats. Studies using external gamma imaging and autoradiography have also shown that direct intratumoral administration of 123IUdR/125IUdR into intracerebral 9L gliosarcomas in rats results in selective uptake of the radionuclide into tumor cells. Based on these encouraging results, we have evaluated the therapeutic potential of 125IUdR in rats bearing intracerebral 9L gliosarcomas. METHODS: Iodine-125-IUdR was infused intracerebrally over a 2-day period into rats bearing 1-day-old 9L tumors and over a 6-day period into animals with 9-day-old 9L tumors; equimolar concentrations of 127IUdR were infused into control animals. Tumor growth was monitored by contrast-enhanced 1H MRI and animal survival was followed over time. RESULTS: Intracerebral tumors (3-7 mm) were readily detected by MRI. Tumor-bearing rats treated with 127IUdR succumbed within 17-24 days, whereas tumor-bearing animals treated with 125IUdR survived significantly longer, and 10%-20% of the animals were cured of tumors. CONCLUSION: These data substantiate the antineoplastic potential of 5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and indicate that it may be a useful agent for the therapy of solid tumors that are accessible to direct radiopharmaceutical administration.