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Journal of the American Academy of... Jun 2024
PubMed: 38871084
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.05.082 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Apr 2024The highly virulent RH strain is maintained through successive passages in mice, but there is still a lack of studies that refine these procedures from a 3Rs...
The highly virulent RH strain is maintained through successive passages in mice, but there is still a lack of studies that refine these procedures from a 3Rs perspective, where humanitarian ideals aim to minimize the stress, pain, or suffering of the animals used in the research without the loss of results. The aim of this study was to establish humane endpoints in Swiss Webster mice inoculated with the RH strain. A total of 52 mice were infected with 5 × 10 tachyzoites/mL and monitored for periods of up to 5 days. The parameters body weight; hair condition; higher than normal body temperature; hypothermia; respiratory function; pain; soft stools or diarrhea; bloody diarrhea; tense, nervous, or in distress during handling; and ascites were recorded daily in score tables. The results showed that prominent piloerection, respiratory function, pain parameters, and ascites are important clinical signs to be used as a cut-off point for implementing euthanasia. The application of this refinement method helped to avoid animal suffering and pain without compromising the number of parasites recovered. We therefore suggest adopting these parameters in research protocols that require the maintenance of the RH strain in murine models to avoid and reduce animal suffering.
PubMed: 38731332
DOI: 10.3390/ani14091326 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Kashmir Himalaya hosts the most diverse and rich flora in the world, which serves as grazing land for millions of small ruminants in the area. While most plant species...
Kashmir Himalaya hosts the most diverse and rich flora in the world, which serves as grazing land for millions of small ruminants in the area. While most plant species are beneficial, some can be poisonous, causing economic losses and animal health issues for livestock. Consequently, this study is the first comprehensive report on the traditional phyto-toxicological knowledge in District Muzaffarabad and the assessment of its authenticity through experimental studies in rats. The data regarding traditional knowledge was gathered from 70 key respondents through semi-structured interviews, which was quantitatively analyzed and authenticated through plant extract testing on Wistar female rats and comparison with published resources. A total of 46 poisonous plant species belonging to 23 families and 38 genera were reported to be poisonous in the study area. Results revealed that leaves were the most toxic plant parts (24 species, 52.1%), followed by the whole plant (18 species, 39.1%), stem (17 species, 36.9%), and seeds (10 species, 21.7%). At the organ level, liver as most susceptible affected by 13 species (28.2%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (15 species, 32.6%), nervous system (13 species, 8.2%), dermis (8 species, 17.3%), renal (7 species, 15.2%), respiratory (4 species, 8.7%), cardiovascular system (3 species, 6.5%), and reproductive system (2 species, 4.3%). The poisonous plant species with high Relative frequency citation (RFC) and fidelity level (FL) were (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100) (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100), and (RFC, 0.6; FL, 100). Experimental assessment of acute toxicity assay in rats revealed that was the most toxic plant with LD of (4,000 mg/kg), trailed by (4,200 mg/kg), (4,500 mg/kg), and (4,700 mg/kg); however, other plants showed moderate to mild toxicity. The major clinical observations were anorexia, piloerection, dyspnea, salivation, tachypnea, constipation, diarrhea, tremor, itchiness, and dullness. This study showed that numerous poisonous plants pose a significant risk to the livestock industry within Himalayan territory, leading to substantial economic losses. Consequently, it is of utmost importance to conduct further comprehensive studies on the phytotoxicity of plants.
PubMed: 38420196
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1328133 -
Nature Materials Apr 2024Microactuators provide controllable driving forces for precise positioning, manipulation and operation at the microscale. Development of microactuators using active...
Microactuators provide controllable driving forces for precise positioning, manipulation and operation at the microscale. Development of microactuators using active materials is often hampered by their fabrication complexity and limited motion at small scales. Here we report light-fuelled artificial goosebumps to actuate passive microstructures, inspired by the natural reaction of hair bristling (piloerection) on biological skin. We use light-responsive liquid crystal elastomers as the responsive artificial skin to move three-dimensionally printed passive polymer microstructures. When exposed to a programmable femtosecond laser, the liquid crystal elastomer skin generates localized artificial goosebumps, resulting in precise actuation of the surrounding microstructures. Such microactuation can tilt micro-mirrors for the controlled manipulation of light reflection and disassemble capillary-force-induced self-assembled microstructures globally and locally. We demonstrate the potential application of the proposed microactuation system for information storage. This methodology provides precise, localized and controllable manipulation of microstructures, opening new possibilities for the development of programmable micromachines.
PubMed: 38336868
DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01810-6 -
Toxicology Reports Jun 2024(Fabaceae) crude extracts are key ingredients of several licensed and unlicensed herbal products in East Africa. However, there is limited and often contradicting...
(Fabaceae) crude extracts are key ingredients of several licensed and unlicensed herbal products in East Africa. However, there is limited and often contradicting information regarding its toxicity. We therefore evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity of the ethanolic stem bark extract of in mature healthy Wistar albino rats following Lorke's method and OECD guidelines 407. The LD of the ethanolic stem bark extract of was 2000 mg/kg. The acute toxicity signs observed included piloerection, hyperventilation, lethargy, and loss of righting reflex. There was a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, red blood cells and haemoglobin in rats after 28 days at the dose of 500 mg/kg. Histological analyses revealed multifocal random parenchymal necrosis and scattered periportal mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver, interstitial nephritis in the kidney and multifocal lymphoid accumulation in the peribronchiolar and perivascular lung tissue at 500 mg/kg. The ethanolic stem bark of was therefore moderately toxic to the rats when administered in a single high oral dose within 24 h. The extract caused a dose dependent toxicity with significant damage to the kidney, liver and lung tissues at a dose of 500 mg/kg after 28 days. Herbal medicines containing extracts should be consumed cautiously due to likelihood of toxicity particularly at higher doses greater than 500 mg/kg.
PubMed: 38304700
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.01.005 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Matricellular proteins are secreted extracellular proteins that bear no primary structural functions but play crucial roles in tissue remodeling during development,... (Review)
Review
Matricellular proteins are secreted extracellular proteins that bear no primary structural functions but play crucial roles in tissue remodeling during development, homeostasis, and aging. Despite their low expression after birth, matricellular proteins within skin compartments support the structural function of many extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagens. In this review, we summarize the function of matricellular proteins in skin stem cell niches that influence stem cells' fate and self-renewal ability. In the epidermal stem cell niche, fibulin 7 promotes epidermal stem cells' heterogeneity and fitness into old age, and the transforming growth factor-β-induced protein ig-h3 (TGFBI)-enhances epidermal stem cell growth and wound healing. In the hair follicle stem cell niche, matricellular proteins such as periostin, tenascin C, SPARC, fibulin 1, CCN2, and R-Spondin 2 and 3 modulate stem cell activity during the hair cycle and may stabilize arrector pili muscle attachment to the hair follicle during piloerections (goosebumps). In skin wound healing, matricellular proteins are upregulated, and their functions have been examined in various gain-and-loss-of-function studies. However, much remains unknown concerning whether these proteins modulate skin stem cell behavior, plasticity, or cell-cell communications during wound healing and aging, leaving a new avenue for future studies.
Topics: Skin Aging; Skin; Epidermis; Homeostasis
PubMed: 37762584
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814274 -
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics Sep 2023Ictal piloerection (IP) is an uncommon symptom in focal epilepsy and is associated with autoimmune encephalitis (AE). However, the networks involved in AE-associated IP...
OBJECTIVES
Ictal piloerection (IP) is an uncommon symptom in focal epilepsy and is associated with autoimmune encephalitis (AE). However, the networks involved in AE-associated IP are still unclear. To have a better understanding of IP underlying mechanisms, the current study investigated whole-brain metabolic networks for the analysis of AE-associated IP.
METHODS
Patients with AE and IP diagnosed at our Institute between 2018 and 2022 were selected. We then investigated the brain regions associated with AE-associated IP using positron emission tomography (PET). Anatomometabolic changes (interictal F fluorodeoxyglucose PET) in AE patients with IP were compared with those of AE patients of similar age without IP (p-voxel <0.001, uncorrected).
RESULTS
Sixteen patients showed significant IP. The overall IP prevalence was 4.09% of patients with AE and 12.9% of patients with limbic encephalitis. The most common autoantibodies were against LGI1 (68.8%) followed by GAD65 (6.3%), NMDA (6.3%), GABAb (6.3%), CASPR2 (6.3%), and antibodies recognizing both GAD65 and mGLUR5 (6.3%). Most patients responded well to immunotherapy. Analysis of the imaging results at the voxel level showed that patients with IP had hypermetabolic changes in the right inferior temporal gyrus, suggesting involvement of this brain region in IP.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that IP as an uncommon AE-associated manifestations should be recognized. We observed that the metabolic pattern of IP was conspicuous in the right inferior temporal gyrus.
Topics: Humans; Seizures; Encephalitis; Autoantibodies; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System
PubMed: 36971194
DOI: 10.1111/cns.14192 -
Nutrients Feb 2023Endotoxemia is a condition caused by increasing levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) characterized by an impaired systemic response that causes multiple organ dysfunction....
Endotoxemia is a condition caused by increasing levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) characterized by an impaired systemic response that causes multiple organ dysfunction. ATCC 9595 is a strain with probiotic potential which shows immunomodulatory properties. The incorporation of this bacterium in food rich in bioactive compounds, such as cupuaçu juice (), could result in a product with interesting health properties. This work evaluated the effects of the oral administration of cupuaçu juice fermented with on the outcome of LPS-induced endotoxemia in mice. C57BL/6 mice (12/group) received oral doses (100 µL) of saline solution and unfermented or fermented cupuaçu juice (10 CFU/mL). After 5 days, the endotoxemia was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg). The endotoxemia severity was evaluated daily using a score based on grooming behavior, mobility, presence of piloerection, and weeping eyes. After 6 h and 120 h, the mice (6/group) were euthanized for analysis of cell counts (in peritoneal lavage and serum) and organ weight. grew in cupuaçu juice and produced organic acids without the need for supplementation. The bacteria counts were stable in the juice during storage at 4 °C for 28 days. The fermentation with ATCC 9595 changed the metabolites profile of cupuaçu juice due to the biotransformation and enhancement of some compounds. In general, the administration of -fermented juice allowed a significant improvement in several characteristics of endotoxemic status (weight loss, hypothermia, severity index, cell migration). In addition, treatment with fermented juice significantly reduced the weight of the spleen, liver, intestine, and kidneys compared to the saline-treated endotoxemic group. Taken together, our data show that short-term intake therapy of cupuaçu juice fermented with ATCC 9595 can reduce systemic inflammation in an experimental model of LPS-induced endotoxemia in mice.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; Lipopolysaccharides; Cacao; Lacticaseibacillus; Endotoxemia; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Probiotics; Fermentation
PubMed: 36839417
DOI: 10.3390/nu15041059 -
Biology Letters Jan 2023We identify for wild, free-living short-beaked echidnas () a novel evaporative window, along with thermal windows, and demonstrate the insulating properties of the...
We identify for wild, free-living short-beaked echidnas () a novel evaporative window, along with thermal windows, and demonstrate the insulating properties of the spines, using infrared thermography. The moist tip of their beak, with an underlying blood sinus, functions as a wet bulb globe thermometer, maximizing evaporative heat loss via an evaporative window. The ventral surface and insides of the legs are poorly insulated sites that act as postural thermal windows, while the spines provide flexible insulation (depending on piloerection). These avenues of heat exchange likely contribute to the higher-than-expected thermal tolerance of this species. Our study highlights how technological advances that allow for non-contact measurement of thermal variables allow us to better understand the physiological capacity of animals in their natural environment.
Topics: Animals; Tachyglossidae; Environment; Body Temperature Regulation; Hot Temperature; Beak
PubMed: 36651031
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0495 -
Biomedicines Dec 2022To date, there have been no new drugs or adjuvants able to decrease both morbidity and mortality in the context of sepsis and septic shock. Our objective was to evaluate...
To date, there have been no new drugs or adjuvants able to decrease both morbidity and mortality in the context of sepsis and septic shock. Our objective was to evaluate the use of thiosulfinate-enriched and black garlic extracts as adjuvants in the management of sepsis. An experimental in vivo study was carried out with male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were randomized in four treatment groups: antibiotic (ceftriaxone) treatment (group I), ceftriaxone plus thiosulfinate-enriched extract (TASE, group II), ceftriaxone plus thiosulfinate-enriched extract and black garlic extracts (TASE + BGE, group III), and ceftriaxone plus black garlic extract (BGE, group IV). All animals were housed and inoculated with 1 × 10 CFU/15 mL of intraperitoneal ATCC 25922. Subsequently, they received a daily treatment according to each group for 7 days. Clinical, analytical, microbiological, and histopathological parameters were evaluated. Statistically significant clinical improvement was observed in rats receiving garlic extracts in weight (groups II and III), ocular secretions, and piloerection (group IV). Moreover, less liver edema, vacuolization, and inflammation were observed in groups receiving adjuvant support (groups II, III, and IV). When comparing interleukins 24 h after bacteria inoculum, we found statistically significant differences in TNF-alpha levels in groups receiving BGE (groups III and IV, ≤ 0.05). Blood and peritoneal liquid cultures were also analyzed, and we detected a certain level of in peritoneal cultures from all treatment groups and less bacteria presence in blood cultures in rats receiving garlic extracts (groups II, III, and IV). In conclusion, TASE and BGE could be promising nutraceutical or medicinal agents as coadjuvants in the treatment of sepsis because of its effects in modulating the inflammatory response.
PubMed: 36551850
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123095