Atmospheric Stability and Meteorological Scenarios as Inputs to Air Pollution Transport Modeling

Meteorological scenarios concerning the data required for engineering applications of pollutant transport modeling in the low layers of troposphere are defined through a simple methodology. This involves only data at soil surface and substantially relies on the determination of atmospheric stability carried out through fictitious vertical profiles of air temperature considered as representative of the actual vertical profiles in a study area. This assumption is supported by comparisons of fictitious vertical profiles, obtained by measurements of air temperature at soil surface but at different heights above sea level, and the temperature vertical profiles observed by the radio-sounding station closer to the study area. The fictitious profiles are first used to derive the usual classes of atmospheric stability as unstable atmosphere, neutral atmosphere, stable atmosphere, thermal inversion at the surface and thermal inversion in the upper layers. Then, each scenario is determined through the classes of atmospheric stability observed at 06.00 GMT and 15.00 GMT together with the experimental data of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and cloud cover, all averaged in the period of investigation of a few years. An area of Central Italy, where the meteorological measurements for a period of 7 years were available, has been selected for this study.     

Definitive‐intent intensity‐modulated radiation therapy provides similar outcomes to those previously published for definitive‐intent three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy in dogs with primary brain tumors: A multi‐institutional retrospective study

Radiotherapy with or without surgery is a common choice for brain tumors in dogs. Although numerous studies have evaluated use of three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy, reports of definitive‐intent, IMRT for canine intracranial tumors are lacking. Intensity‐modulated radiation therapy has the benefit of decreasing dose to nearby organs at risk and may aid in reducing toxicity. However, increasing dose conformity with IMRT calls for accurate target delineation and daily patient positioning, in order to decrease the risk of a geographic miss. To determine survival outcome and toxicity, we performed a multi‐institutional retrospective observational study evaluating dogs with brain tumors treated with IMRT. Fifty‐two dogs treated with fractionated, definitive‐intent IMRT at four academic radiotherapy facilities were included. All dogs presented with neurologic signs and were diagnosed via MRI. Presumed radiological diagnoses included 37 meningiomas, 12 gliomas, and one peripheral nerve sheath tumor. One dog had two presumed meningiomas and one dog had either a glioma or meningioma. All dogs were treated in the macroscopic disease setting and were prescribed a total dose of 45‐50 Gy (2.25‐2.5 Gy per fraction in 18‐20 daily fractions). Median survival time for all patients, including seven cases treated with a second course of therapy was 18.1 months (95% confidence of interval 12.3‐26.6 months). As previously described for brain tumors, increasing severity of neurologic signs at diagnosis was associated with a worse outcome. Intensity‐modulated radiation therapy was well tolerated with few reported acute, acute delayed, or late side effects.     

Ocular and periocular radiation toxicity in dogs treated for sinonasal tumors: A critical review

Visual impairment from radiation‐induced damage can be painful, disabling, and reduces the patient's quality of life. Ocular tissue damage can result from the proximity of ocular organs at risk to irradiated sinonasal target volumes. As toxicity depends on the radiation dose delivered to a certain volume, dose‐volume constraints for organs at risk should ideally be known during treatment planning in order to reduce toxicity. Herein, we summarize published ocular toxicity data of dogs irradiated for sinonasal tumors from 36 publications (1976‐2018). In particular, we tried to extract a dose guideline for a clinically acceptable rate of ocular toxicity. The side effects to ocular and periocular tissues were reported in 26/36 studies (72%) and graded according to scoring systems (10/26; 39%). With most scoring systems, however, toxicities of different ocular and periocular tissues are summed into one score. Further, the scores were mostly applied in retrospect and lack volume‐ and dose‐data. This incomplete information reflects the crux of the matter for radiation dose tolerance in canine ocular tissues: The published information of the last three decades does not allow formulating dose‐volume guidelines. As a start, we can only state that a mean dose of 39 Gy (given in 10 x 4.2 Gy fractions) will lead to loss of vision by one or both eyes, while mean doses of <30 Gy seem to preserve functionality. With a future goal to define tolerated doses and volumes of ocular and periocular tissues at risk, we propose the use of combined ocular toxicity scoring systems.     

Comparison of different intracellular cryoprotectants on the solid surface vitrification of red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta Leporina Lichtenstein, 1823) ovarian tissue

In contributing to the conservation of wild rodents, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of distinct cryoprotectants, separately or in combination, for solid surface vitrification (SSV) of red-rumped agouti ovarian tissue. Ovarian cortex from nine females was recovered and fragmented. Fresh fragments (control) were used to analyse the pre-antral follicle (PF) morphology using a histologic procedure, viability using the Trypan blue test, cell proliferation by counting the argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions (Ag-NORs technique) and DNA integrity using the TUNEL assay. The remaining fragments were vitrified using SSV method with 3 M or 6 M ethylene glycol (EG) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or in combination (3 M EG/3 M DMSO), and further evaluated as reported for the fresh samples. All cryoprotectants were effective at preserving PFs morphology compared to the control group (80.7 ± 5.21%), except 6 M EG and 3 M DMSO that provoked a significant (p < .05) decrease on the values of morphologically normal primary (60.0 ± 19.0%) and primordial (44 ± 4.5%) follicles, respectively. Regarding viability, all cryoprotectants provided values similar to that verified for the control group (79.0%), but a significant decrease (p < .05) was observed with EG/DMSO combination (59%). Using Ag-NORs technique, the highest (p < .05) cell proliferative capacity was detected when using EG at each tested concentration. The TUNEL proved the preservation of DNA integrity regardless of the cryoprotectant. In summary, we suggest the use of 3 M EG for the solid surface vitrification of red-rumped agouti ovarian tissue.     

Characterization of Protein Hydrolysates from Fish Discards and By-Products from the North-West Spain Fishing Fleet as Potential Sources of Bioactive Peptides

Fish discards and by-products can be transformed into high value-added products such as fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) containing bioactive peptides. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from different parts (whole fish, skin and head) of several discarded species of the North-West Spain fishing fleet using Alcalase. All hydrolysates had moisture and ash contents lower than 10% and 15%, respectively. The fat content of FPH varied between 1.5% and 9.4% and had high protein content (69.8–76.6%). The amino acids profiles of FPH are quite similar and the most abundant amino acids were glutamic and aspartic acids. All FPH exhibited antioxidant activity and those obtained from Atlantic horse mackerel heads presented the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power and Cu²⁺ chelating activity. On the other hand, hydrolysates from gurnard heads showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity and Fe²⁺ chelating activity. In what concerns the α-amylase inhibitory activity, the IC₅₀ values recorded for FPH ranged between 5.70 and 84.37 mg/mL for blue whiting heads and whole Atlantic horse mackerel, respectively. α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of FPH was relatively low but all FPH had high Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Considering the biological activities, these FPH are potential natural additives for functional foods or nutraceuticals.     

Marine Cyclic Peptides: Antimicrobial Activity and Synthetic Strategies

Oceans are a rich source of structurally unique bioactive compounds from the perspective of potential therapeutic agents. Marine peptides are a particularly interesting group of secondary metabolites because of their chemistry and wide range of biological activities. Among them, cyclic peptides exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities, including against bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. Moreover, there are several examples of marine cyclic peptides revealing interesting antimicrobial activities against numerous drug-resistant bacteria and fungi, making these compounds a very promising resource in the search for novel antimicrobial agents to revert multidrug-resistance. This review summarizes 174 marine cyclic peptides with antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, or antiviral properties. These natural products were categorized according to their sources—sponges, mollusks, crustaceans, crabs, marine bacteria, and fungi—and chemical structure—cyclic peptides and depsipeptides. The antimicrobial activities, including against drug-resistant microorganisms, unusual structural characteristics, and hits more advanced in (pre)clinical studies, are highlighted. Nocathiacins I–III (91–93), unnarmicins A (114) and C (115), sclerotides A (160) and B (161), and plitidepsin (174) can be highlighted considering not only their high antimicrobial potency in vitro, but also for their promising in vivo results. Marine cyclic peptides are also interesting models for molecular modifications and/or total synthesis to obtain more potent compounds, with improved properties and in higher quantity. Solid-phase Fmoc- and Boc-protection chemistry is the major synthetic strategy to obtain marine cyclic peptides with antimicrobial properties, and key examples are presented guiding microbiologist and medicinal chemists to the discovery of new antimicrobial drug candidates from marine sources.     

Osteoarticular sporotrichosis in a dog

Osteoarticular sporotrichosis was diagnosed in a dog referred for evaluation of hindlimb lameness. There was radiographic evidence of osteopenia of the fourth tarsal and proximal aspects of the metatarsal bones. The diagnosis was based on histologic findings and results of physical examination, radiography, fungal culturing, and serologic tests. The dog was treated successfully with ketoconazole for 3 1/2 months.     

Energy to protein ratios in supplements for grazing heifers in the rainy season

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study evaluated the effect of energy and protein supplementation on the nutritional characteristics, ingestive behavior, and productive performance in...     

A complication probability study for a definitive‐intent,moderately hypofractionated image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy protocol for anal sac adenocarcinoma in dogs

Previous trials showed the importance of administering radiation therapy (RT) with small doses per fraction in canine pelvic tumours to maintain acceptable toxicity levels. With increased accuracy/precision of RT, namely intensity‐modulated RT (IMRT), this approach might be challenged. Theoretical toxicity calculations for a new definitive‐intent moderately hypofractionated RT protocol for canine anal sac adenocarcinomas (ASAC) were performed, focussing on the risk of toxicity in pelvic organs at risk (OAR). Computed tomography datasets of 18 dogs with stage 3b ASAC were included. Re‐planning with margins for daily image‐guidance/IMRT was performed and a new protocol isoeffective to previously described definitive‐intent protocols was computed. Dose‐volume information were derived from individual plans and used for normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) computations. A 12 × 3.8 Gy protocol was computed for risk estimation. Tumour volumes ranged from 27.9 to 820.4 cm³ (mean 221.3 cm³ ± 188.9). For late rectal toxicity/bleeding ≥grade 2, median risk probability was 2.3% inter quartile range (IQR: 5.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2, 8.4) (rho = 0.436) and 3.4% (IQR: 0.96; 95%CI: 3.1, 4.0) (rho = 0.565), respectively. Median late toxicities in urinary bladder, kidneys and small bowel were <1%, except in one kidney. Myelopathy/myelonecrosis had a median risk probability of 4.1% (IQR: 23.5; 95%CI: 2.1, 25.2) (rho = 0.366) and 5.6% (IQR: 13.5; 95%CI: 3.1, 14.1) (rho = 0.363), respectively. However, graded risk showed a probability estimate for late spinal cord toxicity of ≥5% in 8/18 patients. The daily‐imaging IMRT 12 × 3.8 Gy protocol for canine ASAC seems tolerable for most cases, even in advanced disease. Theoretical dose computations serve as estimate, but are safe measures before implementing new protocols into clinical use.