Cytologic features of a feline inductive odontogenic tumor

The feline inductive odontogenic tumor (FIOT) is a rare entity among oral tumors in cats, the cytologic features of which are not well characterized but may prove useful. A fine‐needle aspiration biopsy was performed on the right mandible between the permanent canine (404) and permanent fourth premolar (408) of an 8‐month‐old female mongrel cat. Cytologic smears showed epithelial cells and occasional spindle cells with extracellular homogenous acidophilic material in a hematic background. The initial diagnosis of benign tumor was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the biopsy specimen. This report describes the cytologic findings in a case of FIOT.     

Lack of negative effects of fasting of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) breeders during the spawning period on maternal and egg nutrient composition,fertilization success,and early embryo/larval development

The effect of fasting on spawning performance, maternal, and egg nutrient composition, and on embryo/larval development was monitored in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Two broodstocks were fasted during two consecutive years, for a period of 43 and 54 days within the spawning season, in a preliminary (year 1, 5-year-old breeders) and the main study (year 2, 6-year-old breeders), respectively. Mean daily fecundity showed a declining trend during fasting in the main study only, while fertilization success was high in both years and it was not affected by fasting, as was hatching and 5-day larval survival. There was a loss of 23.5% of maternal body mass due to fasting, and a reduction in gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes, as well as crude protein in maternal muscle and gonads, but not in the liver. After fasting, muscle Σω-6 PUFA and C18:3ω-3 were reduced while C20:4ω-6, 20:5ω-3/20:4ω-6, and C22:6ω-3/20:4ω-6 increased; in the liver, significant reductions were observed in C16:0, C18:3 ω-3, 20:5ω-3/C22:6ω-3 and increases in C18:0, C20:5ω-3, Σω-6 PUFA, and 20:5ω-3/20:4ω-6; in gonads, C15:0, ΣMUFA, 20:5ω-3/C22:6ω-3, 20:5ω-3/20:4ω-6 were increased, while C18:1ω-9 and C20:5ω-3 decreased. Contrary to maternal tissues, the energy density and proximate composition of the eggs did not change due to fasting. The study suggests that fasting of gilthead seabream breeders for 6–8 weeks during the spawning period does not affect spawning performance, egg proximate composition, or embryo and early larval development since maternal nutrient reserves are mobilized to maintain optimal egg nutrient composition.

     

Monitoring managed forest structure at the compartment-level under different silvicultural heritages: An exploratory data analysis in Italy

ABSTRACT

The more and more diffused multifunctional role addressed nowadays to public forests, calls for targeted analysis aimed at highlighting the overall outcome of different practices implemented on the same forest compartment, according to the locally prevailing function. This study was carried out in four Italian beech forests across a latitudinal gradient representative of multiple management history, stand structure, and dominant stand age. We analyze forest structure at the compartment scale before and after silvicultural practices. We aim to explore relationships and similarities between 10 stand attributes (mensurational and structural variables) to identify relevant indicators for the monitoring and management of forest ecosystems. Results indicate changing patterns of correlation and similarity among mensurational variables following practice implementation. A sensitivity gradient to silvicultural practice was finally identified within the four sites investigated as a result of the diverging stand structure. Our approach suggests a way and provides an insight for the design of adaptive forestry management practices required to meet environmental targets, in addition to the already acknowledged supply of primary goods and services.     

Glycan moiety modifications of feline alpha1-acid glycoprotein in retrovirus (FIV, FeLV) affected cats

alpha1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) is considered one of the major acute phase proteins in cats. In humans, AGP is a heavily glycosylated protein that undergoes several modifications of its glycan moiety during acute and chronic inflammatory pathologies. In this paper we present the feline AGPs (fAGP) glycan moiety modifications in the course of two prevalent feline diseases, the FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) dependent feline acquired viral immunodeficiency and the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) associated lymphoma. The glycan moiety of fAGP was investigated by means of the binding of its oligosaccharides residues with specific lectins. Four lectins were used: Sambucus nigra agglutinin I and Maackia amurensis agglutinin lectins were used to detect sialic acid residues, Aleuria aurantia lectin was used to detect L-fucose residues and Concanavalin A was used to evaluate the degree of branching. It was found that fAGP undergoes several post-translational modifications of its glycan pattern: in particular the degree of sialylation is increased in FeLV-positive cats diagnosed with lymphoma, while FeLV-positive that did not presented any specific clinical signs cats do not present any increase of expression of sialic acid on the surface. Furthermore, FIV induced a modification of the glycan moiety of fAGP, which however varied widely among individuals. In order to determine the number and the position of oligosaccharide chains, the cDNA sequence of fAGP was also determined. The translation of the mature fAGP coding sequence gave rise to a sequence of 183 residues, with five potential N-glycosylation sites, but also with seven potential phosphorylation sites.     

Differential effects of alpha1-acid glycoprotein on bovine neutrophil respiratory burst activity and IL-8 production

During bacterial-mediated diseases, neutrophils (PMNs) play a critical role in defending the host against invading pathogens. PMN production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to the bactericidal capabilities of these cells. ROS are produced intracellularly and can be released extracellularly. The aberrant extracellular release of ROS, however, has been reported to induce injury to host tissues during mastitis and other inflammatory-mediated diseases of cattle. The acute phase response, which occurs shortly after infection or tissue injury, is characterized by the induction of a large number of plasma proteins referred to as acute phase proteins (APP). alpha1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an APP that increases in response to infection or injury in cattle and humans. The precise function of AGP is unknown, but it has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bovine AGP on PMN pro-inflammatory responses, including respiratory burst activity and cytokine production. Bovine AGP dose-dependently inhibited zymosan-induced PMN extracellular release of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide without affecting the capacity of PMN to engulf and kill Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, AGP exerted its effect on ROS production regardless of whether PMNs were exposed to AGP prior to or after activation. In contrast to respiratory burst activity, AGP enhanced PMN production of IL-8. The precise mechanism by which AGP regulates PMN functions remains unknown, but data presented in this study suggest that AGP may have a complex role by differentially regulating PMN pro-inflammatory activities.     

Evidence for the effect of learning on timing of reproduction in blue tits

We experimentally show that in blue tits (Parus caeruleus) egg-laying date is causally linked to experience in the previous year. Females that received additional food in the nestling period in one year laid eggs later in the next year compared with the control birds, whatever the degree of synchronization with the natural food abundance in the previous year. As a result, they raised their brood much later than the peak period of nestling food availability in the next year. The response to experience is adaptive for blue tits, which live in heterogeneous habitats where the peak period of food varies, but once settled will breed at the same location for life.     

Decreased sialylation of the acute phase protein alpha1-acid glycoprotein in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an immune-mediated disease of domestic and exotic felides infected with feline coronavirus. FIP is characterized by the overexpression of an acute phase protein, the alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). In humans, AGP is a heavily glycosylated protein that undergoes several modifications of its glycan moiety during acute and chronic inflammatory pathologies. We studied the changes in AGP glycosylation in the course of FIP. Specifically, we focussed our attention on the degree of sialylation, fucosylation and branching. This study presents a purification method for feline AGP (fAGP) from serum, using an ion exchange chromatography strategy. The glycosylation pattern was analyzed in detail by means of interaction of purified fAGP with specific lectins. In particular, Sambucus nigra agglutinin I and Maackia amurensis agglutinin lectins were used to detect sialic acid residues, Aleuria aurantia lectin was used to detect L-fucose residues and Concanavalin A was used to evaluate the branching degree. By this method we showed that fAGP did not present any L-fucose residues on its surface, and that its branching degree was very low, both in normal and in pathological conditions. In contrast, during FIP disease, fAGP underwent several modifications in the sialic acid content, including decreased expression of both alpha(2-6)-linked and alpha(2-3)-linked sialic acid (76 and 44%, respectively when compared to non-pathological feline AGP).     

Ultrastructure of immature and mature human oocytes after cryotop vitrification

In vitro maturation of vitrified immature germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes is a promising fertility preservation option. We analyzed the ultrastructure of human GV oocytes after Cryotop vitrification (GVv) and compared it with fresh GV (GVc), fresh mature metaphase II (MIIc) and Cryotop-vitrified mature (MIIv) oocytes. By phase contrast microscopy and light microscopy, the oolemmal and cytoplasmic organization of fresh and vitrified oocytes did not show significant changes. GVv oocytes showed significant ultrastructural alterations of the microvilli in 40% of the samples; small vacuoles and occasional large/isolated vacuoles were abnormally present in the ooplasm periphery of 50% of samples. The ultrastructure of nuclei and mitochondria-vesicle (MV) complexes, as well as the distribution and characteristics of cortical granules (CGs), were comparable with those of GVc oocytes. MIIv oocytes showed an abnormal ultrastructure of microvilli in 30% of the samples and isolated large vacuoles in 70% of the samples. MV complexes were normal, but mitochondria-smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates appeared to be of reduced size. CGs were normally located under the oolemma but presented abnormalities in distribution and matrix electron density. In conclusion, Cryotop vitrification preserved main oocyte characteristics in the GV and MII stages, even if peculiar ultrastructural alterations appeared in both stages. This study also showed that the GV stage appears more suitable for vitrification than the MII stage, as indicated by the good ultrastructural preservation of important structures that are present only in immature oocytes, like the nucleus and migrating CGs.     

Dynamics of slow-moving landslides from permanent scatterer analysis

High-resolution interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) permanent scatterer data allow us to resolve the rates and variations in the rates of slow-moving landslides. Satellite-to-ground distances (range changes) on landslides increase at rates of 5 to 7 millimeters per year, indicating average downslope sliding velocities from 27 to 38 millimeters per year. Time-series analysis shows that displacement occurs mainly during the high-precipitation season; during the 1997-1998 El Ni?o event, rates of range change increased to as much as 11 millimeters per year. The observed nonlinear relationship of creep and precipitation rates suggests that increased pore fluid pressures within the shallow subsurface may initiate and accelerate these features. Changes in the slope of a hill resulting from increases in the pore pressure and lithostatic stress gradients may then lead to landslides.