d24-hour changes in circulating prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone in male rats subjected to social isolation

BACKGROUND: This work analyzes the effect of social isolation (a mild stressor) on the 24-h variation of pituitary-testicular function in young Wistar rats, assessed by measuring circulating levels of prolactin, FSH, LH and testosterone. METHODS: Animals were either individually caged or kept in groups (4-5 animals per cage) under a 12:12 h light-dark cycle (lights on at 0800 h) for 30 days starting on day 35 of life. Rats were killed at 4-h intervals during a 24-h cycle, beginning at 0900 h. RESULTS: Isolation brought about a decrease in prolactin, LH and testosterone secretion and an increase of FSH secretion. In isolated rats the 24-h secretory pattern of prolactin and testosterone became modified, i.e., the maximum in prolactin seen in control animals at the beginning of the activity span was no longer detected, whereas the maximum in circulating testosterone taking place at 1700 h in controls was phase-delayed to 2100 h in isolated rats. CONCLUSION: Social isolation affects the 24-h variation of pituitary-testicular function in young rats. Secretion of prolactin, LH and testosterone decreases, and secretion of FSH increases, in isolated rats. The maximum in prolactin seen in group-caged rats at the beginning of the activity span is not observed in isolated rats. The maximum in circulating testosterone taking place at the second part of the rest span in controls is phase-delayed to the light-dark transition in isolated rats.     

Efficiency of Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Systems for Treatment of Sanitary Wastewater Under Tropical Conditions

Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands technology (SSFW) has been used successfully for treating sanitary wastewater throughout North America and Europe. However, treatment wetland technologies have not been used extensively in the tropics. To advance tropical studies, a pilot-scale SSFW was constructed on the campus of the University of the Atlantic in Barranquilla, Colombia. The systems performance was monitored from January to July of 2009. The treatment system consisted of a 760-L septic tank followed by three mesocsom-scale subsurface-flow constructed wetlands in parallel arrangement. Clarified wastewater was batch loaded to each unit at a rate of 53 L/m²/day to affect a hydraulic retention time of approximately 3 days. One of the treatment units served as a non-planted control (gravel only), while the other two treatment units were planted with either Eriochloa aristata or Eleocharis mutata. The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of the treatment units (planted vs. unplanted), with respect to their abilities to augment treatment of septic tank effluent (sanitary wastewater). Monitored parameters included plant biomass, oxidation?Creduction potential, chemical oxygen demand (COD), temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia?Cnitrogen (NH ₄ ⁺ ?CN) nitrate?C and nitrite?Cnitrogen (NO₃?CN, NO₂?CN), phosphates (PO ₄ ^? ), and coliform bacteria. Total biomass (dry matter) was 2.84 and 0.87 Kg/m² for E. aristata and E. mutata, respectively. Redox potential in the plant rizospheres averaged ?172 mV (±164.1) in E. aristata, 29 mV (±251.1) in E. mutata, and 32 mV (±210.5) in the unplanted control. COD removal was superior in planted vs. non-planted systems (>75% vs. 47%). Ammonia and total phosphorus removal averaged 69% and 85%, respectively, in planted systems versus 31% and 59% in the unplanted system. Removal of total and fecal coliforms averaged 96%. Results of this pilot study revealed that SSFW technology in the tropics can provide significant removal of organic matter, nutrients, and bacteria from clarified sanitary wastewater.     

Efficacy of Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) as a biocontrol agent of the red palm mite Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Phytoparasitica - The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), is a severe pest of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), banana (Musa sp.), and some ornamental palms. The predatory mite...     

Prediction of the Physicochemical and Nutraceutical Characteristics of ‘Hass’ Avocado Seeds by Correlating the Physicochemical Avocado Fruit Properties According to Their Ripening State

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Vegetal wastes are currently a source of pollution due to the excess of organic compounds in the environment. Seeds are the main by-product of the avocado industry...     

Applicability of lignins from different sources as antioxidants based on the protective effects on lipid peroxidation induced by oxygen radicals

Increasing evidence suggest that excessive concentrations of reactive oxygen species in the human body are involved in a number of pathological events and that oxidative damage to cell components may play an important pathophysiological role in many types of human diseases. Several studies have shown the possible benefits of antioxidants from plant sources in altering, reversing or forestalling the negative effects of oxidative stress.The study was designed to evaluate whether lignins prevent H₂O₂-induced lipid peroxidation. The protective effect of industrial lignins obtained from different sources against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidation was investigated in normal human red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs, preincubated with different amounts of lignins and challenged with hydrogen peroxide were analyzed for lipid peroxidation. The high molecular weight can be considered as one of the main factors decreasing the radical scavenging activity. When comparing different lignins the inhibitory effects against lipid peroxidation were notably related to their molecular weights. In this sense bagasse with the lowest Mn was the greatest antioxidant and lignosulfonate with the highest Mn was the lowest antioxidant lignin.These results open the possibility of new applications of lignins. The potential health benefits and industrial applications of lignins make them a promising research resource.     

Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for the treatment of canine dioctophymosis

This paper reports on two cases of laparoscopic nephrotomy employed in the treatment of canine dioctophymosis, which is considered a unusual procedure and a new treatment proposal heretofore not performed in veterinary medicine. Two patients were treated, one with a history of hematuria and the other with incidental finding of the parasite in the abdominal cavity during elective ovariohysterectomy. Both dogs were subjected to abdominal ultrasound, which produced images indicating the presence of the parasite in the right side kidney, but with partial parenchymal preservation. The patients were therefore subjected to laparoscopic nephrotomy. The surgical procedure was effective in treating dioctophymosis and enabled minimum tissue invasion during surgery, in addition to preservation of the kidney.     

Effect of yeast products supplementation during transition period on metabolic profile and milk production in dairy cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of the current study was to assess the effect that supplementation with yeast culture plus enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast (YC-EHY) during the...     

Rocuronium infusion: A higher rate is needed in diabetic than nondiabetic dogs

Objective

To determine the infusion rates that maintain the train-of-four (TOF) ratio within 20–70% in dogs and compare the infusion rates between diabetic and nondiabetic dogs.