ABSTRACT Anatomical and ultrasonographic diagnostic work-up of testicular abscesses (n = 2) and testicular microlithiasis (n = 3) in Kazakh rams is described. For testicular abscesses, the localized symptoms include enlargement of the testicle and decreased elasticity, accompanied by varying degrees of pain and fever, abnormal behavior, walking or urinating with legs spread apart and accompanied by painful moans. Ultrasound findings: several hypoechoic or fluid dark areas with irregular morphology appear within the testicular parenchyma, with unclear borders with the surrounding normal tissues and uneven internal echogenicity. An autopsy revealed unilateral caseous necrosis with degeneration of all testicular tissues. Testicular microlithiasis does not present clinically and normal semen quality is not affected. Ultrasound findings: sparse, scattered, or dense punctate, pinpoint-like echogenic dots, some with comet tail signs and no acoustic shadow, are seen in the testicular parenchyma. The routine treatment for testicular abscesses is surgical drainage, but when degeneration and necrosis of testicular tissue occur, leading to severe systemic symptoms, the animal must be put down. Testicular microlithiasis is relatively rare and there are no effective treatments or interventions available, but it remains a potential contributor to testicular dysfunction and other secondary conditions. workup work up n 2 3 described elasticity fever behavior moans findings parenchyma echogenicity affected sparse scattered punctate pinpointlike pinpoint like dots shadow drainage occur down available conditions

RESUMO Descreveu-se o diagnóstico anatômico e ultrassonográfico de abscessos testiculares (n = 2) e microlitíase testicular (n = 3) em carneiros do Cazaquistão. No caso de abscessos testiculares, os sintomas localizados incluem aumento do testículo e diminuição da elasticidade, acompanhados de vários graus de dor e febre. Observou-se comportamento anormal, com o animal andando ou urinando com as pernas abertas, acompanhado de gemidos dolorosos. Achados ultrassonográficos: várias áreas hipoecogênicas ou escuras fluidas com morfologia irregular aparecem no parênquima testicular, com bordas pouco nítidas, com os tecidos normais circundantes e ecogenicidade interna irregular. Uma autópsia revelou necrose caseosa unilateral com degeneração de todos os tecidos testiculares. A microlitíase testicular não se apresenta clinicamente e a qualidade normal do sêmen não é afetada. Achados ultrassonográficos: pontos ecogênicos esparsos, dispersos ou densos, pontilhados, semelhantes a alfinetes, alguns com sinais de cauda de cometa e sem sombra acústica, são vistos no parênquima testicular. O tratamento de rotina para abscessos testiculares é a drenagem cirúrgica, mas, quando ocorre degeneração e necrose do tecido testicular, levando a sintomas sistêmicos graves, o animal deve ser eliminado. A microlitíase testicular é relativamente rara e não há tratamentos ou intervenções eficazes disponíveis, no entanto continua sendo um possível contribuinte para a disfunção testicular e outras condições secundárias. Descreveuse Descreveu n 2 3 Cazaquistão elasticidade febre Observouse Observou anormal abertas dolorosos ultrassonográficos nítidas afetada esparsos densos pontilhados alfinetes acústica cirúrgica mas graves eliminado disponíveis secundárias

Abstract Introduction Prior studies have found inconsistent results regarding the relationship between vitamin D status and Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty (ICPP). Objective To assess the role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH]D) levels in ICPP development. Method The authors retrospectively collected data from 221 girls with ICPP and 144 healthy girls between January 2017 and December 2019. The participants’ serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using an automatic chemiluminescence method, and the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and the risk of ICPP was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were calculated as effect estimates. Results Serum 25(OH)D levels in the ICPP group were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that girls with insufficient vitamin D levels (OR = 0.201; 95% CI 0.094-0.428; p < 0.001) and sufficient vitamin D levels (OR = 0.141; 95% CI 0.053-0.375; p < 0.001) both had a lower risk of ICPP than girls with vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, the authors found that the height (p = 0.014), weight (p = 0.014), breast stage (p = 0.010), mother's height (p < 0.001), and luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio (p = 0.010) in girls with ICPP could be associated with levels of vitamin D. Conclusion This study found that a low serum 25(OH)D level is an independent risk factor for ICPP, and several characteristics of girls with ICPP could be affected by their vitamin D status. ICPP. . (ICPP) 25hydroxyvitamin hydroxyvitamin 25 (2 OHD OH [OH]D development 22 14 201 2019 participants 25OHD method OR 95 (95 estimates 0.001. 0001 0.001 0 001 0.201 0201 0.0940.428 00940428 0.094 0.428 094 428 0.094-0.428 0.141 0141 141 0.0530.375 00530375 0.053 0.375 053 375 0.053-0.375 deficiency Moreover 0.014, 0014 0.014 , 014 0.014) 0.010, 0010 0.010 010 mothers mother s 0.001, hormone/folliclestimulating hormonefolliclestimulating hormone/follicle stimulating follicle (ICPP 2 ( 1 20 9 (9 000 0.00 00 0.20 020 0940 0.0940.42 0094042 0094 0.09 0428 0.42 09 42 0.094-0.42 0.14 0530 0.0530.37 0053037 0053 0.05 0375 0.37 05 37 0.053-0.37 0.01 01 folliclestimulating hormonefollicle 0.0 0.2 02 0.0940.4 009404 009 042 0.4 4 0.094-0.4 0.1 0.0530.3 005303 005 037 0.3 3 0.053-0.3 0. 0.0940. 00940 04 0.094-0. 0.0530. 00530 03 0.053-0. 0.0940 0.094-0 0.0530 0.053-0 0.094- 0.053-

Abstract Polysaccharides are the major components of the water extract from Dendrobium officinale, which have been thoroughly studied and found to have favorable moisturizing properties on mammalian skin. However, the structures of polysaccharides on skin moisturizing properties remains unknown. The aim of this study was to extract and characterize D. officinale polysaccharides, which have anti-oxidant activity and the role of promoting effects of aquaporin-3 (AQP3). Two crude polysaccharide fractions were extracted using water and biological fermentation, respectively. The crude polysaccharides were further purified by graded alcohol precipitation, and finally purified polysaccharides DOP-S and DOP-F were obtained by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography. The average molecular weights of DOP-S and DOP-F were 3.604 × 105 and 1.027 × 105 Da, respectively. Monosaccharide units and structures of DOP-S and DOP-F were further elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). At the same time, DOP-S and DOP-F induced aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression was evaluated by immuno-fluorescence analysis. The antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging capacities, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The results showed that biological fermentation effectively achieved the hydrolysis of the polysaccharides and stimulated antioxidant activity and AQP3 expression.

We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Six relevant electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared rTMS with control condition for PSD were included. The mean change in depression symptom scores was defined as the primary efficacy outcome. Secondary outcomes included the remission rate of depression, stroke recovery, and cognitive function recovery. In total, 7 RCTs with 351 participants were included. At post-treatment, rTMS was significantly more effective than the control condition, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -1.15 (95%CI: -1.62 to -0.69; P<0.001, I2=71%) and remission with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.46 (95%CI: 1.68 to 7.12; P<0.001; I2=11%). As for stroke recovery, rTMS was also better than the control condition (SMD=-0.67, 95%CI: -1.02 to -0.32; P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found for cognitive function recovery between the two groups (SMD=4.07, 95%CI: -1.41 to 9.55; P=0.15). To explore the potential moderators for the primary outcome, a series of subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. The results implied that rTMS may be more effective in Asian samples than in North American samples (P=0.03). In conclusion, from the current evidence in this study, rTMS could be an effective treatment for patients with PSD. Further clinical studies with larger sample sizes and clearer subgroup definitions are needed to confirm these outcomes.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar células endoteliais de córnea humana (HCECs) criopreservadas e cultivadas em meio suplementado com soro humano (HS-SM) com HCEC criopreservadas e cultivadas em meio suplementado com soro bovino fetal (FBS-SM). Métodos: Três pares de córneas humanas de doadores com 8, 28 e 31 anos de idade foram obtidos do banco de olhos e, de cada par, uma córnea foi utilizado para iniciar uma cultura com HS-SM e outra com FBS-SM. Ao atingir a confluência, as populações de células foram congeladas utilizando-se dimetil-sulfóxido 10% no respectivo meio de cultura. Após descongeladas, as células cultivadas em HS-SM foram comparados com as cultivadas em FBS-SM por meio de morfologia, curva de crescimento, imuno-histoquímica, reação em cadeia de Reação em cadeia da polimerase da transcrição reversa em tempo real (RT-PCR) para marcadores de células endoteliais e tempo de descolamento. Resultado: Não foram observadas diferenças morfológicas antes ou após a criopreservação. Curva de crescimento mostrou contagens celulares semelhantes em ambos os meios, com discreta tendência para um maior número em FBS-SM. As células cultivadas em ambos os meios mostraram expressão semelhante de marcadores celulares endoteliais quando avaliadas por imuno-histoquímica, embora a expressão genética de marcadores para HCEC tenha sido maior em HS-SM quando avaliado por RT-PCR. Houve uma tendência de maior tempo de descolamento com FBS-SM e passagens iniciais. Conclusões: HS-SM foi semelhante ao FBS-SM na criopreservação de HCEC cultivadas in vitro quando avaliadas por morfologia celular, proliferação celular e expressão proteica, embora a expressão genética de marcadores endoteliais tenha sido maior em células cultivadas em HS-SM quando comparadas a células cultivadas em FBS-SM. O tempo de descolamento foi maior quando utilizado FBS-SM e em passagens iniciais.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare cryopreserved human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) grown in human serum-supplemented media (HS-SM) with cryopreserved HCECs grown in fetal bovine serum-supplemented media (FBS-SM). Methods: Three pairs of human corneas from donors aged 8, 28, and 31 years were obtained from the eye bank. From each pair, one cornea was used to start a HCEC culture using HS-SM; the other cornea was grown in FBS-SM. On reaching confluence, the six cell populations were frozen using 10% dimethyl sulfoxidecontaining medium. Thawed cells grown in HS-SM were compared with those grown in FBS-SM with respect to morphology, growth curves, immunohistochemistry, real time-reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for endothelial cell markers, and detachment time. Results: No difference in morphology was observed for cells grown in the two media before or after cryopreservation. By growth curves, cell counts after thawing were similar in both media, with a slight trend toward higher cell counts in FBS-SM. Cells grown in both the media demonstrated a similar expression of endothelial cell markers when assessed by immunohistochemistry, although HCEC marker gene expression was higher in cells grown in HS-SM than in those grown in FBS-SM as assessed by RT-PCR. With FBS-SM, there was a tendency of longer detachment time and lower cell passages. Conclusions: HS-SM was similar to FBS-SM for cryopreservation of cultured HCECs as assessed by analysis of cell morphology, proliferation, and protein expression, although marker gene expression was higher in cells grown in HS-SM than in those grown in FBS-SM. Detachment time was longer with FBS-SM and in lower passages.

Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (allo-MSCs) have recently garnered increasing interest for their broad clinical therapy applications. Despite this, many studies have shown that allo-MSCs are associated with a high rate of graft rejection unless immunosuppressive therapy is administered to control allo-immune responses. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) is a co-inhibitory molecule expressed on T cells that mediates the inhibition of T-cell function. Here, we investigated the osteogenic differentiation potency of allo-MSCs in an activated immune system that mimics the in vivo allo-MSC grafting microenvironment and explored the immunomodulatory role of the helper T cell receptor CTLA4 in this process. We found that MSC osteogenic differentiation was inhibited in the presence of the activated immune response and that overexpression of CTLA4 in allo-MSCs suppressed the immune response and promoted osteogenic differentiation. Our results support the application of CTLA4-overexpressing allo-MSCs in bone tissue engineering.

A new fungal species, Pestalotiopsis samarangensis, was isolated from fruit rot in Syzygium samarangense from markets in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces, Thailand. Initially small, circular, black, slightly sunken spots developed on fruits. Later, the spots enlarged rapidly, became sunken, and resulted in a soft decay of the fruit flesh. Molecular analysis of the ITS, β-tubulin, and tef1 combined gene sequences distinguish P. samarangensis from other species in the genus. Pathogenicity testing proved that wounding triggers the disease symptoms and thus careful handling of fruits during transport and storage helps to prevent the disease.

Plant pathogenic fungi have long been documented through concerted efforts of mycologists and plant pathologists; these records have served as the basis for regional and countrywide checklists which have since been put into databases listing hosts and associated fungi. They are used by governments and scientists to formulate trade quarantine policies and determine research funding, such as in plant breeding programs and disease control. With the ability to use molecular characters to study the systematics of fungi it is clear that morphologically defined species are often large complexes comprised of genetically and biologically distinct species. Use of molecular techniques to examine species complexes has revealed cryptic species in many important plant pathogenic genera, e.g. Botryosphaeria, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, and Mycosphaerella. It has occurred to such an extent that existing checklists and databases need updating. It is important that the data from these studies, including changes in taxonomy and nomenclature, be incorporated into the databases of plant pathogenic fungi to support accurate plant quarantine decisions. In addition, epitypifying fungi by re-collecting material from type habitats and isolating the organism into pure culture will provide essential materials for systematics studies to further clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of plant pathogenic fungi. Overall, we conclude that disease lists are likely to be highly outdated and advocate the need for countrywide re-inventory of plant pathogens. As a result of these studies, tools can be developed that use morphological or molecular characters, or both, to promote accurate identification of plant pathogenic fungi.

INTRODUCTION: We reviewed our experience with the use of gabapentin to treat symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) and nocturia in patients who have failed conventional anticholinergic therapy. METHODS: Thirty-one patients referred to us with refractory (OAB) and/or nocturia were treated with oral gabapentin. All the patients had tried or remained on antimuscarinic drugs during treatment. Twenty-four of 31 complained of bothersome symptoms during day and night and the other seven had primary complaints of nocturia. Initial gabapentin doses ranged from 100-300 mg at bedtime. Dose was slowly titrated up to 3,000 mg based on patients' symptomatology and tolerability. RESULTS:The mean age was 51 years old (range 27-78). There were 13 men and 18 women. The median steady state dose chosen by the patient after initial titration was 600 mg/day. Fourteen of 31 patients reported subjective improvement of their frequency and 8 have been on the medication for over 12 months with persistent efficacy. For the 14 improved patients, mean frequency/24 hours decreased from 14.1 ± 2.2 to10.0 + 2.1. Three patients with primary nocturia reported improvement from a mean of 4.0 ± 1.3 to 1.0 ± 0.3 episodes/night. Six patients stopped taking the drug within one month due to side effects mostly described as drowsiness or lethargy. CONCLUSION: Fourteen of 31 patients with refractory (OAB) and nocturia improved with oral gabapentin. Gabapentin was generally well tolerated and can be considered in selective patients when conventional modalities have failed.