1,721,018 research outputs found
Modification of some haematological and haematochemical parameters in horse during long distance rides.
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluated the effect of the low-intensity long-lasting trial on some haematological and haematochemical parameters during an international endurance race. Six clinically healthy and regularly trained Sella Italiana mares were used. On blood sample collected at rest, at 30 km, and 30’ after the trial, haematological (Red Blood Cell, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit; Mean Corpuscolar Volume, Mean Corpuscolar Hemoglobin, Mean Corpuscolar Hemoglobin Concentration, White Blood Cell and Platelets), and haematochemical parameters (Glucose, Aspartate aminotransferase, Total protein and protein fraction (albumin, α1-globulins, α2-globulins, β-globulins and γ-globulins), Triglycerydes, Cholesterol, Creatinine, Urea, Potassium, Sodium and Chloride) were assessed. One way repeated ANOVA showed a statistical significant effect of low-intensity long-lasting trials on the following parameters: Red Blood Cell (p≤0.009), Haematocrit (p≤0.031), Mean Corpuscolar Hemoglobin Concentration (p≤0.013), White Blood Cell (p<0.0001), Platelets (p<0.0001), α1-globulins (p≤0.038) and γ-globulins (p≤0.009), Creatinine (p≤0.023) and Potassium (p≤0.012). Our results confirm the effects of endurance trial on horse metabolism, underlining that haematological and haematochemical profiles could be an useful index for the prevention of many typical diseases of the athlete horse other than in the assessment of the fitness of the endurance horse
Diclofenac effects in sea urchin gametes and fertilization
No full textThe drugs, agents for diseases therapy and prevention, are ubiquitous environmental pollutants. We analyzed a specific anti-inflammatory, diclofenac, present in soil and water. The study focused on Arbacia lixula (Linnaeus, 1758) and Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) reproductive success. In A. lixula we identified the drug qualitative and quantitative fertilization effects, and if they affect the functional male and female gametes capacity; in P. lividus we analyzed the drug effects and the male and female gametes quantitative integrity. Through the High Liquid Chromatografy we quantitatively evaluated the real diclofenac contribution on A. lixula embryos and on A. lixula and P. lividus reproductive cells. The results confirmed that the diclofenac is an agent that influence the A. lixula fertilization. The embryos shown: morphological aberrations and slowdown of embryonic development with delay cell divisions. The A. lixula gametes, treated with five toxic solutions, showed modifications or alterations: the eggs are lysed and the spermatozoa shown a decrease in sperm speed. In P. lividus male gametes we observed a real decrease in sperm speed but the egg cells, apparently, no have morpho-structural change although it is found a real diclofenac absorption. The study finds that the two species have a diclofenac sensitivity and that the male gametes are more vulnerable and sensitive to high diclofenac concentrations compared to female gametes. Much remains to be done to increase the knowledges despite today we known the potential risks due to the drugs presence in the waters and being that many of these substances have additive or synergistic activity and their effect can be greatly enhanced
Criteri museologici per il MUCEB
No full textThe essay traces the museological criteria followed by the author for the layout of the Museum of Ceramics in Burgio
In vitro effect of cadmium and copper on separated blood leukocytes of Dicentrarchus labrax.
Full text linkThe immunotoxic effects of heavy metals on blood leukocytes of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were examined. The cells, separated by a discontinuous Percoll-gradients, were exposed in vitro to various sublethal concentrations of cadmium and copper (10(-7) M, 10(-5) M, and 10(-3) M) and their immunotoxic effect was then evaluated by measuring neutral red uptake, MU assay, DNA fragmentation and Hsp70 gene expression. First of all, we demonstrated that the cells treated in vitro could incorporate Cd and Cu. A relationship between heavy metal exposure and dose-time-dependent alterations in responses of leukocytes from blood was found for both metals, but copper was more immunotoxic than cadmium in all assays performed. A significant reduction in the cells' ability to uptake neutral red and viability by MU assay was recorded, indicating that both cadmium and copper could change the membrane permeability, inducing cellular apoptosis when the concentration of metals reached 10(-3) M. The apoptotic effect may also explain the high level of cytotoxicity found when the leukocytes were exposed to higher concentration of metals. These results demonstrated that toxic effect of copper and cadmium affect on the mechanisms of cell-mediated immunity reducing the immune defences of the organism. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Aroclor 1254 inhibits the chemiluminescence response of peritoneal cavity cells from sharpsnout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo)
Full text linkChronic exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) affect the immune system of fish and could lead to a decreased disease resistance. The effects of Aroclor 1254, PCB mixtures, on the Diplodus puntazzo innate immunity were examined by assaying the zymosan stimulated chemiluminescence response (CL) of peritoneal cavity cells (PCCs) at various times (1, 24, 48 h and 1-4 weeks) from intraperitoneal injection of the xenobiotic (1 mg kg(-1) body weight). Controls were performed by assaying cells from medium-treated fish. Since the kinetic of the chemiluminescence response showed the highest peak at 25 min after the zymosan stimulation of the cells, the values found at that time were considered. The CL enhancement observed at 1 h after the treatment with xenobiotic was followed by a decreased response at 24 h and appeared to be lower at 1-4 weeks when compared to the CL response of the control, suggesting a protracted effect of PCBs on the peritoneal cavity. Since PCCs incubated in vitro for 1 h with 0.05 and 0.1 mu g ml(-1) Aroclor showed an enhanced CL, the effect of the xenobiotic could be exerted on the cell responsiveness to zymosan. It is known that fish CL response of PCCs can be imputed to phagocyte (macrophages and neutrophils) activation, these cells and their responsiveness to zymosan can be used in immunotoxicology assay to monitor the fish health in polluted environment. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Nutritional and mineral composition of persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki L.) from Central and Southern Italy
Full text linkIn this study, the nutritional and mineral composition of Diospyros kaki fruits from Apulia, Campania, Lazio, Sardinia and Sicily regions was evaluated. Dietary fiber, mineral, pectin, polyphenol, and protein contents were evaluated. Particularly high are the contents of the dietary fiber and pectins. The mineral elements profile was interesting due to its modest content of sodium and high potassium concentration. Protein amounts were in line with the quantities for this fruit. The total polyphenol content of the fruits analysed was very variable, interesting for the quantities found both total and gallic acid. The results obtained confirmed the nutritional value of this fruit even for special dietary regimens such as hypertension and heart diseases and the genuineness of its cultivation in Central-Southern Italy
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Changes in eggshell ultrastructure of Falco naumanni and Tyto alba exposed to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Full text linkChanges in the quality of eggs of birds exposed to environmental contaminants have been described, but few reports concern eggshell ultrastructure. In this study, infertile or addled Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni) and Barn owls (Tyto alba) eggs were collected from the polluted area of Gela plain (Sicily) during 2007, and compared in terms of organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides, and PCBs levels, and eggshell ultrastructure as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Pesticide and PCB residues in eggs were determined by Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) [GC Agilent 7890A/MS Agilent 5975C (Agilent technologies) using a DB-5 capillary column in the selected ion monitoring mode]. The GC/MS analysis revealed that eggs contained measurable amounts of some pesticides and PCBs. There was a low detection of organophosphate pesticides while the most abundant organochlorine residues detected were p,p’ DDT, p,p’ DDE, and Hexachlorobenzene. While, the most abundant PCBs detected congeners were PCB 138, 153, 170, 180, and 187. Although the general structure of the eggshell layers was maintained, the results showed ultrastructural differences in mammillary and palisade eggshell layers between high level and low level contaminated eggs in Tyto alba. Furthermore, mammillary cores of the eggshell had an increased distance between themselves with respect to well organized structures present in uncontaminated egg. In this paper we verify the presence of environmental contaminants in the eggs and document structural changes in bird of prey eggshells. The data could suggest that some contaminants can contribute to reduced reproductive performance (infertile or addled egg) by structural changes in the eggshell. The alteration in morphological disposition of mammillary cores could also suggest an impairment of gas exchange
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