Background: Recent investigations have demonstrated a positive association between periodontitis and pregnancy complications. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of periodontitis and the subgingival microbial composition on preeclampsia.Methods: A case-control study was carried out in Cali, Colombia that included 130 preeclamptic and 243 nonpreeclamptic women between 26 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. Sociodemographic data, obstetric risk factors, periodontal status, and subgingival microbial composition were determined in both groups. Preeclampsia was defined as blood pressure ‡140/90 mm Hg, and ‡2+ proteinuria, confirmed by 0.3 g proteinuria/24 hours of urine specimens. Controls were healthy pregnant women. Odds ratios (ORs) for periodontitis and subgingival microbiota compositions were calculated.Results: A total of 83 out of 130 preeclamptic women (63.8%) and 89 out of 243 controls (36.6%) had chronic periodontitis (OR: 3.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.91 to 4.87; P <0.001). Clinical attachment loss increased in the case group (4.0 -0.10 mm) compared to the control group (3.0 -0.08 mm) (P <0.001). The average newborn birth weight from preeclamptic mothers was 2.453 g, whereas in controls was 2.981 g (P <0.001). Two red complex microorganisms, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythensis, and the green complex microorganism Eikenella corrodens were more prevalent in the preeclamptic group than in controls (P <0.01).Conclusions: Chronic periodontal disease and the presence of P. gingivalis, T. forsythensis, and E. corrodens were significantly associated with preeclampsia in pregnant women. Further research is needed to establish pathogenic mechanisms of active periodontal disease and subgingival periodontopathogens related to preeclampsia development.

The neuroprotective effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the long-term survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were studied in the frog Rana pipiens. Cell loss was quantified in different regions of the ganglion cell layer using Nissl staining and tetramethylrhodamine dextran amine backfilling. All regions of the retina showed a significant decrease (32-66%) in RGC numbers between 4 and 16 weeks after axotomy. Some cells showed morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis. A single application of bFGF to the optic nerve stump at the time of axotomy protected many of the cells 6 weeks after the injury, but this effect was lost by 12 weeks. A second application of bFGF, 6 weeks after the injury, rescued many RGCs at 12 weeks. In contrast, single or double injections of bFGF into the eyeball had no effect on RGC survival. Axotomized RGCs were significantly enlarged and elongated after axotomy, and these morphological changes were increased by bFGF treatment. In the normal retina and optic nerve, immunocytochemical staining showed bFGF-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in the pigment epithelial layer, in the outer segments of photoreceptors, and in occasional RGCs. Strong bFGF-LI was present in Müller cells and in optic nerve astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. FGF receptor-LI was present in photoreceptors, outer plexiform layer, retinal ganglion cell axons, and Müller cells. FGF receptor-LI was also observed in optic nerve glia.

26Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most cultivated and economically important species in 27 world aquaculture. Faster male development during grow-out phase is considered a major problem that 28 generate heterogeneous sizes of fish at harvest. Identifying genomic regions associated with sex 29 determination in Nile tilapia is a research topic of great interest. The objective of this study was to 30 identify genomic variants associated with sex determination in three commercial populations of Nile 31 tilapia. Whole-genome sequencing of 326 individuals was performed, and a total of 2.4 million high-32quality bi-allelic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. A genome-wide association 33 study (GWAS) was conducted to identify markers associated with the binary sexual trait (males = 0; 34 females = 1). A mixed logistic regression GWAS model was fitted and a genome-wide significant signal 35 comprising 36 SNPs, located on chromosome 23 spanning a genomic region of 536 kb, was identified. 36Ten out of these 36 genetic variants, intercept the anti-Müllerian hormone gene. Other significant SNPs 37 were located in the neighboring Amh gene region. This gene has been strongly associated with sex 38 determination in several vertebrate species, playing an essential role in the differentiation of male and 39 female reproductive tissue in early stages of development. This finding provides useful information to 40 better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying sex determination in Nile tilapia. 41 42 Keywords: SNP, sex control, quantitative trait loci, WGS, GWAS 43 44 45

No abstract

No abstract

A role for eosinophils in the immune reaction has not been yet established. Considering that these leukocytes accumulate in lymphoid organs under glucocorticoid stimulation, we explored the possibility that they participate in the depression of immune reactions induced by these hormones and that they degranulate to exert this action. In this context, we investigated the dose effect of three estrogens on the number and degranulation of spleen red pulp eosinophils and on the percentage of spleen cross sectional area comprising white pulp. Estradiol-17 beta or 4 (OH) estradiol-17 beta increased red pulp eosinophils at low doses: 2 (OH) estradiol-17 beta increased them at a very high dose. The three estrogens degranulated the spleen eosinophils and decreased the lymphocyte containing spleen white pulp. We propose that the decrease in white pulp is a response mediated by agents released from degranulating eosinophils under the action of estrogen. Consequently, both estrogen-induced eosinophil degranulation and estrogen-induced increase in red pulp eosinophil numbers are conditions contributing to a decrease in white pulp volume. All above evidence supports the hypothesis that eosinophils are involved in immunoregulation by diminishing the number of lymphocytes contained in lymphoid organs.

No abstract

No abstract