Pregnancy and Embryonic Loss Among Timed Artificial Insemination Protocols in Post-partum Dairy Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The aims of the study were to determine the pregnancies and embryonic losses following Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) protocols and to generate strategic breeding management for buffaloes. In Study 1, buffaloes in natural estrus were inseminated, serving as Control (T1). In T2, buffaloes were subjected to the Controlled Internal Drug Release-Synch-human Chorionic Gonadotropin (CIDR-Synch-hCG) protocol. In T3, animals were subjected to Prostaglandin protocol, and T4 is similar to T3 except that hCG was supplemented on the Day of AI. In Study 2, buffaloes were subjected to the CIDR-Synch-hCG protocol, and the sizes of pre-ovulatory follicles were measured as the basis for the conduct of TAI. In Study 3, animals were similarly subjected to the CIDR-Synch-hCG protocol at different seasons. Results in Study 1 indicate that the CIDR-Synch-hCG protocol achieved pregnancy rates on Days 30 and 60 post-AI and embryonic loss, which are not significantly different (P<0.05) from those of natural estrus (T1), and that the Prostaglandin protocol supplemented with hCG (T4) resulted in significantly higher pregnancies and lower embryonic loss compared with Prostaglandin alone (T3) group. In Study 2, inseminating buffaloes with ≥12.0 mm pre-ovulatory follicle size (T3) yielded the highest pregnancies (P<0.05) at Days 30 and 60 with the lowest (P<0.05) embryonic loss among follicle size groups. In Study 3, TAI performed during January-March and October-December indicated significantly higher pregnancies (P<0.05) with lower embryonic loss (P<0.05) compared with the April-June and July-September seasons. In sum, the present study demonstrated the efficiencies of Timed AI protocols, which provided opportunities for their strategic use in breeding programs to achieve greater productivity and profitability from buffalo farming

SUBPOPULATION STRUCTURE AND CHANGES AFTER CRYOPRESERVATION OF SPERMS FROM HIGH AND LOW FERTILITY WATER BUFFALO / ESTRUCTURA DE LAS SUBPOBLACIONES Y CAMBIOS DESPUÉS DE LA CRIOPRESERVACIÓN ESPERMÁTICA EN BÚFALOS DE AGUA CON ALTA Y BAJA FERTILIDAD

The aim of this study was to identify the sperm subpopulation structure in buffalo bulls with high and low fertility and to determine how sperm subpopulations change after semen cryopreservation. Semen was obtained from four bulls with high fertility (HF) and four bulls with low fertility (LF) and was cryopreserved. A total of 64 ejaculates were assessed for their sperm kinematics using computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA). Ward’s Hierarchical Dendogram and K-Means clustering method were used to identify the subpopulations. In experiment 1, two significantly different (P≤0.05) sperm subpopulations were observed: Subpopulation 1 (SP1): sperms travel longer distances most rapidly and progressively, and Subpopulation 2 (SP2): sperms travel shorter distances slower but highly progressive. A higher percentage of SP1 was found in HF bulls (47.27); whereas, a higher percentage of SP2 was found in LF bulls (54.89). A low negative relationship (r=-0.18) was observed for the fertility level and sperm subpopulation structure. This implies that sperms that travel longer distances most rapidly and progressively (SP1) are most likely associated to high fertility, while sperms that travel shorter distances slower but highly progressive (SP2) are associated with low fertility. In experiment 2, based on the change in SP1 after cryopreservation, significantly higher sperm survival was observed in samples from HF bulls (29.97) as compared to those from LF bulls (31.64). During post thaw, there were more SP1 sperms in samples from HF bulls (27.52) than in those from LF bulls (26.74). Thus, semen containing higher proportion of SP1 sperms are more resistant to cryopreservation and have greater chances of obtaining high fertility. Overall, the identification of sperm heterogeneity in water buffaloes can be associated to sperm survival after cryopreservation and fertility. RESUMENEl propósito de este estudio fue identificar la estructura de las subpoblaciones espermáticas en toros bufalinos con alta y baja fertilidad y determinar los cambios luego de la criopreservación. El semen se obtuvo de cuatro búfalos con alta fertilidad (HF) y cuatro con baja fertilidad (LF) y fue criopreservado. Un total de 64 eyaculados fueron evaluados para parámetros cinéticos usando un analizador espermático asistido por computadora (CASA). El método de dendograma jerárquico de Ward y el método K-means fueron utilizados para identificar las subpoblaciones. En el experimento 1, dos subpoblaciones espermáticas estadísticamente diferentes (p<0.05) fueron observadas: Subpoblación 1 (SP1): espermatozoides que viajan largas distancias más rápida y progresivamente, y la Subpoblación 2 (SP2): espermatozoides que viajan distancias cortas de forma lenta pero muy progresivamente. Un mayor porcentaje de SP1 fue encontrado en los búfalos HF (47,27); mientras que un mayor porcentaje de SP2 fue encontrado en los búfalos LF (54.89). Una relación baja pero negativa (r = -0,18) fue observada para el nivel de fertilidad y la estructura de la subpoblación espermática. Esto implica que los espermatozoides que viajan largas distancias más rápida y progresivamente (SP1) están más asociados a la alta fertilidad, mientras que los que viajan distancias cortas más lento y con alta progresividad (SP2) están asociados a una baja fertilidad. En el experimento 2, en base a los cambios en SP1 luego de la criopreservación, un mayor porcentaje de espermatozoides permaneció en esta subpoblación en los búfalos HF (27,52) que en los LF (26,74). Por lo tanto, semen con una alta proporción de espermatozoides dentro de SP1 son más resistentes a la criopreservación y tienen mayor probabilidad de obtener una mayor fertilidad. En general, la identificación de la heterogeneidad espermática en búfalos de agua puede ser asociada a la sobrevivencia luego de la criopreservación y a la fertilidad

Influence of Ovarian Follicle Sizes and Estrous Signs on Pregnancy Following Progesterone-Based Fixed Time Artificial Insemination in Water Buffaloes

The objectives of the present study were to elucidate the importance of follicle sizes and estrous signs during Controlled Internal Drug Release-Synch-human Chorionic Gonadotropin (CIDR-Synch-hCG) protocol for Fixed Time Artificial Insemination (FTAI) and to evaluate their association with pregnancy in water buffaloes. Data from riverine buffaloes (n = 207) under the CIDR-Synch-hCG protocol were analyzed. Buffaloes were administered with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) with insertion of CIDR on Day 0. Prostaglandin (PGF2α) was given on Day 7 with the removal of CIDR. hCG was given on Day 9, and AI was performed on Day 10. Follicle measurements by ultrasonography were done on Days 0, 7, and 10, and follicle sizes on those days were categorized into I, II, and III. Estrus signs were taken on the day of AI. The pregnancy diagnosis was done on Day 30-35 post-AI. The average size of follicles in Category III is significantly higher than those of Categories I and II, regardless of the Days of the protocol. Pregnancy is significantly (P&lt;0.001) associated with Pre-Ovulatory Follicle (POF) size and uterine tonicity on the Day of AI but not with follicle sizes on Days 0 and 7, nor with mucus discharge discharge (P&gt;0.05). The overall pregnancy rate is 44.44% while performing AI with POF size ≥12.0 mm increased the probability of pregnancy rate to 56.25%. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated a follicle size-based CIDR-Synch-hCG protocol providing new fertility indicators to improve FTAI efficiency in buffaloes with huge application in other livestock species

Perspectives in visual imaging for marine biology and ecology: from acquisition to understanding

Durden J, Schoening T, Althaus F, et al. Perspectives in Visual Imaging for Marine Biology and Ecology: From Acquisition to Understanding. In: Hughes RN, Hughes DJ, Smith IP, Dale AC, eds. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 54. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2016: 1-72

Conformational occlusion of blockade antibody epitopes, a novel mechanism of GII.4 human norovirus immune evasion

Extensive antigenic diversity within the GII.4 genotype of human norovirus is a major driver of pandemic emergence and a significant obstacle to development of cross-protective immunity after natural infection and vaccination. However, human and mouse monoclonal antibody studies indicate that, although rare, antibodies to conserved GII.4 blockade epitopes are generated. The mechanisms by which these epitopes evade immune surveillance are uncertain. Here, we developed a new approach for identifying conserved GII.4 norovirus epitopes. Utilizing a unique set of virus-like particles (VLPs) representing the in vivo-evolved sequence diversity within an immunocompromised person, we identify key residues within epitope F, a conserved GII.4 blockade antibody epitope. The residues critical for antibody binding are proximal to evolving blockade epitope E. Like epitope F, antibody blockade of epitope E was temperature sensitive, indicating that particle conformation regulates antibody access not only to the conserved GII.4 blockade epitope F but also to the evolving epitope E. These data highlight novel GII.4 mechanisms to protect blockade antibody epitopes, map essential residues of a GII.4 conserved epitope, and expand our understanding of how viral particle dynamics may drive antigenicity and antibody-mediated protection by effectively shielding blockade epitopes. Our data support the notion that GII.4 particle breathing may well represent a major mechanism of humoral immune evasion supporting cyclic pandemic virus persistence and spread in human populations. IMPORTANCE In this study, we use norovirus virus-like particles to identify key residues of a conserved GII.4 blockade antibody epitope. Further, we identify an additional GII.4 blockade antibody epitope to be occluded, with antibody access governed by temperature and particle dynamics. These findings provide additional support for particle conformation-based presentation of binding residues mediated by a particle “breathing core.” Together, these data suggest that limiting antibody access to blockade antibody epitopes may be a frequent mechanism of immune evasion for GII.4 human noroviruses. Mapping blockade antibody epitopes, the interaction between adjacent epitopes on the particle, and the breathing core that mediates antibody access to epitopes provides greater mechanistic understanding of epitope camouflage strategies utilized by human viral pathogens to evade immunity

Conformational occlusion of blockade antibody epitopes, a novel mechanism of GII.4 human norovirus immune evasion

Extensive antigenic diversity within the GII.4 genotype of human norovirus is a major driver of pandemic emergence and a significant obstacle to development of cross- protective immunity after natural infection and vaccination. However, human and mouse monoclonal antibody studies indicate that, although rare, antibodies to conserved GII.4 blockade epitopes are generated. The mechanisms by which these epitopes evade immune surveillance are uncertain. Here, we developed a new approach for identifying conserved GII.4 norovirus epitopes. Utilizing a unique set of virus-like particles (VLPs) representing the in vivo-evolved sequence diversity within an immunocompromised person, we identify key residues within epitope F, a conserved GII.4 blockade antibody epitope. The residues critical for antibody binding are proximal to evolving blockade epitope E. Like epitope F, antibody blockade of epitope E was temperature sensitive, indicating that particle conformation regulates antibody access not only to the conserved GII.4 blockade epitope F but also to the evolving epitope E. These data highlight novel GII.4 mechanisms to protect blockade antibody epitopes, map essential residues of a GII.4 conserved epitope, and expand our understanding of how viral particle dynamics may drive antigenicity and antibody-mediated protection by effectively shielding blockade epitopes. Our data support the notion that GII.4 particle breathing may well represent a major mechanism of humoral immune evasion supporting cyclic pandemic virus persistence and spread in human populations

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake