C. elegans PEZO-1 is a mechanosensitive ion channel involved in food sensation

PIEZO channels are force sensors essential for physiological processes, including baroreception and proprioception. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome encodes an orthologue gene of the Piezo family, pezo-1, which is expressed in several tissues, including the pharynx. This myogenic pump is an essential component of the C. elegans alimentary canal, whose contraction and relaxation are modulated by mechanical stimulation elicited by food content. Whether pezo-1 encodes a mechanosensitive ion channel and contributes to pharyngeal function remains unknown. Here, we leverage genome editing, genetics, microfluidics, and electropharyngeogram recording to establish that pezo-1 is expressed in the pharynx, including in a proprioceptive-like neuron, and regulates pharyngeal function. Knockout (KO) and gain-of-function (GOF) mutants reveal that pezo-1 is involved in fine-tuning pharyngeal pumping frequency, as well as sensing osmolarity and food mechanical properties. Using pressure-clamp experiments in primary C. elegans embryo cultures, we determine that pezo-1 KO cells do not display mechanosensitive currents, whereas cells expressing wild-type or GOF PEZO-1 exhibit mechanosensitivity. Moreover, infecting the Spodoptera frugiperda cell line with a baculovirus containing the G-isoform of pezo-1 (among the longest isoforms) demonstrates that pezo-1 encodes a mechanosensitive channel. Our findings reveal that pezo-1 is a mechanosensitive ion channel that regulates food sensation in worms.

Pathoanatomical findings of a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) victim of collision with a motorboat

In this paper we report the trauma suffered by a green turtle (Chelonia mydas), caused by a collision with a motorboat, and describe the case ante and post-mortem. An adult female green turtle was rescued alive on December 2, 2016 at Ponta Negra beach, municipality of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The rescued animal was sent to the Marine Fauna Rehabilitation Center (PCCB-UERN), municipality of Areia Branca (RN), in Brazil. Physical examination revealed an excellent body score, noisy breathing, moderate dehydration, absence of hind limb and cloacal reflexes when stimulated by pressure, and two traumatic injuries characteristic of a collision with a motorboat. After three days of supportive treatment, the animal died and was immediately sent for necropsy. The animal had a complete fracture of the vertebral bodies (dorsal elements D9 and D10) and spinal cord section. The entire gastrointestinal tract had food content, in addition to sharp injuries in the colon caused by the bone fragments of the fractured carapace. The lungs were congested, hemorrhagic with frothy and bloody secretion, and interstitial bronchiole fibrosis. There was also present some fibrin and a large number of leukocyte cells, consisting mainly of macrophages. The liver was enlarged, with rounded edges and thickening of the capsule, multifocal areas of hepatocellular necrosis, and dissociation of the hepatocyte cords. The collision resulted in the exposure of the coelomic cavity and spinal cord, causing the animal intense pain, paralysis of the hind limbs and cloaca, septicemia, and consequently, death.

Aspects of the Feeding Ecology of Mallard and Black Swan in a Small Freshwater Lake

<p>Section 1. Limnological and waterfowl food supply characteristics of Pukepuke Lagoon are described. Emphasis is placed on describing how the balance between macrophytes and phytoplankton is established (these two forms of vegetation tend to dominate alternately in the lagoon). The question of whether heavy swan grazing may potentially shift this balance in favour of phytoplankton dominance is examined. Section 2. The year-round patterns of feeding exhibited by mallards are described on the basis of scan counts taken at one or two-hourly intervals from dawn to dusk. These feeding patterns, graphically depicted, are then interpreted and discussed against the background of what is known of the food content of the lagoon. Reference is made to the behavioural and physiological adaptability of the birds, and to the reserve capacity of the wetland complex - not just Pukepuke Lagoon - to sustain them. The relevance of these findings and interpretations, to New Zealand in general is discussed. Section 3. An hypothesis is developed to account for the way in which black swans use various waters in the Pukepuke-centred wetland complex.</p>

Aspects of the Feeding Ecology of Mallard and Black Swan in a Small Freshwater Lake

<p>Section 1. Limnological and waterfowl food supply characteristics of Pukepuke Lagoon are described. Emphasis is placed on describing how the balance between macrophytes and phytoplankton is established (these two forms of vegetation tend to dominate alternately in the lagoon). The question of whether heavy swan grazing may potentially shift this balance in favour of phytoplankton dominance is examined. Section 2. The year-round patterns of feeding exhibited by mallards are described on the basis of scan counts taken at one or two-hourly intervals from dawn to dusk. These feeding patterns, graphically depicted, are then interpreted and discussed against the background of what is known of the food content of the lagoon. Reference is made to the behavioural and physiological adaptability of the birds, and to the reserve capacity of the wetland complex - not just Pukepuke Lagoon - to sustain them. The relevance of these findings and interpretations, to New Zealand in general is discussed. Section 3. An hypothesis is developed to account for the way in which black swans use various waters in the Pukepuke-centred wetland complex.</p>

Impact of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RA) on Food Content During Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Background Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have delayed gastric emptying properties; however, the impact on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) visualization is unknown. Objective: This study examines the impact of GLP-1RA use on EGD visualization and gastric content retention. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study with matched controls. The primary endpoint was the odds of retained food documented during EGD. Secondary endpoints included incidence of lavage and need for repeat EGD due to poor visualization and were compared using Fisher exact test. Analyses were performed in R Studio. Results: There were 59 patients in the cohort prescribed a GLP-1RA with 118 matched controls. Food retention was documented with 4 patients (6.8%) in the GLP-1RA cohort versus 2 patients (1.7%) in the control group (odds ratio [OR] 4.22 [95% CI 0.87-20.34]). No difference was observed in the need for lavage during EGD or in the need for repeat EGD attributed to poor visualization. Conclusion and Relevance: This study addresses a previously uninvestigated question in clinical practice. GLP-1RA did not significantly increase odds of retained food on EGD. Although a numerical difference was observed, it did not reach statistical difference. No cases required repeat EGD due to poor visualization, and no change to EGD pre-procedure instructions were warranted at the study facility.

Well-being Messaging for Mammalian Milks: A Scoping Review

Having a holistic understanding of research on well-being messaging for milk is vital to allow the optimal communication of the association between milk consumption and various nutritional, physical, and psychological benefits to the consumer. This work is a unique interdisciplinary, scoping review of existing research on well-being messaging for milk. Well-being messages are ways to communicate the broad well-being benefits of specific products to the consumer through information on food content or statements that link a product with favourable components, functions, or well-being outcomes. Leveraging this broad definition, and by proposing a guiding theoretical model that considers well-being messaging as a form of communication, milk well-being messaging literature has been mapped across time, geographical locations, disciplines, and product types. Two hundred forty-six were records included in this review, of which 177 were empirical studies. Studies were disseminated between 1954 and 2019, with 54.9% published after 2011. Food, Agriculture, and Biological Sciences (N = 109), Nutrition and Dietetics (N = 78), and Medicine, Public Health, and Health Professions (N = 69) disciplines have attracted the most publications, with numbers generally increasing in most recent years. The majority of included non-empirical records (69.6%) provide lists of commercially available products carrying well-being messaging and/or regulations on the use of particular well-being messages for milk according to various legislative authorities. Most of the empirical studies were conducted in North America (N = 71), West Europe (N = 52), and Oceania (N = 22), and on plain (i.e., unflavoured) milk (N = 152). Whereas, most studied elements of well-being messaging for milk across time, i.e., message (N = 169), product (N = 141), receiver (N = 101), and context (N = 72) have seen an increasing number of studies in recent years; sender (N = 51) and medium (N = 27) have been even less studied in the past four years. A more detailed analysis of research trends in each element of well-being messaging is reported. The research highlights immediate and strategic knowledge gaps that need further attention from researchers and/or policymakers in order to improve the “messaging” of well-being benefits of milk consumption to the consumer.

Daily variation feeding of Astyanax lacustris (Lütken 1875) in a subtropical river

This study aimed to know the daily variation of Astyanax lacustris (Lütken 1875) feeding in a lotic environment. Fish were caught with a net for three days every three hours in the summer to capture ten individuals per hour in a stretch of the Ijuí River, Middle Uruguay River, Brazil. The captured specimens had their stomachs removed and the content analyzed and separated into seven food categories with the aid of stereomicroscope. For the analysis of food items were used the frequency of occurrence methods, volumetric method and applied the Alimentary Index (IAi). Two hundred stomachs were analyzed, of which 95% had food content. The most abundant items were algae and autochthonous insects. Astyanax lacustris feeds throughout the day especially early in the morning (9 hours) and reduces its feeding at night (24 hours and 3 hours). It was also verified variation of AI of different food items throughout the day. It is concluded that A. lacustris feeds throughout the day, especially in the daytime and that throughout the 24 hours it varies its diet due to photoperiod and food availability.

Berkarya di Tengah Pandemi dengan Internet Sehat: Rancang Bangun Website PAUD RUSA

Early chrildhood education is an important stage for the growth and development of a child. PAUD RUSA (Rumah Asa) is expected to be a comfortable and fun place for the younger generation to learn, not only to get cognitively equipped but to become a person who has noble character, healthy, intelligent, honest, responsible, creative, confident and loves the homeland. According to the expectations of the parents and useful for the community and even the nation and state. This hope encounters obstacles with the number of students experiencing a decline every year, especially since 2020 there has been a corona virus pandemic that has not only attacked the country of Indonesia but also globally. This community service is a means of collaboration between the Karangturi National University with PAUD RUSA and the surrounding community to provide education about healthy internet and healthy food content by utilizing website media.

Peculiarities of disorders of nitrogen oxide system in the blood at adrenalin-induced myocardial injury in conditions of immobilization stress and their correction by L-arginine

The aim: of the study was to elucidate the changes to nitric oxide activity in the blood during adrenaline-induced myocardial injury under immobilization stress and to establish the corrective effect of L-arginine. Methods: determination of free arginine was conducted by the method of Aleinikova T.L., total nitric oxide products in the blood by the method of Schmidt H.H., the total activity of nitric oxide synthase by the method of Sumbaiev V.V.. Immobilization stress was reproduced by the method of Horizontov P.D. Adrenaline-induced myocardial injury was reproduced by the method of Markova O.O. L-arginine was injected based on scientific data by Kiryanova N.A. Results. Studies have shown that on days 1 and 3 with adrenaline-induced myocardial injury under immobilization stress there was an increase in nitric oxide products in the blood, respectively, according to control. The use of L-arginine on the 5th day, led to a decrease in levels of NO products in the blood by less than, lower against the group of animals with MI and IS, to treatment. Conclusions. Thus, biochemical studies of NO system in the dynamics of IS and MI showed an increase in food content and total synthase activity of NO on the background of reduced levels of L-arginine, which were detected at all stages of the study and especially expressed on the 1st day before treatment. The use of the drug L-arginine, made it possible to identify its corrective effect on impaired metabolic processes in MI and IS

Stoma and intestine ultrastructure of the marine free-living nematode Odontophora deconincki (Nematoda: Araeolaimida: Axonolaimidae)

Summary The fine morphology of the buccal capsule and intestine (midgut) of the marine free-living nematode Odontophora deconincki was investigated. The cheilostome is armed with six equal claw-like odontia that can evert radially by opening the mouth. Light-refracting accessory buccal structures within the cheilostomatal cuticle alternate with odontia and consist of two elements: anterior armilloids and posterior granular armilliths. The buccal cavity (pharyngostome) is surrounded by a complex of longitudinal and oblique muscles partially attached to the cheilostome cuticle at the sites of the accessory buccal structures and enabling a wide opening of the mouth. With the described stoma condition, the nematode probably scrapes food particles from the substrate surface. In cross-section, the midgut consists of 5-7 cells that appear uniform throughout its length. An extracellular matrix (glycocalyx) over the microvillar brush varies in thickness and stratification depending on presence or absence of food content in the lumen. Abundant spherocrystals (globular inclusions with concentric striations) were present in all gut cells. No indication of endocytosis or digestive vacuoles was observed in the gut cells and extracellular digestion predominates. Most specimens had a gut content formed from a long cylinder of compressed flocculent material with some barely identifiable components and few spherocrystals expelled from the enterocytes. We assume that the nematode diet comprises a wide range of objects, mainly eukariotic epigrowth organisms, which are shorn off and scraped from the surface of sand grains and then ingested.