Horn Of Animals Research Articles

Les enjeux du discours sur la girafe au dix-huitième siècle, des naturalistes et Buffon à François le Vaillant

<p>In the eighteenth century, the illustrations of natural history treatises betray the complex evolution of the image of the giraffe, divergent, even contrary representations, of an animal which belongs as much to reality as to fantasy. We know it from texts whose contradictions only sharpen curiosity about this fabulous animal that no one had yet seen. The different editions of Buffon's Natural History attest to the author's relentlessness in resolving the difficult question of the animal's horns, but also show the itinerary of a knowledge that is still evolving. It is François Le Vaillant, explorer, naturalist, ornithologist, who has the honor of finally presenting the giraffe to the scholarly community. Conquest of knowledge for the glory of science, certainly, but also intimate possession through the death of the coveted object, his account of hunting offers an unprecedented glimpse of a conquest that turns out to be as literal as scientific, the seed of other conquests to come.</p>

A Horn Peptide-Thermoresponsive Hydrogel for Angiogenesis and Bone Regeneration.

The management of critical-sized bone defects presents a formidable clinical challenge, especially given the increasing incidence of bone diseases in the aging population. Consequently, there is an increased demand for minimally invasive bone repair materials that can effectively address this challenge, particularly in outpatient settings. In this study, the goal is to develop an injectable and biodegradable biomaterial that adheres to and fills bone-defect sites to support bone regeneration. The osteogenic and angiogenic activities of animal horn peptides are investigated by incorporating them into biologically active moieties, in combination with a novel thermosensitive hydrogel. The resulting thermosensitive hydrogel exhibited essential biological functionalities, allowing precise modulation of its physical and chemical properties. Notably, the hydrogel incorporating the horn peptide rapidly filled the bone defect site, promoting both angiogenesis and bone induction. Consequently, this approach significantly accelerates new bone regeneration. In summary, the findings of this study present a promising, minimally invasive solution for addressing critical-sized bone defects.

Production and Applications of Keratinases in Industry

Keratin is an insoluble protein with fibrous structure. It is mainly found in hair,feathers,nail,wool and horn of various animals. These animal accessories can be utilized as animals feed, amino-acids and fertilizers. This insoluble protein is very difficult to degrade and has extreme stability because it has disulfide bonds, hydrogen and hydrophobic interaction present in it. But keratin can be easily digested by keratinase enzyme. Keratinase is an extracellular enzyme. It also degrades keratin in prokaryotic organisms. Microorganisms that produce keratinase are species of Bacillus, Actinobacteria and fungi. It can also be obtained from Streptomyces, Aspergillus, Fervidobacterium, Xanthomonas, Chryseobacteriumand Vibrio. Keratinases produced by microbes arevery diverse due to their chemical as well as physical properties. It is a vigorous enzyme that can survive broad pH and temperature. Their optimum pH range is neutral to alkaline and their optimum temperature reported is 40°C to 60°C. And thermophiles have also been reported for stable microbial activity. Microbial keratinases are cheaply available as compared to conventional producers for keratinases production. They have gained great significance in biotechnology by acting on strong, inflexible cross linked polypeptide structure of keratin instead of ordinary proteolytic enzyme papain, trypsin or pepsin. They are mostly extracted by degrading keratin as substrate. Keratin substrates include feather, hair, wool,horn and nails. This degradation process is helpful in converting keratinous wastes in to fertilizer and poultry feed. Other renowned biotechnological implementations include removing hair from leather by using keratinase, development of bio-polymer from keratinous fiber, delivering drug, hydrolysis of prion proteins and detergent industry. They are also used in converting biomass in to biofuel that significantly boosts power preservation and recycling. The main problem for producing enzymes on large scale is their costly production procedures. This hurdle is overcome by utilizing keratin waste eg feathers of chicken as fermentation substrate on industrial scale. The benefit of utilizing this left over is extremely cost effective fermentation process of keratinase and the effluents are environmental friendly. Keratinase enzyme has become popular and provided newly effective and efficient way for managing waste products by using them on industrial scales as substrates which gives rise to environmental friendly industries for nonstop development.

Nerve Growth Factor/Tyrosine Kinase A Receptor Pathway Enhances Analgesia in an Experimental Mouse Model of Bone Cancer Pain by Increasing Membrane Levels of δ-Opioid Receptors.

The role of nerve growth factor (NGF)/tyrosine kinase A receptor (TrKA) signaling, which is activated in a variety of pain states, in regulating membrane-associated δ-opioid receptor (mDOR) expression is poorly understood. The hypothesis was that elevated NGF in bone cancer tumors could upregulate mDOR expression in spinal cord neurons and that mDOR agonism might alleviate bone cancer pain. Bone cancer pain (BCP) was induced by inoculating Lewis lung carcinoma cells into the femoral marrow cavity of adult C57BL/6J mice of both sexes. Nociceptive behaviors were evaluated by the von Frey and Hargreaves tests. Protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn of animals was measured by biochemical analyses, and excitatory synaptic transmission was recorded in miniature excitatory synaptic currents. The authors found that mDOR expression was increased in BCP mice (BCP vs. sham, mean ± SD: 0.18 ± 0.01 g vs. mean ± SD: 0.13 ± 0.01 g, n = 4, P < 0.001) and that administration of the DOR agonist deltorphin 2 (Del2) increased nociceptive thresholds (Del2 vs. vehicle, median [25th, 75th percentiles]: 1.00 [0.60, 1.40] g vs. median [25th, 75th percentiles]: 0.40 [0.16, 0.45] g, n = 10, P = 0.001) and reduced miniature excitatory synaptic current frequency in lamina II outer neurons (Del2 vs. baseline, mean ± SD: 2.21 ± 0.81 Hz vs. mean ± SD: 2.43 ± 0.90 Hz, n = 12, P < 0.001). Additionally, NGF expression was increased in BCP mice (BCP vs. sham, mean ± SD: 0.36 ± 0.03 vs. mean ± SD: 0.16 ± 0.02, n = 4, P < 0.001), and elevated NGF was associated with enhanced mDOR expression via TrKA signaling. Activation of mDOR produces analgesia that is dependent on the upregulation of the NGF/TrKA pathway by increasing mDOR levels under conditions of BCP in mice.

Bukkehornet – en gjennomgang og analyse av trompethorn og tungehorn

Instruments made from animal horns have apparently been used as far back as the Stone Age, mainly as part of the shepherd’s necessary equipment. The animal horn was too short to be overblown. Therefore, people started to put two or three finger holes, probably at the end of the Bronze Age, so that it was possible to play simple melodies or signals. In popular terminology, the fingerhole horn was often called “prillarhorn” (fingering horn) or “bukkehorn” (buck horn), despite the fact that a good part of the horns was made from horns from cows or bulls.&#x0D; &#x0D; Very little research has been done on the Norwegian “bukkehorn” tradi­tion, and not much has been published about the bukkehorn either. In 1973, Reidar Sevåg’s book Det gjallar og det læt was published, which was the first publication to deal with this subject in a serious and scientific way. Since there are several aspects of the horn that are not touched upon by Sevåg, and because his material was limited, I have examined a larger quantity of horns to complement the material and conclusions of Sevåg. I have also included the assessments of Atle Lien Jenssen in his master’s thesis on the clarinet (tongue) horn (2010). I have chosen to concentrate on the instrument itself, with the main emphasis on the description of different types, designs and distinctive features of the “bukkehorn”. In addition, I have looked more closely at the geographical distribution of the two main types of the instrument.

Оброблена кістка та ріг із Тіри-Білгорода римського та ранньомодерного часу (матеріали розкопок 2020—2021 рр.)

In 2020—2021, during excavations in the Civil Courtyard of the Akkerman Fortress, a collection of 26 bone items was collected, which are being published in the following article. The objects come from the layers and complexes mainly of the Modern (16th — 18th centuries) and Roman times and according to their functional purpose belong to several categories. The household items and the items for games (buckle fragments of knife handles, hookah mouthpieces, gambling or divination astragals, and a button), weapon products (rings for pulling back the bowstring), and work tools, facing plates, blanks and production waste are singled out. Items made of bone and horns are one of the main categories of material for the reconstruction of various aspects of the economy, everyday life and spiritual life of the ancient population. The analysed bone and horn objects are a small part of the collection of bone artefacts from the Tyras-Bilhorod excavations of the antique and modern periods, but they provide insight into the production of specialised crafts and manufacturing of bone products in individual households. Despite the small number of finds, the collection includes such categories of material as raw materials, blanks, production waste and finished items, which is one of the signs of the bone-cutting production presence directly on the territory of the city. Characterising the raw material base of the bone-cutting production, we should point out that the material for manufacturing was bones and horns of animals that were bred or obtained by the inhabitants of the city — a horse, a domestic bull, a sheep, a European deer and roe deer, as well as bone rays of the pectoral fins of sturgeon. During production, the peculiarities of the structure of bone raw materials were taken into account, which made it possible to use the shape of the bone/horn the best possible way to manufacture a specific object/tool. Certain types of bone objects existed in a rather wide chronological range (astragals for the game, plates — covers of knife handles etc.) The obtained results are important for the reconstruction of the bone-cutting and complement the existing ideas about the daily life of the inhabitants of Tyras-Bilhorod in the Roman and Modern times.

Acoustical affordances and challenges with indigenous and orchestral wind instruments

All our orchestral wind instruments evolved over many centuries from indigenous prototypes. The latter were developed using found hollow objects like animal horns for early brass instruments, vulture bones for flutes, and termite-infested eucalyptus branches for the Australian didjeridu. Already over 40,000 years ago, the concept of finger holes was conceived that allowed musicians to play various scales on instruments. During the Rennaissance and early Baroque, wind instrument ranges were extended to 1 1/2 octaves and beyond on a diatonic scale and extended cross-fingering capabilities, but it was during the romantic period that our orchestral instruments reached their final form, with chromatic extended tonal ranges and known well balanced timbral qualities. Built on an industrial scale, these instruments became a commodity without real alternatives for subsequent music styles, including jazz, rock, and classical avant-garde. These styles often sought a new timbral expressiveness that can go beyond the intended design of orchestral instruments. In this paper, it will be discussed how different wind instrument designs offer(ed) unique opportunities for music genres over time and how the original design of indigenous instruments better meets some of the more recent requirements than our commonly used orchestral instruments.

Типология и генезис циркульных знаков петроглифов Кайракколь и Аксу

Петроглифы Кайракколь и Аксу входят в группу памятников археологического комплекса Таусамалы, расположенного в Аксуском районе Жетысуской области. В составе комплекса зафиксированы три могильника и поселение раннего железного века, одиночные и небольшие группы курганов, которые предварительно датированы эпохой Средневековья, и скопления разновременных петроглифов. Памятники занимают территорию от окраин поселка Таусамалы и восточных склонов гор Каракунгей довосточной оконечности плато Суук в горах Кайракколь. Исследование комплекса началось в 2019 году с аварийных раскопок сотрудниками ТОО «Археологическая экспедиция» на кургане, содержащем погребение пазырыкского типа, впоследствии включенном в состав крупного могильника Таусамалы. Уникальные материалы, полученные в ходе этой работы, позволили продолжить изучение памятника.С 2020 года ТОО «Археологическая экспедиция» и Жетысуское областное управление по охране и использованию историко-культурного наследия проводят совместные и планомерные исследования на вновь обнаруженном могильнике и в его окрестностях. В 2022 году на археологическом комплексе приступил к работе таусамальский отряд Института археологии им. А.Х. Маргулана. В результате проведенной археологической разведки выявлены новые памятники, скопления петроглифов, среди которых отмечается коллекция циркульных знаков. Полученные в 2022 году данные позволили успешно выполнить первоначальную попытку их систематизации. Публикуемая коллекция включает 25 циркульных знаков с пяти крупных скоплений петроглифов. В работе учтены характеристики как самих изображений, так и их пространственное и топографическое положение. На основе выделенных параметров построена первичная типология и осуществлена попытка анализа генезиса циркульных изображений. Составлены визуализированные комбинации исходных и производных групп изображений. В результате проведенного исследования знаки разделены на два основных вида — собственно циркульные и очковидные наскальные изображения. Каждый вид изображений с учетом фиксируемых характеристик разбит на три группы. В список выделенных циркульных знаков входят изображения зам

Biomimetic Silk Architectures Outperform Animal Horns in Strength and Toughness.

Structural biomimicry is an intelligent approach for developing lightweight, strong, and tough materials (LSTMs). Current fabrication technologies, such as 3D printing and two-photon lithography often face challenges in constructing complex interlaced structures, such as the sinusoidal crossed herringbone structure that contributes to the ultrahigh strength and fracture toughness of the dactyl club of peacock mantis shrimps. Herein, bioinspired LSTMs with laminated or herringbone structures is reported, by combining textile processing and silk fiber "welding" techniques. The resulting biomimetic silk LSTMs (BS-LSTMs) exhibit a remarkable combination of lightweight with a density of 0.6-0.9g cm-3 , while also being 1.5 times stronger and 16 times more durable than animal horns. These findings demonstrate that BS-LSTMs are among the toughest natural materials made from silk proteins. Finite element simulations further reveal that the fortification and hardening of BS-LSTMs arise primarily from the hierarchical organization of silk fibers and mechanically transferable meso-interfaces. This study highlights the rational, cost-effective, controllable mesostructure, and transferable strategy of integrating textile processing and fiber "welding" techniques for the fabrication of BS-LSTMs with advantageous structural and mechanical properties. These findings have significant implications for a wide range of applications in biomedicine, mechanical engineering, intelligent textiles, aerospace industries, and beyond.

Cornu cutaneum in the maxillofacial region – A case report

Cornu cutaneum are horn-like skin protrusions comprised of dense keratin. They differ from animal horns in a sense that cornu cutaneum do not have a central bone. The lesions may develop in any part of the body, with 30% of the lesions occurring in the head and neck region. Although they are considered benign lesions, they are characteristically associated with pre-malignant or malignant lesions such as squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma, basal cell carcinoma and Kaposi sarcoma. The aim of this clinical case report is to review a case of cornu cutaneum of the face associated with a papillary squamous cell carcinoma in a 72-year-old female We reviewed a case of cornu cutaneum of the left pre auricular area of the face with a 5-year history. The lesion was asymptomatic, measured 6cm in length and was resected under general anaesthetic with wide margins. The histopathological examination showed papillary a squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the lesion. As the lesions are benign and the nearest margin was 9mm, no further adjunct therapy was instituted. Although considered a benign lesion, cornu cutaneum is invariably associated with malignant lesions such as squamous cell carcinoma. Similarly, our case was associated with a papillary squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the lesion. As per current standards, the lesion was resected with wide margins

Combination of mathematics and label-free proteomics for discovering keratin-derived specific peptide biomarkers to distinguish animal horn-derived traditional Chinese medicines.

Saiga antelope horn and Rhinoceros horn have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. However, due to the protection of wildlife, the application of these rare animal horns has been restricted or prohibited. Therefore, water buffalo horn, goat horn, and yak horn have been applied as alternatives to Rhinoceros horn or Saiga antelope horn in a clinic. It is extremely difficult to distinguish normal animal horns in powdered or decocted form, especially identifying related species such as water buffalo horn, yak horn, and cattle horn. In this work, mathematics set and label-free proteomics analysis were combined for discovering keratin-derived specific peptide biomarkers. By using mathematics set analysis after nano liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomics, the selected species-specific peptides could be used to identify the authenticity of the Saiga antelope horn and goat horn. Furthermore, peptide biomarkers were selected to distinguish related species-derived horns, water buffalo horn, yak horn, and cattle horn. In total, eight peptide biomarkers were selected and applied for simultaneously distinguishing different horn samples. The present strategy provides a method for peptide biomarkers discovery and also has positive significance for ensuring the quality and efficacy of animal horn-derived traditional Chinese medicines and their products.

Phosphorylated Upstream Frameshift 1-dependent Nonsense-mediated μ-Opioid Receptor mRNA Decay in the Spinal Cord Contributes to the Development of Neuropathic Allodynia-like Behavior in Rats.

Nonsense-mediated messenger RNA (mRNA) decay increases targeted mRNA degradation and has been implicated in the regulation of gene expression in neurons. The authors hypothesized that nonsense-mediated μ-opioid receptor mRNA decay in the spinal cord is involved in the development of neuropathic allodynia-like behavior in rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes received spinal nerve ligation to induce neuropathic allodynia-like behavior. The mRNA and protein expression contents in the dorsal horn of animals were measured by biochemical analyses. Nociceptive behaviors were evaluated by the von Frey test and the burrow test. On Day 7, spinal nerve ligation significantly increased phosphorylated upstream frameshift 1 (UPF1) expression in the dorsal horn (mean ± SD; 0.34 ± 0.19 in the sham ipsilateral group vs. 0.88 ± 0.15 in the nerve ligation ipsilateral group; P < 0.001; data in arbitrary units) and drove allodynia-like behaviors in rats (10.58 ± 1.72 g in the sham ipsilateral group vs. 1.19 ± 0.31 g in the nerve ligation ipsilateral group, P < 0.001). No sex-based differences were found in either Western blotting or behavior tests in rats. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (eIF4A3) triggered SMG1 kinase (0.06 ± 0.02 in the sham group vs. 0.20 ± 0.08 in the nerve ligation group, P = 0.005, data in arbitrary units)-mediated UPF1 phosphorylation, leading to increased nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factor SMG7 binding and µ-opioid receptor mRNA degradation (0.87 ± 0.11-fold in the sham group vs. 0.50 ± 0.11-fold in the nerve ligation group, P = 0.002) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord after spinal nerve ligation. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of this signaling pathway in vivo ameliorated allodynia-like behaviors after spinal nerve ligation. This study suggests that phosphorylated UPF1-dependent nonsense-mediated μ-opioid receptor mRNA decay is involved in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.

Cutaneous Horn over a Psoriatic Plaque – A Rare Case Report

Cutaneous horns are focal, hyperkeratotic, white-to-yellowish conical skin projections resembling animal horns. They generally present as a solitary, asymptomatic lesion and are most commonly confined to the areas of sun exposure affecting the elderly population. The source of origin of cutaneous horns can be an epidermal inclusion cyst, verruca vulgaris, keratoacanthomas, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. A rare association with malignant transformation was also reported. There are very few case reports of cutaneous horn arising from a psoriatic plaque and hereby we have reported such a rare occurrence of a cutaneous horn arising from a psoriatic plaque.

Comparing the Mechanical Behavior of Lamination Resin Reinforced with Two Types of Organic and Inorganic Particles Used in Prosthetic Applications

The goal of modern industries is to use low-cost and environmentally friendly materials, whether natural or industrial, especially for engineering and medical applications. The present work includes the manufacture of a composite material of lamination resin reinforced with two types of particles, an organic type (animal horn particles and bamboo particles) and the second type inorganic (zinc oxide particles), according to the selected weight ratios (2,4,6, and 8) %wt. and all the particles were at a granular size (5 µm). The organic particles were prepared manually according to special steps to obtain the best results. The prepared particles were checked manually by examining the particulate size by the vibrating sieve and the shape of the particles through the (SEM) test. As for the mechanical behavior of the composite material, it was studied through (tensile, shock, and hardness) tests. The results of the examination showed that the best addition of particulate matter was for the inorganic particles (zinc oxide) and all tests if compared to the organic particles. The best ratio of zinc oxide particles is (6%wt.) as the results of the tensile, shock, and hardness tests were (59 Mpa, 4.4 J, and 95) respectively. Therefore, this ratio is suitable for use in various engineering and medical applications such as foot prosthetics.

Implementasi Algoritma K-Nearest Neighbor Dalam Mendiagnosis Kurap Pada Kucing

Ringworm is an infectious disease caused by keratinophilic fungi on the surface of the skin or other parts of tissues that contain keratin (fur, nails, hair, and horns) in animals and humans. Some fungal species are zoonotic because infected animals can be a source of transmission to humans and vice versa. This disease is often found in domesticated animals and is the oldest mycotic disease in the world. This skin disease is called ringworm because it is thought to be caused by worms and because the symptoms begin with inflammation of the skin's surface which if left unchecked will enlarge to form a ring like circle. The K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm is a method for classifying new objects. KNN is a supervised learning algorithm, where the results of new query instances are classified according to the majority of categories in KKN. The class that appears the most is the class resulting from the classification. Nearest Neighbor is an approach to calculate the proximity between the new case and the old case, which is based on matching the weights of a number of existing features. This study aims to make it easier for patients to know the health condition of their pet cat.

Sex-specific differences in alcohol-induced pain sensitization

Pain sensitization is a phenomenon that occurs to protect tissues from damage and recent studies have shown how a variety of non-noxious stimuli included in our everyday lives can lead to pain sensitization. Consumption of large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time invokes alcohol use disorder (AUD), a complex pathological state that has many manifestations, including alcohol peripheral neuropathy (neuropathic pain). We asked if ‘non-pathological’ alcohol consumption can cause pain sensitization in the absence of other pathology? Studies have pointed to glia and other immune cells and their role in pain sensitization that results in cell and sex-specific responses. Using a low-dose and short-term ethanol exposure model, we investigated whether this exposure would sensitize mice to a subthreshold dose of an inflammatory mediator that normally does not induce pain. We observed female mice exhibited specific mechanical and higher thermal sensitivity than males. We also observed an increase in CD68+ macrophages in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and Iba1+ microglia in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn of animals that were exposed to ethanol and injected with subthreshold inflammatory prostaglandin E2. Our findings suggest that short-term ethanol exposure stimulates peripheral and central, immune and glial activation, respectively to induce pain sensitization. This work begins to reveal a possible mechanism behind the development of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy.

Tang remains from the Keyak Khduk Beacon site in Yuli County, Xinjiang

Abstract Through consecutive fieldwork seasons from 2019 to 2020 at the Keyak Khduk Beacon site, the excavation team of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology has unearthed a variety of structures such as a residential area, a berm, a wooden fence, a ramp, and several ash piles. All uncovered artifacts are of practical use for frontier soldiers, including paper and wooden-strip documents, objects made of ceramic, bronze, iron, wood, stone, bone, horn, leather, textile, and grass, and many remains of plants and animals. The excavated texts mention different levels of military units such as “Tonghai Garrison” and “Yulin Garrison” and multiple military roads such as “Loulan Route,” “Yanqi Route,” and “Mazezei Route.” The information fills the gap in the historical records about the military defense system under the Karasahr Garrison, one of the Four Garrisons of Anxi, proving the Tang’s effective administration and governance over the Western Regions. This excavation project has provided new materials for understanding Tang garrisons’ planning characteristics and construction techniques in the Western Regions. It will also greatly facilitate research progress in Dunhuangology, Turfanology, bibliography, history of calligraphic art, and other related fields.

Application of cytological research methods to solve the question of the organic origin of animal horns

Conducting forensic examinations is the leading evidentiary mechanism in the investigation and disclosure of poaching cases. During the investigation, animal derivatives (horns, hooves, and feathers) are found and seized from poachers in addition to clothing, crime instruments, and animal carcasses. Currently, the expensive horns of artiodactyls are of the greatest value for extraction, and their quality is largely determined by the correctness of processing from the remnants of blood, skin, and hair. Such processing precludes the use of biological methods of analysis to determine the organic origin of the seized derivatives, and genetic examination is complicated by the lack of proper laboratory equipment, appropriate reagents, and the high cost of analysis.&#x0D; The expert of the forensic biological department of the State Medical Institution of the Penza region should have established the organic origin of animal horns, presumably saiga, based on the decision on the examination appointment. The study included14 pieces of animal horns seized from persons suspected of poaching.&#x0D; Microparticles were obtained from the peripheral and central parts of the horns, from which pressed preparations were prepared, followed by their staining and microscopy during the study. Luminescent microscopy of preparations from solid plates of the central part of the horn stained with fluorochromes revealed osteocytes, which are cellular characteristics of bone tissue. Epithelial cells that form the basis of the horn cover were detected when azur-eosin stained small particles from the peripheral part of the horn.&#x0D; The identification of these cell types provides sufficient grounds to conclude the organic origin of the horns presented for research.

Cutaneus Horn pada Aurikula

A cutaneous horn is a hard cone-shaped protrusion consisting of dense keratin resembling animal horns, which occurs due to abnormalities in the spinous layer of the epidermis, causing excess keratin accumulation. This disease can be found in any body part, especially in regions exposed to a lot of sunlight, such as the ears. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for this disease. One case was reported in a male patient aged 75 years with a bulge on the left auricle. The patient underwent surgical excision as management and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of the cutaneous horn with mild-moderate squamous epithelial cell dysplasia. Because of the high association with premalignant and malignant conditions, patients should be followed up regularly to prevent a recurrence.

Delayed onset, immunomodulation, and lifespan improvement of SOD1G93A mice after intravenous injection of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective and progressive loss of motor neurons from the spinal cord, brain stem, and motor cortex. Although the hallmark of ALS is motor neuron degeneration, astrocytes, microglia, and T cells actively participate. Pharmacological treatment with riluzole has little effect on the lifespan of the patient. Thus, the development of new therapeutic strategies is of utmost importance. The objective of this study was to verify whether human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from adipose tissue have therapeutic potential in SOD1G93A transgenic mice. The treatment was carried out in the asymptomatic phase of the disease (10th week) by a single systemic application of ad-hMSCs (1 ×105 cells). The animals were sacrificed at the 14th week (the initial stage of symptoms) or the end-stage (ES) of the disease. The lumbar spinal cords were dissected and processed for Nissl staining (neuronal survival), immunohistochemistry (gliosis and synaptic preservation), and gene transcript expression (qRT–PCR). Behavioral analyses considering the onset of disease and its progression, neurological score, body weight, and motor control (rotarod test) started on the 10th week and were performed every three days until the ES of the disease. The results revealed that treatment with ad-hMSCs promoted greater neuronal survival (44%) than vehicle treatment. However, no effect was seen at the ES of the disease. Better structural preservation of the ventral horn in animals treated with ad-hMSCs was observed, together with decreased gliosis and greater synapse protection. In line with this, we found that the transcript levels of Hgf1 were upregulated in ad-hMSCs-treated mice. These results corroborate the behavioral data showing that ad-hMSCs had delayed motor deficits and reduced weight loss compared to vehicle animals. Additionally, cell therapy delayed the course of the disease and significantly improved survival by 20 days. Overall, our results indicate that treatment with ad-hMSCs has beneficial effects, enhancing neuronal survival and promoting a less degenerative neuronal microenvironment. Thus, this may be a potential therapy to improve the quality of life and to extend the lifespan of ALS patients.