Cardiac gene expression and systemic cytokine profile are complementary in a murine model of post-ischemic heart failure

After myocardial infarction (MI), activation of the immune system and inflammatory mechanisms, among others, can lead to ventricular remodeling and heart failure (HF). The interaction between these systemic alterations and corresponding changes in the heart has not been extensively examined in the setting of chronic ischemia. The main purpose of this study was to investigate alterations in cardiac gene and systemic cytokine profile in mice with post-ischemic HF. Plasma was tested for IgM and IgG anti-heart reactive repertoire and inflammatory cytokines. Heart samples were assayed for gene expression by analyzing hybridization to AECOM 32k mouse microarrays. Ischemic HF significantly increased the levels of total serum IgM (by 5.2-fold) and total IgG (by 3.6-fold) associated with a relatively high content of anti-heart specificity. A comparable increase was observed in the levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1â (3.8X) and TNF-á (6.0X). IFN-ã was also increased by 3.1-fold in the MI group. However, IL-4 and IL-10 were not significantly different between the MI and sham-operated groups. Chemokines such as MCP-1 and IL-8 were 1.4- and 13-fold increased, respectively, in the plasma of infarcted mice. We identified 2079 well annotated unigenes that were significantly regulated by post-ischemic HF. Complement activation and immune response were among the most up-regulated processes. Interestingly, 21 of the 101 quantified unigenes involved in the inflammatory response were significantly up-regulated and none were down-regulated. These data indicate that post-ischemic heart remodeling is accompanied by immune-mediated mechanisms that act both systemically and locally.

Precisão da técnica de absorciometria de raios-x de dupla energia na determinação da composição corporal em gatos / Precision of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry for body composition measurements in cats

A short-term precision error of the individual subject and the DEXA technique, such as the effect of the repositioning of the cat on the examination table, were established. Four neutered adult cats (BW=4342g) and three females (BW=3459g) were submitted to five repeated scans with and without repositioning between them. Precision was estimated from the mean of the five measurements and expressed by the individual coefficient of variation (CV). The precision error of the technique was estimated by the variance of scan pool (n=35) and expressed in CV for the technique (CVt). The degrees of freedom and confidence intervals were determined to avoid underestimation of precision errors. Bone mineral content (BMC), lean mass (LM), and fat mass (FM) averages were higher (P<0.05) when animals were repositioned. The CVt was significantly higher (P<0.05) for bone mineral density (BMD), LM, and FM when the animals were repositioned. For short-term precision measurements, the repositioning of the animal was important to establish the precision of the technique. The dual energy x-ray absorptiometry method provided precision for body composition measurements in adult cats.

Utilização de indicadores para estimar a digestibilidade aparente em gatos / Use of markers to estimate the apparent digestibility in domestic cats

Compararam-se os métodos de coleta total (CT) e dos indicadores óxido crômico (Cr2O3), cinzas insolúveis em ácido (CIA) e lignina na determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) dos nutrientes para gatos. Os CDA de quatro rações foram determinados pela CT e estimados pelos diferentes indicadores em teste. Foram utilizados 24 gatos adultos castrados, alojados em gaiolas metabólicas individuais, totalizando seis animais por ração. O experimento seguiu um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, sendo as rações as parcelas, os métodos as subparcelas e cada gato uma unidade experimental. Os CDA foram significativamente menores pelo método da lignina em uma das rações estudadas (P<0,05). Os métodos Cr2O3, CIA e CT resultaram em CDA iguais em todas as rações (P>0,05). As taxas de recuperação dos indicadores, médias±erro-padrão da média, foram, respectivamente, de 97,1±2,5 por cento, 97,3±2,9 por cento e 83,9±9,1 por cento para o Cr2O3, CIA e lignina. A CIA e o Cr2O3 mostraram grande potencial para utilização como indicadores, enquanto a ampla variabilidade dos resultados obtidos com a utilização da lignina não justificou seu emprego como substância índice para felinos.

The total collection (TC) method was compared to chromium oxide (Cr2O3), acid-insoluble ash (AIA) and lignin marker methods for determining the coefficients of apparent digestibility (CAD) of nutrients in domestic cats. The CAD of four diets were determined by TC and estimated for the three markers through tests. Twenty-four adult neutered cats were housed in individual metabolic cages, totaling six animals per diet. The experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design in subdivided blocks where diets were blocks, methods were sub-blocks and each cat an experimental unit. CAD for the lignin method was significantly lower than TC method (P<0.05) in one of the studied diets. CAD for the Cr2O3, AIA and TC methods were similar in all diets. Recuperation rates of Cr2O3, AIA and lignin markers were 97.1±2.5 percent, 97.3±2.9 percent and 83.9±9.1 percent respectively. AIA and Cr2O3 methods showed high potential for use as markers while the higher variability in results obtained with the use of lignin did not justify its usage as an indicator substance for felines.

Composição nutricional e avaliação de rótulo de rações secas para cães comercializadas em Jaboticabal-SP / Nutritional composition and label evaluation of dry dog foods sold in Jaboticabal-SP

Avaliaram-se 49 marcas de rações para cães adultos e filhotes comercializadas em Jaboticabal-SP. Os alimentos foram divididos em três segmentos: econômico, standard e super-premium. Nessa ordem, as rações para cães adultos apresentaram, em média, 16,9 por cento, 20,9 por cento e 27,8 por cento de proteína, 9,7 por cento, 10,5 por cento e 15 por cento de gordura, 6,4 por cento, 2,9 por cento e 1,1 por cento de fibra e 1,9 por cento, 1,9 por cento e 1,4 por cento de Ca. Para filhotes, os produtos standard e super-premium apresentaram, respectivamente, 26,1 por cento e 31,0 por cento de proteína, 10,8 por cento e 15,2 por cento de gordura, 2,6 por cento e 2,4 por cento de fibra, 2,1 por cento e 1,7 por cento de Ca e 1,6 por cento e 1,3 por cento de P. A porcentagem de rações cujos teores nutricionais declarados no rótulo não estavam de acordo com os encontrados nas análises de laboratório foi, para os produtos super-premium para filhotes, 80,0 por cento para o Ca e 60,0 por cento para a gordura; para os produtos standard para filhotes, 28,6 por cento para proteína e 57,2 por cento para o cálcio; para os produtos econômicos para cães adultos, 44,0 por cento para a fibra e 33,0 por cento para a proteína; para os produtos standard para cães adultos de 33,0 por cento para a gordura e 50,0 por cento para o Ca; e para os produtos super-premium para cães adultos, 50,0 por cento para o cálcio e 33,0 por cento para a gordura. Foram encontradas inadequações nutricionais em produtos, como teores insuficientes de proteína e altas concentrações de fibra, cálcio e fósforo.

Fortynine food products for adult or juvenile dogs, commercially available in Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, were tested for nutrient composition. The products were divided into three categories: low-cost, standard and super-premium. In that order, average compositions for adult foods were 16.9 percent, 20.9 percent and 27.8 percent protein, 9.7 percent, 10.5 percent and 15 percent fat, 6.4 percent, 2.9 percent and 1.1 percent fiber, and 1.9 percent, 1.9 percent and 1.4 percent calcium. For puppy foods, the average compositions of standard and super-premium foods were 26.1 percent and 31 percent protein, 10.8 percent and 15.2 percent fat, 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent fiber, 2.1 percent and 1.7 percent Ca, and 1.6 percent and 1.3 percent P, respectively. The percentages of products whose published label values were in disagreement with laboratory results were: super-premium products for puppies, 80 percent for Ca and 60 percent for fat; standard products for puppies, 28.6 percent for protein and 57.2 percent for Ca; low-cost products for adults, 44 percent for fiber and 33 percent for protein; standard products for adults, 33 percent for fat and 50 percent for Ca; super-premium products for adults, 50 percent for calcium and 33 percent for fat. Products with nutritional shortcomings were found, such as insufficient protein content and too high levels of fiber, calcium, and phosphorus.

In vitro interaction of Brazilian strains of the Nematode-trapping fungi Arthrobotrys spp. on Panagrellus sp. and Cooperia punctata

In vitro tests were carried out to verify the activity of 26 Brazilian isolates of predatory fungi of the genus Arthrobotrys on a free-living nematode (Panagrellus sp.) and on infective larvae of Cooperia punctata, a parasitic gastrointestinal nematode of cattle. The results showed that the free-living nematode Panagrellus sp. was the most preyed upon, compared to C. punctata, for all the fungal treatments. Also, variable predatory capacity was observed for different fungal isolates belonging to the same genus when applied to different nematode species

In vitro activity of Brazilian strains of the predatory fungi Arthrobotrys spp. on free-living nematodes and infective larvae of Haemonchus placei

In vitro tests were carried out to assess the activity of 26 Brazilian isolates of predatory fungi of the genus Arthrobotrys on a free-living nematode (Panagrellus sp.) and on infective larvae of Haemonchus placei, a parasitic gastrointestinal nematode of cattle. The results showed that the free-living nematode Panagrellus sp. was the most preyed upon, compared to H. placei, for all the fungal treatments. Also, variable predatory capacity was observed for different fungal isolates belonging to the same genus when applied to different nematode species

Suppressor activity in Leishmania donovani-infected hamster serum: reversion by delipidated bovine serum albumin and role in cell cycle events

Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani, is a chroníc disease with a high mortality rate. This protozoan induces a serious dysfunction of the immune system characterized by suppression of the cellular response to parasite antigens. We provide evidence for the involvement of lipids in the immunological alterations of experimental leishmaniasis. Sera obtained from 60-day-infected hamsters present increased triglyceride levels. Inhibition of cell proliferation was observed when splenocytes from normal hamsters were stimulated with concanavalin A in the presence of 3 per cent infected hamster serum (IHS) (Control 50 + 3 (x 10(3)) Cpm; IHS 5 ñ 1 (X 10(3)) cpm). This inhibition was reversed by the addition of 5 mg/ml of delipidated bovine serum albumin (BSA) to the cultures (Control 65 ñ 1 (X 10(3)) cpm; IHS 75 ñ 3 (x 10(3)) cpm). The inhibitory effect of IHS was demonstrable only when added to the culture simultaneously with the mitogen. This effect was not as intense on fresh, pre-activated cells or on the CTLL-2 cells. This cell line stimulated by IL-2 in the presence of IHS is only marginally inhibited (about 20 per cent inhibition). The suppressor effect on CTLL-2 was not reversed by the addition of increasing doses of IL-2 (up to 100 U/ml) to cultures. The inhibition of the proliferative response of the CTLL-2 cells caused by IHS was also reversed by the addition of delipidated BSA. Our data suggest a role for fatty acids in the infected hamster serum-induced suppression of normal or L. donovani-infected cell proliferation.