Sheep gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the Sertão region of Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil: prevalence and risk factors / Helmintoses gastrintestinais de ovinos no Sertão do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil: prevalência e fatores de riscos

In this study, we aimed to establish the prevalence and risk factors relating to gastrointestinal helminthiasis, and to characterize the sanitary management practiced among sheep herds in the Sertão region of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, based on factors that condition the ways of controlling these parasites in these herds. The research was carried out between April and July 2012. We visited 54 farms, where fecal and blood samples were individually collected from 465 animals. On each farm, a questionnaire was applied to gather information on variables relating to potential risk factors. The prevalence of sheep gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the region was 75.9%. At least one animal tested positive for this helminthiasis on 53 (98.1%) of the 54 farms evaluated. The eggs per gram of feces (EPG) analysis showed the following infection burdens: 51.8% with mild infection, 27.1% moderate infection, 9.9% heavy infection and 11.2% fatal infection. Among the sheep farms visited, anthelmintics were used on 81.5% (p <0.05). The most relevant risk factor in this study was the farm area, because it defines the area available for grazing animals. Properties with many animals and little pasture area, which are the most abundant type in the Sertão region of Paraíba, tend to have high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis, because the animals are more prone to reinfection. The Sertão region of Paraíba presents high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis among sheep, and the farm area is the most relevant risk factor for the development of these parasites.

Objetivou-se determinar a prevalência e os fatores de risco para as helmintoses gastrintestinais, caracterizando o manejo sanitário sob fatores condicionantes das formas de controle dessas parasitoses em rebanhos de ovinos da região do Sertão da Paraíba. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no período de abril a julho de 2012. Foram visitadas propriedades, utilizando-se 465 animais, sendo coletadas individualmente amostras de fezes e sangue durante as visitas. Em cada propriedade, foi aplicado questionário para a coleta de informações acerca de variáveis que atuariam como possíveis fatores de risco. Observou-se que a prevalência das helmintoses gastrintestinais de ovinos na região do Sertão da Paraíba foi de 75,9%. Pelo menos um animal foi positivo para essas helmintoses, em 53 (98,1%) das 54 propriedades avaliadas. A análise de OPG (Ovos Por Gramas de Fezes) demonstrou que 51,8% dos animais apresentaram infecção leve, 27,1% infecção moderada, 9,9% infecção pesada e 11,2% infecção fatal. A utilização de anti-helmínticos ocorreu em 81,5% das propriedades (p <0,05). O fator de risco mais relevante neste estudo foi a área da propriedade, porque delimita a área de pastejo do animal. Propriedades com muitos animais e pouca área de pastejo, que são as mais abundantes no Sertão da Paraíba, tendem a apresentar alta prevalência de helmintoses gastrintestinais, pois os animais estão mais propensos à reinfecção. A região do Sertão da Paraíba apresenta uma elevada prevalência de helmintoses gastrintestinais em ovinos, e a área das propriedades é o fator de risco mais relevante para o desenvolvimento dessas parasitoses.

Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT): A Target Molecule for the Treatment of Cisplatin-resistant Tumors / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is a catalytic enzyme that is required for telomerase activity (TA) and cancer progression. Telomerase inhibition or inactivation increases cellular sensitivity to UV irradiation, DNA-damaging agents, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib, and pharmacological inhibitors, such as BIBR1532. hTERT is associated with apoptosis. Some patients show drug-resistance during anti-cancer drug treatment and the cancer cell acquire anti-apoptotic mechanism. Therefore, we attempted to study correlation between hTERT and drug-resistance. METHODS: To study the correlation between protein level and activity of hTERT and drug-resistance, Western blotting and telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assays were performed. To investigate whether hTERT contributes to drug resistance in tumor cells, we transiently decreased hTERT levels using small interfering RNA (siRNA) in T24/R2 cells. RESULTS: hTERT knockdown increased Bax translocation into the mitochondria and cytochrome C release into the cytosol. Caspase inhibitors, especially Z-VAD-FMK, rescued this phenomenon, suggesting that the stability or expression of hTERT might be regulated by caspase activity. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hTERT might be a target molecule for drug-resistant tumor therapy.

Activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in swine influenza virus-mediated cell death

The mitochondrial pathway of swine influenza virus (SIV)-induced apoptosis was investigated using porcine kidney (PK-15) cells, swine testicle (ST) cells, and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells which are known not to support viral replication. As judged by cell morphology, annexin V staining, and DNA fragmentation, PK-15 and ST cells infected with three different subtypes of SIV (H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2) were obviously killed by apoptosis, not necrosis. SIV infection in PK-15 and HeLa cells was shown to decrease the cellular levels of Bcl-2 protein compared to that of mock-infected control cells at 24 h post-infection, whereas expression levels of Bax protein increased in the PK-15 cells, but did not increase in HeLa cells by SIV infection. Cytochrome c upregulation was also observed in cytosolic fractions of the PK-15 and HeLa cells infected with SIV. Apoptosome (a multi-protein complex consisting of cytochrome c, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and ATP) formation was confirmed by immunoprecipitation using cytochrome c antibody. Furthermore, SIV infection increased the cellular levels of TAJ, an activator of the JNK-stressing pathway, and the c-Jun protein in the PK-15 and HeLa cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the mitochondrial pathway should be implicated in the apoptosis of PK-15 cells induced by SIV infection.

Mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway in neurons following brain injury induced by hypoxia / 法医学杂志

Impairment of neuronal mitochondria following hypoxia of brain not only result in nerve cell's energy-deprivation and dysfunction, mitochondria also play key roles in apoptosis of neurons. A central step being the release of cytochrome c (cyt c) across the outer mitochondrial membrane into the cytoplasm through opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Releasing of cytochrome c induce to downstream consequences of specific caspase activation. The antiapoptotic and proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family regulate mitochondrial activities relevant to apoptotic signaling by influencing the realaseing of cyt c.

Herba houttuyniae extract induces apoptotic death of human promyelocytic leukemia cells via caspase activation accompanied by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release

Herba houttuyniae has been used as a constituent of herval medicine prescriptions for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. In the present study, we investigated the cellular effects of herba houttuyniae extract (HHE) and the signal pathways of HHE-induced apoptosis in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. HHE treatment caused apoptosis of cells as evidenced by discontinuous fragmentation of DNA, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol, activation of procaspase-9 and caspase-3, and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Pretreatment of Ac-DEVD-CHO, caspase-3 specific inhibitor, or cyclosporin A, a mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitor, completely abolished HHE-induced DNA fragmentation. Together, these results suggest that HHE possibly causes mitochondrial damage leading to cytochrome c release into cytosol and activation of caspases resulting in PARP cleavage and execution of apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells.

Effect of cisplatin, rIFN-Y, LPS and MDP on release of H2O2, O2- and lysozyme from human monocytes in vitro.

Increased secretion of H2O2, O2- and lysozyme by human monocytes in vitro on treatment with cisplatin, rIFN-Y (interferon-Y), LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and MDP (muramyl dipeptide) is reported. It is suggested that increased production of these secretory products represent the activated state of monocytes. These in vitro activated monocytes could either kill the tumor cells via increased contact mediated cytolysis or cytolysis mediated via the release of the secretory products like H2O2, O2- and lysozyme.