Intoxicação espontânea e experimental por nitrato/nitrito em bovinos alimentados com Avena sativa (aveia) e/ou Lolium spp. (azevém) / Spontaneous and experimental poisoning by nitrate/nitrite in cattle fed Avena sativa (oat) and/or Lolium spp. (ryegrass)

Descrevem-se os dados epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos e lesões da intoxicação espontânea e experimental por nitrato e nitrito em bovinos alimentados com pastagens de Avena sativa (aveia) e/ou Lolium spp (azevém). A enfermidade ocorre em diferentes regiões do Estado de Santa Catarina, quando as pastagens tem crescimento exuberante, após receberem quantidades excessivas de adubo químico e/ou orgânico, principalmente quando ocorrem condições climáticas de seca e posteriormente chuva. Os animais em contato com essas pastagens desenvolvem rapidamente mucosas de coloração marrom, taquipnéia, andar cambaleante, micção frequente, timpanismo, decúbito lateral e morte em poucos minutos, ou recuperação algumas horas após. Na necropsia de quatro animais que adoeceram espontaneamente, as principais alterações encontradas foram a coloração marrom das mucosas, a cor escura do sangue (cor de chocolate) e a coloração vermelho intensa da musculatura esquelética e do miocárdio esquerdo. A reprodução experimental da doença foi realizada em sete bovinos, com pastagens de quatro propriedades onde ocorreu adoença. Aveia e/ou azevém verdes e sob a forma de feno foram administradas aos bovinos. Destes bovinos quatro morreram, dois adoeceram e se recuperam, um naturalmente e outro com a aplicação de azul de metileno a 1%, na dose de 2mg/kg/peso vivo, e um bovino não apresentou alterações. Os sinais clínicos observados e as lesões nos animais que adoeceram e morreram foram idênticos aos casos naturais. Alterações microscópicas não foram observadas nos casos naturais e experimentais. O teste da difenilamina nas amostras de pastagens onde ocorreram os surtos resultou positivo em todas as propriedades. A análise bromatológica realizada em amostras coletadas de várias propriedades em que ocorreram surtos revelou de 0,30 a 3,36% de nitrato na matéria seca. A enfermidade caracterizou-se principalmente por respiração ofegante, sangue de coloração escura, mucosas de coloração marrom e morte rápida dos bovinos e está relacionada á ingestão de pastagens de aveia e/ou azevém super adubados, que acumularam alto teor de nitrato, após um período de chuvas precedido de seca.

Epidemiological data, clinical and pathological findings of the spontaneous andexperimental poisoning by nitrate and nitrite in cattle fed oats (Avena sativa) and/or ryegrass (Lolium spp.), diphenylamine test, and the nitrate content in the samples of the pasture where the outbreaks occurred, are described. The disease occurs in different regions of the State of Santa Catarina, in which pastures have exuberant growth, after receiving excessive amounts of chemical and/or organic fertilizer, mainly when raining occurs after a period of dry wheather. The animals grazing these pastures quickly develop brown mucosa, tachypnea, staggering gait, frequent urination, bloating, lateral recumbency and death in few minutes or hours. At necropsy of four animals that died spontaneously, the main lesions found were brown mucosa, dark color of the blood (chocolate), intense red color of the skeletal muscles and of the left part of the myocardium. The experimental reproduction of the disease was performed in seven cattle, with pastures from four farms where the disease occurred. The animals were fed with fresh oats and ryegrass and/or hay of it. Four animals died, two became ill and recovered, and one was treated with 2mg/kg per body weight of methylene blue 1%, and one cattle did not show changes. Clinical signs and lesions of the diseased animals that died were similar to natural cases. Microscopic changes were not observed in spontaneous and experimental poisoning. The diphenylamine test was positive in all the farms where the outbreaks occurred. The chemical analysis performed on samples of the pastures from several farms, in which outbreaks of the disease occurred, ranged from 0.30to 3.36% of nitrate in the dry matter. The disease is associated with the ingestion of oats and/or ryegrass pastures heavily fertilized, which accumulates high levels of nitrate after a period of rain and is characterized by rapid breathing, dark-colored blood, brown mucous and rapid death.

MAPK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway regulates osteogenic gene expression in rat osteoblasts in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of inhibition and activation of MAPK-ERK1/2 pathway on the expression of osteogenic genes and proliferation of rat osteoblasts in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primarily cultured rat osteoblasts, identified by cell morphology studies and ALP staining, were exposed to 1% or 5% rat serum for 24 h or to the specific MAPK-ERK1/2 inhibitor PD0325901. The downstream molecules of MAPK-ERK1/2 pathway including p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2, osteogenic genes such as Runx2 and Type I collagen, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by Western Blotting, and alkaline phosphatase activities were analyzed quantitatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with 1% rat serum-treated cells, exposure of the cells to a higher concentration (5%) of rat serum caused a significantly increased phosphorylation level of p-ERK1/2 (P<0.05) and obviously enhanced expressions of the osteogenic genes (Runx2, type I collagen and ALP) and PCNA (P<0.05). Inhibition of the MAPK-ERK1/2 pathway with PD0325901 resulted in suppressed expressions of the osteogenic genes and PCNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The activation of MAPK-ERK1/2 pathway promotes the expression of osteogenic genes such as Runx2, type I collagen and ALP and enhances the proliferative activity of the osteoblasts, while inhibition of this pathway suppresses the expressions of these genes and the cell proliferation, suggesting that this pathway may potentially serve as a therapeutic target for osteoporosis.</p>

Cell to Cell Interaction Can Activate Membrane-bound APRIL Which Are Expressed on Inflammatory Macrophages

BACKGROUND: APRIL, originally known as a cytokine involved in B cell survival, is now known to regulate the inflammatory activation of macrophages. Although the signal initiated from APRIL has been demonstrated, its role in cellular activation is still not clear due to the presence of BAFF, a closely related member of TNF superfamily, which share same receptors (TACI and BCMA) with APRIL. METHODS: Through transfection of siRNA, BAFF-deficient THP-1 cells (human macrophage-like cells) were generated and APRIL-mediated inflammatory activities were tested. The expression patterns of APRIL were also tested in vivo. RESULTS: BAFF-deficient THP-1 cells responded to APRIL-stimulating agents such as monoclonal antibody against APRIL and soluble form of TACI or BCMA. Furthermore, co-incubation of the siBAFF-deficient THP-1 cells with a human B cell line (Ramos) resulted in an activation of THP-1 cells which was dependent on interactions between APRIL and TACI/BCMA. Immunohistochemical analysis of human pathologic samples detected the expression of both APRIL and TACI in macrophage-rich areas. Additionally, human macrophage primary culture expressed APRIL on the cell surface. CONCLUSION: These observations indicate that APRIL, which is expressed on macrophages in pathologic tissues with chronic inflammation, may mediate activation signals through its interaction with its counterparts via cell-to-cell interaction.

Pharmacological Suppression of rat distal colon chloride secretion requires two blockers

Rat distal colon epithelium is frequently employed to assess the effect of natural and synthetic chemicals on chloride secretion. Inhibition of chloride secretion is often reported as the loop diuretic-sensitive portion of short-circuit current (Isc). The present work challenges the hypothesis that a loop diuretic alone is able to fully abolish chloride secretion. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber. The effects on short-circuit current of replacement of normal Ringer by a low (2.5 mmol/L) Cl solution and of blockers of basolateral Na, K, 2 Cl symport (bumetanide), apical Cl channels (diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, DPC), and anion exchange (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, SITS) alone and combined were assessed. Low Cl reversibly decreased Isc by 76%. In normal Ringer, bumetanide decreased Isc by 65%. SITS also had a significant effect at the serosal side, but not at the apical side, where DPC caused a 40% decrease. Chloride replacement, bumetanide and DPC, but not SITS, increased epithelial resistivity. Combined blockade of Na, K, 2 Cl symport and apical Cl channels, of Na, K, 2 Cl symport and anion antiport, or of anion antiport and apical Cl channels was needed to achieve reduction of short circuit current to the same extent seen with chloride replacement. Present results indicate that Isc of the unstimulated epithelium is mostly due to chloride secretion, and at least two blockers are required to abolish it. This fact should be taken into account in studies of chloride secretion-stimulating agents.

Synthesis and Hiv-1 activity of some novel 2,2 - diphenylamine derivatives

A number of new 2,2'-diphenylamine derivatives have been synthesized through reacting the dihydrazide 3 with acid anhydrides, carbonyl compounds, isothiocyanates, and CS2/KOH/hydrazine hydrate to give 4, 5, 7, and 10, respectively. Furthermore, cyclization of 5 and 7 have been achieved. 4b, 5g, 7a, and 9 have been shown to possess moderate anti-HIV activities. Compound 5a was pleaded active in the in vitro anticancer screening program. The intermediate 3 had been shown to fulfill the requirements of good synthones to design and synthesize new molecules

Evaluación de la clorprofepiridamina como anestésico local alternativo en odontología / An evaluation of the chlorprofenpiridamine as an alternative local anesthetic in dentistry

Las reacciones de hipersensibilidad a los anestésicos locales en odontología son infrecuentes, no obstante, los pacientes que las presentan requieren un manejo diferente, ya que pueden presentar desde una simple reacción cutánea a una anafilaxia mortal. Desde hace 40 años se han estudiado el efecto anestésico local de los antihistamínicos y sus posibles usos en medicina y odontología. Nuestra investigación consistió en la evaluación de la cloroprofendiridamina (clorfenamina 10 mg/ml + adrenalina 1 x 100.000), como anestésico local infiltrativo, en 20 pacientes con indicación de extracción dental simple, comparándolo con un grupo control (n=20) al que se le administró anestesia convencional (lidocaína al 2 por ciento + adrenalina 1 x 100.000). Se obtuvo una anestesia adecuada en el 75 por ciento de las extracciones realizadas (n=15) pudiendo concluir que la clorfenamina puede constituir una alternativa efectiva para realizar extraccionse dentales simples, en pacientes con hipersensibilidad demostrada a los anestésicos locales convencionales; pero no es adecuada para ser utilizada de rutina en odontología, pues la anestesia que otorga es de corta duración y poca profundidad, lo que hace indudablemente los procedimientos más dolorosos y molestos, que al utilizar lidocaína 2 por ciento + adrenalina 1 x 100.000

Determinación de residuos de polvora por cromatagrafía en capa fina en armas de fuego, castillas y zonas de impacto / Powder residue determination by chromatography in fine cloak in firearms, and impact zone

Los análisis de residuos de pólvora efectuados en el presente trabajo, despúes de haberse producido la detonación en el disparo, se han llevado a cabo en el arma de fuego, el los casquillos y en las manchas dejadas por el fogonazo. La técnica empleada es la de Cromatografia en capa fina. El arma usada es el revólver Smith & Wesson calibre 38, de fabricación americana; los cartuchos, también de calibre 38 han sido de las 2 marcas y calibres más usados en la actualidad por las fuerzas policiales: Fame y Remington. Las manchas dejadas por el fogonazo se tomaron en papel wattman 40, en virtud a que éste retiene mayor cantidad los residuos de pólvora que se sometéran al análisis. Los resultados obtenidos nos revelan que en los residuos de pólvora Fame podemos encontrar: diferelamina, en el arma de fuego, mercurio, plomo, difemilamina y difeniluretana, en el casquillo; mercurio; plomo, difenilomina; difeniluretana y centralito en la zona de impacto. Por su parte en los residuos de pólvora Remington podemos hallar: ftalata de dibutilo en el casquillo: casquillo, mercurio, plomo, difenilamina, difeniluretana, centialita y ftalato de dibutilo en la zona de impacto.

Acao da difenilamina (DPA) sobre Candida utilis em condicoes proliferativas. / The effects of diphenylamine on Candida utilis under proliferating conditions

Os efeitos da DPA, sobre o desenvolvimento de Candida utilis, foram examinados em varias concentracoes, sendo detectaveis com 0,15 micros/ml de meio. O crescimento da levedura sofreu inibicao, da ordem de 99% a concentracao de DPA de 75 micros/ml, enquanto 15 micros/ml produziram cerca de 50% de inibicao. Nesta ultima concentracao foi possivel constatar que a droga atua sobre o crescimento e eficiencia na utilizacao da glicose pela levedura, afetando, ainda, o teor em trealose, glicidios totais e proteinas, em varias etapas do desenvolvimento, frente a suprimentos de glicose de 0,5; 2 e 4%. Os resultados obtidos indicam uma atuacao da substancia, nas vias do metabolismo oxidativo