Care, management, and use of ferrets in biomedical research.

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a small domesticated species of the family Mustelidae within the order Carnivora. The present article reviews and discusses the current state of knowledge about housing, care, breeding, and biomedical uses of ferrets. The management and breeding procedures of ferrets resemble those used for other carnivores. Understanding its behavior helps in the use of environmental enrichment and social housing, which promote behaviors typical of the species. Ferrets have been used in research since the beginning of the twentieth century. It is a suitable non-rodent model in biomedical research because of its hardy nature, social behavior, diet and other habits, small size, and thus the requirement of a relatively low amount of test compounds and early sexual maturity compared with dogs and non-human primates. Ferrets and humans have numerous similar anatomical, metabolic, and physiological characteristics, including the endocrine, respiratory, auditory, gastrointestinal, and immunological systems. It is one of the emerging animal models used in studies such as influenza and other infectious respiratory diseases, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, cardiac research, gastrointestinal disorders, neuroscience, and toxicological studies. Ferrets are vulnerable to many human pathogenic organisms, like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), because air transmission of this virus between them has been observed in the laboratory. Ferrets draw the attention of the medical community compared to rodents because they occupy a distinct niche in biomedical studies, although they possess a small representation in laboratory research.

Comparative genomics of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis unravels the gene sharing, virulence factors and SNP diversity among the standard, vaccine and field strains / La genómica comparada de Brucella abortus y Brucella melitensis revela el intercambio de genes, los factores de virulencia y la diversidad de SNP entre las cepas estándar, vacunales y de campo

Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis are the primary etiological agents of brucellosis in large and small ruminants, respectively. There are limited comparative genomic studies involving Brucella strains that explore the relatedness among both species. In this study, we involved strains (n=44) representing standard, vaccine and Indian field origin for pangenome, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and phylogenetic analysis. Both species shared a common gene pool representing 2884 genes out of a total 3244 genes. SNP-based phylogenetic analysis indicated higher SNP diversity among B. melitensis (3824) strains in comparison to B. abortus (540) strains, and a clear demarcation was identified between standard/vaccine and field strains. The analysis for virulence genes revealed that virB3, virB7, ricA, virB5, ipx5, wbkC, wbkB, and acpXL genes were highly conserved in most of the Brucella strains. Interestingly, virB10 gene was found to have high variability among the B. abortus strains. The cgMLST analysis revealed distinct sequence types for the standard/vaccine and field strains. B. abortus strains from north-eastern India fall within similar sequence type differing from other strains. In conclusion, the analysis revealed a highly shared core genome among two Brucella species. SNP analysis revealed B. melitensis strains exhibit high diversity as compared to B. abortus strains. Strains with absence or high polymorphism of virulence genes can be exploited for the development of novel vaccine candidates effective against both B. abortus and B. melitensis.(AU)

Comparative genomics of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis unravels the gene sharing, virulence factors and SNP diversity among the standard, vaccine and field strains.

Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis are the primary etiological agents of brucellosis in large and small ruminants, respectively. There are limited comparative genomic studies involving Brucella strains that explore the relatedness among both species. In this study, we involved strains (n=44) representing standard, vaccine and Indian field origin for pangenome, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and phylogenetic analysis. Both species shared a common gene pool representing 2884 genes out of a total 3244 genes. SNP-based phylogenetic analysis indicated higher SNP diversity among B. melitensis (3824) strains in comparison to B. abortus (540) strains, and a clear demarcation was identified between standard/vaccine and field strains. The analysis for virulence genes revealed that virB3, virB7, ricA, virB5, ipx5, wbkC, wbkB, and acpXL genes were highly conserved in most of the Brucella strains. Interestingly, virB10 gene was found to have high variability among the B. abortus strains. The cgMLST analysis revealed distinct sequence types for the standard/vaccine and field strains. B. abortus strains from north-eastern India fall within similar sequence type differing from other strains. In conclusion, the analysis revealed a highly shared core genome among two Brucella species. SNP analysis revealed B. melitensis strains exhibit high diversity as compared to B. abortus strains. Strains with absence or high polymorphism of virulence genes can be exploited for the development of novel vaccine candidates effective against both B. abortus and B. melitensis.

Effectiveness of Serial Measurement of Differential Pressure in Closed Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures in Diagnosing Acute Compartment Syndrome using Whiteside's Technique.

Acute Compartment Syndrome is a limb-threatening emergency and it occurs most commonly after fractures. The aim of our study is to find out the effectiveness of serial measurement of differential pressure in closed tibial diaphyseal fractures, in diagnosing acute compartment syndrome, using Whiteside's technique. A total of 52 cases in the age group of 15 to 55 years admitted with closed fractures were studied for serial compartment pressure as well as serial differential pressure. Eight patients had persistent compartment pressure > 40mmHg, out of which only two patients had persistent differential pressure < 30mmHg and these two patients underwent fasciotomy. Thus, by measuring the compartment pressure serially and calculating differential pressure serially, acute compartment syndrome can be diagnosed or ruled out with higher precision, so that unnecessary fasciotomies can be avoided.

Effectiveness of Serial Measurement of Differential Pressure in Closed Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures in Diagnosing Acute Compartment Syndrome using Whiteside's Technique

Acute Compartment Syndrome is a limb-threatening emergency and it occurs most commonly after fractures. The aim of our study is to find out the effectiveness of serial measurement of differential pressure in closed tibial diaphyseal fractures, in diagnosing acute compartment syndrome, using Whiteside’s technique. A total of 52 cases in the age group of 15 to 55 years admitted with closed fractures were studied for serial compartment pressure as well as serial differential pressure. Eight patients had persistent compartment pressure > 40mmHg, out of which only two patients had persistent differential pressure < 30mmHg and these two patients underwent fasciotomy. Thus, by measuring the compartment pressure serially and calculating differential pressure serially, acute compartment syndrome can be diagnosed or ruled out with higher precision, so that unnecessary fasciotomies can be avoided.

Synthesis, preclinical evaluation and antidepressant activity of 5-substituted phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothioamides.

A series of phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothioamides (TTa-TTg) were synthesized by the ring closure reaction of phenyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl) prop-2-en-1-ones with thiosemicarbazide in alcoholic basic medium. All the final derivatives were evaluated for their antidepressant and neurotoxicity screening. The structures of the compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass and elemental analyses. Preclinical evaluation of the compounds were ascertained by in silico toxicity, blood-brain barrier and human oral absorption prediction. In this series, 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1 carbothioamide (TTg) reduced immobility time 61.17 and 62.05 % in both force swimming and tail suspension test respectively at 10 mg/kg dose level when compared to the standard Imipramine without influencing the baseline locomotion. Moreover it was observed that the titled scaffold possessing electron withdrawing chlorine atom in the 4(th) position of aromatic ring of the scaffold also showed good the antidepressant activity. In conclusion, the behavioural investigation revealed that thiophene based pyrazolines having a carbothioamide tail unit in the N1 position may be therapeutically useful as potential antidepressant medications.

(2E)-3-(2-Bromo-phen-yl)-1-(5-bromo-thio-phen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C13H8Br2OS, contains two mol-ecules, in which the dihedral angles between the thio-phene and benzene rings are 10.5 (3) and 33.2 (4)°. There are no significant directional inter-actions in the crystal.

(E)-1-(5-Bromo-thio-phen-2-yl)-3-(3,4,5-trimeth-oxy-phen-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title compound, C(16)H(15)BrO(4)S, the dihedral angle between the thio-phene and benzene rings is 13.08 (16)°. The C atoms of the meta meth-oxy groups of the substituted benzene ring lie close to the plane of the ring [displacements = 0.049 (5) and -0.022 (4) Å], whereas the para-C atom is significantly displaced [-1.052 (4) Å]. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming C(11) chains propagating in [100].

Synthesis and in vivo antidiabetic activity of novel dispiropyrrolidines through [3+2] cycloaddition reactions with thiazolidinedione and rhodanine derivatives.

The synthesis of a series of novel dispiropyrrolidines has been accomplished by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with 5-arylidene-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione and 5-arylidene-4-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidine-2-one derivatives as dipolarophiles. The structure and stereochemistry of the cycloadduct have been established by single crystal X-ray structure and spectroscopic techniques. Molecular docking studies were performed on 1FM9 protein. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antidiabetic activity on male Wistar rats.

Variability of soil-water quality due to Tsunami-2004 in the coastal belt of Nagapattinam district, Tamilnadu.

In this study, the Tsunami-caused deterioration of soil and groundwater quality in the agricultural fields of coastal Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu state in India is presented by analyzing their salinity and sodicity parameters. To accomplish this, three sets of soil samples up to a depth of 30 cm from the land surface were collected for the first six months of the year 2005 from 28 locations and the ground water samples were monitored from seven existing dug wells and hand pumps covering the study region at intervals of 3 months. The EC and pH values of both the soil and ground water samples were estimated and the spatial and temporal variability mappings of these parameters were performed using the geostatistical analysis module of ArcGIS((R)). It was observed that the spherical semivariogram fitted well with the data set of both EC and pH and the generated kriged maps explained the spatial and temporal variability under different ranges of EC and pH values. Further, the recorded EC and pH data of soil and ground water during pre-Tsunami periods were compared with the collected data and generated variability soil maps of EC and pH of the post-Tsunami period. It was revealed from this analysis that the soil quality six months after the Tsunami was nearing the pre-Tsunami scenario (EC< 1.5 dS m(-1); pH<8), whereas the quality of ground water remained highly saline and unfit for irrigation and drinking. These observations were compared with the ground scenarios of the study region and possible causes for such changes and the remedial measures for taking up regular agricultural practices are also discussed.

Novel implications of the potential role of selenium on antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Levels of blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and blood selenium levels were determined in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The effect of oral administration of sodium selenite was studied on the above parameters. Diabetes caused hyperglycemia (2.8-fold increase) with a significant increase in the malondialdehyde levels (89% in liver and 83% in blood) and GST activity (55%) and marked decreases in GSH levels (approximately 73% in blood and 79% in liver) in the 5th week after STZ treatment as compared to normal control animals. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic mice with sodium selenite changed these parameters to near control values in almost all cases. These results suggest that selenium plays a role in reducing the oxidative stress associated with diabetes.