Description of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from canine pyoderma in Minas Gerais state, Brazil / Descrição de Staphylococcus pseudintermedius meticilina-resistentes de piodermite canina no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) is of worldwide concern in veterinary medicine. The identification of resistant strains is necessary for proper treatment and the prevention of its propagation among animals. This study aimed to identify S. pseudintermedius isolated from canine pyoderma and evaluate their resistance profiles. Lesions from 25 dogs with pyoderma were sampled. Bacterial isolates were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic analysis for identification of the causative agent. S. pseudintermedius isolates were subjected to SmaI macrorestriction analysis and PFGE for genetic grouping, and PCR to identify the presence of the mecA gene. Their resistance profiles against 12 antimicrobials were also assessed. According to the microbiological analysis, 70 of the 75 isolates obtained were S. pseudintermedius. The isolates presented PFGE patterns, with similarity varying between 84.6 and 100%, and were grouped into 19 clusters. Despite a high frequency of mecA-positive isolates (66 out 70), only 12 presented resistances to oxacillin. Multi-resistance was identified in 29 isolates. The high frequency of MRSP isolated in this study highlights the relevance of identifying resistant strains to lead proper clinical treatment.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius meticilina-resistente (MRSP) é de preocupação mundial na medicina veterinária. A identificação de cepas resistentes é necessária a um tratamento adequado e à prevenção da sua propagação entre os animais. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar S. pseudintermedius isolados de piodermite canina e avaliar o perfil de resistência. Foram coletadas amostras de lesões de 25 cães com piodermite. Os isolados bacterianos foram submetidos a análises fenotípicas e genotípicas para identificação do agente causador. Isolados de S. pseudintermedius foram submetidos à análise de macrorrestrição por SmaI e PFGE para agrupamento genético e à PCR para identificar a presença do gene mecA. Seu perfil de resistência contra 12 antimicrobianos também foi avaliado. De acordo com a análise microbiológica, 70 dos 75 isolados obtidos foram identificados como S. pseudintermedius. Os isolados apresentaram padrões de PFGE com similaridade variando entre 84.6 e 100% e foram agrupados em 19 grupos genéticos. Apesar da frequência alta de isolados mecA positivos (66 em 70), apenas 12 apresentaram resistência à oxacilina. Multirresistência foi identificada em 29 isolados. A alta frequência de MRSP isolados neste estudo destaca a relevância de se identificarem cepas resistentes para se conduzir um tratamento clínico adequado.

Canine perineal hypospadias / Hipospadia perineal canina

Canine hypospadias is a rare condition that can occur in male and female dogs. Affected animals may present signs of urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, periurethral dermatitis or can remain asymptomatic. Periurethral hypospadias in a 14-week-old mongrel dog and its surgical repair are addressed.

Hipospadia canina é uma condição rara que pode ocorrer em cães machos e fêmeas. Animais afetados podem apresentar sinais de incontinência urinária, infecções recorrentes do trato urinário, dermatite periuretral ou podem permanecer assintomáticos. Hipospadia periuretral em cão de 14 semanas de idade, sem raça definida, e sua reparação cirúrgica são abordadas.

Identification of dyes on ancient Chinese paper samples using the subtracted shifted Raman spectroscopy method.

The Stein Collection in the British Library contains the Diamond Sutra, the world's oldest, dated, printed document. The paper of the Diamond Sutra and other documents from the Stein collection is believed to be dyed yellow by a natural extract, called huangbo, from the bark of Phellodendron amurense, which contains three major yellow chromophores: berberine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine. Conservation of these documents requires definite information on the chemical composition of the dyes but no suitable, completely noninvasive analytical method is known. Here we report resonance Raman studies of a series of pure dyes, of plant materials and extracts, and of dyed ancient and modern paper samples. Resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to enhance the spectra of the dyes over the signals from the paper matrixes in which they are held. The samples all give resonance Raman spectra which are dominated by intense fluorescence, but by using SSRS (subtracted shifted Raman spectroscopy) we have obtained reliable spectra of the pure dyes, native bark from the Phellodendron amurense, modern paper dyed with huangbo extracted from this bark, and ancient paper samples. For both ancient paper samples whose pigment bands were detected, the relative intensities of the bands due to berberine and palmatine suggest that the ancient paper is richer in berberine than its modern counterpart. This is the first nondestructive in situ method for detection of these pigments in manuscripts, and as such has considerable potential benefit for the treatment of irreplaceable documents that are believed to be dyed with huangbo but documents on which conservation work cannot proceed without definite identification of the chemical compounds that they contain.

Trance and shamanism: what's in a name?

This article considers the implications of the definitions and typologies of trance and shamanism for the development and testing of cross-cultural hypotheses through a review of definitions, typologies, and use of key terms and related concepts in anthropology. Authors vary widely in their definitions and applications of terms: some uses are based on reasoned criteria, others on traditional practice; some establish typologies, others prefer continua. Classifications range from narrow and highly specific to broad and inclusive coverage. Some restrict the usage to traditional societies, while others seek applications to Western phenomena, whether faith healers and mediums, or poets, such as Walt Whitman. The concept of control, with a variety of meanings assigned to it, emerges as a significant variable in the comparative study of "trance" and "shamanism" as these terms are used by different authors in widely different manners.