Immunostimulatory and antioxidant effects of supplemental feeding with macroalga Sargassum spp. on goat kids.

Algae are a rich source of bioactive compounds and health properties that have been narrowly explored in goat production systems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of feeding diets supplemented with Sargassum spp. on antioxidant status and immune parameters in goat kids. The diets were as follows: control (basal diet without alga), Sargassum spp. 2.5% (Ss2.5), and Sargassum spp. 5% (S5) fed over a 70-day period. A total of 11 body tissues, intestinal mucus, and blood serum were sampled at necropsy. Protein content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), lysozyme, and anti-protease activities were determined, as well as immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG). The results indicated that Sargassum spp. supplementation increased protein content in six tissues. Antioxidant activities (SOD and CAT) and immune-related (lysozyme, MPO, and anti-protease) activities were statistically higher (P < 0.05) in Sargassum spp. groups compared with control in several tissues, intestinal mucus, and serum. Imunoglobulin A levels in intestinal mucus were higher (P < 0.05) in Sargassum spp.-supplemented groups than the control group. In conclusion, diet supplementation of Sargassum spp. improves the antioxidant status and enhances the immune parameters in goats. Sargassum spp. dietary supplementation is proposed as strategy to strengthen antioxidant status and stimulate the immune system, which helps in the control of opportunistic pathogens in goats.

Oral administration of Debaryomyces hansenii CBS8339-ß-glucan induces trained immunity in newborn goats.

Beta-glucans from yeast can induce trained immunity in in vitro and in vivo models. Intraperitoneal doses of ß-glucans in mammals have shown to induce trained immunity, but the training effects of orally administering ß-glucans are unknown. Newborn goats are susceptible to infections in the neonatal stage, so the induction of trained immunity could improve animal survival. This study aimed to describe the in vitro effects of immunological training by ß-glucan from Debaryomyces hansenii (ß-Dh) on caprine monocytes, as well as its in vivo effects using oral doses on newborn goats upon challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Hence in vitro, goat monocytes trained with ß-Dh up-regulated the gene expression of macrophage surface markers (CD11b and F4/80) whereas enhanced cell survival and high phagocytic ability was found upon LPS challenge. In the in vivo experiment, newborn goats stimulated with two doses (day -7 and - 4) of ß-Dh (50 mg/kg) and challenged (day 0) with LPS showed an increase in respiratory burst activity, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNFα production in plasma, and transcription of the macrophage surface markers. This study has demonstrated for the first time that trained immunity was induced with oral doses of ß-glucan upon LPS challenge in mammals using newborn goats.

Probiotic effects of marine Debaryomyces hansenii CBS 8339 on innate immune and antioxidant parameters in newborn goats.

Several marine Debaryomyces hansenii strains have shown probiotic effects on aquatic animals, and D. hansenii-derived ß-glucans have recently provided immunostimulant effects on goat leukocytes. This study assessed the probiotic effects of live yeast D. hansenii CBS 8339 on newborn goats administered orally, and subsequently challenged in vitro with Escherichia coli. D. hansenii CBS 8339 demonstrated the capacity to survive gastrointestinal tract conditions (bile salts and acid pH tolerance) and adhere to goat intestine. Twelve Saanen × Nubian crossbred newborn goats (2.9 ± 0.47 kg) were fed with a controlled diet or D. hansenii (0.7 g/kg body weight per day)-supplemented milk for 30 days. Blood samples of newborn goats were taken at days 15 and 30, and peripheral blood leukocytes were isolated for bacterial challenge, and immunological and antioxidant analyses. Despite cell viability was higher in leukocytes of goat kids fed with the yeast supplement, protection against E. coli challenge was not significantly affected. On the other hand, at day 15, oral administration of D. hansenii enhanced respiratory burst and catalase activity and increased superoxide dismutase activity after challenge. In contrast, at day 30, administration of the yeast supplement increased peroxidase activity and enhanced nitric oxide production and catalase activity after challenge. Finally, the yeast-supplemented diet upregulated the expression of the receptor genes TLR (2, 4, 6), modulator genes Raf.1, Syk, and Myd88, transcription factor gene AP-1, and cytokine genes IL-1ß and TNF-α only at day 15 in leukocytes from unchallenged goat kids. These results demonstrated that a short time (15 days) of orally administering the probiotic D. hansenii CBS 8339 to newborn goats stimulated innate immune and antioxidant parameters and the expression of immune-related gene signaling pathways.

[Intracranial sinus thrombosis secondary to the consumption of inhaled speed]. / Trombosis de seno venoso intracraneal secundaria al consumo de speed inhalado.

INTRODUCTION: Speed is a psychostimulant of the Central Nervous System that can cause behavioral alterations, euphoria, psychosis and diverse organic medical pictures. CLINICAL CASE: The case of a 19 year old male patient, who consumes amphetamines, who had behavioral alterations and heteroaggressiveness, circumstances that required psychiatric admission is presented. After performing brain imaging tests, intracranial venous sinus thrombosis was found, which has not, up to the present date, developed significant symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of the above-mentioned report is to know the mechanism of action of the speed and to relate it consumption to the appearance of intracranial sinus thrombosis. To do so, a search was conducted in the PubMed database using the following terms: amphetamines and intracranial sinus thrombosis; street drugs and cerebrovascular disease; and adverse effects of the drugs.

Trombosis de seno venoso intracraneal secundaria al consumo de speed inhalado / Intracranial sinus thrombosis secondary to the consumption of inhaled speed

Introducción. El speed es un psicoestimulante del SNC que puede provocar alteraciones conductuales, euforia, psicosis y diversos cuadros a nivel orgánico. Caso clínico. Paciente de 19 años, consumidora de anfetaminas, que presentó alteraciones conductuales y heteroagresividad, circunstancias que requirieron ingreso psiquiátrico, en el cual tras la realización de pruebas de imagen cerebral se encontró una trombosis del seno venoso intracraneal que no había desarrollado sintomatología significativa hasta el momento. Conclusiones. El objetivo de dicha comunicación es conocer el mecanismo de acción del speed y relacionar su consumo con la aparición de trombosis del seno venoso. Para ello se ha realizado una búsqueda en la base de datos Pub-Med con los siguientes términos: amphetamines y thrombosissinus intracranial; street drugs y cerebrovascular disease;y adverse effects de las drogas (AU)

Introduction. Speed is a psychostimulant of the Central Nervous System that can cause behavioral alterations, euphoria, psychosis and diverse organic medical pictures. Clinical case. The case of a 19 year old male patient, who consumes amphetamines, who had behavioral alterations and hetero aggressiveness, circumstances that required psychiatric admission is presented. After performing brain imaging tests, intracranial venous sinus thrombosis was found, which has not, up to the present date, developed significant symptoms. Conclusions. The aim of the above-mentioned report is to know the mechanism of action of the speed and to relate it consumption to the appearance of intracranial sinus thrombosis. To do so, a search was conducted in the PubMed database using the following terms: amphetamines and intracranial sinus thrombosis; street drugs and cerebrovascular disease; and adverse effects of the drugs (AU)

Análisis numérico de las especies de prosopis l. (fabaceae) de las costas de Perú y Ecuador / The species of numerical analysis prosopis l. (fabaceae) from the coasts of Peru and Ecuador

Diferentes revisiones coinciden en señalar 2 o 3 especies de Prosopis para el sur de Ecuador y norte de Perú: P. juliflora (SW) DC, P. pallida (Humb. et Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth y P. affinis Sprengel. En el presente trabajo se informa del análisis cuantitativo de caracteres foliares de especímenes del genero Prosopis, recolectados a lo largo de la costa desde Arequipa (Perú) a Manta (Ecuador). Los resultados señalan tres grupos bien definidos. Del análisis comparativo de los tipos y ejemplares de herbario de todas las especies y sinónimos citados para la zona de estudio surge que los taxones existentes son: P. pallida, P. limensis Bentham, ambos de amplia distribución, y P. chilensis (Molina) Stuntz emend Burkart restringido al valle del río Camaná. Estos tres taxones se corresponden con los tres grupos obtenidos del análisis numérico. Debe señalarse la exclusión del área de P. juliflora y P. affinis. Se sugiere no utilizar las numerosas variedades señaladas para P. pallida.

Nasal bots...a fascinating world!

Larvae causing obligatory myiasis are numerous and they may affect cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, wounds, nasopharyngeal cavities (nasal bots), internal organs and the digestive tract (bots) of domestic and wild animals and humans as well. Nasal bots belong to the Family Oestridae, Subfamily Oestrinae, which includes several important genera: Oestrus, Kirkioestrus, and Gedoelstia infecting Artiodactyla (except Cervidae) in Africa and Eurasia, Cephenemyia and Pharyngomyia infecting Cervidae, Rhinoestrus infecting horses, Cephalopina infecting camels, Pharyngobolus infecting African elephants, and Tracheomyia infecting Australian kangaroos. Nasal bots are widespread in Mediterranean and tropical areas and in affected animals they induce sneezing and nasal discharge which may become caked with dust making breathing very difficult. The aforementioned species of larvae are host-specific but sometimes the may be deposited in human eyes inducing a painful opthalmomyiasis of short duration. The first fascinating trait of these parasites is the very efficient morphological and biological adaptations to parasitism they show either as larvae or as adults, in order to facilitate their survival and search for a suitable host. Nasal bots have reached different degrees of complexity in their life cycles. Indeed, while for some species (e.g., Oestrus ovis, Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus) larvae are injected by flies directly into nostrils and develop in the sinuses before being ejected for external pupation, some other species migrate from eyes to blood before returning to nasal cavities either through the ethmoid bone (Gedoelstia hässleri) or via lungs and bronchi (Gedoelstia cristata). Moreover, larvae are very well-adapted to their environment being able to undergo through hypobiosis either inside or outside the host, according to the climatic environmental conditions and seasonality. The second fascinating trait of nasal bots is related to host behavioural and immune responses against the infection. Host behaviour may in fact prevent larviposition and inflammatory/immune reactions limit larval development. The main pathophysiological mechanisms involve mast cells and eosinophils which destroy the larvae in sensitized animals. The intense eosinophilic reaction has side effects both locally (i.e. on the nasal mucosa) and also generally, with possible interactions with gastrointestinal strongyles (e.g., both worm burdens and fecundity decreased in lambs infected by O. ovis). Infected animals (e.g., sheep, goat, camel, and donkey) firstly suffer from fly strike, when adult flies inject first stage larvae on nostrils: sheep may try to avoid fly swarms but eventually Rangifer tarandus can only manage a terror-stricken look! Secondly, hosts will suffer from myiasis with typical nasal discharge and sneezing related to sinusitis. Clinical manifestations may vary: for example O. ovis induces severe clinical signs in sheep whilst produces few effects in goats! These parasites are diffused in many Mediterranean and tropical countries. Unfortunately, it is commonly believed that bacterial infections induced by nasal bots are of greater clinical importance: this view is not substantiated and the control of this condition depends on treatment with macrocyclic lactones, closantel and nitroxynil. Reinfections are common, and controlling nasal bots is not so simple.

Seasonal dynamics of ruminal crude protein digestion of browse species from Baja California Sur México

Diez arbustos nativos de Baja California Sur, México, fueron nutricionalmente evaluados en cada estación durante tres años consecutivos, midiendo proteína cruda (PC), fracción proteína en la fibra detergente neutro (FPDN) y en la fibra detergente ácido (FPDA), y velocidad y grado de degradabilidad de PC. Cinco leguminosas y cinco no-leguminosas fueron colectadas de 16 transectos lineales de 30m. Todos las plantas de cada transecto fueron identificadas y medidas para estimar el índice de diversidad Shannom, riqueza de las especies, cobertura aérea y frecuencia relativa, dominancia, densidad e importancia. Heno de Medicago sativa L. fue usado como forraje de referencia de alta calidad nutritiva. Para estimar la degradabilidad efectiva de PC (DEPC), se usaron por duplicado bolsas nylon (10x15cm; poro de 50 por ciento) conteniendo 4g cada especie de cada estación y año,incubadas en la parte ventral del rumen de cuatro becerros de carne canulados. En general, el contenido de PC, FPDN, FPDA y DEPC fueron significativamente mayores en leguminosas. La PC soluble en la fibra detergente neutro fue mayor en las no-leguminosas en primavera y verano, y PC y DEPC fueron mayores en otoño. La DEPC en leguminosas fue significativamente menor en verano, posiblemente por reducción en la proteína disponible de la pared celular. Solo especies como Opuntia cholla, Prosopis sp. y Cercidium floridium tuvieron valores de DEPC comparables o mayores a la alfafa. Cyrtocarpa edulis tuvo la menor DEPC. La PC de leguminosas fue más degradada en el rumen que las no-leguminosas. Se distinguen dos períodos de calidad nutritiva, uno de alta calidad en otoño e invierno y otro de baja en primavera y verano.

El hospital como centro de curación / The hospital as a healing center

Se hace un somero análisis del sentido antropológico que tuvo en sus orígenes la institución hospitalaria, que aparece hacia el año 360 en Cesarea de Capadocia, con la misión primordial de prestar ayuda humanitaria al prójimo necesitado, probado por la enfermedad, incluyendo al desahuciado, ayuda fundada en la caridad enseñada por Cristo y sus seguidores. Aunque hoy en día el concepto corriente acerca del "hospital" es el de un lugar de concentración de recursos humanos, científicos y técnicos en el cual es posible combatir con mayor eficacia las dolencias que amenazan la salud o la existencia de los miembros de una comunidad, es necesario no perder el sentido primigenio de ayuda a la persona humana en su totalidad, no sólo pensar en los órganos o en la mente alterados como si fueran independientes de la persona que es la que enferma. La misión fundamental del hospital, su ethos, se confunde así con la misión (con el ethos) del verdadero médico que se hace responsable in solidum de la existencia del paciente y debe cooperar con aquél en la realización plena del proyecto de vida de éste.