Bovine Endometritis and the Inflammatory Peripheral Cholinergic System.

Endometritis is an inflammation of the endometrium associated with bacterial infection. The pathogenesis of endometritis in cows is still not completely understood. The combined analysis of the markers of inflammation and oxidative stress has contributed to a better understanding of disease mechanisms, but is still unexplored in uterine disorders. Moreover, research provides evidence about an important role of the vagus nerve in regulating the innate immune function through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in response to bacterial infections. This new pathway has demonstrated a critical role in controlling the inflammatory system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of cholinesterase in total blood, lymphocytes, and serum of dairy cows with clinical and subclinical endometritis. Sixty-one Holstein cows, between 30 and 45 days in milk, were classified into 3 groups of animals: presenting clinical endometritis (n = 22), subclinical endometritis (n = 17), and healthy (n = 22). Mean leukocyte counts did not differ among groups, but the neutrophil number was significantly higher in cows with clinical endometritis than those in healthy animals. Also, serum concentration of interleukin-1beta (pg/mL) was significantly higher in cows with endometritis. The activity of acetylcholinesterase in blood and lymphocytes increased in both groups with endometritis. Animals with endometritis presented an increase in lipid peroxidation, but the antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase levels) was higher in endometritis groups than in normal cows. In conclusion, the inflammatory process of clinical and subclinical endometritis leads to systemic lipid peroxidation despite the compensatory increase of the antioxidant enzyme. These data also provide evidence of an important role of the cholinergic pathway in regulating dairy cows with clinical and subclinical endometritis.

Effect of yeast products supplementation during transition period on metabolic profile and milk production in dairy cows.

The aim of the current study was to assess the effect that supplementation with yeast culture plus enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast (YC-EHY) during the transition period and lactation had on the performance, somatic cell count (SCC), and metabolic profile of dairy cows. Thirty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were divided into two groups. The treatments were 0 supplementation (control) and supplementation with 28 g/cow/day of YC-EHY. The supplementation began 35 ± 5 days before the expected calving date. The cows were kept in their respective treatments for 50 days after the calving date. Body condition score (BCS), body weight, milk composition, SCC, and milk yield were assessed on a 2-weekly basis. Plasma samples were collected on days - 21st, - 7th, 0, 3rd, 7th, and weekly thereafter until 42 days postpartum and analyzed for albumin, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), urea, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). There was an effect of treatment on milk yield in the supplemented animals in comparison to the control group (27.88 ± 0.98 vs 24.58 ± 0.99 kg/days, P = 0.03). There was no effect of treatment (P > 0.05) on variables like 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) and energy-corrected milk (ECM), milk component (%), milk composition yield (kg/day), and SCC. There was an interaction between group × days on ECM (P = 0.04) and protein (P = 0.008). The supplementation had no effect on the analyzed metabolites and on body weight and BCS. The supplementation with YC-EHY during the transition period and lactation improved milk yield without altering the metabolic profile.

Inoculant of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (Rhizophagus clarus) Increase Yield of Soybean and Cotton under Field Conditions.

Nutrient availability is an important factor in crop production, and regular addition of chemical fertilizers is the most common practice to improve yield in agrosystems for intensive crop production. The use of some groups of microorganisms that have specific activity providing nutrients to plants is a good alternative, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant nutrition by providing especially phosphorus, improving plant growth and increasing crop production. Unfortunately, the use of AMF as an inoculant on a large scale is not yet widely used, because of several limitations in obtaining a large amount of inoculum due to several factors, such as low growth, the few species of AMF domesticated under in vitro conditions, and high competition with native AMF. The objective of this work was to test the infectivity of a Rhizophagus clarus inoculum and its effectiveness as an alternative for nutrient supply in soybean (Glycine max L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) when compared with conventional chemical fertilization under field conditions. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized block design with five treatments: Fertilizer, AMF, AMF with Fertilizer, AMF with 1/2 Fertilizer, and the Control with non-inoculated and non-fertilized plants. The parameters evaluated were AMF root colonization and effect of inoculation on plant growth, nutrient absorption and yield. The results showed that AMF inoculation increased around 20 % of root colonization in both soybean and cotton; nutrients analyses in vegetal tissues showed increase of P and nitrogen content in inoculated plants, these results reflect in a higher yield. Our results showed that, AMF inoculation increase the effectiveness of fertilizer application in soybean and reduce the fertilizer dosage in cotton.

Deregulated expression of annexin-A2 and galectin-3 is associated with metastasis in gastric cancer patients.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide. However, nowadays, most of the studies aiming to understand the gastric carcinogenesis analyzed tumors of individuals from Asian population and, thus, may not reflect the distinct biological and clinical behaviors among GC processes. Since several membrane proteins have been implicated in carcinogenesis, we aimed to evaluate ANXA2 and GAL3 role in gastric tumors and GC cell lines of individuals from northern Brazil. The cellular localization of ANXA2 and GAL3 in the GC cell lines was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time reverse-transcription PCR and protein expression by Western blot in gastric adenocarcinomas and non-neoplastic gastric samples, as well as in GC cell lines. ANXA2 and GAL3 were presented as dots in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm in ACP02 and ACP03 cell lines. ANXA2 mRNA expression was up-regulated in 32.14 % of gastric tumors compared to non-neoplastic tissues. ANXA2 up-regulation was associated with the metastasis process in vivo and with cell line invasive behavior. GAL3 protein expression was at least 1.5-fold reduced in 50 % of gastric tumors. The reduced GAL3 expression was associated with the presence of distant metastasis and with a higher invasive phenotype in vitro. Our study shows that ANXA2 and GAL3 deregulated expression was associated with an invasive phenotype in GC cell lines and may contribute to metastasis in GC patients. Therefore, these proteins may have potential prognostic relevance for GC of individuals from northern Brazil.

The transmission of Leishmania infantum chagasi by the bite of the Lutzomyia longipalpis to two different vertebrates.

BACKGROUND: Sandflies are vectors of Leishmania, the causative agent of leishmaniasis in mammalian hosts, including humans. The protozoan parasite is transmitted by the sandfly bite during salivation that occurs at the moment of blood feeding. The components of vector saliva include anticlotting and vasodilatory factors that facilitate blood flow and immunomodulatory factors that inhibit wound healing and quell the immune response. Not surprisingly, these factors also play important roles in the establishment of Leishmania infection. To date, the majority of knowledge that has been generated regarding the process of Leishmania infection, including L. infantum chagasi transmission has been gathered by using intradermal or subcutaneous inoculation of purified parasites. FINDINGS: This study presents the establishment of a transmission model of Leishmania infantum chagasi by the bite of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of American visceral leishmaniasis. The parasites were successfully transmitted by infected sandfly bites to mice and hamsters, indicating that both animals are good experimental models. The L. infantum chagasi dose that was transmitted in each single bite ranged from 10 to 10, 000 parasites, but 75% of the sandflies transmitted less than 300 parasites. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy for initiating infection by sandfly bite of experimental animals facilitates future investigations into the complex and dynamic mechanisms of visceral leishmaniasis. It is important to elucidate the transmission mechanism of vector bites. This model represents a useful tool to study L. infantum chagasi infection transmitted by the vector.

Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity.

The effect of daily ingestion of collagen hydrolysate (CH) on skin extracellular matrix proteins was investigated. Four-week-old male Wistar rats were fed a modified AIN-93 diet containing 12% casein as the reference group or CH as the treatment group. A control group was established in which animals were fed a non-protein-modified AIN-93 diet. The diets were administered continuously for 4 weeks when six fresh skin samples from each group were assembled and subjected to extraction of protein. Type I and IV collagens were studied by immunoblot, and activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 were assessed by zymography. The relative amount of type I and IV collagens was significantly (P < .05) increased after CH intake compared with the reference diet group (casein). Moreover, CH uptake significantly decreased both proenzyme and active forms of MMP2 compared with casein and control groups (P < .05). In contrast, CH ingestion did not influence on MMP9 activity. These results suggest that CH may reduce aging-related changes of the extracellular matrix by stimulating anabolic processes in skin tissue.

Ultrastructure of the mature testicular vesicle of Pseudonannolene tocaiensis Fontanetti, 1996 (Diplopoda, Pseudonannolenidae).

The mature testicular vesicles of the species Pseudonannolene tocaiensis have three portions: a peripheral portion; a central portion that is typically secretory and between these two an intermediary portion, a lumen filled with spermatozoa. Both secretory and peripheral portions present the same type of cells. The ultrastructural analysis of the peripheral portion suggests it is involved in hormone synthesis. The secretory portion probably contributes to the production of spermatic fluid, compensating for the absence of male accessory glands in this species.

[Bone conduction auditory brainstem responses in normal hearing individuals]. / Potenciais evocados auditivos do tronco encefálico por condução óssea em indivíduos normais.

BACKGROUND: bone conduction auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in normal hearing individuals. AIM: to evaluate the clinical applicability of bone conduction ABR, characterizing normality and determining an assessment protocol. METHOD: participants of this study were 22 individuals with normal hearing (20dB NA), with ages between 20 and 30 years, 14 female and 8 male. All individuals were assessed using air and bone (vibrator positioned on the forehead and mastoid) conduction ABR. EP25 equipment, Interacoustic; 3A insertion phone; B-71 bone vibrator; click stimulus. RESULTS: it was possible to evaluate the bone conduction ABR in all individuals. The results demonstrate that the electrophysiological threshold obtained when the vibrator was positioned on the forehead (32.69+/-5.63 and 32.5+/-7.07dB nHL) was higher than that obtained when the vibrator was positioned on the mastoid (25.00+/-7.33 and 30.00+/-5.34dB nHL) for both genders respectively. For this reason the vibrator was positioned on the mastoid. The electrophysiological threshold obtained by bone conduction was higher than that obtained by air conduction for both genders and also when all individuals were grouped together. Thus it is necessary to use a correction factor, according to the results, of 10dB nHL. The latency-intensity values of the V wave in the ipsilateral and contralateral recordings differed statistically according to gender, and should be considered separately. The value of 26.81+/-6.99dB nHL was adopted as being the normal threshold for bone conduction ABR. CONCLUSION: it is possible to evaluate bone conduction ABR in the clinical environment. These results, when considered along with the air conduction ABR, increase the chances of a more precise diagnosis regarding the type of hearing loss.

Accidentes provocados por soluciones irrigadoras durante la práctica endodóntica / Accidents caused by irrigant solutions during endodontic practice

Rara vez se refieren accidentes e iatrogenias por el uso de soluciones irrigadoras, a pesar de que ocurren en la práctica endodóntica. Con el fin de alertar a los profesionales sobre los cuidados en la clínica odontológica se realizó una revisión de la literatura, mencinando las principales complicaciones sobre el uso inadecuado de hipoclorito de sodio, dado que su toxicidad puede causar reacciones inflamatorias graves, edema, dolor severo, equimosis y hematomas, necrosis, paresteria y anestesia temporaria. En la mayoría de los casos descriptos el proceso ocurrió por inyección transforaminal de la solución. Se informó la aparición de enfisema subcutáneo tras el uso de peróxido de hidrógeno. La mejor forma de evitar tales accidentes es adoptar medidas preventivas, como el uso de dique de goma, la identificación de los tubitos anestésicos cuando se llenan con soluciones irrigadoras, la colocación de limitadores de penetración en limas y agujas de irrigación, la aplicación de una aguja libre en el interior del conducto y la irrigación lenta, para prevenir secuelas más graves

Accidentes provocados por soluciones irrigadoras durante la práctica endodóntica / Accidents caused by irrigant solutions during endodontic practice

Rara vez se refieren accidentes e iatrogenias por el uso de soluciones irrigadoras, a pesar de que ocurren en la práctica endodóntica. Con el fin de alertar a los profesionales sobre los cuidados en la clínica odontológica se realizó una revisión de la literatura, mencinando las principales complicaciones sobre el uso inadecuado de hipoclorito de sodio, dado que su toxicidad puede causar reacciones inflamatorias graves, edema, dolor severo, equimosis y hematomas, necrosis, paresteria y anestesia temporaria. En la mayoría de los casos descriptos el proceso ocurrió por inyección transforaminal de la solución. Se informó la aparición de enfisema subcutáneo tras el uso de peróxido de hidrógeno. La mejor forma de evitar tales accidentes es adoptar medidas preventivas, como el uso de dique de goma, la identificación de los tubitos anestésicos cuando se llenan con soluciones irrigadoras, la colocación de limitadores de penetración en limas y agujas de irrigación, la aplicación de una aguja libre en el interior del conducto y la irrigación lenta, para prevenir secuelas más graves (AU)