Comparison of lidocaine and lidocaine–epinephrine for the paravertebral brachial plexus block in dogs

Objective

To compare the motor and sensory block efficacy and duration of a modified paravertebral brachial plexus block (PBPB) after administration of lidocaine alone (LI) or combined with epinephrine (LE).

Preparation and phytotoxicity of novel kaurane diterpene amides with potential use as herbicides

Novel kaurane ditepene monoamides were synthesized in good yields directly from kaurenoic ( 1) and grandiflorenic ( 2) acids and unprotected symmetrical diamines, using a modified protocol for monoacylation. Amides from 1 and 2 and monoamines were also obtained and tested against seed germination and growth of radicle and shoot of Lactuca sativa (lettuce), at 10 (-3), 10 (-5), and 10 (-7) M. Amides from symmetrical diamines showed significant inhibitory activity at higher concentrations.     

Swine influenza virus infection dynamics in two pig farms; results of a longitudinal assessment

ABSTRACT: In order to assess the dynamics of influenza virus infection in pigs, serological and virological follow-ups were conducted in two whole batches of pigs from two different farms (F1 and F2), from 3 weeks of age until market age. Anti-swine influenza virus (SIV) antibodies (measured by ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition) and nasal virus shedding (measured by RRT-PCR and isolation in embryonated chicken eggs and MDCK cells) were carried out periodically. SIV isolates were subtyped and hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes were partially sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. In F1, four waves of viral circulation were detected, and globally, 62/121 pigs (51.2%) were positive by RRT-PCR at least once. All F1 isolates corresponded to H1N1 subtype although hemagglutination inhibition results also revealed the presence of antibodies against H3N2. The first viral wave took place in the presence of colostral-derived antibodies. Nine pigs were positive in two non-consecutive sampling weeks, with two of the animals being positive with the same isolate. Phylogenetic analyses showed that different H1N1 variants circulated in that farm. In F2, only one isolate, H1N2, was detected and all infections were concentrated in a very short period of time, as assumed for a classic influenza outbreak. These findings led us to propose that influenza virus infection in pigs might present different patterns, from an epidemic outbreak to an endemic form with different waves of infections with a lower incidence.     

Management of carob tree orchards in Mediterranean ecosystems: strategies for a carbon economy implementation

This paper offers a different framework for managing Mediterranean drought carob-tree orchard ecosystems. Two dry-farming systems were compared during two consecutive years: pure productive orchards and mixed orchards in a total of 360 mature trees distributed by 18 plots with areas of 0.55 and 0.30 ha per plot, respectively. Carob, fig, almond and olive trees compose mixed orchards. Trees of the mixed orchards were more productive than those of pure orchards. The main problem of both systems was the large variability and the low fruit production due to non-bearing trees, inducing unfavorable economic returns. Yield varied between 7.7 and 28.5 kg tree^?1 respectively in pure and mixed orchards. In this paper we propose to use carbon sequestration calculations as an added benefit to farmers. A carbon stocking model estimation was established, based on trunk diameters of different trees. We depicted two management scenarios based on fruits production and carbon sequestration incomes: a low value scenario, using mean fruit production, and a high valuable scenario based on the hypothesis that all trees reached its potential maximum. Since under dry-farming systems fruit production irregularity is still a pendent problem, mixed orchards may offer a potential higher revenue, while maintaining higher crop diversification and whole biodiversity. C sequestration benefit, as here we purpose, may represent 125–300 % of income, respectively under low or high valuable scenario. Thus, CO₂ equivalent is a novel ecological economic incentive that may potentiate a new income for farmers while assuring carob ecosystem services.     

Effects of salinity and flooding on the infectivity of salt marsh arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Aster tripolium</Emphasis> L.

Salt marshes are characterized by the occurrence of combined salinity and flooding stresses. The individual and combined effects of salinity and flooding on the establishment and activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization in the salt marsh halophyte Aster tripolium L. by indigenous salt marsh AM fungi were evaluated. A. tripolium plants were cultivated in a mixture of sand and salt marsh soil under different salinity concentrations (5%, 50% or 100% artificial seawater) and water regimes (non-flooding, tidal flooding and continuous flooding). Plants were harvested after 3 and 8 weeks and their growth was negatively influenced by increased salinity and water level. Increased salinity level affected the establishment of AM colonization, AM fungal growth and activity (measured as succinate dehydrogenase activity) within roots, and extraradical mycelium growth. The influence of flooding on the establishment of colonization and on intra- and extraradical AM fungal growth was dependent on the water regime. Continuous flooding reduced colonization and AM fungal growth, whereas tidal flooding did not affect these parameters unless combined with intermediate salinity level (50% seawater) at the end of the experiment. The water regime did not influence AM active colonization. The ratio of root to soil AM fungal growth increased as the water level increased. The results of this study demonstrate that the establishment and activity of AM colonization in A. tripolium is more influenced by salinity than by flooding, and suggests that the functionality of salt marsh AM fungi is not affected by flooding.     

The Ins and Outs of siderophore mediated iron uptake by extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli

Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) are responsible for many infectious diseases in livestock, such as airsacculitis in poultry, acute mastitis in dairy animals and neonatal septicaemia and urinary tract infections (UTI) in pigs and cattle. In their animal hosts, ExPEC have to cope with low iron availability. By using different strategies, ExPEC strains are able to retrieve iron sequestered by host proteins. One of these strategies is the use of siderophores, which are small secreted molecules with high affinity for iron. ExPEC are known to synthesize up to four different types of siderophores: enterobactin, salmochelins, yersiniabactin and aerobactin. Steps required for iron acquisition by siderophores include (1) siderophore synthesis in the cytoplasm, (2) siderophore secretion, (3) ferri-siderophore reception, (4) ferri-siderophore internalization and (5) iron release in the cytoplasm. Each siderophore has specific properties and may be differentially regulated to provide different advantages, potentially allowing ExPEC to adapt to different environmental conditions or to overcome host innate immunity. Iron acquisition by siderophores plays a significant role in ExPEC virulence and, as it requires outer membrane receptors, it constitutes an interesting target for the development of vaccines that could be used to limit the number of infectious diseases due to ExPEC in livestock.     

Alterations triggered by steroid gonadal hormones in triglycerides and the cellular immune response of Calomys callosus infected with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi

Calomys callosus is a wild rodent found naturally infected with different Trypanosoma cruzi strains. In the work described here, groups of male and female C. callosus were subjected to orchiectomy, ovariectomy and sham operation. One month after surgery, animals were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 4x10(4) blood trypomastigotes of the "Y" strain of T. cruzi. Parasitemia, triglycerides, nitric oxide (NO) and concanavalin A (ConA)-induced proliferation were evaluated. Parasitemia during the course of infection was significantly higher in infected and sham operated animals as compared to infected orchiectomized animals. The opposite was observed in the ovariectomized and infected group. Orchiectomized and infected animals displayed elevated triglyceride levels, as well as a more vigorous immune response, with higher splenocyte proliferation and elevated concentrations of NO. Ovariectomy resulted in an impaired immune response, as observed by a reduction of splenocyte proliferation and NO concentration. The results suggest a pivotal role for gonadal hormones in the modulation of triglyceride levels and the magnitude of the immune response during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection.     

Seasonal variation in xylem pressure of walnut trees: root and stem pressures

Measurements of air and soil temperatures and xylem pressure were made on 17-year-old orchard trees and on 5-year-old potted trees of walnut (Juglans regia L.). Cooling chambers were used to determine the relationships between temperature and sugar concentration ([glucose] + [fructose] + [sucrose], GFS) and seasonal changes in xylem pressure development. Pressure transducers were attached to twigs of intact plants, root stumps and excised shoots while the potted trees were subjected to various temperature regimes in autumn, winter and spring. Osmolarity and GFS of the xylem sap (apoplast) were measured before and after cooling or warming treatments. In autumn and spring, xylem pressures of up to 160 kPa were closely correlated with soil temperature but were not correlated with GFS in xylem sap. High root pressures were associated with uptake of mineral nutrients from soil, especially nitrate. In autumn and spring, xylem pressures were detected in root stumps as well as in intact plants, but not in excised stems. In contrast, in winter, 83% of the xylem sap osmolarity in both excised stems and intact plants could be accounted for by GFS, and both GFS and osmolarity were inversely proportional to temperature. Plants kept at 1.5 degrees C developed positive xylem pressures up to 35 kPa, xylem sap osmolarities up to 260 mosmol l(-1) and GFS concentrations up to 70 g l(-1). Autumn and spring xylem pressures, which appeared to be of root origin, were about 55% of the theoretical pressures predicted by osmolarity of the xylem sap. In contrast, winter pressures appeared to be of stem origin and were only 7% of the theoretical pressures, perhaps because of a lower stem water content during winter.