Multiple progressive piloleiomyomas in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo): a case report

A 2.5‐year‐old ovariectomized female ferret developed multiple progressive linear and raised nodules on the skin. The first lesions occurred on the tail, which was then amputated. Over the following 3 years, additional lesions appeared in the vicinity of the scar and then further rostrally on the flanks and thorax. Histological and immunohistochemical investigation led to a diagnosis of multiple piloleiomyomas. The unique characteristics of this ferret disease are described and compared with those of multiple piloleiomyomas in humans and with those of other cutaneous smooth muscle cell tumours reported in the veterinary literature.     

Pathogens of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Bulgarian forests

The occurrence and prevalence of bark beetle pathogens in forest stands in Bulgaria were investigated in 944 specimens belonging to 21 bark beetle species. Protozoa, microsporidia, fungi and nematodes occurred in 19 of all investigated species. The infections were found in the gut (nematodes, gregarines, microsporidia), gonads (microsporidia) and hemolymph (nematodes) of the infected insects. Protozoan species (Gregarina typographi, Gregarina spp.) were detected in eight bark beetle species. Morphometric data about G. typographi and Gregarina spp. are presented. The prevalence of the gregarines varied between 1.4% and 64.2%. Microsporidia of the genera Nosema and Chytridiopsis were revealed in three bark beetle species. The prevalence of microsporidia ranged between 1.5% and 11.8%. This is the first report of a microsporidium in Taphrorychus villifrons and of gregarines in T. villifrons, Pityogenes bistridentatus, P. conjunctus, and Orthotomicus erosus. The fungus Beauveria bassiana was found in 3.4% of Hylurgops palliatus specimens. Nematodes (in gut and haemolymph) were revealed in 19 bark beetle species and their prevalence varied between 10% and 98.5%.     

Studies on N-terminal glycation of peptides in hypoallergenic infant formulas: quantification of alpha-N-(2-furoylmethyl) amino acids

To obtain information about the extent of the early Maillard reaction between the N-termini of peptides and lactose, alpha-N-(2-furoylmethyl) amino acids (FMAAs) were quantified together with epsilon-N-(2-furoylmethyl)lysine (furosine) in acid hydrolyzates of hypoallergenic infant formulas, conventional infant formulas, and human milk samples using RP-HPLC with UV-detection. FMAAs are formed during acid hydrolysis of peptide-bound N-terminal Amadori products (APs), and furosine is formed from the Amadori products of peptide-bound lysine. Unambiguous identification was achieved by means of LC/MS and UV-spectroscopy using independently prepared reference material. The extent of acid-induced conversion of APs to FMAAs was studied by RP-HPLC with chemiluminescent nitrogen detection (CLND). Depending on the corresponding alpha-N-lactulosyl amino acid, between 6.0% and 18.1% of FMAAs were formed during hydrolysis for 23 h at 110 degrees C in 8 N HCl. From epsilon-N-lactulosyllysine, 50% furosine is formed under these conditions. Whereas furosine was detectable in all assayed samples, five different FMAAs, alpha-FM-Lys, alpha-FM-Ala, alpha-FM-Val, alpha-FM-Ile, and alpha-FM-Leu, were exclusively detected in acid hydrolyzates of hypoallergenic infant formulas in amounts ranging from 35 to 396 mumol/100 g protein. Taking the conversion factors into account, modification of N-terminal amino acids in peptides by reducing carbohydrates was between 0.3% and 8.4%. This has to be considered within the discussion concerning the nutritional quality of peptide-containing foods.     

Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by an acetonic extract from Feijoa sellowiana Berg. fruits

Feijoa sellowiana Berg. fruits and especially the acetonic extract have been shown to possess biological activities, although the responsible compounds have never been identified. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of an acetonic extract from F. sellowiana Berg. fruits on the nitric oxide (NO) pathway, which plays an important role in inflammation. To this aim the J774 cell line, which expresses inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), has been utilized, and the effects of this extract and its fractions on NO production, iNOS protein expression, and signal pathways involved in its regulation have been evaluated. This study demonstrates that at least some part of the anti-inflammatory activity of the acetonic extract is due to the suppression of NO production by flavone and stearic acid. The mechanism of this inhibition seems to be related to an action on the expression of the enzyme iNOS through the attenuation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation.