Iberian pig as a model to clarify obscure points in the bioavailability and metabolism of ellagitannins in humans

Ellagitannin-containing foods (strawberries, walnuts, pomegranate, raspberries, oak-aged wine, etc.) have attracted attention due to their cancer chemopreventive, cardioprotective, and antioxidant effects. Ellagitannins (ETs) are not absorbed as such but are metabolized by the intestinal flora to yield urolithins (hydroxydibenzopyran-6-one derivatives). In this study, Iberian pig is used as a model to clarify human ET metabolism. Pigs were fed either cereal fodder or acorns, a rich source of ETs. Plasma, urine, bile, lumen and intestinal tissues (jejunum and colon), feces, liver, kidney, heart, brain, lung, muscle, and subcutaneous fat tissue were analyzed. The results demonstrate that acorn ETs release ellagic acid (EA) in the jejunum, then the intestinal flora metabolizes EA sequentially to yield tetrahydroxy- (urolithin D), trihydroxy- (urolithin C), dihydroxy- (urolithin A), and monohydroxy- (urolithin B) dibenzopyran-6-one metabolites, which were absorbed preferentially when their lipophilicity increased. Thirty-one ET-derived metabolites were detected, including 25 urolithin and 6 EA derivatives. Twenty-six extensively conjugated metabolites were detected in bile, glucuronides and methyl glucuronides of EA and particularly urolithin A, C, and D derivatives, confirming a very active enterohepatic circulation. Urolithins A and B as well as dimethyl-EA-glucuronide were detected in peripheral plasma. The presence of EA metabolites in bile and in urine and its absence in intestinal tissues suggested its absorption in the stomach. Urolithin A was the only metabolite detected in feces and together with its glucuronide was the most abundant metabolite in urine. No metabolites accumulated in any organ analyzed. The whole metabolism of ETs is shown for the first time, confirming previous studies in humans and explaining the long persistency of urolithin metabolites in the body mediated by an active enterohepatic circulation.     

Cardiopulmonary effects of buprenorphine in horses

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of buprenorphine on cardiopulmonary variables and on abdominal auscultation scores in horses. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES: Horses were restrained in stocks and allocated to 2 treatments in a randomized crossover design, with 1-week intervals between each treatment. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was administered IV as a control, whereas buprenorphine (10 mug/kg, IV) was administered to the experimental group. Cardiopulmonary data were collected for 120 minutes after buprenorphine or saline solution administration. Abdominal auscultation scores were monitored for 2 and 12 hours after drug administration in the control and experimental groups, respectively. RESULTS: Following control treatment, horses remained calm while restrained in the stocks and no significant changes in cardiopulmonary variables were observed throughout the study. Buprenorphine administration caused excitatory phenomena (restlessness and head shaking). Heart rate, cardiac index, and arterial blood pressure were significantly increased after buprenorphine administration until the end of the observational period (120 minutes). Minimal changes were found in arterial blood gas tensions. Abdominal auscultation scores decreased significantly from baseline for 4 hours after buprenorphine administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Buprenorphine induced excitement and hemodynamic stimulation with minimal changes in arterial blood gas tensions. These effects may impact the clinical use of buprenorphine in horses. Further studies are indicated to investigate the effects of buprenorphine on gastrointestinal motility and fecal output.     

Arthrodesis tarsocrural or tarsometatarsal in 2 dogs using circular external skeletal fixator

An external fixation technique, using a circular fixator, to obtain arthrodesis was evaluated in 2 dogs with infected open lesions and soft tissue damage. In both cases, articular cartilage was curetted, and devitalized bone and necrotic soft tissue were removed. No bone graft was used. The wounds were maintained open and the dogs received postoperative antibiotic therapy. The arthrodesis site was compressed progressively as needed. Infection was eradicated and bony union was obtained in both dogs. It was concluded that the use of a circular fixator is an effective method to achieve arthrodesis.     

New herbicide models from benzoxazinones: aromatic ring functionalization effects

The utility of benzoxazinones and some of their synthetic derivatives in the search for new leads for herbicide model development has been widely discussed. As the benzoxazinone skeleton contains three different potential areas for functionalization (C-2, N-4, and aromatic protons H-5, H-6, H-7, and H-8), and the first two have already been optimized, the main objective of this work was the substitution of aromatic protons for different substituent types and the study of the effects of the prepared chemicals on selected standard target species (STS) and weeds. Thus, different combinations of aromatic substituents, including methoxy, methoxycarbonyl, fluorine, chlorine, and trifluoromethyl, were introduced at different positions. Phytotoxicity results were successfully correlated with steric and electronic molecular parameters, the resulting molecular volume (V) and dipole moment (mu) being the most influential ones. Halogenations at C-6 and fluorination at C-7 were the most successful modifications. Compounds 6-fluoro-(2H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (6F-D-DIBOA), 7-fluoro-(2H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (7F-D-DIBOA), and 6-chloro-(2H)-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (6Cl-D-DIBOA) had the highest phytotoxic activities. The dose-response profiles on wheat and two of its most common weeds (Lolium rigidum Gaud. and Avena fatua L.) were compared by means of a proposed selectivity index, which displayed 7F-D-DIBOA as the most selective of the tested benzoxazinones.     

Fatty acid profiles of processed chicken egg yolks

The fatty acid compositions of egg yolks subjected to industrial processing treatments, namely, homogenization, pasteurization, drying, and "omega-3-enrichment", were studied. In general, the total contents of C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 n-9, and C18:2 n-6 fatty acids accounted for close to 90% of the total fatty acids. Statistical analysis of the data revealed correlations among the fatty acids; significant differences existed depending on the egg source and type of processing. Yolk samples enriched with omega-3 fatty acids clustered together owing to their higher C16:0, C16:1 n-7, C18:3 n-6, and C24:0 contents. Nonpasteurized/non-heat-treated samples formed another cluster because of their higher C18:1 n-11 and C18:1 n-9 contents, and the remaining samples formed another group due to their higher proportions of C18:0, C18:2 n-6, and C20:4 n-6. The relative proportions of essential fatty acids were similar in the four types of samples examined.     

Production of Brassica carinata protein hydrolyzates with a high Fischer's ratio using immobilized proteases

Brassica carinata protein isolates were hydrolyzed using the digestive enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase A in order to obtain hydrolyzates with a high Fischer's ratio. The proteases were immobilized using two glyoxyl-agarose supports of different porosity, 4 and 10% agarose gels, in order to evaluate the effect of substrate diffusion into the support containing the enzyme on the hydrolytic process. Reaction time, substrate concentration, and the enzyme to substrate ratio were optimized in an attempt to increase the Fischer's ratio in the resulting hydrolyzates. Gel filtration chromatography of a hydrolyzate with a degree of hydrolysis of 36% yielded a fraction that represented 31% of the total hydrolyzed proteins and had a Fischer's ratio of 28.3 with a phenylalanine + tyrosine content below 1.5%. This material could be used for preparing special diets when there is a need to increase the supply of branched amino acids and/or reduce the intake of aromatic amino acids.     

Preliminary Analysis of the Results of Selective Therapy Against Strongyles in Pasturing Horses

Control of horse parasites often omits application of measures to eradicate the free-living stages in pastures and frequently relies on chemotherapy only. Selective therapy was used for Spanish Sport horses grazing either in the same pasture (continuous) or in rotated meadows. In each group, equines exceeding a cutoff value of 300 strongyle eggs per gram of feces received ivermectin or moxidectin. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by estimating reduction of fecal egg counts and the number of horses shedding parasite eggs (PHR). Coprocultures revealed presence of the cyathostomins Cyathostomum and Gyalocephalus spp. In all treated groups, a 100% value for both reduction of fecal egg counts and PHR against cyathostomins was obtained, and PHR values ranged from 100% to 12%. The longest strongyle egg reappearance period was observed in horses undergoing rotation grazing and receiving ivermectin (9 weeks), compared with a 6-week period recorded for the other treated equines. Our results seem to point that the efficacy of selective therapy in equine herds could be reduced if the horses with fecal egg counts below the threshold value (thus not receiving chemotherapy) remain grazing in the same pastures with the treated ones. It is strongly suggested that interested parties consider performing periodic fecal analyses to monitor fecal egg counts, together with the percentage of horses passing eggs in feces, to improve the effect of this procedure.     

Bacterial Endocarditis in Two Spanish Foals After Neonatal Septicemia

Equine neonatal septicemia could lead to the release of thrombus and heart valvular endocarditis. A relationship between activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-vasopressin (RAAV) axis and heart failure has been described in several species. This article describes the echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and laboratory findings, including RAAV axis, in two Spanish foals with endocarditis after septicemia in comparison with two control groups matched by age and gender. Two Spanish foals (F1, 60-day-old colt; F2, 76-day-old filly) were presented with poor growth rate a month after being hospitalized because of septicemia. Colt F1 had hypercortisolemia and increased left ventricular internal dimensions in systole and diastole, increased left ventricular free wall thickness in diastole, interventricular septum thickness in diastole, and mitral valve thickness. Colt F1 also presented lower fractional shortening, ejection fraction, fractional wall thickness, and fractional septum thickness. Filly F2 showed hyperfibrinogenemia and increased values for aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatin kinase, alkaline phosphatase, interventricular septum at systole, aorta diameter at the level of valve leaflets and sinotubular junction, and mitral and tricuspid valve thickness. The foals did not present systemic signs compatible with heart failure, heart arrhythmias were not found, and RAAV values were within the expected confidence limits. In conclusion, endocarditis without clinical signs of heart failure can appear shortly after septicemia in equine neonates. The measurement of the thickness of the valves by two-dimensional echocardiography is diagnostic. The lack of activation of RAAV in both foals might indicate that the severity of the heart problem was mild.