Fatty acids identified in the Burmese python promote beneficial cardiac growth

Burmese pythons display a marked increase in heart mass after a large meal. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of this physiological heart growth with the goal of applying this knowledge to the mammalian heart. We found that heart growth in pythons is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy in the absence of cell proliferation and by activation of physiological signal transduction pathways. Despite high levels of circulating lipids, the postprandial python heart does not accumulate triglycerides or fatty acids. Instead, there is robust activation of pathways of fatty acid transport and oxidation combined with increased expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, a cardioprotective enzyme. We also identified a combination of fatty acids in python plasma that promotes physiological heart growth when injected into either pythons or mice.     

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) papillomaviruses: vaccine antigen candidates and screening test development

Papillomaviruses (PVs) have been shown as being the etiologic agents of various benign and malignant tumours in many vertebrate species. In dolphins and porpoises, a high prevalence of orogenital tumours has recently been documented with at least four distinct novel species-specific PV types detected in such lesions. Therefore, we generated the immunological reagents to establish a serological screening test to determine the prevalence of PV infection in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins [(Tursiops truncatus (Tt)]. Using the baculovirus expression system, virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from the L1 proteins of two TtPV types, TtPV1 and TtPV2, were generated. Polyclonal antibodies against TtPV VLPs were produced in rabbits and their specificity for the VLPs was confirmed. Electron microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) studies revealed that the generated VLPs self-assembled into particles presenting conformational immunodominant epitopes. As such, these particles are potential antigen candidates for a TtPV vaccine. Subsequently, the VLPs served as antigens in initial ELISA tests using sera from six bottlenose dolphins to investigate PV antibody presence. Three of these sera were derived from dolphins with genital tumour history and showed positive PV ELISA reactivity, while the remaining sera from lesion-free dolphins were PV antibody-negative. The results suggest that the developed screening test may serve as a potential tool for determining PV prevalence and thus for observing transmission rates in dolphin populations as the significance of PV infection in cetaceans starts to unfold.     

Congenital heart disease in boxer dogs: results of 6 years of breed screening

This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and severity of ocular lesions in dogs with anemia (packed cell volume  20%) and/or thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150,000/μL). Dogs were divided into four groups: (1) anemic (n = 17); (2) thrombocytopenic (n = 36); (3) anemic and thrombocytopenic (n = 24); and (4) healthy controls (n = 26). The prevalence of ophthalmic lesions in these four groups was 12%, 42%, 42% and 0%, respectively. Anemia was not associated with the presence of ocular lesions (P = 0.41) or their severity. Thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with the presence of ocular lesions (P = 0.0016) and with their severity (P = 0.017). We conclude that thrombocytopenia, but not anemia, is associated with ocular lesions in dogs.     

Isolated lepromatous conjunctivo-corneal granuloma in a cat from Italy

Objective  To describe a case of a conjunctivo-corneal mass in a cat associated with acid-fast bacilli.
Methods  A 2-year-old female black European Short-Hair cat, living outdoors in a suburban environment in Italy, was referred for evaluation of a nodular, vascularized mass of 2 weeks duration. The mass involved the dorsal bulbar conjunctiva at the temporal canthus of OS and invaded the sclera and cornea. Routine ophthalmic and systemic examination, serologic testing, cytology and histology of the mass were performed. Mycobacterium specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of variable regions 1, 2 and 3 of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was also performed.
Results  Neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and giant cells with intracytoplasmic acid-fast bacilli were seen on cytological examination. The histological examination confirmed the presence of a granulomatous lesion with acid-fast bacilli within macrophages. Bacteriological culture of the material from the lesion was negative for Mycobacterium spp. Mycobacterium 16S rRNA gene specific PCR was positive.
A diagnosis of feline leprosy was made. The owners refused any treatment, and 1 year later the lesion was still present.
Conclusions  Veterinary ophthalmologists should be aware of conjunctivo-corneal leproma as an unusual symptom of leprosy.     

Determining FAO-56 crop coefficients for peanut under different water stress levels

Accurate estimates of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) water requirements are needed for water conservation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the FAO-56 crop coefficients for peanut grown under various levels of water stress in a humid climate. Two experiments were conducted in three automated rainout shelters located at the University of Georgia Griffin Campus in Griffin, Georgia, USA in 2006 and 2007. Irrigation was applied when the modeled soil water content in the effective root zone dropped below a specific threshold of the available water content (AWC). The irrigation treatments corresponded to irrigation thresholds (IT) of 40, 60 and 90% of AWC. The soil water balance was used to compute observed evapotranspiration (ET _cm) from measured soil water content at six different soil depths. The length of the four developmental stages was different than the values listed in FAO-56. The 2-year average absolute relative error of K _cini was 8, 19 and 6% for 40, 60 and 90% IT, respectively. For the 90% IT, the FAO-56 K _cmid and K _cend were almost identical to the 2-year averages of the observed K _cmid and K _cend, respectively. The findings of this study confirmed that the FAO-56 procedure was reasonably accurate for estimating peanut ET under water stress in a humid climate.     

Structure-antifungal activity relationship of cinnamic acid derivatives

A structure-antifungal activity relationship (SAR) study of 22 related cinnamic acid derivatives was carried out. Attention was focused on the antifungal activities exhibited against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, and Aspergillus niger. (E)-3-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl)acrylic acid (16) exhibited antifungal activity against A. niger, comparable to that of miconazole and a significant antifungal effect against A. flavus and A. terreus as well. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of related cinnamic acid derivatives has allowed a model to be proposed for the recognition of the minimal structural requirements for the antifungal effect in this series.     

Direct determination of estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities using an enhanced plant two-hybrid system

This paper reports a simple, low-cost, and extremely sensitive reporter-gene assay system for comprehensive analysis of estrogenic activity using transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana: the EPTH system. It had the capability to detect 17beta-estradiol at a concentration of 10 pM. The system was rendered 5 times more sensitive than a previous system [Tojo, T.; Tsuda, K.; Wada, T.; Yamazaki, K. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 2006, 64, 106-114) (1)] by increasing the copy number of the transactivation domain fused to a nuclear receptor co-activator. The system can efficiently detect other estrogenic and antiestrogenic substances. Estrogenic activities were determined in treated sewage samples from four distinct sewage farms using the system. Results showed that the system can detect estrogenic activity directly and more efficiently than a yeast two-hybrid system without any manipulation for extraction and condensation of hydrophobic compounds and aseptic treatment. Furthermore, the system also is useful as a powerful tool for discovery of a new category of natural estrogenic substances that are undetectable by previous plant and yeast systems.     

Can Growth of Nannochloropsis oculata under Modulated Stress Enhance Its Lipid-Associated Biological Properties?

Nannochloropsis oculata is well-recognized as a potential microalgal source of valuable compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The content and profile of these lipids is highly dependent on the growth conditions and can, therefore, be tailored through modulation of the growth parameters, specifically, temperature. Moreover, biological activities are composition dependent. In the present work, lipid extracts obtained from N. oculata, grown under constant temperature and under modulated temperature stress (to increase EPA content; Str) were characterized by GC-FID and several bioactivities were evaluated, namely, antioxidant (L-ORAC_FL), cytotoxic (MTT), adipolytic, anti-hepatic lipid accumulation (steatosis), and anti-inflammatory properties. Both extracts exhibited antioxidant activity (c.a. 49 µmol Trolox_equivalent/mg_extract) and the absence of toxicity (up to 800 µg/mL) toward colon and hepatic cells, adipocytes, and macrophages. They also induced adipolysis and the inhibition of triglycerides hepatic accumulation, with a higher impact from Str. In addition, anti-inflammatory activity was observed in the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation of macrophages in the presence of either extract, since lower levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 and interferon-β were obtained, specifically by Str. The results presented herein revealed that modulated temperature stress may enhance the health effects of N. oculata lipid extracts, which may be safely utilized to formulate novel food products.