Isolation and structural characterization of glycosides from an anti-angiogenic extract of Monnina obtusifolia H.B.K.

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature is of physiological and pathological importance. Substantial data over the last decade has implicated uncontrolled angiogenesis with various pathological states. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) play a critical role in its regulation, and have become one of the most interesting anti-angiogenesis targets. We have investigated the anti-angiogenic potential of plant extracts in a preliminary ELISA screening. The n-BuOH extract obtained from the leaves of Monnina obtusifolia (Polygalaceae) demonstrated an inhibition of VEGF-A or Placental Growth Factor interaction with Flt-1 (VEGF receptor 1), with an inhibition over 50% in particular for VEGF-A/Flt-1 interaction at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. Successively fractionation of the bioactive n-BuOH extracts of M. obtusifolia aerial parts led to the isolation of six new compounds, 1-O-(4-hydroxy-2-methylene-butanoic acid)-6-O-β-d-(4-hydroxy-2-methylene-butanoyl)-glucopyranose (1), 1-O-(isopentenyl)-6-O-β-d-(4-hydroxy-2-methylene-butanoyl)-glucopyranose (2), 1-O-(4-hydroxy-2-methylene-butanoic acid)-6-O-β-d-(isovaleroyl)-glucopyranose (3), 1-O-(3-methylbut-3enyl)-6-O-β-d-(isovaleroyl)-glucopyranose (4), two new sucrose esters, 3,4-O-β-d-di-feruloyl-fructofuranosyl-6-O-α-d-(p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (5), and 3,4-O-β-d-di-feruloyl-fructofuranosyl-6-O-α-d-(caffeoyl)-glucopyranoside (6), together with known flavonoids. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectral analysis. Since none of the isolated compounds showed a relevant inhibition of VEGFs, the biological activity observed for the butanolic extract might be due to the presence of a combination of compounds acting synergistically.     

First successful frozen semen of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

This study aimed to describe successful cryopreservation of sperm from maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Three ejaculates from 2 maned wolves were collected by digital manipulation of the penis and evaluated subjectively, centrifuged and frozen in BotuCrio^® (Botupharma, Botucatu, Brazil) or Tris–yolk egg extender. Spermatozoa were thawed at 37ºC/30s or 70ºC/4s and evaluated for kinetics, morphology, plasma and acrosome membrane integrity, mitochondrial potential, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and lipid peroxidation. From 5 thawed samples, two had sperm total motility >55% (56.0% and 64.0%) and progressive motility ~35% (35% and 40%), both frozen with Tris–yolk egg. Plasma and acrosome membrane integrity decreased and percentage of sperm defects increased post-thawing. We concluded that is possible to freeze spermatozoa from maned wolves using semen collection and processing methods applied for domestic dogs.     

Clinical and pathologic findings in an outbreak in rabbits of natural infection by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 in the northwestern United States

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) causes an often-fatal disease of rabbits that has resulted in outbreaks in rabbitries in Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. RHD has historically been characterized as a foreign animal disease in the United States. In July 2019, RHDV2 was detected in rabbits on Orcas Island along the northwestern coast of Washington (WA) State following reports of deaths in multiple feral and domestic rabbits. We document and highlight here the unique clinical presentation and gross and histologic lesions observed in this recent WA outbreak. Affected rabbits died without premonitory signs or displayed hyporexia and/or lethargy for ≤1 d prior to death. The most consistent pathologic finding was random, multifocal hepatocellular necrosis, often with concurrent multifocal-to-diffuse splenic necrosis. The lack of significant clinical signs in conjunction with the random distribution of hepatic necrosis in the WA outbreak contrasts with previous reports of RHDV2 disease progression.     

Effects of sodium carbonate on carbon and nitrogen mineralisation of organic matter added to soil

An experiment was carried out to study effects of 0.25%, 0.50% and 1.0% Na₂CO₃ on CO₂ evolution, nitrogen mineralisation, losses of carbon and nitrogen and humus composition of added gulmohur (Delonix regia) leaves. The CO₂ evolution was higher under all levels of alkalinity than in the controls, being highest at 0.5% Na₂CO₃. Although the process of ammonification was not inhibited at any concentration, the process of nitrification was completely inhibited at 1.0% Na₂CO₃. The losses of carbon and nitrogen and the ratio of humic to fulvic acids increased with increased alkalinity.     

QUANTITATIVE CONTRAST HARMONIC ULTRASOUND IMAGING OF NORMAL CANINE LIVER

Eight adult dogs with no evidence of liver disease, weighing between 8 and 25 kg were imaged after injection of a microbubble contrast medium using harmonic ultrasound imaging. All dogs received three separate bolus contrast injections, and six dogs also received three separate constant rate infusions each. Time/Mean Pixel Value curves were generated for selected regions of the liver. Upslope, downslope, baseline, peak, change, and time to peak were calculated. For bolus injection (averaging all subjects), upslope was 3.85 +/- 1.50 Mean Pixel Values/s, downslope was -0.71 +/- 0.30 Mean Pixel Values/s, baseline was 72.38 +/- 17.82 Mean Pixel Values, peak was 120.26 +/- 17.44 Mean Pixel Value, change from baseline to peak was 47.88 +/- 6.92 Mean Pixel Values, time to peak (from injection) was 22.88 +/- 6.79 s, and time to peak (from first upslope) was 13.88 +/- 1.55 s. Data acquisition and analysis from constant rate infusions was more cumbersome than for bolus, and results were less repeatable. There were significant differences (p < .005) in upslope, downslope, peak values, and time to peak between the two methods. These baseline data may prove useful in the evaluation of dogs with diffuse hepatic disease.     

Increased Serum Growth Hormone Concentration in Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Serum growth hormone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay in 31 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 38 normal cats, and 35 cats with other cardiac disease. Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had a significantly increased serum growth hormone concentration when compared with normal cats and cats with other cardiac disease. The serum growth hormone concentration in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was less than that previously reported in cats with growth hormone secreting pituitary tumors. Pituitary tumors were not identified in eight of the cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy examined at necropsy. An increased serum growth hormone concentration may be measured in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but it is unclear if the increased serum growth hormone concentration is a cause or effect of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE AND ETIOLOGY OF CORRUGATED SMALL INTESTINE

An ultrasound pattern of corrugated, and sometimes thickened, bowel wall has been associated with pancreatitis and small intestinal lymphangiectasia. In a retrospective study, records of dogs and cats with an ultrasound diagnosis of corrugated bowel were examined for age, breed, gender, presenting complaint, abdominal radiographic results, and final diagnosis. Eighteen dogs and six cats had an ultrasound diagnosis of corrugated bowel. The final diagnosis was pancreatitis (12 of 24), peritonitis (4 of 24), enteritis (2 of 24), pancreatic neoplasia (2 of 24), diffuse abdominal neoplasia (1 of 24), lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis (1 of 24), thrombosis/infarction (1 of 24), and protein-losing enteropathy and acute renal failure (1 of 24). The presence of bowel wall corrugation, although a nonspecific finding, should alert one-to the possibility of pancreatitis, enteritis, peritonitis, neoplasia, or bowel wall ischemia.     

A genome-wide association study of type 2 diabetes in Finns detects multiple susceptibility variants

Identifying the genetic variants that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in humans has been a formidable challenge. Adopting a genome-wide association strategy, we genotyped 1161 Finnish T2D cases and 1174 Finnish normal glucose-tolerant (NGT) controls with >315,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imputed genotypes for an additional >2 million autosomal SNPs. We carried out association analysis with these SNPs to identify genetic variants that predispose to T2D, compared our T2D association results with the results of two similar studies, and genotyped 80 SNPs in an additional 1215 Finnish T2D cases and 1258 Finnish NGT controls. We identify T2D-associated variants in an intergenic region of chromosome 11p12, contribute to the identification of T2D-associated variants near the genes IGF2BP2 and CDKAL1 and the region of CDKN2A and CDKN2B, and confirm that variants near TCF7L2, SLC30A8, HHEX, FTO, PPARG, and KCNJ11 are associated with T2D risk. This brings the number of T2D loci now confidently identified to at least 10.     

PDGFRA activating mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have activating mutations in the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase, and most patients with GISTs respond well to Gleevec, which inhibits KIT kinase activity. Here we show that approximately 35% (14 of 40) of GISTs lacking KIT mutations have intragenic activation mutations in the related receptor tyrosine kinase, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA). Tumors expressing KIT or PDGFRA oncoproteins were indistinguishable with respect to activation of downstream signaling intermediates and cytogenetic changes associated with tumor progression. Thus, KIT and PDGFRA mutations appear to be alternative and mutually exclusive oncogenic mechanisms in GISTs.     

Celebrating hunger in Michigan: A critique of an emergency food program and an alternative for the future

Michigan Harvest Gathering is a popular and nationally acclaimed antihunger campaign. It represents a state-sponsored partnership among public, private, and nonprofit institutions to improve conditions for Michigan's citizens in need". This paper reviews the program, and in the process, critically examines its underlying assumptions about the nature of hunger and helping, about those who are hungry, and about the relationship of agriculture to the remediation of hunger throughout the state. It argues that, in keeping with Michigan's corporatist orientation, the program valorizes the agrofood industry at the expense of sustained public welfare. An alternative approach based on the development of greater local food autonomy provides a programmatic contrast to the elaboration of a helping industry designed to deliver emergency food assistance.An earlier version of this paper was prepared for the session: "Food, Social Values and the Future: Interdisciplinary Crystal-Gazing" at the Cuisine, Agriculture & Social Change conference, jointly sponsored by Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society and the Association for the Study of Food and Society, June 9–12, 1994, Tucson, AZ.