Repellency of aerosol and cream products containing fennel oil to mosquitoes under laboratory and field conditions

The repellency of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller)-containing products (5% aerosol and 8% cream) against mosquitoes was compared with those of citronella oil, geranium oil and deet, as well as three commercial repellents, Baby Keeper cream containing IR3535, MeiMei cream containing citronella and geranium oils, and Repellan S aerosol containing 19% N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet) under laboratory and field conditions. In a laboratory study with female Aedes aegypti (L), fennel oil exhibited good repellency in a release-in-cage test and repellency in skin and patch tests of the oil was comparable with those of citronella and geranium oils. In paddy field tests with five human volunteers, 5% and 8% fennel oil-containing aerosol and cream produced 84% and 70% repellency, respectively, at 90 min after exposure, whereas Baby Keeper cream and MeiMei cream gave 71% and 57% repellency at 90 min after exposure, respectively, and Repellan S aerosol gave 89% repellency at 210 min. The species and ratio of mosquitoes collected were the genera Culex (44.1%), Anopheles (42.2%), Aedes (7.8%) and Armigeres (5.9%). Fennel oil-containing products could be useful for protection from humans and domestic animals from vector-borne diseases and nuisance caused by mosquitoes.     

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol

The action of estrogen on target organs has been actively studied with the discovery of estrogen receptor (ER) beta. This study was carried out to examine the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and the vagina of immature Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol (EE). Twenty days old rats were subcutaneously treated with EE at the doses of 0 (vehicle control), 0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 microg/kg/day for three consecutive days. The treatment of EE at the doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day significantly increased the weights of the uterus and vagina of rats (p<0.01) and retained fluid in the uterus of rats. At the high doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day, the treatment of EE caused an increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy, and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium. The treatment of EE at the doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day also caused cornification and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the vaginal epithelium. These results suggest that the EE treatment decrease the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats and that may be associated with the morphological changes such as increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy of the uterine epithelium, and cornification of the vagina.     

Visceral leishmaniasis in a New York foxhound kennel

Although endemic throughout much of the world, autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis has been reported on only 3 previous occasions in North America. After diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in 4 foxhounds from a kennel in Dutchess County, New York (index kennel), serum and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-anticoagulated blood were collected from the remaining 108 American or cross-bred foxhounds in the index kennel and from 30 Beagles and Basset Hounds that were periodically housed in the index kennel. Samples were analyzed for antibodies to or DNA of tickborne disease pathogens and Leishmania spp. Most dogs had antibodies to Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp., or some combination of these pathogens but not to Bartonella vinsonii (berkhoffi). However, DNA of rickettsial, ehrlichial, or babesial agents was detected in only 9 dogs. Visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed in 46 of 112 (41%) foxhounds from the index kennel but was not diagnosed in any of the Beagles and Basset Hounds. A positive Leishmania status was defined by 1 or more of the following criteria: a Leishmania antibody titer > or = 1:64, positive Leishmania polymerase chain reaction (PCR), positive Leishmania culture, or identification of Leishmania amastigotes by cytology or histopathology. The species and zymodeme of Leishmania that infected the foxhounds was determined to be Leishmania infantum MON-1 by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Foxhounds that were > 18 months of age or that had traveled to the southeastern United States were more likely to be diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis. Transmission of Leishmania spp. in kennel outbreaks may involve exposure to an insect vector, direct transmission, or vertical transmission.     

Assessment of Selected Quality Parameters of Epididymal Cat (Felis catus s. domestica,L. 1758) Sperm Using Flow Cytometry Method and Computer Assisted Sperm Analyser

The improvement of biotechnical methods connected with fast and precise semen quality assessment and its utilization in assisted reproductive techniques is an urgent necessity in felids. The aim of this study was to evaluate some quality parameters (i.e. the viability and share of cells with intact plasma membrane) of epididymal sperm of cats using the flow cytometry method and computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) examination. The material consisted of epididymal spermatozoa flushed from 22 pairs of epididymes after routine neutering procedures obtained from domestic cats aged between 8 and 36 months. The epididymes were cut and incubated with an extender without egg yolk. The samples were assessed for sperm viability (Live/Dead Sperm Viability Kit^®), percentage of subtle membrane changes (Apoptosis Detection Kit^®) and motility using FACScalibur flow cytometer and assisted sperm analyser htm ivos version 12.2. The flow cytometry method revealed 71.3% and 84.4% of live sperm using Live/Dead Sperm Viability Kit and Apoptosis Detection Kit respectively. The population of early‐apoptotic and late‐apoptotic sperm were 0.8% and 1.1% respectively. The CASA examination found 51.5% of motile sperm. However, the motility examination under light microscope revealed 69.5% of motile sperm. The data revealed an indistinctive per cent of apoptotic cells and 18.9% and 15.6% of dead cells using Live/Dead Sperm Viability Kit and Apoptosis Detection Kit, respectively, which indicate that the sperm obtained after flushing the epididymis possess potential properties for further assisted reproduction techniques.     

Echinochrome A Treatment Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesions in NC/Nga Mice via IL-4 and IL-13 Suppression

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which skin barrier dysfunction leads to dryness, pruritus, and erythematous lesions. AD is triggered by immune imbalance and oxidative stress. Echinochrome A (Ech A), a natural pigment isolated from sea urchins, exerts antioxidant and beneficial effects in various inflammatory disease models. In the present study, we tested whether Ech A treatment alleviated AD-like skin lesions. We examined the anti-inflammatory effect of Ech A on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like lesions in an NC/Nga mouse model. AD-like skin symptoms were induced by treatment with 1% DNCB for 1 week and 0.4% DNCB for 5 weeks in NC/Nga mice. The results showed that Ech A alleviated AD clinical symptoms, such as edema, erythema, and dryness. Treatment with Ech A induced the recovery of epidermis skin lesions as observed histologically. Tewameter^® and Corneometer^® measurements indicated that Ech A treatment reduced transepidermal water loss and improved stratum corneum hydration, respectively. Ech A treatment also inhibited inflammatory-response-induced mast cell infiltration in AD-like skin lesions and suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ, interleukin-4, and interleukin-13. Collectively, these results suggest that Ech A may be beneficial for treating AD owing to its anti-inflammatory effects.     

Headspace oxygen in sample vials affects volatiles production of meat during the automated purge-and-Trap/GC analyses.

Headspace oxygen in sample vial for the purge-and-trap dynamic headspace/gas chromatography method oxidizes meat if held hours before purging, influences volatile profiles, and misrepresents the true composition of volatiles. Helium flush and helium flush plus oxygen absorber were used to eliminate residual oxygen and minimize oxidative changes in meat during sample holding time. Both helium flush and helium flush plus oxygen absorber treatments were effective in preventing an increase in 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and volatiles production in raw meat for up to 640 min of sample holding. With helium flush plus oxygen absorber, only 1-octen-3-ol increased during the 1280-min sample holding time. However, the hexanal peak in raw meat was interfered by 2,6-dimethyl heptane when oxygen absorber was added. Therefore, use of oxygen absorber was not appropriate for raw meat. Helium flush reduced oxidative changes in cooked meat during sample holding time but was not able to stop oxidative changes in meat after 160 min sample holding. A combination of helium flush and oxygen absorber was effective in preventing volatiles production in cooked meat for over 20 h of sample holding at 4 degrees C.     

Astaxanthin Reduces Stemness Markers in BT20 and T47D Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Inhibiting Expression of Pontin and Mutant p53

Astaxanthin (AST) is a product made from marine organisms that has been used as an anti-cancer supplement. It reduces pontin expression and induces apoptosis in SKBR3, a breast cancer cell line. Using Western blotting and qRT-PCR analyses, this study revealed that in the T47D and BT20 breast cancer cell lines, AST inhibits expression of pontin and mutp53, as well as the Oct4 and Nanog cancer stem cell (CSC) stemness genes. In addition, we explored the mechanism by which AST eradicates breast cancer cells using pontin siRNAs. Pontin knockdown by pontin siRNA reduced proliferation, Oct4 and Nanog expression, colony and spheroid formation, and migration and invasion abilities in breast cancer cells. In addition, reductions in Oct4, Nanog, and mutp53 expression following rottlerin treatment confirmed the role of pontin in these cells. Therefore, pontin may play a central role in the regulation of CSC properties and in cell proliferation following AST treatment. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that AST can repress CSC stemness genes in breast cancer cells, which implies that AST therapy could be used to improve the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies against breast cancer cells.