Regulation of fasted blood glucose by resistin

The association between obesity and diabetes supports an endocrine role for the adipocyte in maintaining glucose homeostasis. Here we report that mice lacking the adipocyte hormone resistin exhibit low blood glucose levels after fasting, due to reduced hepatic glucose production. This is partly mediated by activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and decreased expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver. The data thus support a physiological function for resistin in the maintenance of blood glucose during fasting. Remarkably, lack of resistin diminishes the increase in post-fast blood glucose normally associated with increased weight, suggesting a role for resistin in mediating hyperglycemia associated with obesity.     

Accuracy of the composite somatic cell count to detect intra-mammary infection in dairy cows using latent class analysis

The somatic cell count (SCC) is considered an important indicator of intra-mammary infection (IMI). The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of both SCC and culture to detect IMI and their conditional dependence by means of latent class methods. This study involved 175 dairy cows from 2 herds with different udder infection prevalences. Quarter and composite milk samples were collected for SCC and bacteriological culture. Latent-class models using Bayesian methods were used to estimate test sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) and population prevalence. The models ran involved only major mastitis pathogens and composite SCC (CSCC). Five thresholds between 100,000 and 300,000 cells/mL were evaluated and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Fifty-five percent of the cows had CSCC ≥200,000 cells/mL and 95.4% of the cows had at least one infected quarter either with minor or major pathogens. Considering a threshold of 150,000 cells/mL, the estimated Se and Sp for the CSCC were, 0.80 (95% CrI 0.71–0.88) and 0.57 (95% CrI 0.44–0.71), respectively. The estimated culture Se and Sp were 0.83 (95% CrI 0.73–0.93) and 0.89 (95% CrI 0.74–0.98), respectively. There was no evidence of dependence between CSCC and culture. The area under curve for CSCC was 0.72. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the CSCC accuracy to detect IMI for major pathogens considering the effect of culture misclassification. The estimates provided here could help to examine the performance of sampling schemes based on CSCC to manage udder health.     

The effect of breed,sex, and drug concentration on the pharmacokinetic profile of ivermectin in cattle

Ivermectin (IVM) is one of the most widely used antiparasitic drugs worldwide and has become the drug of choice for anthelmintic and tick treatment in beef cattle production. It is known that pharmacokinetic parameters are fundamental to the rational use of a drug and food safety and these parameters are influenced by different factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of IVM in Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and crossbreed cattle (B. indicus × B. taurus) kept under same field conditions and the possible impacts of sex and IVM formulation (1% and 3.15%). It was observed that IVM concentration was significantly affected by breed. The plasma concentrations of IVM, AUC, C_max, and t_1/2β were significantly higher in B. indicus compared to B. taurus. Crossbreed animals showed an intermediate profile between European and Indian cattle. No alteration in pharmacokinetics parameters was detected when comparing different gender. Concerning the pharmacokinetic data of IVM formulation, it was verified that T_max, AUC, and t_1/2β were higher in 3.15% IVM animals than those from 1% IVM formulation. The results clearly indicated that the IVM plasma concentrations in B. indicus were higher than that in B. taurus.     

Growth and yield of coffee plants in agroforestry and monoculture systems in Minas Gerais, Brazil

This research compared coffee plants (Coffea arabica L.) grown in an agroforestry and monoculture systems. Data were collected during two years, on vegetative growth, reproductive development, nutritional status and yield of coffee, besides monitoring air temperature and the tree growth. All trees in agroforestry system increased in growth, resulting in a reduction in the magnitude of the diurnal temperature variation and also maximum temperature. Coffee plants in agroforestry system had less branch growth and leaf production, more persistent and larger leaves, and presented earlier flowering, with a smaller number of productive nodes and flower buds, leading to smaller berry yield than plants in monoculture system. In both systems, the coffee plants showed adequate leaf nutrient levels, except for P and K. The yield of 2443 kg ha^-1 of coffee from the monoculture was greater than 515 kg ha^-1 of coffee from the agroforestry system.     

Effect of sucrose ester addition on nucleation and growth behavior of milk fat-sunflower oil blends

The effects of addition of the sucrose esters (SE) P-1670, P-170, and S-170 to a high-melting fraction of milk fat (HMF) and its blends with sunflower oil (SFO) on nucleation and growth were studied by laser polarized light turbidimetry and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The three SE delayed nucleation of HMF at the temperatures selected. P-1670 did not modify average crystal size after 3 h at crystallization temperature (T(c)) or crystal size distribution and modified crystallization kinetics only slightly. P-170 and S-170, however, markedly diminished crystal size and narrowed crystal size distribution. Activation free energies of nucleation at equivalent supercooling, calculated using the Fisher-Turnbull equation, significantly increased with addition of SE. According to these results, among the mechanisms described in the literature for fats or emulsions, the cocrystallization hypothesis is the one that better described the effects of sucrose esters on crystallization behavior in these systems.     

Synthesis, characterization, absolute structural determination and antifungal activity of a new chlorinated aromatic avenaciolide analogue

BACKGROUND: Avenaciolide, a natural product isolated from Aspergillus avenaceus H. Smith, possesses several interesting biological properties, such as antifungal and antibacterial activities and inhibition of glutamate transport in mitochondria. In a study aiming to discover new compounds with antifungal activity, a bis‐γ‐lactone analogous to avenaciolide was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and infrared and NMR spectroscopy. RESULTS: The absolute structures of this compound and of the synthetic precursor (also a bis‐γ‐lactone) were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The bis‐γ‐lactones synthesized crystallize in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, and the crystal packings are supported by C? H···O hydrogen bonds. The compound showed antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc., while the synthetic precursor was inactive under the in vitro test conditions employed. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that it is not only the bis‐γ‐lactone skeleton that is important to antifungal activity. The latter also depends on the presence of the exocyclic double bond possibly due to a Michael addition type reaction with the fungal enzymes. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

PCR diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica in field-collected Lymnaea columella and Lymnaea viatrix snails

Fasciolosis, caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is a zoonosis of economic importance in livestock that is emerging as a chronic disease in humans. The intermediate hosts are lymnaeid snails, in which diagnosis of infection is traditionally based on cercarial shedding, tissue sectioning and crushing. We developed a PCR assay for the sensitive and specific detection of F. hepatica in field-collected Lymnaea sp. snails. A primer pair was designed to amplify a 405 bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of F. hepatica. The PCR assay showed a limit of detection of 10 pg of genomic F. hepatica DNA. No cross-reactions were observed with samples from other related trematode species or from the snail hosts Lymnaea columella and Lymnaea viatrix. DNA sequencing of the amplicon showed 100% homology with F. hepatica, and 75-89% homology with other trematodes on regions that did not include the entire set of primers. Two samples from Argentina were analysed. For snails in sample 1 (n = 240), identified as L. columella, the infection rate was 17.5 and 51.3% by direct examination and PCR, respectively. For snails in sample 2 (n = 34), identified as L. viatrix, the infection rate was 2.9 and 61.8% by direct examination and PCR, respectively. Differences in infection rates between these diagnosis methods were significant for both samples. Our PCR technique showed to be effective for detecting specific F. hepatica infections of low intensity in the intermediate host, and hence it could be used to study the epidemiological situation in a given area, as well as to assess host suitability for the parasite.     

Ecotoxicological assessment of the effects of glyphosate and chlorpyrifos in an Argentine soya field

Background, Aim and Scope

Continuous application of pesticides may pollute soils and affect non-target organisms. Soil is a complex ecosystem; its components can modulate the effects of pesticides. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate the potential environmental risk of these compounds in local conditions. We performed an integrated field-laboratory study on an Argentine soya field sprayed with glyphosate and chlorpyrifos under controlled conditions. Our aim was to compare the sensitivity of a series of endpoints for the assessment of adverse effects of the extensive use of these agrochemicals.

Materials and Methods

A RR soya field in a traditional farming area of Argentina was sprayed with glyphosate (GLY) or chlorpyrifos (CPF) formulations at the commercially recommended rates, according to a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. In laboratory assays, Eisenia fetida andrei were exposed to soil samples (0–10 cm depth) collected between the rows of soya. Endpoints linked to behavior and biological activity (reproduction, avoidance behavior and bait-lamina tests) and cellular/subcellular assays (Neutral Red Retention Time — NRRT; DNA damage — Comet assay) were tested. Field assays included litterbag and bait-lamina tests. Physico/chemical analyses were performed on soil samples.

Results

GLY reduced cocoon viability, decreasing the number of juveniles. Moreover, earthworms avoided soils treated with GLY. No effects on either reproduction or on avoidance were observed at the very low CPF concentration measured in the soils sampled 10 days after treatment. Both pesticides caused a reduction in the feeding activity under laboratory and field conditions. NRRT was responsive to formulations of CPF and GLY. Comet assay showed significantly increased DNA damage in earthworms exposed to CPF treated soils. No significant differences in DNA migration were observed with GLY treated soils. Litterbag field assay showed no differences between treated and control plots.

Discussion

The ecotoxicological effects of pesticides can be assessed by monitoring the status of communities in real ecosystems or through the use of laboratory toxicity tests. Litterbag field test showed no influence of the treatments on the organic matter breakdown, suggesting a scarce contribution of soil macrofauna. The bait-lamina test, however, seemed to be useful for detecting the effects of GLY and CPF treatments on the activity of the soil fauna. CPF failed to give significant differences with the controls in the reproduction test and the results were not conclusive in the avoidance test. Although the field population density of earthworms could be affected by multiple factors, the effects observed on the reproduction and avoidance tests caused by GLY could contribute to its decrease, with the subsequent loss of their beneficial functions. Biomarkers measuring effects on suborganism level could be useful to predict adverse effects on soil organisms and populations. Among them, NRRT, a lysosomal destabilization biomarker, resulted in demonstrating more sensitivity than the reproduction and avoidance tests. The Comet assay was responsive only to CPF. Since DNA damage can have severe consequences on populations, it could be regarded as an important indicator to be used in the assessment of soil health.

Conclusions

Reproduction and avoidance tests were sensitive indicators of GLY exposure, with the former being more labor intensive. Bait-lamina test was sensitive to both CPF and GLY. NRRT and Comet assays revealed alterations at a subcellular level, and could be considered complementary to the biological activity tests. Because of their simplicity, some of these bioassays seemed to be appropriate pre-screening tests, prior to more extensive and invasive testing.

Recommendations and Perspectives

This study showed deleterious effects of GLY and CPF formulations when applied at the nominal concentrations recommended for soya crops. Further validation is needed before these endpoints could be used as field monitoring tools in Argentine soya soils (ecotoxicological risk assessment — ERA tools).

     

Clinical and genetic aspects of X-linked ectodermal dysplasia in the dog -- a review including three new spontaneous cases

This review presents the clinical, dermato-histopathological and genetic features of canine X-linked ectodermal dysplasia in previously reported cases and in three new spontaneous cases. The condition is compared with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in humans and, based on current genetic concepts, we suggest that the two conditions are caused by the same gene and, consequently, represent a single pathological entity that affects both humans and dogs.