In vitro effect of classical swine fever virus on a porcine aortic endothelial cell line

The effect of classical swine fever (CSF) virus on some phenotypic and functional features of an established porcine aortic endothelial cell (AOC) line was investigated. AOC cells show most of the characteristics of primary endothelial cells, avoiding the alterations and senescence that these cells undergo after a few passages in culture. AOC cells were susceptible to CSF virus infection to a high degree, reaching 90% of CSF virus positive cells after 24 h of infection; however as with other porcine susceptible cells, no cytopathic effect could be observed. In these conditions none of the surface molecules studied, including SLA-II MHC antigens, adhesion or co-stimulatory molecules, were altered by virus infection after 24 or 48 h. Functionally CSF virus infection induced a decrease in the pro-coagulant activity of the AOC cells, determined by the increase in the clot formation time shown by the lysates of these cells. This contrasts with the increase observed in the expression of mRNA corresponding to IL-1 alpha and IL-6, two proinflammatory and pro-coagulant cytokines, in CSF virus-infected AOC cells.     

Effect of high-pressure treatment on rheological,thermal and structural changes in Basmati rice flour slurry

Rheological, thermal and structural changes in high pressure (HP) treated Basmati rice flour dispersions were studied as function of pressure level (350–650 MPa), slurry concentration (with 1:5, 1:3 and 1:2 flour-to-water ratios) and holding time (7.5–15 min). Rice flour dispersions exhibited a gradual liquid–solid gel transformation as they gelatinized and/or denatured and behaved as viscoelastic fluid following HP treatment. Mechanical strength (G′) of pressurized gel increased with applied pressure and rice concentration. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms of rice slurry measured after pressure treatment indicated a reduction in peak enthalpy in proportion with the extent of gelatinization and/or denaturation of starch and proteins. Pressure-treated rice samples had a progressively lower gelatinization temperature. A 15 min pressure treatment at 550 MPa was found sufficient to complete gelatinization of protein free isolated rice starch while the slurry required 650 MPa. The presence of proteins might have been responsible for the slower starch gelatinization in the rice slurry during pressure treatment. The sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results indicated some minor changes in protein subunits and secondary structure of rice protein. This study has provided complementary information on pressure-induced changes in physical (thermal stability, overall structure) and molecular level (secondary structure) of rice protein.     

Fique fibers: Enhancement of the tensile strength of alkali treated fibers during tensile load application

Fique fibers were treated using Na(OH) solution at 5 w/v%, slack and under 1 N of tension, at room temperature, for 4 and 24 h respectively. Changes in their structure and composition were monitored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally their mechanical properties were evaluated and analyzed. Results showed that tensile load application during alkali treatment improves their tensile strength and modulus. The most important change in mechanical properties was achieved in fibers treated for 24 h under tension. However, these fibers presented a high standard deviation; due to this treatment causing an important defibrillation. Moreover, fibers treated for 4 hours under tension, enhance their tensile strength around 56 %, while slack treated fibers improve only 38 %. When fibers were treated under tension, cellulose microfibrills were rearranged in the direction of tensile application and the spiral angle decreased, increasing the molecular orientation.     

Prolactin daily rhythm in suckling male rabbits

Background  

This study describes the 24-h changes in plasma prolactin levels, and dopamine (DA), serotonin (5HT), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine concentration in median eminence and adenohypophysis of newborn male rabbits.     

Evaluation of the Breeding Soundness of Male Camels (Camelus dromedarius) via Clinical Examination,Semen Analysis,Ultrasonography and Testicular Biopsy: A Summary of 80 Clinical Cases

Male camel infertility is a heterogeneous disorder. A variety of factors may adversely affect sperm production and function and impair fertility. This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography and testicular biopsy in the evaluation of the breeding soundness of male dromedaries compared with results obtained by clinical examination and semen analysis. Eighty‐four male dromedary camels (5–15 years old) were used in this study during the rutting season (November–May). Four sexually mature male camels were used as controls. These animals were apparently healthy and had histories of normal fertility. Eighty infertile male camels were subjected to an algorithmic approach based on information collected during careful examinations of the camels' breeding histories, clinical examinations, testicular evaluations, testicular ultrasonographies, the results of the semen analyses and testicular biopsies to diagnose the camels' infertilities. The differences in the semen parameters between the control and infertile male camels were highly significant (p < 0.01). Regarding the diagnoses of male camel infertility, the results of testicular ultrasonographies and biopsies were compared with those from the semen analyses, and the accuracies of these tests were 92.5% and 90%, respectively. Additionally, the results of the testicular ultrasonographies were matched with those of the testicular biopsies of the infertile animals, and this comparison resulted in 85% accuracy. Testicular biopsy is a promising method that, along with a carefully performed history, clinical examination, an appropriate testicular ultrasonography procedure and semen analysis, can afford veterinarians the opportunity for more precise diagnosis and treatment of many dromedary infertility disorders.     

Mouse epidermal development: effects of retinoic acid exposure in utero

Epidermal morphogenesis was studied in vivo following prenatal exposure to retinoic acid (RA). In pregnant mice, a single oral dose of RA on day 11.5 of gestation failed to induce histological changes in fetal epidermal development except in epidermal thickness. Epidermal thickness increased from 16.5 days post-coitum (dpc) onwards, and temporal and spatial epidermal modifications in keratins K5 and K14 related to proliferative activity of keratinocytes were observed. An RA effect on cell proliferation was supported by a statistically significant increase in the number of epidermal S-phase cells, containing BrdU-incorporated DNA in RA-exposed mice compared with nonexposed animals. The prolonged in utero action of RA on epidermal proliferative activity in fetuses and newborns suggests a long-term RA effect that may play a role on the development and evolution of diseases in adult skin.     

Incidence of Salmonellae in Captive and Wild Free‐Living Raptorial Birds in Central Spain

A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free‐living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free‐living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.     

Improved Microbial and Chemical Reduction of Direct Blue 71 Using Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate Immobilized on Granular Activated Carbon

The aim of this study was to evaluate the redox mediating capacity of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) immobilized on granular activated carbon (GAC) during the reductive decolorization of direct blue 71 (DB71) under microbial and chemical conditions. The immobilization of AQDS on GAC was conducted by adsorption, and it has obtained an uptake capacity of 0.227 mmol g^?1. The anchorage of AQDS on GAC improved its electron transfer capacity (ETC) up to 2.05 times higher than the raw material. Similarly, the addition of GAC-AQDS increased up to 1.75- and 1.16-fold the rate of decolorization (k _d ) of DB71 under microbial and chemical conditions, respectively, in comparison to the unmodified GAC. Surprisingly, a higher k _d value was achieved in incubations without either GAC or GAC-AQDS because of the generation of aromatic amines, from the reduction DB71, taking into account that these species may act as a catalyst in the DB71 reduction process. In contrast, adsorption of aromatic amines on either GAC or GAC-AQDS decreased its redox mediating capacity as evidenced by spectrophotometric screenings of the decolorized solution and the supporting material. The development of materials with enhanced both redox and adsorption properties, as the GAC used in this study, offers a promising way to increase the redox conversion of recalcitrant pollutants commonly found in industrial wastewaters.     

Involvement of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) in the secretion of danofloxacin into milk: interaction with ivermectin

Danofloxacin, a veterinary fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drug, is actively secreted into milk by an as yet unknown mechanism. One of the main determinants of active drug secretion into milk is the transporter (BCRP/ABCG2). The main purpose was to determine whether danofloxacin is an in vitro substrate for Bcrp1/BCRP and to assess its involvement in danofloxacin secretion into milk. In addition, the role of potential drug-drug interactions in this process was assessed using ivermectin. Danofloxacin was transported in vitro by Bcrp1/BCRP, and ivermectin efficiently blocked this transport. Experiments with Bcrp1(-/-) mice showed no evidence of the involvement of Bcrp1 in plasma pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin. However, the milk concentration and milk-to-plasma ratio of danofloxacin were almost twofold higher in wild-type compared with Bcrp1(-/-) mice. The in vivo interaction with ivermectin was studied in sheep after co-administration of danofloxacin (1.25 mg/kg, i.m.) and ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg, s.c.). Ivermectin had no significant effect on the plasma levels of danofloxacin but significantly decreased danofloxacin concentrations in milk by almost 40%. Concomitant administration of multiple drugs, often used in veterinary therapy, may not only affect their pharmacological activity but also their secretion into milk, because of potential drug-drug interactions mediated by BCRP.