Early exposure to probiotics in a canine model of atopic dermatitis has long-term clinical and immunological effects

Probiotics modulate the immune response and may have protective effects against atopic dermatitis (AD). Clinical trials using dogs with spontaneous disease are limited by confounding factors such as different diets, environments and sensitizations while a more controlled evaluation is possible using experimental models. A validated model of canine AD showed that early exposure to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) significantly decreases allergen-specific IgE and partially prevents AD in the first 6 months of life. This study is a follow-up three years after discontinuation of LGG. Clinical signs were evaluated after allergen challenge with ragweed, timothy, Dermatophagoides farinae. Allergen-specific IgE, IL-10 and TGF-β were measured on the 1st day of challenge, before allergen exposure. Normal dogs were included as controls. Analyses included seven dogs in the non-probiotic and nine in the probiotic litter. For clinical scores, a 2-Group × 9-Time Analysis of Variance showed significant effects of group (p=0.0003, probiotic相似文献   

A relevant long-term impact of the circulation of a potentially contaminated vaccine on the distribution of scrapie in Italy. Results from a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT: A sudden increase in the incidence of scrapie in Italy in 1997 was subsequently linked to theuse of a potentially infected vaccine against contagious agalactia. The relative risk for theexposed farms ranged between 6 and 40. The aim of this study was to assess the long-termimpact of exposure to the potentially scrapie-contaminated vaccine on the Italian classicalscrapie epidemic. We carried out a retrospective cohort study, fitting mixed-effects Poissonregression models, dividing national geographic areas into exposure categories on the basis ofthe vaccine circulation levels. We took into account the sensitivity of the surveillance systemapplied in the different areas. The population attributable fraction (PAF) was used to assessthe impact on the total population of farms associated with the effect of circulation of thevaccine. The provinces where the vaccine was more often sold were noted to have a higherlevel of disease when compared to those provinces where the vaccine was sold less often(incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-6.5). The populationattributable fraction was high (68.4%). Standardization techniques allowed to account for thepotential of geographical variability in the sensitivity of the Italian surveillance system.Although the number of the directly exposed farms was limited, an important long-termimpact of the vaccine circulation could be quantified in terms of secondary outbreaks likelydue to the exchange of animals from directly exposed flocks.     

Water Quality Monitoring Using Remote Sensing and an Artificial Neural Network

In remotely located watersheds or large waterbodies, monitoring water quality parameters is often not feasible because of high costs and site inaccessibility. A cost-effective remote sensing-based methodology was developed to predict water quality parameters over a large and logistically difficult area. Landsat spectral data were used as a proxy, and a neural network model was developed to quantify water quality parameters, namely chlorophyll-a, turbidity, and phosphorus before and after ecosystem restoration and during the wet and dry seasons. The results demonstrate that the developed neural network model provided an excellent relationship between the observed and simulated water quality parameters. These correlated for a specific region in the greater Florida Everglades at R ²?>?0.95 in 1998?C1999 and in 2009?C2010 (dry and wet seasons). Moreover, the root mean square error values for phosphorus, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a were below 0.03?mg?L^?1, 0.5 NTU, and 0.17?mg?m^?3, respectively, at the neural network training and validation phases. Using the developed methodology, the trends for temporal and spatial dynamics of the selected water quality parameters were investigated. In addition, the amounts of phosphorus and chlorophyll-a stored in the water column were calculated demonstrating the usefulness of this methodology to predict water quality parameters in complex ecosystems.     

Accumulation of metals in macrophytes from water reservoirs of a power supply plant, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Aquatic macrophytes are well known accumulators for heavy metals, the reason why they are used as bioindicators for water quality and in phytoremediaton strategies. This study reports on the elemental concentrations in four free-floating aquatic macrophytes (S. auriculata; P. stratiotes; E. crassipes and E. azurea) growing in two water reservoirs (Santana e Vigário, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) of an electric power plant that receive input from the polluted Paraíba do Sul River. Filtered water samples and water suspended solids from these environments were also analysed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used as the principal method, allowing the determination of up to 41 elements, including the rare-earth elements (REEs) and other trace metals not assayed before in these macrophytes. The results show that all elements studied are accumulated by the macrophytes with concentration ratios (CR = [plant]: [water]) varying from about 1,000 to 200,000, based on the dry weight of the plant species. With a few exceptions, highest accumulations were observed in E. crassipes in which CRs increase in the sequence: Cu < Mo < Cr < Pb < Tl < Fe < La < Zn < Ce< Mn. Surprisingly high CRs (e.g. Ce: 74,000) and corresponding mass concentrations were observed for the rare-earth elements (e.g. ∑REE: 112 mg kg^?1), also measured in the water suspended particle fraction. The results show that this fraction acts as an effective sink for trace metals in the aquatic system studied and seems to play also an important role in the transfer of metals from water to the plant species.     

Differential expression of distinct soybean resistance genes interacting with Argentinean isolates of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. meridionalis

Soybean Stem Canker (SSC), caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. meridionalis (Dpm), is an important disease of soybean in Argentina. There are five known dominant genes that confer resistance to SSC, Rdm1 to Rdm5. Particularly, Rdm2 was identified in cv. Tracy-M and then it was stabilized in the breeding line T2. The Rdm4 gene was first identified in cv. Hutcheson. More recently it was found that this gene was linked to the Rdm5 gene, defining the Rdm4-5 resistance region in Hutcheson. The objective of this work was to analyze the behaviour of the dominant Rdm2, Rdm4 and Rdm5 genes interacting with the CE109 and CE112 local physiological races of Dpm, in different susceptible backgrounds (genotypes RA702 and J77-339). Rdm4 and Rdm5 segregated phenotypically as completely dominant genes in the specific interactions with the CE109 and CE112 isolates, respectively, in both susceptible backgrounds. Similarly, Rdm2 segregated as expected for a complete dominant gene in the specific interaction with the CE109 isolate, in both susceptible backgrounds. However, when interacting with the CE112 isolate, the Rdm2 gene did not segregate as expected for a completely dominant gene, neither in RA702 nor in J77-339 susceptible background. The distorted segregation of the Rdm2 gene was due to incomplete penetrance. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report documenting changes in the degree of penetrance of a soybean resistance gene (Rdm2) depending upon the physiological race of Dpm which interacts with and the genetic background in which the Rdm gene is being expressed.     

Are transepidermal water loss and clinical signs correlated in canine atopic dermatitis? A compilation of studies

Background – Cutaneous impairment plays a crucial role in atopic dermatitis (AD). Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement is an indirect assessment of skin barrier function and correlates with disease severity in humans. Skin impairment also exists in canine AD; however, concerns exist regarding variability and reliability of TEWL measurements in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives – The purposes of this retrospective study were twofold: first, to investigate the correlation between severity of dermatitis [measured by Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)] and TEWL; and second, to evaluate whether increased TEWL at a young age correlates with disease severity later in life. Methods – Data from atopic beagles and dogs with natural AD were analysed. Transepidermal water loss was measured in atopic beagles (n = 24) with an open chamber and in dogs with naturally occurring AD with a closed chamber device (two studies, with n = 14 and n = 18). Pearson product–moment correlation was used for analyses. Transepidermal water loss of the inguinal region, axilla, antebrachial flexure and pinna was analysed. Correlations were investigated for each study, separately first and then jointly. They included CADESI and TEWL of individual regions, total CADESI and total TEWL of all measured regions, and total CADESI and TEWL of key regions. Results – In atopic beagles, TEWL measured at 1 year of age pre‐ and post‐allergen challenge was correlated with CADESI at 1, 3 and 6 years of age. Overall, low correlation coefficients were found; therefore, a biologically relevant connection could not be demonstrated. The main significant positive correlation was found between TEWL in the pinna and total CADESI. Conclusions and clinical importance – It is concluded that TEWL does not correlate with disease severity.     

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of EFF1001, an Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwi) preparation, on CADESI score and pruritus in dogs with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis

Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is common and new therapies are beneficial. This multicentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested the efficacy of Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwi) (EFF1001) in dogs with mild/moderate AD. The study was divided into two stages. Stage 1 lasted 6 weeks. In the first 2 weeks prednisolone [days 1–3: 0.2 mg/kg twice daily (BID), days 4–14: 0.2 mg/kg every other day (EOD)] was administered. Responsive dogs were placed on prednisolone 0.2 mg/kg EOD + assigned test article [either placebo or EFF1001 (30 mg/kg)] once daily for 4 weeks. Stage 1 responders were advanced to stage 2, which involved 4 weeks of just EFF1001. Clinicians scored lesions using Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI) and owners scored pruritus using a Pruritus Visual Analogue Scale. Seventy-seven dogs were enrolled, 76 were randomized on day 14, and 57 (57/76 = 75%) completed stage 1 (27 in EFF1001 and 30 in placebo). At the end of stage 1, 35 of 57 dogs (35/57 = 61%) responded (18 in EFF1001 and 17 in placebo) and advanced to stage 2. At completion of stage 1, CADESI scores did not significantly differ between groups while pruritus decreased in EFF1001 group and approached significance. At completion of stage 2, 19 dogs (19/35 = 54%) responded (15/19 = 79% had received EFF1001 and 4/19 = 21% placebo in stage 1). After completing stage 2, dogs placed on EFF1001 throughout the study were 3.5 times more likely to either maintain or improve scores than those that started it in stage 2. It is concluded that EFF1001 is beneficial adjunctive therapy after prolonged use.     

Postharvest efficacy of resistance inducers for the control of green mold on important Sicilian citrus varieties

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The disease reducing activity of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), chitosan and β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) against postharvest green mold (GM) of citrus...     

Effects of age and allergen exposure on transepidermal water loss in a house dust mite-sensitized beagle model of atopic dermatitis

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured as assessment of barrier function in house dust mite-sensitized atopic ( n  = 24) and normal ( n  = 21) beagle dogs before and after allergen challenge. Dogs of the two groups were matched for age and housed in the same environment. Ten sites were evaluated including both areas of high and low predisposition to atopic lesion formation. On day 0 (before allergen exposure) and day 3 (3 days after allergen exposure), TEWL measurements were taken using an open-chamber evaporimeter. On day 0, significant differences (one-way ANOVA) were found between normal and atopic dogs in the chin, pinna, periocular region, axilla, antebrachium and thorax. Within the atopic group, a significant increase (one-way ANOVA) in TEWL was found in the axilla on day 3. Such a difference was particularly marked in young dogs (chin, pinna, axilla, antebrachium and groin). Within the normal group, allergen challenge did not change TEWL except for the chin. When atopic and nonatopic sites were compared within the atopic group, a significant difference in TEWL was found on day 0. A two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of site, a significant effect of time but no site × time (i.e. allergen exposure) interaction. It is concluded that the house dust mite-sensitized atopic beagle dogs used in this study have altered barrier function in 'atopic' areas and that such differences are more evident in young individuals and are aggravated by allergen exposure.