Structural and ultrastructural changes in the lungs of cats Felis catus (Linnaeus, 1758) experimentally infected with D. immitis (Leidy, 1856)

Clinical signs are seldom observed in feline heartworm disease, and the pathophysiological changes in the lungs of infected animals remain undefined. The goal of this study was to evaluate the structural and ultrastructural changes in the lungs of cats experimentally infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Six healthy cats were each infected with two adult heartworms by intravenous transplantation (Receptor Group, RG). The control group consisted of two uninfected animals kept under the same conditions as the RG. At 42 days after transplantation, all cats were euthanized and necropsied for worm recovery and collection of lung samples for examination by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy. By LM, lung sections from the six infected cats exhibited bronchial and bronchiolar lesions. Alterations in all tissues of the pulmonary arteries were observed in the infected animals. In conclusion, cats infected experimentally with D. immitis developed lesions in their lungs as a consequence of arterial disease and intense interstitial pneumonia.     

Synaptic assembly of the brain in the absence of neurotransmitter secretion

Brain function requires precisely orchestrated connectivity between neurons. Establishment of these connections is believed to require signals secreted from outgrowing axons, followed by synapse formation between selected neurons. Deletion of a single protein, Munc18-1, in mice leads to a complete loss of neurotransmitter secretion from synaptic vesicles throughout development. However, this does not prevent normal brain assembly, including formation of layered structures, fiber pathways, and morphologically defined synapses. After assembly is completed, neurons undergo apoptosis, leading to widespread neurodegeneration. Thus, synaptic connectivity does not depend on neurotransmitter secretion, but its maintenance does. Neurotransmitter secretion probably functions to validate already established synaptic connections.     

Biogenic and Common Lime Characterization in Granular and Powder Forms and Their Application in Sowing Furrows for Soybean Crops

ABSTRACT

The application of alternative and sustainable soil correctives to increase soil pH in sowing furrows can promote yield increases in soybean crops. The aim of this study was to characterize two different soil corrective sources in granular and powder forms and to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of their complementary application in a sowing furrow of a soybean crop. Two experiments were conducted. Regarding the first experiment, there were 5 treatments: control, biogenic lime powder, biogenic granular lime, common lime powder, and common granular lime. All applications were performed in a seeding furrow at a dose of 16 kg ha^?1. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks with five replicates. The second experiment involved the characterization of the sources and their forms by means of X-ray diffraction, total chemical analysis and neutralization power. The results showed that in comparison to the control, the application of correctives to increase soil pH in the sowing furrow promoted significantly higher growth and greater soybean yield, although the sources did not differ from each other. The soil pH corrective application in the sowing furrow was important for dissolution in the soil and consequently soybean yield. The neutralizing capacities of the correctives for all the granulometries tested were similar. Therefore, applying these soil pH correctives in granular or powder forms in sowing furrows might be an additional management alternative.     

Pathological changes in the mammary gland and biochemical changes in milk of the goat following oral dosing with leaf of the Avocado (Persea americana)

Two varieties of avocado leaves (Persea americana var Guatemalan and var Mexican) were administered to lactating goats. The Mexican variety was without effect. The Guatemalan variety in doses exceeding 20 g fresh leaf per kg bodyweight, produced damage to the mammary gland with decreased milk production. The lesions were characterised by oedema and reddening, with clots in the large ducts. Microscopically, there was widespread degeneration and necrosis of the secretory epithelium, the necrotic cells sloughing into the lumen. There was no significant cellular inflammatory response. Concentrations of antitrypsin in the milk, indicating changes in vascular permeability, increased rapidly 15 h after a single high dose, coinciding with palpable oedema. Concentrations of NAGase, indicating cell damage, increased after 24 h. Goats given multiple doses followed a similar pattern but the initial response was delayed. The toxic principle, and its mode of action in selectively damaging mammary secretory cells, remains to be determined.     

Superior check ligament desmotomy for treatment of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses

Summary Bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy was performed on 31 Thoroughbred and 17 Standardbred horses as the sole method of treatment for superficial digital flexor tendonitis. Horses resumed racing between 6 and 19 months after surgery. Horses that were able to compete in 5 or more races without injury to the tendon again were considered to have had a successful return to racing. Twenty-five Thoroughbreds were suitable for later study and 13 of these (52%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Fifteen Standardbreds were suitable for later study and 10 of these (66%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Within the racing industry it is generally thought that about 20 to 30% of horses with superficial digital flexor tendonitis can return to racing after a prolonged rest. The results of this study suggest that bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy may improve the prognosis for a horse returning to racing after injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon.     

Phenylbutazone in racing Greyhounds: plasma and urinary residues 24 and 48 hours after a single intravenous administration

SUMMARY The concentrations of phenylbutazone (PBZ), oxyphenbutazone (OPBZ) and gammahydroxyphenylbutazone (OHPBZ) in plasma and urine from 50 Greyhounds 24 and 48 h after the intravenous administration of a single dose of PBZ (30 mg/kg) were measured. The 24 h plasma concentrations of OPBZ and OHPBZ, the 48 h plasma concentration of OHPBZ and the 24 h urinary concentration of PBZ were normally distributed, while log transformations were required before the 24 h plasma concentration of PBZ and the 24 and 48 h urinary concentrations of OPBZ and OHPBZ became normally distributed. The 95%, 99%, 99.9% and 99.99% upper predicted confidence intervals for both 24 h and 48 h plasma and urinary concentrations demonstrated wide potential variation in the concentration of the analytes should PBZ be administered to Greyhounds. The 24 h plasma and urinary concentrations of PBZ were weakly correlated, but no similar relationship existed for OPBZ or OHPBZ. The urinary concentrations of each analyte were not affected by the trainer or sex of the Greyhound or the urinary pH. We conclude that it would be impossible to predict the timing of the PBZ administration or the plasma concentration of PBZ from the measurement of the concentration of PBZ in a single sample of urine.     

Carbon structures with three-dimensional periodicity at optical wavelengths

Porous carbons that are three-dimensionally periodic on the scale of optical wavelengths were made by a synthesis route resembling the geological formation of natural opal. Porous silica opal crystals were sintered to form an intersphere interface through which the silica was removed after infiltration with carbon or a carbon precursor. The resulting porous carbons had different structures depending on synthesis conditions. Both diamond and glassy carbon inverse opals resulted from volume filling. Graphite inverse opals, comprising 40-angstrom-thick layers of graphite sheets tiled on spherical surfaces, were produced by surface templating. The carbon inverse opals provide examples of both dielectric and metallic optical photonic crystals. They strongly diffract light and may provide a route toward photonic band-gap materials.     

Genome and rye chromosome distribution in tricepiro “Don René INTA”, a synthetic forage

The tricepiro “Don René INTA” is an artificial hybrid with 2n?=?42 chromosomes, including 14 rye (RR) and 28 wheat (AABB) chromosomes, with introgression of Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkw. et Dewey on chromosome 6A. The aim of this work was to study the spatial distribution of the genomes and chromosomes of rye and wheat in metaphase cells from the root tip of this hybrid. The rye chromosomes were recognized by genome in situ hybridization using total genomic DNA as a probe of rye and wheat DNA as the blocking agent. Two points were determined in each cell: one representing the genomic mean distance of rye chromosomes (G_RMD) and the other the genomic mean distance of wheat chromosomes (G_WMD). The distance between the rye chromosomes and G_RMD and G_WMD showed no statistically significant difference, thus indicating that there would be no differential spatial domains for both genomes. The fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of rye chromosomes using the pSc119.2 probe suggested that all chromosome pairs present somatic association in mitotic metaphase.