Multimodality characterization of a noncommunicating congenital duodenal duplication cyst causing pyloric outflow obstruction in a young dog

A 10‐month‐old German Shepherd Dog presented for evaluation of intermittent vomiting. Abdominal radiographs revealed a marked right cranial mass effect. Initial differentials included abscess/cyst or less likely neoplasia from undetermined origin. On abdominal ultrasound the mass appeared cystic and thin walled. Computed tomography revealed a large cystic lesion originating from the pyloroduodenal junction causing pyloric outflow obstruction. A noncommunicating duodenal duplication cyst was found on exploratory laparotomy and further confirmed with histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Enteric duplication cyst should be considered as a differential in young dogs with gastrointestinal signs and a cystic abdominal mass detected with different imaging modalities.     

Structural remodelling of the heart valves extracellular matrix during embryo development

Alterations in heart valve development represent more than 20% of congenital cardiovascular malformations. Most of the functional properties of heart valves depend on extracellular matrix. Despite its relevance, little is known about fibrillar components on developing stages. Our objective is to define histological changes on valves fibrillar components in late embryonic development of Mus musculus. We found type III collagen as the predominant fibre type in the ECM in prenatal stages followed by a switch to a type I predominance for postnatal ages. The change in fibrillar components is necessary to support the normal mechanical function of adult heart valves.     

The nature and dynamics of bacterial genomes

Though generally small and gene rich, bacterial genomes are constantly subjected to both mutational and population-level processes that operate to increase amounts of functionless DNA. As a result, the coding potential of bacterial genomes can be substantially lower than originally predicted. Whereas only a single pseudogene was included in the original annotation of the bacterium Escherichia coli, we estimate that this genome harbors hundreds of inactivated and otherwise functionless genes. Such regions will never yield a detectable phenotype, but their identification is vital to efforts to elucidate the biological role of all the proteins within the cell.     

Properties of an aged phenanthrene-contaminated soil and its response to bioremediation processes

Purpose  

Persistent organic compounds exhibit declining extractability and bioavailability to microorganisms and other soil organisms with increasing contact time or ageing. Among the possible mechanisms are the association of organic compounds with natural organic matter. Ageing can reduce the negative effects that an organic pollutant may have on the biological, biochemical properties and phytotoxicity of the contaminated soil. The aim of the present work was to evaluate, under laboratory conditions, the response of an agricultural soil contaminated with phenanthrene (Phe) and subjected to 2-year ageing and the effects and potential remediation capabilities of compost and an effective Phe-degrading bacterial culture.     

Characterization of aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavi</Emphasis> isolated from corn grains of different geographic origins in Brazil

Aflatoxins can cause great economic losses and serious risks to humans and animals health. The largest aflatoxin producers belong to Aspergillus section Flavi and can occur naturally in food commodities. Studies showed that molecular tools as well as the type of sclerotia produced by the strains could be helpful for identification of Aspergillus species and could be correlated with levels of toxin production. The purpose of this work was to characterize the genetic diversity using AFLP technique, the type of sclerotia and the ability of aflatoxin production by isolated strains from corn of different origins in Brazil, and to verify whether qPCR based on aflR and aflP genes is appropriate for estimating the level of aflatoxin production. All the 75 strains were classified as A. flavus and the AFLP technique showed a wide intraspecific variability within them. Regarding sclerotia production, 34% were classified as S and 66% as L type. Among the aflatoxin-producers, 52.8% produced aflatoxin B₁, while 47.2% aflatoxins B₁ and B₂. Statistical analysis showed no correlation between sclerotia production and aflatoxigenicty, and no correlation between the phylogenetic clusters and aflatoxin production. Concerning the relative expression of aflR and aflP, Pearson’s correlation test demonstrated low positive correlation between the expression of the aflR and aflP genes and the production of AFB₁ and AFB₂, but showed high positive correlation between aflR and aflP expression. In contrast to the other reference strains, A. oryzae ATCC 7282 showed no amplification of aflR and aflP. The results highlight the need for detection of reliable and reproducible markers with a high positive correlation with aflatoxin production.     

The effects of obesity and fatty acids on the feline immune system

Obesity is a rising problem in cats. It is a risk factor for several diseases and has been linked to impaired immunity. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of body composition and effects of diet on immune function in cats. Twenty-eight short-term obese and 12 lean cats with equal gender distribution were evenly and randomly divided into two groups which were either fed a diet containing saturated (SFA) or long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (3-PUFA) for a period of 6 months prior to testing. Blood was collected by venipuncture from the jugular vein. Blood samples were analyzed in a double blind fashion. A complete blood count was performed and lymphocyte distribution was examined by flow cytometric analysis with specific fluorescein-conjugated subset markers. Immune function was measured as follows: the proliferative activity of different cellular fractions was tested with polyclonal mitogens such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), Ca ionophore, and concanavalin A. Innate immune functions assessed were phagocytosis and natural killer cell (NK) cytotoxicity. A similar immune innate and adaptive immune response was elicited regardless of diet or body condition. However, there was no correlation between body condition, diet, and any of the quantitative and qualitative functional responses of the immune system. We conclude that short-term obesity and the fatty acid composition of the diet do not alter immune responses in cats.     

Changes in Lipid Composition After In-Vitro Selection for Glyphosate Tolerance in Tobacco

After a one-step selection procedure with glyphosate added to the callus medium, tobacco regenerants were obtained from calluses surviving on field doses of the herbicide. The lipid and sterol compositions of potted plants from the two original cultivars which underwent the selection procedure but without glyphosate, and the selected regenerants were investigated. Controls were derived from micropropagation and not from seeds. They served as appropriate controls for comparison with glyphosate regenerants, i.e. they underwent exactly the same experimental conditions except for the glyphosate treatment. Plant regeneration was strongly (at one-step selection) or fully (at stepwise selection) inhibited. Only a few glyphosate-tolerant plants (seven of Nevrokop A₂₄ and five of Zlatna arda) were obtained which were cloned and potted. At least 10 plants of one clone per genotype were used for the further biochemical analyses. The spraying of the tobacco plants from the cultivars with glyphosate led to a decrease of monogalactosyl diacylglycerol content and increase of the saturated fatty acids in all glycolipid classes. The concentration of stigmasterol increased and that of sitosterol decreased only in Zl.arda variety. In the regenerants there were different changes in lipid composition, concerning mainly a decrease of monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG) and an increase of digalactosyl diacylglycerols (DGDG) in Zl.arda-derived regenerants and increase of the amounts of neutral lipids and decrease of phospholipids (PL) in the Nevrokop A₂₄-derived regenerants. Surprisingly, after treatment of the regenerants with glyphosate, the MGDG amounts in these regenerants were higher than in the controls, which could mean a lesser ability to control ion permeability.     

In vitro polyploidization of Mecardonia tenella, a native plant from South America

Mecardonia tenella is an herbaceous plant widely distributed in the temperate region of South America. Both plant architecture and flower size are characteristics that can be improved to become a viable new ornamental plant. Chromosome doubling by the use of agents such as colchicine is an available methodology to this end. Nodal segments from in vitro grown plants of M. tenella were submerged in the following doses of colchicine in 1% (v/v) dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) solution (%, v/v): 0.0, 0.001 and 0.01 (24 and 48 h). The DNA content of the regenerated plants was measured by flow cytometer. A total of 68 tetraploid plants were detected out of 126 colchicine treated plants. The flowers and leaves of the tetraploid plants were bigger compared to those from the wild diploid type (control). Under field conditions, the selected tetraploid plants showed a more compact shape than the control plants.