Short-Term Effects of Duodenocecostomy on Body Weight,Glucose Absorption,Serum Components,and Intestinal Histopathology in Four Normal Horses

The objective of this study was to evaluate duodenocecostomy in horses performed through a ventral midline laparotomy and report its influence on body weight, glucose absorption, serum components, and characteristics of jejunum, cecum, and large colon histology. Four horses were submitted to the duodenocecostomy technique through a ventral midline laparotomy with animals in dorsal recumbency under inhalation anesthesia, followed by abdominal exploration. A side-to-side anastomosis was performed between the duodenojejunal flexure and the base of the cecum with two simple continuous suture lines of the serosal and muscular layers. The size of the opening created was approximately 2 cm in diameter. The mucosa layer was not sutured. After 30 days, animals were submitted to a second laparotomy to check the patency of the duodenocaecal fistula. During both laparotomy procedures, excisional biopsies of different segments of the gastrointestinal tract were performed. Information on physical examination findings, results of hematologic and histopathologic evaluations, and oral glucose absorption test were recorded. The horses did not have significant weight loss from baseline, and absorption curve of glucose did not significantly vary from baseline. Only triglycerides had significant alterations. Histologic evaluation of jejunum, cecum, and large colon did not show alterations of intestinal structure and morphology. We concluded that the proposed technique, principally in relation to the fistula size and not suturing the mucosa layer, allowed partial or total occlusion of the fistulae without the necessity of a second surgery and avoided the permanent bypass of ingesta and weight loss.     

Effects of management options on mammal richness in a Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral system

Non-flying mammal richness and distribution were studied in a landscape matrix consisting of a highly managed agro-silvo-pastoral system dominated by a cork oak woodland (montado) to test the predictions of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH). Sampling consisted on detection of mammalian signs of presence, along with the use of scent stations and small mammal live-trapping. Results were analyzed using generalized linear models, considering land uses, landscape metrics and grazing intensity and gave support to the predictions of the IDH. Pure forestry and intensive agricultural uses showed lower species richness than the silvopastoral system, whilst landscape heterogeneity and riparian corridors were shown to be most beneficial to mammal species richness, with small mammals being directly and negatively affected by grazing intensity. The increasing use of the montado for raising cattle has led to landscape homogenization by means of grazing and shrub clearance for pasture cultivation and this, combined with incremented stocking rates, constrains species richness. In this landscape context, watercourses assume a relevant role as patches of suitable habitat providing shelter, food, movement corridors and dispersion routes for mammals. Recent options of fencing forest patches with good forest natural regeneration or with a high diversity/density of Mediterranean maquis, and restoring degraded watercourses, both to improve landscape heterogeneity, appear to positively affect the mammal community. This is a current challenge in terms of monitoring and research.     

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Terminalia macroptera root

The root of Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) is widely used in African traditional medicine to treat various infectious diseases, including stomach-associated diseases. This study investigates the in vitro activity of T. macroptera root extract against reference strains and clinical isolates of H. pylori and attempts to localize the extract bioactivity. T. macroptera hydroethanol (80% V/V) root extract (Tmr) activity was tested against three standard strains and sixty two clinical strains of H. pylori. Tmr liquid-liquid partition fractions were screened against twenty H. pylori strains. Qualitative analysis of Tmr and its fractions was performed by HPLC-UV/DAD. The antibiotic characterization of the H. pylori strains revealed that 20% of the tested clinical isolates were resistant to at least two of the three antibiotics belonging to the main groups of antibiotics used in multi-therapy to eradicate H. pylori infections. In contrast, Tmr showed anti-H. pylori activity against the majority (92%) of the tested strains (MIC(50) and MIC(90)=200 μg/ml). The Tmr water liquid-liquid fraction (Tmr-3) and the precipitate obtained from this fraction (Tmr-5) were the most active tested samples, showing a MIC(50) of 100 μg/ml. The present work proves the in vitro activity of T. macroptera against H. pylori, thus confirming the utility of this traditional medicinal plant to treat stomach complaints due to H. pylori infection. The main compounds of Tmr and of Tmr-3 were the ellagitannins terchebulin and punicalagin. These compounds can be considered as markers of T. macroptera root active extracts against H. pylori.     

Effects of astaxanthin supplementation on chemically induced tumorigenesis in Wistar rats

Background

Astaxanthin (ASTA) is a fat-soluble xanthophyll with powerful antioxidant functions. It is extracted from e.g. salmon, an important food source for certain human populations known to have a reduced risk of tumor development. It is possible that ASTA plays a role in cancer chemoprevention in such populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis using N-methyl-N-nitroso-urea (MNU) in immature Wistar rats.

Methods

Thirty-six 37 days old juvenile female Wistar rats were at random allocated to 4 groups of which Groups 1 and 2 received a single dose of 55 mg MNU/kg body weight. The effects of ASTA was evaluated by giving rats of Groups 2 and 4 a dose of 50 mg ASTA/kg/day for the entire duration of the study. Group 3 rats received feed added alimentary oil.Necropsy and histopathological examinations were carried out on each rat 14 months after the administration of MNU. Haematological values and antioxidative status were determined. Oxidative stress was evaluated by monitoring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in hepatic tissue. Lipid peroxidation and carbonylation of proteins was determined in protein extracts from the liver.

Results

Tumor development occurred only in rats of Groups 1 and 2, i.e. MNU exposed animals. Frequency of tumor development in general and average number of tumors per animal were insignificant between these two groups. Mammary gland tumors developed in equal frequencies in Group 1 and 2 rats, respectively. Although only rather few tumors were found in the mammary glands, a substantial number of other tumors were found in Group 1 and 2 rats, but at equal rates.Biochemical analyses showed significant higher levels of GPx, malondialdehyde and dinitrophenylhydrazine in Group 1 rats that for rats in all other groups thus indicating protective effects of ASTA on MNU induced hepatic oxidative stress.

Conclusions

Supplementation with ASTA did not reduce tumorigenesis induced by MNU in Wistar rats. However, supplementation with ASTA seemed to have anti-inflammatory effects.     

Genetic diversity and relationships of wild and cultivated olives at regional level in Spain

Genetic diversity and relationships between local cultivars and wild olive trees from three important Spanish olive-growing regions, Andalusia (South), Catalonia and Valencia (from Eastern Mediterranean Coastal area), were studied by means of eight SSR loci. Distinct allelic composition and heterozygosity levels were found in wild olive populations and cultivars. The observed patterns of genetic variation revealed: a) the independent clustering of Andalusian wild olives in a separate gene pool, b) the belonging of wild populations and most cultivars from Catalonia to another gene pool, c) the joined clustering of Andalusian and a set of Valencian cultivars in a third gene pool, and d) clustering of wild individuals from Valencia to the three different gene pools. These results suggest that wild populations of Andalusia may represent true oleasters, the ones from Catalonia may be feral forms derived from cultivar seed spreading, while the population of Valencia seems to be the most admixed one. The significant differentiation between Andalusian and most Catalonian cultivars is indicating an independent selection of olive cultivars in the two regions. The detection of a certain wild genetic background in some Catalonian and Valencian cultivars and the similarity found between wild and cultivated forms may suggest the use of local wild trees in olive domestication. The proposed scenario for the development of olive cultivars in Andalusia includes an empirical selection of outstanding local wild genotypes followed by various generations of crosses and various replanting campaigns, as well as possible introductions of ancestral cultivars. Therefore, our findings would lead us to support the hypothesis that the current diversity found in Spanish olive cultivars may be regionally differentiated and due to both, autochthonous and allochthonous origin. The information obtained in this work gives insights into the genetic resources of the main olive producing country, demonstrating that wild olive populations and local cultivars both represent potential sources of useful variability for olive breeding programs.     

Ripe Banana Flour as a Source of Antioxidants in Layer and Sponge Cakes

About one-fifth of all bananas harvested become culls that are normally disposed of improperly. However, ripe banana pulp contains significant amounts of fibre and polyphenol compounds as well as a high content of simple sugars (61.06 g/100 g), making it suitable for sucrose replacement in bakery products. This work studied the feasibility of incorporating ripe banana flour (20 and 40% of replacement) in cake formulation. Physical, nutritional and sensory attributes of sponge and layer cakes were evaluated. The inclusion of ripe banana flour generally led to an increased batter consistency that hindered cake expansion, resulting in a slightly lower specific volume and higher hardness. This effect was minimised in layer cakes where differences in volume were only evident with the higher level of replacement. The lower volume and higher hardness contributed to the decline of the acceptability observed in the sensory test. Unlike physical attributes, the banana flour inclusion significantly improved the nutritional properties of the cakes, bringing about an enhancement in dietary fibre, polyphenols and antioxidant capacity (up to a three-fold improvement in antioxidant capacity performance). Therefore, results showed that sugar replacement by ripe banana flour enhanced the nutritional properties of cakes, but attention should be paid to its inclusion level.     

Description of an ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block technique and the spread of dye in dog cadavers

Objectives

To describe an ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block and determine the distribution after injection of two volumes of methylene blue in dog cadavers.