Neuropharmacological effects of deltamethrin in rats

This study examined the effect of deltamethrin on some of the neuropharmacological paradigms in a rat brain such as the motor co-ordination test using a rotarod, the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion as well as the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) level. Albino Wistar rats were used as the experimental animals. Different neuropharmacological paradigms such as the motor co-ordination by the rotarod, pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and the PTZ-induced convulsion were examined after administering deltamethrin orally at two doses, 150 mg/kg (LD₅₀) and 15 mg/kg (1/10 LD₅₀). The GABA level in the rat brain was estimated by HPLC after a single oral dose of 150mg/kg deltamethrin. Deltamethrin significantly reduced the motor coordination, decreased the onset time and increased the sleeping time duration induced by pentobarbitone. In addition, it also decreased the onset time and increased the duration of convulsions induced by PTZ at 150 mg/kg (LD₅₀) and 15 mg/kg (1/10 LD₅₀), respectively. Further deltamethrin administration decreased the GABA levels in the cerebellum as well as in the whole brain (except the cerebellum) significantly at the LD₅₀ dose level. There was some correlation between the effect of deltamethrin on the central GABA levels and its neuropharmacological effects.     

Protective effects of synthetic hydroxytyrosol acetyl derivatives against oxidative stress in human cells

Chemically stable di- and triacetyl derivatives of the natural o-diphenol antioxidant hydroxytyrosol were synthesized, and their chemical and biological antioxidant activities were assessed in comparison with that of the native synthetic compound. The chemical antioxidant activity of the selected compounds was evaluated by measuring the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The data clearly indicate that, as expected, the hydroxytyrosol analogues, modified in the o-diphenolic ring, are devoid of any chemical antioxidant activity. On the contrary, both acetyl derivatives, at micromolar concentrations, equally protect against tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative damages in Caco-2 cells and human erythrocytes. This paper for the first time reports that chemically stable hydroxytyrosol acetyl derivatives, although devoid of chemical antioxidant activity, are as effective as the parent compound in protecting human cells from oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity, after metabolization by esterases at the intestinal level, suggesting their possible utilization in either nutritional (functional food), cosmetic, or pharmaceutical preparations.     

Adrenocortical Interactions following Dehydration, Sodium chloride, Potassium chloride, Cortisone acetate and Desoxycorticosterone acetate Treatments in the Parakeet, Quail and Myna

Dehydration results in an extreme hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the adrenocortical tissue, whereas NaCl produces a profound atrophic change. KCl brings the gland to some hypertrophy in parakeet and myna, but to some atrophy in quail. The response to cortisone and desoxycorticosterone acetate clearly indicates an atrophic look in quail and myna, however, in parakeet both the subcapsular and the central zones respond uniformly towards hypertrophy. No specific zonal responses could be detected even in cases with a histomorphological zonation. This may be due to the hormonal situation discussed by other authors.     

Protective effect of the phenolic fraction from virgin olive oils against oxidative stress in human cells

This paper reports the protective effect of the phenolic fraction extracted from extra virgin olive oils (OOPEs) against the cytotoxic effects of reactive oxygen species in human erythrocytes and Caco-2 cells, employed as model systems. Pretreatment of cells with various OOPEs, indeed, provides a remarkable protection against oxidative damages: this effect was strictly dependent on the o-diphenolic content of the extracts. Moreover, the protective effects observable in cellular systems were compared with in vitro antioxidant properties, measured by using the FRAP (ferric reducing/antioxidant power) assay; the reducing ability of OOPEs strictly parallels their o-phenolic content. The linear relationship demonstrated between biological effects and antioxidant capacity measured by the FRAP assay allows us to propose the use of this rapid colorimetric method in assessing and certifying the antioxidant power of extra virgin olive oil.     

Applying cost-distance analysis for forest disease risk mapping: Phytophthora austrocedrae as an example

Cost-distance model analyzes the relative difficulty in reaching each spot of the landscape for the object or species under study. It calculates the effective distance, which is the Euclidian distance modified by the friction to movement through different landscape elements. This work deals with the application of cost-distance analysis in forest pathology, considering Austrocedrus chilensis root rot caused by Phytophthora austrocedrae as an example. In this case, cost-distance analysis was used to determine the relative difficulty for the pathogen to reach healthy forest patches from the patches that are presently diseased. Friction values were assigned on the basis of abiotic conditions, biological characteristics of the pathogen and host presence. Since cattle may be a vehicle for Phytophthora dispersion, three hypothetical situations of ranching were considered. Cost-distance application resulted useful to define minimum risk areas for conservation purposes. In the study case, minimum risk area strongly varied in response to cattle presence. This study provided valuable information for A. chilensis disease management and showed one of the broad applications of cost-distance analysis in forestry.     

Variables affecting Suillus luteus fructification in ponderosa pine plantations of Patagonia (Argentina)

Suillus luteus is the most abundant wild edible mushroom harvested in Patagonian pine plantations from Argentina. Their fruitbodies are unevenly distributed in plantations but no studies have been carried out to investigate and quantify the macro- and micro-level environmental factors affecting their fructification in productive patches. The objective of this study was to determine the biotic and abiotic micro-environmental factors affecting the productivity of S. luteus fructification. The study was conducted in an even-aged (17–18 years) Pinus ponderosa plantation with sandy loam soil, very common in the region. Twelve plots with fructifications and 12 with no fructification were randomly selected to make comparative measurements. Crown cover (CROWN), percentage of herbaceous + small-shrubs cover (HERB) and species composition, percentage of duff cover (DUFFC), percentage of bare soil (BARE), decomposed + non-decomposed duff depth (TDUFFD), soil water content (SOILH), soil texture, pH in water, pH in NaF, organic matter percentage (OM), total nitrogen percentage, available phosphorus content, S–SO₄²⁻ content, and exchangeable cations including Ca, Mg, K and Na were determined. Multiple logistic regression was used to select variables that explain presence or absence of fructifications, and a principal component analysis to further analyze the relationship between herbaceous species cover and fructification. The occurrence of fructifications was associated with a group of highly correlated variables (high HERB, OM and SOILH and low CROWN, DUFFC and TDUFFD), all determined by the irregular tree spatial pattern in plantation that impacts the quantity of light and water reaching the soil. Those variables related with chemical and physical soil properties, with the exception of OM and SOILH, explained little variation in the data set. The principal component analysis showed that plots with fructification presented higher Acaena ovalifolia and Stipa sp. cover, and that plots without fructification presented higher CROWN and TDUFFD. Pruning and thinning prior to complete canopy closure would maintain light and water reaching the soil and preventing duff accumulation by stimulating decomposition. If ponderosa plantations are managed for high production of S. luteus fructification, silvicultural treatments that include thinning should be implemented earlier.     

Effect of restricted suckling on milk yield,composition and flow,udder health,and postpartum anoestrus in grazing Holstein cows

The effect of restricted suckling on milk yield and composition, udder health, and postpartum anoestrus in dairy cows in pasture-based systems, was studied in 32 Holstein multiparous cows and their calves. At calving, each cow–calf pair was randomly assigned to one of two treatments: restricted suckling (RS) of the cows by her own or another calf, twice daily for 30 min or artificial rearing (AR) of the calves with milk obtained from the bulk tank, offered twice a day in buckets. Treatments were applied until week 8 after calving. The diet of the cows consisted of direct grazing in improved pastures, corn silage and a commercial concentrate which was offered at milking. Milk production and composition, udder health, body condition score of the cows, body weight and milk intake of the calves were measured weekly, and the first postpartum ovulation was determined three times a week by ovarian ultrasonography. Cows with RS management had a lower machine-milked milk yield (17.9 vs. 24.8 kg/d), a lower fat percentage (3.21 vs. 4.11%) and 4% fat-corrected milk yield (16.2 vs. 25.7 kg/d), and also a lower average milk flow (1.35 vs. 1.76 kg/min) than cows in the AR treatment. There was no effect of treatment on milk protein percentage or udder health as measured by milk electrical conductivity. The interval from calving to first postpartum ovulation was shorter in the AR cows than in the RS cows (18.5 vs. 21.8 days). The RS calves consumed more milk (7.2 vs. 5.4 kg/d), gained more body weight (0.813 vs. 0.656 kg/d), and had a higher body weight at weaning (84.3 vs. 73.3 kg) than AR calves. Restricted suckling of grazing dairy cows had a negative effect on machine-milked milk yield, fat percentage and 4% fat-corrected milk yield, but had no effect on udder health or on improved weight gain and body weight at weaning of the calves.     

Comparison of different tissue sampling for PCR-based diagnosis and follow-up of canine visceral leishmaniosis

In this study, different types of tissue sampling for PCR-based diagnosis and follow-up of canine visceral leishmaniosis were compared. Skin, whole blood and lymph node samples were collected from 95 naturally infected dogs living in South Italy, where the disease is endemic. Twenty-nine of these 95 dogs, treated with meglumine administered concurrently with allopurinol for 30 days, and then with allopurinol alone, were monitored during a period of 2 years. The DNA extracted from the clinical specimens was amplified by PCR using as target DNA a 116-bp fragment in the constant region of the kinetoplast DNA minicircle. PCR analysis was more sensitive than indirect immunofluorescence antibody test in detecting Leishmania infection in symptomatic dogs: 99% of lymph node samples resulted positive, whereas 94% of blood samples and 95% of skin samples gave a positive result. PCR analysis of samples from dogs followed up 2 years showed that: (1) all subjects resulted positive in at least one of the three types of samples; (2) all time the dogs had a relapse, PCR resulted positive in all three types of samples; (3) when dogs were apparently healthy, PCR analysis was positive on skin and lymph node samples, but not always on blood samples. Since lymph node sampling is invasive and sometimes difficult in healthy asymptomatic dogs, our results suggest that, independently from the presence or not of cutaneous lesions, skin biopsy represents a good substratum for PCR-based diagnosis and follow-up of canine visceral leishmaniosis.     

Real-time PCR assay in Leishmania-infected dogs treated with meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol

A real-time PCR assay was exploited for monitoring the Leishmania DNA load in different tissues from 18 naturally-infected dogs before and after treatment with a combination of meglumine antimoniate (100mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) and allopurinol (10mg/kg/day, orally) for 30 days. After the combined therapy, allopurinol was continued at the same dose until the end of the observation period. Whole blood samples, lymph node aspirates, and skin biopsies were collected at the time of diagnosis, 1 month after starting therapy, and every 3 months for 2 years. In six dogs parasite load assessments continued every 6 months for a further 3 years. At each assessment, the dogs were examined for signs of disease and a clinical score was recorded. At diagnosis, the highest Leishmania DNA load was detected in lymph node aspirates. From 1-6 months post-therapy a general improvement in clinical conditions was recorded in all dogs, which correlated with a decrease in the parasite DNA load in all tested tissues, even though it was less pronounced in lymph node aspirates. In the period from 9-24 months post-therapy, a re-increase in parasite load was observed in the tissues of some dogs, concomitant with a disease relapse. The results show that the combined therapy with meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol promoted a clinical improvement which was accompanied by a reduction in the parasitic load in the blood, skin and lymph nodes but, even after long period of allopurinol administration alone, Leishmania may persist in dog tissues.