Mastites caprinas: Utilização do Teste Californiano de Mastites.

A mastite é uma das patologias mais desafiantes no setor de lacticínios, esta patologia está diretamente relacionada com perdas de produção, decréscimo da qualidade e higiene do leite, elevados custos na terapêutica e com problemas para a saúde pública. Para o diagnóstico de MSC, como não há alterações visíveis nem no úbere nem no leite, faz-se uma análise ao leite. O método de diagnóstico mais utilizado é o Teste Californiano de Mastites (TCM). Este teste faz uma estimativa da contagem de células somáticas (CCS) presente no leite. No caso do leite de cabra, existe controvérsia devido ao facto de a secreção do leite ser apócrina, em que é eliminado o produto de secreção e parte do citoplasma da célula. Foi realizado um estudo em 308 metades mamárias, respeitantes a 158 cabras para avaliar a utilização do TCM como indicador de infeção intramamária.FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do Projecto UID/AGR/00115/2013

Staphylococci that carry the nuc gene

Inflammation of the mammary gland, known as mastitis, is a serious problem, because it is responsible for the decrease in milk yield and quality. Bacteria of the species Staphylococcus aureus, causing intramammary infections in small ruminants, are often isolated from milk samples and frequently resistant to antimicrobials. The thermostable nuclease encoded by the nuc gene is a virulence factor, as it promotes evasion of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are networks of DNA strands with antimicrobial proteins. The nuc gene is present in most S. aureus, however some isolates not carrying this gene have been described. Moreover, the nuc gene has also been detected in other Staphylococcus species, notably in S. intermedius, S. hyicus and S. simulans. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of the nuc gene in staphylococci isolated from goat and sheep milk samples. Three hundred and sixty-eight samples of milk were collected, from 187 animals, belonging to six flocks in Alentejo. Ninety-one isolates of the genus Staphylococcus were identified by classical biochemical methods and through the VITEK2 microbial identification system (BioMérieux, France). The presence of the nuc gene was assessed by PCR. The reference strain S. aureus ATCC 25923 was used as positive control. According to VITEK2, 24 S. caprae, 13 S. epidermidis, 13 S. chromogenes, 11 S. aureus, nine S. simulans, five S. warneri, five S. lentus, four S. capitis, four S. haemolyticus, one S. auricularis, one S. hominis spp. hominis and one Staphylococcus spp. (not identified to species level) were identified. Twenty-three out of the 91 isolates (25.3%) carry the nuc gene. With the pair of primers used, this gene was detected in seven different Staphylococcus species: 10 S. aureus (43.5%), three S. warneri (13%), three S. lentus (13%), two S. caprae (8.7%), two S. epidermidis (8.7%), two S. chromogenes (8.7%) and one S. capitis (4.3%). Furthermore, the nuc gene was not detected in one S. aureus isolate. We suggest that the presence/absence of the nuc gene is not a reliable method for the identification of S. aureus and that this virulence factor may be involved in small ruminant mastitis pathophysiology.CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-Brasil 249398/2013-3 and by National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project UID/AGR/00115/2013. M. Laranjo acknowledges a Post-Doc research grant also from FCT (SFRH/BPD/108802/2015)

Utilização de própolis como alternativa no controlo de mastites para garantir a qualidade do leite e proteção da saúde pública.

Os antimicrobianos e antisséticos são utilizados para o controlo das mastites. Esta prática conduz a eliminação de resíduos no leite além de induzir a pressão de seleção sobre estirpes resistentes a antimicrobianos. A própolis é uma massa, utilizada para proteger as colmeias das abelhas (Apis mellifera), formada por resinas retiradas de vários vegetais, selecionadas de forma natural pelas abelhas. Este produto altamente variável, consoante os vegetais utilizados, apresenta colorações diversas e também qualidades antimicrobianas variáveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi testar a suscetibilidade, de isolados de Staphylococccus aureus provenientes de amostras de leite de cabras e ovelhas com mastite, a 16 antimicrobianos utilizados em Portugal no controlo desta doença, e analisar “in vitro” a ação antimicrobiana de extratos etanólicos de própolis (EEP).FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do Projecto UID/AGR/00115/2013. M. Laranjo agradece a bolsa de Pós-Doutoramento da FCT (SFRH/BPD/108802/2015)

Intoxicações em Pediatria. Casuística de Dois Anos do Hospital de Dona Estefânia

Os autores analisaram retrospectivamente as fichas clínicas das 221 607 crianças assistidas no Serviço de Urgência do Hospital de Dona Estefânia no período compreendido entre 1 de Abril de 1991 e 31 de Março de 1993, seleccionando os casos relacionados com a ingestão de produtos potencialmente tóxicos. Das 626 crianças seleccionadas para o presente estudo, 460 foram internadas. Embora as intoxicações acidentais continuem a ser as mais frequentes — 87%, realça-se o aumento significativo do número de intoxicações voluntárias — 7,4%, relativamente ao observado em casuísticas anteriores consultadas. Em relação ao tipo de tóxico envolvido, embora as intoxicações medicamentosas tenham sido as mais observadas — 59%, as situações mais graves, incluindo todos os oito casos com sequelas, relacionaram-se com as intoxicações de causa não medicamentosa, nomeadamente cáusticos e organofosforados. Apesar da evidência de uma evolução favorável, as Intoxicações em Pediatria permanecem um factor de preocupação de todo o pessoal de saúde, realçando-se a importância da prevenção primária como forma de diminuir a sua incidência

Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese Version of the Iceland-Family Perceived Support Questionnaire in Parents of Children and Adolescents with Chronic Condition

Abstract: The support from nurses perceived by family members of children with chronic conditions has been shown to be a protective factor at different levels in a family’s health. As such, nurses need to have instruments that assess this perception to increase the quality of the care provided to those families. This methodological study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese translation of the Iceland-Family Perceived Support Questionnaire (ICE-FPSQ) in parents of children/adolescents with chronic conditions. The ICE-FPSQ was administered to 237 parents recruited from the day hospital and outpatient services of four hospitals in Northern Portugal. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the Total Scale, Cognitive Support, and Emotional Support subscales were excellent (α = 0.96, α = 0.93, α = 0.96, respectively). Reasonable fit indexes were found by confirmatory factor analysis (χ 2/df = 2.799; CFI = 0.960; PCFI = 0.791, and RMSEA = 0.087), indicating a good model fit to the original structure. The ICE-FPSQ is a valid and reliable instrument to measure perceived support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tactical Voting in Plurality Elections

How often will elections end in landslides? What is the probability for a head-to-head race? Analyzing ballot results from several large countries rather anomalous and yet unexplained distributions have been observed. We identify tactical voting as the driving ingredient for the anomalies and introduce a model to study its effect on plurality elections, characterized by the relative strength of the feedback from polls and the pairwise interaction between individuals in the society. With this model it becomes possible to explain the polarization of votes between two candidates, understand the small margin of victories frequently observed for different elections, and analyze the polls' impact in American, Canadian, and Brazilian ballots. Moreover, the model reproduces, quantitatively, the distribution of votes obtained in the Brazilian mayor elections with two, three, and four candidates.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Propolis components accountable for bactericidal accomplishment and antibiofilm activity

This study aimed at evaluating antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of phenolic compounds present in propolis ethanol extracts (PEE). Seventy per cent ethanol extracts from seven types of propolis, one Green, two Red and four Brown collected in four Brazilian States were prepared and total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibitor effect on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and capacity to disrupt established biofilms were assessed towards eight S. aureus isolates from milk of small ruminants with mastitis, one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus ATCC 25923. To evaluate different propolis components accountability for bactericidal accomplishment and antibiofilm activity, the results were analysed by the non-parametric Spearman coefficient. Results of phenolic compounds were 216,21 to 312,08 gallic acid milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EGA/g) of total phenolics, 55,08 to 140,6 quercetin milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EQ/g) of flavonoids, 118,51 to 3766,16 catechin milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EC/g) of tannins and 1,03 to 8,39 milligram per extract gram (mg/g) of anthocyanins. Red1 and Red2 showed higher tannin contents, while Red2 exhibited superior amount of anthocyanins and total phenolics. Brown3 presented higher flavonoid quantity. Green, Red1 and Red2 PEE showed the lowest levels of flavonoids, but the higher antimicrobial activity. Most PEE exhibit bactericidal activity at a concentration of 1.6 mg/mL. Brown4 PEE showed the worst capacity to inhibit S. aureus. Green PEE showed to be the most efficient in both preventing and disrupting biofilm. All PEE studied exhibited a better inhibitory activity prior-to than post-biofilm formation. According to non-parametric Spearman correlation analysis, there seems to be a significant negative correlation between the ability to disrupt biofilm and both tannins and anthocyanins contents

GLP-1 Increases Circulating Leptin Levels in Truncal Vagotomized Rats

GLP-1 is a gastro-intestinal hormone acting within the gut/brain axis for energy balance regulation. We aimed to evaluate the role of the vagus nerve in whole-body energy homeostasis and in mediating GLP-1 effects. For this, rats submitted to truncal vagotomy and sham-operated controls underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including eating behavior, body weight, percentage of white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), resting energy expenditure (REE) and acute response to GLP-1. Truncal vagotomized rats had significantly lower food intake, body weight, body weight gain, WAT and BAT, with a higher BAT/WAT ratio, but no significant difference in REE when compared to controls. Vagotomized rats also had significantly higher fasting ghrelin and lower glucose and insulin levels. After GLP-1 administration, vagotomized rats depicted a blunted anorexigenic response and higher plasma leptin levels, as compared to controls. However, in vitro stimulation of VAT explants with GLP-1 resulted in no significant changes in leptin secretion. In conclusion, the vagus nerve influences whole-body energy homeostasis by modifying food intake, body weight and body composition and by mediating the GLP-1 anorectic response. The higher leptin levels in response to acute GLP-1 administration observed after truncal vagotomy suggest the existence of a putative GLP-1-leptin axis that relies on the integrity of gut-brain vagal pathway

Virulence factors in Staphylococcus associated with small ruminant mastitis: biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance genes.

Small ruminant mastitis is a serious problem, mainly caused by Staphylococcus spp. Different virulence factors affect mastitis pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate virulence factors genes for biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance to -lactams and tetracyclines in 137 staphylococcal isolates from goats (86) and sheep (51). The presence of coa, nuc, bap, icaA, icaD, blaZ, mecA, mecC, tetK, and tetM genes was investigated. The nuc gene was detected in all S. aureus isolates and in some coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). None of the S. aureus isolates carried the bap gene, while 8 out of 18 CNS harbored this gene. The icaA gene was detected in S. aureus and S. warneri, while icaD only in S. aureus. None of the isolates carrying the bap gene harbored the ica genes. None of the biofilm-associated genes were detected in 14 isolates (six S. aureus and eight CNS). An association was found between Staphylococcus species and resistance to some antibiotics and between antimicrobial resistance and animal species. Nine penicillin-susceptible isolates exhibited the blaZ gene, questioning the reliability of susceptibility testing. Most S. aureus isolates were susceptible to tetracycline, and no cefazolin or gentamycin resistance was detected. These should replace other currently used antimicrobials