PERCEPTIONS OF VETERINARIANS IN RELATION TO FELINE POSSESSION IN BUENOS AIRES CITY, ARGENTINA

El objetivo del estudio fue conocer las percepciones de profesionales de la medicina veterinaria en relación a las motivaciones, actitudes y conductas de la población que tiene sobre la tenencia de felinos. Se encuestaron 62 veterinarios que desarrollan actividades en el área de clínica médica y quirúrgica de animales de compañía en la ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Las variables en estudio se evaluaron empleando el análisis de contenido e índice de posición. Las principales motivaciones para tener felinos son la preferencia de la persona y costumbres familiares. La forma más frecuente de obtención de sus felinos es por regalo, de la vía pública o adquiriéndolos. Los encuestados señalaron que la mayoría de los felinos tienen una estrecha convivencia con las personas, así como baja ansiedad y agresividad. Se desarrollaron mapas cognitivos de conductas y su relación con actitudes y conductas de sus propietarios en la tenencia de felinos.The objective of the present study was to determine the perceptions of veterinarians in relation to motivations, attitudes, and behaviour of people that owns or does not owns felines. Veterinarians (n = 62) from Buenos Aires city, Argentina, working in the clinic and surgery of pets were surveyed. Variables were evaluated by the analysis of content and index position. The main reasons to own felines were preference and family customs. The most frequent way of getting a feline was as a gift, collected from public areas or purchased. Veterinarians indicated that most of these animals have an intimate relationship with the owner, as well as low anxiety and aggressiveness. Feline behaviour cognitive maps were developed pointing out its relationship with owners’ attitudes and behaviours

Community Supported Stardust Compendia

The Stardust cometary and interstellar collections present unprecedented challenges in sample preparation and analysis. The ensemble of approx.80 tracks and dozens of foil craters from the cometary collection for which we have analyses exhibits a bewildering complexity and diversity of materials. The interstellar collection is even more challenging, because of the extremely low fluence of interstellar dust, a relatively large background of secondary ejecta from impacts on the spacecraft, and the small size of interstellar dust, approximately three orders of magnitude smaller in mass than typical cometary particles. Unlike with the other returned sample collections, characterization of these samples beyond basic photo-documentation is not generally practical at JSC. Even among the other small-particle collections, currently the cosmic dust and Hayabusa samples, SEM/EDX can provide basic chemistry. This is not possible with Stardust particles without destructive and invasive sample preparation. Furthermore, SEM/EDX requires isolating small grains from adhering aerogel. A reliable technique to carry out this task does not exist. Complete characterization of particles requires coordinated analyses using synchrotron and electron-beam microprobes, which do not exist at any one lab. Thus, it was recognized since the Stardust Preliminary Examination in 2006 that characterization of the samples would rely on the worldwide community of Stardust Investigators. Here we announce the development of community-editable, wiki-style Stardust compendia that will support this effort. Our intention is that this will facilitate sample requests by providing basic characterization of tracks. We expect that this will also support comprehensive meta-analyses (global syntheses of analyses) of the collections

Effectiveness of Nd:YAG Laser on the elimination of debris and Smear Layer : a comparative study with two different irrigation solution: Edta and qmix® in addition to naocl

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness in dentin debris and smear layer removal from root canal walls using EDTA and QMix® alone and also activated with Nd:YAG laser. 50 single-rooted teeth were instrumented and divided in 5 groups according to irrigation protocol: 17% EDTA, QMix®, Nd:YAG laser alone, and combination of 17% EDTA - Nd:YAG laser and QMix® - Nd:YAG laser. Samples were evaluated using SEM. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-Square Fisher exact test and McNemar test. Dentinal debris analysis showed statistically significant differences when comparing 17% EDTA vs Laser and Laser vs QMix® in combination with Laser at the apical third. The Smear Layer analysis also showed statistically significant differences at the apical third when comparing 17% EDTA vs Laser, QMix® vs QMix® in combination with Laser and Laser vs QMix® in combination with Laser. 17% EDTA was the most efficient irrigant showing the best results. Laser alone was not effective removing either dentinal debris or smear layer

Epidemiological studies at the human - animal - ecosystem interface. Factors related to the risk of infection by zoonotic pathogens

Uno de los fenómenos sociales más importantes de los últimos años es la estrecha convivencia entre los animales -domésticos de compañía o producción, sinantrópicos y silvestres- y las personas, cumpliendo variadas funciones: sociales, culturales o económicas y significando un componente relevante del bienestar de la comunidad. La rápida y escasamente planificada urbanización e industrialización de la producción agroalimentaria han favorecido la expresión de factores de riesgo de infección de patógenos. A la vez, especies silvestres, tras la alteración de su hábitat, modifican su rango de acción, pudiendo contactar con especies domésticas y con los humanos. Con el fin de analizar variables ambientales y el riesgo de infección de patógenos en la interfase humano-animal-ecosistema, realizamos estudios en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, en la Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, (RECS), en estrecha relación con áreas urbanizadas precarias y de alto riesgo epidemiológico -Barrio Rodrigo Bueno- considerando como modelo el estudio de Leptospira spp. Actualmente, se desarrollan estudios en áreas donde se establecería el contacto en la interfase humanoanimal-ecosistema de reservorios silvestres y domésticos con impacto en salud pública y animal por su condición productiva, considerando como modelos patógenos multihospedadores como Cryptosporidium spp. y Giardia spp. en áreas protegidas -Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos y Parque Nacional Iberá- y en el área urbano-rural del partido de Exaltación de la Cruz. Estos estudios son fundamentales ya que aportan nuevos aspectos al conocimiento de la epidemiología de estas enfermedades e innovadoras formas de monitoreo empleando especies centinela para detectar precozmente el riesgo de infección y proponer herramientas para incorporar al sistemas de salud.One of the most important social phenomena in recent years is the close coexistence between animals -domestic companion or production, synanthropic and wild- and people, fulfilling various functions: social, cultural or economic and representing a relevant component of the welfare of community. The fast and poorly planned urbanization and industrialization of agri-food production have favored the expression of risk factors for pathogen infection. At the same time, wild species, after altering their habitat, modify their range of action, being able to contact domestic species and humans. In order to analyze environmental variables and the risk of pathogen infection in the human-animal-ecosystem interface, we conducted studies in Buenos Aires city, in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve (RECS), in close relationship with precarious urbanized areas with high epidemiological risk -Barrio Rodrigo Bueno- considering as a model the study of Leptospira spp. Currently, studies are being carried out in areas where contact would be established in the human-animal-ecosystem interface of wild and domestic reservoirs with an impact on public and animal health due to their productive condition, considering as multi-host pathogenic models such as Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in protected areas -Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park and Iberá National Park- and in the urban-rural area of the Exaltación de la Cruz district. These studies are fundamental since they contribute new aspects to the knowledge of the epidemiology of these diseases and innovative forms of monitoring using sentinel species to detect the risk of infection early and propose tools to incorporate into the health systems.Fil: Berra, Yanina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria; ArgentinaFil: Graciano, Luciana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; Argentina. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Bravo, Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; ArgentinaFil: Orozco, Maria Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Marcos, E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; ArgentinaFil: Degregorio, Osvaldo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; Argentin

Epidemiological studies at the human - animal - ecosystem interface. Factors related to the risk of infection by zoonotic pathogens

Uno de los fenómenos sociales más importantes de los últimos años es la estrecha convivencia entre los animales -domésticos de compañía o producción, sinantrópicos y silvestres- y las personas, cumpliendo variadas funciones: sociales, culturales o económicas y significando un componente relevante del bienestar de la comunidad. La rápida y escasamente planificada urbanización e industrialización de la producción agroalimentaria han favorecido la expresión de factores de riesgo de infección de patógenos. A la vez, especies silvestres, tras la alteración de su hábitat, modifican su rango de acción, pudiendo contactar con especies domésticas y con los humanos. Con el fin de analizar variables ambientales y el riesgo de infección de patógenos en la interfase humano-animal-ecosistema, realizamos estudios en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, en la Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, (RECS), en estrecha relación con áreas urbanizadas precarias y de alto riesgo epidemiológico -Barrio Rodrigo Bueno- considerando como modelo el estudio de Leptospira spp. Actualmente, se desarrollan estudios en áreas donde se establecería el contacto en la interfase humanoanimal-ecosistema de reservorios silvestres y domésticos con impacto en salud pública y animal por su condición productiva, considerando como modelos patógenos multihospedadores como Cryptosporidium spp. y Giardia spp. en áreas protegidas -Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos y Parque Nacional Iberá- y en el área urbano-rural del partido de Exaltación de la Cruz. Estos estudios son fundamentales ya que aportan nuevos aspectos al conocimiento de la epidemiología de estas enfermedades e innovadoras formas de monitoreo empleando especies centinela para detectar precozmente el riesgo de infección y proponer herramientas para incorporar al sistemas de salud.One of the most important social phenomena in recent years is the close coexistence between animals -domestic companion or production, synanthropic and wild- and people, fulfilling various functions: social, cultural or economic and representing a relevant component of the welfare of community. The fast and poorly planned urbanization and industrialization of agri-food production have favored the expression of risk factors for pathogen infection. At the same time, wild species, after altering their habitat, modify their range of action, being able to contact domestic species and humans. In order to analyze environmental variables and the risk of pathogen infection in the human-animal-ecosystem interface, we conducted studies in Buenos Aires city, in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve (RECS), in close relationship with precarious urbanized areas with high epidemiological risk -Barrio Rodrigo Bueno- considering as a model the study of Leptospira spp. Currently, studies are being carried out in areas where contact would be established in the human-animal-ecosystem interface of wild and domestic reservoirs with an impact on public and animal health due to their productive condition, considering as multi-host pathogenic models such as Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in protected areas -Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park and Iberá National Park- and in the urban-rural area of the Exaltación de la Cruz district. These studies are fundamental since they contribute new aspects to the knowledge of the epidemiology of these diseases and innovative forms of monitoring using sentinel species to detect the risk of infection early and propose tools to incorporate into the health systems.Fil: Berra, Yanina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria; ArgentinaFil: Graciano, Luciana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; Argentina. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Bravo, Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; ArgentinaFil: Orozco, Maria Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Marcos, E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; ArgentinaFil: Degregorio, Osvaldo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Area de Vet. en Salud Publica; Argentin

Vaccines against toxoplasma gondii : challenges and opportunities

Development of vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans is of high priority, given the high burden of disease in some areas of the world like South America, and the lack of effective drugs with few adverse effects. Rodent models have been used in research on vaccines against T. gondii over the past decades. However, regardless of the vaccine construct, the vaccines have not been able to induce protective immunity when the organism is challenged with T. gondii, either directly or via a vector. Only a few live, attenuated T. gondii strains used for immunization have been able to confer protective immunity, which is measured by a lack of tissue cysts after challenge. Furthermore, challenge with low virulence strains, especially strains with genotype II, will probably be insufficient to provide protection against the more virulent T. gondii strains, such as those with genotypes I or II, or those genotypes from South America not belonging to genotype I, II or III. Future studies should use animal models besides rodents, and challenges should be performed with at least one genotype II T. gondii and one of the more virulent genotypes. Endpoints like maternal-foetal transmission and prevention of eye disease are important in addition to the traditional endpoint of survival or reduction in numbers of brain cysts after challenge

Safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary assessment of efficacy of mecasermin (recombinant human IGF-1) for the treatment of Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder mainly affecting females and is associated with mutations in MECP2, the gene encoding methyl CpG-binding protein 2. Mouse models suggest that recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (rhIGF1) (mecasermin) may improve many clinical features. We evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profiles of IGF-1 in 12 girls with MECP2 mutations (9 with RTT). In addition, we performed a preliminary assessment of efficacy using automated cardiorespiratory measures, EEG, a set of RTT-oriented clinical assessments, and two standardized behavioral questionnaires. This phase 1 trial included a 4-wk multiple ascending dose (MAD) (40–120 μg/kg twice daily) period and a 20-wk open-label extension (OLE) at the maximum dose. Twelve subjects completed the MAD and 10 the entire study, without evidence of hypoglycemia or serious adverse events. Mecasermin reached the CNS compartment as evidenced by the increase in cerebrospinal fluid IGF-1 levels at the end of the MAD. The drug followed nonlinear kinetics, with greater distribution in the peripheral compartment. Cardiorespiratory measures showed that apnea improved during the OLE. Some neurobehavioral parameters, specifically measures of anxiety and mood also improved during the OLE. These improvements in mood and anxiety scores were supported by reversal of right frontal alpha band asymmetry on EEG, an index of anxiety and depression. Our data indicate that IGF-1 is safe and well tolerated in girls with RTT and, as demonstrated in preclinical studies, ameliorates certain breathing and behavioral abnormalities

Tamoxifen Is Effective in the Treatment of Leishmania amazonensis Infections in Mice

Leishmaniasis is an antropozoonotic disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. In humans, signs of disease vary from skin and mucosal ulcers to enlargement of internal organs such as the liver and spleen. The unicellular parasite Leishmania amazonensis is able to infect humans and cause localized or diffuse skin lesions. The treatment for this disease is difficult, as it requires prolonged and painful applications of toxic drugs that are poorly tolerated. Therefore, a key area in leishmaniasis research is the study of new therapeutic schemes and less toxic drugs. The present report is based on the investigation of tamoxifen's activity (a compound that has been in clinical use since the 1970s for the treatment of breast cancer) in the treatment of mice experimentally infected with L. amazonensis. We observed that infected mice treated with 20 mg/kg/day of tamoxifen for 15 days showed a significant clinical and parasitological response, with reduction in the size of lesions and ulcers and decreased numbers of parasites. These promising results pave the way for further testing of this drug as a new alternative in the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis

Detection of Adriamycin–DNA adducts by accelerator mass spectrometry at clinically relevant Adriamycin concentrations

Limited sensitivity of existing assays has prevented investigation of whether Adriamycin–DNA adducts are involved in the anti-tumour potential of Adriamycin. Previous detection has achieved a sensitivity of a few Adriamycin–DNA adducts/104 bp DNA, but has required the use of supra-clinical drug concentrations. This work sought to measure Adriamycin–DNA adducts at sub-micromolar doses using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), a technique with origins in geochemistry for radiocarbon dating. We have used conditions previously validated (by less sensitive decay counting) to extract [14C]Adriamycin–DNA adducts from cells and adapted the methodology to AMS detection. Here we show the first direct evidence of Adriamycin–DNA adducts at clinically-relevant Adriamycin concentrations. [14C]Adriamycin treatment (25 nM) resulted in 4.4 ± 1.0 adducts/107 bp (∼1300 adducts/cell) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, representing the best sensitivity and precision reported to date for the covalent binding of Adriamycin to DNA. The exceedingly sensitive nature of AMS has enabled over three orders of magnitude increased sensitivity of Adriamycin–DNA adduct detection and revealed adduct formation within an hour of drug treatment. This method has been shown to be highly reproducible for the measurement of Adriamycin–DNA adducts in tumour cells in culture and can now be applied to the detection of these adducts in human tissues

Tamoxifen-elicited uterotrophy: cross-species and cross-ligand analysis of the gene expression program

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tamoxifen (TAM) is a well characterized breast cancer drug and selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) which also has been associated with a small increase in risk for uterine cancers. TAM's partial agonist activation of estrogen receptor has been characterized for specific gene promoters but not at the genomic level <it>in vivo</it>.Furthermore, reducing uncertainties associated with cross-species extrapolations of pharmaco- and toxicogenomic data remains a formidable challenge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A comparative ligand and species analysis approach was conducted to systematically assess the physiological, morphological and uterine gene expression alterations elicited across time by TAM and ethynylestradiol (EE) in immature ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. Differential gene expression was evaluated using custom cDNA microarrays, and the data was compared to identify conserved and divergent responses. 902 genes were differentially regulated in all four studies, 398 of which exhibit identical temporal expression patterns.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Comparative analysis of EE and TAM differentially expressed gene lists suggest TAM regulates no unique uterine genes that are conserved in the rat and mouse. This demonstrates that the partial agonist activities of TAM extend to molecular targets in regulating only a subset of EE-responsive genes. Ligand-conserved, species-divergent expression of carbonic anhydrase 2 was observed in the microarray data and confirmed by real time PCR. The identification of comparable temporal phenotypic responses linked to related gene expression profiles demonstrates that systematic comparative genomic assessments can elucidate important conserved and divergent mechanisms in rodent estrogen signalling during uterine proliferation.</p