Detection of gastrointestinal nematode populations resistant to albendazole and ivermectin in sheep

Gastrointestinal parasite infections represent a major welfare problem in small ruminants reared in extensive systems, which may be exacerbated by anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, we aimed to study the efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin in sheep. Eighty-six animals were selected from commercial farms in the temperate area of the State of Mexico at the age of seven months. These animals were randomly distributed into three groups: Group A, treated with albendazole, Group I, treated with ivermectin and Group C, left untreated. Faecal samples were collected before the anthelmintic was administered and 15 days post-treatment. Both Group A and Group I displayed a significant decrease of faecal egg counts when pre-and post-treatment values were compared (p = 0.003 and p = 0.049, respectively), and a significantly lower faecal egg count when compared with Group C after the treatment (p < 0.05). However, the faecal egg count reduction test showed that gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) developed anthelmintic resistance to both albendazole and ivermectin. The results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed the identification of Cooperia spp., and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The allele-specific PCR results confirmed that T. colubriformis was resistant to albendazole. In conclusion, this study showed the presence of resistant GIN to albendazole and ivermectin in sheep reared in Mexican temperate zones. Therefore, nematode infections should be systematically monitored in order to implement integrated management strategies to prevent the spread of anthelmintic resistance

Efectos de los nutrientes y compuestos biactivos de los alimentos en tejidos y células de cáncer humano: aproximación nutrigenómica

El cáncer es una condición de programación genética anormal en la cual cambios en la secuencia genómica alteran la estructura, función y expresión de proteínas que controlan procesos celulares esenciales como el crecimiento, la proliferación, la diferenciación y la apoptosis. Investigaciones en nutrición y cáncer han analizado los efectos de determinados nutrientes y compuestos bioactivos de los alimentos en el desarrollo y evolución de diversos tipos de cáncer.El objetivo de esta investigación fue revisar, en la información científica reciente, los efectos o interacciones de los nutrientes y compuestos bioactivos de los alimentos en tejidos y/o células de cáncer humano bajo una aproximación nutrigenómica. Se realizó una búsqueda de los artículos, publicados entre enero de 2011 y octubre de 2012, en la base de datos Pubmed, utilizando términos MeSH y “Text Word” relevantes para el objetivo de investigación. De esta búsqueda se obtuvo un total de 250 publicaciones de los cuales se seleccionaron 33. En general, los efectos e interacciones de los nutrientes y compuestos bioactivos selectivamente inducen la muerte e inhiben el crecimiento y proliferación de las células cancerígenas; sin embargo, bajo ciertas condiciones, dichos efectos e interacciones pueden promover la carcinogénesi

Lethal Concentration of Carbonate OF Ca as a Function of the Osmotic Potential of the Solution in Sunflower (Heliantusannuus L.)

In order to know the effect of CaCO3 in solution, sunflower seedlings cv. Victoria, an experiment was completely randomized, where five concentrations of calcium carbonate were evaluated to determine the lethal concentration (LC50), pH and EC of the solution under laboratory conditions in the Universidad Tecnologica de Tehuacan, to simulate of excess Ca++ in the soils or nutrient solution. The results indicate, the LC50 was 62.8 mg CaCO3 L-1, so maximum values for pH, EC and calcium absorption, They were achieved at concentrations of 120 and 160 mg L-1 of CaCO3. This work can be concluded, Sunflower can absorb the high levels of calcium and used as an alternative, for remediation of agricultural soils affected hard water and Ca++ salts

Orally active antischistosomal early leads identified from the open access malaria box.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide hundreds of millions of schistosomiasis patients rely on treatment with a single drug, praziquantel. Therapeutic limitations and the threat of praziquantel resistance underline the need to discover and develop next generation drugs. METHODOLOGY: We studied the antischistosomal properties of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) malaria box containing 200 diverse drug-like and 200 probe-like compounds with confirmed in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Compounds were tested against schistosomula and adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro. Based on in vitro performance, available pharmacokinetic profiles and toxicity data, selected compounds were investigated in vivo. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Promising antischistosomal activity (IC50: 1.4-9.5 µM) was observed for 34 compounds against schistosomula. Three compounds presented IC50 values between 0.8 and 1.3 µM against adult S. mansoni. Two promising early leads were identified, namely a N,N'-diarylurea and a 2,3-dianilinoquinoxaline. Treatment of S. mansoni infected mice with a single oral 400 mg/kg dose of these drugs resulted in significant worm burden reductions of 52.5% and 40.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The two candidates identified by investigating the MMV malaria box are characterized by good pharmacokinetic profiles, low cytotoxic potential and easy chemistry and therefore offer an excellent starting point for antischistosomal drug discovery and development

Diagnostic Accuracy of Anthropometric Markers of Obesity for Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Prediabetes is a significant public health concern due to its high risk of progressing to diabetes. Anthropometric measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) have been demonstrated as key risk factors in the development of prediabetes. However, there is a lack of clarity on the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off points of these measures. Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of these anthropometric measures for their most effective use in identifying prediabetes. Methodology: A systematic review (SR) with metanalysis of observational studies was carried out. The search was conducted in four databases: Pubmed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE. For the meta-analysis, sensitivity and specificity, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI 95%) were calculated. Results: Among all the manuscripts chosen for review, we had four cross-sectional studies, and three were classified as cohort studies. The forest plots showed the combined sensitivity and specificity for both cross-sectional and cohort studies. For cross-sectional studies, the values were as follows: BMI had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.56, WC had a sensitivity of 0.59 and specificity of 0.58, and WHtR had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.73. In the cohort studies, the combined sensitivity and specificity were: BMI at 0.70 and 0.45, WC at 0.68 and 0.56, and WHtR at 0.68 and 0.56, respectively. All values are provided with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of BMI, WC, and WHtR in identifying prediabetes. The results showed variations in sensitivity and specificity, with WHtR having the highest specificity in cross-sectional studies and BMI having improved sensitivity in cohort studies

Light Curves of the Neutron Star Merger GW170817/SSS17a: Implications for R-Process Nucleosynthesis

On 2017 August 17, gravitational waves were detected from a binary neutron star merger, GW170817, along with a coincident short gamma-ray burst, GRB170817A. An optical transient source, Swope Supernova Survey 17a (SSS17a), was subsequently identified as the counterpart of this event. We present ultraviolet, optical and infrared light curves of SSS17a extending from 10.9 hours to 18 days post-merger. We constrain the radioactively-powered transient resulting from the ejection of neutron-rich material. The fast rise of the light curves, subsequent decay, and rapid color evolution are consistent with multiple ejecta components of differing lanthanide abundance. The late-time light curve indicates that SSS17a produced at least ~0.05 solar masses of heavy elements, demonstrating that neutron star mergers play a role in r-process nucleosynthesis in the Universe.Comment: Accepted to Scienc

Effects of maternal calcium propionate supplementation on offspring productivity and meat metabolomic profile in sheep

This study determined the effect of dietary calcium propionate (CaPr) as a source of energy supplementation during the First Half of Gestation (FMG), the Second Half of Gestation (SMG), and during All Gestation (AG), on offspring post-weaning growth performance, meat quality, and meat metabolomic profile. Thirty-one pregnant ewes were assigned to one of four treatments: a) supplementation of 30 gd-1 of CaPr during the first half of gestation (day 1 to day 75, n = 8) (FMG); b) supplementation of 30 gd-1 of CaPr during the second half of gestation (day 76 to day 150, n = 8) (SMG); c) supplementation of 30 gd-1 of CaPr during all gestation (AG, n = 8); d) no CaPr supplementation (control; CS, n = 7). The ewes were ad libitum fed a basal diet based on oat hay and corn silage. Ewes were distributed in a completely randomized unbalanced design to four treatments. The FMG group had lower (P ≤ 0.05) birth weight and weaning weight than the CS group. However, the average daily gain was similar across all treatments. Empty body weight and FMG had lower values (P ≤ 0.05) than the other groups. Both FMG and AG had lower hot carcass weight (P ≤ 0.05) compared to CS, while CaPr treatments resulted in reduced hot carcass yield (P ≤ 0.05). Meat color and texture were similar among treatments. A principal component analysis between gestation stages showed a trend for separating CS and FMG from SMG and AG, and that was explained by 93.7% of the data variability (PC1 = 87.9% and PC2 = 5.8%). Regarding meat metabolomic profile, 23 compounds were positively correlated between all treatments. Only 2 were negatively correlated (eicosane and naphthalene 1,2,3); but tetradecanoic acid, hexadecane, undecane 5-methyl, (-)-alpha, hexadecenoic acid, octadecanoic acid, and octadecane had a highly significant correlation (P ≤ 0.05). Overall, dam supplementation with CaPr during different periods of gestation provoked changes in meat metabolites related to the biosynthesis of fatty acids in lambs without negative changes in lamb's growth performance and carcass quality