Candida albicans cellular internalization : a new pathogenic factor ?

The preliminary results of a study to show the possibility that Candida albicans can internalize into epithelial cells are reported. The study was performed on buccal, vaginal and HeLa cells. Buccal and vaginal cells, at a concentration of 5 x 10(4) cells/ml and HeLa monolayers were incubated for 2, 3 and 4 h with 10(5) colony forming units of a Candida albicans isolate. After incubation, non-internalised yeasts were eliminated and samples were processed for examination by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Results suggest that receptor-mediated endocytosis could be involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent oral and vaginal infections. This phenomenon could represent an interesting experimental model to testing drug interference in the development of therapeutic strategies against C. albicans infections

Antimycotic activity and phagocytosis effects of econazole in combination with ibuprofen isobuthanolammonium against vaginal strains

Vaginal infections caused by Candida spp., other yeasts and Trichomonas vaginalis are problematic mainly due to the various factors involved in development of infection and to the failure of common treatments. In this study we investigated the presence of synergistic activity of econazole and ibuprofen isobuthanolammonium against 310 different vaginal isolates, by using the microdilution broth assay to test in vitro antimicrobial activity and the effect of the two drugs on phagocytosis and intramacrophagic cellular killing of mouse peritoneal macrophages. The effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of econazole / ibuprofen isobuthanolammonium combination on Candida albicans germ tube formation was also evaluated. The in vitro antifungal activity of econazole was notably improved by addition of ibuprofen isobuthanolammonium. Macrophage killing of C. albicans was significantly increased by the two drugs and also germ-tube formation was significantly affected. We conclude that the addition of ibuprofen isobuthanolammonium to econazole provides better in vitro antifungal activity. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the in vivo action of this formulation

Efeito da temperatura ambiente e da idade do frango sobre o valor energético do farelo de soja

Foram utilizados 288 pintos de corte Cobb, distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, sendo as três temperaturas de criação - fria, termoneutra e quente - as parcelas, e as três fases de avaliação - inicial, crescimento e final - as subparcelas, com seis repetições de seis aves cada. A dieta-teste foi obtida pela substituição de parte da ração basal pelo alimento-teste: 40% do farelo de soja + 60% da ração basal. Foram calculados os coeficientes de metabolizabilidade aparente e verdadeiro da matéria seca, do nitrogênio, do extrato etéreo da dieta-teste e os valores de energia metabolizável aparente e verdadeira (EMA e EMV), e corrigidas pelo balanço de nitrogênio do farelo de soja (EMAn e EMVn). Foram encontrados valores médios de EMAn do farelo de soja para aves criadas em temperatura fria, termoneutra e quente de 2110, 2016 e 2022kcal/kg, respectivamente, e para as fases de criação inicial, crescimento e final de 1840, 2052 e 2256kcal/kg, respectivamente. O valor de energia metabolizável do farelo de soja, os balanços e os coeficientes de metabolizabilidade dos nutrientes da dieta-teste aumentaram com a idade do frango de corte, porém não são afetados pela temperatura ambiente.Two hundred and eighty-eight Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with a split-plot arrangement with six replication of six chicks each, the main plots were in three temperatures (cold, thermo neutral and hot) and the secondary plot were by phase (initial, growing and final). The test diet was produced by replacing the basal diet with test food: 40% soybean meal+60% basal diet. The coefficient of apparent and true metabolizability of dry matter, nitrogen, ether extract of the test diet and apparent and true metabolizable energies (AME and TME) of soybean meal were calculated and energy values were corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn and TMEn) of soybean meal, in kcal/kg, as fed basis. The mean values of AMEn observed for broiler chicks in cold, thermo neutral and hot temperature were 2110, 2016 and 2022kcal/kg, respectively, and the initial, growing and final phases were 1840, 2052 and 2256kcal/kg, respectively. The metabolizable energy values of soybean meal, the balance and coefficients of metabolizability of the nutrients of the test diet increased with the age of broiler; however, they were not affected by environmental temperature.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Funzione renale durante ventilazione a pressione positiva continua a bassa frequenza con scambio extracorporeo di CO2.

Six lambs anesthetized, paralyzed, tracheostomized and cystostomized were ventilated alternatively with continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPPV), at 16 breaths per min (bpm) and with LFPPV-ECCO2R, at 2 bpm. The renal function, as measured by urinary flow, creatinine clearance, osmolar clearance, and osmolar output, improved between 25% and 35%, lowering the respiratory rate from 16 to 2 bpm, at the same positive end expiratory pressure. The possible mechanism involved (antidiuretic hormone, hemodynamic factor, cardiopulmonary reflex) is discussed

Soybean Oil and Beef Tallow in Starter Broiler Diets

The objective of this study was to determine the energy values of soybean oil (SBO) and tallow (T) combined in different ratios, and to evaluate their effects on the performance, body composition, and serum lipid levels of starter broilers. In experiment I, a digestibility trial was performed to determine the energy value of the SOB and T mixtures using 100 12 - to 21 -day-old broilers. In experiment II, 930 one-day-old broilers were used. Treatments consisted of the inclusion of 4% SBO and T inclusions at the following ratios: 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0. Each treatment included six replicates. In experiment I, AME and AMEn linearly increased (P<0.01), as SBO participation in the mixture increased. In experiment II, the different lipid ratios quadratically influenced (P<0.01) body weight and weight gain at 21 days of age, increasing up to the ratio of 65.87:34.13. Serum lipids linearly decreased (P<0.05) as SOB inclusion in the diet increased. It was concluded that AME and AMEn of SBO and T at ratios of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 were 7.882 and 7.542, 8.384 and 8.076, 8.701 and 8.385, 8.801 and 8.727, and 9.478 and 9.271 kcal/kg, respectively. The best performance with no detrimental effect on carcass yield was obtained with the mixture of 75% SBO with 25% T. The highest dietary soybean oil level reduced serum lipid levels of 21-day-old broilers

Corn texture and particle size in broiler diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn texture and the particle size on broiler performance, carcass yield, nutrient digestibility, and digestive organ morphometrics. In Experiment I, 720 male Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting two corn textures (dented and hard) and three corn particle sizes, was applied, with four replicates of 30 birds each. Corn particle size was classified according to geometric mean diameter (GMD) as fine - 0.46 mm; medium - 0.73 mm, and coarse - 0.87 mm. In Experiment II, 120 broiler chicks were used to evaluate corn digestibility during the periods of 16 to 22 days and 35 to 41 days of age, using the method of total excreta collection. In Experiment I, corn particle size influenced body weight, average weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of 21-day-old birds. Corn texture and particle size did not affect the performance of 42-day-old broilers or carcass traits. In Experiment II, there was no influence of corn texture and particle size on digestive organ weights. Dented corn increased nitrogen excretion in the first trial, and hard corn improved dry matter digestibility in the second metabolic trial. Corn with fine particle size promotes better performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Hard corn results in higher dry matter digestibility and lower nitrogen excretion, and consequently higher production factor in 42-day-old broilers