Tissue Cytokine Responses in Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis

To elucidate the local tissue cytokine response of dogs infected with Leishmania chagasi, cytokine mRNA levels were measured in bone marrow aspirates from 27 naturally infected dogs from Brazil and were compared with those from 5 uninfected control animals. Interferon-γ mRNA accumulation was enhanced in infected dogs and was positively correlated with humoral (IgG1) but not with lymphoproliferative responses to Leishmania antigen in infected dogs. Increased accumulation of mRNA for interleukin (IL)4, IL-10, and IL-18 was not observed in infected dogs, and mRNA for these cytokines did not correlate with antibody or proliferative responses. However, infected dogs with detectable IL-4 mRNA had significantly more severe symptoms. IL-13 mRNA was not detectable in either control or infected dogs. These data suggest that clinical symptoms are not due to a deficiency in interferon-γ production. However, in contrast to its role in human visceral leishmaniasis, IL-10 may not play a key immunosuppressive role in dogs

Teicoplanin allergy - an emerging problem in the anaesthetic allergy clinic

Background Anaphylaxis to teicoplanin appears to be extremely rare, with only one confirmed case report worldwide. Two anaesthetic allergy clinics in the UK have received a number of suspected cases referred for investigation, and we present here the first case series of teicoplanin allergy. Methods We investigated 20 cases of suspected teicoplanin allergy, identified from the two clinics over a period of two years. We devised a set of five criteria to categorize the certainty of their diagnosis. These included: (1) reaction within 15 min of administration of teicoplanin, (2) ≥2 features of anaphylaxis present, (3) positive skin testing or challenge testing, (4) raised serum mast cell tryptase (MCT), (5) alternative diagnosis excluded. Based on these criteria we defined the likelihood of IgE-mediated allergy to teicoplanin as: definite-met all criteria; probable-met criteria 1.2 and 5, plus 3 or 4; uncertain-met criteria 1.2 and 5; excluded- any others. Results We identified 7 ‘definite’, 7 ‘probable’ and 2 ‘uncertain’ cases of teicoplanin allergy. Four cases were excluded. Conclusions IgE-mediated anaphylaxis to teicoplanin appears to be more common than previously thought. This is true even if only definitive cases are considered. Investigation of teicoplanin allergy is hampered by the lack of standardized skin test concentrations. In some cases, there was a severe clinical reaction, but without any skin test evidence of histamine release. The mechanism of reaction in these cases is not known and requires further study

Características morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-tanzânia submetido a doses de fósforo e nitrogênio Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of tanzaniagrass submited to phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization

O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, no período de maio a agosto de 2005, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da adubação fosfatada e nitrogenada sobre as características morfogênicas e estruturais do capim-tanzânia. As avaliações morfogênicas englobaram as taxas de aparecimento e alongamento de folhas e a taxa de alongamento de colmo. As avaliações estruturais foram o número total de folhas e número de folhas verdes por perfilho, número de perfilhos da planta e comprimento final da folha. Foi utilizado delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, sendo quatro doses de fósforo (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg/ha de P2O5) e duas doses de nitrogênio (0 e 100 kg/ha de N) com quatro repetições. Foram utilizados vasos com capacidade de 6,3 litros cada, que, após desbaste, permaneceram com quatro plantas por vaso. As doses de N e P foram determinantes para as taxas de alongamento de folhas e alongamento de colmo, o número de perfilhos por planta e número de folhas verdes por perfilho. O suprimento de nitrogênio teve efeito positivo sobre a taxa de aparecimento de folhas, o número total de folhas e o comprimento final da folha do capim-tanzânia. A maioria das variáveis estudadas foi influenciada pela aplicação de fósforo, quando associada à aplicação do nitrogênio.<br>The experiment was accomplished in a greenhouse from May to August of 2005, with the objective of to evaluate the effect of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization on morphogenetic and structural characteristicas of Tanzania grass. The morphogenetic evaluations included leaf appearance, leaf elongation rate, and stem elongation rate. The structural evaluations measurements were: number of leaves, number of green leaves, number of tillers per plant, and final leaf length. It was used a complete randomized experimental design in 4 x 2 factorial scheme, being four phosphorus doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg of P2O5/ha) and two doses of nitrogen (0 and 100 kg of N/ha), with four replicates. It was utilized pots with 6.3 liters capacity each, leaving four plants per pot after staging. The N and P combination affected leaf elongation rate, stem elongation rate, number of tillers per plant, and number of green leaves per tillers. Nitrogen supply had a positive effect on leaf appearance rate, number of leaves, and final leaf length of tanzaniagrass. The majority of the studied variables were affected by the use of phosphorus when associated to N fertilization

Características estruturais de milheto sob pastejo rotativo com diferentes períodos de descanso Structural characteristics of pearl millet under rotational grazing with different rest periods

Com o objetivo de determinar o período de descanso (PD) ideal para a pastagem de milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.), realizou-se um experimento em delineamento completamente ao acaso, com três períodos de descanso (tempos necessários para expansão completa de 1,5 a 2; 2,5 a 3; ou 3,5 a 4 novas folhas), cada um com quatro repetições de área (potreiros). Foram avaliados o número de folhas vivas/perfilho (NFV), o comprimento final da lâmina (CFL), a relação lâmina/bainha e colmo (L/B+C) e a densidade de perfilhos basilares (DPB) e aéreos (DPA). A maior densidade de perfilhos basais, o maior número de folhas vivas e a maior relação lâmina/bainha+colmo no menor período de descanso determinaram maior participação de lâminas verdes no dossel da pastagem e as melhores características estruturais para produção de forragem.<br>This work used the necessary time (days) for a completely elongation of new leaves, i.e., 1.5-2.0; 2.5-3.0 and 3.5-4.0 new leaves completely elongated in order to determine the rest period (RP) between grazing in Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)R. Br.). The experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design with four replications (paddocks). Evaluations were performed for: number of live leaves/tiller (NAL); final length blade (FLB); blade/sheath and culm ratio (B/S+C); basal tiller density (BTD) and aerial tiller density (ATD). The higher BTD; NAL and B/S+C ratio observed in the shortest rest period determined the high quantity of green blades in the pasture sward and consequently the best structural characteristics from the forage point of view