In vitro effects of three woody plant and sainfoin extracts on two parasitic stage of 3 parasitic nematode species

Most studies on the effects of tanniferous plants on nematodes have examined forages but have neglected the woody plants. Therefore, in vitro effects of extracts from 3 woody plants (Rubus fructicosus, Quercus robur, Corylus avellana) have been tested on trichostrongyles and compared to sainfoin, a legume forage. Because some in vivo results indicated that the effects of tannins differed depending on the parasitic species and/or stages, the effects were measured on third-stage larvae (L3) and adult worms of Teladorsagia circumcincta, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The effects of plant extracts varied according to the plant sources, the parasite species and stages. For the woody plants, significant inhibitory effects were obtained on both stages of abomasal species. Results for T. colubriformis were more variable. Effects of sainfoin extracts were significant on T. colubriformis and H.contortus L3, and on abomasal adult worms. In order to assess the implications of tannins, polyethylene glycol (PEG), an inhibitor of tannins, was added to hazel tree, oak and sainfoin extracts. Without PEG, significant inhibitory effects on L3 and adult worms were confirmed. After addition of PEG, the larval migration and motility of adult worms were restored in most cases. These results confirm variations in effects depending on factors related to plants or parasites and suggest that tannins are partly responsible for the effects

Effect of bioactive compounds from Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) on the in vitro larval migration of Haemonchus contortus: role of tannins and flavonol glycosides

Anthelmintic bioactivity against gastrointestinal nematodes has been associated with leguminous forages supporting the hypothesis of a role of condensed tannins. However, the possibility that other compounds might also been involved has received less consideration. Using bio-guided fractionation, the current study aimed at characterising the biochemical nature of the active compounds present in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), previously identified as an anthelmintic leguminous forage. The effects of sainfoin extracts were evaluated on 3rd stage larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus by using a larval migration inhibition (LMI) assay. Comparison of extracts obtained with several solvent systems showed that the bioactivity was associated with the 70:30 acetone/water extract. Further fractionation of the later allowed the separation of phenolic compounds. By use of a dialysis method, compounds were separated with a molecular weight cut-off of 2000 Da. The in vitro anthelmintic effects of the fraction with condensed tannins was confirmed. In the fraction containing molecules of MW < 2000 Da, 3 flavonol glycosides were identified as rutin, nicotiflorin and narcissin. At 1200 μg/ml, each inhibited significantly migration of larvae. Addition of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVPP) to both fractions before incubation restore larval migration. These results confirmed the role of both tannins and flavonol glycosides in the anthelmintic properties of sainfoin

Observación confirmada de Oxalis dillenii en España

We confirm the presence of Oxalis dillenii Jacq. in the Catalonian province Lleida (Catalonia, Spain). Identification was confirmed morphologically and through DNA barcode sequencing. A map of the distribution of O. dillenii is supplied, as are notes on its identification.Confirmamos la presencia de Oxalis dillenii Jacq. en la provincia de Lérida (Cataluña, España). La identidad de la especie fue confirmada tanto por sus características morfológicas como a través de la secuenciación del código de barras del ADN. Se proporciona un mapa de distribución de O. dillenii, así como notas sobre su identificación

Intra-abdominal hypertension in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal compartment syndrome has been described in patients with severe acute pancreatitis, but its clinical impact remains unclear. We therefore studied patient factors associated with the development of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), the incidence of organ failure associated with IAH, and the effect on outcome in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: We studied all patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) because of SAP in a 4 year period. The incidence of IAH (defined as intra-abdominal pressure ≥ 15 mmHg) was recorded. The occurrence of organ dysfunction during ICU stay was recorded, as was the length of stay in the ICU and outcome. RESULTS: The analysis included 44 patients, and IAP measurements were obtained from 27 patients. IAH was found in 21 patients (78%). The maximum IAP in these patients averaged 27 mmHg. APACHE II and Ranson scores on admission were higher in patients who developed IAH. The incidence of organ dysfunction was high in patients with IAH: respiratory failure 95%, cardiovascular failure 91%, and renal failure 86%. Mortality in the patients with IAH was not significantly higher compared to patients without IAH (38% versus 16%, p = 0.63), but patients with IAH stayed significantly longer in the ICU and in the hospital. Four patients underwent abdominal decompression because of abdominal compartment syndrome, three of whom died in the early postoperative course. CONCLUSION: IAH is a frequent finding in patients admitted to the ICU because of SAP, and is associated with a high occurrence rate of organ dysfunction. Mortality is high in patients with IAH, and because the direct causal relationship between IAH and organ dysfunction is not proven in patients with SAP, surgical decompression should not routinely be performed

Low-field magnetoresistance in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 manganite compounds prepared by the spray drying technique

peer reviewedCalcium-substituted lanthanum manganite compounds were synthesized by the spray drying technique. This method - whose main advantages are versatility, high reproducibility and scalability - yields small grain materials of high homogeneity and displaying low-field magnetoresistance effects. We report about the physical and chemical characterizations of these samples in order to investigate the potential interest of spray drying for the production of materials for low-field magnetoresistance applications. We have studied the dependence of the low-field magnetoresistance on the temperature and duration of the thermal treatment applied to the pelletized powders. The issue of the shape anisotropy (demagnetisation effects) influence on the magnetoresistance properties has also been dealt with. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc

Knot invariants in lens spaces

In this survey we summarize results regarding the Kauffman bracket, HOMFLYPT, Kauffman 2-variable and Dubrovnik skein modules, and the Alexander polynomial of links in lens spaces, which we represent as mixed link diagrams. These invariants generalize the corresponding knot polynomials in the classical case. We compare the invariants by means of the ability to distinguish between some difficult cases of knots with certain symmetries

Perioperative factors determine outcome after surgery for severe acute pancreatitis

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that postponing surgery in critically ill patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) leads to improved survival, but previous reports included patients with both sterile and infected pancreatic necrosis who were operated on for various indications and with different degrees of organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery, which might be an important bias. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of timing of surgery and perioperative factors (severity of organ dysfunction and microbiological status of the necrosis) on mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing surgery for SAP. METHODS: We retrospectively (January 1994 to March 2003) analyzed patients admitted to the ICU with SAP. Of 124 patients, 56 were treated surgically; these are the subject of this analysis. We recorded demographic characteristics and predictors of mortality at admission, timing of and indications for surgery, and outcome. We also studied the microbiological status of the necrosis and organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery. RESULTS: Patients' characteristics were comparable in patients undergoing early and late surgery, and there was a trend toward a higher mortality in patients who underwent early surgery (55% versus 29%, P = 0.06). In univariate analysis, patients who died were older, had higher organ dysfunction scores at the day of surgery, and had sterile necrosis more often; there was a trend toward earlier surgery in these patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that only age, organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery, and the presence of sterile necrosis were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of critically ill patients operated on for SAP, there was a trend toward higher mortality in patients operated on early in the course of the disease, but in multivariate analysis, only greater age, severity of organ dysfunction at the moment of surgery, and the presence of sterile necrosis, but not the timing of the surgical intervention, were independently associated with an increased risk for mortality

Etude in vitro de l’effet des tanins de Newbouldia laevis et de Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloïdes sur la migration des larves infestantes de Haemonchus contortus

Dans le but d&rsquo;aborder le m&eacute;canisme d&rsquo;action des extraits ac&eacute;toniques et &eacute;thanoliques de Newbouldia laevis (Bignoniaceae) et de Zanthoxylum zanthoxylo&iuml;des (Rutaceae), leur effet inhibiteur a &eacute;t&eacute; &eacute;valu&eacute; in vitro sur la migration larvaire de Haemonchus contortus. Le test d&rsquo;inhibition de la migration larvaire (LMI) a &eacute;t&eacute; appliqu&eacute; sur les larves infestantes (L3), &acirc;g&eacute;es de 2 &agrave; 3 mois incub&eacute;es avec des extraits v&eacute;g&eacute;taux &agrave; diff&eacute;rentes concentrations : 150, 300, 600 et 1200 &mu;g/mL mis ou non en contact avec la polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP). Un t&eacute;moin n&eacute;gatif (tampon PBS) a &eacute;t&eacute; inclus dans chaque test. L&rsquo;observation sous microscope et le d&eacute;nombrement des L3 ayant migr&eacute; par rapport au nombre total de larves d&eacute;pos&eacute;es dans l&rsquo;insert ont permis de calculer le taux de la migration larvaire. Les extraits de Newbouldia laevis et de Zanthoxylum zanthoxylo&iuml;des inhibent in vitro la migration larvaire de Haemonchus contortus. Cet effet est dose-d&eacute;pendant (p&lt;0,001). Les extraits hydro&eacute;thanoliques ont eu plus d&rsquo;effet surtout aux fortes doses. Le contact des extraits des plantes avec la polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) annule tout ou une partie de l&rsquo;effet anthelminthique des extraits. Ces r&eacute;sultats sugg&egrave;rent que l&rsquo;inhibition de la migration larvaire est en partie due &agrave; l&rsquo;action des tanins. Le pourcentage d&rsquo;inhibition d&ucirc; aux tanins est de 28,60% quel que soit la plante et quel que soit le solvant d&rsquo;extraction.Keywords: Haemonchus contortus, migration larvaire, tanins, Zanthoxylum zanthoxylo&iuml;des, Newbouldia laevis, B&eacute;ni

Development of a multiplex assay for antibody detection in serum against pathogens affecting ruminants

Numerous infectious diseases impacting livestock impose an important economic burden and in some cases also represent a threat to humans and are classified as zoonoses. Some zoonotic diseases are transmitted by vectors and, due to complex environmental and socio‐economic factors, the distribution of many of these pathogens is changing, with increasing numbers being found in previously unaffected countries. Here, we developed a multiplex assay, based on a suspension microarray, able to detect specific antibodies to five important pathogens of livestock (three of them zoonotic) that are currently emerging in new geographical locations: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Schmallenberg virus (SBV), Bluetongue virus (BTV) and the bacteria complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using the Luminex platform, polystyrene microspheres were coated with recombinant proteins from each of the five pathogens. The mix of microspheres was used for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against the five corresponding diseases affecting ruminants. The following panel of sera was included in the study: 50 sera from sheep experimentally infected with RVFV, 74 sera from calves and lambs vaccinated with SBV, 26 sera from cattle vaccinated with Mycobacterium bovis, 30 field sera from different species of ruminants infected with CCHFV and 88 calf sera infected with BTV. Finally, to determine its diagnostic specificity 220 field sera from Spanish farms free of the five diseases were assessed. All the sera were classified using commercial ELISAs specific for each disease, used in this study as the reference technique. The results showed the multiplex assay exhibited good performance characteristics with values of sensitivity ranging from 93% to 100% and of specificity ranging from 96% to 99% depending on the pathogen. This new tool allows the simultaneous detection of antibodies against five important pathogens, reducing the volume of sample needed and the time of analysis where these pathogens are usually tested individually

Galloylated proanthocyanidins from shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) meal have potent anthelmintic activity against Ascaris suum

Proanthocyanidins (PA) from shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) meal were investigated by thiolytic degradation with benzyl mercaptan and the reaction products were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. These PA were galloylated (≈40%), contained only B-type linkages and had a high proportion of prodelphinidins (>70%). The mean degree of polymerisation was 8 (i.e. average molecular size was 2384 Da) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) was the major flavan-3-ol subunit in PA. Shea meal also proved to be a potentially valuable source for extracting free flavan-3-ol-O-gallates, especially EGCg (575 mg/kg meal), which is known for its health and anti-parasitic benefits. Proanthocyanidins were isolated and tested for bioactivity against Ascaris suum, which is an important parasite of pigs. Migration and motility tests revealed that these PA have potent activity against this parasitic nematode