Equine leukoencephalomalacia: report of five cases

Relatam-se 5 casos de leucoencefalomalécia em equinos associados com a ingestão de milho mofado, ocorridos durante o inverno de 1990, provenientes de 3 propriedades no Estado de São Paulo, nos municípios de Poá, Pirassununga e Santana do Parnaíba. Os animais apresentaram sinais clínicos semelhantes como ataxia, cegueira, disfagia, andar em círculos e convulsões. Ao exame necroscópico, os cérebros encontravam-se congestos, revelando ao corte áreas de cavitação ao nível da substancia branca sub-cortical. O exame histopatológico exibiu lesões ao nível de substancia branca, caracterizadas por necrose de liquefação, hemorragias focais e infiltrados celulares nos espaços de Virchow-Robin, compostos predominantemente porpolimorfonucleares (eosinófilos e neutrófilos), associados a mononucleares. Análises microbiológicas demonstram que Fusarium moniliforme foi o fungo mais freqüente (1.9 x 10 6 UFC/g de alimento).This paper reports the occurrence of 5 cases of Equine Leukoencephalomalacia associated with the ingestion of mouldy corn during the winter of 1990 in three properties of the State of São Paulo, in the municipal districts of Poá, Pirassununga and Santana do Parnaíba. The animals showed in every case the following clinical signs: blindness, ataxia, dysphagya, tendency to circle and convulsions. The necropsy revealed congestion of brain and areas of cavitation within the hemispheres of subcortical white matter. The histopathological examination show edlesions characterized by liquefactive necrosis, multifocal haemorrhages and cellular infiltration, predominantly of polimorphonuclear (neutrophils and eosinophils) associated with mononuclear cells in the white matter. Microbiological analysis showed a mycoflora composed, predominantly, by Fusarium moniliforme (49.4%), followed by genera Aspergillus (25.8%) and Penicillum (24.8%)

Data on the effects of Hyptis spp. and Lycium spp. plant extracts in C. elegans models of genetically determined neurodegenerative diseases

Supplementary material associated with this article can be found in the online version at: doi:10.1016/j.dib.2020.106598.Here, we present the data on the biological effects of Hyptis spp. and Lycium spp. plant extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models of neurodegenerative diseases, which is related to the work presented in the article "Neurotherapeutic effect of Hyptis spp. leaf extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans models of tauopathy and polyglutamine disease: role of the glutathione redox cycle" [1]. This dataset was generated to define non-toxic concentrations of these plant extracts and to assess their impact on the motor phenotype and oxidative stress resistance of transgenic C. elegans models of two genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases: Machado-Joseph disease and Frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism associated to the chromosome 17. The impact of the plant extracts on toxicity was assessed using the food-clearance assay, absorbance being measured daily for seven days at 595 nm to quantify Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain OP50 bacteria consumption. Worm length and motor behaviour, including spontaneous and stimulated movement, were analysed using videos acquired with an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope with an integrated camera (Olympus SC30) and processed using the Image J® software and the Wrmtrck plugin. The resistance to oxidative stress induced by 240 µM juglone was assessed by determining the percentage of live animals after 1 hour of exposure.The authors thank all members of the Maciel and Dias laboratories for helpful tips and discussion; we also thank the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (CGC), which is funded by NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (P40 OD010440), for providing some of the C. elegans strains; Dr. Brian Kraemer who kindly gave us the C. elegans model of FTDP-17; We thank Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Goiano (IF Goiano) for the cultivation and harvesting of Hyptis spp. plant biomass.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prospective study of ventricular function and myocardial deformation related to survival in acute Chagas disease: an experimental animal model

Chagas disease (CD) has been changing from an endemic Latino-American disease to a condition found outside endemic regions, due to migratory movements. Although often subclinical, its acute phase can be lethal. This study aimed to assess survival during the acute phase of CD and its relationship with ventricular function in an experimental model. To this end, 30 Syrian hamsters were inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi (IG) and other 15 animals received saline solution (CG). Groups were monitored daily and submitted to echocardiography in two moments: before the challenge and 15 days post-infection. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal myocardial strain (GLS) of the LV were measured. The IG was divided into groups of animals with and without clinical signs of disease. ANOVA for mixed models was used to compare ventricular function parameters. Survival analysis was studied using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. The follow-up lasted 60 days. LVEF in IG was reduced through time (53.80 to 43.55%) compared to CG (57.86 to 59.73%) (p=0.002). There was also a reduction of GLS (−18.97% to −12.44%) in the IG compared to CG (p=0.012). Twelve animals from IG died compared to one animal from CG. Eleven out of the 12 animals from the IG group died before presenting with clinical signs of infection. Survival was reduced in the IG compared to CG over time (p=0.02). The reduced survival during the acute phase of this experimental model of Chagas disease was related to the significant reduction of LV function. The mortality rate in the IG was higher in the group presenting with clinical signs of infection

A INTERFERÊNCIA DA PRODUÇÃO DE LEITE NAS TAXAS DE RECUPERAÇÃO OOCITÁRIA E CONVERSÃO EM EMBRIÕES DE DOADORAS DAS RAÇAS GIR E MEIO SANGUE

Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a interação entre a produção de leite e a taxa de recuperação oocitária, produção in vitro de embriões e conversão oócito-embrião de doadoras da raça Gir, Girolando 1/2 sangue e Girolando 5/8. Para o estudo foram utilizadas 150 vacas doadoras de oócitos, selecionadas com base em seu mérito genético. Destas, 50 fêmeas da raça Gir (Bos taurus indicus), 60 fêmeas Girolando 1/2 sangue (1/2 Bos taurus taurus x 1/2 Bos taurus indicus) e 40 Girolando 5/8 (5/8 Bos taurus taurus x 3/8 Bos taurus indicus). A raça Gir apresentou recuperação oocitária inferior às demais avaliadas (Gir 17,5 ± 11,3 x Girolando 1/2 sangue 23,8 ± 15,0 x Girolando 5/8 24,8 ± 11,7) (P0,05). Não houve interação entre a produção de leite e o genótipo da doadora (P>0,05). Entretanto, foi observado uma elevação na recuperação de oócitos e produção de embriões, com a progressão da curva de lactação nas raças Gir e Girolando 1/2 sangue. Por outro lado, as Girolando 5/8 apresentaram diminuição na recuperação de oócitos e conversão em embriões conforme aumento da produção leiteira. Assim, concluiu-se que produção de leite das matrizes não interferiu nos índices de recuperação de oócitos, tampouco na conversão em embriões. Entretanto, várias lacunas precisam ser preenchidas para melhor compreensão das características reprodutivas, principalmente de animais cruzados

DEGRADAÇÃO ANAERÓBIA DE FENOL EM REATORES EM BATELADA SOB CONDIÇÕES FERMENTATIVAS

The goal of this research was to assess phenol degradation on different nutritional conditions. The reactors were carried out in a batch fed with phenol, sulfate and yeast extract, at 30+1oC, under 150 rpm agitation. The reactors fed with phenol (240 mg.l-1) and yeast extract obtained 100% degradation efficiency in 11 days. The reactors fed with phenol (234 mg.l-1), sulfate (162.5 mg.l-1) and yeast extract; and phenol (256 mg.l-1), sulfate (500 mg.l-1) and yeast extract obtained degradation efficiency of 98.8% and 99.3%, respectively, in 17 days. Such efficiencies were obtained by the addition of yeast extract in the reactors, in the beginning of the essays. The analyzes of Molecular Biology had confirmed that the present bacterial community in inoculum remained in the reactors, although to have been operated under distinct nutritional conditions. These conditions had propitiated the permanence of bacterial populations capable to degrade phenol; to leaven phenol and to use sulfate as aceptor electron end.O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a potencialidade do inóculo na degradação de fenol sob diferentes condições nutricionais. Os reatores foram alimentados em batelada com fenol, sulfato e extrato de levedura, a 30+1oC, sob agitação de 150 rpm. Os resultados das eficiências de remoção de fenol demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa entre as condições impostas no experimento. As análises do DGGE confirmaram que a comunidade microbiana presente no inóculo permaneceu nos reatores, apesar de terem sido operados sob condições distintas. Essas condições propiciaram a permanência de populações microbianas capazes de degradar fenol

Minimal set of parameters for evaluation soil microbiota and biological nitrogen fixation in soybean

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e validar um conjunto mínimo de parâmetros para o monitoramento, em campo, da microbiota do solo e da fixação biológica do N2 (FBN) pela soja. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em áreas de plantios comerciais (safra 2002/2003) e experimentais (safra 2004/2005), em blocos ao acaso. O C e o N da biomassa microbiana (CBM e NBM) mostraram-se adequados para a avaliação quantitativa da microbiota do solo e ambos os parâmetros foram correlacionados significativamente, portanto, apenas um deles precisa ser determinado. Foram obtidas correlações positivas e significativas entre a massa da parte aérea seca das plantas (MPAS) e o CBM e o NBM. A análise do DNA total do solo por eletroforese em géis desnaturantes (DGGE) detectou alterações qualitativas na microbiota do solo, relacionadas à homogeneidade da área e a diferenças entre tratamentos, áreas e coletas. A massa de nódulos secos (MNS) foi o melhor parâmetro para a avaliação da nodulação. Correlações significativas foram constatadas entre a MPAS e o N total acumulado na parte aérea (NTPA). Resultados semelhantes foram observados entre a MPAS e o N de ureídos (NTU). O monitoramento da FBN pela soja pode ser realizado apenas pela determinação da MNS e da MPAS.The objective of this work was to evaluate and validate a minimum set of parameters capable of monitoring, under field conditions, soil microbes and/or the biological N2 fixation process with the soybean crop. The field trials were performed in commercial fields (2002/2003) and experimental areas (2004/2004), with complete randomized blocks design. Microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) were adequate for the quantitative evaluation of soil microbes; the parameters were significantly correlated therefore the determination of only one of them is sufficient. Positive and significant correlations were also obtained between the parameters of shoot dry weight (SDW) and MBC and MBN. The analysis of total soil DNA by the denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis method (DGGE) detected qualitative changes in soil microbes, related to the homogeneity of the area, as well as to differences among treatments, areas and harvests. Nodule dry weight (NDW) was the most suitable parameter for the evaluation of nodulation. Significant correlations were obtained between the SDW and the total N accumulated in shoots (TNS). Similar results were obtained between SDW and total N-ureides (TNU). Monitoring of the symbiosis in soils traditionally cropped with soybean and poor on N may be achieved only by the determination of NDW and SDW

A Model of Animal Spirits via Sentiment Spreading

In order to incorporate animal spirits in a scientifically rigorous inquiry about the causes of aggregate business cycles, one needs to explore the foundations of human behavior, namely concerning the process through which sentiment switching occurs. Which factors drive human sentiments? In what conditions a pessimistic individual becomes an optimist, or the other way around? Is it possible to justify persistent waves of optimism and pessimism under reasonable assumptions concerning social behavior? This article proposes a framework to address the posed questions. The setup is based on rumor propagation theory and it explains how social interaction may lead individuals to change from one sentiment state to the other, eventually triggering a rotation between periods of dominant optimism and periods of dominant pessimism.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio