Wobbly syndrome in an african pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) : Neuropathological and immunohistochemical studies Síndrome de wobbly em um ouriço pigmeu africano (Atelerix albiventris): estudo neuropatológico e imuno-histoquímico

Scholarships were provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. Additional support was provided by Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG).A three-year-old female African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), born and domiciled in Brazil, presented apathy, prostration, and difficulty to stay standing. Its parents were siblings but did not present clinical signs related to this condition. As its clinical condition worsened, the animal was euthanized and referred for necropsy. No gross lesions were found in the central nervous system (CNS). Histologically, there was vacuolation with axonal degeneration in the white matter of the CNS and in peripheral nervous tissue. The Kluver-Barrera (KB) stain confirmed demyelination in vacuolated areas. Immunohistochemistry using several neural markers confirmed astrocytosis and microgliosis associated with vacuolated areas. In addition, there was a mild decrease in the immuno intensity of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) in these areas. These results suggest a genetic origin of the present demyelination, which resulted in the wobbly syndrome described in this report

Dimorphandra mollis: An alternative as a source of flavonoids with antioxidant action

Os frutos da espécie Dimorphandra mollis são ricos nos flavonóides rutina e quercetina, que são compostos com alta atividade antioxidante, podendo assim ser utilizados na prevenção de enfermidades causados por radicais livres. O objetivo deste estudo foi obter um extrato rico em flavonóides a partir dos frutos de D. mollis. O extrato foi analisado utilizando os métodos de doseamento por espectrofotometria e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Foi identificada a presença de rutina e quercetina no extrato, que apresentou um teor de flavonóides totais de 33,71 %. O extrato, ainda, apresentou ação antioxidante favorável frete aos radicais DPPH e ABTS. Assim, foi possível concluir que os frutos de D. mollis são uma rica fonte de flavonóides de ação antioxidante.Dimorphandra mollis fruits are rich in flavonoids rutin and quercetin, which are compounds with high antioxidant activity and can be used to prevent diseases caused by free radicals. The aim of this study was to obtain an extract rich in flavonoids from fruits of D. mollis. The extract was analyzed using the methods of determination by spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. The presence of rutin and quercetin was identified in the extract, which showed a total flavonoids content of 33.71 %. The extract also showed antioxidant activity as scanvanger of DPPH and ABTS radicals. It was possible to conclude that D. mollis fruits are a rich source of flavonoids with antioxidant action.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

β-Lactam antibiotics and vancomycin inhibit the growth of planktonic and biofilm Candida spp.: An additional benefit of antibiotic-lock therapy?

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cefepime, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) and vancomycin on strains of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in planktonic and biofilm forms. Twenty azole-derivative-resistant strains of C. albicans (n=10) and C. tropicalis (n=10) were tested. The susceptibility of planktonic Candida spp. to the antibacterial agents was investigated by broth microdilution. The XTT reduction assay was performed to evaluate the viability of growing and mature biofilms following exposure to these drugs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 0.5mg/mL to 2mg/mL for cefepime, TZP and vancomycin and from 0.5mg/mL to 1mg/mL for meropenem and the drugs also caused statistically significant reductions in biofilm cellular activity both in growing and mature biofilm. Since all of the tested drugs are commonly used in patients with hospital-acquired infections and in those with catheter-related infections under antibiotic-lock therapy, it may be possible to obtain an additional benefit from antibiotic-lock therapy with these drugs, namely the control of Candida biofilm formation