Exudative glomerulonephritis associated with acute leptospirosis in dogs.

In the past 20 years in Switzerland, dogs with suspect acute leptospirosis frequently showed severe glomerular changes that had not been previously reported. These features were characterized by abundant extravasated erythrocytes and fewer neutrophils accompanied by marked fibrin exudation into the urinary space that was interpreted as an exudative glomerulonephritis (GN). This retrospective study describes this significant glomerular pathological change and investigates the association with leptospirosis. Tissues from 50 dogs with exudative GN, retrieved from 2 pathology archives in Switzerland were reviewed using hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin, and Warthin and Starry stains. Clinical and postmortem data were collected for each case. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or polymerase chain reactions were used as confirmatory tests for leptospirosis. While all 50 cases had clinical and pathological features supporting a diagnosis of leptospirosis, 37 cases were confirmed for the disease. Using a LipL32 antibody in addition to the OMV2177 antibody raised against the lipopolysaccharide of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni increased the detection rate of Leptospira by IHC in exudative GN from 24% to 62%. Signalment, seasonality, clinical signs, blood results, and pathological changes in dogs with exudative GN were similar to those reported for dogs without GN and confirmed infection by Leptospira spp.. Exudative GN was common among Swiss dogs with leptospirosis where it caused acute severe disease. Leptospirosis should be considered as a cause of this new pathologic feature by the pathologist. The pathogenesis remains unclear, but involvement of a geographic-specific serovar with unique virulence factors is suspected and warrants further investigation

Produção da cultivar de trevo branco zapican como cobertura verde e sua resposta a utilização de esterco bovino/ Influence of cattle manure on the production and protective quality of olives brs ponteio cultivar

A introdução de espécies exóticas cultivadas no período outono-hibernal tem como objetivo suprir esse vazio forrageiro e manter ou aumentar a capacidade de suporte das pastagens. Além disso, essas espécies podem ser utilizadas como adubos verdes promovendo a melhoria das características físicas, químicas e biológicas do solo em Sistema Plantio Direto. Dentre as espécies com enorme potencial para a utilização como adubos verdes destaca-se o trevo branco, o qual adapta-se bem as condições climáticas da região sul do Brasil. Como desvantagem, o trevo branco apresenta baixa tolerância a solos ácidos e de baixa fertilidade química do solo, como é o caso do sul do Brasil, exigindo correção e adubação para viabilizar seu estabelecimento e sua persistência. Como alternativa a utilização de fertilizantes químicos de custo atual elevado, existe a possibilidade de utilização de insumos orgânicos como o esterco bovino. Em função do exposto, foi realizado um trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do esterco bovino sobre a produção do trevo branco utilizado como cobertura verde. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelas doses de esterco bovino: 0, 37, 74, 111 e 148 T ha-1. No final do estádio vegetativo, a parte aérea do trevo branco foi cortada para a avaliação das seguintes características respostas: produção de massa verde, produção de massa seca e a concentração de nutrientes. Os resultados demonstraram que a produção de massa seca, massa verde e as concentrações de nitrogênio, fósforo e enxofre responderam linearmente as doses de esterco bovino adicionados. Em função dos resultados observados, conclui-se que o esterco bovino é um insumo orgânico que pode substituir alternativamente os adubos químicos solúveis

Nicotine Promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Nicotine is the major addictive component of tobacco smoke. Although nicotine is generally thought to have limited ability to initiate cancer, it can induce cell proliferation and angiogenesis in a variety of systems. These properties might enable nicotine to facilitate the growth of tumors already initiated. Here we show that nicotine significantly promotes the progression and metastasis of tumors in mouse models of lung cancer. This effect was observed when nicotine was administered through intraperitoneal injections, or through over-the-counter transdermal patches.In the present study, Line1 mouse adenocarcinoma cells were implanted subcutaneously into syngenic BALB/c mice. Nicotine administration either by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection or transdermal patches caused a remarkable increase in the size of implanted Line1 tumors. Once the tumors were surgically removed, nicotine treated mice had a markedly higher tumor recurrence (59.7%) as compared to the vehicle treated mice (19.5%). Nicotine also increased metastasis of dorsally implanted Line1 tumors to the lungs by 9 folds. These studies on transplanted tumors were extended to a mouse model where the tumors were induced by the tobacco carcinogen, NNK. Lung tumors were initiated in A/J mice by i.p. injection of NNK; administration of 1 mg/kg nicotine three times a week led to an increase in the size and the number of tumors formed in the lungs. In addition, nicotine significantly reduced the expression of epithelial markers, E-Cadherin and beta-Catenin as well as the tight junction protein ZO-1; these tumors also showed an increased expression of the alpha(7) nAChR subunit. We believe that exposure to nicotine either by tobacco smoke or nicotine supplements might facilitate increased tumor growth and metastasis.Our earlier results indicated that nicotine could induce invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cultured lung, breast and pancreatic cancer cells. This study demonstrates for the first time that administration of nicotine either by i.p. injection or through over-the-counter dermal patches can promote tumor growth and metastasis in immunocompetent mice. These results suggest that while nicotine has only limited capacity to initiate tumor formation, it can facilitate the progression and metastasis of tumors pre-initiated by tobacco carcinogens

Beyond outputs: pathways to symmetrical evaluations of university sustainable development partnerships

As the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) draws to a close, it is timely to review ways in which the sustainable development initiatives of higher education institutions have been, and can be, evaluated. In their efforts to document and assess collaborative sustainable development program outcomes and impacts, universities in the North and South are challenged by similar conundrums that confront development agencies. This article explores pathways to symmetrical evaluations of transnationally partnered research, curricula, and public-outreach initiatives specifically devoted to sustainable development. Drawing on extensive literature and informed by international development experience, the authors present a novel framework for evaluating transnational higher education partnerships devoted to sustainable development that addresses design, management, capacity building, and institutional outreach. The framework is applied by assessing several full-term African higher education evaluation case studies with a view toward identifying key limitations and suggesting useful future symmetrical evaluation pathways. University participants in transnational sustainable development initiatives, and their supporting donors, would be well-served by utilizing an inclusive evaluation framework that is infused with principles of symmetry

Modular antibodies reveal DNA damage-induced mono-ADP-ribosylation as a second wave of PARP1 signaling

PARP1, an established anti-cancer target that regulates many cellular pathways, including DNA repair signaling, has been intensely studied for decades as a poly(ADP-ribosyl)transferase. Although recent studies have revealed the prevalence of mono-ADP-ribosylation upon DNA damage, it was unknown whether this signal plays an active role in the cell or is just a byproduct of poly-ADP-ribosylation. By engineering SpyTag-based modular antibodies for sensitive and flexible detection of mono-ADP-ribosylation, including fluorescence-based sensors for live-cell imaging, we demonstrate that serine mono-ADP-ribosylation constitutes a second wave of PARP1 signaling shaped by the cellular HPF1/PARP1 ratio. Multilevel chromatin proteomics reveals histone mono-ADP-ribosylation readers, including RNF114, a ubiquitin ligase recruited to DNA lesions through a zinc-finger domain, modulating the DNA damage response and telomere maintenance. Our work provides a technological framework for illuminating ADP-ribosylation in a wide range of applications and biological contexts and establishes mono-ADP-ribosylation by HPF1/PARP1 as an important information carrier for cell signaling. © 2023 The Author(s

Identification of Genes with Allelic Imbalance on 6p Associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Southern Chinese

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy of epithelial origin. The etiology of NPC is complex and includes multiple genetic and environmental factors. We employed case-control analysis to study the association of chromosome 6p regions with NPC. In total, 360 subjects and 360 healthy controls were included, and 233 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 6p were examined. Significant single-marker associations were found for SNPs rs2267633 (p = 4.49×10−5), rs2076483 (most significant, p = 3.36×10−5), and rs29230 (p = 1.43×10−4). The highly associated genes were the gamma-amino butyric acid B receptor 1 (GABBR1), human leukocyte antigen (HLA-A), and HLA complex group 9 (HCG9). Haplotypic associations were found for haplotypes AAA (located within GABBR1, p-value  = 6.46×10−5) and TT (located within HLA-A, p = 0.0014). Further investigation of the homozygous genotype frequencies between cases and controls suggested that micro-deletion regions occur in GABBR1 and neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated 9 (NEDD9). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using 11 pairs of NPC biopsy samples confirmed the significant decline in GABBR1 and NEDD9 mRNA expression in the cancer tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumor tissue (p<0.05). Our study demonstrates that multiple chromosome 6p susceptibility loci contribute to the risk of NPC, possibly though GABBR1 and NEDD9 loss of function

Les faits divers dans le Diario fiorentino de Luca Landucci

I faits divers nel Diario fiorentino di Luca Landucci Il Diario fiorentino di Luca Landucci (1437-1516) — «speziale al Canto dei Tornaquinci» — è un'opera singolare, tra le grandi cronache medievali e i «Libri di famiglia» dei mercanti fiorentini, e costituisce una fonte d'informazioni di prima importanza sulla storia di Firenze dal tempo dei primi Medici alla battaglia di Marignano, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la vicenda di Savonarola. L'originalità di Landucci è che, oltre a questi grandi eventi storici, egli registra numerosi «fatti di cronaca», fenomeni naturali (temporali, terremoti, ecc., e nascite di mostri) come gli altri cronisti della stessa epoca, ma anche molti fatti di «cronaca nera» (assassini, stupri, rapine, suicidi, ecc.), che prendono semplicemente posto nell'ordine cronologico, unica struttura del testo. La tipologia di questi mirabilia che hanno sempre colpito gli uomini potrebbe trovare una lontanissima ed anacronistica similitudine con i faits divers odierni. Ma il loro interesse sta, soprattutto, nel modo con cui vengono narrati, che rivela alcuni aspetti della società fiorentina del tempo, e i suoi valori morali. Questi fatti straordinari, eccessivi, urtano le menti perché sono trasgressivi, rompono sia l'ordine della natura, sia l'ordine sociale. Richiedono quindi un'interpretazione : i fenomeni naturali sono letti come manifestazioni della giustizia divina ; gli atti umani devono essere sottomessi alla giustizia umana, perciò sono sempre inseriti nel discorso della giustizia e nella descrizione del castigo ; è da notare che gli atti di profanazione scandalizzano più di tutti gli altri. La narrazione di tali eventi, di cui per la più parte l'autore è stato testimone di persona, rivela una società violentissima, e anche profondamente impregnata dalla religione, dal timore, in un'epoca così turbata, di un Dio spietato. Landucci non ha, certo, una riflessione filosofica sulla storia, ci porta solo la testimonianza di un cittadino come gli altri. Il suo Diario costituisce una preziosa raccolta di momenti della vita della gente comune.Schuller Michelle. Les faits divers dans le Diario fiorentino de Luca Landucci. In: Arzanà 15, 2012. Écritures italiennes du fait divers. Mirabile médiéval, fatto di cronaca contemporain, sous la direction de Abbruzzetti Véronique et Anne Boulé-Basuyau. pp. 29-41

Les lettres de Lapo Mazzei à Francesco Datini

Les lettres du notaire Lapo Mazzei au richissime « marchand de Prato » Francesco Datini constituent l’histoire d’une amitié exceptionnelle. Pendant vingt ans l’affectueux, modeste et dévoué Mazzei a mené un dialogue épistolaire ininterrompu avec le négociant au « cœur froid », homme d’affaires plus soucieux de ses innombrables occupations matérielles que des questions spirituelles. S’inquiétant pour la santé de son ami vieillissant, Lapo, fervent chrétien, se fait aussi son directeur de conscience, et il n’a de cesse d’essayer de convaincre Francesco, destiné à mourir sans héritier, de se soucier davantage du salut de son âme et du sort de son immense fortune. Il obtient enfin que Datini rédige un testament par lequel il fonde une grande œuvre publique de bienfaisance, encore active aujourd’hui à Prato.Le lettere del «notaio» Lapo Mazzei al ricchissimo «mercante di Prato» Francesco Datini costituiscono la storia di un’amicizia eccezionale. Per venti anni, l’affettuoso, modesto e devoto Mazzei ha condotto un dialogo epistolare ininterrotto con il negoziante dall’«anima agghiacciata», uomo d’affari più preoccupato dalle sue innumerevoli faccende materiali che dalle questioni spirituali. Inquieto per la salute dell’amico che invecchia, Lapo, cristiano fervente, ne diventa anche il direttore spirituale, perseverando nel tentativo di convincere Francesco, condannato a morire senza eredi, a prendersi cura della salvezza della propria anima e della destinazione delle sue immense ricchezze. Alla fine ottiene che Datini rediga un testamento, tramite il quale egli fonda une grande opera pubblica di beneficenza, tutt’ora attiva a Prato

L'exil domestique de Margherita Datini : l'histoire singulière d'un couple

Francesco Datini, il ricchissimo mercante del xiv secolo, ha imposto alla moglie Margherita, rivelatasi sterile, uno stile di vita basato sulla distanza spaziale. Pur vivendo a breve distanza l'uno dall'altra, nelle residenze di Firenze e Prato, la coppia ha sostituito alla convivenza un insolito dialogo epistolare quasi quotidiano, che si è protratto per lunghi anni. L'abbondante corrispondenza scambiata dai due coniugi offre una testimonianza eccezionale del modo in cui Margherita ha vissuto la sua condizione di "esule domestica" sottoposta a un regime esistenziale paragonabile al bando. Al di là della frustrazione e dell'umiliazione che era costretta a subire, nonostante il sovraccarico di compiti che un marito maniaco, autoritario e poco riconoscente continuava a imporle, Margherita ha saputo trarre profitto dalla propria situazione per affermare la propria forte personalità. Tutt' altro che priva di coraggio, fierezza e intelligenza, Margherita Datini ha svolto nei confronti del marito un ruolo decisivo, sia nel campo degli affari sia sul piano spirituale, dimostrando così le proprie qualità e suscitando un meritato rispetto.Francesco Datini, le richissime marchand du XIVe siècle, a tenu son épouse Margherita à l'écart dès lors qu'elle s'est révélée stérile. Bien que vivant, entre Prato et Florence, à peu de distance l'un de l'autre, les deux époux se sont donc écrit presque chaque jour pendant de longues années, produisant un étonnant dialogue conjugal épistolaire. Il ressort de cette correspondance exceptionnelle que, dans cet état de quasi bannissement, cet exil domestique, Margherita, tout en souffrant de ces conditions de vie frustrantes et humiliantes, surchargée de tâches qu'un mari maniaque, autoritaire, et peu reconnaissant, n'en continuait pas moins de lui imposer, a su tirer parti de cette situation pour affirmer sa forte personnalité. Avec fierté, courage et intelligence, elle a joué auprès de son mari un rôle décisif, tant dans les affaires «de ce monde» que dans celles de l'âme, démontrant ainsi ses qualités propres et suscitant le respect.Schuller Michelle. L'exil domestique de Margherita Datini : l'histoire singulière d'un couple. In: Arzanà 16-17, 2013. Écritures de l’exil dans l’Italie médiévale, sous la direction de Anna Fontes Baratto et Marina Gagliano. pp. 303-322