The aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes AAH1 and AAH2 in Toxoplasma gondii contribute to transmission in the cat

The Toxoplasma gondii genome contains two aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes, AAH1 and AAH2 encode proteins that produce L-DOPA, which can serve as a precursor of catecholamine neurotransmitters. It has been suggested that this pathway elevates host dopamine levels thus making infected rodents less fearful of their definitive Felidae hosts. However, L-DOPA is also a structural precursor of melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks, which are produced by many species. For example, dityrosine crosslinks are abundant in the oocyst walls of Eimeria and T. gondii, although their structural role has not been demonstrated, Here, we investigated the biology of AAH knockout parasites in the sexual reproductive cycle within cats. We found that ablation of the AAH genes resulted in reduced infection in the cat, lower oocyst yields, and decreased rates of sporulation. Our findings suggest that the AAH genes play a predominant role during infection in the gut of the definitive feline host

A prospective randomized study to compare dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as an adjunct to bupivacaine in transversus abdominis plane block for post-operative analgesia in caesarean delivery

Background: Caesarean section is most frequently performed surgery worldwide. Patients experience moderate to severe pain in the first 48 hours post-operatively. Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as an adjunct to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided TAP block for postoperative analgesia in patients of caesarean section.Methods: A total 120 ASA I and II patients undergoing elective and emergency caesarean section under subarachnoid block were randomly divided into three groups B, BDM, BDX to receive bupivacaine alone or dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone as an adjunct to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided TAP block. Postoperatively, the patients were evaluated for pain level at rest and on movement with a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain), time to demand of first analgesic request, number of analgesic requirements, nausea or vomiting, sedation and patient satisfaction at 0 hours and at 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours.Results: VAS score was significantly higher in group B in comparison to BDM and BDX, and higher in BDX in comparison to group BDM. Mean duration of analgesia was significantly higher in group BDM in comparison to group B and BDX. Total number of rescue analgesic demands were significantly lower in group BDM in comparison to group B and BDX. Sedation score and satisfaction score was higher in group BDM as compared to group B and BDX.Conclusions: Addition of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as an adjunct to bupivacaine reduces postoperative pain, prolongs analgesia, decreases demand for additional analgesics and provides better maternal satisfaction as compared to plain bupivacaine group in TAP block in patients undergoing caesarean section under subarachnoid block. Among dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone, dexmedetomidine had prolonged analgesia as compared to dexamethasone group

Stress Biomarkers in Vanaraja Chicken Maintained Under Various Rearing Systems

Stress is of major concern for poultry industry because it exerts deleterious effects on different parameters like feed intake, feed conversion ratio, weight gain, etc. In present study various enzymatic viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and non-enzymatic components like reduced glutathione (GSH), hemoglobin and stress induced cellular damage i.e. lipid peroxidation was estimated to access the stress level in Vanaraja chickens reared under various rearing systems during summer. Significantly (p<0.05) increased activities of CAT and SOD was observed in deep litter system as compared to cage and semi-intensive rearing system. However, non-significant change in CAT and significantly increased activity of SOD was observed as the age progress. GSH-Px activity significantly lower (p<0.05) in the deep litter as compared to other systems, however, the activity increases significantly (p<0.05) at 8th wks as compared to 4th wks. GSH level was found maximum in cage system compared to deep litter and semi-intensive system. Non-significant changes were observed in hemoglobin concentration during study both between age groups as well as the age progresses. Observations of the study suggested that cage system is better than deep litter and semi-intensive system in handling the stress induced by different environmental factors

Luminescence properties of the Eu2+ /Eu3 + activated Barium aluminate phosphors with varies Gd3+ concentration

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Transactions of the Indian Ceramic Society on 2015, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/0371750X.2015.1082932[EN] BaAl2O4:Eu2(+)/Eu3(+) (1mol %) co-doped with varying concentrations of Gd3(+) (1, 2, 5 and 10mol%) were prepared by combustion synthesis method at 600 degrees C. All the compositions were investigated for their structural and photoluminescence properties. Samples prepared in open atmosphere showed the presence of both Eu3(+) and Eu2(+) states which indicates the reduction of Eu3(+) to Eu2(+) during the preparation of these compounds. The prepared materials at 600 degrees C showed high intense broad peaks around 498nm corresponding to Eu2(+) and small peaks in the red region which are attributed to the presence of Eu3(+). In the 1000 degrees C annealed compounds, the intensity of the peak at 498nm got increased. The intensity of this broad band for BaAl2O4:Eu2(+)/Eu3(+)(1mol%):Gd3(+)(1mol%) was three times than that of BaAl2O4:Eu2(+)/Eu3(+)(1mol%). Thus second rare earth ion (Gd3(+)) acted as a good sensitizer and enhanced the photoluminescence intensity. The XRD spectra revealed the presence of hexagonal phase of BaAl2O4 as main phase and a small amount of a mixed phase Ba O! 6.6 Al2O3. Doping of Eu3(+), Gd3(+) did not change the crystalline structure of barium aluminate (BaAl2O4).This work was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana through grant PROMETEUS 2009/2013 and the European Commission through Nano CIS project (FP7-PEOPLE2010-IRSES ref. 269279).Marí, B.; Singh, K.; Verma, N.; Mollar García, MA.; Jindal, J. (2015). Luminescence properties of the Eu2+ /Eu3 + activated Barium aluminate phosphors with varies Gd3+ concentration. Transactions of the Indian Ceramic Society. 74(3):157-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/0371750X.2015.1082932S15716174

Luminescence Properties of CaAl2O4:Eu3+, Gd3+ Phosphors Synthesized by Combustion Synthesis Method

[EN] CaAl2O4:Eu3+ (1 mol.%) co-doped with varying concentration of Gd3+ (1, 2, 5, and 10 mol.%) were prepared by combustion synthesis method at 600 C and further annealed at 1000 ºC. All the compositions were investigated for their structural and photoluminescence properties. It was observed that both states of europium i.e. Eu3+ and Eu2+ were present and ratio of these states changes on heating at 1000 ºC. The materials synthesized at 600 ºC showed high intense peak around 440 nm due to presence of Eu2+ and less intense peaks in the red region which were due to presence of Eu3+. On annealing the compounds at 1000 ºC, intensity of peak around 440 nm decreases and intensity of peaks in the red region increases significantly. The 5D0 !7 F3 transition due to Eu3+ at 657 nm appears as the highest intensity peak. All co-doped samples annealed at 1000 ºC showed the higher intensity than the mono doped sample which is due to energy transfer from the Gd3+ to Eu3+. The second rare-earth ion (Gd3+) acts as sensitizer and enhances the photoluminescence intensity. The X-ray diffraction spectra reveal the monoclinic phase of CaAl2O4 in all the samples which showed that Eu3+ and Gd3+ do not change the crystalline structure of calcium aluminate.This work was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana through grant PROMETEUS 2009/2013 and the European Commission through Nano CIS project (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES ref. 269279).This work was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana through grant PROMETEUS 2009/2013 and the European Commission through Nano CIS project (FP7- PEOPLE-2010-IRSES ref. 269279).Verma, N.; Singh, K.; Marí, B.; Mollar García, MA.; Jindal, J. (2017). Luminescence Properties of CaAl2O4:Eu3+, Gd3+ Phosphors Synthesized by Combustion Synthesis Method. Acta Physica Polonica A. 132(4):1261-1264. https://doi.org/10.12693/APhysPolA.132.1261S12611264132

Anodic Oxide Films on Niobium and Tantalum in Different Aqueous Electrolytes and Their Impedance Characteristics

[EN] The anodic oxide films were prepared on the niobium and tantalum in aqueous electrolyte mixtures containing 1 M CH3COOH + 1 M H3PO4 or 1 M CH3COOH + 1 vol.% HF or 1 M CH3COOH + 1 M H3PO4 + 1 vol.% HF at 30 V for 30 min. The barrier films were obtained on both niobium and tantalum surfaces in all electrolyte mixtures except niobium oxide film formed in 1 M CH3COOH + 1 vol.% HF which is porous in nature. The anodic oxide "pedance spectroscopy at open-circuit potential on Nb and Ta was applied and obtained data were analyzed by fitting with four different equivalent circuits.Verma, N.; Singh, K.; Marí Soucase, B.; Mollar García, MA.; Jindal, J. (2016). Anodic Oxide Films on Niobium and Tantalum in Different Aqueous Electrolytes and Their Impedance Characteristics. Acta Physica Polonica A. 129:297-303. doi:10.12693/APhysPolA.129.297S29730312

Fabrication and Structural Studies of Porous Anodic Oxid Films on Pure Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy (AA 1100)

[EN] Pure aluminium and aluminium alloy 1100 samples were anodized by one step and two step process. The foils were anodised in 0.3 M sulphuric acid solution at constant voltage of 25V and the temperature was maintained at 20 oC. The effect of increase of exposure time in second anodization step on the structural features was studied on AA 1100. A well ordered nanoporous structure were produced. It was found that in two step anodization process the produced film have very regular hexagonal cells with uniform pores as compare to single step anodization in both Al and AA 1100. The two step anodization improves both pore diameter and uniformity. With the increase in second step anodization time the complexities of porous film increases due to formation of sub pores.Naveen Verma thanks the University grant commission, Delhi, India for providing financial assistance under UGC major research project 40-77/2011(SR) and Jitender thanks CSIR, New Delhi, India for the award of Junior Research Fellowship.Verma, N.; Singh, KC.; Marí Soucase, B.; Jitender (2014). Fabrication and Structural Studies of Porous Anodic Oxid Films on Pure Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy (AA 1100). Chemical Science. 3(2):556-561. https://doi.org/10.7598/cst2014.726S5565613

Ultrastructure of Sarcocystis bertrami sarcocysts from a naturally infected donkey (Equus asinus) from Egypt

There is considerable confusion concerning Sarcocystis species in equids. Little is known of Sarcocystis infections in donkeys (Equus asinus). Here we describe the structure of Sarcocystis bertrami-like from the donkey by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nineteen sarcocysts from the tongue of a donkey from Egypt were studied both by LM and TEM. By LM, all sarcocysts had variably shaped and sized projections on the sarcocyst walls, giving it a thin-walled to thick-walled appearance, depending on individual sarcocyst and plane of section. By TEM, sarcocysts walls had villar protrusions (vp) of type 11. The sarcocyst wall had conical to slender vp, up to 6 µm long and 1 µm wide; the vp were folded over the sarcocyst wall. The total thickness of the sarcocyst wall with ground substance layer (gs) was 1-3 µm. The vp had microtubules (mt) that originated deeper in the gs and continued up to the tip. The apical part of the vp had electron dense granules. The mt were configured into 3 types: a tuft of electron dense mt1 extending the entire length of the vp with a tuft of medium electron dense mt2 appearing in parallel, and fine mt3 present only in the villar tips. The gs was mainly smooth with few indistinct granules. All sarcocysts were mature and contained metrocytes and bradyzoites. Bradyzoites were approximately 11-15 × 2-3 µm in size with typical organelles.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR2016-07-30hb201

A review of sarcocystosis in camels and redescription of Sarcocystis cameli and Sarcocystis ippeni sarcocysts from the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

There is considerable confusion concerning Sarcocystis species in camels. Five species: Sarcocystis cameli, S. ippeni, S. camelicanis, S. camelocanis, and S. miescheri were named with inadequate descriptions and no type specimens. Here, we review literature on sarcocystosis in camels worldwide and redescribe structure of S. cameli and S. ippeni sarcocysts by light and transmission electron microscopy (LM, TEM). Eight sarcocysts from the esophagi of two camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Egypt were studied. By LM all sarcocysts were thin walled with barely visible projections on the cyst walls. By TEM, two structurally distinct sarcocysts were recognized by unique villar protrusions (vp) not found in sarcocysts from any other host. Sarcocysts of S. cameli had vp of type 9j. The sarcocyst wall had upright slender vp, up to 3.0 μm long and 0.5 μm wide; the total thickness of the sarcocyst wall with ground substance layer (gs) was 3.5 μm. On each vp there were rows of knob-like protrusions that appeared to be interconnected. The vp had microtubules that originated at mid point of the gs and continued up to the tip; microtubules were smooth, without any granules or dense areas. Bradyzoites were approximately 14-15 x 3-4 μm in size with typical organelles. Sarcocystis ippeni sarcocysts had type 32 sarcocyst wall characterized by conical villar protrusions with an electron dense knob. The total thickness of the sarcocyst wall (from the base of gs to vp tip) was 2.3-3.0 μm. The vp were up to 1.2 μm wide at the base and 0.25 μm at the tip. Microtubules in vp originated at midpoint of gs and continued up to tip; microtubules were criss-crossed, smooth and without granules or dense areas. Bradyzoites were 12.0-13.5 x 2.0-3.0 μm in size. Sarcocystis camelicanis, S. camelocanis, and S. miescheri are considered invalid.R. Calero-Bernal is a postdoctoral fellow (ref. PO12010) funded by the Department of Employment and Innovation of the Regional Government of Extremadura (Spain) and the European Social Fund.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR2016-01-31hb201

Redescription of Sarcocystis fusiformis sarcocysts from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Four valid species of Sarcocystis have been reported from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Sarcocystis fusiformis, Sarcocystis buffalonis, Sarcocystis levinei and Sarcocystis dubeyi. Here, we redescribe structure of S. fusiformis sarcocysts by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). Twenty-one macroscopic sarcocysts from oesophagus of the water buffalo in Egypt were examined by light microscopy, SEM and TEM. The sarcocyst wall was up to 9 μm thick, depending on the section and the technique. In 5 μm paraffin-embedded sections, the sarcocyst wall was indistinct, 2–5 μm thick and appeared smooth. In 1 μm plastic-embedded sections stained with toluidine blue, the sarcocyst wall was 2·5–5·2 μm thick and had branched villar protrusions (vp)-like branches of a dead tree. By SEM, the sarcocyst wall had a mesh-like structure with irregularly shaped vp that were folded over the sarcocyst wall. On each vp there were uniform papillomatous structures that were 100 nm wide. By TEM, vp were up to 6 μm long and contained filamentous tubular structures, most of which were parallel to the long axis of the projections; granules were absent from these tubules. By TEM, bradyzoites within the same cyst varied from 11·2 to 16·8 μm in length. By TEM, bradyzoites had a very long (10 μm) convoluted mitochondrion, up to 12 dense granules, but only 2 rhoptries. This redescription should help to differentiate the sarcocysts of S. fusiformis from similar sarcocysts in domestic and wild ruminants.R. Calero-Bernal is a postdoctoral fellow (ref. PO12010) funded by the Department of Employment and Innovation of the Regional Government of Extremadura (Spain) and the European Social Fund.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PARhb201