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A suspected virus infection of the oral mucosa in Swedish reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L)

In 1980 a rather high frequency of reindeer, supplementarily fed in pens, were taken ill and deaths occurred as well. In five out of eight carcasses necrophsied oral lesions were observed. Histologically the mucosa, surrounding these lesions, was charasterized by the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, inter- and intracellular oedema and vesicle formation. Fusobacterium necrophorum, Coll, betahaemolizing streptococci, and Cory neb acterium pyogenes found in the lesions were all considered secondary invaders. Serological samples from disease stricken herds were tested for antibodies against BVD-, P13-, and IBR-virus as well as Chlamydia. Low positive titres were observed but for BVDV. The result indicates that a thus far unidentified virus might be the primary cause of this enzootically occurring disease

Calibration of a semi-distributed hydrological model using discharge and remote sensing data

The objective of this study is to present an approach to calibrate a semi-distributed hydrological model using observed streamflow data and actual evapotranspiration time series estimates based on remote sensing data. First, daily actual evapotranspiration is estimated using available MODIS satellite data, routinely collected meteorological data, and applying the SEBS algorithm. Second, the semi-distributed hydrological model HBV is calibrated and validated using the estimated evapotranspiration and observed discharge. This is done for multiple sub-basins of the Karkheh River basin in Iran. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NS) is calculated for each sub-basin. Maximum and minimum NS values for the calibration using observed discharge are 0.81 and 0.23, respectively, and using estimated evapotranspiration 0.61 and 0.46, respectively. The comparison of model simulations with multiple observed variables increases the probability of selecting a parameter set that represents the actual hydrological situation of the basin. The new calibration approach can be useful for further applications, especially in data-sparse river basin

Diuretic action of exogenous hydrogen sulfide in spontaneously hypertensive diabetic rats

Purpose: To examine the hypothesis that in hypertensive diabetic rats hydrogen sulphide (H2S) reduces blood pressure through diuretic action in addition to its vasodilating effect.Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used. SHR were divided into three groups: SHR (II), SHR diabetic (III), and SHR diabetic NaHS-Treated (IV) with a group of WKY (I) rats serving as normotensive nondiabetic control. Diabetes was produced in two SHR groups using intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ). One diabetic group received NaHS, a donor of H2S (56 μM/kg i.p.) daily for five weeks. Blood pressure was measured in conscious and anesthetized states in surgically prepared animals. Plasma and urinary H2S levels and electrolytes were measured weekly throughout the 35-day period.Results: SHR and diabetic SHR had higher blood pressure and lower plasma and urinary H2S levels compared to WKY controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the SHR diabetic group had higher plasma sodium, higher absolute and fractional sodium excretions (p < 0.05) but with similar blood pressure compared to SHR controls. NaHS treatment reduced blood pressure and restored H2S and plasma sodium (p < 0.05) levels. Moreover, SHR diabetic-NaHS treated group had higher urine output and absolute urinary sodium excretion compared to the untreated SHR diabetic group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: These results suggest a possible diuretic effect of exogenous H2S in spontaneously hypertensive diabetic rats.Keywords: Spontaneously hypertensive rats, Diabetes, Hydrogen sulphide, Diuretic, Sodium excretion, Urine outpu

Acesso ao desempenho de irrigação na cultura da mangueira na região semi-árida do Nordeste do Brasil.

Parâmetros hídricos foram estimados em um cultivo comercial de mangueira durante dois ciclos produtivos. A evapotranspiração atual ( ET) foi obtida pelo método das correlações turbulentas, enquanto para a de referência ( ET0), a equação de Penman Monteith (FAO 56) foi aplicada. O valor acumulado médio de ET para os dois ciclos foi de 1333 mm, correspondendo a uma taxa diária de 3,5 mm dia ­1 e coeficientes de cultura baseados na evapotranspiração ( Kc) e transpiração ( Kcb) de 0,87 e 0,78, respectivamente. A fração média de depleção de água ( FD) no solo foi de 0,80 e o déficit hídrico médio ( DH) médio foi de 118 mm, representando em geral um bom desempenho de irrigação. A produtividade de água ( PA) foi em torno de 4.5, 3,4 e 5 kg m ­3 quando baseada na irrigação, evapotranspiração e transpiração, respectivamente. Os valores monetários correspondentes foram 4,60, 3,50 e 5,20 US$ m ­3, o que indicou um elevado rendimento com o cultivo irrigado da cultura da mangueira na região semiárida do Brasil

ADIPONECTIN VERSUS THIAZOLIDINEDIONES AND ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS

Adipose tissue has gained great attention during the last decade. It represents not only a depot for energy stores, but also releases adipocytokines regulating energy disposal and can therefore be considered from therapeutic point of view. Hypoadiponectemia is an independent threat for development of metabolic syndrome. When subjects treated with antidiabetic (Thiazolidinediones) and antihypertensive (angiotensin receptor blocker) agents , the plasma concentration of adiponectin, the only component of adipocytokines, directly proportional to plasma values of these drugs. The prevalance of hypertension and T2DM is mounting with unprecedented degree in both developing and advanced countries, therefore, there is a dire need to find safer and economical therapeutic regimes for the treatment of these ailments, and intensive research is also underway for this purpose. PPARγ serves as a common link in the actions of ADN, TZDs and ARBs when exerting their effects, and it is responsible for stimulation of adiponectin receptors, thus ultimately enhancing the levels of adiponectin in plasma. This review aims to elucidate the role, link and use of ARBs, ADN and TZDs as a safer and convenient approach for the treatment of these co-morbidities as a unanimous or single remedy from comparative point of view

Matrix and Tensor Factorization Methods for Toxicogenomic Modeling and Prediction

Peer reviewe

Antimicrobial potential of alkaloids and flavonoids extracted from Tamarix aphylla leaves against common human pathogenic bacteria

Background: Alkaloids and flavonoids are secondary metabolites extracted from different medicinal plants. Tamarix aphylla a traditionally valuable medicinal plant; was used for the extraction of alkaloids and flavonoids in order to evaluate their antibacterial activity.Methodology: The leaves of the plant were collected from district Kohat, Pakistan, and their alkaloids and flavonoids were extracted with ethanol and methanol, respectively. Four bacteria i.e. Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were selected for the biological screening of these phyto-constituents.Results: The concentration of alkaloids was found to be more in the leaves of Tamarix aphylla than flavonoids. The extracted phytochemicals showed varied inhibition zones against tested bacterial isolates. Alkaloids showed highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (14±0.6 mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13±0.7 mm). Conversely, flavonoids showed the highest inhibitory affect against Salmonella typhi (17±0.7 mm) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14±0.7 mm). However, both extracts showed the lowest inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli.Conclusions: It was concluded that the alkaloids and flavonoids from Tamarix aphylla leaves have antimicrobial potential against common human bacterial pathogens. However, flavonoids were found to be more active phytochemical against tested bacterial strains as compared to alkaloids.Keywords: Kohat; Medicinal plants; Phytochemical screening; In-vitro activity; Bacterial strains