Clinical and pathological aspects and cerebellar lectin binding in cattle poisoned with Solanum fastigiatum var. fastigiatum and Solanum bonariense

Microscopic and lectin histochemical studies were performed using the cerebella of 33 natural cases of Solanum fastigiatum var. fastigiatum intoxication in the cattle from southern Brazil and 2 natural and 4 experimental cases of Solanum bonariense from Uruguay. The following biotinylated lectins were used in both cases: WGA, sWGA, BS-I, Con-A, RCA-I, DBA, and UEA-I, with the addition of LCA in S. fastigiatum poisoning cases. Histologically, the lesions consisted of fine vacuolization, distention of portions of the Purkinje cells, axonal spheroids measuring 14-50 m in the granular cell layer and adjacent white matter and, proliferation of the Bergmann?s glia. Lectin histochemistry revealed strong reactivity of stored material in Purkinje neurons with the lectins sWGA, Con-A, and LCA in S. fastigiatum cases. A similar pattern was found in S. bonariense cases with a most intense reactions to WGA, and less intense reaction to Con-A, whereas BS-I and RCA-I binding was absent to poor in these neurons in all the cases studied.Lectin reactivity in Purkinje cells between cases was independent of cell damage (from mild to severe loss of neurons). Both S. fastigiatum and S. bonariense have similar lectin binding,  suggesting a similar pathogenesis. Since comparable binding patterns have been described in animals poisoned with swainsonine-containing plants, perhaps the toxins in these plants contain related glycosidaseinhibiting toxins or inhibit glycoprotein and lysosomal metabolism through some related mechanism. The results of this study showed that in spontaneous poisoning by S. fastigiatum and S. bonariense in the cattle, the pattern of lectin binding is similar to those observed in S. fastigiatum experimental conditions.Fil: Sant’Ana, Fabiano J.F.. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Barbeito, Claudio Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Nishida, Fabian. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Gimeno, Eduardo Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Verdes, José M.. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Moraña, Antonio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Barros, Claudio S.L.. Universidad de la República; Urugua

πΞ\pi\Xi phase shifts and CP Violation in Ω→πΞ{\Omega\to\pi\Xi} Decay

In the study of CP violation signals in {\O}\to\pi\Xi nonleptonic decays, the strong $J$=3/2 $P$ and $D$ phase shifts for the $\pi\Xi$ final-state interactions are needed. These phases are calculated using an effective Lagrangian model, including $\Xi$, $\Xi^*$(1530), $\rho$ and the $\sigma$-term, in the intermediate states. The $\sigma$-term is calculated in terms of the scalar form factor of the baryon.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

New Physics and CP Violation in Hyperon Nonleptonic Decays

The sum of the CP-violating asymmetries A(Lambda_-^0) and A(Xi_-^-) in hyperon nonleptonic decays is presently being measured by the E871 experiment. We evaluate contributions to the asymmetries induced by chromomagnetic-penguin operators, whose coefficients can be enhanced in certain models of new physics. Incorporating recent information on the strong phases in Xi->Lambda pi decay, we show that new-physics contributions to the two asymmetries can be comparable. We explore how the upcoming results of E871 may constrain the coefficients of the operators. We find that its preliminary measurement is already better than the epsilon parameter of K-Kbar mixing in bounding the parity-conserving contributions.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration in Cattle Poisoned With Solanum spp. in South America: An Epidemiological, Clinicopathological, Pathological, and Toxicological Review

Cattle that consume Solanum bonariense L (= Solanum fastigiatum Willd.) or Solanum paniculatum L. develop a typical cerebellar cortical degeneration characterized by periodic episodes of ataxia, hypermetria, hyperesthesia, head and thoracic limb extension, opisthotonus, nystagmus, and falling to the side or backward. Histological lesions include vacuolation, degeneration, and loss of Purkinje cells. Axonal spheroids, microcavitations, and other changes of Wallerian degeneration in cerebellar granular layer and white matter are also observed. Neurotoxic compounds in Solanum spp. causing neurologic dysfunction in ruminants were not definitively elucidated. The same Solanaceae species are extensively used with culinary purposes or for the treatment of liver and gastrointestinal disorders as hangovers in humans. In the present paper, we review the epidemiology, clinical signs, and pathological hallmarks of poisoning by Solanum —S. bonariense L. (=S. fastigiatum Willd.) and S. paniculatum—with emphasis in histopathology, ultrastructural, and lectin- and immuno-histochemical changes in spontaneous and experimentally poisoned cattle in South America. The current knowledge of the pathogenesis of these bovine cerebellar cortical degenerations is discussed, and some advances in botanical and toxicological aspects of these Solanaceae species are presented, taking into account the potential risk of human poisoning.Fil: Verdes, Jose M.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Riet Correa, Franklin. Federal University of Campina Grande; BrasilFil: Medeiros, Rosane M.T.. Federal University of Campina Grande; BrasilFil: Moraña, Antonio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Battes, Daniel. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Dehl, Virginia. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Borteiro, Claudio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Gimeno, Eduardo Juan. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sant’Ana, Fabiano J.F.. Universidade Federal de Goiás; BrasilFil: Barros, Claudio S.L.. Federal University of Santa Maria; BrasilFil: Barros, Servero S.. Federal University of Santa Maria; Brasi

Subtelomeric I-scei-mediated Double-strand Breaks Are Repaired By Homologous Recombination In Trypanosoma Cruzi

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Trypanosoma cruzi chromosome ends are enriched in surface protein genes and pseudogenes (e.g., trans-sialidases) surrounded by repetitive sequences. It has been proposed that the extensive sequence variability among members of these protein families could play a role in parasite infectivity and evasion of host immune response. In previous reports we showed evidence suggesting that sequences located in these regions are subjected to recombination. To support this hypothesis we introduced a double-strand break (DSB) at a specific target site in a T. cruzi subtelomeric region cloned into an artificial chromosome (pTAC). This construct was used to transfect T. cruzi epimastigotes expressing the I-SceI meganuclease. Examination of the repaired sequences showed that DNA repair occurred only through homologous recombination (HR) with endogenous subtelomeric sequences. Our findings suggest that DSBs in subtelomeric repetitive sequences followed by HR between them may contribute to increased variability in T. cruzi multigene families. © 2016 Chiurillo, Moraes Barros, Souza, Marini, Antonio, Cortez, Curto, Lorenzi, Schijman, Ramirez and da Silveira.7DEC11/51475-3, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo11/51693-0, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo306591/2015-4, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Viability Of Nerve Grafts Preserved In Different Storage Medium

We compared the structural features of nerve segments stored in two different solutions previous and after autologous transplantation. Male Wistar rats were divided into groups to obtain normal tibial nerves, freshly transplanted nerves, and nerves stored in Wisconsin/Belzer or Collins solution for 24 or 72 h at 4°C and transplanted. Stored and transplanted segments were processed for morphologic and morphometric analysis. The cross-sections of segments stored in Wisconsin/Belzer and Collins solution presented aspects similar to that of normal nerves. The density of large-caliber myelinated axons was higher in grafts stored in Wisconsin/Belzer solution than in those preserved in Collins solution. But the density of myelinated axons regenerated through these grafts was around 80% to that registered in the fresh and Wisconsin/Belzer preserved grafts. Moreover, no significant differences in the morphometric parameters were observed between groups. Our data confirm the efficacy of Wisconsin/Belzer to nerve graft preservation and stimulate more detailed physiological, biochemical and molecular studies to rationalize the employment of less expensive and handful storage solutions for short term preservation of peripheral nerve grafts.2413946Ametani, M.S., Southard, J.H., Belzer, F.O., Importance of glutathione and adenosine in cold storage of the kidney (1990) Transplant. Proc, 22, pp. 469-471Ard, M.D., Bunge, R.P., Bunge, M.B., Comparison of the Schwann cell surface and Schwann cell extracellular matrix as promoters of neurite growth (1987) J Neurocytol, 16, pp. 539-555Atchabahian A, Gender EM, Mackinnon SE, Doolabh VB, Hunte DA (1998) Regeneration through long nerve grafts in the swine model. Microsurgery 18, 379-382Atchabahian, A., Mackinnon, S.E., Hunter, D.A., Cold preservation of nerve grafts decreases expression of ICAM-1 and class II MHC antigens (1999) J. Reconstr. Microsurg, 15, pp. 307-311Aumailley, M., Smyth, N., The role of laminins in basement membrane function (1998) J. Anat, 193, pp. 1-21Benzel, E.C., Management of peripheral nerve trauma (1996) The Practice of Neurosurgery, pp. 156-178. , Tindall GT, Cooper PR, Barrow DL, eds, pp, Willians & Wilkins: BaltimoreBunge, R.P., The role of the Schwann cell in trophic support and regeneration (1994) J. Neurol, 242 (SUPPL.), pp. S19-S21Chen, L.E., Seaber, A.V., Urbaniak, J.R., Murrel, G.A., Denatured muscle as nerve conduit: A functional, morphologic and electrophysiologic evaluation (1994) J. Reconstr. Microsurg, 10, pp. 137-144Chen, Y.S., Hsieh, C.L., Tsai, C.C., Chen, T.H., Cheng, Y.S., Hu, C.L., Yao, H., Peripheral nerve regeneration using silicone rubber chambers filled with collagen, laminin and fibronectin (2000) Biomaterials, 21, pp. 1541-1547Chen, Z.L., Strickland, S., Laminin gamma1 is critical for Schwann cell differentiation, axon myelination, and regeneration in the peripheral nerve (2003) J. Cell Biol, 163, pp. 889-899De Medinacelli, L., Seaber, A.V., Experimental nerve reconnection: Importance of initial repair (1989) Microsurgery, 10, pp. 56-70Evans, G.R.D., Brandt, K., Katz, S., Chauvin, P., Otto, L., Bogle, M., Wang, B., Patrick Jr, C.W., Bioactive poly(L-lactic acid) conduits seeded with Schwann cells for peripheral nerve regeneration (2002) Biomaterials, 23, pp. 841-848Evans, P.J., Mackinnon, S.E., Levi, A.D.O., Wade, J.A., Hunter, D.A., Nakao, Y., Midha, R., Cold preserved allografts, changes in basement membrane, viability, immunogenicity and regeneration (1998) Muscle Nerve, 21, pp. 1507-1522Evans, P.J., Mackinnon, S.E., Best, T.J., Wade, J.A., Awerbuck, D.C., Makino, A.P., Hunter, D.A., Midha, R., Regeneration across preserved peripheral nerve grafts (1995) Muscle Nerve, 18, pp. 1128-1138Fansa, H., Keilhoff, G., Plogmeier, K., Frerichs, O., Wolf, G., Schneider, W., Successful implantation of Schwann cells in acellular muscles (1999) J. Reconstr. Microsurg, 15, pp. 61-65Fansa, H., Lassner, F., Kook, P.H., Keilhoff, G., Schneider, W., Cryopreservation of peripheral nerve grafts (2000) Muscle Nerve, 23, pp. 1227-1233Figueiredo, J.F., Fisiologia e Fisiopatologia da Conservação de Órgãos. Captação de Órgãos para Transplante (1997) Gráfica e Editora, , Tecla: CampinasFox, I.K., Jaramillo, A., Hunter, D.A., Rickman, S.R., Mohanakumar, T., Mackinnon, S.E., Prolonged cold-preservation of nerve allografts (2005) Muscle Nerve, 31, pp. 59-69Hadlock, T.A., Sundback, C.A., Hunter, D.A., Vacanti, J.P., Cheney, M.L., A new artificial nerve graft containing rolled Schwann cell monolayers (2001) Microsurgery, 21, pp. 96-101Hall, S., The response to injury in the peripheral nervous system (2005) J. Bone Joint Surg. Br, 87, pp. 1309-1319Hare, G.M.T., Evans, P.J., Mackinnon, S.E., Nakao, Y., Midha, R., Wade, J.A., Hunter, D.A., Hay, J.B., Effect of cold preservation on lymphocyte migration into peripheral nerve allografts in sheep (1993) Transplantation, 56, pp. 154-162Jamieson, N.V., Lindell, R., Southard, J.H., Belzer, F.O., Evaluation of simplified variants of the UW solution using the isolated perfused rabbit liver (1989) Transplant. Proc, 21, pp. 1294-1295Karacaoglu, E., Yuksel, F., Peker, F., Guler, M.M., Nerve regeneration through sheath: Its functional aspect compared with nerve and vein grafts (2001) Microsurgery, 21, pp. 196-201Kerr-Conte, J., Boudjema, K., Southard, J.H., Cinqualbre, J., Mechanism of hypothermic cell death: Glutathione prevents injury in hepatocytes during hypothermic (4°C) preservation (1991) Transplant. Proc, 23, pp. 2405-2406Koyama, I., Bulkley, G.B., Williams, G.M., Im, M.J., The role of oxygen free radicals in mediating reperfusion injury of cold preserved ischemic kidneys (1985) Transplantation, 40, pp. 590-595Krekoski, C.A., Neubauer, D., Zuo, J., Muir, D., Axonal regeneration into acellular nerve grafts is enhanced by degradation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (2001) J. Neurosci, 21, pp. 6206-6213Levi, A.D.O., Evans, P.J., Mackinnon, S.E., Bunge, R.P., Cold storage of peripheral nerve: An in vitro assay of cell viability and function (1994) Glia, 10, pp. 121-131Mackinnon, S.E., Techniques of nerve repair (1996) The Practice of Neurosurgery, pp. 179-202. , Tindall GT, Cooper PR, Barrow DL, eds, pp, Williams & Wilkins: BaltimoreMackinnon, S.E., Doolabh, V.B., Novak, C.B., Trulock, E.P., Clinical outcome following nerve allograft transplantation (2001) Plast. Reconstr. Surg, 107, pp. 1419-1429Matejcik, V., Peripheral nerve reconstruction by autograft (2002) Injury, 33, pp. 627-631Suzuki, K., Suzuki, Y., Tanihara, M., Ohnishi, H., Hashimoto, T., Endo, K., Nishimura, Y., Reconstruction of rat peripheral nerve gap without sutures using freeze-dried alginate gel (2000) J. Biomed. Mater. Res, 49, pp. 528-533Southard, J.H., Marsh, D.C., McAnulty, J.F., Belzer, F.O., The importance of O2-derived free radical injury to organ preservation and transplantation (1987) Transplant. Proc, 19, pp. 1380-1381Strasberg, S.R., Mackinnon, S.E., Genden, E.M., Baian, J.R., Purcell, C.M., Hunter, D.A., Hay, J.B., Long-segment nerve allograft regeneration in the sheep model: Experimental study and review of the literature (1996) J. Reconstr. Microsurg, 12, pp. 529-537Sumimoto, R., Dohi, K., Urushihara, T., Jamieson, N.V., Ito, H., Sumimoto, K., Fukuda, Y., An examination of the effects of the solution containing histidine and lactobionate for heart, pancreas and liver preservation in the rat (1992) Transplantation, 54, pp. 1206-1210Sumimoto, R., Lindell, S.L., Southard, J.H., Belzer, F.O., A comparison of histidine-lactobionate and UW solution in 48-hour liver preservation (1992) Transplantation, 54, pp. 610-614Terenghi, G., Peripheral nerve injury and regeneration (1995) Histol. Histopathol, 10, pp. 709-718Toledo-Pereyra, L.H., Simmons, R.L., Olson, L.C., Najarian, J.S., Clinical effects of allopurinol on preserved kidneys: A randomized double-blind study (1977) Ann. Surg, 185, pp. 128-136Trumble, T.E., Parvin, D., Cell viability and migration in nerve isograft and allografts (1994) J. Reconstr. Microsurg, 10, pp. 27-34Vreugdenhil, P.K., Evans, W., Belzer, F.O., Southard, J.H., Glutathione depletion in cold-storage organs (1990) Transplant. Proc, 22, pp. 455-45

Hamiltonian dynamics for Einstein's action in G→\rightarrow0 limit

The Hamiltonian analysis for the Einstein's action in $G\to 0$ limit is performed. Considering the original configuration space without involve the usual $ADM$ variables we show that the version $Gto 0$ for Einstein's action is devoid of physical degrees of freedom. In addition, we will identify the relevant symmetries of the theory such as the extended action, the extended Hamiltonian, the gauge transformations and the algebra of the constraints. As complement part of this work, we develop the covariant canonical formalism where will be constructed a closed and gauge invariant symplectic form. In particular, using the geometric form we will obtain by means of other way the same symmetries that we found using the Hamiltonian analysis

Relative Equilibria in the Four-Vortex Problem with Two Pairs of Equal Vorticities

We examine in detail the relative equilibria in the four-vortex problem where two pairs of vortices have equal strength, that is, \Gamma_1 = \Gamma_2 = 1 and \Gamma_3 = \Gamma_4 = m where m is a nonzero real parameter. One main result is that for m > 0, the convex configurations all contain a line of symmetry, forming a rhombus or an isosceles trapezoid. The rhombus solutions exist for all m but the isosceles trapezoid case exists only when m is positive. In fact, there exist asymmetric convex configurations when m < 0. In contrast to the Newtonian four-body problem with two equal pairs of masses, where the symmetry of all convex central configurations is unproven, the equations in the vortex case are easier to handle, allowing for a complete classification of all solutions. Precise counts on the number and type of solutions (equivalence classes) for different values of m, as well as a description of some of the bifurcations that occur, are provided. Our techniques involve a combination of analysis and modern and computational algebraic geometry

Immirzi Ambiguity in the Kinematics of Quantum General Relativity

The Immirzi ambiguity arises in loop quantum gravity when geometric operators are represented in terms of different connections that are related by means of an extended Wick transform. We analyze the action of this transform in gravity coupled with matter fields and discuss its analogy with the Wick rotation on which the Thiemann transform between Euclidean and Lorentzian gravity is based. In addition, we prove that the effect of this extended Wick transform is equivalent to a constant scale transformation as far as the symplectic structure and kinematical constraints are concerned. This equivalence is broken in the dynamical evolution. Our results are applied to the discussion of the black hole entropy in the limit of large horizon areas. We first argue that, since the entropy calculation is performed for horizons of fixed constant area, one might in principle choose an Immirzi parameter that depends on this quantity. This would spoil the linearity with the area in the entropy formula. We then show that the Immirzi parameter appears as a constant scaling in all the steps where dynamical information plays a relevant role in the entropy calculation. This fact, together with the kinematical equivalence of the Immirzi ambiguity with a change of scale, is used to preclude the potential non-linearity of the entropy on physical grounds.Comment: very minor stylistic changes, version published in Phys. Rev.