Psoríase pustulosa generalizada - perspectivas atuais e desafios futuros

A psoríase pustulosa generalizada (PPG) é uma forma rara e grave de psoríase, uma doença autoimune que afeta a pele. Ela é caracterizada por pústulas estéreis dolorosas, inflamação sistêmica e pode levar a complicações graves, como sepse e insuficiência cardiovascular. A doença apresenta uma ampla variedade de sintomas cutâneos e sistêmicos, tornando o diagnóstico desafiador. A etiologia da PPG ainda não é totalmente compreendida, mas há evidências de uma interação complexa entre fatores genéticos, imunológicos e ambientais. O diagnóstico é baseado na correlação clínica, histopatologia e exames laboratoriais, com destaque para a biópsia da lesão. O tratamento da PPG é complexo e pode envolver agentes tópicos, sistêmicos e biológicos. Corticosteróides tópicos são comumente usados para lesões localizadas, enquanto retinóides e imunossupressores sistêmicos podem ser necessários em casos mais graves. Os agentes biológicos, como inibidores de citocinas, emergiram como uma opção promissora, embora mais estudos sejam necessários para avaliar sua eficácia e segurança. O manejo da PPG deve ser individualizado, levando em consideração a gravidade da doença e a resposta do paciente ao tratamento. Apesar dos avanços recentes, ainda há uma necessidade de mais pesquisa para melhorar o entendimento e o tratamento dessa condição rara e grave

The crude skin secretion of the pepper frog Leptodactylus labyrinthicus is rich in metallo and serine peptidases

Peptidases are ubiquitous enzymes involved in diverse biological processes. Fragments from bioactive peptides have been found in skin secretions from frogs, and their presence suggests processing by peptidases. Thus, the aim of this work was to characterize the peptidase activity present in the skin secretion of Leptodactylus labyrinthicus. Zymography revealed the presence of three bands of gelatinase activity of approximately 60 kDa, 66 kDa, and 80 kDa, which the first two were calcium-dependent. These three bands were inhibited either by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and phenathroline; thus, they were characterized as metallopeptidases. Furthermore, the proteolytic enzymes identified were active only at pH 6.0–10.0, and their activity increased in the presence of CHAPS or NaCl. Experiments with fluorogenic substrates incubated with skin secretions identified aminopeptidase activity, with cleavage after leucine, proline, and alanine residues. This activity was directly proportional to the protein concentration, and it was inhibited in the presence of metallo and serine peptidase inhibitors. Besides, the optimal pH for substrate cleavage was determined to be 7.0–8.0. The results of the in gel activity assay showed that all substrates were hydrolyzed by a 45 kDa peptidase. Gly-Pro-AMC was also cleaved by a peptidase greater than 97 kDa. The data suggest the presence of dipeptidyl peptidases (DPPs) and metallopeptidases; however, further research is necessary. In conclusion, our work will help to elucidate the implication of these enzymatic activities in the processing of the bioactive peptides present in frog venom, expanding the knowledge of amphibian biology

Toxic Agents in Ruminants Diagnosed in the Pathological Anatomy Service of the UFRRJ, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Background: Toxic agents are chemical substances or physical agents that, when interacting with living organisms, cause harmful effects. For animals, toxic products include those intended to combat endo and ectoparasites, rodenticide products, and heavy metals. Minerals and dietary additives, even if essential to the animal, can become toxic agents, among which sodium chloride, copper, urea, and ionophore antibiotics stand out. This study aimed to survey the diagnoses of accidental poisoning in ruminants over 65 years as recorded in the files of the Pathological Anatomy Sector of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro.Materials, Methods & Results: The diagnoses of poisoning by ticks, rodenticides, heavy metals, macro and micronutrients, and dietary additives in ruminants were made based on the association of epidemiological, clinical, and anatomopathological findings and, in some cases, by histochemical (rubeanic acid and Masson trichrome) and toxicological examinations. A review of data recorded over 65 years identified 372 poisonings in ruminants. Of these, 85.5% (318/372) were in bovine species and 14.5% (54/372) in goats, sheep, and buffaloes. The outbreak of poisoning by organophosphates resulted in the death of 16 cattle that ingested contaminated broken rice and corn. The spraying of this product on the bags was intended to control insects. Intoxication due to excessive administration of abamectin resulted in the intoxication of 16 calves, in two distinct farms. Toxicosis caused by coumarin derivatives resulted in the death of six cattle after accidental ingestion of these rodenticides near the pens. Arsenic poisoning occurred due to ingestion of ant poison, available in bone meal and a mineral salt, through baths with arsenic-based ticks, or in cases later confirmed by toxicological analysis, resulting in the death of 109 cattle. Sodium chloride toxicosis resulted in the death of 10 sheep that became ill in two farms after excessive consumption of salt and private access to water. The diagnosed copper poisoning resulted in the death of 165 ruminants (154 cattle, 10 sheep, and 1 goat). Urea poisoning occurred due to excessive ingestion by 13 cattle and 4 buffaloes, without prior adaptation. Cases of poisoning by ionophore antibiotics occurred in 11 sheep, 18 buffaloes, and 4 cattle. In all cases, the source of exposure was mineral salt and/or feed with an excess of ionophores. The results of the laboratory tests varied according to the type of intoxication.Discussion: Among the means of diagnosing poisoning by toxic agents, minerals, and dietary additives, anamnesis should be detailed and highlighted to present all relevant information. It is the basis for toxicological diagnosis, because it generates information that helps in the definitive elucidation of cases and establishing control and prophylaxis plans, facilitates the prediction of prognosis, and directs the application of appropriate therapy, when possible. In the intoxication diagnoses reported here, the toxicological examination was important in elucidating the toxicosis caused by organophosphates, coumarin derivatives, arsenic, and copper, but the referral for toxicological analysis was previously indicated by a hypothesis generated during the anamnesis. Therefore, anamnesis becomes important yet elusive as toxicological examination leading to diagnosing intoxication.Keywords: toxicology, diagnosis, chemical substance, farm animals.Descritores: toxicologia, diagnóstico, substância química, animais de fazenda.

Cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of rutin in soybean cultivars

AbstractA highly sensitive and selective cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for determination of rutin is presented. The method relies on the accumulation of a Cu(II)–rutin complex at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), followed by its reduction during a differential pulse voltammetric scan. The electrochemical behavior of the Cu(II)–rutin complex at HMDE was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Results show that the electrode process is adsorption-controlled and gradually becomes less reversible at high scan rates where peak separation grows. Under the optimized conditions (phosphate buffer pH 6, −1.000V accumulation potential, 180s accumulation time, 70mV pulse amplitude, 50mVs−1 scan rate and 1.6×10−6M Cu(II) concentration), the reduction peak current (Ipc) of the Cu(II)–rutin complex is linear (Ipc (nA)=10.070+1.9×108 [Rutina]) to rutin concentration in the range from 2.0×10−7 to 1.4×10−6M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The detection and quantification limits obtained were 7.0×10−9M and 2.2×10−8M, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of rutin in soybean cultivars, with recoveries of 94–105%

Lasalocid Poisoning in Buffalo Calves in the State of Pará, Brazil

Background: Ionophore antibiotics are food additives with coccidiostatic or antimicrobial action; they are also used as growth promoters, ruminal pH regulators, volatile fatty acid molar modifiers, and methanogenesis reducers. However, these compounds have the potential to cause microbial resistance, in addition to the risk of intoxication. Ionophore poisoning may be caused by excessive intake, sensitivity of certain animal species, and concomitant use with other drugs. In Brazil, cases of ionophore poisoning in buffalos are rare. This study aims to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological findings of lasalocid poisoning in buffalo calves.Case: A visit was made to a farm in the municipality of Mojú, Pará state to care for Murrah buffalo calves. After weaning, the buffalos were grazed in paddocks with Panicum spp., and received a supplement of mineral, protein, and vitamin. This supplement contained, per kg, 250 g PB, 50 g Ca, 20 g P, 8 g S, 39 g Na, 20 mg Co, 557 mg Cu, 200 mg Fe, 12.4 mg Se, 2040 mg Zn, 0.19 mg biotin, 26750 IU of vitamin A, 4175 IU of vitamin D, 155 IU of vitamin E and 300 mg/kg of lasalocid. The product was made available to all calves, at 1-2 g/kg body weight (BW), according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Older calves were raised together with those less than 30 days old; as a result, the older calves tended to eat more, which could lead to a supplementation consumption of more than 1 kg body weight per animal per day. It was reported that between 40 and 60 days after the introduction of this supplement, 16 calves fell ill and died due to apathy, motor instability, tremors, and distended neck. The herd had a mortality rate of 33.3%. Two calves underwent a necroscopic examination at the Pathology Section of the Veterinary Institute of the Federal University of Pará. Macroscopic examination revealed extensive pale areas in the skeletal muscles, myocardium, and tongue. Fragments of these muscles and various organs were collected, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed according to the routine histological technique, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome stain. Microscopic examination of the histologic samples revealed foci of muscle atrophy and necrosis characterized by an increase in cytoplasmic eosinophilia associated with the loss of stretch marks, and hyperchromatic nuclei that were displaced to the periphery. The necrosis of the muscle fibers was highlighted by Masson's trichrome staining.Discussion: The diagnosis of lasalocid poisoning in buffalo calves was based on epidemiological data, clinical findings, results of macroscopic and histopathological examination, and based on the estimated ionophore intake, obtained directly from the supplement label and by the calf's handler. Based on the absence of stratification of the calves by similarity of age and because the buffalo calves older than 30 days could eat more than 1 kg of the supplement (containing 300 mg/kg of lasalocid), it was possible to estimate the intake of lasalocid per kg CP (body weight). Therefore, the intake of lasalocid by a 70-kg buffalo calf in approximately 90 days and daily supplement consumption between 1 and 1.5 kg would be between 4.2 and 6.4 mg/kg of body weight. This report reinforces that notion that buffalo calves should never ingest ionophores; however, if necessary, strict protocols must be followed to avoid poisoning in these animals. This study highlighted the fact that stratification of buffaloes by different age groups during feeding became a risk factor that allowed greater consumption by older animals; this led to the estimated consumption of 4.2-6.4 mg/kg of lasalocid.Keywords: ionophores, ruminants, buffalo calves, muscle necrosis.Descritores: ionóforos, ruminantes, bezerros búfalos, necrose muscular.Título:  Intoxicação por lasalocida em bezerros búfalos no Estado do Pará, Brasil 

Lee Index variation and glucose clearance rate in an animal model of obesity with animals supplemented with Ganodema lucidum

The consumption of diets high in sugars and saturated fat are associated with obesity and other comorbidities, as well as glucose intolerance1. Obesity can be influenced by the regular consumption of natural bioactive compounds like those found in Ganoderma lucidum mushroom (GL)2. The main objective of this work is to determine body mass variations (Lee Index) and serum glucose levels in animals fed with diets supplemented with three concentrations of an hydroethanolic extract of GL. The fruiting bodies of GL were provided by Bioreishi- Agricultura Bioliogica, Lda. Forty-eight male mice (C57BL/6) were acquired and divided into 5 groups: G1-Western Diet 0.2% Cholesterol (WD); G2-Western Control (WC); G3-WD+0.7%g/kg of G. lucidum; G4-WD+1.4%g/kg of G. lucidum; G5- WD+2.8%g/kg of G. lucidum. At 7th and 13th weeks of study, the animals were measured (nasoanal distance in cm) in order to calculate the Lee Index (cubicle root of the weight (g)/the nasoanal length (cm) x 1000). Obesity was defined by a Lee index>310. Glucose intolerance test was performed on 4 animals in each group. The animals were fasted overnight and in the early morning, a 50% glucose solution (2g/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. Blood samples were collected one hour before glucose (time zero) administration and 30, 60 and 120 minutes later. Serum glucose was determined with the OGCare equipment. Glucose concentration values at time zero were considered control values. All ethical issues were followed (approval nº 8776). The chemical composition of the extract was profiled by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS. All data were analyzed using the GraphPad Prism® for Windows software (version 7.0). Ganoderic acid H and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were the main triterpenic and phenolic acids found in the extract, respectively. In respect to the Lee index, the values show that all animals in the experimental groups became obese. In both weeks, G5 showed the highest values (353.45 ± 12.43 and 351.77 ± 12.24 respectively). At week 7, G1 and G2 differed statistically (p<0,05) from G5. Although G1 and G2 have the lowest Lee values in both weeks, they are the only ones that increase from week 7 to week 13, in contrast to the groups supplemented with GL. Regarding the glucose intolerance test, recorded glucose values at 30 minutes after the injection were increased in all groups, returning to normal values two hours later. At 13th week, the glucose values were increased in all groups in the 30 and 60 minutes after the intraperitoneal injection. At the end of two hours, the values decreased, but did not return to normal values in all the groups. Although animals in all experimental groups remained obese, animals supplemented with GL decreased their Lee Index. At 7th week the animals showed a normal glucose clearance, but in the last week of the study glucose values did not return to the values initially recorded after two hours, showing that the animals were not able to maintain the glucose clearance rate.This work was supported by VALORIZEBYPRODUCTS Project, reference n.º029152; CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); Project MicoCoating (PDR2020-101-031472); and L. Barros thanks the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract. No conflict of interest was declared.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ganoderma lucidum in an animal model of obesity: preliminary results

Obesity is an emerging health problem worldwide. Hypercaloric or hyperlipidemic diets have been used as models of obesity induction in laboratory animals. Obesity can be influenced by regular consumption of natural bioactive compounds. Mushrooms, such as Ganoderma lucidum (GL), have been used in the human diet since ancient times and include a wide variety of biomolecules with medicinal properties. The main objective of this work was to study the effects of G. lucidum in an animal model of obesity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Morphometric analysis of rat parameters during an animal model of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death by cancer worldwide. Animal models have been used in experimental research to find new solutions for old biomedical questions. This research aimed to make a contribution to characterize the rat model of colorectal cancer. Twelve male Wistar rats obtained from Charles River were randomly divided into two groups: control group and induced group. All ethical issues were considered, following the guidelines of the Portuguese Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (approval number 010535). Animals from induced group received a weekly intraperitoneal injection of N, N’-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH), for seven consecutive weeks. All rats were monitored for signs of distress, weight loss, and food and water consumption. Abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed before the first DMH administration and the animals’ sacrifice. Thirteen weeks later, all surviving animals were sacrificed, organs and blood were collected. Animals from control group showed a higher mean body weight. The mean relative weight of soleus was lower in induced animals when compared to the control animals (p<0.005), which may suggest the development of anorexia. Although there were no significant differences in colon’s weight, induced animals had shorter colon. The microhematocrit was not different between groups. The ultrasound examination showed a high vascularized abdominal mass in induced animals. Some induced animals had a swollen abdomen which difficult the ultrasound examination. The animals showed little changes in their biological parameters, suggesting that the disease was at an early stage. Histological analysis of animals’ organs will provide a better perception of the colorectal cancer induction

Genetic variability in natural populations of Zeyheria montana mart. from the Brazilian Cerrado

Zeyheria montana, an endemic species of the Bignoniaceae family from the Brazilian Cerrado's known for its anti-cancer properties, is widely used as imuno stimulant in the popular medicine and its therapeutic activity must be validated by scientific data. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability of eight plant populations collected within the state of São Paulo, Brazil, via Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) used as molecular markers. After an optimized protocol for the amplification reaction, nine selected primers generated 105 reproducible bands, indicating up to 60% polymorphism. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed higher genetic variation within populations (84.03%) than among populations (15.97%). The variation values estimated by phiST (0.160) indicated moderate to high inter population structuration. Levels of similarity inter plants with genetic and geographical distances, estimated by the unweighted pair-group method analysis (UPGMA) clustering and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination methods and by the Mantel test (-0.2345 p = 0.118) denoted that the structure found follows the island model, which assumes that a single population of infinite size may have initiated the existing populations of Zeyheria montana, with no spatial position correlation. Based on the obtained data, a germplasm bank from individuals representing the species variability was established. Furthermore the information here reported can be of importance to develop strategies for the conservation of Z. montana.Zeyheria montana, planta arbustiva da família Bignoniaceae, é uma espécie endêmica do Cerrado e possui atividade anti-câncer, sendo utilizada como estimulante na medicina popular. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a variabilidade genética de oito populações localizadas no estado de São Paulo, utilizando marcadores moleculares de Polimorfismo de DNA Amplificado ao Acaso (RAPD). Após a otimização da reação de amplificação, nove iniciadores selecionados geraram 105 fragmentos RAPD reprodutíveis, sendo que a maioria (60,0%) foi polimórfica. A análise molecular de variância (AMOVA) mostrou que a variabilidade dentro de populações (84,03%) foi maior que entre populações (15,97%). As estimativas de variação fiST (0,1597) indicam estruturação populacional moderadamente alta. O agrupamento por meio de UPGMA, a ordenação pelo NMDS e o teste de Mantel entre as matrizes de distâncias genéticas e geográficas demonstraram que a estruturação encontrada segue um modelo de "ilhas", onde uma única população de tamanho infinito pode ter dado origem às populações atuais de Zeyheria, sem relação com sua posição espacial. Com base nos resultados obtidos foi estruturado um banco de germoplasma de indivíduos, representando a variabilidade da espécie. Adicionalmente, as informações deste estudo são importantes para dar suporte a estratégias de conservação de Z. montana