Adoption of shelter dogs in a Brazilian community: assessing the caretaker profile

A survey in Ibiuna, Sao Paulo, Brazil, of caregivers (owners) who adopted shelter dogs assessed length of ownership, proportion of male and female dogs adopted, and owners' characteristics. It addressed breeding, neutering, vaccination, and veterinary care. It used no testing to provide a good “match ”between dog and future owner. Of adopted dogs, 58% were male. Only 36% of owners were located. Mean ownership length was 14.8 months (95% confidence interval = 12.4 to 17.2 months), estimated through a survival analysis method. Of adopted dogs, 40.9% lived with their owners; 34.9% had died (some had lived on the streets); 15.0% were donated; 4.3% ran away; 3.2% were returned to the city shelter. Of interviewees, 57% reported no difficulties with the adoption; 23.1% cited the animal's illness and death as the main difficulty. For contraception, 87 owners (46.7%) chained dogs to prevent contact with other animals; 56.5% were against neutering. Reasons given were compassion (58.1%), unnecessary procedure (11.4%), cost (9.5%), and behavior change (4.8%). This research motivated a design for Ibiuna shelter dog adoption to improve the proportion of successful adoptions.     

An integrated tool for microarray data clustering and cluster validity assessment

SUMMARY: In this paper we present a data mining system, which allows the application of different clustering and cluster validity algorithms for DNA microarray data. This tool may improve the quality of the data analysis results, and may support the prediction of the number of relevant clusters in the microarray datasets. This systematic evaluation approach may significantly aid genome expression analyses for knowledge discovery applications. The developed software system may be effectively used for clustering and validating not only DNA microarray expression analysis applications but also other biomedical and physical data with no limitations. AVAILABILITY: The program is freely available for non-profit use on request at http://www.cs.tcd.ie/Nadia.Bolshakova/Machaon.html CONTACT: Nadia.Bolshakova@cs.tcd.ie.     

2-Alkoxydihydrocinnamates as PPAR agonists. Activity modulation by the incorporation of phenoxy substituents

Herein we describe a series of potent and selective PPARgamma agonists with moderate PPARalpha affinity and little to no affinity for other nuclear receptors. In vivo studies in a NIDDM animal model (ZDF rat) showed that these compounds are efficacious at low doses in glucose normalization and plasma triglyceride reduction. Compound 1b (LY519818) was selected from our SAR studies to be advanced to clinical evaluation for the treatment of type II diabetes.     

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) in the root nodules of Lupinus albus and Medicago truncatula: identification of AO in meristematic and infection zones

Phytohormones are involved in the organogenesis of legume root nodules. The source of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in nodules has not been clearly determined. We studied the enzyme aldehyde oxidase (AO; EC 1.2.3.1), that catalyzes the last step of IAA biosynthesis in plants, in the nodules of Lupinus albus and Medicago truncatula. Primordia and young lupin nodules and mature M. truncatula nodules showed AO activity bands after native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gel activity analyses using indole-3-aldehyde as substrate indicated that the nodules of white lupin and M. truncatula have the capability to synthesize IAA via the indole-3-pyruvic acid pathway. Immunolocalization and in situ hybridization experiments revealed that AO is preferentially expressed in the meristematic and the invasion zones in Medicago nodules and in the lateral meristematic zone of Lupinus nodules. High IAA immunolabeling was also detected in the meristematic and invasion zones. Low expression levels and no AO activity were detected in lupin Fix- nodules that displayed restricted growth and early senescence. We propose that local synthesis of IAA in the root nodule meristem and modulation of AO expression and activity are involved in regulation of nodule development.     

Functional and molecular characterization of tachykinins and tachykinin receptors in the mouse uterus

The aim of this study was to analyze the function and expression of tachykinins, tachykinin receptors, and neprilysin (NEP) in the mouse uterus. A previous study showed that the uterotonic effects of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and neurokinin B (NKB) in estrogen-treated mice were mainly mediated by the tachykinin NK1 receptor. In the present work, further contractility studies were undertaken to determine the nature of the receptors mediating responses to tachykinins in uteri of late pregnant mice. Endpoint and real-time quantitative RT-PCR were used to analyze the expression of the genes that encode the tachykinins SP/NKA, NKB, and hemokinin-1 (HK-1) (Tac1, Tac2, and Tac4); and the genes that encode tachykinin NK1 (Tacr1), NK2 (Tacr2), and NK3 (Tacr3) receptors in uteri from pregnant and nonpregnant mice. The data show that the mRNAs of tachykinins (particularly NKB and HK-1), tachykinin receptors, and NEP are locally expressed in the mouse uterus, and their expression changes during the estrous cycle and during pregnancy. The tachykinin NK1 receptor is the predominant tachykinin receptor in the nonpregnant and early pregnant mouse and may mediate tachykinin-induced uterine contractions in the nonpregnant mouse. The tachykinin NK2 receptor is predominant in the late pregnant mouse and is the main receptor mediating uterotonic responses to tachykinins at late pregnancy. The tachykinin NK3 receptor is expressed in considerable amounts only in uteri from nonpregnant diestrous animals, and its physiological significance remains to be clarified.     

Molecular demonstration of SLC4A1 gene deletion in two Mexican patients with Southeast Asian ovalocytosis

We describe the finding of two Mexican patients with a specific 27-bp deletion in the solute carrier family 4 gene (SLC4A1delta27) (also known as the band 3 gene found on chromosome 17q21-q22), characteristic of Southeast Asian ovalocytosis (SAO). The patients were asymptomatic, and the initial diagnosis was made by microscopic observation of the presence of typical stomatocytic ovalocytes. The gene deletion was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Both patients were heterozygous for the deletion. One patient is from Tabasco state, in southeastern Mexico, a malaria-endemic zone. The other patient is from Mexico City, which is not a malaria-endemic area. Their families have no non-Mexican ancestors and their previous generations were born in Mexico. Both patients carry the HLA-B*3501 subtype, characteristic of Amerindians and Asian populations. Familial and HLA data led us to conclude that these two patients are the first report of SLC4A1delta27 in Amerindians. The nucleotide analysis showing a perfect match sequence between Southeast Asian and Mexican patients suggests, but does not prove, that the Mexican gene is not a de novo mutation. Instead, this gene might be the result of migration of individuals with Asian ancestry into the Mexican gene pool. We are looking for other families with the mutation to detect, by HLA analysis, the ancient ethnic origin of these patients.     

Ecotype diversity in the marine picoeukaryote Ostreococcus (Chlorophyta, Prasinophyceae)

The importance of the cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus in marine ecosystems in terms of abundance and primary production can be partially explained by ecotypic differentiation. Despite the dominance of eukaryotes within photosynthetic picoplankton in many areas a similar differentiation has never been evidenced for these organisms. Here we report distinct genetic [rDNA 18S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing], karyotypic (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis), phenotypic (pigment composition) and physiological (light-limited growth rates) traits in 12 Ostreococcus strains (Prasinophyceae) isolated from various marine environments and depths, which suggest that the concept of ecotype could also be valid for eukaryotes. Internal transcribed spacer phylogeny grouped together four deep strains isolated between 90 m and 120 m depth from different geographical origins. Three deep strains displayed larger chromosomal bands, different chromosome hybridization patterns, and an additional chlorophyll (chl) c-like pigment. Furthermore, growth rates of deep strains show severe photo-inhibition at high light intensities, while surface strains do not grow at the lowest light intensities. These features strongly suggest distinct adaptation to environmental conditions encountered at surface and the bottom of the oceanic euphotic zone, reminiscent of that described in prokaryotes.     

Cyclase-associated protein is essential for the functioning of the endo-lysosomal system and provides a link to the actin cytoskeleton

Data from mutant analysis in yeast and Dictyostelium indicate a role for the cyclase-associated protein (CAP) in endocytosis and vesicle transport. We have used genetic and biochemical approaches to identify novel interacting partners of Dictyostelium CAP to help explain its molecular interactions in these processes. Cyclase-associated protein associates and interacts with subunits of the highly conserved vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) and co-localizes to some extent with the V-ATPase. Furthermore, CAP is essential for maintaining the structural organization, integrity and functioning of the endo-lysosomal system, as distribution and morphology of V-ATPase- and Nramp1-decorated membranes were disturbed in a CAP mutant (CAP bsr) accompanied by an increased endosomal pH. Moreover, concanamycin A (CMA), a specific inhibitor of the V-ATPase, had a more severe effect on CAP bsr than on wild-type cells, and the mutant did not show adaptation to the drug. Also, the distribution of green fluorescent protein-CAP was affected upon CMA treatment in the wildtype and recovered after adaptation. Distribution of the V-ATPase in CAP bsr was drastically altered upon hypo-osmotic shock, and growth was slower and reached lower saturation densities in the mutant under hyper-osmotic conditions. Taken together, our data unravel a link of CAP with the actin cytoskeleton and endocytosis and suggest that CAP is an essential component of the endo-lysosomal system in Dictyostelium.     

Selected topics in probiotics and prebiotics: meeting report for the 2004 international scientific association for probiotics and prebiotics

On August 29-31, 2004, 84 academic and industry scientists from 16 countries gathered in Copper Mountain, Colorado USA to discuss certain issues at the forefront of the science of probiotics and prebiotics. The format for this invitation only meeting included six featured lectures: engineering human vaginal lactobacilli to express HIV-inhibitory molecules (Peter Lee, Stanford University), programming the gut for health (Thaddeus Stappenbeck, Washington University School of Medicine), immune modulation by intestinal helminthes (Joel Weinstock, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics), hygiene as a cause of autoimmune disorders (G. A. Rook, University College London), prebiotics and bone health (Connie Weaver, Purdue University) and prebiotics and colorectal cancer risk (Ian Rowland, Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health). In addition, all participants were included in one of eight discussion groups on the topics of engineered probiotics, host-commensal bacteria communication, 'omics' technologies, hygiene and immune regulation, biomarkers for healthy people, prebiotic and probiotic applications to companion animals, development of a probiotic dossier, and physiological relevance of prebiotic activity. Brief conclusions from these discussion groups are summarized in this paper.