Serological response against myxoma virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus in European wild rabbits using commercial vaccines

We carried out an experimental study to determine the serological response against myxoma virus (MV) and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in wild rabbits using commercial vaccines. Seroconversion against MV ranged between 72.7% and 97.2% in animals vaccinated by subcutaneous and intradermal route, respectively, whereas between 75.0% and 77.8% of the animals presented antibodies against RHDV after inoculation with subcutaneous and intradermal vaccines, respectively. Regardless of the inoculation route, vaccination against MV resulted in a significant increase of seropositivity 5 days post-vaccination (dpv), which did not occur in animals vaccinated against RHDV. Furthermore, seroconversion against MV was significantly higher and faster in intradermally vaccinated rabbits as compared to those inoculated subcutaneously due to either the route of application and/or the type of vaccine used. The results indicated that vaccination significantly increased the prevalence of antibodies against MV and RHDV and suggested that the vaccines currently available induce a safe and effective immune response against both diseases in wild rabbits. Vaccination may be a useful management tool to control both viral diseases in field conditions, particularly in wild rabbits captured for translocations and restocking purposes in which a large number of animals are handled. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

A comparison of the wood anatomy of 11 species from two cerrado habitats (cerrado s.s. and adjacent gallery forest)

A comparative study of the secondary xylem (wood) anatomy of 11 species (38 specimens) occurring in cerrado s.s. and the adjacent gallery forest (both cerrado s.l. habitat) was made with the aim of identifying the anatomical characteristics of ecological value and correlating them with the environmental conditions. The anatomical features that vary, in general, between the two habitats are: growth ring distinctness (well or poorly defined); tyloses and deposits (more abundant in cerrado specimens); gelatinous fibres (more evident in cerrado specimens and in different patterns between habitats); variation in paratracheal and banded parenchyma (more abundant in cerrado); and more cells per parenchyma strand in cerrado. In general, gallery forest specimens have wider vessels, fewer vessels per square millimetre and larger intervessel pits, indicating more efficient water conduction, whereas cerrado s.s. specimens are the opposite, with low vulnerability and mesomorphy indices, demonstrating greater safety under conditions of water stress. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ?? , ??–??.     

Role of melatonin in the oxidative damage prevention at different times of hepatic regeneration

The process of regenerating liver is the result of a balance between stimulating factors and inhibitors of hepatocyte proliferation. Melatonin and its metabolites have been found to protect tissues against oxidative damage generated by a variety of toxic agents and metabolic processes. Furthermore, studies in liver of rats showed a decrease in the liver mitochondrial hydroxylation of drugs returning to the normal state after the administration of antioxidants. This study was designed to determine, in experimental animals, whether the administration of an antioxidant agent such as melatonin could prevent cells events leading to tissue injury and hepatic dysfunction after partial hepatectomy (PH). Biliary flow (BF), oxidative stress in hepatic tissue and Na⁺/K⁺ATPase activities in whole plasma membrane were determined. PH decreased the Na⁺/K⁺ATPase activity. PH significantly reduced the BF (36%) and promoted oxidative stress with an increase of lipoperoxidation and decrease of glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities. Treatment with melatonin prevented the decrease of BF in rats with hepatectomy and normalized the Na⁺/K⁺ATPase activity. Moreover, melatonin markedly attenuated oxidative stress produced by PH. This may be the results of the higher efficacy of melatonin in scavenging various free radicals and also because of its ability in stimulating the antioxidant enzymes. We suggest that oxidative stress before and during liver regeneration has a crucial role in cholestasis, apoptotic/necrotic hepatocellular damage and the impairment in liver transport function induced by PH and that melatonin could modulate the degree of oxidative stress and through it prevent the alterations in liver function carrier. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence measures based on the volume of confidence ellipsoids for GEE

The generalized estimating equations (GEE) derived by Liang and Zeger to analyze longitudinal data have been used in a wide range of medical and biological applications. To make regression a useful and meaningful statistical tool, emphasis should be placed not only on inference or fitting, but also on diagnosing potential data problems. Most of the usual diagnostics for linear regression models have been generalized for GEE. However, global influence measures based on the volume of confidence ellipsoids are not available for GEE analysis. This article presents an extension of these measures that is valid for correlated‐measures regression analysis using GEEs. The proposed measures are illustrated by an analysis of epileptic seizure count data arising from a study of prograbide as an adjuvant therapy for partial seizures and some simulated data sets.     

Molecular basis of the differential interaction with lithium of glycine transporters GLYT1 and GLYT2

Glycine synaptic levels are controlled by glycine transporters (GLYTs) catalyzing Na(+)/Cl(-)/glycine cotransport. GLYT1 displays a 2:1 :1 stoichiometry and is the main regulator of extracellular glycine concentrations. The neuronal GLYT2, with higher sodium coupling (3:1 :1), supplies glycine to the pre-synaptic terminal to refill synaptic vesicles. In this work, using structural homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations of GLYTs, we predict the conservation of the two sodium sites present in the template (leucine transporter from Aquifex aeolicus), and confirm its use by mutagenesis and functional analysis. GLYTs Na1 and Na2 sites show differential cation selectivity, as inferred from the action of lithium, a non-transport-supporting ion, on Na(+)-site mutants. GLYTs lithium responses were unchanged in Na1-site mutants, but abolished or inverted in mutants of Na2 site, which binds lithium in the presence of low sodium concentrations and therefore, controls lithium responses. Here, we report, for the first time, that lithium exerts opposite actions on GLYTs isoforms. Glycine transport by GLYT1 is inhibited by lithium whereas GLYT2 transport is stimulated, and this effect is more evident at increased glycine concentrations. In contrast to GLYT1, high and low affinity lithium-binding processes were detected in GLYT2.     

Possibility of reducing the luteolytic dose of cloprostenol in cyclic dairy cows

The administration of cloprostenol by intravulvosubmucous (i.v.s.m.) injection at 1 2 and 1 4 of the dose usually given by intramuscular (i.m.) injection, was tested in dairy cows for luteolysis and estrus synchronization. The i.m. injection was used in ten adult cows at the usual dose of 500 mug/animal. Eleven adult cows and 11 heifers were treated i.v.s.m. with a dose equivalent to 250 mug/animal and 125 mug/animal, respectively. Two injections of cloprostenol were administered 11 days apart to the cows not detected in oestrus after a single injection. Forty-three out of the total 46 animals were detected to be in dioestrus at the time of at least one of the injections, as reflected by the plasma progesterone concentrations at the time of treatments. Three out of the 43 animals injected during dioestrus were refractory to the luteolytic effect of cloprostenol; this appeared to be independent of the dosage and the route of administration (refractory cows were: one adult cow treated i.m. and two treated i.v.s.m. with 125 mug of cloprostenol). The mean time interval from injection to the onset of heat was 82.8 hours with a confidence limit for 95% of probability between 67.9 hours and 92.7 hours. The difference between treatments is not significant. The results suggest that in heifers and adult cows cloprostenol can be given i.v.s.m. route at a reduced dose of 1 4 of the usual 500 mug i.m. dosage without affecting the luteolytic effect of the drug or fertility.     

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Not Associated with Worsening of Intestinal Inflammatory Activity

Background

Cytomegalovirus is highly prevalent virus and usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. The pathophysiology and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease often induce a state of immunosuppression. Because this, there are still doubts and controversies about the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and cytomegalovirus.

Aim

Evaluate the frequency of cytomegalovirus in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and identify correlations.

Methods

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease underwent an interview, review of records and collection of blood and fecal samples. The search for cytomegalovirus was performed by IgG and IgM blood serology, by real-time PCR in the blood and by qualitative PCR in feces. Results were correlated with red blood cell levels, C-reactive protein levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rates and fecal calprotectin levels for each patient.

Results

Among the 400 eligible patients, 249 had Crohn''s disease, and 151 had ulcerative colitis. In the group of Crohn''s disease, 67 of the patients had moderate or severe disease, but 126 patients presented with active disease, based on the evaluation of the fecal calprotectin. In patients with ulcerative colitis, only 21 patients had moderate disease, but 76 patients presented with active disease, based on the evaluation of the fecal calprotectin. A large majority of patients had positive CMV IgG. Overall, 10 patients had positive CMV IgM, and 9 patients had a positive qualitative detection of CMV DNA by PCR in the feces. All 400 patients returned negative results after the quantitative detection of CMV DNA in blood by real-time PCR. Analyzing the 19 patients with active infections, we only found that such an association occurred with the use of combined therapy (anti-TNF-alpha + azathioprine)

Conclusion

The findings show that latent cytomegalovirus infections are frequent and active cytomegalovirus infection is rare. We did not find any association between an active infection of CMV and inflammatory bowel disease activity.