A Retrospective Study on the Epidemiology of Anthrax,Foot and Mouth Disease,Haemorrhagic Septicaemia,Peste des Petits Ruminants and Rabies in Bangladesh, 2010-2012

Anthrax, foot and mouth disease (FMD), haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and rabies are considered to be endemic in Bangladesh. This retrospective study was conducted to understand the geographic and seasonal distribution of these major infectious diseases in livestock based on data collected through passive surveillance from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. Data analysis for this period revealed 5,937 cases of anthrax, 300,333 of FMD, 13,436 of HS, 247,783 of PPR and 14,085 cases of dog bite/rabies. While diseases were reported in almost every district of the country, the highest frequency of occurrence corresponded to the susceptible livestock population in the respective districts. There was no significant difference in the disease occurrences between districts bordering India/Myanmar and non-border districts (p>0.05). Significantly higher (p<0.01) numbers of anthrax (84.5%), FMD (88.3%), HS (84.9%) and dog bite/rabies (64.3%) cases were reported in cattle than any other species. PPR cases were reported mostly (94.8%) in goats with only isolated cases (5.2%) in sheep. The diseases occur throughout the year with peak numbers reported during June through September and lowest during December through April, with significant differences (p<0.01) between the months. The annual usages of vaccines for anthrax, FMD, HS and PPR were only 7.31%, 0.61%, 0.84% and 11.59% of the susceptible livestock population, respectively. Prophylactic vaccination against rabies was 21.16% of cases. There were significant differences (p<0.01) in the administration of anthrax, FMD and HS vaccines between border and non-border districts, but not PPR or rabies vaccines. We recommend that surveillance and reporting of these diseases need to be improved throughout the country. Furthermore, all suspected clinical cases should be confirmed by laboratory examination. The findings of this study can be used in the formulation of more effective disease management and control strategies, including appropriate vaccination policies in Bangladesh.     

Hunting among Moka Bubis in Bioko: dynamics of faunal exploitation at the village level

Hunting by Bubi villages around Moka, Bioko, and their impact on the local prey fauna was studied during July–August, 1992. Questionnaires were sent to 45 known hunters in the region in order to find out their techniques and hunting procedures. Hunting trips were also followed (a total of 204 km covered) and counts of animals brought to the villages from 103 recorded trips were also made. There were two main hunting methods employed: trapping and shooting. Most commonly used was snare trapping. At least five different types were used during the study. Guns were less commonly employed. Both techniques are efficient and productive but prey caught by each method differed. Most animals caught by snares were large rodents (Atherurus africanus, Cricetomys emini) and small antelopes (Cephalophus monticola) whereas those shot were usually antelopes (C. monticola and C. ogilbyi), monkeys (Cercopithecus spp.) and, when accompanied by dogs, drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus). The effects of hunting in the region is acute especially since they incur upon the proclaimed protected areas in the south of the island. Hunting trips are gradually being lengthened and areas which were originally unaffected by this activity are now part of the villages' hunting zones.     

Risk Communications: Around the World Neural Network Models for Assessing Road Suitability for Dangerous Goods Transport

This article describes a methodology for assessing the degree of remedial action required to make short stretches of a roadway suitable for dangerous goods transport (DGT). The methodology is based on the evaluation of a set of variables that have a bearing on DGT risk. The large number of variables involved made it necessary to apply a supervised approach based on expert criteria. The result was a knowledge base that can be used both to estimate DGT risk for new stretches of roadway and to determine sources of risk without having to rely on an expert. A number of multivariate statistical analysis techniques were tested for the construction of the model, namely linear discriminant analysis with a prior reduction in dimensionality, multilayer perceptrons, and support vector machines. The results obtained from a test sample show that the support vector machines represented expert knowledge most reliably. A graphic representation of the risk index for a studied stretch of roadway results in a map of the level of DGT risk for that roadway.     

Ostracism of an Albino Individual by a Group of Pigmented Catfish

Physiological and behavioural constraints hinder albino individuals. Albino animals are rare in the wild; this trait is associated with easy detection by predators, non-native or damaged environments, and exclusively aphotic environments in total darkness. The social aspect of albinism is reported only for human beings, and the effect is distinguishable in time and space when social benefits, are used to a limited the extent. Thus far, the social consequences of albinism for animals remain unknown. We used socially established groups of the pigmented catfish, (Silurus glanis), to observe space and temporal distance detachment of albino specimens in laboratory conditions. The albino fish were separated at larger distances from the group than pigmented individuals with the same social status determined by familiarity, and this asymmetry also varied in time. Albinism-related ostracism results in a solitary existence, usually followed by enhanced predation risk. The motivation for an individual’s exclusion from a group appears to be the avoidance of the predation risk that increases not only for an odd individual but also for conspecifics within a group. Our findings indicate a role for albinism in behavioural processes related to sociality in a group of conspecifics.     

Virtual Prototyping and Parametric Design of 3D-Printed Tablets Based on the Solution of Inverse Problem

The problem of designing tablet geometry and its internal structure that results into a specified release profile of the drug during dissolution was considered. A solution method based on parametric programming, inspired by CAD (computer-aided design) approaches currently used in other fields of engineering, was proposed and demonstrated. The solution of the forward problem using a parametric series of structural motifs was first carried out in order to generate a library of drug release profiles associated with each structural motif. The inverse problem was then solved in three steps: first, the combination of basic structural motifs whose superposition provides the closest approximation of the required drug release profile was found by a linear combination of pre-calculated release profiles. In the next step, the final tablet design was constructed and its dissolution curve found computationally. Finally, the proposed design was 3D printed and its dissolution profile was confirmed experimentally. The computational method was based on the numerical solution of drug diffusion in a boundary layer surrounding the tablet, coupled with erosion of the tablet structure encoded by the phase volume function. The tablets were 3D printed by fused deposition modelling (FDM) from filaments produced by hot-melt extrusion. It was found that the drug release profile could be effectively controlled by modifying the tablet porosity. Custom release profiles were obtained by combining multiple porosity regions in the same tablet. The computational method yielded accurate predictions of the drug release rate for both single- and multi-porosity tablets.     

MCAM knockdown impairs PPARγ expression and 3T3-L1 fibroblasts differentiation to adipocytes

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - We investigated for the first time the expression of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) and its involvement in the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to...     

Bile acids,FGF15/19 and liver regeneration: From mechanisms to clinical applications

The liver has an extraordinary regenerative capacity rapidly triggered upon injury or resection. This response is intrinsically adjusted in its initiation and termination, a property termed the “hepatostat”. Several molecules have been involved in liver regeneration, and among them bile acids may play a central role. Intrahepatic levels of bile acids rapidly increase after resection. Through the activation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), bile acids regulate their hepatic metabolism and also promote hepatocellular proliferation. FXR is also expressed in enterocytes, where bile acids stimulate the expression of fibroblast growth factor 15/19 (FGF15/19), which is released to the portal blood. Through the activation of FGFR4 on hepatocytes FGF15/19 regulates bile acids synthesis and finely tunes liver regeneration as part of the “hepatostat”. Here we review the experimental evidences supporting the relevance of the FXR-FGF15/19-FGFR4 axis in liver regeneration and discuss potential therapeutic applications of FGF15/19 in the prevention of liver failure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cholangiocytes in Health and Disease edited by Jesus Banales, Marco Marzioni, Nicholas LaRusso and Peter Jansen.     

Die Feinstruktur des ektopischen Schmelzorgans bei beschleunigter Eruption des Rattenschneidezahnes

Zusammenfassung Durch regelmäßig wiederholtes mechanisches Kürzen des rechten unteren Rattenschneidezahnes wurde eine beschleunigte Eruption hervorgerufen. Nach 15–17 Tagen trat eine Störung der Schmelzentwicklung in Form einer Produktion von kreideweißem statt normal pigmentiertem Schmelz und ein rotbräunliches Häutchen im Bereich des gingivalen Epithelverschlusses in Erscheinung. Dieses Häutchen wurde nach intravitaler Fixierung mit Glutaraldehyd abpräpariert und licht- und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht.Das Häutchen besteht aus mehreren übereinander gelagerten Zellschichten: aus Ameloblasten, einem typischen Papillarorgan, einer Bindegewebsschicht und aus flachen Deckzellen. Die Ameloblasten im Bereich des Epithelverschlusses befinden sich im Stadium der frühen, die Ameloblasten des aus dem Epithelverschluß hervorwachsenden Häutchens dagegen im Stadium der späten Maturation. Die Ultrastruktur des gesamten Papillarorgans läßt auf eine intensive metabolische Funktion und auf Ionentransport schließen. Pigmentgranula, die bei normaler Eruption im Maturationsstadium sowohl im Papillarorgan als auch in den Ameloblasten vorkommen, wurden nur im Bereiche des Epithelverschlusses in vaskulären Elementen und in perivaskulären Bindegewebszellen gefunden. Die Oberfläche des Häutchens wird von einer schmalen Schicht flacher, organellenarmer Zellen gebildet.Das bei beschleunigter Eruption aus dem Epithelansatz hervorwachsende Häutchen ist ein ektopisches Schmelzorgan, dessen rotbräunliche Färbung von der reichen Gefäßversorgung herrührt.

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The fine structure of the ectopic enamel organ in accelerated eruption of the rat incisor

Summary An accelerated eruption of the right mandibular rat incisor was induced by its repeated, mechanical shortening. Fifteen to seventeen days after beginning of the experiment a disturbance of enamel development occured, manifested by production of white, opaque enamel instead of normally pigmented enamel and by appearance of a redbrownish membrane overlying the enamel. This membrane was intravitally fixed with glutaraldehyde and after dissection processed for histologic and electronmicroscopic investigation.The membrane consists of ameloblasts, a typical papillary organ, a connective tissue layer and of flat surface cells. The ameloblasts near the epithelial attachment are in early maturation state, the ameloblasts of the outgrowing membrane show signs of reduction, typical for late maturation. The papillary organ of the entire membrane showes ultrastructural equivalents of high metabolic activity as well as of fluid transports.Pigment granules, which in normal eruption occur in the maturation state in the papillary cells and in ameloblasts, are absent in these cells of the membrane. They were only seen in perivascular elements and in connective tissue cells near the epithelial attachment. On the oral surface the membrane is covered by a thin layer of flat, degenerated cells poor in organelles. These findings support the concept, that the membrane growing out of the epithelial attachment in accelerated eruption of the rat incisor, is an ectopic enamel organ. The red-brownish colour is not due to pigment accumulation but to its rich vascularization.

     

Condition and feeding behaviour of subadult burbot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lota lota</Emphasis>) in riverine and lacustrine environments

The condition and feeding behaviour of burbot, a widespread potamodromous species in riverine and lacustrine environments, were compared in order to evaluate the importance of both in three artificial systems. Subadult burbot were sampled in three temperate reservoirs in spring, and one of them also in summer and autumn. Standardised abundance and sizes of burbot were comparable between the reservoirs, but the conditions were significantly different. The Clark’s condition coefficient and index of fullness were independent of burbot size and individuals. Feeding behaviour in terms of abundance and composition of consumed food was environment-dependent. The most common prey category was aquatic insect larvae, dominating in the riverine environment. Permanent water invertebrates, microcrustaceans, beetles and crayfish were less common food and eaten more often in the lacustrine environment. Prey-fish were usually the most common species of suitable size. The food analyses demonstrated opportunistic feeding behaviour with selection of prey associated with benthic habitat and suitable size. Burbot is therefore flexible not only in environments utilisation, but also feeding strategy.     

Glyphosate Inhibits PPAR Gamma Induction and Differentiation of Preadipocytes and is able to Induce Oxidative Stress

Glyphosate‐based herbicides (GF) are extensively used for weed control. Thus, it is important to investigate their putative toxic effects. We have reported that GF at subagriculture concentrations inhibits proliferation and differentiation to adipocytes of 3T3‐L1 fibroblasts. In this investigation, we evaluated the effect of GF on genes upregulated during adipogenesis. GF was able to inhibit the induction of PPAR gamma, the master gene in adipogenesis but not C/EBP beta, which precedes PPAR gamma activation. GF also inhibited differentiation and proliferation of another model of preadipocyte: mouse embryonic fibroblasts. In exponentially growing 3T3‐L1 cells, GF increased lipid peroxidation and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. We also found that proliferation was inhibited with lower concentrations of GF when time of exposure was extended. Thus, GF was able to inhibit proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes and to induce oxidative stress, which is indicative of its ability to alter cellular physiology.