Pathogens of Wild Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in Brazil

The maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, is an endangered Neotropical canid that survives at low population densities. Diseases are a potential threat for its conservation but to date have been poorly studied. We performed clinical evaluations and investigated the presence of infectious diseases through serology and coprologic tests on maned wolves from Galheiro Natural Private Reserve, Perdizes City, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Fifteen wolves were captured between 2003 and 2008. We found high prevalences of antibody to canine distemper virus (CDV; 13/14), canine parvovirus (CPV; 4/14), canine adenovirus type 2 (13/14), canine coronavirus (5/11), canine parainfluenza virus (5/5), and Toxoplasma gondii (6/8), along with Ancylostomidae eggs in all feces samples. Antibodies against Leishmania sp. were found in one of 10 maned wolves, and all samples were negative for Neospora caniman. Evidence of high exposure to these viral agents was also observed in unvaccinated domestic clogs from neighboring farms. High prevalence of viral agents and parasites such as CDV, CPV, and Ancylostomidae indicates that this population faces considerable risk of outbreaks and chronic debilitating parasites. This is the first report of exposure to canine parainfluenza virus in Neotropical free-ranging wild canids. Our findings highlight that canine pathogens pose a serious hazard to the viability of maned wolves and other wild carnivore populations in the area and emphasize the need for monitoring and protecting wildlife health in remaining fragments of the Cerrado biome.

Contrafreeloading in maned wolves: Implications for their management and welfare

Contrafreeloading occurs when animals spend time and effort to obtain food in the presence of freely available food. There are several interpretations for such an apparent contradiction to optimal foraging models, with an emphasis either on the need to gather and update information about the environment or on the value of performing species-typical responses. Evidence suggests that both gathering information about the environment and the expression of species-typical behaviour are important for the welfare of captive animals. The aim of the present study was to assess the existence of contrafreeloading in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), in a situation where animals could get food directly from a "free" source and/or search and handle hidden food items, an alternative that requires more effort and is probably more similar to natural foraging conditions. Eight captive, pair-housed maned wolves were given weekly choice tests in which they could obtain food either by approaching the usual food tray in one section of the enclosure (Tray), and/or by searching for food at variable sites amongst the vegetation in the other section of the enclosure (Scattered). Results indicate that maned wolves spent more time in the Scattered than in the Tray section of the enclosure (P = 0.02) and that they obtained about half of the food from that section (48.54% +/- SE 0.69). Our results, the first to demonstrate contrafreeloading in maned wolves, have implications for the husbandry and welfare of this endangered species. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen bond and the resonance effect on the formamide-water complexes

The interaction of formamide and the two transition states of its amide group rotation with one, two, or three water molecules was studied in vacuum. Great differences between the electronic structure of formamide in its most stable form and the electronic structure of the transition states were noticed. Intermolecular interactions were intense, especially in the cases where the solvent interacted with the amide and the carbonyl groups simultaneously. In the transition states, the interaction between the lone pair of nitrogen and the water molecule becomes important. With the aid of the natural bond orbitals, natural resonance theory, and electron localization function (ELF) analyses an increase in the resonance of planar formamide with the addition of successive water molecules was observed. Such observation suggests that the hydrogen bonds in the formamidewater complexes may have some covalent character. These results are also supported by the quantitative ELF analyses. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012

A tellurium-based cathepsin B inhibitor: Molecular structure, modelling, molecular docking and biological evaluation

The crystallographically determined structure of biologically active 4,4-dichloro-1,3-diphenyl-4-telluraoct-2-en-1-one, 3, shows the coordination geometry for Te to be distorted psi-pentagonal bipyramidal based on a C2OCl3(lone pair) donor set. Notable is the presence of an intramolecular axial Te center dot center dot center dot O (carbonyl) interaction, a design element included to reduce hydrolysis. Raman and molecular modelling studies indicate the persistence of the Te center dot center dot center dot O(carbonyl) interaction in the solution (CHCl3) and gasphases, respectively. Docking studies of 3' (i.e. original 3 less one chloride) with Cathepsin B reveals a change in the configuration about the vinyl C = C bond. i.e. to E from Z (crystal structure). This isomerism allows the optimisation of interactions in the complex which features a covalent Te-SGCys29 bond. Crucially, the E configuration observed for 3' allows for the formation of a hypervalent Te center dot center dot center dot O interaction as well as an O center dot center dot center dot H-O hydrogen bond with the Gly27 and Glu122 residues, respectively. Additional stabilisation is afforded by a combination of interactions spanning the S1, S2, S1' and S2' sub-sites of Cathepsin B. The greater experimental inhibitory activity of 3 compared with analogues is rationalised by the additional interactions formed between 3' and the His110 and His111 residues in the occluding loop, which serve to hinder the entrance to the active site. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Urgent percutaneous transcatheter embolization of hemorrhagic hepatic lesions with N-butyl cyanoacrylate

PURPOSE To report on our clinical experience with and the success rate and safety of percutaneous transcatheter embolization with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as the lone primary embolic agent used for arterial embolization of hemorrhagic liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study enrolled all patients who presented to the emergency room with hemorrhagic liver lesions during a two-year period and were treated by percutaneous transcatheter embolization with NBCA. RESULTS Eight consecutive patients were evaluated, and 13 lesions were embolized exclusively with NBCA: eight pseudoaneurysms and five active bleeds. All patients were treated successfully using percutaneous transcatheter embolization with NBCA without re-bleedings or major complications. CONCLUSION Percutaneous transcatheter embolization with NBCA is a safe and effective method for treating hemorrhagic lesions.

O ATO MÉDICO NO CRIME DE TORTURA

A presente pesquisa verificou se a legislação surgida após a Segunda Guerra Mundial foi apta a inibir o comportamento maleficente de médicos no auxílio em especializar, dissimular e acobertar a tortura. Foi demonstrado o envolvimento médico com experimentos em seres humanos durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial e corroborou-se que a maleficência médica ainda é usada nos dias de hoje na sociedade contemporânea, permitindo aos profissionais de saúde, desde o período da Guerra Fria, o envolvimento com a tortura e a consequente violação dos princípios da Bioética, especialmente, na conjuntura atualíssima da guerra norte-americana contra o terrorismo. Ao final foram propostas soluções, tendo em vista as noções de Bioética, as normas de Direito Internacional e os Direitos Humanos