Observations on the feeding habits of the narrow mouthed cat shark Schroederichthys bivius (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae) in the Beagle Channel

The study of the stomach contents of 97 specimens of the narrow mouthed cat shark Schroederichthys bivius shows that their basic food consists of crabs, mainly Munida subrugosa. No significant variations were observed between size classes. The strongly developed sexual dimorphism in Touch morphology and mouth shape was not correlated with the diet of males and females

Maladie des griffes du chat et autres bartonelloses [Cat scratch disease and other human infections caused by Bartonella species].

The different Bartonella species can cause various human infections such as cat scratch disease, chronic bacteremia (homeless patient with nonspecific symptom), endocarditis, bacillary angiomatosis, peliosis, and Carrion's disease. Diagnostic approaches include serology, culture and molecular approaches. PCR is especially useful on lymph nodes biopsies from patients with cat-scratch disease and on valvular samples taken from culture-negative endocarditis. Serology exhibits a very high sensitivity in the latter situation. The treatment should be chosen according to the clinical presentation.

Netting neutrophils in skin wounds recruit and activate plasmacytoid dentritic cells

Les mécanismes qui régulent le processus de guérison de la peau lésée ne sont pas entièrement compris. Nous avons précédemment montré que les cellules dendritiques plasmocytoïdes (pDCs) sont normalement absentes de la peau saine mais infiltrent rapidement la peau humaine ainsi que celle des souris après une blessure cutanée. Après avoir infiltré la peau, ces pDCs sont capables de détecter les acides nucléiques par l'expression des récepteurs de type Toll 7 et 9 ce qui les active à produire de 1' interféron (IFN) de type I. Ce processus est primordial pour la re- épithélisation des blessures cutanées. Cependant, les mécanismes conduisant à l'infiltration et à 1'activation des pDCs restent inconnus. Dans notre projet, nous montrons que la chimiokine CxcllO est responsable de l'infiltration des pDCs. De façon importante, nous démontrons que les neutrophiles qui infiltrent également la peau lésée sont la source majeure de cette chimiokine. La déplétion des neutrophiles abolit d'ailleurs le recrutement des pDCs confirmant ainsi que CxcllO produit par les neutrophiles est responsable de l'infiltration des pDCs dans la peau endommagée. De façon intéressante, nous avons trouvé que CxcllO en plus de son activité chimiotactique, est capable de former des complexes avec l'ADN et d'activer ainsi les pDCs à produire de l'IFN de type I. De plus, nous avons observé que les neutrophiles qui infiltrent la peau forment des Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). Ces NETs sont constitués de filaments extracellulaires d'ADN recouverts par de nombreuses protéines principalement d'origine granulaire. D'une manière frappante, le blocage de la NETose ou l'utilisation de souris déficientes pour la formation de NETs altère le recrutement et l'activation des pDCs ainsi que la réponse inflammatoire qui en découle ainsi que le processus de re-epithélisation qui s'ensuit. En prenant en compte toutes ces données, nos résultats démontrent que suite à une blessure de la peau, les neutrophiles par la production de CxcllO contrôlent l'infiltration des pDCs dans la peau lésée et par la formation de NETs, promeuvent l'activation des pDCs. Notre étude fournit donc de nouvelles informations sur les mécanismes de guérison de la peau et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives thérapeutiques quant à la réparation tissulaire de la peau soit dans le but de l'amplifier ou de l'inhiber. -- The mechanisms that regulate healing of the injured skin are not well understood. We have previously shown that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are normally absent from the healthy skin, but rapidly infiltrate both murine and human skin upon injury. Upon skin infiltration, pDCs sense nucleic acids via TLR7/TLR9 and are activated to produce type I interferon (IFN), a process that is crucial for re-epithelialisation of skin wounds. However, the mechanisms that drive pDCs recruitment and activation in injured skin remain unclear. We show that CxcllO is responsible for pDCs infiltration. Importantly, we demonstrate that skin infiltrating neutrophils are the major source of this chemokine. Neutrophils depletion completely abrogated pDCs recruitment confirming that CxcllO- driven pDCs recruitment is controlled by neutrophils. Interestingly, CxcllO was also found to form complexes with DNA and to activate pDCs to produce Type I IFN in addition to its chemotactic activity. Moreover, we observed that infiltrating neutrophils release Neutrophils Extracellular Traps (NETs) composed of DNA filaments decorated with neutrophils-derived proteins. Strikingly, blocking NETosis or using mice deficient for NETs production impaired pDCs recruitment and activation as well as the subsequent inflammatory response and the re-epithelialisation process. Altogether, these data demonstrate that upon skin injury, neutrophils control pDCs infiltration into the injured skin by the release of CxcllO and via the production of NETs, they allow complex formation between CxcllO and NET-DNA leading to pDCs activation. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of wound healing and open new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions to boost or inhibit wound repair in the skin.

Playing cat and mouse : consumer empowerment and marketing interaction on the net

Peer-reviewed

Factors de creixement autòlegs aplicats a les ferides cròniques amb evolució tòrpida

Les ferides cròniques, especialment les de lenta curació, suposen una carga important pels pacients i pels sistemes de salut. És imprescindible investigar en nous tractaments que redueixin el temps de curació d‟aquestes ferides. L‟objectiu d‟aquest projecte, és avaluar l‟eficàcia dels factors de creixement, obtinguts de plasma ric en plaquetes, en la curació o millora de les ferides cròniques. El projecte s‟ha dissenyat com un estudi d‟una sèrie de casos que compara el tractament convencional amb el tractament amb factors de creixement. La variable resultats és la curació o la disminució del àrea de l‟úlcera. El projecte pretén avaluar uns quants pacients consecutius atesos en l‟ unitat de ferides cròniques del nostre hospital. Els subjectes del estudi han de presentar una ferida de més de 3 mesos d‟evolució nul·la o escassa resposta als tractaments habituals. La tècnica de obtenció dels factors de creixement plaquetar no és complexa i es pot realitzar en l‟entorn d‟un hospital de dia. No s‟han comunicat en la literatura efectes secundaris majors de l‟aplicació dels factors de creixement en ferides cròniques.

Cat's claw oxindole alkaloid isomerization induced by common extraction methods

Cat's claw oxindole alkaloids are prone to isomerization in aqueous solution. However, studies on their behavior in extraction processes are scarce. This paper addressed the issue by considering five commonly used extraction processes. Unlike dynamic maceration (DM) and ultrasound-assisted extraction, substantial isomerization was induced by static maceration, turbo-extraction and reflux extraction. After heating under reflux in DM, the kinetic order of isomerization was established and equations were fitted successfully using a four-parameter Weibull model (R² > 0.999). Different isomerization rates and equilibrium constants were verified, revealing a possible matrix effect on alkaloid isomerization.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION VARIABILITY IN THE Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) WILD POPULATION

Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) is a vine widely distributed throughout the South-American rainforest. Many studies investigating the chemical composition of cat's claw have focused on the pentacyclic (POA) and tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids (TOA), quinovic acid glycosides (QAG), and polyphenols (PPH). Nevertheless, it is still uncertain how environmental factors affect chemical groups. The aim of this work was to better understand the influence of environmental factors (geographic origin, altitude, and season) on cat's claw chemical composition. Stem bark, branches and leaf samples were extracted and analyzed by HPLC-PDA. The data obtained were explored by multivariate analysis (HCA and PCA). Higher amounts of oxindole alkaloids and PPH were found in leaves, followed by stem bark and branches. No clear relationship was verified among geographic origin or altitude and chemical composition, which remained unchanged regardless of season (dry or rainy). However, three oxindole alkaloid chemotypes were clearly recognized: chemotype I (POA with cis D/E ring junction); chemotype II (POA with trans D/E ring junction); and chemotype III (TOA). Thus, environmental factors appear to have only a minor influence on the chemical heterogeneity of the cat's claw wild population. Nevertheless, the occurrence of different chemotypes based on alkaloid profiles seems to be clear.

Speaking Wounds – Silence, Self-injury and Healing in Patricia McCormick‟s Cut

Pro gradu -tutkielmani käsittelee itsensä vahingoittamisen, hiljaisuuden ja toipumisen representaatioita Patricia McCormickin nuorille aikuisille suunnatussa teoksessa Cut. Tutkielman tarkoituksena on analysoida itsensä vahingoittamista kirjallisuudentutkimuksellisesta näkökulmasta. Vaikka itsensä vahingoittamisesta on englanninkielisillä markkinoilla olemassa runsaasti psykologista kirjallisuutta, ei sen representaatioita kirjallisuudessa ole vielä juurikaan tutkittu. Näiden representaatioiden analysointi on tärkeää, sillä 1990-luvun alkupuolella syntyi nuortenkirjallisuudessa genre, joka keskittyy juuri itsensä vahingoittamisen käsittelyyn. Patricia McCormickin Cut on edustava esimerkki tämän genren romaanista. Tutkimuksen teoreettinen viitekehys koostuu monitieteellisistä teksteistä. Ensisijaisina lähteinä ovat Patrick Fueryn teoreettiset käsitykset hiljaisuudesta ja poissa-olosta sekä Christine Wilkie-Stibbsin feministiset luennat yksittäisistä nuortenkirjoista. Armando R. Favazzan kliiniset määritelmät itsensä vahingoittamisesta luovat perustan käyttämilleni termeille. Pääpaino tutkielmassa on kuitenkin omalla luennallani romaanista. Tutkimustuloksena on, että sekä päähenkilön hiljaisuus että itsensä viiltely ovat monimerkityksisiä ja dynaamisia tiloja. Ne toimivat kommunikaation ja itsehoidon välineinä. Viiltelyyn sisältyy voimakkaasti hoivan käsite, sillä viiltämällä itseään päähenkilö yrittää käsitellä ja helpottaa henkistä ahdistustaan. Sekä hiljaisuus että viiltely auttavat eri tavoin päähenkilöä käsittelemään ja sisäistämään oman tilansa ja näin ollen myös edistävät paranemisprosessia, joka jatkuu puheen kautta perinteisessä psykoterapeuttisessa diskurssissa. Teos painottaa puheen roolia, mutta myös hiljaisuus ja viiltely muodostavat yhtäläiset kommunikaatio- ja hoitoväylät.

Effects of low intensity laser in in vitro bacterial culture and in vivo infected wounds

OBJECTIVE: to compare the effects of low intensity laser therapy on in vitro bacterial growth and in vivo in infected wounds, and to analyze the effectiveness of the AsGa Laser technology in in vivo wound infections. METHODS: in vitro: Staphylococcus aureus were incubated on blood agar plates, half of them being irradiated with 904 nm wavelength laser and dose of 3J/cm2 daily for seven days. In vivo: 32 male Wistar rats were divided into control group (uninfected) and Experimental Group (Infected). Half of the animals had their wounds irradiated. RESULTS: in vitro: there was no statistically significant variation between the experimental groups as for the source plates and the derived ones (p>0.05). In vivo: there was a significant increase in the deposition of type I and III collagen in the wounds of the infected and irradiated animals when assessed on the fourth day of the experiment (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: low-intensity Laser Therapy applied with a wavelength of 904nm and dose 3J/cm2 did not alter the in vitro growth of S. aureus in experimental groups; in vivo, however, it showed significant increase in the deposition of type I and III collagen in the wound of infected and irradiated animals on the fourth day of the experiment.

Management of stab wounds to the anterior abdominal wall

The meeting of the Publication "Evidence Based Telemedicine - Trauma and Emergency Surgery" (TBE-CiTE), through literature review, selected three recent articles on the treatment of victims stab wounds to the abdominal wall. The first study looked at the role of computed tomography (CT) in the treatment of patients with stab wounds to the abdominal wall. The second examined the use of laparoscopy over serial physical examinations to evaluate patients in need of laparotomy. The third did a review of surgical exploration of the abdominal wound, use of diagnostic peritoneal lavage and CT for the early identification of significant lesions and the best time for intervention. There was consensus to laparotomy in the presence of hemodynamic instability or signs of peritonitis, or evisceration. The wound should be explored under local anesthesia and if there is no injury to the aponeurosis the patient can be discharged. In the presence of penetration into the abdominal cavity, serial abdominal examinations are safe without CT. Laparoscopy is well indicated when there is doubt about any intracavitary lesion, in centers experienced in this method.

Closure of large wounds using rubber bands in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: to verify the effectiveness of the rubber elastic band in the treatment of large wounds of the body wall of rabbits by means of traction of its edges. METHODS: we studied 30 New Zealand rabbits, divided into three groups (n=10): Group 1- healing by secondary intention; Group 2- removal and eutopic repositioning of skin as full thickness skin graft; Group 3- Approximation of wound edges with elastic rubber band. In all animals, we removed a segment of the back skin and subcutaneous tissue down to the fascia, in accordance with an acrylic mold of 8cm long by 12cm wide. All animals were observed for 21 days. RESULTS: two animals of groups 1 and 2 had wound abscess. In Group 2, there was partial or total graft loss in 90% of animals. The complete closure of the wounds was observed in four animals of Group 1, six of Group 2 and eight of Group 3. There was no difference between the scar resistance values of groups 2 and 3, which were higher than those in Group 1. The scars of the three groups were characterized by the presence of mature connective tissue mixed with blood vessels and inflammatory infiltration, predominantly polymorphonuclear. CONCLUSION: the tensile strength of the wound edges with rubber elastic band is as efficient as the skin graft to treat rabbits' large body wounds.

Effect of Hevea brasiliensis latex sap gel on healing of acute skin wounds induced on the back of rats

Objective : to evaluate the effect of topical delivery of latex cream-gel in acute cutaneous wounds induced on the back of rats. Methods : we subjected sixteen rats to dermo-epidermal excision of a round dorsal skin flap, with 2.5cm diameter. We divided the animals into two groups: Latex Group: application of cream-gel-based latex throughout the wound bed on postoperative days zero, three, six and nine; Control group: no treatment on the wound. Photographs of the lesions were taken on the procedure day and on the 6th and 14th postoperative days, for analyzing the area and the larger diameter of the wound. We carried out euthanasia of all animals on the 14th postoperative day, when we resected he dorsal skin and the underlying muscle layer supporting the wound for histopathological study. Results : there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of wound closure, in the histopathological findings or in the reduction of the area and of the largest diameter of the wounds among the groups studied on the 14th postoperative day. Conclusion : according to the experimental conditions in which the study was conducted, latex cream-gel did not interfere in the healing of acute cutaneous wounds in rats.