Myxosporidiosis in intensively-reared Piaractus mesopotamicus: Histopathological diagnosis by means of Ziehl-Neelsen staining

Samples of different organs from intensively-reared Piaractus mesopotamicus were collected and processed using routine histological techniques in order to produce thin sections for staining with hematoxylin-eosin and with the Ziehl-Neelsen method. Through examination under an optical microscope, myxosporidians of the genera Henneguya sp. and Myxobolus sp. were identified, respectivelyin the gills and kidneys of P. mesopotamicus. Plasmodia with immature spores of Henneguya sp. were located along the secondary lamellae, with total length of 30.45±4.84µm and width of 3.52±0.33µm. Spores of Myxobolus sp. were located in the kidneys, with total length of 8.94±0.82µm and width of 5.59±0.39µm. Histopathological analysis of the gills showed plasmodia containing spores of Henneguya sp., at intralamellar and intravascular localities, at different stages of development. Spores of Myxobolus sp. were identified in the kidneys, in the peritubular region and in the interstices and glomerulus, surrounded by melanomacrophages. Focal hemorrhage was recorded in a few cases. Ziehl-Neelsen staining allowed to identify particular features of the spores and facilitated biometry and enabled classification in comparison with hematoxylin-eosin, thus demonstrating its usefulness for histopathological diagnosis of the parasitosis.

Journal du commerce, de politique et de littérature

1818/12/25 (Numéro 520).

Cardiothoracic ratio and vertebral heart size (VHS) to standardize the heart size of the tufted capuchin (Cebus apella Linnaeus, 1758) in computerized radiographic images

Abstract: The VHS and CTR were assessed using computerized thoracic radiographs of ten clinically healthy tufted capuchin monkeys (five males and five females) from the Wild Animal Screening Center in São Luís (Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres de São Luís-MA-CETAS). Radiographs were taken in laterolateral and dorsoventral projections to calculate the cardiothoracic ratio (VHS) and vertebral heart size (CTR). The VHS showed mean values of 9.34±0.32v (males) and 9.16±0.34v (females) and there was no statistical difference between males and females (p>0.05). The CTR showed mean values of 0.55±0.04 (males) and 0.52±0.03 (females) and there was no statistical difference between the sexes (p>0.05). There was positive correlation between VHS and CTR (r=0.78). The thoracic and heart diameters showed mean values of 5.70±0.48cm and 2.16±0.40cm in the males, respectively. In the females they measured 5.32±0.39cm and 2.94±0.32cm. There was no statistical difference between the sexes. Our results show that the high correlation found between VHS and CTR permitted the verification with similar clinical precision between the two methods to estimate alterations in the heart silhouette by radiographic examination of tufted capuchin, making it an easy technique to apply that can be considered in the investigation of heart problems for this wild species.

Nurmijärven liikenneturvallisuussuunnitelma 2010

Nurmijärven liikenneturvallisuussuunnitelma on laadittu Nurmijärven kunnan ja Uudenmaan ELY-keskuksen yhteistyönä. Suunnitelmassa on selvitetty liikenneturvallisuuden nykytilaa kunnassa sekä kartoitettu liikenneturvallisuusongelmia mm. onnettomuusanalyysin ja asukaskyselyn avulla. Nykytila-analyysi on toiminut lähtökohtana liikenneturvallisuustyön tavoitteiden ja päämäärien asettamiselle. Työssä laaditut liikenneympäristön parantamistoimenpiteiden ohjelma sekä hallintokuntien liikenneturvallisuustyön toimenpiteistä kootut toimintasuunnitelmat tukevat tavoitteisiin pääsemistä. Tilastokeskuksen tietojen mukaan Nurmijärvellä tapahtui vuosina 1999-2009 yhteensä noin 2 200 poliisin tietoon tullutta liikenneonnettomuutta. Onnettomuuksista 520 johti henkilövahinkoon ja näistä 28 kuolemaan. Kuluneiden yhdentoista vuoden aikana tapahtuneiden onnettomuuksien laskennalliset kustannukset ovat olleet noin 23,0 M€/vuosi, josta kunnalle kohdistuvien kustannusten osuus on ollut noin 4,0 M€/vuosi. Kunnan kustannuksista suurin osa kohdistuu terveys- ja sosiaalitoimelle. Asukkaille suunnatun kyselyn mukaan koululaisia pidettiin turvattomimpana tienkäyttäjäryhmänä Nurmijärvellä, ja pyöräilyä ja kävelyä turvattomimpina kulkutapoina. Tärkeimmiksi kehittämistarpeiksi nousivat kevyen liikenteen yhteyksien lisääminen, liikennekäyttäytymisen parantaminen sekä valaistuksen lisääminen. Onnettomuusanalyysin, asukaskyselyn ja valtakunnallisten tavoitteiden pohjalta Nurmijärvelle laadittiin henkilövahinkoon johtaneiden onnettomuuksien vähenemätavoite ja liikenneturvallisuustyön vuositeemat: turvallinen koulumatka ja esikoulumatka (vuonna 2010), nuorten liikenneturvallisuus, erityisryhmien liikenneturvallisuus, turvallinen työmatka, kestävät ja turvalliset liikkumisen valinnat sekä turvallinen kesäliikenne. Työn aikana laadittiin toimenpideohjelma liikenneympäristön turvallisuuden parantamiseksi. Esitettyjen toimenpiteiden pääpaino on nopeasti toteutettavissa ja kustannustehokkaissa hankkeissa. Noin 60 kohdetta käsittävään ohjelmaan sisältyy mm. kävelyn ja pyöräilyn turvallisuutta parantavia hankkeita, nopeusrajoitusten tehostamistoimia sekä liittymien turvallisuutta parantavia toimenpiteitä. Ainoastaan liikenneympäristöön kohdistuvilla toimenpiteillä ei voida saavuttaa asetettua onnettomuuksien vähenemätavoitetta, joten kunnan on sitouduttava aktiiviseen liikenneturvallisuustyöhön ja asenekasvatussuunnitelman toteuttamiseen. Lisäksi liikkumisen ohjauksen, kuten maankäytön suunnittelun ja kaavoituksen keinoin voidaan vaikuttaa toimintojen ja asuinalueiden sijoitteluun, ja mahdollisesti vähentää liikkumistarvetta esimerkiksi omalla autolla. Myös edistämällä kävelyn ja pyöräilyn sekä joukkoliikenteen käyttöä voidaan vähentää yksityisautoilua ja edistää turvallista ja ekologista liikkumista. Nurmijärvellä toimii eri hallintokuntien ja yhteistyötahojen edustajista koostuva liikenneturvallisuusryhmä. Ryhmän toimintaa on tehostettu suunnitelmatyön aikana, ja se tulee jatkossa seuraamaan suunnitelman toteutumista.

Model based analysis of the post-combustion calcium looping process for carbon dioxide capture

This thesis presents a one-dimensional, semi-empirical dynamic model for the simulation and analysis of a calcium looping process for post-combustion CO2 capture. Reduction of greenhouse emissions from fossil fuel power production requires rapid actions including the development of efficient carbon capture and sequestration technologies. The development of new carbon capture technologies can be expedited by using modelling tools. Techno-economical evaluation of new capture processes can be done quickly and cost-effectively with computational models before building expensive pilot plants. Post-combustion calcium looping is a developing carbon capture process which utilizes fluidized bed technology with lime as a sorbent. The main objective of this work was to analyse the technological feasibility of the calcium looping process at different scales with a computational model. A one-dimensional dynamic model was applied to the calcium looping process, simulating the behaviour of the interconnected circulating fluidized bed reactors. The model incorporates fundamental mass and energy balance solvers to semi-empirical models describing solid behaviour in a circulating fluidized bed and chemical reactions occurring in the calcium loop. In addition, fluidized bed combustion, heat transfer and core-wall layer effects were modelled. The calcium looping model framework was successfully applied to a 30 kWth laboratory scale and a pilot scale unit 1.7 MWth and used to design a conceptual 250 MWth industrial scale unit. Valuable information was gathered from the behaviour of a small scale laboratory device. In addition, the interconnected behaviour of pilot plant reactors and the effect of solid fluidization on the thermal and carbon dioxide balances of the system were analysed. The scale-up study provided practical information on the thermal design of an industrial sized unit, selection of particle size and operability in different load scenarios.

Controle de plantas daninhas na cultura da soja através do herbicida acetochlor em sistemas de semeadura direta e preparo convencional

O manejo do solo altera a bioatividade dos herbicidas residuais e influi na persistência, na eficácia de controle das plantas daninhas e na fitotoxicidade para as culturas. Um experimento foi conduzido na Faculdade de Agronomia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, com objetivo de avaliar a eficácia de controle das plantas daninhas pelo herbicida acetochlor aplicado em solo Argissolo Vermelho sob semeadura direta e preparo convencional. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições em parcelas subsubdivididas. O acetochlor foi utilizado nas doses de 0, 1.680, 2.520, 3.360 e 4.200 g ha¹. Foi avaliado o controle das plantas daninhas aos 15, 30 e 45 dias após aplicação do acetochlor (DAT). Foram avaliados também a injúria na cultura da soja aos 14, 21 e 28 DAT e a matéria seca das plantas daninhas aos 40 e 60 DAT. O herbicida acetochlor foi mais eficiente no controle das plantas daninhas no solo sob preparo convencional que sob semeadura direta. A produção de matéria seca dessas plantas foi menor no preparo convencional comparado à semeadura direta. Não ocorreu injúria à cultura da soja.

Identificação de biótipos de azevém (Lolium multiflorum) resistentes ao herbicida glyphosate em pomares de maçã

O glyphosate é um herbicida de amplo espectro utilizado há mais de 15 anos em pomares de maçã na região de Vacaria-RS, para manejo da vegetação nas linhas da cultura. São realizadas, em geral, três a quatro aplicações por ciclo e a dose normalmente utilizada é de 720 a 1.080 g e.a. ha-1 de glyphosate (2 a 3 L ha-1 do produto comercial). O azevém (Lolium multiflorum) é uma planta daninha comum em pomares e, tradicionalmente, sensível ao glyphosate. Entretanto, nos últimos anos a ocorrência de plantas de azevém que, após receberem o tratamento com glyphosate, não manifestam sintomas significativos de toxicidade sugere que elas adquiriram resistência ao produto. Assim, com o objetivo de avaliar a resposta de uma população de plantas de azevém ao glyphosate, foram realizados três experimentos: um em campo e dois em casa de vegetação. No experimento em campo os tratamentos avaliados constaram de doses crescentes de glyphosate (0, 360, 720, 1.440, 2.880, 5.760 e 11.520 g e.a. ha-1), e os herbicidas paraquat, glufosinate, haloxyfop e diclofop foram empregados como produtos-padrão, aplicados em dois estádios vegetativos do azevém. No experimento em casa de vegetação, os tratamentos constaram de doses crescentes de glyphosate (0, 360, 720, 1.440, 2.880 e 5.760 g e.a. ha-1) mais os herbicidas testemunhas, aplicados sobre plantas do biótipo considerado resistente e de um sensível. No segundo experimento realizado em casa de vegetação foram avaliados tratamentos contendo glyphosate (720, 1.440, 2.880, 720 + 720 e 720 + 1.440 g e.a. ha-1), em aplicações únicas e seqüenciais, mais os herbicidas paraquat, glufosinate, haloxyfop, clethodim, sethoxydim, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fluazifop, paraquat + diuron, atrazine + simazine, trifluralin e metolachlor. A toxicidade dos tratamentos herbicidas foi avaliada aos 15, 30 e 45 DAT (dias após tratamento). Os resultados obtidos nos experimentos em campo e em casa de vegetação, de forma geral, evidenciam que o biótipo sensível é facilmente controlado com o herbicida glyphosate e pelos demais herbicidas pós-emergentes avaliados, independentemente do estádio vegetativo. Demonstram, ainda, que o biótipo resistente apresenta-se, igualmente ao biótipo sensível, altamente suscetível aos herbicidas com mecanismo de ação distinto daquele do glyphosate. No entanto, o biótipo resistente apresenta baixa resposta ao herbicida glyphosate, mesmo se este for empregado em altas doses, evidenciando ter adquirido resistência a esse produto.

Ação de herbicidas sobre o crescimento de estirpes de Rhizobium tropici

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento das estirpes de Rhizobium tropici BR 322 e BR 520, utilizadas como inoculantes na cultura do feijoeiro no Brasil, em meio de cultura à base de manitol e extrato de levedura (YM) adicionado de diferentes herbicidas (bentazon, metolachlor, imazamox, fluazifop-p-butil, fomesafen e paraquat). Os herbicidas fluazifop-p-butil e fomesafen foram avaliados puros e em mistura comercial, em concentrações variando entre 0,0 e 49,23 mg L-1. O crescimento das estirpes de Rhizobium foi avaliado em espectrofotômetro ao longo de 100 horas de incubação, por meio da leitura da densidade ótica, a 560 nm, sendo, posteriormente, convertido em unidades formadoras de colônia por mL. Observou-se que o paraquat foi o herbicida com maior inibição do crescimento das estirpes avaliadas, seguido pela mistura comercial de fomesafen e fluazifop-p-butil. Para os demais herbicidas, a redução do crescimento não foi significativa. De modo geral, a estirpe BR 520 mostrou-se mais tolerante aos herbicidas testados, com exceção do paraquat. No ensaio de concentrações crescentes do fomesafen, isolado ou em mistura com fluazifop-p-butil, não foi possível determinar o I50 (concentração do herbicida que reduz em 50% o crescimento do rizóbio); a maior redução, de 31,1%, foi observada para a estirpe BR 322 na máxima concentração testada (49,23 mg L-1) da mistura comercial.

Effect of chronic fish oil supplementation on renal function of normal and cachectic rats

In the present study we determined the effect of chronic diet supplementation with n-3 PUFA on renal function of healthy and cachectic subjects by providing fish oil (1 g/kg body weight) to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation and then to their offspring post-weaning and examined its effect on renal function parameters during their adulthood. The animals were divided into four groups of 5-10 rats in each group: control, control supplemented with fish oil (P), cachectic Walker 256 tumor-bearing (W), and W supplemented with fish oil (WP). Food intake was significantly lower in the W group compared to control (12.66 ± 4.24 vs 25.30 ± 1.07 g/day). Treatment with fish oil significantly reversed this reduction (22.70 ± 2.94 g/day). Tumor growth rate was markedly reduced in the P group (16.41 ± 2.09 for WP vs 24.06 ± 2.64 g for W). WP group showed a significant increase in mean glomerular filtration rate compared to P and control (1.520 ± 0.214 ml min-1 kg body weight-1; P < 0.05). Tumor-bearing groups had low urine osmolality compared to control rats. The fractional sodium excretion decreased in the W group compared to control (0.43 ± 0.16 vs 2.99 ± 0.87%; P < 0.05), and partially recovered in the WP group (0.90 ± 0.20%). In summary, the chronic supplementation with fish oil used in this study increased the amount of fat in the diet by only 0.1%, but caused remarkable changes in tumor growth rate and cachexia, also showing a renoprotective function.

Sukupuolta politisoimassa

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Negative inotropic and chronotropic effects on the guinea pig atrium of extracts obtained from Averrhoa carambola L. leaves

It has been reported that star fruit can lead to a fatal outcome in uremic patients. The intoxication syndrome consists of hiccups, mental confusion, dizziness, and vomiting. On the other hand, folk medicine uses teas and infusions of carambola leaves to treat headache, vomiting, cough, insomnia, and diabetes. This motivated us to determine if Averrhoa carambola can act on the contractility and automaticity of the guinea pig heart. We measured the atrial isometric force in stimulated left atria and determined the chronotropic changes in spontaneously beating right atria. The carambola leaf extracts (1.5 mg/ml) abolished the contractile force in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the crude, methanolic, ethanolic, aqueous, and acetic extracts, the aqueous one was the most potent (EC50 = 520 ± 94 µg/ml; flavonoids and tannins are the main constituents; Na+ and K+ contents in 1.0 mg/ml of aqueous extract were 0.12 ± 0.016 and 1.19 ± 0.15 mM, respectively). The aqueous extract abolished the positive Bowditch staircase phenomenon and reduced the inotropic response to CaCl2 (0.17-8.22 mM), events that are dependent on the cellular Ca2+ inward current. The adrenergic, muscarinic or opioid membrane receptors do not seem to participate in the mechanism of action of the cardioactive substance(s). In spontaneously beating atria, the aqueous extract promoted a negative chronotropic effect that was antagonized by 0.1 µM isoproterenol bitartrate. With this agonist, the EC50 of the aqueous extract increased from 133 ± 58 to 650 ± 100 µg/ml. These data regarding the effect of A. carambola on guinea pig atrial contractility and automaticity indicate an L-type Ca2+ channel blockade.

Ymmärtävä tulkinta J. V. Snellmanista

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study with tranexamic acid of bleeding and fibrinolytic activity after primary coronary artery bypass grafting

Cardiopulmonary bypass is frequently associated with excessive blood loss. Platelet dysfunction is the main cause of non-surgical bleeding after open-heart surgery. We randomized 65 patients in a double-blind fashion to receive tranexamic acid or placebo in order to determine whether antifibrinolytic therapy reduces chest tube drainage. The tranexamic acid group received an intravenous loading dose of 10 mg/kg, before the skin incision, followed by a continuous infusion of 1 mg kg-1 h-1 for 5 h. The placebo group received a bolus of normal saline solution and continuous infusion of normal saline for 5 h. Postoperative bleeding and fibrinolytic activity were assessed. Hematologic data, convulsive seizures, allogeneic transfusion, occurrence of myocardial infarction, mortality, allergic reactions, postoperative renal insufficiency, and reopening rate were also evaluated. The placebo group had a greater postoperative blood loss (median (25th to 75th percentile) 12 h after surgery (540 (350-750) vs 300 (250-455) mL, P = 0.001). The placebo group also had greater blood loss 24 h after surgery (800 (520-1050) vs 500 (415-725) mL, P = 0.008). There was a significant increase in plasma D-dimer levels after coronary artery bypass grafting only in patients of the placebo group, whereas no significant changes were observed in the group treated with tranexamic acid. The D-dimer levels were 1057 (1025-1100) µg/L in the placebo group and 520 (435-837) µg/L in the tranexamic acid group (P = 0.01). We conclude that tranexamic acid effectively reduces postoperative bleeding and fibrinolysis in patients undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass grafting compared to placebo.

Tumor growth reduction is regulated at the gene level in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats supplemented with fish oil rich in EPA and DHA

We investigated the effect of fish oil (FO) supplementation on tumor growth, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and RelA gene and protein expression in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats. Male Wistar rats (70 days old) were fed with regular chow (group W) or chow supplemented with 1 g/kg body weight FO daily (group WFO) until they reached 100 days of age. Both groups were then inoculated with a suspension of Walker 256 ascitic tumor cells (3×107 cells/mL). After 14 days the rats were killed, total RNA was isolated from the tumor tissue, and relative mRNA expression was measured using the 2-ΔΔCT method. FO significantly decreased tumor growth (W=13.18±1.58 vsWFO=5.40±0.88 g, P<0.05). FO supplementation also resulted in a significant decrease in COX-2 (W=100.1±1.62 vsWFO=59.39±5.53, P<0.001) and PPARγ (W=100.4±1.04vs WFO=88.22±1.46, P<0.05) protein expression. Relative mRNA expression was W=1.06±0.022 vsWFO=0.31±0.04 (P<0.001) for COX-2, W=1.08±0.02vs WFO=0.52±0.08 (P<0.001) for PPARγ, and W=1.04±0.02 vs WFO=0.82±0.04 (P<0.05) for RelA. FO reduced tumor growth by attenuating inflammatory gene expression associated with carcinogenesis.