Intestinal bacterial overgrowth after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

The aim of the present study was to report the occurrence of serious subnutrition, associated to intestinal bacterial overgrowth, in two patients submitted to bariatric surgery. Two female patients (body mass index, 49 and 50 kg/m(2), respectively) were submitted to Y-en-Roux gastric bypass. The first patient evolved a 52% loss of body weight within 21 months after surgery; the other, a 34% loss of initial body weight within 15 months after surgery, results corresponding, respectively, to 62 and 45 kg weight losses. However, both patients reported asthenia, hair fallout, and edema, and one also reported diarrhea, but none was feverish. Their respective albuminemias were of 24 and 23 g/l. A respiratory hydrogen test suggested bacterial hyperproliferation. Thirty days after ciprofloxacin and tetracyclin treatments, they showed improved albumin levels and nutritional states, both confirmed by results of hydrogen breath tests. Bacterial overgrowth is an important complication that can compromise clinical evolution of patients submitted to intestinal surgery like gastroplasty with Y-Roux anastomosis. In cases of clinical suspicion or a confirmed diagnosis, adequate antibiotics, sometimes requiring to be cyclically repeated, should be administered.

Microscopic Evidences That Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Treatment Improves Sciatic Nerve Regeneration After Neurorrhaphy

Cell therapy constitutes a possibility for improving nerve regeneration, increasing the success of nerve repair. We evaluate the use of mononuclear cells in the regeneration of the sciatic nerve after axotomy followed by end-to-end neurorrhaphy. Forty adult male Wistar rats (250300 g) were divided into four groups: (1) sham, (2) neurorrhaphy: the sciatic nerve was sectioned and repaired using epineural sutures, (3) culture medium: after the suture, received an injection of 10 mu L of culture medium into the nerve, and (4) mononuclear cell: after the suture, a concentration of 3 X 10(6) of mononuclear cell was injected in epineurium region. Mononuclear cells were obtained from the bone marrow aspirates and separated by Ficoll-Hypaque method. The histological analyses were performed at the 4th postoperative day. The sciatic functional index, histological, and morphometric analyzes were used to evaluate nerve regeneration at the 6th postoperative week. Six rats were used for immunohistochemical analysis on the 4th postoperative day. In the group 4, on the fourth day, the histological analysis demonstrated a more accelerated degenerative process and an increase of the neurotrophic factors was observed. In the 6th week, all the morphometric results of the group 4 were statistically better compared with groups 2 and 3. There was a statistically significant improvement in the sciatic functional index for group 4 compared with groups 2 and 3. Mononuclear cells stimulated nerve regeneration, most probably by speeding up the Wallerian degeneration process as well as stimulating the synthesis of neurotrophic factors. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74:355-363, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A DNA vaccine candidate encoding the structural prM/E proteins elicits a strong immune response and protects mice against dengue-4 virus infection

A DNA vaccine expressing dengue-4 virus premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) genes was produced by inserting these genes into a mammalian expression plasmid (pCI). Following a thorough screening, including confirmation of protein expression in vitro, a recombinant clone expressing these genes was selected and used to immunize BALB/c mice. After 3 immunizations all the animals produced detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies against dengue-4 virus. The cytokines levels and T cell proliferation, detected ex vivo from the spleen of the immunized mice, showed that our construction induced substantial immune stimulation after three doses. Even though the antibody levels, induced by our DNA vaccine, were lower than those obtained in mice immunized with dengue-4 virus the levels of protection were high with this vaccine. This observation is further supported by the fact that 80% of the vaccine immunized group was protected against lethal challenge. In conclusion, we developed a DNA vaccine employing the genes of the prM and E proteins from dengue-4 virus that protects mice against this virus. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploring a literary gender: the chivalry novels

Exploring a literary gender: the chivalry novels This article deals with a series of aspects related to the thematic universe of the chivalry novels, focusing on the production of the literary work from a historical perspective. The text analyzes the advent and evolution of the genre chivalry novels, presents some central elements of its internal structure, concluding with some of the social functions of this kind of literature.

The Impact of Preexisting Myocardial Remodeling on Ventricular Function Early after Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

Background: Twenty-three patients (median age 23 months) who underwent Fallot`s tetralogy repair were investigated prospectively to detect a possible association between histopathologic myocardial remodeling and echocardiographic findings of systolic or diastolic ventricular dysfunction. Methods: Intraoperatively resected infundibular bands and subendocardial biopsy samples from the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle were obtained for histopathologic evaluation. Tissue Doppler echocardiographic interrogation of the ventricles was performed before surgery and in the postoperative period. Results: Histopathologic data revealed hypertrophy of the RV cardiomyocytes and increased interstitial collagen in both ventricles. Mean values of RV isovolumic acceleration decreased significantly at the third evaluation compared with the preoperative values (P = .006). RV myocardial fibrosis greater than 8.3% was associated with a probability of altered E` of at least 0.7 (odds ratio = 2.31). Conclusion: Preoperative histologic myocardial remodeling influenced the postoperative RV function in this group of patients with late repair. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the myocardium in younger patients and to define its influence in the long-term follow-up. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010;23:912-8.)

Histometric Study of Alveolar Bone in Rats Submitted to Ethanol During Lactation

The present work studied the adverse effects of maternal exposure of rats to alcohol during lactation, on the development of their offspring. Histometric evaluation by karyometry and of the alveolar bone at the level of the first upper molar of the sucking was perfomed. Two groups of animals, one coming from mothers exposed to drinking water containing 20% ethanol during the total lactation period and the other of controls coming from mothers receiving only alcohol-free drinking water during this period. On the 21 first day of lactation the young of each group were aleatorily selected and following anesthesia, their heads severed; after histological treatment, serial 6 mu m sections on the frontal plane at the molar level, stained with hematoxilin and eosin, were obtained. The experimental results produced, suggest that sucking from ethanol-treated mothers, show retarded post-natal growth, their alveolar bones presenting scarce, little calcified trabeculae, and a more abundant bone marrow compared to controls.

Three-dimensional Characteristics of the Interface Epithelium-Connective Tissue Surface of Finger`s Lamina Propria of Cebus apella Monkey: Scanning Electron Microscopy Study

In the present paper were analysed the three-dimensional characteristics of the interface epithelium-connective tissue surface of finger prints of Cebus apella monkey employing the scanning electron microscopic methods. The connective tissue core (CTC) and epithelial papillae were examined verifying the three-dimensional configuration of the tissue projections. The samples were fixed in Bouin solsution for histologic preparations and in modified Karnovsky for examine to observe in scanning electron microscopy. After treatment in the 10% NaOH solution during 3 to 5 days, the surface of finger prints revealed a distribution of CTC of lamina propria in situ showing original three-dimensional SEM images. The linear and circular dispositions CTC, and the furrows were clearly identified. Each pointed papilla presented a large base and longitudinal disposition of thick collagen fiber bundles and in some areas with a complex reticular formations. The longitudinal furrows between the pointed papillae exhibited a dense layer of connective tissue and showed only low CTC or laminar in shape. The presence of numerous foramina of sweat gland were noted in three-dimensional SEM images.

Tagging Giant Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) (Carnivora, Mustelidae) for radio-telemetry studies

Memphis Zoo, U.S. Forest Service, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico CNPq, Earthwatch Institute

Finite Element Modeling for Development and Optimization of a Bone Plate for Mandibular Fracture in Dogs

This study aimed to develop a plate to treat fractures of the mandibular body in dogs and to validate the project using finite elements and biomechanical essays. Mandible prototypes were produced with 10 oblique ventrorostral fractures (favorable) and 10 oblique ventrocaudal fractures (unfavorable). Three groups were established for each fracture type. Osteosynthesis with a pure titanium plate of double-arch geometry and blocked monocortical screws offree angulanon were used. The mechanical resistance of the prototype with unfavorable fracture was lower than that of the fcworable fracture. In both fractures, the deflection increased and the relative stiffness decreased proportionally to the diminishing screw number The finite element analysis validated this plate study, since the maximum tension concentration observed on the plate was lower than the resistance limit tension admitted by the titanium. In conclusion, the double-arch geometry plate fixed with blocked monocortical screws has sufficient resistance to stabilize oblique,fractures, without compromising mandibular dental or neurovascular structures. J Vet Dent 24 (7); 212 - 221, 2010

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free range chickens in the Pantanal area of Brazil

The aim of this paper was to genetically characterize Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free range chickens in regions of Brazilian territory in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) where T. gondii strains have never been studied. In total, T. gondii isolates from 22 free range chickens were included in this study. Fifty chickens from Eldorado, thirty from Rio Verde and ten from Aquidauana were sampled between January and April 2007. In relation to the genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from chickens in MS, the magnitude of the diversity in the isolates sampled in this study was comparable to the overall diversity in a composite data set. These 22 isolates in MS revealed 11 genotypes, whereas the 321 isolates ever genotyped in Brazil have revealed 95 genotypes. The values of Simpson`s Diversity Index for the whole population of T. gondii isolates in Brazil, the whole population of T. gondii isolates from chickens in Brazil and the population surveyed in this study were 0.97, 0.95 and 0.90, respectively. Seven of the 11 genotypes revealed from chicken isolates from MS are newly described genotypes and six of them each have a single isolate. In conclusion, the results obtained from isolates in MS corroborate previous studies on T. gondii isolates in Brazil, thus confirming their diversity and atypicality. Nonetheless, the applicability of PCR-RFLP markers for epidemiological inferences remains controversial. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detection and molecular characterization of a canine piroplasm from Brazil

In the beginning of the 20th century, a new canine disease was reported in Brazil under the name ""nambiuvu"", whose etiological agent was called Rangelia vitalii, a distinct piroplasm that was shown to parasitize not only erythrocytes, but also leucocytes and endothelial cells. In this new century, more publications on R. vitalii were reported from Brazil, including an extensive study on its ultrastructural analysis, in addition to clinical, pathological, and epidemiological data on nambiuvu. However, a molecular analysis of R. vitalii has not been performed to date. In the present study, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses of R. vitalii based on fragments of the genes 18S rRNA and the heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), amplified by PCR performed on blood samples derived from five clinical cases of dogs presumably infected with R. vitalii in southern Brazil. In addition, we examined Giemsa-stained thin blood smears from these same dogs. DNA sequences (604-bp) of the 18S rRNA gene obtained from the five dogs were identical to each other, and by Blast analysis, this sequence shared the highest degree of sequence identity (95%) with Babesia sp. China-BQ1. DNA sequences (1056-bp) of the hsp70 gene obtained from the five dogs were identical to each other, and by Blast analysis, this sequence shared the highest degree of sequence identity (87%) with Babesia bigemina. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from either of the two genes resulted in the newly genotype being placed in the Babesia spp.sensu stricto clade with very high bootstrap support (95-100%) in three analyses (Neighbor-Joining, Maximum parsimony, and Maximum likelihood). Giemsa-stained thin blood smears from the dogs were shown to contain piroplasm organisms within erythrocytes, monocytes and neutrophils (individual forms), and schizont-like forms within neutrophils, in accordance with literature reports of R. vitalii. Based on these results, we conclude that R. vitalii, the etiological agent of ""nambiuvu"" in southern Brazil, is a valid species of piroplasm. Further studies are required to evaluate the validity of the genus Rangelia. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental infection with Rangelia vitalii in dogs: Acute phase, parasitemia, biological cycle, clinical-pathological aspects and treatment

Recently we conducted the molecular characterization of Rangelia vitalii, a protozoan with high pathogenicity for young dogs in southern Brazil. To date, the descriptions of the disease have been restricted to natural infection cases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the parasitemia, biological cycles and clinical-pathological findings in dogs experimentally infected with R. vitalii in the acute phase of disease, and also aimed to test a therapeutic protocol based on the diminazene aceturate. For this study, we used 12 young dogs (females), separated into two groups. Group A was composed of healthy dogs, not-infected (n = 5), and Group B consisted of animals infected with R. vitalii (n = 7). After infection, the animals were monitored by blood smear examinations, which showed intra-erythrocytic forms of the parasite 5 days post-infection (PI). Parasitemia increased progressively in these animals and had the highest peak of circulating parasites between 9 and 11 days PI. Subsequently, the parasitemia reduced and the protozoan was seen inside the leukocytes in days 17, 19 and 21 PI. The most prominent clinical signs observed at the 20 day PI of experiment were lethargy, fever and anorexia. We observed a decrease of hematocrit of infected animals compared with not-infected dogs, featuring a moderate anemia. Pathological evaluation of one dog in Group B at day 21 PI revealed splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and hemorrhages at necropsy. Histological examination showed only follicular hyperplasia in the spleen and lymph nodes, and the etiologic agent in the vascular endothelium. At 21 days PI, it was performed the treatment of dogs in Group B (n = 6) with a single dose of diminazene aceturate, which showed a curative efficacy of 100% in cleaning R. vitalii from blood of infected dogs. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental infection of pregnant queens with two major Brazilian clonal lineages of Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Brazil are biologically and genetically different from European and North America isolates. Recently, four genotypes were considered the common clonal lineages in Brazil and were designated as types BrI, BrII, BrIII, and BrIV. The pathogenicity of two major Brazilian lineages was investigated after oral inoculation of queens in the middle third of their pregnancies with T. gondii cysts. Twelve pregnant queens without T. gondii antibodies were distributed in group A (infected with a type BrI isolate); group 2 (infected with type BrIII isolate), and group 3 (non-infected control). Infection with type BrI isolate caused toxoplasmosis manifestations and abortion from one litter. Toxoplasmosis manifestations besides premature stillbirth of one litter were observed in queens infected with type BrIII isolate. Indirect fluorescence antibody test showed T. gondii antibodies in all eight infected queens at 30 days after inoculation. In two 10-day-old kittens of the same litter (group 1), titers of 16 and 64 were detected. At the same time, titers of 16, 32, and 32 were detected in three kittens from the same litter (group 2). Experimental infection with tissue cysts from a type BrI and type BrIII isolates of T. gondii developed similar reproductive disturbance in primary infected pregnant queens.

SURVEY OF FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS AND FELINE CORONAVIRUSES IN CAPTIVE NEOTROPICAL WILD FELIDS FROM SOUTHERN BRAZIL

A total of 57 captive neotropical felids (one Leopardus geoffroyi, 14 Leopardus pardalis, 17 Leopardus wiedii, 22 Leopardus tigrinus, and three Puma yagouaroundi) from the Itaipu Binacional Wildlife Research Center (Refugio Bela Vista, Southern Brazil) were anesthetized for blood collection. Feces samples were available for 44 animals, including one L. geoffroyi, eight L. pardalis, 14 L. wiedii, 20 L. tigrinus, and one P. yagouaroundi. Total DNA and RNA were extracted from blood and feces, respectively, using commercial kits. Blood DNA samples were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) proviral DNA, whereas reverse transcriptase-PCR was run on fecal samples for detection of coronavirus RNA. None of the samples were positive for coronaviruses. A male L. pardalis and a female L. tigrinus were positive for FeLV proviral DNA, and identities of PCR products were confirmed by sequencing. This is the first evidence of FeLV proviral DNA in these species in Southern Brazil.

Exogenous DNA uptake by bovine spermatozoa does not induce DNA fragmentation

Sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) is a fast and low-cost method used to produce transgenic animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the concentration of exogenous DNA and the duration of incubation on DNA uptake by bovine spermatozoa and subsequently the integrity of sperm DNA and sperm apoptosis. Spermatozoa (5 X 10(6) cells/mL) were incubated with 100, 300, or 500 ng of exogenous DNA (pEYFP-Nuc plasmid) for 60 or 120 min at 39 degrees C. The amount of exogenous DNA associated with spermatozoa was quantified by real-time PCR, and the percentages of DNA fragmentation in spermatozoa were evaluated using SCSA and a TUNEL assay, coupled with flow cytometry. Uptake of exogenous DNA increased significantly as incubation increased from 60 to 120 min (0.0091 and 0.028 ng, respectively), but only when the highest exogenous DNA concentration (500 ng) was used (P < 0.05). Based on SCSA and TUNEL assays, there was no effect of exogenous DNA uptake or incubation period on sperm DNA integrity. In conclusion, exogenous DNA uptake by bovine spermatozoa was increased with the highest exogenous DNA concentration and longest incubation period, but fragmentation of endogenous DNA was apparently not induced. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.