Consumer evaluation of meat quality from barrows, immunocastrates and boars in six countries.

The practice of surgical castration of piglets and its alternatives is still under debate. Production of boars may impair meat quality due to boar taint and reduced tenderness compared to meat from surgically castrated male pigs, while immunocastration reduces boar taint and may improve meat quality but seems to be less accepted by the pig chain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the consumer's sensory appreciation of meat from barrows (BAs), immunocastrates (ICs) and boars (BOs) in six European countries, taking into account the selection of tainted carcass and consumers' appreciation of boar taint. Loin chops of 30 BAs, 30 ICs and 30 BOs were evaluated by 752 consumers in six countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain. Consumers rated odour, flavour, tenderness, juiciness, overall liking and willingness to buy and sensitivity to and liking of androstenone (AND) and liking of skatole (SKA) was also tested. In each of the six countries, consumers liked the odour of the BO samples less than that of BA, and IC intermediate. For flavour, tenderness, juiciness, overall liking and willingness to buy, liking scores given by the Czech, Polish and Portuguese consumers significantly differed between the BA, BO and IC. Willingness to buy was highest for BA by Czech and Polish consumers and for BA and IC by Portuguese consumers. The frequency of the negative check all terms that apply terms also differed, with a higher frequency of disgusting for BO compared to BA and IC and of off-flavour, irritating, manure, sweat, disappointing compared to BA, and intermediate for IC. 31% of the consumers disliked the odour of AND (NEGAND), and 36% of them were not sensitive; in contrast, 77% of the consumers disliked SKA (NEGSKA). The decrease in flavour liking score for BO compared to BA and IC was more outspoken by the NEGAND consumer, while NEGSKA consumers gave an overall lower liking score independent of the type of male pig. The results of this study indicate that IC can be a valid alternative for surgical castration.

Physicochemical characteristics and sensory attributes of meat from heavy-weight Iberian and F1 Large White × Landrace pigs finished intensively or in free-range conditions.

Iberian (IB, n = 60) and crossbred Large White × Landrace (F1, n = 58) pigs were slaughtered at 160 kg, after finishing under intensive conditions or on pasture and acorns. The study was carried out as a factorial arrangement of treatments, and physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of meat were assessed in Longissimus thoracis samples. Physical characteristics included the assessment of drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, and color coordinates in meat samples processed at 2 and 9 d postmortem. The interactions of genetic group and finishing system were significant (P < 0.05) for cooking loss in meat aged for 9 d and for sensorial tenderness and global acceptability of meat, but none of the other physicochemical, color coordinates, and sensory variables analyzed showed a significant interaction. Genetic group was the main factor influencing the variables analyzed, with a major (P < 0.01) influence on all meat physicochemical characteristics and sensory attributes. Relative to F1 pigs, the IB produced meat with higher intramuscular fat content and marbling score, more appealing color coordinates, lower shear force, and higher sensorial tenderness. The finishing systems affected (P < 0.05) most physical characteristics, but not chemical composition of meat and their impact on sensory properties was small. The tenderness, juiciness, and global acceptability of meat were much higher in IB pigs, and flavor was also more desirable, but the difference was smaller. The differences in sensory properties between meats originating from the two genetic groups were largely explained by the higher fat deposition in IB pigs, such that a higher level of marbling was positively associated with all the sensory attributes evaluated. Ageing meat for up to 9 d postmortem benefited pork quality, improving meat tenderness, and color, particularly in crossbred pigs and those finished intensively.

Antitrypanosomal Activity of Sterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51) Inhibitors VNI and VFV in the Swiss Mouse Models of Chagas Disease Induced by the Trypanosoma cruzi Y Strain.

Chagas disease is a life-threatening infection caused by a variety of genetically diverse strains of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi The current treatment (benznidazole and nifurtimox) is unsatisfactory, and potential alternatives include inhibitors of sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), the cytochrome P450 enzyme essential for the biosynthesis of sterols in eukaryotes and the major target of clinical and agricultural antifungals. Here we performed a comparative investigation of two protozoon-specific CYP51 inhibitors, VNI and its CYP51 structure-based derivative VFV, in the murine models of infection caused by the Y strain of T. cruzi The effects of different treatment regimens and drug delivery vehicles were evaluated in animals of both genders, with benznidazole serving as the reference drug. Regardless of the treatment scheme or delivery vehicle, VFV was more potent in both genders, causing a >99.7% peak parasitemia reduction, while the VNI values varied from 91 to 100%. Treatments with VNI and VFV resulted in 100% animal survival and 0% natural relapse after the end of therapy, though, except for the 120-day treatment schemes with VFV, relapses after three cycles of immunosuppression were observed in each animal group, and quantitative PCR analysis revealed a very light parasite load in the blood samples (sometimes below or near the detection limit, which was 1.5 parasite equivalents/ml). Our studies support further investigations of this class of compounds, including their testing against other T. cruzi strains and in combination with other drugs.

Impact of Trypanosoma cruzi on antimicrobial peptide gene expression and activity in the fat body and midgut of Rhodnius prolixus.

BACKGROUND: Rhodnius prolixus is a major vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease in Latin America. In natural habitats, these insects are in contact with a variety of bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites that they acquire from both their environments and the blood of their hosts. Microorganism ingestion may trigger the synthesis of humoral immune factors, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The objective of this study was to compare the expression levels of AMPs (defensins and prolixicin) in the different midgut compartments and the fat body of R. prolixus infected with different T. cruzi strains. The T. cruzi Dm 28c clone (TcI) successfully develops whereas Y strain (TcII) does not complete its life- cycle in R. prolixus. The relative AMP gene expressions were evaluated in the insect midgut and fat body infected on different days with the T. cruzi Dm 28c clone and the Y strain. The influence of the antibacterial activity on the intestinal microbiota was taken into account. METHODS: The presence of T. cruzi in the midgut of R. prolixus was analysed by optical microscope. The relative expression of the antimicrobial peptides encoding genes defensin (defA, defB, defC) and prolixicin (prol) was quantified by RT-qPCR. The antimicrobial activity of the AMPs against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens were evaluated in vitro using turbidimetric tests with haemolymph, anterior and posterior midgut samples. Midgut bacteria were quantified using colony forming unit (CFU) assays and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: Our results showed that the infection of R. prolixus by the two different T. cruzi strains exhibited different temporal AMP induction profiles in the anterior and posterior midgut. Insects infected with T. cruzi Dm 28c exhibited an increase in defC and prol transcripts and a simultaneous reduction in the midgut cultivable bacteria population, Serratia marcescens and Rhodococcus rhodnii. In contrast, the T. cruzi Y strain neither induced AMP gene expression in the gut nor reduced the number of colony formation units in the anterior midgut. Beside the induction of a local immune response in the midgut after feeding R. prolixus with T. cruzi, a simultaneous systemic response was also detected in the fat body. CONCLUSIONS: R. prolixus AMP gene expressions and the cultivable midgut bacterial microbiota were modulated in distinct patterns, which depend on the T. cruzi genotype used for infection.

In Vitro and In Vivo Trypanosomicidal Action of Novel Arylimidamides against Trypanosoma cruzi.

Arylimidamides (AIAs) have been shown to have considerable biological activity against intracellular pathogens, includingTrypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. In the present study, the activities of 12 novel bis-AIAs and 2 mono-AIAs against different strains ofT. cruziin vitroandin vivowere analyzed. The most active wasm-terphenyl bis-AIA (35DAP073), which had a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 0.5 µM for trypomastigotes (Y strain), which made it 26-fold more effective than benznidazole (Bz; 13 µM). It was also active against the Colombiana strain (EC50= 3.8 µM). Analysis of the activity against intracellular forms of the Tulahuen strain showed that this bis-AIA (EC50= 0.04 µM) was about 100-fold more active than Bz (2 µM). The trypanocidal effect was dissociated from the ability to trigger intracellular lipid bodies within host cells, detected by oil red labeling. Both an active compound (35DAP073) and an inactive compound (26SMB060) displayed similar activation profiles. Due to their high selectivity indexes, two AIAs (35DAP073 and 35DAP081) were moved toin vivostudies, but because of the results of acute toxicity assays, 35DAP081 was excluded from the subsequent tests. The findings obtained with 35DAP073 treatment of infections caused by the Y strain revealed that 2 days of therapy induced a dose-dependent action, leading to 96 to 46% reductions in the level of parasitemia. However, the administration of 10 daily doses in animals infected with the Colombiana strain resulted in toxicity, preventing longer periods of treatment. The activity of the combination of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight/day 35DAP073 with 100 mg/kg/day Bz for 10 consecutive days was then assayed. Treatment with the combination resulted in the suppression of parasitemia, the elimination of neurological toxic effects, and survival of 100% of the animals. Quantitative PCR showed a considerable reduction in the parasite load (60%) compared to that achieved with Bz or the amidine alone. Our results support further investigations of this class with the aim of developing novel alternatives for the treatment of Chagas disease.

Effect of betaine and arginine in lysine-deficient diets on growth, carcass traits, and pork quality.

Forty entire male pigs from a commercial crossbreed (Duroc × Large White × Landrace) were used to investigate the individual or combined effects of betaine and Arg supplementation in Lys-deficient diets on growth performance, carcass traits, and pork quality. Pigs with 59.9 ± 1.65 kg BW were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments ( = 8). The 5 dietary treatments were normal Lys and CP diet (0.51% Lys and 16% CP; control), reduced Lys and CP diet (0.35% Lys and 13% CP), reduced Lys and CP diet with betaine supplementation (0.33%), reduced Lys and CP diet with Arg supplementation (1.5%), and reduced Lys and CP diet with betaine and Arg supplementation (0.33% betaine and 1.5% Arg). Pigs were slaughtered at 92.7 ± 2.54 kg BW. The Lys-deficient diets (-35% Lys) increased intramuscular fat (IMF) content by 25% ( = 0.041) and meat juiciness by 12% ( = 0.041) but had a negative effect on growth performance ( < 0.05) of pigs. In addition, Lys-deficient diets increased L* ( = 0.005) and b* ( = 0.010) muscle color parameters and perirenal fat deposition ( < 0.001) and decreased both HCW ( = 0.015) and loin weight ( = 0.023). Betaine and Arg supplementation of Lys-deficient diets had no effect on IMF content but increased ( < 0.05) overall pork acceptability. Arginine supplementation also increased ( = 0.003) meat tenderness. Differences in fatty acid composition of pork were not detected among dietary treatment groups. However, oleic acid was positively correlated ( < 0.05) with IMF content, juiciness, flavor, and overall acceptability of meat. Data confirm that dietary CP reduction enhances pork eating quality but negatively affects pigs' growth performance. Moreover, it is suggested that betaine and Arg supplementation of Lys-deficient diets does not further increase IMF content but improves some pork sensory traits, including overall acceptability.

Different Therapeutic Outcomes of Benznidazole and VNI Treatments in Different Genders in Mouse Experimental Models of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection.

The lack of translation between preclinical assays and clinical trials for novel therapies for Chagas disease (CD) indicates a need for more feasible and standardized protocols and experimental models. Here, we investigated the effects of treatment with benznidazole (Bz) and with the potent experimental T. cruzi CYP51 inhibitor VNI in mouse models of Chagas disease by using different animal genders and parasite strains and employing distinct types of therapeutic schemes. Our findings confirm that female mice are less vulnerable to the infection than males, show that male models are less susceptible to treatment with both Bz and VNI, and thus suggest that male models are much more suitable for selection of the most promising antichagasic agents. Additionally, we have found that preventive protocols (compound given at 1 dpi) result in higher treatment success rates, which also should be avoided during advanced steps of in vivo trials of novel anti-T. cruzi drug candidates. Another consideration is the relevance of immunosuppression methods in order to verify the therapeutic profile of novel compounds, besides the usefulness of molecular diagnostic tools (quantitative PCR) to ascertain compound efficacy in experimental animals. Our study aims to contribute to the development of more reliable methods and decision gates for in vivo assays of novel antiparasitic compounds in order to move them from preclinical to clinical trials for CD.

Effect of pig breed and dietary protein level on selected fatty acids and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase protein expression in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat.

The aims of the study were 1) to investigate effects of a low protein diet on fatty acids content and composition of the LM and subcutaneous adipose tissue in 3 genetically diverse breeds, Large White × Landrace, Alentejano, and Bizaro, and 2) to determine whether the effect of the low protein diet of fatty acid composition is associated with dietary modulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) protein expression. The experiments were conducted on 12 Large White × Landrace, 12 Alentejano, and 10 Bízaro female and male pigs. The average animal BW at the beginning of experiments was 40.8, 40.7, and 38.3 kg for Large White × Landrace, Alentejano, and Bízaro, respectively, and the BW of animals at slaughter was 90 kg. The diets contained 202 or 169 g/kg DM of CP (high and low protein diets, respectively) and were balanced in essential AA. The diets were fed until the animals reached 90 kg BW (approximately 73 d). It was established that Large White × Landrace pigs had a less (P = 0.001) total fatty acid content in subcutaneous adipose tissue when compared with Alentejano and Bízaro and less (P < 0.001) intramuscular fat (IMF) content when compared with Alentejano. There was a positive relationship between SCD protein expression in the LM and MUFA content (r = 0.627, P = 0.029) and SCD protein expression and total muscle fatty acids content (r = 0.725, P = 0.008) in Large White × Landrace but not in Alentejano and Bizaro breeds. It has been suggested that SCD protein expression is associated with regulation of fat deposition only in breeds with genetic predisposition to a low IMF content.

Polyploidy and microsatellite variation in the relict tree Prunus lusitanica L.: how effective are refugia in preserving genotypic diversity of clonal taxa?

Refugia are expected to preserve genetic variation of relict taxa, especially in polyploids, because high gene dosages could prevent genetic erosion in small isolated populations. However, other attributes linked to polyploidy, such as asexual reproduction, may strongly limit the levels of genetic variability in relict populations. Here, ploidy levels and patterns of genetic variation at nuclear microsatellite loci were analysed in Prunus lusitanica, a polyploid species with clonal reproduction that is considered a paradigmatic example of a Tertiary relict. Sampling in this study considered a total of 20 populations of three subspecies: mainland lusitanica (Iberian Peninsula and Morocco), and island azorica (Azores) and hixa (Canary Islands and Madeira). Flow cytometry results supported an octoploid genome for lusitanica and hixa, whereas a 16-ploid level was inferred for azorica. Fixed heterozygosity of a few allele variants at most microsatellite loci resulted in levels of allelic diversity much lower than those expected for a high-order polyploid. Islands as a whole did not contain higher levels of genetic variation (allelic or genotypic) than mainland refuges, but island populations displayed more private alleles and higher genotypic diversity in old volcanic areas. Patterns of microsatellite variation were compatible with the occurrence of clonal individuals in all but two island populations, and the incidence of clonality within populations negatively correlated with the estimated timing of colonization. Our results also suggest that gene flow has been very rare among populations, and thus population growth following founder events was apparently mediated by clonality rather than seed recruitment, especially in mainland areas. This study extends to clonal taxa the idea of oceanic islands as important refugia for biodiversity, since the conditions for generation and maintenance of clonal diversity (i.e. occasional events of sexual reproduction, mutation and/or seed immigration) appear to have been more frequent in these enclaves than in mainland areas.

Heterosis for meat quality and fatty acid profiles in crosses among Bos indicus and Bos taurus finished on pasture or grain.

Physicochemical properties and fatty acid profiles of meat from Bos indicus, Bos taurus and crossbred B. taurus×B. indicus bullocks (n=216), finished on pasture or grain, were used to estimate the effects of heterosis. Meat quality and fatty acid profiles generally benefited with crossbreeding, but the advantages from heterosis differed among finishing systems. The Warner-Bratzler shear-force in fresh and aged meat was reduced due to heterosis in pasture-finishing, but the effect was minor under grain-finishing. With pasture-finishing, heterosis caused an increase of 5% in CLA concentration, but few other changes in fatty acid profiles. In grain-finishing, heterosis caused a reduction in intramuscular fat and cholesterol, increased amounts of PUFA, n-6 fatty acids and PUFA/SFA ratio, and a decline in atherogenic index. The Δ(9) desaturase estimated activity in crossbreds showed a behavior close to B. indicus, suggesting the existence of few loci and a dominance genetic effect on enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis and metabolism.

CrATP interferes in the promastigote-macrophage interaction in Leishmania amazonensis infection.

Recent have shown the relationship between Ecto-Nucleoside-Triphosphate-Diphosphohydrolases (Ecto-NTPDases or ecto-nucleotidases) and virulence and infectivity in trypanosomatids. In this work, the inhibition of the ecto-ATPase activities and promastigote growth of Leishmania amazonensis by CrATP was characterized. Furthermore, this compound was used to investigate the role of ecto-nucleotidase in the interaction of L. amazonensis with resident peritoneal macrophages obtained from BALB/c mice. CrATP partially inhibits the ecto-ATPase activity, presenting Ki values of 575·7±199·1 and 383·5±79·0 µm, in the presence or absence of 5 mm MgCl2, respectively. The apparent Kms for ATP (2·9±0·5 mm to Mg2+-dependent ecto-ATPase and 0·4±0·2 mm to Mg2+-independent ecto-ATPase activities) are not significantly altered by CrATP, suggesting a reversible non-competitive inhibition of both enzymes. When CrATP was added to the cultivation medium at 500 µm, it drastically inhibited the cellular growth. The interaction of promastigote forms of L. amazonensis with BALB/c peritoneal macrophages is strongly affected by CrATP. When the parasites were treated with 500 µm CrATP before interacting with macrophages, the adhesion and endocytic indices were strongly reduced to 53·0±14·8% and 39·8±1·1%, respectively. These results indicate that ecto-nucleotidase plays an important role in the infection process caused by Leishmania amazonensis.

[Demographic distribution and prevalence of overactive bladder in Venezuela]. / Distribución demográfica y prevalencia de la vejiga hiperactiva en Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of information regarding overactive bladder (OAB) in South America. Our aim in this study was to estimate the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in Venezuela based on the 2002 International Continence Society (ICS) consensus criteria and also to verify its demographic distribution in this country. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed a multicentric prospective evaluation of patients from 2003 to 2007 in different cities in Venezuela. A number 3.407 adults (M:38%, F:62%) between 18 and 75 years of age (mean age 54 years) completed a physician guided questionnaire (V8) of urinary symptoms, bladder function, diet, general habits and general medical condition. Statistical procedures were carried out using software based on R programming for computational statistics. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OAB in Venezuela was determined as 21%. Female were more affected as compared to male (25.6% vs. 13.7% in men, p < 0.005) OAB was detected at early age (18 yrs) maintaining higher prevalence in women (M: 9%, F: 14%). In the studied cohort OAB shows its highest prevalence between the subgroup of 65 to 69 years of age. In all statistical tests the level of significance was defined as p < 0.005, with a confidence interval of 95%. CONCLUSION: The OAB-V8 questionnaire aids to clearly identify patients with OAB symptoms. The overall prevalence of OAB in Venezuela is 21%. It is present in both genders, predominantly women and can be detected at early age.

CrATP as a new inhibitor of ecto-ATPases of trypanosomatids.

Trypanosomatid protozoa include heteroxenic species some of them pathogenic for men, animals and plants. Parasite membrane contains ecto-enzymes whose active sites face the external medium rather than the cytoplasm. Herpetomonas sp. displayed a Mg2+-dependent ecto-ATPase activity, a Mg-independent ecto-ADPase and an ecto-phosphatase activity. Both, the ecto-ADPase and phosphatase activities were insensitive to CrATP (chromium(III) adenosine 5'-triphosphate complex). Ecto-ATPase activity was reversibly inhibited. At 2 mm ATP the apparent Ki was 4 x 7+/-1 x 0 microm but a fraction of about 40-50% was insensitive to CrATP. Remarkably, at low substrate concentration (0 x 2 mm) more than 90% of the ecto-ATPase was inhibited with Ki=0 x 33+/-0 x 10 microm. These parameter dependences are interpreted as the presence of 2 ecto-ATPases activities, one of them with high ATP apparent affinity and sensitivity to CrATP. DIDS (4,4 diisothiocyanatostilbene 2,2' disulfonic acid), suramin and ADP were also effective as inhibitors. Only ADP presented no additive inhibition with CrATP. The pattern of partial inhibition by CrATP was also observed for the ecto-ATPase activities of Leishmania amazonensis, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli. CrATP emerges as a new inhibitor of ecto-ATPases and as a tool for a better understanding of properties and role of ecto-ATPases in the biology of parasites.

The use of a tannin crude extract from Cistus ladanifer L. to protect soya-bean protein from degradation in the rumen.

Cistus ladanifer L. (CL) is a perennial shrub abundant in dry woods and dry land of Mediterranean zone, with high level of tannins. Tannins bind to protein, preventing its degradation in the digestive compartments. This tannin/protein complex may be advantageous when partially protecting good-quality feed protein from excessive rumen protein degradation. The objective of this trial was to use a CL phenol crude extract to prevent excessive rumen degradation of soya-bean meal protein. The phenolic compounds were extracted using an acetone/water solution (70:30, v/v). Soya-bean meal was then treated with this crude CL extract, containing 640 g of total phenols (TP) per kg of dry matter (DM), in order to obtain mixtures with 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 150 g of TP per kg DM. Three rumen-cannulated rams were used to assess in sacco rumen degradability of DM and nitrogen (N). The three-step in vitro procedure was used to determine intestinal digestibility. Increasing extract concentrations quadratically decreased the N-soluble fraction a (R2 = 0.96, P = 0.0001) and increased the non-soluble degradable fraction b (R2 = 0.92, P = 0.005). The rate of degradation c linearly decreased with CL extract doses (R2 = 0.44, P = 0.0065). For the effective rumen degradability of N, a linear reduction (R2 = 0.94, P < 0.0001) was observed. The in vitro intestinal digestibility of protein (ivID) quadratically decreased (R2 = 0.99, P < 0.0001) with TP inclusion and the rumen undegradable protein (RUP) showed a quadratic increase (R2 = 0.94, P = 0.0417). Total intestinal protein availability, computed from the RUP and ivID, linearly decreased with TP inclusion level (R2 = 0.45, P = 0.0033).

Perfil hematológico e avaliação eletroforética das proteínas séricas de cães com cinomose / Hematological profile and electrophoretic evaluation of serum proteins of dogs with canine distemper

The hematological and serum proteins electrophoretic profiles of 13 dogs with distemper (Lentz inclusion body in leukocytes) were studied. The most frequent hematological findings were: normocitic normocromic anemia (61%), leukopenia (46%), left shount (54%), trombocytopenia (69%) and lymphopenia (85%). Electrophoretic analysis of serum proteins showed hypoproteinemia (54%), with reduced albumin and increased alfa-2 globulin. These findings can be used to support the clinical diagnosis of canine distemper.

Motor nerve blockade potency and toxicity of non-racemic bupivacaine in rats.

BACKGROUND: Racemic [RS(+/-)] bupivacaine can be associated with severe cardiotoxicity. The S(-) isomer is known to be less neuro- and cardiotoxic, but demonstrates a lower potency to block motor activity than RS(+/-) bupivacaine. Thus, the potency and toxicity of a non-racemic bupivacaine mixture were studied. METHODS: Gastrocnemic muscle twitches induced by electrical stimulation of sciatic nerves in rats were used to compare the impact by bupivacaine solutions on motor activity. Field stimulation at 1 Hz eliciting ventricular muscle twitches was used to investigate the effects on cardiac contractility. The lethal dose of each local anesthetic agent was determined following drug infusions during general anesthesia in mechanically ventilated rats. RESULTS: Non-racemic (75S:25R) bupivacaine was more potent (P<0.05) than S(-) or R(+) enantiomers to block motor nerve activity. The concentrations of RS(+/-), 75S:25R, R(+) and S(-) bupivacaine to inhibit nerve conduction by 50% were 0.84 (0.37- 2.20), 0.84 (0.47-2.48), 2.68 (0.98-3.42) and 2.11 mM (1.5-4.03), respectively. Pronounced reductions in ventricular muscle twitches were observed with RS(+/-) and R(+) bupivacaine at low concentrations (0.5-4 microM). Lethal doses for 75S:25R (39.9 mg kg(-1)), and S(-) (34.7 mg kg(-1)) were higher (P<0.05) than for R(+) (16.2 mg kg(-1)) and RS(+/-) bupivacaine (18.4 mg kg(-1)), respectively. DISCUSSION: The potency of S(-) bupivacaine to block the motor activity in the sciatic nerve was enhanced when 25% of the S(-) isomer was replaced by the antipode R(+) bupivacaine. This effect was not associated with increased toxicity.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder: a report of five cases and review of the literature.

We describe five patients who recently presented with gross hematuria secondary to inflammatory pseudotumors of the bladder along with a review of the literature. At presentation, four of the five patients were clinically misdiagnosed as malignancies of which two were further believed to be leiomyosarcomas on initial histological examination because of their spindle-cell appearance. Conservative excision either by transurethral resection or partial cystectomy was curative in all cases. The main importance of these rare, benign lesions is to differentiate them from malignant tumors for which they may be mistaken, thus avoiding radical surgery and its attendant complications.