An outbreak of blindness due to retinopathy in nine flocks of guinea fowl.

Blindness was observed in 10- to 14-day-old guinea fowl. The incidence ranged from 25% to 80% in nine flocks within a total population of 110,000 guinea fowls. Clinical signs of blindness in birds included aimless wandering, failure to find feed and water, lateral recumbency, loss of weight, and increased mortality. The birds lacked papillary reflexes to light, and there were no gross lesions in the eyes. Histologically there was degeneration and disorganization of photoreceptors in the retina. The guinea fowl came from three different breeder sources but all of the birds were given the same feed. The condition was not observed in the subsequent flocks that came from the same breeder sources but that were given different feed. Based on these observations, toxicity of an unknown ingredient in the feed is suspected as the cause of blindness in the guinea fowl.

Pro-apoptotic activity of cyclopentenone in cancer cells.

Studies on cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CPPGs), clavulones and other cyclopentenones have shown that these compounds have a significant anticancer activity mediated by their cyclopentenone (CP) chemical moiety. In this study the cytotoxicity against cancer cells of the model compound cyclopent-2-en-1-one (2CP) was investigated. Being a highly water soluble small molecule, 2CP could be an ideal candidate to overcome pharmacological issues related to drug delivery and penetration. Its cytotoxic activity was tested on various melanoma and lung cancer cells. Interestingly, 2CP was both cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic, more pronounced on melanoma cells, at concentrations in the sub-micromolar range. On melanoma cells its mechanism of action was mediated by the mitochondria and the activation of caspase 3.

Cytotoxicity of different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) against cancer cells.

Cell membrane ion transporters expression and activity are altered in cancer cells and these phenotypic alterations offer potential targets for cancer therapies. Among the therapeutic agents affecting cell membrane transporters, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to have anticancer potential. In this work, we have compared two SSRIs, one very specific for serotonin reuptake transporters (paroxetine) and another which also inhibit norepinephrine and dopamine transporters (venlafaxine), for their ability to counteract growth of various murine and human cancer cell lines. We found that paroxetine has cytotoxic activity against tumor cells, both of murine or human origin in the micromolar concentration range, whereas venlafaxine has not. A neurotransmitter receptor mediated mechanism of action appears thus unlikely for SSRIs cytotoxicity on cancer cells. With ranges of SSRIs cytotoxicity on cancer cells defined, limits in their possible applicability in cancer therapy is discussed.

An immunological approach to the evaluation of welfare in Holstein Frisian cattle.

Clinical immunological and haematological parameters, along with clinical conditions and growth rate, were studied in 413 male Holstein Frisian calves introduced into a large centre for genetic selection in different seasons of the year. Abnormalities were revealed by the laboratory tests in the great majority of calves after transportation stress, a general tendency to the restoration of physiological values being evident thereafter. Laboratory parameters were highly correlated with disease conditions: with three exceptions only, animals showed altered laboratory parameters some days before the occurrence of clinical symptoms. Eighteen per cent of animals showed altered laboratory parameters with no obvious clinical signs of disease; yet they experienced a reduced weight gain. Results suggest that clinical immunological and haematological parameters could be the foundation of a new, large-scale, robust approach to the control of welfare in cattle, which should be integrated preferably by a further range of records and measures.