Treatment abandonment in feline sporotrichosis - study of 147 cases.

This study describes the epidemiological, clinical and mycological aspects of feline sporotrichosis cases attending the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonosis in Domestic Animals - Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute (LAPCLIN-DERMZOO/IPEC/FIOCRUZ), from 1998 to 2005. It was possible to get in contact with 147 (19.2%) cat owners. One hundred and thirteen (76.9%) cats were male, 117 (79.6%) had no defined race and 87 (59.2%) were sexually intact. The age ranged from 72 to 216 months (median = 108 months). Nineteen cats were reassessed: eleven (57.8%) were male, thirteen (36.8%) were breed and fifteen (47.3%) castrated. Fourteen (52.6%) animals lived at home and did not roamed the streets. Seven (36.8%) had normal clinical findings and negative mycological examination. Twelve (63.1%) cats had skin lesions compatible with sporotrichosis. Thirty-one (21%, n = 147) cats disappeared after abandoning treatment, 36 (24.5%, n = 147) were alive and 80 (54.4%, n = 147) had died. Causes of death informed by the owners were: sporotrichosis in 35 (43.7%, n = 80), accidental death in 27 (33.7%, n = 80) and other diseases in 18 (22.5%, n = 80). Withdrawal of treatment occurred mainly at the time of clinical improvement and may represent a serious obstacle to the control of sporotrichosis.

Efeito das tinturas de café torrado e moído nos níveis séricos de colesterol, triglicerídeos e glicose em ratos diabéticos / Effect of tincture of ground roasted coffee on plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose in diabetic rats

O consumo de café tem sido associado ao menor risco de diabetes tipo 2 (DM2). Evidências epidemiológicas sugerem que o alto consumo de café pode reduzir o risco de diabetes mellitus. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de tinturas de café torrado e moído nos níveis plasmáticos de colesterol, trigliceróis e glicose em ratos diabéticos. A indução do diabetes foi realizada através da administração intraperitoneal de aloxano e as tinturas foram elaboradas utilizando café torrado e moído. Após 30 dias de tratamento, foram realizadas determinações bioquímicas. As tinturas de café solúvel promoveram aumento nos níveis de colesterol e as percentagens de redução das concentrações de glicose e triacilglicerídeo variaram entre 20 e 24% e entre 51 a 57%, respectivamente. A partir dos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que os tratamentos com o café solúvel sustentam a hipótese de que o café está associado ao menor risco de DM2.

The consumption of coffee has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (DM). Epidemiological evidence suggests that high consumption of coffee may reduce the risk of diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a tincture (hydroethanolic extract) of roasted and ground coffee on plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose in diabetic rats. The diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan. The induced diabetic rats were then treated for 30 days by gavage with various doses of the coffee tincture. After the treatment, biochemical blood tests were carried out on the rats. The coffee tincture provoked moderately increased levels of cholesterol, but the concentrations of glucose and triglycerides were reduced by 20-24% and 51-57%, respectively. From these results, it was concluded that the treatment with coffee extract supports the hypothesis that coffee is associated with a lower risk of type 2 DM.

Effect of different treatments on the evolution of polyamines during refrigerated storage of eggplants.

The applicability of a thermal treatment was compared with modified-atmosphere (MA) storage in relation to chilling injury (CI) and polyamines evolution in eggplants. Fruits underwent physiological disorders at 3 degrees C, evidenced by the appearance of surface injuries at the third day of storage, and, after moving the fruits to 20 degrees C, by increased respiratory activity and more intense ethylene production. Storage of fruits in sealed low-density polyethylene bags and a previous treatment with heated air (1 h at 35 degrees C) were both effective in retarding chilling injury, though the former was better. Two free polyamines were found in cv. Black Nite: putrescine, in greater proportion, and spermidine. Putrescine increased in control (untreated) fruits stored at 3 degrees C in parallel with the external appearance of chilling injury, whereas this increase was either not exhibited or retarded in treated or MA stored fruits. Spermidine did not change in control fruits at 3 degrees C, remaining almost constant over the whole storage period, whereas in heat- and MAP-treated fruits spermidine levels exhibited a decrease.

Characterization of peroxidase-mediated chlorophyll bleaching in strawberry fruit.

Peroxidase (POX) from strawberry fruits was analyzed for its capacity to bleach chlorophyll. The partially purified enzyme preperation catalyzed the bleaching of chlorophylls and their derivatives in the presence of H(2)O(2) and phenolic compounds. The optimal reaction conditions were 35 degrees C, pH 5.2 and ionic strength equal to 0.2. The maximum activity was observed at 1 mM of H(2)O(2), while higher concentrations inhibited enzyme activity. Compounds with a high affinity to the heme group, radical scavengers and reducing agents, showed an inhibitory effect. Phenolic compounds such as umbelliferone, naringenin and p-substituted monophenols acted as cofactors. Instead, other phenolic compounds tested such as caffeic acid, catechin, ellagic acid, esculin and quercetin inhibited the activity of POX on chlorophylls. Phenolic compounds extracted from strawberry fruits showed an inhibitory effect on POX-chlorophyll bleaching activity, although this effect decreased markedly during ripening. POX showed higher affinity for compounds derived from chlorophyll a than from chlorophyll b, and the enzyme preferentially degraded chlorophyll derivatives with the Mg(2+) ion present and the phytol group removed. The POX-chlorophyll bleaching activity was found in all ripening stages from small green to ripe, the highest activity corresponding to large green fruits.

Effects of sinus gland extract on mandibular organ size and methyl farnesoate synthesis in the crawfish.

Eyestalk inhibition of farnesoic acid O-methyl transferase, which mediates the final step of methyl farnesoate synthesis in the mandibular organ of the crawfish Procambarus clarkii, was evaluated. Eyestalk removal caused a 20-100-fold increase in methyl transferase activity 8-12 days following surgery. The surge in activity following eyestalk removal in males was approximately 4 days ahead of that of the females. This was accompanied by a three-fold increase in mandibular organ protein content. Methyl transferase inhibition was accomplished in vitro after only a 15-min exposure to sinus gland extract. The inhibition obtained by injecting animals in vivo was noticeably attenuated 6 h following injection. The contrast of the short-lived inhibition with the growth and prolonged increase following eyestalk removal suggests that the eyestalk exerts both chronic and acute effects on the mandibular organ.

Effect of x-organ sinus gland extract on [(35)S] methionine incorporation to the ovary of the red swamp crawfish Procambarus clarkii.

The presence of gonad-inhibiting hormone in the x-organ sinus gland complex was evaluated in female Procambarus clarkii. Elimination of gonad-inhibiting hormone by way of eyestalk removal resulted in a large acceleration of ovarian development. Daily injection of four sinus gland equivalents reduced ovarian growth of eyestalk-ablated females by about 50% on day 6. Use of the radiotracer [(35)S] methionine showed that gonad-inhibiting activity reached its peak effect between 12 and 24 h following sinus gland injection. Dose-response showed that at least two sinus gland equivalents were needed to significantly counter the accelerated growth induced by eyestalk ablation. The high dose of extract needed to cause significant inhibition was attributed to this delayed response, which subsequently may have required a relatively prolonged exposure to the hormone.

Changes in polyamines and ethylene during the development and ripening of eggplant fruits (Solanum melongena).

The levels of free polyamines in the endocarpium of eggplants (Solanum melongena) cv. Black Nite were studied during fruit growth and ripening. Other parameters such as weight and volume variation, respiratory intensity, ethylene production, and sugar content were determined. The polyamines found were putrescine and spermidine, with a higher amount of the former. No spermine, agmatine, or cadaverine were found during the development and ripening period of eggplant. At the beginning of fruit development, the levels of putrescine and spermidine observed were 1.67 nmol/g of fresh tissue. Putrescine levels peaked at 17.4 nmol/g of fresh tissue on the ninth day after petal fall, decreasing later to the initial levels. No significant changes in spermidine were observed during the growth period of the fruit. Beginning 9 days after petal fall, there was a rapid increase in fruit weight and volume, which coincided with the maximum content of free polyamines. At the same growth stage, total sugar content was maximum. Ethylene production decreased rapidly from 14.23 to 1.5 microL/kg.h and remained low during the whole growth period.

[Study of the effect of volatile metabolites of Trichoderma hamatum on the growth of phytopathogenic soilborne fungi.]. / Efecto de los metabolitos volátiles de Trichoderma hamatum sobre el crecimiento de hongos fitopatógenos procedentes del suelo.

Volatile compounds produced by Trichoderma hamatum were tested for their capacity to suppress in vitro the growth of Alternaria citri, Bipolaris cynodontis, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Curvularia brachyspora, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia oryzae-sativae, Drechslera tritici-repentis, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia minor and Sclerotium rolfsii. The organisms were cultured in an apparatus made with two Erlenmeyer flasks assembled by their top parts. With the aid of the gas chromatographic technique the variation of carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene in the internal system was determined. Acetaldehyde and ethanol were not found. Due to the respiratory metabolism of T. hamatum the carbon dioxide level progressively increased while the oxygen content decreased. Ethylene production was low and after three days remained constant. Excepting C. oryzae-sativae and B. cynodontis the other species showed changes in the growth and development. These results suggest the inhibitory volatiles of T. hamatum as one possible mechanism of biological control.

Effect of a Brief CO(2) Exposure on Ethylene Production.

Ethylene production and respiration by Granny Smith apples were inhibited by treatment with 20% CO(2) for 2 hours. A similar effect was observed in tissue slices when treated at either 0 or 25 degrees C.The inhibition continued even after an extended aeration period. There is also an inhibition of ethylene emission in tissue slices incubated with exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC).In general, CO(2) treatment increased the ACC content of the tissue. These observations are consistent with the idea the action of CO(2) is directed toward the enzyme system responsible for the conversion of ACC into ethylene.