Biased cell adhesion organizes a circuit for visual motion integration.

Layer specific computations in the brain rely on neuronal processes establishing synaptic connections with specific partners in distinct laminae. In the Drosophila lobula plate neuropile, the axons of the four subtypes of T4 and T5 visual motion direction-selective neurons segregate into four layers, based on their directional preference, and form synapses with distinct subsets of postsynaptic neurons. Four bi-stratified inhibitory lobula plate intrinsic cells exhibit a consistent synaptic pattern, receiving excitatory T4/T5 inputs in one layer, and conveying inhibitory signals to an adjacent layer. This layered arrangement establishes motion opponency. Here, we identify layer-specific expression of different receptor-ligand pairs belonging to the Beat and Side families of Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs) between T4/T5 neurons and their postsynaptic partners. Genetic analysis reveals that Beat/Side mediated interactions are required to restrict T4/T5 axonal innervation to a single layer. We propose that Beat/Side contribute to synaptic specificity by biasing adhesion between synaptic partners before synaptogenesis.

Cattle and goats' humoral response to vaccination with Clostridium perfringens type D purified epsilon toxoids.

Herd vaccination is an important preventive measure against enterotoxemia in ruminants. Vaccination in goats should be performed every four months, and recent studies have shown that immunity in cattle lasts for less than one year. One of the mechanisms for increasing the duration of the immune response is to use purified toxoids as immunogens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the humoral response in cattle and goats after vaccination with purified and semi-purified Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxoid. The following three different vaccines were used: vaccine 1 (V1), a semi-purified toxoid adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide; vaccine 2 (V2), a purified toxoid adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide; and vaccine (V3), a purified toxoid adsorbed on chitosan microparticles. Groups of cattle (n = 6-7) and goats (n = 6-7) were vaccinated on days 0 and 30, and serum samples for antitoxin titration were collected every 30 days for one-year post-vaccination. Goats were revaccinated on day 360, and their serum was evaluated on days 367 and 374. The antibody peaks ranged between 6.90 and 11.47 IU/mL in cattle and from 1.11 to 4.40 IU/mL in goats. In cattle administered with the V1 and V2 vaccines, we observed that the antibody titers were maintained above 0.2 IU/mL until the end of the experiment. In goats, V2 elicited long-lasting antibodies, and all animals maintained the protective titers for 210 days after the first dose. In conclusion, the purified toxoid vaccine with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant was able to induce strong and long-lasting humoral responses in both species and could be an alternative for improving the immunization schedule against enterotoxemia in goats and cattle.

Efficacy of novel antiseptic product containing essential oil of Lippia origanoides to reduce intramammary infections in cows.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The use of antimicrobials in the control of mastitis is of concern in public health due to their inefficiency in targeting microorganisms. Studies with medicinal plants have risen as an alternative to the use of conventional products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an experimental disinfectant based on the essential oil (EO) from Lippia origanoides in preventing the development of new intramammary infections (IMI) in Holstein cows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The conventional protocol of pre- and post-milking was used and the control (Conventional treatment [CNV]) and experimental (Experimental treatment [PEX]) products containing EO at 120 µL/mL were applied by immersion. Individual milk samples were analyzed using sheep blood agar methodologies and biochemical tests. The efficiency of the treatment was defined by the presence or absence of Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus spp. RESULTS: There were no clinical and subclinical mastitis cases, no lesions in the mucosal of teats, nor dirt score between groups in this study. Both treatments did not influence the occurrence of IMI. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that PEX acts efficiently against microorganisms compared to the disinfection by the conventional product demonstrating the efficacy of the alternative product on the prevention of new IMIs in dairy cows.

Peripheral axonal ensheathment is regulated by RalA GTPase and the exocyst complex.

Axon ensheathment is fundamental for fast impulse conduction and the normal physiological functioning of the nervous system. Defects in axonal insulation lead to debilitating conditions, but, despite its importance, the molecular players responsible are poorly defined. Here, we identify RalA GTPase as a key player in axon ensheathment in Drosophila larval peripheral nerves. We demonstrate through genetic analysis that RalA action through the exocyst complex is required in wrapping glial cells to regulate their growth and development. We suggest that the RalA-exocyst pathway controls the targeting of secretory vesicles for membrane growth or for the secretion of a wrapping glia-derived factor that itself regulates growth. In summary, our findings provide a new molecular understanding of the process by which axons are ensheathed in vivo, a process that is crucial for normal neuronal function.

An Unusual Case of Invasive Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report.

Papillary carcinoma of the breast is a rare type of breast malignancy, making up less than 2% of breast cancers, and only some are encapsulated papillary carcinoma. Usually, EPC are low-grade luminal like tumors. The authors report a case of a 50-year-old female with the diagnosis of an unusual high-grade triple negative encapsulated papillary carcinoma with an area of invasive papillary carcinoma and negative axillary lymph nodes. Considering its rarity, the description of this case and its clinical management are important in order to better understand this entity and choose the best clinical approach.

O carcinoma papilar é um tipo raro de cancro da mama, com incidência inferior a 2%, sendo apenas uma parte carcinoma papilar encapsulado. Normalmente, o carcinoma papilar encapsulado apresenta-se como um carcinoma da mama tipo luminal e bem diferenciado. Os autores apresentam o caso de uma mulher de 50 anos com o diagnóstico de carcinoma papilar encapsulado triplo negativo e pouco diferenciado com uma área de carcinoma papilar invasivo e gânglios linfáticos axilares negativos. Considerando a sua raridade, a descrição deste caso e da sua abordagem torna-se importante um melhor entendimento desta entidade e para compreender a melhor prática clínica a utilizar.

Neoplasm of uncertain behaviour of the breast-a retrospective study in a breast unit.

INTRODUCTION: Breast lesions include a heterogeneous group of entities with variable clinical behaviour and morphological presentation, mostly classified as benign or malignant, with predictable behaviour. However, there are lesions with clinical, breast imaging and/or biopsy characteristics that do not clarify their nature. These lesions have an uncertain behaviour regarding their malignant potential at diagnosis.We intend to relate the preoperative diagnosis of neoplasm of uncertain behaviour of the breast (NUnBB) regarding the core needle biopsy and the histological result after excisional biopsy. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients submitted to local excision of breast lesions with a perioperative diagnosis of NUnBB, classified as 2383 at 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems' (ICD 9), between January 2007 and October 2016 in a breast unit. RESULTS: Ninety-two cases with the diagnosis of NUnBB were analysed: 91 females with a mean age of 59 ± 14 years. All were submitted to local excision of breast lesion as ambulatory surgery with the following histology: 64% benign, 3% malignant potential and 33% malignant. Of those who presented malignant results, 69% underwent a surgical re-intervention for local control of the disease. DISCUSSION: Regarding the considerable number of malignant lesions at final histology and the high percentage of which are re-operated, NUnBB should be treated with the same priority as a confirmed malignant neoplasm and whenever possible, using the most appropriate surgical technique.