A New Meroterpene, A New Benzofuran Derivative and Other Constituents from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Acremonium persicinum KUFA 1007 and Their Anticholinesterase Activities.

Previously unreported meroterpene, acremine S (1), and benzopyran derivative, acremine T (2), were isolated, together with lumichrome (3), ergosterol (4) and ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxide, from cultures of the marine sponge-associated fungus Acremonium persicinum KUF1007. The structure of the previously unreported compounds was established based on an extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HRMS data. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic centers of 1 were established, unambiguously, based on NOESY correlations and comparison of calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compounds 1-3 were tested for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities.

Stray dogs in urban fragments: relation between population's perception of their presence and socio-demographic factors / Cães errantes em fragmentos urbanos: relação entre o relato de visualização de cães errantes e fatores sociodemográficos da população local

Stray dogs are associated with environment and public health impacts. São Paulo is a city with approximately 2.5 million owned dogs and until the time of writing no studies describing the distribution of the stray dog population have been conducted in this city. Therefore, no scientific support for intervention plans is available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of local sociodemographic and environmental factors with the population perception of presence of stray dogs in urban fragments of São Paulo city. A convenience sample of six urban fragments was selected. In-depth interviews were performe, using a systematic random sample of households in each study area, between October/2010 and January/2011 to identify socio-demographic factors of interest and determine the population's perception of stray dogs. Additionally, the presence of stray dogs was estimated by photographic mark-recapture method. The degree of human-dog proximity and environmental factors such as waste handling were associated to the sighting of stray dogs. Stray dogs were observed in two of the six study areas, agreeing with the greater population perception of this issue on those areas. Intervention in these factors and encouragement of responsible ownership are two potential solutions for management and reduction of problems associated with the presence of stray dogs.(AU)

A presença de cães errantes está associada a impactos no meio ambiente e na saúde pública. São Paulo é uma cidade com aproximadamente 2.5 milhões de cães domiciliados e até o presente momento, não foram desenvolvidos estudos que descrevam a distribuição da população errante na cidade. Desta forma, não há suporte científico para planejar intervenções. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre os fatores sociodemográficos e ambientais da população local com a frequência com que relataram a visualização de cães errantes em fragmentos urbanos da cidade de São Paulo. Foi definida uma amostra de conveniência composta por seis fragmentos urbanos, onde um questionário foi aplicado em uma amostra sistemática dos domicílios de cada área de estudo. Este questionário, aplicado entre outubro de 2010 e janeiro de 2011, determinou os fatores socio-econômicos de interesse e a percepção da presença de cães errantes pela população. Também foi estimada a presença de cães pelo método de marcação e recaptura fotográfica. Foi possível estabelecer uma relação entre a visualização de cães errantes pela população local e o grau de proximidade com cães e o manejo de resíduos do domicílio. Cães errantes foram observados em duas das seis áreas trabalhadas, em concordância com a maior percepção da sua presença pela população local. Intervenções nestes fatores e incentivo a guarda responsável são duas ações com potencial de contribuir para redução dos problemas causados pela presença de cães errantes.(AU)

Favourable effects of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis on experimental periodontitis in rats.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to evaluate, in rats: i) the effects of Bacillus species on the development of experimental periodontitis (EP) via microtomographic, immunological and hematological assays (Experiment 1-E1); ii) the effects of Bacillus species as adjuncts to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of EP via histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses (Experiment 2-E2). METHODS: In E1, 24 rats were divided into groups C1 (control), PROB1, EP1 and EP-PROB1. In groups with EP, the mandibular first molar of each animal received a ligature for 14 days. In groups PROB1, animals received Bacillus species for 44 days, starting 30 days before EP induction in Group EP-PROB1. In E2, 24 rats were assigned to groups C2 (control), PROB2, EP-SRP2 and EP-SRP-PROB2. In groups with SRP, EP was induced as described in E1. The ligatures were removed after 14 days and SRP was performed. In groups PROB2, animals received Bacillus species for 15 days, starting after SRP in Group EP-SRP-PROB2. RESULTS: In E1, Group EP1 presented bone loss (BL) and eosinophil numbers greater than Group EP-PROB1 (P<0.05). In Group EP-PROB1, the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) ratio was similar to that of groups without EP. In E2, Group EP-SRP-PROB2 presented fewer TRAP-positive osteoclasts, lower immunolabeling pattern for a proinflammatory cytokine and decreased BL and attachment loss than Group EP-SRP2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus species supplementation provided a protective effect against BL and enhanced the effects of SRP in the treatment of EP in rats.

Phylogenetic analysis of rabies virus isolated from herbivores in Minas Gerais and São Paulo border (2000-2009), Brazil / Análise filogenética de isolados do vírus da raiva de herbívoros na fronteira de Minas Gerais e São Paulo (2000-2009), Brasil

Rabies transmitted by the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus represents a public health concern and a burden for the Brazilian livestock industry. Current evidence suggests that rabies occurrence is related to landscape characteristics, topography, hydrography, animal production systems and land use...

A raiva transmitida por morcegos hematófagos da espécie Desmodus rotundus representa uma preocupação de saúde pública e causa de importantes prejuízos para a pecuária brasileira. A evidência atual sugere que a ocorrência de raiva está relacionada às características da paisagem, topografia, hidrografia, sistemas de produção animal e usos da terra...