Confirmed Synergy Between the ɛ4 Allele of Apolipoprotein E and the Variant K of Butyrylcholinesterase as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has several risk factors. APOE4 is the main one, and it has been suggested that there may be a synergy between it and BCHE-K as a risk factor. Objective: To investigate the association between APOE4 and BCHE-K as a risk factor for AD. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus on August 8, 2021 for studies that analyzed the association of APOE4 and BCHE-K with AD. The random effect model was performed in meta-analysis according to age group. A chi-square was performed with the meta-analysis data to verify if the effect found is not associated only with the E4 allele. Results: Twenty-one studies with 6,853 subjects (3,528 AD and 3,325 Controls) were included in the meta-analysis. The quality of the evidence is moderate. There is a positive E4-K association for subjects with AD as shown by the odds ratio of 3.43. The chi-square meta test, which measures the probability that the E4-K association is due to chance, has an odds ratio of 6.155, indicating that the E4-K association is not a random event. The odds ratio of an E4-K association in subjects with AD increases to OR 4.46 for the 65- to 75-year-old group and OR 4.15 for subjects older than 75 years. The probability that the E4-K association is due to chance is ruled out by chi-square meta test values of OR 8.638 and OR 9.558. Conclusion: The synergy between APOE4 and BCHE-K is a risk factor for late-onset AD.

Desempenho e saúde de frangos de corte não são prejudicados em função do teor de metanol da glicerina incluída em dietas / Performance and broiler health was not affected by glycerin with high methanol content included in diets

Em função da grande variabilidade na composição da glicerina oriunda do biodiesel, torna-se imprescindível a busca por informações que contribuam estabelecê-la com uma alternativa na alimentação de aves. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de glicerina com alto de teor de metanol em dietas para frangos de corte sobre o desempenho e parâmetros sanguíneos. Foram utilizados 90 pintos de corte machos da linhagem Cobb, com 8 dias de idade, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos (níveis de inclusão de 0, 6 e 12% de glicerina) e seis repetições de cinco aves cada, totalizando 18 unidades experimentais. As dietas foram formuladas a base de milho e farelo de soja para atender as exigências nutricionais e a glicerina utilizada continha 1,4% de metanol e 3158Kcal/kg de energia metabolizável. Aos 21, 33 e 42 dias de idade as sobras de ração e as aves foram pesadas para determinação do consumo de ração, peso médio, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar. Foram colhidos de 1 a 3mL de sangue venoso das aves, nos últimos dias de cada fase de criação (19-21, 31-33 e 40-42 dias de idade), para determinação do hematócrito, concentração de hemoglobina, reticulócitos, proteínas plasmáticas totais e fibrinogênio. Para avaliação da bioquímica sérica foram colhidos sangue venoso das aves sem anticoagulante, apenas na fase final da criação (40-42 dias). Os dados de desempenho, parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância. Utilizou-se o teste de Tukey com α=0,05 de probabilidade, para comparação das médias. Não foram observadas diferença estatística dos tratamentos sobre as variáveis de desempenho, parâmetros sanguíneos e bioquímicos, exceto para as proteínas plasmáticas entre 19 e 21, que aumentaram com a inclusão de glicerina, e para os reticulócitos que reduziram com a inclusão de glicerina. A inclusão de até 12% de glicerina com 1,4% de metanol residual em dietas de frangos de corte de 8 a 42 pode ser realizada sem prejuízos no desempenho e saúde dos mesmos.(AU)

Due to the great variability in the composition of glycerin derived from the biodiesel, it is essential to search for information which helps establish it with an alternative in poultry feed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of glycerin with high methanol content in diets for broilers on performance and blood parameters. They used 90 Cobb male broiler chicks with 8 days old, distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments (0, 6 and 12% glycerin inclusion levels) and six replications of five birds each, a total of 18 experimental units. Diets were formulated based on corn and soybean meal to meet the nutritional requirements and glycerin used contained 1.4% methanol and 3158Kcal/kg of metabolizable energy. At 21, 33 and 42 days of age the remains of feed and the birds were weighed to determine the feed intake, body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion. Were collected 1 to 3ml of venous blood of the birds during the last days of each phase (19 to 21, 31 to 33 and 40 to 42 days of age) for determination of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, reticulocyte total plasma proteins and fibrinogen. To evaluate the serum biochemistry were collected venous blood of birds without anticoagulant, only in the final phase (40 to 42 days). Performance data, hematological and biochemical obtained were submitted to analysis of variance. We used the Tukey test with α = 0.05 probability, to compare the means. There were no statistical difference between the treatments on the performance parameters and biochemical and blood parameters, except plasma proteins for between 19 and 21, which increased with the inclusion of glycerin, and reticulocytes that reduced with the inclusion of glycerin. The inclusion of up to 12% glycerin with 1.4% residual methanol in broiler diets (8 to 42 days of age) can be performed without loss in performance and health.(AU)

Demographic Structure and Evolutionary History of Drosophila ornatifrons (Diptera, Drosophilidae) from Atlantic Forest of Southern Brazil.

Drosoph1la ornatifrons of the guarani group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is found mainly in humid areas of the Atlantic Forest biome, especially in the southern region of Brazil. Historical and contemporary fragmentation events influenced species diversity and distribution in this biome, although the role of paleoclimatic and paleogeographic events remain to be verified. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the demographic structure of D. ornatifrons from collection sites that are remnants of Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil, in order to contribute to the understanding of the processes that affected the patterns of genetic variability in this species. To achieve this goal, we sequenced 51 individuals from nine localities and 64 individuals from six localities for the mitochondrial genes Cytochrome Oxidase I and II, respectively. Our results indicate that D. ornatifrons may have experienced a demographic expansion event from the southernmost locations of its distribution, most likely from those located next to the coast and in fragments of Atlantic Forest inserted in the Pampa biome (South 2 group), towards the interior (South 1 group). This expansion probably started after the last glacial maximum, between 20,000 and 18,000 years ago, and was intensified near the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, around 12,000 years ago, when temperature started to rise. In this work we discuss how the haplotypes found barriers to gene flow and dispersal, influenced by the biogeographic pattern of Atlantic Forest.

Monitoramento de parâmetros laboratoriais em gatos sem raça definida durante o período neonatal / Monitoring of laboratory parameters during neonatal period in mixed-bred cats

O objetivo do presente estudo foi à monitoração dos parâmetros laboratoriais como hemograma, enzimas hepáticas alanina aminotransferase (ALT) e gama-glutamiltransferase (GGT), glicemia e proteinograma sérico, e avaliar o efeito da idade em gatos sem raça definida durante a fase neonatal. Vinte gatos machos e fêmeas foram utilizados a partir do terceiro dia de vida até o 38º dia de idade. As amostras de sangue foram colhidas semanalmente e as análises laboratoriais (hemograma, enzimas hepáticas, glicemia e proteinograma sérico) realizadas no 3º, 10º, 17º, 24º, 31º e 38º dia de idade. Os resultados exibiram efeito significativo da idade sobre a contagem total de eritrócitos, concentração de hemoglobina, volume globular, volume corpuscular médio, concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média, leucócitos totais, neutrófilos, eosinófilos e basófilos. Nenhum efeito foi observado em células como linfócitos, monócitos ou na concentração sérica de glicose. A análise das modificações ocorridas nos parâmetros laboratoriais durante a fase neonatal reflete o desenvolvimento fisiológico do filhote e contribui para o conhecimento do processo adaptativo em gatos neonatos durante o primeiro mês de vida, sendo útil para a avaliação clínica, diagnóstico e tratamento das doenças neonatais.(AU)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of age on blood count, liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), glycemia and on protein profile in mixed-breed cats during the neonatal phase. Twenty male and female cats were used from 3 to 38 days after birth. Weekly blood samples were obtained and laboratory analyses (blood count, liver enzymes, glycemia and protein profile) were performed on the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st and 38th day of age. The results exhibited significant effect of age on total red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, total leukocyte count, mean segmented neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. No effect was observed in lymphocyte, monocyte and glucose concentration. The analysis of changes in laboratory parameters which occurred during the neonatal period reflects the physiological development of the kitten and contributes to knowledge of the adaptive process in neonates cats during the first month of life, and is useful for clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neonatal diseases.(AU)

Evaluation of adverse effects of long-term oral administration of carprofen, etodolac, flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, and meloxicam in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate adverse effects of long-term oral administration of carprofen, etodolac, flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, and meloxicam in dogs. ANIMALS: 36 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Values for CBC, urinalysis, serum biochemical urinalyses, and occult blood in feces were investigated before and 7, 30, 60, and 90 days after daily oral administration (n = 6 dogs/group) of lactose (1 mg/kg, control treatment), etodolac (15 mg/kg), meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg), carprofen (4 mg/kg), and ketoprofen (2 mg/kg for 4 days, followed by 1 mg/kg daily thereafter) or flunixin (1 mg/kg for 3 days, with 4-day intervals). Gastroscopy was performed before and after the end of treatment. RESULTS: For serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity, values were significantly increased at day 30 in dogs treated with lactose, etodolac, and meloxicam within groups. Bleeding time was significantly increased in dogs treated with carprofen at 30 and 90 days, compared with baseline. At 7 days, bleeding time was significantly longer in dogs treated with meloxicam, ketoprofen, and flunixin, compared with control dogs. Clotting time increased significantly in all groups except those treated with etodolac. At day 90, clotting time was significantly shorter in flunixin-treated dogs, compared with lactose-treated dogs. Gastric lesions were detected in all dogs treated with etodolac, ketoprofen, and flunixin, and 1 of 6 treated with carprofen. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen induced the lowest frequency of gastrointestinal adverse effects, followed by meloxicam. Monitoring for adverse effects should be considered when nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat dogs with chronic pain.