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Contents: The main goal of this study was to assess the usefulness of two imaging modalities, namely the B‐mode and colour Doppler sonography, and serum progesterone (P4) concentrations for determining the ovarian response in superovulated ewes. Twenty‐four sexually mature Santa Inês ewes underwent the superovulatory treatment consisting of eight injections of porcine FSH (total dose of 200 or 133 or 100 mg; n = 8 ewes/total dose) given at 12‐hr intervals and initiated 48 hr before CIDR® (Pfizer Inc., Auckland, New Zealand) removal. Six days after natural mating, the ovaries of all donor ewes were visualized and examined with transrectal ultrasonography and then with videolaparoscopy to identify and enumerate corpora lutea (CL) and luteinized unovulated follicles (LUFs). Jugular blood samples were collected just prior to ovarian examinations. The total number of CL (r = .78 and 0.83, p < .0001) and LUFs (r = .74 and 0.90, p < .0001) enumerated using the B‐mode and colour Doppler ultrasonographic technique, respectively, were correlated with that ascertained by videolaparoscopy. Circulating concentrations of P4 were related directly to the number of healthy CL (r = .73, p = .0002) and inversely to the number of prematurely regressing CL (r = −.46, p = .03), but the accuracy of predicting the number of short‐lived CL with serum P4 concentrations was very poor. The present results indicate that ultrasonographic imaging and serum P4 measurements on the day of embryo recovery are useful indicators of total/normal CL numbers and both ultrasonographic techniques can be used to quantify LUFs in superovulated ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of B-mode, Doppler, acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound exams in the differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic benign mammary lesions in bitches. This research was conducted as a prospective secondary observational cohort (2014-2016) study, which included 36 mammary lesions, evaluated physically and by ultrasound (B-mode, Doppler, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse) exams prior to mastectomy and histopathological classification as neoplastic or non-neoplastic lesions. All ultrasonographic parameters studied were compared between histopathological classifications using Fisher's or Student's tests and differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. Out of 36 benign mammary lesions evaluated, 25 were classified as neoplastic and 11 as non-neoplastic. The qualitative and quantitative parameters evaluated using the different ultrasound methods were not effective (P > 0.05) in differentiating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic mammary masses in bitches. Nevertheless, some B-mode variables, such as longitudinal length (P = 0.0292), width/length ratio (P = 0.0001) and width/height ratio (P = 0.0001) showed limited efficacy in the differentiation of mammary lesions types. In conclusion, ultrasonographic evaluation of benign canine mammary lesions did not allow differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues and only a few B-mode variables may aid in the prediction of specific tumour types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes cause substantial economic loss of yield in coffee plantations and vegetable crops in Cuba. At present, methods to control the nematodes are ineffective or inappropriate and alternatives are being sought. The nematophagous fungus Verticillium chlamydosporium(Goddard) was isolated from soils collected from coffee plantations and infected root-knot nematode eggs from roots of tomato plants grown in these soils. A total of 83 isolates were collected and identified morphologically as V. chlamydosporiumvar. chlamydosporium, V. chlamydosporiumvar. catenulatum, V. psalliotae, V. suchlasporiumand an isolate of V. chlamydosporiumvar. chlamydosporium with unusually large dictyochlamydospores. From these, 24 that represented a range of origins were selected and screened for their ability to parasitize eggs of root-knot nematodes, colonize the rhizosphere of barley roots and produce chlamydospores. None of the isolates grew at temperatures below 15°C and V. suchlasporiumgrew at a faster rate at lower temperatures than the other isolates. These were also screened in the glasshouse and V. chlamydosporiumvar. catenulatum caused the greatest reduction in nematode populations. One isolate of each subspecies of V. chlamydosporiumwas tested with the standard, Rothamsted isolate 10, on a range of host plants. The greatest reduction in numbers of nematodes occurred on tomato plants (cv. Pixie). The Rothamsted isolate 10 reduced numbers of nematodes toa greater extent than the other isolates, and therefore has the greatest potential as a biological control agent of root-knot nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the kinetic equations for the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of urban and industrial wastewaters for the 1st, 2nd, and nth order reactions. Industrial wastewaters contain products extraneous to nature, xenobiotics, which alter the biodegradation activity of microorganisms, impeding their activity for an initial period oftime and changing the mechanism of biodegradation, thus disabling the traditional calculation of the BOD. For effluents with xenobiotic substances, the concept of Equivalent BOD5 is introduced, BOD5+I. The kinetic equations of Biochemical Oxygen Demand delayed by the effective acclimation time of microorganisms are presented. The kinetic equations with delayed activity developed here are applied to the effluents of a paper recycling plant, a textile-dyeingfactory, and a river into which flow the treated wastewaters of urban and industrial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the methodology for obtaining equations which describe the secondary treatment of urban wastewater treatment plants. The kinetics of the biodegradation reaction are shown, and a proposalis made to include the sludge age in the specific growth rate, in order to generalize from the classic process of activated sludge to that of extended aeration. The application of a mass balance to the aerobic reactor is shown, in order to obtain equations which describe itsbehavior. We will introduce a working hypothesis of the sludge settling mechanism to determine volumes of the clarification and sedimentation zones of the final clarifier, in order to obtain equations describing it. A graphic demonstration is provided with the results of activated sludge process simulation using the mathematical model presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Desmoid tumors are locally invasive fibromatous tumors, which, in patients with Gardner's syndrome, usually occur in the abdominal wall or intra-abdominally. After excision, they tend to recur, often leading to multiple bowel resections., Methods: This is a report of the clinical course of a patient with Gardner's syndrome and desmoid tumor who had multiple enterectomies and gradually developed short-gut syndrome. He required prolonged parenteral nutrition, which damaged the liver. The patient underwent a multivisceral transplantation as a life-saving procedure., Results: After the transplant, the desmoid tumor recurred in the thoracic wall twice and was successfully resected. It also recurred in the abdominal cavity, compressing the intestinal loops; the tumor was excised uneventfully, leaving the graft intact. The recurrent tumors were all of recipient origin., Conclusions: Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation could be considered in patients with short-gut syndrome caused by recurrent desmoid tumor. In the case of posttransplant tumor recurrence, resection is the only option recommended.

The effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), on the intracellular pH (pHi) in BCECF-loaded Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells was investigated. PGE2 elevated the pHi. Under resting conditions, pHi of MDCK cells suspended in PBS at pH 7.4 was 7.11 +/- 0.08; PGE2 increased pHi with an EC50 of 0.16 microM. PGF2 alpha elicited a similar response to PGE2, with an EC50 of 0.24 microM. Amiloride (0.4 mM) reversed the response to PGE2 (control 7.18 +/- 0.05; PGE2 7.26 +/- 0.05; after amiloride 7.18 +/- 0.05). In MDCK cells exposed to a Na(+)-free solution, alkalinization induced by this eicosanoid was blocked (Ringer-choline 7.16 +/- 0.03; PGE2 7.16 +/- 0.02). PGE2 increased by 100% the rate of recovery after an acidification pulse with ammonium chloride. In the presence of Ringer-HCO3- (pH 7.4), there was a delay in the maximal response to this prostaglandin (PBS 2.2 +/- 0.27, Ringer-bicarbonate 3.4 +/- 0.55 min) and the pHi increment was less marked than in PBS (0.09 pH units in HCO3- versus 0.16 pH units in PBS; P < 0.001). This effect of PGE2 was not blocked by 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (1.0 mM). PMA (100 nM), activator of protein kinase C, mimicked the response to PGE2, suggesting the participation of this kinase on the effect of the prostanoid. As expected, two inhibitors of protein kinase C, staurosporine and sphingosine, abolished the response to PGE2. Staurosporine (0.10 microM), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, blocked the response to PGE2 (control 7.02 +/- 0.04; PGE2 and staurosporine 7.03 +/- 0.04, n = 9, not significant). Sphingosine, another inhibitor of protein kinase C, also blocked the response to PGE2. Two analogues of cAMP did not modify the pHi. In summary, PGE2 induced an intracellular alkalinization via stimulation of a Na+/H+ exchanger, with the participation of protein kinase C, in MDCK cells.