The live attenuated mycobacterial strain BCG, in use as vaccine against tuberculosis, is considered the gold standard for primary therapy of carcinoma
of the bladder. Despite its limitations, to date ...it has not been surpassed by any other treatment. Our group has developed a recombinant BCG strain expressing the detoxified S1 pertussis toxin (rBCG-S1PT) that proved more effective than wild type BCG (WT-BCG) in increasing survival time in an experimental mouse model of bladder cancer, due to the well-known adjuvant properties of pertussis toxin. Here, we investigated the capacity of rBCG-S1PT to stimulate human immune responses, in comparison to WT-BCG, using an
stimulation assay based on human whole blood cells that allows for a comprehensive evaluation of leukocyte activation. Blood leukocytes stimulated with rBCG-S1PT produced increased levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 as compared to WT-BCG, but comparable levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. Stimulation of blood cells with the recombinant BCG strain also enhanced the expression of CD25 and CD69 on human CD4
T cells. PBMC stimulated with rBCG-S1PT induced higher cytotoxicity to MB49 bladder cancer cells than WT-BCG-stimulated PBMC. These results suggest that the rBCG-S1PT strain is able to activate an immune response in human leukocytes that is higher than that induced by WT-BCG for parameters linked to better prognosis in bladder cancer (regulation of immune and early inflammatory responses), while fully comparable to WT-BCG for classical inflammatory parameters. This establishes rBCG-S1PT as a new highly effective candidate as immunotherapeutic agent against bladder cancer.
This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and reproductive parameters of Nelore cows under various microclimatic conditions. The experiment was performed in Central Brazil, which has a tropical ...climate with dry winters and rainy summers. The experimental groups were divided into an area with shading (5.8 trees/ha;
n
= 42) and an area with little shading (0.4 trees/ha;
n
= 42). The physiological (heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, surface body temperature, and vaginal temperature) and reproductive (estrus detection, conception rate, and rate of pregnancy loss) parameters were then assessed. The rectal temperature (
p
= 0.002); surface body temperature on the flanks, forehead, and shoulder (
p
< 0.001); and vaginal temperature (
p
< 0.001) of cows in the group with shading were significantly lower than those of cows in the group without shading. Estrus was higher (
p
= 0.08) in the shaded group; however, no effect was observed on conception and pregnancy loss rates. In conclusion, shading (5.8 trees/ha) provided better thermal comfort for Nelore animals in the tropical climatic region. However, this did not affect their performance after fixed-time artificial insemination.
As agroindústrias familiar rural surgem a partir de sonhos empreendedores ou como forma de agregar valor para melhorar a renda. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar a viabilidade econômica e o ...custo de produção de um empreendimento agroindustrial familiar da região Central de Rondônia. Para tal, elaborou-se um instrumental, tendo como base o princípio da ferramenta FOFA, fez-se oficinas participativas e análise de materiais secundários. O custo da construção representou 36,9%. Já aquisição dos equipamentos e veículo utilitário representou 49,9% dos investimentos. Já o principal item do custo variável é o leite, principal matéria prima com 22,7%. Neste sentido, para produzir um litro de leite pasteurizado, o custo fixo de R$ 0,41, o variável de R$ 2,67 totalizando R$ 3,08 que gera um prejuízo de 6,5%, pois é comercializando à R$ 2,88. Já o iogurte, tem custo fixo de R$ 0,44, o variável de R$ 4,30 totalizando R$ 4,74 que gera um lucro de 43,5%, pois é comercializando à R$ 6,80. Conclui-se que a agroindústria é de pequeno porte, com pequena escala de produção, atendendo o mercado local, com parâmetros rígidos de controle sanitário, de acordo com o PROVE/RO e a produção se dá com uso de tecnologias. Quanto à gestão, encontram-se dificuldades em controlar os custos de produção. Diante disso, fica evidente que a produção agroindustrial necessita de gestão profissionalizada, ou seja, os produtores devem buscar formação para melhor controle de sua atividade, otimizando os recursos de modo a garantir a sustentabilidade do empreendimento.
•Crossbreed cattle respond to endometrial stimulation with various PAMP.•Crossbreed endometrial explants produce IL-1β, IL-6 and CXCL-8 in response to LPS.•Peptidoglycan only stimulates IL-1β ...production by crossbreed endometrial explants.•Estrous cycle do not influences the endometrial response to LPS in crossbreed cattle.
Uterine bacterial infections are common during the post-partum period of dairy herds and, apparently, incidences in crossbred cattle are less than in Holsteins. The aims of this study were (I) to evaluate production of interleukin 1-β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and chemokine CXCL8 using endometrial explants from Bos indicus crossbred heifers at diestrous, stimulated by various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), and (II) assess production of these cytokines by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated endometrial explants from heifers when samples were collected at different stages of estrous cycle. In the first experiment, endometrial explants from heifers at diestrous were stimulated by ten-fold serial dilutions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), triacylated lipopeptide (PAM3) or peptidoglycan (PGN). In the second experiment, endometrial explants collected at different stages of the estrous cycle were treated with LPS. Concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and CXCL8 were quantified in supernatant. There was a marked (P < 0.05) production of IL-1β, IL-6, and CXCL8 in response to LPS treatment. There was also production of IL-1β (P < 0.05) in response to PGN treatment. Explant samples collected at different stages of the estrous cycle responded to LPS treatment with production of IL-1β and IL-6, but with no differences (P > 0.05) between stages of estrous cycle. In conclusion, endometrial samples of crossbred Zebu-based heifers collected during diestrous produced IL-1β, IL-6 and CXCL8 in response to LPS and IL-1β in response to PGN. The cytokine production in response to LPS, however, was not affected by the stage of the estrous cycle in Bos indicus crossbred heifers.
Abstract Niedenzuella (Tetrapterys) multiglandulosa, a vine plant found in Brazil, has been correlated to outbreaks of poisoning in cattle and buffaloes, generating economic losses related to the ...death due to heart failure, miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the embryotoxic potential of the aqueous plant extract on in vitro bovine embryos. In vitro study was performed in five replicates of bovine embryo culture assigned in two groups: control, in vitro embryo culture medium without the aqueous plant extract; treated group, with addition of 2.7mg/mL of aqueous plant extract (10%) to the embryo culture on the sixth day of culture. Cleavage rate was evaluated at day 2 of the cell culture. Viability, hatchability and underdevelopment of blastocysts on the seventh, eighth, and ninth days (D7, D8, and D9, respectively) of culture were assessed under stereoscopic microscope. On day 7, blastocysts were submitted to TUNEL assay to determine apoptotic index. In vitro exposure of bovine embryos to of N. multiglandulosa resulted in reduced embryo development and survival, evaluated by dark cytoplasm indicating poor morphology and poor quality with marked reduction of hatchability. We observed a significant reduction of blastocyst production/number of cleaved embryos (60.6% vs 41.5%); reduction of blastocysts production/total number of matured bovine oocytes (35.1% vs 21.3%); and embryonic hatching rates (38.0% vs 10.0%). However, no effects were observed on the apoptotic rate. In conclusion, aqueous extract of N. multiglandulosa leaves reduces bovine embryo viability in vitro, suggesting possible detrimental effects on embryo development.
Resumo Niedenzuella (Tetrapterys) multiglandulosa, uma videira encontrada no Brasil, tem sido correlacionada a surtos de intoxicações em bovinos e búfalos, gerando perdas econômicas relacionadas à morte por insuficiência cardíaca, aborto, natimorto e mortalidade neonatal. O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar o potencial embriotóxico do extrato vegetal aquoso em embriões bovinos in vitro. O estudo in vitro foi realizado em cinco repetições de cultura de embriões bovinos distribuídos em dois grupos: controle, meio de cultura de embriões in vitro sem o extrato aquoso da planta; grupo tratado, com adição de 2,7mg / mL de extrato vegetal aquoso (10%) à cultura do embrião no sexto dia de cultivo. A taxa de clivagem foi avaliada no dia 2 da cultura de células. Viabilidade, eclodibilidade e subdesenvolvimento de blastocistos no sétimo, oitavo e nono dia (D7, D8 e D9, respectivamente) de cultura foram avaliados em microscópio estereoscópico. No dia 7, os blastocistos foram submetidos ao ensaio TUNEL para determinar o índice apoptótico. Observamos redução significativa da produção de blastocisto / número de embriões clivados (60,6% vs 41,5%); redução da produção de blastocistos / número total de oócitos bovinos maturados (35,1% vs 21,3%); e taxas de eclosão embrionária (38,0% vs 10,0%). No entanto, nenhum efeito foi observado na taxa de apoptose. Em conclusão, o extrato aquoso das folhas de N. multiglandulosa reduz a viabilidade do embrião bovino in vitro, sugerindo possíveis efeitos prejudiciais no desenvolvimento embrionário.
Highlights • The consistency of the production process was shown in 60-L bioreactors. • Cell recovery by tangential filtration was 92 ± 13%. • Conditions for beta-propiolactone inactivation of ...pneumococci were optimized. • cGMP vaccine lots displayed 80–90% survival after challenging immunized mice. • The bulk and vaccine lots were stable for up to 12 and 18 months, respectively.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of increased shadow supply in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems on in vitro embryonic development and physiological parameters related to ...stress response in Nellore heifers (
Bos indicus
). For the study, animals (
n
= 16) were randomly divided into two groups and kept in areas with different afforestation systems, the integrated crop-livestock-forest (ICLF) and the integrated crop-livestock (ICL) system. The microclimate of the ICLF system provided better comfort conditions than ICL. No differences of respiratory rate, rectal temperature, cortisol, T3, T4, oocyte quality, and cleavage rate between the systems were verified. A higher blastocyst rate was observed in the ICLF (
p
< 0.05). The results demonstrate that Nellore heifers managed in ICLF during summer in Midwest of Brazil showed higher production of in vitro embryos, without typical changes in its physiological parameters. The results observed in the present study indicate that zebu females are able to respond satisfactorily to the intense heat conditions; however, we believe that the long period to which these animals are exposed to these conditions interferes in the oocyte competence and embryo development.
Socializam-se, no presente texto, resultados da análise conceitual da religião, através da identificação dos elementos conceituais emergentes nos discursos do autor baiano Eulálio Motta, em ...documentos datados entre o período de 1949 e 1988, cujos gêneros textuais foram panfletos, poemas, cartas e textos jornalísticos. O estudo ancorou-se prioritariamente nos estudos da Semântica Cognitiva (Lakoff; Johnson, 1980, 1999; Lakoff, 1987, 1993, 2007; Johnson, 1987, 2007), da Sociocognição (Soares da Silva, 1999, 2010), e nos estudos da conceitualização metafórica em modelos culturais (Gibbs, 2012; Geeraerts, 2003; Feltes, 2007; Kövecses, 2010, 2009). Para a execução do estudo, seguiu-se a proposição teórico-metodológica de Lakoff e Johnson (1980, 1987), que incluem as etapas de leitura, introspecção e identificação dos elementos conceituais, com foco qualitativo. Para fins de demonstração, serão socializados os resultados encontrados em dois (02) dos documentos. Através da identificação das formas conceitualizadoras nos textos selecionados foi possível refletir como se deram as estratégias conceituais, por meio dos mapeamentos entre os modelos cognitivos idealizados, cujas redes de sentido podem ser identificadas enquanto caracterizadoras de um determinado tipo de escrita, considerando a estruturação das categorias, contribuindo, assim, para uma leitura mais ampliada do processo de interpretação.
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify parameters, before the start of the breeding season, that affect the conception rate of precocious Nelore heifers through ultrasonographic ovarian ...evaluation and evaluation of weight and body condition score (BCS). A total of 407 heifers aged 404±69 days (≈14 months old), weighing 267.1±31.2 kg, and with mean BCS of 3.1±0.5, were used. Heifers were subjected to hormone treatment to induce cyclicity and, 30 days later, to a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) program with three managements. Morphometric measurements of ovaries and ovarian structures were performed by transrectal ultrasonographic evaluation, as well as weighing and evaluation of BCS on D −30 and D0. Conception rate was evaluated 30 days after FTAI. The conception rate of heifers did not vary according to ovary diameter, weight, BCS, and age at first calving. However, heifers with the presence of follicle with a diameter > 6 mm at D −30 and D0 had a higher conception rate at the first FTAI. The presence of a dominant follicle greater than 6 mm at D −30 is an efficient complementary criterion to identify 14-month-old Nelore heifers with greater ability to conceive at the first FTAI before the breeding season. Antral follicle count performed on D −30 is not a good tool to predict fertility at the first FTAI, and the weight may not be a limiter to select heifers under good nutritional and health management.
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