Systemic granulomatous disease in cattle is most commonly associated with hypersensitivity to ingested Vicia villosa. Cases occurring in the absence of recognized dietary causes or feed additives have rarely been reported. Here we describe an outbreak of systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause in dairy and beef cattle in southern Brazil. Affected cattle underwent autopsy, histopathology, and epidemiologic assessment. Between November 2021 and January 2022, 14 cases were diagnosed, both in dairy (12 cases, 86
Dogs are among the main reservoirs of Dirofilaria immitis, a zoonotic parasite, which occurs frequently endemic in many regions of Iran. This study was conducted in order to update the information on the parasitological and molecular detection of D. immitis infection in domestic and stray dogs using the modified Knott’s test and PCR and identify the factors associated with positive test results in Kerman city, Iran. Blood samples of 90 dogs (80 stray dogs and 10 pet dogs) were subjected to hematological examination, the modified Knott’s test, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to the results of the modified Knott’s test and PCR, a total of 7 stray dogs (7.77
Caralluma adscendens Roxb. is a succulent medicinal plant traditionally used in India and is reported to contain several classes of bioactive phytoconstituents. The plant was selected for the present study because of its traditional medicinal use and the limited experimental evidence regarding its possible antiurolithiatic activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antiurolithiatic potential of an ethanolic leaf extract of C. adscendens using calcium oxalate (CaOx) nucleation and aggregation assays and to characterize major phytochemical constituents. CaOx crystallization was evaluated spectrophotometrically at 620 nm using separate working concentration ranges for the aggregation and nucleation assays. Cystone was used as the reference preparation. Preliminary phytochemical screening and HPLC-DAD profiling were also performed. The ethanolic leaf extract showed concentration-dependent changes in absorbance in the CaOx aggregation and nucleation assays. HPLC-DAD profiling indicated the presence of several phytochemical classes, with quercetin and chrysin reported in the analytical profile. The study provides preliminary in vitro evidence supporting further investigation of C. adscendens for antiurolithiatic activity. In vivo and mechanistic studies are required to confirm these findings.
This study evaluated the anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects of aqueous extract of Persea americana (PA) peel and its biosynthesised silver (PAAgNPs) and gold (PAAuNPs) nanoparticles in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Forty rats (divided into eight groups, five animals each) were fed either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD) treated with PAAgNPs, PAAuNPs, or PA peel extract for 56 days. Oral treatments at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) were used. The results revealed that treatment of HFD rats with PAAgNPs, PAAuNPs, and PA extract significantly (P < 0.05) delayed weight gain compared to HFD control rats. The treatment also significantly reduced the serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triacylglycerol (TG) levels (P < 0.05) but significantly increased serum HDL-C compared with HFD control rats. For antioxidant activity, the treatment significantly increased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and Total Protein (TP). PAAuNPs and PA peel extracts ameliorated histopathological changes in the architectural arrangements of the rats’ organs (liver and kidney). This study established that PAAuNPs and PA extracts have protective potential against HFD-induced obesity and dyslipidaemia in rats. Hence, they could be used as therapeutic and prophylactic options for the control of hyperlipidemia-linked disease.
Neuroinflammation and gut-brain axis dysfunction contribute to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. Butyric acid and caffeic acid possess individual anti-inflammatory properties, but their combined therapeutic potential in PD, particularly through modulation of the gut-brain axis, remains unexplored. This study investigated whether combined butyric and caffeic acid treatment produces synergistic anti‑inflammatory effects via modulation of the gut-brain axis in rotenone‑induced experimental Parkinsonism. Fifty male mice were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10/group): control, rotenone-induced PD, rotenone + butyric acid (250 mg/kg, oral), rotenone + caffeic acid (50 mg/kg, oral), and rotenone + combined treatment. Rotenone (3.0 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal) was administered for 21 days to induce Parkinsonism. Treatments were given orally for eight weeks. Motor function was assessed using the rotarod, beam walk, and wire hanging tests. NF-κB, IL-10, and dopamine levels were quantified in serum, substantia nigra (SNgr), and duodenum using ELISA. Rotenone reduced SNgr dopamine (p < 0.0001) and paradoxically elevated serum dopamine (p < 0.0001). Combination therapy significantly improved SNgr dopamine (p = 0.0045) and restored serum dopamine (p < 0.0001 vs. rotenone). NF‑κB activity was suppressed in SNgr (p = 0.0010), serum (p = 0.0062), and duodenum (p < 0.0001). IL‑10 increased in the substantia nigra (p = 0.0004) and duodenum (p < 0.0001). Motor performance improved on rotarod (p < 0.0001) with significant restoration of beam walk coordination (p = 0.0002). Combined butyric and caffeic acid treatment produces supra-additive suppression of inflammatory signalling across the gut-brain axis and improves motor outcomes in experimental Parkinsonism, supporting further investigation as adjunctive therapy for Parkinson's disease.
