Medicinal plants are an important source of bioactive compounds that have various biological effects on pests and diseases of agricultural and livestock importance. The present study evaluated the nematicidal and insecticidal effects of the acetone extract (E-Ac) of Prosopis laevigata leaves. The tests were carried out under in vitro conditions. E-Ac had 100% nematicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus at 40 and 20 mg/mL, while at 10 mg/mL it had nearly 60% mortality against L3 H. contortus larvae. When E-Ac was incorporated into an artificial diet, it had an 88% insecticidal effect against Melanaphis sorghi at 72 h at 10 mg/mL. The phytochemical profile of E-Ac revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, sterols/terpenes and saponins. The results of the present study reveal that E-Ac has secondary metabolites with anthelmintic activity against L3 larvae of H. contortus and insecticidal activity against adults of M. sorghi, which could represent a viable and affordable allelopathic tool in the control of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in small ruminants and against aphids of agricultural importance.

Haemonchus contortus (Hc) is a hematophagous parasite affecting the health and productivity of flocks. The administration of chemical anthelmintic drugs (AH) is the common method of deworming; however, generates resistance in the parasites to AH and it is a public health risk due to drug residues in milk, meat and sub-products. Natural compounds from plants are explored to diminish this parasitosis, improving their health and productivity, without the negative effects of AH. Ipomoea genus is a group of climbing plants belonging to the Convulvulaceae family possessing perennial leaves and tuberous roots. Medicinal properties has been attributed to this plant including nutritional agents, emetics, diuretics, diaphoretics, purgatives and pesticides. The objective of this study was assessing the in vitro nematocidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract (HA-E) obtained from Ipomoea pauciflora (Cazahuate) flowers against Hc infective larvae (L3) and to identify its phytochemical profile (PhC-P). The assay was carried out using microtiter plates (MTP). Four HA-E concentrations were assessed and Ivermectin and distilled water were used as positive and negative control groups, respectively. Approximately 100 Hc L3 were deposited in each well (n=12) and incubated at 25–35°C for 7 days. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and a General Linear Model (GLM) followed by Tukey test (P<0.05). The treatments showing a concentration-dependent effect (CDE) were analyzed to identify their 50% and 90% lethal concentrations (CL50, 90) via a Probit Analysis. The highest mortality was observed at 50 mg/mL (82.64 ± 0.71%) and the lowest at 6.25 mg/mL (56.46 ± 2.49%), showing a CDE with increasing mortality from 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. The PhC-P revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes/ sterols. A HA-E from flowers of I. pauciflora will be considered to assess its potential use in the control of haemonchosis in small ruminants.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this review is to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes between open and closed wedge distal femoral varus osteotomy (DFO). METHODS: A literature search of online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library database) was made in addition to manual search of major orthopedic journals. Data were searched from the time period of January 1990 to October 2016. A modified Coleman Methodology Score system was used to assess the methodologic quality of the included studies. A total of 20 studies were included in the review. All studies were level IV evidence. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of open and closed wedge DFO did not demonstrate clinical and radiological differences. The survival rates were also similar. Five studies (56%) on open wedge DFO mentioned the need for either bone grafting or substitute for osteotomy gap filling and reported higher incidences of reoperation for plate removal than the closed wedge DFO studies. CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review showed similar performance between open and closed wedge DFO. Outcomes including survival rates were not statistically significantly different. However, additional bone grafting or substitutes were often needed to prevent delayed union or nonunion for open wedge techniques. Additional operations for plate removal were commonly required due to plate irritation in both techniques.
Arthritis ; Bone Transplantation ; Femur ; Incidence ; Knee ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Reoperation ; Survival Rate

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are 2 protozoan parasites responsible for waterborne diseases outbreaks worldwide. In order to assess the prevalence of these protozoans in drinking water samples in the northern part of Portugal and the risk of human infection, we have established a long term program aiming at pinpointing the sources of surface water, drinking water, and environmental contamination, working with the water-supply industry. Total 43 sources of drinking water samples were selected, and a total of 167 samples were analyzed using the Method 1623. Sensitivity assays regarding the genetic characterization by PCR and sequencing of the genes, 18S SSU rRNA, for Cryptosporidium spp. and beta,-giardin for G. duodenalis were set in the laboratory. According to the defined criteria, molecular analysis was performed over 4 samples. Environmental stages of the protozoa were detected in 25.7% (43 out of 167) of the water samples, 8.4% (14 out of 167) with cysts of Giardia, 10.2% (17 out of 167) with oocysts of Cryptosporidium and 7.2% (12 out of 167) for both species. The mean concentrations were 0.1-12.7 oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. per 10 L and 0.1-108.3 cysts of Giardia duodenalis per 10 L. Our results suggest that the efficiency in drinking water plants must be ameliorated in their efficiency in reducing the levels of contamination. We suggest the implementation of systematic monitoring programs for both protozoa. To authors' knowledge, this is the first report evaluating the concentration of environmental stages of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in drinking water samples in the northern part of Portugal.
Animals ; Cryptosporidium/*isolation & purification ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, rRNA ; Giardia lamblia/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Portugal ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Risk Assessment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Water/*parasitology

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is a widely available drug widely marketed for alleged cardiovascular benefits. However, recent randomized trials do not show consistent risk reductions in cardiovascular outcomes. A meta-analysis conducted three years ago concluded no benefit in high-risk patients, and that further research on it be abandoned. We felt the need to update this study since there continue to be studies with conflicting findings.OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to update the investigation on whether vitamin E in high-risk patients causes significant risk reductions in non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality.METHODS: A computerized search of Medline was done using the online PubMed system. Randomized, controlled trials involving high-risk patients including a vitamin E treatment arm and a non-supplemental arm that tested for the specified cardiovascular outcomes were reviewed and appraised independently by three investigators. After quality appraisal and validity assessment, data from the Vitamin E treatment arm and placebo/non-supplementation arm were extrapolated from each study and entered into RevMan 4.2.3. Odds ratios were determined and plotted using a random effects model.RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials were included in the study. There were no significant reductions in all-cause mortality (OR=1.02, 95 percent CI 0.98-1.07), cardiovascular death (OR=1.00, 95 percent CI 0.95-1.06) or stroke events (OR=0.97, 95 percent CI 0.89-1.07), or. non-fatal myocardial infarction (OR 0.93, 95 percent CI 0.83-1.04).; Moreover, for non-fatal MI outcomes, statistical heterogeneity was present (Chi2 13.46, p = 0.004, I2 77.7 percent).CONCLUSION: We found no significant reduction in risk for cardiovascular outcomes with Vitamin E supplementation in high-risk patients. We conclude that Vitamin E should not be routinely recommended for high-risk patients.
Vitamin E ; Tocopherol ; Alpha Tocopherol ; Antioxidants ; Stroke ; Myocardial Infarction