Foetal programming in sheep: Reproductive and productive implications.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pregnant ewe nutrition on the performance of offspring in terms of meat, wool production, and reproduction. Foetal programming in sheep has focused on several aspects related to foetal growth, postnatal production, behaviour, and immunological performance. Currently, significant efforts are being made to understand the endocrine, metabolic, and epigenetic mechanisms involved in offspring development. Current studies have not only evaluated the foetal period, despite the pre-conception parental nutrition has demonstrated an effect on the foetal, embryonic, and pre-implantation periods and can generate permanent effects in the foetal and postnatal phases. The performance of offspring is the result of interactions between the genome, epigenome, and environmental interventions during conception. Several factors influence the expression of phenotypic characteristics in progenies; however, this study focused on presenting data on the effect of pregnant ewe nutrition alone on foetal growth and the productive aspects of their offspring.

Mapeamento de competências essenciais de profissionais que atuam na gestão estadual de saúde / Mapping of essential competencies of professionals working in state health management

Resumo: Em função da celeridade de transformações no ambiente externo às organizações, se faz necessário realizar adaptações internas dos processos de trabalho e a adesão das tecnologias contemporaneamente ofertadas. Assim, são requeridas dos gestores novas competências, a serem permanentemente desenvolvidas e aprimoradas. O Sistema Único de Saúde, onde o atendimento e as necessidades dos usuários devem se dar de forma eficiente, eficaz e de qualidade, inclui na descentralização o mecanismo de regionalização, hierarquização e participação, que demanda por gestores em saúde pública com competências e responsabilidades adequadas nos vários níveis de complexidade. Desse modo, para execução deste estudo foi adotado referencial teórico de gestão e mapeamento de competências de Hugo Pena Brandão. Este estudo teve por objetivo realizar o mapeamento das competências gerenciais relacionadas à saúde pública, a partir da perspectiva de profissionais que atuam na gestão em saúde. A metodologia aplicada teve abordagem quantitativa descritiva exploratória. A pesquisa foi realizada em três etapas. Na primeira, a aplicação de questionário, construído a partir do documento Marco Regional para as Américas (MRCESP), documento oficial da Organización Panamericana de La Salud (OPS), traduzido e adaptado ao contexto brasileiro. Este instrumento compõe-se de 56 questões ou competências essenciais divididas em seis domínios e foi respondido por 119 participantes de forma completa, na plataforma de pesquisa Pesquisaonline®. Os respondentes atuavam na gestão das 22 Regionais de Saúde da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde do Estado do Paraná, entre os meses de fevereiro a abril de 2020, e as respostas resultaram no Grau de Expressão da Competência no Trabalho. A análise de dados foi realizada com apoio dos softwares Microsoft Excel® e R®. Na segunda etapa foi realizado o mapeamento das lacunas (gaps) a partir das competências avaliadas pelos participantes. A terceira etapa foi realizada com a apuração do Grau de Prioridade de capacitação. Identificaram-se lacunas nos domínios 2 e 6, e, de acordo com a tabela de Grau de Prioridade de Capacitação, que classifica o Grau de Expressão das Competências no Trabalho, os escores foram de Prioridade Nula ou Muito Baixa. Desse modo, como contribuições, a investigação realizada permite o planejamento de estratégias de capacitação, salientando que os saberes aprendidos estão voltados à prática profissional, como a integração de informações, a transformação de conhecimentos e agir contextualizados, impactando na qualidade da assistência desenvolvida nos serviços de saúde.

Abstract: Due to the speed of transformations in the external environment of organizations, it is necessary to carry out internal adaptations of work processes and the adhesion of technologies currently offered. Thus, new knowledge and skills are required from managers, to be permanently developed and improved. The Unified Health System, where care and the needs of users must be provided efficiently, effectively and with quality, includes in decentralization the mechanism of regionalization, hierarchy and participation, which demands public health managers with adequate skills and responsibilities at various levels of complexity. Thus, to carry out this study, Hugo Pena Brandão's theoretical framework for management and mapping of competencies was adopted 22 Regional Health Departments of the State Health Secretariat of the State of Paraná. The applied methodology had a quantitative descriptive exploratory approach. The research was carried out in three stages. In the first, the application of a questionnaire, built from the document Regional Framework for the Americas (MRCESP), an official document of the Organización Panamericana de La Salud (OPS), translated and adapted to the Brazilian context. This consists of 56 questions or essential competences divided into six domains. The instrument was completed by 119 participants, through the Pesquisaonline® research platform, between February and April 2020, resulting in the Degree of Expression of Competence at Work. Data analysis was performed with the support of Microsoft Excel® and R® software. In the second, the mapping of the gaps was carried out from the competences evaluated by the participants. In the third stage, the Priority Degree of training was determined. Gaps were found in domains 2 and 6, but they were not as expressive, and, according to the table of Degree of Priority of Training, the answers of the participants, who classify the Degree of Expression of Skills at Work, found scores of Null Priority or Very Low. Thus, as contributions, the investigation carried out allows the planning of training strategies, emphasizing that the knowledge learned is focused on professional practice, such as the integration of information, the transformation of knowledge and contextualized actions, impacting the quality of care provided in the services of health.

Resumen: Debido a la velocidad de las transformaciones en el entorno externo de las organizaciones, es necesario realizar adaptaciones internas de los procesos de trabajo y la adhesión de las tecnologías que se ofrecen actualmente. Por lo tanto, se requieren nuevos conocimientos y habilidades de los gerentes, para ser desarrollados y mejorados permanentemente. El Sistema Único de Salud, donde la atención y las necesidades de los usuarios deben ser brindadas de manera eficiente, eficaz y con calidad, incluye en la descentralización el mecanismo de regionalización, jerarquización y participación, lo que demanda gestores de salud pública con competencias y responsabilidades adecuadas en los distintos niveles de complejidad. Así, para la realización de este estudio, se adoptó el referencial teórico de gestión y mapeo de competencias de Hugo Pena Brandão 22 Departamentos Regionales de Salud de la Secretaría de Estado de Salud del Estado de Paraná. La metodología aplicada tuvo un enfoque exploratorio descriptivo cuantitativo. La investigación se llevó a cabo en tres etapas. En el primero, la aplicación de un cuestionario, construido a partir del documento Marco Regional para las Américas, documento oficial de la Organización Panamericana de La Salud (OPS), traducido y adaptado al contexto brasileño. Este consta de 56 preguntas o competencias esenciales divididas en seis dominios. El instrumento fue diligenciado por 119 participantes, a través de la plataforma de investigación Pesquisaonline®, entre febrero y abril de 2020, dando como resultado el Grado de Expresión de la Competencia en el Trabajo. El análisis de datos se realizó con el apoyo del software Microsoft Excel® y R®. En el segundo, se realizó el mapeo de las brechas (gaps) a partir de las competencias evaluadas por los participantes. En la tercera etapa se determinó el Grado de Prioridad de la formación. Se encontraron brechas en los dominios 2 y 6, según la tabla Grado de Prioridad de la Formación, que clasifica el Grado de Expresión de las Habilidades en el Trabajo, los puntajes fueron de Prioridad Nula o Muy Baja. Así, como aportes, la investigación realizada permite planificar estrategias de formación, destacando que los conocimientos aprendidos se focalicen en la práctica profesional, como la integración de la información, la transformación del saber y las acciones contextualizadas, impactando en la calidad de la atención brindada en la servicios de salud.

Pregnant beef cow's nutrition and its effects on postnatal weight and carcass quality of their progeny.

A systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) were performed to evaluate the effects of different energy levels (metabolizable energy, ME) and crude protein (CP), supplied to pregnant cows, on weight of their progenies at 60 (BW60), 100 (BW100), 180 (BW180) and 205 (BW205) days of age, average daily gain (ADG), and weight, age, loin eye area (LEA), marbling and fat thickness (FT) at slaughter. The SR was performed on two electronic databases. The MA for random effects was performed for each response variable separately. The BW60 was reduced (P<0.001; I2 = 78.9%) when cows consumed CP and ME above the required levels during the third trimester of pregnancy (3TRI). The BW205 was lower (P<0.001; I2 = 92.6%) when cows consumed ME above the recommended levels in the second trimester of pregnancy (2TRI) and 3TRI. Conversely, the ADG was higher when cows consumed CP (P = 0.032; I2 = 96.1%) and ME (P<0.001; I2 = 96.1%) above the required levels. The steers whose mothers consumed CP and ME above the required levels during the 3TRI were slaughtered 5.5 days earlier (P = 0.015; I2 = 98.5%) compared to other steers. The marbling was higher (P<0.001; I2 = 91.7%) in calves born to mothers consuming CP and ME above the recommended levels, regardless of the gestation phase. The FT was higher (P<0.001; I2 = 0%) in the offspring of cows that consumed CP and ME above the required levels during the 3TRI. Thus, CP and ME intake, at levels higher than those recommended by the NRC, by pregnant cows in the 3TRI reduces the progeny weight up to 205 days of age. However, this is advantageous during the finishing phase, as it reduces slaughter age and increases the ADG and carcass quality by improving marbling and FT.

Antiproliferative Properties of Papaver rhoeas Ovule Extracts and Derived Fractions Tested on HL60 Leukemia Human Cells.

Papaver rhoeas plant is common in many regions worldwide and contributes to the landscape with its red flower. In the present study we first carried out morphological investigation by optical and scanning electron microscopy of the ovules within the ovary. After ovules' isolation we prepared extracts to test possible cytotoxic activities on HL60 leukemia human cells and investigated the extracts using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). P. rhoeas ovules showed an elongated, round shape and the presence of ordered sculptures on the ovule surface. The ovule extracts showed cytotoxic activity on HL60 human cells mainly found in some TLC-isolated spots. Compounds consisting of active spots were identified by GC-MS investigations. Our findings on the P. rhoeas ovule compounds open perspectives for further investigations of TLC-isolated spots on other human cancer cell lines.

Avaliação dos efeitos da educação permanente para enfermagem em uma organização hospitalar / Evaluación de los efectos de la educación permanente para enfermeros en una organización hospitalaria / Assessment of continuing education effects for nursing in a hospital organization

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar os efeitos de um programa de educação permanente em enfermagem de uma organização hospitalar. Métodos Estudo avaliativo, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu de maio a setembro de 2016 a partir da aplicação de instrumento tipo Likert aos 147 profissionais de enfermagem participantes de um programa de educação permanente de um hospital de ensino do Sul do Brasil. Utilizou-se uma plataforma eletrônica, Quicktapsurvey®, com uso de tablets. Os dados foram analisados por meio dos softwares R e Statistical Package for the Social Scienses®. Resultados Houve efeito positivo, indicando que os conhecimentos e habilidades adquiridos nas ações educativas propostas pelo programa de educação permanente foram transferidos para o contexto do trabalho. Conclusão A utilização do instrumento de avaliação mostrou-se efetivo para apoiar o planejamento e execução do programa no cenário da pesquisa e pode contribuir para outras organizações hospitalares em situações semelhantes.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar los efectos de un programa de educación permanente en enfermeros de una organización hospitalaria. Métodos Estudio evaluativo, cuya recolección de datos ocurrió de mayo a septiembre de 2016, mediante la aplicación de instrumento tipo Likert a los 147 profesionales de enfermería participantes de un programa de educación permanente de un hospital universitario del sur de Brasil. Se utilizó una plataforma electrónica, Quicktapsurvey®, con uso de tablets. Los datos fueron analizados por medio de los softwares R y Statistical Package for the Social Scienses®. Resultados Hubo efecto positivo, que indicó que los conocimientos y habilidades adquiridos con las acciones educativas propuestas en el programa de educación permanente fueron transferidos al contexto de trabajo. Conclusión La utilización del instrumento de evaluación demostró ser efectivo para apoyar la planificación y ejecución del programa en el contexto de la investigación y puede contribuir para otras organizaciones hospitalarias en situaciones semejantes.

Abstract Objective To assess nursing continuing education effects in a hospital organization. Methods An assessment study, whose data collection took place from May to September 2016 from the application of a Likert-type tool to the 147 nursing professionals participating in a continuing education program of a teaching hospital in southern Brazil. Quicktapsurvey®, an electronic platform, was used with tablets. Data were analyzed using software R and Statistical Package for the Social Scienses®. Results There was a positive effect, indicating that the knowledge and skills acquired in the educational actions proposed by the continuing education program were transferred to the work context. Conclusion The use of an assessment tool was effective to support program planning and performance in the research setting and may contribute to other hospital organizations in similar situations.

Chemical Investigation of a Biologically Active Schinus molle L. Leaf Extract.

The pepper tree Schinus molle L. is an evergreen ornamental plant belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, native to South America and widespread throughout the world. It has biological activities and is used in folk medicine. This paper aims to contribute to a deeper knowledge of its chemical composition and biological properties. S. molle leaf extracts were obtained by sequential extraction with solvents of different polarities and subsequently tested on the HL-60 human leukaemia cell line to define a possible cytotoxic activity. Among the investigated extracts, the petroleum ether extract revealed a high cytotoxic activity, and its chemical composition was further investigated. By a silica column chromatography, eight fractions were obtained, and their compositions were determined by GC-MS analysis. Compounds and relative abundance differed widely among the fractions; sesquiterpenes resulted the main component and alcoholic sesquiterpenes the most abundant.

L-arginine supplementation improves post-exercise hypotension in elderly women / Suplementação de l-arginina potencializa a hipotensão pós-exercício em mulheres idosas / La suplementación de l-arginina potencializa la hipotensión post ejercicio en mujeres de la tercera edad

ABSTRACT Introduction: L-Arginine supplementation increases plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, an important mediator of peripheral dilatation. Therefore, L-Arginine supplementation can improve the duration and magnitude of post-exercise hypotension. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of L-Arginine supplementation on post-exercise hypotension, femoral artery area and heart rate variability in elderly women. Methods: Twenty prehypertensive and hypertensive adult female participants were divided (in a random and balanced manner) into two groups (placebo and L-arginine). The participants ingested eight grams of inert substance (placebo group) or eight grams of L-Arginine (L-arginine group), dissolved in water, 90 min prior to the experimental session. The experimental session consisted of an isokinetic maximal strength test. Blood pressure was measured using an oscillometric device (Omron MX3 Plus, Bannockburn, US) every 10 minutes for 60 minutes after the experimental session. Femoral artery area (ultrasound) and heart rate variability were also analyzed. Data underwent repeated measures (ANOVA) analysis and respective assumptions. Results: L-Arginine supplementation associated with exercise produced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure [placebo vs L-Arginine] (p <0.05) at the "half-life" time point (90 minutes after supplementation) (141±12 vs 130±11 mmHg) and 40 min. (146±13 vs 127±13 mmHg), 50 min. (145±20 vs 127±15 mmHg) and 60 min. (147±19 vs 129±14mmHg) post-exercise. No significant differences were identified in femoral artery area and heart rate variability. Conclusion: Acute L-Arginine supplementation can increase post-exercise hypotension effects in elderly women. Additionally, acute L-Arginine supplementation is not related to either femoral artery area or heart rate variability responses. Level of evidence I; Randomized clinical trial.

RESUMO Introdução: A suplementação de L-arginina aumenta os níveis plasmáticos dos metabólitos de óxido nítrico, um importante mediador da dilatação periférica. Dessa forma, é possível que a suplementação de L-arginina maximize a duração e a magnitude dos efeitos hipotensores pós-exercício. Objetivos: O presente estudo investigou os efeitos da suplementação de L-arginina na hipotensão pós-exercício, área da artéria femoral e variabilidade da frequência cardíaca em mulheres idosas. Métodos: Vinte participantes, adultas, pré-hipertensas e hipertensas foram divididas (de modo aleatório e equilibrado)em dois grupos (placebo e L-arginina). As participantes ingeriram oito gramas de substância inerte (grupo placebo) ou oito gramas de L-arginina (grupo L-arginina), dissolvido em água, 90 min antes da realização da sessão experimental. A sessão experimental consistia em um teste de força isocinética máxima. A pressão arterial foi aferida utilizando um dispositivo oscilométrico (Omron MX3 Plus, Bannockburn, EUA) a cada 10 minutos, durante 60 minutos, após o término da sessão experimental. Foram analisadas ainda a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e a área da artéria femoral (ultrassom). Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância para medidas repetidas (ANOVA) e seus respectivos pressupostos. Resultados: A suplementação de L-arginina associada ao exercício promoveu redução significativa da pressão arterial sistólica [placebo vs. L-arginina] (p<0,05) no intervalo de "meia-vida" (90 minutos após a suplementação) (141±12 vs. 130±11 mmHg) e aos 40 min. (146±13 vs. 127±13 mmHg), 50 min. (145±20 vs. 127±15 mmHg) e 60 min. (147±19 vs. 129±14 mmHg) pós-exercício. Não foram identificadas diferenças significativas na área da artéria femoral e na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca. Conclusão: A suplementação aguda de L-arginina pode potencializar os efeitos hipotensores pós-exercício em mulheres idosas. Além disso, a suplementação de L-arginina aguda não está associada às respostas de variabilidade da frequência cardíaca ou da área da artéria femoral. Nível de evidência I; Ensaio clínico randomizado.

RESUMEN Introducción: La suplementación de L-arginina aumenta los niveles plasmáticos de los metabolitos de óxido nítrico, un importante mediador de la dilatación periférica. De esa forma, es posible que la suplementación de L-arginina maximice la duración y la magnitud de los efectos hipotensores post ejercicio. Objetivos: El presente estudio investigó los efectos de la suplementación de L-arginina en la hipotensión post ejercicio, área de la arteria femoral y variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca en mujeres de la tercera edad. Métodos: Veinte participantes, adultas, pre hipertensas e hipertensas fueron divididas (de modo aleatorio y equilibrado) en dos grupos (placebo y L-arginina). Las participantes ingirieron ocho gramos de sustancia inerte (grupo placebo) u ocho gramos de L-arginina (grupo L-arginina), disuelta en agua, 90 minutos antes de la realización de la sesión experimental. La sesión experimental consistía en un test de fuerza isocinética máxima. La presión arterial fue medida utilizando un dispositivo oscilométrico (Omron MX3 Plus, Bannockburn, EE.UU.) a cada 10 minutos, durante 60 minutos, después del término de la sesión experimental. Fueron analizadas además la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y el área de la arteria femoral (ultrasonido). Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis de variancia para medidas repetidas (ANOVA) y sus respectivas premisas. Resultados: La suplementación de L-arginina asociada al ejercicio promovió reducción significativa de la presión arterial sistólica [placebo vs. L-arginina] (p<0,05) en el intervalo de "media vida" (90 minutos después de la suplementación) (141±12 vs. 130±11 mmHg) y a los 40 min. (146±13 vs. 127±13 mmHg), 50 min. (145±20 vs. 127±15 mmHg) y 60 min. (147±19 vs. 129±14 mmHg) post ejercicio. No fueron identificadas diferencias significativas en el área de la arteria femoral ni en la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca. Conclusión: La suplementación aguda de L-arginina puede potencializar los efectos hipotensores post ejercicio en mujeres de la tercera edad. Además, la suplementación de L-arginina aguda no está asociada a las respuestas de variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca o del área de la arteria femoral. Nivel de evidencia I; Ensayo clínico aleatorizado.

A meta-analysis of cortisol concentration, vocalization, and average daily gain associated with castration in beef cattle.

A systematic review and meta-analysis (MA) were performed to summarize all scientific evidence for the effects of castration in male beef cattle on welfare indicators based on cortisol concentration, average daily gain (ADG), and vocalization. We searched five electronic databases, conference proceedings, and experts were contacted electronically. The main inclusion criteria involved completed studies using beef cattle up to one year of age undergoing surgical and non-surgical castration that presented cortisol concentration, ADG, or vocalization as an outcome. A random effect MA was conducted for each indicator separately with the mean of the control and treated groups. A total of 20 publications reporting 26 studies and 162 trials were included in the MA involving 1814 cattle. Between study heterogeneity was observed when analysing cortisol (I2=56.7%) and ADG (I2=79.6%). Surgical and non-surgical castration without drug administration compared to uncastrated animals showed no change (P≥0.05) in cortisol level. Multimodal therapy for pain did not decrease (P≥0.05) cortisol concentration after 30min when non-surgical castration was performed. Comparison between surgical castration, with and without anaesthesia, showed a tendency (P=0.077) to decrease cortisol levels after 120min of intervention. Non-surgical and surgical castration, performed with no pain mitigation, increased and tended to increase the ADG by 0.814g/d (P=0.001) and by 0.140g/d (P=0.091), respectively, when compared to a non-castrated group. Our MA study demonstrates an inconclusive result to draw recommendations on preferred castration practices to minimize pain in beef cattle.

Dynamics of Cattle Production in Brazil.

Movement of livestock production within a country or region has implications for genetics, adaptation, well-being, nutrition, and production logistics, particularly in continental-sized countries, such as Brazil. Cattle production in Brazil from 1977 to 2011 was spatialized, and the annual midpoint of production was calculated. Changes in the relative production and acceleration of production were calculated and spatialized using ARCGIS®. Cluster and canonical discriminant analyses were performed to further highlight differences between regions in terms of cattle production. The mean production point has moved from the Center of Minas Gerais State (in the southeast region) to the North of Goiás State (in the Midwest region). This reflects changes in environmental factors, such as pasture type, temperature and humidity. Acceleration in production in the northern region of Brazil has remained strong over the years. More recently, "traditional" cattle-rearing regions, such as the south and southeast, showed a reduction in growth rates as well as a reduction in herd size or internal migration over the period studied. These maps showed that this movement tends to be gradual, with few regions showing high acceleration or deceleration rates.