Relação espacial entre o estojo córneo e a falange distal em éguas Campolina adultas com e sem obesidade / Spatial relationship between the hoof capsule and the distal phalanx in adult Campolina mares with and without obesity

A laminite endocrinopática tem acometido um número crescente de equinos com sinais de obesidade. Em um estudo recente com fêmeas jovens (até cinco anos) da raça Campolina, demonstraram-se indícios de alterações no dígito, ainda discretas, aparentemente associadas ao aumento da adiposidade. Com a hipótese de que essa associação é mais evidente em animais em faixa etária superior, o objetivo do presente estudo foi estudar éguas adultas (acima de cinco anos) da raça Campolina com e sem obesidade, avaliando-se radiograficamente a relação espacial entre estojo córneo e falange distal. Foram utilizadas 27 éguas entre seis e 14 anos de idade, sendo analisadas variáveis de adiposidade e medidas radiográficas dos cascos dos membros torácicos de equinos com escore corporal de 5 a 7/9 (grupo controle) e de 8 a 9 (grupo obeso). Foram feitas comparações entre os grupos e correlacionaram-se as variáveis de adiposidade com variáveis casco. A distância de afundamento da falange distal foi cerca de 20% superior nas éguas obesas (12,3±2,5 contra 10,2±2,2mm no grupo controle). Esse parâmetro também correlacionou (P<0,01) com vários parâmetros de adiposidade, com destaque para o escore de condição corporal (r=0,47) e a circunferência de pescoço a 75% (r=0,42). Os resultados corroboram estudos prévios que demonstraram associação entre obesidade e indícios de separação entre falange distal e estojo córneo em equinos de raças nacionais, comprovando, assim, a utilidade da avaliação radiográfica nesses animais. Em conclusão, éguas da raça Campolina com obesidade possuem alterações evidentes na relação espacial entre estojo córneo e falange distal, que se intensificam com o aumento da idade e da adiposidade.(AU)

In a recent study with young females (up to 5 years old) of the Campolina breed, there were discrete indications of alterations in the digit, apparently associated to the increase in adiposity. With the hypothesis that this association is more evident in horses in the upper age group, the objective was to study Campolina adult mares (above 5 years) with and without obesity, evaluating radiographically the spatial relationship between the horn and distal phalanx. Eighteen mares between six and fourteen years and with a body score of 5 to 7/9 (Control Group) and 8 to 9 (Obeso Group) were used. Adiposity and radiographic measurements from the forelimbs were analyzed. Comparisons were made between groups and adiposity variables were correlated with hoof variables. The sinking distance of the distal phalanx was about 20% higher in obese mares (12.3±2.5 versus 10.2±2.2mm). This parameter also correlated (P< 0.01) with several adiposity parameters, with emphasis on body score condition (r= 0.47) and neck circumference at 75% (r= 0.42). In conclusion, Campolina mares with obesity have obvious alterations in the spatial relation between the corneal and the distal phalanx, which get intense according to increases in age and adiposity.(AU)

Cartogenina associada à microperfuração do osso subcondral na reparação da cartilagem articular em equinos / Kartogenin associated to micro of the subchondral bone in the joint cartilage repair in horses

A reconstituição da cartilagem articular danificada por doenças de desenvolvimento, trauma e osteoartrite tem sido um grande desafio na veterinária. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o uso da cartogenina, uma molécula capaz de induzir diferenciação de células mesenquimais em condrócitos, associado ou não à técnica de microfratura na reparação de defeitos condrais induzidos na tróclea femoral de equinos. Foram utilizados seis equinos pesando em média (±DP) 342±1,58kg, com idade de 7,2±1,30 anos e escore corporal de 7,1±0,75, os quais foram submetidos à videoartroscopia para indução da lesão condral de 1cm2 na tróclea lateral do fêmur e à realização da técnica de microperfuração do osso subcondral de ambos os joelhos. Foram realizadas quatro aplicações semanais com 20µM de cartogenina intra-articular em um dos joelhos (grupo tratado) e solução de ringer com lactato na articulação contralateral (grupo controle). Os animais foram submetidos a avaliações física, radiográfica, ultrassonográfica, por um período de 60 dias. Não houve qualquer diferença estatística entre as articulações tratadas e as controle. A terapia com cartogenina, segundo protocolo utilizado, não produziu melhora clínica em lesões osteocondrais induzidas e tratadas com microperfurações na tróclea lateral do fêmur em equinos.(AU)

Articular cartilage reconstruction is still a challenge in Veterinary Medicine. The aim was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of kartogenin, a small molecule that promotes chondrocyte differentiation, in the repair of induced chondral defects pretreated with subchondral drilling. Six horses with a mean (± SD) weight of 342 ± 1.58Kg, aging 7.2 ± 1.30 years, and with a mean 7.1 ± 0.75 body score condition were used. In both stifles, a 1cm2 chondral defect was induced in the lateral femoral trochlea followed by treatment with subchondral drilling. Four intra-articular injections with kartogenin (20mM) were performed weekly in one stifle (treated group). The same procedure using saline solution was performed in the contralateral joint (control group). Clinical, radiographic, ultrasound evaluations were performed for a period of 60 days. No statistical differences were detected between groups in any of the studied variables. Although kartogenin has shown to improve articular cartilage repair in laboratory animal models, the same was not observed in this equine model. In conclusion, the kartogenin therapy, according to the used protocol, did not promote any clinical benefit in equine femoral trochlear defects pretreated with subcondral drilling.(AU)

Mechanical nociceptive thresholds of dorsal laminae in horses after local anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves or dorsal branches of the digital nerve.

We examined the hypothesis that the palmar digital nerves (PDNs), but not the dorsal branches (DBs) of the digital nerves, innervate the sensitive dorsal laminae of the equine foot by evaluating the effects of perineural anaesthesia of the PDNs and DBs separately on pain sensation evoked via mechanical stimulation of the dorsal laminae and other regions of the equine foot. Six clinically normal mares were used in a crossover design. A portable dynamometer was used to evaluate mechanical nociceptive thresholds at different points on the dorsal laminae, bulbs of the heel, coronary band and sole before and after the horses underwent perineural injection of PDNs or DBs with a local anaesthetic solution (treated group) or an isotonic saline solution (control group). Cornified tissue was removed from the sole and the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall before evaluations of mechanical nociceptive thresholds. Anaesthetising PDNs distal to the DBs increased mechanical nociceptive thresholds compared to baseline values (P <0.001) at sites assessed in the dorsal laminae, sole, and the bulbs of the heels. Anaesthetising DBs increased mechanical nociceptive thresholds compared to baseline values (P <0.01) only at sites assessed at the most proximal aspect of the foot (i.e., coronary band sites). In conclusion, PDNs, not DBs, are primarily responsible for pain signal transmission evoked by pressure in the dorsal laminae of the foot of clinically normal horses.

Estudo da correlação de medidas radiográficas indicadoras de laminite em éguas da raça Mangalarga Marchador com e sem sinais de sobrepeso / Correlation study about radiographic measurements signaling laminitis in Mangalarga Marchador mares with or without signs of overweight

A avaliação radiográfica do casco é essencial no diagnóstico e na avaliação da laminite em equinos, contudo poucos estudos têm sido feitos em raças nacionais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a morfometria de imagens radiográficas obtidas do dígito de éguas Mangalarga Marchador (MM), a fim de obter um perfil de medidas indicadoras de laminite nessa população e comparar grupos sem (escore corporal 5 e 6) e com (escore corporal 7 e 8) sinais de sobrepeso. Não houve diferença significativa entre os valores para as medidas dos dois grupos (P>0,05), mas verificou-se correlação positiva entre a distância entre os planos da linha coronária e do ápice do processo extensor (afundamento da falange distal) e indicadores de deposição de gordura localizada no pescoço e na base da cauda. Os achados demonstram que a morfometria radiográfica do dígito dessa população de equinos Mangalarga Marchador difere da de raças estrangeiras. Além disso, nos animais estudados, éguas com escore corporal 7 e 8 não aparentaram estarem mais sujeitas à laminite, uma vez que não houve diferença entre a morfometria de éguas com escore inferior. Entretanto, as correlações positivas entre índices de obesidade e a distância de afundamento da falange distal indicam que éguas Mangalarga Marchador também estão sujeitas à ocorrência de laminite associada à obesidade...

The radiographic evaluation of the hoof is essential in the diagnosis and follow-up of equine laminitis; however, few studies have been conducted in Brazilian breeds. The aim was to perform the morphometry of radiographic images taken from the digit of Mangalarga Marchador in order to obtain a profile of measurements indicative of laminitis in this population. We also compared measurements form mares without (body score 5 and 6) and with (body score 7 and 8) signs of overweight. There was no significant difference between measurements from the two groups (P> 0.05), but there was significant positive correlation between founder distance and signs of adiposity in the neck and in the base of the tail. Findings from this study demonstrate that radiographic morphology of the hoof from this population of Mangalarga Marchador mares differ from standard international reference values. Furthermore, in this group of mares, those with body condition grading 7 and 8 did not seem to be more prone to develop laminitis, since there was no difference when they were compared with mares showing lower grades. However, a significant correlation among founder distance and signs of adiposity in the neck and base of tail indicate that Mangalarga Marchador mares are also prone to obesity-associated laminitis...

Evaluation of multiplex PCR in first episodes of febrile neutropenia as a tool to improve early yeast diagnosis in leukemic/preleukemic patients.

In febrile neutropenic onco-hematological patients, delayed microbiological diagnosis leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Identification of the microorganism changes antibiotic therapy in more than half of cases; however, in only 20-30 % of such cases pathogen isolation is achieved. This study evaluates the frequency of fungus infection and its etiology in onco-hematological patients with febrile neutropenia utilizing blood cultures and non-commercial multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MT-PCR) primers. Fifty-three febrile neutropenia episodes in 35 onco-hematological patients were observed, and the results for the first unique 30 episodes are presented. Blood cultures were positive for Candida tropicalis (one case), gram-positive bacteria (two cases), and gram-negative bacteria (four cases), showing a 23.3 % microbiological isolation rate. Multiplex-PCR pan-fungal sequence was positive in 18 cases (60 %), and further sequencing identified fugal pathogens in 11 cases (Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis being the most common). MT-PCR pan-fungal sequence amplification was detected in 13 of 16 patients that later received antifungal treatment for clinical reasons only, while positivity was found in 5 out of 14 patients that did not receive antifungal treatment (p = 0.02). These results show that performing in-house non-commercial MT-PCR is feasible and may provide additional information about fungal infection without the need to wait for culture results. Further research is necessary to incorporate this technology into the decision-making process.

Interleukin-6 gene -174G>C and -636G>C promoter polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed internal malignancies affecting men. Due to the important roles of IL-6 in different physiological and pathophysiological processes, IL-6 polymorphisms may modulate PCa risk. IL-6 -174 G>C (rs 1800795, also designated -236 G>C) and -636 G>C (rs 1800796, also designated -572 G>C) promoter polymorphisms have been implicated in PCa susceptibility, albeit still controversial. A literature search using PubMed and Highwire databases was conducted, resulting in eight case-control studies concerning the IL-6 -174 G>C polymorphism (11,613 PCa cases and 13,992 controls) and four case-control publications regarding the IL-6 -636 G>C polymorphism (1,941 PCa cases and 3,357 controls). In order to derive a more precise estimation, a meta-analysis based upon these selected case-control studies was performed. There was no significant association between IL-6 -174 G>C polymorphism and PCa increased risk. Nevertheless, the presence of allele C and the CC genotype were statistically significantly associated with decreased PCa risk in the overall analysis for IL-6 -636 G>C polymorphism. Additional studies in larger samples and analyses of functional repercussions of these SNPs in prostate tumor cells are necessary to validate these findings.

Cardiac mitochondrial respiratory function and oxidative stress: the role of exercise.

Investigations on the mechanisms capable of influencing heart mitochondrial function constitute a central contribution to the understanding of cardiac bioenergetics. In contrast to the conventional idea that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mostly act as a trigger for oxidative damage of biological structures, in low physiological concentrations they can regulate a variety of important molecular mechanisms, including those related to mitochondrial respiratory function. Among others, moderate physical exercise seems to be an important agent to induce cellular and mitochondrial environmental redox modifications and it is possible that these alterations could mediate cardiac mitochondrial respiration patterns. This brief review summarizes some current knowledge on mitochondrial respiratory pathways and focuses on data provided by studies dealing with exercise and cardiac respiratory mechanisms. It is emphasized the need of further experimental studies that analyze the association between physical exercise, particularly endurance training, and several mechanisms hypothetically related to the improvement of mitochondrial function, such as the overexpression of some important chaperone machinery and the up-regulation of both cellular and mitochondrial antioxidants. The influence of chronic moderate exercise on the functionality of some inner membrane components and on mitochondrial calcium loading capacity remains to be established.

Exercise-induced signs of muscle overuse in children.

Signs of overuse after intense muscular exertion are well described in adults, while little research has been conducted in children. The aim of the study was to investigate some indirect markers of muscle damage in 13 years old boys following two different protocols of one-leg stepping exercise to exhaustion. This stepping exercise was performed by two experimental groups with different contributions of concentric and eccentric contractions in a 1:1 vs 1:2 ratio of timing. Subjective soreness perception and maximum voluntary isometric force of the knee extensor muscles were measured immediately prior to and immediately following the exercise, and at 1, 3, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours post exercise. Metabolic markers of exercise stress were taken at similar time intervals and included plasma glutathione concentrations as a marker for oxidative stress, circulating leukocyte numbers, and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity. All parameters studied demonstrated a higher level of muscular exertion, with more evident signs of overuse in the group with the more eccentric contribution. Complete recovery was achieved between 72 and 96 hours after exertion. However, in this group of boys, the CK activity did not show the typical adult-like increase. Therefore the wide use of CK as an indicator of intense muscle exertion was not supported in this group of children. It can be concluded that children, like adults, experience similar degrees of muscle disturbances following intense exercise and that they may recover more quickly from such exercise.

Spectrophotometric determination of bromhexine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations.

The presence of an aromatic primary amino group in bromhexine HCl enables the use of diazotization-coupling, according to the classic Bratton-Marshall method, for its analysis in pharmaceutical preparations. Spectrophotometric parameters were established for standardization of the method, including statistical analysis of data. Substances such as potassium guaiacolsulfonate, ampicillin, cephalexin, oxytetracycline HCl, amoxycillin, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate do not interfere with the determination. The precision of the method is about 2.0%.

Doseamento do cloridrato de prometazina en medicamentos. / Determination of promethazine hydrochloride in drugs

Amostras de medicamentos, contendo cloridrato de prometazina, foram analisadas por dois metodos oficiais e por un metodo espectrofotometrico baseado na diferenca de absorcao no ultravioleta entre una solucao de prometazina oxidada e outra nao oxidada Nao foram observadas diferencas significativas entre os resultados obtidos pelos tres metodos.A espectrofotometria diferencial e simples, rapida e aplicavel a todas as formas farmaceuticas, sendo economicamente mais favoravel que os metodos oficiais

Estudo da estabilidade da vitamina D por cromatografia liquida de alto desempenho. / Stability studies of vitamin D by high performance liquid chromatography

Estudou-se a estabilidade das vitaminas D2 e D3 por cromatografia liquida de alto desempenho (CLAD). Varias amostras das duas vitaminas foram pesadas e submetidas a diferentes condicoes de temperatura e umidade relativa. De tempos em tempos estas amostras, dissolvidas em cloroformio, foram cromatografadas.Os teores foram determinados por comparacao com padroes injetados nas mesmas concentracoes. A decomposicao foi tambem acompanhada por cromatografia em camada delgada

Simultaneous determination of vitamins A and D in a dosage forms by high pressure liquid chromatography.

Vitamins A and D were determined simultaneously in oily solutions, ointments, and elixirs, but only vitamin A could be determined in capsules. Samples were saponified with KOH in isopropanol-water, using hydroquinone as antioxidant, and extracted with ether-petroleum ether (1 + 1). After evaporation of solvent, residues were dissolved in isopropanol. Vitamins in these solutions were determined by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography, using methanol-water as mobile phase and detection at 254 nm. The reproducibility, using external standards, was 1.6-2.5% and 1.2-3.8% for vitamins A and D, respectively.

Doseamento espectrofotometrico da imipramina, em medicamentos, pela reacao com ion ferrico. / Spectrophotometric determination of imipramine in phamaceutical preparation by reaction with ferric ion

A reacao do ion ferrico com a imipramina foi estudada com o objetivo de se padronizar um metodo para doseamento espectrofotometrico desta substancia, em medicamentos. Foi verificada a influencia do pH, da temperatura, do tempo de reacao e da concentracao do reagente sobre o andamento da reacao. A imipramina pode ser extraida dos medicamentos com agua desionizada. Solucoes contendo de 5 a 50 ug/ml podem ser analisadas com uma precisao de 2,0%

Doseamento espectrofotometrico do benciclan em medicamentos. / Spectrophotometric determination of bencyclane in dosage forms

Foram estudadas as condicoes experimentais para padronizacao de um metodo de doseamento de benciclan, baseado na precipitacao com reineckato de amonio, seguido de determinacao espectrofotometrica. O complexo vermelho formado apresenta picos de absorcao maxima em 400 e 520 nm. O metodo foi aplicado na analise de medicamentos e a precisao foi cerca de 2%

Metodos de extracao de vitaminas A e D em preparacoes farmaceuticas. / Extraction procedures of vitamins A and D in pharmaceutical preparations

A extracao das vitaminas A e D foi estudada para selecao de um processo melhor que se adaptasse ao doseamento destas substancias nos diversos tipos de formulacoes farmaceuticas.A saponificacao com hidroxido de potassio na presenca de hidroquinona e extracao com uma mistura de eter-eter de petroleo foi o metodo mais eficiente para a separacao. O doseamento foi realizado por espectrofotometria no ultravioleta e no visivel

Doses usuais de vitaminas lipossoluveis nos medicamentos comercializados no Brasil. / Usual doses of liposoluble vitamins in commercially available Brazilian pharmaceutical preparations

Considerando a grande variacao nas doses terapeuticas dos medicamentos contendo vitaminas lipossoluveis foi realizado um levantamento que abrangeu cerca de 60% dos produtos comercializados no Brasil. O objetivo foi o de verificar os niveis destas vitaminas para compara-los com aqueles que sao recomendados e aceitos como exigencias minimas diarias para a manutencao das funcoes normais do organismo. Concluiu-se que 50% dos produtos contem doses excessivas, incompativeis com as necessidades clinicas. Seria, portanto, oportuno disciplinar melhor a formulacao destes medicamentos

Urinary kallikrein excretion and plasma DBH activity in hypertension.

Many factors are to be considered in maintaining normal blood pressure. Authors study the behavior of urinary kallikrein (U.K.) and plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in various forms of hypertension. The values of U.K. excretion in normals were 20.5 +/- 1.8 E.U./24 h. In essential hypertensive patients (9.4 +/- 2.0 E.U./24 h) U.K. decreased, while in secondary hypertension it was significantly higher (33.8 +/- 3.0 E.U./24 h). Plasma DBH activity in essential hypertensive patients (17.72 +/- 2.33 I.U./ml) was similar to controls (20.22 +/- 1.39 I.U./ml); in secondary hypertension the mean values of plasma DBH were decreased (12.31 +/- 2.55 I.U./ml). No correlation between U.K. and plasma DBH activity was observed in normals and in various forms of hypertensive patients. U.K. seems a more reliable factor than plasma DBH in defining the different types of hypertension.