Using mobile phone-based text message to recruit representative samples: Assessment of a cross-sectional survey about the COVID-19 vaccine hesitation.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has examined mobile phone-based platforms for survey recruitment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Our objective was to investigate the feasibility and representativeness of mobile phone-based advertisement during a preliminary study about COVID-19 vaccine hesitation in Brazil. Moreover, we evaluate whether the older population can be reached through mobile phone-based platforms of the survey. METHODS: We conducted a study in December 2021 based on a preliminary survey about the COVID-19 vaccine hesitation in Assis, Brazil, Sao Paulo state. From a list of the adult population hesitant about the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, we sent a mobile phone-based advertisement inviting the participants to answer the survey for one week. The respondent's data were collected in a Google form platform. The comparison between the target population and the respondents was made using the Chi-squared test and the Welch's test, using a P-value of 0.05 as significative. RESULTS: The response rate was 9.99% after one week. The mean age of the respondent group was 33.97 (SD 14.99) and 35.05 (SD 14.19) of the population, with a P-value of 0.192 and a Cohen's d coefficient of 0.0754, corresponding to a small effect size between groups. We demonstrate that the mobile phone-based survey is a feasible and representative strategy during the pandemics in Brazil. Moreover, the older population respondent was representative. CONCLUSION: We achieved a representative sample of respondents using the mobile phone-based survey in Brazil. Furthermore, it was representative of all sociodemographic and health characteristics assessed. Finally, these findings suggest that the method is a highly feasible and economical means of recruiting for survey research.

Effect of month of conception on fertility of mares inseminated with jackass semen / Influência do mês da concepção sobre a eficiência reprodutiva de éguas inseminadas com sêmen asinino

Fertility obtained by cross-breeding mares (Equus caballus) with jackasses (Equus asinus) was evaluated. Two extenders, containing skim milk-glucose or egg yolk-glycine were used to study the fertility of mares inseminated with diluted jackass semen (T1 and T2) or diluted and cooled semen at 5°C for 12 hours (T3 and T4). A total of 272 cycles of 208 mares of undefined breeds were evaluated, being uniformly distributed between groups. The cycles were controlled by transrectal palpation and teasing, and mares were inseminated every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (three times/week), from the detection of a follicle with 3.0 to 3.5cm diameter in one of the ovaries until ovulation. Pregnancy was detected using transrectal palpation, teasing and ultrasound exams every 14 days. The extenders had no effect on fertility (P>0.05). Pregnancy rates for the first cycle were 64.52%, 61.11%, 50.72% and 54.17% and pregnancy rates/cycle were 63.64%, 54.55%, 52.69% and 47.06%, respectively, for T1, T2, T3 and T4. Differences in pregnancy loss rates between groups and effect of month of conception on fertility were found. Pregnancy loss rates were significantly higher (P<0.05) in January (38.46%) and in February and March (52.38%), with an average of 33.09%. The results indicate that mares conceiving at the end of the physiological reproduction time, carrying a mule embryo, are more susceptible to pregnancy loss.

Avaliou-se a eficiência reprodutiva de cruzamentos interespécies entre fêmeas equinas e reprodutores asininos da raça Pêga. Para tal, estudou-se o efeito de dois diluidores, à base de leite em pó desnatado-glicose ou glicina-gema de ovo, sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen fresco diluído (T1 e T2) ou diluído e resfriado a 5°C por 12 horas (T3 e T4). Foram utilizados 272 ciclos de 208 éguas mestiças, distribuídas uniformemente entre os tratamentos, após agrupamento por idade e categoria reprodutiva. Os ciclos foram acompanhados por palpação retal e rufiação, sendo as inseminações realizadas às terças, quintas e aos sábados (três vezes por semana), a partir da detecção de um folículo de 3,0 a 3,5cm de diâmetro, em um dos ovários, até a ovulação. As gestações foram acompanhadas por palpação transretal, rufiação e por ultrassonografia, realizada a cada 14 dias. As taxas de gestação obtidas, ao primeiro ciclo, não diferiram (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos, sendo de 64,52% para T1, 61,11% para T2, 50,72% para T3 e 54,17% para T4. Da mesma maneira, as taxas de gestação por ciclo também não foram influenciadas (P>0,05) pelos tratamentos, com valores de 63,64%, 54,55%, 52,69% e 47,06% para T1, T2, T3, e T4, respectivamente. No que diz respeito às taxas de perdas gestacionais, obtidas por meio das taxas de perdas e de perdas ajustadas, houve influência (P<0,05) dos tratamentos. Observou-se, ainda, efeito do mês da concepção, com taxas de perda superiores para os meses de janeiro (38,46%) e de fevereiro e março (52,38%), sendo a média de 33,09%. Sugere-se que a redução dos padrões de secreção do LH, ao final da estação de monta, responda pelas maiores taxas de perdas gestacionais do cruzamento interespécie, notadamente naquelas éguas que conceberam no final da estação de monta fisiológica dos equinos.

Association between advanced oxidation protein products and 5-year mortality risk among amazon riparian elderly population.

Proteins are important targets of several modifications caused by oxidative stress, leading to structural changes and consequently partial or total loss of their functions. The oxidized proteins include advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) derived from oxidation-modified albumin, as well as fibrinogen and lipoproteins. An increase in AOPP levels indicates an oxidative stress state and the presence of coexisting inflammation. Several investigations have also suggested an association between high AOPP levels and aging-related diseases. However, the link between elevated AOPP levels and elderly mortality risk has not yet been investigated. Here, we report on a 5-year longitudinal study that investigated the potential association between AOPP levels and mortality using a population-based representative sample of riparian elders living in Brazilian Amazon region (Maués-AM). Age, sex, socioeconomic and cultural conditions, chronic morbidities, polypharmacy, and previous morbidities were also tested as potential confounders. The AOPP levels were measured in 540 (84.78%) individuals, all of whom were followed over a 5-year period in order to establish the mortality rate. Within this study period, 74 (13.7%) elders died and 466 (86.3%) survived. The AOPP levels were higher among the elders who died within the 5-year period (46.27 ± 40.6 mmol/L) compared with those who survived (36.79 ± 20.84 mmol/L) (p = 0.002). The analysis confirmed the link between high AOPP levels and mortality risk, independent of other intervenient factors. These results suggest that elevated AOPP levels could be used to predict mortality risk in elderly patients.

Apéndices testicular y epididimario en individuos brasileños / Testicular and epididymal appendices in Brazilian individuals

Los apéndices testiculares y epididimarios son remanescentes embriológicos del conducto paramesonéfrico y del conducto mesonéfrico, respectivamente. Estos apéndices pueden sufrir torsión causando un cuadro conocido como escroto agudo. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar las variaciones de los apéndices testicular y epididimario, registrando su forma y tamaño. Se utilizaron 30 cadáveres de indivíduos adultos, Brasileños, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 70 años, fijados en formaldehído 40%, facilitados por el Laboratorio de Anatomía Descriptiva y Topográfica de la Universidad Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brasil. A través de disección se identificó la presencia de los respectivos apéndices, los que fueron medidos con un caliper manual (MetricaR), registrando su longitud y anchura. Los apéndices testiculares fueron observados en 41 testículos (68,3%) y los apéndices epididimarios en 15 casos (25%). El promedio de la longitud fue de 4,9 mm (DE=1,7) para el apéndice testicular y de 5,2 mm (DE=2,4) para el epididimario. Con respecto a la anchura de los apéndices, el promedio registrado fue de 3,2 mm (DE=1,7) para el testicular y de 2,6 mm (DE=0,9) para el epididimario. Los datos obtenidos puede ser utlizados como soporte morfológico a la clínica urológica y cirugía testicular.

Testicular and epididymal appendages are embryologic remnants of the mesonephric duct and paramesonephric, respectively. These appendices are subject to a torsion causing condition known as acute scrotal syndrome. This study aimed to determine the variations of testicular and epididymal appendices, registering its presence and size. We studied 30 cadavers of adult individuals, Brazilians, aged 18 and 70, fixed in formaldehyde 40%, provided by the Laboratory of Descriptive and Topographic Anatomy of the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, Brazil. By dissecting these, the presence of the respective appendixes were identified, which were measured with a manual caliper (Metrica), recording its length and width. The testicular appendices were observed in 41 testes (68.3%) and epididymal appendices in 15 cases (25%). The average length was 4.9 mm (SD=1.7) for the appendix testis and epididymis to 5.2 mm (SD=2.4). With respect to the width of the appendices, the average recorded were 3.2 mm (SD=1.7) and 2.6 mm (SD=0.9) for testicular and epididymal, respectively. The data obtained can be used as morphological support in urological clinical and testicular surgery.

Efeito do número de inseminações artificiais sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen asinino diluído e resfriado a 5ºC por 12 horas de armazenamento / Effect of the number of inseminations/cycle on fertility of inseminated mares with jackass semen diluted and cooled at 5ºC for 12 hours

Estudou-se o efeito do número de inseminações sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen asinino diluído, resfriado e armazenado. Os ciclos foram acompanhados por palpação retal e rufiação, sendo as inseminações realizadas às terças, quintas e sábados (três vezes por semana), a partir da detecção de um folículo de 3,0 a 3,5cm de diâmetro, em um dos ovários, até a ovulação. O sêmen de cinco jumentos da raça Pêga foi diluído nos diluidores de leite em pó desnatado-glicose ou glicina-gema de ovo, resfriado a 5ºC e armazenado por 12 horas, sendo a dose inseminante de aproximadamente 400x10(6) espermatozoides móveis (no momento da diluição final, pré-resfriamento). De acordo com o número de inseminações artificiais (IA)/ciclo, os resultados de 195 ciclos, referentes a 140 éguas, foram agrupados em 1IA, 2IA e 3 ou mais IA. As taxas de concepção, ao primeiro ciclo, foram de 50,0 por cento, 62,1 por cento e de 41,0 por cento e, após quatro ciclos, de 47,7 por cento, 55,6 por cento e de 42,9 por cento para 1IA, 2IA e 3 ou mais IA, respectivamente (P>0,05). O número de IA/ciclo, utilizando sêmen asinino resfriado, não teve efeito sobre a fertilidade das éguas.

The effect of the number of inseminations/cycles on the fertility of inseminated mares with diluted, cooled and stored jackass semen was studied. The cycles were controlled by rectal palpation and teasing, and mares were inseminated every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (three times/week), from the detection of a 3.0 to 3.5cm follicle diameter in one of the ovaries until ovulation. The semen of five Pêga jackasses was diluted in skim milk-glucose or in egg yolk-glicine diluter and cooled at 5ºC for 12 hours, with the inseminate dose of 400 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa (at the moment of the final dilution, before cooling). The results of 195 cycles of 140 mares were grouped, in accordance with the number of artificial inseminations (AI)/cycle in: 1AI, 2AI and 3 or more AI. The conception rates for the first cycle were 50.0 percent, 62.1 percent and 41.0 percent, and after four cycles they were 47.7 percent, 55.6 percent and 42.9 percent, respectively for 1AI, 2AI and 3 or more AI (p>0.05). The number of AI/cycles, using cooled jackass semen, had no influence on fertility.

Active spleno-femoral shunt avoids splanchnic congestion during portal triad occlusion: an experimental study.

UNLABELLED: Portal triad occlusion (PTO) is often performed during hepatic resections for trauma or malignancies to minimize intraoperative blood loss. The pringle maneuver is also regularly required during liver transplantation. This maneuver leads to temporary hepatic ischemia and may be associated with splanchnic blood flow congestion, promoting undesirable hemodynamic disturbances in some patients. Veno-venous bypass is a useful, easily performed technique that may avoid those deleterious hemodynamic effects of PTO. We tested the hypothesis that an active spleno-femoral shunt maintains hemodynamic stability and promotes complete decompression of the mesenteric bed, avoiding intestinal mucosal blood congestion, during PTO. METHODS: Seven dogs (17.2 +/- 0.9 kg) were subjected to 45 minutes of hepatic ischemia during which there was an active spleno-femoral shunt. Systemic hemodynamics were evaluated through Swan-Ganz and arterial catheters. Splanchnic perfusion was assessed by portal vein blood flow and hepatic artery blood flow (PVBF and HABF, ultrasonic flowprobe), intestinal mucosal-arterial pCO(2) gradient (D(t-a)pCO(2), tonometry), and regional O(2)-derived variables. RESULTS: No significant changes in systemic and regional parameters were observed during the ischemia period. During reperfusion, a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure, PVBF, and arterial pH was observed. A significant increase in ALT and D(t-a)pCO(2) (4.8 +/- 2.5 to 18.9 +/- 3 mm Hg) was also observed following hepatic blood flow restoration. CONCLUSION: Spleno-femoral shunt maintains systemic hemodynamic stability, with an effective decompression of the splanchnic bed during portal triad occlusion. The deleterious hemodynamic and metabolic effects observed during reperfusion period, such as transitory hypotension, high D(t-a)pCO(2), and acidemia, were associated with an isolated hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, not with the blood congestion in the splanchnic bed.

Hepatic arterial buffer response fails to restore hepatic oxygenation after temporary liver dearterialization in canines.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic artery thrombosis is a rare but extremely troublesome condition after liver transplantation. Recently, urgent arterial revascularization has been used as rescue therapy, leading to improved graft and patient survivals. Hepatic artery ligation produces a progressive reduction in portal vein blood flow. Theoretically, a hyperemic response may be expected following hepatic artery reperfusion (hepatic artery buffer response, HABR). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that HABR can maintain adequate liver oxygenation after temporary liver dearterialization. METHODS: Seven dogs (19.7 +/- 1.2 kg) subjected to 60 minutes of hepatic artery occlusion were observed for 120 minutes thereafter. Systemic hemodynamics was evaluated through Swan-Ganz and arterial catheters, and splanchnic perfusion by portal vein and hepatic artery blood flows (PVBF and HABF) via an ultrasonic flowprobe. Liver enzymes (ALT and LDH) and systemic and hepatic oxygen delivery (DO2hepat) were calculated using standard formulae. RESULTS: Hepatic artery occlusion induced a progressive reduction in PVBF and DO2hepat. A complete restoration of HABF after hepatic artery declamping was observed; however, the DO2hepat (33.3 +/- 5.9 to 16.5 +/- 5.9 mL/min) did not return to the baseline levels. CONCLUSION: Temporary hepatic artery occlusion induced a progressive decrease in portal vein blood flow during ischemia, an effect that continued during the reperfusion period. The hepatic artery blood flow was promptly restored after declamping. However, HABR was not able to restore hepatic oxygen delivery to baseline levels during the reperfusion period.

Pelvic exenteration and sphincter preservation in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic sarcomas are rare and there are very few effective therapeutic alternatives. A complete resection is considered the main factor associated to a good prognosis, which justifies the employment of a pelvic exenteration (PE) in selected cases. METHODS: Between 1980 and 2000, 96 PE were performed, nine of which were for sarcomas. The clinical characteristics, surgical and anatomopathological aspects and the patients' evolution were described. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 24 months (ranging from 1 to 57 months). In relation to the sphincters preservation, at least one sphincter was preserved in five patients. There were two post-operative deaths. In the last follow-up, six patients were alive without any evidence of the disease. CONCLUSION: Pelvic exenterations should be performed for the treatment of selected cases of locally advanced pelvic sarcomas. Sphincter preservation may be performed, provided that oncological resection principles are obeyed.

Cardiovascular effects induced by the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the stem of Solanum stipulaceum in rats

The cardiovascular effects induced by the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the stem (AFS) of Solanum stipulaceum Roem. & Schult were studied in rats. In non-anesthetized rats, AFS injections produced significant and dosedependent hypotension associated with increase in heart rate. In isolated rat superior mesenteric rings, AFS was able to antagonize the contractions induced by phenylephrine and KCl. The vasorelaxant activity of AFS was not inhibited by either removal of vascular endothelium, L-NAME, atropine or indomethacine. In isolated rat atrial preparations, AFS produced concentration-related negative inotropic and chronotropic responses. These results suggest that the hypotensive effect of AFS is due to a peripheral vasodilation, which can not be attributed to the participation of vascular endothelium. Finally, AFS acts directly on the heart decreasing contractility and heart rate.

Growth phase-dependent subcellular localization of nitric oxide synthase in maize cells.

A protein band of approximately 166 kDa was detected in the soluble fraction of root tips and young leaves of maize seedlings, based on Western blot analysis using antibodies raised against mouse macrophage nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and rabbit brain NOS. NOS activity was present in these soluble fractions, as determined by L-[U-14C]citrulline synthesis from L[U-14]arginine. Immunofluorescence showed that the maize NOS protein is present in the cytosol of cells in the division zone and is translocated into the nucleus in cells in the elongation zone of maize root tips. These results indicate the existence of a NOS enzyme in maize tissues, with the localization of this protein depending on the phase of cell growth.

Quantitative analysis of enzymic digests of DNA using gel electrophoresis.

Quantitative electrophoresis of enzymic digests of DNA and its applications are reviewed. Factors affecting the overall analysis such as DNA length distribution, labels for visualizing DNA, techniques for quantitation, and electrophoresis itself are studied. Methods to analyze restriction fragments and lesions in DNA by gel electrophoresis are presented.

Resolving power: a quantitative measure of electrophoretic resolution.

Resolving power is a quantitative measure of the ability of an electrophoretic system to separate DNA (and other) molecules of similar size. It is a dimensionless quantity, and hence facilitates comparison of the performance of electrophoretic systems that operate very differently. Resolving power can be determined as a function of molecular length from experimental data consisting of a series of completely resolved bands on a gel or blot; closely spaced bands are not required. We discuss factors such as the mass of DNA in a particular band and the spatial resolution of the system used to image the distribution of DNA on a gel or blot that, while not an intrinsic part of the electrophoretic system, may influence the observed resolving power. We derive an empirical global dispersion function that applies both to images of gels obtained after a fixed time of electrophoresis of all the samples and to images obtained as each species reaches a detector located at a fixed distance from the starting well. We use this dispersion function to show that the improvement in resolving power produced by extending the time or distance of electrophoresis in a static, uniform electric field asymptotically approaches a limiting value that is a function of the length of the DNA. When plotted as a function of molecular length, this limiting value defines an envelope that characterizes the intrinsic limits of performance of a particular electrophoretic system (e.g., electric field strength, gel type and concentration, buffer, temperature). Comparing the resolving power of static field agarose gel electrophoresis as routinely practiced for separating DNA molecules from 10(3) to 10(5) bp long with other electrophoretic schemes suggests that significant improvements should be achievable.

Neuroendocrine regulation of osmotic and ionic concentrations in the hemolymph of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersii (Wiegmann) (Crustacea, Decapoda).

Putative neuroendocrine mediation of osmotic and ionic responses to acute exposure to high salinity medium was investigated in the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersii (Wiegmann). Homogenates of supra-esophageal or thoracic ganglia, prepared from shrimps exposed to seawater of 21% S for 6 hr, were injected into the abdominal musculature of shrimps previously exposed to freshwater and subsequently exposed to either freshwater or seawater (21% S). Osmotic, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium concentrations were determined in hemolymph samples removed by intracardiac puncture at time = 0, 1, 3, or 6 hr after homogenate application. Control shrimps were injected with filtered seawater, isosmotic to the hemolymph, and treated similarly. In control shrimps, the osmotic, Na+, Cl-, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ concentrations in the hemolymph increased (P less than or equal to 0.05) after 1-hr exposure to seawater. In shrimps injected with homogenates of supra-esophageal ganglion and exposed to seawater, osmotic and ionic concentrations in the hemolymph did not vary with exposure time; in injected shrimps exposed to freshwater, Na+, Cl-, K+, and Mg2+ concentrations decreased (P less than or equal to 0.05) with time. In shrimps injected with homogenates of thoracic ganglion and exposed to seawater, hemolymph osmotic, K+, and Mg2+ concentrations increased (P less than or equal to 0.05); Na+, Cl-, and Ca2+ concentrations remained unchanged. In injected shrimps exposed to freshwater, hemolymph osmotic concentration alone increased (P less than or equal to 0.05) after 1 hr, all other ionic concentrations remaining unchanged. These data suggest that neurofactors apparently located within the ganglia of the central nervous system of M. olfersii may alter the apparent ionic permeabilities of this shrimp, depending on the salinity characteristics of the external medium. The data support the notion that invasion of the freshwater biotope by estuarine crustaceans has necessitated the evolution of specific physiological mechanisms capable of compensating for the osmotic dilution and ion loss typically encountered by such organisms.

Quantitative gel electrophoresis of DNA: resolution of overlapping bands of restriction endonuclease digests.

Accurate quantitation of the distribution of DNA digested to completion by a restriction endonuclease and separated in an electrophoretic gel is greatly facilitated by electronic imaging systems employing charge-coupled device detectors. Such quantitation permits the extraction of more accurate values of the lengths of both the parent molecular species and the fragments produced by a restriction endonuclease. We describe a method that determines the number of components in bands containing two or more daughter fragments that are of similar length and hence not resolved by gel electrophoresis. We also report a constrained deconvolution procedure based on the equal number of daughter molecules in a terminal digestion by a restriction endonuclease that resolves the distribution of each of the overlapping species in a composite band on a gel and hence increases the accuracy of the lengths assigned to each.

Quantitative fluorescence of DNA-intercalated ethidium bromide on agarose gels.

Techniques for analyzing DNA distributions on agarose gels are examined by both two-dimensional and one-dimensional methods. It is demonstrated that very large errors in DNA concentration occur in such analyses unless (i) the electrophoresis is performed in a careful, reproducible manner, (ii) the films are calibrated with an internal standard, (iii) high resolution densitometry is used for analyzing the films, and (iv) appropriate background controls are used to determine the baselines for integration. Two-dimensional scanning produces more accurate results than one-dimensional scanning, but in cases where the bands are relatively uniform, the one-dimensional analysis gives good results. A technique for determining accurate distributions is described.