Is there an association between upper limb claudication and handgrip strength in Takayasu arteritis?

Limb vascular claudication and hand muscle weakness are common symptoms of Takayasu arteritis (TAK). However, no studies have correlated these two symptoms. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate handgrip strength and its correlation with both upper-limb vascular claudication and imaging of the vessels. This cross-sectional study compared 36 patients with TAK who were matched by age, gender, and body mass index with 36 individuals without TAK (CTR). Hand strength (assessed with handgrip dynamometer), functional capacity (Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ), upper-limb vascular claudication symptoms (patients' selfreported form), and disease activity (Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score [ITAS] 2010; Physician Global Assessment [PGA], C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) were evaluated as well as vessel imaging (e.g., angiotomography or angioresonance) and blood pressure. The median age of the patients was 42.0 years (35.5-51.5 years), whereas the mean disease duration was 13.1±6.8 years. No patient had active disease. Compared to the CTR, the patients with TAK showed reduced strength in the left-hand (22.9±5.9 vs 26.3±5.6 kg; p=0.014) and increased HAQ scores [0.50 (0.12-0.87) vs 0.00 (0.00-0.00); p<0.001]. Both groups had comparable blood pressure. Among patients with TAK, lefthand strength was inversely correlated with HAQ (Spearman correlation: rho=-0.584; p<0.001) and positively correlated with right-hand strength (rho=0.644; p<0.001). Moreover, neither hand's strengths in the patients were correlated with subclavian stenosis imaging, blood pressure or limb vascular claudication. The reduction of strength in the upper left limb is inversely related to the functional capacity (HAQ score) of TAK. This reduction appears unrelated to classical vascular claudication, vessel imaging or blood pressure.

Anti-Ascaris suum immunoglobulin Y as a novel biotechnological tool for the diagnosis of human ascariasis.

Human ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease of great relevance to public health and is considered the most frequent helminthiasis in poor regions. Accurately diagnosing this parasite has been challenging due to limitations of current diagnostic methods. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) technology is a very effective alternative for the production of highly specific and profitable antibodies. This study aimed to produce and apply anti-Ascaris suum IgY antibodies in the immunodiagnosis of human ascariasis. Five immunizations comprising total saline extract from A. suum adult life forms were given at 14-day intervals to Gallus gallus domesticus hens of the Isa Brown line. Eggs and blood samples were collected weekly and fortnightly, respectively, to monitor the production of antibodies. The specificity of antibodies was confirmed by dot-blot, kinetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), avidity ELISA, immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests. The application for disease diagnosis was performed through the detection of immune complexes in human serum samples by sandwich ELISA. Peaks of IgY anti-A. suum production occurred at weeks 6 and 8. IgY showed high avidity levels after the second dose of immunization, ranging from 64% to 93%, with a mean avidity index of 78.30%. Purified IgY recognized 12 bands of proteins from A. suum saline extract. Eggs, the uterine portion and cuticles of A. suum female adult are reactive in immunofluorescence. The detection of immune complexes showed diagnostic values of 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity. In conclusion, specific IgY have been shown to be a potential immunodiagnostic tool with promising future applications in human ascariasis.

Nutritional evaluation and productivity of supplemented sheep grazing in semiarid rangeland of northeastern Brazil.

Sheep production systems in Brazilian caatinga rangelands require supplementation adapted to changes in floristic and chemical composition as dry seasons progress. Meeting sheep nutritional needs in extensive semiarid systems is challenging because of sheep dietary preferences and habits. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the substitutive effect of concentrate supplementation on grazing sheep in the Brazilian caatinga rangeland and its consequences on performance in different seasons. The trial was conducted from March to August 2013 at Embrapa Goat and Sheep in Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil. Thirty-two Brazilian Somali multiparous ewes were submitted to estrus synchronization and controlled breeding. At the start of the trial, ewes averaged 30.45 + 2.60 kg body weight (BW). Ewes were divided into four groups and individually offered 0, 200, 350, or 500 g supplement head-1 day-1. Intake prediction and digestibility trials were evaluated at three periods: rainy season (April), transition rainy-dry (June), and dry season (August). Sheep weights were taken every 14 days to measure their performance from late gestation until weaning. Ewe BW and body condition score changes were determined too. Lamb BW changes were also measured every 14 days from birth through weaning. A completely randomized design with split plot arrangement using eight replications was used for intake and digestibility measurements. The differences between supplement offered (0, 200, 350, and 500 g sheep-1) and season (rainy, transition rainy-dry, and dry) were submitted to analyses of variance and multiple means were separated, where differences were detected, using the Tukey's test. During lactation up through weaning, ewes supplemented at 500 g day-1 had greater BW than ewes without supplement. Ewes supplemented with 200 g concentrate head-1 day-1 had 9.1% greater (P ≤ 0.05) BW at weaning and their lambs had 19.7% greater birth and 16.6% heavier wean BW despite lower dry matter intake compared to unsupplemented animals. Supplementation with 200 g concentrate increased carrying capacity by 28.8% during the dry season and by 20.5% during the rainy season. This study confirmed that in the dry season, when quality of rangeland forages decreases, supplementation contributes to greater DMI, improves postpartum and lactation BW recovery of ewes, and contributes to greater lamb birth and wean weights. Moreover, supplementation leads to feed substitution effects that may increase rangeland resilience by mitigating overgrazing. Supplementation with 200 g concentrate can also prevent negative energy balance for grazing animals, improving longer postnatal recovery, longer intervals between parturitions, fewer double and is necessary to ensure a better BW at birth to lambs.

Determination of avidity of IgG against protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae: assay development and preliminary application in clinical settings.

The measurement of antibody levels is a common test for the diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in research. However, the quality of antibody response, reflected by avidity, has not been adequately evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the role of avidity of IgG against eight pneumococcal proteins in etiologic diagnosis. Eight pneumococcal proteins (Ply, CbpA, PspA1 and 2, PcpA, PhtD, StkP-C, and PcsB-N) were used to develop a multiplex bead-based avidity immunoassay. The assay was tested for effects of the chaotropic agent, multiplexing, and repeatability. The developed assay was applied to paired samples from children with or without pneumococcal disease (n = 38 for each group), determined by either serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or blood culture. We found a good correlation between singleplex and multiplex assays, with r ≥ 0.94.The assay was reproducible, with mean inter-assay variation ≤ 9% and intra-assay variation < 6%. Children with pneumococcal disease had lower median avidity indexes in the acute phase of disease for PspA1 and 2 (p = 0.042), PcpA (p = 0.002), PhtD (p = 0.014), and StkP-C (p < 0.001). When the use of IgG avidity as a diagnostic tool for pneumococcal infection was evaluated, the highest discriminative power was found for StkP-C, followed by PcpA (area under the curve [95% confidence interval, CI]: 0.868 [0.759-0.977] and 0.743 [0.607-879], respectively). The developed assay was robust and had no deleterious influence from multiplexing. Children with pneumococcal disease had lower median avidity against five pneumococcal proteins in the acute phase of disease compared to children without disease.

Genetic diversity in soybean genotypes using phenotypic characters and enzymatic markers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of soybean cultivars by adopting phenotypic traits and enzymatic markers, the relative contribution of agronomic traits to diversity, as well as diversity between the level of technology used in soybean cultivars and genetic breeding programs in which cultivars were inserted. The experiments were conducted on the field at the Center for Scientific and Technological Development in crop-livestock production and the Electrophoresis Laboratory of Lavras Federal University. The agronomic traits adopted were grain yield, plant height, first legume insertion, plant lodging, the mass of one thousand seeds, and days for complete maturation, in which the Euclidean distance, grouped by Tocher and UPGMA criteria, was obtained. After electrophorese gels for enzymatic systems, dehydrogenase alcohol, esterase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase were performed. The genetic similarity estimative was also obtained between genotypes by the Jaccard coefficient with subsequent grouping by the UPGMA method. The formation of two groups was shown using phenotypic characters in the genetic diversity study and individually discriminating the cultivar 97R73 RR. The character with the greatest contribution to the genetic divergence was grain yield with contribution higher than 90.0%. To obtain six different groups, individually discriminating the cultivars CG 8166 RR, FPS Jupiter RR, and BRS MG 780 RR, enzymatic markers were used. Cultivars carrying the RR technology presented more divergence than conventional cultivars and IPRO cultivars.

Detection of antibody responses against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis proteins in children with community-acquired pneumonia: effects of combining pneumococcal antigens, pre-existing antibody levels, sampling interval, age, and duration of illness.

We evaluated the effects of combining different numbers of pneumococcal antigens, pre-existing antibody levels, sampling interval, age, and duration of illness on the detection of IgG responses against eight Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins, three Haemophilus influenzae proteins, and five Moraxella catarrhalis proteins in 690 children aged <5 years with pneumonia. Serological tests were performed on acute and convalescent serum samples with a multiplexed bead-based immunoassay. The median sampling interval was 19 days, the median age was 26.7 months, and the median duration of illness was 5 days. The rate of antibody responses was 15.4 % for at least one pneumococcal antigen, 5.8 % for H. influenzae, and 2.3 % for M. catarrhalis. The rate of antibody responses against each pneumococcal antigen varied from 3.5 to 7.1 %. By multivariate analysis, pre-existing antibody levels showed a negative association with the detection of antibody responses against pneumococcal and H. influenzae antigens; the sampling interval was positively associated with the detection of antibody responses against pneumococcal and H. influenzae antigens. A sampling interval of 3 weeks was the optimal cut-off for the detection of antibody responses against pneumococcal and H. influenzae proteins. Duration of illness was negatively associated with antibody responses against PspA. Age did not influence antibody responses against the investigated antigens. In conclusion, serological assays using combinations of different pneumococcal proteins detect a higher rate of antibody responses against S. pneumoniae compared to assays using a single pneumococcal protein. Pre-existing antibody levels and sampling interval influence the detection of antibody responses against pneumococcal and H. influenzae proteins. These factors should be considered when determining pneumonia etiology by serological methods in children.

Neutrophil activity in sepsis: a systematic review.

The neutrophil is an important cell in host defense against infections, acting as the first line of microorganism control. However, this cell exhibits dysregulated activity in sepsis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. This systematic review aimed to highlight the major scientific findings regarding neutrophil activity in sepsis reported in clinical and experimental research published in the last 10 years. The search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library of PAHO-WHO (BVS) and PubMed databases, and articles published between January 2007 and May 2017 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were eligible. Article selection was carried out independently by two reviewers (CB and IB). A total of 233 articles were found, of which 87 were identified on PubMed and 146 on BVS. Eighty-two articles were duplicates. Of the remaining 151 articles, 19 met the inclusion criteria after title, abstract, and full-text analysis. Overall, research in clinical samples and animal models of sepsis showed reduced capacity of neutrophils to migrate and delayed apoptosis, but there was no consensus on the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in sepsis. Molecules, such as pentraxin 3 (PTX3), have been analyzed as potential diagnostic markers in sepsis but the diversity of soluble molecules detected in blood samples of sepsis patients did not enable further understanding of the correlation of these circulating molecules with neutrophil activity during sepsis. Optimal understanding of the function of neutrophils in sepsis remains a challenge that, if overcome, would eventually allow targeted therapeutic interventions in patients affected by this severe syndrome.

Antidiabetic activity of Musa x paradisiaca extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and chemical characterization by HPLC-DAD-MS.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Musa x paradisiaca L. inflorescence, known as banana blossom or banana heart, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to investigate the antidiabetic activity of aqueous extracts and fractions prepared from the bracts and flowers of Musa x paradisiaca in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and to chemically characterize the extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standard aqueous extracts of the flowers, bracts, and their fractions were prepared and their chemical composition was determined tentatively by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode-array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). Changes in fasting glycemia and oral glucose tolerance were evaluated in STZ-induced diabetic rats (n = 8) treated with aqueous extracts of Musa x paradisiaca (200 mg/kg) for 20 days. RESULTS: Chemical analyses detected 21 compounds and 17 metabolites were identified, among which were glycosylated and acetylated phenylpropanoids of p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, as well as a glycosylated flavonol and anthocyanins. Following 15 days of treatment, the bract aqueous extracts and the methanolic fraction of the flower had significant effects on the glycemic profile after glucose load in diabetic rats as compared with the untreated diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show the antidiabetic potential of extracts of the flowers and bracts of M. x paradisiaca.

Synthesis and structural studies on (E)-3-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one: a promising nonlinear optical material.

A new fluorinated chalcone (E)-3-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one was synthesized in 90% yield and crystallized by a slow evaporation technique. Its full structural characterization and purity were determined by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 1H, 13C and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Raman microspectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis. The fluorinated chalcone crystallized in centrosymmetric space group P21/c stabilized by the C-H⋯O and C-H⋯F interactions and the π⋯π contact. The crystalline environment was simulated through the supermolecule approach where a bulk with 378 000 atoms was built. The electric parameters were calculated at the DFT/CAM-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level as function of the electric field frequency. The macroscopic parameters such as linear refractive index and third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ (3)) were calculated, and the results were compared with experimental data obtained from the literature. The χ (3)-value for the chalcone crystal is 369.294 × 10-22 m2 V-2, higher than those obtained from a few similar types of molecule, showing that the chalcone crystal can be considered as a nonlinear optical material. Also, molecular theoretical calculations such as infrared spectrum assignments, frontier molecular orbital analysis and MEP were implemented, revealing that the most positive region is around the hydrogen atoms of the aromatic rings, and electrophilic attack occurs on the carbonyl group.

Microwave effects on NiMoS and CoMoS single-sheet catalysts.

Single-sheet nanoclusters of MoS2, NiMoS or CoMoS are widely used in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysis in the petroleum industry. In HDS reactions under microwave irradiation, experiments indirectly pointed out that for pristine MoS2 reaction rates are accelerated because hot spots are generated on the catalyst bed. In this work, we investigated NiMoS and CoMoS isolated single-sheet substituted catalysts before and after thiophene adsorption focusing on quantifying the effect of microwave irradiation. For that purpose, density functional theory (DFT) molecular charge densities of each system were decomposed according to the distributed multipole analysis (DMA) of Stone. Site dipole values of each system were directly associated with a larger or smaller interaction with the microwave field according to a proposed general approach. We showed that microwave enhancement of HDS reaction rates can occur more efficiently in the CoMoS and NiMoS promoted clusters compared to pristine MoS2 in the following order: CoMoS > NiMoS > MoS2. The atomic origin of the catalyst hot spots induced by microwaves was clearly established in the promoted clusters.

Dairy production practices and associated risks for bovine vaccinia exposure in cattle, Brazil.

A cross-sectional serosurvey was performed to identify environmental features or practices of dairy farms associated with risk for exposure to vaccinia-like viruses in dairy cattle in Brazil. Sera from 103 cows from 18 farms in Minas Gerais state were examined for Orthopoxvirus-neutralizing antibodies. A database of 243 binary or multiple-selection categorical variables regarding the physical features and surrounding ecology of each property was obtained. Thirteen of 46 presumptive predictor variables were found to be significantly associated with Orthopoxvirus serostatus by univariate logistic regression methods. Use of teat sanitizer and having felids on the property were independently associated with virus exposure by multivariable analysis. Rodents have long been suspected of serving as maintenance reservoirs for vaccinia-like viruses in Brazil. Therefore, domestic felids are not only effective predators of small rodent pests, but also their urine can serve as a deterrent to rodent habitation in buildings such as stables and barns. These results corroborate previous evidence of the high significance of rodents in the Vaccinia virus transmission cycle, and they also raise questions regarding the common use of teat sanitizers in dairy production areas.

Small mammals in the diet of Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) in an urban area in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with a new record of the dwarf mouse opossum (Cryptonanus) / Pequenos mamíferos na dieta da coruja-suindara (Tyto furcata) em uma região urbana do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, com um novo registro da catita do gênero Cryptonanus

Several studies emphasize the use of owl pellets in small mammal inventories in natural areas harboring high richness of rare species, but few Brazilian Atlantic forest localities have been surveyed by this method. The present study documents the species composition and abundance of small mammals in the diet of Tyto furcata in an urban area of the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, remarking on a new record of the dwarf mouse opossum genus Cryptonanus in the Atlantic forest. We analyzed 265 pellets regurgitated by a pair of T. furcata from November 2016 to September 2017 found in a nesting box. Analysis of the samples enabled finding a total of 596 individuals of four small mammal species. Mus musculus was predominant among the prey items (98.3%), while the native rodents Necromys lasiurus (1.3%) and Holochilus brasiliensis (0,17%) were much rarer. A single specimen of Cryptonanus sp. was identified among the diet items based on distinctive dental characters. The identification of this genus in the present study represents the second record in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the sixth in the Atlantic Forest biome, suggesting that this marsupial occupies a wider ecological and biogeographic range. The present study underscores the relevance of owl pellets for small mammal surveys, even in urban and highly disturbed areas.

Vários estudos enfatizam o uso de pelotas de coruja em inventários de pequenos mamíferos em áreas naturais com elevada riqueza de espécies raras, mas poucas localidades da Mata Atlântica brasileira têm sido inventariadas por esse método. O presente estudo documenta a composição de espécies e abundância de pequenos mamíferos na dieta de Tyto furcata em uma área urbana do município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, discutindo a relevância de um novo registro de um raro marsupial do gênero Cryptonanus na Mata Atlântica. Foram analisadas 265 pelotas regurgitadas por um casal de T. furcata entre novembro de 2016 e setembro de 2017, encontradas abaixo de uma caixa de nidificação. A análise das amostras permitiu encontrar o total de 596 indivíduos de quatro espécies pequenas de mamíferos. O roedor exótico Mus musculus foi predominante entre os itens alimentares (98,3%), enquanto os roedores nativos Necromys lasiurus (1,3%) e Holochilus brasiliensis (0,17%) foram bem mais raros. Um único espécime de Cryptonanus sp. foi identificado entre os itens com base em caracteres dentários. A identificação desse gênero no presente estudo representa o segundo registro no estado do Rio de Janeiro e o sexto no bioma Mata Atlântica, sugerindo que este marsupial ocupa uma ampla faixa ecológica e biogeográfica. O presente estudo destaca a relevância dos pellets de coruja para pesquisas com pequenos mamíferos, mesmo em áreas urbanas e altamente perturbadas.

Small mammals in the diet of Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) in an urban area in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with a new record of the dwarf mouse opossum (Cryptonanus) / Pequenos mamíferos na dieta da coruja-suindara (Tyto furcata) em uma região urbana do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, com um novo registro da catita do gênero Cryptonanus

Several studies emphasize the use of owl pellets in small mammal inventories in natural areas harboring high richness of rare species, but few Brazilian Atlantic forest localities have been surveyed by this method. The present study documents the species composition and abundance of small mammals in the diet of Tyto furcata in an urban area of the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, remarking on a new record of the dwarf mouse opossum genus Cryptonanus in the Atlantic forest. We analyzed 265 pellets regurgitated by a pair of T. furcata from November 2016 to September 2017 found in a nesting box. Analysis of the samples enabled finding a total of 596 individuals of four small mammal species. Mus musculus was predominant among the prey items (98.3%), while the native rodents Necromys lasiurus (1.3%) and Holochilus brasiliensis (0,17%) were much rarer. A single specimen of Cryptonanus sp. was identified among the diet items based on distinctive dental characters. The identification of this genus in the present study represents the second record in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the sixth in the Atlantic Forest biome, suggesting that this marsupial occupies a wider ecological and biogeographic range. The present study underscores the relevance of owl pellets for small mammal surveys, even in urban and highly disturbed areas.

Vários estudos enfatizam o uso de pelotas de coruja em inventários de pequenos mamíferos em áreas naturais com elevada riqueza de espécies raras, mas poucas localidades da Mata Atlântica brasileira têm sido inventariadas por esse método. O presente estudo documenta a composição de espécies e abundância de pequenos mamíferos na dieta de Tyto furcata em uma área urbana do município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, discutindo a relevância de um novo registro de um raro marsupial do gênero Cryptonanus na Mata Atlântica. Foram analisadas 265 pelotas regurgitadas por um casal de T. furcata entre novembro de 2016 e setembro de 2017, encontradas abaixo de uma caixa de nidificação. A análise das amostras permitiu encontrar o total de 596 indivíduos de quatro espécies pequenas de mamíferos. O roedor exótico Mus musculus foi predominante entre os itens alimentares (98,3%), enquanto os roedores nativos Necromys lasiurus (1,3%) e Holochilus brasiliensis (0,17%) foram bem mais raros. Um único espécime de Cryptonanus sp. foi identificado entre os itens com base em caracteres dentários. A identificação desse gênero no presente estudo representa o segundo registro no estado do Rio de Janeiro e o sexto no bioma Mata Atlântica, sugerindo que este marsupial ocupa uma ampla faixa ecológica e biogeográfica. O presente estudo destaca a relevância dos pellets de coruja para pesquisas com pequenos mamíferos, mesmo em áreas urbanas e altamente perturbadas.

Small mammals in the diet of Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) in an urban area in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with a new record of the dwarf mouse opossum (Cryptonanus)

Abstract Several studies emphasize the use of owl pellets in small mammal inventories in natural areas harboring high richness of rare species, but few Brazilian Atlantic forest localities have been surveyed by this method. The present study documents the species composition and abundance of small mammals in the diet of Tyto furcata in an urban area of the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, remarking on a new record of the dwarf mouse opossum genus Cryptonanus in the Atlantic forest. We analyzed 265 pellets regurgitated by a pair of T. furcata from November 2016 to September 2017 found in a nesting box. Analysis of the samples enabled finding a total of 596 individuals of four small mammal species. Mus musculus was predominant among the prey items (98.3%), while the native rodents Necromys lasiurus (1.3%) and Holochilus brasiliensis (0,17%) were much rarer. A single specimen of Cryptonanus sp. was identified among the diet items based on distinctive dental characters. The identification of this genus in the present study represents the second record in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the sixth in the Atlantic Forest biome, suggesting that this marsupial occupies a wider ecological and biogeographic range. The present study underscores the relevance of owl pellets for small mammal surveys, even in urban and highly disturbed areas.

Resumo Vários estudos enfatizam o uso de pelotas de coruja em inventários de pequenos mamíferos em áreas naturais com elevada riqueza de espécies raras, mas poucas localidades da Mata Atlântica brasileira têm sido inventariadas por esse método. O presente estudo documenta a composição de espécies e abundância de pequenos mamíferos na dieta de Tyto furcata em uma área urbana do município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, discutindo a relevância de um novo registro de um raro marsupial do gênero Cryptonanus na Mata Atlântica. Foram analisadas 265 pelotas regurgitadas por um casal de T. furcata entre novembro de 2016 e setembro de 2017, encontradas abaixo de uma caixa de nidificação. A análise das amostras permitiu encontrar o total de 596 indivíduos de quatro espécies pequenas de mamíferos. O roedor exótico Mus musculus foi predominante entre os itens alimentares (98,3%), enquanto os roedores nativos Necromys lasiurus (1,3%) e Holochilus brasiliensis (0,17%) foram bem mais raros. Um único espécime de Cryptonanus sp. foi identificado entre os itens com base em caracteres dentários. A identificação desse gênero no presente estudo representa o segundo registro no estado do Rio de Janeiro e o sexto no bioma Mata Atlântica, sugerindo que este marsupial ocupa uma ampla faixa ecológica e biogeográfica. O presente estudo destaca a relevância dos pellets de coruja para pesquisas com pequenos mamíferos, mesmo em áreas urbanas e altamente perturbadas.

Neutrophil activity in sepsis: a systematic review

The neutrophil is an important cell in host defense against infections, acting as the first line of microorganism control. However, this cell exhibits dysregulated activity in sepsis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. This systematic review aimed to highlight the major scientific findings regarding neutrophil activity in sepsis reported in clinical and experimental research published in the last 10 years. The search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library of PAHO-WHO (BVS) and PubMed databases, and articles published between January 2007 and May 2017 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were eligible. Article selection was carried out independently by two reviewers (CB and IB). A total of 233 articles were found, of which 87 were identified on PubMed and 146 on BVS. Eighty-two articles were duplicates. Of the remaining 151 articles, 19 met the inclusion criteria after title, abstract, and full-text analysis. Overall, research in clinical samples and animal models of sepsis showed reduced capacity of neutrophils to migrate and delayed apoptosis, but there was no consensus on the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in sepsis. Molecules, such as pentraxin 3 (PTX3), have been analyzed as potential diagnostic markers in sepsis but the diversity of soluble molecules detected in blood samples of sepsis patients did not enable further understanding of the correlation of these circulating molecules with neutrophil activity during sepsis. Optimal understanding of the function of neutrophils in sepsis remains a challenge that, if overcome, would eventually allow targeted therapeutic interventions in patients affected by this severe syndrome.

[Percutaneous balloon mitral valvoplasty. Immediate results, complications and hospital outcome]. / Valvoplastia mitral percutânea por balão. Resultados imediatos, complicações e evolução hospitalar.

PURPOSE: To study the short-term results, complications and in-hospital follow-up of 223 percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) procedures (proc)in 219 patients. METHODS: It was used a single 20mm balloon diameter in 4 proc, double balloon in 7, Inoue balloon in 4 and low profile balloon in 196. The mean-age group was 37.19 years. One hundred eighty three (82.1%) procedures were performed in women (mean age, 36.99 years) and 40 (17.9%) in men (mean age, 38.10 years) (p = 0.63). Patients were in functional class II, (NYHA) in 25 (11.2%) procedures, class III in 165 (74.0%) and class IV in 33 (14.8%). Patients were in sinus rhythm in 182 procedures (81.6%) and in atrial fibrillation in 41 (18.4%). The echocardiographic score range from 4 to 14 (7.4% +/- 1.7). Among 4 and 11 were 98.2% of patients. RESULTS: We had 203 complete proc and success, mitral valve area (MVA) > or = 1.5cm2 after PMBV in 194 proc. Echocardiographic MVA before PMBV was 0.9 +/- 0.2cm2 and after 1.8 +/- 0.3cm2 (p < 0.01). Hemodynamic measures MVA before PMBV was 0.9 +/- 0.2cm2 and after was 1.9 +/- 0.3cm2 (p < 0.01). Mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 39 +/- 14mmHg to 27 +/- 11mmHg (p < 0.01) and mitral mean gradient from 20 +/- 9mmHg to 6 +/- 5mmHg (p < 0.01). In the 203 proc, mitral valve (MV) was competent in 176 and there were 1+ mitral regurgitation (MR) in 27. After PMBV, MV was competent in 126, and there were 1+ MR in 60, 2+ in 10.3+ in 6 and 4+ MR in 1. There was complication in 15 proc, severe MR in 7 (3 or 4+), stroke in 3 and cardiac tamponade in 5. Two patients died during emergency cardiac surgery after left ventricular perforation and one by stroke. CONCLUSION: PMBV was an effective procedure with a high grade of success and low rate of complication.

[Clinical and hemodynamic aspects of non-obstructive coronary lesions. A comparative retrospective study]. / Aspectos clínicos e hemodinâmicos das lesões coronárias não-obstrutivas. Estudo retrospectivo comparativo.

PURPOSE: To study the clinical and hemodynamic aspects of a group of patient presenting non-obstructive coronary lesions. METHODS: We reviewed 963 coronary angiographies performed at a same institution. The 52 patients presenting only stenosis < or = 50% after semi-quantitative measurement composed group I, which was compared with two other groups consisted of 52 patients each: one, with patients presenting univascular lesion > 50% (group II) and the other with normal coronary arteriographies (group III). RESULTS: Mean age was similar in groups I and II (49.4 +/- 6.89 and 51.3 +/- 7.86, p > 0.05) and significantly higher than that of group III (44.8 +/- 6.81, p < 0.05). Risk factors did not discriminate group I (GI) from groups II (GII) and III (GIII). During a follow-up period of 63 months, the number of hospital admissions due to cardiac events and repetitions of coronary arteriography were similar in GI and GII, being significantly less frequent in GIII (p < 0.00001 and 0.001; p < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). By the end of the follow-up period, though angina and heart failure functional classes had been similar in the three groups, patients in groups I and II were using more medications than those in group III (p < 0.0001 and 0.00001). Mean ejection fractions (%) were lower in GI and GII (67.04 +/- 10.13 and 68.90 +/- 11.32) than in GIII (74.69 +/- 6.40, p < 0.01). Lesions were predominantly proximal in GI when compared with GII (p < 0.05). Length, simmetry, ulceration, thrombus and proximal shoulder showed no difference between GI and GII. CONCLUSION: Patients with non-obstructive coronary lesions were similar to those with univascular lesion > 50% regarding several aspects and were considerably different from those with normal coronary arteries.

[Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in the treatment of renovascular hypertension]. / Angioplastia renal transluminal percutânea no tratamento da hipertensão renovascular.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) in renovascular hypertension. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with renal artery stenosis and arterial hypertension underwent PTRA. There were 11 male and 12 female, 19 to 78 years old (45.8 +/- 17.41). In 20 lesions the diagnosis was atherosclerosis, in 7 fibromuscular dysplasia and in 1 Takayasu arteritis. Three patients underwent bilateral dilatation and 2 patients repeated the procedure due to restenosis. Two patients presented with acute renal failure and severe bilateral renal artery stenosis. RESULTS: There were 21 technical success in 25 procedures. After 20 satisfactory dilatations, clinical success followed in 17 (100% of cases of fibromuscular dysplasia cases and 77% of atherosclerosis. The fall in diastolic arterial pressure after PTRA was statistical significant (p < 0.001). In two cases acute renal failure the renal function became normal after angioplasty. There were 2 complications and no death attributed to PTRA. CONCLUSION: The method was effective and safe in the management of renovascular hypertension during the short-term follow-up. It was possible in two cases of acute renal failure to normalize renal function.

[Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the single balloon technique. Short-term results, complications and in-hospital follow-up]. / Valvoplastia mitral percutânea com a técnica do balão único. Resultados imediatos, complicações e evolução intra-hospitalar.

PURPOSE: To study the short-term results, complication and in-hospital follow-up of 268 percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) procedures performed with the low-profile monofoil balloon (LPMB) technique from 1990 to 1995. METHODS: A single 30mm balloon diameter was used in 247 (92.9%) procedures, a single 25mm balloon diameter in 9 (3.3%), a single 25mm balloon followed by a single 30mm balloon diameter in 7 (2.6%) and in 5 procedures a balloon was not used. The mean age group was 36 +/- 12 years. Two hundred nineteen (81.7%) procedures were performed in women (mean age 36 +/- 12 years) and 49 (18.3%) in men (mean age, 35 +/- 14 years) (p = 0.78). Patients were in functional class II (NYHA) in 39 (14.5%), class III in 198 (73.9%) and class IV in 31 (11.6%). Patients were in sinus rhythm in 228 (85.1%) procedures and in atrial fibrillation in 40 (14.9%). The echocardiographic score ranged from 4 to 14 (mean 7.2 +/- 1.5). RESULTS: There were 256 complete procedures, 249 of which were successful (mitral valve area (MVA) > or = 1.5cm2 after PMBV). Echocardiographic calculated MVA before PMBV was 0.9 +/- 0.2cm2. Hemodynamic calculated MVA before PMBV was 0.9 +/- 0.2cm2 and after was 2.0 +/- 0.4cm2 (p < 0.000001). Mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 40 +/- 15mmHg to 28 +/- 10mmHg (p < 0.000001) and mitral mean gradient from 20 +/- 7mmHg to 5 +/- 4mmHg (p < 0.000001). In the 256 complete procedures mitral valve (MV) was competent in 214 and there was 1+ mitral regurgitation (MR) in 42. After PMBV, MV was competent in 166 and there was 1+ MR in 68, 2+ in 16, 3+ in 5 and 4+ MR in 1. There were complications in 14 (5.2%) procedures, severe MR in 6 (3 or 4+), stroke in 2 and cardiac tamponade in 6. Two patients died during emergency cardiac surgery after left ventricular perforation and 1 after stroke. CONCLUSION: PMBV with the LPMB was an effective procedure with a high success rate and a low rate of complications as the more usual double-balloon and Inoue balloon techniques.