Window Collisions by Birds in Brazil: Epidemiologic Factors and Radiographic and Necropsy Assessments.

Birds are among the most visually proficient group of animals on the planet; however, their inability to visualize and discriminate translucent glass structures results in an extreme number of deaths worldwide from high-speed collisions. Despite reports of avian glass collisions in North America, only a few studies have been developed to understand this problem in South America, and none evaluated radiographic and postmortem findings. One hundred cadavers were examined radiographically and postmortem, and data from 186 collision reports were analyzed for seasonality (website and manual reports and cadavers). A total of 34 different species of birds within 22 families were evaluated for this study, with the rufous-bellied thrush (Turdus rufiventris; n = 12), eared dove (Zenaida auriculata; n = 12), and ruddy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti; n = 10) being the most common species. Only 6 (27.7%) migratory species were reported: Sick's swift (Chaetura meridionalis), small-billed elaenia (Elaenia parvirostris), Black Jacobin (Florisuga fusca), Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), Double-collared seedeater (Sporophila caerulescens), and Creamy-bellied thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus). Males (51) were more frequently reported than females (5), and 50.1% of the males had active gonads. Sex was unable to be determined in 44 birds. The most common radiographic lesion, noted in 16 of 82 (19.5%) animals, was loss of coelomic definition, suggestive of hemorrhage. Prevalent postmortem findings included skull hemorrhages (58/75, 77.3%) and encephalic contusions (47/73, 64.4%), followed by coelomic hemorrhages (33/81, 40.7%). Most of the window collisions (61/186, 32.8%) occurred during spring, the most common breeding season of avian species in Brazil. Cranioencephalic trauma was identified as the primary cause of mortality associated with birds flying into glass windows. Migration does not appear to be the main predisposing factor for window collisions by birds in Brazil. Increased activity and aggression related to breeding season, especially in males, may be a more important predisposing factor for window collision accidents.

O uso da talidomida em seres humanos e animais ­ passado, presente e futuro / The use of thalidomide in people and animals ­ past, present and future / El uso de talidomida en seres humanos y animales ­ pasado, presente y futuro

A talidomida foi desenvolvida na década de 50 do século XX, e foi amplamente utilizada como um sedativo-hipnótico e como fármaco contra enjoos durante a gestação. No final da década de 60 ela foi retirada do mercado devido ao seu catastrófico efeito colateral de teratogenicidade. Contudo, o próprio mecanismo que é basicamente responsável pela sua teratogenicidade é também responsável por uma de suas muitas propriedades farmacológicas potencialmente benéficas e desejáveis, a anti-angiogênese. Felizmente, as pesquisas dos efeitos terapêuticos da droga não se cessaram e em 1998 o fármaco foi aprovado pelo Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para tratamento do eritema nodoso leproso e em 2006 para tratamento de mieloma múltiplo. Hoje, quase 40 anos depois, a mesma temida talidomida ressurge como fármaco de propriedades imunomoduladoras e antiangiogênicas, com potencial para tratamento de doenças inflamatórias, infecciosas e neoplásicas. Na medicina veterinária ainda pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos terapêuticos do fármaco, entretanto, o sucesso terapêutico do fármaco já fora observado em diversas situações clínicas em pessoas e em testes com animais, podendo existir indicação nas doenças homólogas na medicina veterinária. Este artigo traz uma revisão de literatura sobre a talidomida e suas aplicações reais e potenciais em medicina veterinária.(AU)

Thalidomide was developed in the 1950's and was broadly used as a hypnotic-sedative drug and against nausea during pregnancy. At the end of the 1960's, the drug was withdrawn from the market due to its catastrophic side effect, teratogenicity. However, the anti-angiogenic action, which is the mechanism of action that is responsible for thalidomide´s teratogenicity is also responsible for one of the several potentially useful and desired pharmacologic properties. Fortunately, investigations on the therapeutic effects of thalidomide did not cease and in 1998, the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat erythema nodosum leprosum and, in 2006, for treating multiple myeloma. Nowadays, almost 40 years later, the same feared thalidomide is reborn as a pharmacologic agent with immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic properties, with potential to treat inflammatory, infectious and neoplastic diseases. In veterinary medicine, very little is known about the useful healing effects of thalidomide. However, the drug therapeutic success has already been noted in several clinical situations in both animal tests and investigations with medical patients. This paper presents a literature review of thalidomide's real and potential applications in veterinary medicine.(AU)

La talidomida fue desarrollada en los años 50 del siglo XX, y fue ampliamente empleada como sedativo e hipnótico y como fármaco contra nauseas durante el embarazo. A finales de los años 60 ella fue retirada del mercado debido a su efecto secundario catastrófico de teratogenicidad. Sin embargo, el propio mecanismo que es básicamente responsable por su teratogenicidad es también responsable por una de las muchas propiedades farmacológicas potencialmente beneficiosas y deseables, la antiangiogénesis. Afortunadamente, las investigaciones de los efectos terapéuticos de la droga nunca se ha cesado y en 1998 el medicamento fue aprobado por Food and Drug Administration (FDA) para tratamiento del eritema nudoso leproso, y en 2006 para tratamiento del mieloma múltiple. Hoy, casi 40 años después, la misma y temida talidomida reaparece como medicamento con propiedades inmunomoduladoras y antiangiogénicas, con potencial para el tratamiento de enfermedades inflamatorias, infecciosas y neoplásicas. En medicina veterinaria, se sabe poco sobre los efectos terapéuticos del fármaco, sin embargo, el éxito terapéutico del medicamento se ha observado en varias situaciones clínicas en personas y en ensayos con animales, y puede ser indicado en las enfermedades homólogas en medicina veterinaria. Este artículo trae una revisión de literatura sobre la talidomida y sus aplicaciones reales y potenciales en medicina veterinaria.(AU)