Hepatic encephalopathy in swine experimentally poisoned with Senna occidentalis seeds: Effects on astrocytes.

Senna occidentalis may be accidently ingested by humans and animals. In this study, the percentages of S. occidentalis seeds necessary for experimental reproduction of hepatic encephalopathy were determined in a pig model and the biochemical and microscopic pathology is described in detail, with emphasis on the astrocytes. The experimental groups (G1, G2 and G3) were fed rations containing 5%, 7.5% and 10% of S. occidentalis seeds for 7-11 days. Pigs from the three experimental groups showed incoordination, ataxia, disorientation, head pressing, anorexia, recumbency and depression. In addition, the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatine phosphokinase increased in all treated animals, which also showed higher serum total bilirubin and ammonia levels than in the control group (C). Microscopically, all experimental animals revealed acute hepatocellular swelling, multifocal coagulative necrosis in the pancreas, necrosis in the cardiac muscle, severe spongiosis in brain white and grey matter, and Alzheimer type II astrocytes in grey matter of the cerebral cortex. These cells were glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) negative in G3. In white matter, a decrease in the positive area occupied by GFAP-immunolabelling and in the number of astrocytes per immunoreactive area was observed in G3 animals (5.35 ± 1.14% and 410 ± 45 cells/mm2, respectively) compared to the C animals (13.93 ± 1.59% and 581 ± 36 cells/mm2, respectively). This loss of GFAP was accompanied by alterations in astrocyte morphology, such as shrinkage of the cell body and retraction of the extending processes. This pig model of ammonia-mediated astrocyte damage could be used to study not only poisoning by S. occidentalis, but also other medical conditions resulting in hepatoencephalopathy.

Suspected natural lysosomal storage disease from ingestion of pink morning glory (Ipomoea carnea) in goats in northern Argentina.

This study describes an occurrence of pink morning glory (Ipomoea carnea) intoxication in goats in northern Argentina. The clinical signs displayed by the affected animals were ataxia, lethargy, emaciation, hypertonia of the neck muscles, spastic paresis in the hind legs, abnormal postural reactions and death. The clinico-pathologic examination revealed that the affected animals were anemic and their serum level of aspartate aminotransferase was significantly increased. Cytoplasmic vacuolation in the Purkinje cells and pancreatic acinar cells was observed by histological examination. The neuronal lectin binding pattern showed a strong positive reaction to WGA (Triticum vulgaris), sWGA (succinylated T. vulgaris) and LCA (Lens culinaris). Although I. carnea is common in tropical regions, this is the first report of spontaneous poisoning in goats in Argentina.

Consecuencias del tipo de actividad laboral sobre algunos indicadores bioquímicos de riesgo aterogénico: Estudio en población geriátrica del nordeste argentino / Consequences of the type of labor activity on some biochemical indicators of atherogenic risk: Study in geriatrical population of the Argentine northeast

La actividad laboral puede desencadenar cambios que repercuten en el estado de salud. El propósito de este trabajo fue indagar las consecuencias que distintos tipos de actividad laboral pudieran haber producido sobre algunos parámetros bioquímicos indicadores de riesgo aterogénico en población senil. Se estudiaron 320 personas sanas de ambos sexos, con edades de 60 a 92 años, residentes en las provincias de Corrientes, Chaco y Misiones. A partir de un diseño en bloques se efectuó análisis de la variancia por modelo lineal a dos vías. Los promedios generales obtenidos en plasma para glucosa (5.17 +-0.71 mmol/L), fructosamina (332+-50 umol/L), colesterol total (5.64 +- 1.19 mmol/L), triglicéridos ( 1.48 +- 0.32 mmol/L) y lipoproteína beta ( 54.6 +- 8.2%) resultaron más altos que los admitidos para población general. Por su parte, las lipoproteínas alfa (34.5 +- 5.1%) y pre-beta (10.9 +- 2.3%) se ajustaron a dicho intérvalo de referencia. Los indicadores de riesgo aterogénico resultaron significativamente más bajos en los gerontes laboralmente inactivos. Las tareas sedentarias se plasmaron en desfavorables niveles lipídicos y las ocupaciones de alto riesgo en altos valores glúcidos. Los oficios que demandaron esfuerzo físico y poca tensión emocional sugirieron un mejor equilibrio metabólico. Se confirma que en la tercera edad los indicadores de riesgo aterogénico son afectados por el tipo de actividad laboral.

Blood and urine physiological values in farm-cultured Rana catesbeiana (Anura: Ranidae) in Argentina

A total of 302 samples of healthy farm-cultured Rana catesbeiana specimens (9-21 months-old, 50- 350 g liveweight, 50% each sex) from the north-east of Argentina, were analyzed through spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, densitometry, refractometry and microscopy in order to obtain blood and urine normal values. Confidence intervals (p<0.05) for PCV (28.6-31.6%), RBC (0.40-0.44 T/L), MCV (686-732 fL), hemoglobin (6.41-7.20 g/dL), MCH (151-164 pg), MCHC (22.6-24.0%), WBC (18.7-22.3 G/L), neutrophils (58.4-63.4%), lymphocytes (23.9-29.8%), monocytes (2.1-3.8%), eosinophils (4.6-7.0%), basophils (2.9-4.1%), bleeding time (289-393s), coagulation time (452-696s), prothrombin time (76-128s), urinary density (1.0061-1.0089 g/mL), urinary pH (6,38-6.96), fibrinogen (0.59-0.99 g/dL), total protein (4.19-4.49 g/dL), albumin (1.49-1.67 g/dL), alpha-1 globulin (0.20-0.24 g/dL), alpha-2 globulin (0.48-0.54 g/dL), beta globulin (0.68-0.77 g/dL), gamma globulin (1.28-1.42 g/dL), albumin/globulin ratio (0.50-0.58), creatinine (4.09-5.56 mg/L), urea (76.1-92.4 mg/L), uric acid (11.5-15.4 mg/L), triglycerides (0.34-0.52 g/L), total cholesterol (0.56-0.67 g/L), HDL-C (0.03-0.05 g/L), LDL-C (0.34-0.44 g/L), alpha lipoprotein (6.01-8.67%), beta lipoprotein (91.3-93.9%), glucose (0.45-0.54 g/L), Na (116-121 meq/L), K (3.42-3.81 meq/L), Cl (100-116 meq/L), Ca (7.98-8.61 mg/dL), P (8.31- 9.36 mg/dL), Mg (2.26-2.55 mg/dL), Fe (105-178 ug/dL), ALP (144-170 IU/L), ALT (10.0-14.8 IU/L), AST (42.8-53.4 IU/L), GGT (7.8-10.6 IU/L), LDH (99-135 IU/L), CHE (151-185 IU/L) and CPK (365-500 IU/L), were obtained. Some parameter ranges were similar to those obtained in amphibians, birds or mammals; others were very different. These parameters are useful to evaluate sanitary, metabolic and nutritional state on captive bullfrogs

Con el propósito de obtener valores normales sanguíneos y urinarios, 302 muestras de ejemplares sanos de Rana catesbeiana del nordeste argentino (9-21 meses de edad, 50-350 g de peso vivo, 50% de cada sexo), fueron analizados por espectrofotometría, electroforesis, densitometría, refractometría y microscopía. Fueron obtenidos intervalos de confianza (p<0.05) para hematocrito (28.6-31.6%), eritrocitos (0.40-0.44 T/L), VCM (686-732 fL), hemoglobina (6.41-7.20 g/dL), HCM (151-164 pg), CHCM (22.6-24.0%), leucocitos (18.7-22.3 G/L), neutrófilos (58.4-63.4%), linfocitos (23.9-29.8%), monocitos (2.1-3.8%), eosinófilos (4.6-7.0%), basófilos (2.9-4.1%), tiempo de sangría (289-393s), tiempo de coagulación (452- 696s), tiempo de protrombina (76-128s), densidad urinaria (1.0061-1.0089 g/mL), pH urinario (6.38-6.96), fibrinógeno (0.59-0.99 g/dL), proteínas totales (4.19-4.49 g/dL), albúmina (1.49-1.67 g/dL), alfa-1 globulina (0.20-0.24 g/dL), alfa-2 globulina (0.48-0.54 g/dL), beta globulina (0.68-0.77 g/dL), gamma globulina (1.28-1.42 g/dL), relación albúmina/globulinas (0.50-0.58), creatinina (4.09-5.56 mg/L), urea (76.1-92.4 mg/L), ácido úrico (11.5-15.4 mg/L), triglicéridos (0.34-0.52 g/L), colesterol total (0.56-0.67 g/L), C-HDL (0.03-0.05 g/L), C-LDL (0.34-0.44 g/L), alfa lipoproteína (6.01-8.67%), beta lipoproteína (91.3-93.9%), glucosa (0.45-0.54 g/L), Na (116-121 meq/L), K (3.42- 3.81 meq/L), Cl (100-116 meq/L), Ca (7.98-8.61 mg/dL), P (8.31-9.36 mg/dL), Mg (2.26-2.55 mg/dL), Fe (105-178 ug/dL), ALP (144-170 IU/L), ALT (10.0-14.8 IU/L), AST (42.8-53.4 IU/L), GGT (7.8-10.6 IU/L), LDH (99-135 IU/L), CHE (151-185 IU/L) y CPK (365-500 IU/L). Algunos intervalos fueron semejantes a los obtenidos en anfibios, aves o mamíferos, pero otros resultaron muy diferentes. Estos parámetros son útiles para evaluar estados sanitario, metabólico y nutricional de la rana toro en cautiverio

Blood and urine physiological values in farm-cultured Rana catesbeiana (Anura: Ranidae) in Argentina.

A total of 302 samples of healthy farm-cultured Rana catesbeiana specimens (9-21 months-old, 50-350 g liveweight, 50% each sex) from the north-east of Argentina, were analyzed through spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, densitometry, refractometry and microscopy in order to obtain blood and urine normal values. Confidence intervals (p<0.05) for PCV (28.6-31.6%), RBC (0.40-0.44 T/L), MCV (686-732 fL), hemoglobin (6.41-7.20 g/dL), MCH (151-164 pg), MCHC (22.6-24.0%), WBC (18.7-22.3 G/L), neutrophils (58.4-63.4%), lymphocytes (23.9-29.8%), monocytes (2.1-3.8%), eosinophils (4.6-7.0%), basophils (2.9-4.1%), bleeding time (289-393s), coagulation time (452-696s), prothrombin time (76-128s), urinary density (1.0061-1.0089 g/mL), urinary pH (6,38-6.96)., fibrinogen (0.59-0.99 g/dL), total protein (4.19-4.49 g/dL), albumin (1.49-1.67 g/dL), alpha-1 globulin (0.20-0.24 g/dL), alpha-2 globulin (0.48-0.54 g/dL), beta globulin (0.68-0.77 g/dL), gamma globulin (1.28-1.42 g/dL), albumin/globulin ratio (0.50-0.58), creatinine (4.09-5.56 mg/L). urea (76.1-92.4 mg/L), uric acid (11.5-15.4 mg/L), triglycerides (0.34-0.52 g/L), total cholesterol (0.56-0.67 g/L), HDL-C (0.03-0.05 g/L), LDL-C (0.34-0.44 g/L), alpha lipoprotein (6.01-8.67%). beta lipoprotein (91.3-93.9%), glucose (0.45-0.54 g/L), Na (116-121 meq/L), K (3.42-3.81 meq/L), Cl (100-116 meq/L), Ca (7.98-8.61 mg/dL). P (8.319.36 mg/dL), Mg (2.26-2.55 mg/dL), Fe (105-178 ug/dL), ALP (144-170 [U/L), ALT (10.0-14.8 IU/L), AST (42.8-53.4 IU/L), GGT (7.8-10.6 IU/L), LDH (99-135 IU/L), CHE (151-185 lU/L) and CPK (365-500 IU/L), were obtained. Some parameter ranges were similar to those obtained in amphibians, birds or mammals; others were very different. These parameters are useful to evaluate sanitary, metabolic and nutritional state on captive bullfrogs.

Sobrepeso y sedentarismo como condicionantes de riesgo aterogénico en población geriátrica del nordeste argentino / Overweight and sedentarism as conditions for atherogenic risk in elderly people

Inactividad física, sobrealimentación y exceso de peso, son importantes factores de riesgo aterogénico, cuyos efectos están exhaustivamente estudiados en la población general (jóvenes y adultos). Tales conocimientos son aún escasos para los ancianos del nordeste argentino. El propósito de este trabajo fue indagar las consecuencias que dichos factores pudieran producir sobre algunos parámetros bioquímicos indicadores de risgo aterogénico en población senil de Corrientes, Chaco y Misiones...A la invesa de los sedentarios, los gerontes que practicaban ejercicio físico revelaron valores altos del factor de protección y niveles bajos de glúcidos y lípidos. Surgen indubitables las ventajas de la alimentación frugal, el normopeso y la actividad física en la tercera edad