Desempenho de doadoras leiteiras mestiças F1 (Gir x Holandês) no sistema de produção in vitro de embriões / Performance of dairy crossbred F1 donnors (Gir x Holstein) in the production system in vitro embryo

O Brasil atualmente é detentor do terceiro maior rebanho de vacas leiteiras do mundo, composto, em sua maioria, de animais mestiços F1 (Gir X Holandês), os quais são bem adaptados às áreas tropicais. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a eficiência da ovum pick-up (OPU) e da produção in vitro de embriões oriundos de doadoras Girolando com sêmen sexado de touros provenientes de duas raças, Gir e Holandesa. Foram utilizados dados referentes a 232 animais de diversos rebanhos, totalizando 4334 oócitos recuperados. Os oócitos foram classificados, e as estruturas viáveis (GI, GII e GIII) foram utilizadas para produção in vitro de embriões (PIVE). Foi observada uma média de oócitos recuperados para as doadoras F1 de 18,14±1,33. Além disso, notou-se que não houve diferença entre os dois cruzamentos utilizados, considerando média de total de embriões (4,96±0,40 e 6,56±0,76) para o cruzamento F1 X HPB (Holandês preto e branco) e F1 X Gir, respectivamente. Portanto, as doadoras F1 apresentaram potencial como doadoras de oócitos no sistema de produção in vitro de embriões, independentemente da raça do touro cujo sêmen foi utilizado.(AU)

Brazil currently has the third largest herd of dairy cattle in the world, composed mainly by F1 crossbreed animals (Gyr x Holstein), which are well adapted to tropical areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Girolando donors in OPU and in vitro production of embryos (IVEP) using sexed semen of bulls from two breeds, Gyr and Holstein. We used data from 232 animals coming from different herds and the total of recovered oocytes was 4334. The oocytes were classified according to their viability and the viable ones (GI, GII and GIII) were used for IVP. The average of oocyte recovery from F1 donors was 18.14±1.33. There was no difference on the average of embryos considering the crossing F1 X Holstein (4.96±0.40) and F1 X Gyr (6.56±0.76). In conclusion, F1 donors showed a potential for being oocyte donors in the system of in vitro production of embryos, regardless the breed of the bull.(AU)

An open trial of reboxetine in obese patients with binge eating disorder.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, in the treatment of obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD: Nine outpatients with BED and obesity received reboxetine 8 mg/day for 12 weeks. The number of days with binge eating episodes per week was considered the primary outcome measure. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), Binge Eating Scale (BES), Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) scores were used as secondary outcome measures. Paired t-test with the last observation carried forward was used to analyze changes from baseline to endpoint. RESULTS: Five patients completed the study and showed a complete remission of BED. The mean binge days per week was significantly reduced from 4.6+/-1.8 to 0.2+/-0.6, at the end of the study (p=0.0002). Mean BES scores were decreased from 32.3+/-6.3 to 9.3+/-6.8 (p=0.0003). There was also a statistically significant decrease in BMI (from 36.5+/-4.48 to 35.06+/-4.49; p=0.01), and in CGI-S (from 5.1+/-0.9 to 1.4+/-1.01; p=0.0002). Quality of life, assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF was significantly improved on overall quality of life and general health (p=0.02) and on psychological (p=0.03) domain. No serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: Reboxetine may be an effective and well-tolerated agent in the treatment of BED in obese patients.

Evaluation of immune parameters in depressed patients.

The association between depression and altered immunological activities has repeatedly been suggested, but experimental data show contradictory results. In this work, cellular and humoral immunological activities were evaluated in patients presenting major depression, unipolar subtype. Natural killer cell activity (NKCA) was significantly reduced in patients as compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). However, lymphocyte mitogenic responses and immunoglobulin titers (IgG, IgM, and IgA) were similar for all samples. Hematological, hormonal, and nutritional variables presented normal values in patients and in controls. A familial history of depression was related to lower NKCA and higher phytohemagglutinin responses (p < 0.01). These data suggest possible differential inhibition of cellular immune responses in depressed patients.