Pesticides compromise health: a comparison between lizards collected within and outside an agricultural area.

Reptiles are the least studied vertebrates regarding the impact of pesticides on their health, despite being good models for ecotoxicological studies given their abundance and easy handling. Salvator merianae is widely distributed in South America and often found in agricultural cultivation areas. Here, we compared the morphological, biochemical, and physiological parameters of S. merianae from an exposed area (EA) to pesticides and a reference area (RA) or control. These parameters were measured in plasma (albumin, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, glucose, total proteins, uric acid, triglycerides, VLDL, and corticosterone) and in erythrocytes (TBARS, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity). Blood samples were collected from 28 lizards (EA: three juveniles, three adult females, and three adult males; RA: nine juveniles, four females, and five males) in southern Brazil during the reproductive period. We observed a decrease in body mass, the ratio between body mass and total length and snout-vent length in juvenile lizards collected at EA. The levels of TBARS, glutathione S-transferase, triglycerides, VLDL, and uric acid were altered for juveniles in EA. When comparing the two areas, females differed in superoxide dismutase activity and total proteins, while males differed in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activity. This set of results shows that S. merianae, especially juveniles, suffers a negative impact when inserted in an agricultural area. The analyzed biomarkers proved suitable for monitoring these lizards and the quality of this environment.

Pneumomediastino, pneumotórax e enfisema subcutâneo em cão com pneumopatia e infecção pelo vírus da cinomose: relato de caso / Pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema in a dog with pneumopathy and infection by the canine distemper virus: case report

Relata-se um caso de pneumomediastino, pneumotórax e enfisema subcutâneo em um cão com pneumopatia associada à cinomose. As queixas principais eram tosse, secreção nasal purulenta, apatia e enfisema subcutâneo em face, região cervical e torácica. O exame radiográfico evidenciou pneumomediastino, pneumotórax e broncopneumopatia grave com áreas de consolidação pulmonar. Teste rápido imunocromatográfico para detecção de antígeno da cinomose foi positivo e houve melhora dos sinais respiratórios com antibioticoterapia, porém o quadro evoluiu para alterações neurológicas. De acordo com a revisão de literatura realizada, não há casos semelhantes relatados.(AU)

A case of pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema in a dog with pneumopathy associated to distemper is reported. The main complaints were cough, purulent nasal discharge, lethargy and subcutaneous emphysema in the face, neck, and chest area. Radiographic examination showed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and severe bronchopneumopathy with areas of pulmonary consolidation. Rapid test for canine distemper antigen detection was positive. After the antibiotic therapy there was an improvement of respiratory signs; however, the patient developed neurological symptomatology. As far as the author´s knowledge by literature review carried out, there are no similar cases reported.(AU)

Desenvolvimento corporal e relação entre biometria e peso de cordeiros lactantes da raça Santa Inês criados na Amazônia / Growth of Santa Inês lambs until weaning and relationship between biometric measurements and body weight, when raised in the Amazonia climate

Objetivou-se com este trabalho descrever as medidas biométricas de cordeiros lactantes da raça Santa Inês criados em condições amazônicas; estabelecer relação entre a idade e as medidas corporais; bem como correlacionar essas medidas biométricas com o peso corporal. Utilizaram-se 75 animais criados em sistema semi-intensivo, submetidos a mensurações do peso corporal (PC), comprimento corporal (CC), altura do anterior (AA) e do posterior (AP), perímetro torácico (PT), largura da garupa (LG) e do peito (LP), comprimento da perna (CP), perímetro da perna (PP) e compacidade corporal (COMPC), ao nascer e aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias de idade. Somente as medidas LG e PP demonstraram regressões com R2 abaixo de 0,70 em relação à idade dos cordeiros. Todas as medidas corporais utilizadas nesta pesquisa, individualmente, demonstraram r positivo com o peso corporal. As variáveis biométricas que melhor compuseram a equação de predição do peso dos cordeiros utilizados neste estudo foram CC, AP, PT, LG e PP. Concluiu-se que a idade de cordeiros pode ser utilizada como preditora do peso e de algumas medidas biométricas corporais e que o peso pode ser estimado por meio de algumas medidas biométricas...

This study aimed to 1) describe the biometric measurements of Santa Inês lambs until weaning, when raised in the Amazonia conditions; 2) establish the relationship between age and body measurements; and 3) correlate these biometric measurements to body weight. 75 animals submitted to semi-intensive breeding were used, and underwent measurements of body weight (BW), body length (BL), height of the forelimb (HF) and hindlimb (HH), thoracic perimeter (TP), width of rump (WR) and chest (WC), length of leg (LL), perimeter of leg (PL) and more body compacity (COMP), at birth and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of age. As a result, the WR and PL measurements demonstrated regressions with R2 below 0.70 in relation to age of lambs. All biometrical measurements used in this study individually demonstrated positive r with body weight. Biometric variables that compose the equation for predicting weight of lambs used in this study were BL, HH, TP, WR and PL. It was concluded that the age of lambs can be used as a predictor of weight and some body biometric measurements. The weight can also be estimated by some biometric measurements...

Eponyms in esophageal surgery.

Eponyms are frequently used in the surgery in homage to remarkable surgeons, specially creators of new surgical techniques and instruments. Sometimes, however, the right person is not revered or the name persists, but the author's technique has been changed over time and the original procedure is lost. Eponyms of the 10 most famous procedures in esophageal surgery are revisited. Names like Lortat-Jacob, Toupet, Dor, Heller, Nissen, Ivor Lewis, Collis, Merendino, Hill, and Belsey, are reviewed, analyzing the man behind the name, the original technique and its modifications.

HIV-1/2 indeterminate western blot results: follow-up of asymptomatic blood donors in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

A importancia clinica e de saude publica de resultados indeterminados em exames para HIV-1/2 e ainda dificil de avaliar em doadores de sangue voluntarios. Na Fundacao Hemominas e utilizado um teste de triagem (ELISA) que, se reativo, e seguido pelo Western blot (WB). Avaliamos nesse estudo 84 doadores que apresentavam ELISA repetidamente reativo, mas WB indeterminado. Dos 84 individuos, 16 (19 por cento) tinham historia de doencas sexualmente transmissiveis; 18/84 (21,4 por cento) informaram ter recebido ou pago por sexo; 3/84 (3,6 por cento) informaram contacto homosexual; 2/26 mulheres (7,6 por cento) tinham historia pregressa de multiplos abortos ilegais e 3/84 (3,6 por cento) tinham sidos transfundidos. Quatro de 62 doadores (6,5 por cento) tinham fator anti-nuclear (Hep2) positivo, com titulos de ate 1:640. Exame parasitologico revelou a presenca de ovos de S. mansoni nas fezes de 4/62 (6,4 por cento) e outros parasitas em 8/62 (12,9 por cento). Cinco individuos (5,9 por cento) apresentaram franca conversao para HIV-1/2 no WB; 43/84 (51,2 por cento) tinham resultados negativos na ultima visita, enquanto que 36/84 (42,9 por cento) permaneceram com o WB inderterminado. Concluimos que, embora pudessemos encontrar algumas condicoes associadas ao resultado inderminado para HIV-1/2 no WB e muitos doadores com historia pregressa de comportamento de risco, o significado da maioria dos resultados ainda necessita elucidacao

[The laparoscopy method in preoperative evaluation of patients with malignant stomach neoplasm]. / O método laparoscópico na avaliação pré-operatória de pacientes com neoplasia maligna do estômago.

In 190 patients with malignant gastric neoplasia the value of laparoscopy for diagnosing intra-abdominal metastases was investigated. At the laparoscopic examination the presence of tumoral tissue was appraised on the serosal coat of the stomach, epiploons, parietal and visceral peritoneum, and in the liver. On hand of laparoscopic findings (peritoneal or hepatic metastases) the surgical treatment was discarded in 34 patients (70.6%). In the remaining 29.4% of patients a bad general condition or concomitant diseases contra-indicated surgical intervention. A comparison of laparoscopic and surgical findings showed that correct diagnosis was established by laparoscopy in 61.4% of cases with tumoral invasion of gastric serosa, in 21.4% of cases with involvement of epiploon, in 27% of parietal peritoneum, and in 33.3% of the liver. Falsely positive findings were rare (5% of examinations).