Regulation of Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Its Receptor Expression around Follicle Deviation in Cattle.

The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is an important marker of ovarian reserve and for predicting the response to superovulatory treatments in several species. The objective of this study was to investigate whether AMH and its receptor (AMHR2) are regulated in bovine granulosa cells during follicular development. In the first experiment, granulosa cells were retrieved from the two largest follicles on days 2 (before), 3 (at the expected time) or 4 (after deviation) of follicular wave. In the second experiment, four doses of FSH (30, 30, 20 and 20 mg) or saline were administered twice a day starting on Day 2 of the first follicular wave of the cycle. Granulosa cells and follicular fluid were collected from the two largest follicles 12 h after the last injection of FSH or saline. AMH mRNA abundance was similar in granulosa cells of the two largest follicles (F1 and F2) before deviation (Day 2), but greater in dominant (DF) than subordinate follicles (SF) at the expected time (Day 3) and after (Day 4) deviation (p < 0.05). In experiment 1, AMH mRNA levels declined in both DF and SF near the expected time and after deviation when compared to before deviation. There was no difference in AMHR2 mRNA levels before and during follicular deviation (p > 0.05), but they tended to be greater in DFs than SFs (p < 0.1) after deviation. Experiment 2 showed that AMH and AMHR2 mRNA in granulosa cells and AMH protein abundance in follicular fluid were similar (p > 0.05) between both co-dominant follicles collected from the FSH-treated cows. These findings indicate the followings: AMH mRNA levels decrease in both DFs and SFs during follicular deviation; granulosa cells from heathy follicles express more AMH mRNA compared to subordinate follicles undergoing atresia and FSH stimulates AMH and AMHR2 mRNA expression in granulosa cells of co-dominant follicles.

Diazepam causes no adverse cardiocirculatory effects in cardiac patients.

The effects of diazepam on hemodynamic measures and catecholamine levels were studied in 25 patients before administration of any other anesthetic or analgesic agent, for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The patients were spontaneously breathing 40% oxygen in air, and no postural changes or surgical manipulations were allowed before or during the study. Before and ten minutes after completion of the intravenous infusion of 0.4 mg/kg of diazepam over five minutes, the following hemodynamic variables were determined: direct radial artery pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, central venous pressure, cardiac output by thermodilution in triplicate via a balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter and electrocardiograms. Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine levels were determined by liquid chromatography. Significant (P less than 0.05) reductions in pulmonary artery systolic pressure, systolic systemic blood pressure, and epinephrine levels were observed after diazepam administration. No other hemodynamic changes were statistically significant. Thus diazepam alone caused no adverse hemodynamic or endocrine effects in cardiac surgical patients. It is concluded that the use of diazepam is not contraindicated in cardiac patients with reduced myocardial oxygen supply as a consequence of coronary sclerosis.

[Chronic calculous cholecystitis and fibrotic rudimentary appendix associated with situs inversus totalis]. / Colecistite crôniça calculosa e apêndice rudimentar fibrotico associados a situs inversus totalis.

A case of calculous cholecystitis and rudimentary appendix in a 45 year old female patient with complete situs inversus is reported. After radiologic and sonographic examination, surgical treatment resulted in symptoms relief. A high index of suspection is imperative for the precise diagnostic and therapeutic approach.