Predictors of functional capacity as measured by the Glittre activities of daily living test in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Although pulmonary involvement is the most common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), traditional pulmonary function tests (PFTs) do not show a good correlation with the field tests usually performed in these patients. In recent decades, measurement of ventilation distribution heterogeneity through the nitrogen single-breath washout (N2SBW) test and evaluation of functional capacity during exercise using the Glittre activities of daily living test (GA-T) have been increasingly used. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate predictors of GA-T outcomes in women with RA considering demographic, anthropometric, clinical, functional variables, and chest computed tomography (CT) findings. Forty-three women with RA underwent the GA-T, the N2SBW test, spirometry, measurement of the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco), measurement of respiratory muscle strength, and evaluation of physical function of the lower and upper limbs through the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Chest CT scans were analyzed retrospectively. The GA-T time showed significant correlations with the DLco (rs=-0.397, P=0.008), forced vital capacity/DLco (rs=0.307, P=0.044), phase III slope of the N2SBW test (SIIIN2, rs=0.644, P<0.0001), and the HAQ-DI (rs=0.482, P=0.001). Disease extent as assessed by chest CT was associated with the GA-T time. On multiple regression analysis, the SIIIN2 and HAQ-DI were the only predictors of the GA-T time, explaining 40% of its variability. Thus, ventilation distribution heterogeneity and worse physical function substantially explain the variability in GA-T time in women with RA and varying extents of disease on chest CT.

Molecular characterization of neuropathogenic Equine Herpesvirus 1 Brazilian isolates / Caracterização molecular de isolados brasileiros de herpesvírus equino 1

Este trabalho descreve a caracterização molecular de oito amostras de herpesvírus equino 1 isoladas do sistema nervoso central de equinos que morreram com sinais neurológicos no estado de Minas Gerais. As amostras de EHV-1 foram isoladas em cultivo celular, e a caracterização molecular foi feita por genotipagem e identificação do marcador neuropatogênico por meio das técnicas de PCR, restrição enzimática e sequenciamento. A caracterização molecular desses isolados pode ser a base para o desenvolvimento de novas formulações vacinais com maior eficácia para a prevenção de doença neurológica causada pelo EHV-1.(AU)

Efeitos da suplementação com fósforo em caprinos no semiárido do nordeste brasileiro / Effect of phosphorus supplementation for goats in the Brazilian semiarid region

To evaluate the effect of phosphorus supplementation for goats grazing for the semiarid region, one group of 16 recently weaned Moxotó goats was supplemented with a mineral supplement containing Na, Cl, Zn, Cu, Se, Co, and P during 240 days. Another similar group was supplemented with a similar mineral supplement without P. The mean daily consumption of supplement by animal was of 7.09±2.77g and 7.67±3.14g for the groups with and without P, respectively. The mean weight gain of the P supplemented group (45.20±5.56g) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the non-supplemented group (40.03±2.80g). The average total P in soil was 30.8mg/kg and in the pasture 0.13 percent in dry matter. These results demonstrate the occurrence of P deficiency in some areas of the Brazilian semiarid region.

Isolamento de corynebacterium diphtheriae de úlceras cutâneo-mucosas por Leishmania / Isolation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae from mucocutaneous ulcers due to Leishmania

Descrevemos o isolamento do C. diphtheriae em uma regiäo endêmica da leishmaniose cutâneo-mucosa por Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis. Materiais das lesöes cutâneas foram obtidos de dezesseis pacientes. Nove deles foram portadores do bacilo (56%). Os microrganismos suspeitos foram identificados pelos testes de fluorescência sob luz ultravioleta, teste de virulência "in vitro" (por imunodifusäo radial simples), pesquisa da enzima pirazina-carboxilamidase (Pyz) e por imunofluorescência direta e indireta

Teste de fluorescencia e pesquisa da atividade pirazina-carboxilamidase (Pyz) na identificacao do bacilo difterico atoxinogenico. / The U.V. fluorescence test and the pyrazine carboxylamidase activity as screening tests for identifying the non-toxigenic diphtheria bacilli

O teste de fluorescencia pode ser usado para identificar bacilos diftericos toxinogenicos ou nao, alem de evitar esforco adicional, no processo de identificacao de microrganismos corineformes, nao fluorescentes, semelhantes ao C. diphtheriae. O teste da pirazina-carboxilamidase, uma vez que pode ser realizado em duas horas, mostra-se tambem de grande valor para o diagnostico laboratorial