Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) patients using two-dimensional speckle-tracking (2DST) echocardiography. We also interrogated possible correlations between impairment of myocardial deformation and the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), as well as the presence of traditional and disease-related cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs). METHOD: A total of 50 asymptomatic patients and 50 controls (age 14.74 vs. 14.82 years, p = 0.83) were evaluated by standard and 2DST echocardiography. RESULTS: Despite a normal ejection fraction (EF), there was reduction in all parameters of LV longitudinal and radial deformation in patients compared to controls: peak longitudinal systolic strain (PLSS) [-20.3 (-11 to -26) vs. -22 (-17.8 to -30.4)%, p < 0.0001], PLSS rate [-1.19 ± 0.21 vs. -1.3 ± 0.25 s(-1), p = 0.0005], longitudinal strain rate in early diastole [1.7 (0.99-2.95) vs. 2 (1.08-3.00) s(-1), p = 0.0034], peak radial systolic strain [33.09 ± 8.6 vs. 44.36 ± 8.72%, p < 0.0001], peak radial systolic strain rate [1.98 ± 0.53 vs. 2.49 ± 0.68 s(-1), p < 0.0001], and radial strain rate in early diastole [-2.31 ± 0.88 vs. -2.75 ± 0.97 s(-1), p = 0.02]. Peak circumferential systolic strain [-23.67 ± 3.46 vs. -24.6 ± 2.86%, p = 0.43] and circumferential strain in early diastole [0.37 ± 0.17 vs. 0.41 ± 0.15, p = 0.27] were similar between patients and controls, although peak circumferential systolic strain rate [-1.5 ± 0.3 vs. -1.6 ± 0.3 s(-1), p = 0.036] was reduced in c-SLE. Further analysis of patients revealed a negative correlation between LV PLSS and SLEDAI-2K (r = -0.52, p < 0.0001), and also between LV PLSS and the number of CRFs per patient (r = -0.32, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: 2DST echocardiography has identified subclinical LV deformation impairment in c-SLE patients. Disease activity and cumulative exposure to CRFs contribute to myocardial compromise.

Subclinical right ventricle systolic dysfunction in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: insights from two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to evaluate right ventricle strain imaging by two-dimensional speckle-tracking (2DST) in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE). METHODS: Thirty-five c-SLE patients with no signs or symptoms of heart failure and 33 healthy volunteers were evaluated by standard echocardiogram and 2DST. Conventional parameters included tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV tissue-Doppler-derived Tei index and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Global peak longitudinal systolic strain (PLSS) and strain rate (PLSSR) of RV were obtained by 2DST. Demographic/clinical features, SLEDAI-2K/SLICC/ACR-DI and treatment were also assessed. RESULTS: The median current age was similar in patients and controls (14.75 vs. 14.88 years, p = 0.62). RV PLSS was significantly reduced in c-SLE (-24.5 ± 5.09 vs. -27.62 ± 3.02%, p = 0.003). Similar findings were observed after excluding patients with pulmonary hypertension (-24.62 ± 4.87% vs. -27.62 ± 3.02%, p = 0.0041). RV PLSS was positively correlated with TAPSE (r = +0.49, p = 0.0027) and negatively correlated with Tei index (r = -0.34, p = 0.04) in c-SLE. RV PLSSR was not different comparing patients and controls (-0.65 s(-1 )± 0.47 vs. -1.87 ± 0.49 s(-1), p = 0.07). Further analysis of c-SLE patients revealed higher frequencies of neuropsychiatric manifestations (39% vs. 0%, p = 0.007) and antiphospholipid antibodies (55% vs. 18%, p = 0.035) in those with RV PLSS ≤ -23.7% vs >-23.7%. No differences were evidenced in demographic data, disease activity/damage or treatments (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study, using a new and more sensitive technique, revealed subclinical RV systolic dysfunction in c-SLE patients that may have future prognostic implications. The novel association of asymptomatic RV dysfunction with neuropsychiatric manifestations and antiphospholipid antibodies may suggest common physiopathological pathways.

Effect of ractopamine and conjugated linoleic acid on performance of late finishing pigs.

The dietary inclusion of feed additives to improve the carcass characteristics of the final product is of great importance for the pork production chain. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of the association of ractopamine (RAC) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the performance traits of finishing pigs during the last 26 days prior to slaughter. In total, 810 commercial hybrid barrows were used. Animals were distributed among treatments according to a randomised block design in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, with three RAC levels (0, 5 or 10 ppm) and three CLA levels (0, 0.3 or 0.6%). Pigs fed the diet with 5 ppm RAC had higher average daily feed intake (ADFI) (2.83 kg; P < 0.05) when compared with those fed 10 ppm RAC and the control diet (2.75 and 2.74 kg, respectively). Lower ADFI values (P < 0.01) were observed with the diets containing CLA compared with the control diet with no CLA (2.73 and 2.75 v. 2.85 kg/day, respectively). The average daily weight gain of pigs fed 5 and 10 ppm RAC was +148 and +173 g/dayhigher (P < 0.001), respectively, than those fed the control diet. Dietary RAC levels influenced (P < 0.001) feed conversion ratio (FCR), which was reduced as RAC levels increased, with the pigs fed 10, 5 and 0 ppm RAC presenting FCR values of 2.57, 2.71 and 3.05, respectively. FCR also improved (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of 0.6% CLA relative to the control diet (2.70 v. 2.84, respectively). There was a significant interaction between CLA × RAC levels (P < 0.01) for final BW, loin eye area (LEA) (P < 0.05) and backfat thickness (BT) (P < 0.05). The treatments containing 10 ppm RAC + 0.6% or 0.3% CLA increased LEA and reduced BT. In conclusion, the level of 10 ppm inclusion of RAC increased the overall performance parameters of pigs and therefore improved production efficiency. The combined use of RAC and CLA promoted a lower feed conversion ratio as well as better quantitative carcass traits, as demonstrated by the higher LEA and lower BT. The dietary inclusion of CLA at 0.3% improved feed efficiency, however, without affecting LEA or BT yields.

Activities of some Brazilian plants against larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

The insecticidal activities of extracts and oils of seventeen medicinal plants of Brazil have been determined using an Aedes aegypti larvicidal bioassay. Oils from Anacardium occidentalis, Copaifera langsdorffii, Carapa guianensis, Cymbopogon winterianus and Ageratum conyzoides showed high activities with LC50 values of 14.5, 41, 57, 98 and 148 microg/l, respectively. The most active ethanolic extract tested was that from the stem of Annona glabra which presented an LC50 value of 27 microg/l. The potential application of cashew nut oil, an industrial by-product with low commercial value, in the control of the vector of dengue and yellow fever, may be proposed.

The influence of fetal growth restriction on cardiovascular health among adolescents in Brazil: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether fetal growth restriction is associated with changes in cardiovascular risk factors later in life. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary-care hospital serving urban population from the Brazilian Northeast. PARTICIPANTS/PATIENTS: 172 adolescents aged 10-20 years were evaluated for the effects of fetal growth restriction on anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipids and fasting glucose and flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation. INTERVENTION: The adolescents' birth weight and their gestational age at birth were used to identify fetal growth restriction according to the 10th percentile and divided between exposed (<10th percentile) and not exposed (≥10th percentile). The Student-t test or the Mann-Whitney test and chi-square were used. The significance level was considered to be 0.05. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Current Anthropometric, metabolic and endothelial measures of subjects. RESULTS: The majority of the current anthropometric, metabolic and endothelial measures did not differ between groups. The unexposed group had a higher hip circumference (89.1 cm) and higher total cholesterol (196.4mg/dL) than those exposed (85.4 cm, 136.9mg/dL, respectively) (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In the sample studied, no association was found between fetal growth restriction and changes in cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents.

Bloqueio do plexo braquial em um tamanduá-mirim (Tamandua tetradactyla) utilizando estimulador de nervos periféricos: relato de caso / Brachial plexus block in a tamanduá-mirim (Tamandua tetradactyla) using a peripheral nerve stimulator: Case report

Objetivou-se relatar a utilização do neurolocalizador para bloqueio do plexo braquial bilateral em tamanduá-mirim (Tamandua tetradactyla). O animal, pesando 5kg, atendido pelo Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres, foi encaminhado ao Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul para realização de exames complementares, sendo, posteriormente, encaminhado para cirurgia de osteossíntese de úmero e rádio/ulna esquerdo e colocação de fio de cerclagem em olécrano direito. O paciente foi pré-medicado com cetamina S (5mg/kg) + midazolam (0,15mg/kg), indução anestésica com propofol (5mg/kg) e manutenção anestésica com isoflurano, com o auxílio de máscara. Os parâmetros cardiovasculares e respiratórios foram monitorados durante todo o procedimento. Realizou-se o bloqueio do plexo braquial em ambos os membros utilizando-se estimulador de nervos periféricos. Os anestésicos locais empregados foram lidocaína 2% sem vasoconstritor (3mg/kg) + ropivacaína 0,75% sem vasoconstritor (1mg/kg). O bloqueio foi realizado primeiramente no membro torácico direito, e, após realização do procedimento cirúrgico, o mesmo bloqueio foi realizado no membro contralateral. O paciente teve recuperação tranquila ausente de vocalização e expressão álgica, e a soltura ocorreu após 120 dias.(AU)

The aim of this study was to report the use of the neurolocalizer for blocking the bilateral brachial plexus in tamanduá-mirin. The subject weighing 5kg was attended by the Center for the Rehabilitation of Wild Animals and referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul for complementary tests. Through the examinations, the need to perform humerus and left radius/ulna osteosynthesis and cerclagem placement on right olecranon was established. For surgery performance, the patient was pre-medicated with ketamine S (5mg/kg-1) associated to midazolam (0.15mg/kg-1) via intramuscular and intravenous propofol (5mg/kg-1) was used for induction. The anesthetic maintenance was performed with isoflurane, provided by an oxygen mask. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were monitored throughout the procedure. Brachial plexus block was performed in both limbs using peripheral nerve stimulator. The local anesthetics used were lidocaine without vasoconstrictor (3mg/kg-1) plus 0.75% ropivacaine without vasoconstrictor (1mg/kg-1). Blocking was first performed on the right thoracic limb followed by the surgical procedure. The same blockage was performed on the contralateral limb. The patient had a smooth recovery, without vocalization and pain. The release to its natural habitat occurred after 120 days.(AU)

Applications of marine nutraceuticals in dairy products.

The concept of nutraceutical has been derived by coining the terms "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical". In this context, active substances with pharmaceutical properties are delivered to the humans through food-based approaches to prevent or treat certain disease conditions. Since the natural sources are recognized as safe for human consumption, the active substances produced in the diverse group of marine organisms have a wide role in the nutraceutical industry. These marine-derived active ingredients include certain polysaccharides, polyphenols, bioactive peptides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and carotenoids which are known to have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiobese, hypocholesteroleic, antimicrobial, prebiotic, and probiotic activity enabling them to be applied as nutraceuticals. As the dairy products are widely accepted by the consumers, the delivering of nutraceuticals through dairy products have received a greater attention of the dairy industry. Since the incorporation of marine-derived active ingredients into the dairy products have caused minimal changes in the physico-chemical properties of the final product, marine-derived substances have been widely applied and have the potential to be applied as nutraceuticals in the dairy industry.

Eletrocardiografia em onças-pardas (Puma concolor) anestesiadas com sevoflurano ou isoflurano / Electrocardiography in pumas (puma concolor) anesthetized with sevoflurane or isoflurane

O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever os achados eletrocardiográficos de 11 onças- pardas (Puma concolor). Os animais foram sedados com 0,15mg/kg de detomidina associado a 5mg/kg de cetamina e mantidos anestesiados com sevoflurano (GSEVO, n=6) ou isoflurano (GISO, n=5). A frequência cardíaca foi de 95 ± 13bpm. As alterações observadas nos animais no GSEVO foram: atrial standtill com condução ventricular, episódios isolados de contração ventricular prematura, bloqueio atrioventricular de primeiro grau, diminuição da amplitude do complexo QRS, onda S profunda e aumento da amplitude da onda T. No grupo GISO, observou-se bloqueio de ramo direito do feixe de His, bloqueio atrioventricular de primeiro grau e aumento da amplitude da onda T. Arritmias não puderam ser associadas ao uso dos anestésicos inalatórios devido à não sensibilização do miocárdio às catecolaminas. Achados como o BAV de primeiro grau pode ter ocorrido devido ao uso de agonistas alfa-2 adrenérgicos. Este estudo aumentou o conhecimento sobre as alterações eletrocardiográficas em onças-pardas anestesiadas, entretanto mais estudos são necessários para correlacionar estes achados ao uso de agentes anestésicos.(AU)

The aim of this study was to describe electrocardiographic findings in pumas (Puma concolor). The animals were sedated with 0.15mg/kg of detomidine plus 5mg/kg of ketamine and anesthetized with sevoflurane (GSEVO, n=6), or isoflurane (GISO, n=5). The heart rate was 95 ± 13bpm. The changes observed on GSEVO animals were: atrial standstill with ventricular conduction, isolated episodes of ventricular premature contraction, atrioventricular blockage of first degree, reduction of the amplitude of the QRS complexes, deep S wave, and increase of the amplitude of the T wave. In the GISO group a right bundle branch block of the His bundle, atrioventricular blockage of first degree and of the amplitude of the T wave. Arrhythmias couldn´t be related to the use of inhalant anesthesia due to the lack of myocardial awareness to catecholamines. Findings such as atrioventricular block in first degree may have occurred due to the use of alfa-2 adrenergic agonists. This study improved the knowledge about electrocardiographic alterations in anesthetized pumas, however further studies are required to correlate these findings to the use of anesthetic agents.(AU)

Molecular and serologic detection of Ehrlichia spp. in endangered Brazilian wild captive felids.

Ehrlichiosis, an emergent tick-borne disease that affects both humans and animals, may represent a threat to the survival and preservation of wild felids in Brazil. There are few studies of ehrlichiosis in wild felids in Brazil, but Ehrlichia spp. are present in domestic cats. Antibodies to Ehrlichia canis have been reported in a puma (Puma concolor). In this study we assessed the presence of these hemoparasites in the blood of Brazilian wild captive felids. Of the 72 animals tested, 5 (7%) were seropositive for the E. canis antigen, and 11 (15%) were positive for E. canis DNA sequences. We also performed sequence alignment to establish the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals using 16S rRNA and omp-1 genes. Sequences based on 16S rRNA were similar to those found in dogs and cats from Thailand, Brazil, China, and Taiwan and with E. canis obtained from a single individual (human) in Venezuela. Ehrlichia sp. sequence from sampled felines based on omp-1 gene was similar to the p28 and p30 multigene family of E. canis. To our knowledge, this is the first study of molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp. in Brazilian wild feline species.

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in captive neotropical and exotic wild canids and felids.

This study was designed to detect antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in wild captive carnivores maintained in Brazilian zoos. Blood samples were collected from 142 Brazilian wild felids and 19 exotic felids in zoos, and 3 European wolves (Canis lupus) and 94 Brazilian wild canids maintained in captivity in Brazilian zoos of São Paulo, Mato Grosso states and Federal District. One hundred and two (63.4%) and 70 (50.3%) of the 161 wild felids tested were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum by indirect immunofluorescent assay test (IFAT), respectively. Among sampled wild canids, 49 (50.5%) and 40 (41.2%) animals were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum antigens by IFAT, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first serological detection of antibodies to N. caninum in Brazilian wild captive felids and bush dogs (Speothos venaticus (Lund)).