Ecotoxicity assessment of particulate matter emitted from heavy-duty diesel-powered vehicles: influence of leaching conditions.

Concerns regarding the environmental impact of diesel exhaust particulate matter (DPM) have increased in recent years. Following emission to the atmosphere, these fine materials can sorb many contaminants at their surface, which can subsequently be released, for instance, due to physicochemical environmental changes. The desorption of contaminants from particulate matter will increase the environmental pollution and can promote ecotoxicological effects. In this context, the objective of this study was to assess the aquatic ecotoxicity profile of extracts of DPM obtained at two different pH values. Thus, after collecting particulate matter from the diesel exhaust of heavy engines, extracts were obtained with pure water (at pH 2.00 and 5.00) and with a mixture of three organic solvents (dichloromethane, n-hexane, and acetone). To assess the environmental impact of DPM, the exhaust extracts were used in a battery of aquatic bioassays including key organisms of the food chain: bacteria (Aliivibrio fischeri), algae (Scenedesmus subspicatus), daphnids (Daphnia magna), and fishes (Danio rerio). The aqueous leachate at natural pH (2.0) and solvent extracts were extremely ecotoxic, while the aqueous leachate at pH = 5.0 showed the lowest ecotoxicity. The global ranking of sensitivity for the biotests tested was daphnids > algae > bacteria > fishes. Thus, the use of this bioassay battery could improve our understanding of the impact of DPM on aquatic environments, which is dependent on the pH of the leaching process.

Physical training improves body weight and energy balance but does not protect against hepatic steatosis in obese mice.

This study sought to determine the role of physical training (PT) on body weight (BW), energy balance, histological markers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic gene expression in the liver of ob/ob mice. Adult male ob/ob mice were assigned into groups sedentary (S; n = 8) and trained (T; n = 9). PT consisted in running sessions of 60 min at 60% of maximal speed conducted five days per week for eight weeks. BW of S group was higher from the 4(th) to 8(th) week of PT compared to their own BW at the beginning of the experiment. PT decreased daily food intake and increased resting oxygen consumption and energy expenditure in T group. No difference was observed in respiratory exchange ratio, but the rates of carbohydrate and lipids oxidation, and maximal running capacity were greater in T than S group. Both groups showed liver steatosis but not inflammation. PT increased CPT1a and SREBP1c mRNA expression in T group, but did not change MTP, PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and NFKB mRNA expression. In conclusion, PT prevented body weight gain in ob/ob mice by inducing negative energy balance and increased physical exercise tolerance. However, PT did not change inflammatory gene expression and failed to prevent liver steatosis possible due to an upregulation in the expression of SREBP1c transcription factor. These findings reveal that PT has positive effect on body weight control but not in the liver steatosis in a leptin deficiency condition.

Relation between anaemia and bone marrow features and serum erythropoietin in dogs with chronic kidney disease / Relação entre anemia e achados de medula óssea e eritropoetina sérica em cães com doença renal crônica

Chronic anaemia is one of the most severe complications of chronic kidney disease, contributing to morbidity and mortality caused by the disease; therefore, bone marrow cytological evaluation is needed to monitor the progression of anaemia. This study aimed to correlate the anaemia in dogs at different stages of chronic kidney disease with their serum biochemistry, myelogram results and serum erythropoietin findings. Sixty-three dogs were grouped according to International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) classification in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. Haematologic, serum and urinary biochemistry and serum erythropoietin were performed for comparison with the findings of bone marrow cytology obtained by aspiration of the manubrium. Cytological findings for erythroid hypoplasia were described in 93.65% of dogs, and the anaemia was observed in 84.1% of them. The haematological findings were correlated with azotaemia (p<0.05). It was concluded that the erythroid hypoplasia has correlation with persistent anaemia in dogs at all stages of chronic kidney disease, with iron deficiency in dogs in the early stages and with peripheral destruction of erythrocytes caused by azotaemia.(AU)

A anemia crônica é umas das complicações mais graves da doença renal crônica, contribuindo para a morbidade e mortalidade causada pela doença; Portanto, a avaliação citológica da medula óssea é necessária para monitorar a progressão da anemia. Assim, esse estudo objetivou correlacionar a anemia em cães em diferentes estágios da doença renal crônica aos achados de bioquímica sérica, mielograma e concentração sérica de eritropoietina. Sessenta e três cães foram agrupados de acordo com a classificação da International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) em estágios 1, 2, 3 e 4. Foram realizadas análises hematológicas, bioquímicas séricas e urinárias, e dosagem sérica de eritropoetina para comparação com os achados medulares obtidos por citologia aspirativa do manúbrio. Os achados citológicos de hipoplasia eritróide foram descritos em 93,65% dos cães, e a anemia foi observada em 84,1% dos cães. Os resultados hematológicos foram correlacionados com azotemia (p<0,05). Concluiu-se que a hipoplasia eritróide teve associação com a anemia persistente em cães em todas as fases de doença renal crônica, com deficiência de ferro em cães em fases iniciais e com a destruição periférica dos eritrócitos causada pela azotemia.(AU)

Avaliação de peptídeo natriurético em cães doentes renais crônicos / Natriuretic peptide assessment in dogs with chronic kidney disease

Na doença renal crônica (DRC), a hipertensão arterial é uma das complicações mais comuns, que pode estar associada a liberação dos peptídeos natriuréticos e a hipertrofia ventricular no homem. Em cães os peptídeos natriuréticos são estudados como biomarcadores cardíacos, mas ainda se desconhece sua função em cães com DRC. Desta forma, este estudo teve como objetivo relacionar a concentração sérica de peptídeo natriurético B aos achados de pressão arterial, eletrocardiográficos, eletrolíticos, hematológicos e bioquímicos séricos e urinários em cães nos distintos estágios da DRC. Foram constatadas diferenças significativas na relação de proteína creatinina urinária (UPC, p=0,006), anemia, creatinina e uréia sérica (p<0,001) nos grupos de doentes renais comparado com saudáveis. Apesar das variações de pressão arterial, amplitude e intervalo QRS e fósforo não serem significativas, foi observada tendência de alteração desses valores com o avanço da doença. Não foi observado correlação entre BNP (peptídeo natriurético cerebral) e DRC.(AU)

In chronic kidney disease (CKD) hypertension is one of the most common complications that may be associated with the release of natriuretic peptides and ventricular hypertrophy in humans. In dogs the natriuretic peptides are studied as cardiac biomarkers, but still unaware their function in dogs with CKD. Thus, this study aimed to relate the serum natriuretic peptide B with blood pressure findings, electrocardiographic, electrolyte, blood and serum and urinary biochemistry in dogs in different stages of CKD. Significant differences were found in urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPC, p=0.006), anemia, serum creatinine and urea (p<0.001) in the group of patients with renal disease compared with the healthy group. Despite the variation in blood pressure, amplitude and QRS interval and phosphorus are not significant, a tendency for alterations of these values was observed with the advance of the disease. There was no correlation between BNP and CKD.(AU)