Clinical, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations in domestic cats (Felis catus) infected by Leishmania infantum.

A high frequency of feline leishmaniasis has been reported in several countries. However, much information about disease progression in cats still needs to be clarified. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of clinicopathological changes in cats infected with Leishmania infantum. A total of 60 cats were divided into three groups of 20 animals each: control, suspects, and infected. All 60 cats underwent blood count and biochemical analyses. Serum samples from 20 animals with leishmaniasis were also used to diagnose feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus. A total of five of the infected animals underwent necropsy for a histopathological study. The main clinical findings in cats with leishmaniasis were lymphadenomegaly (65%), alopecia (55%), ulcerative skin lesions and weight loss (40%), skin nodules (25%), a significant reduction in red blood cells (p=0.0005) and hematocrit (p=0.0007), hyperplasia in spleen 4/5(80%), presence of Leishmania in the spleen 2/5(40%), hepatitis 3/5(60%), liver degeneration 4/5(80%) and inflammatory nephropathy 3/5(60%). It was concluded that cats with leishmaniasis presented significant clinical, hematological, and histopathological alterations compatible with L. infantum infection. The observation of lymphadenomegaly, weight loss, skin lesions and low concentration of red blood cells, contributes significantly to the diagnosis and analysis of progression of feline leishmaniasis.

Clinical, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations in domestic cats (Felis catus) infected by Leishmania infantum / Avaliação clínica, hematológica, bioquímica e histopatológica em gatos domésticos (Felis catus) infectados por Leishmania infantum

A high frequency of feline leishmaniasis has been reported in several countries. However, much information about disease progression in cats still needs to be clarified. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of clinicopathological changes in cats infected with Leishmania infantum. A total of 60 cats were divided into three groups of 20 animals each: control, suspects, and infected. All 60 cats underwent blood count and biochemical analyses. Serum samples from 20 animals with leishmaniasis were also used to diagnose feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus. A total of five of the infected animals underwent necropsy for a histopathological study. The main clinical findings in cats with leishmaniasis were lymphadenomegaly (65%), alopecia (55%), ulcerative skin lesions and weight loss (40%), skin nodules (25%), a significant reduction in red blood cells (p=0.0005) and hematocrit (p=0.0007), hyperplasia in spleen 4/5(80%), presence of Leishmania in the spleen 2/5(40%), hepatitis 3/5(60%), liver degeneration 4/5(80%) and inflammatory nephropathy 3/5(60%). It was concluded that cats with leishmaniasis presented significant clinical, hematological, and histopathological alterations compatible with L. infantum infection. The observation of lymphadenomegaly, weight loss, skin lesions and low concentration of red blood cells, contributes significantly to the diagnosis and analysis of progression of feline leishmaniasis.(AU)

Uma alta frequência de leishmaniose felina tem sido relatada em vários países. No entanto, muitas informações sobre a progressão da doença em gatos ainda precisam ser esclarecidas. Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a ocorrência de alterações clinicopatológicas em gatos infectados por Leishmania infantum. Um total de 60 gatos foi dividido em três grupos de 20 animais cada: controle, suspeitos e infectados. Todos os 60 gatos foram submetidos à hemograma e testes bioquímicos. Amostras de soro de 20 animais com leishmaniose também foram utilizadas para diagnosticar o vírus da imunodeficiência felina e o vírus da leucemia felina. Um total de cinco dos animais infectados foram necropsiados para estudo histopatológico. Os principais achados clínicos nos gatos com leishmaniose foram linfadenomegalia (65%), alopecia (55%), lesões ulcerativas na pele e emagrecimento (40%), nódulos cutâneos (25%), redução significativa de hemácias (p=0,0005) e hematócrito (p=0,0007), hiperplasia no baço 4/5(80%), presença de Leishmania no baço 2/5(40%), hepatite 3/5(60%), degeneração hepática 4/5(80%) e nefropatia inflamatória 3/5(60%). Concluiu-se que gatos com leishmaniose apresentaram alterações clínicas, hematológicas e histopatológicas significativas compatíveis com infecção por L. infantum. A observação de linfadenomegalia, emagrecimento, lesões cutâneas e baixa concentração de hemácias, contribui significativamente para o diagnóstico e análise da progressão da leishmaniose felina.(AU)

Infection of Lutzomyia longipalpis in cats infected with Leishmania infantum.

The clinical manifestations most frequently observed in cats with leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum are cutaneous alterations, which suggest a high parasitic load in the skin and the possibility of infecting a vector. This study evaluated the infectiousness of to phlebotomine sand flies cats infected with L. infantum. A total of 12 cats with infection by L. infantum from the city of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, were included in the study. Cats were diagnosed by direct visualization of the parasite. Laboratory-bred insects, free from infection by Leishmania spp. were offered a blood meal for 60 min on cats infected with L. infantum. On the fifth and sixth day after the blood meal, flies were dissected to assess promastigote forms of the parasite in the digestive system. Eight cats (67 %) were able to infect the vectors. The frequency of infected insects per cat ranged 0.0-94.4%. The mean frequency of insects feeding on cats was 95.2 %. Large numbers of the parasite were observed per insect, but were not quantified. The result confirm that cats are able to infect L. longipalpis, indicating that cats are part of the epidemiological chain of VL, acting as reservoir of the disease.

Ética e bem-estar em animais de laboratório / Ethics and welfare in laboratory animals

A utilização de animais de laboratório nos trabalhos experimentais de pesquisa científica tem sido de fundamental importância. Diversas espécies de animais são estudadas e utilizadas na experimentação, porém o camundongo é o animal mais usado nesses procedimentos, destacando-se como um modelo experimental de grande importância para a ciência. A cobaia é conhecida, por muitos, como símbolo representativo dos animais de laboratório, atualmente, as cobaias são muito utilizadas em experimentações ligadas à nutrição, farmacologia, imunologia, alergia, radiologia etc. Coelho é um modelo animal que destaca indubitável importância para o cresci-mento científico e tecnológico da sociedade no âmbito laboratorial. Um dos animais normalmente utilizados em laboratório é o hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) e isso se deve a seus atributos biológicos. A variedade doméstica de Rattus norvegicustem sido empregada para fins experimentais em virtude da facilidade de manejo, prolificidade, alojamento.

The use of laboratory animals in experimental scientific research has been of fundamental importance. Several species of animals are studied and used in the experimentation, but the mouse is the animal most used in these procedures, standing out as an experimental model of great importance for science. The guinea pig is known by many as a representative symbol of laboratory animals. Currently, guinea pigs are widely used in experiments linked to nutrition, pharmacology, immunology, allergy, radiology, etc. Rabbit is an animal model that highlights undoubted importance for the scientific and technological growth of society in the laboratory. One of the animals normally used in the laboratory is the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) and this is due to its biological attributes. The domestic variety of Rattus norvegicus has been used for experimental purposes due to the ease of handling, prolificacy, lodging.

Ética e bem-estar em animais de laboratório / Ethics and welfare in laboratory animals

A utilização de animais de laboratório nos trabalhos experimentais de pesquisa científica tem sido de fundamental importância. Diversas espécies de animais são estudadas e utilizadas na experimentação, porém o camundongo é o animal mais usado nesses procedimentos, destacando-se como um modelo experimental de grande importância para a ciência. A cobaia é conhecida, por muitos, como símbolo representativo dos animais de laboratório, atualmente, as cobaias são muito utilizadas em experimentações ligadas à nutrição, farmacologia, imunologia, alergia, radiologia etc. Coelho é um modelo animal que destaca indubitável importância para o cresci-mento científico e tecnológico da sociedade no âmbito laboratorial. Um dos animais normalmente utilizados em laboratório é o hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) e isso se deve a seus atributos biológicos. A variedade doméstica de Rattus norvegicustem sido empregada para fins experimentais em virtude da facilidade de manejo, prolificidade, alojamento.(AU)

The use of laboratory animals in experimental scientific research has been of fundamental importance. Several species of animals are studied and used in the experimentation, but the mouse is the animal most used in these procedures, standing out as an experimental model of great importance for science. The guinea pig is known by many as a representative symbol of laboratory animals. Currently, guinea pigs are widely used in experiments linked to nutrition, pharmacology, immunology, allergy, radiology, etc. Rabbit is an animal model that highlights undoubted importance for the scientific and technological growth of society in the laboratory. One of the animals normally used in the laboratory is the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) and this is due to its biological attributes. The domestic variety of Rattus norvegicus has been used for experimental purposes due to the ease of handling, prolificacy, lodging.(AU)

Association Between Serum Hemoglobin Levels and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Mexican Population.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with overweight and obesity, becoming one of the most prevalent hepatic diseases nowadays. Circulating hemoglobin (Hb) concentration is significantly higher in people with NAFLD, compared to healthy patients. While liver biopsy remains the gold standard for NAFLD diagnosis, it is not the best technique due to adverse events that may occur. Therefore it is important to find less invasive and more sensitive markers. This study aimed to determine the association of serum Hb levels in patients with steatosis and fibrosis as a noninvasive marker. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 1,186 patient cross-sectional study nested in a randomized clinical trial (NCT01874249) was conducted. Patients were diagnosed by ultrasound for hepatic steatosis and fibroscan for fibrosis; blood test and anthropometric measurements were also assessed. RESULTS: Serum Hb increased proportionally related to the steatosis level, being significantly higher in patients with severe steatosis than in patients with moderate and mild steatosis. CONCLUSION: Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease showed elevated levels of circulating Hb, evidence that suggests that Hb exerts a protective role, as it may act as an antioxidant and may counteract the adverse effects of this disease.

Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis association with cardiovascular risk and liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide. Mortality in NAFLD is mainly related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. NAFLD and its association with both CVD and liver disease risk have been well evaluated, but the association of NAFLD with alcohol, known as "both alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis" (BASH), remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of alcohol and obesity in the development of liver and cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: This was a case-control study that included patients from a regular check-up. Alcohol consumption was evaluated with MAST, AUDIT, and CAGE. Cardiovascular risk was evaluated using the Framingham score, and liver fibrosis was evaluated with APRI and NAFLD score. Patients were classified in five groups: healthy patients, steatosis with obesity, steatosis with alcoholism, BASH, and idiopathic steatosis. RESULTS: A total of 414 patients were included. The BASH group represented 16% of patients, and showed a greater proportion of patients with high cardiovascular risk with 17% (p = 0.001), and liver fibrosis with 9%, according to the APRI score (p = 0.10). A multivariate logistic regression showed that alcohol consumption >140 g/week (OR 2.546, 95% CI 1.11-5.81, p = 0.003) and BMI >25 kg/m2 (OR 12.64, 95% CI 1.66 96.20, p = 0.001) were related to high cardiovascular risk. Liver fibrosis according to APRI was only related to alcohol consumption >140 g/week (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1-7.48, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: BASH remains an area not well explored, and of great implication given the increasing number of patients affected. We observed an additive effect of both etiologies in the development of high cardiovascular and liver disease risk.

Automedicación en estudiantes de quinto año de medicina en la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras en el periodo de octubre a diciembre del 2014

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar los Conocimientos Actitudes y Prácticas quetenían los estudiantes de Quinto año de Medicina de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicasde la UNAH, sobre la Automedicación. La muestra principal del estudio estuvocomprendida de 256 estudiantes de las diferentes pasantías, conformado tanto dehombre y Mujeres, entre la edad de 24 años, siendo la mayor parte solteros. De losestudiantes de quinto año de medicina de la facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la UNAHel 76.2% reporto haberse automedicado en los últimos 6 meses, con respecto al 23.8%que no se automedicaron. Sin embargo de la cantidad de alumnos que seautomedicaron si reportaron que tenían el conocimiento del concepto deAutomedicación, además del conocimiento el 89.2% respondió que esta práctica no eraadecuada y solo el 10.8% consideraba que era no adecuada. Siendo los medicamentosque más utilizaron los analgésicos en segundo lugar los antigripales y el tercer lugar losantibióticos, siendo los efectos adversos que más reportaron haber manifestado fueronGastrointestinales, Neurológicos, Dermatológicos e Hipersensibilidad.Dentro de las Motivaciones extrínsecas que llevaron a los estudiantes de quinto año demedicina a automedicarse fue el alto costo de la consulta médica , el largo tiempo deespera en la atención del servicio público y la baja calidad en la atención pública,además las motivaciones intrínsecas que manifestaron los estudiantes fueron síntomasno tan serios como para acudir al médico, confianza en los que se automedican, la altademanda académica, suficiente conocimiento y estrés, fue importante establecer cuálesfueron las fuentes de información que utilizaron y la mayoría respondió utilizar lo queanteriormente le receto el medico seguido de libros y el internet. Con respecto al lugardonde obtuvieron los medicamentos la mayoría de estudiantes reporto haberloadquirido en la Farmacia, pulpería y supermercado...

Controladores del tiempo y el envejecimiento: núcleo supraquiasmático y glándula pineal / Aging process entrainment: suprachiasmatic nucleus and pineal gland

El núcleo supraquiasmático (NSQ) es el principal reloj biológico de los mamíferos y sincroniza la actividad de la glándula pineal al ciclo luz-oscuridad a través de una vía polisináptica. El efecto de asa de retroalimentación neuroendocrina se lleva a cabo por la melatonina. El presente trabajo pretende demostrar que la glándula pineal modula la sensibilidad a la luz en el NSQ. Se utilizaron ratas Wistar, y se asignaron a 3 grupos: grupo A (falsa pinealectomía -sham-, sin luz), grupo B (falsa pinealectomía -sham- + luz) y grupo C al cual se le realizó la pinealectomía + luz, después de la manipulación se sacrifican para realizar inmunohistoquímica para c-Fos y al final conteo celular por técnica de estereología. Se obtuvo una reducción del 46,8% del promedio de células inmunorreactivas a c-Fos en el grupo C en comparación del grupo B. Este trabajo muestra que la sensibilidad a la luz está modulada por la actividad de la glándula pineal.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the main and major biological clock in mammals and is responsible for the synchronization of the pineal gland to the light/darkness cycle through a polysynaptic pathway. The neuroendocrine feedback loop effect is carried out by melatonin. This study was carried out to demonstrate that the pineal gland adjusts the sensibility to light in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Wistar rats were allocated in 3 groups: Group A (sham pinalectomy, without light), group B (sham pinealectomy + light) and group C which underwent real pinalectomy + light. After the intervention the animals were slain to perform immunohistochemistry for c-Fos and cell counting by stereology technique. A 46.8% average reduction in c-Fos immunoreactive cells was achieved in-group C as compared with group B. The present work shows that sensibility to the light is modulate by the activity of the pineal gland.

Validation study of systems for noninvasive diagnosis of fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Latin population.

Background. The incidence of liver cirrhosis is significantly high in Latin population. The high prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD is likely partially responsible for these figures. Liver biopsy is not a practical diagnostic option in this scenario. The validation of noninvasive markers of fibrosis is important in populations with a high prevalence of NAFLD. Aim. To compare the diagnostic value of noninvasive assessment systems to detect fibrosis in a cohort of Latin patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Material and methods. Patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. Noninvasive evaluations included calculations of NAFLD fibrosis, FIB-4, BARD scores, APRI, and AST/ALT ratio. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) were calculated. Results. A total of 228 patients (mean age, 48.6 ± 12.7 years) were included. Fifty-one percent were women; 48% were overweight and 23% were obese. The severity of fibrosis was classified as G0, 56.6%; G1, 25%; G2, 6.6%; G3, 7%; and G4, 4.8%. The AUROC values for advanced fibrosis were 0.72 for the NAFLD fibrosis score, 0.74 for FIB-4 score, 0.67 for AST/ALT ratio, 0.66 for APRI score, and 0.65 for BARD score. In 54% of patients with undetermined FIB-4 score and in 60% of patients with undetermined NAFLD fibrosis score, fibrosis was observed in the liver biopsy. Conclusions. The NAFLD fibrosis, FIB-4, and APRI scores can be used for the noninvasive diagnosis of fibrosis. However, 25% of patients evaluated by these methods have an indeterminate degree of fibrosis.