Long-term assessment of a modified tibial tuberosity advancement technique in dogs / Avaliação em longo prazo da técnica de avanço da tuberosidade tibial modificada em cães

The purpose of study was to assess long-term clinical and radiographic aspects of dogs' stifle joints which had undergone a modified tibial tuberosity advancement technique (mTTA). A total of 15 stifles that had undergone mTTA for CCL disease of 11 patients were included in this study. Assessments involved patient's gait analysis, cranial drawer and tibial compression tests, stifle goniometry range of articular motion, thigh and leg girth and radiographic evidence of progression of osteoarthrosis. Variables were compared between operated and healthy limbs and among moments (M0) on the early postop; (M1) 120 days postop; and (M2) approximately 5 years following surgery. A questionnaire regarding owner's perceptions after approximately 5 years of surgery was assessed. Most dogs presented positive response to cranial drawer and tibial compression tests on operated knees. There was also decrease on goniometry and thigh girth and increase in leg girth. Radiographic evidence of progression of osteoarthritis was seen especially on the long-term follow-up (M2). On gait analysis, most animals presented some degree of lameness in different conditions, in contrast to owners' perceptions. Osteoarthritis still develops in dogs following mTTA surgery for CCL disease. However, owners were overall satisfied with their recovery and would be willing to accept indication of mTTA for dogs with ruptured CCL.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, em longo prazo, aspectos clínicos e radiográficos do joelho de cães submetidos à técnica modificada de avanço da tuberosidade da tíbia (mTTA). Um total de 15 joelhos de 11 pacientes foram submetidos à mTTA para correção de doença do ligamento cruzado cranial. A avaliação envolvia análise de marcha do paciente, teste de compressão tibial e de gaveta, goniometria do joelho para amplitude articular, circunferência das pernas e coxas e evidência radiográfica de progressão da osteoartrose. As variáveis foram comparadas entre membros operados e saudáveis e entre os momentos (M0) no pós-operatório imediato; (M1) 120 dias de pós-operatório; e (M2) aproximadamente cinco anos após a cirurgia. Foi avaliado um questionário sobre as percepções do proprietário após aproximadamente cinco anos de cirurgia. A maioria dos cães apresentou resposta positiva aos testes de gavetas e de compressão tibial em joelhos operados. Houve também diminuição na goniometria e na circunferência da coxa e aumento do perímetro das pernas. Evidências radiográficas de progressão da osteoartrite foram observadas especialmente no seguimento de longo prazo (M2). Na análise de marcha, a maioria dos animais apresentou algum grau de claudicação em diferentes condições, em contraste com as percepções dos proprietários. A osteoartrite ainda se desenvolve em cães após a cirurgia de mTTA para doença CCL. No entanto, os proprietários estavam, em geral, satisfeitos com a recuperação dos animais e estavam dispostos a aceitar a indicação de mTTA para cães com doença do ligamento cruzado cranial.(AU)

Synthetic phosphoethanolamine has in vitro and in vivo anti-leukemia effects.

BACKGROUND: We recently showed that synthetic phosphoethanolamine reduces tumour growth and inhibits lung metastasis in vivo. Here, we investigated its anti-leukaemia effects using acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) as a model. METHODS: Cytotoxic effects of Pho-s on leukaemia cells were evaluated by MTT assay. Leukaemic cells obtained from hCG-PML-RARa transgenic mice were transplanted to NOD/SCID mice. After the animals were diagnosed as leukaemic, treatment started with Pho-s using all-trans retinoid acid or daunorubicin as positive control or and saline control. Cell morphology and immunophenotyping were used to detect the undifferentiated blast cells in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. The induction of apoptosis in vitro and in malignant leukaemic clones was evaluated. RESULTS: Synthetic phosphoethanolamine is cytotoxic and induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway in vitro to leukaemia cell lines. In vivo Pho-s exhibits anti-proliferative effects in APL model reducing the number of CD117(+) and Gr-1(+) immature myeloid cells in the BM, spleen and liver. Synthetic phosphoethanolamine impairs the expansion of malignant clones CD34(+)/CD117(+), CD34(+) and Gr-1(+) in the BM. In addition, Pho-s induces apoptosis of immature cells in the spleen and liver, a notable effect. CONCLUSION: Synthetic phosphoethanolamine has anti-leukaemic effects in an APL model by inhibiting malignant clone expansion, suggesting that it is an interesting compound for leukaemia treatment.

Estudo do derivado do óleo de Ricinus communis L. (mamona) como agente biocida e redutor da viscosidade produzida por Leuconostoc mesenteroides em indústrias sucroalcooleiras / Study of a Ricinus communis L. (castor oil) derivative as a biocidal agent and viscosity reducer on Leuconostoc mesenteroides in the sugar and alcohol industries

Das sementes da mamona extrai-se o óleo de rícino, utilizado in natura ou em sua forma modificada nas áreas médica, farmacêutica e industrial. Um de seus derivados químicos - o Poliquilgerm® - evidencia propriedades antifúngicas sobre Candida albicans e bacteriostática/ bactericida sobre Escherichia coli no nível de 99,9%. Considerando-se essas propriedades, aplicouse o Poliquilgerm® em culturas de Leuconostoc mesenteroides, uma das espécies de bactéria contaminante dos mostos em indústrias sucroalcooleiras. Esta bactéria quando presente em mostos produz além do ácido láctico, a dextrana, que é um polímero da glicose que aumenta a viscosidade dos fluidos dos processos. No presente trabalho avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes concentrações do Poliquilgerm® sobre a viscosidade produzida por L. mesenteroides em diferentes meios de cultivo, condições de pH, e temperatura. Verificou-se 20,56% de diminuição da viscosidade quando se utilizou 1,0% do produto, além da inibição do crescimento da bactéria após 20 horas em contato com 1,0 e 0,2% de Poliquilgerm®. L. mesenteroides apresentou melhor crescimento em valores de pH 6,0, tanto a 28 como a 33º C, evidenciado pela maior produção de biomassa. Além disso, em meio de cultura neste pH verificou-se maior porcentagem de diminuição da viscosidade em ambas as concentrações utilizadas. Estas mesmas concentrações alcançaram até 100% de diminuição das UFC/mL após 24 horas em contato com o produto, evidenciado por quantificação da biomassa e confirmado mediante plaqueamento pela técnica "Pour Plate".

Castor-oil, extracted from seeds of Ricinus communis L., is normally used in natura or in its modified form in the medical, pharmaceutical and industrial areas. One of its chemical derivates ­ Poliquilgerm® ­ has shown antifungal properties on Candida albicans, and bacteriostatic/bactericide effects on Escherichia coli reaching 99.9%. Considering these features, in the present study Poliquilgerm® was applied in cultures of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, a frequent contaminant bacterium of musts in the sugar and alcohol industries. This bacterium, when a contaminant of must, produces lactic acid as well as dextran, a polymer of glucose which may increase the viscosity of fluids in the operation. The present study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of Poliquilgerm® on viscosity produced by L. mesenteroides cultures under different conditions of various culture media, pH and temperature. A 20.56% decrease in viscosity was verified when 1.0% of the product was used, and bacterium growth inhibition after 20 hours in media with 1.0 and 0.2% of Poliquilgerm®. L. mesenteroides showed a higher growth rate in pH 6.0, at both 28 and 33º C, evidenced by greater biomass production. Also, in the culture media at this pH a greater decrease in viscosity percentages was verified at both concentrations used. The media with these same concentrations reached up to 100% decrease of UFC/mL after 24 hours in the presence of the product, observed by biomass quantification and confirmed by the Pour Plate technique.

Elimination of the copper-zinc interference in anodic stripping voltammetry by addition of a complexing agent.

The addition of cyanide and Triton X-100 suppress the formation of the CuZn intermetallic compound in ASV making it possible to determine traces of zinc(II) in the presence of an excess of copper ions. The precision of the method (5%) and the accuracy (error of 1.4%) in sea water are satisfactory.

Analytical data: Potentiometric study of the association constant of isothiocyanic acid.

The association constant of isothiocyanic acid, HNCS, has been determined potentiometrically and found to be 0.135 +/- 0.007 and 0.168 +/- 0.007 at ionic strengths (NaClO(4)) of 2.0 and 4.0M respectively. The indicator electrode was Hg(SCN)(2-)(4)/Hg. For accuracy and precision the metal phase was used in the form of a dropping electrode. Because the association constant is so low, liquid-junction potentials would cause significant errors, since a strong acid was added to the working solutions in the procedure, and an estimate of this effect was taken into account.