Anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of annexin1 on erectile function after cavernous nerve injury in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic actions of ANX1 on erectile function (EF). Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four equal groups: one group (sham operation-control) and three groups (bilateral cavernous nerve (CN) crush injury). Crush injury groups were treated prior to injury with an intravascular injection of either ANX1 (50 or 100 µg kg-1) or vehicle. EF was assessed by CN electrical stimulation at 2 and 7 days after CN injury with histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. ANX1 demonstrated functional preservation as the increase in intracavernous pressure (ICP). A dose-response relationship regarding the effect on penile tissue was confirmed, and preservation of the penile dorsal nerves and anti-apoptotic effects in the corpus cavernosum (real P-value vs injured control). ANX1 treatment prevented collagen deposition and smooth muscle loss in the penis. ANX1 normalized the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α in the lumen of the blood vessels of the organ. ANX1 proved effective in preserving EF in a rat model of neurogenic erectile dysfunction. ANX1 treatment before CN injury in rats improved erectile recovery, enhanced vascular regeneration and preserved the micro-architecture of the corpus cavernosum. The clinical availability of this compound merits application in penile rehabilitation studies following radical prostatectomy.

[Evacuation plan of an intensive care unit: a new quality indicator?]. / Plan de evacuación de la unidad de cuidados intensivos: ¿un nuevo indicador de calidad?

The intensive care units must be prepared for a possible disaster, whether internal or external, in case it becomes necessary to evacuate the in-patients. They must have an Emergency and Self-protection Plan that includes the patient evacuation criteria and this must be known by all the personnel who work in the service. For that reason, the patients must be triaged, based on their attention priorities, according to their survival possibilities. Having an evacuation, known by all the personnel and updated by means of the performance of periodic drills, should be included as a quality indicator that must be met, since this would achieve better attention to the patient in case of a disaster situation requiring the evacuation of the ICU.

Plan de evacuación de la unidad de cuidados intensivos: ¿un nuevo indicador de calidad? / Evacuation plan of an intensive care unit: A new quality indicator?

Las unidades de cuidados intensivos deben estar preparadas para un eventual desastre, bien sea de índole interno o externo, donde sea necesario evacuar a los pacientes ingresados. Deben disponer de un Plan de Emergencia y Autoprotección donde estén recogidos los criterios de evacuación de los pacientes, que debe conocer todo el personal que trabaja en el servicio. Para esto, habrá que hacer un triaje a los pacientes basándose en las prioridades de atención y según las posibilidades de supervivencia. El disponer de un plan de evacuación, conocido por todo el personal y actualizado mediante la realización de simulacros periódicos, debería incluirse como un indicador de calidad que se debería cumplir, ya que con esto se conseguiría una mejor atención al paciente en caso de presentarse una situación de desastre donde hubiere que evacuar la unidad de cuidados intensivos (AU)

The intensive care units must be prepared for a possible disaster, whether internal or external, in case it becomes necessary to evacuate the in-patients. They must have an Emergency and Self-protection Plan that includes the patient evacuation criteria and this must be known by all the personnel who work in the service. For that reason, the patients must be triaged, based on their attention priorities, according to their survival possibilities. Having an evacuation, known by all the personnel and updated by means of the performance of periodic drills, should be included as a quality indicator that must be met, since this would achieve better attention to the patient in case of a disaster situation requiring the evacuation of the ICU (AU)

Mycobiota and aflatoxins in raw materials and pet food in Brazil.

Commercial feedstuffs are a basic element in modern pet husbandry in the world. In dogs, the effect of mycotoxins is severe and can lead to death. Few reports on the influence of dietary mycotoxins were found in the scientific literature. The aims of this work were to isolate and identify the mycoflora and to determine the aflatoxins (AFs) natural occurrence in raw materials and ready dry pet food. Therefore, the aflatoxigenic capacity of Aspergillus flavus species was investigated. Aspergillus was the prevalent genera (65-89%) followed by Penicillium and Fusarium spp. Aspergillus flavus was the most prevalent species, followed by Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus versicolor. Aspergillus flavus frequencies ranged from 58% to 86% except in sorghum meal. All samples assayed (except corn grains and ready pet food) showed Fusarium spp. contamination. Corn meal and corn meal and gluten samples had 100% Fusarium verticillioides. Fusarium graminearum was isolated from sorghum meal. Aspergillus flavus strains (75%) isolated from raw materials and 57% from pet food were able to produce AFs. All samples showed AFs contamination percentages over 70%; corn and sorghum meal obtained the highest AFs levels. Ready pet food did not show quantitative levels of the tested toxins. This is the first report of the aflatoxigenic capacity by A. flavus from Brazilian pet food.