Citologia vaginal de preguiça-de-coleira (bradypus torquatus) / Vaginal cytology of maned sloth (bradypus torquatus)

As preguiças-de-coleira (Bradypus torquatus) são mamíferos arborícolas da família Bradypodidae. Podem ser encontradas nos trechos de Mata Atlântica do Brasil e a maior diversidade genética de suas populações ocorre em matas do sul da Bahia. A observação desses animais na natureza é muito difícil, pois passam a maior parte da vida escondidos no denso emaranhado das copas, por isso, dados sobre aspectos reprodutivos são escassos e não existem informações sobre ciclo estral dessa espécie. Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as células do epitélio vaginal da preguiça-de-coleira (Bradypus torquatus) como forma de viabilizar o uso dessa técnica para estudar as fases do ciclo estral desses animais. As amostras para citologia vaginal foram obtidas de quatro preguiças de coleira que habitavam áreas de Mata Atlântica do sul da Bahia. Após captura manual do animal, procedeu-se a coleta de material biológico, introduzindo uma escova ginecológica estéril, na comissura dorsal da vulva. Para cada amostra foram feitos dois esfregaços rotacionando a extremidade da escova sobre cada lâmina de vidro, fazendo-se em geral três impressões lineares. O esfregaço foi imediatamente corado pelo método Panótico rápido (Laborclin®). Nas preguiças BT033, BT065 e BT042 foi possível identificar respectivamente 30%, 33% e 7% de células parabasais (PB); 56%, 22% e 10% de células intermediárias pequenas (IP); 6%, 18% e 6% de células intermediárias grandes (IG); 2%, 13% e 24% de células superficiais nucleadas (SN); 6%, 14% e 53% de células superficiais anucleadas (SA). Na preguiça BT464 foi possível fazer duas coletas com intervalo de 13 meses. Os dados da primeira e segunda coleta foram, respectivamente: 6% e 17,5 de células PB, 5% e 25% de células IP, 11% e 15,5% de células IG, 8% e 19,5% de células SN e 70% e 22,5% de células SA. Enfatiza-se que as porcentagens de células do epitélio vaginal variaram entre indivíduos e também na mesma preguiça. Isto sugere que a citologia vaginal possa ser uma ferramenta de avaliação do ciclo estral em preguiça-de-coleira.

Maned sloths (Bradypus torquatus) are arboreal mammals of the family Bradypodidae. They can be only found in the Atlantic coast forest of Brazil and its most genetically diverse populations occur in forests of southern Bahia. The observation of these animals in the wild is very difficult as they spend most of their lifetime hidden in the dense forest canopy. Data on their reproductive aspects are scarce, and there is none information about their estrous cycle. This research aimed at identifying the vaginal epithelial cells of maned sloths (Bradypus torquatus) as a possible way to study the phases of the estrous cycle of this animal. The samples for vaginal cytology were obtained from four free ranging maned sloths living in a protected area of coastal forest in the South of Bahia. The sterile gynecological brush was inserted up to the necessary distance to reach the pelvic channel. For each sample two smears were made by rotating the tip of the brush onto each glass slide, producing in general three linear impressions. Staining was performed using rapid Panotic Kit (Laborclin®). Maned sloths BT033, BT065, and BT042 presented, respectively, 30%, 33%, and 7% of parabasal epithelial cells (PB); 56%, 22%, and 10% of small intermediate cells (IP); 6%, 18%, and 6% of large intermediate cells (IG); 2%, 13%, and 24% of superficial epithelial cell with a nucleus (SN); 6%, 14%, and 53% of anucleated superficial epithelial cell (AS). Two cell samples were collected for maned sloth BT464 with a 13 months interval. Cytological differences were observed between the two samples (1st and 2nd): 6% and 17,5% of PB cells, 5% and 25% of IP cells, 11% and 15,5% of IG cells, 8% and 19,5% of SN cells and 70% and 22,5% of AS cells, respectively. It’s interesting to remark that the percentage of vaginal epithelial cells varied among sloths and also for the same animal. This result suggests that vaginal cytology of maned sloth can be used as a tool to evaluate of estrous cycle.

Expression profile of microRNAs and mRNAs in human placentas from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and preterm labor.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expression stability implicated in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and development, whereas their altered expression has been associated with various pathological disorders. The objective of this study was to assess the expression profile of miRNAs and their predicted target genes in placentas from patients with preeclampsia (PC) and preterm (PT) labor as compared to normal term (NT) pregnancies. Using microarray profiling of 820 miRNAs and 18,630 mRNA transcripts, the analysis indicated that 283 of these miRNAs and 9119 mRNAs were expressed in all placentas, of which the relative expression of 20 miRNAs (P < .05 and ≥ 1.5-fold) and 120 mRNAs (P < .05, and 2-fold cutoff) was differentially expressed in PT and PC as compared to NT. The expression of miR-15b, miR-181a, miR-200C, miR-210, miR-296-3p, miR-377, miR-483-5p, and miR-493 and a few of their predicted target genes: matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-9), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domains (ADAM-17, ADAM-30), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP-3); suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1); Stanniocalcin (STC2); corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH-binding protein (CRHBP); and endothelin-2 (EDN2) were validated in these cohorts using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), some displaying an inverse correlation with the expression of their predicted target genes. Functional analysis indicated that the products of these genes regulate cellular activities considered critical in normal placental functions and those affected by PC and PT labor. In conclusion, the results provide further evidence that placentas affected by PC and PT labor display an altered expression of a number of miRNAs with potential regulatory functions on the expression of specific target genes whose altered expression and function have been associated with these pregnancy complications.

Development and evaluation of a multimedia CD-ROM for exercise during pregnancy and postpartum.

OBJECTIVE: To meet the need for an interactive product on exercise during pregnancy and postpartum, we developed and evaluated a personally tailored multimedia CD-ROM. METHODS: Pregnant and postpartum women, who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (PregXercise CD-ROM) or the control group (CD-ROM with neutral content), navigated through the CD-ROM for 1 h. Main outcomes were exercise self-efficacy and knowledge. RESULTS: In analyses of covariance, compared with the control group, the experimental group had significant increases in self-efficacy and knowledge. CONCLUSION: The multimedia CD-ROM delivering information about exercise motivation, guidelines, and prescription was effective in improving exercise self-efficacy and knowledge. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our preliminary results illustrate that healthcare professionals and researchers may use interactive multimedia for improving exercise behavior and related outcomes with pregnant and postpartum women.

Deciding on route of delivery for obese women with a prior cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to estimate the vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) success rate, compare rates of infections in women attempting VBAC and those undergoing planned repeat cesarean, and compare the cost of these two plans of care for obese women. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a historical cohort analysis of singleton deliveries at >/=36 weeks' gestation in women with a body mass index 40 or greater and one prior cesarean delivery. Outcomes included rates of VBAC success and puerperal infections and mean cost of care. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 122 mother-infant pairs, 61 each in the VBAC and cesarean groups. In the VBAC group, 57% (95% CI 45-70) of women were delivered vaginally. The VBAC group had higher rates of chorioamnionitis (13.1% vs 1.6%, P=.02), endometritis (6.6% vs 0%, P=.06), and composite puerperal infection (24.6% vs 8.2%, P=.01). Mean cost of care was similar for mothers ($4439 vs $4427, P=.95), infants ($1241 vs $1422, P=.49), and mother-infant pairs ($5680 vs $5851, P=.64). CONCLUSION: Compared with planned cesarean delivery, VBAC trials in obese women are three times as likely to be complicated by infection and do not result in reduced costs.

Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery: an historic cohort cost analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative cost-effectiveness of attempted vaginal birth after cesarean delivery compared with elective repeat cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: We performed an historic cohort analysis of women with a single prior cesarean delivery who were delivered at our institution during 1999. Inclusion criteria were > or =36 weeks' gestation and carrying a live, singleton fetus with no antenatally diagnosed anomalies. The primary outcome variable was mean cost of hospital care for mother-infant pairs, as obtained from the hospital's Clinical Resources Department. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 204 mother-infant pairs, 65 in the elective repeat cesarean group and 139 in the attempted vaginal birth group. Mean cost of care was higher for mothers ($4155 vs $3675;P <.001), neonates ($1794 vs $1187; P =.03), and mother-infant pairs ($5949 vs $4863; P =.001) for the elective repeat cesarean group compared with the attempted vaginal delivery group. CONCLUSION: In women with a single prior cesarean delivery, a trial of labor is more cost-effective than an elective repeat cesarean delivery.