Redescription and genetic characterization of Cystidicoloides vaucheri, including first description of male and current status on the phylogeny of Cystidicolidae (Nematoda: Habronematoidea).

Cystidicoloides vaucheri collected in the stomach of the redtail catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus from River Acre, State of Acre, Brazil is redescribed, including the first description of males and the first genetic characterization based upon 18S and 28S genes of the rRNA. Newly collected females were biometrically smaller than those reported in the original description, but similar morphology shared by the two samples revealed that they belong to the same species. Scanning electron micrographs showed the accurate structure of the cephalic region, described here in detail. Furthermore, the morphology of males completed the specific diagnosis, strengthening the validity of the species. The three other congeners differ from C. vaucheri mainly as follows: in C. dlouhyi the area rugosa is absent, the cephalic structures in C. fischeri are completely distinct, and in both species the spicules have membranous outgrowths, absent in C. vaucheri. Despite the dubious generic assignment of C. izecksohni, it differs from C. vaucheri in several biometrical and morphological features. Because of data availability, only sequences of the 18S were used for phylogenetic reconstructions. Results showed that the genus Ascarophis and the families Cystidicolidae and Physalopteridae are not monophyletic. Cystidicoloides vaucheri formed an independent branch clustering with representatives of Cystidicolidae, confirming its validity. The inclusion of Salmonema and Spinitectus within Cystidicolidae should be reviewed, since they formed an assemblage with species from Rhabdochonidae. In fact, current classification of some taxa belonging to Habronematoidea, Physalopteroidea and Thelazioidea need to be re-evaluated, mainly based on molecular data from different genes.

Despalha da cana-de-açúcar e desempenho de novilhas e vacas leiteiras / Deleafed sugarcane and performance of heifers and dairy cows

Dois experimentos avaliaram a resposta em ganho de peso de novilhas e a produção de leite de vacas à remoção de folhas apicais e laterais da cana-de-açúcar. Em ambos, os animais foram alimentados individualmente em confinamento total. No Experimento 1, 32 novilhas Girolando (295±45kg de peso vivo) foram blocadas em pares e alocadas a um tratamento por 42 dias, após um período de padronização de 14 dias. Os tratamentos foram: cana integral ou despalhada. O peso vivo e o consumo foram mensurados ao longo do tempo. Os teores de ingredientes e nutrientes na matéria seca (MS) das dietas foram 77,1% de cana, 19,2% de farelo de soja, 1% de ureia, 14,1% de proteína bruta (PB) e 38,8% de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) na cana despalhada, e 78,6%, 17,9%, 0,9%, 13,7% e 45,3% na cana integral, respectivamente. O ganho diário de peso foi 1,395kg na cana despalhada e 1,125kg na integral (P=0,05). Não houve efeito de tratamento sobre o consumo de MS (P=0,78). A despalha aumentou a taxa de ingestão de alimento (P=0,04) e o consumo diário de matéria orgânica não FDN digestível (P=0,03). No Experimento 2, 14 vacas Holandesas (256±124 dias em lactação) foram blocadas em pares e alocadas a uma sequência dos dois tratamentos em delineamento de reversão simples, com períodos de 21 dias e mensuração da resposta na terceira semana. A dieta com cana despalhada teve 18,4% de cana na MS, 37,6% de silagem de milho, 44% de concentrado baseado em milho, polpa cítrica e farelo de soja, 17,3% de PB e 32,9% de FDN, enquanto a dieta com cana integral teve 18,2%, 37,7%, 44,1%, 16,6% e 34,7%, respectivamente. A despalha tendeu a aumentar a digestibilidade da MS (P=0,06) e o consumo diário de matéria orgânica digestível (P=0,10), sem afetar a produção de leite (18,4kg, P=0,65)....

Two experiments evaluated the responses in weight gain of heifers and milk yield of cows to the removal of the apical and lateral leaves of sugarcane. In both the animals were individually fed in total confinement. In Experiment 1, 32 Holstein x Gir heifers (295±45kg of body weight) were paired, blocked and allocated to a treatment for 42 days, following a 14-day standardization period. Treatments were whole or deleafed sugarcane. Body weight and intake were measured over time. The content of ingredients and nutrients in diets dry matter (DM) were 77.1% sugarcane, 19.2% soybean meal, 1% urea, 14.1% crude protein (CP), and 38.8% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) for deleafed sugarcane, and 78.6%, 17.9%, 0.9%, 13.7%, and 45.3% for whole sugarcane, respectively. Daily weight gain was 1.395kg for deleafed and 1.125kg for whole sugarcane (P=0.05). There was no treatment effect on DM intake (P=0.78). Leaf removal increased the rate of feed intake (P=0.04) and the daily intake of digestible non-NDF organic matter (P=0.03). In Experiment 2, 14 Holsteins (256±124 days of lactation) were paired blocked and allocated to a sequence of two treatments in a cross - over design, with 21 - day periods, and measurement of the response on the third week. The deleafed sugarcane diet had 18.4% sugarcane in DM, 37.6% corn silage, 44% corn, citrus pulp, soybean meal based concentrate, 17.3% CP, and 32.9% NDF, while the whole sugarcane diet had 18.2%, 37.7%, 44.1%, 16.6%, and 34.7%, respectivel y. Deleafing tended to increase DM digestibility (P=0.06) and the daily intake of digestible organic matter (P=0.10), without affecting milk yield (18.4kg, P=0.65). Deleafing s ugarcane increased the weight gain of heifers consuming a high proportion of sug arcane in the diet, but this practice did not induce a positive performance response in late lactating cows consuming 18% sugarcane in the diet.

Tratamento hipofracionado de radioterapia em felinos portadores de carcinoma epidermóide facial / Hypofractionated radiation therapy for the treatment of feline facial squamous cell carcinoma

Avaliou-se a eficácia do protocolo radioterápico hipofracionado no tratamento de felinos portadores de carcinoma epidermóide facial. Um protocolo hipofracionado de radioterapia foi aplicado em cinco gatos portadores de um ou mais carcinomas epidermóides faciais, em um total de 10 lesões neoplásicas, confirmadas por meio de análise histológica. Duas lesões foram classificadas como T1, quatro como T2, duas como T3 e duas como T4. Os animais foram submetidos a quatro frações radioterápicas de 7,6 a 10gy, com intervalo de uma semana entre elas, utilizando-se um acelerador linear com feixe de elétrons. O acompanhamento dos animais foi realizado semanalmente durante o tratamento e aos 30 e 60 dias após o término da radioterapia. Neste estudo, 40 por cento das lesões resultaram em remissão completa, 40 por cento em remissão parcial e 20 por cento não apresentaram resposta ao tratamento. A taxa de resposta encontrada nessa pesquisa foi baixa, porém o protocolo de hipofracionamento radioterápico foi seguro para gatos com carcinoma epidermóide facial e resultou em efeitos colaterais leves/moderados.

The efficacy of hypofractionated radiation protocol for feline facial squamous cell carcinoma was evaluated. Hypofractionated radiation therapy was applied to five cats showing single or multiple facial squamous cell carcinomas, in a total of ten histologically confirmed neoplastic lesions. Of the lesions, two were staged as T1, four as T2, two as T3, and two as T4. The animals were submitted to four radiation fractions from 7.6 to 10 grays each, with one week intervals. The equipment was a linear accelerator with electrons beam. The cats were evaluated weekly during the treatment and 30 and 60 days after the end of the radiation therapy. In this study, 40 percent of the lesions had complete remission, 40 percent partial remission, and 20 percent did not respond to the treatment. Response rates were lower as compared to other protocols previously used. However, hypofractionated radiation protocol was considered safe for feline facial squamous cell carcinoma.

Genetic evidence of two stocks of the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri in the Río de la Plata and oceanic front in Uruguay.

Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region resolved two stocks of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri in Uruguayan waters, one in the Río de la Plata and the other on the Uruguayan shelf. The whitemouth croaker is the most important coastal fishery resource along the coast and has the greatest commercial importance in the Río de la Plata and its oceanic front. The number of pair-wise differences (pi) and haplotype diversity (h) showed significant differences between the two regions. Frequencies of mtDNA haplotypes did not differ between Río de la Plata from Bahia Blanca M. furnieri. Samples from the oceanic front showed greater genetic variability and a larger effective number of females that were an order of magnitude larger than that in Río de la Plata. Mismatch distributions showed evidence of a recent population expansion in the oceanic region, beginning c. 40,000 b.p. The presence of two stocks of the M. furnieri in the study area should be considered in the management of this species' fishery.

Depression with irritability in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: the cardiologist's role.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants and maintenance factors of depression in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Fifty CABG candidates were selected randomly for evaluation before and after surgery. Depressive disorders occurred in 22.0% of the patients preoperatively and 21% postoperatively. Irritability as a symptom was more prevalent in depressed than nondepressed patients preoperatively (P=.04) and postoperatively (P=.006). Although depression was the most prevalent diagnosis in the patients' psychiatric histories and evaluations, benzodiazepines were prescribed more frequently than antidepressants (70% vs 3%). Cardiologists should consider that the irritability in some patients undergoing CABG may obscure the diagnosis of depression. The correct recognition of depression is essential to reduce inappropriate benzodiazepine prescription and to apply appropriate treatment.

Papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve 12 years after mitral valve commissurotomy.

A 63 year-old woman who had had mitral valve commissurotomy 12 years earlier was seen because of rheumatic mitral stenosis and left brachial paresis due to cerebral embolism. On clinical evaluation, a diastolic rumble was heard over the mitral area, and the echocardiogram revealed a mass attached to the mitral subvalvular apparatus. The patient was operated on, and both the surgical and histologic findings depicted papillary fibroelastoma. This tumor may occur as an isolated lesion or be associated with mitral valve stenosis or other cardiac abnormalities, and it is an important source of emboli. Early echocardiographic diagnosis, followed by surgical excision, may avoid serious complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and sudden death.