Oral creatine supplementation on performance of Quarter Horses used in barrel racing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral creatine supplementation on the athletic performance of equines used for barrel racing. Ten healthy Quarter Horses, or Quarter Horse crossbred, weighing 429.7 ± 25.3 kg and with mean age of 3.8 ± 1.2 years, were used. Animals were evaluated in four different moments (M1, M2, M3, M4), and between M3 and M4, they were supplemented with 28 g of creatine/100 kg of body weight, orally, for 45 days. Although significant alterations for LDH activity, plasma glucose and packed cell volume were observed, it was possible to conclude that there was no improvement in the athletic performance for the animals used on the experiment, as there were no changes in time scores, heart rate and plasma lactate, variables considered as performance indicators, before and after supplementation.

Histomorphometrical and proliferative aspects of placenta and uterus of the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu).

The histomorphometric and proliferative characteristics of the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) placenta and uterus were analyzed. The material was examined by standard histological techniques and histochemistry (PAS, Perls and Alcian Blue pH 0.5 and 2.5%) and the cellular proliferation by AgNORs and flow cytometry. All the analyzed morphometric variables differed between pregnant and non-pregnant uteri in the luteal phase using the Dunnet test. Height and gland diameter of uterine glands increased linearly during pregnancy, with an intense positive PAS and Perls reaction in all stages. The cells with more than seven AgNORs per nuclei and the cells in the G2M cell cycle phase in the maternal tissue also increased after 70 days of pregnancy. The uteroplacental ridges had a linear increase in size with two distinct areas, base and top, with uterine epithelium and trophoblastic cells changing their morphology following the placental ridge development. Flow cytometry analysis showed the percentage of cells in each cell cycle phase with a quadratic behavior for stages G2/M in the maternal tissue, suggesting an increase in proliferative capacity of maternal tissue after 65 days of pregnancy. The same quadratic effect was observed in the G0/G1 phase in both maternal and fetal tissues. Cells in apoptosis showed cubic behavior in both tissues. The morphometric and cellular dynamic aspects observed in this study have not been previously described and they extend our knowledge of functions relating to maternal-fetal dynamics in this species.

Valor nutritivo do capim-elefante ensilado com farelo de cacau e cana-de-açúcar / Nutritive value of elephant grass ensiled with cocoa meal and sugarcane

Foram estudados os efeitos da adição de farelo de cacau e cana-de-açúcar sobre o valor nutritivo de silagem de capim-elefante, adotando-se um esquema fatorial 2 x 4, utilizando-se 0 e 15 por cento de farelo de cacau e 0, 15, 30 e 45 por cento de cana-de-açúcar, com quatro repetições. O capim-elefante apresentava 29,2 por cento de matéria seca (MS), e as silagens foram produzidas em silos experimentais de PVC, que foram abertos aos 60 dias após a ensilagem. A adição de farelo de cacau reduziu a fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e aumentou os teores de MS, proteína bruta e a degradabilidade potencial da MS (DP MS48h). A cana-de-açúcar também reduziu os teores FDA, aumentou a DP MS48h e aumentou os valores dos nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) até a inclusão de 20,5 por cento de cana, embora tenha reduzido os teores de MS. Nas silagens contendo farelo de cacau e com a inclusão da cana-de-açúcar foi observada redução linear do conteúdo de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e aumento linear dos carboidratos não estruturais e NDT. A associação farelo de cacau e cana-de-açúcar aumentou o teor de CNF e os valores de NDT, e reduziu a FDN, melhorando o valor nutritivo das silagens de capim-elefante.

The effects of the addition of cocoa meal and sugarcane on the nutritional value of elephantgrass silage were studied considering a factorial outline 2 x 4, being used 0 and 15 percent of cocoa meal and 0, 15, 30, and 45 percent of sugarcane, with four repetitions. The elephantgrass presented 29.2 percent of dry matter (DM) and the silages were produced in experimental silos of PVC, that were open 60 days after the ensiling. The addition of cocoa meal reduced the content of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and increased the content of DM, crude protein, and the potential degradability of DM (PD DM48h). The sugarcane also reduced the ADF content, increased PD DM48h, and increased the values of total digestible nutrients (TDN) when inclusion was up to 20.5 percent, although it has reduced the content of DM. In the silage containing cocoa meal and with the inclusion of sugarcane, lineal reduction of the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and lineal increase of the contents of nonstructural carbohydrates (NC) and TDN were reported. The association cocoa meal and sugarcane increased the content of NC and the values of TDN, besides reducing NDF, improving the nutritive value of the elephant grass silage.

Perdas na ensilagem de capim-elefante aditivado com farelo de cacau e cana-de-açúcar / Losses in ensiling of elephantgrass added with cocoa meal and sugarcane

Foram estudados os efeitos da adição de farelo de cacau e de cana-de-açúcar sobre as perdas de silagem de capim-elefante. Utilizou-se um esquema fatorial 2 x 4, sendo 0 e 15 por cento de farelo de cacau e 0, 15, 30 e 45 por cento de cana-de-açúcar, com quatro repetições, no delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. O capim-elefante apresentava 29,2 por cento de matéria seca, e as silagens foram produzidas em silos experimentais de PVC, utilizando-se compactação de 600 kg de silagem/m³. A abertura dos silos ocorreu aos 60 dias após a ensilagem, quando foram determinados o teor de nitrogênio amoniacal e o pH das silagens. O farelo de cacau foi eficaz na redução da umidade e da concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal. Recomenda-se a inclusão de até 22,4 por cento da cana-de-açúcar, cv-IAC86-2480, na ensilagem de capim-elefante com 29 por cento de matéria seca, podendo-se aumentar para 45 por cento, desde que se utilizem 15 por cento de farelo de cacau.

The effects of the addition of cocoa meal and sugarcane in the elephant-grass silage losses were studied. A 2 x 4 factorial scheme was used, being 0 and 15 percent of cocoa meal and 0, 15, 30, and 45 percent of sugarcane, with four repetitions, in a completely randomized design. The elephant-grass showed 29.2 percent of dry matter and the silages were produced in PVC experimental silos, using 600 kg/m³ silage compaction. The silos were opened 60 days after ensilage, when ammonia nitrogen content and pH of the silages were determined. Cocoa meal was effective in the reduction of moisture and ammonia nitrogen concentrations. It is recommended the inclusion of up to 22.4 percent of the sugar-cane, cv-IAC86-2480, in the elephant-grass ensiling with 29 percent of dry matter, which can be increased to 45 percent, since 15 percent of cocoa meal be used.

Confiabilidade e validade das medidas da cifose torácica através do método flexicurva / Reliability and validity of thoracic kyphosis measurements using flexicurve method

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A hipercifose torácica é uma das alterações posturais mais comuns, sendo definida como um aumento da curvatura torácica no plano sagital da coluna vertebral. Uma cifose normal varia de 20 a 50º quando avaliada pelo método radiográfico de Cobb. O método radiográfico é o mais popular para mensuração da cifose, mas em função de ser um método caro e que expõe os sujeitos a radiação, não é o método mais adequado para acompanhamento periódico do paciente. Exames clínicos de rotina, como a avaliação fisioterapêutica da cifose torácica, devem ser válidos, confiáveis, sensíveis, práticos e baratos. OBJETIVOS: Verificar a validade concorrente e as confiabilidades intra e interavaliador das medidas de cifose torácica utilizando o Método Flexicurva. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal em que a cifose torácica de 56 pessoas foi avaliada em radiografias sagitais da coluna torácica pelo método de Cobb e pelo Método Flexicurva por dois avaliadores. RESULTADOS: O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC) entre as medidas pelo Cobb e pelo método Flexicurva foi de 0,906. A sensibilidade foi de 85 por cento, a especificidade de 97 por cento para diagnosticar a hipercifose torácica. CONCLUSÃO: O Método Flexicurva demonstra ser um parâmetro clínico quantitativo excelente para mensuração da curvatura da cifose torácica.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic hyperkyphosis is one of the most common postural abnormalities. It is defined as increased thoracic curvature in the sagittal plan of the vertebral column. Normal kyphosis may range from 20º to 50º according to Cobb's radiographic method. The radiographic method is the most popular kyphosis measuring method, but because it is an expensive method and it exposes the individual to radiation, it is not the most appropriate method for periodic patient follow-up. Routine clinical examinations such as physiotherapeutic evaluation of thoracic kyphosis need to be valid, reliable, sensitive, practical and cheap. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the comparative validity and the intra and inter-rater reliability of thoracic kyphosis measurements using the flexicurve method. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study in which the thoracic kyphosis of 56 people was evaluated from sagittal radiography of the thoracic column using Cobb's method and by means of the flexicurve method, by two evaluators. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the measurements from the Cobb and flexicurve methods was 0.906. For diagnosing thoracic hyperkyphosis, the sensitivity was 85 percent and the specificity was 97 percent. CONCLUSION: The flexicurve method was shown to be a suitable quantitative clinical method for measuring the curvature of thoracic kyphosis.