Descriptive electromyography signals analysis of equine longissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis and gluteus medius muscles during maneuvers used to activate the core / [Análise descritiva do sinal eletromiográfico dos músculos longuíssimo dorsal, reto abdominal e glúteo médio de equinos durante a realização de manobras utilizadas para ativação do core]

Maneuvers to activate the equine's core can make a difference in their physical and psychic health. Although these activities are recommended and practiced, there is little research proving their effectiveness. This article aims to describe, through surface electromyography, the occurrences, durations and sequences activity of longissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis and gluteus medius during thoracolumbar flexion (TLF), lumbar and lumbosacral flexion (LLSF), global flexion (GF), which is the combination of TLF and LLSF, and tail traction (TT). Seven healthy adult horses of three different breeds performed five repetitions of these movements for five seconds (sec). Electromyographic activity was captured with non-invasive superficial sensors positioned in the skin regions covering these muscles. The sequence was performed once per animal, muscle activity captured by surface electromyography, data from two replicates of each animal were selected, analyzed on matLab software and data tabulation were described during each maneuver. These maneuvers provoked punctual and transient activation of muscles mentioned above, confirming the ability to activate equine core muscles. However, responses were not standardized, which means there were variations of occurrence, duration and sequence, suggesting that for practical application of those maneuvers it is necessary to perform more repetitions with longer durations to activate more muscles.(AU)

Manobras para ativação da musculatura do core equino podem ser diferenciais para saúde física e psíquica dos animais, sendo recomendadas e praticadas, mas existem poucas pesquisas comprovando a eficácia delas. Este artigo tem como objetivo descrever, por meio da eletromiografia de superfície, as ocorrências, as durações e as sequências temporais da atividade muscular do longuíssimo dorsal, do reto abdominal e do glúteo médio durante a realização das manobras de flexão toracolombar, flexão lombar e lombossacra, flexão global (toracolombar e lombossacra) e tração de cauda. Para isso, sete equinos adultos e hígidos de três raças realizaram esses quatro movimentos clássicos para ativar o core equino, com cinco repetições e manutenção do estímulo reflexivo por cinco segundos. Durante a realização, a atividade eletromiográfica foi capturada com a utilização de sensores superficiais posicionados de forma não invasiva em regiões cutâneas referentes a cada músculo. O protocolo completo de manobras foi realizado uma vez por cada animal enquanto a atividade muscular era capturada. Posteriormente, duas repetições de cada animal foram triadas e submetidas ao software matLab para análise. Com base na tabulação dos dados, foram descritas as variáveis eletromiográficas de presença ou ausência de ativação muscular, a duração média dos picos eletromiográficos superiores ao RMS (root mean square) e a sequência da atividade muscular observada durante cada manobra. Essas manobras provocaram ativações pontuais e transitórias nos três músculos, o que confirma a capacidade de excitar músculos do core equino. Contudo, as respostas não foram padronizadas, sugerindo que, na prática dessa atividade, devem-se realizar mais repetições com durações superiores a cinco segundos, a fim de se buscarem maiores ativações.(AU)

Comparison of the Lowry and Coomassie Blue methods for the determination of protein concentration.

1. The Lowry and Coomassie Blue methods were compared for precision when applied to Schistosoma mansoni proteins, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as standard. 2. The absorbance of five different concentrations was measured and the experiments were run in parallel to reduce bias in the comparison. Thus, for a given technique, all photometric data were obtained from reaction mixtures (BSA and test solutions) prepared and analyzed as simultaneously as possible. 3. To interpret the results, polynomial functions of different degrees--up to the third--were calculated to fit the absorbance values to the respective protein concentrations of BSA or worm protein present in the reaction mixtures, and the standard errors of all slopes were also calculated. 4. The protein concentration of worm extracts was calculated by two methods: 1) the ratio of the first-degree slopes of the polynomials applied to absorbance = f(x), with x being either mg BSA or ml worm extract, and 2) the utilization of the BSA function parameters to convert any worm absorbance value to protein concentration. 5. The results obtained with the slope ratio method were variable. However, the function method seemed to be reliable, especially when applied to Coomassie Blue data. When the results were derived from the BSA cubic function the concentration of soluble worm protein was calculated with a coefficient of variation of 1.20%.

Comparison of the lowry and coomassie blue methods for the determination of protein concentration

The Lowry and Coomassie Blue methods were compared for precision when applied to Schistosoma mansoni proteins, using boving serum (BSA) as standard. The absorbance of five different concentrations was measured and the experiments were run in parallel to reduce bias in the comparison. thus, for a given technique all photometric data were obtained from reaction mixtures (BSA and test solutions) prepared and analyzed as simultaneously as possible. To interpret the results, polynomial functions of different degrees-up to the third - were calculated to fit the absorbance values to the respective protein concentrations of BSA or worm protein present in the reaction mixtures, and the standard errors of all slopes were also calculated. The protein concentration of worm extracts was calculeted by two m,ethods: 1) the ratio of the first-degree slopes of the polynomials applied to absorbance = f(x), with x being either mg BSA or ml worm extract, and 2) the utilization of the BSA function parameters to convert any worm absorbance value to protein concentration. The results obtained with the slope ratio were variable. However, the function method seemed to be reliable, especially when applied to Coomassie Blue data. When the results were derived from the BSA cubic function the concentration of soluble worm protein was calculated with a coefficient of variation of 1.20

Conduta anestesica em hiperinsulinismo no lactante. Relato de um caso. / Anesthetic management in infants with hyperinsulinism. Report of a case

Os autores descrevem um caso de hiperinsulinismo num lactente de 45 dias submetido a uma pancreatectomia parcial. Sao discutidos a conduta pre e trans-operatoria, dando-se enfase especial a monitorizacao da glicemia. O exame anatomo-patologico foi compativel com um quadro de nesidioblastose, que e uma patologia rara e causadora de hipoglicemia em recem-natos.Apos breve revisao da literatura os autores concluem que no trans-operatorio, a monitorizacao da glicemia atraves de autoanalisador de resposta rapida e um dos parametros essenciais para o bom desempenho anestesico-cirurgico desta patologia

Avascular necrosis of the mandibular ramus in the baboon (Papio ursinus) following orthognathic surgery.

The maintenance of an adequate blood supply to the mandible following orthognathic surgery is of extreme importance if satisfactory healing is to be achieved. With this object in mind, this study was undertaken to assess the effects of disrupting the blood supply of the baboon mandible by means of L- and C-osteotomies. Ten adolescent baboons of the species Papio ursinus were used as the experimental animals for the study. On five of them a modified vertical subsigmoid osteotomy (L-osteotomy) and on five a C-osteotomy of the mandibular ramus were performed. In each experimental animal the osteotomy was undertaken on one side of the mandible only, the other side serving as a control. After a postoperative period of 14 days the animals were killed, the entire mandible removed, and the tissues prepared for examination with the light microscope. Histometric analysis revealed a significant degree of avascular necrosis in certain areas of the proximal or condylar fragments and to a lesser extent in the distal fragment. Avascular necrosis was also seen on the control side. It was also revealed that the periosteum and attached muscles of mastication play a role in the blood supply of the mandible and that the additional attachment of the temporalis muscle to the proximal fragment is of no advantage in enhancing the vascularity of that fragment.

Design and use of an inhalation chamber for air pollution studies in small animals.

Environmental chambers provide a convenient means of studying the toxicology of gases in experimental animals. The specialised equipment needed for these studies is not commercially available. This paper reports on the design, construction and performance of a simple, and inexpensive, inhalation chamber and gas mixing unit for air pollution studies in small laboratory animals. Provision has been made for controlling the mixing of gases, the ventilation rate, the even distribution of gases in the chamber and for the removal of vented gases to prevent the hazard of air pollution in the laboratory animal facility. No significant differences were found between the food and water consumption and body mass gain of a group of rats housed in the chamber for 5 days and a control group housed im similar cages located in a rodent room and managed under conventional laboratory conditions. The chamber fulfills all the requirements for an animal inhalation system.