Agreement between mechanical and digital skinfold callipers.

Background: Skinfold callipers are often used in clinical practice to estimate subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness. Recently, LipoTool emerged as a potential digital system to measure skinfolds, however comparisons with competing equipment are lacking. Aim: The aim of this study was to test the agreement between two competing skinfold callipers (digital and mechanical). Methods: The sample included 22 healthy male adult participants. A certified observer measured eight skinfolds twice using different skinfold callipers (digital and mechanical). Differences between equipment were tested using Wilcoxon signed rank test The distribution of error was examined using the normality test Results: Differences between skinfold callipers were significantly in five skinfolds: triceps (Z = -3.546; P < 0.001), subscapular (Z = -3.984; P < 0.001), suprailiac (Z = 3.024; P = 0.002), supraspinale (Z = 3.885; P < 0.001), abdominal (Z z = -2.937; P = 0.003), thigh (Z = -2.224; P = 0.026) and calf (Z = -2.052; P = 0.040). Differences between callipers were constant. Conclusions: Mechanical and digital callipers tended to record different values of skinfold thickness. Clinical examination should consider equipment-related variation in fat mass estimation.

Banana green peels extract protects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fat-fed mice through modulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation.

We investigate the effect of the banana green peels extract (BPE) as a preventive treatment against NAFLD in high-fat diet fed mice. Mice received daily doses of 100 or 250 mg/kg of BPE for 12 weeks along with the high-fat diet. BPE reduced weight gain (p < .0001), adipose tissue hypertrophy (p < .0001), and improved glucose homeostasis (p < .0001). Plasma levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids, aspartate and alanine transaminase, leptin, and resistin were decreased in BPE treated mice (p < .05). BPE effects on lipid metabolism were associated with decreased gene expression of lipogenic enzymes and increased expression of enzymes related to fatty acid and cholesterol degradation (p < .05). Plasma and liver bile acid (BA) profiles were modulated by BPE, with positive correlations between specific BA and UCP-1, CPT-1 and PGC-1ß expression in brown adipose tissue (p < .05). BPE reduced hepatic steatosis and inflammation, possibly due to reduced p65 NF-κB nuclear translocation (p < .05) and modulation of oxidative stress (p < .05). These data indicate that BPE is a source of phytochemical compounds with promising effects toward the prevention of metabolic disorders associated with obesity.

Sickle cell anemia in the state of Maranhão: a haplotype study.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the most severe form of sickle cell disease caused by homozygosity of the ßS-gene (S/S or ßSßS) and has worldwide distribution. Six polymorphic sites in the ß-globin gene cluster were analyzed from a sample of 56 chromosomes of patients with SCA from the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. PCR-RFLP showed that the CAR haplotype was predominant with a frequency of 64.28%, followed by the BEN haplotype (28.57%). Atypical haplotypes were identified at a frequency of 7.15%. Genotypes CAR/CAR, BEN/BEN, and CAR/BEN were present in 46.43%, 10.71%, and 35.71% of patients, respectively. ß-Globin haplotype determination is important not only for the monitoring and prognosis of patients with SCA, but it also serves to inform anthropological studies that contribute to elucidating any peculiarities associated with African influences that contributed to the ethnological, economic, cultural, and social formation of Brazil. The high frequency of the CAR/CAR and CAR/BEN haplotypes in this study, which are associated with low levels of fetal hemoglobin, may ultimately reflect a severe clinical course and poor prognosis in patients with SCA in Maranhão.

A Spongy Appetite: A Case of Pica.

Pica is an eating disorder defined as the compulsive and repeated ingestion of substances that have no nutritional value for at least one month. This condition may be hard to diagnose without complications, as a high degree of suspicion is needed. The subject in this case was a teenager who presented with asthenia and unspecific abdominal pain. The etiological workup showed no abnormalities other than mild anemia and iron and folate deficiencies. After a thorough anamnesis, the patient's mother mentioned sporadic ingestion of synthetic mattress foam since childhood, which had become more frequent in the previous year. With this key information, it was possible to establish a diagnosis before serious complications occurred and thus help the patient get the necessary assistance by referring them to pediatrics, nutrition, and child and adolescent psychiatry consultations. This case report highlights the importance of a detailed anamnesis, particularly when dealing with unspecific symptoms, exploring the possibility of disorders that are rarely thought of, such as pica. It also recaps how important it is to address sensitive topics like eating disorders and create an open environment with no judgment, as these attitudes are crucial to ensuring the correct diagnosis and providing the best care for patients.

Sodium Taurocholate Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis in C57BL/6 Mice.

Biliary acute pancreatitis induction by sodium taurocholate infusion has been widely used by the scientific community due to the representation of the human clinical condition and reproduction of inflammatory events corresponding to the onset of clinical biliary pancreatitis. The severity of pancreatic damage can be assessed by measuring the concentration, speed, and volume of the infused bile acid. This study provides an updated checklist of the materials and methods used in the protocol reproduction and shows the main results from this acute pancreatitis (AP) model. Most of the previous publications have limited themselves to reproducing this model in rats. We have applied this method in mice, which provides additional advantages (i.e., the availability of an arsenal of reagents and antibodies for these animals along with the possibility of working with genetically modified strains of mice) that may be relevant to the study. For acute pancreatitis induction in mice, we present a systematic protocol, with a defined dose of 2.5% sodium taurocholate at an infusion speed 10 µL/min for 3 min in C57BL/6 mice that reaches its maximal level of severity within 12 h of induction and highlight results with outcomes that validate the method. With practice and technique, the total estimated time, from the induction of anesthesia to the completion of the infusion, is 25 min per animal.

Chitosan performance during Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) depuration of Mytilus chilensis exposed to Alexandrium catenella.

Blooms of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella, which produces Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST), generate serious socio-economic consequences for mariculture in Chile, especially for the production of Mytilus chilensis and other bivalves. Palliative strategies, such as the depuration of mussels in enriched water with chitosan offer encouraging prospects against the advance of contaminated areas and toxin persistence. Adult mussels were fed with A. catenella for 20 days and then were allowed to depurate using chitosan as facilitator, for the same period. Intoxicated mussels showed a reduction in feeding activity and rapid PST accumulation in 20 days (C = 451.5t + 1,673.6, R2 = 0.55 p = 0.008). Not enough evidence was found to indicate a positive effect of chitosan in mussel depuration after 20 days (C = -311.1t + 8,462.4, R2 = 0.8 p = 0.001). At the end of the study, toxicity was higher than 800 µg STX eq kg-1. C2 and GTX4 analogues were the most abundant in the dinoflagellate strain, while C2 and C1 were the most accumulated in mussels. The presence of C1 was notorious during depuration, as the persistence of GTX2,3. GTX5 was only detected in A. catenella, while STX was only present in mussels. Mussel sensitivity to the presence of the toxic dinoflagellate was observed in the present study. The biotransformation, selective elimination and epimerization processes were deduced from intoxication and depuration experiments.

Chemical Characterization and Wound Healing Property of Jacaranda decurrens Cham. (Bignoniaceae): An Experimental Study Based on Molecular Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Jacaranda decurrens Cham., known as carobinha, is prevalent in the Cerrado biome and presents popular use in treatment of dermatological diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the healing action of topical formulation of Jacaranda decurrens Cham. (FtEHJ) in mice cutaneous lesions. METHODS: Phytochemical analysis of J. decurrens hydroalcoholic extract was carried out by using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS and FIA-ESI-IT-MSn. Swiss mice were treated topically with formulation base (FtB) or Fibrinase® or ointment FtEHJ (15 mg/g; 50 mg/Kg). At the end of treatment periods, the inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) in the lesions were measured by using ELISA and gene expression of TGF-ß, Collagen I, and Collagen III was demonstrated by RTqPCR method and histological evaluation. RESULTS: Ten compounds were identified in the extract, distributed among the classes of flavonoids and triterpenes. Treatment with FtEHJ increased the wound contraction in 24 hours, such as reduction of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 (pg/mL) cytokines in the lesion. The TGF-ß and collagen gene expression was increased and the wound closure accelerated to nine days, with discrete inflammation, collagenization, and accented reepithelialization. Conclusions. The results obtained suggest chemical compounds present in the FtEHJ accelerates wound healing by being a gene expression modulator, and protein content of different molecules are involved in tissue repair.

From Inflammation to Current and Alternative Therapies Involved in Wound Healing.

Wound healing is a complex event that develops in three overlapping phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. These phases are distinct in function and histological characteristics. However, they depend on the interaction of cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, and chemical mediators from cells to perform regulatory events. In this article, we will review the pathway in the skin healing cascade, relating the major chemical inflammatory mediators, cellular and molecular, as well as demonstrating the local and systemic factors that interfere in healing and disorders associated with tissue repair deficiency. Finally, we will discuss the current therapeutic interventions in the wounds treatment, and the alternative therapies used as promising results in the development of new products with healing potential.

Establishment of canine hematology reference intervals for the Sysmex XT-2000iV hematology analyzer using a blood donor database.

BACKGROUND: The Sysmex XT-2000iV is a hematology analyzer that combines impedance and optical techniques and has been previously validated for dogs. Specific reference intervals (RIs) are useful when interpreting results. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine hematologic RIs for the Sysmex XT-2000iV using a large reference population of client-owned clinically healthy blood donor dogs, adopting an indirect sampling method. METHODS: Dogs were screened for breed, size, health, travel history, and previous blood transfusions, and the quality of blood specimens was also reviewed. Results from specimens that met inclusion criteria were used to determine RIs using a nonparametric method. Specimens from Akitas and sighthounds were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of 992 specimens that had been collected from blood donors and analyzed, 297 were initially included in the RI study. An additional 38 specimens were excluded as outliers, and hematologic RIs for the Sysmex XT-2000iV were based on analysis of specimens from 259 clinically healthy dogs. Measurands evaluated had variable distributions, and intervals obtained were generally comparable to previously reported RIs. Differences observed included higher lower and upper reference limits (LRL and URL, respectively) for MCV and lower URL for WBC count. Reticulocyte count and the LRL of the absolute lymphocyte count were also higher than previously reported, and the RI for platelet count was narrower and lower. CONCLUSIONS: Canine RIs for the Sysmex hematology analyzer were established using an indirect sampling method with reference individuals selected from a large database of client-owned clinically healthy blood donor dogs. For specimens included in this study, time from collection to analysis was similar to what veterinary commercial laboratories experience.

Reference intervals for Greyhounds and Lurchers using the Sysmex XT-2000iV hematology analyzer.

BACKGROUND: The need for breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) for Greyhounds has been identified. As Lurchers are a sighthound cross-breed, specific RIs may also be needed for these dogs. Hematologic RIs for Greyhounds and Lurchers using the Sysmex XT-2000iV hematology analyzer have not been established. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to establish RIs for Greyhounds using the Sysmex XT-2000iV, to investigate whether RIs for Greyhound and nonsighthound dogs could be transferred to Lurchers, and to establish new RIs for Lurchers if transference was not possible. METHODS: Data were retrieved retrospectively from a database of blood donor dogs. Greyhound RIs were established using nonparametric methods based on a reference population of 179 dogs. For the RI transference study, 38 Lurchers were selected, following guidelines proposed by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. When transference was not appropriate, new RIs were generated using the robust method. RESULTS: Greyhound RIs for the Sysmex hematology analyzer reflected known differences in this breed with a tendency toward higher RBC mass and lower WBC and platelet counts. RIs for hemoglobin concentration, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts for Greyhounds were suitable for transference to Lurchers. For RBC and eosinophil counts, new RIs were established. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that Lurchers share many hematologic characteristics with Greyhounds, but had higher reference limits for RBC and eosinophil counts.

Veterinary and toxicological applications for the detection of cardiac injury using cardiac troponin.

The use of cardiac troponin (cTn), the 'gold-standard' biomarker of myocardial injury in humans, is growing in veterinary medicine and in animal safety studies, although there are differences in its application in animals. In this study six new assays for the marker were assessed in 619 animals of six different species (dog, cat, horse, cattle, rat and rabbit), in clinical and drug-safety studies. Healthy animals and clinical cases without cardiac disease served as controls. Several of the tested assays had poor analytic or diagnostic sensitivity and only one test was effective in all species and in all models of cardiac injury. This assay had the highest sensitivity and widest dynamic range, and identified cardiac injury due to anaemia, pancreatitis, uncontrolled Addison's and Cushing's disease, old age, renal disease, severe colic, lymphoma and neoplasia. Detection of the cTnI and cTnT forms correlated with loss of cardiac function in toxicity studies in rodents and rabbit. Increased serum cTnI was not found to correlate with disease aetiology or pathogenesis, but was effective in detecting, monitoring and quantifying ongoing cardiac injury. Cardiac injury, as demonstrated by elevated cTnI in blood, appears to be a common sequel to a wide variety of both primarily cardiac disease and of other diseases that do not primarily involve the cardiovascular system.