"The blue catheter" - case report.

The ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement procedure is common throughout the world, with a prevalence of approximately 30,000 procedures per year in the United States (5). However, the rate of complications is still important and must be remembered, with a percentage of 11 to 25% after the first year of implantation. Abdominal complications are described in 5-47% of the cases (6), and the abdominal pseudocyst is one of them. We present the case of a patient colonized by multidrug-resistant bacteria, who underwent exteriorization surgery of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Intraoperatively, a blue coloration was observed in the catheter, a phenomenon previously described in urinary infections (1)(2) but not before in pathologies of the central nervous system. Our objective is to present an atypical case of dysfunction of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt, whose diagnosis couldbe evidenced through the coloration of the catheter exteriorized in surgery.

New Papiliotrema laurentii UFV-1 strains with improved acetic acid tolerance selected by adaptive laboratory evolution.

The production of yeast oil from lignocellulosic biomasses is impaired by inhibitors formed during the pretreatment step, mainly acetic acid. Herein, we applied Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) to select three Acetic acid Tolerant Strains (ATS) of P. laurentii UFV-1. Different phenotypes emerged alongside evolution. The ATS II presented trade-offs in the absence of acetic acid, suggesting that it displays a specialized phenotype of tolerance to growth on organic acids. On the other hand, ATS I and ATS III presented phenotypes associated with the behavior of generalists. ATS I was considered the most promising evolved strain as it displayed the oleaginous phenotype in all conditions tested. Thus, we applied whole-genome sequencing to detect the mutations that emerged in this strain during the ALE. We found alterations in genes encoding proteins involved in different cellular functions, including multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters, energy metabolism, detoxification, coenzyme recycling, and cell envelope remodeling. To evaluate acetic acid stress responses, both parental and ATS I strains were cultivated in chemostat mode in the absence and presence of acetic acid. In contrast to ATS I, the parental strain presented alterations in the cell envelope and cell size under acetic acid stress conditions. Furthermore, the parental strain and the ATS I presented differences regarding acetic acid assimilation. Contrary to the parental strain, the ATS I displayed an increase in unsaturated fatty acid content irrespective of acetic acid stress, which might be related to improved tolerance to acetic acid. Altogether, these results provided insights into the mechanisms involved with the acetic acid tolerance displayed by ATS I and the responses of P. laurentii to this stressful condition.

Brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy associated with systemic sclerosis. Case series and review of literature.

This study was aimed at describing a case series of brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), due to its rarity and limited coverage in published data. Another aim was to provide a literature review. We reported four cases of BCIM-SSc from our tertiary center. In addition, we researched the literature and found six articles featuring 17 patients who fit this phenotype. We pooled all cases and reported their features. Most patients were female and had limited SSc, and the median time of BCIM presentation was three years after SSc diagnosis. Asymmetric muscle involvement, scapular winging, dropped head, axial weakness, camptocormia, dysphagia, and dermatomyositis stigmas were common features. All patients had esophageal involvement. Most had positive antinuclear antibody results, a scleroderma pattern in their capillaroscopy images, elevated serum creatine phosphokinase, myopathic electrophysiology, and muscle involvement in magnetic resonance imaging. Muscle histopathological findings varied widely, but in general all showed the presence of lymphoid infiltrates, muscle atrophy, increased MHC-I expression, MAC deposits, vasculopathy, and muscle fiber necrosis. The response to immunosuppressive therapy was highly irregular. BCIM-SSc is a rare disorder that shares many similar phenotypes among the described cases, but has a highly heterogeneous response to treatment. At present, more data on the physiopathology, clinical features, and treatment is still needed.

Fluorescence Characteristics of [(Benzoyloxy)methyl]anthracene Donor-Acceptor Systems.

A theoretical investigation on fluorescence properties of [(benzoyloxy)methyl]anthracene derivatives containing different groups (OCH3, CH3, H, CF3, F, CN, and NO2) as substituent on the phenyl ring is reported. Electron transfer rate constants for the molecules were calculated using Marcus theory. Theoretical electron transfer rate constants agreed with experimentally observed trend of fluorescence quenching. Large electron transfer rate constants were obtained for molecules containing strongly electron withdrawing groups as the substituent on the phenyl ring. Calculations were conducted at Hartree-Fock and density functional (HF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31G(d)) levels of theory. Density functional theory predicted spurious charge transfer excited states for molecules containing NO2, CN, and CF3 as the substituent on the phenyl ring.

Interpeduncular Sulcus Approach to the Posterolateral Pons.

OBJECTIVE: In this article, we describe a new safe entry point for the posterolateral pons. METHODS: To show the adjacent anatomy and measure the part of the interpeduncular sulcus that can be safely accessed, we first performed a review of the literature regarding the pons anatomy and its surgical approaches. Thereafter, 1 human cadaveric head and 15 (30 sides) human brainstems with attached cerebellums were bilaterally dissected with the fiber microdissection technique. A clinical correlation was made with an illustrative case of a dorsolateral pontine World Health Organization grade I astrocytoma. RESULTS: The safe distance for accessing the interpeduncular sulcus was found to extend from the caudal end of the lateral mesencephalic sulcus to the point at which the intrapontine segment of the trigeminal nerve crosses the interpeduncular sulcus. The mean distance was 8.2 mm (range, 7.15-8.85 mm). Our interpeduncular sulcus safe entry zone can be exposed through a paramedian infratentorial supracerebellar approach. When additional exposure is required, the superior portion of the quadrangular lobule of the cerebellar hemispheric tentorial surface can be removed. In the presented case, surgical resection of the tumor was performed achieving a gross total resection, and the patient was discharged without neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: The interpeduncular sulcus safe entry zone provides an alternative direct route for treating intrinsic pathologic entities situated in the posterolateral tegmen of the pons between the superior and middle cerebellar peduncles. The surgical corridor provided by this entry point avoids most eloquent neural structures, thereby preventing surgical complications.

Fluorescence quenching and bonding properties of some hydroxamic acid derivatives by iron(III) and manganese(II).

Spectrophotometric investigations of highly fluorescent metal chelating molecules are of relevance due to their potential application in novel, selective fluorescence-based sensors. Benzene and naphthalene chromophores are highly fluorescent while hydroxamic acids are widely used as ligands for complexation of transition metals. In order to develop fluorescence probes, several phenyl derivatives of N-phenylbenzohydroxamic acid and an aminodihydroxamic acid linked with a naphthalene chromophore were synthesized and their selective ionophoric properties towards iron(III) and manganese(II) ions were investigated using fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. Both methods confirm the formation of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes for iron(III) and a 1:1 complex for manganese(II). The complex that is formed depends on the concentration of the ligand and pH of the medium. The amino dihydroxamic acid exhibits a prominent selectivity towards iron(III) with a two-step 1:1 and 1:2 quenching mechanism at pH 3 and towards manganese(II) with a 1:1 quenching mechanism at a probe concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol dm(-3) at pH 9.5 The logarithm of overall formation constants of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of iron(III) were estimated as 3.30 and 9.05, respectively.

Probing arrays of circular magnetic microdots by ferromagnetic resonance.

X-band ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) was used to characterize in-plane magnetic anisotropies in rectangular and square arrays of circular nickel and Permalloy microdots. In the case of a rectangular lattice, as interdot distances in one direction decrease, the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy field increases, in good agreement with a simple theory of magnetostatically interacting uniformly magnetized dots. In the case of a square lattice a four-fold anisotropy of the in-plane FMR field H(r) was found when the interdot distance a gets comparable to the dot diameter D. This anisotropy, not expected in the case of uniformly magnetized dots, was explained by a non-uniform magnetization m(r) in a dot in response to dipolar forces in the patterned magnetic structure. It is well described by an iterative solution of a continuous variation procedure. In the case of perpendicular magnetization multiple sharp resonance peaks were observed below the main FMR peak in all the samples, and the relative positions of these peaks were independent of the interdot separations. Quantitative description of the observed multiresonance FMR spectra was given using the dipole-exchange spin wave dispersion equation for a perpendicularly magnetized film where in-plane wave vector is quantized due to the finite dot radius, and the inhomogenetiy of the intradot static demagnetization field in the nonellipsoidal dot is taken into account. It was demonstrated that ferromagnetic resonance force microscopy (FMRFM) can be used to determine both local and global properties of patterned submicron ferromagnetic samples. Local spectroscopy together with the possibility to vary the tip-sample spacing enables the separation of those two contributions to a FMRFM spectrum. The global FMR properties of circular submicron dots determined using magnetic resonance force microscopy are in a good agreement with results obtained using conventional FMR and with theoretical descriptions.

Effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy using non-brand name drugs in Brazil.

In Brazil, HIV-infected individuals receive drugs (including non-brand name drugs which comprise locally produced generics and drugs that have not been tested in bioequivalence trials) free of charge from the government. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where non-brand drugs are widely used. For this purpose, we estimated the proportion of subjects with virologic failure (plasma HIV viral load greater than 400 copies/mL at 6 months after initiation of treatment). This was a retrospective cohort study of drug-naive HIV-infected subjects who initiated HAART. Subjects were included in the analysis if they were 18 years of age or older, were treatment naive, started HAART with a minimum of 3 drugs, and had available information on blood plasma HIV-1 viral load after 6 months on therapy. All subjects used antiretrovirals in dosing regimens recommended by the Brazilian National Advisory Committee for Antiretroviral Therapy. Chart reviews were conducted in three settings: at two public health outpatient units, at one clinical trial unit and at one private office. No comparisons of the effectiveness of non-brand name with the effectiveness of brand name drugs were made. We present results for 485 patients; of these, 354 (73%), 55 (11%), and 76 (16%) were seen at the public health outpatient units, private office, and clinical trial unit, respectively. Virologic failure was observed in 119 (25%) of the subjects. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HAART in a setting where non-brand name drugs are widely used.

A direct ligand-binding radioassay for the measurement of methotrexate in tissues and biological fluids.

A direct ligand-banding radioassay for methotrexate (MTX) has been developed using dihydrofolate reductase, contained in the lysate of L1210 leukemia cells, as the binding determinant. The procedure is a two-phase reaction system where standard MTX concentrations or the sample being assayed in incubated with the reagent lysate in the first phase, and [3H]MTX is then added in the second phase to titrate the remaining unoccupied binding sites on the enzyme. This method eliminates the need for measuring the residual catalytic activity of the enzyme. The sensitivity of the radioassay is limited only by the specific activity of the [3H]MTX and how approximates 10 pg of the drug. Folic acid, methyltetrahydrofolate, formyltetrahydrofolate, and dehydrofolate in concentrations that are physiological do not interfere in the radioassay. Both mercaptoethanol and reduced nicotinamide andnine dinucleotide phosphate increase the binding capacity of the lysate for MTX; but the reduced nucleotide also increases the affinity of the enzyme for the inhibitor. MTX added to serum can be assayed without extraction if the concentration is greater than 500 pg/ml and recovery of the drug added to serum is about 92%. MTX has been assayed in serum, spinal fluid, and urine of patients who were treated with this drug. It has also been assayed in the lysates of L1210 cells from C57BL X DBA/2 F1 mice treated with MTX. The procedure is simple, rapid, and accurate and should permit better correlation of the therapeutic and toxic effects of MTX with blood concentrations over long-term treatment periods.

Análise termográfica aplicada na produção de calor corporal de vacas F1 HxZ manejadas em diferentes microclimas / Thermographic analysis applied to body heat production of F1 HxZ cows managed in different microclimates

Avaliou-se a produção de calor corporal de vacas F1 HxZ manejadas em diferentes microclimas. Foram avaliadas 48 vacas, divididas em três grupos, manejadas em pastos e microclimas diferentes. Cada grupo foi subdividido em três grupos de suplementação fornecida durante a ordenha. Os registros termográficos dos flancos direito e esquerdo ocorreram com os animais a pasto. As temperaturas do olho e retal foram mensuradas após a ordenha. O ITGU caracterizou sinal de perigo para o microclima 1 no período da tarde (81,7) e para o microclima 2 nos turnos da manhã e da tarde (81,6 e 83,8, respectivamente). No microclima 2, houve diferença da temperatura do flanco direito para animais do grupo 2 em relação aos animais do grupo 3. A temperatura do flanco esquerdo foi superior para os animais do grupo 1. O microclima 1 foi caracterizado de conforto térmico, e o 2 de desconforto nos períodos da manhã e da tarde. A suplementação não influenciou na produção de calor dos animais. As médias da temperatura retal e do olho não diferiram entre os grupos, e a correlação apresentou valores baixos e moderados para os microclimas 1 e 2, respectivamente. A oferta de diferentes fontes de suplementação não interfere na produção de calor corporal de vacas F1 HxZ, mesmo quando fornecido em ambiente climático em que o ITGU é próximo a 84.(AU)

Body heat production of F1 HxZ cows managed in different microclimates was evaluated. We evaluated 48 cows, divided into two groups, managed in different pastures and microclimates. Each group was subdivided into three groups of supplementation provided during milking. The thermographic records of the right and left flanks occurred with the animals on the grass. Eye and rectal temperatures were measured after milking. The BGT had a danger signal for microclimate 1 in the afternoon (81.7) and microclimate 2 in the morning and afternoon shifts (81.6 and 83.8, respectively). In microclimate 2, there was difference in the temperature of the right flank for animals in group 2 in relation to the animals in group 3. The temperature of the left flank was higher for the animals in the group 1. Microclimate 1 was characterized by thermal comfort and 2 was discomfort in the morning and afternoon. Supplementation did not influence the heat production of the animals. Rectal and eye mean averages did not differ between groups and the correlation presented low and moderate values for microclimate 1 and 2, respectively. The supply of different sources of supplementation does not interfere with the production and body heat of F1 HxZ cows even when supplied in a climatic environment in which the BGT is close to 84.(AU)

Caracterização fenotípica de vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu de diferentes bases maternas / [Phenotypic characterization of Holsteins x Zebu F1 cows from different maternal bases]

Caracterizaram-se fêmeas F1 Holandês x Zebu de diferentes bases maternas quanto às pelagens, despigmentações e características morfométricas. Foram utilizadas 266 fêmeas F1, progênies do cruzamento de 26 touros da raça Holandesa com fêmeas de composição genética zebuínas: Gir, Nelore, Guzonel, Nelogir. Foram aplicadas análise de distribuição de frequência para características qualitativas e medidas de dispersão e tendência central para características morfométricas, e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Acima de 60,0% dos animais foram de pelagem preta. As vacas que tiveram origem na raça Gir apresentaram comprimento de cabeça 2,8cm maior (P<0,05) que as fêmeas da raça Nelore. O comprimento da orelha variou (P<0,05) conforme a base materna utilizada. As vacas com genes da raça Nelore são 5,0cm mais altas (P<0,05). O perímetro torácico foi a característica morfométrica que teve correlação fenotípica de elevada magnitude com o peso, acima de 0,70, para as fêmeas das bases maternas Gir, Nelore e Nelogir. A pelagem não é indicativa da base materna utilizada. As vacas F1 de base materna Gir tiveram estrutura corporal menor que as fêmeas que portam genes da raça Nelore.(AU)

F1 Holstein x Zebu females from different maternal bases were characterized regarding coat, depigmentation and morphometric characteristics. A total of 266 F1 female progenies from the crossbreeding of 26 Holstein bulls with females of Zebu genetic composition were used: Gir, Nellore, Guzonel, Nellogir. Frequency distribution analysis was applied for qualitative characteristics and dispersion measures and central tendency for morphometric characteristics, and means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Over 60.0% of the animals had a black coat. The cows that originated from the Gir breed had a head length of 2.8cm (P<0.05) higher than the Nellore females. Ear length varied (P<0.05) according to the maternal base used. Cows with Nelore genes were 5.0cm taller (P<0.05). The thoracic perimeter was the morphometric characteristic that had a high magnitude phenotypic correlation with weight, above 0.70, for the females of the Gir, Nellore and Nellogir maternal bases. The coat is not indicative of the maternal base used. F1 Gir-based cows had a smaller body structure than females with Nellore genes.(AU)

Nutritional, behavioral and performance parameters of F1 Holstein x Zebu cows at different lactation stages / [Parâmetros nutricionais, comportamento ingestivo e desempenho de vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu em diferentes estádios da lactação]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the different lactation stages of F1 Holstein x Zebu cows on intake and digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen use efficiency, feeding behavior and performance. Thirty-six F1 Holstein × Zebu cows with initial body weight (BW) of 482±43kg were used. The early, mid and late lactation stages were characterized after 50±13, 111.5±11.75 and 183.0±17.5 days in milk, respectively. A completely randomized design with three lactation stages and 12 cows in each treatment group was used. Dry matter intake (P=0.01) was higher in late lactation. Milk yield (P<0.01) was 24.17% higher in early lactation than in other stages. Body weight was lowest in mid-lactation cows (465.63kg; P<0.01). The feed efficiency was 23.36% higher in early lactation than in other stages (0.82kg of milk/kg of DM). F1 Holstein x Zebu cows have increased dry matter intake in late lactation. Milk yield and feed efficiency in early lactation were benefited by changes in feeding behavior, such as increased rumination time.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os diferentes estágios de lactação de vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu quanto ao consumo e à digestibilidade de nutrientes, à eficiência no uso de nitrogênio, ao comportamento ingestivo e ao desempenho. Trinta e seis vacas F1 Holandês × Zebu, com peso corporal inicial (PC) de 482±43kg, foram utilizadas. Os estágios inicial, médio e final da lactação foram caracterizados após 50±13, 111,5±11,75 e 183,0±17,5 dias de lactação, respectivamente. O arranjo experimental adotado foi o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com três fases de lactação e 12 vacas em cada grupo de tratamento. O consumo de matéria seca (P=0,01) foi maior no período final da lactação. Na fase inicial da lactação, a produção de leite (P<0,01) foi maior em 24,17% em comparação às demais fases. Na fase intermediária da lactação, as vacas apresentaram menor peso corporal (465,63kg; P<0,01) em relação às demais fases. A eficiência alimentar foi maior em 23,36% na fase inicial da lactação (0,82kg de leite/kg de MS). Vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu aumentam o consumo de matéria seca no período final da lactação. A produção de leite e a eficiência alimentar no início da lactação foram favorecidas por mudanças no comportamento ingestivo, como o aumento do tempo de ruminação.(AU)

The effect of the surface free energy of pharmaceutical tablets on liquid penetration.

The surface free energies (gamma SV) of the integral and partial tablet formulations of an antiarrhythmic drug--cibenzoline succinate, have been assessed by contact angle measurements using high-viscosity polyols and Neumann's equation of state. Independent measurements of penetration for these liquids into the tablets yielded pore size values through the use of the Washburn equation. The role of different constituents of the formulations are analysed in terms of their influence upon the free surface energy of the tablets and penetration rates. The relation between (gamma SV) and penetration rates yields for a series of liquids two threshold values: (gamma SV)s 'start' and (gamma SV)r, 'rapid', which define respectively the beginning of the measurable penetration and the rapid penetration.

[Ascaris lumbricoides in infants: a population-based study in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil]. / Parasitismo por Ascaris lumbricoides em crianças menores de dois anos: estudo populacional em comunidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides infection were analyzed by a cross-sectional study in children addressed in the city of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro State, from July to December 1997. The study population consisted of children under two years of age (N=387) and mothers of children under one year of age (N=104). Coproparasitologic tests were run using the MIFC and the Kato thick smear (Kato-Katz) methods. Prevalence was 3.3% (95% CI: 1.0-7.8) for children under one year, 30.7% (95% CI: 25.4-36.4) for one-year-olds, and 42.3% (95% CI: 33.0-51.9) for mothers of children under one. Some 38.0% of children under one year of age showed medium-to-heavy infection. These results indicated that ascariasis was an important problem in the first year of life and demonstrated the need for research in the area of maternal and infantile ascariasis.

[The concept of space in epidemiological research]. / A concepção de espaço na investigação epidemiológica.

Epidemiology's conceptual and methodological shortcomings have placed constraints on the study of health phenomena related to human communities, thus posing a challenge to the field. This paper presents some basic principles resulting from the observation of the field of geography in defining its object - space - and the application of this object to medicine and epidemiology. Such principles state the pertinence of a conceptual and methodological strategy focusing on an approach to geographic space as expressing the population's living conditions. Application of this concept to epidemiological studies is still limited, although such proposals have already been developed in other areas of knowledge. Ecological studies, whose unit of analysis is the group, and the ecological model, based on the idea of an inter-relationship of factors, if improved, could become a promising alternative in this direction. The authors emphasize that researchers should have wholeness as their scientific reference in order to guarantee the non-separation of the complex interactive processes determining health phenomena in the population.

[Cruciate hemiplegia associated with basilar impression, Arnold-Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. Case report]. / Hemiplegia cruzada associada a impressão basilar, malformação de Arnold-Chiari e siringomielia. Relato de caso.

The authors report a case of cruciate hemiplegia associated with basilar impression, Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. The neuroanatomical controversy, the surgical treatment and the good outcome of the patient are discussed.

Caracterização de pelagens em equinos da raça Campolina / Characterization of coat colors horses from the Campolina breed

Desde tempos remotos, a pelagem é valorizada no agronegócio equestre. Em animais Campolina, objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência de pelagens e a distribuição entre sexos nos estados do Brasil, assim como verificar a frequência desse fenótipo nos acasalamentos e associá-lo com medidas lineares e qualidade da marcha. Foram selecionados 44.437 registros definitivos e utilizaram-se testes de qui-quadrado para avaliar a distribuição de pelagens entre sexos, estados e décadas. Por análise descritiva, foi obtida frequência de acasalamento dos fenótipos e proporções resultantes nos filhos. Foram contabilizados os indivíduos acasalados e os mais usados por décadas de nascimento e de registro. Pelagens baia, alazã e castanha predominaram, com 20.422; 11.941 e 5.256 animais, respectivamente. O fenótipo baio representou 45,21% em Minas Gerais; 46,98% no Rio de Janeiro e 48,98% em São Paulo. Para machos e fêmeas constatou-se maior frequência de pelagens baia, alazã e castanha. Os acasalamentos mais frequentes foram alazã x baia, baia x baia e baia x castanha. Este é o primeiro artigo a avaliar a ocorrência das pelagens em equinos da raça Campolina, sendo baia a mais prevalente em ambos os sexos. A qualidade da marcha ao registro não está associada à pelagem. Esse fenótipo deve ser usado com cautela na seleção.(AU)

Since ancient times, coat colors are valued in the equestrian business. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of coat colors and distribution among sexes in Brazil and also verify the frequency of this phenotype in reproduction to associate it with linear measurements and functionality. 44,437 definitive records were selected, and chi-square tests were used to evaluate coat colors and distribution between sexes, states and decades. By descriptive analysis the phenotypes breeding frequency and proportions in the offspring were obtained. Breeding and most used individuals were accounted by decade of birth and registration. Dun, chestnut and bay coat colors predominated, with 20,422; 11,941 and 5,256 animals, respectively. Dun represented 45.21% in Minas Gerais; 46.98% in Rio de Janeiro and 48.98% in São Paulo. For males and females there was a higher frequency of dun, chestnut and bay. The most frequent breeding colors were chestnut x dun, dun x dun and dun x bay. This is the first article to evaluate the coat colors in the Campolina population, dun being the most prevalent coat color in both sexes. The gait quality at the register is not associated with the coat color. This phenotype should be used with caution in selection.(AU)

Parâmetros fisiológicos de vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu criadas em ambientes com e sem sombreamento / Physiological parameters of F1 Holstein X Zebu cows raised in environments with and without shading

Objetivou-se, com este estudo, caracterizar o efeito do microclima proporcionado por dois ambientes distintos, sobre as respostas fisiológicas de vacas F1 HxZ em fase de lactação, durante o verão. Foram avaliadas 34 vacas oriundas de quatro diferentes grupos genéticos F1 HxZ. Durante o período experimental, foram feitas medições diárias das variáveis ambientais: temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e temperatura de globo negro, para cálculo dos valores de ITGU. Os parâmetros fisiológicos frequência respiratória, batimento cardíaco, temperatura de superfície corporal, temperatura retal e taxa de sudação foram obtidos às 7h e às 14 horas. A pesagem do leite foi feita semanalmente. Os animais F1 avaliados não apresentaram alterações fisiológicas, e não houve redução na produção láctea em função dos ambientes de criação. O ITGU atingiu valores considerados estressantes (87,7), porém os ambientes de criação não proporcionaram estresse nem redução na produção dos animais.(AU)

The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of microclimate provided by two distinct environments on the physiological responses of F1 HxZ cows lactating during the summer, where 34 cows were evaluated originating from 4 different genetic groups F1 HxZ. During the trial period, daily measurements of environmental variables were determined: dry bulb temperature, relative humidity and black globe temperature, to calculate the BGT values. The physiological parameters respiratory rate, heart rate, body surface temperature, rectal temperature, and sweat rate were obtained at 07:00 and 14:00h. Weighing of milk was done weekly. The F1 animals evaluated did not present physiological changes, nor was there a reduction in milk production as a function of breeding environments. The BGT reached levels considered stressful (87.7), but the breeding environments provided no stress or reduced production of animals.(AU)

Viabilidade econômica de vacas leiteiras F1 Holandês x Zebu com diferentes bases maternas e ordens de parto / Economic viability F1 Holstein x Zebu cows of dairy from different maternal bases and birth orders

Objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade econômica de vacas F1 de Holandês x Zebu de diferentes bases maternas e ordens de parto. Foram utilizados dados do Campo Experimental da Epamig (Felixlândia-MG). Analisaram-se 406 lactações de vacas F1 H x Z de diferentes bases maternas. Estimaram-se a receita e os custos operacional efetivo, operacional total e custo total. As F1 Holandês x Gir tiveram médias de custos maiores (R$ 3582,30), seguidas pelas F1 Holandês x Nelogir (R$ 3448,06), e o menor foi das F1 Holandês x Nelore (R$ 3145,07). A receita total foi maior para as vacas F1 Holandês x Gir e F1 Holandês x Nelogir, com valores de R$ 4394,96 e R$ 4245,61, respectivamente, e a menor receita foi para F1 Holandês x Nelore, com valor de R$ 3976,12. O lucro foi de R$ 812, 65; R$ 797,54 e R$ 831,04 para as F1 filhas de base materna Gir, Nelogir e Nelore, respectivamente. Todas as bases maternas são viáveis economicamente e podem ser utilizadas no sistema de produção de leite e bezerros para venda. Todas as ordens de parto de Holandês x Zebu estudadas são viáveis economicamente.(AU)

The objective was to evaluate the economic viability of a milk production system of F1 Holstein x Zebu cows of different maternal bases and calving order. Lactations data of F1 Holtein x Zebu cows (n=406) of different maternal bases, from the experimental field of the EPAMIG at Felixlândia county (MG state, Brasil) were analyzed. Revenue, cost/effect of operation, total operating, and total cost have been estimated. F1 cows Holstein x Gir had averages of higher costs R$ 3582.30, followed by F1 cows Holstein x Nelogir R$ 3448.06; and the lowest was from cows F1 Holstein x Nellore with R$ 3145.07. The total revenue was higher for Holstein x Gir and Holstein x Nelogir with recipe values of R$ 4394.96 and R$ 4245.61 respectively, and the lowest value of R$ 3976.12 for Holstein x Nellore. The profits were R$812.65; R$ 797.54 and R$ 831.04 for animals of groups Holstein x Gir, Holstein x Nelogir and Holstein x Nellore respectively. All genetic groups are economically viable and can be used in the production of milk and calves for sale. All calving order of Holstein x Zebu studied are viable economically.(AU)

Decreased neuroautonomic complexity in men during an acute major depressive episode: analysis of heart rate dynamics.

Major depression affects multiple physiologic systems. Therefore, analysis of signals that reflect integrated function may be useful in probing dynamical changes in this syndrome. Increasing evidence supports the conceptual framework that complex variability is a marker of healthy, adaptive control mechanisms and that dynamical complexity decreases with aging and disease. We tested the hypothesis that heart rate (HR) dynamics in non-medicated, young to middle-aged males during an acute major depressive episode would exhibit lower complexity compared with healthy counterparts. We analyzed HR time series, a neuroautonomically regulated signal, during sleep, using the multiscale entropy method. Our results show that the complexity of the HR dynamics is significantly lower for depressed than for non-depressed subjects for the entire night (P<0.02) and combined sleep stages 1 and 2 (P<0.02). These findings raise the possibility of using the complexity of physiologic signals as the basis of novel dynamical biomarkers of depression.