Experimental envenomation with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in dogs treated with antiophidic serum - Part II: Laboratory aspects, electrocardiogram and histopathology

The present work shows laboratory aspects, electrocardiogram and histopathology results during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with antiophidic serum. Twenty-one dogs were divided into three groups of seven animals each. Group I received 1mg/kg venom (sc); Group II received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv) and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution (iv); and Group III received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv) and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution containing sodium bicarbonate diluted to the dose of 4mEq/kg. Urinalysis showed brown urine, proteinuria, occult blood and myoglobinuria. Respiratory acidosis and hypotension were also observed. At the venom inoculation site, there was discreet edema, popliteal lymph node response, musculature presenting whitish areas and necrotic myositis with myoregenerative activity. There was not evidence of electrocardiographical and biochemical alterations.

Ocorrência de infecção urinária em pacientes de um hospital universitário

Infection in hospitals is a serious problem for the Public Health System. It is responsible for the increasing number of hospital deaths, as well as the longer time patients may have to stay in hospital, raising the costs of confinement more and more. The most common hospital infection is urinary tract infections (UTI), the use of the urinary catheter being the main risk factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of UTI among hospitalized patients in a University Hospital in Brazil, from October to December 2003. Out of 271 samples of urine checked, 51 were positive, 27 of these from patients having community-acquired UTI and 24 whose infection originated in the hospital. The community-acquired UTIs were more frequent in female patients (63%). The highest incidence of infection was caused by Escherichia coli (74%), especially in patients aged from 0 to 15 (37%). The episodes of hospital-acquired infection happened, in the main, in male patients aged above 50 (68%) who were using a lasting vesical catheter; in this group of patients the infection was frequently caused by E. coli (29.1%) and Klebsiella spp. (29.1%). E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited strong resistance (62.5%) to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, as well as to ampicillin, showing that these drugs should not be used to cure UTIs in this institution.

Aplicabilidade do TTC para a detecção de bacteriúria

Laboratory tests to detect urinary infection at a lawer cost than uroculture are necessary. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride was evaluated in parallel with uroculture in 342 urine samples, for the detection of significant bacteriuria. The results showed that the test has high sensitivity (91.3%) but low specificity (64.3%), and negative predictive value 99.0%. Although the test cannot replace uroculture as a diagnostic method, it can be recommended for preliminary screening, and could eliminate the need for uroculture of negative samples.

Oxidative stress, superoxide production, and apoptosis of neutrophils in dogs with chronic kidney disease

Oxidative stress is a key component in the immunosuppression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and neutrophil function may be impaired by oxidative stress. To test the hypothesis that in uremic dogs with CKD, oxidative stress is increased and neutrophils become less viable and functional, 18 adult dogs with CKD were compared with 15 healthy adult dogs. Blood count and urinalysis were done, and the serum biochemical profile and plasma lipid peroxidation (measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) were determined with the use of commercial reagents. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured with a spectrophotometer and commercial reagents, superoxide production with a hydroethidine probe, and the viability and apoptosis of neutrophils with capillary flow cytometry and the annexin V-PE system. The plasma concentrations of cholesterol (P = 0.0415), creatinine (P < 0.0001), and urea (P < 0.0001) were significantly greater in the uremic dogs than in the control dogs. The hematocrit (P = 0.0004), urine specific gravity (P = 0.015), and plasma lipid peroxidation (P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the dogs that were in late stages of CKD than in the control group. Compared with those isolated from the control group, neutrophils isolated from the CKD group showed a higher rate of spontaneous (0.10 ± 0.05 versus 0.49 ± 0.09; P = 0.0033; median ± standard error of mean) and camptothecin-induced (18.53 ± 4.06 versus 44.67 ± 4.85; P = 0.0066) apoptosis and lower levels of superoxide production in the presence (1278.8 ± 372.8 versus 75.65 ± 86.6; P = 0.0022) and absence (135.29 ± 51.74 versus 41.29 ± 8.38; P = 0.0138) of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate stimulation. Thus, oxidative stress and acceleration of apoptosis occurs in dogs with CKD, the apoptosis diminishing the number of viable neutrophils and neutrophil superoxide production.

Hypothyroidism and acute kidney injury: An unusual association

Association between severe hypothyroidism and acute kidney injury (AKI) is rare. A 40-year-old woman presented with 15 days history of generalised muscle pain, weakness, weight gain and oedema. Medical history: hypertension and hypothyroidism. Physical examination: dry skin, peripheral/periorbital oedema, slow thought and speaking, thyroid increased. Laboratory examinations: high levels of creatine kinase , creatinine, uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase. Free T4 was very low (<0.3 ng/dL) and thyroid-stimulating hormone was high (21.7 mIU/mL). Urinalysis showed haem pigment without haematuria. We performed the diagnosis of AKI secondary to hypothyroidism-induced rhabdomyolysis. Intravenous fluids were started, urinary alkalisation and increased l-thyroxine dose replacement. On the day after admission, forced diuresis with furosemide was introduced leading to a progressive improvement of symptoms. Although hypothyroidism and AKI is unusual, it should be suspected in patients presenting decrease of renal function and high creatine kinase in the absence of other causes of rhabdomyolysis.

Hipertensão arterial sistêmica e sua correlação com as lesões renais de cães naturalmente acometidos por leishmaniose visceral

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Estudo da segurança da dose terapêutica oral do firocoxib em equinos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Características epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais de gatos com sinais de trato urinário inferior

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Diagnóstico de cistite em cães: contribuição dos métodos de avaliação

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos do cloreto de amônio, ácido cítrico e cloreto de sódio no controle de cistites em porcas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da hipoplasia sanguínea e quantificação imunofenotípica de células CD45+ no sangue e na medula óssea de cães com doença renal crônica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da acidificação urinária em ovinos com a utilização de três tratamentos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação hematológica, bioquímica e parasitológica de cães, naturalmente acometidos por leishmaniose visceral, submetidos a diferentes protocolos de tratamento

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Intoxicação experimental por veneno de sapo em cães anestesiados: estudo clínico e laboratorial

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Acompanhamento laboratorial da função renal de cães sadios tratados experimentalmente com doses terapêuticas de anfotericina b

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ