Serum Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 as Predictors of Gait Status, Pressure Ulcer and Mortality after Hip Fracture

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum activity of metalloproteinases (MMPs) -2 and -9 as predictors of pressure ulcer (PU), gait status and mortality 6 months after hip fracture. Methods: Eighty-seven patients over the age of 65 admitted to the orthopedic unit from January to December 2010 with hip fracture were prospectively evaluated. Upon admission, patient demographic information, including age, gender and concomitant diseases, was recorded. Blood samples were taken for analysis of MMP -2 and -9 activity by gel zymography and for biochemical examination within the first 72 hours of the patient's admission, after clinical stabilization. The fracture pattern (neck, trochanteric or subtrochanteric), time from admission to surgery, surgery duration and length of hospital stay were also recorded. Results: Two patients were excluded due to the presence of pathological fractures (related to cancer), and three patients were excluded due to the presence of PU before admission. Eighty-two patients, with a mean age of 80.4 ± 7.3 years, were included in the analysis. Among these patients, 75.6% were female, 59.8% had PU, and 13.4% died 6 months after hip fracture. All patients underwent hip fracture repair. In a univariate analysis, there were no differences in serum MMP activity between hip fracture patients with or without PU. In addition, the multiple logistic regression analysis models, which were adjusted by age, gender, length of hospital stay and C-reactive protein, showed that the pro-MMP-9 complexed with neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin form (130 kDa) was associated with gait status recovery 6 months after hip fracture. Conclusions: In conclusion, serum pro-MMP-9 is a predictor of gait status recovery 6 months after hip fracture. © 2013 Gumieiro et al.

Influence of chronic exercise on serum cortisol levels in older adults

The circulating level of cortisol is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis through a neuroendocrine feedback circuit. This circuit can be activated by physiological stimuli such as stress, diseases, and exercise. High levels of serum cortisol hormone normally occur as a byproduct of aging, and can cause several types of damage to the organism and exacerbate immunosenescence. There is a great deal of variability in the cortisol response with regard to type, intensity, volume, and frequency of exercise. However, these relationships have been extensively studied with respect to the acute effects of exercise. Despite the well-known effects of acute exercise on cortisol response, it is unclear how it is affected by chronic exercise and the aging process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a review of studies that attempt to analyze the influence of chronic exercise on serum cortisol hormone in older people. In order to accomplish this goal, a review from 1970 to June 2012 period was performed using the following databases: Biological Abstracts, PsycINFO, PubMed/Medline, and the Web of Science. Eight articles met the criteria used in this study. Based on the included articles, chronic exercise may influence the serum levels of cortisol levels in older people. Despite this evidence, these results may not be generalized to the entire population of older people, given the few number of studies and especially because the studies showed diversity in variables and methodologies. © 2013 European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity (EGREPA).

Effects of propiogenic ingredients on serum concentration of insulin and progesterone in non-lactating cows

Three experiments evaluated serum insulin and progesterone (P4) concentrations in grazing Gir×Holstein cows supplemented with monensin (MON) or propylene glycol (PPG; 2.5mL/kg of live weight0.75 per drench). Cows were non-lactating, ovariectomized, and received an intravaginal drug-releasing device containing 1.9g of P4 to estimate treatment effects on hepatic P4 degradation. In Exp. 1, 15 cows received, in a crossover design containing 2 periods of 21d, 0.1kg/d of corn in addition to 2g/d of kaolin (CON) or 0.2g/d of MON. Blood samples were collected on d 13 and 20 of each period. Cows receiving CON had greater (P<0.05) serum insulin concentrations compared with MON prior to and 6h after feeding. However, MON cows had greater (P=0.01) serum P4 concentrations compared with CON 18h after feeding. In experiment 2, 15 cows received, in a replicated crossover design containing 2 periods of 24h, a single drench of PPG or water (WT). Cows receiving PPG had greater (P<0.01) serum insulin concentrations compared with WT from 0.5 to 3h after drench. However, PPG cows had reduced (P<0.05) serum P4 concentrations compared with WT at 1 and 2h after drench. In experiment 3, 13 cows received, in a replicated 3×3 Latin square design containing 3 periods of 24h, 3 PPG drenches administered 1h apart (PPG3x), 3 WT drenches administered 1h apart, or 1 PPG drench+2 WT drenches administered 1h apart (PPG1x). Serum insulin concentrations increased proportionally to PPG dosage (treatment×hour; P<0.01). However, mean serum P4 concentration was greater (P<0.01) in WT cows compared with PPG1x and PPG3x, but similar (P=0.25) between PPG1x and PPG3x cows. In conclusion, feeding propiogenic ingredients to grazing cows failed to substantially increase serum P4 concentrations. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Effects of bovine somatotropin injection on serum concentrations of progesterone in non-lactating dairy cows

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of bovine somatotropin administration on serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, NEFA, IGF-I, and progesterone (P4) in ovariectomized non-lactating dairy cows receiving exogenous P4, as a model to estimate treatment effects on hepatic P4 degradation. Ten non-lactating, non-pregnant, and ovariectomized Gir×Holstein cows were assigned to the experiment (d -14 to 27). On d 0, cows were ranked by BW and BCS, and randomly assigned to one of two treatments: (1) bovine somatotropin (BST; n=5) or (2) saline control (control; n=5). Cows assigned to the BST treatment were administered s.c. injections containing 500. mg of sometribove zinc on d 0, 9, and 18 of the experiment, whereas control cows concurrently received a 10-mL s.c. injection of 0.9% saline. On d -2, cows were inserted with an intravaginal releasing device containing 1.9. g of P4, which remained in the cows until the end the experiment (d 27). Cow BW and BCS were assessed on d -14, 0, and 27. Blood samples were collected daily from d 0 to d 27, at 0 (immediately before), 1, and 2. h relative to concentrate feeding for determination of serum glucose, insulin, NEFA, P4, and IGF-I concentrations. Concentrations of glucose, NEFA, and insulin obtained prior to feeding (0. h) were used to determine pre-prandial revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (RQUICKI). No treatment effects were detected for BW (P=0.72) and BCS change (P=0.79) during the experiment. Beginning on d 2 of the experiment, BST cows had greater (P≤0.01) serum IGF-I concentrations compared with control cohorts (treatment×day interaction; P<0.01). Cows receiving BST had greater (P≤0.05) insulin concentrations compared with control cohorts from d 8 to d 11, d 16 and 17, as well as from d 19 to d 21 of the experiment (treatment×day interaction; P<0.01). Cows receiving BST had greater (P≤0.01) mean glucose and NEFA concentrations, as well as reduced (P<0.01) mean RQUICKI during the experiment compared with control cohorts. No treatment effects, however, were detected (P=0.73) for serum P4 concentrations. In conclusion, results from this experiment indicate that hepatic P4 catabolism is not directly regulated by circulating IGF-I, whereas BST administration decreases insulin sensitivity in non-lactating dairy cows in adequate nutritional status. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Experimental infection of commercial layers with wild or attenuated Salmonella Gallinarum mutant strains: Anatomic pathology, total blood cell count and serum protein levels

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

Serum activity of creatine kinase and aminotransferase aspartate enzymes of horses submitted to muscle biopsy and incremental jump test

The objective was to evaluate serum activity of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), which are leakage enzymes responsive to muscle injury, of athletic horses that underwent muscle biopsy and incremental jump test (IJT) involving incremental jumps. The animals were grouped as follows: the first group, horses with history of superior performance (SP); the second, with a history of inferior performance (IP); and lastly, a control group (CG). All groups underwent biopsy of the gluteus medius muscle, while groups SP and IP were also submitted to the incremental jump test (IJT) 24 hours after biopsy. The IJT consisted of three stages with 40 jumps each, where jump height increased progressively, from 40 to 60 and last, 80cm. Blood samples were drawn before biopsy, and 6 and 24 hours after the exercise as well. The levels of CK serum activity increased 6 hours after exercise and decreased 24 hours later in all groups, including CG. AST activity did not increase after biopsy and exercise. There was no increase of both enzyme activities that could be attributed to the exercise, possibly due to exercise short duration and/or low intensity. We conclude that the muscle biopsy was able to show that there was enough stimulus to cause CK enzyme leakage into the plasma, and consequent detection of increased serum activity, while the incremental jump test did not.

Influence of experimental canine ehrlichiosis on the E-ADA activity and purine levels in serum and possible functional correlations with pathogenesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate adenosine deaminase activity and purines levels in serum of dogs experimentally infected by Ehrlichia canis. Banked serum samples of dogs divided into two groups with five animals each: healthy animals and animals infected by E. canis. The concentration of purines (adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid), and adenosine deaminase (E-ADA) activity in sera were evaluated. Samples were collected on days 12 and 30 post-infection (PI). The E-ADA activity showed a significant reduction on day 12 PI, and increased on day 30 PI in dogs infected with E. canis. On day 12, an increase in seric concentration of ATP, ADP and adenosine was verified, and different levels of hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid had a drastic reduction in infected compared healthy dogs (P< 0.05). However, on day 30 PI, the levels of seric ADP and AMP decreased, unlike the concentration of xanthine and uric acid that increased significantly in infected dogs (P< 0.05). Therefore, the activity of E-ADA and purine levels are altered in experimental canine ehrlichiosis, probably with the purpose of modulating the pathogenesis of the disease related to immune response, oxidative stress and coagulation disorders in acute phase. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Estado nutricional e perfil bioquímico de zinco e selênio em pacientes com deficiência de UgA

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Resposta imune ativa e passiva induzida por vacina comercial contra rotavirose bovina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em bovinos, cães e humanos da região sudoeste do Estado de Mato Grosso

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Respostas mediadas por anticorpos e células T de memória na imunidade contra o Vírus da Bronquite Infecciosa das Galinhas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência das proteínas Yops de Yersinia pseudotuberculosis na resposta imune humoral murina

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da infecção de ratos Fischer com dua amostras geneticamente distintas de Toxoplasma gondii: cinética de anticorpos, reisolamento em camundongos e reação em cadeia pela polimerase

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

Clonagem e expressão do gene da nucleoproteína do vírus da bronquite infecciosa em sistemas hospedeiros eucarioto (Pichia pastoris) e procarioto (Escherichia coli)

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

Resposta imune celular e humoral em aves (Gallus gallus) vacinadas, antes e após o desafio com Salmonella enteritidis

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV