Supplementation of Nellore young bulls on Marandu grass pastures in the dry period of the year

The objective of this study was to evaluate performance and daytime ingestive behavior of 84 Nellore young bulls in the post-weaning phase kept on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pastures during the dry season. Treatments were protein mineral supplementation (1 g/kg body weight) and protein+energy mineral supplementation (3 g/kg body weight). The experimental area comprised 12 paddocks in a total area of 27.36 ha, divided in two blocks of six paddocks each, having three replications per treatment in each block, with 42 animals/treatment. The data were subjected to variance analysis with repeated measures over time via procedure PROCMIXED of SAS (Statistical Analysis System, version 9.0) and means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. The initial average weight of animals was 204.8 kg; final weights were 260.9 and 276.9 kg for animals that received protein and protein+energy supplement, respectively. The forage availability, sward height and stocking rate values did not differ with supplementation, but they showed difference between the experimental periods. The average time spent grazing during daylight of animals fed protein+energy supplement was shorter as compared with those which consumed protein supplement. Animals kept under the same pasture conditions during the dry season show better performance when they receive protein+energy supplement than protein supplement.

Evaluation of the hemogram in healthy canines under cisplatin therapy

Objective. To evaluate the average values of the hemogram test in healthy dogs during chemotherapy with cisplatin. Materials and methods. The hemogram parameters of eight healthy canines, which underwent therapy with cisplatin, were evaluated. These canines were divided into two groups. The dogs in the first group were given cisplatin (70mg/m(2), i.v.) and to prevent kidney poisoning they were given physiological serum at 0.9% (25mL/kg/h, i.v.). The dogs in group two were not given cisplatin. Results. The hemogram of the dogs in the first group did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) as compared to the dogs in group 2.Conclusions. The data obtained indicate the protocol used with cisplatine does not significantly alter the average values of the hemogram test and the number of chemotherapy sessions increases the risk of diminishing the values of the hemogram test.

População de plantas, método de colheita e qualidade de sementes de cenoura, cultivar Brasília

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

Fenologia da aceroleira cv. Olivier em Junqueirópolis-SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O índice BODE reflete o nível de atividade física na vida diária de pacientes com DPOC?

Objectives: To study the relationship between the level of physical activity in daily life and disease severity assessed by the BODE index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Sixty-seven patients with COPD (36 men) with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1)) of 39 (27-47)% predicted and age of 66 (61-72) years old were evaluated by spirometry, dyspnea levels (measured by the Medical Research Council scale, MRC) and by the 6-minute walking test (6MWT). The BODE index was calculated based on the body mass index (weight/height(2)), FEV(1), MRC and 6MWT, and then the patients were divided in four quartiles according to their scores (Quartile I: 0 to 2 points, n=15; Quartile II: 3 to 4 points, n=20; Quartile III: 5 to 6 points, n=23; Quartile IV: 7 to 10 points, n=9). Two activity monitors (DynaPort (R) and SenseWear (R)) were used to evaluate the level of physical activity in daily life. The Kruskal-Wallis test (Dunns's post-hoc test), the Mann-Whitney test and the Spearman Correlation Coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were modest correlation between the BODE index and the time spent walking per day, the total daily energy expenditure and the time spent in moderate and vigorous activities per day (-0.32 <= r <=- 0.47; p <= 0.01 for all variables). When comparing the pooled quartiles I+II with III+IV, there were significant difference between the time spent walking per day, the total daily energy expenditure and the time spent in moderate activities per day (p <= 0.05). Conclusion: The level of physical activity in daily life has a modest correlation with the classification of COPD severity assessed by the BODE index, reflecting only differences between patients with classified as mild-moderate and severe-very severe COPD.

Efeitos do exercício aeróbio no músculo esquelético de ratos expostos à fumaça de cigarro

INTRODUÇÃO: Os fumantes sofrem redução da massa muscular e da resistência à fadiga e possivelmente a prática de atividade física contribua positivamente neste quadro. OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar as adaptações da musculatura esquelética frente à interação da prática de atividade física e exposição à fumaça de cigarro. MÉTODOS: 32 ratos machos foram divididos em grupos expostos à fumaça de cigarro, exercitados (G1) e sedentários (G3), e não expostos à fumaça, exercitados (G2) e sedentários (G4). A exposição à fumaça foi realizada mediante combustão de 10 cigarros em uma câmara de inalação durante 30 minutos, duas vezes ao dia, cinco dias por semana, durante 15 dias; o exercício aeróbio foi composto por sessões diárias de 60 minutos de caminhada em esteira, cinco dias por semana. Após o sacrifício, o músculo sóleo foi coletado e seus cortes foram corados pela técnica de HE e submetidos ao método histoquímico NADH-TR. RESULTADOS: O grupo G1 apresentou maior quantidade de alterações musculares, bem como ausência de atividade enzimática, o mesmo ocorrendo no G3, porém com menor intensidade; no G2 foi observado padrão normal para fibras exercitadas, estando as fibras do G4 preservadas. Quanto à morfometria, houve diferença significante para o fator exercício (p = 0,007), enquanto não foram observadas diferenças significantes para o fator exposição à fumaça (p = 0,668) e para a interação exposição à fumaça e exercício (p = 0,077). CONCLUSÃO: A interação entre inalação de fumaça de cigarro e exercício, realizada durante 15 dias em ratos machos Wistar adultos, acentuou as alterações histológicas do músculo sóleo, levando a uma alteração da atividade enzimática e acarretando em aumento do diâmetro das fibras musculares

Avaliação da coluna vertebral: relação entre gibosidade e curvas sagitais por método não-invasivo

Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar o alinhamento, no plano sagital, da coluna de indivíduos com alterações na medida da gibosidade, comparando com um grupo sem alterações; testar a confiabilidade do instrumento utilizado e verificar se existem correlações entre as medidas da gibosidade e os valores das curvaturas vertebrais. Foram avaliados 40 jovens, divididos em grupo controle - ausência ou presença de gibosidades inferiores a 0,5 cm na curvatura torácica e 0,7 cm na lombar (n=20) e, grupo experimental - gibosidades superiores às descritas (n=20). A gibosidade e as curvaturas no plano sagital foram mensuradas com um instrumento adaptado a um nível d'água e o teste de Adams. As coletas foram realizadas em duas datas distintas, nos dois grupos. Após aplicação do teste Mann-Whitney não foi encontrada diferença entre as ocasiões de coletas e, emparelhando-se os grupos, foi encontrada diferença apenas na medida cervical. Na verificação de existência de relação entre as medidas coletadas, foi encontrada correlação linear (Spearmann) no grupo controle - curvatura torácica e gibosidade torácica; em ambos os grupos - curvaturas torácica e lombar; e no grupo experimental - gibosidade torácica e as curvaturas lombar e sacral e, curvatura sacral e curvaturas torácica e lombar. Pôde-se concluir que a medida da gibosidade tem relações com as curvaturas no plano sagital. Por ser um método confiável, simples e acessível, pode ser reproduzido sem altos custos financeiros e sem causar prejuízo à saúde do paciente.

Comparação da pressão plantar e dos sintomas osteomusculares por meio do uso de palmilhas customizadas e pré-fabricadas no ambiente de trabalho

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of two proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques in different planes on hamstrings muscles of healthy subjects

Introduction: The proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique (PNF) has been proven to be efficient, since it was found higher gain of joint range-of-motion compared to the classic stretching. This study aimed to perform a comparison between the muscular stretching techniques and the PNF hold-relax on the internal and external sagittal/diagonal plane.Method: Randomly divided in 3 groups by a drawing, 30 healthy male individuals have undergone the test. In group I the hold-relax technique was utilized on the sagittal plane, grupo II receveid hold-relax on the internal and external diagonals, and group III, on which an evaluation was performed, worked as control. All the groups went through tests on the first, fifth and fifteenth day after the application of the different approaches. In this evaluation it was used a Flexis (R) Fleximeter.Result: Group II (diagonal) obtained statistically significant gain of 13.99% in the immediate post-test and post test later obtained a loss of 4.81%, group I (sagittal) showed no statistical difference as the group III (control).Conclusion: We conclude that the technique of PNF in the diagonal plane is effective in the flexibility of the hamstring muscles.

Fractal correlation property of heart rate variability in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: It was reported that autonomic nervous system function is altered in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated short-and long-term fractal exponents of heart rate variability (HRV) in COPD subjects.Patients and methods: We analyzed data from 30 volunteers, who were divided into two groups according to spirometric values: COPD (n = 15) and control (n = 15). For analysis of HRV indices, HRV was recorded beat by beat with the volunteers in the supine position for 30 minutes. We analyzed the linear indices in the time (SDNN [standard deviation of normal to normal] and RMSSD [root-mean square of differences]) and frequency domains (low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], and LF/HF), and the short-and long-term fractal exponents were obtained by detrended fluctuation analysis. We considered P < 0.05 to be a significant difference.Results: COPD patients presented reduced levels of all linear exponents and decreased short-term fractal exponent (alpha-1: 0.899 +/- 0.18 versus 1.025 +/- 0.09, P = 0.026). There was no significant difference between COPD and control groups in alpha-2 and alpha-1/alpha-2 ratio.Conclusion: COPD subjects present reduced short-term fractal correlation properties of HRV, which indicates that this index can be used for risk stratification, assessment of systemic disease manifestations, and therapeutic procedures to monitor those patients.

Effects of a novel fermented soy product on the serum lipids of hypercholesterolemic rabbits

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

A potential synbiotic product improves the lipid profile of diabetic rats

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

Effect of a novel soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium on bone tissue of rats.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of soy fermented product intake on the corporal weight and bone tissue of ovariectomized mature rats. This product was fermented with Enterococcusfaecium and Lactobacillus jugurti and enriched with isoflavones and calcium. The animals were divided in 5 groups: sham-ovariectomized; ovariectomized; ovariectomized treated with soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium; ovariectomized treated with soy fermented product enriched with calcium and ovariectomized treated with nonfermented product enriched only with calcium. In order to evaluate the effect of the tested product on bone tissue (femur and tibia), the following parameters were analyzed: length; mechanical assay of three points; density (Archimedes principle); mineral content; calcium content; measure of the trabecular widths. The corporal weight of group treated with soy fermented product containing isoflavones and calcium showed no statistical difference from sham-ovariectomized group and trabecular widths tended to have larger than ovariectomized group. However, there was no significant difference to the other evaluated parameters in result of the diverse treatments. Thus, soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium inhibited the increasing of corporal weight caused by ovariectomy and revealed a tendency to trabecular protection after castration.

Fatores de risco para síndrome metabólica em cadeirantes: jogadores de basquetebol e não praticantes

A atividade física tem sido sistematicamente estudada como fator preventivo no acometimento de enfermidades crônico-degenerativas, especialmente a síndrome metabólica e doenças cardiovasculares. Sedentarismo está relacionado à diminuição ou ausência de parâmetros mínimos de exigência física diária além do estado de repouso, sendo este fortemente associado à redução na condição de saúde dos indivíduos portadores de deficiência física. As respostas metabólicas do organismo mediante a ausência de determinada musculatura, ou sua inatividade pela falta de estímulos, conduzem a diferenças significativas na estruturação da composição corporal. Esta pesquisa teve como objeto o exercício físico regular e a condição de saúde de indivíduos portadores de deficiência física, através da determinação do perfil antropométrico e bioquímico sangüíneo, e ainda pela determinação da prevalência de fatores de risco para síndrome metabólica. Foram estudados 27 homens com paraplegia (T2-L1), portadores de seqüelas de poliomielite ou amputados, divididos em jogadores de basquetebol cadeirantes (JBC) e não jogadores de basquetebol cadeirantes (NJBC). Os JBC apresentaram circunferência de cintura menor comparada aos NJBC, 76,40±8,44 e 89,25±9,73 cm respectivamente (p<0,05). A pressão arterial sistólica foi significativamente maior nos NJBC 123,33±13,70 e 114,00±9,85 mmHg para JBC (p<0,05), não sendo verificada diferença para PAD. Os NJBC apresentaram valores superiores aos JBC para a bioquímica sangüínea de glicemia, TG, CT e frações, exceto para HDL-C (p<0,05). Os indivíduos NJBC apresentaram alta prevalência para fatores de risco da SM, sendo hipertensão arterial prevalente em 58,33% dos indivíduos, dislipidemia de HDL-C presente em 50% e circunferência de cintura acima da normalidade em 41,66%. Os achados do presente estudo sugerem um papel importante do exercício físico na prevenção da síndrome metabólica, embora estudos adicionais devam ser realizados para a melhor compreensão dos mecanismos que promovem a saúde dos deficientes físicos ativos.

LEARNING A COMPLEX MOTOR SKILL FROM VIDEO and POINT-LIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS

The aim of this Study was to compare the learning process of a highly complex ballet skill following demonstrations of point light and video models 16 participants divided into point light and video groups (ns = 8) performed 160 trials of a pirouette equally distributed in blocks of 20 trials alternating periods of demonstration and practice with a retention test a day later Measures of head and trunk oscillation coordination d1 parity from the model and movement time difference showed similarities between video and point light groups ballet experts evaluations indicated superiority of performance in the video over the point light group Results are discussed in terms of the task requirements of dissociation between head and trunk rotations focusing on the hypothesis of sufficiency and higher relevance of information contained in biological motion models applied to learning of complex motor skills