Do Thyroid Ultrasonographic Features Change According to Age in Euthyroid Dogs?

The thyroid gland was assessed by ultrasound in healthy euthyroid mixed-breed medium size dogs in different age groups. The objective was to verify ultrasonographic imaging patterns in these groups, as well as to identify possible changes in imaging features resulting from ageing. Thirty dogs - 10 young (<1 year), 10 adult and 10 elderly - without clinical signs or history of thyroid gland disease with complete blood count and thyroid function tests within the reference values were evaluated. Each thyroid lobe was examined by ultrasound for shape, size, echogenicity and echotexture. The analysis of echogenicity and echotexture was made by histogram. Thyroid volume was estimated by the equation for ellipsoid (length x width x height) pi/6. The thyroid volume of the young dogs in this study had a tendency to be higher than in adult dogs (P = 0.068) and older dogs (P = 0.120). The height of the thyroid lobe in the longitudinal plane was significantly higher (P = 0.026) in young dogs compared with the other dogs. The echotexture and echogenicity had no significant differences between groups, but the echogenicity was greater in older dogs. The results point out that ultrasound imaging of the thyroid volume is influenced by age in euthyroid dogs.

Hipotireoidismo em cães: aspectos gerais

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in dogs caused by insufficient production and secretion of thyroid hormones. Most affected dogs have primary hypothyroidism that results from lymphocytic thyroiditis, idiopathic thyroid atrophy, or more rarely, neoplastic destruction. Secondary hypothyroidism resulting from inadequate secretion of thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone –TSH) from the pituitary gland is less commonly recognized. Tertiary hypothyroidism resulting from a deficiency of hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has not been documented in dogs. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs is made on the basis of clinical findings, results of routine laboratory and thyroid gland function tests and response to thyroid hormone replacement. Unfortunately, these tests have high sensitivity, but low specificity, for use in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone supplementation is indicated for the treatment of confirmed hypothyroidism and for the diagnoses of the disease through clinical response to trial therapy

Testes funcionais, torque isocinético em inversão e eversão e capacidade de reposicionamento articular: um estudo sobre a estabilidade dinâmica do tornozelo

Introdução: A lesão mais comumente encontrada na população ativa é a entorse de tornozelo. Cerca de 40% destes casos continuam a manifestar sensação de instabilidade articular mesmo após a fase aguda da lesão, caracterizando a instabilidade funcional do tornozelo (IFT). A IFT está relacionada com déficits proprioceptivos e redução na capacidade de produção de força e potência muscular. Haja vista que o basquetebol é um esporte com grande incidência de lesões no tornozelo faz-se necessário o entendimento de métodos de avaliação de baixo custo, que possam contribuir para a prevenção deste tipo de lesão em atletas. Objetivo: Nesse sentido, o presente estudo, tem como objetivo identificar os parâmetros de torque, atividade eletromiográfica, senso de reposicionamento articular e a pontuação em teste funcional em jogadoras de basquetebol com tornozelo estável. Correlacionar os valores de torque, atividade eletromiográfica e do senso de reposionamento articular com a pontuação dos testes funcionais em individuos saudáveis. Método: Participaram deste estudo 6 atletas do gênero feminino praticantes do basquetebol com idade entre 18 e 25 anos. As voluntárias realizaram os seguintes testes: torque isocinético concêntrico em inversão (INV) e eversão (EVE) nas velocidades de 60º e 120º, cinco testes funcionais e teste de reposicionamento articular com os ângulos-alvo de 10º e 20º de inversão. Após a verificação da normalidade de distribuição dos dados com o teste Shapiro-Wilk, utilizou-se o teste de Correlação Spearman para verificar a correlação dos testes funcionais com o pico de torque, o sinal EMG e o reposicionamento articular. Resultados: Não foi encontrados resultados esperados no estudo, exceto na correlação negativa para os valores de RMS do TA na velocidade de 120º nas contrações isocinética...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Efeitos de drogas antiplaquetárias na doença periodontal

The association between platelets, angiogenesis and progression or repair of periodontal disease has been little explored and, consequently, the results are inconclusive. The pathogenic bacteria present in the periodontal pocket release endotoxins that affect the endothelial integrity and are able to induce the production of chemical mediators derived from plasma proteins and blood clotting while altering platelet function. There is great interest in the modulation of platelet activity in vascular disorders, especially cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, antiplatelet drugs, that are commonly used in the prevention of thromboembolic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and peripheral arterial disease, have been used. Aspirin is the only non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent with antiplatelet activity. In the periodontium, instead of only reduces levels of inflammatory cytokines, also significantly affects bleeding on probing, suggesting a dose-dependent modulation of periodontitis. In contrast, clopidogrel and ticlopidine are thienopyridine drugs with no known antiinflammatory action, suggesting that this benefit is related to an antiinflammatory effect indirectly correlated to their antiplatelet activity already established. In the literature there is limited information about the effect of these drugs on periodontium and periodontal disease development. Antiplatelet drugs hypothetically can change both the pathogenesis of periodontitis and subsequent periodontal tissue repair by blocking the secretion of chemical mediators which in general are important in modulating inflammation and tissue repair.

Safety of kidney transplantation using anti-HBc-positive donors

Background. Prospective studies evaluating the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in transplants of kidneys from hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive/ hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) negative donors are still lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of kidney transplantation with the use of anti-HBc positive donors.Methods. This prospective case series study included 50 kidney transplant recipients from anti-HBc positive donors with or without anti-HBs positivity. Recipients were required to test positive for anti-HBs (titers >10 mUI/mL), regardless of anti-HBc status, and negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Recipient and donor data were retrieved from medical records, databases, and organ procurement organization sheets. Liver function tests were performed at progressively increasing post-transplantation intervals. Complete serologic tests for HBV were performed before transplantation, 3 and 6 months after transplantation, and annually thereafter.Results. Six months after transplantation, all recipients were negative for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBcIgM. No seroconversion was observed among the 20 patients who received kidneys from anti-HBc positive/anti-HBs negative donors. No patient showed elevated liver enzymes during follow-up.Conclusions. Kidney transplantation using organs from anti-HBeIgG positive donors (even when they are concurrently anti-HBs negative) in anti-HBs positive recipients is a safe procedure and may be considered as a way to expand the donor pool.

Effects of dipyrone, meloxicam, or the combination on hemostasis in conscious dogs

To compare the effects of dipyrone, meloxicam, and of the combination of these drugs on hemostasis in dogs. Prospective, blinded, randomized crossover study. Research laboratory at a veterinary teaching hospital. Six adult dogs. Animals received 4 intravenous treatments with 15-day washout intervals: control (physiological saline, 0.1 mL/kg), meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg), dipyrone (25 mg/kg), and dipyrone-meloxicam (25 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively). A jugular catheter was placed for drug injection and for collecting samples for whole blood platelet aggregation (WBPA) and thromboelastometry assays at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 hours after treatment administration. The percent change from baseline of lag time and of the area under the curve (AUC) of impedance changes in response to collagen-induced platelet activation were recorded during WBPA. Thromboelastometry-derived parameters included clotting time, clot formation time, alpha-angle, and maximum clot firmness. The buccal mucosal bleeding time was evaluated by a blinded observer at baseline, 1, 3, and 5 hours after treatment injection. No significant changes in WBPA and thromboelastometry were recorded in the control treatment. Dipyrone significantly (P < 0.05) increased the lag time for 2 hours and decreased the AUC for 3 hours after injection. Meloxicam did not alter WBPA. Dipyrone-meloxicam significantly increased lag time for 2 hours and decreased the AUC for 5 hours after treatment injection. Experimental treatments did not differ from the control treatment for thromboelastometry and buccal mucosal bleeding time. While meloxicam does not alter hemostasis by the methods evaluated, dipyrone inhibits platelet aggregation for up to 3 hours. Meloxicam-dipyrone combination causes more prolonged inhibition of platelet function than dipyrone alone. Decreased platelet aggregation induced by dipyrone and dipyrone-meloxicam does not appear to impact the viscoelastic properties of the blood clot nor increase the risk of bleeding in dogs without preexisting hemostatic disorders.

Correlação entre os resultados pré-operatórios de testes cardiopulmonares e a evolução pós-operatória em cirurgia bariátrica

Pós-graduação em Bases Gerais da Cirurgia - FMB

Mathematical tests about the existence and applications of PPS-wavelets in function approximation problems

Neural networks and wavelet transform have been recently seen as attractive tools for developing eficient solutions for many real world problems in function approximation. Function approximation is a very important task in environments where computation has to be based on extracting information from data samples in real world processes. So, mathematical model is a very important tool to guarantee the development of the neural network area. In this article we will introduce one series of mathematical demonstrations that guarantee the wavelets properties for the PPS functions. As application, we will show the use of PPS-wavelets in pattern recognition problems of handwritten digit through function approximation techniques.

Optimal reactive power flow via the modified barrier Lagrangian function approach

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Using of model updating considering damped frequency response function

The search for better performance in the structural systems has been taken to more refined models, involving the analysis of a growing number of details, which should be correctly formulated aiming at defining a representative model of the real system. Representative models demand a great detailing of the project and search for new techniques of evaluation and analysis. Model updating is one of this technologies, it can be used to improve the predictive capabilities of computer-based models. This paper presents a FRF-based finite element model updating procedure whose the updating variables are physical parameters of the model. It includes the damping effects in the updating procedure assuming proportional and none proportional damping mechanism. The updating parameters are defined at an element level or macro regions of the model. So, the parameters are adjusted locally, facilitating the physical interpretation of the adjusting of the model. Different tests for simulated and experimental data are discussed aiming at defining the characteristics and potentialities of the methodology.

Quantitative comparison of mobility and gross motor function in Brazilian children with cerebral palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) presents changes in posture and movement as a core characteristic, which requires therapeutic monitoring during the habilitation or rehabilitation of children. Besides clinical treatment, it is fundamental that professionals use systems of evaluation to quantify the difficulties presented to the individual and assist in the organization of a therapeutic program. The aim of this study was to quantitatively verify the performance of children with spastic di-paresia type CP.Methods: The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFM) tests were used and classification made through the GMFCS in the assessment of 7 patients with CP, 4 females and 3 males, average age of 9 years old.Results: According to GMFCS scales, 17% (n=1) were level II and 83% (n=6) were level III. The PEDI test and 88 GMFM items were used in the area of mobility. We observed that there was high correlation between mobility and gross motor function with Pearson's correlation coefficient =0.929) showing the likely impact of these areas in the functional skills and the quality of life of these patients.Conclusion: We suggest the impact of the limitation of the areas in functional skills and quality of life of these patients.

Stability of cp-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy for dental implants as a function of saliva pH - an electrochemical study

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlation between morphology and function of the upper lip: a longitudinal evaluation

In order to evaluate the relationship between the morphology of the upper lip and muscle activity in a sample of 38 subjects (17 males and 21 females) with Angle Class II division 1 malocclusions, cephalometric and electromyographic analyses were conducted. The sample was subdivided into either predominantly nose or mouth breathers. The individuals were evaluated at two different periods, with a 2 year interval. At the first observation, the subjects were 11 years to 14 years 11 months of age and at the second observation, 13 years 4 months to 16 years 6 months of age. Height and thickness of the upper lip were measured on lateral cephalograms with the aid of a digital pachymeter. For each individual, electromyographic records were obtained of the orbicularis oris superior muscle at rest and in a series of 12 movements. The electromyographic data were normalized as a function of amplitude, for achievement of the percentage value of each movement. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were applied.The results showed some correlation between morphology and muscle function (at a confidence level of 95 per cent). However, as the values of the correlation coefficient (r) were too low to establish associations between variables, it was concluded that the dimensions of the upper lip are not correlated with muscle activity.

Ovary peltate trichomes of Zeyheria montana (Bignoniaceae): Developmental ultrastructure and secretion in relation to function

center dot Background and Aims Nectar production in the Bignoniaceae species lacking a nectariferous functional disc is ascribed to trichomatic glands around the ovary base and/or on the inner corolla wall. Nevertheless, knowledge about the secretion and function of these glands is very incomplete. The purpose of this paper is to study, from a developmental viewpoint, the ultrastructure, histochemistry and secretory process of the peltate trichomes on the ovary of Zeyheria montana, a species in the Bignoniaceae which has a rudimentary disc.center dot Methods Samples of the gynoecium at various developmental stages were fixed and processed for light and electron microscopy. Histochemistry and cytochemistry tests were performed to examine the chemical composition of exudates. Thin layer chromatography was used to determine the presence of alkaloids and terpenes in gynoecium and fruit extracts, and in fresh nectar stored in the nectar chamber.center dot Key Results Peltate trichomes at different developmental stages appear side by side from floral budding up to pre-dispersal fruit. Large plastids with an extensive internal membrane system consisting of tubules filled with lipophilic material, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, few Golgi bodies, lipophilic deposits in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and scattered cytoplasmic oil droplets are the main characteristics of mature head cells. The secretion which accumulates in the subcuticular space stains positively for hydrophilic and lipophilic substances, with lipids prevailing for fully peltate trichomes. Histochemistry and thin layer chromatography detected terpenes and alkaloids. Fehling's test to detect of sugars in the secretion was negative.center dot Conclusions the continuous presence and activity of peltate trichomes on the ovary of Z. montana from early budding through to flowering and fruiting set, and its main chemical components, alkaloids and terpenes, suggest that they serve a protective function and are not related to the floral nectar source or to improving nectar quality.

Leaf emergences in Microlepis oleaefolia (DC.) Triana (Melastomataceae) and their probable function: An anatomical and ultrastructural study

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