Mummified papyraceous fetuses in the abdominal cavity of an elderly female dog with pyometra

This paper reports on a rare case of fetal papyraceous mummification after asymptomatic uterine rupture in an elderly female dog with pyometra. The patient had a history of mating six months before the examination but no apparent signs of gestation or parturition. Exploratory laparotomy was used to identify a rupture of the left uterine horn and the presence of cystic endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra. Two mummified papyraceous fetuses were observed in the abdominal cavity and had adhered to the spleen, pancreas, intestine and omentum. Ovariehysterectomy and corrective surgery were performed. The patient had remained healthy after uterine rupture until a new estrous cycle and the development of pyometra. Bitches that are 10 years old or more are predisposed to implantation failure, pregnancy or parturition problems and they should not be breed to avoid complications.

Tensile strength and histological changes of abdominal aorta of malnourished rats

The resistance of the abdominal aorta of rats after 6, 7 and 8 weeks of malnutrition, compared with control animals, was evaluated by longitudinal tensiometry. Weakness of this vessel in malnourished rats was demonstrated; microscopic examination of the aorta stained by Masson, Calleja and hematoxylin-eosin methods showed a decrease in amorphous ground substance and an increase in the width of elastic laminae. There was no visible alteration either in the endothelial lining layer or in the smooth muscle fibers. Such alterations of the aorta are, to the authors' knowledge, the first reported modifications in the peripheral vasculature after malnutrition.

Invasive enteritis by Strongyloides stercoralis presenting as acute abdominal distress under corticosteroid therapy.

Overwhelming helminthiasis is still a problem in endemic areas, especially in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of invasive intestinal strongyloidiasis that was clinically expressed as acute abdominal distress in a 73-year-old man from São Paulo who had been receiving methylprednisone, 20 mg/day, for one year for osteoarthritis. A surgical specimen from the ileum revealed invasive enteritis with severe infestation by Strongyloides stercoralis. The patient died of sepsis 6 days after surgery. The possibility of invasive strongyloidiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal distress in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

Inhibin B and ovarian function after total abdominal hysterectomy in women of reproductive age

The aim of this prospective study was to assess ovarian function using clinical and endocrine parameters in women of reproductive age who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy. Sixty-one women, aged ≤ 40 years, were allocated into two groups: group 1, consisting of 31 patients who had hysterectomy, and group 2, consisting of 30 normal women. Inclusion criteria were normal ovarian function at baseline, normal body weight, no hormonal diseases and basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level of < 15 mIU/ml. FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and inhibin B levels as well as maturation value (MV) were measured by vaginal cytology on three occasions: baseline, and 6 and 12 months after hysterectomy. Analysis of variance, the Friedman test, Mann-Whitney test and t-test statistics were employed to compare the two groups. At baseline the groups were homogeneous. At months 6 and 12, hysterectomized women showed decreased median values of inhibin B, increased median values of estradiol (p < 0.05), unchanged median values of FSH and LH, and decreased median values of MV (p < 0.05). In the hysterectomy group, 12.9% (4/31) of the patients had FSH levels of > 40 mIU/ml, estradiol of < 20 pg/ml and inhibin B of < 5 ng/ml, compatible with ovarian failure. In the control group, all the parameters studied remained unchanged. These results suggest that total abdominal hysterectomy accelerates the decline in ovarian function in women of reproductive age.

Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares de alto nível socioeconômico em Londrina, Paraná, Brasil

Objective: To verify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 7 to 10 year old schoolchildren of both sexes and high socioeconomic level. Methods: Five hundred and eleven schoolchildren (274 boys and 237 girls) were submitted to anthropometrical measurements of body mass, stature and subscapular and triceps skin-fold thickness. Body mass indexes ≥85th percentile and <95th percentile were used to determine overweight, whereas body mass indexes ≥95th percentile were adopted as indicators of obesity. The socioeconomic level was established based on information obtained from a questionnaire, considering the degree of education of the parents and the familiar consumables. Results: The total prevalence for overweight was 19.7% for the boys and 17.3% for the girls, with no significant differences amongst ages and sexes (p>0.05). On the other hand, the prevalence for obesity in the boys and girls was 17.5% and 9.3%, respectively, with significant differences between the sexes at 9 years (p<0.01) and 10 years (p<0.05) of age, as well as amongst the entire group of ages (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results indicated a high prevalence ratio for overweight (∼19%) and obesity (∼14%), much greater than the average for the 7-10 year old Brazilian population. Therefore, different from that observed in developed countries, a high socioeconomic level seems to negatively affect the prevalence for overweight and obesity, increasing the risk of the precocious development of metabolic dysfunctions.

Stabilization of lumbo-pelvic region and electromyography of the abdominal muscles

It is usual to find athletes that can perform de curl up test easily, but are unable to maintain the stabilization of the low back during the double straight leg lowering (DSLL). In spite of having strong abdominal muscles, its stabilization role seems not to be effective. Thus, the purpose of this study was to verify the relation among individuals with strong abdominal muscles and the ability in perform posterior pelvic tilt (PPT); the ability to stabilize the low back during the DSLL and the eletromyographic activity of the abdominal muscles. Eighteen male subjects (aged 19.27 ± 3.5), without history of muscle skeletal dysfunction, performed both the PPT and DSLL tests. During these tests electromyographic signals of the rectus abdominis (RA), obliquus internus abdominis (01) and obliquus externus abdominis (OE) were recorded, the angle of the hip and the pressure under the low back were measured The results of analyses of variance (ANOVA) show that most volunteers accomplished the PPT test, actively flattening the low back with regular or good quality. However, none of them was able to stabilize the low back during the DSLL test. During the PPT test all abdominal muscle portions analysed were activated without significant differences. In an attempt of maintaining the lumbo-pelvic region stabilized during the DSLL, it was observed a tendency of higher bilateral activation of OE when compared to RA and 01 muscle portions between 70 and 20 degrees of hip flexion.

Nonthermal activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channels in abdominal viscera tonically inhibits autonomic cold-defense effectors

An involvement of the transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 channel in the regulation of body temperature (T b) has not been established decisively. To provide decisive evidence for such an involvement and determine its mechanisms were the aims of the present study. We synthesized a new TRPV1 antagonist, AMG0347 [(E)-N-(7-hydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-1- yl)-3-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl)acrylamide], and characterized it in vitro. We then found that this drug is the most potent TRPV1 antagonist known to increase T b of rats and mice and showed (by using knock-out mice) that the entire hyperthermic effect of AMG0347 is TRPV1 dependent. AMG0347-induced hyperthermia was brought about by one or both of the two major autonomic cold-defense effector mechanisms (tail-skin vasoconstriction and/or thermogenesis), but it did not involve warmth-seeking behavior. The magnitude of the hyperthermic response depended on neither T b nor tail-skin temperature at the time of AMG0347 administration, thus indicating that AMG0347-induced hyperthermia results from blockade of tonic TRPV1 activation by nonthermal factors. AMG0347 was no more effective in causing hyperthermia when administered into the brain (intracerebroventricularly) or spinal cord (intrathecally) than when given systemically (intravenously), which indicates a peripheral site of action. We then established that localized intra-abdominal desensitization of TRPV1 channels with intraperitoneal resiniferatoxin blocks the T b response to systemic AMG0347; the extent of desensitization was determined by using a comprehensive battery of functional tests. We conclude that tonic activation of TRPV1 channels in the abdominal viscera by yet unidentified nonthermal factors inhibits skin vasoconstriction and thermogenesis, thus having a suppressive effect on T b. Copyright © 2007 Society for Neuroscience.

Características ultraestruturais do segmento abdominal da aorta de rato albino

The objective of the present research was to investigate the ultrastructural peculiarities of the aortic wall of the rat. Seven young adult rats were used, from which fragments of the infrarenal abdominal aorta were collected. After collection, the vascular segments were fixed and sent for analysis by scanning electron microscope. The elastic lamellae appear interposed with smooth muscular fibers; this pattern was verified mainly at the medial layer structure. Among the mural elements a well defined interrelationship was established through connective lamellae of the arterial wall. The collagen lamellae mainly provided anchoring among the elastic and smooth muscular constituents. The intimal layer showed special ultrastructural features, such as a non-continuous inner elastic lamina presented in certain sites of the vascular wall, followed by endothelial pores. This mural pattern of the abdominal aorta provided support to vascular functions such as shrinkage among the laminar composition of the arterial layers, also acting in mechanical properties of the vascular wall, such as viscoelasticity and contractility - essential actions to blood vessel hemodynamics.

Fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares em idosos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2

The aim of this study was to analyze the risk factors related to the cardiovascular diseases (CVRF) in elderly type 2 diabetics. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 100 elderly patients attending the Rehabilitation Center of Araraquara (CRRA), São Paulo State, Brazil, from March to December, 2004. The majority were married, female, white, with a low income and low educational level. Regarding habits and style of life, the subjects had an adequate diet, were sedentary, non-smoking and non-drinking. In the population of 100, 42% were overweight, 42% obese, 71% had above-normal waist measurements and 84% high waist-to-hip ratios. Concerning the CVRF, it was observed that more than half had hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. 84% had high values of LDL-cholesterol and 59% HDL-cholesterol levels below the reference values, 78% high levels of fasting glycemia, 76% glycohemoglobin and 57% fibrinogen and thus subject to cardiovascular risk. The results showed a high frequency of cardiovascular risk factors, differing according to sex and the age.

Morfologia e morfometria dos tipos de fibras do músculo reto abdominal de cadelas (canis familiaris) durante a gestação

The present paper deals with the evaluation of morphological and morphometric alterations of slow-twist (I) and fast-twitch (II) fibers of rectus abdominis muscle of adult female dog during pregestational phase, at 30 and 60 days of pregnancy and at 30 days after the parturition. At the every phases, using the open biopsy technique, muscle samples were collected. The samples were plunged. Histological sections were cut in a microtome. For general morphology, some sections were stained with HE. Subsequent sections were reacted for myofibrillar ATPase (m-ATPase), after alkaline (pH 10.4) and acid (pH 4.4) pre-incubations, in order to identificate type I and II fibers. In the pre-gestational phase, muscle tissue revealed to be composed by fibers with different diameters, presenting polygonal outlines and one or more periphery nuclei. At 30 days of pregnancy, muscle fiber characteristics were similar. At 60 days, in addition to the existence of normal fibers, polymorphic and small diameter fibers were frequent. At 30 days after the parturation, the morphology of muscle fiber were similar to that observed in the pre-gestational phase. In the four phases, type II fiber diameters were lager than type I. The diameters of both fiber types showed a significant reduction in the 30 days phase and a significative increasing at 60 days. The expansion of the abdominal wall during the pregnancy represents a chronic stimulus, induced changes in the morphology and in the fiber type diameters.

Obesidade e sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e desesperança em mulheres sedentárias e não sedentárias

The aim of this field study was to verify if there is a relation between obesity and symptoms of depression, anxiety and hopelessness in 40 women aged 30,35 on average (± 8,60), divided into two groups: non-sedentary ones, characterized for doing a physical activity at least three times a week for three weeks in a row and sedentary ones, characterized by not practicing any type of regular physical activity when recruited. The method consisted of: objective evaluations of humor, through Beck Inventories of Anxiety (BAI), Depression (BDI) and Hopelessness (BHS) and Physical Evaluation, including total body mass, height, waist and hip circumferences and skin folds thickness. Calculations of the body mass index (BMI), of the waist/hip index (WHI) and of the percentage of corporal fat (%F) were performed in order to evaluate the presence and level of obesity. Results of the analysis of regression to square minimum supported the initial hypothesis concerning the existence of a relation between obesity and psychic symptoms only in sedentary women (BDI/WHI, p=0,035, BDI/BMI, p=0,009, BDI/%G, p=0,019, BAI/BMI, p=0,009, BAI/%G, p=0,037, BHS/WHI, p=0,025, BHS/BMI, p=0,041), once the relation of dependency could not be confirmed in non-sedentary women BDI/WHI, p=0,750, BDI/BMI, p=0,141, BDI/%G, p=0,064, BAI/WHI, p=0,729, BAI/BMI, p=0,384, BAI/%G, p=0,246, BHS/WHI, p=0,491, BHS/BMI, p=0,986, BHS/%G, p=0,322) and the greater the level of obesity, the greater the level of psychic symptoms in both groups. These observations seem to point out that the practice of physical activities was a factor of minimization of presence and intensity of psychic symptoms in non-sedentary women.

O uso do pneumoperitônio progressivo no pré-operatório das hérnias volumosas da parede abdominal

Context - Correction of voluminous hernias and large abdominal wall defects is a big challenge in surgical practice due to technical difficulties and the high incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Objectives - To present the authors experience with inducing progressive pneumoperitoneum preoperative to surgical treatment of voluminous hernias of the abdominal wall. Methods - Retrospective study of six patients who presented voluminous hernias of the abdominal wall and were operated after installation of a pneumoperitoneum. The procedure was performed by placing a catheter in the abdominal cavity at the level of the left hypochondrium with ambient air insufflation for 10 to 15 days. Results - Four of the six patients were female and two male. Ages ranged from 42 to 62 years. Hernia duration varied from 5 to 40 years. Four patients had incisional, one umbilical, and one inguinal hernias. Mean pneumoperitoneum time was 11.6 days. There were no complications related to pneumoperitoneum installation and maintenance. All hernias were corrected without technical difficulties. The Lichtenstein technique was used to correct the inguinal hernia, peritoneal aponeurotic transposition for one of the incisional hernias, with the rest corrected using polypropylene mesh. One death and one wall infection were observed post operatively. No recurrences were reported until now, in 4 to 36 months of follow-up. Conclusion - Preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum is a safe and easy executed procedure, which simplifies surgery and reduces post-operative respiratory and cardiovascular complications. It is indicated for patients with hernias that have lost the right of domain in the abdominal cavity.

Lumbo-pelvic stability and electromyography of abdominal muscles in ballet dancers

Evaluating the ability to rectify and maintain lumbar adjustment can contribute toward the understanding of the behavior of abdominal muscles and their participation in the stability of pelvic muscles in dancers during the posterior pelvic tilt and double straight leg lowering tests. Nine healthy volunteers (male and female ballet dancers; age mean: 25.9 ±7.37 years) underwent maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), isometric voluntary contraction at 50% of MIVC, posterior pelvic tilt (PPT) and double straight leg lowering (DSLL) tests. The tests were carried out in a single day, with 3 repetitions each. During the tests, electromygraphic signals of the rectus abdominis, obliquus internus and obliquus externus were recorded. The signal acquisition system was made up of bipolar surface electrodes, electrogoniometer and an electromechanic device (pressure sensor), which were connected to a signal conditioner module. Root mean square values of each muscle during the DSLL and PPT were converted into percentage of activation of 50% MIVC. Lower back pressure was submitted to the same process. ANOVA with repeated measures was performed, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. The results revealed that all dancers were able to maintain posterior pelvic tilt and there was trend toward greater activation of the bilateral obliquus internus muscle. In an attempt to keep the pelvic region stabilized during DSLL, there was a greater contribution from the obliquus externus muscle in relation to other abdominal muscles.

Avaliação morfométrica, realizada pelo exame ultrassonográfico, da veia porta, veia cava caudal e aorta abdominal em cães saudáveis de diferentes pesos corpóreos

The diameters and areas of portal vein, caudal vena cava and abdominal aorta are useful measurements in dogs. These values can be easily measured by ultrasonographic exam, and variations of normality can be an important indicator of hepatic or extra-hepatic alterations. This study aimed to measure the diameter and areas of portal vein, caudal vena cava and abdominal aorta in healthy dogs, with normal corporal score, divided in groups according to the body weight, and assess whether the data are influenced by animal weight. Thirty dogs were examined and divided into three groups (Group A: ≤ 10 kg Group B: from 10.1 to 20.0 kg; Group C: ≥ 20.1 kg). To measure the diameters and areas of portal vein, caudal vena cava and abdominal aorta, the animal was kept in left lateral decubitus position and the transducer was placed on the right lateral abdominal wall, at approximately the 10 th or 11 th intercostal space, in the porta hepatis region. The diameters and areas of the portal vein, caudal vena cava and abdominal aorta were significantly lower for dogs in Group A with respect to other groups and the dogs from Groups B and C had similar results with each other. The diameters and areas of the portal vein, caudal vena cava and abdominal aorta may vary with the animal size, and reference values must be specific for small, medium and large dogs.