Obstrução intestinal congênita em cão por aderência de alça em osso púbico

Atendeu-se uma cadela, sem raça definida, com aproximadamente cinco meses de idade, apresentando anamnese com queixa de apatia e hiporexia associadas a vômitos e emagrecimento progressivo com início incerto. Ao exame físico era evidente distensão abdominal com dilatação intestinal e aumento de peristaltismo. O animal apresentava-se emaciado e subdesenvolvido, com acentuado grau de desidratação, pulso filiforme e nível de consciência reduzido. Minutos após o início do atendimento a cadela foi a óbito. À necropsia, pôde-se observar um segmento do intestino delgado atravessando o púbis e com lúmen reduzido. Tal apresentação se faz relevante por se tratar de um caso nunca antes descrito na literatura veterinária.

Degradabilidade ruminal e digestibilidade intestinal de alimentos por intermédio da técnica in situ associada à do saco de náilon móvel

Objetivou-se no presente trabalho verificar a degradação ruminal e a digestibilidade intestinal e total da matéria seca (MS) e da proteína bruta (PB) do farelo de soja, do grão de milho, do melaço em pó, da farinha de peixe, da farinha de penas e do feno de alfafa, por intermédio da técnica de degradabilidade ruminal in situ associada à técnica do saco de náilon móvel. As amostras dos alimentos foram moídas e colocadas em duplicata em sacos de náilon de 10x5 cm (48 micras) nas quantidades de 15 e 5 mg de MS/cm² para os alimentos concentrados e feno de alfafa, respectivamente. Os sacos de náilon permaneceram incubados no rúmen de bois holandeses por 0; 2; 6; 8; 24 e 48 h; e 0; 8; 12; 24; 48; 72 e 96 horas, respectivamente, sendo depois retirados e sua duplicata inserida no duodeno através de uma cânula. Posteriormente, os sacos foram coletados junto com as fezes. Os valores de degradabilidade efetiva da PB para uma velocidade de passagem de 5%/hora, para o melaço em pó, grão de milho, farelo de soja, farinha de peixe, farinha de penas e feno de alfafa, foram de 100,00; 62,50; 57,90; 39,30; 34,20 e 60,90%, respectivamente; a digestibilidade intestinal de 100,00; 96,05; 99,79; 98,19; 96,07 e 94,64%, respectivamente; e a digestibilidade total de 100,00; 97,86; 99,87; 98,88; 97,35 e 98,09%, respectivamente. Verificou-se que as proteínas do melaço foram totalmente solúveis no rúmen, sendo as do milho, feno e farelo de soja bastante degradadas, além de possuírem um aproveitamento quase total no intestino. As proteínas das farinhas de peixe e de penas apresentaram baixa solubilidade ruminal e alta digestibilidade intestinal, sendo a farinha de peixe levemente mais digerida no intestino do que a farinha de penas.

Evaluation of a novel kit (TF-test) for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections

Intestinal parasitic infections are currently a source of concern for Public Health agencies in developing and developed countries. Since three ovum-and-parasite stool examinations have been demonstrated to provide sensitive results, we designed a practical and economical kit (TF-Test) that is now commercially available (Immunoassay Com. Ind. Ltda., S (a) over tildeo Paulo, Brazil). This kit allows the separate collection of three fecal specimens into a preservative solution. The specimens are then pooled, double-filtered, and concentrated by a single rapid centrifugation process. The TF-Test was evaluated in four different laboratories in a study using 1,102 outpatients and individuals living in an endemic area for enteroparasitosis. The overall sensitivity found using the TF-Test (86.2-97.8%) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the sensitivity of conventional techniques such as the Coprotest (NIL Comercio Exterior Ltda, São Paulo, Brazil) and the combination of Lutz/Hoffman, Faust, and Rugai techniques (De Carli, Diagnostico Laboratorial das Parasitoses Humanas. Metodos e Tecnicas, 1994), which ranged from 48.3% to 75.9%. When the above combined three specimen technique was repeated with three specimens collected on different days, its sensitivity became similar (P > 0.01) to that of the TF-Test. The kappa index values of agreement for the TF-Test were consistent (P < 0.01), being higher and ranking in a better position than conventional techniques. The high sensitivity, cost/benefit ratio, and practical aspects demonstrate that the TF-Test is suitable for individual diagnosis, epidemiological inquiries, or evaluation of chemotherapy in treated communities. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE GERMINATIVE EPITHELIUM IN A GOAT WITH A 5/15-ROBERTSONIAN TRANSLOCATION

The spermatogenesis of two goats bearing a 5/15 Robertsonian translocation was investigated by electron microscopy. There was no dramatic change in the morphology of the cells of the spermatic line. All cells of the seminiferous epithelium seemed quite normal at the ultrastructural level. However a certain disturbance in the cell localization and some morphological abnormalities involving nuclear structure were seen. Spermatocytes and spermatids normal in appearance were observed, but a great number of cells presented two or more nuclei. These cells were frequently seen to become degenerated during spermatogenesis. We believe that unbalanced spermatocytes degenerate during the process and only some spermatocytes succeed in fertilizing gametes.

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE HINNY (EQUUS-ASINUS X EQUUS-CABALLUS) SEMINIFEROUS EPITHELIUM

The gonads and the germinative cells of 3 male hinnies were studied with light and transmission electron microscopy with the aim to observe the development of germ cells and verify the morphological modifications due to the hybridization. The hinny seminiferous epithelium presented Sertoli cells and spermatogonia with normal features and anomalous spermatocytes I. The other cells from the spermatogenic sequence were not seen. Most of the alterations began to occur in the cytes I, which presented nuclear vacuolization and deposits of amorphous material between the carioteca and the nuclear lamina, forming vesicles, or exaggerated chromatin condensation, resulting in pyknosis. In the cytoplasm vacuolization was also observed, besides organelle destruction.The arrest of meiosis due to lock of chromosome homologies leads to germinative cell degeneration and, therefore, the spermatogenesis arrest. This fact causes a profound alteration in the seminiferous epithelium morphology in comparison with the parental species.

Aneuploidies, deletion, and overexpression of TP53 gene in intestinal metaplasia of patients without gastric cancer

Gastric carcinogenesis is attributable to interacting environmental and genetic factors, through a sequence of events including intestinal metaplasia. Using a fluorescence in situ hybridization technique, we investigated the occurrence of ancuploidies of chromosomes 3, 7, 8, 9, and 17, TP53 gene deletion, and expression of p53 in 21 intestinal metaplasia (IM) samples from cancer-free patients and in 20 gastric adenocarcinoma samples. Aneuploidies were found in 71% (15/21) of the IM samples. Trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 9 occurred mainly in complete-type IM; in the incomplete type, trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 8 were more commonly found. The TP53 gene deletion was observed in 60% (3/5) of the IM cases, and immunohistochemistry revealed p53 overexpression in 12% (2/17) of the analyzed IM cases. All gastric adenocarcinoma cases presented higher frequencies of trisomy or tetrasomy of chromosomes 3, 7, 8, 9, and 17. The TP53 deletion was found in all three of the gastric adenocarcinoma analyzed for it, and immunohistochemistry detected overexpression of protein p53 in 80% (12/15) of the analyzed cases. Our study revealed for the first time the presence of aneuploidies of chromosomes 7, 8, 9, and 17 and of TP53 gene deletion and overexpression in IM samples from cancer-free patients. These results suggest that IM and gastric adenocarcinoma may share the same genetic alterations. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Morphologic changes in the vesical transition epithelium of alcoholic rats

Few studies are available about the effect of alcohol on the epithelium of the urinary bladder. In the present investigation we studied the ultrastructure of the vesical transition epithelium of normal rats and of rats submitted to experimental chronic alcoholism. Adult rats were submitted to experimental chronic alcoholism by the ingestion of sugar cane liquor. The vesical epithelium was examined after 60, 120, 180 and 240 days of alcohol treatment by transmission electron microscopy. Surface cells presented nuclear and cytoplasmic changes and marked cellular desquamation. There was an increase in multivesicular bodies and lysosomes suggesting cell degeneration. Mast cell infiltration was observed, possibly related to increased epithelial sensitivity. Intercellular spaces were frequently observed. The transition epithelium of the urinary bladder was found to be sensitive to the action of alcohol, as demonstrated by the changes in the components of the blood-urine barrier, the greater sensitivity to inflammation, the increase in cell desquamation and the greater recycling of the apical membrane and of the fusiform vesicles of surface cells observed in alcoholic rats.

Intestinal starch disappearance increased in steers abomasally infused with starch and protein

Steers (379 +/- 10 kg) with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square digestion trial to quantify and evaluate the relationship between intestinal protein supply and intestinal starch disappearance. Treatments were infusions of 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 g/d of casein along with 1,042 g/d of raw cornstarch. Abomasal infusions were accomplished by passing tubing and a pliable retaining washer through the reticular-omasal orifice into the abomasum. Steers were fed a 93% corn silage, 7% supplement diet that contained 12% crude protein at 1.65% body weight in 12 equal portions/d. Periods lasted 17 d (12 d for adaptation, 2 d of collections, and 3 d of rest). The quantity and percentage of organic matter and protein disappearance from the small intestine increased linearly (P < 0.03) with infused casein. Greater quantities of starch disappeared with increased casein infusion (P < 0.01). The infusion of 200 g/d of casein increased small intestinal starch disappearance by 226 g/d over the control. Casein infusion did not affect the quantity or percent of organic matter, starch, or protein disappearance in the large intestine. Treatments did not change ruminal ammonia N, ruminal pH, or plasma glucose concentrations. Starch disappearance from the small intestine was increased with greater protein flow to the duodenum of steers.

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE ILEUM EPITHELIUM OF MELIPONA QUADRIFASCIATA ANTHIDIOIDES (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE, MELIPONINAE)

Study of the epithelial morphology of a stingless bee ileum from the pyloric valve to the last portion of high absorptive cells shows that although the bee ileum is an anatomically undifferentiated tube, four types of epithelial cells along the tube (in addition to the valve cells) indicate physiological differentiation. The anterior end seems to be less active in reabsorption, while the posterior region contains cells with typical morphology of an ion pump and permits conclusions about the mechanisms of absorption in the posterior end of the intestine. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effects of leucine supplemented diet on intestinal absorption in tumor bearing pregnant rats

Background: It is known that amino acid oxidation is increased in tumor-bearing rat muscles and that leucine is an important ketogenic amino acid that provides energy to the skeletal muscle.Methods: To evaluate the effects of a leucine supplemented diet on the intestinal absorption alterations produced by Walker 256, growing pregnant rats were distributed into six groups. Three pregnant groups received a normal protein diet (18% protein):pregnant (N), tumor-bearing (WN), pair-fed rats (Np). Three other pregnant groups were fed a diet supplemented with 3% leucine (15% protein plus 3% leucine):leucine (L), tumor-bearing (WL) and pair-fed with leucine (Lp). Non pregnant rats (C), which received a normal protein diet, were used as a control group. After 20 days, the animals were submitted to intestinal perfusion to measure leucine, methionine and glucose absorption.Results: Tumor-bearing pregnant rats showed impairment in food intake, body weight gain and muscle protein content, which were less accentuated in WL than in WN rats. These metabolic changes led to reduction in both fetal and tumor development. Leucine absorption slightly increased in WN group. In spite of having a significant decrease in leucine and methionine absorption compared to L, the WL group has shown a higher absorption rate of methionine than WN group, probably due to the ingestion of the leucine supplemented diet inducing this amino acid uptake. Glucose absorption was reduced in both tumor-bearing groups.Conclusions: Leucine supplementation during pregnancy in tumor-bearing rats promoted high leucine absorption, increasing the availability of the amino acid for neoplasic cells and, mainly, for fetus and host utilization. This may have contributed to the better preservation of body weight gain, food intake and muscle protein observed in the supplemented rats in relation to the non-supplemented ones.

EFFECTS OF PROTEIN-DEFICIENCY AND NATURAL INTESTINAL INFECTION WITH GIARDIA-LAMBLIA ON JEJUNAL INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES IN RATS OF DIFFERENT AGES

1. The interaction between experimental protein deprivation and natural intestinal infection by Giardia lamblia was studied in terms of its effects on the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) population and morphology of the jejunal mucosa of rats of different ages.2. Young, adult and old male Wistar rats received a protein-deficient diet (2% casein) or a control diet (20% casein) for 42 days. Mucosal height and the number of lymphocytes located among 500 consecutive epithelial cells (EC) along the villi or crossing the basement membrane were determined in PAS-stained jejunal fragments.3. The number of IEL increased progressively with animal age, from 14 to 25 per 100 epithelial cells, with significant differences between age ranges. However, the number of IEL did not differ between control and protein-deficient rats in any of the age groups. The proportion of lymphocytes crossing the basement membrane was approximately two-fold greater in young (2.8/100 EC) and adult (5.8/100 EC) protein-deficient animals than in their respective controls (1.6 and 2.8/100 EC). The intensity of parasite colonization was moderate, from 3 to 5/100 EC and did not differ between groups. The pattern of morphologic changes of jejunal mucosa in protozoal infection did not differ between control and protein-deficient animals in any of the three age groups.4. We conclude that intestinal infection with Giardia lamblia probably stimulated the local immune response, masking the reduction of the IEL population induced by protein deficiency. The increase in lymphocyte numbers with age may be related to prolonged antigenic stimulation promoted by infection.