Diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) of soybean seed oil content

The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) can improve interpretations of leaf analysis to determine the nutrient status. Diagnoses by this method require DRIS norms, which are however not known for oil content of soybean seeds. The aims of this study were to establish and test the DRIS method for oil content of soybean seed (maturity group II cultivars). Soybean leaves (207 samples) in the full flowering stage were analyzed for macro and micro-nutrients, and the DRIS was applied to assess the relationship between nutrient ratios and the seed oil content. Samples from experimental and farm field sites of the southernmost Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul (28° - 29° southern latitude; 52° -53° western longitude) were assessed in two growing seasons (2007/2008 and 2008/2009). The DRIS norms related to seed oil content differed between the studied years. A unique DRIS norm was established for seed oil content higher than 18.68 % based on data of the 2007/2008 growing season. Higher DRIS indices of B, Ca, Mg and S were associated with a higher oil content, while the opposite was found for K, N and P. The DRIS can be used to evaluate the leaf nutrient status of soybean to improve the seed oil content of the crop.

Computed tomography findings of paracoccidiodomycosis in musculoskeletal system

Objective: To evaluate musculoskeletal involvement in paracoccidioidomycosis at computed tomography. Materials and Methods: Development of a retrospective study based on a review of radiologic and pathologic reports in the institution database. Patients with histopathologically confirmed musculoskeletal paracoccidioidomycosis and submitted to computed tomography were included in the present study. The imaging findings were consensually described by two radiologists. In order to avoid bias in the analysis, one patient with uncountable bone lesions was excluded from the study. Results: A total of seven patients were included in the present study. A total of 18 bone lesions were counted. The study group consisted of 7 patients. A total number of 18 bone lesions were counted. Osteoarticular lesions were the first manifestation of the disease in four patients (57.14%). Bone lesions were multiple in 42.85% of patients. Appendicular and axial skeleton were affected in 85.71% and 42.85% of cases, respectively. Bone involvement was characterized by well-demarcated osteolytic lesions. Marginal osteosclerosis was identified in 72.22% of the lesions, while lamellar periosteal reaction and soft tissue component were present in 5.55% of them. One patient showed multiple small lesions with bone sequestra. Conclusion: Paracoccidioidomycosis can be included in the differential diagnosis of either single or multiple osteolytic lesions in young patients even in the absence of a previous diagnosis of pulmonary or visceral paracoccidioidomycosis

Identification of Races of Selected Isolates of Uromyces appendiculatus from Minas Gerais (Brazil) Based on the new international classification system

Twelve single-pustule isolates of Uromyces appendiculatus, the etiological agent of common bean rust, were collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and classified according to the new international differential series and the binary nomenclature system proposed during the 3rd Bean Rust Workshop. These isolates have been used to select rust-resistant genotypes in a bean breeding program conducted by our group. The twelve isolates were classified into seven different physiological races: 21-3, 29-3, 53-3, 53-19, 61-3, 63-3 and 63-19. Races 61-3 and 63-3 were the most frequent in the area. They were represented by five and two isolates, respectively. The other races were represented by just one isolate. This is the first time the new international classification procedure has been used for U. appendiculatus physiological races in Brazil. The general adoption of this system will facilitate information exchange, allowing the cooperative use of the results obtained by different research groups throughout the world. The differential cultivars Mexico 309, Mexico 235 and PI 181996 showed resistance to all of the isolates that were characterized. It is suggested that these cultivars should be preferentially used as sources for resistance to rust in breeding programs targeting development lines adapted to the state of Minas Gerais.

Spectrophotometric determination of metronidazole through Schiff's base system using vanillin and PDAB reagents in pharmaceutical preparations

Two simple sensitive and reproducible spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of metronidazole either in pure form or in their tablets. The proposed methods are based on the reduction of the nitro group to amino group of the drug. The reduction of metronidazole was carried out with zinc powder and 5 N hydrochloric acid at room temperature in methanol. The resulting amine was then subjected to a condensation reaction with aromatic aldehyde namely, vanillin and p-dimethyl amino benzaldehyde (PDAB) to yield yellow colored Schiff's bases. The formed Schiff's bases are quantified spectrophotometrically at their absorption maxima at 422 nm for vanillin and 494 nm for PDAB. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration ranges 10 to 65 µg mL-1 and 5 to 40 µg mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.080 µg mL-1 and 0.090 µg mL-1 for vanillin and PDAB, respectively. The mean percentage recoveries were found to be 100.05 ± 0.37 and 99.01 ± 0.76 for the two methods respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to determine the metronidazole in their tablet formulations and the results compared favorably to that of reference methods. The proposed methods are recommended for quality control and routine analysis.

The development and evaluation of a distance learning system in ophthalmology

INTRODUCTION: Web-based e-learning is a teaching tool increasingly used in many medical schools and specialist fields, including ophthalmology. AIMS: this pilot study aimed to develop internet-based course-based clinical cases and to evaluate the effectiveness of this method within a graduate medical education group. METHODS: this was an interventional randomized study. First, a website was built using a distance learning platform. Sixteen first-year ophthalmology residents were then divided into two randomized groups: one experimental group, which was submitted to the intervention (use of the e-learning site) and another control group, which was not submitted to the intervention. The students answered a printed clinical case and their scores were compared. RESULTS: there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: We were able to successfully develop the e-learning site and the respective clinical cases. Despite the fact that there was no statistically significant difference between the access and the non access group, the study was a pioneer in our department, since a clinical case online program had never previously been developed.

Telomerase activity associated with progression of cervical lesions in a group of Colombian patients

Abstract PURPOSE To analyze the relation between the cytological findings and telomerase activity (TA). METHODS Cervical samples were evaluated and classified according to the Bethesda System. Telomerase activity was measured total product generated values (TPG) using the TRAP assay (telomeric repeat amplification protocol); data were analyzed statistically using the χ2 test, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS The study was conducted on 102 patients. Of these, 3.9% showed normal cytological findings, 8.8% showed cervicitis; 2% showed Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS); 67.6% showed Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL); 11.8% showed High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (H-SIL) and 5.9% showed Squamous Carcinoma. Among telomerase-positive samples, the TPG values were cervicitis

Frequencies of DEA blood types in a purebred canine blood donor population in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

The study of canine immunohematology is very important for veterinary transfusion medicine. The objective of this study was to determine the DEA blood type frequencies in a purebred canine blood donor population from Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. One hundred clinically healthy purebred dogs were chosen, 20 dogs from each breed (Great Dane, Rottweiler, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd and Argentine Dogo). Blood samples were taken in ACD-A tubes and the MSU hemagglutination tube test (MI, USA) was used to determine the blood types. The studied population presented general frequencies of 61% for DEA 1.1, 22% for DEA 1.2, 7% for DEA 3, 100% for DEA 4, 9% for DEA 5 and 16% for DEA 7. A significant association was found between breeds and certain combinations of blood types in this population. The results are in agreement with the literature since most part of the canine population studied was positive for DEA 1.1, the most antigenic blood type in dogs. Differences were found among the studied breeds and those should be considered when selecting a blood donor. The knowledge of blood types frequencies and their combinations in different canine populations, including different breeds, is important because it shows the particularities of each group, helps to keep a data bank of local frequencies and minimizes the risks of transfusion reactions.

Effect of oral administration of Propionibacterium acnes on growth performance, DTH response and anti-OVA titers in goat kids

Immunostimulants are susbstances that stimuli the response of effector cells to activate the immune response such as antigen uptake, cytokine release or antibody response. These substances can increase resistence to infection by different types of microorganisms, reducing dependence of antibiotics used in livestock animals. Recent reports have demonstrated the positive effect of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) to control animal diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the non-specific immunostimulant P. acnes on immunological functions and growth performance in goat kids. Twenty five goat kids served as control group (A) and another 25 animals received P. acnes being the experimental group (B). Kids were challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to assess humoral immunity. To assess in vivo cell immunity, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) test with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was used, clinical signs and body weight were recorded each week until 9 weeks of age when the experiment ended. Blood samples were obtained to analyze serum proteins fractions and anti-OVA specific antibodies. No clinical signs of disease and no differences (p>0.05) on body weight between groups were recorded (7.32±0.81 kg in group A, 7.13±0.65 kg in group B). Goat kids from group B had more total protein (59.8±5g/l) and albumin levels (32.8±3.3g/l) than goat kids from group A (56.6±5.7 g/l, 29.6±3.9 g/l respectively) (p<0.05). DTH response in goat kids from group B on day 42 was higher (p<0.05) than group A. At day 63, goat kids from group receiving P. acnes had higher percentage (85.4) of anti-OVA IgM titers (p<0.05) than control group (57.7). In conclusion, the results showed that oral administration of P. acnes to goat kids improved some aspects of the immune system of the animals and it could be used to control goat diseases.

Severe diarrhea outbreak in beef calves (Bos indicus) caused by G6P[11], an emergent genotype of bovine rotavirus group A

The episodes of diarrhea caused by neonatal bovine rotavirus group A (BoRVA) constitute one of the major health problems in the calf rearing worldwide. The main G (VP7) and P (VP4) genotypes of BoRVA strains involved in the etiology of diarrhea in calves are G6P[1], G10P[11], G6P[5], and G8P[1]. However, less frequently, other G and P genotypes have been described in BoRVA strains identified in diarrheic fecal samples of calves. This study describes the identification and molecular characterization of an emerging genotype (G6P[11]) in BoRVA strains involved in the etiology of a diarrhea outbreak in beef calves in a cattle herd of high production in extensive management system. The diarrhea outbreak, which showed high morbidity (60%) and lethality (7%) rates, occurred in calves (n= 384) Nelore (Bos indicus) up to 30-day-old from the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. BoRVA was identified in 80% (16/20) of the fecal samples analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) technique. In all PAGE-positive fecal samples were amplified products with 1,062-bp and 876-bp in the RT-PCR assays for VP7 (G type) and VP4 (VP8*) (P type) of BoRVA, respectively. The nucleotide sequence analysis of VP7 and VP4 genes of four wild-type BoRVA strains showed G6-III P[11]-III genotype/lineage. The G6P[11] genotype has been described in RVA strains of human and animal hosts, however, in calves this genotype was only identified in some cross-sectional studies and not as a single cause of diarrhea outbreaks in calves with high morbidity and lethality rates as described in this study. The monitoring of the G and P genotypes of BoRVA strains involved in diarrhea outbreaks in calves is important for both animal and public health by allowing the identification of the most frequent genotypes, the characterization of novel genotypes and to identify reassortments with genotypes described in animal and human hosts. The results of this study show the importance of the monitoring of the genotypes of BoRVA strains involved in episodes of bovine neonatal diarrhea as for characterization of frequency of occurrence and pathogenic potential of uncommon genotypes as for monitoring of the emergency of different BoRVA genotypes not included in commercial vaccines.

Babesia bovis: expression of adhesion molecules in bovine umbilical endothelial cells stimulated with plasma from infected cattle

Ten male, 12-month-old Jersey with intact spleens, serologically and parasitologically free from Babesia were housed individually in an arthropod-free isolation system from birth and throughout entire experiment. The animals were randomly divided into two groups. Five animals (group A) were intravenously inoculated with 6.6 X10(7) red blood cells parasitized with pathogenic sample of Babesia bovis (passage 7 BboUFV-1), for the subsequent "ex vivo" determination of the expression of adhesion molecules. Five non-inoculated animals (group B) were used as the negative control. The expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM, PECAM-1 E-selectin and thrombospondin (TSP) was measured in bovine umbilical vein endothelial cells (BUVECs). The endothelial cells stimulated with a pool of plasma from animals infected with the BboUFV-1 7th passage sample had a much more intense immunostaining of ICAM-1, VCAM, PECAM-1 E-selectin and TSP, compared to the cells which did not received the stimulus. The results suggest that proinflammatory cytokines released in the acute phase of babesiosis may be involved in the expression of adhesion molecules thereby implicating them in the pathophysiology of babesiosis caused by B. bovis.

Metabolic profile and ruminal and abomasal pH in sheep subjected to intravenous ranitidine

Resumo: Brazilian sheep production has intensified, predisposing sheep to an increased incidence of digestive disorders, such as abomasal ulcers. Ranitidine is used to prevent and treat this disease; however, there is little information on the parenteral use of this drug in adult ruminants. Few data exist on the concomitant metabolic changes and the behavior of the digestive system associated with its use. For this study, five healthy male sheep with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were used. A 5x5 Latin square experiment with a 2x2+1 factorial arrangement of the treatments was performed. Sheep treated with drug doses of 1 or 2mg/kg ranitidine administered intravenously every 8 or 12 hours were compared with the control group, was treated intravenously with 1 mL of physiological solution per 25 kg every 12 hours. Higher total protein concentrations, hemoglobin levels, as well as increased aspartate aminotransferase activity and increased abomasal pH for up to 150 min following drug administration were observed in all animals that received the drug, regardless of dose and frequency. The animals treated every 12 hours showed a decrease in leukocyte number compared with the control group and with the animals treated every 8 hours. Increased serum creatinine concentrations were observed in the animals treated every 8 hours. Treatments of 1mg/kg every 8 hours and 2mg/kg every 12 hours increased the red blood cell count and decreased the serum pepsinogen. All protocols studied were safe for healthy sheep, but 1mg/kg ranitidine every 8 hours and 2mg/kg ranitidine every 12 hours were the most effective protocols for gastric protection.

Cyclosporin inhibits hyperalgesia and edema in arthritic rats: role of the central nervous system

Since arthritis induced by Mycobacterium products (adjuvant) in rats is considered to be immunologically driven, the objective of the present study was to determine if the immunosuppressor drug cyclosporin could affect hindpaw edema and joint hyperalgesia simultaneously. Female Holtzman rats (140-170 g) presented hyperalgesia and edema on the 8th and 12th day following adjuvant injection. Daily systemic (oral or intramuscular) administration of cyclosporin (0.5-5.0 mg kg-1 day-1) or dexamethasone (0.01-0.1 mg kg-1 day-1) for 15 days starting on day zero dose-dependently inhibited the hindpaw edema and hyperalgesia in arthritic rats. However, hyperalgesia but not edema could be detected two days after cyclosporin withdrawal. We concluded that a) the continuous presence of cyclosporin is essential to reduce the development of joint hyperalgesia and that b) different mechanisms underlie the appearance of hyperalgesia and edema in this model. The intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of 5-50-fold smaller doses of cyclosporin (1.5-150 µg/day) or dexamethasone (15 µg/day) also reduced the arthritic hindpaw edema and hyperalgesia. Peripheral blood from animals injected with effective systemic cyclosporin doses showed detectable levels of the drug, whereas peripheral blood from those injected with icv cyclosporin did not, as measured by specific RIA. Our results indicate that cyclosporin administered by the central route is as effective as by the systemic route to reduce joint hyperalgesia and hindpaw edema in arthritic rats. The antiarthritic effect induced by low doses of cyclosporin in the central nervous system (CNS) could be explored to avoid its often associated systemic side effects during chronic therapy. However, the mechanism(s) involved in the antiarthritic response to cyclosporin in the CNS remain to be elucidated

Baroreflex and chemoreflex dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Several investigators have demonstrated that streptozotocin (STZ) diabetes induces changes in the autonomic control of the cardiovascular system. Changes in cardiovascular function may be related to peripheral neuropathy. The aim of the present study was to analyze changes in heart rate (HR) and arterial pressure (AP) as well as baroreflex and chemoreflex sensitivity in STZ-induced diabetic male Wistar rats (STZ, 50 mg/kg, iv, 15 days). Intra-arterial blood pressure signals were obtained for control and diabetic rats (N = 9, each group). Data were processed in a data acquisition system (CODAS, 1 kHz). Baroreflex sensitivity was evaluated by measuring heart rate changes induced by arterial pressure variation produced by phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside injection. Increasing doses of potassium cyanide (KCN) were used to evaluate bradycardic and pressor responses evoked by chemoreflex activation. STZ induced hyperglycemia (447 ± 49 vs 126 ± 3 mg/dl), and a reduction in AP (99 ± 3 vs 118 ± 2 mmHg), resting HR (296 ± 11 vs 355 ± 16 bpm) and plasma insulin levels (16 ± 1 vs 57 ± 11 µU/ml). We also observed that the reflex bradycardia (-1.68 ± 0.1 vs -1.25 ± 0.1 bpm/mmHg, in the diabetic group) and tachycardia (-3.68 ± 0.5 vs -1.75 ± 0.3 bpm/mmHg, in the diabetic group) produced by vasopressor and depressor agents were impaired in the diabetic group. Bradycardia evoked by chemoreflex activation was attenuated in diabetic rats (control: -17 ± 1, -86 ± 19, -185 ± 18, -208 ± 17 vs diabetic: -7 ± 1, -23 ± 5, -95 ± 13, -140 ± 13 bpm), as also was the pressor response (control: 6 ± 1, 30 ± 7, 54 ± 4, 59 ± 5 vs diabetic: 6 ± 1, 8 ± 2, 33 ± 4, 42 ± 5 mmHg). In conclusion, the cardiovascular responses evoked by baroreflex and chemoreflex activation are impaired in diabetic rats. The alterations of cardiovascular responses may be secondary to the autonomic dysfunction of cardiovascular control

Influence of first morning urine volume, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin on first morning urinary albumin concentration

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of first morning urinary volume (collected on three different non-consecutive days), fasting blood glucose (determined on the first and third days of urine collection), and glycosylated hemoglobin (determined on the first and third days of urine collection) on the albumin concentration in first morning urine samples collected on three different days. We found 3.6% asymptomatic bacteriuria in the urine samples; therefore, every urine sample must be tested to exclude infection. One hundred and fifty urine samples were provided by 50 IDDM patients aged 21.9 ± 7 (12-38) years with a disease duration of 6.8 ± 5.8 (0.4-31) years attending the Diabetes Clinic at the State University Hospital of Rio de Janeiro. There were no differences in albumin concentration (6.1 vs 5.8 vs 6.2 µg/ml; P = NS) or urinary volume (222.5 vs 210 vs 200 ml) between the three samples. In addition, there were no differences in fasting blood glucose (181.9 ± 93.6 vs 194.6 ± 104.7 mg%; P = NS) or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1)(8.4 ± 1.3 vs 8.8 ± 1.5%; P = NS) between the first and third blood samples. Six patients (group 1) had a mean urinary albumin concentration of more than 20 µg/ml for the three urine samples. This group was compared with the 44 patients (group 2) with a mean urinary albumin concentration for the three urine samples of less than 20 µg/ml. No difference was found between groups 1 and 2 in relation to fasting blood glucose (207.1 ± 71.7 vs 187.6 ± 84.6 mg/dl), HbA1 (8.1 ± 0.9 vs 8.6 ± 1.1%) or urinary volume [202 (48.3-435) vs 246 (77.3-683.3) ml]. Stepwise multiple regression analysis with albumin concentration of first morning urine samples as the dependent variable, and urinary volume, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin as independent variables, showed that only 12% (P = 0.01) of the albumin concentration could be accounted for by the independent effect of morning urine volume on the first day of urine collection. No urine samples showed a change in the cutoff level of 20 µg/ml of albumin concentration as the result of volume. Fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin did not influence the urinary albumin concentration. Considerable variability in urinary albumin concentration was found in the three morning urine samples with a mean intraindividual coefficient variation of 56%. In conclusion, in the present study, urinary volume had a minimal, though not constant, effect on first morning urinary albumin concentration. Day-to-day metabolic and clinical control of IDDM patients, except probably for ketoacidosis, should not contraindicate microalbuminuria screening in first morning urine samples

Standardization of a computerized method for calculating autonomic function test responses in healthy subjects and patients with diabetes mellitus

The objectives of the present study were 1) to compare results obtained by the traditional manual method of measuring heart rate (HR) and heart rate response (HRR) to the Valsalva maneuver, standing and deep breathing, with those obtained using a computerized data analysis system attached to a standard electrocardiograph machine; 2) to standardize the responses of healthy subjects to cardiovascular tests, and 3) to evaluate the response to these tests in a group of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). In all subjects (97 healthy and 143 with DM) we evaluated HRR to deep breathing, HRR to standing, HRR to the Valsalva maneuver, and blood pressure response (BPR) to standing up and to a sustained handgrip. Since there was a strong positive correlation between the results obtained with the computerized method and the traditional method, we conclude that the new method can replace the traditional manual method for evaluating cardiovascular responses with the advantages of speed and objectivity. HRR and BPR of men and women did not differ. A correlation between age and HRR was observed for standing (r = -0.48, P<0.001) and deep breathing (r = -0.41, P<0.002). Abnormal BPR to standing was usually observed only in diabetic patients with definite and severe degrees of autonomic neuropathy.