EFFECTS of SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION on CATTLE ANTI-RABIES HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE and LEVELS of SERUM SELENIUM and CORTISOL

This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of selenium (Se) supplementation on cattle anti-rabies humoral immune response, serum Se concentrations and cortisol levels. Sixty uncastrated male Nelore calves from 10 to 12 months grazing on Brachiaria decumbens forage were studied. The animals were assigned to one of four groups (n = 15 each), which received non-supplemented diets (Gc) or supplemented with daily and individual Selenium ( Se) concentrations of 3.6 mg (G(3.6)), 5.4 mg (G(5.4)) or 6.4 mg (G(6.4)). The calves were immunized on day 0 with one dose of commercial liquid inactivated rabies vaccination. on days 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120, the cattle underwent the same stressing procedures used for vaccination in the corral. Cattle blood samples were collected after vaccination and stressing procedures to determine serum Se levels, rabies antibody titers and serum cortisol. Se levels were also determined in forage samples collected from the paddocks in which the cattle were held. Se concentration in B. decumbens was 0.04 mg of Se/kg dry matter. Baseline Se levels obtained on day 0 were higher in Gc than in G(5.4) and G(6.4) (P = 0.005). Serum Se levels decreased in Gc throughout the experiment (P < 0.004), increased in G(3.6) (P < 0.000) and G(5.4) (P < 0.000) and were kept high from day 60 on in group G(6.4) (P < 0.002). Rabies antibody titers did not differ among control and supplemented groups. However, 120 days after vaccination rabies antibody titers were kept above protective levels (>= 0.5 UI/mL) only in group G(3.6) (P < 0.00002), whereas they dropped in the other groups (P < 0.05). Serum cortisol levels did not differ among the experimental groups (P = 0.79), reached peak levels on day 90 and returned close to baseline levels on day 120. Se and cortisol levels were not markedly correlated. Serum cortisol and rabies antibody titers were correlated only in group G(6.4), on day 60 (R = 0.513; P = 0.05) and 120 (R = 0.644; P = 0.009). Serum Se and rabies antibody titers were correlated only in group G(6.4), on day 60 (R = -0.580; P = 0.023). In conclusion: a) the profile of Se variation is different among groups receiving different concentrations of this element; b) the supplementation dosage of 3.6 mg Se/animal/day is efficient to treat/prevent marginal Se deficiency; c) individual supplementation with daily concentrations of 3.6 mg Se enhances the maintenance of rabies antibody titers in cattle; d) individual supplementation with daily concentrations of 3.6; 5.4 and 6.4 mg Se are ineffective in reducing serum cortisol; e) repeated cattle handling in corrals stress animals that adapt to these procedures, although serum cortisol does not return to baseline levels by 120 days; and f) the stress generated by repeated management in cattle in the corral does not diminish antibody titers after vaccination against rabies.

Avaliação da vacinação anti-rábica e da suplementação com probiótico na resposta imune humoral em bovinos

This study evaluated the humoral immune response of a new rabies vaccine developed by the Instituto Butantan (potency of 3.27 UI/ml) in primovaccinated cattle and the effect of probiotic on this response. Thirty-four 15-month old Nelore cattle were randomly divided into 2 groups (17 animals/group). All the animals were vaccinated on day 0 (zero) and then animals in one group received probiotic added to a mineral mixture (GP) while the others were given only the mineral mixture (GC). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 75 and 150 for rabies neutralizing antibodies titers by seroneutralization assay on BHK21 cells (RFFIT). Protective antibody titers (>= 0.5 UI/mL) were found in 82.4% of the animals from GP and in 76.5% of the animals from GC and no statistical difference (p>0.05) between antibody titers in GP and GC was detected on days 75 and 150. It was also observed that in both groups antibody titers was decreased on day 150 (p<0.01). In conclusion, the tested rabies vaccine promotes efficient soroconversion and keeps antibody levels in primovaccinated cattle, but probiotic does not affect the humoral anti-rabies immune response.

PREVENCAO DE TROMBOFLEBITES PELO USO DE HEPARINA EM PACIENTES TRATADOS COM ANFOTERICINA B

The authors studied the incidence of thrombophlebitis in 41 patients treated intravenously with amphotericin B. The patients were divided in two different group: Group 1: patients treated with amphotericin B and hydrocortisone with heparin (1000 UI); Group 2: patients treated with amphotericin B and hydrocortisone. The results showed 23.81% of incidence of thrombophlebitis in Group 1 and 90% in Group 2. Thrombophlebitis in Group 1 ranged from mild to moderate without any change during the drug therapy. In Group 2, the incidence was 66.67% and the thrombophlebitis were severe being necessary the withdrawn of the drugs in 35.0% of the cases. We concluded that heparin, in low doses, in association with amphotericin B, was an efficient drug preventing or reducing the development of thrombophlebitis.

Antibody and cytokine serum levels in patients subjected to anti-rabies prophylaxis with serum-vaccination

Rabies is considered a fatal disease once clinical symptoms have developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological aspects and immune response in patients attacked by domestic and wild animals and subjected to post-exposure rabies treatment with equine serum and associated vaccine. Thirty-three patients were evaluated; they were between 13 and 65 years old, 75.8% were male and 24.2% female, and from the Botucatu neighborhood. Twenty healthy control individuals with the same age range were also studied. Specific antibodies to equine immunoglobulins and IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 production were evaluated by ELISA. IgM, IgE, IgG and subclasses, and rabies virus antibodies serum levels were determined by nephelometry and seroneutralization methods, respectively. No anaphylactic or serum sickness allergic reactions were observed in patients after treatment. Anti-equine IgG levels were significantly higher than those of IgM after 14 and 28 days of treatment. Protective antibodies to rabies virus > 0.5 UI/ml were detected in 84.6% and 75% of patients at days 14 and 28, respectively. IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 levels in patients before and 48h after treatment were significantly higher than in controls suggesting that both Th1 and Th2 cells were activated in the patients. Serum IgM levels were higher at day 14, and IgG 2 and IgE levels were higher at day 28 of treatment. These results suggest that post-exposure rabies treatment in humans induces significant alterations in patient immune response characterized by increased levels of cytokines, serum levels of specific rabies virus antibodies, and the equine serum components employed in the treatment.

Insulinoterapia, controle glicêmico materno e prognóstico perinatal - Diferença entre o diabetes gestacional e o clínico

PURPOSE: to evaluate the insulin therapy protocol and its maternal and perinatal outcome in patients with clinical or gestational diabetes in a high risk reference service. METHODS: descriptive and prospective study including 103 pregnant women with gestational or clinical diabetes treated with insulin and attended by the reference service from October 2003 to December 2005. Gemellarity, miscarriages, unfinished prenatal care and deliveries not attended by the service were excluded. The gestational age at the beginning of the treatment, dosage, doses/day, increment of insulin (UI/kg), glycemic index (GI) and perinatal outcomes were compared. ANOVA, Fisher's exact test and Goodman's test considering p<0.05 were used. RESULTS: multiparity (92 versus 67.9%), pre-gestational body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m 2 (88 versus 58.5%), weight gain (WG) <8 kg (36 versus 17%) and a high increment of insulin characterized the gestational diabetes. For the patients with clinical diabetes, despite the highest GI (120 mg/dL (39.2 versus 24%)) at the end of the gestational period, insulin therapy started earlier (47.2 versus 4%), lasted longer (56.6 versus 6%) and higher doses of insulin (92 versus 43 UI/day) were administered up to three times a day (54.7 versus 16%). Macrosomia was higher among newborns from the cohort of patients with gestational diabetes (16 versus 3.8%), being the only significant neonatal outcome. There were no neonatal deaths, except for one fetal death in the cohort of patients with clinical diabetes. There were no differences in the other neonatal complications in both cohorts, and most of the newborns were discharged from hospital up to seven days after delivery (46% versus 55.8%). CONCLUSIONS: the analysis of these two cohorts has shown differences in the insulin therapy protocol in quantity (UI/day), dosage (UI/kg weight) and number of doses/day, higher for the clinical diabetes cohort, and in the increment of insulin, higher for the gestational diabetes cohort. Indirectly, the quality of maternal glycemic control and the satisfactory perinatal outcome have proven that the treatment protocol was adequate and did not depend on the type of diabetes.

Sincronização do estro e da ovulação utilizando protocolos de curta duração durante a pré- estação reprodutiva em ovelhas Suffolk

This study was carried out with the objective of examining the effect of the short-term estrus synchronization protocol. Ewes were divided in four groups: Control Group (MAP sponges for 12 days, and eCG at withdrawal); Groups I, II and III used the sponge for four days, and 100 μg of PGF was applied at withdrawal; and additionally, Group I (0.1 mg of Estradiol benzoate - EB, in the sponge placement, and in the withdrawn 400 UI of eCG and 50 μg of GnRH 48h later); Group II (35 mg of injectable progesterone and 0.1 mg of EB in the sponge placement, and 400 UI of eCG at withdrawal, and 50 μg of GnRH 48h after); Group III (35 mg of injectable progesterone and 0.2 mg of EB in the sponge placement, and 400 UI of eCG at withdrawal, and 50 ?g of GnRH 56h after). Exams were accomplished for ultrasound and determine the plasmatic concentrations of progesterone and observations of the beginning the estrus and the ovulation. The lack of eCG in Group I caused this protocol to be less efficacious in induction and synchronization of estrus and ovulation. The Control Group had a greater synchronization of estrus and ovulation.

Exame eletrocardiográfico em equinos da raça puro sangue Árabe submetidos ao exercício em esteira de alta velocidade e à suplementação com vitamina E

The effect of physical exercise, training and vitamin E supplementation on electrocardiographic parameters was evaluated in eight untrained Arabian mares, divided into two groups: control (n=4) and supplemented with vitamin E (n=4) at the daily dose of 1.000 UI. Animals were submitted to an incremental exercise test (P1) on high-speed treadmill inclined +7%, after that to a training period of 20 days and later to a new incremental exercise test (P2). Analysis and interpretation of electrocardiographic tracings were performed regarding the rhythm, heart rate, duration and amplitude of waves and intervals, before, immediately after and 30 min after the incremental exercise. A reduction of the rest heart rate was observed after training. There was no effect of vitamin E supplementation on electrocardiographic parameters. Results indicated that the electrocardiogram was efficient in detention of cardiac alterations promoted by the physical exercise, but more studies are needed to elucidate its clinical meaning.

Ammonia volatilization losses from surface-applied urea with urease and nitrification inhibitors

Urease inhibitor (UI) and nitrification inhibitor (NI) have the potential to improve N-use efficiency of applied urea and minimize N losses via gaseous emissions of ammonia (NH 3) to the atmosphere and nitrate (NO3-) leaching into surface and ground water bodies. There is a growing interest in the formulations of coating chemical fertilizers with both UI and NI. However, limited information is available on the combined use of UI and NI applied with urea fertilizer. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of treating urea with both UI and NI to minimize NH 3 volatilization. Two experiments were set up in volatilization chambers under controlled conditions to examine this process. In the first experiment, UR was treated with the urease inhibitor NBPT [N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide] at a rate of 1060 mg kg -1 urea and/or with the nitrification inhibitor DCD (dicyandiamide) at rates equivalent to 5 or 10% of the urea N. A randomized experimental design with five treatments and five replicates was used: 1) UR, 2) UR + NBPT, 3) UR + DCD 10%, 4) UR + NBPT + DCD 5%, and 5) UR + NBPT + DCD 10%. The fertilizer treatments were applied to the surface of an acidic Red Latosol soil moistened to 60% of the maximum water retention and placed inside volatilization chambers. Controls chambers were added to allow for NH 3 volatilized from unfertilized soil or contained in the air that swept over the soil surface. The second experiment had an additional treatment with surface-applied DCD. The chambers were glass vessels (1.5 L) fit with air inlet and outlet tubings to allow air to pass over the soil. Ammonia volatilized was swept and carried to a flask containing a boric acid solution to trap the gas and then measured daily by titration with a standardized H 2SO 4 solution. Continuous measurements were recorded for 19 and 23 days for the first and second experiment, respectively. The soil samples were then analyzed for UR-, NH4+-, and NO3--N. Losses of NH 3 by volatilization with unamended UR ranged from 28 to 37% of the applied N, with peak of losses observed the third day after fertilization. NBPT delayed the peak of NH 3 losses due to urease inhibition and reduced NH 3 volatilization between 54 and 78% when compared with untreated UR. Up to 10 days after the fertilizer application, NH 3 losses had not been affected by DCD in the UR or the UR + NBPT treatments; thereafter, NH 3 volatilization tended to decrease, but not when DCD was present. As a consequence, the addition of DCD caused a 5-16% increase in NH 3 volatilization losses of the fertilizer N applied as UR from both the UR and the UR + NBPT treatments. Because the effectiveness of NBPT to inhibit soil urease activity was strong only in the first week, it could be concluded that DCD did not affect the action of NBPT but rather, enhanced volatilization losses by maintaining higher soil NH4+ concentration and pH for a longer time. Depending on the combination of factors influencing NH 3 volatilization, DCD could even offset the beneficial effect of NBPT in reducing NH 3 volatilization losses. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Gesture-based teleoperation using a holonomic robot

This work presents the development and integration of an user interface (UI) framework based on various current input devices that take advantage of our ergonomics. The purpose is to teleoperate a holonomic robot using upper member gestures and postures for studying the suitable of such interfaces when programming and interacting with a mobile robot. As performance vary from UI to UI the framework is focused to be used as a complementary industrial or didactic tool thus, changing how inexperience users tackle their first impressions when working with mobile robots while performing simple gesture-based teleoperation tasks. © 2012 ICROS.

Concentrações séricas de aspartato aminotransferase e creatinoquinase e concentrações plasmáticas de lactato em equinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador após exercício físico

The aim of this study was evaluate the influence of physical exercise (marcha gait) on serum values of CK and AST and plasmatic values of lactate in Mangalarga Marchador horses trained in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Serum and plasma samples were obtained from 15 horses in four different moments: rest (T0), 5 minutes (T1), 30 minutes (T2) and 2 hours (T3) after the exercise. Lactate analysis revealed values of 1.02 ± 0.41 mmol/L, 2.73 ± 2.43 mmol/L, 1.89 ± 1.24 mmol/L and 1.31 ± 0.60 mmol/L, respectively at T0, T1, T2 and T3. When evaluating AST, the results recorded in T0, T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 189.3 ± 56.0 UI/L, 223.9 ± 53.5 UI/L, 186.8 ± 25.8 UI/L and 193.9 ± 44.7 UI/L. Finally, the CK at moments T0, T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 113.4 ± 56.3 UI/l, 144.1 ± 70.9 UI/L, 143.0 ± 81.0 UI/L and 173.1 ± 128.0 UI/L. The results showed that marcha gait leaded to significantly increased in plasma lactate and did not alter serum AST and CK, suggesting that the equines used were conditioned to the physical exercised imposed.

Entre o sofrimento e a esperança: A reabilitação da incontinência urinária como componente interveniente

This is a qualitative study seeking to understand Brazilian women's experience of urinary incontinence (UI) and design a representative theoretical model for the experience. Theoretical saturation occurred after analysis of the 18th non-directive interview in accordance with Grounded Theory. Two phenomena emerged: living with the challenges of UI and experiencing the hope and disappointment of rehabilitation from UI. Upon re-alignment of the components, the core category emerged, namely: between suffering and hope - rehabilitation from urinary incontinence as an intervening component. From the analysis in light of symbolic interactionism, pregnancy and vaginal birth were observed to be symbols of women's vulnerability to the suffering from living with the moral and physio-psychosocial challenges of UI. It is also inferred that the lack of consideration of the Unified Health System (SUS) in investing in the process of rehabilitation from UI may be having a negative effect on the incentive programs for promoting vaginal birth. Most of all, it reveals the ongoing suffering of women with UI, most of whom do not have access to rehabilitation due to the lack of programs geared to the real needs of these users of the Unified Health System.

Detecção in vitro da hepatite C (VHC) em plaquetas provenientes de indivíduoas não infectados expostas ao vírus

Pós-graduação em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (Biotecnologia Médica) - FMB

Influência da suplementação de vitamina D na dieta sobre remodelação cardíaca em ratos expostos à fumaça do cigarro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Remodelação cardíaca induzida plea deficiência de vitamina D em ratos. -

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aspiração folicular videolaparoscópica em ovinos: avaliação ovariana macro e microscópica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)