Subclinical thyroid dysfunctions are independent risk factors for mortality in a 7.5-year follow-up: the Japanese-Brazilian thyroid study

Objective: The currently available data concerning the influence of subclinical thyroid disease (STD) on morbidity and mortality are conflicting. Our objective was to investigate the relationships between STD and cardiometabolic profile and cardiovascular disease at baseline, as well as with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a 7.5-year follow-up. Design: Prospective, observational study. Methods: An overall of 1110 Japanese-Brazilians aged above 30 years, free of thyroid disease, and not taking thyroid medication at baseline were studied. In a cross-sectional analysis, we investigated the prevalence of STD and its relationship with cardiometabolic profile and cardiovascular disease. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were assessed for participants followed for up to 7.5 years. Association between STD and mortality was drawn using multivariate analysis, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 913 (82.3%) participants had euthyroidism, 99 (8.7%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 69 (6.2%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism. At baseline, no association was found between STD and cardiometabolic profile or cardiovascular disease. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs (95% confidence interval)) for all-cause mortality were significantly higher for individuals with both subclinical hyperthyroidism (HR, 3.0 (1.5-5.9); n=14) and subclinical hypothyroidism (HR, 2.3 (1.2-4.4); n=13) than for euthyroid subjects. Cardiovascular mortality was significantly associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism (HR, 3.3 (1.4-7.5); n=8), but not with subclinical hypothyroidism (HR, 1.6 (0.6-4.2); n=5). Conclusion: In the Japanese-Brazilian population, subclinical hyperthyroidism is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, while subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with all-cause mortality.

Determination of cadmium and lead in cetacean Dolphinidae tissue from the coast of Bahia state in Brazil by GFAAS

In the present study, cadmium and lead in the muscle, lung, liver and kidney of dolphins (Sotalia guianensis and Stenella clymene) of the Bahia coast in the northwest of Brazil were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples were digested using a diluted oxidant mixture (HNO(3) + H(2)O(2)) with a microwave heating program performed in five steps. The optimized temperatures and chemical modifier for the pyrolysis and atomization were 700 degrees C, 1400 degrees C and Pd plus Mg for Cd, and 900 degrees C, 1800 degrees C and NH(4)H(2)PO(4) for Pb, respectively. Characteristic masses and limits of detections (n = 20, 3 sigma) for Cd and Pb were 1.6 and 9.0 pg and 0.82 ng g(-1) and 0.50 ng g(-1), respectively. Repeatability ranged from 0.87 to 8.22% for Cd and 4.31 to 8.09% for Pb. The found concentrations presented no statistical differences at the 95% confidence level when compared with the ICP OES methods. Addition and recovery tests were also performed and the results ranged between 87 and 112% for both elements. Samples of cetacean Dolphinidae (S. guianensis and S. clymene) were analyzed, and the higher concentrations ranged from 0.09 to 46.2 mu g g(-1) for Cd and 0.04 to 0.47 mu g g(-1) for Pb in liver, and from 0.133 to 277 mu g g(-1) for Cd in the kidney. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Marcadores de risco cardiovasculares bioquímicos e antropométricos em idosos hipertensos e aparentemente saudaveis

Idosos apresentam prevalência aumentada de Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica - HAS além de multiplicidade de fatores de risco cardiovasculares adicionais relacionados a maus hábitos de vida. Este é um estudo transversal que teve como objetivos comparar e correlacionar marcadores bioquímicos e antropométricos e hábitos de vida indicadores de risco cardiovascular em idosos hipertensos e predominantemente saudáveis, sedentários e praticantes de atividade física. A amostra foi composta por 322 idosos, e distribuída em 2 grupos: G1: hipertensos e G2: predominatemente saudáveis. A coleta de dados constou de anamnese e avaliações bioquímica (perfil lipídico e Proteína C-Reativa - PCR) e antropométrica (Índice de Massa Corpórea - IMC, Circunferência da Cintura - CC, Circunferência abdominal - CA e Relação Cintura- Quadril - RCQ). Na análise dos dados utilizou-se estatística descritiva, Teste t de Student, análise de variância (ANOVA One-Way) e correlação de Pearson. Os resultados mostram que no G1: 100% eram hipertensos, sendo que 31,55% eram diabéticos e hipertensos e 0% era exclusivamente diabético, no G2: 28,86% eram hipertensos, sendo que 13,40% eram diabéticos e hipertensos, 5,15% eram exclusivamente diabéticos e 65,99% não apresentam qualquer processo patológico ativo. Com relação aos hábitos e estilo de vida, no G1: 58,22% eram sedentários; 2,6% fumantes e 1,7% etilistas. No G2: 5,15% eram sedentários; 7,21% fumantes e 8,24% etilistas. Com relação ao estado nutricional, verificou-se que no G1: 10,52% dos homens apresentaram Sobrepeso - SP e 14,03% Obesidade - OB, já entre as mulheres, 25,59% apresentaram SP e 20,23% OB. No G2: 6,06% dos homens apresentaram SP e 9,09% OB, e entre as mulheres, 15,87% apresentaram SP e 22,22% OB. Na análise da RCQ, apresentaram valores acima dos recomendados: 24,56% dos homens e 82,14% das mulheres do G1 e 12,12% dos homens e 74,60% das mulheres do G2. Com relação a CC e CA, apresentaram valores indicativos de risco, respectivamente: no G1 (52,63% e 29,82% dos homens e 91,66% e 87,5% das mulheres) e no G2 (9,09% e 9,09% dos homens, e 80,95% e 55,55% das mulheres). Com relação à idade, as freqüências de SP e OB no G1(n=225) foram: SP (A1=11,11%, A2=8%, A3=1,77%), OB (A1=8,44%, A2=8,88%, A3=1,33%), e no G2(n=97) foram: SP (A1= 5,15%, A2= 5,15%, A3= 2,06%) e OB (A1=9,27%, A2=7,21%, A3=0%). Na comparação entre G1 e G2 observou-se diferença estatísticamente significativa entre as seguintes médias: IMC: [G1=27,23 e G2=23,26 x (p=0,0344)]; CA: [G1=99,09 e G2=89,51 (p<0,0001)]; CC: [G1=93,64 e G2=86,37 (p<0,0001)] e RCQ: [G1=93,64 e G2=86,37 (p<0,0001)]. Na correlação, verificou-se associação considerada como fraca positiva (p<0,05) entre PCR e as variáveis antropométricas e o perfil lipídico. Os resultados apontam para maior freqüência e intensidade de fatores de risco cardiovasculares adicionais a hipertensão em mulheres em relação aos homens, nas faixas etárias relativamente mais jovens, A1 e A2, em relação a mais velha, A3, e no grupo de idosos hipertensos, G1, em relação ao de idosos predominantemente saudáveis, G2. Observou-se correlação, considerada fraca positiva (r>0,30), entre PCR, perfíl lipídico e variáveis antropométrica (p<0,05). Esta tese apresenta uma relação de interface multidisciplinar, tendo o seu conteúdo uma aplicação nos campos da Fisioterapia, Educação Física, Medicina, Nutrição e da Bioquímica

Activation and early parthenogenesis of bovine oocytes treated with ethanol and strontium

Efficient artificial activation is indispensable for the success of cloning programs. Strontium has been shown to effectively activate mouse oocytes for nuclear transfer procedures, however, there is limited information on its use for bovine oocytes. The present study had as objectives: (1) to assess the ability of strontium to induce activation and parthenogenetic development in bovine oocytes of different maturational ages in comparison with ethanol; and (2) to verify whether the combination of both treatments improves activation and parthenogenetic development rates. Bovine oocytes were in vitro matured for 24, 26, 28, and 30 h, and treated with ethanol (E, 7% for 5 min) or strontium chloride (S, 10 mM SrCl2 for 5 h) alone or in combination: ethanol + strontium (ES) and strontium + ethanol (SE). Activated oocytes were cultured in vitro in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) medium and assessed for pronuclear formation (15-16 h), cleavage (46-48 h) and development to the blastocyst stage (M). Treatment with ethanol and strontium promoted similar results regarding pronuclear formation (E, 20-66.7%; S, 26.7-53.3%; P > 0.05) and cleavage (E, 12.8-40.6%; S, 16.1-41.9%; P > 0.05), regardless of oocyte age. The actions of both strontium and ethanol were influenced by oocyte age: ethanol induced greater activation rates after 28 and 30 h of maturation (48.4 and 66.7% versus 20.0 and 23.3% for 24 and 26 It, respectively; P < 0.05) and strontium after 30 It (53.3%) was superior to 24 and 26h (26.7% for both). Blastocyst development rates were minimal in all treatments (0.0-6.3%; P > 0.05), however, when the mean (+/-S.D.) cell number in blastocysts at the same maturational period was compared, strontium treatment was superior to ethanol for activation rates (82 +/- 5.7 and 89.5 +/- 7.8 versus 54 and 61, at 28 and 30 h, respectively). Improved results were obtained by combined treatments. The combination of ethanol and strontium resulted in similar pronuclear formation (ES, 36.7-83.9%; SE, 53.1-90.3%) and cleavage rates (ES, 31.3-81.3%; SE, 65.6-80.7%). Regarding embryo development, there was no difference (P > 0.05) between treatments, and blastocysts were only obtained in treatment SE at 24 and 26 h (6.5% for both). It is concluded that, SrCl2 induces activation and parthenogenetic development in bovine oocytes. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Conhecimento do enfermeiro sobre o processo de cuidar do paciente com traumatismo cranioencefálico

Estudo de caráter exploratório e descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, realizado num hospital de urgência hospitalar referência em traumatologia, em Natal/RN, com o objetivo de identificar o conhecimento do enfermeiro a respeito da ECGl para avaliação do nível de consciência e do processo de cuidar na fase pré-hospitalar e hospitalar às vítimas de TCE. A população constou de 44 enfermeiros e os dados foram coletados entre abril e maio de 2010. Os resultados mostram que, 35 (79,5%) dos enfermeiros eram do sexo feminino; 17 (38,64%) estavam na faixa etária entre 24 a 30 anos e 12 (27,27%) entre 51 a 60 anos; 25(56,82%) solteiros, 30 (68,18%) católicos e 25 (56,82%) sem filhos; 40 (90,90%) eram formados por instituições públicas, 18 (40,92%) tinham tempo de serviço na enfermagem acima de 21 anos e 14 (31,82%) até quatro anos; 18 (40,91%) estavam alocados nas UTIs e 13 (29,55%) atuavam em mais de um setor e 20 (65,90%) possuíam especialização. Dos que estavam mais especializados, 18 (40,92%) tinham tempo de serviço até quatro anos e 08 (34,48%) acima de 21 anos. Todos relataram ter prestado assistência às vítimas de TCE e 36 (81,82%) sentiam-se preparados; 35 (46,67%) adquiriram essas informações na prática e apenas 8 (10,67%) na graduação. Em relação a opinião dos pesquisados sobre os empecilhos que dificultam esta assistência, 23 (23,01%) relataram déficit de recursos humanos e 19 (20,65%) despreparo da equipe de enfermagem, estrutura física inadequada e recursos materiais precários. Como propostas de solução para os problemas, 26 (47,27%) sugeriram reforma na gestão e 13 (23,63%) referiram educação continuada. Em relação a ECGl, 40 (90,1%) afirmaram conhecê-la, 33 (82,50%) a utilizavam, 32 (80%) conheciam sua finalidade, 25 (62,5%) acertaram os indicadores fisiológicos e 36 (90%) classificaram corretamente a gravidade do TCE. Dos enfermeiros que utilizam a ECGl, 23 (92%) conheciam seus indicadores e classificação e 20 (60,61%) utilizavam uma vez por plantão. Em relação às dificuldades no manejo da ECGl, 11 (21,58%) não tinham nenhum problema; 10 (19,60%) citaram a falta de tempo e com o mesmo percentual responderam interpretação da resposta verbal nos pacientes intubados. Quanto ao conhecimento dos enfermeiros na descrição do processo de cuidar, 31 (70,45%) das respostas da fase pré e 35 (79,55%) da hospitalar não possuíam etapas importantes, sendo consideradas como incorretas. Quanto à afirmativa dos enfermeiros em estar, e realmente estar preparados para esta assistência, detectamos que daqueles que disseram estar preparados, apenas 12 (33,33%) acertaram todos os passos do atendimento pré hospitalar e 6 (16,67%) no atendimento hospitalar. Concluímos que diante dos resultados obtidos, os enfermeiros conhecem a ECGl, no entanto, necessitam de capacitação para sua melhor compreensão e utilização. Quanto ao conhecimento do processo de cuidar aos pacientes com TCE, é necessário modificar urgente esta realidade, especialmente na atenção às ações desenvolvidas pelo enfermeiro no âmbito hospitalar, onde as consequências das lesões secundárias, muitas delas evitadas com diagnóstico precoce e intervenções imediatas, podem acarretar incapacidades permanentes e prejudicar a qualidade de vida desses indivíduos

Acidentes de Trabalho : análise em profissionais de enfermagem que atuam nas unidades de terapia intensiva e urgência Natal/RN

It is a descriptive-exploratory research, with a quantitative approach, aiming to characterize typical occupational accident suffered by the professionals from nursery group, in the Intensive Care Units and Emergency in a hospital in Natal-RN, trying to identify the factors that contribute to those accidents; to identify some information taken by those professionals related to the accident risks; to know the procedures taken after each accident. This sample is composed by 176 professionals that are 44 nurses and 132 nursing technicians/auxiliaries, collected from March to April 2010. The results related to the personal characterization of the nursery group showed that 31 (18.61%) are between the 36-40 years of age; 148 (84.09%) females and 96 (55.68%) had finished High School. Related to the professional characterization, 53 (30.11%) are nurses, and 123 (69.88%) nursing technicians and auxiliaries; 44 (25.00%) are working as nurses, and 132 (75.00%) as nursing technicians and auxiliaries; 45 (25.56%) are working in the nursery area between 15 to 20 years and 11 months; 53 (30.11%) are in this institution between 10 to 14 years and 11 months; 79 (44.88%) work in the ICU; 55 (31.25%) are working in this area from 1 to 4 years and 11 months; 110 (62.50%) like to work in this area; 161 (91.47%) work 30 to 40 hours per week; 90 (51,13%) have another employment. Related to knowledge about typical occupational accident, 167 (94.88%) said they know about it; 96 (54.54%) know the accident rules; 103 (58.52%) think it is important to talk about this subject in the nursery courses; 92 (52.27%) said this subject is important to be discussed in the work and 372 (87.73%) think education is necessary to reduce accident. Related to the data about accidents, 104 (59.09%) have suffered typical occupational accident, among them 69 (39.20%) have suffered it once; 47 (36.19%) did not register any accident; 60 (57.69%) were caring some patient during the accident; 47 (45.19%) of them occurred in the ICU; 50 (48.07%) professionals were working during the night period; 69 (66.34%) have suffered perforation; 86 (82.69%) had upper limbs affected; 64 (61.53%) were affected by needle; about the reason of the accident, 89 (60.54%) said it occurred due to carelessness. Related to the accident evolution, 88 (85.57%) did not need to remain off work after accident; 13 (81.25%) remained off work during 15 days; 87 (83.65%) had no sequelae and for 101 (97.11%) it was not necessary rehabilitation. We conclude that typical occupational accident can occur with young workers who admit a knowledge about the subject, however they do almost nothing to prevent it. We believe this research has contributed to the characterization of this kind of accident suffered by the nursery group of a public hospital in Natal, and it can stimulate the creation and reformulation of personal protection against typical occupational accident suffered by nursery professionals

Riscos ocupacionais e acidentes de trabalho em um serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência do Rio Grande do Norte

Exploratory, descriptive and quantitative study with prospective data, performed in the Mobile Emergency Care Service in the metropolitan region of Natal/RN, in order to identify the knowledge of the multidisciplinary team about the rules of standard precautions and worker safety, to identify occupational hazards peculiar to the activities of this service; characterize work-related accidents (WRA) and know the procedures adopted after each WRA. The population consisted of 162 professionals and data were collected between the months of November and December 2010. As for personal and professional characteristics, of the 162 professional, 12,96% were physicians; 6,79%, nurses; 33,95%, nursing technicians, 46,29%, conductors; 74,70% were male; 43,21% were between 31 and 40 years old; 69,33% lived in Natal/RN, 50,00% had completed high school; 58,64% were married; 69,75% had children, 46,91% were between 1 and 4 years of training; 61,73% had improvement courses; 59,25% had 3 to 4 years of service; 54,32%, with 1-4 years experience in emergency; 44,44% received 1-2 minimum wages; 78,40% received insalubrity premium; 67,28% worked in Basic Support Unit (BSU); 83,95% had journey on SAMU Metropolitano of 31-40 hours per week; 52,47% had other employments. As for knowledge of rules of standard precautions, safety and occupational hazards, 99,38% knew what it was WRA; 62,96% gave incomplete answers; 74,07% knew the rules of prevent WRA; 46,67% acquired this knowledge in lectures; 53,09% knew Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); 71,60% gave incorrect answers about the importance of standard precautions; 45,06% never received an educational intervention on this issue; 89,51% said that educational interventions in the prevention of WRA are very important; 90,12% pointed out this as a very important issue in the workplace; 27,00% suggested guidance on the topic in the workplace; regarding the physical hazards, 34,57% considered noise as the most important; about chemical hazards, 78,40% chose the gases and smoke; for biological hazards, 48,77% reported contact with the blood; for mechanical hazards, 80,86% said that were transport accidents; about ergonomic risks, 40,12% say it is the tension/stress in the care of critically ill, psychiatric and aggressive patients; and there was an average of 4,5 to the feeling of safety in the workplace. Regarding the data on the WRAs occurred, 31,48% experienced at least one accident event; 72,55% did not notify it; 60,98% answered that there was no routine for notification; 56,86% were performing patient transportation; 49,02% were hurt in the Basic Support Unit/Rescue Unit (BSU/RH); 60,78% occurred during the day; 96,08% of professionals were in normal work schedule (24 hours on duty); 31,37% had contusion; 58.82% had damage to members/pelvic girdle; 43,14% had traffic accidents. About the evolution of the WRA, 62,75% did not have to take time away from work; 76,47% had no sequelae; 88,24% did not require rehabilitation; no professional had a change of occupation. And by means of univariate logistic regression, showed that the nurses and male sex were risk factors for the occurrence of WRA. We conclude that there were gaps in the knowledge of staff regarding WRA, emphasizing the need for continuing education in biosafety in the service.

Atuação dos profissionais de saúde no atendimento à criança vítima de violência

This study had the purpose of identifying the health professional performance during the care of children victimized by violence. Its objectives were the evaluation of how health professionals diagnose violence on the hospitalized child during the care process; the identification, according to the experience of each health professional, of the types of violence on the hospitalized child, the child's aggressors and the most frequent1y injured area in the body and the analysis of conducts adopted by health professionals upon the recognition of a violence case on a hospitalized child. The study was of the descriptive-exploratory type, using a quantitative approach, performed on Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio (HCSA) in Boa Vista - RR. The population consisted of 235 health professionals, with data collected from June to August 2006. The results show a clear predominance of the female gender, (76,17%); aged 31 to 35 (26,81%); married (45,96%). As for professional formation, 63,9% were nursing auxiliaries and technicians,16,2% physicians, 14,8% nurses, 3,9% social assistants and 2,1% psychologists; 45,96% had completed middle-level education, 51,06% of which coming from private education establishments and 48,94% from public education institutions.; 97,66 % have specialization or improvement courses on their area; 32,77% among 05 to 09 years of work time; 32,06(10 worked on pediatric infirmaries; 75,74% state they have experience with children victimized by violence; 96,22% consider themselves capable of identifying the types of violence suffered by children; 29,00% consider physical violence the most common kind; 91,57% sought to identify the aggressors; 27,72% consider the mother to be the child's main aggressor, 26,36% the father, and 22,28% the stepfather; 26,55% consider the limbs and pelvic waist to be the body region most affected by violence; 26,91% take the attitude of reporting to the nurse and 20,13% to the social service; 70,79% state that the conducts were performed as a team; 26,25% of the professionals consider that the social assistants helped the most on deciding which conduct to adopt; 76,40% state there was no one opposed to the performing of these conducts; but 23,60% that stated there was no one opposed to the performing of these conducts, 77,08% reveal that the family members were against the conducts taken by the team. We conclude that, the hea1th professionals who were part of the study, apparently are not adequate prepared to diagnose and report the violence on child. The results were more drastic when we related the physicians and the nurses' answers, considering that they give directed assistance to these victims social assistants and psychologists are the ones best prepared to conduct cases of child mistreatment. However, we are conscious of our responsibility with professional education not only in upper grade institution but also on the middle-level. We believe also, that a continued education program can help to improve the professional knowledge and improve the quality of care

A prevalência do zumbido em trabalhadores expostos à ruído e organofosforados

INTRODUÇÃO: Na área ocupacional, a maior parte dos trabalhos enfatiza os efeitos do ruído sobre a audição dos trabalhadores, menosprezando o efeito dos defensivos agrícolas na audição. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e correlacionar a audição e o zumbido de indivíduos expostos concomitantemente à ruído e organofosforado no ambiente de trabalho e mensurar o impacto do zumbido na qualidade de vida destes trabalhadores. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo clínico, retrospectivo. Foram avaliados 82 dessinsetizadores expostos a ruído e organosfosforado atuantes no combate a dengue de uma autarquia estadual paulista. Todos os trabalhadores realizaram audiometria tonal liminar e responderam a versão traduzida do questionário THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory). RESULTADOS: 28,05% dos funcionários relataram que apresentam ou já apresentaram o zumbido e nos trabalhadores com zumbido há uma incidência maior de audiometria alterada. A média dos limiares auditivos nos trabalhadores com zumbido nas frequências entre 4 e 8 kHz encontravam-se mais elevados em relação aos demais, sendo a frequência de 4 kHz a mais comprometida. A pontuação do THI variou de 0 a 84, com média de 13,1. Foi observado que 12 (52,17%) sujeitos apresentaram escores do THI compatíveis com handicap discreto. CONCLUSÃO: Há uma incidência maior de audiometria alterada nos trabalhadores com zumbido, sendo que o impacto do zumbido na qualidade de vida destes trabalhadores foi discreto. As médias dos limiares tonais e o zumbido correlacionaram-se de forma fraca positiva.

Influência da suplementação de vitamina E na profilaxia e tratamento da broncopneumonia moderada e grave em bezerros

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

Coeficientes de digestibilidade e valores de aminoácidos digestíveis de alguns ingredientes para tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus)

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) dos aminoácidos do milho, farelo de trigo, farelo de soja e da farinha de peixe. Empregaram-se juvenis de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) (25,24 ± 3,88 g) alimentados com ração referência peletizada contendo 0,10% de óxido de crômio (indicador) e 33,78% de proteína bruta. O CDA médio dos aminoácidos foi de: 88,31; 77,40; 91,78 e 82,58% para o milho, farelo de trigo, farelo de soja e farinha de peixe, respectivamente. Ainda que os resultados sugiram que o CDA da proteína possa ser indicativo do CDA dos aminoácidos, seus valores individuais variaram dentre e entre os ingredientes avaliados. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que os valores de aminoácidos digestíveis devem ser usados na formulação de rações completas (precisas) e econômicas.

Cisto ovariano em vacas de leite: incidência, resposta à aplicação de GnRH e desempenho reprodutivo

A incidência de cistos ovarianos, a resposta ao tratamento com GnRH e os efeitos da ocorrência de cisto no desempenho reprodutivo e na taxa de descarte foram determinados em vacas lactantes da raça Holandesa. Vacas lactantes (n=333) foram avaliadas semanalmente por ultrassonografia a partir da quarta semana pós-parto, visando à detecção de corpos lúteos (CL) e de folículos ovarianos maiores que 10mm. Na sétima semana pós-parto, as vacas foram classificadas: em ciclando (n=248; presença de CL em um dos exames ultrassonográficos); em anestro (n=54; ausência de CL e de folículos >25mm) e com cisto (n=31; ausência de CL e presença de estruturas >25mm), quando foram distribuídas em: grupo-controle (n=16; sem tratamento) e grupo-tratamento (n=15; vacas que receberam uma aplicação de GnRH). A taxa de cura foi de 60,0% no grupo das vacas tratadas e de 87,5% no grupo-controle. As vacas com cistos apresentaram maior intervalo parto-primeira inseminação artificial (P<0,05; 91,4±8,3 vs. 77,8±2,5), maior número de serviços por concepção (P<0,05; 4,4±1,2 vs. 3,6±1,5), maior intervalo parto-concepção (P<0,05; 214,8±25,9 vs. 174,9±7,7) e maior taxa de descarte (P<0,05; 41,2 vs. 21,8%) do que as vacas ciclando. Vacas diagnosticadas com cisto na sétima semana pós-parto apresentaram recuperação espontânea, embora o intervalo parto-concepção e a taxa de descarte tenham sido maiores para essas vacas.

Desempenho, características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de bovinos superprecoces das raças Canchim, Nelore e seus mestiços

Oitenta e seis machos jovens, não-castrados, divididos em quatro grupos raciais - Nelore (n=20), Canchim (n=17), ½ Canchim ×Nelore (CN) (n=25) e ¾ Canchim ×Nelore (TQ) (n=24) - foram pesados a cada 28 dias para avaliação de ganho de peso (kg/dia), ingestão de matéria seca (kg/dia) e conversão alimentar. Ao atingirem peso de abate médio de 450 kg e espessura de gordura subcutânea superior a 4 mm, os animais foram abatidos para avaliação do peso e do rendimento de carcaça e de cortes comerciais do traseiro, área de olho-de-lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea (mm), marmorização, força de cisalhamento, extrato etéreo (%) e perdas por cocção. O grupo Nelore apresentou-se adequado ao sistema de produção proposto, revelando desempenho similar ao dos animais CN quanto ao ganho de peso (1,18 e 1,29 kg para Nelore e CN, respectivamente) e conversão alimentar (6,90 e 7,04 para Nelore e CN, respectivamente). A ingestão de matéria seca (kg/dia) diferiu entre os grupos raciais (11,82; 9,39; 8,90 e 8,31 para Canchim, TQ, CN e Nelore, respectivamente). O peso da carcaça (kg) dos Canchim (291,14) foi maior e diferiu dos outros grupos (250,74; 246,64 e 244,18 para TQ, CN e Nelore, respectivamente). Apesar de o rendimento de carcaça ter sido maior no grupo Nelore (58,75%), os animais desse grupo apresentaram menor rendimento de cortes nobres que de traseiro, com diferença para o contrafilé (10,22; 11,55; 11,64 e 11,18 para Nelore, Canchim, TQ e CN, respectivamente). Os valores de força de cisalhamento comprovam que o abate de animais jovens garante carne macia, independentemente do grupo genético estudado.

Embryo Transfer Efficiency of Quarter Horse Athletic Mares

This study was designed to compare embryo recovery rates and pregnancy rates of athletic and breeding Quarter Horse mares in a tropical warm climate. Thirty-nine barrel racing mares in training and 135 breeding mares as control donors were included. During the training period, the ambient temperature ranged from 31 degrees C to 36 degrees C and the average humidity from 70% to 90%. After the detection of a 35-mm follicle by ultrasound, ovulation was induced with 1 mg of deslorelin acetate (i.m), and insemination was performed 24 hours later with cooled and fresh semen from different fertile stallions. Embryos were collected on day 8 postovulation. The body temperature (rectal) was evaluated from eight athletic donor mares randomly selected from the same studied group. A total of 138 and 657 embryo collections were carried out on training and breeding mares, respectively, with a total of 105 (76%) and 466 (71%) embryos collected (P > .05). Similarly, no differences (P > .05) were observed for the pregnancy rates on day 15 (82/105, 78% vs. 370/466,79%), and day 40 (73/105, 69% vs. 328/466,70%) between the training and breeding donor mares. Just after training, the body temperature increased to an average of 39.4 degrees C and the respiratory rate from 14.5 to 35.3 breaths per minute. The results of the present study showed that embryo production from appropriately trained donor mares in good condition were similar to non-athletic broodmares. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.