The newborn pain cry: Descriptive acoustic spectrographic analysis

Introduction: Study the characteristics of pain vocal emission of newborns during venepuncture through acoustic analysis and relate it to NIPS pain scale and some variables of the newborns.Methods: Emissions of 111 healthy term newborns were recorded, whose lifetime varied from 24 to 72 h. The acoustic analysis was realized with GRAM 5.7 software verifying the occurrence of tense strangled voice quality, sounds, concentration of acoustic energy, breaks, double harmonic breaks and frequency instability, type of phonation, vocal attack and cough. The NIPS scale was realized during venepuncture and descriptive statistical analysis and correlation through Spearman test.Results: Hundred percent of the emissions had guttural sounds, vowels, hard vocal attack, frequency, breaks, double harmonic breaks and tense strangled voice quality; 34.2% higher fundamental frequency; 62.2% periods of emission absence and 100% occurrence of tracing instability, concentration of acoustic energy, inspiratory and expiratory phonation. The cough occurred in 14.4%. The signs of vocal tract constriction associated with all. The parameters. There was a negative correlation between the higher fundamental frequencies and the weight of newborns and positive correlation between cough and NIPS score.Conclusions: the newborn pain emission is tense and strident, the modifications of frequency and spectrographic tracing and the presence of sounds show laryngeal and vocal tract participation. The smaller the newborn weight, the bigger the presence of higher fundamental frequency with tense strangled voice quality and the bigger the NIPS score, the more frequent the cough. Such characteristics make pain crying peculiar, helping in the evaluation of pain during a procedure. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Expressing VEGF and its Receptors in the Subventricular Zone of Newborn Piglet Brain

Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSP) biology and neurogenesis in adult central nervous system (CNS) are important both towards potential future therapeutic applications for CNS repair, and for the fundamental function of the CNS. In the present study, we report the characterization of NSP population from subventricular zone (SVZ) of neonatal piglet brain using in vivo and in vitro systems. We show that the nestin and vimentin-positive neural progenitor cells are present in the SVZ of the lateral ventricles of neonatal piglet brain. In vitro, piglet NSPs proliferated as neurospheres, expressed the typical protein of neural progenitors, nestin and a range of well-established neurodevelopmental markers. Upon dissociation and subculture, piglet NSPs differentiated into neurons and glial cells. Clonal analysis demonstrates that piglet NSPs are multi-potent and retain the capacity to generate both glia and neurons. These cells expressed VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and Neuropilin-1 and -2 mRNAs. Real time PCR revealed that SVZ NSPs from newborn piglet expressed total VEGF and all VEGF splice variants. These findings show that piglet NSPs may be helpful to more effectively design growth factor based strategies to enhance endogenous precursor cells for cell transplantation studies potentially leading to the application of this strategy in the nervous system disease and injury.

Use of Aspiration Method for Collecting Brain Samples for Rabies Diagnosis in Small Wild Animals

P>In developing countries such as Brazil, where canine rabies is still a considerable problem, samples from wildlife species are infrequently collected and submitted for screening for rabies. A collaborative study was established involving environmental biologists and veterinarians for rabies epidemiological research in a specific ecological area located at the São Paulo State, Brazil. The wild animals' brains are required to be collected without skull damage because the skull's measurements are important in the identification of the captured animal species. For this purpose, samples from bats and small mammals were collected using an aspiration method by inserting a plastic pipette into the brain through the magnum foramen. While there is a progressive increase in the use of the plastic pipette technique in various studies undertaken, it is also appreciated that this method could foster collaborative research between wildlife scientists and rabies epidemiologists thus improving rabies surveillance.

Gene expression in placentation of farm animals: An overview of gene function during development

Eutherian mammals share a common ancestor that evolved into two main placental types, i.e., hemotrophic (e.g., human and mouse) and histiotrophic (e.g., farm animals), which differ in invasiveness. Pregnancies initiated with assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in farm animals are at increased risk of failure; these losses were associated with placental defects, perhaps due to altered gene expression. Developmentally regulated genes in the placenta seem highly phylogenetically conserved, whereas those expressed later in pregnancy are more species-specific. To elucidate differences between hemotrophic and epitheliochorial placentae, gene expression data were compiled from microarray studies of bovine placental tissues at various stages of pregnancy. Moreover, an in silico subtractive library was constructed based on homology of bovine genes to the database of zebrafish - a nonplacental vertebrate. In addition, the list of placental preferentially expressed genes for the human and mouse were collected using bioinformatics tools (Tissue-specific Gene Expression and Regulation [TiGER] - for humans, and tissue-specific genes database (TiSGeD) - for mice and humans). Humans, mice, and cattle shared 93 genes expressed in their placentae. Most of these were related to immune function (based on analysis of gene ontology). Cattle and women shared expression of 23 genes, mostly related to hormonal activity, whereas mice and women shared 16 genes (primarily sexual differentiation and glycoprotein biology). Because the number of genes expressed by the placentae of both cattle and mice were similar (based on cluster analysis), we concluded that both cattle and mice were suitable models to study the biology of the human placenta. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of intrauterine malnutrition on brain free amino acids of young rats, after nutritional recovery during lactation period

The effect of protein-calorie malnutrition during gestation on the brain amino acids of rat pups was studied following nutritional recovery during lactation. The brain amino acids of rat pups born to dam rats malnourished during gestation were studied after these rat pups received proper nutrition during lactation. Pregnant rats were fed a 1% protein diet with total caloric intake restricted to half that of controls. After birth, the offspring of rats fed on deficient diets were nurtured up to the 28th day postpartum by foster mothers receiving adequate diets. At this time, the offspring were killed. The control group consisted of offspring from pregnant rats fed a diet with adequate protein (21%) and calories during the entire gestation and lactation period. Quantitation of brain amino acids in the pups at 28 days postpartum showed lower concentrations of essential and nonessential amino acids in the rats malnourished during gestation. Concentrations of histidine, glycine, and α-aminobutyric acids were all reduced. These findings demonstrate that the brains of rat pups malnourished during gestation show persistent decreases in specific brain amino acids after adequate postpartum nutrition.

Does the male reproductive performance depend on the early lactation milk in rats?

This study investigated the role of the early lactation milk (ELM) on the male reproductive performance and the participation of GnRH on this effect in Wistar rats. Newborn males were divided into three experimental groups: 1) ELM-deprived pups, 2) ELM-deprived pups treated with exogenous GnRH 1, 7, 25, and 31 h after birth, and 3) non-ELM-deprived and without exogenous GnRH. In relation to the other two groups, the ELM-deprived male rats exhibited as adults: reduced fertility, decreased weight of both vas deferens and seminal vesicle, and reduced levels of fructose in the seminal vesicle and prostate gland. We suggest that the intake of ELM during the neonatal period is important to the later sexual development of rats, and that GnRH is somehow involved in such an effect.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) associated with wild animals in the Pantanal region of Brazil

This paper describes the identification of ticks from wild animals of the Pantanal region in Brazil as part of a comprehensive study about established and emerging tick-host relationships and related pathological aspects. Eighty-one animals were captured (representing 13 species six orders), and ticks were found on 63 (78%). Tick species identified included Boophilus microplus (Canestrini), Amblyomma cajennense (F.), Amblyomma parvum Aragão, Amblyomma pseudoconcolor Aragão, Amblyomma scalpturatum Neumann, Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, Amblyomma ovale Koch, and Amblyomma tigrinum Koch. Dragging from grasslands yielded negative results compared with the high concentration of ticks that were collected from leaves in the forests.

Evaluation of lacrimal system outflow in the newborn by dye tests

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outflow from the lacrimal excretory system (LES) at birth. METHOD: Two-hundred LES were evaluated by the Milder Test (DDT) and the modified Jones I Test (JIT) in 100 newborns (NBs) from 31 (T 1) until 42 (T 3) weeks of gestational age. The occurrence of obstruction was related to sex, weight at birth, presence of ocular discharge and the degree of maturity. RESULTS: Both tests were in agreement and showed LES obstruction in 61.5% (DDT) and 78.5% (JIT), respectively, while the LES outflow increased with increasing maturity. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of LES outflow at birth reveals obstruction rates that are much higher than those clinically observed in children with complaints of epiphora.

Ticks associated with wild animals in the Nhecolândia Pantanal, Brazil

A study of ticks associated with wild animals was carried out from September 1996 to April 1998 at the Fazenda Alegria (21,000 ha), in the Nhecolândia Pantanal, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, a sunken plain bordering the upper Paraguay river, located 19 × 08′S; 56 × 46′W. A total of 81 wild animals (13 species, 6 orders) were captured with the aid of nets, and ticks were found on 63 (78%). Tick species identified included Boophilus microplus (Canestrini), Amblyomma cajennense (F.), A. parvum (Aragão), A. pseudo-concolor (Aragão), A. scalpturatum (Neumann), A. nodosum (Neumann), A. ovale (Koch), and A. tigrinum (Koch). Dragging from grasslands (campos) yielded negative results compared to the high concentration of ticks, mainly nymphs, that were collected from leaves in the forests (capão). Predominance of immature instars (Amblyomma genera) was observed in the end of winter (August-September). Ticks were associated mainly with coatis, deer (Mazama gouazoubira) and anteater, and these animals may play a role in the epidemiology of tick-transmitted pathogens in the Pantanal if one considers their coexistence with local domestic animals.

A review of antifertility folkloric plants tested in laboratory animals

The use of natural active principals is widespread among a great proportion of the rural population, or by people who do not have easy access to medical assistance. These active principles are used as food or medicines, and even for purposes of contraception. It becomes necessary to establish a relationship between the folklore habits and current information on the nature of anti-fertility substances, and knowledge of their mechanisms. Anti-fertility agents may exert their actions in a number of areas, (hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, oviduct, uterus, and vagina), inhibiting synthesis and/or liberation of hormones (follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, and steroid hormones), ovulation, ovum transportation, and implantation process. Therefore, a review of literature was carried out, including of several plants used by women as abortifacient and anti-fertility agents to compare their effects with those obtained among laboratory animals.

Static lung compliance and body pressures in Tupinambis merianae with and without post-hepatic septum

The surgical removal of the post-hepatic septum (PHS) in the tegu lizard, Tupinambis merianae, significantly reduces resting lung volume (VLr) and maximal lung volume (VLm) when compared with tegus with intact PHS. Standardised for body mass (MB), static lung compliance was significantly less in tegus without PHS. Pleural and abdominal pressures followed, like ventilation, a biphasic pattern. In general, pressures increased during expiration and decreased during inspiration. However, during expiration pressure changes showed a marked intra- and interindividual variation. The removal of the PHS resulted in a lower cranio-caudal intracoelomic pressure differential, but had no effect on the general pattern of pressure changes accompanying ventilation. These results show that a perforated PHS that lacks striated muscle has significant influence on static breathing mechanics in Tupinambis and by analogy provides valuable insight into similar processes that led to the evolution of the mammalian diaphragm. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.