Falência renal aguda em pequenos animais

The pets, mostly dogs and cats are susceptible to a variety of situations that can lead to acute kidney failure, such as infection and intoxication, besides other common causes such as dehydration or other pre-existing diseases. The abrupt decrease in renal function in these animals characterizes a severe clinical condition and requires specialized veterinary medical care since it increases the death. Early diagnosis is an important factor for the survival of these animals and so is the appropriate treatment. New technologies on diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases in veterinary medicine have made acute renal failure successfully reversed by hemodialysis in cases where conventional therapy may not be effective. In cases like that, hemodialysis treatment may be the only chance of survival for the animals, which makes this therapy more and more important and necessary, especially in referral centers of veterinary assistance

Cardiomyopathy and cell therapy: ejection fraction improvement and cardiac muscle mass increasing, after a year of bone marrow stem cells transplantation, by magnetic resonance image

The idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) is one of the major public health problems in the western world. Patients with IDC in functional class IV (New York Health Association - NYHA), even after therapeutic optimization, have high mortality. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for cell death-related heart diseases and several positive effects were assigned to cell therapy in cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was identify short-term result of cell transplantation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy patients (IDC) who were treated by transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC). Intracoronary injections of autologous BMMC were performed in eight patients with severe ventricle dysfunction (mean of left ventricle ejection fraction – LEVF=20.03%), cardiac mass muscle around 156.2 g and NYHA between III and IV grades, other 8 IDC patients received placebo. The IDCs were followed - up for one and two years, by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results after one year showed significant improvement in LVEF (mean=181.4) and muscle mass increasing (mean=181.4 g), after two years the LVEF continued improving, reaching a mean of 32.69% and the cardiac muscle mass kept stable (mean=179.4 g). Excepted for one patient, all the other had improvement in the NYHA functional class. The placebo group did not show any improvement. We believe that BMMC implant may be a beneficial therapeutic option for IDC patients.

Evaluation of photodynamic therapy in adhesion protein expression

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

Effects of omega-3 on metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome

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

Acute phase proteins as markers of infectious diseases in small animals

During the acute phase response, there is an increased production and release of certain proteins known as acute phase proteins (APPs) which can be produced by hepatocytes and peripheral tissues such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP). These proteins have been investigated as markers of various infectious diseases in small animals and the purpose of this review is to update the current knowledge about APPs in infectious diseases in dogs and cats.

Influence of post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy on gastrointestinal transit using biomagnetic method: a pilot study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Highlights in peptide nanoparticle carriers intended to oral diseases

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

Pulmonary function in obese vs non-obese cats

Obesity is a risk factor in the development of several respiratory diseases. Lung volumes tend to be decreased, especially expiratory reserve volume, increasing expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing. Barometric whole-body plethysmography is a non-invasive pulmonary function test that allows a dynamic study of breathing patterns. The objective of this study was to compare pulmonary function variables between obese and non-obese cats through the use of barometric whole-body plethysmography. Nine normal-weight and six obese cats were placed in the plethysmograph chamber, and different respiratory variables were measured. There was a significant decrease in tidal volume per kilogram (P=0.003), minute volume per kilogram (P=0.001) and peak inspiratory and expiratory flows per kilogram (P=0.001) in obese cats compared with non-obese cats. Obesity failed to demonstrate a significant increase in bronchoconstriction index variable enhanced pause (Penh), as previously reported in humans and dogs. The results show that feline obesity impairs pulmonary function in cats, although a significant increase in bronchoconstriction indexes was not observed. Non-invasive barometric whole-body plethysmography can help characterise mechanical dysfunction of the airways in obese cats.

Septic arthritis: immunopathogenesis, experimental models and therapy

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

Comparison of the digestive efficiency of extruded diets fed to ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus)

The digestive tract of ferrets is anatomically simple, with no caecum, ileocolic valve or external differentiation between the transition of ileum and colon. The species has a short large intestine that provides minor contributions to the digestive process. Aiming to better understand the digestibility efficiency of ferrets, the present study compared the digestibility of extruded diets with different amounts of macronutrients fed to dogs, cats and ferrets. Three formulations for cat maintenance were used (values in % of DM basis): high carbohydrate (HC; nitrogen-free extract (NFE) = 54 %, protein = 31 % and fat = 8 %); moderate carbohydrate (MC; NFE = 37 %, protein = 41 % and fat = 10 %); and low carbohydrate (LC; NFE = 19 %, protein = 46 % and fat = 23 %). Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility was determined by the method of total collection of faeces. Results were compared by ANOVA, considering the diet and species effects and their interactions. Means were compared by the Tukey's test (P < 0·05). Dogs and cats presented similar food intakes, but ferrets consumed almost two times more food (g/kg body weight). Species × diet interactions were verified for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD; P < 0·05). Ferrets presented lower DM digestibility than dogs and cats for all three diets (P < 0·05), lower NFE digestibility than dogs for the three diets and lower NFE digestibility than cats for the HC and LC diets (P < 0·05). For crude protein (CP), ferrets presented lower ATTD than dogs and cats (P < 0·05), whereas for fat, dogs and ferrets presented similar ATTD, and higher values than those presented by cats (P < 0·05). Kibble diets had a lower DM, CP and NFE digestibility when fed to ferrets compared with dogs and cats. Fat digestibility was similar between dogs and ferrets and higher than that for cats.

Sugarcane fibre may prevents hairball formation in cats

Hair ingested by licking during cat grooming can eventually coalesce into solid masses in cat gastrointestinal tract. It is believed that dietary fibre might reduce formation of these trichobezoars (hairballs). The effects of two insoluble fibre sources added to kibble diets were evaluated with respect to trichobezoar faecal excretion. Thirty-two cats and four diets were used in a randomised block design: a control diet without additional fibre, 10 % added sugarcane fibre, 20 % added sugarcane fibre or 10 % added cellulose. Animals were fed for 42 d and during three separate periods (days 15-17, 25-27 and 40-42), the cats were housed individually in metabolic cages and their faeces were totally collected. The faeces were evaluated and the trichobezoars were isolated and classified into small (<1 cm), medium (1·1-2 cm) or large (>2·1 cm). Means were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA and contrasts (P < 0·05). Cats fed sugarcane fibre shown a linear reduction of small and medium trichobezoar excretion (number per cat per day; P = 0·004) as well as a reduction in trichobezoar mass excretion (mg per cat per day; P < 0·01). The control group showed increased faecal excretion of large trichobezoars (P = 0·003), which were not present in the high sugarcane fibre group (P < 0·006). No effect of cellulose was observed for any evaluated trait. Therefore, long fibres (sugarcane fibre) may cause greater peristaltic stimulation, increasing the propulsion of hair through the gut, but further research is needed to validate this mechanism. In conclusion, sugarcane fibre reduced faecal hairball elimination in cats, which may have clinical applications for the prevention of health problems related to trichobezoars.

Can low-level laser therapy when associated to exercise decrease adipocyte area?

Obesity affects approximately 20% of the world population, and exercise is the primary non-pharmacological therapy. The combined use of exercise and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may potentiate the effects promoted by exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise in combination with phototherapy on adipocyte area, activity of the enzyme citrate synthase and muscle morphological analysis. We used 64 Wistar rats, which were divided into eight groups with 8 rats each: sedentary chow-diet (SC); sedentary chow-diet plus laser therapy (SCL), exercised chow-diet (EC); exercised chow-diet plus laser therapy (ECL); sedentary high-fat diet (SH); sedentary high-fat diet plus laser therapy (SHL); exercised high-fat diet (EH); exercised high-fat diet, laser therapy (EHL). The animals were submitted to a program of swimming training for 90min/5 times per week for 8weeks and LLLT (GA-Al-AS, 830nm) at a dose of 4.7J/point and a total energy of 9.4J/animal, with duration of 47s, which was applied to both gastrocnemius muscles after exercise. We conclude that the combined use of exercise and phototherapy increases the activity of the enzyme citrate synthase and decreases the white adipocyte area epididymal, retroperitoneal and visceral in obese rats, enhancing the effects of exercise.

Tick-borne agents in domesticated and stray cats from the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil

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

Possible underestimation by sports medicine of the effects of early physical exercise practice on the prevention of diseases in adulthood

In modern society, combatting cardiovascular and metabolic diseases has been highlighted as an urgent global challenge. In recent decades, the scientific literature has identified that behavioral variables (e.g. smoking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity) are related to the development of these outcomes and, therefore, preventive actions should focus on the promotion of physical exercise practice and a healthy diet, as well as combatting the smoking habit from an early age. The promotion of physical exercise in the general population has been suggested as a relevant goal by significant health organizations around the world. On the other hand, recent literature has indicated that physical exercise performed in early life prevents the development of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension during adulthood, although this protective effect seems to be independent of the physical activity performed during adulthood. Apparently, the interaction between physical exercise and human growth in early life constitutes an issue which is not completely understood by sports medicine. The aim of the present review was therefore to discuss recent evidence on the effects of physical exercise performed during childhood and adolescence on cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in adulthood.

Uso do amido resistente na promoção da saúde intestinal de cães idosos: formação de produtos de fermentação e características histológicas da mucosa intestinal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)