Effects of temperature on lung and blood gases in the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus

The effects of temperature on lung and blood gases were measured in the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus). Arterial blood and lung gas samples were obtained from chronically cannulated animals at 15, 25, and 35 degrees C. As expected for reptiles, arterial pH fell with increased temperature (0.018 U degrees C-1 between 15 and 25 degrees C and 0.011 U degrees C-1 between 25 and 35 degrees C) while lung gas PCO2 rose from 5.8 mmHg at 15 degrees C to 13.2 mmHg at 35 degrees C. Concurrently, lung gas PO2 declined from 132 mmHg at 15 degrees C to 120 mmHg at 35 degrees C, and arterial PO2 increased from 33 to 76 mmHg in that temperature range. Arterial haemoglobin O-2 saturation rose from 0.53 at 15 degrees C to 0.83 at 25 degrees C but became slightly reduced (0.77) with a further elevation of temperature to 35 degrees C. Arterial haemoglobin concentration increased from 1.96 to 2.53 mM between 15 and 35 degrees C, consistent with higher demands on oxygen delivery to tissues at elevated temperatures. Moreover, the substantial increase of haemoglobin O-2 saturation between 15 and 25 degrees C conforms to the idea that reduction of the central vascular right-to-left shunt (pulmonary bypass of systemic venous return) is associated with high metabolic demands. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sugar cane soot by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Fly soot samples collected in the sugar cane fields after the process of burning were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus (methylene chloride:methanol 4:1). The extracts were fractionated on silica gel Sep-Pak cartridges into three fractions. A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric study of the fly soot extracts allowed the identification of the PAH with mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Large amounts of aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acid esters and some PAHs were identified by GCMS in full scan mode. GC-MS in the selective ion monitoring mode (SIM) was suitable for the determination of many PAHs, which are often present in the burnt biomass. 31 PAHs and 7 thiophens derivatives were identified. The presence of these compounds should be regarded as a caution to workers and the general population to avoid exposure to the fly soot.

The carpal pad as an alternative sampling site for blood glucose testing in dogs

To investigate the feasibility and validity of sampling blood from the carpal pad in hospitalised healthy and diabetic dogs. METHODS The carpal pad was compared to the ear as a sampling site in 60 dogs (30 healthy and 30 diabetic dogs). RESULTS Lancing the pads was very well tolerated. The average glucose concentrations in blood samples obtained from the ears and carpal pads exhibited a strong positive correlation (r = 0.938) and there were no significant differences between them (P = 0.914). In addition, 98.3% of the values obtained were clinically acceptable when assessed by the error grid analysis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The carpal pad is a good alternative sampling site for home monitoring, especially in animals with a soft and/or light-coloured pad.

Effects of storage time on incubating egg gas pressure, thyroid hormones, and corticosterone levels in embryos and on their hatching parameters

Incubating eggs (1,800 total) produced by a commercial flock of Cobb broiler breeders were used to determine the effects of storage duration (3 and 18 d) on gas partial pressure, thyroid hormones, and hatching parameters. Partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and carbon dioxide (pCO2) were measured on d 18 and at internal pipping (IP) during incubation. Blood samples were collected for determination of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and corticosterone concentrations in the embryos at IP and in newly hatched chicks. From 464 to 510 h of incubation, eggs were checked individually every 2 h to determine the timing and duration of IP, external pipping (EP), and total hatching time. At 18 d of incubation and at IP, pCO2 was greater in air cell of eggs stored for 3 d compared to those stored for 18 d (P < 0.05), but pO2 was greater in eggs stored for 18 d. At IP, T3 and corticosterone levels were higher in plasma of the embryos of eggs stored for 3 d compared to those stored for 18 d, but it was the reverse in newly hatched chicks (P < 0.05). Embryos from eggs stored for 18 d required more time to complete IP compared to embryos of eggs stored for only 3 d (P < 0.05), whereas the duration of EP was not affected by storage. The overall longer incubation was, however, not only due to prolonged IP but also to later occurrence of IP. It was concluded that prolonged IP as a result of long storage may be related to the late increase in corticosterone level, which may be a necessary stimulus for higher T 3/T4 ratio, late increase in pCO2 level, and decrease in pO2. The effect of long storage was a delay in hatching and a continuous increase in T3 due to higher corticosterone levels between IP and hatching, which may be an indication of the more stressful event of hatching of embryos from eggs stored longer. Differences in pCO2, pO2, T3, T4, and corticosterone levels in the incubating eggs may be manifestations of these changes culminating in altered hatching parameters and consequently differences in chick quality and growth potentials.

Spectrophotometric flow-injection determination of sulphite in white wines involving gas diffusion through a concentric tubular membrane

A flow-injection system is proposed for the spectrophotometric determination of sulphite in white wines. The method involves analyte conversion to SO2, gas diffusion through a Teflon® semi-permeable membrane, collection into an alkaline stream (pH 8), reaction with Malachite green (MG) and monitoring at 620 nm. With a concentric tubular membrane, the system design was simplified. Influence of reagent concentrations, pH of donor and acceptor streams, temperature, timing, surfactant addition and presence of potential interfering species of the wine matrix were investigated. A pronounced (ca. 100%) enhancement in sensitivity was noted by adding cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). The proposed system is robust and baseline drift is not observed during 4 h operating periods. Only 400 μL of sample and 0.32 mg MG are required per determination. The system handles 30 samples per hour, yielding precise results (r.s.d. < 0.015 for 1.0 - 20.0 mg L-1 SO2) in agreement with those obtained by an alternative procedure.

Determination of acetonitrile and cyanide in rat blood: Application to an experimental study

Methods were developed for the analysis of acetonitrile and its metabolite cyanide in the blood of rats exposed to acetonitrile. Acetonitrile was analyzed by the headspace technique coupled to gas chromatography with detection by flame ionization, and cyanide was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (λ ex = 418 nm and λ em = 460 nm) after derivatization of the ion with naphthalene 2,3-dicarboxyaldehyde and taurine. The quantitation limits of the methods for the analysis of acetonitrile and cyanide were 4.875 μg/mL and 0.025 μg/mL, respectively. The coefficients of variation of 10% or less obtained for intra- and interassay precision indicate the precision of these analytical methods and the systematic errors, all less than 5%, indicate that the methods are quite accurate. The methods were applied to an experimental study after the animals received acetonitrile at the doses of 2 mmol/kg or 5 mmol/kg.

End-to-end validation of EPS / MetOp GOME-2 trace gas data

Within the next decade, the improved version 2 of Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME-2), a ultraviolet-visible spectrometer dedicated to the observation of key atmospheric trace species from space, will be launched successively on board three EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) MetOp satellites. Starting with the launch of MetOp-1 scheduled for summer 2006, the GOME-2 series will extend till 2020 the global monitoring of atmospheric composition pioneered with ERS-2 GOME-1 since 1995 and enhanced with Envisat SCIAMACHY since 2002 and EOS-Aura OMI since 2004. For more than a decade, an international pool of scientific teams active in ground-and space-based ultraviolet-visible remote sensing have contributed to the successful post-launch validation of trace gas data products and the associated maturation of retrieval algorithms for the latter satellites, ensuring that geophysical data products are/become reliable and accurate enough for intended research and applications. Building on this experience, this consortium plans now to develop and carry out appropriate validation of a list of GOME-2 trace gas column data of both tropospheric and stratospheric relevance: nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), ozone (O 3), bromine monoxide (BrO), chlorine dioxide (OClO), formaldehyde (HCHO), and sulphur dioxide (SO 2). The proposed investigation will combine four complementary approaches resulting in an end-to-end validation of expected column data products.

Changes in blood parameters of hybrid tambacu fish parasitized by Dolops carvalhoi (Crustacea, Branchiura), a fish louse

Measurement of blood parameters has been used for many years as a tool for monitoring the health offish. The present study investigated the effects of a natural infestation of Dolops carvalhoi Lemos de Castro, 1949, on red blood cells, thrombocytes and white blood cell counts, as well as plasma glucose and serum electrolyte levels in hybrid tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus × Colossoma macropomum). Parasitized fish showed low haematocrit and magnesium levels and increases in MCHC, plasma glucose levels, serum protein, sodium and chloride levels, number of monocytes and PAS-positive granular leukocytes (PAS-GL), when compared with values in control fish. This study is the first to report changes in fish physiology caused by D. carvalhoi infestation, and the results obtained indicate that a mild infection can lead to important osmoregulatory disturbances in hosts.

Evaluation of blood compatibility of plasma deposited heparin-like films and SF6 plasma treated surfaces

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anestesia para colecistectomía videolaparoscópica en paciente portador de enfermedad de Steinert. Relato de caso y revisiõn de la literatura

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myotonic dystrophies are autosomal dominant neuromuscular diseases. Among them, myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1), or Steinert disease, is the most common in adults, and besides muscular involvement it also has important systemic manifestations. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 poses a challenge to the anesthesiologist. Those patients are more sensitive to anesthetics and prone to cardiac and pulmonary complications. Besides, the possibility of developing malignant hyperthermia and myotonic episodes is also present. CASE REPORT: This is a 39-year old patient with DM1 who underwent general anesthesia for videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy. Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium was the technique chosen. Intercurrences were not observed in the 90-minute surgical procedure, but after extubation, the patient developed respiratory failure and myotonia, which made tracheal intubation impossible. A laryngeal mask was used, allowing adequate oxygenation, and mechanical ventilation was maintained until full recovery of the respiratory function. The patient did not develop further complications. CONCLUSIONS: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 presents several particularities to the anesthesiologist. Detailed knowledge of its systemic involvement along with the differentiated action of anesthetic drugs in those patients will provide safer anesthetic-surgical procedure.

Advances in sickle cell disease treatment: From drug discovery until the patient monitoring

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is one of the most prevalent hematological diseases in the world. Despite the immense progress in molecular knowledge about SCD in last years few therapeutical sources are currently available. Nowadays the treatment is performed mainly with drugs such as hydroxyurea or other fetal hemoglobin inducers and chelating agents. This review summarizes current knowledge about the treatment and the advancements in drug design in order to discover more effective and safe drugs. Patient monitoring methods in SCD are also discussed. © 2011 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Aerosols monitoring in Rio Claro, Brazil: Using lidar and air pollution analyzers

Brazil has an important role in the biomass burning aerosol activity. During the Dry Season (June-September) of 2009 an aerosol profiling campaign was carried out using a backscattering and Raman lidar system in Rio Claro-SP, Brazil (22°23'S and 47°32'W). The main goal of this campaign was to observe the biomass burning aerosol load due to sugarcane crops and also study the air dispersion conditions, planetary boundary and mixed layer daily evolution. In this paper we aim to present the preliminary results of the influence of this type of aerosol over the city of Rio Claro-SP, Brazil and one case study to evaluate the aerosol profile in a biomass burning episode that occurred in July, 2009. On July 15 an intense burning was observed about 300 m away from the lidar location. Throughout the measurements it was observed that the plumes reached up to 900 m, and that there was a time gap between the plumes. The gas analyzers showed a strong influence of this burning as it was noticed in the measurements of CO, NO x and nephelometer, whereas the PM10 did not have due to this burning, possibly because the particulate was deposited further from the emission source, not being detected by the equipment. © Sociedad Española de Óptica.

Mau Funcionamento do Sistema de Circulação Extracorpórea: Relato de Caso

Background and objectives: The introduction of extracorporeal circulation in clinical practice was decisive for the development of modern cardiovascular surgery. Addition of new procedures and equipment, however, brings inherent risks and complications. The objective of this report is to describe a malfunction of the oxygenation system and emphasize the importance of the interaction among the medical team members to prevent errors and complications. Case Report: During valve replacement and IVC correction surgery, we observed a darker shade of red in the blood on the exit of the oxygenator. Laboratory tests demonstrated severe acidosis and hypoxemia. The entire system was evaluated, but the cause of the malfunction was not found. Measures to reduce damage were successfully instituted. After the surgery, the whole system underwent technical evaluation. Conclusions: Interaction among the medical team members, early diagnosis, and immediate intervention were fundamental for a favorable outcome. © 2011 Elsevier Editora Ltda.