Biopsia hepática em cães: relação entre qualidade da amostra e grau de conclusão do diagnóstico

O presente estudo objetivou analisar a qualidade do diagnóstico de biopsias colhidas com agulhas tipo aspirativa e cortante, comparando-as ao exame histológico post-mortem do fígado de cães portadores de afecções hepáticas. Foram utilizados 60 cães, sem distinção de sexo, raça ou idade. As biopsias foram procedidas com agulhas tipo MenghiniÒ (de natureza aspirativa) e agulhas tipo Tru-CutÒ (de natureza cortante). As biopsias foram colhidas utilizando-se a técnica percutânea transabdominal. O diagnóstico referente à agulha tipo Tru-CutÒ não diferiu do diagnóstico referente à agulha tipo MenghiniÒ. O referente à agulha tipo Tru-CutÒ foi o que apresentou maior índice de concordância, 88,3% de acertos. A agulha tipo Tru-CutÒ apresentou excelentes resultados independente da natureza das lesões, enquanto que a agulha tipo MenghiniÒ falhou nos casos de fibrose.

Guided bone regeneration with subperiosteal implants of PTFE and hydroxyapatite physical barriers in rats

A regeneração periodontal e do rebordo ósseo utilizando barreiras físicas são procedimentos bem estabelecidos em cirurgias reconstrutivas. As características do biomaterial e o desenho da membrana empregados na regeneração tecidual guiada desempenham um papel importante na obtenção de bons resultados. O objetivo deste estudo experimental histológico foi comparar o uso de dois tipos de barreiras físicas na regeneração óssea guiada em defeitos criados na tíbia de ratos. Quinze animais foram divididos em três grupos: grupo I (barreira não-porosa de politetrafluoretileno), grupo II (blocos de hidroxiapatita de coral) e grupo III (controle que não recebeu nenhuma barreira). A análise histológica demonstrou várias quantidades de osso neoformado com ambos os tipos de barreiras. A barreira de politetrafluoretileno mostrou melhores resultados do que a hidroxiapatita. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que a regeneração óssea pode ser conseguida com a técnica de submersão da barreira física.

Follicular dynamics and production of oocytes in young Nellore heifers with energetic supplementation

To verify the effects of energy supplementation and fat on follicular dynamics, metabolic profile and the production of oocytes, 15 young heifers (Bos taurus indicus) with an average age of 14 months and with an initial weight of 256.35 kg were assigned to two treatments according to weight and follicular population as evaluated by ultrasonography: in T1 (1.0 × M), animals received 100% of the energy requirements for maintenance; in T2 (1.7 × M), animals received 170% of the energy requirements for maintenance, achieved by the addition of 200 g of Megalac®. After a period of adaptation to the diet, the treatments, blood collection and follicular aspirations were started using a randomized design. The dry matter intake and weight gain were lower in the 1.0 × M group than in the 1.7 × M group. No differences were found in the plasma progesterone concentrations, albumin, glucose, urea or gonadotropin (FSH and LH) levels between the groups. The mean concentrations of cholesterol were higher in the 1.7 × M group. The total number of small (<4 mm) and medium follicles (4-8 mm) was not altered by the treatments, but the number of small follicles increased on days 1 and 2 of the estrous cycle, with higher values found in the 1.7 × M group. The average of the oocytes also increased (9.50±2.1 and 12.5±4.4 for the 1.0 × M and 1.7 × M groups, respectively). The rapid increase in the amount of energy offered in the diet changes the amount of follicles and oocytes available for follicular aspiration (OPU) in young heifers without changing their metabolic profile.

SYNTHESIS OF ULTRA-FINE CRYSTALLINE ZRXTI1-XO4 POWDER BY POLYMERIC PRECURSOR METHOD

Reactive ZrxTi1-xO4 (x=0.65, 0.50 and 0.35) powder was prepared by the polymeric precursor method. Studies by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) showed that powders with high crystallinity (>90%) and high surface areas (>40 m(2)/g) are obtained after calcination at 700 degrees C for 3 h. Infrared spectroscopy and XRD results showed that these titanates nucleate from the amorphous phase with no intermediate phases, at low temperature (450 degrees C).

Reduction in size of the ovulatory follicle reduces subsequent luteal size and pregnancy rate

We hypothesized that reducing the size of the ovulatory follicle using aspiration and GnRH would reduce the size of the resulting CL, reduce circulating progesterone concentrations, and alter conception rates. Lactating dairy cows (n=52) had synchronized ovulation and AI by treating with GnRH and PGF(2 alpha) as follows: Day -9, GnRH (100 mug); Day -2, PGF(2 alpha) (25 mg); Day 0, GnRH (100 mug); Day 1, AI. Treated cows (aspirated group; n=29) had all follicles > 4 mm in diameter aspirated on Days -5 or -6 in order to start a new follicular wave. Control cows (nonaspirated group; n=23) had no follicle aspiration. The size of follicles and CL were monitored by ultrasonography. The synchronized ovulation rate (ovulation rate to second GnRH injection; 42/52=80.8%) and double ovulation rate of synchronized cows (6/42=14.3%) did not differ (P > 0.05) between groups. Aspiration reduced the size of the ovulatory follicle (P < 0.0001; 11.5 +/- 0.2 vs 14.5 +/- 0.4 mm), and serum estradiol concentrations at second GnRH treatment (P < 0.0002; 2.5 +/- 0.4 vs 5.7 +/- 0.6 pg/mL). The volume of CL was less (P < 0.05) for aspirated than nonaspirated cows on Day 7 (2,862 +/- 228 vs 5,363 +/- 342 mm(3)) or Day 14 (4,652 +/- 283 vs 6,526 +/- 373 mm(3)). Similarly, serum progesterone concentrations were less on Day 7 (P < 0.05) and Day 14 (P < 0.10) for aspirated cows. Pregnancy rate per AI for synchronized cows was lower (P < 0.05) for aspirated (3/21=14.3%) than nonaspirated (10/21=47.6%) cows. In conclusion, ovulation of smaller follicles produced lowered fertility possibly because development of smaller CL decreased circulating progesterone concentrations. (C) 2001 by Elsevier B.V.

Isolation and sequence determination of peptides in the venom of the spider wasp (Cyphononyx dorsalis) guided by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry

Micro-scale (sub-pmol) isolation and sequence determination of three peptides from the venom of the solitary spider wasp Cyphononyx dorsalis is described. We isolated two novel peptides Cd-125 and Cd-146 and a known peptide Thr(6)-bradykinin from only two venom sacs of solitary spider wasp Cyphononyx dorsalis without bioassay-guided fractionation. but instead guided by MALDI-TOF MS. The MALDI-TOF MS analysis of each fraction showed the purity and molecular weight of the components, which led to the isolation of the peptides virtually without loss of sample amount. The sequences of the novel peptides Cd-125 (Asp-Thr-Ala-Arg-Leu-Lys-Trp-His) and Cd-146 (Ser-Glu-Thr-Gly-Asn-Thr-Val-Thr-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Leu-Arg) were determined by Edman degradation together with mass spectrometry. and finally corroborated by solid-phase synthesis. The known peptide Thr(6)-bradykinin (Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Thr-Pro-Phe-Arg) was identified by comparison with the synthetic authentic specimen. This is the first example for any kinins to be found in Pompilidae wasp venoms. The procedure reported here can be applicable to studies on many other components of solitary wasp venoms with limited sample availability. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eu3+ as a spectroscopic probe in phosphors based on spherical fine particle gadolinium compounds

This work reports on the luminescence spectroscopy sensitivity in the determination of the phase purity in gadolinium compounds using Eu3+ as a probe. Cubic Gd2O3 and hexagonal Gd2O2S doped with Eu3+ spherical fine particles were obtained from doped gadolinium basic carbonates with morphological control and were also characterized by IR and XRD. Doped samples present Eu3+ characteristic transitions, with specific energy positions related to each phase. Emission and excitation spectra patterns were established for oxide and oxysulfide compounds, then oxysulfate and oxide impurities generated during oxysulfide preparation were monitored. From emission spectra some experimental intensity parameters were also calculated. All spectroscopic results reflect the presence or not of impurities in all compounds. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of EU3+ ion doping concentration in Gd2O3 fine spherical particles

This work reports on the preparation of Gd2O3, cubic system, with spherical particles, narrow size distribution, whether or not doped with 1-5 at.% of Eu3+ and the influence of Eu3+ concentration on optical and morphological properties. Average diameter and size distribution particle analyses were performed for all samples from SEM results. Doped samples were also investigated by luminescence spectroscopy and emission kinetic measurements. All oxide samples present a particle average diameter distribution range from 110 to 150 nm and a decrease of particle average diameter with the presence of Eu3+. The particle size decrease is almost the same for all samples with different doping ion concentration. Therefore, the presence of doping ion may be inhibiting particle growth after the nucleation process. From spectroscopic studies, the doping ion distribution in the surface of oxide samples can be considered homogeneous because concentration quenching is not observed, as well as a significant difference among the calculated lifetime for each sample. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermography and ultrasonography in back pain diagnosis of equine athletes

The object of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of thermography and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar lesions in Quarter Horse athletes and associate the different types of lesions found with the athletic modality practiced. Twenty-four horses were admitted to the Surgery Service for Large Animals of the Veterinary and Animal Science Faculty, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil, with complaints of back problems. All the horses were submitted for physical examinations to confirm the existence of thoracolumbar alterations and then for thermography and ultrasonography Thermography was used to map the lesioned areas of this region and ultrasonography for lesion characterization. The lesions found were supraspinous desmitis, interspinous desmitis, dorsal intervertebral osteoarthritis, and impingement of the spinous processes or kissing spines. The existence of a relation between the type of event practiced by the horse and the type of lesion found was determined. In horses that competed in the barrel race, a predominance of lesions in the thoracic caudal, thoracolumbar, and cranial lumbar regions occurred, with intervertebral osteoarthritis and interspinous desmitis being the most common. In cutting horses, most of the lesions were observed in the caudal lumbar region, whereas horses competing in reining showed a preferential location for lesions in the middle lumbar, with a predominance of supraspinous desmitis and myositis. Thermography associated with ultrasonography was shown to be efficient in the diagnosis of the thoracolumbar lesions of these horses.

New attachment achieved by guided tissue regeneration using a bioresorbable polylactic acid membrane in dogs

Created periodontal defects in dogs were randomly assigned for experimental (Guidor bioresorbable membranes) or control (conventional therapy) treatment the results showed that the new connective issue attachment was significantly greater in test sites than in controls. This new attachment averaged 2.79 +/- 0.74 mm and 1.47 +/- 0.20 mm at test and control sites, respectively (P < 0.05). Epithelial downgrowth was also reduced in the test sites (P < 0.05). No differences in bone response were found. The bioresorbable barrier was effective in blocking gingival epithelial downgrowth and connective tissue proliferation, promoting new attachment according to the principles of guided tissue regeneration.