Procalcitonin in children with sepsis and septic shock

Objectives: To study the behavior of procalcitonin and to verify whether it can be used to differentiate children with septic conditions.Methods: Children were enrolled prospectively from among those aged 28 days to 14 years, admitted between January 2004 and December 2005 to the pediatric intensive care unit at Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP with sepsis or septic shock. The children were classified as belonging to one of two groups: the sepsis group (SG; n = 47) and the septic shock group (SSG; n = 43). Procalcitonin was measured at admission (TO) and again 12 hours later (T12h), and the results classed as: < 0.5 ng/mL = sepsis unlikely; >= 0.5 to < 2 = sepsis possible; >= 2 to < 10 = systemic inflammation and : 10 = septic shock.Results: At T0 there was a greater proportion of SSG patients than SG patients in the highest PCT class [SSG: 30 (69.7%) > SG: 14 (29.8%); p < 0.05]. The proportion of SSG patients in this highest PCT class was greater than in all other classes (>= 10 = 69.7%; >= 2 to < 10 = 18.6%; >= 0.5 to < 2 = 11.6%; < 0. 5 = 0.0%; p < 0.05). The behavior of procalcitonin at T12h was similar to at T0. The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) scores for the SSG patients in the highest procalcitonin class were more elevated than for children in the SG [SSG: 35.15 (40.5-28.7) vs. SG: 18.6 (21.4-10.2); p < 0.05].Conclusions: Procalcitonin allows sepsis to be differentiated from septic shock, can be of aid when diagnosing septic conditions in children and may be related to severity.

Citologia aspirativa no diagnóstico da linfadenite em ovinos

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

Post-operative analgesic effects of butorphanol or firocoxib administered to dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo compare the post-operative analgesic effects of butorphanol or firocoxib in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial.AnimalsTwenty-five dogs > 1 year of age.MethodsDogs received acepromazine intramuscularly (IM), 0.05 mg kg-1 and either butorphanol IM, 0.2 mg kg-1 (BG, n = 12) or firocoxib orally (PO), 5 mg kg-1 (FG, n = 13), approximately 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia with propofol. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. Ovariohysterectomy was performed by the same surgeon. Pain scores using the dynamic and interactive visual analog scale (DIVAS) were performed before and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 20 hours after the end of surgery by one observer, blinded to the treatment. Rescue analgesia was provided with morphine (0.5 mg kg-1) IM and firocoxib, 5 mg kg-1 (BG only) PO if DIVAS > 50. Groups were compared using paired t-tests and Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05). Data are presented as mean +/- SD.ResultsThe BG required significantly less propofol (BG: 2.6 +/- 0.59 mg kg-1; FG: 5.39 +/- 0.7 mg kg-1) (p < 0.05) but the anesthesia time was longer (BG: 14 +/- 6, FG: 10 +/- 4 minutes). There were no differences for body weight (BG: 7.9 +/- 5.0, FG: 11.5 +/- 4.6 kg), sedation scores, and surgery and extubation times (BG: 10 +/- 2, 8 +/- 5 minutes; FG: 9 +/- 3, 8 +/- 4 minutes, respectively) (p > 0.05). The FG had significantly lower pain scores than the BG at 1, 2 and 3 hours following surgery (p < 0.05). Rescue analgesia was administered to 11/12 (92%) and 2/13 (15%) dogs in the BG and FG, respectively (p < 0.05).Conclusion and clinical relevanceFirocoxib produced better post-operative analgesia than butorphanol. Firocoxib may be used as part of a multimodal analgesia protocol but may not be effective as a sole analgesic.

Lavagem traqueobrônquica por sondagem nasotraqueal em bezerros

Avaliou-se a técnica de lavagem traqueobrônquica por sondagem nasotraqueal e caracterizou-se a população celular em 10 bezerros clinicamente sadios. Após a contenção dos animais em decúbito lateral e auxílio de sonda guia, foi introduzida uma sonda de menor diâmetro até a bifurcação da traquéia, para produzir tosse e obter o lavado traqueobrônquico. A média de células totais nas amostras de lavado foi de 133.750 células/ml. À citologia, foram observados na contagem diferencial: 77,2% macrófagos, 14,9% células epiteliais cilíndricas, 6,0% neutrófilos e 1,8% linfócitos. Das células epiteliais cilíndricas, 79,0% eram do tipo ciliadas e 21,0% não-ciliadas. A média de contagem de macrófagos binucleados foi de 78,5 células/lâmina, a de macrófagos trinucleados de 20,5/lâmina e a de células gigantes 28,5/lâmina. Concluiu-se que o método de colheita por sondagem nasotraqueal é eficiente para caracterizar a citologia do lavado traqueobrônquico de bezerros clinicamente sadios.

Genetic group x ambient temperature interaction effects on physiological responses and growth performance of rabbits

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

Haematological response and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed diets containing folic acid

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

Effect of organic mineral supplementation on the egg quality of semi-heavy layers in their second cycle of lay

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary trace mineral levels and sources on egg quality parameters of second-cycle semi-heavy layers. A number of 360 72-week-old layers were submitted to forced molting. Upon return of lay (83 weeks of age), birds were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design of six treatments with six replicates of 10 birds each. The control treatment consisted of 0.10% dietary supplementation of trace minerals from inorganic sources, which was proportionally replaced by five levels (110, 100, 90, 80, 70%) of an organic trace mineral supplement containing 30, 30, 40, 6, 0.61, and 0.3 g/kg product of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, I, and Se, respectively. All diets contained equal protein, energy, and amino acid levels. Every 28 days of the experimental period (112 days) four eggs per replicate were collected for egg quality evaluation. The following parameters were evaluated: specific gravity, yolk, albumen and eggshell percentages, yolk index, Haugh units, and eggshell thickness and breaking strength. One sample per replicate, consisting of the pool of the yolks of three eggs collected at the end of each experimental period, was used to assess protein and mineral (Ca, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) contents. The results were submitted to ANOVA, and means to the test of Tukey at 5% significance level. The evaluated trace mineral levels and sources did not influence any of the studied egg quality parameters. It was concluded that reducing organic trace mineral supplementation in up to 70% relative to 100% inorganic trace mineral supplementation does not affect egg parameters and therefore, can be applied to the diet of semi-heavy layers in their second cycle of lay.

Relação treonina: lisina para leitões de 6 a 11kg de peso vivo em rações formuladas com base no conceito de proteína ideal

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

Structural analysis of the embryonic development in Brycon cephalus (Gunther, 1869)

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

The efficacy of a single chain recombinant equine luteinizing hormone (reLH) in mares: Induction of ovulation, hormone profiles, and inter-ovulatory intervals

The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of recombinant equine luteinizing hormone (reLH) in shortening the time to ovulation in cycling mares and to determine the effects of treatment on endogenous hormones and inter-ovulatory intervals. In study 1, mares of light horse breeds (3-20 years) were treated with either a vehicle, various doses of reLH, or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Cycling mares were examined by palpation and ultrasound per rectum daily or every 12 h from the time of treatment to ovulation. In studies 2 and 3, jugular blood samples were collected daily or every 12 h from the time of treatment to ovulation for analysis of LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol-17 beta (E-2), and progesterone (P-4) by radioimmunoassays (RIA). Increasing doses of reLH (0.3, 0.6, 0.75, and 0.9 mg) showed increasing effectiveness at inducing ovulation within 48 h of treatment. Treatments with the 0.75 and 0.9 mg doses of reLH resulted in 90% and 80% ovulation rates, which were similar to hCG treatment (85.7%). Except for the early rise in LH after treatment with 0.5, 0.65, and 1.0 mg of reLH, hormone profiles appeared to be similar between control and treated cycles. Inter-ovulatory intervals were similar between control and treatment cycles. In conclusion, reLH is a reliable and effective ovulatory agent that does not significantly alter endogenous hormone profiles or affect inter-ovulatory intervals.(c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ovulation rate and its relationship with follicle diameter and gene expression of the LH receptor (LHR) in Nelore cows

The objective was to determine the relationship among the diameter of ovarian follicles, ovulation rate, and gene expression of the LH receptor (LHR) in Nelore cattle. In Experiment 1, ovulation was synchronized in 53 Nelore cows. Three days after ovulation, ovaries were assessed with ultrasonography, all cows were given 6.25 mg LH im, and they were allocated into three groups, according to diameter of their largest ovarian follicle: G1 (7.0-8.0 mm); G2 (8.1-9.0 mm); and G3 (9.1-10.0 mm). For these three groups, ovulation rates were 9, 36, and 90%, respectively, (P < 0.03; each rate differed significantly from the other two). In Experiment 2, granulosa and theca cells were subjected to total RNA extraction, and gene expression of the LHR was determined by RT-PCR. Follicles were allocated in three groups based on their diameter (similar to the Experiment 1), which were denoted Groups A, B, and C. Expression of the LHR gene in granulosa cells was lower in Group A than Group C (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among groups in expression of the LHR gene in theca cells. We concluded that ovulatory capacity in Nelore cattle was related to increased follicular diameter and expression of the LHR gene in granulosa cells. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improvement of embryo production by the replacement of the last two doses of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone with equine chorionic gonadotropin in Sindhi donors

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

Post-thaw viability of in vivo-produced canine blastocysts cryopreserved by slow freezing

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Improvement in embryo recovery using double uterine flushing

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of double uterine flushing on the recovery of embryos/ova in cattle. Two hundred and ten embryo recovery procedures were conducted using a double uterine flushing method, and the results were compared with 432 conventional single-flushing procedures. Cyclic Limousin (n = 403) and Guzera (n = 239) donor cows received an intravaginal progesterone releasing device and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate on Day 0. Between Days 5 and 9, donors received decreasing doses of FSH, which ranged from 200 to 300 IU (Bos indicus) and 300 to 500 IU (Bos taut-us). on the afternoon of Day 7, donors received an injection of 500 mu g cloprostenol and progesterone implants were removed 12 It later (morning of Day 8). Artificial insemination was performed between 14 and 26 h after first detection of behavioral estrus. Cows were randomly assigned to have embryos recovered by a double-flushing method (n = 210) or the conventional single-flushing procedure (n = 432). For the double-flushing procedure, after first flushing the whole uterus with 1 L of Dubelco's Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS), a Foley catheter was positioned in the uterine body to permit refilling of the uterus with fresh DPBS (80-150 mL). The catheter was closed with the plunger of a disposable 5 mL syringe, and the donors were allowed to rest in a holding area for 30 min. Thereafter, a second flush was performed to recover the solution remaining in the uterus. Animals from the control group were subjected to a single uterine flush. From 2 10 double-flushing procedures, 1409 viable embryos were recovered. In comparison, from 432 cows receiving the single-flushing procedure, 1993 embryos were recovered. Double flushing increased (P < 0.05) the number of embryos recovered per procedure compared to single flushing (6.7 +/- 0.4 versus 4.6 +/- 0.2, respectively; mean +/- S.E.M.). When double flushing was performed, average recovered embryos/ova increased (P < 0.05) from 8.3 +/- 0.4 to 12.7 +/- 0.7 in Limousin and from 7.9 to 11.5 in Guzera. Also, utilization of double flushing increased (P < 0.05) the number of viable embryos from 4.7 +/- 0.3 to 6.9 +/- 0.5 in Limousin and from 4.5 +/- 0.4 to 6.4 +/- 0.7 in Guzera. Mean total embryos/ova was similar (P > 0.05) between the control group and after the first uterine flushing in the double-flushing group; therefore, both flushings were conducted efficiently. In conclusion, double uterine flushing increased embryo recovery in cattle. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonographic and endocrine aspects of follicle deviation, and acquisition of ovulatory capacity in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers

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