Desempenho de vacas Girolando mantidas em pastejo de Tifton 85 irrigado ou sequeiro / Performance of crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows rotationally grazing in Tifton 85 pasture irrigated or rainfed

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a taxa de lotação e a produção de leite de vacas mestiças Holandês x Zebu em pastagens de Tifton 85 irrigadas e em sequeiro, em Uberaba-MG. Os dados foram analisados em um delineamento de blocos inteiramente ao acaso, com três repetições por tratamento, num esquema fatorial 2x10 (dois tratamentos e 10 épocas). Foi utilizado um lote de 11 vacas em lactação por tratamento para avaliação do desempenho animal. As médias foram comparadas por meio do teste de Scott-Knott ao nível de 5% de probabilidade (P<0,05). A pastagem foi manejada em sistema de pastejo rotacionado com três e cinco dias de ocupação e 21 e 35 dias de descanso no período das águas e da seca, respectivamente. A taxa de lotação média do sistema irrigado, no período avaliado, foi de 4,6 UA.ha-1, valor superior (P<0,05) à taxa média de 2,2 UA.ha-1 observada para o sistema de sequeiro. Não houve diferenças nas produções diárias de leite das vacas (P<0,05). A produção de leite média obtida no sistema irrigado foi de 51,7 litros. ha-1.dia-1. A irrigação possibilitou uma considerável intensificação do sistema, na medida em que proporcionou uma taxa de lotação bastante superior ao sistema de sequeiro.

The aim of this study was to determine the stocking rates and milk production of crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows managed under irrigated or rainfed Tifton 85 pastures in Uberaba- MG. The statistical design adopted was completely randomized blocks with three repetitions per treatment, in a 2 x 10 factorial arrangement (2 treatments and 10 seasons). The average was compared using the Scott-Knott test with 5% probability (P<0.05). To evaluate animal performance, 11 lactating cows per treatment were used. The pasture was managed in a rotational grazing system with 21 and 35 days of grazing interval and 3 and 5 days of grazing in each paddock, in the rainy and dry seasons respectively. The stocking rate of the irrigated system was 4.6 UA.ha-1 and was superior (p<0.05) to the stocking rate of the rainfed system that was 2.2 UA.ha-1. There were no differences among the systems (p>0.05) for the average daily milk yield of the cows. In the irrigated system the average milk yield was 51.7 liters.ha-1.dia-1. With irrigation, a considerable intensification of the system was possible because it provided a superior stocking rate capacity compared to the rainfed system.

Plasma von Willebrand factor as a predictor of survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease

Biomarkers have been identified for pulmonary arterial hypertension, but are less well defined for specific etiologies such as congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CHDPAH). We measured plasma levels of eight microvascular dysfunction markers in CHDPAH, and tested for associations with survival. A cohort of 46 inoperable CHDPAH patients (age 15.0 to 60.2 years, median 33.5 years, female:male 29:17) was prospectively followed for 0.7 to 4.0 years (median 3.6 years). Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1), P-selectin, reactive C-protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6 and -10 were measured at baseline, and at 30, 90, and 180 days in all subjects. Levels of six of the eight proteins were significantly increased in patients versus controls (13 to 106 percent increase, P < 0.003). Interleukin-10 level was 2.06 times normal (P = 0.0003; Th2 cytokine response). Increased levels of four proteins (t-PA, PAI-1, P-selectin, and interleukin-6) correlated with disease severity indices (P < 0.05). Seven patients died during follow-up. An average VWF:Ag (mean of four determinations) above the level corresponding to the 95th percentile of controls (139 U/dL) was independently associated with a high risk of death (hazard ratio = 6.56, 95 percentCI = 1.46 to 29.4, P = 0.014). Thus, in CHDPAH, microvascular dysfunction appears to involve Th2 inflammatory response. Of the biomarkers studied, plasma vWF:Ag was independently associated with survival.

Rosuvastatin and vascular dysfunction markers in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a placebo-controlled study

We investigated whether chronic rosuvastatin administration could improve the abnormalities of the circulating levels of vascular dysfunction markers in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Sixty patients, aged 13 to 60 years, with idiopathic (N = 14) or congenital heart disease-associated PAH (N = 46) were equally but randomly assigned to rosuvastatin treatment (10 mg a day, orally) or placebo for 6 months in a blind fashion. Plasma levels of P-selectin, tissue-plasminogen activator and its inhibitor as well as von Willebrand factor antigen were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay before and after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment. Baseline levels of biomarkers were elevated (68, 16, 45 and 46 percent increase relative to controls, for P-selectin, von Willebrand factor antigen, tissue-plasminogen activator and its inhibitor, respectively; P < 0.001). P-selectin values at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months were 39.9 ± 18.5, 37.6 ± 14.6, 34.8 ± 14.6, and 35.4 ± 13.9 ng/mL, respectively, for the rosuvastatin group and 45.7 ± 26.8, 48.0 ± 26.9, 48.1 ± 25.7, and 45.7 ± 25.6 ng/mL for the placebo group. The P-selectin level was lower in the rosuvastatin group compared with placebo throughout treatment (P = 0.037, general linear model). A trend was observed towards a decrease in tissue-plasminogen activator in the statin group (16 percent reduction, P = 0.094), with no significant changes in the other markers. Since P-selectin is crucial in inflammation and thrombosis, its reduction by rosuvastatin is potentially relevant in the pathophysiological scenario of PAH.

One-year follow-up of the effects of sildenafil on pulmonary arterial hypertension and veno-occlusive disease

We hypothesized that chronic oral administration of the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil could improve the exercise capacity and pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on the basis of previous short-term studies. We tested this hypothesis in 14 subjects with PAH, including seven patients with the idiopathic form and seven patients with atrial septal defects, but no other congenital heart abnormalities. Patients were subjected to a 6-min walk test and dyspnea was graded according to the Borg scale. Pulmonary flow and pressures were measured by Doppler echocardiography. Patients were given sildenafil, 75 mg orally three times a day, and followed up for 1 year. Sildenafil therapy resulted in the following changes: increase in the 6-min walk distance from a median value of 387 m (range 0 to 484 m) to 462 m (range 408 to 588 m; P < 0.01), improvement of the Borg dyspnea score from 4.0 (median value) to 3.0 (P < 0.01), and increased pulmonary flow (velocity-time integral) from a median value of 0.12 (range 0.08 to 0.25) to 0.23 (range 0.11 to 0.40; P < 0.01) with no changes in pulmonary pressures. In one patient with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease diagnosed by a lung biopsy, sildenafil had a better effect on the pulmonary wedge pressure than inhaled nitric oxide (15 and 29 mmHg, respectively, acute test). He walked 112 m at baseline and 408 m at one year. One patient died at 11 months of treatment. No other relevant events occurred. Thus, chronic administration of sildenafil improves the physical capacity of PAH patients and may be beneficial in selected cases of veno-occlusive disease.

An outbreak of human Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection

The occurence of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis among inhabitants of 10 farms within 10 Km of the hamlet of Corte de Pedra, Bahia, Brazil was studied prospectively from 1984-l989. A mean population of 1,056 inhabitants living in 146 hourses were visited every 6 months and the numberof sKin ulcers recorded. A leishmanin skin test survey was done people with suggestive skin scars or active disease in l984. The incidence of skin ulcers due to Leishmania (Viannia) brasiliensis (Vlb) reached 83/1,000 inhabitants but declined sharply in the subsequent 2 years. Retrospective data shows that leishamiasis is a sporadic endemic disease. Although the reasons for this epidemic are unclear some possible aetiological factors are discussed

Doença de Chagas aguda: vias de transmissäo aspectos clínicos e resposta a terapêutica específica em casos diagnosticados em um centro urbano / Acute Chagas' disease: transmission routes, clinical aspects and response to specific therapy in diagnosed cases in an urban center

Relata-se o quadro clínico de 27 pacientes com doença de Chagas aguda, acompanhados no ambulatório da Clínica de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias do Hospital das Clínicas da FM-USP no período de 1974 a 1987. As vias de transmissäo envolvidas foram: vetorial em 7 casos, transfusional em 9, transplante de rim e/ou transfusional em 4, acidental em 1, via oral em 3, provável alcitamento materno em 1, congênita ou aleitamento materno em 1, congênita ou transfusional em 1. Pacientes com infecçäo por via vetorial eram procedentes da Bahia e Minas Gerais, infectados por via transfusional adquiriram a doença na Grande Säo Paulo, 7 deles após 1983. O quadro clínico foi oligossintomático ou assintomático em 4 pacientes, sendo 3 deles imunodeprimidos por doença de base ou por medicamentos. Em outros 2 pacientes imunodeprimidos ocorreu miocardite grave com insuficiência cardíaca congetiva. O quadro clínico foi também mais grave em 5 de 6 crianças menores de dois anos de idade, qualquer dque fosse a via de transmissäo

Leishmania mexicana: aspectos taxonomicos y rareza de la infeccion humana en Tres Bracos, Bahia, Brasil. / Leishmania mexicana: taxonomic aspects and rarity of human infection in Tres Bracos, Bahia, Brazil

Del estudio de 51 stocks de Leishmania aislados de pacientes humanos de leishmaniasis cutaneomucosa en Tres Bracos, Bahia, Brasil, los autores describen, en detalle, el analisis de los dos unicos stocks de L. mexicana, identificando uno de ellos como L. mexicana amazonensis. El otro aislado permanece en posicion taxonomica no definida pues considerandosele como un miembro de L. mexicana, encuentranse dificultades para su identificacion subespecifica. Evaluan tambien los parametros biologicos e isoenzimaticos y discutem el papel de los anticuerpos monoclonales en la tipificacion de estos stocks. Los autores remarcan la rareza de la transmision de parasitos del complejo L. mexicana en esta region, aun cuando estudien epidemiologicamente por mais de 8 anos la infeccion humana

Attempts using cryotherapy to achieve more rapid healing in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L.braziliensis braziliensis.

O uso da crioterapia associada ao Glucantime na terapia da leishmaniose tegumentar foi estudado em 17 pacientes com um total de 23 lesoes de pele por leishmaniose, em uma area onde Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis e a especie em circulacao. A crioterapia nao influenciou a rapidez da cicatrizacao. Ela foi abandonada como metodo de terapia auxiliar em nossa pratica, embora possa ser util para especies de Leishmania causando lesoes mais superficiais e limitads no homem, sem o perigo de metastase

Resultado do tratamento da leishmaniose tegumentar com benzonidazol. / Results of the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with benzonidazole

Foi realizado um breve ensaio terapeutico com benzonidazol (Rochagan), em seis pacientes portadores de leishmaniose tegumentar com lesoes apenas cutaneas. A droga foi usada na dose diaria de 7mg/kg/dia, em duas tomadas, durante 60 dias. Dos seis pacientes, quatro permanecerem com as lesoes abertas, apesar da terapeutica, revelando apenas uma discreta melhora inicial, pelo exame histopatologico.O 2o caso teve a lesao inicial de braco esquerdo cicatrizada, mas apareceu nova lesao em outro local. Apenas um caso teve cura clinica embora a histopatologia tivesse revelado infiltrado linfocitario residual. Concluiu-se que o benzonidazol nao e eficaz no tratamento da leishmaniose

A case study of xenodiagnosis.

Estudo de um caso de xenodiagnostico em paciente com doenca de Chagas agudo. A suscetibilidade do D. maximus para a cepa de Barreiras do T. cruzi foi estudada com 100 ninfas do terceiro estagio alimentadas em uma paciente com Doenca de Chagas agudo. A taxa de infeccao nestes triatomineos foi tao alta que nao foi possivel identificar um grupo refratario para a criacao

Caracteristicas epidemiologicas da leishamaniose tegumentar americana em uma regiao endemica do Estado da Bahia, Brasil. I. Leishmaniose humana. / Epidemiological characteristics of cutaneous american leishmaniasis in an endemic region of the State of Bahia., Brazil.I.Human leishmaniasis

As principais caracteristicas que podem definir o padrao epidemiologico de leishmaniose tegumentar americana no sudeste do estado da Bahia, sao: 1) longa persistencia da endemia na comunidade, 2) transmissao ativa, indepente do sexo, em criancas, jovens e adultos que frequentam plantacoes, 3) presenca de infeccao canina, 4) falta de evidencia de transmissao intradomiciliar e 5) existencia de Leishmania dos complexos mexicana e brasiliensis