Morfologia do coração e dos vasos da base do pinguim-de-magalhães (Spheniscus magellanicus) / Morphology of heart and vessels of the cardiac base in Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

O pinguim-de-magalhães é uma ave marinha de porte médio, de origem do hemisfério sul, com grandes colônias próximas à Patagônia. Em certas épocas do ano, alguns exemplares aparecem no litoral brasileiro, devido ao desvio de rotas de caça, e alguns indivíduos não conseguem retornar por debilidades na saúde. Foram utilizados 34 exemplares de Spheniscus magellanicus que vieram a óbito no litoral do estado de Espírito Santo. O presente estudo analisou a morfologia de câmaras e paredes cardíacas, valvas e artérias da base. Os fragmentos dessas regiões foram analisados histologicamente com coloração hematoxilina-eosina (HE) e Tricrômico de Gomori (TG), além da coloração Picrosirius Red (PSR) sob luz polarizada, visando observar, principalmente, a composição do tipo de colágeno existente em cada região descrita. Entre os 34 exemplares, nenhum apresentou discrepância em relação a sua morfologia. A tipificação do colágeno dessas regiões pelas colorações TG e PSR sob luz polarizada demonstrou a presença do colágeno tipo I em maior evidência que o tipo III, encontrada na maioria das estruturas, o que atribuiu a aparência avermelhada intensa a quase todas elas. Pode-se concluir que a anatomia cardíaca do pinguim-de-magalhães é semelhante à de outras aves, com predominância do colágeno do tipo I.(AU)

Magellanic penguin is medium-sized seabird originated from southern hemisphere with colonies near Patagonia. At certain times of the year in Brazilian coast, a few penguins lose their hunting routes and can´t return because they are very sick. Thirty-four penguins died in Espírito Santo´s coast. This study analyzed the cardiac morphology and morph metric of heart chambers and walls, valves, and arteries of the cardiac base. These parts were analysed and stained by Hematoxilin and eosin and Gomori´s trichrome. Mainly targeting the collagen´s composition in each described part the Picru-sirius Red´s stain under polarized light was used. Among thirty-four penguin hearts, none presented discrepancy in morphology, they were all very similar. The characterization of collagen by Picrusirius Red stain highlighted type 1 collagen in comparison to type 3 collagen in most structures, giving a more reddish appearance in almost of them. In conclusion, the cardiac anatomy of the Magellanic Penguin is similar to that of other birds, with a predominance of type I collagen.(AU)

Variation of age and total length in Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénéden, 1864) (Cetacea, Delphinidae), on the coast of Espírito Santo state, Brazil / Variação etária e de comprimento total de Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénéden, 1864) (Cetacea, Delphinidae), no Litoral do Espírito Santo, Brasil

Abstract Variations of age and total length of Sotalia guianensis from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were evaluated. Specimens were found stranded. Age and total length of 44 Guiana dolphins were assessed based on tooth analysis. Age varied between 0.5 year and 33 years (mean = 8.23 years). Most specimens were between zero and 6 years old (47%). Total length varied from 119 cm to 198 cm, with mean of 172.52 cm. Asymptotic length was reached at 185 cm and approximately 5-6 years of age. Mean total length and age were higher than in other regions of the distribution range of the species. Nevertheless, more studies have to be carried out to evaluate the morphological variations in S. guianensis populations in the study area and Brazil.

Resumo Foram avaliadas variações de comprimento total e etárias de Sotalia guianensis provenientes do estado do Espírito Santo. Os espécimes foram encontrados encalhados. Idade e comprimento total de 44 S. guianensis foram avaliados com base na análise dentária. A idade variou entre 0,5 e 33 anos (média = 8,23 anos). A maioria dos exemplares tinha entre zero e seis anos de idade (47%). O comprimento total variou de 119 a 198 centímetros, com média de 172,52 centímetros. O comprimento assintótico foi atingido com 185 cm, aproximadamente entre 5-6 anos de idade. O comprimento total médio e a idade foram maiores que outras regiões de distribuição da espécie. No entanto, mais estudos devem ser realizados para avaliar as variações morfológicas em populações de S. guianensis na região e no Brasil.

Crescimento e desenvolvimento de boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) do litoral do Espírito Santo / Growth and development of estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) from Espírito Santo coast

Estudou-se o desenvolvimento do boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) do litoral do Espírito Santo e verificou-se se a análise das radiografias da aleta peitoral pode ser utilizada para tal. Trinta e sete botos passaram pela determinação do comprimento total (CT), análise do grau de fusionamento das vértebras e radiografia das aletas peitorais. O CT ao nascimento foi de 103,3cm e o de animais maduros fisicamente 187,5cm. Observou-se correlação entre o CT, as epífises distais do rádio e da ulna e correlação entre o grau de fusionamento vertebral e a epífise distal do rádio. Concluiu-se que a análise radiográfica das aletas peitorais é uma boa maneira de avaliar o grau de maturação física do boto.

The aim of this study is to analyze the development of the estuarine dolphin from the coast of Espírito Santo and verify that the analysis of X-rays of pectoral fin can be used for such. Thirty-seven Sotalia guianensis were used, determining the TL, examination of the degree of fusion of the vertebrae and X-ray of pectoral fins. At birth the TL is 103.3cm and in physically mature animals the TL is 187.5cm. The TL showed a significant correlation with the epiphyses of the distal radius and ulna and the degree of spinal fusion showed significant correlation with distal radius. It can be concluded that the X-ray analysis of the pectoral fins is a good way of assessing the physical maturation of these animals and can be used in routine procedures.

Ultrassonografia e histopatologia renal em cães / Renal ultrasonography and histopathology in dogs

The kidneys are the organs responsible for maintaining the hydro-electrolytic equilibrium of the organism. There are several diseases that can affect these organs, causing changes and may be one of the causes of death in clinical routine. The ultrasound is the main diagnostic method to detect changes in the kidneys because it is noninvasive and allow the assessment of the size and the renal parenchyma. The histopathology is essential for confirmation of the diagnosis, and it was performed and compared with the ultrasound examination, so the degree of compatibility between ultrasound and pathological diagnostic methods could be analyzed. Twenty-one dogs were used in the experiment. After the ultrasound, the animals were autopsied for removal of the kidneys. The kidneys were fixed in 10% formalin, processed and observed by light microscopy. The findings were 52% in ultrasound examination and 81% in histological examination. The index of compatibility between the two tests was 66%, which confirmed the literature data that describe the ultrasound examination as the best method of non-invasive diagnosis for renal disorders.

Gene selection based on multi-class support vector machines and genetic algorithms

Microarrays are a new technology that allows biologists to better understand the interactions between diverse pathologic state at the gene level. However, the amount of data generated by these tools becomes problematic, even though data are supposed to be automatically analyzed (e.g., for diagnostic purposes). The issue becomes more complex when the expression data involve multiple states. We present a novel approach to the gene selection problem in multi-class gene expression-based cancer classification, which combines support vector machines and genetic algorithms. This new method is able to select small subsets and still improve the classification accuracy.

Prevalence of antibodies to Hepatitis C virus in populations at low and high risk for sexually transmited diseases in Rio de Janeiro

In order to investigate the sexual transmission of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), the prevalence of specific antibodies in populations at high and low risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was evaluated. The population at low risk for STDs was composed of persons who voluntarity donated blood at the Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF) between July and November, 1990 (n = 2494). The population at high risk for STDs was drawn from an ongoing study on the natural history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection (n = 210, 187 with sexual risk factors for HIV infection). All samples were screened using a first generation ELISA. Repeat reactive samples were then tested in a second generation RIBA. For all ELISA positive samples, two sex and age-matched ELISA negative controls were selected. Data pertaining to the presence of antibodies to the Hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBC antibodies) and to Treponema pallidum were abstracted from the medical records. The prevalence of RIBA 2 confirmed HCV infection among the blood donors was 2.08%, which is well above the reported prevalence in similar populations from developed western countries. Among the HIV infected homosexuals, the encountered prevalence was 7.96% (p < 0.0005). For the whole group with sexually acquired HIV infection, the prevalence was 8.02% (p < 0.000005). Anti-HBc antibodies were more frequently present in anti-HCV RIBA-2 confirmed positive blood donors than in controls (p < 0.001). 33.3% of the HCV-positive blood donors and 11.04% controls were found to be anti-HBc positive (p < 0.0005). As for the FTA-ABs, 17.6% HCV-positive donors and 4,9% controls were positive (p < 0.01). 5.9% samples from blood donors were both anti-HBc and FTA-ABS positive, whereas none of the controls reacted in both tests (p < 0.05). The association between HCV, Hepatitis B infection and syphilis in individuals at low risk for parenterally transmitted diseases suggests that sexual transmission contributes to the maintenance of the endemicity of HCV in the local population

Ação do espilantol (extraído do jambu) sobre a atividade elétrica do coração do coelho. Eletrocardiograma experimental / Effect of spilanthol (extracted from jambu) on electrical activity of the heart of rabbits. Experimental electrocardiogram

Foram estudados os efeitos do espilantol, extraido do Jambu (Spilanthes oleracea Jacq), sobre a atividade eletrica do coracao isolado do coelho. Esta substancia e uma amida que produz na mucosa oral uma sensacao semelhante a dos anestesicos locais. Seus efeitos sobre o eletrocardiograma foram comparados aos produzidos pela procainamida. A tecnica empregada foi o eletrocardiograma experimental durante a perfusao de Langendorff. Foram feitas 20 experiencias usando concentracoes decrescentes de espilantol (40-0,1 mg/l) e os resultados obtidos mostram que o espilantol e arritmogenico (arritmias ventriculares e supravenventriculares). Provoca disturbios da conducao que se traduzem como bloqueio de 1o., 2o. e 3o. graus. Conclui-se que o espilantol, provavelmente, age sobre o componente rapido do potencial de acao de modo semelhante aos antiarritmicos do grupo 1. Difere fa procainamida, principalmente, porque exacerba a ritmicidade.Contrariamente as espectativas, essa substancia nao serve como antiarritmico e podera servir de modelo arritmogenico para testar drogas antiarritmicas