Use of sugar cane to feed lactating dairy goats / [Uso da cana-de-açúcar na alimentação de cabras leiteiras em lactação]

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of replacing corn silage with sugarcane in the diet of lactating Saanen goats and to determine their intake and digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, milk yield and composition. The experimental diets were composed of increasing levels (0, 33, 66 and 100%) of substitution in dry matter (DM). Twelve multiparous Saanen goats, with an average body weight of 45.2kg, average milk yield of 3.0kg day-1, distributed in a triple latin square experimental design (4 × 4) were used. The dry matter intake (DMI) and other nutrients were estimated through the difference between the total nutrient in the food offered and its total in the leftovers. The DMI, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total digestible nutrients were not influenced, but the apparent digestibility of DM and NDF decreased. Feeding time and feeding efficiency were not influenced, the rumination and total chewing times increased, and the leisure time decreased, both linearly. Milk yield was not influenced by substitution levels, but corrected milk yield to 3.5% fat decreased. Sugar cane represents a dietary alternative for goats with medium milk yield in critical periods of forage, since it does not change the consumption of DM and milk yield, even with the apparent declining digestibility of some nutrients, influencing the ingestive behavior of the animals.(AU)

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da substituição da silagem de milho por cana-de-açúcar na dieta de cabras Saanen em lactação e determinar a ingestão e a digestibilidade de nutrientes, o comportamento ingestivo, a produção e a composição do leite. As dietas experimentais foram compostas de níveis crescentes (0, 33, 66 e 100%) de substituição na matéria seca (MS). Doze cabras Saanen multíparas, com peso corporal médio de 45,2kg, produção média de leite de 3,0kg dia-1, foram distribuídas em delineamento experimental triplo quadrado latino (4 × 4). A ingestão de matéria seca (IMS) e de outros nutrientes foi estimada por meio da diferença entre o total de nutrientes nos alimentos oferecidos e o total nas sobras. A IMS, a proteína bruta, a fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e os nutrientes digestíveis totais não foram influenciados, mas a digestibilidade aparente da MS e da FDN diminuiu. A produção de leite não foi influenciada pelos níveis de substituição, mas a produção de leite corrigida para 3,5% de gordura diminuiu. A cana-de-açúcar representa uma alternativa alimentar para cabras com produção média de leite em períodos críticos de forragem, pois não altera o consumo de MS e a produção de leite, mesmo diminuindo a digestibilidade aparente de alguns nutrientes e influenciando o comportamento ingestivo dos animais.(AU)

Correlação entre a deflexão intrinsecoide, classificação clínica e parâmetros ecocardiográficos em cães com degeneração mixomatosa valvar mitral / Correlation between intrinsecoid deflection, clinical classification and echocardiographic parameters in dogs with degenerative mitral valve myxomatosis

A degeneração mixomatosa valvar mitral (DMVM) costuma ser diagnosticada pelo ecocardiograma, porém o eletrocardiograma (ECG) pode sugerir alterações específicas e auxiliar no diagnóstico e no tratamento. A deflexão intrinsecóide (DI) é uma medida simples do ECG, que representa o início da despolarização ventricular e pode indicar a presença de sobrecargas e hipertrofia no ventrículo esquerdo. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar dados prévios sobre condição clínica e ecocardiograma de cães com endocardiose de mitral e o valor da deflexão intrinsecóide do ECG, para buscar uma relação de concordância. Foram selecionados os arquivos de 45 cães anteriormente atendidos na rotina clínica do HV-UPFR. A estatística mostrou diferença relevante nos grupos B1, B2 e C nas derivações D2, D3, aVF, rV, V2 e V4 (P<0,05), o que permitiu classificá-los de acordo com o tamanho da DI, e esse resultado correspondeu à classificação do consenso de endocardiose de mitral em cães nesses estágios. Concluiu-se que há um aumento gradativo no valor da DI à medida que a DMVM avança, principalmente nos estágios B1, B2 e C, associado à sobrecarga e à hipertrofia ventricular esquerda, portanto esse parâmetro pode ser usado na classificação da doença.(AU)

The mitral valve myxomatous degeneration (DMVM) is usually diagnosed by echocardiography, however, electrocardiogram (ECG) may suggest specific alterations and aid diagnosis and treatment. Intrinsicoid deflection (DI) is a simple ECG measure that represents the onset of ventricular depolarization and may indicate the presence of overload and hypertrophy in the left ventricle. The objective of this study is to compare previous data on clinical condition and echocardiogram of dogs with mitral endocardiosis and the value of the intrinsicoid deflection from ECG to obtain a concordance relation. The archives of 45 previously examined dogs in the clinical routine of HV-UFPR were selected. The statistic showed a significant difference in groups B1, B2 and C in leads D2, D3, aVF, rV, V2 and V4 (P< 0,05), which allowed to classify them according to the DI size, and this result corresponded to the consensus classification of mitral endocardiosis in dogs at these stages. It was concluded that there is a gradual increase in the value of DI as DMVM progresses, especially in stages B1, B2 and C, associated with left ventricular overload and hypertrophy, so this parameter can be used to classify the disease.(AU)

Immunohistochemical detection of virus through its nuclear cytopathic effect in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia other than acute exacerbation

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias include complex diseases that have a strong interaction between genetic makeup and environmental factors. However, in many cases, no infectious agent can be demonstrated, and these clinical diseases rapidly progress to death. Theoretically, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias could be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, hepatitis C virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and herpesvirus, which may be present in such small amounts or such configuration that routine histopathological analysis or viral culture techniques cannot detect them. To test the hypothesis that immunohistochemistry provides more accurate results than the mere histological demonstration of viral inclusions, this method was applied to 37 open lung biopsies obtained from patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. As a result, immunohistochemistry detected measles virus and cytomegalovirus in diffuse alveolar damage-related histological patterns of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in 38 and 10% of the cases, respectively. Alveolar epithelium infection by cytomegalovirus was observed in 25% of organizing pneumonia patterns. These findings were coincident with nuclear cytopathic effects but without demonstration of cytomegalovirus inclusions. These data indicate that diffuse alveolar damage-related cytomegalovirus or measles virus infections enhance lung injury, and a direct involvement of these viruses in diffuse alveolar damage-related histological patterns is likely. Immunohistochemistry was more sensitive than the histological demonstration of cytomegalovirus or measles virus inclusions. We concluded that all patients with diffuse alveolar damage-related histological patterns should be investigated for cytomegalovirus and measles virus using sensitive immunohistochemistry in conjunction with routine procedures.

Eletrocardiografia computadorizada em cavalos Puro Sangue Lusitano submetidos a exercício físico / Computerized electrocardiography in Lusitano horses submitted to exercise

Foram estudados 24 cavalos atletas hígidos, machos, adultos, da raça Puro Sangue Lusitano, submetidos a esforço físico de trote e galope de rotina do animal, com o objetivo de avaliar a configuração do traçado do eletrocardiograma (ECG) em repouso, mediante eletrocardiografia computadorizada, bem como os efeitos do exercício físico sobre os parâmetros clínicos e eletrocardiográficos destes animais. Foram avaliados exame físico e ritmo cardíaco antes e imediatamente após o exercício físico, assim como as distintas configurações de ondas p e complexos QRS, obtidas ao ECG de repouso. Após o treinamento, ocorreram taquicardia e taquipneia. O ritmo predominante no repouso foi o sinusal e, após o exercício, a taquicardia sinusal. Na morfologia das ondas, encontraram-se quatro configurações distintas para a onda p, e seis para o complexo QRS. Dentre as arritmias cardíacas em repouso, houve uma ocorrência de bloqueio atrioventricular de segundo grau, que desapareceu após exercício. Conclui-se que o traçado do ECG computadorizado de cavalos atletas Puro Sangue Lusitano revela distintas morfologias de ondas p e complexos QRS e baixa ocorrência de arritmias.

In order to assess the configuration of the electrocardiogram (ECG) at rest obtained through computerized electrocardiography and the effects of exercise on clinical and electrocardiographic parameters, 24 healthy male Pure-bred adult Lusitano horses submitted to daily trot and gallop training were studied. Physical evaluation and cardiac rhythm were evaluated before and immediately after exercise, as well the different p waves and QRS complexes, obtained from rest ECG. Tachycardia and tachypnea were observed after training. The predominant rest rhythm was sinus rhythm and, after exercise, sinus tachycardia. In the wave morphology, four distinct configurations were found for the p wave, and six different settings for the QRS complex. Second degree atrioventricular block was observed once during rest, and it disappeared after exercise. In conclusion, computerized ECG in Pure-bred Lusitano horses reveals distinct morphologies of p waves and QRS complexes, and cardiac arrhythmias were rare.

Análise da carga microbiana de implantes mamários de silicone / Microbial load analysis in silicone gel breast implants

Silicone breast implants consist of biomaterials widely used in breast reconstitution surgeries or in mammary augmentation for esthetic reasons. A preliminary stage of the implant production process is vulcanization, which consists of heating the implant to 165±5ºC for approximately 9 hours. The aim of this work was to evaluate the bioburden of silicone breast implants prior to the vulcanization process and the decline in bioburden due to this process, and to confirm the sterility of the gel contained in the membrane. Breast implant production stages were evaluated by microbial counting in different steps, according to the USP 32 methodology. To evaluation of decrease in microbial load, spores strips were introduced inside the implant, and after vulcanization cycles the strips were removed from the implant. The strips were transferred to tubes containing TSB, followed by incubation for 7 days at 30-35ºC. The results obtained showed that the level of microbial contamination of gel implants is relatively low, and that vulcanization allowed for the inactivation of up to 108 spores. This study led us to the conclusion that vulcanization leaded to sterility of the gel inside the product. Thus, the final sterilizing process contributed to an increase in the Sterility Assurance Level.1.

Os implantes mamários de silicone constituem-se em biomateriais que têm sido amplamente utilizados em cirurgias para reconstituição da mama ou para o aumento do tamanho da mama por motivos estéticos. Uma etapa preliminar do processo produtivo do implante é a vulcanização, que consiste no aquecimento do implante a 165±5ºC por aproximadamente 9 horas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a carga microbiana dos implantes mamários de silicone antes do processo de vulcanização, o decaimento da carga microbiana neste processo e confirmar a esterilidade do gel contidointernamente à membrana. Os estágios do processo produtivo dos implantes mamários foram avaliados pela contagem microbiana em diferentes etapas, de acordo com a metodologia da USP 32. Para avaliação do decaimento da carga microbiana, tiras de esporos foram introduzidas no interior do implante e após os ciclos de vulcanização foram retiradas do implante. As tiras foram transferidas para tubos contendo TSB, seguidos pela incubação por 7 dias a 30-35ºC. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o nível de contaminação microbiana dos implantes gelatinosos é relativamente baixo e que a vulcanização possibilitou a inativação de até 108 esporos. Este estudo nos leva à conclusão que a vulcanização levou à esterilidade do gel interno ao produto. Desta forma, o processo esterilizante final contribuiu para um aumento no Nível de Garantia de Esterilidade.1.

Inducing mutations in the mouse genome with the chemical mutagen ethylnitrosourea

When compared to other model organisms whose genome is sequenced, the number of mutations identified in the mouse appears extremely reduced and this situation seriously hampers our understanding of mammalian gene function(s). Another important consequence of this shortage is that a majority of human genetic diseases still await an animal model. To improve the situation, two strategies are currently used: the first makes use of embryonic stem cells, in which one can induce knockout mutations almost at will; the second consists of a genome-wide random chemical mutagenesis, followed by screening for mutant phenotypes and subsequent identification of the genetic alteration(s). Several projects are now in progress making use of one or the other of these strategies. Here, we report an original effort where we mutagenized BALB/c males, with the mutagen ethylnitrosourea. Offspring of these males were screened for dominant mutations and a three-generation breeding protocol was set to recover recessive mutations. Eleven mutations were identified (one dominant and ten recessives). Three of these mutations are new alleles (Otop1mlh, Foxn1sepe and probably rodador) at loci where mutations have already been reported, while 4 are new and original alleles (carc, eqlb, frqz, and Sacc). This result indicates that the mouse genome, as expected, is far from being saturated with mutations. More mutations would certainly be discovered using more sophisticated phenotyping protocols. Seven of the 11 new mutant alleles induced in our experiment have been localized on the genetic map as a first step towards positional cloning.