Transferência de imunidade passiva e proteinograma sérico em bezerros das raças Crioula Lageana variedade Mocha e Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus) nos primeiros seis meses de vida / Transfer of passive immunity and serum proteinogram in calves of the Criollo Lageano hornless variety and Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus) breed in their first six months of life

A raça Crioula Lageana apresenta-se como uma alternativa para a pecuária moderna, devido a sua grande variabilidade genética, rusticidade e adaptação às condições ambientais do Planalto Catarinense. Estas características podem influenciar importantes eventos fisiológicos, os quais deveriam ser investigados, pois podem auxiliar no desenvolvimento de futuros programas de melhoramento animal. Sabe-se que a falha da transferência de imunidade passiva (TIP) constitui um importante fator para a elevação dos índices de mortalidade neonatal na espécie bovina. Desta forma, torna-se indispensável à avaliação dos aspectos relacionados à TIP em bezerros da raça Crioula Lageana variedade mocha e a sua comparação com outras raças de corte criadas no Planalto Serrano Catarinense. Com o objetivo de avaliar e comparar a TIP e o proteinograma sérico foram selecionados dois grupos experimentais compostos por 11 bezerros da raça Crioula Lageana variedade mocha e 14 bezerros da raça Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus). Amostras de sangue foram colhidas por meio da venopunção jugular para a mensuração da proteína total sérica (PTS), eletroforese das proteínas séricas em gel de agarose, atividade da gamaglutamiltransferase (GGT) e concentração de imunoglobulinas G (IgG) por meio do método de turvação pelo sulfato de zinco nos períodos entre 24 e 36 horas, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 dias de vida. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada por meio da análise de variância de medidas repetidas (ANOVA), teste de Tukey para a comparação entre médias (P<0,05) e correlação entre as variáveis. Ao analisar os valores de PTS, globulinas, gamaglobulinas, IgG e atividade sérica de GGT ao nascimento (24 a 36 horas) pode se afirmar que houve adequada TIP não havendo diferença significativa entre as raças, exceto para a atividade sérica da GGT. Observaram-se variações fisiológicas na curva de proteínas séricas do nascimento até os 180 dias de idade. Forte correlação positiva foi observada entre os valores de gamaglobulina e IgG (r=0,814 para CL e r=0,877 para AA), PTS (r=0,783 para CL e r=0,947 para AA), globulinas (r=0,945 para CL e r=0,985 para AA), evidenciando que estas variáveis foram bons indicadores da TIP em bezerros ao segundo dia de vida (24-36 horas). A correlação entre gamaglobulinas e atividade da GGT foi fracamente positiva (r=0,251) para bovinos da raça Crioula Lageana variedade mocha e fortemente positiva (r=0,815) para a raça Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus), o qual foi admitido a grande variação nos valores da GGT após 24 horas de vida do bezerro. Não houve diferença na TIP entre as raças Crioula Lageana variedade mocha e Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus), ocorrendo de maneira bem-sucedida em ambas as raças. Pode-se sugerir que a raça Crioula Lageana variedade mocha seja mais tardia na síntese ativa de anticorpos, ressaltando a precocidade dos taurinos evidenciada na raça Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus).(AU)

The Criollo Lageano breed is an alternative for modern farming, due to its high genetic variability, rusticity and adaptation to environmental conditions of the Plateau of Santa Catarina, Brazil. These characteristics can influence important physiological events which should be investigated, because they can assist in developing future programs of animal breeding. It is known that failure of passive transfer (FPT) is an important factor for the increase in neonatal mortality in cattle. Thus, it is essential to evaluate aspects related to FPT in Criollo Lageano calves and the comparison with other beef breed created in the Plateau of Santa Catarina. Aiming to evaluate and to compare the passive transfer of immunity and serum protein concentrations, two experimental groups of 11 calves of Criollo Lageano (CL) hornless variety and 14 Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus) calves were selected. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture for the measurement of total serum protein (TSP) by serum protein electrophoresis in agarose gel and the activity of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) by the method of the turbidity zinc sulphate, between 24 and 36 hours, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days. Statistical analysis of data was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey test for comparison of means (P<0.05) and correlation between variables. Values of TSP, globulins, immunoglobulins, IgG and serum GGT activity at birth (24-36 hours) confirmed that there was adequate TIP with no significant difference between the races, except for the serum GGT activity. Physiological variations in the curve of serum proteins from birth to 180 days of age were identified. Strong positive correlation was found between the values of gamma globulin and IgG (r=0.814 and r=0.877 for CL to AA), PTS (r=0.783 and r=0.947 for CL to AA), globulins (r=0.945 and r=0.985 for CL to AA), indicating that these variables will be good indicators of TIP in calves at the second day of life (24-36 hours). The correlation between gamma globulin and activity of GGT was weakly positive (r=0.251) for CL and strongly positive (r=0.815) for the Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus), in which a wide variation in GGT values after 24 hours of life of the calf were noticed. No difference was found in FPT between Criollo Lageano hornless variety and Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus), and was successful way in both breeds. It can be suggested that Criollo Lageano hornless variety breed is later in active antibody synthesis, highlighting the precocity of taurine evident in Aberdeen Angus (Red Angus) breed.(AU)

Clinical and laboratory studies on experimentally induced acute ruminal lactic acidosis in male goats

Acute ruminal acidosis was experimentally induced in six mixed breed of male goats, [15-18 months old and 27-38 kg body weight], by wheat flour, 50 g/kg BW, infused intraruminally through a surgically prepared ruminal cannula. Ruminal fluid and blood samples were obtained at 0, 12, 24 and 36 hours to evaluate ruminal fluid contents, serum biochemical changes and complete blood picture. Severe clinical signs of ruminal acidosis were evident by12 hours represented by depression, recumbency, diarrhea, grinding over the teeth, trembling, ruminal stasis, dehydration, polypnea and tachycardia. Sharp drop in ruminal fluid pH with parallel sharp increase in ruminal lactate and glucose levels were recorded. Ruminal protozoa completely disappeared following induction. Significant decrease in venous blood pH and a significant increase of serum levels of lactate, total protein, albumin, Gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT], urea and creatinine were obtained. Significant increase in hematocrit value, total leukocytic count, neutrophil and a significant decrease in lymphocyte were also recorded. Post mortum and histopathological examination were performed to confirm the disease

Evaluation of pesticides induced toxicity by oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers

To evaluate pesticides induced toxicity by oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers among tobacco farmers in district Sawabi of Pakistan. Cross sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in district Sawabi, NWFP, Pakistan from Jan 2006 to March 2008. Total of 109 adult male consisting of 55 tobacco farmers and 54 unexposed subjects were included from district Sawabi, NWFP, Pakistan. Plasma Butyrylcholinesterase [BChE] and Gamma Glutamyltransferase [GGT] were measured on Vita Lab Selectra E. Plasma Malondialdyhyde [MDA] and Nitric oxides [NO] were estimated by formation of thiobarbituric acid and the Griess reaction respectively. Serum C-reactive protein [CRP] was assayed on Immulite-1000. The tobacco farmers age ranged from 16-72 years. Plasma BChE mean [SD] levels were significantly decreased to 5596 [929] as compared to 6821 [1365] U/L in the pesticides exposed farmers [P<0.001]. Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in the pesticides exposed farmers were significantly raised as compared to control which are given as mean [SD] [a] GGT 24[6] vs 17[4] U/L [b] Nitrate 34.27[19.71] vs 21.35 [11.57] umol/L [c] CRP 1.44 [0.860] vs 0.911[0.538] mg/L and MDA 4.71 [2.01] vs 3.27 [0.94] nmol/ng [P<0.001] respectively. The plasma BChE levels showed a significant inverse correlation with plasma MDA [r=-0.39], nitrate [r=-0.44] and CRP[r=-0.40]. Apart from plasma BChE inhibition, pesticide exposure enhanced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in the tobacco farmers. Plasma BChE has inverse correlation with lipid peroxidation, nitrate production and inflammatory biomarkers which might be used for monitoring of pesticides induced risks in occupational workers

biochemical, cognitive, and psychiatric effects of anticholinergics benzhexol hydrochloride and biperiden hydrochloride in schizophrenic patients

It is estimated that 45 million people suffer from schizophrenia around the world; it is among the top ten leading causes of disability. By 2050, this number will have grown to approximately 71 million people. Mental illnesses contribute more to the global burden of disease than all cancers combined. The present study has been planned to evaluate the effect of anticholinergic parkinol [benzhexol hydrochloride] and akineton [biperiden hydrochloride] on erythrocyte acetyl cholinesterase [AChE] activity and serum activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase [GOT], alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] in schizophrenic patients treated with haloperidol, and also to study the effect of the previously mentioned two anticholinergics on both the cognitive functions and psychiatric symptoms in such patients. The study was carried out on 30 male schizophrenic patients who were divided into two main groups [group 1 and group 2] each of 15 patients of comparable age. The present results revealed that the total score of [PANSS] showed a significant decrease in all studied groups. The total score of [MMSE] showed a significant increase in all studied groups. The AChE activity didn't show any significant difference in all comparisons in all studied groups. In our study, there was a significant elevation of serum GGT, ALT, AST and ALP levels in some groups of treated patients as compared to pretreatment groups. The results obtained in our study showed a significant increase in serum GGT, ALT, AST, and ALP levels in groups treated with either [haloperidol + benzhexol hydrochloride] or [haloperidol + biperiden hydrochloride] as compared to the corresponding levels in groups treated with haloperidol only, respectively. From all results we can concluded that the biochemical parameters used in this study are useful in detecting any side effects of antipsychotic and anticholinergic drugs on liver functions. The treatment with [haloperidol + benzhexol hydrochloride] and [haloperidol + biperiden hydrochloride] are effective in decreasing the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

As fosfatases alcalinas, transaminases e gama-glutamil-transferase séricas em pacientes epilépticos tratados com carbamazepina / The serum alkaline phosphatases, transaminases, and gamma-glutamil transferases in epileptic patients treated with carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is the drug of choice used in the treatment of patients with partial (or focal) epilepsy with secondary generalization. Despite its therapeutical use, this drug has been implicated in the increase of serum activities in some enzymes. Some authors have described prevalence values of 7.7 percent, 13 percent, and 22 percent for the increase of activity of serum alkaline phosphatases (AF or EC 3.1.3.1). A divergence in the results was also found for the activities of the serum g-glutamil transferase (gamma-glutamil transferase or GGT, or EC 2.3.2.2). OBJECTIVE: Hence, among other objectives, the aim of this research is to determine the frequency of sample alterations in serum enzymatic activities of AF, GGT and transaminases (AST, aspartate amino-transferase, EC 2.6.1.1; and ALT, alanine-amino-transferase, EC 2.6.1.2) in epilepsy ward patients in Salvador, Bahia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The design of the study is descriptive and it is a case series type. It has been approved by the local Ethics Committee. In this study, a convenience sample of 52 epileptic patients who receive ambulatory care was obtained without interference by the researchers. These patients were divided according to age groups of 12 to 30 years and 31 to 90 years, which were then subdivided according to the period of monotherapy with carbamazepine. The serum activities of the enzymes GGT, AF, AST and ALT were determined. RESULTS: The ratios of alterations per variables were described: 42 percent for the FA, 18 percent for the GGT, 2 percent for the ALT, and 12 percent for the AST respectively. The age group of 12 to 30 years presented 56 percent of alterations in the AF while the group of 31 to 90 years presented only 18 percent of alterations. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the enzymes AF, GGT, AST, and ALT presented higher frequencies of alterations of their activities in those patients with age equal to or below 30 years, while the AF presented higher values.

INTRODUÇÃO: A carbamazepina é a droga utilizada no tratamento de pacientes com epilepsia parcial (ou focal) secundariamente generalizada. Apesar do uso terapêutico, este fármaco tem sido implicado no aumento das atividades séricas de algumas enzimas. Alguns autores descreveram valores de prevalência de 7,7 por cento, 13 por cento e 22 por cento para aumento de atividade das fosfatases alcalinas séricas (FA ou EC 3.1.3.1). A divergência de resultados também foi encontrada para as atividades da gama-glutamil-transferase sérica (gama-glutamil transferase ou GGT ou EC 2.3.2.2). OBJETIVO: Assim, a meta desta pesquisa é determinar, dentre outros objetivos, a freqüência de alterações nas atividades das FA, GGT e transaminases (AST, aspartato-amino-transferase, EC 2.6.1.1; e ALT, alanina-amino-transferase, EC 2.6.1.2) de uma amostra de pacientes do ambulatório de epilepsia em Salvador, Bahia. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: O desenho do estudo é descritivo do tipo série de casos, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética local, no qual uma amostra de conveniência de 52 pacientes epilépticos de acompanhamento ambulatorial foi obtida sem interferência dos pesquisadores. Estes pacientes foram organizados por faixa etária de 12 a 30 e de 31 a 90 anos e, subdivididos por tempo de monoterapia com carbamazepina. As atividades séricas das enzimas GGT, FA, AST e ALT foram determinadas. RESULTADOS: As proporções de alterações por variáveis foram descritas: 42 por cento para as FA, 18 por cento para as GGT, 2 por cento para as ALT e 12 por cento para as AST, respectivamente. A faixa etária de 12 a 30 anos apresentou 56 por cento de alterações nas FA enquanto que aquela de 31 a 90 anos, apenas 18 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: Nós concluímos que as enzimas FA, GGT, AST e ALT apresentaram maiores freqüências de alterações de suas atividades naqueles pacientes com idade igual ou inferior a 30 anos, sendo que as FA apresentaram maiores valores.

Heroin addiction alters liver function in human subjects

Heroin addiction is a growing problem in our country. Studies were carried out on twenty-eight [28] street heroin injector addicts taking a fixed dose of 1.3 gm of heroin/day for at least eleven years. Blood concentrations of total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubn, Alanine transminase [ALT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and Gamma Glutamyl transferase [gGT] were measured using standard methods and results were compared with those of normal human subjects. Total bilirubin, Alanine tranaminase [ALT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and Gamma Glutamy transferase [gGT] were significantly elevated in heroin addicts but no significant changes was found in the level of conjugated bilirubin. It is concluded that viral infections leading to hepatitis in intravenous herion addicts results in altered Liver function

Assessment of two quantitative techniques for hepatitis C viraemia

In Egypt, chronic hepatitis due to Hepatitis C Virus is an important public health problem. 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly selected. The aim of this study was the quantitative measurement of serum hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA. We compared two commercial available assays, Roche Amplicor HCV Monitor kits and Chiron branched DNA signal amplification [bDNA] assay, in quantitative measurement of serum HCV RNA virus. In this study [84.4%] of the samples positive by Roche Amplicor were positive by bDNA assay. Our results were consistent with previous reports. Amplicor test kit was more sensitive than bDNA assay but the difference was not statistically significant. The statistical correlation between the two quantitative techniques was highly significant using Chi-square and Spearman's correlation. The two assays were highly correlated and the relationship between the log values obtained by both assays generated the following equation: log10 bDNA = 0.47x log10 Roche [PCR] + 3.86. In conclusion, Roche Amplicor HCV Monitor kits and the Chiron branched DNA signal amplification assay are equally sensitive in the quantitative measurement of serum HCV RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Both assays are suitable for assessing patients with chronic hepatitis C before therapy and for evaluating treatment regimens. This new approach of serum HCV RNA quantification will lead to a better standardization and comparison of controlled trials of chronic hepatitis C treatments

La gammaglutamil transpeptidasa en el recién nacido / Serum gamma glutamil transferase in newborn infants

La actividad de la gammaglutamil transpeptidasa (GGT) fue determinada en 83 recién nacidos de término normales durante la primera semana de la vida. Las actividades promedio fueron: 36,8 U/L en el primer día, rango 23 a 81 U/L; 42 U/L, rango de 12 a 116 U/L en el cuarto día y 46,8 U/L, rango 12 a 116 U/L en séptimo día de vida. La actividad materna promedio en 15 embarazadas fue 12,87 U/L, rango 5 a 27 U/L, inferior a 34 U/L (límite superior normal). Estas cifras son similares a las encontradas en mujeres normales. La actividad en las madres fue significativamente menor que en los recién nacidos (p<0,001). La razón de la mayor actividad en los hijos no ha sido explicada. No se encontró relación entre los valores de GGT y de bilirrubinemia en la primera semana, por lo cual se descarta su valor predictivo de hiperbilirrubinemia