Positive fluid balance is associated with reduced survival in critically ill patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: There are no studies that describe the impact of the cumulative fluid balance on the outcomes of cancer patients admitted to intensive care units ICUs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between fluid balance and clinical outcomes in these patients. METHOD: One hundred twenty-two cancer patients were prospectively evaluated for survival during a 30-day period. Univariate (Chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney) and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the admission parameters associated with mortality. RESULTS: The mean cumulative fluid balance was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors [1675 ml/24 h (471-2921) vs. 887 ml/24 h (104-557), P = 0.017]. We used the area under the curve and the intersection of the sensibility and specificity curves to define a cumulative fluid balance value of 1100 ml/24 h. This value was used in the univariate model. In the multivariate model, the following variables were significantly associated with mortality in cancer patients: the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score at admission [Odds ratio (OR) 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.05-1.26), P = 0.003], the Lung Injury Score at admission [OR 2.23; 95% CI (1.29-3.87), P = 0.004] and a positive fluid balance higher than 1100 ml/24 h at ICU [OR 5.14; 95% CI (1.45-18.24), P = 0.011]. CONCLUSION: A cumulative positive fluid balance higher than 1100 ml/24 h was independently associated with mortality in patients with cancer. These findings highlight the importance of improving the evaluation of these patients' volemic state and indicate that defined goals should be used to guide fluid therapy.

Effect of wheat bran and flaxseed on cadmium effects and retention in rats.

Dietary fiber can affect cadmium (Cd) absorption and toxicity, but the effect appears to depend on the type of dietary fiber. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of dietary sources containing distinct amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber on Cd absorption, accumulation and toxicity in growing rats. The absorption of essential macrominerals (Ca, P and Mg) was also evaluated. Animals received a nutritionally balanced diet with cellulose (cel - control), wheat bran or flaxseed as the fiber source with 0 or 50 mg Cd kg(-1) diet, during 30 days. Cd exposure reduced body weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, epididymal fat relative weight and liver relative weight, and increased plasma alanine aminotransferase activity in all fiber groups. The apparent Cd absorption was similar among Cd-groups, but the flax-Cd group had a higher hepatic and renal Cd concentration. Cd decreased the absorption of Ca and P, and increased Mg absorption in the wheat bran and flaxseed groups, but not in the cel group. Although the different fiber sources investigated had no effect on Cd toxicity, the major soluble fiber source, flaxseed, increased Cd retention. Thus, caution should be taken in the intake of flaxseed by Cd-exposed populations.

Delayed biochemical changes induced by mercury intoxication are prevented by zinc pre-exposure.

This work evaluated the delayed effects of mercury and the effectiveness of zinc in preventing such effects. Pups were pre-treated with 1 daily dose of ZnCl(2) (27 mg/kg/day, by subcutaneous injections) from 3rd to 7th postnatal day and received 1 daily dose of 5 mg/kg of HgCl(2), for 5 subsequent days (8-12 days old). Animals were euthanized 21 days after the end of Hg-exposure. Porphobilinogen-synthase activity as well as zinc and mercury contents was determined in the liver and kidneys. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactic dehydrogenase activities as well as urea, creatinine and glucose levels were analyzed in plasma or serum. Some animals were considered more sensitive to mercury, since they did not recover the body weight gain and presented an increase of renal and hepatic mercury content, urea and creatinine levels; a decrease in renal porphobilinogen-synthase and alanine aminotransferase activities, as well as a decrease in the liver and an increase in kidney weights. Some animals were considered less sensitive to mercury because they recovered the body weight and presented no biochemical alterations in spite of mercury in the tissues. Zinc prevents partially or totally the alterations caused by mercury even those that persisted for a long time after the end of exposure. These findings suggest that there is difference among the animals regarding the sensitivity to mercury.

Influence of cereal bran supplement on cadmium effects in growing rats.

Strategies to diminish cadmium (Cd) absorption are highly desirable especially where Cd exposure due to environmental contamination is still inevitable. Cd toxicity may be influenced by dietary components, such as fiber and minerals. Multimixtures are low-cost cereal bran supplements used in Brazil and in other countries to counteract malnutrition in low-income populations. This study was aimed at evaluating whether multimixture would reduce Cd effects in young rats. Animals received a diet with or without the multimixture plus 0, 5, or 25 mg Cd/kg (control, Cd-5, and Cd-25 groups) during 30 days. The Cd-5 groups were similar to control groups in all parameters analyzed, except in the higher renal Cd concentration. However, the Cd-25 groups had lower biological growth parameters and renal delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity, besides higher renal Cd concentration and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity compared to the controls. The multimixture did not prevent Cd effects in the Cd-25 group, but caused a small reduction in renal Cd concentration in the Cd-5 group. Although this multimixture was ineffective to prevent Cd effects at the higher concentration, it seemed to reduce Cd accumulation at the lower Cd dietary concentration, which is similar to levels of human exposure in some polluted areas.

ZnCl2 exposure protects against behavioral and acetylcholinesterase changes induced by HgCl2.

This study examined the effects of inorganic mercury exposure on behavioral and biochemical parameters and investigated the possible preventive effects of zinc on the alterations induced by mercury. Pups were exposed from 3rd to 7th postnatal day to ZnCl2 (27 mg/kg/day, s.c.) and subsequently to HgCl2 (5 doses of 5 mg/kg/day, s.c.). Each litter contained two rats for each treatment. The rats were submitted to behavioral task and litters were killed at 13 or 33 days old for acetylcholinesterase activity assays and for the determination of metal levels. Based on the results obtained from 13-day-old rats, they were divided in two groups of litters that were defined at the end of the experimental period (33 days) as less sensitive rats to mercury and more sensitive rats to mercury in accordance with the recovery of body weight until day 33. The mercury exposure caused accumulation of this metal in cerebrum and cerebellum in all mercury treated rats, and inhibited the cerebellum acetylcholinesterase activity from 13-day-old rats. Besides, the mercury-animals of the most sensitive litters to mercury presented impairment in motor function and muscular strength verified in the beaker test, as well as a reduction of the locomotor and exploratory activities in the open field task. Zinc partially prevented all the alterations induced by mercury exposure and reduced the mercury level accumulated in cerebrum and cerebellum. This study confirms the preventive effect of zinc on behavioral alterations induced by mercury in young rats and demonstrates that the mercury behavioral effects are present even for a long time after the end of the exposure.

Avaliação funcional e histológica da tireoide de ovinos suplementados com fluoreto de sódio por um período de 150 dias / Functional and histological evaluations of thyroid of sheep submitted to sodium fluoride administration

Avaliou-se o efeito da administração de fluoreto de sódio sobre a tireoide de 12 ovinos, distribuídos em dois grupos: o grupo controle (n=6) recebeu somente sal iodado (5g de NaCl/animal + 0,2ppm I/kg MS) e o grupo tratado (n=6), sal iodado (5g de NaCl/animal + 0,2ppm I/kg MS) adicionado de fluoreto de sódio (4,7mg F/kg de peso corporal), durante 150 dias. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para análise sérica de I e F, triiodotironina (T3) e tetraiodotironina (T4) nos dias zero, 60, 90 e 150 de tratamento. Também se coletou urina, correspondente às 24 horas, para análise da excreção urinária de I e F. Após a eutanásia dos animais, a tireoide foi removida para posterior exame. Quanto ao I urinário, não foi observada diferença estatística entre os grupos controle e tratado e dentro de cada grupo, entre os tempos. As concentrações de T3 e T4 não diferiram entre os grupos e dentro de cada grupo nos diferentes tempos. Quanto à avaliação histopatológica da tireoide, não foram observadas alterações na integridade estrutural. Conclui-se que a administração crônica de fluoreto de sódio não interfere na função e na integridade histológica da glândula tireoide de ovinos com dieta não restritiva de iodo.

The effect of sodium fluoride administration on thyroid function and morphology in sheep was evaluated using 12 lambs. Animals were allotted in two groups: control that received 5g NaCl + 0.2ppm I/kg DM and treated which received the same treatment plus sodium fluoride (4.7mg F/kg BW), daily, for 150 days. Blood samples were collected for determination of F, I, T3, and T4. Urine production was collected for measurement of F and I. After euthanasia at 150 days of treatment, thyroid glands were removed for analysis. No differences were found between or within groups for urinary I. Also, no differences were found for T3 and T4 on serum I between groups or among time points. No histological alterations were found in the thyroids. In conclusion, chronic sodium fluoride treatment did not affect thyroid function and morphology in lambs.

Localization of genes modulating the predisposition to schizophrenia: a revision

A genética da esquizofrenia (como também do distúrbio bipolar) teve grande avanço a partir da descoberta, a nível de genética molecular, da técnica de localização de genes com uso de sondas de DNA (Botstein et al., 1980). Os estudos que procuram "genes candidatos" a exercerem algum papel na susceptibilidade à esquizofrenia säo, basicamente, de dois tipos: de ligaçäo ("linkage") e de associaçäo. Quando, à luz da genética molecular, um gene é localizado próximo a um marcador de DNA específico no cromossomo, fala-se em estudo "de ligaçäo". Por outro lado, quando a doença é associada a um alelo específico de um determinado gene, fala-se em estudo "de associaçäo". Esta revisäo cobriu uma década de publicaçöes sobre o assunto, desde os primeiros trabalhos de Bassett et al. e de Sherrington et al., ambos divulgados em 1988 (gene localizado no braço longo do cromossomo 5, loco em "5q11-13") até as recentes propostas de Lin et al. (1997), apontando para o loco "13q14.1-q32" no cromossomo 13 e de Wright et al. (1998) para o loco genético "HLA DRB1" no nível de "6p21.3" no cromossomo 6. Os locos mais replicados foram: no braço longo do cromossomo 22 ("22q12-q13.1") e no braço curto do cromossomo 6 ("6p24-22"). Nesta revisäo crítica de estudos sobre genética molecular envolvidos na localizaçäo de genes que modulam a predisposiçäo à esquizofrenia, observou-se grande variabilidade nos resultados, sugerindo múltiplos locos envolvidos na predisposiçäo à doença.

Quantitative trait loci for murine growth.

Body size is an archetypal quantitative trait with variation due to the segregation of many gene loci, each of relatively minor effect, and the environment. We examine the effects of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on age-specific body weights and growth in the F2 intercross of the LG/J and SM/J strains of inbred mice. Weekly weights (1-10 wk) and 75 microsatellite genotypes were obtained for 535 mice. Interval mapping was used to locate and measure the genotypic effects of QTLs on body weight and growth. QTL effects were detected on 16 of the 19 autosomes with several chromosomes carrying more than one QTL. The number of QTLs for age-specific weights varied from seven at 1 week to 17 at 10 wk. The QTLs were each of relatively minor, subequal effect. QTLs affecting early and late growth were generally distinct, mapping to different chromosomal locations indicating separate genetic and physiological systems for early and later murine growth.

Heterose em suínos na fase de aleitamento / Heterosis in pre-weaning traits in swine

Visando avaliar o ganho de produtividade, advindo da heterose, no peso de suínos em fase de aleitamento, analisaram-se os pesos ao nascimento (PO), 21 dias de idade (P21) e desmama (PD) de 746 leitöes, sendo 201 da raça Landrace, 136 Wessex-Saddleback e 409 mestiços, pelo método dos quadrados mínimos, considerando-se, ainda, os efeitos fixos de época e ano de nascimento, ordem do parto, sexo do leitäo e tamanho da leitegada, além da raças paterna e materna e suas interaçöes. Os efeitos näo genéticos tiveram influência significativa em quase todas as características. Os mestiços mostraram, em geral, pesos superiores aos puros, com estimativas de heterose de 2,6 por cento para PO, 9,7 por cento para P21 e 13,9 por cento para PD, indicando a importância da herança näo aditiva à medida que os leitöes ficam menos dependentes de suas mäes. Os efeitos de interaçäo entre as raças paterna e materna foram cada vez maiores com o avançar da idade. Os resultados indicam haver ganho de produtividade com a utilizaçäo deste tipo de cruzamento

Social aggregations in cattle. II. Contributions of familiarity and genetic similarity.

Social aggregations of three cattle breeds and crosses between them were studied under controlled conditions at a Brazilian research station. Cows raised with animals of their own breed in isolation from other breeds maintained segregated social groups. Cattle of the same breed raised apart formed aggregations based more on familiarity than on genetic communality. There were breed differences in both of those tendencies. Hybrids were no more likely to associate with cattle with which they had one breed in common than with animals of completely different breeds, although having two breeds in common increased the likelihood that hybrids would be found together. Recently weaned calves did not assort themselves by shared kinship, but they formed phenotypic groupings correlated with color. In the absence of familiar individuals, cattle may use familiar phenotypes in establishing social preferences and cohesive herds.

Anthropometric and cycloergometric assessment of the nutritional status of the children of agricultural migrant workers in Southern Brazil.

In our survey of the food habits and nutritional status of "Boia-Fria" agricultural migrant workers in Southern Brazil, a special project was undertaken to assess the influence of socioeconomic and dietary deprivation on the physical growth and development and physical performance of their children. Four hundred fifty-five children in Boia-Fria families from Vila Recreio, a periurban slum of Ribeirao Preto located in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, were examined for body weight, standing height, mid-upper arm muscle circumference, and head circumference. For comparison, 475 children from "Vita et Pax", a private school attended primarily by children of well-to-do families from the city of Ribeirao Preto, were also examined using similar anthropometric procedures. A small group of selected Boia-Fria children and their well-to-do counterparts were subjected to ergometric-cum-electrocardiographic testing for submaximal physical work performance. The overall results of this comparative study indicate that the physical growth and development and the physical performance of the Boia-Fria children are significantly lower than their well-to-do counterparts. It is suggested that the poor anthropometric and ergometric status of the Boia-Fria children is a reflection of poor dietary habits and socioeconomic deprivation prevalent among the agricultural migrant workers and poor periurban populations of Brazil.

The nutritive value of Brazilian soy products tested in malnourished children.

The nutritive value of a soya milk and soya protein isolate available in Brazil was tested in formulas fed to 30 malnourished children during a period of 25 days. The chemical composition of all formulas was similar, including their energy and protein content. The protein (1.5 g/100 ml) was supplied by either cow's milk, unfortified soy milk, unfortified soy protein isolate, and methionine-enriched soy milk or methionine-enriched soy isolate. Methionine was added at the level of 1.5 g/100 g of protein. The trials included clinical, biochemical and nitrogen balance studies, and results indicated that these soy products formulas did not have the same nutritive value of cow's milk. However, the nutritional quality of soy milk was improved by methionine supplementation, but the soy protein isolate was not affected by the addition of the same amino acid. Average nitrogen retention as percent of intake ranged from 31.8 to 34.7 in the children fed cow's milk. Those that received soy milk retained 10.5 to 15.3%, and when methionine was added the average retention increased from 17.2 to 24.8%. When the isolated soy protein was fed, the average retention values were 14.7 to 16.5% without methionine, and 11.0% when the methionine-supplemented formula was used. Factors that could influence the results and the importance of the subject are discussed.

Age group differences in bovine investigatory behavior.

The general relationship between age and investigatory behavior in mammals, and perhaps other taxa, is probably an inverted U-shaped function, but is said to be a negative correlation in bovines. In Observation Set 1, 5 developmental levels of domestic cattle were compared in their responsiveness to a novel stimulus in the form of a person lying on the ground. The age group-behavior relationship approximated an inverted U. In Observation Set II, 3 developmental levels were compared and the animals' responses to a ball and to the reclined figure of a person were studied. Qualitatively, the cattle reacted similarly to both the inanimate and the human objects; again, the relationship between age and investigatory tendencies appeared to be an inverted U-shaped function for both stimuli.

Vitamin E status of agricultural migrant workers in Southern Brazil.

Vitamin E status of agricultural migrant workers representing low socioeconomic population of Southern Brazil was evaluated by determining dietary intake and plasma levels of vitamin E. The mean plasma vitamin E level of 85 female and 39 male subjects was 1.14 +/- 0.33 mg/100 ml or 2.27 +/- 0.53 mg/g of total lipids in plasma. The difference between the plasma vitamin E values of male and female subjects was insignificant. Using various criteria for the assessment of plasma vitamin E levels, it was established that plasma vitamin E expressed in terms of plasma total lipids is a better indicator of vitamin E status. The actual mean alpha-tocopherol intake of this population was 5.51 +/- 3.30 mg/person from a typical diet supplying about 1500 kcal/day. On a 2500 kcl basis, the estimated mean alpha-tocopherol intake would be about 9 mg/day which compares favorably with the intake values reported for well-nourished populations. The main dietary source of vitamin E in this population is the traditional rice and beans diet with increased use of soybean oil and vegetable oil products in recent years. On the whole the vitamin E status of this Brazilian population is quite satisfactory despite inadequacies in their intake of dietary calories and other essential nutrients. The plasma vitamin E status of these subjects supports the dietary data for the intake of vitamin E in this population.

Approachability of bovine cattle in pastures; breed comparisons and a breed x treatment analysis.

Bovine cattle from various parts of the world were studied in a physically and culturally homogeneous environment. The animals' approachability by a human in open pastures was associated with breed differences. Dairy breeds were more approachable than beef breed, while a comparison between European (Bos taurus) and humpbacked (B. indicus) stock yielded equivocal results. Raising dairy breeds for meat and raising beef breeds as milch cows had little overall effect on their approachability. Genetic affiliation was a much more powerful variable than treatment. Under ordinary rearing conditions within a particular ethnoenvironmental medium, it would appear that approachability is a relatively stable property of cattle breeds.