In vitro properties of concentrated canine platelets stored in two additive solutions: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Platelet transfusion therapy poses many challenges in veterinary clinical practice. Lack of readily available blood donors, short shelf-life, and inability to administer a sufficient number of platelets to meet a dog's transfusion need are the major difficulties encountered. Platelet additive solutions are already in use at American and European human blood banks, showing to be a realistic alternative. This study compares the in vitro platelet function in plasma, Composol, or SSP+ during storage for 13 days. Platelet rich plasma-platelet concentrate with 35% plasma and 65% platelet additive solutions (Composol or SSP+) and a control group (100% plasma) were prepared. Swirling, platelet count, blood gases, metabolic variables, platelet activation markers, and apoptosis markers were analyzed on days 1, 5, 9 and 13. RESULTS: Swirling was well preserved and pH was acceptable (> 6.2) during storage for all platelet additive solutions units until day 9. SSP + units showed more stable pH and metabolic variables until day 13. Platelets in plasma showed higher glucose consumption than in Composol or in SSP+. The platelet additive solutions units showed better platelet metabolism maintenance, reduced glucose consumption and lactate production. The apoptotic markers were still low for 9 days in platelet concentrates with platelet additive solutions, suggesting the possibility to extend the shelf life with the use of SSP+ or Composol. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the uses of Composol and SSP+ in canine platelet concentrates are potential alternatives in veterinary blood banks.

Tissue damage markers in experimental Chagas' disease.

Malondialdehydemia (MDA), measurements of heart and liver tissue damage (TDU), plasma activity of heart alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (LDH1) and liver lactate dehydrogenase (LDH5) were determined in non-infected mice and in mice infected with 10(5) T. cruzi, Y strain, bloodstream trypomastigotes. All the parameters measured were increased (P less than 0.01) in infected mice 8 days after intraperitoneal inoculation. The results indicate that plasma MDA levels can serve as a useful indicator of the systemic tissue injury found in Chagas' disease.

Tissue damage markers in experimental Chagas' disease

Malondialdehydemia (MDA),, measurements of heart and liver tissue damage (TDU), plasma activity of heart alfa - hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (LDH1) and liver lactate dehydrogenase (LDH5) were determined in non-infected mice and in mice infected with 10*5 T. cruzi, Y strain, bloodstream trypomastigotes. All the parameters measured were increased (P < 0,01) in infected mice 8 days after intraperitoneal inoculation. The results indicate that plasma MDA levels can serve as a useful indicator of the systemic tissue injury found in chagas' disease

Correlation between tissue damage and malondialdehydemia in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Evolution of the acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease was correlated with tissue damage and plasma levels of malondialdehyde. Heart lesions were quantified by the Tissue Damage Unit (TDU) and malondialdehydemia (MDA) by the colorimetric determination of malondialdehyde. The binary correlations were: C(X,Y) = 0.965 (P less than 0.001); C(Y,Z) = 0.784 (P less than 0.01); and C(X,Z) = 0.824 (P less than 0.01), where X = days of infection, Y = TDU means and Z = MDA means. These results show a positive correlation between the duration of the acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease and TDU, and between the duration and MDA. The methods for measuring tissue damage and MDA are shown to be simple and adequate for monitoring tissue aggression in the protozoosis studied.

Malondialdehydemia and parasitemia during acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease in mice.

Parasitemia and malondialdehydemia were compared during the acute phase of the infection caused by the CL and Y strains of T. cruzi. Parasitemia was measured by counting blood trypomastigote forms, and malondialdehydemia by a colorimetric method. The duration of the acute phase of Chagas' disease was correlated with malondialdehydemia in both CL and Y strains. The correlations between parasitemia and duration of the acute phase, as well as between parasitemia and malondialdehydemia, were significant only in the group infected with the CL strain. These data suggest that malondialdehydemia may be an adequate parameter for evaluating and monitoring the acute phase in experimental Chagas' disease.

Correlation between tissue damage and malondialdehydemia in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Evolution of the acute phase of experimetnal Chagas' disease was correlated with tissue damage and plasma levels of malondialdehyde. heart lesions were quantified by the Tissue Damage Unit (TDU) and malondialdehydemia (MDA) by the colorimetric determination of malondialdehyde. the binary correlations were: C(X,Y) =0.965 (P < 0.001); C(y,Z) =0.784 (P < 0.01); and C(X,Z) =0.824 (P < 0.01), where X = days of infection, Y = TDU means and Z = MDA means. These results show a positive correlation between the duration of the acute phase of experimental Cchagas' disease and TDU, and between the durtion and MDA. The methods for measuring tissue damage and MDA are shown to be simple and adequate for monitoring tissue aggression in the protozoosis studied

Malondialdehydemia and parasitemia during acute phase of experimental Chagas' disease in mice

Parasitemia and malondialdehydemia were compared during the acute phase of the infection caused by the CL and Y strains of T. cruzi. Parasitemia was measured by counting blood trypamastigote forms, and malondialdehydemia by a colorimetric method. The duration of the acute phase of Chagas' disease was correlated with malondialdehydemia in both CL and y strains. The correlations between parasitemia and duration of the acute phase, as well as between parasitemia and malondialdehydemia, were significant only in the group infected with the CL strain. These data suggest that malondialdehydemia may be an adequate parameter for evaluating and monitoring the acute phase in experimental Chagas' disease

The TRH test in rats with chronic Chagas disease.

TRH was studied in rats with chronic Chagas disease. It was found an increased secretion of TSH 60 minutes after intraperitoneal injection of the hypothalamic hormone. T3 and T4 were also decreased in basal conditions. This may indicate a primary hypothyroidism.

Folic acid and lipoprotein lipase from aorta and blood plasma of atherosclerotic rats.

The lipoprotein lipase activity is somehow associated with atherosclerosis, and some publications report a protective effect of this enzyme against infiltration of lipids. In this publication, an atherogenic diet was associated with a decrease of this enzyme in aorta and blood plasma of rats. After administration of folic acid, a significant increase of the clearing factor activity was observed.

Sobre a historia natural do cancer do corpo uterino. Um estudo retro e prospectivo. / On natural history of uterus body cancer. A retro and prospective study

Os autores analisaram 195 pacientes com diagnostico de carcinoma do corpo uterino tratadas no Instituto de Ginecologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro num periodo de 44 anos. Eles verificaram a correlacao entre algumas condicoes patologicas como antecessores da doenca. Sao feitas consideracoes sobre o futuro dos diagnosticos do potencial biologico dos chamados precursores

Plasmalogens in arterial wall.

Plasmalogens have been determined in blood plasma, arterial and myocardial tissue of rats intubated with an atherogenic diet (vitamin D2 + cholesterol). These lipids are significantly decreased in arterial tissue after the administration of these substances for 5 consecutive days. Folic acid involved in the synthesis of plasmalogens and a powerful inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, on the contrary, increases enormously the concentration of plasmalogens in arterial tissue even with an atherogenic diet.

[Studies on urease from the seeds of Citrullus vulgaris: action of chemical agents and ionizing radiations]. / Estudos sobre a urease de sementes de Citrullus vulgaris: ação de agentes químicos e das radiaçoes ionizantes.

Urease obtained from seeds of Citrullus vulgaris fruits has been studied under three points of view: a) the effect of the urea analogs acetamide and hydroxi-urea on the enzyme kinetic b) the action of the sulfhydryl reagents and the reactivation agents on the enzyme c) the effect of X-rays and the protective action of the cysteamine. The Berthelot reaction for the determination of the liberated NH3 was used enzyme activity. Acetamide has no effect on urease kinetic. Hidroxy-urea which produces a typical green color when it is mixed with the Berthelot reagents at high concentrations, when properly diluted acts a aompetitive inhibitor of urease. Spectrophotometric experiments suggest that the studied urease decomposes hydroxi-urea with liberation of hydroxilamine. The sulphydril reagent, p-hydroxi-mercuribenzoate inhibits the enzime. Cysteine and dithiotreitol reactivate the enzyme activity in no more then 50% even when excess of the substances is used. Probably only in the first step of the urea hydrolysis, the enzyme behaves as a typical SH-enzyme. Urease is very sensitive to X-rays. Cysteamine acts as a protective agent of the enzyme. Dithiotreitol reinforces this protective action. This effect is clearly observed when the Fisbein catalytic method for urease is employed.