A proof-of-principle for decontamination of transplantation kidney through UV-C exposition of the perfusate solution.

Kidney transplantation is a common yet highly demanding medical procedure worldwide, enhancing the quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease. Despite its prevalence, the procedure faces a shortage of available organs, partly due to contamination by microorganisms, leading to significant organ disposal. This study proposes utilizing photonic techniques associated with organ support machines to prevent patient contamination during kidney transplantation. We implemented a decontamination system using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation on the preservation solution circulating through pigs' kidneys between harvest and implant. UV-C irradiation, alone or combined with ultrasound (US) and Ps80 detergent during ex-vivo swine organ perfusion in a Lifeport® Kidney Transporter machine, aimed to reduce microbiological load in both fluid and organ. Results show rapid fluid decontamination compared to microorganism release from the organ, with notable retention. By including Ps80 detergent at 0.5% during UV-C irradiation 3 log10 (CFU mL-1) of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria previously retained in the organ were successfully removed, indicating the technique's feasibility and effectiveness.

Effect of dose and timing of prostaglandin F2α treatments during a Resynch protocol on luteal regression and fertility to timed artificial insemination in lactating Holstein cows.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of a second PGF2α treatment (25 mg of dinoprost) or a double dose of PGF2α (50 mg of dinoprost) during a Resynch protocol on luteal regression and pregnancies per artificial insemination (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 1,100) were randomly assigned at a nonpregnancy diagnosis to receive (1) Ovsynch (control: 100 µg of GnRH; 7 d, 25 mg of PGF2α; 56 h, 100 µg of GnRH), (2) Ovsynch with a second PGF2α treatment (GPPG: 100 µg of GnRH; 7 d, 25 mg of PGF2α; 24 h, 25 mg of PGF2α; 32 h, 100 µg of GnRH), or (3) Ovsynch with a double dose of PGF2α (GDDP: 100 µg of GnRH; 7 d, 50 mg of PGF2α; 56 h, 100 µg of GnRH). All cows received timed artificial insemination (TAI) approximately 16 h after the second GnRH treatment (G2). Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by transrectal palpation 39 ± 3 d after TAI, and pregnancy status was reconfirmed 66 d after TAI. Blood samples collected from a subset of cows in each treatment at the first PGF2α treatment (n = 394) and at G2 (n = 367) were assayed for progesterone (P4). Data were analyzed by logistic regression using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). At 39 d after TAI, GPPG cows tended to have more P/AI than control cows [35% (137/387) vs. 31% (107/349)], whereas P/AI for GDDP cows [32% (118/364)] did not differ from that for control cows. Pregnancy loss from 38 to 66 d did not differ among treatments and was 8% (30/362). The percentage of cows with complete luteal regression (P4 <0.4 ng/mL at G2) tended to differ among treatments and was greater for GPPG cows than for GDDP and control cows (94% vs. 88% vs. 88%, respectively). Overall, cows with P4 <1 ng/mL at the first PGF2α treatment had fewer P/AI than cows with P4 ≥1 ng/mL (27% vs. 38%), whereas cows with P4 ≥0.4 ng/mL at G2 had fewer P/AI than cows with P4 <0.4 ng/mL (15% vs. 38%). We conclude that adding a second PGF2α treatment 24 h after the first within a Resynch protocol tended to increase the proportion of cows undergoing complete luteal regression and P/AI, whereas treatment with a double dose of PGF2α at a single time did not.

Effects of immunocastration and a ß-adrenergic agonist on retail cuts of feedlot finished Nellore cattle.

Immunocastration (ImC) has been proposed as an animal welfare-friendly alternative to reduce sexual and aggressive behavior and to increase carcass fat deposition with positive effects on meat quality. The ß-adrenergic agonists (ß-AA) are known as repartitioning agents that acts increasing lean tissue deposition. The combined use of these technologies can positively affect meat quality and increase retail cuts yield. Thus, this research was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of ImC and ß-AA (zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) and ractopamine hydrochloride (RH)) on retail cuts, bones, and fat trim of feedlot finished Bos indicus (Nellore) cattle. No interaction was observed between sexual condition and diet for any trait. The ImC decreased cold carcass, hindquarter (HQ), forequarter (FQ) and combined brisket, short ribs and flank (BSF) weights. The ImC also showed smaller weights of retail cuts and bones on the HQ and on the FQ than non-castrated (NoC). Fat trim weights did not differ from ImC and NoC. The most of subprimal cuts were heavier in NoC than in ImC. Feeding ß-AA did not affect cold carcass weight; however, animals fed ZH had higher weights of HQ and retail cuts in HQ when compared with RH and control (CO) group, with no differences between RH and CO for both traits. The weights of FQ, BSF, retail cuts in FQ, as well as bones and fat trimmings were not affected by ß-AA. In summary, ImC decreases carcass and retail cut weights, whereas ZH supplementation leads to an improvement in carcass lean tissue and retail cuts.

Association of changes among body condition score during the transition period with NEFA and BHBA concentrations, milk production, fertility, and health of Holstein cows.

Our objective was to evaluate the association between body condition score (BCS) change during the transition period with fertility, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations, milk yield, and health problems of Holstein cows in a retrospective cohort study. Holstein cows (n = 232) were assessed for BCS (5 point scale; 0.25 point increments) and had blood collected at 21 and 7 d before, on the day of, and 7 and 21 d after calving. Blood samples were assayed for NEFA and BHBA concentrations. All cows received a timed artificial insemination (TAI) at 65 ± 3 days in milk (DIM) following a Presynch-Ovsynch protocol with a progesterone implant during the Ovsynch protocol. Cows were grouped based on BCS change after calving as to whether they: 1) lost (L), 2) maintained (M), or 3) gained (G) BCS. Data were analyzed by logistic regression with GLIMMIX and ANOVA with repeated measures using the MIXED procedures of SAS. Both NEFA and BHBA concentrations after calving differed (P < 0.01) for cows that lost, maintained, or gained BCS from 21 d before to 21 d after calving (NEFA: 0.51 ± 0.01; 0.45 ± 0.01; 0.42 ± 0.01 mmol/L; BHBA: 0.73 ± 0.02; 0.70 ± 0.02; 0.68 ± 0.02 mmol/L; respectively; mean ± SEM). By design, BCS change after calving differed (P < 0.01) among groups and was -0.38; 0.00; and 0.35 for cows in groups L, M, and G, respectively. At 21 d before and 21 d after calving, BCS differed (P < 0.01) among groups and was [before (2.97, 2.70, and 2.57) and after (2.54, 2.70, and 2.90)] for cows in groups L, M, and G, respectively. Between evaluated days, higher circulating NEFA and BHBA concentrations were observed 7 d after calving. Change in BCS affected (P < 0.01) pregnancy/AI (P/AI), days to first ovulation, and percentage of cyclic cows at 50 DIM. At 32 d after TAI, P/AI differed (P < 0.01) for cows that lost [18% (11/84)], maintained [33% (26/80)], or gained [47% (32/68)] BCS. Cows that lost BCS during the transition period had more health events (P < 0.01), than cows that gained or maintained BCS. In conclusion, changes in BCS during the transition period affected NEFA and BHBA concentrations, fertility, and occurrence of health problems during the lactation.

Effects of immunocastration and ß-adrenergic agonists on the performance and carcass traits of feedlot finished Nellore cattle.

ß-Adrenergic agonists (ß-AA) are non-hormonal growth promoters which promote muscle hypertrophy in supplemented animals. The effects of two ß-AA in combination with the immunocastration technique on the performance and carcass traits were evaluated using 96 feedlot Nellore males in a randomized complete block design with two sex conditions (immunocastrated (IC) v. non-castrated (NC)) and three treatments: CON (no ß-agonists added), RH (300 mg of ractopamine hydrochloride/day, for 33 days) or ZH (80 mg of zilpaterol·hydrochloride animal/day for 30 days, removed 3 days for required withdrawal period). The trial was carried for 100 days where in the first 70 days animals did not receive ß-AA (phase 1) and during the last 30 days they were treated with ß-AA (phase 2). The performance and ultrasound measurements of longissimus muscle area (LMA), backfat thickness (BFT) and rump fat thickness (RFT) were evaluated in both phases. No sex condition v. treatment interactions were observed for any trait. The NC animals had higher average daily gain (ADG) and final BW than the IC animals, but they did not differ in dry matter intake (DMI) and feed efficiency (gain to feed). The NC animals showed greater LMA (P=0.0001) and hot carcass weight (P=0.0006), and smaller BFT (P=0.0007), RFT (P=0.0039) and percentage of kidney, pelvic and heart fat (P<0.0001) when compared with IC animals. The animals fed ZH showed greater ADG (P=0.0002), G : F (P<0.0001) and dressing per cent (P=0.0136) than those fed RH and CON diets. No differences in BW and DMI were observed. A interaction between treatment and time on feed was observed for LMA and BFT, in which the animals fed ZH diet showed greater LMA (P<0.01) and lower BFT (P<0.01) at 100 days than the animals fed RH and CON diets, whereas RH and CON diets did not differ. Immunocastration decreases muscle development and increases carcass finishing. In contrast, ß-AA increases muscle and decreases fat deposition. The ZH has a higher action on the muscle metabolism than animals fed RH diet. However, RH diet achieves a better balance because it has an intermediary performance between non-supplemented and ZH animals and does not decrease the carcass fat.

Effect of dietary cation-anion difference on performance of lactating dairy cows and stability of milk proteins.

Casein micelle stability is negatively correlated with milk concentrations of ionic calcium, which may change according to the metabolic and nutritional status of dairy cows. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) on concentrations of casein subunits, whey proteins, ionic calcium, and milk heat and ethanol stability. Sixteen Holstein cows were distributed in 4 contemporary 4 × 4 Latin square designs, which consisted of 4 periods of 21 d and 4 treatments according to DCAD: 290, 192, 98, and -71 mEq/kg of dry matter (DM). The milk concentrations of ionic calcium and κ-casein were reduced as DCAD increased, whereas the milk urea nitrogen and ß-lactoglobulin concentrations were increased. As a result of these alterations, the milk ethanol stability and milk stability during heating at 140 °C were increased linearly with increasing DCAD [Y = 74.87 (standard error = 0.87) + 0.01174 (standard error = 0.0025) × DCAD (mEq/kg of DM) and Y = 3.95 (standard error = 1.02) + 0.01234 (standard error = 0.0032) × DCAD (mEq/kg of DM), respectively]. In addition, 3.5% fat-corrected milk and fat, lactose, and total milk solids contents were linearly increased by 13.52, 8.78, 2.5, and 2.6%, respectively, according to DCAD increases from -71 to 290 mEq/kg of DM, whereas crude protein and casein content were linearly reduced by 4.83 and 4.49%, respectively. In conclusion, control of metabolic changes in lactating dairy cows to maintain blood acid-base equilibrium plays an important role in keeping milk stable to ethanol and during heat treatments.

Influência da diferença cátion-aniônica da dieta sobre o balanço de cálcio, fósforo e magnésio em ovinos / Influence of the dietary cation-anion difference on calcium, phosphorus and magnesium balance in sheep

O efeito do balanço cátion-aniônico da dieta (BCAD) no balanço macromineral (cálcio, fósforo e magnésio), no pH urinário e fecal, na concentração sérica de cálcio, fósforo e magnésio foi estudado utilizando-se 16 carneiros machos, da raça Santa Inês, por um período de 26 dias, sendo sete de adaptação. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos. Para a manipulação do BCAD foram adicionados cloreto de cálcio e bicarbonato de sódio, obtendo-se os seguintes tratamentos: -12; +30; +76 e +133mEq/kg MS da ração. Não foram encontradas diferenças (P>0,10) no pH fecal, pH urinário, balanço de fósforo e magnésio. Com o aumento do BCAD houve decréscimo da absorção e retenção de cálcio, e aumento da excreção fecal. A manipulação do BCAD interferiu no metabolismo de macrominerais, principalmente no de cálcio.

Avaliaçäo de colheita de líquido ruminal por fístula ou sonda esofágica em bovinos / Effect of rumem cannula and esophageal probe methods on sampling of rumem fluid in cattle

Estudaram-se os efeitos do método de colheita de líquido ruminal, por sonda ou fístula ruminal, e do momento de colheita, antes e depois da alimentaçäo, sobre a concentraçäo e proporçäo de AGVs, concentraçäo de nitrogênio amoniacal, concentraçäo de minerais e pH do líquido ruminal, utilizando-se quatro bovinos machos da raça Nelore, com fístula ruminal e peso médio de 237kg. Observou-se maior concentraçäo total de ácidos graxos voláteis no líquido colhido por fístula antes e depois da alimentaçäo. Maior porcentagem de ácido acético, menor de ácido propiônico e butírico, menor concentraçäo de nitrogênio amoniacal, maior valor do pH e menor concentraçäo de cálcio, de fósforo e de potássio foram obtidas no líquido colhido por sonda esofagiana. Tanto o líquido ruminal colhido por fístula como o por sonda esofagiana antes da alimentaçäo apresentaram menor concentraçäo de AGVs, menor porcentagem de ácido propiônico, menor concentraçäo de nitrogênio amoniacal, maior porcentagem de ácido butírico, maior relaçäo AC/PRO e maior pH do que o colhido após a alimentaçäo. Sugere-se trabalhar com colheitas por fístula ruminal após a administraçäo do alimento em experimentos em que se queira observar os primeiros efeitos dos tratamentos sobre o metabolismo ruminal. Com conhecimento prévio da açäo do tratamento no metabolismo ruminal e sendo utilizado um tratamento-controle, a colheita por sonda esofagiana poderá ser utilizada, mas apenas para experimentos em que os parâmetros ruminais sejam o enfoque secundário.

[Cryptococcus neoformans chemotyping. Review of the literature. New epidemiologic data on cryptococcosis. Our experience with the use of C.G.B. media in the study of this yeast]. / Quimiotipagem do Cryptococcus neoformans. Revisão da literatura. Novos dados epidemiológicos sobre a criptococose. Nossa experiência com o emprego do meio de C.G.B. no estudo daquela levedura.

The purpose of this work was to collect the main information from the literature about the biotyping of Cryptococcus neoformans. The more up-to date research concerning the epidemiology of cryptococcosis comprising quite a few articles, mainly after the advent of AIDS, was also reviewed. The Cryptococcus neoformans varieties neoformans and gattii are well defined biochemically nowadays chiefly through the C.G.B. medium, according to Kwon-Chung et al. (1982). The isolation of C. neoformans var. gattii from flowers and leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus tereticornis, specially in Australia, through the works of Ellis & Pfeiffer (1990) and Pfeiffer & Ellis (1992) permitted very interesting epidemiological investigations on C. neoformans, a capsulated yeast by which Sanfelice, in Italy (1894; 1895) attracted attention of medical class. Busse, in 1894, described the first human case of cryptococcosis under the presentation of a bone lesion simulating sarcoma. In this paper, the Brazilian researchers focused on this subject were pointed out, followed by the Author's experience with the C.G.B. medium (L-canavanine, glycine and bromothymol blue) proposed by Kwon-Chung et al. (1982) with very good results. It was possible with such medium the study of 50 C.N.S. liquor samples, being 39 from AIDS patients (78%) and 11 from non-AIDS ones (22%). Thirty-seven out of the 39 HIV-positive patients (74%) were identified as C. neoformans var. gattii. From the negative HIV, 8 (16%) were classified as C. neoformans var. neoformans and 3 (6%) as C. neoformans var. gattii. We could not perform the serotyping of the above referred samples. It is evident anyway that in Brazil there exist both varieties gattii and neoformans, agents of neurocryptococcosis, including AIDS patients. The importance of neurocryptococcosis, mainly among AIDS patients, is stressed here, showing once more the value of C.G.B. medium in the typing of C. neoformans in its two varieties. Also, it is of relevant importance the demonstration that some species of eucalyptus may act as "host-trees" of C. neoformans var. gattii.

Bilateral gonadoblastoma with chromosomal aberration.

A case is presented of a patient with bilateral gonadoblastoma characterized by primary amenorrhea and intense, generalized hirsutism. The physical examination showed somatic stigmas compatible with gonadal dysgenesis. Pneumopelvigraphy showed a uterus and hypoplastic gonads; no microcalcification was seen. Negative sex chromatin in buccal mucosal cells and a 46, XXr/46,XXp-q-45,X karyotypic constitution was found.

[Normal value of electrolytes in the gastric juice]. / Valores normais de electrolítos no suco gástrico

In the present paper, the authors present the concentrations of electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Cl) in the gastric juice of Na and K obtained by the flame photometer and by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer and conclude that the flame photometer may give false results when used to determine the electrolytes in the gastric juice.