Microtomographic Parameters and Nanoindentation of the Hoof of Girolando Cattle.

The aim of this study was to describe the microstructure of the pigmented and depigmented hoof capsule of Girolando cattle by bi- and tridimensional microtomography and nanoindentation, analysing the possible relation between these findings and the susceptibility of such animals to podal diseases. To carry out the microtomography and the nanoindentation, duplicated samples were collected from the dorsal wall, abaxial wall and pre-bulbar sole of the hoof capsule. Material collection was performed in 40 medial digits of thoracic limbs and 40 lateral digits of pelvic limbs. The bidimensional microtomography showed that the dorsal wall of the thoracic and pelvic limbs presented higher density, followed by the abaxial wall, and finally by the sole, with the lowest density. Moreover, the hoof capsule of cows of Girolando breed is a compact, non-porous material, and constituted by extratubular and intratubular keratin. By the tridimensional microtomography, it was possible to measure the angles of the corneal tubules in relation to the periople and the claws in the different regions of the hoof capsule, which were 90° for the dorsal wall, 55° for the abaxial wall and 70° for the sole. The tridimensional microtomography also showed corneal tubules of different diameters: 17, 51, 85, 119 and 153 µm. The nanoindentation test, when performed in different regions of the hoof capsule, did not reveal significant difference of Vickers hardness in the evaluated areas. However, we verified a larger elastic module of these regions on the transversal cut of the corneal tubules compared to the longitudinal cut.

Novas perspectivas no diagnóstico e tratamento da acropostite-fimose em touros / New perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of acropostitis-phimosis of bulls

A acropostite-fimose é um processo inflamatório da extremidade do prepúcio, diagnosticada com frequência em touros. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o exame ultrassonográfico na definição da viabilidade do folheto prepucial interno (FPI) e na evolução clínica do pós-operatório, após o emprego de fios de categute ou poliglactina na hemostasia e de algodão ou poliglactina na confecção de sutura padrão Donatti empregada para fixar o FPI à pele prepucial no transoperatório da acropostite-fimose em touros. A sutura utilizada foi captonada ou não captonada, e os animais submetidos ao procedimento cirúrgico apresentavam no mínimo dois terços do FPI viável. Os touros foram alocados, aleatoriamente, em quatro grupos contendo nove animais cada, de acordo com o fio empregado na hemostasia e na confecção da sutura padrão Donatti. O exame ultrassonográfico mostrou-se importante na indicação ou não do tratamento cirúrgico da acropostite-fimose e possibilitou localizar lesões, mensurar a área de reação tecidual e identificar lesões profundas e pontos de estreitamento do FPI. Os animais de GII apresentaram edema mais discreto, observando-se diferença significativa (P<0,05) entre GII e os grupos GI, GIII e GIV. A ocorrência de hiperemia no sétimo dia de pós-operatório também foi menor nos touros do grupo GII, ocorrendo diferença significativa (P<0,05) entre GII e os grupos GI e GIII. A sutura empregando o dispositivo de látex (cápton) e o emprego do fio de poliglactina apresentaram-se como medidas benéficas, resultando em menor número de complicações pós-operatórias.(AU)

Acropostitis-Phimosis is an inflammatory process of the extremity of the prepuce, frequently diagnosed in bulls. The present study aimed to evaluate ultrassound exams in the definition of viability of the internal layer of prepuce and the postoperative clinical evolution. This evaluation is after the employment of catgut or poliglactin threads in homeostasis, and cloth or polyglactin threads in confection of the standard suture, Donatti, used to fix the internal layer of prepuce to the preputial in the postoperative of acropostitis-phimosis in bulls. The suture was captonated and non-captonated and the animals conducted to the surgical procedure showed at least 2/3 of viability of the internal layer of prepuce. The bulls were randomly allocated in four groups, each one containing nine animals, according to the thread used in homeostasis and confection of the Donatti standard suture. Ultrassound was shown to be important in the indication or not of the surgical treatment of acropostitis-phimosis and allowed the identification of lesions, measurement of areas of tissue reaction and locate deep lesions and narrowing points of internal layer of prepuce. The employment of latex device (capton) in suture and the employment of polyglactin thread 910 were shown as beneficial measures, resulting in a lower number of postoperative complications.(AU)

Accuracy of an ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence for the laboratory diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis.

We compared the accuracy of ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using Leishmania braziliensis and L. major-like antigens and antigens from the Bio-Manguinhos kit for serological diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). Cut-off values were defined by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve. For ELISA, statistical analyses revealed better accuracy [95.7% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value (PPV), 97.5% negative predictive value (NPV)] and reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.940] for L. braziliensis antigen compared with L. major-like antigen (78.7% sensitivity, 82.8% specificity, 73.3% PPV, 86.6% NPV, ICC: 0.833). ELISA optical density values obtained for both antigens were higher in mucosal forms of ATL. For IIF, sensitivity and specificity were 81.5 and 86.2%, respectively, for the L. braziliensis antigen, compared with 95.4 and 77.7% for the L. major-like antigen and 75.4 and 89.2% for the Bio-Manguinhos kit. No difference in the specificity of the IIF test was observed between antigens, whereas sensitivity differed between the L. braziliensis and L. major-like antigens and the Bio-Manguinhos kit. Parallel ELISA and IIF testing increased sensitivity, irrespective of the antigen employed, and serial testing increased overall specificity. These results support the recommendation that ELISA employing L. braziliensis antigen be used as a diagnostic tool for suspected cases of ATL in L. braziliensis-endemic areas.

Estudo das alteraçöes pulmonares em doentes com artrite reumatóide: correlaçäo clínico-radiológica funcional / Pulmonary changes in patients with rheumathoid arthritis: functional clinico-radiological correlation

Durante uma investigación de 21 pacientes consecutivos portadores de artrite reumatóide clássica (AR), foram encontradas anormalidades na funçäo pulmonar atribuíveis à AR em 52,4%, tendo a reduçäo da capacidade de difusäo e da queda da PaO2 após exercício sido as anormalidades mais comuns. Outras alteraçöes encontradas foram o shunt patológico, distúrbio espirográfico restritivo e hipoxemia em repouso. Os sintomas atribuíveis à AR foram infreqüentes, assim como as alteraçöes radiológicas. Em um caso, ocorreu alteraçäo radiológica com funçäo pulmonar normal. Desses 21 pacientes, seis estavam em tratamento com sais de ouro, droga esta que vem sendo descrita na literatura como capaz de desencadear doença intersticial pulmonar. No grupo estudado, näo houve correlaçäo entre a presença de deformidades e/ou erosäo óssea ou de títulos sorológicos elevados como alteraçöes pulmonares atribuíveis à AR