Concentrações séricas de aspartato aminotransferase e creatinoquinase e concentrações plasmáticas de lactato em equinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador após exercício físico / Serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase concentrations and plasma lactate in Mangalarga Marchador horses after physical exercise

objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a influência do exercício físico (provas de marcha) sobre os valores séricos de AST e CK e valores plasmáticos de lactato em equinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador criados no estado do Espírito Santo. Amostras de soro e plasma foram obtidas de 15 equinos em quarto diferentes momentos: repouso (T0) e com 5 minutos (T1), 30 minutos (T2) e 2 horas (T3) após o término do exercício. Foram registrados valores de lactato plasmático de 1,02 ± 0,41 mmol/L, 2,73 ± 2,43 mmol/L, 1,89 ± 1,24 mmol/L e 1,31 ± 0,60 mmol/L, respectivamente nos momentos T0, T1, T2 e T3. Na análise de AST, os resultados registrados nos momentos T0, T1, T2 e T3 foram, respectivamente, de 189,3 ± 56,0 UI/L, 223,9 ± 53,5 UI/L, 186,8 ± 25,8 UI/L e 193,9 ± 44,7 UI/L. Finalmente, os valores séricos de CK foram de 113,4 ± 56,3 UI/l, 144.1 ± 70,9 UI/L, 143,0 ± 81,0 UI/L e 173,1 ± 128,0 UI/L, respectivamente nos momentos T0, T1, T2 and T3. A análise dos resultados demonstrou que a marcha influenciou de forma significativa o lactato plasmático, porém não influenciou a atividade sérica de AST e CK, sugerindo que os equinos usados encontravam-se condicionados ao exercício físico imposto.

The aim of this study was evaluate the influence of physical exercise (marcha gait) on serum values of CK and AST and plasmatic values of lactate in Mangalarga Marchador horses trained in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Serum and plasma samples were obtained from 15 horses in four different moments: rest (T0), 5 minutes (T1), 30 minutes (T2) and 2 hours (T3) after the exercise. Lactate analysis revealed values of 1.02 ± 0.41 mmol/L, 2.73 ± 2.43 mmol/L, 1.89 ± 1.24 mmol/L and 1.31 ± 0.60 mmol/L, respectively at T0, T1, T2 and T3. When evaluating AST, the results recorded in T0, T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 189.3 ± 56.0 UI/L, 223.9 ± 53.5 UI/L, 186.8 ± 25.8 UI/L and 193.9 ± 44.7 UI/L. Finally, the CK at moments T0, T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 113.4 ± 56.3 UI/l, 144.1 ± 70.9 UI/L, 143.0 ± 81.0 UI/L and 173.1 ± 128.0 UI/L. The results showed that marcha gait leaded to significantly increased in plasma lactate and did not alter serum AST and CK, suggesting that the equines used were conditioned to the physical exercised imposed.

Correlation of serum hepatitis B surface antigen level with response to entecavir in naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Recent studies have suggested that quantifying the serum HBsAg levels can predict the response to pegylated interferon. We aimed to determine the change in serum HBsAg levels during entecavir (ETV) treatment and the correlation with treatment response in chronic HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative hepatitis B patients. Serial HBsAg levels were measured using the Architect assay (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) in sera from 101 treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving ETV. During treatment, in HBeAg-positive patients, the mean HBsAg level was 3.51, 3.22, 3.34, 3.36, and 3.40 log10 IU/ml at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, and there was no significant change compared with the baseline level, except the decline at 3 months (P = 0.009). In HBeAg-negative patients, the mean level of serum HBsAg showed increase with 3.06, 3.09, 3.20, 3.26, and 3.27 log10 IU/ml at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment, respectively. In HBeAg-positive patients, HBV-DNA negativity (<2,000 copies/ml; P = 0.010) and HBsAg level < 3,000 IU/ml (P = 0.026) at 3 months were independent predictors of HBeAg loss/seroconversion at 12 months. After 24 months of treatment, the HBsAg levels at baseline (P = 0.046) was an independent factor of HBeAg loss/seroconversion. In HBeAg-negative patients, undetectable HBV DNA at 6 months was an independent factor predicting undetectable HBV DNA after 12 months of therapy. The level of serum HBsAg before and during therapy was a good predictor of HBeAg loss/seroconversion in naïve HBeAg-positive CHB patients receiving entecavir.

Electrophoretic and morphological differentiation of three sympatric species of the genus Lecithochirium (Trematoda: Hemiuridae), parasites of marine fishes.

Three sympatric species of the genus Lecithochirium, Lecithochirium fusiforme, Lecithochirium rufoviride and Lecithochirium musculus, parasites of Conger conger and Anguilla anguilla, were compared morphologically and electrophoretically. The three species can be discriminated by enzyme analysis, and differentiation can also be made by the analysis of several morphometric features, in particular body size and sucker ratio. Fourteen enzyme systems representing 15 loci were examined by starch gel electrophoresis. Two of the enzyme systems studied (ALD and GOT) were totally diagnostic among Lecithochirium species. Fixed allelic differences between L. fusiforme and L. musculuswere observed at five loci, between L. fusiforme and L. rufoviride at nine loci, and between L. musculusand L. rufoviride at ten loci. The percentage of fixed differences among the species under study ranged from 33 to 77%. The results show that the three taxa can be clearly differentiated, and that L. fusiforme is genetically more similar to L. musculus than to L. rufoviride.

Significance of xanthine oxidase in the production of intracellular oxygen radicals in an in-vitro hypoxia-reoxygenation model.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The peroxidation of membranous phospholipids induced by ischemia reperfusion was inhibited in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) overexpressing mice, suggesting a detrimental role for intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in reoxygenated cell injury. To ascertain the in-vitro relevance of this hypothesis, the present study examined the participation of intracellular ROS in reoxygenation injury. METHODS: This examination was done in two experimental models: Cu/Zn-SOD transgenic (Tg) mice that underwent hypoxia-reoxygenation in vitro and normal mice pretreated with a specific inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, BOF-4272, followed by in vitro hypoxia-reoxygenation. RESULTS: The release of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the peroxidation of phospholipids were both ameliorated in hepatocytes from the Tg mice compared with findings in hepatocytes from normal mice. Similar findings were seen in the BOF-4272-pretreated cells, in which there was a decrease in AST and phospholipid peroxides. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the pivotal role of intracellular ROS generated by xanthine oxidase in reoxygenated cell injury, and suggest the viability of using an intracellular antioxidative therapy for reperfusion injury of the liver.