Carcinoma espinocelular da base do chifre, bilateral e simétrico, em vaca com distúrbio hormonal ˗ relato de caso / [Horn-based squamous cell carcinoma, bilateral and symmetrical in cow with hormonal disorder ˗ case report]

Este trabalho tem por objetivo descrever um caso de carcinoma espinocelular da base do chifre, bilateral e simétrico, em uma vaca e discutir a questão hormonal, possivelmente envolvida na patogênese da doença. Tratava-se de uma fêmea bovina, 11 anos, com histórico de emagrecimento progressivo, presença de massas exofíticas na base de ambos os chifres e em anestro por muitos anos. Foi realizada biopsia incisional de ambas as lesões para exame histopatológico e dosagens hormonais. Devido à progressão do quadro clínico, optou-se pela eutanásia, seguida dos exames necroscópico e histopatológico. O exame histopatológico revelou tratar-se de um carcinoma espinocelular infiltrativo bem diferenciado, e as dosagens hormonais apresentaram alterações nos níveis do hormônio luteinizante, folículo estimulante e estrógenos totais. Apesar de existirem descrições de carcinomas espinocelulares da base do chifre, ainda não havia relatos da ocorrência do mesmo bilateral e em uma vaca com distúrbios hormonais.(AU)

The objective of this study was to describe a case of bilateral and symmetrical squamous cell carcinoma from the horn base in a cow and to discuss the hormonal question, possibly involved in its pathogenesis. A 11-year-old beef cow presenting a history of progressive thinning, presence of exophytic masses at the base of both horns and anestrous for many years was assisted. An incisional biopsy of both lesions was performed for histopathological examination and hormonal dosages. Due to the clinical progression, euthanasia followed by necroscopic and histopathological examination was carried out. Histopathological examination revealed a well differentiated infiltrative squamous cell carcinoma and the hormonal dosages presented changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating and total estrogen levels. Although there are descriptions of basal squamous cell carcinoma of the horn, there were still no reports of the occurrence of the same bilateral in a cow with hormonal disorders.(AU)

Effects of lipoic acid on growth and biochemical responses of common carp fed with carbohydrate diets.

Lipoic acid (LA) is an antioxidant that also favors glucose uptake in mammals. Until now, there are no studies evaluating the potential effect of this molecule on glycemic control in fish. It was evaluated LA effects on glucose uptake in common carp Cyprinus carpio fed with carbohydrate diets from two carbohydrate sources: glucose (GLU) and starch (STA), and supplemented or not with LA, being the diets: +GLU/-LA (GLU); +GLU/+LA (GLU + LA); +STA/-LA (STA); and +STA/+LA (STA + LA). Carp juveniles (6.5 ± 0.1 g) were fed with each diet ad libitum 4 times a day, during 68 days. Muscle glycogen concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in GLU and GLU + LA than in STA and STA + LA groups. On fish fed with starch, muscle cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in fish fed diets supplemented with LA. Muscle protein levels were higher in fish fed with LA, independent of the diet carbohydrate source. Lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in fish muscle on fish fed the STA + LA diets when compared with the STA diet. Our findings indicate that LA modulates lipid, proteins and carbohydrate metabolism together with the well-known antioxidant effect. Also, LA showed to enhance starch utilization taking into account muscle cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rice grain dried by different processes: evaluation of a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe extraction method.

This study aims at developing a method for the determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rice grain samples by combining the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method and determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). Quantification limits ranging from 1 to 5µgkg(-1) were obtained. Recoveries ranged from 70% to 106% for most of the 16 PAHs under analysis. The optimised methodology was applied to assess safety concerning the content of PAHs in white and parboiled rice samples, dried by gas and wood burning. Although benzo(a)pyrene, the marker used for evaluating the carcinogenic risk of PAHs in food, was not detected in the samples, naphthalene and phenanthrene were detected in all of them. Since cereals have been shown to be an important source of PAHs in the diet, methods that perform the evaluation of the quality of this food group become relevant.

Teen pregnancy. Why it remains a serious social, economic, and educational problem in the U.S.

PIP: Although there are fewer teenage pregnancies in the US today than was the case prior to 1970, this fact should not be used to claim that the problem of adolescent pregnancy has been exaggerated. In the earlier period, the majority of adolescent pregnancies were to married couples; moreover, early childbearing was a social norm. In the present period, the availability of effective contraception and legal abortion has enabled women to postpone marriage and childbearing into their late twenties or early thirties and to focus instead on education that enhances their marketability and wages. Under prevailing social norms, teen pregnancy represents a clear deviation. By 1990, 68% of births to women under 20 years of age involved unmarried mothers. Under current socioeconomic conditions, unmarried adolescent mothers are likely to live in poverty and their offspring are at high risk of learning disabilities, child abuse, and foster care placements. Although young people are bombarded with images of sexuality in the mass media, school-based sex education programs tend to promote abstinence and withhold information on or access to contraception. It is essential that material on human sexuality is integrated into the curriculum as early as kindergarten if the teen pregnancy rate and the intergenerational transmission of early childbearing under conditions of poverty are to be reduced.^ieng

Current theoretical perspectives on adolescent pregnancy and childbearing in the United States.

"The purpose of this article is to synthesize and place in perspective contemporary theories and explanations of the high rates of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing in the United States. The study examined the strengths and weaknesses of the more prominent explanations of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing in light of current research.... This article casts doubt on the hypothesis that the lack of reproductive information is in and of itself an important determinant of adolescent pregnancy in the United States. Many other factors are discussed that intervene to negate the effect of reproductive knowledge alone as a deterrent to adolescent pregnancy and childbearing. Suggestions for an integrative research agenda, as well as educational and health strategies focusing on adolescent pregnancy and childbearing are proposed."

Prophylaxis for recurrent acute otitis media: a Brazilian study.

We enrolled 60 children with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) in a study of the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis. All children were entered into the study following an acute episode of infection treated with amoxicillin (AMX) for 10 days. Following therapy, the children were re-examined, and then randomly assigned to receive either trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), amoxicillin (AMX) or a placebo (PLA). Twenty children were included in each group. Each drug was administered once a day at bedtime, at 1/3 the therapeutic dose, for 3 months. Children were re-evaluated with pneumootoscopy during episodes of acute illness and with pneumootoscopy and impedance tympanometry (TYMP) at monthly intervals. We observed a significantly increased rate of recurrent AOM in children receiving placebo compared with those who received antibiotics (50% vs. 17% P < 0.005). Both prophylactic antibiotics were equally effective in preventing recurrent AOM (recurrence rate 20% TMP-SMX, 15% AMX). We also observed that recurrences in children receiving placebo occurred earlier in the study period than in those receiving antibiotics. These results suggest that antimicrobial prophylaxis in children with recurrent acute otitis media is effective in reducing subsequent disease. The similar efficacy of both antibiotics tested suggests that the less expensive agent should be used.

Teenage fertility and its social integration correlates: a control theory explanation.

"This study uses control theory to explain teenage fertility in one [U.S.] southeastern state. Control theory explains deviance from societal norms in terms of weak social bonding or integration. An important assumption of the study is that teenage parenting violates American parenting norms, and can thus be conceptualized as deviant behavior. Consequently, this study hypothesizes that teenage fertility should covary with measures of social integration. This study uses data from 64 parishes in Louisiana, and the results suggest that measures of social integration (i.e., divorce rates, percentage of population living alone, and personal alienation) are significant predictors of teenage fertility in nonurban settings and explain approximately 53% of the variance in teenage fertility. However, among urban parishes, socioeconomic status is the only significant predictor of teenage fertility, explaining almost 44% of its variance."

Animal wastes. I. Effect of processing on the chemical and protein nutritional value of calf stomach.

The nutritive value of calf stomach waste from rennet production was assessed. The by-product was either drum-dried at the industry (DDSW) or mildly dried (60 degrees C) in a ventilated oven at the laboratory (MDSW). Part of the sample treated at the laboratory was autoclaved before drying (ASW). The protein and ether extract concentrations ranged from 34.25% to 44.31% and from 31.14% to 38.95%, respectively, and were lower in DDSW than in the other two samples. The ash content which ranged from 16.04% to 27.38%, was higher in the DDSW sample. Methionine, cystine, and available lysine were lower in the DDSW by-product than in the other two samples. Lysine availability was affected by the drum-drying and autoclaving procedures. Tryptophan was shown to be the limiting amino acid in all samples. Nutritive value, assayed both in DDSW and ASW, was lower in DDSW when compared with ASW or with casein diets as far as PER is concerned. The digestibility was shown to be ranked in increasing order for DDSW, ASW and casein. In conclusion, the results indicate that the waste from rennet production may be recommended as in inexpensive source of protein for animal feeding.