Effects of conditioning on the welfare of jaguars (Panthera onca) in captivity / Efeitos do condicionamento sobre o bem-estar de onças-pintadas (Panthera onca) em cativeiro

The jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and in the face of the threat of extinction and the reduction of natural areas, keeping the species in captivity may be important for its conservation. This condition can lead to a reduction in well-being, especially due to spatial limitation and lack of environmental stimulus. In recent decades, techniques have been sought to minimize the negative impacts of captivity, with an increase in the use of environmental enrichment and operational conditioning in order to facilitate routine procedures for the animal management. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of conditioning on the welfare of jaguars in captivity, analyzing behavioral and physiological effects through salivary cortisol. Seven jaguars were studied in a Scientific Breeder. There was an increase in behaviors associated with welfare and cortisol during conditioning, possibly related to learning. The increase in behaviors associated with welfare suggests that the technique can contribute to improve the quality of life of these animals in captivity.(AU)

A onça-pintada é o maior felino das Américas e, diante da ameaça de extinção e da redução de áreas naturais, manter a espécie em cativeiro pode ser importante para sua conservação. Essa condição pode levar à redução no bem-estar, especialmente devido à limitação espacial e à carência de estímulos ambientais. Nas últimas décadas, têm sido buscadas técnicas para minimizar os impactos negativos do cativeiro, com crescimento da utilização de enriquecimento ambiental e do condicionamento operante, com o intuito de facilitar procedimentos de rotina do manejo dos animais. Nesse cenário, o presente estudo teve por finalidade avaliar os efeitos do condicionamento sobre o bem-estar de onças-pintadas em cativeiro, analisando-se efeitos comportamentais e fisiológicos por meio do cortisol salivar. Foram estudadas sete onças-pintadas em um criadouro científico. Houve aumento dos comportamentos associados ao bem-estar e do cortisol durante o condicionamento, possivelmente relacionados à aprendizagem. O aumento nos comportamentos de bem-estar sugere que a técnica pode contribuir para melhorar a qualidade de vida desses animais em cativeiro.(AU)

Prevalence and predictors of nonadherence to hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of nonadherence to dialysis (NAD) presents a wide variation, depending on the parameters used and demographic regions studied. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of NAD of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 255 adult patients receiving HD for >3 months. Skipping a session per month, shortening a session for at least 10 min, phosphorus >7.5 mg/dl, potassium >6.0 mmol/l and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) >5.7% of body weight were indicative of NAD. The association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with NAD was assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean age was 50 ± 13.1 years, 62.7% were male, 85.5% were of African descent and 62% were married. The prevalence rates of NAD were: 49% of shortening sessions, 18% of hyperkalemia, 12% of hyperphosphatemia, 9% of IDWG >5.7% of dry weight and 8% of skipping HD. Independent predictors of NAD were: age ≤50 years, not being married, living alone, living in Salvador, attending dialysis without a companion, ethnic African descent, Kt/V <1.3 and residual diuresis <100 ml/day. CONCLUSION: NAD is frequent and distinct sociodemographic and clinical variables predict different parameters.