Prognostic markers of canine pyometra / Marcadores prognósticos na piometra canina

The pyometra is a disease that affects middle age and elderly female dogs during diestrus. Hormonal, microbiological, biochemical and hematological aspects are well described. However, few studies have evaluated the role of each in the prognosis of canine pyometra. The aim of this study was to identify markers associated with clinical worsening of dogs with pyometra. We prospectively evaluated 80 dogs with pyometra treated surgically. Group 1 consisted of dogs that were discharged within 48 hours after surgery and Group 2 consisted of those who required prolonged hospitalization or died. The findings of hematological, biochemical and blood lactate levels were compared between groups and variables such as bacterial multidrug resistance, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), hyperlactatemia and increased creatinine were analyzed through the dispersion of frequencies between groups. Among the variables studied, the presence of SIRS and elevated serum creatinine >2.5mg/mL were effective in predicting the worsening of the disease and can be used as prognostic markers of canine pyometra...

A piometra é doença que acomete as fêmeas da espécie canina de meia-idade a idosa durante o diestro. Aspectos hormonais, microbiológicos, hematológicos e bioquímicos são bem descritos. Entretanto, são poucos os estudos que avaliam o papel de cada um desses no prognóstico da piometra canina. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar marcadores associados ao agravamento clínico de cadelas com piometra. Foram avaliadas prospectivamente 80 cadelas com piometra tratadas cirurgicamente. O grupo 1 foi composto por cadelas que receberam alta até 48 horas de pós-operatório, e o grupo 2 por aquelas que necessitaram de internamento prolongado ou morreram. Os achados hematológicos, bioquímicos e os níveis do lactato sanguíneo foram comparados entre os grupos, e variáveis como multirresistência bacteriana, síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistêmica (SIRS), hiperlactatemia e aumento da creatinina foram analisadas por meio da dispersão de frequências entre os grupos. Entre as variáveis estudadas, a presença de SIRS e a elevação da creatinina sérica >2,5mg/mL foram eficazes em predizer o agravamento da doença e podem ser utilizadas como marcadores prognósticos da piometra canina...

Comparison of two different extenders for cryopreservation of epididymal dog sperm.

The collection of epididymal sperm is an option for preservation of germplasm of genetically superior animals that need to be orchiectomized or have died. The extender type used to freeze sperm is important to avoid spermatozoal membrane damage and to preserve semen quality after cryopreservation. The objective of this study was to verify the effects of a commercial bovine extender (Bovimix(®); Nutricell, Campinas) and a traditional TRIS-citric acid-glucose-egg yolk-7% glycerol extender on cryopreservation of canine epididymal sperm. The testes of 13 adult dogs were kept at 5 °C for 24 h in saline solution, and epididymal sperm was recovered in Ringers solution without lactate and were evaluated for motility. Samples with ≥ 80% motility were pooled and then divided before dilution and packaging in 0.5 ml plastic straws, equilibration at 4 °C for 1 h, freezing in nitrogen vapour for 20 min and storing at -196 °C. The straws were thawed at 56 °C for 10 s and were evaluated for motility by computer assisted analysis (CASA). The semen parameters, sperm movement index, linearity, total motility and rapid progressive motility were statistically higher in Bovimix(®) than TRIS. In contrast, amplitude of lateral head displacement, slow sperm and static sperm were lower in Bovimix(®). Despite the high percentage of sperm defects in epididymal cells, regardless of the extender, we concluded that Bovimix(®) is a viable alternative for the freezing of canine epididymal sperm.

Iron exposure modifies acetylcholinesterase activity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) tissues: distinct susceptibility of tissues to iron overload.

Iron is one the most abundant metals on the earth being essential for living organisms even though its free form can be toxic. The overload of this metal may be related with some disorders, like Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, and hemochromatosis in the liver. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of iron on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain and liver of zebrafish and to investigate the possible correlation with the iron content in these tissues. Different corresponding concentrations of iron were tested using in vitro (0.018, 0.268, and 2.6 mM) and in vivo (1, 15, and 150 mg/l) assays. The in vitro studies showed that iron promoted a significant increase in AChE activity in brain (52%) and liver (53%) at the higher concentration (2.6 mM). In the in vivo assays, a significant increase in this enzyme activity was observed in the presence of 15 mg/l in both, brain (62%) and liver tissue (70%). Semiquantitative RT-PCR did not reveal significant changes in acetylthiocholinesterase mRNA levels. Moreover, we observed that iron content was significantly increased in liver tissue when exposed to 15 (226%) and 150 mg/l (200%). These results indicate that iron can promote significant alterations in AChE activity which probably is not directly related to the iron content in zebrafish tissues.