Acute Effects of Different Conditioning Activities on Amateur Soccer Players.

Several warm-up activities are used to prepare soccer players for training and games. However, few studies have focused on comparing different activities (strength vs. stretching) in young and amateur athletes, especially for performance improvement in explosive actions. Thus, in order to compare the effect of four conditioning activities on jump and sprint performances, 12 soccer athletes (age: 19±0.8; weight (kg): 72.8±8.0; height (cm): 180±6.7) performed four warm-up activities: strength exercise (cluster system), combined exercise, plyometric exercise, and static stretching (control). The countermovement jump (CMJ) and 30-meter run (30-m Sprint) were performed 10 min after each experimental condition. A ONE-WAY ANOVA test of repeated measures was conducted with a Tukey's post-hoc test to compare the conditions. The strength conditioning activity protocol (33.68±2.87) showed a significant difference for the CMJ from static stretching (30.96±3.16) (p>0.05). There were significant differences regarding the 30-m Sprint test between strength conditioning (4.72±0.19) and combined activities (4.71±0.21) compared to static stretching (4.84±0.21) (p>0.05). In conclusion, the combined conditioning activity and strength protocols can be chosen in warm-up activities instead of static stretching (control condition) for improved immediate sprint and jump abilities in amateur soccer players.

Using pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAG) for pregnancy detection at day 24 of gestation in beef cattle.

The objective of this experiment was to determine if circulating concentrations of pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAG) on day 24 of gestation can be utilized to diagnose pregnancy and embryo viability in beef cattle. Postpartum beef cows (n = 677) and heifers (n = 127) were exposed to a 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR estrus synchronization protocol followed by fixed-time AI (FTAI) on day 0. Blood samples were collected at day 24 after TAI to assess circulating concentrations of PAG utilizing an in-house ELISA. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 30 and 100 days after FTAI via transrectal ultrasonography. Mean circulating PAG concentration at day 24 differed (P < 0.001) between animals diagnosed pregnant and non-pregnant at day 30 (1.69 ±â€¯0.10 ng/mL vs 0.30 ng/mL ±â€¯0.07 ng/mL; mean ±â€¯SEM; respectively). Pregnant heifers had increased PAG concentration at day 24 compared with pregnant cows (P < 0.01; 3.29 ±â€¯0.36 ng/mL vs 1.39 ±â€¯0.10 ng/mL, respectively). Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, serum concentration of PAG at day 24 ≥ 0.33 ng/mL in cows and ≥0.54 ng/mL in heifers was 95% accurate at determining pregnancy status at day 30. Heifers that experienced late embryonic mortality between day 30 and 100 of gestation had decreased circulating concentrations of PAG on day 24 (2.02 ng/mL ±â€¯0.73) compared with heifers that maintained an embryo until day 100 (3.69 ng/mL ±â€¯0.39; P = 0.02). However, there was no difference in day 24 PAG concentration (P = 0.39) between cows that maintained or lost a pregnancy (1.31 ng/mL ±â€¯0.25 vs 0.92 ng/ml ±â€¯0.50). In summary, circulating PAG concentration on day 24 of gestation may be a useful marker for early pregnancy detection in beef cattle, and might be a potential marker for predicting embryonic loss.

Cadmium tolerance of Typha domingensis Pers. (Typhaceae) as related to growth and leaf morphophysiology

Abstract Typha domingensis (cattail) is a native macrophyte known by its capacity to tolerate several heavy metals effects and the potential use for phytoremediation. However, in despite that cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic pollutants; its effects in T. domingensis biology remain uninvestigated. Thus, the objective of this study was to study the tolerance of T. domingensis to cadmium contamination by evaluating its growth, Cd uptake, leaf anatomy and gas exchange. The experiment was designed using three cadmium concentrations (0, 10 and 50 µM) and ten replicates for 90 days. The cadmium uptake, growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll content and leaf anatomy were evaluated. Data was submitted to ANOVA and Scott-Knott test for P 0.05. Typha domingensis accumulates Cd proportionally to its concentration on the solution and the content of this metal was higher in roots as compared to shoots. Plants showed no significant modifications on growth parameters such as the biomass production, number of leaves, number of clones and the biomass allocation to organs. The photosynthesis, transpiration and chlorophyll content were not modified by Cd. Most anatomical traits evaluated were not modified by the metal but the stomatal density and the proportion of vascular tissues were reduced under 50 µM of Cd. In despite, the leaf anatomy showed no toxicity evidences for any Cd level. The absence of growth reduction and the stability of anatomical and physiological traits give insight about the Cd tolerance of this species. Therefore, T. domingensis is able to overcome Cd toxicity and shows potential for phytoremediation.

Resumo A espécie Typha domingensis (taboa) é uma macrófita nativa conhecida por sua tolerância a vários metais pesados e potencial uso na fitorremediação. Contudo, apesar de que o Cd é um dos poluentes mais tóxicos; Seus efeitos em T. domingensis ainda não foram investigados. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a tolerância de T. domingensis ao cádmio, avaliando o crescimento, absorção de Cd, anatomia foliar e trocas gasosas. O experimento foi conduzido utilizando três concentrações de Cd (0, 10 e 50 µM) e dez repetições por 90 dias.. O crescimento, trocas gasosas e o teor de clorofila e anatomia foliar foram avaliados. Os dados foram submetidos à ANOVA e ao teste de Scott-Knott para P 0,05. A absorção de cádmio, crescimento, trocas gasosas, teor de clorofila e anatomia foliar foram analisados. As plantas de T. domingensis podem acumular Cd proporcionalmente à sua concentração na solução e o teor deste metal foi maior nas raízes em comparação com a parte aérea. As plantas não apresentam modificações significativas nos parâmetros de crescimento como produção de biomassa, número de folhas, número de clones produzidos e alocação de biomassa nos órgãos. A fotossíntese, transpiração e conteúdo de clorofila não foram afetados de forma significativa pelo Cd. A maioria das características anatômicas avaliadas não apresentou diferenças, mas houve redução na densidade estomática e na proporção de tecidos vasculares na concentração de 50 µM de Cd. A anatomia foliar não mostrou evidências de toxicidade em nenhum dos níveis de Cd. A ausência de redução de crescimento e estabilidade das características anatômicas e fisiológicas caracteriza alta tolerância da espécie ao Cd. Portanto, T. domingensis é capaz de superar a toxicidade do Cd e demostra potencial para fitorremediação.

Finite element evaluation of three methods of stable fixation of condyle base fractures.

The surgical treatment of mandibular condyle fractures currently offers several possibilities for stable internal fixation. In this study, a finite element model evaluation was performed of three different methods for osteosynthesis of low subcondylar fractures: (1) two four-hole straight plates, (2) one seven-hole lambda plate, and (3) one four-hole trapezoidal plate. The finite element model evaluation considered a load applied to the first molar on the contralateral side to the fracture. Results showed that, although the three methods are capable of withstanding functional loading, the lambda plate displayed a more homogeneous stress distribution for both osteosynthesis material and bone and may be a better method when single-plate fixation is the option.

Blood clearance of Howell-Jolly bodies in an experimental autogenic splenic implant model.

BACKGROUND: Autogenic splenic implant (ASI) is one of the few alternatives for preservation of splenic tissue when total splenectomy is inevitable. The aim of this study was to determine the morphological and functional regeneration of ASIs, as indicated by the clearance of Howell-Jolly (HJ) bodies, in an experimental model. METHODS: Ninety-nine male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated (group 1), total splenectomy alone (group 2), and total splenectomy combined with ASI (group 3). Animals in group 3 were further allocated to nine subgroups of nine rats each, and analysed at different time points (1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 and 32 weeks after surgery). Blood smears were prepared at predetermined times for detection of HJ bodies. Morphological regeneration of tissue in the ASI was analysed by histology. RESULTS: At 1 week, the regenerated mass corresponded to about 7 per cent of the tissue implanted, reaching approximately 54 per cent at 24 weeks. The HJ body levels were increased in groups 2 and 3 until 8 weeks after surgery, following which levels in the ASI group became similar to those in the sham-operated group. HJ bodies were difficult to detect when a level of 22.5 per cent of regenerated ASI mass was reached. CONCLUSION: Functional regeneration of ASIs occurred from 8 weeks after surgery. When 22.5 per cent of regenerated ASI mass was reached almost no HJ bodies could be observed in the bloodstream, resembling a spleen in situ. SURGICAL RELEVANCE: Splenectomy has been practised routinely, both in the emergency setting and as a therapeutic elective procedure. There is a correlation between asplenia/hyposplenia and the occurrence of fulminant sepsis, underlining the importance of developing surgical methods for preserving splenic function. Both clinical and experimental studies have shown at least partial morphological and functional regeneration of autogenic splenic implants (ASIs). Experimental studies investigating the immunoprotective effect of ASIs, based mostly on exposure of animals to various bacteria, have demonstrated that ASIs can increase the rate of bacterial clearance and decrease mortality from sepsis. Clinical studies have shown their ability to remove colloidal substances and altered erythrocyte corpuscular inclusions, such as Howell-Jolly, Heinz and Pappenheimer bodies, from the bloodstream. In this experimental study the functional and morphological regeneration of ASIs was studied over time in rats.

The role of Tyr605 and Ala607 of thimet oligopeptidase and Tyr606 and Gly608 of neurolysin in substrate hydrolysis and inhibitor binding

The physicochemical properties of TOP (thimet oligopeptidase) and NEL (neurolysin) and their hydrolytic activities towards the FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) peptide series Abz-GFSXFRQ-EDDnp [where Abz is o-aminobenzoyl; X = Ala, Ile, Leu, Phe, Tyr, Trp, Ser, Gln, Glu, His, Arg or Pro; and EDDnp is N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-ethylenediamine] were compared with those of site-mutated analogues. Mutations at Tyr605 and Ala 607 in TOP and at Tyr606 and Gly608 in NEL did not affect the overall folding of the two peptidases, as indicated by their thermal stability, CD analysis and the pH-dependence of the intrinsic fluorescence of the protein. The kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of substrates with systematic variations at position P1 showed that Tyr605 and Tyr606 of TOP and NEL respectively, played a role in subsite S1. Ala607 of TOP and Gly608 of NEL contributed to the flexibility of the loops formed by residues 600-612 (GHLAGGYDGQYYG; one-letter amino acid codes used) in NEL and 599-611 (GHLAGGYDAQYYG; one-letter amino acid codes used) in TOP contributing to the distinct substrate specificities, particularly with an isoleucine residue at P1. TOP Y605A was inhibited less efficiently by JA-2 {N-[1-(R,S)-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl]Ala-Aib-Tyr-p-aminobenzoate}, which suggested that the aromatic ring of Tyr605 was an important anchor for its interaction with wild-type TOP. The hydroxy groups of Tyr605 and Tyr606 did not contribute to the pH-activity profiles, since the pKs obtained in the assays of mutants TOP Y605F and NEL Y606F were similar to those of wild-type peptidases. However, the pH-kcat/Km dependence curve of TOP Y605A differed from that of wild-type TOP and from TOP Y606F. These results provide insights into the residues involved in the substrate specificities of TOP and NEL and how they select cytosolic peptides for hydrolysis.

Alterações eletrocardiográficas em gatos com o uso da Tiletamina/Zolazepam

O artigo não apresenta resumo.