Longitudinal evaluation of hepatic osteodystrophy in children and adolescents with chronic cholestatic liver disease

Bone mass loss is a major complication of chronic cholestatic liver disease (CCD). However, the long-term impact of CCD on bone mass acquisition is unknown. We longitudinally assessed bone mineral density (BMD) and factors involved in bone remodeling in 9 children and adolescents with CCD Child-Pugh A (5 boys/4 girls) and in 13 controls (6 boys/7 girls). The groups were evaluated twice, at baseline (T0) and after 3 years (T1), when osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline, 25-hydroxyvitamin-D, parathyroid hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and BMD (L1-L4, proximal femur and total body) were determined. Serum levels of receptor activator for nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin were measured only at T1. Lumbar spine BMD was reanalyzed twice: after adjustment for bone age and to compensate for the height factor. Volumetric density was also estimated mathematically in L2-L4. The BMD of L1-L4 was lower in the CCD group (Z-score at T0: control = -1.2 ± 0.8 vs CCD = -2.2 ± 1.4, P < 0.05; T1: control = -0.7 ± 0.8 vs CCD = -2.1 ± 1.1, P < 0.05). Osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline were similar for the two groups. The CCD group presented lower IGF-I (Z-score at T1: control = 1.4 ± 2.8 vs CCD = -1.5 ± 1.0, P < 0.05) and RANKL (control = 0.465 ± 0.275 vs CCD = 0.195 ± 0.250 pM, P < 0.05) than control. Children with compensated CCD Child-Pugh A showed early impairment of bone acquisition, with the impact being more severe in an initial phase and then tapering in a slowly progressive way. Reduction in endocrine IGF-I has a crucial role in this process

Three-dimensional turbo spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and semiquantitative assessment of knee osteoarthritis: comparison with two-dimensional routine MRI

SummaryPurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) turbo spin-echo (TSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for semiquantitative assessment of knee OA.Materials and methodTwenty subjects fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology clinical criteria of knee OA underwent both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D MRIs on the same day. The 2D MRI protocol included triplanar fat-suppressed (FS) intermediate-weighted (Iw) TSE. For the 3D TSE technique, a sagittal FS Iw sequence was acquired and triplanar reformations were constructed. 2D and 3D MRIs were read separately by two radiologists using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) system. Agreement was determined using weighted kappa statistics and percentage of overall agreement. The diagnostic performance of WORMS readings using 3D TSE MRI to detect the presence or absence of features was assessed using readings from 2D TSE images as a reference.ResultsAgreement for the scored features ranged between 0.62 (osteophytes (OS)) and 0.94 (meniscal extrusion). The sensitivity of WORMS readings using the 3D TSE technique ranged between 80% (periarticular cysts) and 100% (several features), the specificity ranged between 62.3% (OS) and 100% (several features), and accuracy ranged between 77.2% (OS) and 99.3% (subchondral cysts).ConclusionsSemiquantitative assessment of knee OA can be reliably performed using 3D TSE MRI, showing substantial to almost perfect agreement and high accuracy when compared to routine 2D TSE MRI. 3D TSE MRI also takes less time, which is important for large OA studies

O pessegueiro no sistema de pomar compacto: VII. comportamento de novas seleções IAC sob poda drástica bienal

Five new peach and nectarin selections were grown under the meadow orchard system, with bienal drastic pruning, at 4m x 0.5m and 4m x lm spacings. The experimental area was located in Monte Alegre do Sul, (22&deg;41'S; 46&deg;43'W and 40 hours below 7&deg;C) State of São Paulo, Brazil. Results obtained during the six years of experiments clearly indicate that the 'Aurora-2' and IAC 282-24 peach selections were the best, with an average yield above 19 ton per hectare. For 4m x 0.5m spacing, with a density of 5000 plants per hectare, the productivity increased about 12%, however decreasing the weight of the final product. The best average weights of the fruits, above of l00g, were obtained by the IAC 6782-83 and IAC 282-24 selections.Pesquisou-se durante seis anos o comportamento reprodutivo de cinco novas seleções de pêssego e nectarina em Monte Alegre do Sul (22&deg;41'S; 46&deg;43'W e 40 HF-7). Os pessegueiros e nectarineiras cultivados nos espaçamentos de 4 x 0,5m e 4 x Im, equivalentes a 5000 e 2500 plantas/ha, respectivamente, foram podados drasticamente, a cada dois anos, após a colheita. Em ambos espaçamentos,'Aurora-2* e IAC 282-24 apresentaram as melhores produções acima de 19 toneladas/ha. Verificou-se nos ciclos subseqüentes a cada poda da copa, tendência de menor produção das plantas, principalmente em material de ciclo mediano. No segundo ano após a poda drástica, os pessegueiros e nectarineiras produziram normalmente. No espaçamento de 4 x 0,5m, as plantas apresentaram acréscimo médio de 12% na produção, em relação a 4 x lm, diminuindo porém, o peso do produto final. Os maiores frutos com peso médio acima de l00g foram produzidos pelas seleções IAC 6782-83 e IAC 282-24

Economic efficiency and productivity of life-cycle beef cattle production systems in the South of Bahia

Estudaram-se a produtividade e a eficiência econômica de quatro sistemas de bovinos de corte, por meio de simulação, que diferiram quanto à taxa de natalidade (TN). A pesquisa foi realizada em uma fazenda de ciclo completo (SCC) com TN de 87%, e mais três sistemas simulados: -4TN com TN de 83%; -2TN com TN de 85%; e +2TN com TN de 89%. O SCC foi baseado em dados de um sistema de cria, recria e engorda com média de 3.453 cabeças, localizado no sul da Bahia, no período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2002. As TN foram ajustadas à demanda energética dos animais em cada sistema e à evolução do rebanho durante três anos. A quantidade de carne vendida foi de 149, 146, 144, 141 kg/ha/ano para -4TN, -2TN, SCC e +2TN, respectivamente. O lucro total acumulado, na mesma ordem de citação, foi de R$780.695,42; R$737.526,16; R$727.031,52 e R$703.907,58. O retorno do capital investido acumulado foi de 7,8; 7,4; 7,3 e 7,0% para -4 TN, -2TN, SCC e +2TN, respectivamente. A variação da TN na atividade de cria, recria e engorda de bovinos alterou a produtividade e a eficiência econômica dos sistemas simulados. As respostas em produtividade e eficiência econômica diminuíram com o aumento da taxa de natalidade.Economic efficiency and productivity of life-cycle cattle raising systems were studied by simulations that differed in calving rates (CR). The study was conducted on a life-cycle cattle production system (SCC) with 87% CR, and three simulated systems: -4CR with 83% CR, -2CR with 85% CR, and +2CR with 89% CR. The SCC was based on data from a life-cycle cattle system of 3,453 animals in the South of Bahia State, from January 2000 to December 2002. CR was adjusted according to energy requirement and herd composition in SCC during three years. Meat amount sold was 149, 146, 144, and 141kg/ha/year for -4CR, -2CR, SCC, and +2CR, respectively. Accumulated profit and return on invested capital were R$780,695.42 and 7.8$ 737,526.16 and 7.4%; R$727,031.52 and 7.3$ 703,907.58 and 7.0% for -4CR, -2CR, SCC, and +2CR, respectively. Calving rate variation modified the economic efficiency and productivity of simulated production systems. Economic efficiency and productivity results decreased as calving rate increased

Physiological and thermographic response to heat stress in zebu cattle

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the heat tolerance of five zebu breeds using physical, physiological and hematological traits as well as thermographic responses. Forty cows of the Gir, Girolando, Nelore, Sindhi and Indubrasil breeds (eight cows each), approximately three years of age, were evaluated. Body weight, withers and hump heights as well as thoracic circumference were recorded. The density and length of the hair was obtained by collecting one square centimeter in the rump region and skin color using the CIELAB system. Rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates were evaluated during the morning at 4:30h, and in the afternoon, at 14:30h, with six repetitions. Blood samples were collected for hematological evaluation. The surface temperature was obtained using an infrared camera FLIR® T400. Two images were taken from each animal, one laterally of the whole body and the other of the head region. Air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity were obtained from a mobile weather station. The statistics analysis included an analyzes of variance, principal factors, as well as cluster, discriminant and canonical analyzes, logistic regression and calculation of odds ratio. There were significant differences in the rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates between breeds. Gir and Indubrasil breeds had the highest rectal temperatures. Breed was significant for surface temperatures and showed that physical and physiological factors affected breeds in different ways. Eye and brain surface temperatures were the most affected by environmental parameters. Also, environmental parameters affected packed cell volume and red cell number. Odds ratio test showed that the Gir breed was three times more likely to have higher rectal temperature compared with Sindhi as confirmed by the logistic regression. When the black globe temperature approached 35°C, the probability of the Gir animals having rectal temperatures above normal was approximately 70%. Gir was the breed least adapted to climate conditions of the experiment while the Sindhi and Girolando breeds showed the best physiological response to thermal stress

Incidência de ferrugem em folhas de pessegueiro e nectarineira do germoplasma IAC

The occurrence of rust leaf disease (Tranzschelia discolor f. sp domesticae) was verified in 24 peach and nectarine selections at the Jundiaí Experimental Station (23&deg;08'S and 46&deg;55'W) State of São Paulo, Brazil. The trees of the germoplasm bank were evaluated using a sympton scale to evaluate selection susceptibility to the pathogen, at different levels. The less susceptible selections were: 1) peaches 'Regis' and IAC 4685-45 and 2) nectarines 'Josefina' and IAC N 2680-91.Avaliou-se, em fins do verão de 1993, o grau de incidência da ferrugem (Tranzschelia discolor f. sp. domesticae), em dezoito seleções IAC de pessegueiro e seis de nectarineira, mantidos em lote de germoplasma na Estação Experimental de Jundiaí (23&deg;08'S; 46&deg;55'W). A porcentagem de incidência do patógeno foi estimada através de observações macroscópicas das folhas, atribuindo-se notas de 1 a 5 (1 = nula, 2 = leve, 3 = moderada, 4 = severa, 5 = muito severa), conforme o grau da severidade do sintoma. Todo o material pesquisado mostrou-se suceptível ao patógeno, entretanto, as seleções apresentaram sensíveis variações em graus de susceptibilidade. As seleções com maior tolerância ao patógeno foram: 1) pêssegos 'Régis' e IAC 4685-45 e 2) nectarinas 'Josefina' e IAC N 2680-91