Cardiorespiratory/sedative effects of a peptide identified in crotalic venom compared to acepromazine and xylazine in horses

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intravenous crotalphine produces significant sedation, as well as physiological changes, in healthy standing horses. Six mares, aged 8 years and weighing 415kg underwent three different treatments in a crossover design: TA (acepromazine: 50μg.kg-1), TC (crotalphine: 0.01μg.kg-1) and TX (xylazine: 1000μg.kg-1), intravenously. At various time points over 60 minutes, physiologic variables were recorded: heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. The head height from the ground (HHG) was evaluated in centimeters. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test or Friedman followed by Dunn’s test, under 5% significance. Heart rate decreased significantly at M5 and M10 compared with Mb in TX (28±7, 26±6 and 40±8 beats/minute-1, respectively; p=0.0004). Respiratory rate and rectal temperature did not differ among groups or time points. The HHG significantly decreased in all groups compared with Mb at various time points (p<0.0001). In conclusion, crotalphine did not produce reliable and durable sedation in healthy standing mares and did not influence cardiorespiratory variables in a clinically relevant manner

Impact of cardiology referral: clinical outcomes and factors associated with physicians' adherence to recommendations

OBJECTIVES: Cardiology referral is common for patients admitted for non-cardiac diseases. Recommendations from cardiologists may involve complex and aggressive treatments that could be ignored or denied by other physicians. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients who were given recommendations during cardiology referrals and to examine the clinical outcomes of patients who did not follow the recommendations. METHODS: We enrolled 589 consecutive patients who received in-hospital cardiology consultations. Data on recommendations, implementation of suggestions and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Regarding adherence of the referring service to the recommendations, 77% of patients were classified in the adherence group and 23% were classified in the non-adherence group. Membership in the non-adherence group (

Salt stress tolerance in cowpea is poorly related to the ability to cope with oxidative stress

We have previously demonstrated that salt tolerance in cowpea could be associated with lesser impairments of the photosynthetic capacity. Taking into account that photosynthesis is the main sink for reducing power consumption, our central working hypothesis is that a salt- sensitive cultivar is more prone to suffer from oxidative stress. We analyzed the long-term effects of salt stress on oxidative damage and protection against reactive oxygen species in both leaves and roots of a salt-tolerant (Pitiúba) and a salt-sensitive (TVu) cowpea cultivar. Two salt treatments (0 and 75 mM NaCl) were applied to 10-day-old plants grown in nutrient solution for 24 days. Significant salt-induced oxidative damage as demonstrated via increases in malondialdehyde concentration were noted, particularly in leaves at the end of the experiment, although such damage was found earlier in Pitiúba. In salt-stressed plants, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased only in Pitiúba at 24 days from the start of salt additions (DSSA). In Pitiúba, catalase (CAT) was not significantly affected by the treatments, whereas in TVu its activity was dramatically lower in salt- tressed plants at 10DSSAonwards. In general salt stress led to significant increases, much more pronounced in ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), at the end of the experiment in both cultivars. In roots, salt-induced increases in enzyme activities were particularly noted at 24 DSSA, as found for SOD and APX in Pitiúba, CAT in TVu and GR and GPX in both cultivars. Therefore, in contrast to our expectations, the present results argue, to a great extent, against a functional link between salt stress tolerance and the expression of the antioxidant system. We also demonstrated that leaves and roots should be evaluated for a full assessment of whole plant acclimation to salt stress

Integrative Effect of Carvedilol and Aerobic Exercise Training Therapies on Improving Cardiac Contractility and Remodeling in Heart Failure Mice

The use of b-blockers is mandatory for counteracting heart failure (HF)-induced chronic sympathetic hyperactivity, cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. Importantly, aerobic exercise training, an efficient nonpharmacological therapy to HF, also counteracts sympathetic hyperactivity in HF and improves exercise tolerance and cardiac contractility; the latter associated with changes in cardiac Ca2+ handling. This study was undertaken to test whether combined b-blocker and aerobic exercise training would integrate the beneficial effects of isolated therapies on cardiac structure, contractility and cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling in a genetic model of sympathetic hyperactivity-induced HF (alpha(2A)/alpha 2C(-)adrenergic receptor knockout mice, KO). We used a cohort of 5-7 mo male wild-type (WT) and congenic mice (KO) with C57Bl6/J genetic background randomly assigned into 5 groups: control (WT), saline-treated KO (KOS), exercise trained KO (KOT), carvedilol-treated KO (KOC) and, combined carvedilol-treated and exercise-trained KO (KOCT). Isolated and combined therapies reduced mortality compared with KOS mice. Both KOT and KOCT groups had increased exercise tolerance, while groups receiving carvedilol had increased left ventricular fractional shortening and reduced cardiac collagen volume fraction compared with KOS group. Cellular data confirmed that cardiomyocytes from KOS mice displayed abnormal Ca2+ handling. KOT group had increased intracellular peak of Ca2+ transient and reduced diastolic Ca2+ decay compared with KOS group, while KOC had increased Ca2+ decay compared with KOS group. Notably, combined therapies re-established cardiomyocyte Ca2+ transient paralleled by increased SERCA2 expression and SERCA2: PLN ratio toward WT levels. Aerobic exercise trained increased the phosphorylation of PLN at Ser16 and Thr17 residues in both KOT and KOCT groups, but carvedilol treatment reduced lipid peroxidation in KOC and KOCT groups compared with KOS group. the present findings provide evidence that the combination of carvedilol and aerobic exercise training therapies lead to a better integrative outcome than carvedilol or exercise training used in isolation.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e DesenvolvimentoConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ São Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biosci, Santos, BrazilDept Circulat & Med Imaging, Trondheim, NorwayKG Jebsen Ctr Exercise Med, Trondheim, NorwayUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Dept Physiol & Biophys, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Heart Inst InCor, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biosci, Santos, BrazilFAPESP: FAPESP:2010/50048-1FAPESP: 06/56123-0CNPq: 302201/2011-4Web of Scienc

Precipitation In The Central Amazon Basin: - The Isotopic Composition Of Rain And Atmospheric Moisture At Belém And Manaus

In order to improve the understanding of the water in the Amazon Basin, samples of rain and moisture were collected daily at Belém and Manaus from August 78 to January 80. All isotope data are presented. The most depleted values, sometimes lower than - 10‰ in δ18O at Belém or Manaus, were encountered during the rainy season (January-April). Possible causes of the seasonal differences in tne isotope pattern are discussed.No período de agosto de 1978 a janeiro de 1980, foram feitas coletas diárias de amostras de águas de chuva e de vapor d'água do ar em Belém e Manaus, a fim de ampliar os conhecimentos a cerca de parâmetros ligados ao ciclo da água na bacia Amazônica. Estão apresentados os dados isotópicos referentes as amostras. Os valores mais negativos ocorreram durante o período chuvoso (janeiro-abril), atingindo muitas vezes, valores de δ18O menores do que - 10‰. São discutidas as possíveis causas dessas composições.", 'p

Evaluation of the Expression and Protective Potential of Leptospiral Sphingomyelinases

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global distribution, which affects both animals and humans. Pathogenic leptospires, the bacteria that cause this disease, require iron for their growth, and these spirochetes probably use their hemolysins, such as the sphingomyelinases, as a way to obtain this important nutrient from host red blood cells during infection. We expressed and purified the leptospiral sphingomyelinases Sph1, Sph2, Sph4, and SphH in a heterologous system. However, the recombinant proteins were not able to lyse sheep erythrocytes, despite having regular secondary structures. Transcripts for all sphingomyelinases tested were detected by RT-PCR analyses, but only Sph2 and SphH native proteins could be detected in Western blot assays using Leptospira whole extracts as well as in renal tubules of infected hamsters. Moreover, antibodies present in the serum of a human patient with laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis recognized Sph2, indicating that this sphingomyelinase is expressed and exposed to the immune system during infection in humans. However, in an animal challenge model, none of the sphingomyelinases tested conferred protection against leptospirosis.Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecula

Leptospiral TlyC is an extracellular matrix-binding protein and does not present hemolysin activity

The role of TlyA, TlyB and TlyC proteins in the biology of Leptospira is still uncertain. Although these proteins have been considered as putative hemolysins, we demonstrate that leptospiral recombinant TlyB and TlyC do not possess hemolytic activity. However, further experiments showed that TlyC is a surface-exposed protein that seems to bind to laminin, collagen IV and fibronectin. The expression of both proteins was detected both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that TlyB and TlyC are not directly involved in hemolysis, and that TlyC may contribute to Leptospira binding to extracellular matrix (ECM) during host infection.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Estudio de seroprevalencia de enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza en residentes del Cinturón Hortícola Platense

La Enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza, es silenciosa, frecuentemente ocasiona lesiones sin notables manifestaciones clínicas. Numerosas personas desconocen su condición de afectados por Tripanosoma cruzi. Cuando ellas tienen acceso a diagnósticos clínicos y seroepidemiológicos, puede ocurrir que haga ya muchos años que han sido afectados y haya daños orgánicos. En este estudio se realizaron actividades en territorio, en el cinturón frutihortícola platense en el que habitan personas provenientes de áreas endémicas de Enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza, como parte de un proyecto integral. Con consentimiento informado se realizaron extracciones y diagnósticos. Las personas seropositivas fueron luego estudiadas, seguidas y medicadas según cada caso siguiendo las indicaciones establecidas en los protocolos vigentes consensuados. Ellos no conocían su condición de afectados. Es necesario incrementar las acciones en el territorio a efectos de realizar diagnósticos tempranos y acciones oportunas.Chagas-Mazza disease is silent, frequently causes lesions without manifestations. notable clinical Many people are unaware of their status as affected by Trypanosoma cruzi. When they have access to clinical and seroepidemiological diagnoses, it may happen that they have been affected for years and there is organic damage. In this study, activities were carried out in the territory, in the La Plata fruit and vegetable belt where people from endemic areas of Chagas-Mazza disease live, as part of a comprehensive project. With informed consent, extractions and diagnoses were performed. The seropositive people were then studied, followed up and medicated according to each following the indications established in the current agreed protocols. They did not know their status as affected. It is necessary to increase actions in the territory in order to carry out early and timely actions.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Estudio de seroprevalencia de enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza en residentes del Cinturón Hortícola Platense

La Enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza, es silenciosa, frecuentemente ocasiona lesiones sin notables manifestaciones clínicas. Numerosas personas desconocen su condición de afectados por Tripanosoma cruzi. Cuando ellas tienen acceso a diagnósticos clínicos y seroepidemiológicos, puede ocurrir que haga ya muchos años que han sido afectados y haya daños orgánicos. En este estudio se realizaron actividades en territorio, en el cinturón frutihortícola platense en el que habitan personas provenientes de áreas endémicas de Enfermedad de Chagas-Mazza, como parte de un proyecto integral. Con consentimiento informado se realizaron extracciones y diagnósticos. Las personas seropositivas fueron luego estudiadas, seguidas y medicadas según cada caso siguiendo las indicaciones establecidas en los protocolos vigentes consensuados. Ellos no conocían su condición de afectados. Es necesario incrementar las acciones en el territorio a efectos de realizar diagnósticos tempranos y acciones oportunas.Chagas-Mazza disease is silent, frequently causes lesions without manifestations. notable clinical Many people are unaware of their status as affected by Trypanosoma cruzi. When they have access to clinical and seroepidemiological diagnoses, it may happen that they have been affected for years and there is organic damage. In this study, activities were carried out in the territory, in the La Plata fruit and vegetable belt where people from endemic areas of Chagas-Mazza disease live, as part of a comprehensive project. With informed consent, extractions and diagnoses were performed. The seropositive people were then studied, followed up and medicated according to each following the indications established in the current agreed protocols. They did not know their status as affected. It is necessary to increase actions in the territory in order to carry out early and timely actions.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria