Euthyroid Sick Syndrome and Changes in Thyroid Hormones in Dogs with Hemoparasitosis

Background: Hemoparasitoses are extremely important in the clinical routine because they affect a large number of dogs. In spite of the abundance of studies on this topic, hormonal alterations caused by infection with these agents are still poorly known. Therefore, the goal of this work was to assess the serum levels of thyroid hormones of dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) alone, and dogs infected with E. canis and Babesia canis vogeli (B. vogeli) and/or Anaplasma platys (A. platys) before and after treatment with doxycycline chlorohydrate. This study also aimed at checking for presence of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) in these animals.Materials, Methods & Results: The concentrations of the thyroid hormones total triiodothyronine (TT3), total tetraiodothyronine (TT4), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), and canine thyroid-stimulating hormone (cTSH) were assessed by chemiluminescence in 12 dogs. Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used to confirm diagnoses. The dogs were divided into 2 groups: G1, which comprised animals infected by E. canis alone, and G2, which included animals simultaneously infected by E. canis and B. vogeli and/or A. platys. The serum concentrations of the thyroid hormones were measured at two time points: before (D1) and after (D2) the 28-day treatment with generic doxycycline chlorohydrate (DC) at a dose of 10 mg/kg SID. On D2, another nPCR was carried out to check the efficacy of the treatment. On D2, in both groups, all dogs became negative for E. canis; however, 8 animals remained infected or were reinfected by other hemoparasites. On D1, 4 dogs in G1 exhibited low TT3 in conjunction with low TT4; one of the dogs had increased TT3 alone, and another dog had an increased TT3 accompanied by decreased TT4. In G2, on D1, one dog exhibited high TT3 accompanied by a decreased concentration of TT4; 2 dogs had decreased TT4; 2 dogs had increased TT3; and one dog had both TT3 and TT4 decreased. On D2, with only one exception, the animals in G1 that became negative for all hemoparasites under study exhibited normal serum levels of TT3 and TT4. Three dogs in G1, which were reinfected on D2, sustained decreased TT4 serum concentrations. Whereas, in G1 on D2, only one dog remained with a reduced serum TT4 concentration.Discussion: DC was effective at eliminating infection by E. canis in all dogs on D2. Even though this drug was unable to prevent reinfection of the animals by other hemoparasites, and in spite of divergent results on its efficacy at eliminating babesiosis and anaplasmosis, a clinical improvement was observed in all patients. A decrease in the serum concentrations of thyroid hormones (ESS) may occur in dogs with severe non-thyroid related diseases. Different authors have demonstrated the presence of ESS in dogs with hemoparasitoses; however, this is the first study to provide evidence on the existence of this syndrome in dogs with hemoparasitoses in Brazil, including dogs simultaneously infected by E. canis and B. vogeli and/or A. platys.We observed a reduction in TT3 and/or TT4 in dogs infected by E. canis, B. vogeli, and A. platys. We believe these results may help assessment of prognosis and patient follow-up, as TT4 concentrations returned to normal levels in all dogs that became negative for all hemoparasites after treatment; and only one dog in G1 sustained increased TT3, albeit lower than observed on D1. In animals of G1 that were reinfected after treatment started, TT3 returned to normal, even though TT4 levels remained decreased. In sum, all dogs in G1 and G2 exhibited TT3 and/or TT4 concentrations outside of the reference value ranges on D1, which indicates that alterations in the levels of thyroid hormones were due to infection by the hemoparasites. The animals infected by E. canis alone or simultaneously infected by B. vogeli and/or A. platys exhibited ESS

INDEPENDÊNCIA FUNCIONAL E TOLERÂNCIA AO EXERCÍCIO FÍSICO EM PORTADORES DE DPOC

A Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) é caracterizada por uma limitação progressiva ao fluxo aéreo, de origem inflamatória e com repercussões multissistêmicas que se traduz dispneia, intolerância ao exercício e baixa capacidade funcional. Este estudo em andamento objetivou quantificar a independência funcional e a tolerância ao exercício físico em portadores de DPOC ingressantes no Programa de Reabilitação Pulmonar (PRP) do Hospital Santa Cruz. De delineamento transversal, do tipo estudo de casos, avaliou a independência funcional através do questionário de Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF) e a tolerância ao exercício através do teste máximo de carga incremental (Shuttle Test). Foram avaliados 14 portadores de DPOC, com idade média de 66,93 ± 6,22 e predominância do sexo masculino. Uma média de 122,21 ± 6,60 pontos no MIF foi encontrada, caracterizando-os como independência completa ou modificada. A distância média percorrida no Shuttle Test foi de 370,11 ± 114,53 metros, e observou-se sendo que quanto mais grave a DPOC menor foi à distância percorrida pelos sujeitos. Os portadores de DPOC deste estudo são independentes funcionalmente, porém apresentam diferentes níveis de tolerância ao exercício físico incremental e este parece estar associado com a progressão da doença

Associação entre variáveis respiratórias e capacidade de exercício em portadores de DPOC

Background and Objective: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow limitation associated with an inflammatory response. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence and the association of respiratory variables on exercise capacity in COPD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 39 COPD patients to obtain forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Respiratory muscle strength (RMS) was evaluated at its maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) components. Exercise capacity was assessed by Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT). Results: FEV1 (39.8±15.3%predicted) and FVC (60.2±17.1%predicted) were reduced, which classified them in stages II (21%), III (51%) and IV (28%). MIP (92.7±14.6% predicted) and MEP (97.6±19.0% predicted) were within the expected values. A moderate correlation was observed between the ISWT vs FEV1 (r=0.35;p=0.02) and ISWT vs FVC (r=0.42;pJustificación y objetivo: La EPOC se caracteriza por la limitación progresiva del flujo aéreo asociada a una respuesta inflamatoria. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la influencia y la asociación de las variables respiratorias sobre la capacidad de ejercicio portadores de EPOC. Métodos: Estudio transversal evaluó 39 portadores de EPOC para obtener el volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (VEF1) y la capacidad vital forzada (CVF). La fuerza muscular respiratoria (FMR) evaluada en sus componentes de presión inspiratoria máxima (PImax) y presión espiratoria máxima (PEmax). Capacidad de ejercicio evaluada por la Prueba de Caminata de seis minutos (TC6m) e Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT). Resultados: El VEF1 (% 39,8 ± 15,3) y CVF (% 60,2 ± 17,1) se encuentran reducidos en relación al predicado clasificándolos en estadificación grado II (21%), III (51%) y IV (28%). La PImax (92,7 ± 14,6% predito) y PEmax (97,6 ± 19,0% predito) se encuentran dentro de los valores previstos para los sujetos. Se observó una correlación moderada entre la distancia recorrida en el ISWT vs VEF1 (r = 0,35; p = 0,02) e ISWT vs CVF (r = 0,42; pJustificativa e objetivo: A DPOC é caracterizada pela limitação progressiva do fluxo aéreo associada a uma resposta inflamatória. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a influência e a associação das variáveis respiratórias sobre a capacidade de exercício em portadores de DPOC. Métodos: Estudo transversal avaliou 39 portadores de DPOC para obtenção do volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1) e a capacidade vital forçada (CVF). A força muscular respiratória (FMR) avaliada em seus componentes de pressão inspiratória máxima (PImax) e pressão expiratória máxima (PEmax). Capacidade de exercício avaliada pelo Teste de Caminhada de Seis Minutos (TC6m) e Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT). Resultados: O VEF1 (% 39,8±15,3) e CVF (% 60,2±17,1) se encontram reduzidos em relação ao predito classificando-os em estadiamento grau II (21%), III (51%) e IV (28%). A PImax (92,7±14,6 % predito) e PEmax (97,6±19,0 % predito) se encontram dentro dos valores previsto para os sujeitos. Evidenciada correlação moderada entre a distância percorrida no ISWT vs VEF1 (r=0,35; p=0,02) e ISWT vs CVF (r=0,42;

Association between respiratory variables and exercise capacity in COPD patients

Background and Objective: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow limitation associated with an inflammatory response. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence and the association of respiratory variables on exercise capacity in COPD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 39 COPD patients to obtain forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Respiratory muscle strength (RMS) was evaluated at its maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) components. Exercise capacity was assessed by Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT). Results: FEV1 (39.8±15.3%predicted) and FVC (60.2±17.1%predicted) were reduced, which classified them in stages II (21%), III (51%) and IV (28%). MIP (92.7±14.6% predicted) and MEP (97.6±19.0% predicted) were within the expected values. A moderate correlation was observed between the ISWT vs FEV1 (r=0.35;p=0.02) and ISWT vs FVC (r=0.42;

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost