Quantifying Effects of Pharmacological Blockers of Cardiac Autonomous Control Using Variability Parameters

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the most sensitive heart rate and blood pressure variability (HRV and BPV) parameters from a given set of well-known methods for the quantification of cardiovascular autonomic function after several autonomic blockades. Methods: Cardiovascular sympathetic and parasympathetic functions were studied in freely moving rats following peripheral muscarinic (methylatropine), β1-adrenergic (metoprolol), muscarinic + β1-adrenergic, α1-adrenergic (prazosin), and ganglionic (hexamethonium) blockades. Time domain, frequency domain and symbolic dynamics measures for each of HRV and BPV were classified through paired Wilcoxon test for all autonomic drugs separately. In order to select those variables that have a high relevance to, and stable influence on our target measurements (HRV, BPV) we used Fisher's Method to combine the p-value of multiple tests. Results: This analysis led to the following best set of cardiovascular variability parameters: The mean normal beat-to-beat-interval/value (HRV/BPV: meanNN), the coefficient of variation (cvNN = standard deviation over meanNN) and the root mean square differences of successive (RMSSD) of the time domain analysis. In frequency domain analysis the very-low-frequency (VLF) component was selected. From symbolic dynamics Shannon entropy of the word distribution (FWSHANNON) as well as POLVAR3, the non-linear parameter to detect intermittently decreased variability, showed the best ability to discriminate between the different autonomic blockades. Conclusion: Throughout a complex comparative analysis of HRV and BPV measures altered by a set of autonomic drugs, we identified the most sensitive set of informative cardiovascular variability indexes able to pick up the modifications imposed by the autonomic challenges. These indexes may help to increase our understanding of cardiovascular sympathetic and parasympathetic functions in translational studies of experimental diseases.Peer Reviewe

Cell block sensitivity for immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratin 5, oestrogen and progesterone receptors in canine primary mammary carcinoma

Mammary carcinomas are relatively common ailments among female canines aged around 10 years old, presentingan important morbidity with an average survival of five years. The cytoinclusion technique is frequently employed in human medicine as the investigative method of choice as it quickly provides resources for the determination of the correct therapeutic response, however, the effectiveness of the technique in canines remains understudied in veterinary medicine. This study aims at evaluating the degree of correlation with immunohistochemical marking for cytokeratin 5 (CK5), oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) between the cytoinclusion and the histopathology technique in mammary carcinomas. Twenty-five samples of mammary carcinoma, both for the cytoinclusion and histopathological techniques were submitted for histological processing; microscope slides were created for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and the immunohistochemical technique (IHC) was assessed for the ER, PR and CK5 receptors. Through the HE staining, we reached a concordance rate of 100% between the cytoinclusion and the histopathological analysis in the diagnosis of carcinomas. The immunohistochemical assay presented sensitivity of 85.71%, 95.45% and 100% and Cohen’s kappa of 0.78, 0.84 and 0.95 for ER, PR and CK5, respectively, as well as 100% specificity and P<0.01 for all three markers. Therefore, cytoinclusion represents an accessible, fast and low-cost method, offering high sensitivity for the cytomorphological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of mammary carcinoma in female canines

Transcriptome analysis of the oil-rich seed of the bioenergy crop Jatropha curcas L

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To date, oil-rich plants are the main source of biodiesel products. Because concerns have been voiced about the impact of oil-crop cultivation on the price of food commodities, the interest in oil plants not used for food production and amenable to cultivation on non-agricultural land has soared. As a non-food, drought-resistant and oil-rich crop, <it>Jatropha curcas </it>L. fulfils many of the requirements for biofuel production.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have generated 13,249 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from developing and germinating <it>Jatropha </it>seeds. This strategy allowed us to detect most known genes related to lipid synthesis and degradation. We have also identified ESTs coding for proteins that may be involved in the toxicity of <it>Jatropha </it>seeds. Another unexpected finding is the high number of ESTs containing transposable element-related sequences in the developing seed library (800) when contrasted with those found in the germinating seed library (80).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The sequences generated in this work represent a considerable increase in the number of sequences deposited in public databases. These results can be used to produce genetically improved varieties of <it>Jatropha </it>with increased oil yields, different oil compositions and better agronomic characteristics.</p

Deficiências minerais em bovinos de corte do Rio Grande do Sul

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Caracterização hematológica e bioquímica de uma população eqüina de alta performance

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Mast cell repopulation of the peritoneal cavity: contribution of mast cell progenitors versus bone marrow derived committed mast cell precursors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mast cells have recently gained new importance as immunoregulatory cells that are involved in numerous pathological processes. One result of these processes is an increase in mast cell numbers at peripheral sites. This study was undertaken to determine the mast cell response in the peritoneal cavity and bone marrow during repopulation of the peritoneal cavity in rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two mast cell specific antibodies, mAb AA4 and mAb BGD6, were used to distinguish the committed mast cell precursor from more mature mast cells. The peritoneal cavity was depleted of mast cells using distilled water. Twelve hours after distilled water injection, very immature mast cells could be isolated from the blood and by 48 hours were present in the peritoneal cavity. At this same time the percentage of mast cells in mitosis increased fourfold. Mast cell depletion of the peritoneal cavity also reduced the total number of mast cells in the bone marrow, but increased the number of mast cell committed precursors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In response to mast cell depletion of the peritoneal cavity, a mast cell progenitor is released into the circulation and participates in repopulation of the peritoneal cavity, while the committed mast cell precursor is retained in the bone marrow.</p

Indicadores metabólicos de eqüinos de alta performance no Rio Grande do Sul

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Alterações nos parâmetros hematológicos em frangos de corte submetidos a estresse por calor e restrição alimentar

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Stressors agents in workplace and sugestions to soften its: opinions of the post graduation's nurses

A sobrecarga de trabalho, relacionamento e comunicação, características da Instituição e poluição ambiental foram os agentes estressores organizacionais mais citados neste estudo composto por 30 enfermeiras, sendo que a melhoria no planejamento do trabalho, o aspecto de humanização, adequação dos recursos humanos, melhora na comunicação e educação continuada, dentre outras, foram as sugestões identificadas para melhorar estes agentes estressores. Como agentes estressores extra organizacionais, os mais citados foram problemas econômicos e familiares e distância do trabalho / transporte.The work overload, relationship and comunication problems, institution's characteristics and ambiental pollution were the stressing organization agents with the greatest pontuation in this study composed by 30 nurses. The work planning, work humanization, suitable human resourses, improving comunication and continued education were the suggestions given by nurses to minimize these stressing organizational agents. Analysing the stressing extra organizational agents, economic and familiar problems, work distance and transportation to work , were the most pointed