Genetic and environmental factors which influence reproduction and milk production traits in goats in the Federal District, Brazil

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido no Distrito Federal em dois capris, utilizando-se dados de 772 parições, com o objetivo de avaliar os fatores ambientais e genéticos que influenciam a reprodução e a produção leiteira em caprinos das raças Saanen, Parda Alpina, Toggenburg e seus mestiços, no período de 1995 a 1997. Os dados foram analisados usando o programa SAS com os procedimentos GLM e as herdabilidades foram estimadas usando o modelo animal individual pelo programa MTDFREML. As características avaliadas foram idade ao primeiro parto (IPP), intervalo de partos (IP), período de gestação (PG), produção de leite total (PLT) e duração da lactação (DL). O modelo estatístico incluiu como fatores fixos o capril, a raça, o mês e o ano de parto, o tipo de parto, o sexo da cria (macho e fêmea) e a covariável peso da cabra à cobertura. A raça Saanen teve a menor IPP e a maior PLT, enquanto a raça Toggenburg teve maior IP. As herdabilidades estimadas foram, em geral, baixas e variaram de acordo com a raça. Os fatores capril, raça, mês do parto e sexo da cria influenciaram os IP. A raça e o tipo de parto influenciaram a IPP. Somente a raça influenciou a PLT. Os resultados deste trabalho evidenciaram que existe grandeoportunidade para a melhoria no desempenho de caprinos no Distrito Federal, necessitando de controle mais rigoroso do rebanho e manejo para reduzir as IPP e os IP e aumentar os níveis de produção.This study was carried out in the Federal District of Brazil on two goat farms, using data collected on 772 parturitions. The objective was to evaluate genetic and environmental factors, which influenced the reproduction and milk production of Saanen, Parda Alpine, Toggenburg goats and their crosses, between 1995 and 1997. The data were analysed using SAS (Statistical Analysis System, GLM procedures) and the heritabilities were estimated using MTDFREML with an Individual Animal Model. The studied traits were: age at first kidding (IPP), kidding interval (IP), gestation period (PG), total milk production (PLT) and lactation length (DL). The statistical model included fixed effects [farm, breed, month and year of kidding, type of parturition, sex of the kid (male, female)] and the covariate, dam weight at matting time. The Saanen breed had the lowest IPP and the highest PLT, while the Toggenburg breed had the highest IP. The heritabilities were low and dependent on the breed. The factors as farm, breed, month of kidding and sex of the kid affected the IP. The breed and the type of parturition affected the IPP. The breed only influenced the PLT. The results of this work evidenced that there is a high opportunity to improve the goat performances in Federal District, needing more rigor in herd control and management to reduce the IPP and IP and to increase the production levels

Factors which influence parameters of goat lactation curves in the Federal District

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de fatores ambientais sobre a forma de curvas de lactação (Quadrática, Gama, Linear Hiperbólica e Jenkins e Ferrel) de cabras das raças Saanen, Parda Alpina, Toggenburg e seus mestiços. Foram usados registros de 299 lactações de 215 cabras criadas em dois criatórios localizados no Distrito Federal no período de 1995 a 1997. Os parâmetros das curvas de lactação (produção no início da lactação - a, taxa média de ascenção - b e taxa média de declínio após o pico - c) foram estimados pelo programa "Table Curve" da companhia de Jandel Scientific. Estes parâmetros foram analisados usando o programa SAS com os procedimentos Corr e GLM. O modelo estatístico incluiu como fatores fixos o capril, a raça, o mês e o ano de parto, tipo de parto, sexo do cabrito, e o peso de cobertura foi utilizado como covariável. Os parâmetros a e c foram influenciados pela raça, pelo mês do parto e pelo tipo do parto. As curvas Quadrática e Linear Hiperbólica tiveram os maiores R2. As correlações entre os parâmetros das curvas e os índices zootécnicos, no geral, foram altas e positivas. Este estudo mostra que qualquer uma das funções estudadas poderia representar a curva de lactação individual do rebanho, no entanto, a que melhor expressou os parâmetros na formação da curva foi a função Quadrática, enquanto aquelas que melhor descreveram a produtividade foram o Linear Hiperbólica e Jenkins e Ferrel. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe objetive of this work was to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on the shape of lactation curves (Quadratic, Gama, Linear Hiperbolic and Jenkins & Ferrel) of Saanen, Alpine and Toggenburg as well as mixed breed goats. Data from 299 lactations of 215 goats raised on two farms in the Federal District from 1995 to 1997 was used. The parameters of the lactation curves (yield at start of lactation- a, rate of increase of milk production - b e rate of decline of milk production after peak rate - c) were estimated using the Table Curve program from Jandel Scientific. The parameters were then analysed using SAS (Statistical Analysis System) (CORR and GLM procedures). The statistical model included fixed effects (farm, breed, month and year of kidding, type of kidding, kid sex) and covariates (weight at insemination). Parameters a and c were influenced by breed, month of kidding as well as type of kidding. The Quadratic and Linear Hyperbolic curves had the highest R2. The correlations between curve parameters and production indices were, in general, high and positive. This study shows that any in the functions studied may be used to represent the individual lactation curve of herd, however, the curve that best expressed the shape of the lactation curve for goats was the Quadratic function while the Linear Hyperbolic and Jenkins and Ferrel had higher correlation between total production and curve parameters

Crescimento de cabras Saanen, Alpina e Toggenburg no Distrito Federal : fatores genéticos e ambientais

ABSTRACT: Data from 1215 kids, with 402 Saanen, 396 Alpine, 200 T oggenburg and 217 ½ Alpine goats, was collected on growth of goats in the F ederal D istrict, B razil from 1995 to 2001. For variance analyses were considered as fixed effect farm, breed, sex, kidding type, month and year of kidding and weight of dam as a covariable. T raits as birth weight and growth from birth to weaning and weaning to first insemination were studied. There was a significant effect of breed, sex and type of kidding on birth weight while weaning weight was only influenced by breed. Month and year of kidding were significant in influencing growth rate after birth. Number of days to insemination weight was influenced by both breed and month of kidding while the insemination weight itself was not influenced by any of the factors studied. I nsemination weight was lowly correlated with the other traits in the study, as was to be expected. D ays to insemination weight was most highly and negatively correlated with growth rate after weaning and weaning weight showing that faster growing animals that were larger at weaning reached insemination weight more quickly. T he correlation between weaning weight and growth rate after weaning was low indicating that animals heavier at weaning did not necessarily grow faster after weaning. __________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMOColetaram-se dados de 1.215 crias caprinas, sendo 402 Saanen, 396 P ardo Alpina, 200 T oggenburg e 217 ½ Pardo Alpina, entre 1995 e 2001, no D istrito F ederal, B rasil. Consideraram-se, como fixos, os efeitos de raça, sexo, número de crias, mês e ano de parto e, como covariável, o peso da cabra, para análise das características peso ao nascer e à desmama, ganho de peso do nascimento à desmama e da desmama à primeira inseminação, bem como idade à primeira inseminação. O peso ao nascer teve relação com a raça, o sexo e o número de crias. Já o peso à desmama, apenas com a raça. O mês e ano de nascimento afetaram o ganho de peso após à desmama. O número de dias para inseminação foi influenciado pela raça e mês de nascimento. As correlações genéticas estimadas entre o peso ao nascer e as demais características evidenciaram-se altas e positivas, exceto em relação ao ganho de peso do nascimento à desmama (0,23). Quanto às correlações obtidas entre o ganho do nascimento à desmama, observaram-se correlações altas e positivas, porém foram altas e negativas no que diz respeito ao número de dias para a inseminação (-1,0). As correlações estimadas entre ganho de peso da desmama à primeira inseminação se apresentaram altas e positivas. Em geral, os resultados indicaram que animais que cresceram mais rápido foram maiores à desmama e às idades posteriores. As herdabilidades estimadas mostraram-se moderadas, indicando que a seleção deve produzir animais com rápido crescimento e que atinjam idade de reprodução com menor idade

As boas práticas de fabricação de medicamentos e suas determinantes

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) ensure that drugs are consistently produced and controlled according to previously established quality standards. They are designed to manage and minimize the inherent risks involved in the manufacture of drugs in order to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of the finished product. Since their inception as we know them today, several versions have taken place in Brazil and worldwide. This work proposes to analyze GMP, through the analysis of the content of Brazilian regulatory frameworks, identifying the determinants that can explain their evolution over the last decades. GMP were broken down into topics and subtopics and their versions present in the five regulatory frameworks studied were evaluated. It was possible to verify, in the evolution of drug manufacturing requirements, the interference of technological innovation and the influence of new practices related to quality, identifying the GMP transformation dynamics.As Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) garantem que os medicamentos sejam consistentemente produzidos e controlados de acordo com padrões de qualidade previamente estabelecidos. Têm por objetivo gerenciar e minimizar os riscos inerentes à fabricação de medicamentos com vista a garantir a qualidade, eficácia e segurança do produto acabado. Desde o seu surgimento da forma como conhecemos hoje, várias versões se sucederam no Brasil e no mundo. Esse trabalho se propõe a analisar as BPF, por meio da análise de conteúdo dos marcos regulatórios brasileiros, identificando as determinantes que podem explicar a sua evolução através das últimas décadas. As BPF foram decompostas em temas e subtemas e suas versões, presentes nos cinco marcos regulatórios estudados, foram avaliadas. Foi possível comprovar, na evolução dos requisitos de fabricação de medicamentos, a interferência da inovação tecnológica e a influência de novas práticas relacionadas à qualidade, identificando, dessa forma, a dinâmica de transformação das BPF

Posturographic measures did not improve the predictive power to identify recurrent falls in communitydwelling elderly fallers

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate if posturography can be considered a recurrent fall predictor in elderly individuals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 124 subjects aged 60 to 88 years were evaluated and divided into two groups—the recurrent fallers (89) and single fallers (35) groups. Patients’ sociodemographic characteristics were assessed, and clinical testing was performed. The functional test assessment instruments used were timed up and go test (TUGT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), five times sit-to-stand test, and Falls Efficacy Scale (to measure fear of falling). Static posturography was performed in a force platform in the following three different situations—eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and EO dual task. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the single and recurrent fallers groups regarding the fear of falling, the Geriatric Depression Scale score, the mean speed calculated from the total displacement of the center point of pressure (COP) in all directions with EO, and the root mean square of the displacement from the COP in the mediolateral axis with EC. Based on the hierarchical logistic regression model, none of the studied posturographic variables was capable of significantly increasing the power of differentiation between the recurrent and single fallers groups. Only TUGT with a cognitive distractor (po0.05) and the BBS (po0.01) presented with significant independent predictive power. CONCLUSION: TUGT with a cognitive distractor and the BBS were considered recurrent fall predictors in elderly fallers

Cultura de segurança: a percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem intensivistas

This is a study which has as an objective to characterize the safety culture of the hospital institutions in the perception of the nursing professionals in intensive care. To this end, the tool of perception of the safety culture proposed by singer et al (2003) was adapted to the Brazilian context. The sample is formed of 173 nursing professionals, acting in seven different intensive care units in Rio Grande do Sul State. After the tool validation, four constructs were proposed containing different attitudes regarding the patient safety: promoting patient safety in organizational level, patient care safety, error prevention as an organizational priority and risk and organization errors perception. The results show the necessity of better management from the health services concerning patient safety.Se trata de un estudio que tuvo por objetivo caracterizar la cultura de seguridad de las instituciones hospitalarias, en la percepción de los profesionales de enfermería intensivista. Para ello, se adaptó el instrumento de percepción de cultura de seguridad, propuesto por Singer et al (2003), para el contexto brasileño. La muestra se constituyó de 173 profesionales de enfermería, trabajadores en siete unidades de terapia intensiva localizadas en Río Grande del Sur. A partir de la validación del instrumento, fueron propuestos cuatro construtos conteniendo diferentes actitudes en relación a la seguridad del paciente: promoción de la seguridad del paciente a nivel organizacional, seguridad en el cuidado al paciente, prevención de errores como prioridad organizacional y percepción de riesgos y errores que ocurren en la organización. Los resultados apuntan la necesidad de conducir mejor por parte de los servicios de salud las cuestiones que involucran la seguridad del paciente.Trata-se de um estudo que teve por objetivo caracterizar a cultura de segurança de instituições hospitalares, na percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem intensivistas. Para tal, adaptou-se o instrumento de percepção de cultura de segurança, proposto por Singer et al. (2003), para o contexto brasileiro. A amostra constituiu-se de 173 profissionais de enfermagem, atuantes em sete unidades de terapia intensiva, localizadas no Rio Grande do Sul. A partir da validação do instrumento, foram propostos quatro construtos, contendo diferentes atitudes, em relação à segurança do paciente: promoção da segurança do paciente em nível organizacional; segurança no cuidado ao paciente; prevenção de erros como prioridade organizacional; e percepção de riscos e erros que ocorrem na organização.Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de melhor condução, por parte dos serviços de saúde, das questões que envolvem a segurança do paciente

Caracterização físico-química do fármaco antichagásico benznidazol

Currently, benznidazole (BNZ) is a unique therapeutic alternative available in Brazil to treat Chagas disease. Despite its traditional medical use, little is known about the chemical nature of this drug. A detailed study of the physicochemical properties of BNZ was performed using multiple assays. Thermal, diffractometric, morphological and reological drug profiles were obtained. The partition coefficient and solubility results allowed this drug to be classified as a class IV drug according to the biopharmaceutical classification system. This information will be useful for the development of more effective BNZ formulations and for establishing the quality profile of BNZ

Meta-análise da técnica de imunocastração (anti-GnRH) para bovinos machos em fase de terminação

The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of immunocastration on the performance and carcass quality of steers in the finishing phase, compared with non-castration and surgical castration. Data from ten studies with records of 1,261 male bovines were analyzed. The studies included in the meta-analysis necessarily contained treatments with immunocastration specifically against the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Each study was considered as a random effect in the statistical model used. The data were tested for homogeneity of variances and residue normality, and then subjected to the analysis of variance. Means were compared by Student’s t-test. Non-castrated steers showed greater daily weight gain, feed efficiency, slaughter and hot carcass weights, and loin eye area, besides lower fat thickness than surgically-castrated animals and the lowest a* and b* meat coloration values. Overall, immunocastrated steers were inferior to the non-castrated ones, but superior to those surgically-castrated. Immunocastrated steers present performance and carcass traits superior to those of surgically-castrated animals, but similar meat quality.O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os efeitos da imunocastração sobre o desempenho e a qualidade de carcaça de novilhos em terminação, em comparação à não castração e à castração cirúrgica. Analisaram-se dados de dez estudos, com registros de 1.261 bovinos machos. Os estudos incluídos na meta-análise continham, necessariamente, tratamentos com imunização ativa contra o hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas. Cada estudo foi considerado como efeito aleatório no modelo estatístico utilizado. Os dados foram testados quanto à homogeneidade de variâncias e à normalidade dos resíduos, e, posteriormente, submetidos à análise de variância. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste t de Student. Os novilhos não castrados apresentaram maiores ganho de peso diário, eficiência alimentar, pesos ao abate e de carcaça quente, e área de olho de lombo, além de menor espessura de gordura que os castrados cirurgicamente e menores valores de a* e b*, para coloração da carne. No geral, os novilhos imunocastrados foram inferiores aos não castrados, mas superiores aos castrados cirurgicamente. Novilhos submetidos à imunocastração apresentam características de desempenho e de carcaça superiores aos castrados cirurgicamente, mas qualidade de carne similar

Phantom comparison for MRI quality control tests according to manufacturers and national standards

Quality control tests are mandatory and essential to monitor Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment. These assist in determining improper functioning or parameters below established reference levels. The objective of this study was to perform quality control tests in magnetic resonance imaging equipment and to compare their methodology with both FLUKE and KONEX phantoms. Different protocols were used for their evaluation, including the American Association of Physics in Medicine, the American College of Radiologists, and the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency. In this study, we demonstrated the results for the most critical tests: slice thickness accuracy, slice position accuracy, high-contrast spatial resolution, low-contrast resolution, magnetic field, and slice thickness uniformity. The results are that, although both phantom objects are efficient for carrying out the tests required in Brazilian regulations, the KONEX phantom consumes less time, as it requires less to image all its structures. The FLUKE phantoms need a longer acquisition time to obtain all test structures and object images. Nevertheless, the results obtained in both are within limits required by Brazilian regulations and limits suggested by the manufacturers' manuals. This work is expected to be a basis for other physicians and services using similar phantoms