Cardiac troponin I, fructosamine, and cardiovascular parameters in dogs with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrinopathy in dogs, however, the relationship between canine DM and cardiomyopathy is still unclear. The aims of this study were: to evaluate serum troponin I concentrations in diabetic dogs under treatment with insulin; to evaluate the hypothesis that the time of DM diagnosis could influence the troponin I concentration; and to evaluate the relationship between biochemical and cardiovascular parameters in diabetic dogs. This is a cross-sectional study including diabetic canine patients under NPH insulin treatment. Troponin I concentration, systolic blood pressure (SBP), complete blood count, serum fructosamine concentration, biochemical profile, and Doppler echocardiography assesments were carried out in each patient, as well as in age- and size- matched healthy controls. All diabetic dogs had concentrations of troponin I below the limits of detection of the assay. There was no difference between cardiovascular parameters between diabetic and healthy control dogs. There was no correlation between time of DM diagnosis and cardiovascular parameters. There was a significant positive correlation between SBP and fructosamine in diabetic dogs (r=0.54; P<0.01). Diabetic dogs receiving insulin treatment, regardless of the time of diagnosis, do not have significantly elevated serum troponin I. The results also suggest that fructosamine levels can be associated with high blood pressure, suggesting a possible correlation between fructosamine levels and vascular complications

Geographic Clustering of Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil1

Different forms of this disease are spreading rapidly in distinct geographic clusters in this region

Quantitative effects of tobacco smoking exposure on the maternal-fetal circulation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the existence of various published studies regarding the effects of tobacco smoking on pregnancy, and especially in regards to placental blood flow and vascular resistance, some points still require clarification. In addition, the amount of damage due to tobacco smoking exposure that occurs has not been quantified by objective means. In this study, we looked for a possible association between flow resistance indices of several arteries and the levels of urinary cotinine and the concentration of carbon monoxide in the exhaled air (COex) of both smoking and non-smoking pregnant women. We also looked for a relationship between those findings and fetal growth and birth weight.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a prospective design, thirty pregnant smokers and thirty-four pregnant non-smokers were studied. The volunteers signed consent forms, completed a self-applied questionnaire and were subjected to Doppler velocimetry. Tobacco smoking exposure was quantified by subject provided information and confirmed by the measurement of urinary cotinine levels and by the concentration of carbon monoxide in the exhaled air (COex). The weight of newborns was evaluated immediately after birth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparing smoking to non-smoking pregnant women, a significant increase in the resistance index was observed in the uterine arteries (P = 0.001) and umbilical artery (P = 0.001), and a decrease in the middle cerebral artery (P = 0.450). These findings were associated with progressively higher concentrations of COex and urinary cotinine. A decrease in the birth weight was also detected (P < 0.001) in association with a progressive increase in the tobacco exposure of the pregnant woman.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In pregnant women who smoke, higher arterial resistance indices and lower birth weights were observed, and these findings were associated with increasing levels of tobacco smoking exposure. The values were significantly different when compared to those found in non-smoking pregnant women. This study contributes to the findings that smoking damage during pregnancy is dose-dependent, as demonstrated by the objective methods for measuring tobacco smoking exposure.</p

Comparisons of ball possession, match running performance, player prominence and team network properties according to match outcome and playing formation during the 2018 FIFA World Cup

The aims of this study conducted in national teams during the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup were: i) to verify the possible variations of ball possession, match running performance, player prominence, team network properties according to match outcome and playing formation; and ii) to investigate the relationships between player prominence and total distance covered according to team ball possession. Sixty-one matches were analysed over the course of the competition (n=988 player observations). Running performance was examined using total distance covered in (TDIP) and out of possession, and that travelled in different speed-range categories. Player prominence (micro) and team network properties (macro) were obtained using social network analysis where completed passes between teammates were counted (n=28019 passes). Main findings were: i) with the exception of clustering coefficients which indicate the level of interconnectivity between close teammates (win = draw > loss), match outcome was unaffected by ball possession, running and network measures ; iii) teams employing a 1‒4‒2‒3‒1 formation reported greater values for ball possession, TDIP, and micro/macro network measures compared to those playing 1‒4‒4‒2 and 1‒4‒3‒3 formations; iv) TDIP tended to be related to most player prominence variables, even though the magnitude of coefficients varied considerably according to network measures and playing positions. This study has provided additional insights into elite soccer match-play performance

Ferramentas para a caracterização de painéis fotovoltaicos

Neste trabajo apresentamos procedimientos y herramientas para la caracterización completa de paneles fotovoltaicos. Como punto de partida, fueron obtenidas las curvas caracteristicas provenidas por el fabricante. En un segundo momento fueron hechas coletas manuales de dados para la confección de las curvas caracteristicas. A partir de las propriedades fisicas de semiconductores el modelamento del panel fue establecido. El procedimiento establecido és muy fatigoso y reiterativo, podendo llevar a imprecisiones. Para la automatización deste procedimiento, lo siguiente sistema fue proyectado y montado: un conversor dc/dc permite realizar el control electronico de carga resistiva; un computadora realiza el control cíclico de la variación de carga del panel. Un sistema de aquisición de dados permite la obtención de los parámetros en el panel. A partir desta coleta de dados automatizada un software constroe las curvas caracteristicas.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Photobiomodulation reduces the cytokine storm syndrome associated with Covid-19 in the zebrafish model

Although the exact mechanism of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is not fully understood, oxidative stress and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been highlighted as playing a vital role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this sense, alternative treatments are needed to reduce the inflammation caused by COVID-19. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of red PBM as an attractive therapy to downregulate the cytokine storm caused by COVID-19 from a zebrafish model. RT-PCR analyses and protein-protein interaction prediction among SARS-CoV-2 and Danio rerio proteins showed that rSpike was responsible for generating systemic inflammatory processes with significantly increased pro-inflammatory (il1b, il6, tnfa, and nfkbiab), oxidative stress (romo1) and energy metabolism (slc2a1a, coa1) mRNA markers, with a pattern like those observed in COVID-19 cases in humans. On the other hand, PBM treatment decreased the mRNA levels of these pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers compared with rSpike in various tissues, promoting an anti-inflammatory response. Conversely, PBM promotes cellular and tissue repair of injured tissues and significantly increases the survival rate of rSpike-inoculated individuals. Additionally, metabolomics analysis showed that the most impacted metabolic pathways between PBM and the rSpike-treated groups were related to steroid metabolism, immune system, and lipids metabolism. Together, our findings suggest that the inflammatory process is an incisive feature of COVID-19, and red PBM can be used as a novel therapeutic agent for COVID-19 by regulating the inflammatory response. Nevertheless, the need for more clinical trials remains, and there is a significant gap to overcome before clinical trials.publishedVersio