Study of digital palmar and plantar arteries of horses and mules by B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the palmar and plantar digital arteries of 10 horses and 10 mules through B-mode and spectral Doppler ultrasound. Likewise, compare the plantar arteries of the pelvic limbs with the palmar arteries of the thoracic limbs, in addition to verifying the differences of the digital arteries in the contralateral limbs (right and left) in horses and mules using B-mode and spectral Doppler ultrasonography. The evaluated parameters were the diameter and the intima-media thickness (IMT), resistivity index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak of systolic velocity (pSV), final diastolic velocity (fDV) and mean velocity (MV) of the lateral and medial palmar and plantar arteries digital in healthy horses and mules. The horses presented higher diameters values, IMT, pSV, fDV and MV in comparison to the mules. The variables RI and PI also presented differences between horses and mules. Also, both species showed higher values in the variables of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography in the thoracic limbs. Differences were also detected in the comparison between the limb sides (right and left) in the two modalities. The B-Mode and spectral Doppler ultrasound techniques are viable tools to identify differences in the palmar and plantar digital arteries in healthy horses and mules, highlight the differences between the thoracic and pelvic limbs and their respective sides (right and left) as well

Implementation of immobilization accessories for positioning of small animals for radiation therapy

ABSTRACT Radiation therapy is a modality that is presenting great advances in veterinary medicine worldwide. In Brazil, this therapeutic option is underachieved. The success of this method depends on several factors, including the use of appropriate accessories for protection and immobilization of patients. For the immobilization of small animals during treatment, in addition to sedation and anesthesia, immobilizing accessories, similar to those used in human radiotherapy, are used. This study aimed to present proposals for immobilizing accessories adapted to the positioning of small animals in order to be used in radiotherapy planning. In order to achieve results, accessories were made and tested in a living animal simulating a radiotherapy planning, which proved to be favorable to use in positioning small animals undergoing radiotherapy and for implementation processes

Implementation of immobilization accessories for positioning of small animals for radiation therapy

<div><p>ABSTRACT Radiation therapy is a modality that is presenting great advances in veterinary medicine worldwide. In Brazil, this therapeutic option is underachieved. The success of this method depends on several factors, including the use of appropriate accessories for protection and immobilization of patients. For the immobilization of small animals during treatment, in addition to sedation and anesthesia, immobilizing accessories, similar to those used in human radiotherapy, are used. This study aimed to present proposals for immobilizing accessories adapted to the positioning of small animals in order to be used in radiotherapy planning. In order to achieve results, accessories were made and tested in a living animal simulating a radiotherapy planning, which proved to be favorable to use in positioning small animals undergoing radiotherapy and for implementation processes.</p></div

Genetic and environmental contributions to increased wheat yield in Minas Gerais, Brazil Contribuições genéticas e ambientais para aumento do rendimento do trigo em Minas Gerais, Brasil

Producers need wheat cultivars adapted to the predominant climate conditions of the end of the rainy period. Having this in mind, EPAMIG (Agriculture and Livestock Research Institute of Minas Gerais) has been developing a wheat genetic improvement program since 1976, and the estimates of the genetic improvement established by the breeding programs could be useful to quantify their efficiency. This study focused on the quantification of the genetic progress achieved by these improvement programs of dryland wheat in the Brazilian-savanna between 1976 and 2005. The efficiency of these programs was evaluated based on grain yield data of VCU (Value for Cultivation and Use) trials conducted at ten locations in the Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The mean estimated genetic progress for mean grain yield between 1976 and 2005 was 37 kg ha-1 year-1. The genetic yield gain in the study period indicates that the improvement programs of dryland wheat in the Brazilian-savanna are effective. Besides the marked contribution of genetic gain, the environmental and technological improvements were also relevant for the yield, accounting for 47.4% of the total progress in the period. The improvement programs of dryland wheat resulted in a genotype renovation rate of 35% over the years.<br>Devido à necessidade dos produtores por cultivares de trigo adaptados às condições climáticas do final da época das chuvas, desde 1976 a EPAMIG (Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais) vem desenvolvendo um programa de melhoramento genético. As estimativas dos progressos genéticos alcançados pelos programas de melhoramento são instrumentos hábeis para se quantificar a eficiência dos trabalhos executados. Quantificou-se o progresso genético obtido pelos programas de melhoramento do trigo de sequeiro no cerrado brasileiro no período de 1976 a 2005 utilizando-se resultados de produtividade de grãos obtidos nos ensaios de valor de cultivo e uso. O progresso genético médio anual estimado no período de 1976 a 2005 foi de 37 kg ha-1 ano-1 na produtividade média de grãos. O ganho genético, em produtividade, obtido no período estudado, indica que os programas de melhoramento de trigo de sequeiro no cerrado brasileiro são eficientes. Apesar de o ganho genético ter contribuído expressivamente, as melhorias ambientais e tecnológicas foram importantes para o acréscimo na produtividade, representando 47,4% do progresso total obtido. Os programas de melhoramento de trigo de sequeiro promovem 35% de renovação de genótipos ao longo dos anos