Análise multivariada do efeito de diferentes densidades de alojamento sobre lesões podais em frangos de corte.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a utilização de estatísticas multivariadas para análise de um conjunto de dados com diferentes densidades de alojamento em frangos de corte. Foi conduzido um experimento com duas densidades de alojamento (11,07 e 13,21 aves/m²), e mensuradas variáveis de desempenho, qualidade de cama e incidência de lesões podais. A análise de fatores gerou 3 autovalores que acumularam 80,4% variância total dos dados. O Fator 1 (41,6% da variância) foi o único estatisticamente significativo pela análise de variância, e agrupou todas as variáveis relacionadas com umidade de cama e graus de lesão podal, mostrando haver uma inter-relação entre as mesmas. Estes dois grupos de variáveis foram utilizados na análise de componentes principais. Os dois primeiros componentes principais gerados acumularam 86,5% da variância total dos dados, e sua epresentação gráfica agrupou variáveis de umidade de cama e os graus mais severos de lesão podal com a maior densidade de alojamento. A análise multivariada utilizada foi eficiente no desdobramento das inter-relações entre as variáveis e demonstrou que o aumento da densidade de alojamento foi determinante na maior incidência de lesões por pododermatite e sua relação com a maior umidade da cama. This study aimed to evaluate the use of multivariate statistics to analyze a data set of different animal densities in broiler chickens. Was conducted an experiment with two animal densities (11.07 and 13.21 birds/m²); the variables measured were performance, litter quality and incidence of foot pad dermatitis. Factor analysis generated three eigenvalues which accumulated 80.4% of the total variance. Factor 1 (41.6 % of variance) was the only statistically significant by analysis of variance, and grouped all variables related to litter moisture and degrees of foot pad dermatitis, showing that there is a relationship between them. These two groups of variables wereused in the principal components analysis. The first two principal components generated accumulated 86.5% of the total variance of the data and their graphical representation grouped variables related to litter moisture and the most severe degrees of foot pad dermatitis with the highest density of housing. The multivariate analysis used was efficient in the deployment of inter-relationships between variab les and showed that increased housing density was determinant in the increased incidence of pododermatitis injuries and its relation to higher litter moisture

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 nuclear translocation induces myofibroblastic dedifferentiation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

AIMS: Oxidants have been implicated in the pathophysiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), especially in myofibroblastic differentiation. We aimed at testing the hypothesis that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the main regulator of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, is involved in fibrogenesis via myofibroblastic differentiation. Fibroblasts were cultured from the lungs of eight controls and eight IPF patients. Oxidants-antioxidants balance, nuclear Nrf2 expression, and fibroblast phenotype (α-smooth muscle actin and collagen I expression, proliferation, migration, and contraction) were studied under basal conditions and after Nrf2 knockdown or activation by Nrf2 or Keap1 siRNA transfection. The effects of sulforaphane (SFN), an Nrf2 activator, on the fibroblast phenotype were tested under basal and pro-fibrosis conditions (transforming growth factor β [TGF-β]). RESULTS: Decreased Nrf2 expression was associated with a myofibroblast phenotype in IPF compared with control fibroblasts. Nrf2 knockdown induced oxidative stress and myofibroblastic differentiation in control fibroblasts. Conversely, Nrf2 activation increased antioxidant defences and myofibroblastic dedifferentation in IPF fibroblasts. SFN treatment decreased oxidants, and induced Nrf2 expression, antioxidants, and myofibroblastic dedifferentiation in IPF fibroblasts. SFN inhibited TGF-β profibrotic deleterious effects in IPF and control fibroblasts and restored antioxidant defences. Nrf2 knockdown abolished SFN antifibrosis effects, suggesting that they were Nrf2 mediated. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that decreased nuclear Nrf2 plays a role in myofibroblastic differentiation and that SFN induces human pulmonary fibroblast dedifferentiation in vitro via Nrf2 activation. Thus, Nrf2 could be a novel therapeutic target in IPF

High-Pitch, Low-Voltage and Low-Iodine-Concentration CT Angiography of Aorta: Assessment of Image Quality and Radiation Dose with Iterative Reconstruction

Objective: To assess the image quality of aorta obtained by dual-source computed tomography angiography (DSCTA), performed with high pitch, low tube voltage, and low iodine concentration contrast medium (CM) with images reconstructed using iterative reconstruction (IR). Methods: One hundred patients randomly allocated to receive one of two types of CM underwent DSCTA with the electrocardiogram-triggered Flash protocol. In the low-iodine group, 50 patients received CM containing 270 mg I/mL and were scanned at low tube voltage (100 kVp). In the high-iodine CM group, 50 patients received CM containing 370 mg I/mL and were scanned at the tube voltage (120 kVp). The filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm was used for reconstruction in both groups. In addition, the IR algorithm was used in the low-iodine group. Image quality of the aorta was analyzed subjectively by a 3-point grading scale and objectively by measuring the CT attenuation in terms of the signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNR and CNR, respectively). Radiation and CM doses were compared.Results: The CT attenuation, subjective image quality assessment, SNR, and CNR of various aortic regions of interest did not differ significantly between two groups. In the low-iodine group, images reconstructed by FBP and IR demonstrated significant differences in image noise, SNR, and CNR (p<0.05). The low-iodine group resulted in 34.3% less radiation (4.4 ± 0.5 mSv) than the high-iodine group (6.7 ± 0.6 mSv), and 27.3% less iodine weight (20.36 ± 2.65 g) than the high-iodine group (28 ± 1.98 g). Observers exhibited excellent agreement on the aortic image quality scores (κ = 0.904). Conclusions: CT images of aorta could be obtained within 2 s by using a DSCT Flash protocol with low tube voltage, IR, and low-iodine-concentration CM. Appropriate contrast enhancement was achieved while maintaining good image quality and decreasing the radiation and iodine doses

Does CT colonography have a role for population-based colorectal cancer screening?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer and second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe. CRC screening has been proven to reduce disease-specific mortality and several European countries employ national screening programmes. These almost exclusively rely on stool tests, with endoscopy used as an adjunct in some countries. Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is a potential screening test, with an estimated sensitivity of 88 % for advanced neoplasia ≥10 mm. Recent randomised studies have shown that CTC and colonoscopy have similar yields of advanced neoplasia per screened invitee, indicating that CTC is potentially viable as a primary screening test. However, the evidence is not fully elaborated. It is unclear whether CTC screening is cost-effective and the impact of extracolonic findings, both medical and economic, remains unknown. Furthermore, the effect of CTC screening on CRC-related mortality is unknown, as it is also unknown for colonoscopy. It is plausible that both techniques could lead to decreased mortality, as for sigmoidoscopy and gFOBT. Although radiation exposure is a drawback, this disadvantage may be over-emphasised. In conclusion, the detection characteristics and acceptability of CTC suggest it is a viable screening investigation. Implementation will depend on detection of extracolonic disease and health-economic impact