Aplicações da proteína C reativa na prática clínica veterinária : estudo de 19 casos

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária, na área científica de ClínicaA presente tese de dissertação visou sintetizar as aplicações da proteína C reativa (PCR) em Medicina Veterinária, assim como caracterizar diversos parâmetros de 19 casos retrospetivos, desde a amostra em estudo, os exames complementares de diagnóstico utilizados e o tratamento prescrito, em que a concentração sérica da PCR se encontrasse aumentada de acordo com os valores de referência de cada laboratório. Após extensa pesquisa bibliográfica, apurou-se um aumento da concentração sérica da PCR em doenças do foro cardiovascular e circulatório (por exemplo, tromboembolismo e insuficiência cardíaca), do foro endócrino (por ex. pancreatite aguda e diabetes mellitus), do foro gastrointestinal (por ex. enteropatias inflamatórias crónicas e enterite parvoviral canina), do foro neoplásico (por ex. neoplasia mamária e mastocitomas), do foro neurológico (por ex. meningite-arterite responsiva a esteróides), do foro ortopédico (por ex. discoespondilite e osteoartrite), do foro respiratório (por ex. pneumonia bacteriana) e na síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistémica. A amostra do estudo retrospetivo inclui 19 cães de 15 raças distintas e com idades compreendidas entre os 6 meses e os 12 anos, sendo a média das idades 2,4 anos e a mediana 1 ano. Considerando a anamnese e exame físico efetuado na consulta observou-se que 73,7% (n=14) dos animais se apresentavam letárgicos, sendo este o sinal clínico mais preponderante. Mais de metade dos animais exibiam dor cervical e febre (63,2%, n=12), assim como hiporexia (52,6%, n=10). Todos os animais (n=19) realizaram análises sanguíneas sendo a alteração mais frequente no caso do hemograma a leucocitose (78,9%, n=15) e a neutrofilia (63,2%, n=12). Paralelamente, no caso das bioquímicas, as alterações mais prevalentes foram o aumento das enzimas hepáticas (42,1%, n=8) e a hipoalbuminémia (26,3%, n=5). Verificou-se que apenas dois animais foram submetidos a eutanásia, posteriormente à emissão da alta clínica pelo médico veterinário responsável. Identificou-se ainda uma relação significativa entre a taxa de sobrevivência e o estado mental (p = 0,0014)ABSTRACT - APPLICATIONS OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN VETERINARY CLINICAL PRACTICE: STUDY OF 19 CASES - The present dissertation aimed to summarize the applications of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the veterinary medicine field, as well as to characterize several parameters of 19 retrospective cases in which serum concentrations of CRP were increased according to the reference values of each laboratory, such as the sample under study, the complementary diagnostic tests used, and the treatment prescribed. After extensive bibliographic research, it was established that an elevated serum concentration of CRP was present in cardiovascular and circulatory diseases (e.g., thromboembolism and heart failure), endocrine diseases (e.g., acute pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus), gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., chronic inflammatory enteropathies and canine parvoviral enteritis), neoplastic diseases (e.g. mammary tumours and mast cells tumour), neurological diseases (e.g. steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis), orthopaedic diseases (e.g. diskospondylitis and osteoarthritis), respiratory diseases (e.g. bacterial pneumonia) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The retrospective study sample includes 19 dogs of 15 different breeds and ages ranging from 6 months to 12 years, with a mean age of 2.4 years and a median age of 1 year. The anamnesis and physical examination performed at consultation showed that 73.7% (n=14) of the animals were lethargic, this being the most prevalent clinical sign. More than half of the animals exhibited neck pain and fever (63.2%, n=12), as well as hyporexia (52.6%, n=10). All animals (n=19) underwent blood counts with the most frequent alteration in the case of blood count being leucocytosis (78.9%, n=15) and neutrophilia (63.2%, n=12). In parallel, regarding blood biochemistry the most prevalent changes were increased liver enzymes (42.1%, n=8) and hypoalbuminemia (26.3%, n=5). Only two animals underwent euthanasia, after the issuance of clinical discharge by the attending veterinarian. A significant relationship between survival rate and mental status (p = 0.0014) was identifiedN/

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved