Renal Dysplasia in a Maltese dog

Background: Renal dysplasia (RD) is a common cause of renal failure in young dogs. It is defined as a disorganization in renal parenchymal development, with abnormal differentiation. In all domestic animal species, RD may be hereditary or acquired. The affected animals show clinical signs of early chronic kidney disease, usually between 3 months to 3 years of age. The alterations include persistent metanephric ducts surrounded by primitive mesenchyme, glomeruli and fetal tubules, and abnormal interstitial fibrous tissue. We aimed to report the case of a 1-year-old canine with renal dysplasia.Case: A 1-year-old male Maltese dog experiencing polyuria, polydipsia, recurrent episodic vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, apathy, and anorexia was referred to a private clinic in the municipality of Itabuna-Bahia. Physical examination revealed hypochromic mucosa, dehydration estimated at 8%, rectal temperature of 37.5º C, halitosis, and a body score of 3 out of 9. Laboratory abnormalities included hematocrit of 18%, with hypochromic normocytic aregenerative anemia, azotemia (urea - 530 mg/dL, creatinine - 10.5 mg/dL), hyperglobulinemia (4.7 g/dL), low urinary density (1005), proteinuria (300 mg/dL), and urinary pH - 7.0. Ultrasonography revealed bilateral small kidneys with loss of cortico-medullary definition, cystic formations of different sizes on the renal surface, and hyperechoic areas in the parenchyma; these alterations were suggestive of bilateral chronic nephropathy. Considering the clinical, hematological, biochemical, and ultrasonographic presentation associated with the age of the patient, renal dysplasia was suspected. The patient's clinical condition progressed to loss of consciousness and convulsions, followed by death. Necropsy revealed pale, hypotrophic kidneys with firm consistency, irregular capsular surface containing multiple cortical cysts of different sizes, and altered cortico-medullar proportion. . Kidney fragments were sent to the Laboratory of Histopathology of the State University of Santa Cruz.  Histopathological analysis revealed a marked alteration of renal architecture with glomeruli and immature tubules (adenomatous aspect), persistent primitive mesenchyme, and remnants of the metanephric ducts, as well as tubular dilatation associated with marked interstitial fibrosis, discrete lymphohistiocytic interstitial nephritis, and multifocal areas of mineralization.Discussion: The clinical changes observed in the present case occurred as a consequence of chronic kidney failure caused by RD and included anorexia, apathy, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, polyuria, polydipsia, and dehydration. These alterations were also found in other reported cases. The macroscopic findings were similar to those described in the literature and are characteristic of chronic kidney disease: small, firm, pale-colored kidneys. Microscopic changes of renal dysplasia include persistent metanephric ducts surrounded by primitive mesenchyme, glomeruli and fetal tubules, and abnormal interstitial fibrous tissue. In the histopathological renal evaluation in the present report, morphological alterations compatible with the described alterations in the literature were observed, thus allowing the diagnosis of renal dysplasia. Renal dysplasia can affect young dogs of different breeds, causing clinical manifestations of chronic kidney disease. In view of this, this disease should be included as a differential diagnosis in patients under 3 years old who present signs of chronic nephropathy.

Atuação do Programa de Extensão “Centro Colaborador de Alimentação e Nutrição Escolar – CECANE-UNIRIO” durante a pandemia pela Covid-19

A pandemia do novo coronavírus levou a necessidade de adaptações na execução do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE). Nesse sentido, o Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento para Educação (FNDE) por meio de leis e normativas, autorizou a distribuição de kits de gêneros alimentícios de modo a assegurar a Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SAN) e o Direito Humano à Alimentação Adequada (DHAA) ao alunado. Dessa forma, considerando os desafios impostos pela Covid-19, o presente artigo tem como objetivo mostrar as modificações para o cumprimento do PNAE e as ações do CECANE-UNIRIO durante este período. As atividades de formação para atores sociais, assim como a assessoria e o monitoramento às Entidades Executoras (EEx) ocorreram de maneira remota, da mesma maneira que outras atividades nas quais o programa de extensão esteve envolvido para além do plano de trabalho. De modo geral, as atividades desenvolvidas disseminaram conhecimento para a comunidade como um todo

Telessaúde Covid: caracterização sociodemográfica, clínico-epidemiológica e indicadores do telemonitoramento em Viçosa-MG

Em 2020, a Universidade Federal de Viçosa e a Gestão Municipal implementaram o projeto de extensão Telessaúde Covid para o enfrentamento da pandemia. O objetivo é fazer uma análise descritiva dos quatorze meses de atuação do projeto. Realizou-se análise descritiva da caracterização sociodemográfica, clínico-epidemiológica e indicadores do serviço. Foram atendidos 6.898 pacientes, predominando o gênero feminino e adultos jovens. Os sinais e sintomas mais frequentes foram cefaleia, tosse, coriza, dor de garganta, dor muscular e febre. O RT-PCR foi o teste realizado pela maioria e 31,6% dos pacientes foram positivos. O serviço concluiu o encerramento de 91,5% dos atendimentos. O Telessaúde Covid foi relevante para o contingenciamento da Covid-19, com número expressivo de atendimentos, e contemplou a missão social da universidade pública, transformando o modelo assistencial e reorientando o processo de formação e ação profissional de estudantes e profissionais de saúde

Neurostimulation Combined With Cognitive Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease (NeuroAD): Study Protocol of Double-Blind, Randomized, Factorial Clinical Trial

Despite advances in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), there is currently no prospect of a cure, and evidence shows that multifactorial interventions can benefit patients. A promising therapeutic alternative is the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) simultaneously with cognitive intervention. The combination of these non-pharmacological techniques is apparently a safe and accessible approach. This study protocol aims to compare the efficacy of tDCS and cognitive intervention in a double-blind, randomized and factorial clinical trial. One hundred participants diagnosed with mild-stage AD will be randomized to receive both tDCS and cognitive intervention, tDCS, cognitive intervention, or placebo. The treatment will last 8 weeks, with a 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome will be the improvement of global cognitive functions, evaluated by the AD Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog). The secondary outcomes will include measures of functional, affective, and behavioral components, as well as a neurophysiological marker (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF). This study will enable us to assess, both in the short and long term, whether tDCS is more effective than the placebo and to examine the effects of combined therapy (tDCS and cognitive intervention) and isolated treatments (tDCS vs. cognitive intervention) on patients with AD.Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02772185—May 5, 2016

Transitional Meningioma in a Dog

Background: Dogs and cats are the most common domestic animal species diagnosed with primary neoplasms of the central nervous system. Of these, meningioma is the brain tumor most commonly reported in dogs and is associated with several neurological changes, such as seizures. The ante mortem diagnosis is difficult to make because the use of computerized tomography, the gold standard for the presumptive diagnosis of brain tumors, is still a limited and expensive exam in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study is to report the case of a grade II transitional meningioma in a female dog attended and necropsied at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (HV-UESC).Case: A 13-year-old female poodle was examined at HV-UESC with a clinical history of prostration, apathy, anorexia, partial vision loss, and neurological abnormalities, including seizures. The dog was being treated with phenobarbital (2 mg/kg three times a day) for seizures and doxycycline (5 mg/kg twice a day) for anaplasmosis diagnosed prior to clinical care at HV-UESC. On physical examination, the dog was observed to be mentally altered, with increased aggression, walking in large circles to the left, tremors and spasticity of the thoracic limbs. Laboratory analysis revealed a normal complete blood count. Biochemical analysis revealed an increase in alanine aminotransferase (296 U/mL), alkaline phosphatase (286 U/mL) and urea (121 mg/dL) levels. Based on the clinical and laboratory abnormalities, the suspicion of cerebral degenerative neuropathy or neoplasia was established. The dog was examined again approximately two months after initial presentation and no improvement in the dog’s neurological condition was noted; in fact, the dog´s condition had deteriorated, which was evidenced by worsening seizures, tetraparesis and bedsores. Due to the severity of the neurological changes, euthanasia was performed. After authorization from the owner, the dog was referred to the HV-UESC Necropsy Department, where the dog was necropsied. The primary macroscopic finding was a well-defined mass measuring approximately 2.5x1.5x1.5 cm in the frontal cortex of the left cerebral hemisphere. The lesion was firm and white with an irregular surface and was adhered to the dura mater. The mass compressed the adjacent brain tissue. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a non-encapsuled, expansive, and partially delimited neoplasm characterized by sheets of meningoendothelial cells arranged primarily in mantles, though sometimes in lobes, in two distinct patterns: meningoendothelial and fibrous. In addition, a moderate amount of psammomatous bodies were observed. These microscopic characteristics led to the diagnosis of a grade II transitional meningioma.Discussion: This report describes a case of meningioma in a female dog, which is the most common type of brain tumor diagnosed in dogs according to the literature. The affected animal was advanced in age, a factor that is associated with an increased risk of developing this neoplasm. The neurological alterations noted in this report were associated with the neoplastic process. The macroscopic finding of a cerebral neoformation was suggestive of neoplasm; this was confirmed by microscopic evaluation of the mass. As has been previously reported, the clinical neurological signs of most cases of suspected brain tumors occur late in the disease process, at which point the neoplasm is already in an advanced stage of development. Thus, the prognosis of the affected animal is poor, as it was in this case, which leads to euthanasia. In summary, this is a report of a case of intracranial transitional meningioma accompanied by progressive neurological alterations, in which an ante mortem diagnosis is difficult due to the limited use of computerized tomography in routine veterinary practice.Background: Dogs and cats are the most common domestic animal species diagnosed with primary neoplasms of the central nervous system. Of these, meningioma is the brain tumor most commonly reported in dogs and is associated with several neurological changes, such as seizures. The ante mortem diagnosis is difficult to make because the use of computerized tomography, the gold standard for the presumptive diagnosis of brain tumors, is still a limited and expensive exam in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study is to report the case of a grade II transitional meningioma in a female dog attended and necropsied at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (HV-UESC). Case: A 13-year-old female poodle was examined at HV-UESC with a clinical history of prostration, apathy, anorexia, partial vision loss, and neurological abnormalities, including seizures. The dog was being treated with phenobarbital (2 mg/kg three times a day) for seizures and doxycycline (5 mg/kg twice a day) for anaplasmosis diagnosed prior to clinical care at HV-UESC. On physical examination, the dog was observed to be mentally altered, with increased aggression, walking in large circlesto the left, tremors and spasticity of the thoracic limbs. Laboratory analysis revealed a normal complete blood count. Biochemical analysis revealed an increase in alanine aminotransferase (296 U/mL), alkaline phosphatase (286 U/mL) and urea (121 mg/dL) levels. Based on the clinical and laboratory abnormalities, the suspicion of cerebral degenerative neuropathy or neoplasia was established. The dog was examined again approximately two months after initial presentation and no improvement in the dog’s neurological condition was noted; in fact, the dog´s condition had deteriorated, which was evidenced by worsening seizures, tetraparesis and bedsores. Due to the severity of the neurological changes, euthanasia was performed. After authorization from the owner, the dog was referred to the HV-UESC Necropsy Department, where the dog was necropsied. The primary macroscopic finding was a well-defined mass measuring approximately 2.5x1.5x1.5 cm in the frontal cortex of the left cerebral hemisphere. The lesion was firm and white with an irregular surface and was adhered to the dura mater. The mass compressed the adjacent brain tissue. Histopathological analysis demonstrated a non-encapsuled, expansive, and partially delimited neoplasm characterized by sheets of meningoendothelial cells arranged primarily in mantles, though sometimes in lobes, in two distinct patterns: meningoendothelial and fibrous. In addition, a moderate amount of psammomatous bodies were observed. These microscopic characteristics led to the diagnosis of a grade II transitional meningioma. Discussion: This report describes a case of meningioma in a female dog, which is the most common type of brain tumor diagnosed in dogs according to the literature. The affected animal was advanced in age, a factor that is associated with an increased risk of developing this neoplasm. The neurological alterations noted in this report were associated with the neoplastic process. The macroscopic finding of a cerebral neoformation was suggestive of neoplasm; this was confirmed by microscopic evaluation of the mass. As has been previously reported, the clinical neurological signs of most cases of suspected brain tumors occur late in the disease process, at which point the neoplasm is already in an advanced stage of development. Thus, the prognosis of the affected animal is poor, as it was in this case, which leads to euthanasia.In summary, this is a report of a case of intracranial transitional meningioma accompanied by progressive neurological alterations, in which an ante mortem diagnosis is difficult due to the limited use of computerized tomography in routine veterinary practice

Neurostimulation Combined With Cognitive Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease (NeuroAD): Study Protocol of Double-Blind, Randomized, Factorial Clinical Trial

[EN]Despite advances in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), there is currently no prospect of a cure, and evidence shows that multifactorial interventions can benefit patients. A promising therapeutic alternative is the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) simultaneously with cognitive intervention. The combination of these non-pharmacological techniques is apparently a safe and accessible approach. This study protocol aims to compare the efficacy of tDCS and cognitive intervention in a double-blind, randomized and factorial clinical trial. One hundred participants diagnosed with mild-stage AD will be randomized to receive both tDCS and cognitive intervention, tDCS, cognitive intervention, or placebo. The treatment will last 8 weeks, with a 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome will be the improvement of global cognitive functions, evaluated by the AD Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog). The secondary outcomes will include measures of functional, affective, and behavioral components, as well as a neurophysiological marker (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF). This study will enable us to assess, both in the short and long term, whether tDCS is more effective than the placebo and to examine the effects of combined therapy (tDCS and cognitive intervention) and isolated treatments (tDCS vs. cognitive intervention) on patients with AD

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

Neotropical freshwater fisheries : A dataset of occurrence and abundance of freshwater fishes in the Neotropics

The Neotropical region hosts 4225 freshwater fish species, ranking first among the world's most diverse regions for freshwater fishes. Our NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set is the first to produce a large-scale Neotropical freshwater fish inventory, covering the entire Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean in the north to the southern limits in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. We compiled 185,787 distribution records, with unique georeferenced coordinates, for the 4225 species, represented by occurrence and abundance data. The number of species for the most numerous orders are as follows: Characiformes (1289), Siluriformes (1384), Cichliformes (354), Cyprinodontiformes (245), and Gymnotiformes (135). The most recorded species was the characid Astyanax fasciatus (4696 records). We registered 116,802 distribution records for native species, compared to 1802 distribution records for nonnative species. The main aim of the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set was to make these occurrence and abundance data accessible for international researchers to develop ecological and macroecological studies, from local to regional scales, with focal fish species, families, or orders. We anticipate that the NEOTROPICAL FRESHWATER FISHES data set will be valuable for studies on a wide range of ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, fishery pressure, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, and the impacts of species invasion and climate change. There are no copyright restrictions on the data, and please cite this data paper when using the data in publications