N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a noninvasive marker for restrictive syndromes

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy share many similarities in both their clinical and hemodynamic characteristics and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a sensitive marker of cardiac diastolic dysfunction. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether serum NT-proBNP was high in patients with endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and CP, and to investigate how this relates to diastolic dysfunction. Thirty-three patients were divided into two groups: CP (16 patients) and EMF (17 patients). The control group consisted of 30 healthy individuals. Patients were evaluated by bidimensional echocardiography, with restriction syndrome evaluated by pulsed Doppler of the mitral flow and serum NT-proBNP measured by immunoassay and detected by electrochemiluminescence. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the association between log NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters. Log NT-proBNP was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CP patients (log mean: 2.67 pg/mL; 95%CI: 2.43-2.92 log pg/mL) and in EMF patients (log mean: 2.91 pg/mL; 95%CI: 2.70-3.12 log pg/mL) compared with the control group (log mean: 1.45; 95%CI: 1.32-1.60 log pg/mL). There were no statistical differences between EMF and CP patients (P = 0.689) in terms of NT-proBNP. The NT-proBNP log tended to correlate with peak velocity of the E wave (r = 0.439; P = 0.060, but not with A wave (r = -0.399; P = 0.112). Serum NT-proBNP concentration can be used as a marker to detect the presence of diastolic dysfunction in patients with restrictive syndrome; however, serum NT-proBNP levels cannot be used to differentiate restrictive cardiomyopathy from CP

Avaliação da umidade de sementes de cevadilha vacariana.

Resumo.Fernando Flores Cardoso, Daniel Portella Montardo, José Carlos Ferrugem Moraes, Marcos Flávio Silva Borba, Sandro da Silva Camargo, editores técnicos

Dinâmica populacional de grama-tio-pedro submetida a diferentes doses de adubação foliar e sombreamento.

Conhecer os fatores nutricionais limitantes ao crescimento das forrageiras é de grande importância para o manejo das pastagens. Objetivou-se estudar o efeito de doses de adubação foliar e o sombreamento na dinâmica populacional de perfilhos da grama-tio-pedro (Paspalum oteroi)

Detección hematológica de Anaplasma phagocytophilum en caballos de la provincia de Chiclayo, Perú

The aim of this study was to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses from the province of Chiclayo, Peru, using haematological techniques. One hundred blood samples were collected from apparently healthy horses with a history of exposure to ticks. The haematological study consisted of blood count and the evaluation of blood smears stained with Wright and acridine orange to search for inclusion bodies and morulae of the pathogen. Results showed that 9% of horses (9/100) presented structures compatible with inclusion bodies or morulae of A. phagocytophilum, so they were considered as "positive". This group of animals presented slight alterations in the leukocytic and thrombocytic series. The findings indicate the presence of A. phagocytophilum in horses in Peru.El objetivo del estudio fue detectar Anaplasma phagocytophilum en caballos de la provincia de Chiclayo, Perú, utilizando técnicas hematológicas. Se colectaron 100 muestras de sangre de caballos aparentemente sanos y con antecedentes de exposición a garrapatas. El estudio hematológico consistió en la realización del hemograma y la evaluación de frotis sanguíneos teñidos con Wright y naranja de acridina para la búsqueda de cuerpos de inclusión y mórulas del agente patógeno. El 9% de caballos (9/100) presentaron estructuras compatibles con cuerpos de inclusión o mórulas de A. phagocytophilum, por lo que fueron considerados como “positivos”. Este grupo de animales presentó leves alteraciones en la serie leucocítica y trombocítica. Los hallazgos indican la presencia de A. phagocytophilum en caballos en el Perú

Hallazgos hematológicos y detección de anticuerpos contra Anaplasma spp en perros con antecedentes de garrapatas en el distrito de Chiclayo (Lambayeque, Perú)

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of canine anaplasmosis by haematological findings (evidence of inclusion bodies or morulae in blood smear plus thrombocytopenia) and the presence of antibodies against Anaplasma spp in dogs with a history of ticks from the Chiclayo district (Lambayeque, Peru). Blood samples (n=88) were collected from apparently healthy dogs with a history of ticks. The haematological findings showed that 2.3% (2/88) of dogs were positive (with inclusion bodies or morulae plus thrombocytopenia) being compatible with A. platys. In addition, 22.7% (20/88) seropositivity against Anaplasma spp and a multiple seropositivity of 21.6% (19/88) with Ehrlichia spp were detected by the SNAP 4Dx Plus Test. Positive and seropositive dogs showed thrombocytopenia and, to a lesser extent, anaemia, leucocytosis and leukopenia. The results showed presence of subclinical canine anaplasmosis in dogs with a history of ticks in the Chiclayo district.El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la presencia de anaplasmosis canina mediante hallazgos hematológicos (evidencia de corpúsculos de inclusión o mórulas en frotis sanguíneo más trombocitopenia) y presencia de anticuerpos contra Anaplasma spp en perros con antecedentes de garrapatas del distrito de Chiclayo (Lambayeque, Perú). Se colectaron 88 muestras sanguíneas de perros aparentemente sanos y con antecedentes de garrapatosis. Los hallazgos hematológicos evidenciaron que el 2.3% (2/88) de perros fueron positivos (con corpúsculos de inclusión o mórulas más trombocitopenia) siendo compatibles con A. platys. Además, se detectó el 22.7% (20/88) de seropositividad contra Anaplasma spp y una seropositividad múltiple de 21.6% (19/88) con Ehrlichia spp mediante el test SNAP 4Dx Plus. Los perros positivos y seropositivos evidenciaron trombocitopenia y, en menor grado, anemia, leucocitosis y leucopenia. Los resultados demuestran la presencia de anaplasmosis canina de tipo subclínico en perros con antecedentes de garrapatas en el distrito de Chiclayo

Biological response to pre-mineralized starch based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

It is known that calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) coatings are able not only to improve the bone bonding behaviour of polymeric materials, but at the same time play a positive role on enhancing cell adhesion and inducing the differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells. Recently an innovative biomimetic methodology, in which a sodium silicate gel was used as a nucleative agent, was proposed as an alternative to the currently available biomimetic coating methodologies. This methodology is especially adequate for coating biodegradable porous scaffolds. In the present work we evaluated the influence of the referred to treatment on the mechanical properties of 50/50 (wt%) blend of corn starch/ethylene-vinyl alcohol (SEVA-C) based scaffolds. These Ca-P coated scaffolds presented a compressive modulus of 224.6 ± 20.6 and a compressive strength of 24.2 ± 2.20. Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed according ISO/EN 10993 part 5 guidelines and showed that the biomimetic treatment did not have any deleterious effect on L929 cells and did not inhibit cell growth. Direct contact assays were done by using a cell line of human osteoblast like cells (SaOS-2). 3 × 105 cells were seeded per scaffold and allowed to grow for two weeks at 37 ◦C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2. Total protein quantification and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that cells were able to grow in the pre-mineralized scaffolds. Furthermore cell viability assays (MTS test) also show that cells remain viable after two weeks in culture. Finally, protein expression studies showed that after two weeks osteopontin and collagen type I were being expressed by SaOS-2 cells seeded on the pre-mineralized scaffolds. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was higher in the supernatants collected from the pre-mineralized samples, when compared to the control samples (non Ca-P coated). This may indicate that a faster mineralization of the ECM produced on the pre-mineralized samples was occurring. Consequently, biomimetic pre-mineralization of starch based scaffolds can be a useful route for applying these materials on bone tissue engineering

Altura e massa-seca de grama-tio-pedro submetida a diferentes doses de adubação foliar.

A produção de forragem é resultante de interações complexas entre atributos genéticos e de ambiente sobre os processos fisiológicos e características morfológicas. Os fatores nutricionais limitantes ao crescimento das gramíneas forrageiras são de grande importância para o manejo das pastagens. Objetivou-se estudar o efeito de diferentes doses de adubação foliar na altura e rendimento de matéria seca de grama-tio-pedro (Paspalum oteroi)

Exhaled breath condensate cysteinyl leukotrienes and airway remodeling in childhood asthma: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) play an important role in airway remodeling. Previous reports have indicated that cysLTs augment human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation. Recently, cysLTs have been measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cysLTs in EBC and another marker of airway remodeling, reticular basement membrane (RBM) thickening, in endobronchial biopsies in children. METHODS: 29 children, aged 4–15 years, with moderate to severe persistent asthma, who underwent bronchoscopy as part of their clinical assessment, were included. Subjects underwent spirometry and EBC collection for cysLTs analysis, followed by bronchoscopy and endobronchial biopsy within 24 hours. RESULTS: EBC cysLTs were significantly lower in asthmatic children who were treated with montelukast than in those who were not (median (interquartile range) 36.62 (22.60–101.05) versus 249.1 (74.21–526.36) pg/ml, p = 0.004). There was a significant relationship between EBC cysLTs and RBM thickness in the subgroup of children who were not treated with montelukast (n = 13, r = 0.75, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: EBC cysLTs appear to be associated with RBM thickening in asthma