Macroscopic Anatomy, Histopathology, and Image Diagnosis of Joints and Synovial Cartilages

Joints are physiological connections formed by the association of two or more bones that confer mobility to the skeleton of vertebrates. Composed of several structures, these are often related to pathologies of varied origins, which determine symptomatology of varying degrees of intensity and impairment, responsible for the decrease in life expectancy and the well-being of affected populations. Most of the time, the treatment for these diseases is only symptomatic, aiming at the relief of pain and the return of the patient to daily activities. Thus, there has been an increasing interest in the search for new knowledge about the mechanisms that lead to joint disorders and effective therapeutic resources that may contribute to the fight against pain and to the definitive treatment of joint dysfunctions. To this aim, the knowledge of diagnostic methods, especially imaging methods, is of fundamental importance for the recognition of articular affections, enabling a targeted and effective treatment. Among these auxiliary exams currently used to evaluate the joints, the noninvasive ones are the first choice, where radiography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography, and arthroscopy are inserted

Standard Electrocardiographic Data of Peccaries (Tayassu tajacu)

Background:Peccaries (Tayassu tajacu, Linnaeus, 1758) are wild suiformes that belong to the Tayassuidae family. Electrocardiography is an important technique for cardiovascular evaluation. Analysis of various intervals, segments, complexes and waveforms of electrocardiographic (ECG) traces aids in the diagnosis of cardiac alterations and in the differentiation of congenital and acquired heart diseases from physiological cases. However, in wild animal medicine, the various patterns of normality and the evaluation of electrical traces associated with heart disease have not yet been sufficiently elucidated. The purpose of this study was to characterize the electrocardiographic (ECG) traces of peccaries sedated using ketamine and xylazine.Materials, Methods & Results:Fourteen healthy adult animals that were subjected to digital ECG examination were used. Animals with evidence of systemic diseases, cardiovascular abnormalities (murmurs or arrhythmias), or any degree of valve insufficiency observed on echocardiogram and animals that exhibited excessive stress during the examination were excluded from the study. All animals presented with a normal sinus rhythm. A combination of 15 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride and 3 mg/kg of midazolam maleate was applied intramuscularly for chemical immobilization. The animals were manipulated after 15 min, when the onset of the anaesthetic effect was verified, for a duration of 45 min, and no reinforcement dose was necessary to complete the electrocardiographic examination.  No significant differences were observed in the P-wave duration, PR interval and QT interval between genders (P > 0.05). No significant differences were found between the amplitudes of the P and R waves between males and females (P > 0.05). The observed P waves were small, monophasic and positive. The QRS complex was positive in the DI, DII, DIII, aVF, V4 and V10 derivations and negative in the aVR, aVL, V1 and V2 derivations. In 71% of the animals, the T wave showed negative polarity in the DI, DII, DIII, aVL, aVF, and V10 derivations and positive polarity in the aVR, V1, V2 and V4 derivations. The ST segment was isoelectric in 100% of the animals. GraphPad Prism 7 (La Jolla, CA, USA) software was used to analyze the data, with non-parametric tests used to test for differences in the variables between the sexes. In these tests, a P-value of 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.Discussion:Although studies on the cardiac electrophysiology of wild animals have previously shown good results for several species, this is the first study concerning the standardization ECG traces for peccaries. However, due to the wild nature of these animals, their manipulation for handling and data collection purposes is only feasible under chemical containment, although other studies have used non-anaesthetized agoutis. It is not known to what extent these results may have been influenced by the effects of stress. Drugs used for this function may have direct effects on cardiac function. Therefore, the presumed normal ECG values, as well as the recognition of changes due to drug or iatrogenic interactions, are of fundamental importance.  This protocol provided high-quality anaesthetized peccary ECG traces, allowing reliable measurements of waves and intervals and assessment of the cardiac rhythm and heart rate. The surface registry digital ECG recording technique used with chemical containment allowed good monitoring and rapid acquisition and was well tolerated by the animals. 

Tromboembolismo em artéria femoral direita de um felino: análise dopplervelocimétrica

O tromboembolismo arterial é definido como a formação de um trombo na circulação sanguínea, que se desloca e provoca a obstrução do fluxo sanguíneo no interior de uma artéria. Essa obstrução pode causar lesões isquêmicas em diversos órgãos, de acordo com a sua localização. A artéria femoral é um dos principais vasos na perfusão dos membros pélvicos de felinos e trombos nessa região podem comprometer a função desse membro. O presente estudo teve como objetivo relatar a análise dos parâmetros Doppler de um felino com tromboembolismo em artéria femoral direita em estágio avançado e com indícios de isquemia. A ultrassonografia Doppler demonstrou um estreitamento do lúmen dos vasos e velocidade reduzida no interior da artéria femoral, sugerindo um quadro de tromboembolismo. A ultrassonografia Doppler foi um método eficaz na detecção e no prognóstico de tromboembolismo da artéria femoral de um felino

Ocular Echobiometry and Resistivity Index of External Ophthalmic Artery in Agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha)

Background: Veterinary Ophthalmology provides complementary information for the diagnosis of ocular pathologies. Studies in wild species are essential. Among the diagnostic techniques in ophthalmology, two-dimensional ultrasonography stands out. The agouti is a rodent belonging to the Dasyproctidae family that has been widely used as an experimental model. For these animals, sight is one of the crucial senses for their survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the two-dimensional ocular ultrasound technique to obtain anatomical measurements and the external ophthalmic artery resistivity index, presumably normal in the species Dasyprocta prymnolopha.Materials, Methods & Results: Forty eye bulbs of 20 adult rodents of the species were evaluated by ultrasonography. In these animals, B-mode echobiometry was performed using the transpalpebral approach and the hemodynamic study of the external ophthalmic artery using the color Doppler technique. All examinations were initiated by the left eye bulb and all measurements were performed by only one examiner. The collected data related to echobiometry were analyzed using Bioest 5.0 for Windows. Initially, normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test for each parameter, then the paired t-test was performed, comparing right and left eyes, and a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05) was adopted. Based on the methodology used, the following values were obtained for the right and left eyeballs, respectively: anterior chamber thickness - mean of 1.28 ± 0.3 mm and 1.22 ± 0.1 mm; lens thickness - 8.27 ± 0.9 mm and 8.11 ± 0.9 mm; vitreous chamber thickness - 5.35 ± 0.48 mm and 5.30 ± 0.47 mm and axial length - 12.7 ± 0.9 mm and 13 ± 0.68 mm. The mean external ophthalmic artery resistivity values were 0.4305 ± 0.0390 and 0.4258 ± 0.0387 (right and left eye, respectively), characterizing a low resistance. There was no statistical difference between the right and left eyeballs in any of the studied parameters.Discussion: The use of the convex transducer was feasible, promoting adequate contact with the ocular surface and images of satisfactory quality for obtaining measurements, similar to what was observed in studies evaluating the ocular biometry of primates and dogs. The anterior chamber thickness values in this experiment did not differ statistically between the antimers, as well as observed for dogs. The data obtained for lens thickness did not differ statistically for antimers, like those obtained for other rodent species evaluated with the same methodology. The mean values of vitreous chamber thickness were like those observed in chinchillas but correspond to about half of that obtained for capybaras. In this study, the external ophthalmic artery was characterized in all animals, but obtaining the spectral tracing was difficult due to its fine caliber. In wild animals, and especially in wild rodents, there are few data reporting the resistivity of the ophthalmic artery, and there is a lack of studies, which can be explained by the behavioral characteristics of defense and by the high susceptibility to stress in capture, since the performing the technique requires, as in other procedures, the use of chemical containment.Keywords: Doppler flow, ultrasound, eye, agouti

Tromboembolismo em artéria femoral direita de um felino: análise dopplervelocimétrica

O tromboembolismo arterial é definido como a formação de um trombo na circulação sanguínea, que se desloca e provoca a obstrução do fluxo sanguíneo no interior de uma artéria. Essa obstrução pode causar lesões isquêmicas em diversos órgãos, de acordo com a sua localização. A artéria femoral é um dos principais vasos na perfusão dos membros pélvicos de felinos e trombos nessa região podem comprometer a função desse membro. O presente estudo teve como objetivo relatar a análise dos parâmetros Doppler de um felino com tromboembolismo em artéria femoral direita em estágio avançado e com indícios de isquemia. A ultrassonografia Doppler demonstrou um estreitamento do lúmen dos vasos e velocidade reduzida no interior da artéria femoral, sugerindo um quadro de tromboembolismo. A ultrassonografia Doppler foi um método eficaz na detecção e no prognóstico de tromboembolismo da artéria femoral de um felino

Presumed Normal Hemodynamic Values of the Arteries in the Final Third Period of Gestation in Bitches

Background: Doppler ultrasonography enables the investigation of vascular blood flow indexes in gestational assessment, being able to detect vascular resistances that can affect fetal and maternal circulation, such as cases of placental insufficiency, associated with fetal cerebral oxygenation deficit and fetal distress. The study aims to assume hemodynamically normal values in the final third of gestation in bitches, of the umbilical, uteroplacental, middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries, correlating the obtained Doppler velocimetric indexes, for the assessment of the feto-placental circulation, and prediction of fetal viability indexes, fetal centralization and probable date of delivery.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirty healthy bitches were examined in the final third of gestation (40-60 days). These were evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography at 2 times (T): T1: between 40-50 days; T2: between 51-60 of gestation. At each time point, the peak systolic velocities (PSV) and end-diastolic velocities (EDV) used to obtain the pulsatility (IP) and resistivity (IR) indexes of the umbilical, uteroplacental, middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries of fetuses were evaluated. Also, the systole/diastole (S/D) ratio of these vessels was evaluated. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey test, using a P value equal to 5%. A significant difference was observed between velocities and Doppler velocimetric indexes between the 2 phases of the gestational final third in all studied vessels. There was an increase in the values of PSV and EDV and a decrease in the indexes, as the probable date of delivery approached. The analysis of the umbilical cord IR showed an increase from P1 to P2 (P < 0.05), while the IP decreased at the same time. For all studied variables there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). In the uteroplacental artery, similarly to the umbilical artery, the PSV and EDV values showed an increase between P1 and P2, while the S/D ratio decreased up to 60 days of gestation (P2). The IR and IP of these vessels decreased during the study interval in pregnant bitches. The studied variables showed a statistically significant difference when analyzed comparatively between P1 and P2 (P < 0.05). As for the middle cerebral artery and internal carotid artery, the PSV and EDV values increased until the end of pregnancy. Likewise, the Doppler velocimetric values and the S/D ratio decreased until the end of pregnancy (P2).Discussion: The hemodynamic values obtained for the umbilical artery and uterine artery were significantly different between 40 and 50 days of gestation (P1) and 50 and 60 days of gestation (P2), with a decrease in vascular resistance and an increase in velocities. It can be related to a greater association of maternal-fetal blood perfusion, due to the increased demand for the development of the fetus. The Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) also showed changes between P1 and P2, with an increase in PSV and EDV in the final third of pregnancy, and the S/D ratio was reduced, differing significantly between P1 and P2. The systolic (PSV) and diastolic (EDV) flow velocities of the internal carotid artery increased progressively, while the IR, IP and the S/D ratio decreased, between the evaluated periods (P1 and P2), providing greater flow in canine fetuses, maintaining normal heart rate, indicating positive fetal viability. Keywords: Doppler, gestational ultrasound, bitches, fetal circulation, umbilical artery, internal carotid, fetal middle cerebral artery

Comparative Study of the Vertebral Heart Scale (VHS) and the Cardiothoracic Ratio (CTR) in Healthy Poodle Breed dogs

Background: Veterinary cardiology has been widely divulged, especially because of the search for diagnostic methods that allow early identification of heart disease in companion animals. Several techniques are available, such as digital radiography (DR), computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) that are being applied to patients with various diseases. VHS has been widely used in clinical practice in veterinary medicine as a way to diagnose heart size increases in lateral thoracic radiography in small animals. Cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) is a predictive factor for cardiac insufficiency in humans. In veterinary medicine, this index is still little used. The objective of the present study was to compare the vertebral heart scale (VHS) and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) to assess changes in the size of the cardiac silhouette dogs in thoracic radiographs.Materials, Methods & Results: The VHS and CTR of forty healthy poodle breed dogs (20 males and 20 females) from University Veterinary Hospital at the Federal University of Piauí were assessed. The animals were placed in supine and lateral decubitus, to obtain radiographic images in dorsoventral (DV) and right and left laterolateral projections of the thoracic region. The images acquired on the photosensitive radiographic chassis were analyzed by digital radiographic image system installed in the Image Diagnosis Service of the University Veterinary Hospital -HVU/UFPI. VHS (Vertebral Heart Scale) measurements were taken using the sum of the heart length and heart width at its greatest diameter, comparing with the vertebral bodies from the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4). The CTR was assessed by comparing the greatest width of the heart silhouette and the distance between the thoracic walls at height T8. The heart width was measured from the two greatest distances (ML and MR), from the vertical line that divides the limit between the right and left sides of the heart, at the point of its greatest diameter. Similarly, the thoracic width was measured at the point of greatest thoracic diameter (MTD). The mean of the VHS and CTR in the males was 9.83 ± 0.85v and 0.48 ± 0.05, respectively. The females showed values of 9.65 ± 0.65v and 0.50 ± 0.03, respectively (P > 0.05). The mean of the VHS and CTR, considering males and females, was 9.72 ± 0.73v and 0.48 ± 0.04, respectively. VHS and weight correlated positively (r = 0.96), as the CTR and weight (r = 0.94). VHS and age showed high correlation (r = 0.96) as CTR and age (r = 0.93). VHS and CTR showed high correlation (r = 0.96).Discussion: Although congenital malformations and genetic diseases can occur, the acquired heart diseases correspond to most of the complications found in dogs. VHS increases considerably 6 to 12 months before the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). The poodles studied, considering the universe of males and females (P < 0.05), presented mean VHS values of 9.72 ± 0.73v. Similarly, there was no significant difference between genders for VHS measured in right and left decubitus in normal dogs. The cardiothoracic ratio measured for the poodles studied showed mean values of 0.48 ± 0.05. In humans, values below 0.5 are considered normal, while values above this may indicate the presence of cardiomegaly. The CTR is intimately related to the volume of the left ventricle and CTR values above 0.5 in humans are pathological. Our results demonstrated that VHS and CTR showed strong correlation in their measurements, suggesting that CTR, constantly used in humans, could be considered as a tool to assess the size of the heart silhouette in dogs of the poodle breed

Prevalência de ansiedade em trabalhadores da fundação dos esportes do Piauí – FUNDESPI / Prevalence of anxiety in workers from the sports foundation of Piauí – FUNDESPI

A ansiedade é uma sensação de emoção desagradável que caracterizam sintomas de tensão muscular e apreensão. De acordo com os fatores físicos, eles estão caracterizados por um alto índice de elevação na ativação do sistema nervoso autônomo, e em relação aos fatores motores, que implicam simplesmente com a mal adaptação de comportamento. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar nível de ansiedade em trabalhadores da Fundação dos Esportes do Piauí localizada na cidade de Teresina. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal com abordagem quantitativa desenvolvida com 39 trabalhadores. A coleta de dados ocorreu no mês de outubro de 2019, após a aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Para esta etapa utilizou-se dois instrumentos: questionário sociodemográfico da atividade laboral e hábitos de vida e o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck. Após a coleta os dados foram tabulados no programa Excel e disposto em tabelas e gráficos. Como resultado constatou-se que trabalhadores de setores administrativos apresentam percentuais expressivos de ansiedade com ênfase para o tipo suave do transtorno mental. A presença destes distúrbios entre os trabalhadores mostrou-se de modo direto associada a tais fatores como: consumo de bebidas estimulantes, prática casualmente de atividade física e poucas horas de sono.

Prevalência de dor lombar na equipe de enfermagem de um hospital estadual / Prevalence of low back pain in the nursing staff of a state hospital

As Lesões por Esforços Repetitivos (LER) e os Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho (DORT), são síndromes que atingem o sistema músculo esquelético, desencadeadas pelo esgotamento físico das estruturas anatômicas do sistema osteomuscular. O objeto deste estudo foi identificar o perfil das lesões músculo esqueléticas ocasionadas durante o trabalho da enfermagem. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, exploratória, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado por meio de um Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares (QNSO). A coleta de dados ocorreu em um Hospital Estadual da cidade de Luzilândia- Piauí, com 21 profissionais da equipe de Enfermagem. Quanto aos resultados o perfil sociodemográfico dos entrevistados se caracterizou por profissionais jovens, com média de idade de 33,14 anos, do sexo feminino (90,5%), solteiros (61,9%), de cor parda (81%), com ensino médio completo (71,4%), técnicos de enfermagem (71,4%), com renda mensal que de um a três salários mínimo (95,2%). Sobressaíram os profissionais que não praticavam atividade física, nenhum deles fumam, porém a maioria ingeri bebida alcoólica e café regularmente. O estudo identificou elevada prevalência de LER/DORT em trabalhadores de enfermagem, pois 62% referiram algum sintoma nos últimos doses meses. Esses sintomas representaram frequência e intensidade de dor moderada, principalmente em pessoas de 23 a 29 anos (46,1%), do sexo feminino (92,3%) e técnicos de enfermagem (77%), havendo correlação entre essas variáveis. A dor foi mais prevalente na região lombar, em especial naqueles que trabalha em pé, quando inclinar o tronco, da repetitividade das mãos/dedos, precisão com os dedos, aplicar força com as mãos ou dedos, manipular cargas entre 1-4 kg, manipular cargas superiores a 4 KG, levantar e deslocar cargas entre 10- 20 KG, levantar e deslocar cargas superior a 20 KG e a intensidade da dor a maioria respondeu que muito se relaciona com a intensidade da dor e de forma moderada. Diante do levantamento deste estudo foi possível alcançar o objetivo proposto e identificar alta prevalência do LER/DORT, em especial em profissionais de 23 a 29 anos, técnicos de enfermagem e mulheres, com maior destaque para a região lombar e de moderada intensidade de três a quatro vezes na semana

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE ATRIA IN SMALL ANIMALS

Cardiac evaluation is often restricted to analysis of the ventricular chambers, and in particularthe left ventricle. The importance of atrial evaluation has previously been overlooked, but their importance as a representative of global cardiac function is now increasingly recognized. Evaluation of the atria allows more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of manyheart diseases. Echocardiography is a rapid, accessible, minimally invasive examination that can provide data onatrial morphology and function. The aim of this work was to analyze the main echocardiographic techniques with potential to be used in the evaluation of the atria in small animals