Superficial Necrolytic Dermatitis in a Dog

Background: Superficial necrolytic dermatitis (SDN), hepatocutaneous syndrome (HCS), metabolic epidermal necrosis (MEN), and necrolytic migratory erythema (MEN) are useful terms to describe a disease that likely has a multifactorial etiopathogenesis. SDN is a rare and fatal disease characterized by skin lesions and liver disease. Common skin lesions include hyperkeratosis, fissures, erosion, ulceration, crusting, exudation from the paws, face, perianal regions, and pressure points. This case report aimed to report the case of a bitch that developed the rare Superficial Necrolytic Dermatitis disease, emphasizing the clinical signs of the disease, and the importance of complementary exams such as abdominal ultrasound and skin biopsy for the definitive diagnosis. Case: A 9-year-old, mixed-breed, neutered female was referred for clinical examination with 5 months history of hyperkeratosis and ulceration of the paw pads, presenting pain, lameness and weight loss. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a liver with heterogeneous echotexture, mixed echogenicity, irregular and poorly delimited margins with hypoechoic nodules throughout like honeycombs. The gallbladder was visualized with a moderately thick layer. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of SND. Skin biopsies showed an increase in thickness of the epidermis due to irregular hyperplasia and proliferation of keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, pallor of the spinous layer of the epidermis and important parakeratosis. Due to the progression of the disease, significant worsening of the patient's clinical condition and pain, associated with the impossibility of cure, the animal was submitted to euthanasia. A necropsy was performed to allow assessment of the liver and pancreas. The biopsies showed a severe proliferative chronic hepatitis, steatosis and cholestasis associated with pancreatitis and necrotic multifocal proliferative fibrinopurulent areas in the pancreas. Discussion: Clinical signs such as lethargy, inappetence, weight loss, as well as the dermatological signs presented by this bitch are nonspecific clinical signs and require a deeper clinical, pathological and histopathological diagnostic investigation to reach the diagnosis of this disease. The definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of a characteristic honeycomb pattern in the liver or associated with a neoplastic finding in the pancreas on ultrasound examination and confirmed by histopathological evaluation of skin biopsies. Palliative treatment with corticosteroid anti-inflammatories, improvement in feed quality, with higher nutritional and protein intake and intravenous amino acid supplementation are suggested by some authors as treatment alternatives. However, not all owners can afford a costly lifetime treatment. With the progressive worsening of the condition, many owners opt for euthanasia as a way to shorten the suffering of the animal. This decision is not an easy one to make. Despite the poor prognosis of the disease, treatment options should be tried by veterinarians and owners prior to the option of euthanasia. However, new affordable nutritional and pharmacological strategies to treat or control the disease are needed in order to improve quality of life of SDN patients. Keywords: canine, bitch, SDN, hepatocutaneous syndrome, metabolic epidermal necrosis, necrolytic migratory, dermatopathy.

Optimized Method for Locating the Source of Voltage Sags

Short-Duration Voltage Variations (SDVVs) are the power quality disturbances (PQD) that mainly affect industrial systems, and are originated for various reasons, in particular short circuits over large areas, even those originating in remote points of the electrical system. The location problem aims to indicate the area or region or distance from the substation that is connected to the source causing the voltage sags, and is a fundamental task to ensure good power quality. One of the strategies used to determine the location of sources causing SDVVs and for an implementation of machine learning algorithms in modern distribution networks, called Smart Grids. Monitoring a Smart Grid plays a key role, however mostly it generates a large volume of data (Big Data) and as a result, multiple challenges arise due to the properties of this data such as volume, variety and velocity. This work presents an optimization through genetic algorithm to select meters which already exist in the Smart Grid, using a voltage sag location method in order to reduce the data obtained and analyzed throughout the localization process. Optimization was evaluated through a comparison with a non-optimized localization method, this comparison showed a difference between the hit rates of less than 1%

Evolutionary history, biogeography, and a new species of Sphoeroides (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae): how the major biogeographic barriers of the Atlantic Ocean shaped the evolution of a pufferfish genus

ABSTRACT: Tetraodontidae is the most speciose family of Tetraodontiformes and is represented by fish popularly known as pufferfishes. They are characterized by modified jaws with four dental plates and the ability to inflate their bodies. Tetraodontids are distributed throughout the world and have a wide range of habitat use. One of its genera, Sphoeroides, shows a biogeographical pattern, with 19 of its 21 species restricted to coastal regions of the Americas. Although represented in large-scale phylogenies, the evolutionary history and biogeography of the genus have not been explored in detail. The present study aims to understand the historical and biogeographic processes that shaped the evolutionary history of Sphoeroides. Including samples from all biogeographic regions of its occurrence, we reconstruct a phylogenetic/biogeographic history hypothesis for the genus. Our results show that Sphoeroides is a paraphyletic group comprising Colomesus; indicate a central role of the biogeographic barriers of the Atlantic Ocean in the diversification of the genus; and identified a cryptic species in Brazilian waters, formally known as S. spengleri, described here through integrative taxonomy. We also propose nomenclatural changes given the position of Colomesus deeply nested within Sphoeroides.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Iniciação científica como parte integrante da formação dos estudantes do curso de ciências biológicas / Scientific initiation as part of formation of students of biological sciences course

Esta pesquisa buscou apresentar um estudo preliminar sobre o processo de formação discente do curso de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas, do IFCE – campus de Acaraú, com base na iniciação científica enquanto estratégia significativa de integração entre a teoria e prática educativa. O referencial teórico articulou os conceitos de iniciação científica de valor formativo enquanto desafio da educação, formação da autonomia intelectual e intervenção social segundo os autores Cachapuz (2005), Demo (2003;2010), Müller (2007) e Pavão (2005). A investigação é qualitativa e teve duração de dois meses. A metodologia utilizou como instrumentos aplicação de questionários e entrevistas, para análise dos dados a teoria fundamentada. O desdobramento deste estudo envolveu ações subdivididas em duas etapas. Os dados analisados apontam para a indispensabilidade e importância da iniciação científica na formação dos graduandos, como forma de alicerçar a construção dos conhecimentos que farão parte do repertório do futuro professor de Ciências Biológicas, bem como da necessidade desta vivência a partir da educação básica

Echocardiograph pulmonary venous flow patterns in congenital heart defects with increased pulmonary flow

OBJECTIVES: To describe pulmonary venous flow patterns using transthoracic echocardiograms on children suffering from different congenital heart defects with increased pulmonary flow. METHODS: Prospective study and consecutive selection of children suffering from congenital heart defects with increased pulmonary flow. The transthoracic, apical view, Doppler echocardiogram was used, positioning the sample-volume at the lower pulmonary vein, 4mm from its junction with the left atrium. The data analyzed included: dominant systolic or diastolic pulmonary venous flow and atrial contraction waveform characteristics, designated as A for absent and R for reversed. RESULTS: The study included twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 29.9 ± 58.9 months, suffering from the following congenital heart conditions: interatrial and interventricular communication defects, patent ductus arteriosus, atrioventricular septal defects, total transposition of the great arteries and truncus arteriosus. All the patients presented a continuous pattern of high velocity pulmonary venous flow. Nine patients presented a dominant systolic waveform (31%), eighteen presented a dominant diastolic wave form (62%) and 2 patients had systolic and diastolic wave forms of equal amplitude (7%). Six patients (21%) presented a R atrial contraction waveform and 23 (79%) presented an A atrial contraction waveform. CONCLUSION: Congenital heart diseases with increased pulmonary flow present a continuous pattern of high velocity pulmonary venous flow with alterations mainly in the atrial contraction reversal pattern.OBJETIVOS: Descrever os padrões do fluxo venoso pulmonar com ecocardiograma transtorácico em crianças com diferentes malformações cardíacas congênitas com hiperfluxo pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, de seleção consecutiva de crianças com malformações cardíacas congênitas com hiperfluxo pulmonar. Foi utilizado ecocardiograma Doppler transtorácico, plano apical, posicionando-se a amostra de volume na veia pulmonar inferior esquerda a 4 mm da sua junção com o átrio esquerdo. Os dados analisados foram: predomínio sistólico ou diastólico do fluxo venoso pulmonar, bem como as características da onda de contração atrial, sendo denominada A quando ausente e R quando reversa. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 29 pacientes, com idade média de 29,9±58,9 meses, com as seguintes malformações congênitas: comunicações interatrial e interventricular, persistência do canal arterial, defeito septal atrioventricular, transposição completa das grandes artérias e truncus arteriosus. Em todos, o fluxo venoso pulmonar apresentou um padrão contínuo, de maior velocidade, com predomínio da onda sistólica em 9 (31%) pacientes, diastólica em 18 (62%), e com igual amplitude em 2 pacientes (7%). A onda de contração atrial foi R em 6 pacientes (21%) e A em 23 (79%) pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: Nas doenças cardíacas congênitas com hiperfluxo pulmonar o fluxo venoso pulmonar apresenta um padrão contínuo, de alta velocidade, com alterações, principalmente no padrão reverso da contração atrial.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de AlagoasUNIFESPSciEL

Paired evaluation of calvarial reconstruction with prototyped titanium implants with and without ceramic coating

To investigate the osseointegration properties of prototyped implants with tridimensionally interconnected pores made of the Ti6Al4V alloy and the influence of a thin calcium phosphate coating. Bilateral critical size calvarial defects were created in thirty Wistar rats and filled with coated and uncoated implants in a randomized fashion. The animals were kept for 15, 45 and 90 days. Implant mechanical integration was evaluated with a push-out test. Bone-implant interface was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The maximum force to produce initial displacement of the implants increased during the study period, reaching values around 100N for both types of implants. Intimate contact between bone and implant was present, with progressive bone growth into the pores. No significant differences were seen between coated and uncoated implants. Adequate osseointegration can be achieved in calvarial reconstructions using prototyped Ti6Al4V Implants with the described characteristics of surface and porosity.To investigate the osseointegration properties of prototyped implants with tridimensionally interconnected pores made of the Ti6Al4V alloy and the influence of a thin calcium phosphate coating.METHODS:Bilateral critical size calvarial defects were created in thirty Wistar rats and filled with coated and uncoated implants in a randomized fashion. The animals were kept for 15, 45 and 90 days. Implant mechanical integration was evaluated with a push-out test. Bone-implant interface was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.RESULTS:The maximum force to produce initial displacement of the implants increased during the study period, reaching values around 100N for both types of implants. Intimate contact between bone and implant was present, with progressive bone growth into the pores. No significant differences were seen between coated and uncoated implants. CONCLUSION:Adequate osseointegration can be achieved in calvarial reconstructions using prototyped Ti6Al4V Implants with the described characteristics of surface and porosity29957958