The aim of this work was to use video image analysis (VIA) technology to predict the individual primal cuts of the equine carcass. For this study, a total of 42 foal carcasses were dissected into eight primal cuts (shoulder, top blade, chuck tender, chuck, neck, blade, fore shank and brisket) from the forequarter (FQ) and eleven primal cuts (full plate, loin, tenderloin, topside, eye of round, hind shank, knuckle, flank steak, tri-tip, silverside and heel of round) from the hindquarter (HQ). The proportion of primal cuts in the total carcass ranged from 0.27% to 4.84% for the blade and shoulder in the FQ, and from 0.97% to 8.60% for the heel of round and full plate in the HQ, respectively. The neck and fore shank were the cuts for which the estimation models were most accurate in the models. These included cold carcass weight (CCW) and VIA measurements obtained in both views and had a prediction to deviation (RPD) values of 1.85 and 1.90, respectively. On the other hand, the prediction of the topside cut was the one that presented high accuracy (k-fold-R² = 0.829) and precision (RMSEcv = 0.23%) with a RPD of 2.85, which suggests a very good predictive ability of the model. Finally, it can be concluded that it is possible to explain the variation of the primal cuts yield in foals with CCW and VIA measurements, and to use this technique as a prediction tool.

RESUMO A leishmaniose visceral (LV) expandiu-se de forma rápida e extensa pelos municípios da Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte. Objetivou-se estudar a dinâmica da LV em uma coorte prospectiva de cães em Juatuba, entre 2010 e 2011, para verificar a incidência e fatores de risco associados à infecção por Leishmania infantum. Foi feito um estudo observacional e prospectivo de coorte fechada por meio de análise sorológica em cães selecionados aleatoriamente em todo o município, com acompanhamento semestral dos resultados soronegativos e indeterminados na imunofluorescência indireta (IFI). Usou-se questionário semiestruturado junto aos proprietários de cães para avaliação da soroconversão e dos fatores determinantes a essa, por meio da regressão logística. O coeficiente de incidência canina foi de 206/1000 cães.ano (IC: 178 - 238), e foi identificado cluster em área com elevada concentração de cães soropositivos, mas com baixa densidade populacional canina. A variável cão de porte grande foi identificada como fator de risco, e as variáveis idade do cão superior a quatro anos, limpeza diária do peridomicílio e melhores condições socioeconômicas como fatores de proteção. A infecção por LV está ocorrendo em curto período de tempo e com ampla distribuição em Juatuba.

ABSTRACT Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has spread rapidly across cities in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. The aim of this study was to investigate VL dynamics in a prospective cohort study of dogs in Juatuba, between 2010 and 2011, to confirm the incidence of Leishmania infantum, and to assess possible risk factors associated with infection. An observational and prospective closed cohort study was performed using serology testing in dogs, randomly selected from the whole municipality. All seronegative dogs, or dogs with inconclusive results were monitored using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) at 6-month intervals. The dog's owners completed a semi-structured questionnaire to assess possible causal factors of seroconversion, and the responses were assessed using logistic regression. The canine incidence coefficient was 206/1,000 dogs per year (CI: 178-238), and a cluster was identified in an area with a high concentration of seropositive dogs, but a low overall canine population. Large dogs were identified as a risk factor and the following variables were identified as protection factors: dogs aged over 4 years, daily peridomicile cleaning, and better socioeconomic conditions. VL is spreading over a large area in Juatuba in a short period of time.

Bandejas com diferente número de células (128, 200 e 288) e dois substratos (fibra de casca de coco e casca de pinus) foram avaliados para a produção de mudas de tomilho e sobre o desempenho das plantas em sistema hidropônico. Para ambos os experimentos, o delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso. As mudas provenientes de estaquia foram avaliadas aos 30 dias quanto ao comprimento e massa seca de raízes. Aos 40 dias após o transplante das mudas, as plantas cultivadas em sistema hidropônico foram avaliadas quanto à massa fresca da parte aérea, massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca das raízes. A maior massa seca de raízes foi obtida para as mudas cultivadas em substrato à base de casca de fibra de coco. As mudas com maior comprimento de raízes foram obtidas nas bandejas com 128 e 200 células. As plantas de tomilho provenientes de mudas produzidas em bandejas de 128 células apresentaram maior massa fresca da parte aérea, massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca das raízes.

Trays with different number of cells (128, 200 and 288) and two substrates (coir and pine bark-based) were studied for thyme seedling production and plant development in hydroponic system. In both experiments, experimental design was in randomized blocks. Seedlings from cuttings were evaluated at 30 days as to root length and dry matter. At 40 days after transplanting, plants grown in hydroponic system were evaluated for shoot fresh matter, shoot dry matter and root dry matter. The highest root dry matter was detected in seedlings grown in coir-based substrate. Seedlings that presented the greatest root length were obtained by using trays with 128 and 200 cells. Thyme plants from seedlings produced in trays with 128 cells had higher shoot fresh matter, shoot dry matter and root dry matter.

Os valores hematológicos e bioquímicos, incluindo os eletrólitos plasmáticos e os hormônios da tireoide, foram determinados em 73 ovelhas, clinicamente saudáveis, da raça Churra da Terra Quente, raça ovina característica do nordeste de Portugal. Os valores obtidos para o hemograma foram: eritrócitos 9,8±1,5×10(12) /L; hemoglobina 118,1±19,1g/L; hematócrito 40,8±5,9%; leucócitos 5,7±1,8×10(9) /L e plaquetas 544,3±177,2×10(9)/L. O tempo de trombina foi de 17,3±1,7 segundos. Os valores dos parâmetros bioquímicos avaliados foram: proteínas totais 76,4±6,1g/L; glicose 2,87±0,60mmol/L; colesterol total 1,65±0,33mmol/L; aspartato amino transferase 155,9±49,2U/L; alanina amino transferase 23,2±9,6U/L; gama-glutamil transferase 48,0±18,7U/L; fosfatase alcalina total 121,6±76,1U/L; glutamato desidrogenase 6,4±3,7U/L; ureia 7,32±2,22mmol/L; creatinina 123,0±54,1μmol/L; cálcio total 2,53±0,25mmol/L; fósforo 2,10±0,46mmol/L e magnésio 1,01±0,09mmol/L; sódio 152,04±3,65mmol/L; potássio 4,7±0,4mmol/L e cálcio ionizado 1,32±0,07mmol/L; tiroxina total 111,75±42,29nmol/L; tri-iodotironina total 1,01±0,28nmol/L; T4 livre 11,93±1,78pmol/L; T3 livre 4,22±1,33pmol/L e hormônio estimulante da tireoide 0,18±0,19μIU/mL. Apesar de terem sido observadas algumas diferenças entre a raça Churra da Terra Quente e outras raças, os valores hematológicos e bioquímicos, eletrólitos plasmáticos e hormônios da tireóide, desta raça autóctone apresentam-se no geral situados dentro dos intervalos de referência publicados para a espécie ovina.

Hematological and biochemical parameters, including plasma electrolytes and thyroid hormones, were determined in 73 clinically healthy Churra-da-Terra-Quente ewes, a typical breed from the northeast of Portugal. The hemogram values were: erythrocytes 9.8±1.5×10(12)/L; haemoglobin 118.1±19.1g/L; haematocrit 40.8±5.9%; leukocytes 5.7±1.8×10(9)/L; and platelets 544.3±177.2×10(9)/L. The thrombin time was 17.3±1.7 seconds. The values of biochemical parameters were: total protein 76.4±6.1g/L; glucose 2.87±0.60mmol/L; total cholesterol 1.65±0.33mmol/L; aspartate aminotransferase 155.9±49.2U/L; alanine aminotransferase 23.2±9.6U/L; γ-glutamyl transferase 48.0±18.7U/L; total alkaline phosphatase 121.6±76.1U/L; glutamate dehydrogenase 6.4±3.7U/L; urea 7.32±2.22mmol/L; creatinine 123.0±54.1μmol/L; total calcium 2.53±0.25mmol/L; phosphorus 2.10±0.46mmol/L; magnesium 1.01±0.09mmol/L; sodium 152.04±3.65mmol/L; potassium 4.7±0.4mmol/L; ionized calcium 1.32±0.07mmol/L; total thyroxine 111.75±42.29nmol/L; total triiodothyronine 1.01±0.28nmol/L; free T4 11.93±1.78pmol/L; free T3 4.22±1.33pmol/L; and thyroid-stimulating hormone 0.18±0.19μIU/mL. Although differences among the Churra-da-Terra-Quente breed and other breeds may occur, the hematological and biochemical parameters, plasma electrolytes, and thyroid hormones, for this indigenous breed, were generally situated within the reference intervals previously reported for sheep.

We investigated the somatic maturation of neonate rats treated during the suckling period with citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Groups with 6 male neonates were randomly assigned to different treatments 24 h after birth. Each litter was suckled by one of the dams until the 21st postnatal day. Body weight, head axis and tail length were measured daily from the 1st to the 21st postnatal day. Time of ear unfolding, auditory conduit opening, incisor eruption, and eye opening was determined. Pups received 5 mg (Cit5), 10 mg (Cit10) or 20 mg/kg (Cit20) citalopram sc, or saline (0.9% NaCl, w/v, sc). Compared to saline, body weight was lower (24.04%, P < 0.01) for Cit10 from the 10th to the 21st day and for Cit20 from the 6th to the 21st day (38.19%, P < 0.01). Tail length was reduced in the Cit20 group (15.48%, P < 0.001) from the 8th to the 21st day. A reduction in mediolateral head axis (10.53%, P < 0.05) was observed from the 11th to the 21st day in Cit10 and from the 6th to the 21st day in Cit20 (13.16%, P < 0.001). A reduction in anteroposterior head axis was also observed in the Cit20 group (5.28%, P < 0.05) from the 13th to the 21stday. Conversely, this axis showed accelerated growth from the 12th to the 21stday in the Cit5 group (13.05%, P < 0.05). Auditory conduit opening was delayed in the Cit5 and Cit20 groups and incisor eruption was delayed in all citalopram groups. These findings show that citalopram injected during suckling to rats induces body alterations and suggest that the activity of the serotoninergic system participates in growth mechanisms.

The concomitant use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and aspirin may cause pharmacological antagonism. Hence we examined the effect of aspirin on the neurohormonal function and hemodynamic response to captopril in heart failure patients. Between April 1999 and August 2000, 40 patients were randomized into four equal groups: 1) captopril, 2) aspirin, 3) captopril-aspirin: captopril was given alone on the first day, followed by aspirin on the remaining days, and 4) aspirin-captopril: aspirin was given alone on the first day, followed by captopril on the remaining days. Hemodynamic, norepinephrine and prostaglandin measurements were performed pre- and post-medication for 4 days. Captopril (50 mg) was given orally every 8 h and 300 mg aspirin was given on the first day, and 100 mg/day thereafter. In the captopril group and only on the first day of captopril-aspirin, captopril produced increases in cardiac index (2.1 ± 0.6 to 2.5 ± 0.5 l min-1 m-2, P<0.0001), and reduced peripheral vascular resistance (1980 ± 580 to 1545 ± 506 dyn s-1 cm-5/m², P<0.0001) and pulmonary wedge pressure (20 ± 4 to 15 ± 4 mmHg, P<0.0001). In contrast, aspirin alone or associated with captopril showed no significant hemodynamic changes. Norepinephrine decreased (P<0.02) only in the captopril group. Prostaglandin levels did not differ significantly among groups. Thus, aspirin compromises the short-term hemodynamic and neurohormonal effects of captopril in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.