ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate macro/microscopic viability of the upper pole (UP) in rats after 80 days of subtotal splenectomy preserving the upper pole (SSPUP). Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were submitted to SSPUP. After 80 days, the rats were euthanized, and the remaining UP was evaluated macroscopically regarding appearance, color, consistency, length, width, thickness, and presence of fibrosis/necrosis; and microscopically regarding presence of red and white pulp, fibrosis/necrosis. Results: Two rats died during surgery and were removed from the statistical analysis. There was statistically significant increase in length and width between the pre and postoperative in the experimental group, with no significant difference in thickness. In the manipulation group, the macroscopic appearance of the spleen was normal in pre and postoperative, with viability preserved. In the experimental group, two UP of the spleen were not found during the second surgery. Macroscopically, it was observed absence of fibrosis and necrosis in all cases. Microscopically, the white and red pulp were intact in both groups. Two spleens of rats in the manipulation group presented areas with fibrosis and necrosis focus, which were not enough to be considered inviable. Conclusions: The UP of the spleen remained viable in 91.3% of the cases.

Objective: To analyse the differences between autonomous communities in Spain according to their policies of austerity and healthcare privatization during the economic crisis. Methods: Changes in the application of legal reforms, healthcare privatization and healthcare financing/resources in the autonomous communities were analysed, and a summary indicator of each dimension was constructed. Results: The Basque Country showed the clearest behaviour towards a weak policy of austerity and privatization, as opposed to La Rioja, Madrid, and the Balearic Islands. Conclusions: The three classifications will enable analysis of the mediating effect of policies of austerity and privatization in the relationship between the economic crisis and health in the Spanish context.

Objetivo: Analizar las diferencias entre comunidades autónomas según sus políticas de austeridad y privatización durante la crisis. Métodos: Se analizó el cambio producido en las comunidades autónomas en tres dimensiones: la aplicación de reformas legales, la privatización sanitaria y la financiación y los recursos sanitarios, y se construyó un indicador resumen por dimensión que se representó en mapas. Resultados: El País Vasco mostró el comportamiento más claro hacia una escasa política de austeridad y privatización, al contrario que La Rioja, Madrid e lslas Baleares durante la crisis. Conclusiones: Las categorizaciones permitirán analizar el efecto mediador de la diferente intensidad de las políticas de austeridad y privatización en la relación entre la crisis y la salud en el contexto español.

Objective: To analyse the differences between autonomous communities in Spain according to their policies of austerity and healthcare privatization during the economic crisis. Methods: Changes in the application of legal reforms, healthcare privatization and healthcare financing/resources in the autonomous communities were analysed, and a summary indicator of each dimension was constructed. Results: The Basque Country showed the clearest behaviour towards a weak policy of austerity and privatization, as opposed to La Rioja, Madrid, and the Balearic Islands. Conclusions: The three classifications will enable analysis of the mediating effect of policies of austerity and privatization in the relationship between the economic crisis and health in the Spanish context.

Objetivo: Analizar las diferencias entre comunidades autónomas según sus políticas de austeridad y privatización durante la crisis. Métodos: Se analizó el cambio producido en las comunidades autónomas en tres dimensiones: la aplicación de reformas legales, la privatización sanitaria y la financiación y los recursos sanitarios, y se construyó un indicador resumen por dimensión que se representó en mapas. Resultados: El País Vasco mostró el comportamiento más claro hacia una escasa política de austeridad y privatización, al contrario que La Rioja, Madrid e lslas Baleares durante la crisis. Conclusiones: Las categorizaciones permitirán analizar el efecto mediador de la diferente intensidad de las políticas de austeridad y privatización en la relación entre la crisis y la salud en el contexto español.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ingestion of soy yogurt fermented with Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 would modify the intestinal count of enterococci, fecal pH and ammonia content in rats fed on a diet containing red meat. The rats were placed in 4 groups: for 60 days, group I was given a standard casein-based rodent feed and groups II-IV, the beef-based feed. From day 30, groups III-IV also received the following products: III) soy yogurt; IV) suspension of E. faecium CRL 183. At the start and on days 30 and 60, feces were collected for the determination of pH, ammonia content, count of enterococci and identification of their species. On day 60, rats were sacrificed and their colons also removed for count of enterococci and identification of their species. Rats that ingested soy yogurt showed no significant change (P<0.05) in fecal counts of Enterococcus spp., but, this rat group showed a higher count of E. faecium than rats that ingested suspension of E. faecium CRL 183. The ingestion of soy yogurt and E. faecium culture caused a significant rise (P < 0.05) in fecal pH and ammonia content. Our results suggest that consumption of soy yogurt fermented with E. faecium CRL 183 and L. helveticus subsp. jugurti could change the species of Enterococcus spp. present in the feces and colon of rats fed on a beef-based diet. However, the fermented soy product and the pure culture of E. faecium CRL 183 also induced undesirable effects such as the increase of fecal pH and ammonia content in the feces of rats fed on a beef-based diet.

Summary The objective was to evaluate the effect of soy fermented product intake on the corporal weight and bone tissue of ovariectomized mature rats. This product was fermented with Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus jugurti and enriched with isoflavones and calcium. The animals were divided in 5 groups: sham-ovariectomized; ovariectomized; ovariectomized treated with soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium; ovariectomized treated with soy fermented product enriched with calcium and ovariectomized treated with non-fermented product enriched only with calcium. In order to evaluate the effect of the tested product on bone tissue (femur and tibia), the following parameters were analyzed: length; mechanical assay of three points; density (Archimedes principle); mineral content; calcium content; measure of the trabecular widths. The corporal weight of group treated with soy fermented product containing isoflavones and calcium showed no statistical difference from sham-ovariectomized group and trabecular widths tended to have larger than ovariectomized group. However, there was no significant difference to the other evaluated parameters in result of the diverse treatments. Thus, soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium inhibited the increasing of corporal weight caused by ovariectomy and revealed a tendency to trabecular protection after castration.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da ingestão de um produto a base de soja, fermentado com Enterococcus faecium e Lactobacillus jugurti, enriquecido com isoflavonas e cálcio sobre o peso corpóreo e sobre o tecido ósseo de ratas maduras ovariectomizadas. Os animais foram divididos em 5 grupos: pseudo-ovariectomizados, ovariectomizados, ovariectomizados que ingeriram produto fermentado de soja enriquecido com isoflavonas e cálcio, ovariectomizados que ingeriram produto fermentado de soja enriquecido com cálcio e ovariectomizados que ingeriram produto não fermentado enriquecido com cálcio. Tíbias e fêmures foram utilizados para análise do comprimento ósseo; ensaio mecânico de flexão de três pontos; densidade óssea (princípio de Arquimedes); conteúdo mineral ósseo; conteúdo de cálcio ósseo e medida das larguras das trabéculas. A ingestão do produto fermentado de soja enriquecido com isoflavonas e cálcio apesar de não ter exercido efeitos nos parâmetros como comprimento, densidade, conteúdo mineral, conteúdo de cálcio e carga máxima suportada, foi capaz de evitar o aumento de peso corpóreo causado pela ovariectomia, além de ter demonstrado uma tendência à proteção das trabéculas, prevenindo a redução da largura das mesmas ocasionada pela castração.