Abstract Establishment of pregnancy after embryo transfer is the ultimate goal of an embryo transfer program and increasing pregnancy rates and reducing pregnancy loss are mandatory. The utilization of treatments to improve conception rates in recipient mares has been the focus of several research groups over the last years and the results are controversial. Some studies using human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) found promising results. Our hypothesis was that hCG administration would cause an additional stimulation on luteal function, uterine and luteal vascularization and progesterone concentration, and the mares would have increased uterine and cervix tone. Therefore, in the present study the effects of hCG administration to induce ovulation, on day 0 (day of ovulation) or day 5 postovulation were evaluated on corpus luteum characteristics, reproductive tract vascularization, and serum progesterone concentration from ovulation until day 15 postovulation. Groups were: G1: (control) - no hCG; G2: 2500 IU of hCG to induce ovulation when a follicle greater than 35mm and uterine edema were detected; G3: 2500 IU hCG on day 0; G4: 2500 IU hCG on day 5 postovulation. Twelve mares were randomly assigned to each group, during consecutive cycles, in a Latin Square experimental design, in a total of 48 cycles. Doppler ultrasound evaluations were performed daily from day 0 until day 15 postovulation, including mesometrial vascularity, endometrial vascularity and corpus luteum vascularity. Blood samples were collected for serum progesterone concentration. Data was analyzed using the Proc Glimmix SAS Procedure for nonparametric variables and Proc Mixed for parametric parameters. There was no treatment effect for all variables studied (P > 0.05). Characteristics were only affected by day (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that hCG administration at the time points suggested in the current study did not alter the characteristics evaluated.

Introdução:Serviços laboratoriais efetivos são a base dos sistemas de saúde modernos. Inovações científicas têm contribuído para melhorias substanciais no meio laboratorial, mas os erros ainda persistem. Esses erros são classificados como pré-analíticos, analíticos e pós-analíticos, dependendo do momento de sua ocorrência.Objetivo:Avaliar a frequência de erros pré-analíticos ocorridos no serviço de análises clínicas de um hospital militar.Métodos:Um total de 329.582 exames foram realizados no laboratório de análises clínicas do Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias no período de agosto a outubro de 2012, e os erros pré-analíticos documentados. Resultados: Os erros pré-analíticos mais observados foram decorrentes da hemólise (27,54%), seguidos de material não recebido (25,43%) e amostra insuficiente (18,49%). As amostras oriundas do Serviço Integrado de Atendimento Domiciliar (SIAD) foram as que apresentaram a maior frequência de erros (3,38%), seguidas pelo setor de pacientes internos (0,76%) e ambulatoriais (0,21%), respectivamente.Conclusão:Nosso estudo demonstra a importância da gestão da fase pré-analítica na garantia da qualidade laboratorial, de maneira a assegurar um serviço de excelência.

Introduction:Efficient laboratory services are the basis of modern health systems. Scientific innovations have contributed to substantial improvements in the laboratory environment, but errors still persist. These errors are classified as pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical, according to the time of occurrence.Objective:To evaluate the frequency of pre-analytical errors in the clinical laboratory service of a military hospital.Methods:A total of 329,582 tests were performed in the clinical laboratory of Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias (HNMD) from August to October 2012, and pre-analytical errors were documented.Results:The most frequent cause of the observed pre-analytical errors was hemolysis (27.54%), followed by samples not received (25.43%) and insufficient sample volume (18.49%). The samples from the Integrated Home Care Service (SIAD) showed the highest frequency of errors (3.38%), followed by those from the inpatient (0.76%) and the outpatient departments (0.21%).Conclusion:Our study demonstrates the importance of managing laboratory pre-analytical quality in order to ensure service excellence.

O efeito da aplicação de diferentes doses de hCG sobre a emergência de nova onda de crescimento folicular e o número de folículos recrutados dessa onda, a formação de corpo lúteo acessório, o diâmetro do folículo dominante e do corpo lúteo espontâneo no dia da aplicação do luteolítico, a subseqüente taxa de sincronização e o intervalo da aplicação de PGF2α à manifestação do estro foram avaliados. Vinte fêmeas bovinas mestiças em diestro, divididas em quatro tratamentos, contendo cinco animais cada, foram usadas. No tratamento 1, os animais receberam 500 UI I.M. hCG no dia 0, dia em que se iniciou o tratamento, e 150 μg D(+) cloprostenol no dia 6; já nos tratamentos 2, 3 e 4, receberam, respectivamente, 1000, 2000 e 3000 UI hCG, pela mesma via de aplicação, e 150 μg D(+) cloprostenol no dia 6. A atividade ovariana foi monitorada diariamente, com auxílio do aparelho de ultra-sonografia, do dia 0 ao estro, ou até o dia 11 após o tratamento, nos animais que não responderam à prostaglandina. Não houve diferença entre os efeitos de 500, 1000, 2000 e 3000 UI hCG sobre a dinâmica folicular, a taxa de sincronização e o intervalo da aplicação de PGF2α ao estro. Houve, no entanto, tendência de as dosagens de 2000 e 3000 UI induzirem à emergência de nova onda de crescimento folicular mais rapidamente que 500 ou 1000 UI destes hormônios.

The effect of different doses of hCG administration on the emergence of a new follicular growth wave and the number of recruited follicles from this wave, the accessory corpus luteum formation, the diameter of the dominant follicle and of the spontaneous corpus luteum on the day of a luteolitic administration and subsequent synchronization rate and the interval between the PGF2α administration and the estrus manifestation were evaluated. Twenty crossbred female cattle in diestrus, divided in four treatments containing five animals each were used. In treatment 1, the animals received 500 IU IM of hCG on day 0 (day which started the treatment) and 150 μg of D(+) Cloprostenol on day 6. In treatments 2, 3 and 4, the animals received 1000, 2000 and 3000 IU, respectively, on day 0 and 150 μg of D(+) Cloprostenol on day 6. The ovarian activity was monitored daily, with the help of an ultra-sound apparatus, from day 0 to the estrus, or up to day 11 after the treatment on those animals which did not response to prostaglandin. There were no significant differences among the effects of 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 IU of hCG on the follicular dynamic, synchronization rate and the interval between the PGF2α and the estrus manifestation. There was, however, a tendency of 2000 and 3000 IU doses to induce an emergence of a new follicular growth wave faster than 500 or 1000 IU of these hormones.