RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos imediatos de uma solução de 0,05% de azul brilhante sobre o endotélio da córnea de equinos. Trinta e oito córneas de 19 cavalos, machos ou fêmeas, de diferentes idades foram estudadas. As córneas foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos. Grupo 1: O endotélio corneano foi perfundido com 0,3mL de azul brilhante 0,05% durante 60 segundos seguido por irrigação com uma solução salina balanceada. Grupo 2: O endotélio corneano foi perfundido com BSS durante 60 segundos. As córneas foram posteriormente excisadas com trépano de 8mm e preparadas para análise endotelial utilizando um microscópio óptico (24 córneas) e um microscópio eletrônico de varredura (14 córneas). A análise da superfície posterior do endotélio da córnea equina observada por microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura revelou uma camada contínua de células poligonais de tamanho e forma uniformes tanto no grupo controle quanto no grupo tratamento. Devido aos resíduos não normais na comparação da média de ANOVA, utilizou-se um modelo linear generalizado com nível de significância de 5%. Evidenciou-se com o teste qui-quadrado que não houve diferença estatística entre o grupo controle e o grupo tratamento. O azul brilhante de 0,05% não causou dano ao endotélio corneano de equinos.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of 0.05% brilliant blue on corneal endothelium of horses. Thirty-eight corneas of 19 horses, male or female, of different ages were studied. Corneas were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1: Corneal endothelium was covered with 0.3mL of brilliant blue 0.05% for 60 seconds followed by rinsing with a balanced salt solution. Group 2: Corneal endothelium was covered with BSS for 60 seconds. The corneas were excised with an 8mm trephine and prepared to analyze posterior endothelial surface using a light microscope (24 corneas) and a scanning electron microscope (14 corneas). The equine posterior corneal endothelium surface observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed a continuous layer of polygonal cells of uniform size and shape in both the control and treatment groups. Due to non-normal residuals at ANOVA mean comparison, a generalized linear model was utilized at 5% level of significance. The chi-square test stated that treatment and control group were not different statistically. The 0.05% brilliant blue did not cause damage to equine corneal endothelium.

RESUMO O lago Luruaco localizado no Departamento de Atlántico, Colômbia, sofre com o despejo de esgoto sem tratamento, trazendo riscos à saúde de todos que utilizam suas águas. O presente estudo tem como objetivo realizar a simulação numérica da dinâmica da concentração de coliformes fecais no lago. A simulação do fluxo hidrodinâmico do lago é realizada por meio de um modelo bidimensional horizontal (2DH), dado por um sistema de equações de Navier-Stokes. Já a simulação do transporte de coliformes fecais é descrita por uma equação convectiva-dispersiva-reativa. Essas equações são resolvidas numericamente pelo Método de Diferenças Finitas (MDF) e pelo método Mark and Cell (MAC), em coordenadas generalizadas. Quanto à construção da malha computacional do lago Luruaco, os métodos spline cúbica e multibloco foram utilizados. Os resultados obtidos nas simulações permitiram uma melhor compreensão da dinâmica de coliformes fecais no lago Luruaco, evidenciando as regiões mais polúıdas. Os resultados também podem orientar órgãos públicos quanto à identificação dos emissores de poluentes no lago e o desenvolvimento de um tratamento otimizado para a recuperação do ambiente poluído.

ABSTRACT The Luruaco Lake located in the Department of Atlántico, Colombia, is damaged by the discharge of untreated sewage, bringing risks to the health of all who use its waters. The present study aims to perform the numerical simulation of the concentration dynamics of fecal coliforms in the lake. The simulation of the hydrodynamic flow is carried out by means of a two-dimensional horizontal (2DH) model, given by a Navier-Stokes system. The simulation of fecal coliform transport is described by a convective-dispersive-reactive equation. These equations are solved numerically by the Finite Difference Method (FDM) and the Mark and Cell (MAC) method, in generalized coordinates. Regarding the construction of the computational mesh of the Luruaco Lake, the cubic spline and multiblock methods were used. The results obtained in the simulations allow a better understanding of the dynamics of fecal coliforms in the Luruaco Lake, showing the more polluted regions. They can also advise public agencies on identifying the emitters of pollutants in the lake and on developing an optimal treatment for the recovery of the polluted environment.

Resumo: Streptococcus suis é um dos patógenos de maior importância para indústria suinícola mundial. Apesar de sua importância, a caracterização de isolados de S. suis na América do Sul ainda é pouco descrita. O presente estudo descreve a avaliação de isolados de S. suis provenientes de diferentes Estados brasileiros, e sua caracterização sorológica e molecular. Foram avaliados 174 isolados de S. suis e os mesmos foram submetidos a SE-AFLP e pesquisa de marcadores de virulência. Os sorotipos 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 18, 22 e 32 foram identificados dentre os isolados estudados e apenas 4% foram caracterizados como não tipáveis. O perfil de virulência mrp+/epf+/sly+ foi o mais frequente. A análise do SE-AFLP resultou em 29 perfis distribuídos em três grupos principais com mais de 65% de similaridade genética. Os isolados apresentaram tendência de se agrupar segundo origem e sorotipo; no entanto, não foi observada correlação entre os grupamentos e os perfis de virulência.

Abstract: Streptococcus suis is one of most important pathogens in the swine industry worldwide. Despite its importance, studies of S. suis characterization in South America are still rare. This study evaluates S. suis isolates from distinct Brazilian states, from 1999 to 2004, and its molecular and serological characterization. A total of 174 isolates were studied. S. suis identification was confirmed by PCR and isolates were further serotyped and genotyped by SE-AFLP and amplification of virulence markers. Serotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 18, 22 and 32 were identified among the studied isolates, and only 4% were characterized as non-typeable. The mrp+/epf+/sly+ genotype was the most frequent. The SE-AFLP analysis resulted in 29 patterns distributed in three main clusters with over 65% of genetic similarity. Isolates presented a slight tendency to cluster according to serotype and origin; however, no further correlation with virulence genotypes was observed.

β-ionone (βI), a cyclic isoprenoid, and geraniol (GO), an acyclic monoterpene, represent a promising class of dietary chemopreventive agents against cancer, whose combination could result in synergistic anticarcinogenic effects. The chemopreventive activities of βI and GO were evaluated individually or in combination during colon carcinogenesis induced by dimethylhydrazine in 48 3-week-old male Wistar rats (12 per group) weighing 40-50 g. Animals were treated for 9 consecutive weeks with βI (16 mg/100 g body weight), GO (25 mg/100 g body weight), βI combined with GO or corn oil (control). Number of total aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and of ACF ≥4 crypts in the distal colon was significantly lower in the GO group (66 ± 13 and 9 ± 2, respectively) compared to control (102 ± 9 and 17 ± 3) and without differences in the βI (91 ± 11 and 14 ± 3) and βI+GO groups (96 ± 5 and 19 ± 2). Apoptosis level, identified by classical apoptosis morphological criteria, in the distal colon was significantly higher in the GO group (1.64 ± 0.06 apoptotic cells/mm²) compared to control (0.91 ± 0.07 apoptotic cells/mm²). The GO group presented a 0.7-fold reduction in Bcl-2 protein expression (Western blot) compared to control. Colonic mucosa concentrations of βI and GO (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) were higher in the βI and GO groups, respectively, compared to the control and βI+GO groups. Therefore, GO, but not βI, represents a potential chemopreventive agent in colon carcinogenesis. Surprisingly, the combination of isoprenoids does not represent an efficient chemopreventive strategy.

Objective. To compare morbidity and mortality of cardiac surgery patients according to age below or above 75 years. Design. Descriptive retrospective study. Patients. A total of 2,470 consecutive patients admitted to our Intensive Medicine Unit between November 2000 and December 2005 who were in the immediate postoperative period after cardiac surgery. Of these patients, 1,983 were younger than 75 years and 497 were older than 75 years. Main variables of interest. Cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia), EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) and logistic EuroSCORE, length of stay, mortality, complications during Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay. Results. In-hospital mortality of patients older than 74 years was significantly higher (9.2% versus 4.2%, p < 0.05). The morbidity of patients over 74 years of age was also significantly higher (EuroSCORE 8.2 ± 2.7 versus 4.9 ± 3.3, p < 0.001). Both ICU stay and hospital stay were significantly higher in those over 74 years of age. Conclusions. In our series both morbidity and mortality were higher in those older than 74 years of age group, which entails worse results in cardiac surgery of these patients. Keywords: cardiac surgery, sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, mortality, postoperative care, elderly.

Objetivo. Comparar la morbilidad y la mortalidad de los pacientes de cirugía cardíaca de acuerdo a la edad inferior o superior a 75 años. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo. Pacientes. Dos mil cuatrocientos setenta pacientes consecutivos ingresados en el postoperatorio inmediato tras cirugía cardíaca en nuestra Unidad de Medicina Intensiva entre noviembre de 2000 y diciembre de 2005. De ellos, 1.983 eran menores de 75 años y 497 mayores de 75 años. Se han incluido todos los pacientes con cirugía, tanto programada como urgente y emergente. Principales variables de interés. Factores de riesgo cardiovascular (diabetes mellitus, hipertensión arterial y dislipidemia), European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) y EuroSCORE logístico, estancia, mortalidad, complicaciones durante la estancia en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). Resultados. La mortalidad hospitalaria de los pacientes mayores de 74 años fue significativamente superior (9,2% frente a 4,3%, p < 0,05). La morbilidad de los pacientes mayores de 74 también fue superior (EuroSCORE 8,2 ± 2,7 frente a 4,9 ± 3,3, p < 0,001). Tanto la estancia en la UCI como la estancia hospitalaria fueron significativamente superiores en los pacientes mayores de 74 años. Conclusiones. En nuestra serie tanto la morbilidad como la mortalidad de los mayores de 74 es superior, lo que conlleva peores resultados en la cirugía cardíaca de estos pacientes.