Sensory neuropathy is a dose-limiting side effect of oxaliplatin-based cancer treatment. This study investigated the antinociceptive effect of amifostine and its potential neuroprotective mechanisms on the oxaliplatin-related peripheral sensory neuropathy in mice. Oxaliplatin (1 mg/kg) was injected intravenously in Swiss albino male mice twice a week (total of nine injections), while amifostine (1, 5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously 30 min before oxaliplatin. Mechanical and thermal nociceptive tests were performed once a week for 49 days. Additionally, c-Fos, nitrotyrosine, and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) immunoexpressions were assessed in the dorsal root ganglia. In all doses, amifostine prevented the development of mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal allodynia induced by oxaliplatin (P<0.05). Amifostine at the dose of 25 mg/kg provided the best protection (P<0.05). Moreover, amifostine protected against neuronal hyperactivation, nitrosative stress, and neuronal damage in the dorsal root ganglia, detected by the reduced expression of c-Fos, nitrotyrosine, and ATF3 (P<0.05 vs the oxaliplatin-treated group). In conclusion, amifostine reduced the nociception induced by oxaliplatin in mice, suggesting the possible use of amifostine for the management of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral sensory neuropathy.

RESUMO Os assentamentos da reforma agrária foram recentemente identificados como um dos principais contribuintes ao contínuo desmatamento na Amazônia brasileira. Reservas florestais coletivas foram estabelecidas em alguns assentamentos para impedir a supressão de florestas, mas os assentados geralmente não reconhecem os bosques coletivos, optando pelo contínuo acúmulo privado de bens e capital através do desmatamento: uma tragédia dos recursos naturais "não-comuns" ou não-coletivos. Caminhos para garantir a viabilidade da gestão de recursos coletivosnos assentamentos permanecem obscuros. Nosso estudo de caso focalizou dois assentamentos de tamanho semelhante, em municípios vizinhos no Noroeste do Mato Grosso, Brasil, ambos contando com áreas de floresta coletiva formalmente designadas. Em um dos assentamentos, o desmatamento se deslocou para a reserva coletiva e se intensificou. No outro, em contraposição, o desmatamento se estabilizou e a reserva coletiva foi protegida. Neste último, os assentados percebiam sua reserva florestal coletiva como um ativo comunitário, com duas cooperativas formadas por assentados comercialmente viáveis, envolvidas no extrativismo de castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa) e no processamento da mesma para alcançar maior valor agregado. Analisamos as diferenças entre os dois assentamentos, aplicando a estrutura de critérios de Elinor Ostrom para comparar os sistemas sócio-ecológicos e identificamos o mix de políticas públicas aplicadas localmente, que viabilizaram os benefícios gerados pela floresta. O estudo conclui que os esforços para institucionalizar a governança coletiva sobre as florestas remanescentes iniciados "de cima para baixo" provavelmente irão fracassar na maioria dos assentamentos, se não houver um foco em oportunidades alternativas de subsistência complementares aos direitos de propriedade sobre as florestas.

ABSTRACT Agrarian reform settlements have recently been identified as a major contributor to ongoing deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Collective forest reserves were established in some settlements to thwart forest loss, but settlers usually do not recognize forest commons, opting instead for continued private accumulation through forest clearing, or a "non-commons" tragedy. Pathways toward ensuring the viability of common-pool management in settlements remain unclear. Our case study focused on two similarly sized settlements in neighboring municipalities in Northwest Mato Grosso, Brazil, each with formally designated collective forest areas. In one, deforestation shifted into the collective reserve and intensified; in the other, deforestation stabilized and the collective reserve was protected. In the latter, settlers understood their collective forest reserve as a commonly held asset, with two commercially viable settlement cooperatives involved in Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) extractivism and added value processing. We analyze differences between the two settlements using Elinor Ostrom's framework for analysis of socio-ecological systems, and identify the locally applied policy mix ensuring the viability of a forest commons. The study concludes that "top-down" efforts to institutionalize collective governance over remaining forests will likely fail in most settlements, without a focus on alternative livelihood opportunities synergetic with forest tenure.

A doença mixomatosa da valva mitral (DMVM) é uma das alterações cardíacas mais comuns em cães e humanos, a qual pode levar à insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC). O diagnóstico dessa alteração ocorre com base principalmente no exame ecocardiográfico e na presença de sinais clínicos. No entanto, o diagnóstico precoce da DMVM pode contribuir para um melhor prognóstico e evitar o desenvolvimento de ICC. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a presença de ICC em cães com DMVM, por meio de exames clínico, radiográfico e ecocardiográfico em combinação com um modelo estatístico. Para este propósito, os cães foram divididos em três grupos (sadios; DMVM sem ICC; e DMVM com ICC), de acordo com os achados dos exames realizados. Então, as funções lineares discriminantes foram obtidas por meio da análise das variáveis peso; superfície de área corporal; diâmetro aórtico; relação entre o diâmetro do átrio esquerdo e aórtico; relação entre a área do jato regurgitante mitral e a área do átrio esquerdo; diâmetro da vena contracta e área da isovelocidade proximal mitral (PISA). As equações matemáticas foram estabelecidas para cada grupo de cães e demonstraram ser possível classificar os animais de acordo com a presença de ICC, com uma probabilidade de classificação correta de 90,4%. Diante disso, o modelo estatístico poderia ser uma ferramenta auxiliar para a identificação de ICC em cães com DMVM.

Mixomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is one of the most common cardiac abnormalities in dogs and humans that can lead to cardiac heart failure (CHF). Its diagnosis remains based on echocardiography and clinical signs. However, the early diagnose of MMVD can contribute to a better prognosis and avoid CHF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, radiographic and echocardiographic presence of CHF in dogs with MMVD in combination with a statistical model as a mathematical tool. For this purpose, dogs were divided into three groups (healthy; MMVD without CHF; and MMVD with CHF), according the clinical, radiographic and echocardiographic evaluation findings. Thus, linear discriminant functions were obtained by analyzing the variables weight, body surface area, aortic diameter, the ratio of the left atrium/aortic diameter, the ratio between the mitral regurgitation jet area and the left atrial area, vena contracta diameter and mitral valve proximal isovelocity surface area. Then, mathematical equations were established for each group of dogs. Statistical functions obtained in this study enabled to classify the dogs, regarding the presence of CHF with a probability of correct classification of 90.4%. Thus the statistical model demonstrated that it could be used as an auxiliary method for identifying CHF in dogs with MMVD.

A velocidade de propagação do fluxo mitral (Vp) é um índice utilizado para avaliação da função diastólica do ventrículo esquerdo. Sua importância nas cardiopatias em humanos e pequenos animais vem sendo estudada; porém, há poucos trabalhos avaliando essa variável em gatos domésticos. Nessa espécie, estudos utilizando animais saudáveis e não sedados não foram encontrados na literatura. Dessa forma, objetivou-se estabelecer os valores da Vp e sua correlação com outros índices ecocardiográficos em gatos domésticos saudáveis e não sedados, de forma a fornecer novas perspectivas relacionadas à função diastólica nessa espécie. Foram utilizados 26 gatos domésticos clinicamente saudáveis, submetidos à ecocardiografia para se avaliar a condição cardíaca dos animais. As variáveis idade, frequência cardíaca (FC), área de superfície corporal (SAC), idade, onda de enchimento ventricular inicial (E mitral) e tardio (A mitral), tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRIV) e a relação E/TRIV foram correlacionadas com a Vp. No presente estudo não foi observada correlação da Vp com nenhuma das variáveis estudas, exceto com a FC e o SAC. Quanto à análise de variabilidade, foi observado um maior valor para a análise inter-observador. O estudo permite concluir que a Vp demonstrou ser um índice útil para se estimar o relaxamento ventricular esquerdo em gatos domésticos saudáveis e não sedados, além de fornecer valores de referência para essa variável.

Mitral flow propagation velocity (Vp) is an index used to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic function. Its influence on human and small animal cardiopathies has been studied; however there are few reports evaluating this variable in domestic felines. In addition, there is a lack of studies in non-sedated healthy cats. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish values for Vp and its correlation with other echocardiographic indexes in non-sedated healthy cats in order to provide new perspectives related to diastolic function in this species. Twenty-six clinically healthy cats were submitted to echocardiography to assess the animals' cardiac conditions. Variables such as age, heart rate (HR), body surface area (BSA), initial (E mitral) and late (A mitral) ventricular filling waves, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and E/IVRT relation were correlated to Vp. No proven relation between any of these variables and Vp was observed in this present study, except for HR and BSA. In the variability analysis, higher values were verified for inter-observer analysis. This study concludes that Vp proved to be an useful index for estimating left ventricular relaxation in non-sedated healthy domestic cats and provides reference ranges for this variable.

Hepatic artery aneurysms are scarcely reported, mainly because of non-specific symptoms. More often, they are incidental findings during imaging studies to investigate other acute or chronic abdominal conditions. These aneurysms are usually detected in the sixth decade of life, predominantly among males. We report the case of a 69 year-old female with an unsuspected huge hepatic artery aneurysm associated with ischemic hepatitis. Suspicion of aneurysm arose during imaging studies to clarify the origin of jaundice and abdominal pain. After establishment of the diagnosis, but before open surgery, there was a spontaneous rupture of the aneurysm, which caused hemoperitoneum and death. The necropsy study confirmed ischemic hepatitis. Hepatic artery aneurysms are second among the visceral aneurysms, and may cause abdominal pain, jaundice, and hemorrhagic events. One should suspect abdominal aneurysms in elderly patients with unclear abdominal pain, and this hypothesis should be ruled out by imaging studies.

La publicación de trabajos sobre aneurismas en la arteria hepática es escasa, debido a los síntomas no específicos y a que constituyen hallazgos incidentales durante investigación de otras condiciones abdominales agudas o crónicas. Estos aneurismas son más frecuentes en varones y en la sexta década de la vida. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 69 años de edad que ingresa en el hospital con un aneurisma de arteria hepática no sospechado previamente, asociado con hepatitis isquémica. La sospecha de aneurisma empezó durante estudio de imágenes para aclaramiento del origen de ictericia y dolor abdominal. Después de confirmado el diagnóstico, pero antes de la operación planeada, ocurrió rotura espontánea del aneurisma causando hemoperitoneo y muerte. El estudio de necropsia confirmó hepatitis isquémica. Los aneurismas de la arteria hepática son los segundos entre los aneurismas viscerales y pueden causar dolor abdominal, ictericia y eventos hemorrágicos. Debemos sospechar de aneurisma visceral en ancianos con dolor abdominal no aclarada, posibilidad que debe ser descartada por estudios de imágenes.

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of the immunosuppressant rapamycin (Rapamune®, Sirolimus) on both resistance vessel responsiveness and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient 8-week-old male mice fed a normal rodent diet. Norepinephrine (NE)-induced vasoconstriction, acetylcholine (ACh)- and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced vasorelaxation of isolated mesenteric bed, and atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated. After 12 weeks of orally administered rapamycin (5 mg·kg-1·day-1, N = 9) and compared with untreated (control, N = 9) animals, rapamycin treatment did not modify either NE-induced vasoconstriction (maximal response: 114 ± 4 vs 124 ± 10 mmHg, respectively) or ACh- (maximal response: 51 ± 8 vs 53 ± 5%, respectively) and SNP-induced vasorelaxation (maximal response: 73 ± 6 vs 74 ± 6%, respectively) of the isolated vascular mesenteric bed. Despite increased total cholesterol in treated mice (982 ± 59 vs 722 ± 49 mg/dL, P < 0.01), lipid deposition on the aorta wall vessel was significantly less in rapamycin-treated animals (37 ± 12 vs 68 ± 8 µm² x 10³). These results indicate that orally administered rapamycin is effective in attenuating the progression of atherosclerotic plaque without affecting the responsiveness of resistance vessels, supporting the idea that this immunosuppressant agent might be of potential benefit against atherosclerosis in patients undergoing therapy.

Relata-se o caso de um cão, sem raça definida, levado ao veterinário por apresentar cansaço fácil e episódios de síncope. Foram identificadas fibrilação atrial e extra-sístoles ventriculares isoladas ao exame eletrocardiográfico. O tratamento antiarrítmico não foi eficaz, e o animal morreu devido a um episódio de síncope. À necropsia, observou-se massa em região de base cardíaca, invadindo a luz do átrio esquerdo. Histologicamente, constatou-se a presença de quimiodectoma. A infiltração miocárdica atrial causou lesões nos miócitos, produzindo circuitos reentrantes e/ou focos ectópicos de despolarização atrial.

This case reports a mongrel dog referred to a veterinarian due to tiredness and syncope episodes. Atrial fibrillation and ventricular premature complex were observed during electrocardiographic exam. The anti-arrhythmic treatment was not effective and the dog died from syncope. At necropsy, a mass invading the internal area of the left atrium was evidenced in the base of the heart. The occurrence of chemodectoma was histologically exhibited. Infiltrations in the atrial myocardium caused alterations in the miocites and produced reentrant circuits and/or atrial depolarization ectopic points.

The cardiac rhythm in a 24-hour period of 12 dogs of the Boxer breed, clinically healthy, males and females, of different ages was evaluated. No differences between males and females in the minimum, medium and maximum cardiac rates were observed (P>0.05). The females showed larger number of ventricular premature complex than the males. The major disorder in the cardiac rhythm was the ventricular premature complex. Several dogs showed the R over T phenomenon. Episodes of ventricular bigeminy and trigeminy were also observed.

Descrevem-se três surtos de intoxicação por nitratos e nitritos em bovinos na região semi-árida do estado da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil. O primeiro surto foi causado por Echinochloa polystachya (capim-mandante) e os demais por Pennisetum purpureum (capim-elefante) e ocorreram após um período prolongado de seca, após o início das primeiras chuvas. Em um dos surtos causado por Pennisetum purpureum, uma parte da área onde estava o pasto que continha níveis altos de nitratos havia sido fertilizada com esterco de bovino. No primeiro surto morreram 5 bovinos de um total de 11, no segundo morreram 21 de um total de 81 e no terceiro morreram 3 de um total de 19 bovinos. Os sinais clínicos se caracterizaram por anorexia, dispnéia, ranger de dentes, depressão ou hiperexitabilidade, tremores, contrações abdominais, salivação, corrimento nasal, andar cambaleante, mucosas cianóticas e, finalmente, decúbito. A presença de nitratos e nitritos foi detectada no sangue dos animais e nos pastos por meio da prova de difenilamina. Parece que o principal fator que determinou a concentração de altos níveis de nitratos nas plantas foi a ocorrência de chuvas depois de um longo período de seca. Outro fator importante no surto causado por Pennisetum purpureum foi a fertilização do solo com esterco.

Three outbreaks of nitrate poisoning are reported from the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. One outbreak caused by Echinochloa polystachya (capim-mandante) and two others caused by Pennisetum purpureum (capim-elefante) occurred at the end of the dry season, after the first rains. In one of the outbreaks caused by Pennisetum purpureum part of the pasture had been fertilized with cattle manure. Five out of 11 cattle died on one farm, 27 out of 81 on another, and 3 out of 9 on a third one. Clinical signs were anorexia, respiratory distress, teeth grinding, depression or hyperexitability, tremors, abdominal contractions, salivation, nasal discharge, uncoordinated gait, cyanosis, and finally recumbency. Nitrates and nitrites in the blood of affected cattle and pastures were determined by the diphenylamine test. It is suggested that the main reason for nitrate accumulation in the grasses was the prolonged draught followed by rain. In one of the outbreaks caused by Pennisetum purpureum, another reason was probably the fertilization of the soil with cattle manure.

A ten year-old male Poodle dog, weighing 3kg, was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of UFMG due to nocturnal coughing, exercise intolerance, weakness and weight loss. Physical examination revealed pale mucous membranes, prolonged capillary refill time, holosystolic regurgitant murmur at left apex and signs of congestive heart failure. M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography revealed mitral chronic valvular disease