Abstract Background: Brazil is the worldwide leader in the long-term use of pesticides and herbicides. This compromises the health of handlers by causing harmful neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular changes. The herbicide 2.4D has been shown to cause cardiac overload with subsequent pathological remodeling. Objective: To analyze the cardiac morphological repercussions on the left ventricle (LV) of mice submitted to nebulization by the herbicide 2.4D. Methods: Fifteen mice were divided into three groups: control group (CG; n = 5) exposed to nebulization with sodium chloride solution; low concentration group (LCG; n = 5) exposed to nebulization of the herbicide 2.4D with 3.71 x 10-3 grams; and high concentration group (HCG; n = 5) exposed to nebulization of the herbicide 2.4D with 9.28 x 10-3 grams for 15 minutes. The fractal dimension analysis was performed through the box-counting method. Later, the ImageJ program was used to calculate the fractal dimension of each group. To evaluate cardiac remodeling, histological slides were prepared and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE). Fifty areas of cardiomyocytes were analyzed per animal. The comparisons between groups were performed by ANOVA One-Way with Tukey’s posttest (p < 0.05). Results: There was no change in fractal dimension values between the CG = 1.37 ± 0.02, LCG = 1.33 ± 0.04 and the HCG = 1.33 ± 0.07 groups. However, cardiac hypertrophy occurred in the HCG = 303.9 ± 38.80 µm(2) when compared to the CG group = 236.9 ± 61.71 µm(2) (p = 0.034). Conclusion: The herbicide 2.4D used for 72 hours did not promote cardiotoxicity when evaluated by fractal dimension. However, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was observed in the LV.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Evaluar la actividad de la AChE en sangre total y los niveles de FRAP en muestras de perros con tumores mamarios antes y después de la cirugía, así como la relación entre estas variables con marcadores inmunohistoquímicos de tumores (E-caderina, ki-67 , COX - 2). Materiales y métodos. En este estudio, 13 perros con tumores mamarios se dividieron en dos grupos (A y B). El grupo A estaba formado por perros con tumores menores de 3 cm de diámetro y el grupo B estaba formado por perros con tumor de 3 cm de diámetro o más. La actividad de AChE y los niveles de FRAP se evaluaron antes y después de la cirugía y la inmunohistoquímica se realizó en los tumores. Resultados. La actividad de la AChE aumentó significativamente (p<0.05) en perros con cáncer mamario en comparación con los animales control, y ni la cirugía ni el tamaño tumoral afectaron la actividad de la AChE (p>0.05). Los niveles de FRAP antes de la cirugía fueron significativamente más bajos (p<0.05) en comparación con los animales control. Además, los niveles de FRAP aumentaron significativamente después de la cirugía en animales del grupo A en comparación con los datos antes de la cirugía, hecho que no se observó en perros del grupo B. La E-cadherina mostró correlación positiva baja con los niveles de FRAP (r = 0.37, valor p=0.05); COX-2 mostró una moderada correlación positiva significativa con FRAP (r = 0.55, p-valor<0.05); Y la COX-2 mostró una correlación positiva de baja significación con la AChE (r = 0.32, p-valor = 0.01). Conclusiones. AChE y los niveles de antioxidantes se modifican en perros con cáncer de mama. Estas variables están implicadas en diversas funciones fisiológicas, y por lo tanto, pueden estar relacionadas con la patogénesis de la enfermedad.

ABSTRACT Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate AChE activity in total blood and the FRAP levels in samples from dogs with mammary tumors before and after surgery, as well as the relationship between these variables with immunohistochemical markers of tumor (E-caderina, ki-67, COX-2). Materials and methods. In this study, 13 dogs with mammary tumors were divided into two groups (A and B). The group A was formed by dogs with tumors smaller than 3 cm of diameter, and the group B was formed by dogs with tumor of 3 cm of diameter or larger. The AChE activity and FRAP levels were evaluated before and after surgery and the immunohistochemistry were performed at the tumors. Results. The AChE activity was significantly increased (p<0.05) in dogs with mammary cancer compared to control animals, and neither surgery or tumor size affected the AChE activity (p>0.05). FRAP levels before surgery were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to control animals. Also, FRAP levels increased significantly after surgery in animals of the group A compared to data before surgery, a fact not observed in dogs from the group B. E-cadherin showed low significant positive correlation with FRAP levels (r=0.37, p-value=0.05); COX-2 showed a moderate significant positive correlation to FRAP (r=0.55, p-value<0.05); and COX-2 showed a low significant positive correlation to AChE (r=0.32, p-value=0.01). Conclusions. AChE and antioxidant levels are modified in dogs with mammary cancer. These variables are involved in various physiological functions, and thus, they might be related to disease pathogenesis.

Estudou-se o efeito do intervalo da inseminação artificial à ovulação sobre a fertilidade de éguas, considerando principalmente o local de deposição do sêmen. Os intervalos foram de 48 horas e 24 horas antes da ovulação e de 48 horas e 72 horas entre as duas últimas inseminações. As inseminações foram realizadas no ápice do corno uterino, por via intravaginal profunda, com 1/5 da dose inseminante utilizada para o corpo do útero (15 mL-GI). As éguas foram rufiadas diariamente e inseminadas às segundas, quartas e sextas-feiras, a partir de um folículo de 3,0 a 3,5 cm de diâmetro, com sêmen fresco diluído em diluidor de leite desnatado-glicose. Não houve diferença nas taxas de concepção/ciclo entre as inseminações realizadas no corpo (42,86%) e no ápice (45,95%) com concentrações médias de 489 e 102 milhões de espermatozoides móveis. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos experimentais no mesmo intervalo inseminação artificial/ovulação, no entanto, quando as taxas de concepção foram comparadas entre intervalos em mesmo local de deposição do sêmen, taxas de concepção inferiores estiveram relacionadas às inseminações realizadas antes da ovulação. Por outro lado, as inseminações realizadas antes e após a ovulação, independentemente dos intervalos inseminação/ovulação, resultaram em melhores taxas de concepção. As concentrações espermáticas/dose inseminante podem ser significativamente reduzidas, sem prejuízo à fertilidade, quando o sêmen é depositado próximo à papila tubárica. Entretanto, há necessidade de inseminações antes e depois da ovulação para que se obtenham melhores taxas de fertilidade quando se utiliza sêmen de baixa viabilidade no trato genital da égua, visando ao estabelecimento de um reservatório espermático adequado no momento da ovulação.

The effect of the interval from artificial insemination to ovulation on mare fertility rates was studied, taking account the semen deposition site. The intervals were 48 hours and 24 hours prior to ovulation, 48 hours and 72 hours between the two last inseminations. The inseminations in the tip of the uterine horn (GII) were carried out by the deep intravaginal technique using 1/5 of the inseminating dose used in the uterine body (15mL-GI). The mares were teased daily and inseminated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting with a follicle from 3.0 to 3.5 cm of diameter, using fresh semen diluted in skim milk glucose extender. Only one stallion of 20 year-old and well-known fertility was utilized. There was no difference in the conception rates/cycles between the inseminations carried out in the uterine body (42.86%) and in the tip of the uterine horn (45.95%) utilizing average concentrations of 489 and 102 million mobile spermatozoa, respectively. No differences were observed between experimental groups for the same artificial/ovulation interval, but when the conception rates were between intervals in the same semen deposition place, lower conception rates were associated to inseminations carried out before ovulation. However, artificial insemination carried out before and after ovulation, regardless of the artificial insemination/ovulation intervals, resulted in better conception rates. The spermatic concentrations/inseminating dose can be significantly reduced, without damaging fertility, when the semen is placed close to the tubaric papille. However, inseminations are needed before and after ovulation to obtain better fertility rates when using low viability semen in the mare genital tract, in order to establish an adequate sperm reservoir at the time of ovulation.

A trombose venosa profunda (TVP) é uma freqüente causa de edema unilateral de membros inferiores. O cisto sinovial da articulação coxofemoral pode ser uma causa rara desse sintoma e deve ser considerado no diagnóstico diferencial. Apresentamos um caso clínico em que o eco-Doppler colorido revelou a presença de compressão extrínseca da veia ilíaca externa. A ressonância magnética demonstrou tratar-se de cisto sinovial como fator etiológico, confirmado pela ressecção cirúrgica.

Deep venous thrombosis frequently results in unilateral lower limb edema. A synovial cyst in the hip joint may be a rare cause of this symptom and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. We report on a case in which color-flow Doppler ultrasonography showed presence of extrinsic compression of the external iliac vein. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a synovial cyst as etiologic factor, confirmed by surgical excision.