Accidental envenomation caused by Tityus serrulatus scorpions is very common in Brazil and may result in serious cardiorespiratory alterations that are frequently fatal to children. In the present study, the effects of T. serrulatus venom on the cardiorespiratory system of recently weaned male Wistar rats were evaluated. Fifteen animals were distributed into three groups (n = 5). The control group A received 400 μL ultrapure water by subcutaneous injection, while the experimental groups B and C were injected with scorpion venom (100 and 450 μg, respectively, in 400 μL water). Electrocardiogram (ECG) traces were obtained prior to the experiment, at five-minute intervals up to 30 minutes after treatment. At 40 minutes after envenomation, the animals had severe acute symptoms and were subsequently anesthetized for blood collection by means of intracardiac puncture. Biochemical profiles for the cardiac muscle were established by colorimetric analysis of creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB isoenzyme. Semiquantitative analysis of troponin was performed using the immunochromatographic assay. Following euthanasia, the lungs and hearts were removed and subjected to histopathological examination. All experimental animals had ECG alterations compatible with electrolytic imbalance, myocarditis and alterations of the cardiac conduction system. Envenomed animals had accentuated bradycardia at 25 and 30 minutes after venom inoculation. All experimental animals had myocardial lesions, which were confirmed by increased serum levels of CK and CK-MB, although there were no alterations in the serum concentration of troponin. Pulmonary hemorrhage was detected in whole lungs and microscopically confirmed by the presence of congested capillaries and erythrocytes in the alveolar parenchyma. In conclusion, T. serrulatus venom caused great cardiorespiratory damage to weaned rats.

Estudaram-se os efeitos de soluções salinas isotônica e hipertônica em eqüinos hipovolêmicos sobre as concentrações séricas de sódio, cloreto e potássio e freqüências cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (FR). Quinze eqüinos machos com peso entre 390 e 475kg e idades entre quatro e 18 anos foram submetidos à retirada de sangue correspondente a 2% do peso corporal e distribuídos em três grupos de igual número: o grupo GSH recebeu solução hipertônica de NaCl a 7,5% em glicose a 5%; o GSI, solução isotônica de NaCl a 0,9%; e o GC não foi tratado. Os eletrólitos séricos foram avaliados antes (T0), após a retirada de sangue (T1) e após a infusão das soluções, entre 20 e 30 minutos (T2), entre 60 e 70 minutos (T3) e entre 120 e 130 minutos (T4). Após T0, houve elevação da FC e da FR, e as concentrações séricas de Na, Cl, K permaneceram inalteradas. Após a infusão, houve melhora das variáveis clínicas em GSI e GSH, em relação ao GC. Quanto a T3 e T4, os valores de Na em T2 do GSH foram maiores, e os de Cl e de K não se alteraram. As soluções hipertônica e isotônica são seguras na correção da hipovolemia induzida e não produzem alteração eletrolítica significativa.

The effect of isotonic and hypertonic solutions on serum levels of sodium, chloride and potassium and cardiac (CR) and respiratory rates (RR) of hypovolemic horses were studied. Fifteen horses weighting from 390 to 475kg, aging from four to 18-years-old were submitted to bleeding of 2% of body weight and divided in three groups: 7.5% NaCl hypertonic saline in 5% glucose (GSH), 0.9% NaCl isotonic saline and control group (GC). Serum electrolytes were evaluated before (T0) and after bleeding (T1) and after the administration of the solutions between 20 and 30 minutes (T2), 60 and 70 minutes (T3) and 120 and 130 minutes (T4). After T0, CR and RR increased while serum sodium, chloride, potassium were not affected. After the treatment, the clinical variables improved in GSI and GSH as compared to GC. The Na levels increased in GSH at T2 being higher than T3 and T4 while chloride and potassium concentrations did not change. The hypertonic and isotonic solutions safely corrected the hypovolemia of the horses, without altering significantly the electrolyte balance.

Estudou-se a influência do tratamento diário com filtrado aquoso de Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) (25mg/ml), via oral, por 17 e 57 dias, em camundongos inoculados com tumor sólido de Ehrlich (TSE) por meio da curva de crescimento tumoral, do peso relativo do tumor, da contagem de regiões organizadoras de nucléolos (AgNORs) e dos padrões histológicos das massas tumorais e linfonodos poplíteos. Os animais que ingeriram o extrato aquoso do ABM por 57 dias apresentaram menor (P<0,05) crescimento do TSE, no segundo e terceiro dias, fase inflamatória do crescimento tumoral. Quanto ao peso relativo das massas tumorais, valores de AgNORs, padrões morfoistopatológicos do TSE e ocorrência de processos metastáticos, não houve alteração significativa (P>0,05) entre os animais tratados e não tratados.

The influence of daily administration of Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) aqueous solution (25mg/ml) during 17 and 57 days in mice bearing solid Ehrlich tumor was studied. Tumoral growth, tumoral and spleenic relative weights, nucleoly organization regions AgNORs values and tumor and popliteal lymph nodes histopathology were daily evaluated. The animals that received ABM during 57 days showed lower values (P<0.05) of tumoral growth on second and third days after the period corresponding to the inflammatory phase of tumoral growth. The relative weight of the tumor and AgNORs values were similar (P>0.05) between treated and non-treated animals. No difference in microscopic evaluation of the tumors in treated and non-treated animals was seen and metastasis in popliteal nodes of the tumor occurred in all the animals.