RESUMO Objetivou-se, com este estudo, quantificar o número e a frequência de folículos monocitários (MOF) e polioocitários (POF) provenientes de ovários de cadelas submetidas à ovariossalpingo-histerectomia (OSH). Para tanto, coletaram-se os ovários (direito e esquerdo) de 38 cadelas após OSH, com posterior preparação e análise histológica. Cada ovário foi submetido a dois cortes histológicos (superficial e profundo) onde se quantificou o número e a classificação dos folículos, bem como o número de complexos cumulus oophorus (COCs) por folículo em cada corte histológico. Observaram-se MOF e POF em todos os ovários estudados, em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento, sendo os folículos primários agrupados no córtex ovariano, frente a uma distribuição aleatória dos outros estádios foliculares. FOPs contendo dois, três, quatro ou mais COCs foram observados nos ovários de todas as fêmeas estudadas, e sua frequência tendeu a diminuir de acordo com o número de COC presente no POF. Não se observou influência da idade, do número e do intervalo de estros, assim como do número de filhotes por gestação sobre o número/frequência de FOP nos ovários das cadelas estudadas, enquanto o porte, o número de gestações, o uso e o número de contraceptivo apresentaram algum grau de influência sobre o número/frequência de FOP nos ovários das cadelas estudadas.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to quantify the number and frequency of monocyte (MnOF) and multi-oocyte (MtOF) follicles in ovaries of bitches subjected to ovary salpingohysterectomy (OSH). Right and left ovaries of 38 bitches were collected after OSH, prepared, and a histological analysis was carried out. The ovaries were subjected to surface and deep histological cuts; the follicles were classified, and the number of follicles and cumulus oophorus complexes (COC) per follicle were quantified for each histological cut. MnOF and MtOF were found in all ovaries, at different developmental stages; primary follicles were grouped in the ovarian cortex, and follicles at other follicular stages presented a random distribution. MtOF containing two, three, four, or more COC were found in the ovaries of bitches, with a decreasing frequency trend, according to the number of COC in the MtOF. The effect of the age, number of estrus, estrus interval, and number of progenies per delivery was not significant for the number and frequency of MtOF in the ovaries of the bitches, whereas the size, number of pregnancies, use and number of contraceptive applications had some effect on the number and frequency of MtOF in the ovaries of the bitches.

The aim of this study was to evaluate intake, performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed finishing diets containing 0%, 7.5% and 15% safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius) as a replacement for corn and soybean meal. Thirty-six male lambs with mean bodyweight of 17.9 ± 1.8 kg were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: C0: no safflower seeds, C7.5: 7.5%safflower seeds in diet (DM basis), and C15: 15% safflower seeds in diet (DM basis). The lambs were fed in pens of two and thus there were six replicates per treatment. Performance and carcass characteristics were not affected by including safflower seeds in their diet. Animals fed 7.5% safflower seeds had greater dry matter intake. There was a linear effect of increasing the redness (a*) of meat with the amount of safflower, where a mean of 15.77 was found for lambs that received the C15 diet. With increasing levels of safflower, the concentration of fatty acids C14:0, C17:0, and C22:1 increased. However, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, C18:2) was reduced in lambs fed C15. A concentration of 0.461 g/100 g meat was observed for animals that consumed C7.5. Thus, lambs fed a diet containing 7.5% safflower had the greatest dry matter intake, carcass fat, and concentration of conjugated linoleic acid in their meat, and enhanced meat colour.

Mecanismos de acúmulo baseados em deriva centromérica típica ou de cromossomos portadores de inversões pericêntricas mostram-se adequados à diferenciação cariotípica mais ampla nas principais ordens de Actinopterygii. Aqui nós mostramos que a deriva meiótica nos peixes é também apoiada pela fixação preferencial de sistemas de cromossomos sexuais e cromossomos B em ordens com cariótipos predominantemente formados por elementos bi-braquiais. O mosaico de tendências cromossômicas que atuam em nível infra-familiar em peixes poderia ser explicado pela interação do processo direcional de deriva meiótica agindo como pano de fundo, modulada em menor escala por fatores adaptativos ou propriedades cariotípicas específicas de cada grupo, conforme proposto pelo modelo de ortoseleção.

Mechanisms of accumulation based on typical centromeric drive or of chromosomes carrying pericentric inversions are adjusted to the general karyotype differentiation in the principal Actinopterygii orders. Here, we show that meiotic drive in fish is also supported by preferential establishment of sex chromosome systems and B chromosomes in orders with predominantly bi-brachial chromosomes. The mosaic of trends acting at an infra-familiar level in fish could be explained as the interaction of the directional process of meiotic drive as background, modulated on a smaller scale by adaptive factors or specific karyotypic properties of each group, as proposed for the orthoselection model.

It was evaluated the oocyte and embryo in vitro production of 42 Nellore mixed breed cows (Bos taurus indicus) come from de same genetic group, aging from 4 to 9 years, with mean body weight of 420 kg, stimulated with FSH and eCG. The animals were distributed into three groups: group 1, control (n= 14), only with follicular aspiration (OPU); group 2, treated with 1400 UI of eCG in a single dose plus OPU (n= 14); and group 3, treated with 120 UI of FSH administered four times plus OPU with 12 h of interval (n= 14). All groups received auricular implant with 3 mg of Norgestomet on the first day (D0) associated with 2 mg of estradiol benzoate intramuscularly. At the seventh day (D7) the implants were removed and the ovarian aspirations were realized on the cows of group 1(OPU). Group 2 had the eCG applied at the fifth day and the OPU was performed at D7. The animals from group 3 were treated with FSH at fifth and sixth day and the aspiration occurred at D7 (OPU). The follicular aspiration procedure was done via transvaginal guided with ultrasound. It was performed 42 aspirations obtaining 627 oocytes, where 502 were viable and 125 non-viable. Then, it was realized the in vitro maturation and fecundation. The cleavage, blastocyst and eclosion rate were evaluated. There were no significant difference (p>0.05) at these parameters between the groups. In conclusion, the gonadotrophic stimulation with FSH and eCG, at the doses used in this study, was insufficient to increase the quality of the viable oocytes submitted to in vitro fertilization to produce embryos.

Avaliou-se a recuperação de oócitos e produção de embriões in vitro de 42 vacas, mestiça Nelore proveniente de grupo genético homogêneo, com idade de 4 a 9 anos, com peso médio de 420 kg, estimuladas com FSH ou eCG. Estas foram distribuídas em três grupos: grupo 1, controle (n=14), apenas OPU, grupo 2, tratadas com 1400 UI de eCG, em dose única seguida de aspiração folicular (OPU) (n= 14); e, grupo 3, tratadas com 120 UI de FSH, administrados com intervalo de 12 horas em quatro doses seguida de OPU (n= 14). Todos os grupos receberam implante auricular contendo 3 mg de Norgestomet no primeiro dia (D0) associado a administração de 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol via intramuscular. No sétimo dia (D7) foram retirados todos os implantes e na sequência foram realizadas as aspirações ovarianas das vacas do grupo 1. O grupo 2 recebeu a aplicação de eCG no quinto dia e a OPU foi realizada no D7. Já o grupo 3 recebeu o tratamento com FSH no quinto e sexto dia, e foram aspiradas em D7. O procedimento de aspiração folicular foi realizado via transvaginal guiada por ultrassom. Foram realizadas 42 aspirações com obtenção de 627 oócitos, sendo 502 viáveis e 125 inviáveis. Realizou-se a maturação e fecundação in vitro. Avaliaram-se as taxas de clivagem, blastocisto e eclosão. Não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) nos parâmetros avaliados entre os grupos. Conclui-se que o estímulo ovariano com FSH ou com eCG nas doses utilizadas, foram insuficientes para incrementar o número e a qualidade de oócitos viáveis submetidos a fertilização in vitro para produção de embriões.

The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) cross-transmission between two patient groups (long-term dialysis and kidney transplant patients). Molecular typing, by automated ribotyping with the RiboPrinter Microbial Characterization System (Qualicon, USA), was used to analyze VRE isolates from 31 fecal samples of 320 dialysis patients and 38 fecal samples of 280 kidney transplant patients. Clonal spread of E. faecalis and E. casseliflavus was observed intragroup, but not between the two groups of patients. In turn, transmission of E. gallinarum and E. faecium between the groups was suggested by the finding of vancomycin-resistant isolates belonging to the same ribogroup in both dialysis and transplant patients. The fact that these patients were colonized by VRE from the same ribogroup in the same health care facility provides evidence for cross-transmission and supports the adoption of stringent infection control measures to prevent dissemination of these bacteria.

The objective of the present study was to determine to what extent, if any, swimming training applied before immobilization in a cast interferes with the rehabilitation process in rat muscles. Female Wistar rats, mean weight 260.52 ± 16.26 g, were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each: control, 6 weeks under baseline conditions; trained, swimming training for 6 weeks; trained-immobilized, swimming training for 6 weeks and then immobilized for 1 week; trained-immobilized-rehabilitated, swimming training for 6 weeks, immobilized for 1 week and then remobilized with swimming for 2 weeks. The animals were then sacrificed and the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were dissected, frozen in liquid nitrogen and processed histochemically (H&E and mATPase). Data were analyzed statistically by the mixed effects linear model (P < 0.05). Cytoarchitectural changes such as degenerative characteristics in the immobilized group and regenerative characteristics such as centralized nucleus, fiber size variation and cell fragmentation in the groups submitted to swimming were more significant in the soleus muscle. The diameters of the lesser soleus type 1 and type 2A fibers were significantly reduced in the trained-immobilized group compared to the trained group (P < 0.001). In the tibialis anterior, there was an increase in the number of type 2B fibers and a reduction in type 2A fibers when trained-immobilized rats were compared to trained rats (P < 0.001). In trained-immobilized-rehabilitated rats, there was a reduction in type 2B fibers and an increase in type 2A fibers compared to trained-immobilized rats (P < 0.009). We concluded that swimming training did not minimize the deleterious effects of immobilization on the muscles studied and that remobilization did not favor tissue re-adaptation.

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disorder that is often associated with cardiovascular diseases. Research on experimental models has suggested that cardiac dysfunction in obesity might be related to alterations in myocardial intracellular calcium (Ca2+) handling. However, information about the expression of Ca2+-related genes that lead to this abnormality is scarce. We evaluated the effects of obesity induced by a high-fat diet in the expression of Ca2+-related genes, focusing the L-type Ca2+ channel (Cacna1c), sarcolemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX), sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a), ryanodine receptor (RyR2), and phospholamban (PLB) mRNA in rat myocardium. Male 30-day-old Wistar rats were fed a standard (control) or high-fat diet (obese) for 15 weeks. Obesity was defined as increased percent of body fat in carcass. The mRNA expression of Ca2+-related genes in the left ventricle was measured by RT-PCR. Compared with control rats, the obese rats had increased percent of body fat, area under the curve for glucose, and leptin and insulin plasma concentrations. Obesity also caused an increase in the levels of SERCA2a, RyR2 and PLB mRNA (P < 0.05) but did not modify the mRNA levels of Cacna1c and NCX. These findings show that obesity induced by high-fat diet causes cardiac upregulation of Ca2+ transport_related genes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Embora existam recomendações especificas envolvendo o tratamento das dislipidemias em pacientes com alto risco, estas recomendações dificilmente são seguidas adequadamente. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar fatores de risco em pacientes com alto risco cardiovascular acompanhados ambulatorialmente no Brasil e Venezuela. Os prontuários de 412 pacientes foram selecionados em 4 instituições. Os pacientes foram divididos conforme a utilização de hipolipemiantes. Pacientes sem hipolipemiantes apresentavam níveis mais elevados de colesterol total (p< 0,001), LDL colesterol (p< 0,001) e HDL colesterol (p< 0,001), além de menores níveis de triglicérides (p< 0,001). O uso de hipolipemiantes foi associado à diminuição dos níveis de colesterol total (251,0 ± 40,0 para 196,0 ± 46,0), LDL colesterol (168,0 ± 36,0 para 116,0 ± 39,0), HDL colesterol (51,0 ± 46,0 para 46,0 ± 12,0) e triglicérides (181,0 ± 120,0 para 160,0 ± 79,0). Concluímos que apenas um pequeno percentual de pacientes, mesmo em uso de estatinas, apresenta níveis de colesterol compatível com os atualmente recomendados. Desta forma, embora as recomendações para tratamento das dislipidemias sejam bem conhecidas, um pequeno percentual de pacientes atinge os valores desejados de colesterol. É necessário um melhor controle dos níveis lipídicos dos pacientes, tanto através da utilização de doses maiores de estatinas como da utilização da associação de hipolipemiantes.

Although there are specific guidelines regarding the treatment of dyslipidemia in highly risk patients, these recommendations are usually inadequately followed. The aim of this study is to investigate risk factors in patients with increased cardiovascular risk currently treated in Brazil and Venezuela. Medical charts of 412 patients were selected in 4 institutions. Patients were divided into groups according to the use of lipid-lowering drugs (LLD), particularly statins. Patients who did not use LLD showed higher levels of total cholesterol (p< 0.001), LDL cholesterol (p< 0,001) and HDL cholesterol (p< 0.001), besides lower levels of triglycerides (p< 0.001). The use of statins was associated with a decrease in levels of total cholesterol (from 251.0 ± 40.0 to 196.0 ± 46.0), LDL cholesterol (from 168.0 ± 36.0 to 116.0 ± 39.0), HDL cholesterol (from 51.0 ± 46.0 to 46.0 ± 12.0) and triglycerides (from 181.0 ± 120.0 to 160.0 ± 79.0). Finally, only a small percentage of patients, even those under treatment with LLD, showed cholesterol levels according to currently available guidelines. Therefore, although the guidelines for the treatment of dyslipidemia are widely known, only a small percentage of patients achieve adequate levels of cholesterol. It is necessary to decrease lipid levels of these patients by increasing the dose of the statins or using a second drug.

Os efeitos de soluções aquosas do óleo de sementes de nim sobre o predador Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), nos estágios de ovo, larva e adulto, foram avaliados em laboratório. Em um primeiro experimento, ovos e larvas de 2º ínstar foram pulverizados com as soluções de nim nas concentrações de 0; 0, 5 e 2,25 ml/l de água apresentaram mortalidade significativa (P < 0,05) somente na maior concentração e o desenvolvimento larval e a capacidade predatória não foram afetados. Os adultos originados de larvas tratadas não apresentaram alterações da razão sexual, fecundidade, fertilidade e longevidade, indicando que nas concentrações testadas o óleo de nim não reduz o potencial reprodutivo da espécie. Em um segundo experimento, adultos da joaninha coletados no campo foram pulverizados com a solução aquosa de óleo de nim ou mantidos sobre ramos de losna-branca pulverizados na concentração de 5 ml/l de água, para avaliação da sobrevivência. A pulverização do óleo de nim nesta concentração não causou mortalidade nos adultos de C. sanguinea, uma vez que os insetos de ambos tratamentos apresentaram curva de longevidade semelhante à da testemunha. Os resultados demonstram que o nim apresenta potencial para ser utilizado em associação com o controle biológico de pragas, quando C. sanguinea for empregada.

The effects of the neem seed oil aqueous solutions on survival and performance of egg, larva and adult stage of the Coccinelid predator Cycloneda sanguinea (L.) were evaluated under laboratory conditions. In a first trial, eggs and 2nd-instar larvae were sprayed with the neem solutions at 0; 0.5 and 2.25 ml/l and kept at 25 ± 1ºC, 70% RH and 14h photoperiod. Egg viability and duration and larvae and pupae survival were evaluated as well as the predatory capacity of the larvae, adult longevity and reproduction. Egg spraying did not affect egg hatch or larvae survival and development. When the larvae were sprayed, significant mortality was observed only at the higher concentration (P < 0.05) and larval development and predatory capacity were not affected. Also, adults originated from treated larvae showed no alterations on sex rate, fecundity, fertility and longevity, thus indicating that at the tested concentrations the neem oil do not reduce the reproductive potential of the species. In a second experiment, adults collected in the field were sprayed with neem oil or kept on Parthenium sp. twigs sprayed with the neem oil aqueous solution at 5 ml/l, to evaluate survival. The neem oil at this concentration caused no mortality to the adults, since all of them, sprayed or kept on sprayed twigs, presented a longevity curve similar to untreated ones. The results indicate that the neem oil presents potential to be used in association with biological control of pests, when C. sanguinea is present.

Plântulas de jatobá crescidas em ambiente com concentrações elevadas de CO2 podem exibir aclimatação fotossintética ou retro-inibição, a qual é caracterizada pela redução das taxas fotossintéticas. Em muitos casos de aclimatação induzida por alto CO2, taxas reduzidas de fotossíntese são observadas, mas ainda são mais altas que aquelas detectadas em plantas crescendo em concentrações atuais de CO2 atmosférico (360ppm). No presente trabalho, realizamos um estudo do comportamento de plântulas de Hymenaea courbaril, uma espécie secundária tardia/clímax de grande importância em florestas tropicais maduras nas Américas. Em nossos experimentos, sementes recém germinadas foram cultivadas em câmaras de topo aberto com concentrações alteradas de CO2 (720 ppm e controle a 340 ppm). Para testar os efeitos da presença de compostos de reserva sobre as respostas de plântulas em crescimento, cotilédones foram destacados antes do início da mobilização do polissacarídeo de reserva (xiloglucano) e parâmetros tais como massa seca, área foliar, assimilação de CO2 e fluorescência da clorofila a, foram medidos durante 98 dias. A comparação entre plântulas crescendo em atmosfera de CO2 a 360 e 720 ppm, mostraram aumento siginificativo em área foliar apenas nos metáfilos de plântulas crescendo nas concentrações mais altas. No entanto, um efeito marcado e consistente de aumento na fotossíntese (assimilação de CO2) foi observado em todos os casos (com e sem cotilédones). Acredita-se que as variações nos níveis de sacarose podem funcionar como um mecanismo sinalizador de alterações nos estados de armazenamento ou desenvolvimento de tecidos vegetais. Portanto, uma possível explicação para nossas observações gerais de que uma resposta diferencial em termos de crescimento de plântulas deixa de existir quando a mobilização de reservas está em curso, pode estar relacionada com o fato de que altos níveis de sacarose são produzidos quando há degradação de compostos de reservas. De acordo com nossos resultados, parece que as plantas crescidas sob concentrações enriquecidas de CO2 não aclimataram e portanto, sob as condições climáticas previstas com base nos níveis atmosféricos atuais, plântulas de Hymenaea courbaril deverão estabelecer mais rapidamente em seu ambiente natural e podem também servir como um mecanismo eficiente de seqüestro de carbono pela floresta.schottiana Mart.. Phytoseiidae foi a segunda família mais numerosa (11,2% dos ácaros coletados), sendo a mais abundante em folíolos.

Plants grown in elevated CO2 environments may exhibit photosynthetic acclimation or down regulation, which is characterised by reduced rates of photosynthesis. In most cases of CO2-induced photosynthetic acclimation, the reduced rates of photosynthesis were still higher than those detected in plants growing at ambient CO2 concentrations. In this work we present a study on the behaviour of seedlings of Hymenaea courbaril, a late secondary/climax species that is one of the most important trees in mature tropical forests of the Americas. After germination, the seedling of H. courbaril increases its rate of growth due to the mobilisation of massive amounts of a storage cell wall polysaccharide (xyloglucan) from its cotyledons. In our experiments, germinated seeds were incubated in open top chambers with increased concentration of atmospheric CO2 (720 ppm) (control at 360 ppm). To test the effects of the presence of the storage compound on the responses of growing seedlings, cotyledons were detached before the start of polysaccharide mobilisation and parameters such as dry mass, leaf area, CO2 assimilation rates and chlorophyll a fluorescence were measured during 98 days. A comparison between 360 and 720ppm growing seedlings showed a significant increase in leaf area only in metaphylls of seedlings growing under higher CO2. However, a marked and persistent increase (2 fold) in photosynthesis (CO2 assimilation) was observed in all cases (with or without cotyledons). Changes in the levels of sucrose have been suggested to act as a signalling mechanism that switches on/off the storage or development mode in plant tissues. Thus, the explanation for our general observation that the differential response in terms of growth of seedlings ceases to exist when storage mobilisation is functioning, might be related to the fact that higher levels of sucrose are produced as a result of carbon storage compounds degradation. By the results obtained, it appears that plants grown under enriched CO2 did not acclimate and therefore under the climatic conditions forecasted on the basis of the present carbon dioxide emissions, Hymenaea courbaril should establish faster in its natural environment and might also serve as an efficient mechanism of carbon sequestration within the forest.

Foram colhidos e examinados 1085 estômagos de suínos, machos castrados ou fêmeas, todos com idade entre 140 e 150 dias. As lesões encontradas foram classificadas de acordo com a localização, tipo e severidade. A análise macroscópica revelou que 694 (64%) estômagos apresentavam algum tipo de lesão. A paraqueratose foi identificada como alteração patológica única em 213 (19,6%) estômagos. Em outros 319 (29,4%) estômagos, ela estava associada apenas a processos erosivos ou associada a erosões e úlceras. Erosões isoladas ou associadas a ulcerações foram identificadas em 121 (11,2%) animais, enquanto que úlceras, foram verificadas em 41 (3,8%) animais. A avaliação por regiões, revelou que 62,8% apresentaram lesões na região gastresofágica e apenas 6,6% na região fúndica do órgão. Tais achados sugerem a existência de diferentes causas na etiopatogenia desses dois processos gástricos. A ulceração gastresofágica estava presente em 213 (19,6%) animais, dos quais 22,7% eram machos castrados e 16,5% eram fêmeas, fato que evidencia possível influência do sexo na freqüência dessa patologia em suínos. Os exames microscópicos, realizados em parte das amostras, apenas confirmaram as alterações, já identificadas pelo exame macroscópico. Apenas o exame macroscópico conduz a resultados confiáveis na avaliação de lesões gástricas em suínos.

Stomachs from 1085 female and castrated male, 140-150 days of age pigs, were collected and examined at slaughter. Macroscopic analysis revealed 694 (64.0%) stomachs with some degree of lesion. Parakeratosis alone was found in 213 (19.6%) stomachs. However, in 319 (29.4%) stomachs parakeratosis was associated with erosive, or with erosive and ulcerative processes. Discrete superficial erosions, associated or not with ulcers, were identified in 121 (11.2%) animals. Ulcers, alone, were found in 41 (3.8%) stomachs. These lesions were distributed in the fundic area (6.6%) but, mainly, in the pars oesophagea (62.8%) region, suggesting not only that they are independent, but that they may have different causes. Gastroesophageal ulcers and erosions were affecting 22.7% of castrated males, but only 16.5% of females, possible showing a sex linked interference on the pathogenesis of this syndrome. Microscopic analysis did not enhance or brought an additional aid for a better characterization of the macroscopic lesions, indicating that a fair and judicious macroscopic evaluation can be a good and reliable method for the evaluation of gastric lesions in pigs.