RESUMO

This study aimed to identify, by means of thromboelastometry assessment, altered thrombotic risk in dogs with primary and secondary IMHA by E. canis infection after initiating the immunosuppressive therapy with mycophenolate mofetil. The animals' screening was based on complete blood count (CBC), biochemical and urine tests. Dogs with moderate to severe anemia (hematocrit ≤ 25%) which showed symptoms of immune-mediated hemolysis, such as spherocytosis, positive saline agglutination, bilirubinuria and/or hemoglobinuria, were included. Blood and urine samples were collected at two different moments. The first sample (M1) was collected at the time of diagnosis, when hematocrit was lower or equal to 25% before treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (Accord ®); the second sample (M2) was collected after treatment with mycophenolate mofetil, when hematocrit was greater or equal to 30%. Five out of the twelve animals selected died before the end of the study. No reduction in thrombotic risk was observed in the animals treated with mycophenolate mofetil. The animals that presented hypocoagulation at the time of diagnosis showed the worst prognosis, and their reticulocyte count displayed a better prognostic value than their erythrocytes count at the time of diagnosis.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi esclarecer se há alteração do risco trombótico em cães com anemia hemolítica imunomediada primária e secundária a E.canis, avaliado por meio da tromboelastometria, após início de tratamento com micofenolato de mofetila. A seleção dos animais foi baseada na avaliação de hemograma, exame bioquímico e urinálise. Cães com anemia moderada a severa (hematócrito ≤ 25%), com sinais de hemólise imunomediada, como esferocitose, aglutinação em salina positivo, bilirrubinúria e/ ou hemoglobinúria, foram incluídos. As amostras de sangue e urina foram coletadas em dois momentos diferentes. A primeira amostra (M1) foi coletada no momento do diagnóstico, quando o hematócrito era igual ou inferior a 25%, sem fazer uso do micofenolato de mofetila (Accord®), e o segundo momento (M2), após tratamento com micofenolato de mofetila, quando o hematócrito era igual ou maior que 30%. Doze animais foram selecionados, cinco morreram antes do término do estudo. Não houve diminuição do risco trombótico entre os animais tratados com micofenolato de mofetila; os animais que apresentaram menor coagulabilidade apresentaram pior prognóstico, e a contagem de reticulócitos apresentou melhor valor prognóstico do que a contagem de hemácias no momento do diagnóstico.(AU)

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RESUMO

Wolbachia are intracellular, maternally transmitted bacteria considered the most abundant endosymbionts found in arthropods. They reproductively manipulate their host in order to increase their chances of being transmitted to the offspring, and currently are being used as a tool to control vector-borne diseases. Studies on distribution of Wolbachia among its arthropod hosts are important both for better understanding why this bacterium is so common, as well as for its potential use as a biological control agent. Here, we studied the incidence of Wolbachia in a broad range of insect species, collected from different regions of Brazil, using three genetic markers (16S rRNA, wsp and ftsZ), which varied in terms of their sensitivity to detect this bacterium. The overall incidence of Wolbachia among species belonging to 58 families and 14 orders was 61.9%. The most common positive insect orders were Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, with Diptera and Hemiptera having the highest numbers of Wolbachia-positive families. They included potential human disease vectors whose infection status has never been reported before. Our study further shows the importance of using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for high-throughput and sensitive Wolbachia screening.

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RESUMO

The anisocytosis is a hematologic finding that is routinely evaluated from the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and erythrocyte morphology in assessment of blood smears. The present study tested the hypothesis that the coefficient of variation of the red cell distribution width (RDW-CV - Red Cell Distribution Width) is a more sensitive parameter in the evaluation of hematologic anisocytosis, considering different levels of anemia in dogs and reticulocytosis. Blood counts of 102 anemic dogs and 353 control dogs made by automated hematology counter. The anemic animals were grouped according to the degree of anemia (mild, moderate and severe) and also as medullary response by manual reticulocyte count (none, weak, moderate and strong). The RDW-CV was different to the animal groups with moderate and severe anemia, which were higher, compared to the control group and mild anemia. The highest average value of RDW-CV (14.45%) occurred in patients with severe anemia. In the control group had higher MCV value that anemic animals, this may be due to a mixed population of erythrocytes in that group of animals. However, there wasnt difference in MCV between different degrees of anemia and reticulocytosis. Therefore, the RDW is a more sensitive indicator anisocytosis than VCM and its value is directly proportional to the degree of anemia and reticulocytosis; when combined, the sensitivity for detection of anisocytosis in anemic dogs is greater. The use of reference values established by the clinical laboratory itself is mighty important.(AU)

A anisocitose é um achado hematológico que rotineiramente é avaliado a partir do volume corpuscular médio (VCM) e da avaliação da morfologia eritrocitária em esfregaços sanguíneos. No presente estudo foi testada a hipótese de que o coeficiente de variação da distribuição do diâmetro eritrocitário (RDW-CV - Red Cell Distribution Width) é um parâmetro hematológico mais sensível na avaliação da anisocitose, considerando-se diferentes graus de anemia e reticulocitose em cães. Foram analisados hemogramas de 102 cães anêmicos e 353 cães controle, realizados em contador hematológico automatizado ABC Vet (Horiba ABX, Paris, França). Os animais anêmicos foram subdivididos conforme o grau de anemia (discreta, moderada e grave) e também de acordo com a resposta medular (resposta nula, discreta, moderada e intensa), por meio da contagem de reticulócitos manual. O RDW-CV apresentou diferença para os subgrupos de animais com anemia moderada e grave, que apresentaram valores maiores, com relação ao grupo controle e subgrupo com anemia discreta. O maior valor médio de RDW-CV (14,45%) ocorreu no subgrupo com anemia grave. No grupo controle o VCM teve valor maior que nos animais anêmicos, isto pode ter ocorrido devido a uma população mista de eritrócitos naquele grupo de animais. Entretanto, não houve diferença do VCM entre os diferentes graus de anemia e reticulocitose. Por isso, o RDW é um indicador de anisocitose mais sensível que o VCM e seu valor é diretamente proporcional ao grau de anemia e reticulocitose; quando associados, a sensibilidade para detecção deanisocitose em cães anêmicos é maior. O uso de valores de referência estabelecidos pelo próprio laboratório clínico é de extrema importância.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

A anisocitose é um achado hematológico que rotineiramente é avaliado a partir do volume corpuscular médio (VCM) e da avaliação da morfologia eritrocitária em esfregaços sanguíneos. No presente estudo foi testada a hipótese de que o coeficiente de variação da distribuição do diâmetro eritrocitário (RDW-CV - Red Cell Distribution Width) é um parâmetro hematológico mais sensível na avaliação da anisocitose, considerando-se diferentes graus de anemia e reticulocitose em cães. Foram analisados hemogramas de 102 cães anêmicos e 353 cães controle, realizados em contador hematológico automatizado ABC Vet (Horiba ABX, Paris, França). Os animais anêmicos foram subdivididos conforme o grau de anemia (discreta, moderada e grave) e também de acordo com a resposta medular (resposta nula, discreta, moderada e intensa), por meio da contagem de reticulócitos manual. O RDW-CV apresentou diferença para os subgrupos de animais com anemia moderada e grave, que apresentaram valores maiores, com relação ao grupo controle e subgrupo com anemia discreta. O maior valor médio de RDW-CV (14,45%) ocorreu no subgrupo com anemia grave. No grupo controle o VCM teve valor maior que nos animais anêmicos, isto pode ter ocorrido devido a uma população mista de eritrócitos naquele grupo de animais. Entretanto, não houve diferença do VCM entre os diferentes graus de anemia e reticulocitose. Por isso, o RDW é um in

RESUMO

The anisocytosis is a hematologic finding that is routinely evaluated from the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and erythrocyte morphology in assessment of blood smears. The present study tested the hypothesis that the coefficient of variation of the red cell distribution width (RDW-CV - Red Cell Distribution Width) is a more sensitive parameter in the evaluation of hematologic anisocytosis, considering different levels of anemia in dogs and reticulocytosis. Blood counts of 102 anemic dogs and 353 control dogs made by automated hematology counter. The anemic animals were grouped according to the degree of anemia (mild, moderate and severe) and also as medullary response by manual reticulocyte count (none, weak, moderate and strong). The RDW-CV was different to the animal groups with moderate and severe anemia, which were higher, compared to the control group and mild anemia. The highest average value of RDW-CV (14.45%) occurred in patients with severe anemia. In the control group had higher MCV value that anemic animals, this may be due to a mixed population of erythrocytes in that group of animals. However, there wasnt difference in MCV between different degrees of anemia and reticulocytosis. Therefore, the RDW is a more sensitive indicator anisocytosis than VCM and its value is directly proportional to the degree of anemia and reticulocytosis; when combined, the sensitivity for detection of anisocytosis in anemic dogs is greater. The use of reference values established by the clinical laboratory itself is mighty important.

A anisocitose é um achado hematológico que rotineiramente é avaliado a partir do volume corpuscular médio (VCM) e da avaliação da morfologia eritrocitária em esfregaços sanguíneos. No presente estudo foi testada a hipótese de que o coeficiente de variação da distribuição do diâmetro eritrocitário (RDW-CV - Red Cell Distribution Width) é um parâmetro hematológico mais sensível na avaliação da anisocitose, considerando-se diferentes graus de anemia e reticulocitose em cães. Foram analisados hemogramas de 102 cães anêmicos e 353 cães controle, realizados em contador hematológico automatizado ABC Vet (Horiba ABX, Paris, França). Os animais anêmicos foram subdivididos conforme o grau de anemia (discreta, moderada e grave) e também de acordo com a resposta medular (resposta nula, discreta, moderada e intensa), por meio da contagem de reticulócitos manual. O RDW-CV apresentou diferença para os subgrupos de animais com anemia moderada e grave, que apresentaram valores maiores, com relação ao grupo controle e subgrupo com anemia discreta. O maior valor médio de RDW-CV (14,45%) ocorreu no subgrupo com anemia grave. No grupo controle o VCM teve valor maior que nos animais anêmicos, isto pode ter ocorrido devido a uma população mista de eritrócitos naquele grupo de animais. Entretanto, não houve diferença do VCM entre os diferentes graus de anemia e reticulocitose. Por isso, o RDW é um indicador de anisocitose mais sensível que o VCM e seu valor é diretamente proporcional ao grau de anemia e reticulocitose; quando associados, a sensibilidade para detecção deanisocitose em cães anêmicos é maior. O uso de valores de referência estabelecidos pelo próprio laboratório clínico é de extrema importância.

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RESUMO

Infections caused by resistant microorganisms often fail to respond to conventional therapy, resulting in prolonged illness, increased treatment costs and greater risk of death. Consequently, the development of novel antimicrobial drugs is becoming more demanding every day since the existing drugs either have too many side-effects or they tend to lose effectiveness due to the selection of resistant strains. In view of these facts, a number of new strategies to obstruct vital biological processes of a microbial cell have emerged; one of these is focused on the use of metal-chelating agents, which are able to selectively disturb the essential metal metabolism of the microorganism by interfering with metal acquisition and bioavailability for crucial reactions. The chelation activity is able to inhibit the biological role of metal-dependent proteins (e.g., metalloproteases and transcription factors), disturbing the microbial cell homeostasis and culminating in the blockage of microbial nutrition, growth and development, cellular differentiation, adhesion to biotic (e.g., extracellular matrix components, cell and/or tissue) and abiotic (e.g., plastic, silicone and acrylic) structures as well as controlling the in vivo infection progression. Interestingly, chelating agents also potentiate the activity of classical antimicrobial compounds. The differences between the microorganism and host in terms of the behavior displayed in the presence of chelating agents could provide exploitable targets for the development of an effective chemotherapy for these diseases. Consequently, metal chelators represent a novel group of antimicrobial agents with potential therapeutic applications. This review will focus on the anti-fungal and anti-protozoan action of the most common chelating agents, deciphering and discussing their mode of action.

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RESUMO

S100B is a calcium binding protein expressed and secreted by astrocytes. Extracellular S100B stimulates the proliferation of astroglial cells and the survival of neurons. Extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) are involved in the transduction of proliferating signals in astrocytes. Here we report that S100B significantly increases the activity of ERK in primary cultures of astrocytes, a result which may be related to previous observations of the effect of this protein on glial proliferation. We further confirm that conversion of S100B to its covalent dimer by oxidation of cysteine residues increases its extracellular activity. Although we cannot exclude S100B involvement in other mechanisms of signal transduction, these results suggest that ERK activity in astrocytes is modulated by extracellular S100B.

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