As serpentes, como outros répteis, são animais ectotérmicos e dependem exclusivamente do meio para a manutenção de seus processos fisiológicos, bioquímicos e imunológicos. Desta forma, alterações nos valores bioquímicos podem ser esperadas considerando-se a influência sazonal. Foram utilizadas vinte e duas Boa constrictor amarali adultas mantidas em cativeiro. A coleta de sangue foi realizada em duas estações diferentes: inverno (julho 2004) e verão (Janeiro 2005), para a realização dos exames: ácido úrico, aspartato aminotransferase (AST), glicose, colesterol, proteína total e eletroforese da proteína sérica. As médias dos exames bioquímicos obtidos no verão e inverno, respectivamente, foram: 6.3 ± 3.4 e 11.3 ± 6.2 mg/dL para ácido úrico; 28.7 ± 12.4 e 20.7 ± 16.2 UI/L para AST; 26.3 ± 17 e 17.4 ± 6.8 mg/dL para glicose; 67.3 ± 30.2 e 69.7 ± 38.5 mg/dL para colesterol; e 5.9 ± 1.6 e 5.9 ± 1.4 g/dL para proteína total. Os resultados da eletroforese no verão e inverno, respectivamente, foram: 1.9 ± 0.7 e 2.4 ± 0.6 g/dL para albumina; 0.7 ± 0.2 e 0.5 ± 0.2 g/dL para α globulina; 1.5 ± 0.5 e 1.7 ± 0.6 g/dL β globulina; e 1.8 ± 0.5 e 1.5 ± 0.5 g/dL para g globulina. No verão foi observado aumento significativo da AST (p < 0,05) e diminuição significativa do ácido úrico (p < 0,05). Na eletroforese de proteína sérica, houve um aumento significativo da fração a globulina (p < 0,05) na mesma estação. Para as outras variáveis não foram obtidas diferenças significativas entre as estações. De acordo com os resultados, é importante considerar o período do ano na interpretação de alguns exames bioquímicos desses animais.

Similarly to other reptiles, snakes are ectothermic animals and depend exclusively on the environment for the maintenance of their physiological, biochemical and immunological processes. Thus, changes in biochemical values can be expected due to seasonal influence. Twenty-two adult specimens of Boa constrictor amarali kept in captivity were used. Blood collections were done in two different seasons: winter (July 2004) and summer (January 2005) for the following assays: uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, cholesterol, total protein, and serum protein electrophoresis. The mean biochemical results found in summer and winter, respectively, were: 6.3 ± 3.4 and 11.3 ± 6.2 mg/dL for uric acid; 28.7 ± 12.4 and 20.7 ± 16.2 UI/L for AST; 26.3 ± 17 and 17.4 ± 6.8 mg/dL for glucose; 67.3 ± 30.2 and 69.7 ± 38.5 mg/dL for cholesterol; and 5.9 ± 1.6 and 5.9 ± 1.4 g/dL for total protein. Results regarding electrophoresis in summer and winter, respectively, were: 1.9 ± 0.7 and 2.4 ± 0.6 g/dL for albumin; 0.7 ± 0.2 and 0.5 ± 0.2 g/dL for α-globulin; 1.5 ± 0.5 and 1.7 ± 0.6 g/dL for β-globulin; and 1.8 ± 0.5 and 1.5 ± 0.5 g/dL for g-globulin. In the summer, there was a significant increase in AST and a decrease in uric acid (p < 0.05). Serum protein electrophoresis showed a significant increase in α-globulin fraction (p < 0.05) in the same season. There were not significant differences between seasons for the remaining variables. Based on these results, the period of the year must be considered in the interpretation of some biochemical values for these animals.

Introduction/objective: Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of localized prostate cancer. New techniques are being developed with less invasive methods, including laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). The aim of the study is to compare LRP and RALP outcomes during the learning curve with RRP, especially operative time and surgical complications. Material and method: We performed a retrospective observational study of all the RRP cases attended from January 2000, all the LRPs performed at the Urology Department of the Galdakao Usansolo Hospital and the first 60 RALPs treated by the Clínic Urology group. Baseline parameters, operative and perioperative parameters (nerve preservation, positive margins, intraoperative bleeding, duration of catheterization, hospital stay) and surgical complications were assessed, and the three techniques were compared. Results: The total number of patients was 192. The mean time operation was of 210 min in the RRP group, 345 min in the LRP group and 209.5 min in the RALP group (p = 0). Intraoperative bleeding was of 1500 mL in RRP, 1275 mL in LRP and 400 mL in RALP (p = 0) (Table 1). Six months after the procedure the continence rate was 60% in the RALP group, 45.90% in the RRP group and 36.40% in the group LRP (p = 0.001) (Table 2). Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy requires a longer learning curve than robotic-assisted prostatectomy. Operative time in RALP procedures was comparable to RRP cases. RALP showed benefits in terms of continence and intraoperative bleeding.

Introducción: La prostatectomía radical retropúbica (PRR) es el patrón oro para el tratamiento quirúrgico del cáncer de próstata organoconfinado. Se están desarrollando técnicas quirúrgicas menos invasivas, como prostatectomía radical laparoscópica (PRL) y la prostatectomía radical asistida por robot (PRAR). El objetivo del estudio es comparar los resultados de la curva de aprendizaje de la PRL y de la PRAR con los de la PRR, especialmente la duración de la intervención quirúrgica. Material y métodos: Realizamos un estudio observacional retrospectivo Seleccionamos todas las PRR desde Enero de 2000, todas las PRL realizadas en el Hospital de Galdakao y las primeras 60 PRAR realizadas por el Grupo de Urología Clínica. Se evaluaron los parámetros operatorios y perioperatorios y las complicaciones quirúrgicas, comparando posteriormente las tres técnicas. Resultados: La duración de la intervención fue de 210 min en la PRR, 345 min en la PRL y 210 en la PRAR (p < 0,001). El sangrado intraoperatorio fue de 1500 ml en la PRR, 1275 ml en la PRL y 400 ml en la PRAR (p < 0,001). A los 6 meses de la intervención la tasa de continencia era del 60% en el grupo de PRAR, del 45,90% en el grupo de PRR y del 36,40% en el grupo de PRL (p =0,001). Conclusiones: La PRL requiere un aprendizaje más largo que la PRAR. La PRAR nos ha permitido terminar la intervención en el mismo tiempo que la PRR. En nuestro medio la PRAR demostró ser beneficiosa en términos de estancia postquirúrgica y de sangrado.

Specimens of Bufo ictericus, Bufo paracnemis and a third type, considered an intermediate subgroup between these species, were cytogenetically studied by conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding and staining of the nucleolus organizer region (NOR). The nuclear DNA content and seroproteins were also analyzed to characterize these species, and verify the possibility of hybridization between them. Karyotypes and cytogenetic markers were essentially equal on the basis of the methods used. The DNA nuclear content found was 6.25 ± 0.30 pg/DNA in Bufo ictericus; 7.57 ± 0.40 pg/DNA in Bufo paracnemis and 7.04 ± 0.29 pg/DNA in the intermediate subgroup. Eletrophoresis of total blood serum in Bufo ictericus, Bufo paracnemis and the intermediate specimens revealed a remarkable difference in the patterns of the protein bands whose molecular weight corresponded to that of albumin. While the parental species presented two different bands, the intermediate form presented 4. However, only three of these bands were seen in each specimen. The results obtained pointed to a high probability for natural hybridization between Bufo ictericus and Bufo paracnemis in the site and specimens studied.