Osteoarthrosis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and localization in the knee is common. Symptomatic slow acting drugs for osteoarthritis include antioxidant agents as possible modifiers of disease progression. Vimang‚ is a registered brand name that covers several formulations of Mangifera indica L., used for its antioxidant, antiinfl ammatory, analgesic and immunomodulatory properties. The aim of the present study was to determine the analgesic activity of Vimang tablets and cream in patients with knee OA and identify possible posttreatment functional improvement. A further aim was to characterize the effects of Vimang on the synovial infl ammation (effusion and proliferation) associated with this entity using ultrasonography. Ten patients from Hogar Santovenia with a clinical-radiological diagnosis of knee OA were studied. Mean daily pain scores on an 11-point Likert scale were 4 or higher in the week prior to treatment initiation. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index was evaluated in the initial consultation and at the end of the study. Ultrasonographic examination (ALOKA device 1100 with a 7.5 mHz transducer) of the soft tissue of both knees was performed. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1 (n = 3) received a daily dose of 1,800 mg/day (tablets), group 2 (n = 4) received 900 mg/day (tablets) and group 3 (n = 3) received a combination of tablets 900 mg/day and Vimang cream 1.2%. The tables were administered in three daily doses every 8 hours and the cream was applied three times per day every 8 hours on the affected knee. Treatment duration was 3 months. Satisfactory analgesia was achieved in all patients from days 15-21 until 3 months. This effect was at least partly related to the decrease in synovial effusion observed in most affected joints and was independent of the reduction in synovial thickness observed on ultrasound. Both effects, the increase and decrease in synovial thickness, were independent of the analgesia. The inhibition of synovial membrane proliferation compared with initial values was signifi cant only in group 2. Quality of life improved in all patients, due to pain relief and the increase in functional capacity as measured by the WOMAC index.

La osteoartrosis (OA) es la forma más común de artropatía y su localización en la articulación de la rodilla tiene una gran frecuencia. Dentro del grupo de fármacos de acción lenta para su tratamiento se aceptan los antioxidantes por su efecto protector en la progresión de la enfermedad. El Vimang® es una marca comercial registrada que cubre varios tipos de formulaciones a partir del extracto de la corteza del árbol de mango con propiedades antioxidantes, analgésicas, antiinflamatorias e inmunomoduladoras. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la actividad analgésica de las tabletas y crema Vimang® en pacientes portadores de OA de rodilla y la posible mejoría de la capacidad funcional postratamiento. De igual manera, caracterizar mediante ultrasonografía los efectos del Vimang® en la inflamación sinovial (efusión y proliferación) que se asocia a la entidad. Se estudiaron 10 pacientes del Hogar Santovenia con diagnóstico clínico de imagen de OA de rodilla. Sus puntuaciones diarias medias de dolor estaban comprendidas entre 4 o superiores la semana previa al inicio del tratamiento, según una escala de Likert de 11 puntos. Se aplicó el índice de capacidad funcional de WOMAC (The Westerm Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index) en la consulta inicial y al concluir el estudio. De igual manera, se realizó ultrasonido de partes blandas de ambas rodillas (equipo ALOKA 1100 con transductor de 7,5 mHz). Los pacientes fueron asignados aleatoriamente a 3 grupos (grupo Vimang tabletas 900 mg/día [n = 4], grupo Vimang tabletas 1.800 mg/día [n = 3] y grupo Vimang tabletas 900 mg/día + crema Vimang 1,2% [n = 3]). La administración de las tabletas se repartió en 3 tomas cada 8 h y la crema se aplicó 3 veces al día con el mismo intervalo en la rodilla afectada. La extensión del tratamiento en este estudio fue de 3 meses. Todos los pacientes mostraron analgesia satisfactoria a partir de los 15-21 días hasta los 3 meses. Este efecto se relaciona, al menos en parte, con la disminución de la efusión sinovial que se observó en la mayoría de las articula-ciones afectadas, pero fue independiente de la disminución del grosor de la sinovial constatada por ultrasonografía. Se observaron ambos efectos, promoción e inhibición de la proliferación sinovial, independientemente de la analgesia. La inhibición de la prolife-ración de la membrana sinovial con respecto a los valores iniciales sólo fue signifi cativa en el grupo Vimang 900. Los 10 pacientes mejoraron su calidad de vida en relación con el alivio del dolor y el aumento de la capacidad funcional según el índice de WOMAC.

A “Unidade de Estudo de Mastites em Pequenos Ruminantes”, formalmente constituída no âmbito do Programa Nacional de Re-equipamento Científico, da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, vem dar corpo ao trabalho de colaboração de diversas equipas de investigação que se têm debruçado sobre a problemática das infecções intramamárias em pequenos ruminantes, nos seus aspectos de saúde animal, saúde pública veterinária e qualidade e segurança alimentar. Tem como principal objectivo criar condições para o desenvolvimento de trabalhos de investigação e divulgação científica que contribuam para reduzir a prevalência de mastites em pequenos ruminantes e assim melhorar a produção e a qualidade do leite, favorecendo produtores de leite, produtores de queijo e consumidores. Entre os trabalhos já realizados pela equipa científica, destacam-se o isolamento e identificação de agentes etiológicos de mastite em ovelhas, o estudo de factores de virulência nas bactérias mais relevantes, o estudo dos mecanismos de infecção e a resposta imunológica local e sistémica do hospedeiro e outros estudos na área da epidemiologia. O estudo da etiologia e da fisiopatologia da mastite ovina, com o objectivo de compreender a modulação da resposta imunitária da glândula mamária, poderá contribuir para o desenvolvimento de métodos de controlo com base na estimulação da resposta imunitária, alternativos ao uso de antibióticos.

The “Small Ruminant Mastitis Unit”, formally constituted in the scope of the Programa Nacional de Re-equipamento Científico, Science and Technology Foundation, gathers the collaborative work of several research groups that have been addressing the issue of small ruminants intramammary infections, related to animal health, veterinary public health and food safety and quality. Its main purpose is to generate an adequate environment for research and scientific communication that may contribute to reduce mastitis prevalence in small ruminants and thus to improve milk production and quality, with benefits for both milk and cheese producers as well as protecting food consumers. Work already developed by this team comprises isolation and identification of ovine mastitis pathogens, detection of virulence factors in the most relevant bacteria, studies on the infection mechanisms and host local and systemic immune response and other epidemiological studies. A deeper knowledge of aetiology and physiopathology of ovine mastitis, aiming at understanding the immune response modulation, may contribute to the development of control methods based on immune stimulation, alternative to antibiotic treatment.

Electrocardiograms (ECG) obtained with standard limb leads and augmented unipolar limb leads were recorded from 17 unanesthetized adult sloths. The animals were held in their habitual position in an experimental chair. We determined heart rate and rhythm from the R-R intervals, the amplitude and duration of each wave, and the duration of the segments and intervals of the ECG. The mean electrical axes of P and T waves and QRS complex were calculated on the basis of the amplitude of these waves in leads I, II, III, aV R, aV L, and aV F. The P wave appeared positive in most tracings with low amplitude in lead II, the QRS complex was generally negative in leads aV R, III and aV F, and no arrhythmias were observed. With a mean ± SD heart rate for all recordings of 81 ± 18 bpm, the duration of P and T waves, QRS complex, and PR, QT and RR intervals averaged 0.05 ± 0.02, 0.15 ± 0.05, 0.07 ± 0.02, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.04, and 0.74 ± 0.17 s, respectively. The ECG shape had a definite configuration on each lead. The angles of the mean ± SD electrical axes for atrial and ventricular depolarization and ventricular repolarization in the horizontal plane were +34 ± 68º, -35 ± 63º, and -23 ± 68º, respectively. All electrical axes showed great variations and their mean values suggest that, when the sloth is in a seated position, the heart could be displaced by the diaphragm to a semi-horizontal position.

De 2.007 amostras de sangue examinadas de cães da cidade de Maceió-AL, foram detectados 62 (3,1%) animais positivos para a presença de microfilárias (mf). Em 11 cães, escolhidos aleatoriamente, foi colhido sangue venoso para a identificação específica de Dirofilaria immitis. Para tal, foram utilizadas a motilidade, o tamanho, a morfologia das mf e a presença de antígenos solúveis do parasito, sendo encontrados cinco animais portadores de D. immitis. Mosquitos da espécie Culex quinquefasciatus foram alimentados com sangue de um cão portador de D. immitis. O desenvolvimento de formas larvárias foi observado nos túbulos de Malpighi, confirmando a ocorrência da dirofilariose canina causada por D. immitis na cidade de Maceió-AL.