Abstract Aim: To compare muscular and cardiorespiratory parameters between Brazilian professional futsal athletes from different competitive levels (national versus regional). A secondary aim was to explore the correlation of physical fitness variables between both competitive levels. Methods: Twenty-two futsal players (24.7 ± 3.7 years), 11 from a regional team and 11 from a national team, were evaluated with countermovement jump test (lower limbs muscle power), square test (the speed with change direction), RSSA (anaerobic power), and YOYOIR1 (aerobic power). Tests were performed in the middle of the season for both teams. Results: The speed with change direction (p = 0.001) and mean anaerobic power (p = 0.04) were higher for national than the regional players. Sprint performance decreased similarly for national and regional level players (p < 0.001), but the latter had poorer performance (p = 0.044). From the fourth sprint on, sprints for the national level players were slower than the first three, while for the regional level players, each sprint speed was slower than the subsequent. A significant correlation was found between anaerobic power with jump height (r = −0.50; p = 0.01), speed with change direction (r=0.65; p = 0.001) and distance covered in the YOYOIR1 (r = −0.54; p = 0.01). Conclusion: National-level athletes were more agile and presented a higher mean anaerobic power than regional ones. Moreover, national-level athletes presented better performance along with repeated sprint tests, maintaining this performance for a longer time during the test.

Antecedentes: los extractos de la planta Forsythia suspensa contienen pinoresinol. Dicha planta se ha propuesto como una alternativa a los antibióticos debido a su contenido de antioxidantes, antiinflamatorios y sus efectos moduladores de la microflora. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos dietarios de F. suspensa sobre la utilización del alimento, fermentación ruminal, parámetros sanguíneos y respuesta inmune en cabras nativas coreanas (Capra hircus). Métodos: un total de nueve cabras nativas coreanas fueron asignadas a 1 de 3 tratamientos: (1) una dieta basal sin F. suspensa, (2) una dieta basal con 0,25%, o (3) 0,50% de F. suspensa dietaría en un diseño change-over por tres periodos consecutivos con nueve réplicas por tratamiento. Cada periodo se prolongó por 18 días, incluyendo 15 días de adaptación al alimento y a las condiciones ambientales, y tres días de colección total de heces y orina. Tambien se colectó fluido ruminal y muestras sanguineas. Se midió la digestibilidad de nutrientes, nitrógeno retenido, contenido ruminal y metabolitos sanguíneos —incluyendo inmunoglobulinas—. Resultados: la suplementación con F. suspensa no tuvo efecto sobre la digestibilidad de los nutrientes, la tasa de retención de N, pH ruminal, ni sobre los contenidos de acetato, propionato, isobutirato, butirato, isovalerato o valerato (p>0,05). Sin embargo, la suplementación con F. suspensa disminuyo la concentración total de ácidos grasos volátiles (VFA) en comparacion con la dieta control, sin tener en cuenta las concentraciones de F. suspensa (p<0,05). Las cabras alimentadas con la dieta de 0,25% de F. suspensa tuvieron mayor concentración de fosfatasa alcalina (ALP) que cuando fueron alimentadas con la dieta control o con la de 0,50% de F. suspensa (p<0,05). Aunque la alimentación con diferentes concentraciones de F. suspensa no influyo en los niveles de IgA y IgM en plasma (p>0,05), las cabras que recibieron 0,25 y 0,50% de F. suspensa tuvieron mayor concentración de IgG en plasma que aquellas alimentadas con la dieta control (p<0,05). Conclusiones: la suplementación de 0,25% de F. suspensa disminuyo significativamente la concentración total de VFA e incrementó la IgG en el plasma de las cabras nativas coreanas, en comparación con aquellas que consumieron la dieta control.

Background: plant extracts of Forsythia suspensa, which contain pinoresinol, have been proposed as an alternative to antibiotics due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microflora modulating effects. Objective: to evaluate the effects of dietary F. suspensa on feed utilization, rumen fermentation, blood parameters and immune response of Korean native goats (Capra hircus). Methods: a total of nine Korean native goats were assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 1) a basal diet without F. suspensa, 2) a basal diet added with 0.25% F. suspensa, or 3) a basal diet added with 0.50% F. suspensa. A change-over design was used in three consecutive periods to give 9 replicates per treatment. Each period lasted 18 days, including 15 days of adaptation to feed and environmental conditions and three days of total collection of feces and urine. Rumen fluid and blood samples were also collected. Nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, ruminal content, and blood metabolites—including immunoglobulins—were measured. Results: F. suspensa supplementation had no effect on nutrient digestibility, whole body nitrogen retention rate, ruminal pH, acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, or valerate content (p>0.05). However, F. suspensa supplementation decreased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration compared with the control diet, regardless of F. suspensa concentrations (p<0.05). Goats fed a diet containing 0.25% F. suspensa had greater alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration than those fed a control or a diet with 0.50% F. suspensa (p<0.05). Feeding different concentrations of dietary F. suspensa did not influence plasma IgA and IgM levels (p>0.05), although goats receiving both 0.25% and 0.50% F. suspensa diets had greater plasma IgG than those fed the control diet (p<0.05). Conclusion: supplementation of 0.25% F. suspensa significantly decreased total VFA concentrations and increased plasma IgG in Korean native goats, compared with those fed the control diet.

Antecedentes: a Forsythiae suspensa é uma planta e seu extrato contém pinoresinol. Tem sido proposta como uma alternativa aos antibióticos existentes, devido ao seu teor de antioxidantes, anti-inflamatórias e efeitos moduladores da microflora, com base em estudos feitos in vivo e in vitro. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos na dieta da inclusão de F. suspensa no aproveitamento alimentar, fermentação ruminal, parâmetros sanguíneos e resposta imune em caprinos coreanos nativos (Capra hircus). Métodos: um total de nove cabras coreanas nativas foram assignadas a um de três tratamentos na dieta: (1) uma dieta basal sem F. suspensa, (2) uma dieta basal com 0,25% de F. suspensa, ou (3) com 0,50% de F. suspensa na dieta. Se fez um desenho change-over por três períodos consecutivos com nove repetições por tratamento. Cada período de pesquisa consistiu de 18 dias, incluindo 15 dias de adaptação às condições alimentares e ambientais, e três dias de coleta total de fezes e urina. Também foram coletadas amostras de líquido ruminal e sangue. Mediou-se a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, o nitrogênio (N) retido, o conteúdo ruminal, e os parâmetros sanguíneos —incluindo imunoglobulinas—. Resultados: a suplementação com F. suspensa não teve nenhum efeito sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, a taxa de retenção de N, o pH do rúmen, nem sobre os conteúdos de: acetato, propionato, isobutirato, butirato, isovalerato e valerato (p>0,05). No entanto, a suplementação de F. suspensa diminuiu a concentração total de ácidos gordurosos voláteis (AGV) em comparação com a dieta controle, independentemente das concentrações de F. suspensa (p<0,05). As cabras alimentadas com 0,25% F. suspensa na dieta tiveram maiores quantidades da enzima fosfatasse alcalina (ALP) do que quando elas foram alimentadas com a dieta controle ou com 0,50% de F. suspensa (p<0,05). Ainda que a alimentação com diferentes níveis de F. suspensa não influenciou os níveis de IgA e IgM no plasma (p>0,05), as cabras que receberam na dieta 0,25 e 0,50% de F. suspensa tiveram uma maior concentração de IgG no plasma comparadas as cabras alimentadas com a dieta controle (p<0,05). Conclusões: a suplementação com 0,25% e 50% diminuiu significativamente a concentração de AGV e incrementou a concentração em plasma de IgG em cabras nativas coreanas comparadas com aquelas que consumiram a dieta controle.

Abstract Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are polygenic metabolic diseases, highly prevalent in humans. The TALLYHO/Jng (TH) mouse is a polygenic model of T2D and obesity that encompasses many aspects of the human conditions. In this study, we investigated the key metabolic components including β-cell physiology and energy balance involved in the development of diabetes and obesity in TH mice. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from freshly isolated islets was significantly enhanced in TH mice compared with normal C57BL/6 (B6) mice, similar to the compensated stage in human T2D associated with obesity. This increased glucose responsiveness was accompanied by an increase in total β-cell mass in TH mice. Energy expenditure and locomotor activity were significantly reduced in TH mice compared with B6 mice. Food intake was comparable between the two strains but water intake was more in TH mice. Together, obesity in TH mice does not appear to be due to hyperphagia, and TH mice may be a genetic model for T2D with obesity, allowing study of the important signaling or metabolic pathways leading to compensatory increases in insulin secretion and β-cell mass in insulin resistance.

Clinical case: A 38-year-old man with fungal Alternaria keratitis was referred from another hospital 25 days after post-traumatic penetrating keratoplastia surgery on his right eye. We commenced treatment with topical voriconazole and the condition resolved. Discussion: Fungal Alternaria keratitis is rare, and treatment is difficult because the clinical response does not correlate well with the antibiotic in vitro sensitivity of the fungus. Clinical cases need to be diagnosed and treated quickly if visual loss is to be avoided. The combination of topical and systemic voriconazole has been shown to be an effective treatment for this condition.

Caso clínico: Hombre de 38 años remitido de otro centro por presentar queratitis fúngica por Alternaria 25 días después de realizarle una queratoplastia penetrante postraumática en ojo derecho. Se instaura tratamiento con voriconazol tópico y oral con buena evolución posterior. Discusión: Las queratitis fúngicas por Alternaria son poco frecuentes. Su tratamiento es difícil porque la evolución clínica no se correlaciona con la susceptibilidad in vitro del hongo. Producen cuadros clínicos que requieren un rápido diagnóstico y tratamiento, para evitar la pérdida de visión. La combinación de voriconazol tópico y sistémico puede ser una buena alternativa en caso de hongos resistentes al tratamiento convencional.

Foram realizados levantamentos mensais em duas localidades no Município, fragmento da Vila Faguense e do Santuário de Schoenstatt, os quais distam entre si em 1.500 m, entre março de 2005 e abril de 2006. Em 140 horas de amostragem foram registrados 3.123 indivíduos distribuídos em 169 espécies. Nymphalidae foi a família mais amostrada com aproximadamente 53% das espécies registradas. Nove espécies ainda não haviam sido registradas para o Estado. O índice de Diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foi maior no fragmento da Vila Faguense, local menos perturbado. Os índices de dominância de Simpson e Berger-Parker foram mais representativos no Santuário de Schoenstatt, com maior número de espécies abundantes. Foram registradas em Frederico Westphalen 126 (74,55%) espécies acidentais, 25 acessórias (14,80%) e 18 constantes (10,65%).

A systematic survey was carried out in two localities of the Municipal District of Frederico Westphalen, fragment of Villa Faguense and Schoenstatt's Sanctuary, situated 1,500 m apart, from March 2005 to April 2006. In 140 hours of sampling, 3123 individuals, distributed in 169 species, were registered. Nymphalidae was the most sampled with approximately 53% of the recorded species. Nine species sampled were still no registered for the State. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was higher in fragment of Villa Faguense, place less disturbed. The Simpson and Berger-Parker dominance indexes had been more representative in fragment of Schoenstatt Sanctuary, with higher number of abundant species. Among the species captured 126 (74,55%) are accidental, 25 (14,80%) are accessory and 18 (10,65%) are constant.

Transluminal coronary angioplasty is a routine therapeutic intervention in coronary heart disease. Despite the high rate of primary success, restenosis continues to be its major limitation. Porcine models have been considered to be the most adequate experimental models for studying restenosis. One limitation of porcine models is the need for radiological guidance and the expenses involved. The objective of the present study was to adapt an experimental model of angioplasty in the porcine carotid artery that does not require radiological equipment. Eight animals were used to develop the technique of balloon injury to the common carotid artery by dissection without radiological guidance. This technique was then employed in six other animals. Under anesthesia, the left common carotid artery was dissected and incised at the carotid sinus for insertion of an over-the-wire angioplasty balloon towards the aorta. Overstretch injury of the carotid artery was performed under direct visualization. After 30 days, the arteries were excised and pressure-fixated. Uninjured carotid arteries from 3 additional animals were used as controls. A decreased luminal area associated with intimal hyperplasia and medial reaction was observed in all injured arteries. Immunohistochemistry identified the intimal hyperplastic cells as smooth muscle cells. Computerized morphometry of the ballooned segments revealed the following mean areas: lumen 2.12 mm2 (± 1.09), intima 0.22 mm2 (± 0.08), media 3.47 mm2 (± 0.67), and adventitia 1.11 mm2 (± 0.34). Our experimental model of porcine carotid angioplasty without radiological guidance induced a vascular wall reaction and permitted the quantification of this response. This porcine model may facilitate the study of vascular injury and its response to pharmacological interventions