ABSTRACT Objective: Evaluate the epidemiological and radiographic data of patients submitted to the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) technique and the possible complications related to this procedure. Methods: A longitudinal and retrospective study was carried out to analyze electronic medical records and image files of patients who underwent spinal surgery using the ALIF technique between February 2019 and January 2021. Epidemiological data such as age, gender, and level of surgery were analyzed. Radiographic evaluations of lumbar lordosis from L1 to S1 were performed using the COBB technique and the anterior and posterior height of the disc space. The presence of intraoperative and postoperative complications in the patients was analyzed. Results: Initially, 70 patients were analyzed. The most prevalent operated level was L5-S1. The length of stay of the patients varied between 36 and 72 hours. Intraoperative bleeding ranged from 20mL to 400mL. Three patients had significant venous lesions. Differences between anterior and posterior lordosis and height measurements were significant (p < 0.001). Lordosis had a mean increase of 10.3°, anterior height had a mean increase of 7.9mm, and posterior height of 4.0mm. Six cases of intra and postoperative complications were observed. Conclusion: The patients showed improvement in the radiological parameters of the anterior and posterior height of the vertebral discs, with a significant increase in lumbar lordosis. Complication rates were 9.8%, and we had a short hospital stay. Level of Evidence II; Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar los datos epidemiológicos y radiográficos de pacientes sometidos a la técnica de Artrodesis Lumbar Anterior (ALIF) y evaluar las posibles complicaciones relacionadas con este procedimiento. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio longitudinal y retrospectivo con análisis de historias clínicas electrónicas y archivos de imágenes de pacientes intervenidos de columna vertebral mediante la técnica ALIF, en el período comprendido entre febrero de 2019 y enero de 2021. Datos epidemiológicos como edad, sexo y nivel quirúrgico fueron analizados. Las evaluaciones radiográficas de la lordosis lumbar de L1 a S1 se realizaron mediante la técnica COBB y la altura anterior y posterior del espacio discal. Se analizó la presencia de complicaciones. Resultados: Se analizaron 70 pacientes. El nivel operado más prevalente fue L5-S1. El tiempo de estancia de los pacientes varió entre 36 y 72 horas. El sangrado intraoperatorio osciló entre 20 ml y 400 ml. Tres pacientes tenían lesiones venosas importantes. Las diferencias entre la lordosis anterior y posterior y las medidas de altura fueron significativas (p < 0,001). La lordosis tuvo un aumento medio de 10,3°, la altura anterior tuvo un aumento medio de 7,9 mm y la altura posterior de 4,0 mm. Se observaron seis casos de complicaciones intra y postoperatorias. Conclusiones: Los pacientes mostraron mejoría en los parámetros radiológicos de altura anterior y posterior de los discos vertebrales, con aumento significativo de la lordosis lumbar. Las tasas de complicaciones fueron del 9,8% y hubo una corta estancia hospitalaria. Nivel de Evidencia II; Estudio Longitudinal y Retrospectivo.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os dados epidemiológicos e radiográficos de pacientes submetidos à técnica de Artrodese Lombar Anterior (ALIF) e avaliar as possíveis complicações relacionadas a este procedimento. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo longitudinal e retrospectivo com análise dos prontuários eletrônicos e arquivos de imagem dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgia da coluna pela técnica de ALIF, no período entre fevereiro de 2019 e janeiro de 2021. Dados epidemiológicos como idade, sexo e nível de cirurgia foram analisados. Foram feitas avaliações radiográficas da lordose lombar de L1 a S1 através da técnica de COBB e da altura anterior e posterior do espaço discal. Foram analisados a presença de complicações intra e pós-operatórias dos pacientes. Resultados: Foram analisados inicialmente 70 pacientes. O nível operado mais prevalente foi L5-S1. O tempo de internamento dos pacientes variou entre 36 e 72 horas. O sangramento intraoperatório variou de 20mL a 400mL. Três pacientes apresentaram lesões venosas importantes. As diferenças entre as medidas de lordose e altura anterior e posterior foram significativas (p < 0,001). A lordose teve aumento médio de 10,3°, a altura anterior teve aumento médio de 7,9mm e a altura posterior de 4,0mm. Foram observados 06 casos de complicações intra e pós-operatórias. Conclusão: Os pacientes apresentaram melhora nos parâmetros radiológicos de altura anterior e posterior dos discos vertebrais, com um aumento da lordose lombar significativo. As taxas de complicações foram de 9,8 % e tivemos um curto período de internação hospitalar. Nível de Evidência II; Estudo Longitudinal e Retrospectivo.

RESUMO Para investigar a relação entre contagens de células somáticas (CCS) e características atualmente selecionadas (produção de leite, gordura, proteína, lactose, sólidos totais e sólidos não gordurosos) em vacas leiteiras holandesas em clima semiárido brasileiro, foram coletados dados de 272 vacas de janeiro de 2007 a dezembro 2016. As fazendas foram localizadas na região Agreste do estado de Pernambuco, cujas características climáticas, de acordo com o Instituto Nacional de meteorologia-INMET, foram: temperatura média anual de 25,21°C; precipitação média anual de 562,07 mm e umidade relativa média anual de 75,61%. Foi analisado um total de 4.586 registros de contagens de células somáticas (CCS) no leite, produção de leite e componentes lácteos. A CCS foi transformada logaritmicamente em ECS ECS = log 2 ( CCS / 100 . 000 ) + 3 ) . Dez ECS foram obtidos para determinar seus efeitos sobre a produção e composição do leite. Os dados foram processados usando os comandos PROC GLM e PROC CORR do SAS. Os resultados mostraram correlações positivas entre ECS e gordura, proteína, sólidos totais e teores de sólidos não gordurosos, enquanto o ECS e o teor de lactose e o rendimento do leite foram correlacionados negativamente. A maior produção de leite (34,43 kg/vaca/dia) foi obtida para o menor ECS (0; 0 a 24 células x 1000/mL). A produção de leite e a lactose diminuíram quando os percentuais de proteína e gordura aumentaram, principalmente quando o ECS foi acima de cinco. O aumento da ECS influenciou negativamente a produção e a composição do leite em vacas de holandesas criadas no clima semiárido brasileiro.

SUMMARY This study aimed to investigate the relationship among somatic cell scores (SCS) and currently selected traits (milk yield, and fat, protein, lactose, total solids and no-fat-solids contents) in Holstein dairy cows in a semi-arid climate. The data were collected from available records of 272 Holstein cows from January 2007 to December 2016. Farms were located in Agreste region of Pernambuco whose climatic characteristics according to Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia-INMET were: average annual temperature of 25.21 °C; average annual precipitation 562.07 mm, and average annual relative humidity 75.61%.. A total of 4,586 records of somatic cell counts (SCC) in the milk, milk yield and milk components was analyzed. The SCC was transformed logarithmically into SCS SCS = log 2 ( SCC / 100 , 000 ) + 3 ) before statistical investigation. Ten SCS were obtained for determining their effects on milk yield and composition. Data were processed using PROC GLM and PROC CORR procedures in SAS. Results showed positive correlations among SCS and fat, protein, total solids and solids-non-fat contents, while the SCS and lactose content and milk yield were negatively correlated. The highest milk yield (34.43 kg/cow/day) was obtained for the lowest SCS (0; 0 to 24 cells x 1000/mL). The milk yield and lactose decreased while protein and fat contents increased when SCS increased mostly above score five (400 to 799 cells x 1000/mL). It was observed that the increase in SCS influenced negatively milk yield and composition in Holstein cows created in the semi-arid climate in Brazil.

The productive potential, adaptability and stability were evaluated in 16 Pennisetum spp. genotypes under the influence of four nitrogen levels in six evaluations cycles. The experiment was carried out in 2009, at the Itambé Experimental Station of Pernambuco, Agricultural Research Institute-IPA, Northeast Brazil, in split plots scheme, with four nitrogen (N) levels (control, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 cut-1) and 16 Pennisetum spp. genotypes (G) (10 new interspecific hybrids, one cultivated interspecific hybrid and five elephant grass varieties), in three blocks. The cycles (CI) comprised evaluations in 2010 (04/21, 07/19 and 09/28) and 2011 (01/06, 04/07 and 08/03). The forage mass (MF), the leaf length (CF), the leaf width (LF) and the internode length (CE) were influenced by triple interaction (N x G x CI). The new hybrid, IPA-7 (Pioneiro x IPA Bulk-1), was not influenced by the interaction, presenting high adaptability (β1= 1) and high stability (σ2di= 0) for the MF, reaching average of 0.88 kg DM shoot-1 cut-1, 76.24 cm and 78.79 mm for MF, CF and CE, respectively. This hybrid can be selected for the next phase of the Breeding Program of Pennisetum spp.

Avaliou-se o potencial produtivo, a adaptabilidade e a estabilidade de 16 genótipos de Pennisetum spp. sob a influência de quatro níveis de nitrogênio, durante seis ciclos de avaliações. O experimento foi instalado na Estação Experimental do Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco/Itambé, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro níveis de nitrogênio (N) (controle, 30, 60 e 90 kg ha-1 corte-1) e 16 genótipos (G) de Pennisetum spp. (10 novos híbridos interespecíficos, um híbrido interespecífico cultivado e cinco cultivares de capim-elefante), em três blocos. Os ciclos (CI) compreenderam avaliações em 2010 (21/04, 19/ 07 e 28/09) e em 2011 (06/01, 07/04 e 03/08). A massa de forragem (MF), o comprimento da folha (CF), a largura da folha (LF) e o comprimento do entrenó (CE) sofreram influência da interação tripla (N x G x CI). O novo híbrido, IPA-7 (Pioneiro x IPA Bulk-1) não foi influenciado pela interação, apresentando adaptabilidade geral (β1= 1) e alta estabilidade (σ²di= 0) para a MF, com valores médios de 0,88 kg MS touceira-1 corte-1, 76,24 cm e 78,79 mm, para a MF, CF e CE, respectivamente. Este híbrido poderá ser selecionado para a próxima fase do Programa de Melhoramento de Pennisetum spp.

Um método simples, rápido, econômico e confiável foi desenvolvido empregando a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para a determinação simultânea de etinilestradiol e drospirenona em comprimidos revestidos. O método foi realizado utilizando coluna LiChroCART® 100RP (125 x 4 mm d.i., 5 µm), a fase móvel constituída de acetonitrila:água, 50:50 (v/v) com vazão de 1,0 mL.min-1. A detecção foi realizada empregando fluorescência em λex= 280 nm e λem= 310 nm para o etinilestradiol e na região de UV em 200 nm para a drospirenona. O etinilestradiol e a drospirenona tiveram tempo de retenção de 4,0 e 5,7 min, respectivamente. O método foi validado de acordo com as diretrizes da USP 34. O método proposto apresentou vantagens sobre os relatados na literatura e pode ser considerado adequado para o controle de qualidade do etinilestradiol e da drospirenona em comprimidos revestidos.

A simple, rapid, economical and reliable high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed and successfully applied in simultaneous determination of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone in coated tablets. The HPLC method was performed on a LiChroCART® 100RP column (125x4 mm i.d., 5 µm) with acetonitrile:water 50:50 (v/v) as mobile phase, pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min-1. The fluorescence detection for ethinyl estradiol was made at λex= 280 nm and λem= 310 nm and a UV detection for drospirenone was made at 200 nm. The elution time for ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone were 4.0 and 5.7 min, respectively. The method was validated in accordance to USP 34 guidelines. The proposed HPLC method presented advantages over reported methods and is suitable for quality control assays of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone in coated tablets.

The objective of this study was to characterize the nutritional value of forage legumes Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (Benth.), Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lan.) and evaluate the anatomy of plants incubated and not incubated in the rumen. The experiment was conducted from September 2007 to November 2008. The experimental plot consisted of three useful plants, totaling three plots per block, and four repetitions. Plants were cut at 1 m height at intervals of 70 days; samples of leaf plus stem with a diameter smaller than 4 mm were collected for determination of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, insoluble protein bound to acid detergent fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The anatomical characterization occurred through the analysis of the proportion of plant tissue nonincubated and incubated in the rumen for a period of 48 hours. The legumes had high crude protein, with an average of 26.1% to Leucena, 22.4% to Sabiá and 18.5% to Mororó, and low levels of in vitro digestibility of dry matter, with an average of 47.3% to Leucena, 42.8% to Mororó and 37.2% to Sabiá. In the leaf blade of Sabiá plants, much lignified tissues that differed from plants of Leucena and Mororó were observed. The degradation process was more visible in the leaves of the Leucena, Sabiá and Mororó plants. The degradation was more pronounced in the spongy parenchyma, leaving the incubated material intact. The average proportion of the epidermis in the incubated and not incubated leaves was 15.8 and 16.4% in Leucena, 16.8 and 19.2% in Mororó and 27.2 and 25.5% in Sabiá, respectively. There are differences in the digestion and nutritional value of leaf tissues of the evaluated legumes.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates have been widely characterized by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. In present study, these techniques were applied to three viral genomic regions comprising the complete and/or a partial S1 segment, S2 and nucleocapsid genes. DNA sequences from viral isolates obtained from 1972 to 1989 and from 2006 to 2008 were compared. High similarity (>90%) was observed among some of the genomic segments, including S1 hypervariable region, which could suggest a common origin or ancestry. DNA sequences from S2 and N protein genes obtained from different infected tissues of the same flock were analyzed, and a clear segregation between respiratory and intestinal tract was observed. Therefore, these data suggest co-circulation of more than one viral strain in the same flock. 57.1% of DNA sequences from the S1 complete segment samples, 53.3% from the S2 fragment and 62.5% from the partial N gene were found to be different from analyzed sequences from reference strains leading to the conclusion that parte of viral isolates included in this study may be considered region specific. Considering the simultaneous analysis of the three genes, a large IBV genetic profile was observed in both old and recent isolates groups. However, most prominent diversity between viral isolates was obtained in the period from 1972 and 1989, showing the presence of a large number of variants in the state of Minas Gerais before the official approval of vaccination (1980).

O microcalorímetro de condução pode ser usado para avaliar as taxas metabólicas do espermatozóide eqüino. Dois ejaculados de quatro garanhões foram avaliados quanto à motilidade progressiva pela microscopia, viabilidade espermática (eosina 3%), integridade funcional da membrana (teste hiposmótico) e produção de calor (microcalorimetria). Concentrações ótimas de glicose e de células espermáticas foram determinadas, para mensurar o calor liberado resultante do metabolismo espermático em relação à capacidade de detecção do calor pelo microcalorímetro. Não foi observada diferença da motilidade, viabilidade e integridade funcional de membrana espermática quando adicionada glicose nas três concentrações estudadas. No entanto a avaliação por microcalorimetria ressaltou um maior fluxo de calor a uma concentração de 6 mM de glicose e uma concentração espermática de 10(8) espermatozóides/mL. Portanto, a técnica de microcalorimetria oferece informações adicionais sobre o metabolismo tornando-se uma ferramenta importante no estudo do processo de preservação do sêmen eqüino.

The heat conduction microcalorimeter can be used to evaluate the metabolic rates of the sperm cell. Two ejaculates of four stallions were cooled to +5ºC and checked for sperm motility (bright field microscopy), viability (eosin 3%), functional membrane integrity (hyposmotic swelling test), and heat production (microcalorimetry). Glucose and sperm cell concentrations were determined in order to measure the heat outputs resulting from sperm metabolism. Sperm viability, membrane integrity and sperm motility did not differ among the different glucose concentrations tested. Nevertheless, the highest heat output detected by the microcalorimeter was obtained with 6 mM glucose and 10(8) spermatozoa/mL. Since conduction microcalorimetry offered additional information on equine sperm metabolism, it could be used as a method to study equine semen preservation.

Serine-proteases are involved in vital processes in virtually all species. They are important targets for researchers studying the relationships between protein structure and activity, for the rational design of new pharmaceuticals. Trypsin was used as a model to assess a possible differential contribution of hydration water to the binding of two synthetic inhibitors. Thermodynamic parameters for the association of bovine ß-trypsin (homogeneous material, observed 23,294.4 ± 0.2 Da, theoretical 23,292.5 Da) with the inhibitors benzamidine and berenil at pH 8.0, 25ºC and with 25 mM CaCl2, were determined using isothermal titration calorimetry and the osmotic stress method. The association constant for berenil was about 12 times higher compared to the one for benzamidine (binding constants are K = 596,599 ± 25,057 and 49,513 ± 2,732 M-1, respectively; the number of binding sites is the same for both ligands, N = 0.99 ± 0.05). Apparently the driving force responsible for this large difference of affinity is not due to hydrophobic interactions because the variation in heat capacity (DCp), a characteristic signature of these interactions, was similar in both systems tested (-464.7 ± 23.9 and -477.1 ± 86.8 J K-1 mol-1 for berenil and benzamidine, respectively). The results also indicated that the enzyme has a net gain of about 21 water molecules regardless of the inhibitor tested. It was shown that the difference in affinity could be due to a larger number of interactions between berenil and the enzyme based on computational modeling. The data support the view that pharmaceuticals derived from benzamidine that enable hydrogen bond formation outside the catalytic binding pocket of ß-trypsin may result in more effective inhibitors.

Neste trabalho é descrito um método validado empregando a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com fase estacionária quiral para a separação e determinação quantitativa dos enantiômeros do propranolol em formulações farmacêuticas. A separação foi obtida em meio orgânico polar empregando a coluna ±-Burke 2® como fase estacionária quiral (250 x 4,6 mm, 5 µm) e fase móvel constituída por diclorometano: metanol (90:10 v/v) juntamente com 12 mM de acetato de amônio e vazão de 0,9 mL/min. A detecção foi efetuada por absorção no ultravioleta a 280 nm. Em todos casos o tempo de corrida foi menor do que 10 min. O coeficiente de correlação obtido pelo método de regressão linear foi de 0,9995 para o R-prop e de 0,9998 para o S-prop. A precisão intra-dia, expressa como desvio padrão relativo, foi menor do que 2%. A exatidão, determinada pela recuperação média de R- e S-prop nas amostras foi de 97,3% e 100,1% para a amostra comercial e de 99,5% e 100,4% para a amostra simulada, respectivamente. Excelentes níveis para os limites de detecção (1,34 ng) e de quantificação (4,47 ng), além do tempo rápido de eluição dos enantiômeros do propranolol, confirmam a aplicabilidade do método no controle de qualidade de preparações farmacêuticas contendo este fármaco.

This paper describes validated direct liquid chromatographic chiral methods for enantiomeric separation and quantitative determination of clinically significant ²-blocking agent, propranolol. A liquid chromatographic method was validated and applied for enantiomeric determination of propranolol enantiomers in pharmaceutical formulations. Separation were obtained in polar organic mode on a ±-Burke 2® chiral stationary phase (250 x 4.6 mm, 5µm) with mobile phase composed of dichloromethane:methanol (90:10 v/v), along with 12 mM of ammonium acetate, at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. Detection was made by ultraviolet absorption at 280 nm. In all cases the run time was less than 10 min. The correlation coefficient for linear regression curves of R-propranolol and S-propranolol were 0.9995 and 0.9998 respectively. The intra-day precision, expressed as RSD was less than 2%. The accuracy determined by average recovery of R-propranolol and S-propranolol from sample matrices were 97.3% and 100.1% in commercial sample and 99.5% and 100.4% in simulated samples, respectively. Excellent levels of limit of detection (mean value = 1.34 ng) and limit of quantitation (mean value = 4.47 ng), along with rapid elution time of both enantiomers, makes the method useful for routine enantiomeric quality control applications.

Trypsin is a serino-protease with a polypeptide chain of 223 amino acid residues and contains six disulfide bridges. It is a globular protein with a predominance of antiparallel ß-sheet and helix in its secondary structure and has two domains with similar structures. We assessed the stability of ß-trypsin in the acid pH range using microcalorimetric (differential scanning calorimetry) techniques. Protein concentrations varied in the range of 0.05 to 2.30 mg/ml. Buffer solutions of 50.0 mM ß-alanine and 20.0 mM CaCl2 at different pH values (from 2.0 to 4.2) and concentrations of sorbitol (1.0 and 2.0 M), urea (0.5 M) or guanidinium hydrochloride (0.5 and 1.0 M) were used. The data suggest that we are studying the same conformational transition of the protein in all experimental situations using pH, sorbitol, urea and guanidinium hydrochloride as perturbing agents. The observed van't Hoff ratios (deltaHcal/deltaHvH) of 1.0 to 0.5 in the pH range of 3.2 to 4.2 suggest protein aggregation. In contrast, deltaHcal/deltaHvH ratios equal to one in the pH range of 2.0 to 3.2 suggest that the protein unfolds as a monomer. At pH 3.00, ß-trypsin unfolded with Tm = 54ºC and deltaH = 101.8 kcal/mol, and the change in heat capacity between the native and unfolded forms of the protein (deltaCp) was estimated to be 2.50 ± 0.07 kcal mol-1 K-1. The stability of ß-trypsin calculated at 298 K was deltaG D = 5.7 kcal/mol at pH 3.00 and deltaG D = 15.2 kcal/mol at pH 7.00, values in the range expected for a small globular protein.

Textile dyes bind to proteins leading to selective co-precipitation of a complex involving one protein molecule and more than one dye molecule of opposite charge in acid solutions, in a process of reversible denaturation that can be utilized for protein fractionation. In order to understand what occurs before the co-precipitation, a kinetic study using bovine ß-trypsin and sodium flavianate was carried out based on reaction progress curve techniques. The experiments were carried out using <FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font>-CBZ-L-Lys-p-nitrophenyl ester as substrate which was added to 50 mM sodium citrate buffer, pH 3.0, containing varying concentrations of ß-trypsin and dye. The reaction was recorded spectrophotometrically at 340 nm for 30 min, and the families of curves obtained were analyzed simultaneously by fitting integrated Michaelis-Menten equations. The dye used behaved as a competitive inhibitor of trypsin at pH 3.0, with Ki = 99 µM; kinetic parameters for the substrate hydrolysis were: Km = 32 µM, and kcat = 0.38/min. The competitive character of the inhibition suggests a specific binding of the first dye molecule to His-57, the only positively charged residue at the active site of the enzyme.