RESUMO: O presente estudo objetivou verificar a eficácia terapêutica do cloreto de magnésio em ovinos intoxicados experimentalmente por Palicourea marcgravii e descrever os achados clínicos e laboratoriais que possam auxiliar no diagnóstico precoce ante mortem dessa intoxicação. P. marcgravii é a principal planta dentro de um grupo de 22 espécies que causam “morte súbita” no Brasil e seu princípio tóxico é o monofluoracetato de sódio. Durante o procedimento, observou-se maior tempo de evolução em relação a outros trabalhos utilizando-se a mesma dose da P. marcgravii em ovinos, entretanto todos os animais intoxicados e posteriormente tratados com cloreto de magnésio vieram a óbito. Os ovinos apresentaram sinais clínicos característicos antes da morte, associados a sinais nunca antes descritos nesse tipo de intoxicação, como respiração abdominal, tosse, “head pressing” e nistagmo. Trata-se da primeira avaliação dos parâmetros hematológicos de ovinos intoxicados por P. marcgravi. Foi observado leucocitose com neutrofilia, hiperfibrinogemia e hiperglicemia, associado a elevação dos valores séricos de AST, GLDH, ureia, creatinina, CK, LDH e hipofosfatemia. À necropsia foram notadas alterações como jugular ingurgitada, congestão de grandes vasos, edema pulmonar. Histologicamente havia degeneração hidrópica vacuolar nos túbulos uriníferos contorcidos distais no rim, semelhantes às já relatadas em estudos anteriores, na intoxicação por P. marcgravii.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to examine the efficacy of magnesium chloride therapy in sheep experimentally poisoned by Palicourea marcgravii and describe the clinical and laboratory findings that may aid in early ante mortem diagnosis of this poisoning. P. marcgravii is an important plant within a group of 22 species in Brazil that cause “sudden death.” Its toxic component is sodium monofluoroacetate. It was observed that a time for evolution of poisoning was longer in our study compared to other studies that used the same dose of P. marcgravii in sheep. However, all animals that were poisoned and subsequently treated with magnesium chloride died. The sheep presented characteristic clinical signs before death in addition to other signs that have not been previously described for this type of poisoning, such as abdominal breathing, coughing, head pressing, and nystagmus. This is the first evaluation of hematological parameters of sheep poisoned by P. marcgravii. Leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hyperfibrinogenemia, and hyperglycemia, associated with hypophosphatemia and elevated levels of serum aspartato aminotransferase (AST), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), urea, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), were observed. Additionally, changes were noted in necropsy, such as engorged jugular, large vessel congestion, pulmonary edema. Histological examination revealed vacuolar hydropic degeneration in the distal twisted uriniferous tubules in the kidneys, similar to those reported in previous studies on P. marcgravii poisoning.

Mensuraram-se as concentrações plasmáticas de cálcio (Ca++), fósforo (Pi), potássio (K+), sódio (Na+), cloreto (Cl-), magnésio (Mg++), ferro (Fe++), glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos e proteínas totais para determinar os efeitos do exercício sobre a ocorrência dos ritmos diários em cavalos de corrida da raça Puro Sangue Inglês (n=7), em treinamento. A atividade física consistiu de galope na raia e passo. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas da veia jugular a cada 4h durante um período de 48h. As concentrações plasmáticas de Ca++, K+, Mg++ e Na+ foram obtidas por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica com chama, e as concentrações de Pi, Cl-, Fe++, glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos e proteína total foram mensuradas por testes colorimétricos utilizando-se a espectrometria de luz UV visível. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se um período de 24h para cada tipo de exercício desenvolvido. Ritmo diário de Pi foi observado quando o passo foi a atividade física desenvolvida, apresentando sua acrofase no período diurno. A concentração plasmática de triglicerídeos mostrou significante ritmo diário com a acrofase ocorrendo no período noturno, independente se foi desenvolvido o galope ou passo. O exercício de alta intensidade (galope) diminuiu a amplitude dos triglicerídeos. Nenhum ritmo diurno foi achado nas outras variáveis. Estes resultados mostram que o galope como atividade física, mascara o ritmo diário do fósforo. Entretanto, o treinamento físico não apresentou nenhum efeito na ocorrência do ritmo diário de triglicerídeos, somente na sua amplitude.

Records of plasma calcium (Ca++), phosphorus (Pi), potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), magnesium (Mg++), iron (Fe++), glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and total protein levels were measured to determine the effects of exercise on occurrence of diurnal rhythms in Throughbred racehorses (n=7) under physical training. Physical activities consisted of gallop on the track and walking. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein every 4h over a 48h period. Plasma Ca++, K+, Mg++ and Na+ levels were obtained by flame photometry; and, Pi, Cl-, Fe++, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and total protein levels were measured by colorimetric tests using visible UV spectrophotometry. The data were analyzed using a 24h period to each exercise performed. Diurnal rhythm of Pi was observed when walking was the physical activity performed, and its acrophase occurred at the light period. Plasma triclycerides showed significant diurnal rhythms, with their acrophases occurring at the dark period, even when walking or gallop were performed. High intensity exercise (gallop) decreased triglycerides amplitude. No significant diurnal rhythms of other variables were found. Gallop, as physical activity, masked phosphorus diurnal rhythm. However, physical training did not influence triglycerides diurnal rhythm occurrence. High intensity exercise (gallop) just declined triglycerides amplitude.

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among children in developing countries, and mortality due to pneumonia has been associated with S. pneumoniae infection. This investigation was designed to describe the antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype patterns of pneumococcal strains recovered from the blood of children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to assess the clinical findings of pneumococcal bacteremic patients with pneumonia. In a 26 month prospective study, blood cultures were obtained as often as possible from children (<16 years of age) diagnosed with CAP in two emergency rooms. Antimicrobial drug susceptibility tests and serotyping were performed when pneumococcus was identified. We studied 3,431 cases and cultured blood samples from 65.5% of those. Pneumococcus was recovered from 0.8% of the blood samples. The differences in age, somnolence, wheezing and hospitalization among children with and without pneumococcal bacteremia were statistically significant. Pneumococcal bacteremia was age-related (mean 1.63 ± 1.55; median 0.92) and associated with somnolence and hospitalization among children with CAP. One strain was recovered from pleural fluid. Penicillin resistance was detected in 21.0% (4/19) of the strains at an intermediate level, whereas 63.0% of the strains were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The most common serotypes were 14 and 6B, and these serotypes included the resistant strains. Eight of our 18 isolates from blood were of types included in the heptavalent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine, recently licensed in the USA.

Sementes de gergelin (Sesamum indicum L.) foram cultivadas in vitro em meio de cultura de Wetherall contendo 0,5 mg/l de 2,4-D e em seguida transferidas para meio de Murashige e Skoog (MS) contendo 0,1 mg/l de 2,4-D e 100 mg/l de inositol. Ambos, 2,4-D e inositol mostraram-se ser necessários para o desenvolvimento de calos a partir de sementes, do mesmo modo que para o contínuo crescimento dos meios em cultura. Foram também obtidos calos de explantes de anteras, cotiledones e de hipocotilo de Sesamum utilizando-se o meio MS com a ocorrência de estruturas globulares.

Continuously growing Sesamum hypocotyl callus cultures were successfully initiated from hypocotyl tissues of seeds cultured on Wetherall's Medium containing 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D and subcultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.1 mg/1 2,4-D and 100 mg/l inositol. Both 2,4-D and inositol appear to be essential for maintenance of continous growth. Callus cultures were likewise established from explants of anthers, cotyledon, and hypocotyl on the MS medium with the occurrence of arrested globular structures in some cultures.