It is not known whether the addition of ezetimibe to statins adds cardiovascular protection beyond the expected changes in lipid levels. Subjects with coronary heart disease were treated with four consecutive 1-week courses of therapy (T) and evaluations. The courses were: T1, 100 mg aspirin alone; T2, 100 mg aspirin and 40 mg simvastatin/10 mg ezetimibe; T3, 40 mg simvastatin/10 mg ezetimibe, and 75 mg clopidogrel (300 mg initial loading dose); T4, 75 mg clopidogrel alone. Platelet aggregation was examined in whole blood. Endothelial microparticles (CD51), platelet microparticles (CD42/CD31), and endothelial progenitor cells (CD34/CD133; CDKDR/CD133, or CD34/KDR) were quantified by flow cytometry. Endothelial function was examined by flow-mediated dilation. Comparisons between therapies revealed differences in lipids (T2 and T3<T1 and T4 for total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides; P<0.002 for all), as well as for endothelial function (T2>T1 and T4, P=0.001). Decreased platelet aggregation was observed after aspirin (arachidonic acid, T1<T3 and T4, P=0.034) and clopidogrel (adenosine, T3 and T4<T1 and T2, P<0.0001) therapy. Simvastatin/ezetimibe diphosphate did not change platelet aggregation, the amount of circulating endothelial and platelet microparticles, or endothelial progenitor cells. Cardiovascular protection following therapy with simvastatin/ezetimibe seems restricted to lipid changes and improvement of endothelial function not affecting the release of microparticles, mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells or decreased platelet aggregation.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a presença de Toxoplasma gondii em fetos bovinos abortados no Brasil. Com base em laudos histopatológicos, de um total de 105 casos com suspeita de aborto infeccioso, recebidos no período de 2006 a 2008, no Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Sanidade Animal do Instituto Biológico, São Paulo, 75 casos foram sugestivos de abortamento por protozoário Apicomplexa e foram submetidos à técnica de PCR para confirmação do diagnóstico laboratorial. O DNA foi extraído a partir de amostras de sistema nervoso central, coração, músculo, fígado e/ou placenta dos fetos para obtenção de um fragmento de DNA de 529pb. Não foi detectada a presença de DNA de T. gondii em qualquer dos fetos bovinos analisados, não sendo este agente infeccioso uma causa frequente de abortamentos.

The aim of this study was to determine if Toxoplasma gondii was present in aborted bovine fetuses in Brazil. Histopathology of 105 cases with suspected infectious abortion, analyzed during the period from 2006 to 2008 at Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Sanidade Animal of Instituto Biológico, São Paulo, showed 75 cases with indications of abortion due to apicomplexan protozoa. These cases were submitted to PCR for verification of the laboratory diagnosis. Fetal DNA was extracted from central nervous system, heart, liver, muscle, and/or placenta samples to obtain a 529 bp DNA fragment. T. gondii DNA was not detected in any of the bovine fetuses analyzed, suggesting that it may not be a frequent cause of bovine abortion.

The role of rhinovirus asymptomatic infections in the transmission among close contacts subjects is unknown. We tested health care workers, a pair of one child and a family member and immunocompromised patients (n =191). HRV were detected on 22.9% symptomatic and 3.6% asymptomatic cases suggesting lower transmission among contacts.

A adaptação à vida extra-uterina é período crítico para o recém-nascido. Inúmeras alterações ocorrem em diferentes sistemas e órgãos, incluindo a função respiratória e o equilíbrio ácido-básico. O presente trabalho objetivou constatar a ocorrência de acidose em cabritos recém-nascidos e obter parâmetros gasométricos e ácido-básicos dos mesmos, até as 24 horas de vida. Para tanto, foram utilizados 33 cabritos, sem distinção de sexo. Amostras sanguíneas foram colhidas por venopunção jugular, imediatamente após o nascimento, aos cinco, dez e 15 minutos, e às 24 horas de vida, para determinação do pH, pressão parcial de oxigênio (pO2), pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono (pCO2), dióxido de carbono total (TCO2), concentração de bicarbonato (HCO3), excesso de bases (BE) e a saturação de oxigênio (sO2) utilizando-se analisador portátil de gases sanguíneos. Observaram-se diferenças significativas entre os momentos nos valores gasométricos dos cabritos em todas as variáveis estudadas. Os cabritos recém-nascidos apresentaram acidose respiratória no período pós-parto imediato, normalizando-se às 24 horas de vida.

The extra-uterine life adaptation is a critical period for the newborn. Several changes occur in different organ systems including respiratory function and acid-base balance. The aim of this study was to hypothesize the occurrence of acidosis in newborn kids and obtain blood gas and acid-base parameters of kids in the first 24 hours of life. For this, 33 goat kids of both sexes were used. The blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture immediately after birth, 5, 10, 15 minutes and 24 hours of life. The blood pH, oxygen partial pressure (pO2), carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2), total carbon dioxide (TCO2), bicarbonate concentration (HCO3), base excess (BE) and oxygen saturation (SO2) were determined with a portable blood gas analyzer. Significant differences were observed between the moments in all variables of the kids blood gas values. The newborn kids had respiratory acidosis during the immediate post-partum period, normalizing at 24 hours of life.

O presente trabalho visou avaliar a vitalidade e os níveis séricos de cortisol de bezerros neonatos, nascidos de partos eutócicos e auxiliados, bem como determinar os índices de partos distócicos em vacas receptoras de embriões nelores. Cerca de 310 bezerros foram avaliados. Observou-se a ocorrência de 38 partos distócicos (38/310) e de oito abortos (8/310). Os bezerros nascidos de partos distócicos mais duradouros, entre quatro e seis horas, apresentaram os maiores valores médios de frequência respiratória e dos níveis séricos de cortisol. A temperatura retal foi mais elevada em animais nascidos de partos laboriosos do que naqueles nascidos de partos normais. As taxas de morbidade e mortalidade em animais neonatos nelores foram de 77,93% e 3,44%, respectivamente. O emprego do escore APGAR, ao nascimento, demonstrou que 90% dos bezerros apresentavam-se deprimidos, independente do tipo de nascimento.

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the vitality and the serum levels of cortisol from newborn calves by normal and laborious deliveries, and to obtain the distocia register in Nelore embryo recipient cows. Three hundred ten calves were evaluated. The register of 38 dystocic calvings (38/310) and 8 abortions (8/310) were observed. In newborn animals the morbity and mortality rates were 77.93% and 3.44%, respectively. Calves born after long dystocic calving, lasting 4-6 hours, showed the highest mean values of respiratory frequency and serum cortisol levels. Animals born after laborious calving presented higher rectal temperature than those born at normal calving. The APGAR score showed that 90% calves had signs of dullness independent of parturition type.