Chamber dilations, eccentric hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction confirm the evidence of the literature in characterizing a sickle cell anemia cardiomyopathy.

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The occurrence of ventricular hypertrophy undoubtedly represents an important marker of increased risk for cardiovascular events; therefore, the importance of identifying the patterns of hypertrophy in patients with hypertension is widely justified 1,2 . A recent study by Mensah et al 3 reported that measurement of the left ventricular mass on echocardiography proved to be better for predicting the evolutional process of hypertension as compared with other variables, such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension staging 4 . Left ventricular hypertrophy is no longer considered an adaptive process that compensates the pressure imposed on the heart and has been identified as an independent and significant risk factor for sudden death, acute myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure 4,5 . In cardiac hypertrophy, anomalous collagenous proteins and other types of contractile proteins (myosin with different functional properties) are produced. These myosins show a lower activity of the ATPase enzyme and a lower velocity of power generation. Likewise the formation of anomalous collagenous proteins, changes in contractile proteins also occur. Concomitantly, sarcomeres and fibroblasts proliferate and become hyperplastic. These adaptations aim to maintain the cardiac contractile capacity to compensate the pressure load imposed on the heart 6 . The cardiac adaptive process is not always beneficial for functioning of the heart and causes alteration in myocardial fibers, in the cardiac capacity to respond to adrenergic stimuli, in the left ventricular diastolic function, in the coronary artery flow, and finally in the contractile function 6 . Left ventricular hypertrophy causes important derangements in coronary artery flow. If hypertrophy is mild, the increase in coronary circulation may proportionally accompany the increase in left ventricular mass through vascular neoformation or use of mechanisms of flow reserve. In the cases of significant increase in ventricular mass, generation of new vessels and capillaries is disproportional to the

Heart rate variability parameters in patients with CCC did not undergo statistically significant changes after a six-month cardiac rehabilitation program.

SummaryBackground: Developing hypertension is likely to be at least two times greater in individual with exaggerated blood

Background: Gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) populations have been declining due to human intervention. Yet, only a few studies have assessed ultrasonographic testicular characteristics in cervids. Considering the relevance of monitoring testicular size, blood flow, and parenchyma, the present study aims to establish baseline information on scrotal circumference, testicular volume, and spectral Doppler parameters, to describe differences among adult male gray brocket deer in different reproductive status, and to correlate ultrasound parameters with testes size measurements.Materials, Methods & Results: Six adult male gray brocket deers were used in the study. Scrotal circumference and testicular volume were measured. B mode ultrasound images of testes (longitudinal and cross-sectional views) and epididymes were subjected to computer-assisted analysis, obtaining the numerical pixel values (NPV) and pixel standard deviation (PSD). Using spectral Doppler, supratesticular artery blood flow velocities (peak systolic velocity - PSV, end diastolic velocity - EDV, time-average maximum velocity - TAMAX, resistivity - RI and pulsatility indices - PI) were obtained. Semen was analyzed through total motility, vigor, and concentration tests. Three animals were normospermic (F+ group) and three were oligo/azoospermic (F- group). Groups were compared using were compared using a one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis followed by Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test. Ultrasound parameters were correlated to testes size parameters using Pearson’s correlation for parametric variables and Spearman’s correlation for non-parametric variables. F+ group presented significantly higher scrotal circumference (14.57 ± 1.19 cm), testicular volume (26.18 ± 4.94 cm3), and testes cross-sectional NPV (69.88 ± 24.00) and PSD (10.78 ± 3.42) than group F- (NPV: 28.26 ± 13.75, PSD: 6.70 ± 1.84). No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the spectral Doppler ultrasound parameters. Significant correlations were observed between scrotal circumference and longitudinal (r = 0.76) and cross-sectional testes NPV (r = 0.89), and testicular volume was correlated with longitudinal (r = 0.78) and cross-sectional testes NPV (r = 0.91) and with cross-sectional testes PSD (ρ = 0.82).Discussion: Increased testicular echogenicity (higher NPV) has been positively associated with improved testicular growth, cell population expansion, inner and outer seminiferous tubules diameter, spermatids percentages and testis weight. In addition, more heterogenous testes (higher PSD) were associated with higher sperm output. It was suggested that the animals in group F- had compromised testicular development and spermatogenesis. The correlation observed between testes NPV and scrotal circumference was proposed to be associated with seminiferous tubules impairment. The F- group showed lower testicular volume, NPVs and PSDs in cross-sectional testicular images, suggesting higher protein levels and lower lipid contents were present in their parenchyma, influencing in testicular echogenicity and echotexture. No differences in spectral Doppler parameters were observed between the two groups. Also observed in stallions. However, PSV, EDV, TAMAX could be potential infertility indicators in other mammalians. These different results may be due to different locations of the evaluated vessel, species and techniques, age, ambient temperature, pathological conditions, and anaesthesia. Thus, it is suggested that scrotal circumference, testicular volume, and testes NPV are good indicators of male reproductive health in gray brocket deer and may help with better male selection in the species.

Snakes have an important biological role in the ecological chain, as well as in scientific researches performed with the venoms produced by them, since the enzyme-protein fractions these substances possess have been studied as pharmacological tools for the discovery of new therapies. Snakes of the genus Crotalus have gained significant relevance in the scientific field, since the venom produced by these reptiles has been the target of researchers in a few decades, due to the composition and the effects that these substances can produce. In Brazil, a single species represents the genus, which is Crotalus durissus. This review demonstrates that even with the advancement in scientific research on the composition, role and application of the venom produced by the subspecies of Crotalus durissus snake, it is necessary to further study their fractions and their action potential, which also demonstrates the how rich are these active components in different fields of biomedicine.

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