Blood indicators are used as a tool to diagnose metabolic disorders. The present work was conducted to study the relationships among blood indicators of lipomobilization and hepatic function in high-yielding dairy cows. Two groups of Holstein cows were studied: 27 early lactation cows and 14 mid lactation cows from four different herds with similar husbandry characteristics in Galicia, Spain. Blood samples were obtained to measure beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides (TG), and the activity of aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Cows in early lactation had higher levels of BHB and NEFA than mid lactation cows. High lipomobilization (NEFA > 400 µmol/L) was detected in 67% and 7% of early lactation and mid lactation cows, respectively, while subclinical ketosis (BHB > 1.2 mmol/L) was detected in 41% and 28% of the early lactation and lactation cows, respectively. TG concentrations were low in all cows suffering subclinical ketosis and in 61% of the cows with high lipomobilization. During early lactation, 30% of cows suffered hepatic lipidosis as detected by levels of AST. Compromised hepatic function was observed in early lactation cows as shown by lower concentrations of glucose, total protein, and urea.

We found significant association of female hormone metabolism polymorphisms under the perspective of multigene approach.

Migraine is a genetically complex disorder in which sexual hormones influence the phenotype. ESR1 G594A polymorphism has been associated with migraine in Australians. We performed a case-control study with G594A and G325C polymorphisms to determine whether ESR1 is associated with migraine in our population. An association between G594A and migraine could not be demonstrated here. By contrast, we observed that the C325 allele conferred a 1.6 (95% confidence interval=1.1-2.4) higher risk for suffering from migraine in women than the G allele. Women carrying the C352C genotype were over 3 times more likely to suffer from migraine than those carrying the G325G genotype. Therefore, we conclude that ESR1 G325C polymorphism is associated with migraine in our population.

-The hematological and biochemical parameters are useful tools for clinics and feeding management of athlete equines. The population of high performance horses consists of different breed groups, displaying specific phenotypic and metabolic characteristics related to the type of sport activity they perform. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the South of Brazil, racing, jumping, polo, endurance, reigning, and dressage are the main activities. This study investigated the hemato-biochemical parameters in three high performance horse breeds from Southern Brazil. A total number of 154 horses belonging to the breeds Thoroughbred, Brasileiro de Hipismo, and Criollo, were selected for this study. Within each breed, samples were collected from males (n=12) and non-pregnant females (n=12) of two ages: 1 to 3 years of age (n=12) and over five years of age (n=12). Hematological (total count of erythrocytes and leukocytes, blood cell volume, hemoglobin, and differential count of leukocytes) and biochemical (lactate, fructosamine, glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulins, fibrinogen, urea, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and enzymes LDH, AST, GGT, and CK) parameters were analyzed. Significant differences were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters, except for calcium and albumin, among breeds. There was no significant effect of age or sex within breed. This study shows that the local population, the breed and the type of sport activity are important variables to be considered in the analysis of blood parameters of horses.

Background: The incidence of metabolic disorders in dairy cows has increased as a result of intensive production practices and genetic selection for milk yield. Among such disorders, liver lipidosis is very frequently observed and has significant negative effects on cow health and milk yield. Severe energy supply deficit causes high fat mobilization, resulting in rapid body condition loss and liver lipid infiltration, which cannot always be detected by known blood biochemical indicators. The main objective of the study was to determine possible associations of blood biochemical parameters with liver lipid infiltration severity in high-yield multiparous Holstein cows along prepartum and postpartum periods.Materials, Methods & Results: Fifty-four high-yield Holstein cows from a herd managed in a free-stall system in the northwest region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil were evaluated. Cows were divided in two groups according to their physiological status. Group 1 included 19 prepartum cows, with an average milk yield of 44.7 L/d in the previous lactation, and 2.8 average parity, and Group 2 included 35 postpartum cows, with an average milk yield of 46.8 L/d in the previous lactation, and 2.5 average parity. The farm produced 10,000 kg milk per year, containing 3.5% of fat, 3.2% of protein and 4.7% of lactose. Total cholesterol (CH), plasma triglycerides (TGp), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), albumin (ALB), non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) levels, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) activities were analyzed in the plasma and liver triglycerides (TGl) levels were determined in liver tissue samples.The SPSS statistical software was used for the statistical analyses.  The obtained data were analyzed for normality by the Shapiro-Wilk test and for homoscedasticity by Bartlett test. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, and means were compared by the t-test (PROC TTEST). Pearson correlation test (PROC CORR) was used to compare the results between prepartum and postpartum cows, and between those with and without lipidosis.An overall incidence of 20% severe hepatic lipidosis was determined both in prepartum and postpartum cows. Positive significant correlations were obtained between days in milk (DIM) and AST (r= 0.43; P < 0.01), CH and TGp (r= 0.44; P < 0.01), TGl and AST (r=0.32; P < 0.05), NEFA and AST (r= 0.45; P < 0.01) and CK and AST (r= 0.447; P < 0.01). Negative significant correlations were detected between TGp and DIM (r= -0.45; P < 0.01), and between TGl and TGp (r= -0.30; P < 0.05).Discussion: Prepartum cows showed moderate fat infiltration in the liver, while 25.7% of postpartum cows presented severe lipidosis. AST values increased as lactation progressed, suggesting a greater tendency of liver damage, in early postpartum. The obtained CK values were within the reference range, except for the cows with hepatic lipidosis, indicating that the measured AST activity was originated from the liver and not from the muscle tissues. TGp, NEFA and AST values indicate the degree of fat mobilization and, possibly, liver infiltration, while TGl indicates fat infiltration in the liver. Although negative energy balance (NEB) may trigger lipolysis and some degree of hepatic lipidosis, plasma BHB values did not significantly increase. The obtained results show that the evaluated plasma parameters may be useful to establish guidelines for the identification of changes in the metabolic profile of dairy cows during different production stages, as well as measures for the prevention and control of metabolic disorders.

RESUMO:Este estudo objetivou avaliar as variações hematológicas e bioquímicas que ocorrem em diferentes protocolos de exercícios em equinos de salto. Foram utilizados 17 equinos da raça de salto Brasileiro de Hipismo, entre 5 e 12 anos. Todos os animais foram submetidos aos seguintes protocolos de exercício: repouso (controle); esteira ergométrica (40 min a 5 m/s); treinamento montado (40 min, sendo 10 min ao passo, 20 min ao trote, 10 min ao galope); e competição (prova de salto a 350 m/min, obstáculos com 1,20 m de altura e percurso de 430 m). Foram realizadas coletas de sangue e verificação da frequência cardíaca com os animais em repouso (controle) e imediatamente após o término dos protocolos de exercício. As avaliações sanguíneas abrangeram contagem de eritrócitos e leucócitos totais, hematócrito, concentração de hemoglobina, proteínas plasmáticas totais, creatina quinase (CK), lactato desidrogenase (LDH), aspartato transaminase (AST), fosfatase alcalina (FA), lactato, glicose, bicarbonato, ureia, creatinina, sódio e potássio. Em relação ao grupo controle, o exercício em esteira ergométrica apresentou variações significativas apenas em hematócrito, frequência cardíaca, potássio e creatinina. O treinamento montado e a competição apresentaram aumentos nas concentrações de proteína, CK, LDH, FA e potássio com relação aos demais protocolos de exercício. Hemoglobina e lactato aumentaram apenas no grupo de competição. A concentração de glicose reduziu em todos os grupos experimentais quando comparada ao grupo em repouso. A frequência cardíaca, a creatinina, número de eritrócitos, hematócrito e FA apresentaram aumento progressivo conforme a intensidade de exercício. Não houve alterações nos valores de AST, ureia e sódio. Conclui-se que os diferentes protocolos de exercício em equinos de salto promoveram diferentes respostas nos parâmetros hematobioquímicos. Palavras-chave: enzimas clínicas; fisiologia do exercício ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to evaluate the variations promoted by different kinds of exercise on hematological and biochemical parameters of jumping horses. Seventeen Brazilian Jumping horses (Brasileiro de Hipismo breed) from 5 to 12 years old were used. All animals were submitted to the following exercise protocols: rest (control group), ergometric treadmill (40 minutes at a speed of 5 m/s), mount training (40 minutes consisting of 10 minutes walking, 20 minutes trotting and 10 minutes running on field conditions) and jumping competition (speed of 350 m/min, height of obstacles 1.20 m and 430 m length). Venous blood samples were drawn from the jugular vein and heart rate were verified at rest (control) and immediately after the exercise. The erythrocyte and leucocytes count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, total plasma protein (TPP), urea, creatinine were determined. The treadmill group showed higher values of PCV, heart rate and creatin...

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