Avaliação da incidência da deficiência de Glicose-6-Fosfato Desidrogenase (G6PD) e perfil hematológico em indivíduos de uma região de Rondônia

O estudo compreendeu a avaliação da deficiência de Glicose-6-Fosfato Desidrogenase (G6PD) e perfil hematológico em 122 indivíduos (69 homens e 53 mulheres), com idade variando entre 3 a 84 anos, selecionados conforme a aceitação em participação no estudo, residentes na área urbana e rural do município de Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brasil, no período de julho de 2003 a agosto de 2004. A análise foi realizada utilizando-se o método da glicose NaNO2, e hemograma completo. Foram detectados quatro indivíduos do sexo masculino com deficiência da G6PD, sendo 5,8% entre os homens e 3,3% do total analisado. Dos indivíduos com deficiência da G6PD nenhum apresentava malária, através de diagnóstico realizado pela gota espessa corado pelo Giemsa. Entre os homens, 19 (27,5%) apresentaram malária, sendo 15 por Plasmodium vivax e quatro por Plasmodium falciparum; 48 (69,5%) apresentaram valores de hemoglobina abaixo de 14,0 g/dl, e 26 (37,6%) apresentaram valores eritrocitários abaixo do 4,5 milhões/mm³. Entre as mulheres apenas duas (3,7%) apresentaram malária por Plasmodium vivax; 24 (45,2%) apresentaram valores de hemoglobina abaixo de 12,0 g/dl, e 12 (22,6%) apresentaram massa eritrocitária abaixo de 4,0 milhões/mm³. A eosinofilia esteve presente em 47 (68,1%) dos homens e em 34 (64,1%) das mulheres. A incidência de deficiência da G6PD foi significativa na população masculina que procurou assistência médica devido a sintomas febris. Considerando que a primaquina é utilizada para o tratamento da malária vivax e falciparum, o risco de ocorrência de hemólise intravascular grave entre os indivíduos é significante. O teste utilizado é muito simples e de baixo custo e sugerimos a adoção desta metodologia na rotina dos laboratórios de atendimento público em áreas endêmicas de malária.

Differential distribution of some extracellular matrix fibers in an experimentally denervated rat megaileum

Absence of enteric neurons is associated with thickening of the intestinal muscularis externa in Chagas' disease. The thickening is due to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells and increased extracellular matrix components. The influence of the nervous system on the structure of the smooth muscle cells and its associated matrix has been poorly investigated. An experimental model of denervation of the ileum in rats was performed by application of the surfactant agent benzalkonium chloride that selectively destroys the myenteric plexus. Three months later, ileal tissue samples were obtained and studied by histochemistry and transmission electron microsocopy. Sham operated rats were used as controls. The diameter of collagen fibrils was evaluated in electron micrographs. The histopathological analysis showed thickening of the muscular layer. The thin and weakly arranged collagen and reticulin fibers surrounding the smooth muscle cells, observed in control cases by Picrosirius polarization (PSP) stain method, corresponded to a population of loosely packed thin collagen fibrils of uniform diameters (mean = 29.16 nm) at the ultrastructural level. In contrast, the thick and strongly birefringent fibers around the muscle cells, observed in the treated group, stained by PSP, corresponded to densely packed thicker fibrils with large variation in diameter (mean = 39.41 nm). Comparison of the data demonstrated statistically significant difference between the groups suggesting that the replacement of loosely arranged reticulin fibers by fibrous tissue (with typical collagen fiber), may alter the biomechanical function resulting in impairment of muscular contraction. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Peroxide penetration from the pulp chamber to the external root surface after internal bleaching

Purpose: To quantify the amount of peroxide penetration from the pulp chamber to the external surface of teeth during the walking bleaching technique. Methods: Seventy-two bovine lateral incisors were randomly divided over five experimental groups and one control (n = 12 per group): (1) 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP); (2) 35% carbamide peroxide (CP); (3) sodium perborate (SP); (4) (HP+SP); (5) (CP+SP) and (6) Control (CG), deionized water. All groups were treated according to the walking bleach technique. After 7 days at 37 degrees C in an acetate buffer solution, 100 mu l violet leukocrystal coloring and 50 mu l peroxidase was added, producing a blue stain that could be measured in a spectrophotometer and then converted into peroxide mu g/ml. Results: G5 exhibited the greatest penetration, while G2 and G3 produced the lowest values. All bleaching agents penetrated from the pulp chamber to the external root surface. There was a direct correlation between the presence of oxidative agents and penetration potential. Sodium perborate in distilled water was less oxidative and appeared to be the least aggressive bleaching agent. (Am J Dent 2010;23:171-174).

Clinical and histomorphometric characteristics of three different families with hereditary gingival fibromatosis

Objective. To examine the histomorphologic and histomorphometric features of tissue from 3 unrelated families with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF).Study design. Twelve affected individuals from 3 HGF families and 3 control subjects were evaluated. Gingival samples were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin for hematoxylin and eosin stain to count the number of fibroblast and inflammatory cells. Sirius red staining was performed to quantitate the amount of collagen present.Results. Histomorphologic analysis of HGF showed extension of epithelial rete ridges into the underlying lamina propria and the presence of collagen bundles in the connective tissue. Analysis of the mean area fraction of collagen showed that there were significant increases in the collagen fraction for all HGF types compared with control subjects (P < .05). There were significant increases in the number of fibroblasts for HGFa and HGFb compared with control subjects (P < .05). The number of fibroblasts for HGFc were similar to that for control subjects.Conclusions. The collagen fraction was significantly greater in all HGF types compared with controls. The number of fibroblasts was significantly increased in 2 of the 3 HGF types compared with controls. These data indicate that different mechanisms may be responsible for tissue enlargement in different forms of HGF.

Immunolocalization of bone morphogenetic protein 2 during the early healing events after guided bone regeneration

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

1968-2008: O Veja Way of Life

O artigo aborda, segundo a nossa hipótese, o Jornalismo espetacular, marcado pelo entretenimento, utilizado pela revista Veja para noticiar os episódios do movimento estudantil - principal movimento engajado na luta da ditadura - já em 1968. Foram feitos pesquisa bibliográfica e estudo comparativo da abordagem de edições de 1998 e de 2008. Durante as comemorações deste ano ímpar, a nossa conclusão é a de que Veja agrega, cada vez mais, elementos sensacionalistas com o intuito de denegrir a imagem do movimento estudantil, corroborando, assim, com a indústria cultural e a sociedade do espetáculo que visam a produzir uma juventude democrática, ou seja, que almeja o sucesso econômico por meio do direito de consumir e da manutenção do sistema político vigente.

Morphological and biomechanical study of abdominal aorta of rats submitted to experimental chronic alcoholism

OBJETIVO: avaliar a influência do alcoolismo crônico experimental na morfologia e biomecânica da artéria aorta de ratos. MÉTODOS:ratos Wistar foram divididos em dois grupos de 22 animais. Grupo alcoolista: os ratos receberam água com concentração crescente de etanol e ração ad libitum durante 6 meses. Grupo controle: os animais receberam água e ração ad libitum pelo mesmo período. Os animais foram sacrificados com overdose de pentobarbital e as aortas abdominais foram excisadas para realização de histologia (hematoxilina-eosina, tricrômio de Masson, Calleja, Picrosirius red), histomorfometria e avaliação biomecânica (carga máxima, alongamento na carga máxima, limite de proporcionalidade, alongamento no limite de proporcionalidade e coeficiente de rigidez). RESULTADOS: A histologia e a histomorfometria não mostraram diferenças significantes na morfologia da aorta em ambos os grupos. A avaliação biomecânica mostrou aumento do alongamento no limite de proporcionalidade no grupo alcoolista (p<0.05). CONCLUSÃO: o alcoolismo crônico experimental não provocou alterações morfológicas na parede da aorta, mas causou aumento da sua elasticidade, sem modificar as outras propriedades mecânicas avaliadas.

Topografia da artéria hepática no fígado de capivara (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris)

A distribuição dos ramos da artéria hepática, no fígado, foi estudada em 30 fígados de capivara (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) mediante injeção arterial com látex natural corado, fixação em formol a 10%, dissecção pela face visceral e esquematização. A lobação do fígado, nestes animais, é semelhante à do suíno, permitindo identificar os lobos lateral direito, medial direito, quadrado, medial esquerdo, lateral esquerdo e caudado (processos caudado e papilar). A artéria hepática divide-se mais freqüentemente (73,3%) nos ramos direito e esquerdo e, em menor número de preparações (26,6%), trifurca-se nos ramos direito, intermédio e esquerdo. Esses vasos alcançam, sob diferentes arranjos, os lobos do fígado.

Techniques of digital image analysis for histological quantification of melanin

A análise morfométrica da melanina tecidual pode subsidiar quantitativamente a pesquisa em discromias. Os autores demonstram três técnicas de análise de imagem digital que permitem a identificação dos pixels equivalentes à melanina na epiderme pela coloração de Fontana-Masson, possibilitando o cálculo da sua porcentagem nas diferentes camadas da epiderme, e discutem os principais elementos relacionados à análise e a necessidade de rigorosa padronização do processo.

Aplicação da técnica de imunofluorescência direta para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina em aspirado de linfonodo

Recentemente, foco de leishmaniose visceral canina (CVL) foi descrito na região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo - Brasil. O Hospital Veterinário - UNESP - Araçatuba, no ano de 2.000, desenvolveu 60 testes citopatológicos de casos suspeitos de leishmaniose usando aspirado por agulha fina (FNA). Os esfregaços de linfonodo foram corados pelo método de Romanowsky (Diff-Quik®) e observados em microscopia de luz. Os casos positivos mostraram formas amastigotas típicas de Leishmania livres ou em vacúolos de macrófagos. Sinais citopatológicos de reatividade do sistema linfo-histiocitário com ausência de parasitos foram também observados. Com o objetivo de implementar o diagnóstico da CVL, detectando parasitos e material antigênico nos esfregaços, aplicou-se a reação de imunofluorescência direta (IFD) usando anticorpo policlonal anti-Leishmania produzido em camundongo. Comparamos o método de IFD com a pesquisa direta do parasito em esfregaços corados pelo método de Romanowsky. Dos 60 cães com sinais clínicos da doença, o exame direto foi positivo em 50% (n=30), duvidoso em 36,7% (n=22) e negativo com reatividade do linfonodo em 13,3% (n=8). Quando os linfonodos foram submetidos a reação de IFD observamos reação positiva em 93,3% (n=56) e reação negativa em 6,7% (n=4). Nossos resultados mostraram que a reação de IFD apresentou alta sensibilidade quando comparada a pesquisa direta do parasito pela coloração de Romanowsky. A reação de IFD pode ser um método útil para confirmar os casos duvidosos da doença, onde as formas amastigotas não são identificadas com facilidade.

Tissue response to an epoxy resin-based root canal sealer

The objective of the present study was to evaluate two different types of root canal sealers: AH Plus (an epoxy resin-based sealer) and Fill Canal (a zinc oxide-eugenol based sealer). A total of 34 root canals with vital pulp from dogs' premolars were used. After instrumentation, the root canals were filled with gutta-percha and AH Plus or gutta-percha and Fill Canal sealers using a classical technique of lateral condensation. After histological processing, the sections were stained with hematoxylineosin or Mallory's trichrome stain. Inflammatory cells or areas of necrosis were not associated with AH Plus. Hard tissue formation apically to the material was observed in 14 specimens. The Fill Canal sealer presented an inflammatory response of moderate intensity in the periapical region, mainly adjacent to the material.

Assessment of apoptosis in epidermal lamellar cells in clinically normal horses and those with laminitis

Objective - To determine and compare the number, type, location, and distribution of apoptotic epidermal cells in the laminae of clinically normal horses and horses with laminitis.Sample Population - Formalin-fixed samples of digital lamellar tissue from 47 horses (including clinically normal horses [controls; n = 7], horses with acurte [4] and chronic [7] naturally acquired laminitis, and horses with black walnut extract-induced [11] or carbohydrate overload-induced [18] laminitis).Procedure - Blocks of paraffin-embedded lamellar tissues were stained for DNA fragmentation with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Differential immunohistochemical staining for caspases 3 and 14 were used to confirm apoptosis.Results - the number of TUNEL-positive epidermal cells per 0.1 mm of primary laminae was significantly greater in the acute laminitis group than in the other groups. In the acute laminitis group, there were 17 and 1,025 times as many TUN EL-positive basal layer cells and keratinocytes, respectively, compared with the control group. Apoptosis of TUNEL-positive basal layer cells was confirmed by results of caspase 3 immunohistochemical staining. The TUNEL-positive keratinocytes did not stain for caspases 3 or 14.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - the large number of apoptotic basal layer cells detected in the lamellar tissue of horses with acute naturally acquired laminitis suggests that apoptosis may be important in the development of acute laminitis. The role of the large number of TUNEL-positive keratinocytes detected in the interface of primary and secondary epidermal laminae of horses with acute laminitis remains to be elucidated.

Picrosirius-polarization staining method as an efficient histopathological tool for collagenolysis detectin in vesical prolapse lesions

The Picrosirius-polarization method has been indicated as a selective histochemical stain for collagen detection in tissue sections. This method can also be of value for studying collagen degradation given that, under polarized light, collagen displays birefringence due to its molecular order. The aim of this study is to highlight this staining method as an additional instrument for a rapid and excellent confirmatory diagnosis of the presence of collagenolysis in connective tissue in the vaginal wall with vesical prolapse lesion, in tissue sections. Dramatic changes in collagen morphology were found in vaginal mucosa in vesical prolapse disorder: they were weakly stained by Sirius red and under polarized light appeared as thin, pale (weakly birefringent), greenish, and with fibers more scattered, while the histoarchitecture of the organ showed a disrupted appearance. Thus, in the present study, we showed in vaginal mucosa in the vesicle prolapse that corroded collagenous framework appears as fragmentary and irregularly separated collagenous structures, that are weakly birefringent, corresponding to a molecular disorganization of these fibers caused by collagenolysis. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complete staining of nerve fiber and myoneural junctions with acetylthiocholine and silver

We describe a combined stain for simultaneous demonstration of the preterminal axons and cholinesterase activity at myoneural junctions of mammalian muscles. This technique employs acetylthiocholine iodide as the substrate for cholinesterase activity and silver nitrate impregnation of preterminal axons. The procedure is rapid, simple and uses fresh muscles. Intramuscular nerves, preterminal axons and myoneural junctions are stained simultaneously brown or black with minimal background staining of connective tissue and muscle fibers.

Cytogenetics of three Brazilian Goniosoma species: A new record for diploid number in Laniatores (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae, Goniosomatinae)

Currently, 60 species of harvestmen have been karyotyped and all of these are from the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. This work is the first cytogenetic report of three gonyleptid species of the suborder Laniatores: Goniosoina aff. badiuln, G. proxiinuni and G. spelaeum of the Neotropical region, from the southeastern region of Brazil. Conventional Giemsa stain chromosome preparations were obtained from embryonic cells and adult male testes. Embryo mitotic plates of G. aff. badium and G. proximum indicated 88 chromosomes, and mitotic spermatogonial plates of G. spelaeum males revealed intra- and interindividual variation of chromosome number, ranging from 92-109 chromosomes. In the three analyzed species, the mitotic chromosomes were meta- or subinetacentric with no obvious sex chromosomes being identified during mitosis. Prophase I spermatocytes of G. spelaeum also revealed intra- and interindividual bivalent number variation and furthermore indicated the presence of multivalence. The karyotypes of these three Goniosoina species exhibited the largest chromosome pair with a negative heteropycnosis in the distal region of the shortest arrn chromosomes of G. spelaeum submitted to silver impregnation evidenced this negative heteropycnotic region as nucleolus organizer region (NOR). These results, when compared with cytogenetic data of other Laniatores species from the Palearctic region, indicated that a new record for diploid chromosome number probably characterize the genus Goniosoma in the Neotropical region.