Effect of Pcbs (Aroclor 1254) on spermatogenesis In Testis Of Mouse

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, synthetic chemicals which do not occur naturally in the environment. PCBs are considered potential endocrine disruptors. They are estrogen-like and anti-androgenic chemicals in the environment contain potentially hazardous effects on male reproductive axis resulting in infertility and other hormonal dependent reproductive functions. These toxic substance cause alteration of the endocrine systems, mimic natural hormones and inhibit the action of hormones. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on testicular development of male reproductive system in mice. The male mice were randomly assigned to five groups with each group comprising twenty-one members. In those mice were administered 0 μg/kg (control group) and 0.5, 5, 50, 500 μg/kg Aroclor 1254 (treated group) by gavages three time per week. Treatment was carried out for 50 days after which the mouse was sacrificed and the body weight, testicular weight; epedidymis weight, sperm mortality, sperm count and sperm abnormality were taken. However, there was no significant difference in testicular/body weight and epididymis/body weight ratio in treated group compared with the control group. According to the analysis of sperm quality, Aroclor 1254 treated group demonstrated significant increased in sperm mortality in 500 μg/kg; decreased the sperm count in 0.5 μg/kg, 5 μg/kg, 50 μg/kg and 500 μg/kg; and significantly elevate the sperm abnormality in 50 μg/kg and 500 μg/kg compared to the control in a dose-dependent manner. The sex hormone levels in the testes were detected by radio-immunoassay (RIA) method. The levels of testosterone and 17β-estradiol did not reveal significant alteration (p< 0.05) in PCBs treated groups compared to the control in a dose-dependent manner. The testis were obtained and subjected to routine histopathology following exposure to PCBs in supplement diet. The diameter of the seminiferous tubule and the number of Sertoli cells in the treated group increased significantly (p< 0.05) in comparison to the control group. For the spermatogenic cell, the number of germ cell in high concentration decreased significantly (p< 0.05). However, spermatogonia cells in PCB treated group showed non-significant difference (p< 0.05) compared to the control. vii Western blot analysis was used to determine the level of protein between the control and treated group. The level of Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was determined and the results have shown no significant alteration between the treated groups and the control. the level of sex hormone receptor (ER α/β); Androgen receptor (AR) were identified in the testes to detect the proliferative effect induced by PCBs. Statistical analyses of AR, ER α and ER β did not reveal significant difference between the control and the treated groups. In the present study, we continue to investigate adverse effect of Aroclor 1254 and their mechanism on spermatogenesis. The result of Sperm quality and histopathology showed that Aroclor 1254 at low concentration induce inhibitory effect on testicular function of male mouse.

Protocolo de Terapeutica Anti-Retroviral

A compreensão progressiva da dinâmica vírica e celular, e o melhor conhecimento dos mecanismos de acção farmacológica e da resistência aos ARV, têm permitido avanços consideráveis no controlo clínico da imunodeficiência causada pelo VIH. Trata-se contudo de uma área bastante complexa e dinâmica pelo que convém estabelecer recomendações técnicas consensuais que permitam: • Definir condutas seguras e eficazes para a utilização dos ARV • Identificar condutas que não devem ser seguidas • Permitir a revisão periódica para a actualização e correcções necessárias • Permitir a organização logística para a aquisição e distribuição dos medicamentos e consumíveis.

Identification and Characterization of Natural Anti-Breast Cancer Compound: Costunolide

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, 23% (1.3 million) of the total of new cases and the second leading cause of cancer death in women exceeded only by lung cancer. Natural medicines have been proven to be a central source of narrative agents with a pharmaceutical potential. Costunolide is sesquiterpene lactones consisting of diverse plant chemicals that exhibit anti cancer action through cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells. The objectives of present study were to explore the effects of natural compounds on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and to determine the role of ROS in natural compounds-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells with a therapeutic potential. Results showed that costunolide screened, possess potent anticancer properties against breast cancer MCF-7 cells, Costunolide was observed as strong anti-proliferative agent with IC50 = 50µM. The anti-proliferative effect of costunolide on MCF cells was confirmed by live/dead assay using fluorescent probes calcein AV/PI. The results demonstrated that treatment of cells with costunolide decreased the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To determine the costunolide-induced apoptosis, flow cytometric analysis was carried out. The results showed that costunolide induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in breast cancer MCF-7cells. ROS are well known mediators of intracellular signaling of cascades. The excessive generation of ROS can induce oxidative stress, loss of cell functioning, and apoptosis. In the present study, we assumed that costunolide might arouse ROS level, which could be involved in induction of apoptosis. Therefore, the intracellular ROS level was measured using the ROS-detecting fluorescence dye 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). Interestingly these effects were significantly abrogated when the cells were pretreated with N-acetyl- cysteine (NAC), a specific ROS inhibitor. Costunolide induces apoptosis through extrinsic pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, In order to examine whether costunolide suppresses cell growth inducing apoptotic cell death, we analyzed DNA contents and apoptosis-related proteins expression level by flow cytometry and western blot, respectively in MCF-7 breast cancer cells we investigated whether costunolide activates extrinsic apoptotic pathway. We examined the expression levels of death receptor signaling-related proteins, caspase-3, and PARP. The results showed that procaspase-3 was cleaved to yield 17 and 20kDa fragments and activation of PARP in treated cells with 25 and 50μM of costunolide. Costunolide induce apoptosis through intrinsic mitochondria pathway in MCF-7 breast cancer Cells. We examined the expression levels of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway related proteins such as anti-apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma protein-2 (Bcl2), and pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Costunolide involved in the down regulation of Bcl-2 and up regulation of Bax. These results suggest that costunolide may have beneficial effects for the reduction of breast cancer growth, and new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human cancers.

Adesão dos Pacientes com Tuberculose ao Tratamento com Anti-tuberculosos na Cidade da Praia e São Felipe- Fogo Factores da não Adesão ao Tratamento

A tuberculose é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, que apresenta 8 milhões de casos novos por ano no mundo. Sua transmissão normalmente ocorre através das vias aéreas, acometendo principalmente os pulmões. De acordo com a localização do foco da doença, ela pode ser classificada em tuberculose pulmonar, tuberculose extrapulmonar e tuberculose miliar (Mota et al., 2010). A pesquisa em estudo fala da tuberculose pulmonar que continua a ser um problema de saúde pública e uma das principais causas de mortalidade em países em desenvolvimento. O diagnóstico e o tratamento precoce são fundamentais para controlar a sua transmissão. Um dos problemas enfrentados por vários países como Brasil, China entre outros é a não adesão ao tratamento da tuberculose pelos doentes. Esta falta de aderência para o tratamento é um dos principais factores que determinam sua eficácia, especialmente em países em desenvolvimento. Na década 90 foi introduzido o tratamento de curta duração contra esta doença, mas a baixa adesão a terapêutica levou a uma caída na taxa de cura, um aumento da transmissão da doença na população e, um risco 5,6 vezes superior de desenvolvimento de resistências aos anti-tuberculosos (Solarte & Barona, 2008). O objectivo principal deste estudo consiste em determinar o grau de adesão dos pacientes com tuberculose ao tratamento com anti-tuberculosos e os factores associados com a não adesão nos Centros de Saúde de Achada Santo António, Tira Chapéu, Ponta D’Água e Delegacia de Saúde de São Felipe - Fogo. Neste estudo foi feito um levantamento dos dados dos casos de tuberculose, registado nos livros existentes em cada estrutura de saúde em estudo, e aplicação de um questionário aos pacientes em tratamento. Com esses dados obtiveram-se 152 casos; 46 a partir dos questionários e 106 dos dados obtidos dos registos nas respectivas estruturas de saúde em estudo. Os resultados obtidos permitem verificar que o sexo masculino é o mais afectado em relação ao feminino. Também constatou-se que os homens abandonam mais o tratamento do que as mulheres. Muitos usam álcool, tabaco e drogas, oque pode ter contribuído para a não adesão ao tratamento. Segundo o estudo os factores para a não adesão ao tratamento foram a falta de emprego, a baixa escolaridade, falta de conhecimento sobre a tuberculose e hábitos de vida dos pacientes tais como o uso de álcool, tabaco e drogas. Segundo os dados obtidos o principal motivo para o abandono do tratamento foi preguiça. Outros motivos de relevância foram: medo que as pessoas saibam da sua doença, falta de recursos financeiros e a duração prolongada do tratamento.