Effects of simvastatin in abdominal sepsis in rats

Statins are widely recognized as hypolipemic drugs, but some studies have observed anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, known as pleiotropic. The aims of this work was to study possible anti-inflammatory effects of simvastatin in abdominal sepsis. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and leukocytes count were determined in an experimental model of abdominal sepsis, using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rats. Methods: Twenty eigth Wistar rats weighing 285±12g were randomly divided in: CLP/Sinvastatin rats (n=7), treated with 10 mg/Kg of oral simvastatin 18 and 2 hs berofe CLP; CLP/Saline group rats (n=7), treated with oral saline; group Sham/Simvastatin (n=7), treated with simvastatin, and group Sham/Saline (n=7), treated with saline. Serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 by ELISA and total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils were determined 24 hs after CLP. ANOVA and Tukey test were used considering significant p<0.05. Results: It was demonstrated that serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were respectively 364,8±42pg/mL; 46,3±18pg/mL and 28,4±13pg/mL in CLP/Sinvastatin rats, significantly lower (p<0.05) than in group CLP/Saline (778,5±86pg/ml; 176,9±46pg/ ml; 133,6±21 pg/ml, respectively). The same results were observed in total leukocytes and neutrophils counts. Conclusion: These results clearly demonstrate that simvastatin is an effective agent that reduces cytokines levels and leukocyte count in sepsis, independently of its well-known lipid-lowering effects. Thus, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors like simvastatin have important anti-inflammatory effects in abdominal sepsis in rats

Avaliação de produtos naturais no controle de biofilmes formados em sistema dinâmico

The biofilms microbial forms of association are responsible for generating, accelerating and / or induce the process of corrosion. The damage generated in the petroleum industry for this type of corrosion is significatives, representing major investment for your control. The aim of this study was to evaluate such tests antibiograms the effects of extracts of Jatropha curcas and essential oil of Lippia gracilis Schauer on microrganisms isolated from water samples and, thereafter, select the most effective natural product for further evaluation of biofilms formed in dynamic system. Extracts of J. curcas were not efficient on the complete inhibition of microbial growth in tests type antibiogram, and essential oil of L. gracilis Schauer most effective and determined for the other tests. A standard concentration of essential oil of 20 μL was chosen and established for the evaluation of the biofilms and the rate of corrosion. The biocide effect was determined by microbial counts of five types of microorganisms: aerobic bacteria, precipitating iron, total anaerobic, sulphate reducers (BRS) and fungi. The rate of corrosion was measured by loss of mass. Molecular identification and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. The data showed reduction to zero of the most probable number (MPN) of bacteria precipitating iron and BRS from 115 and 113 minutes of contact, respectively. There was also inhibited in fungi, reducing to zero the rate of colony-forming units (CFU) from 74 minutes of exposure. However, for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria there was no significant difference in the time of exposure to the essential oil, remaining constant. The rate of corrosion was also influenced by the presence of oil. The essential oil of L. gracilis was shown to be potentially effective

Ecogenômica de archaea e monitoramento de comunidades de procariotos redutores de sulfato: aplicações na indústria de petróleo e gás

The human activities responsible for the ambient degradation in the modern world are diverse. The industrial activities are preponderant in the question of the impact consequences for brazilian ecosystems. Amongst the human activities, the petroliferous industry in operation in Potiguar Petroliferous Basin (PPB) displays the constant risk of ambient impacts in the integrant cities, not only for the human populations and the environment, but also it reaches the native microorganisms of Caatinga ground and in the mangrove sediment. Not hindering, the elaboration of strategies of bioremediation for impacted areas pass through the knowledge of microbiota and its relations with the environment. Moreover, in the microorganism groups associated to oil, are emphasized the sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP) that, in its anaerobic metabolism, these organisms participate of the sulfate reduction, discharging H2S, causing ambient risks and causing the corrosion of surfaces, as pipelines and tanks, resulting in damages for the industry. Some ancestries of PRS integrate the Archaea domain, group of microorganisms whose sequenced genomes present predominance of extremophilic adaptations, including surrounding with oil presence. This work has two correlated objectives: i) the detection and monitoring of the gene dsrB, gift in sulfate-reducing prokaryotes, through DGGE analysis in samples of mDNA of a mangrove sediment and semiarid soil, both in the BPP; ii) to relate genomic characteristics to the ecological aspects of Archaea through in silico studies, standing out the importance to the oil and gas industry. The results of the first work suggest that the petrodegraders communities of SRP persist after the contamination with oil in mangrove sediment and in semiarid soil. Comparing the populations of both sites, it reveals that there are variations in the size and composition during one year of experiments. In the second work, functional and structural factors are the probable cause to the pressure in maintenance of the conservation of the sequences in the multiple copies of the 16S rDNA gene. Is verified also the discrepancy established between total content GC and content GC of the same gene. Such results relating ribosomal genes and the ambient factors are important for metagenomic evaluations using PCR-DGGE. The knowledge of microbiota associated to the oil can contribute for a better destination of resources by the petroliferous industry and the development of bioremediation strategies. Likewise, search to lead to the best agreement of the performance of native microbiota in biogeochemical cycles in Potiguar Petroliferous Basin ecosystem

Biologia alimentar e morfohistologia do tubo digestório do mussum, synbranchus marmoratus, bloch (osteichthyes: synbranchidae) no açude Marechal Dutra Gargalheiras , localizado no semi-árido brasileiro

Food habits and morpho-histology of the digestive tract of marbled swamp eel, Synbranchus marmoratus (Block, 1917) were investigated. The fish samples were captured during August, 2007 to July, 2008 in the Marechal Dutra reservoir, Acari, Rio Grande do Norte. The rain fall data was obtained from EMPARN. The fish captured, were measured, weighed, dissected, eviscerated and individual stomach weights were registered. The stomach contents analyses were carried out based on volumetric method, points, frequency of occurrence and applying the Index of Relative Importance. The degrees of repletion of the stomachs were determined besides the Index of Repletion relating to feeding activity variations and frequency of ingestion during the rainy and dry seasons. The rainfall varied from 0 mm a 335 mm with a mean value of 71.62 mm. Highest rainfall of 335.5 mm was registered in March, 2008 and August to December was the dry period. During the dry period the study species presented high degrees of repletion of the stomachs, with a peak value in the month of September (mean = 4.54; ± SD = 0.56). The minimum mean value of = 3.99 ± SD = 0.25 was registered in the month of May during the rainy period. The stomach contents of S. marmoratus registered show that this fish prefers animals, 78.22% of crustaceans 2.85% of mollusks, 3.25% of fish, 1.4% of insects and 13.5% of semi-digested organic matter, thus characterizing the study species as a carnivore with a preference for crustaceans. The morpho-histological aspects of the digestive tract of S. marmoratus indicate that the mouth is terminal adapted to open widely, thin lips with taste buds, small villiform teeth forming a single series on maxillas, four pairs of branchial arches with short and widely spaced branchial rays. The oesophagus is short and cylindrical with a small diameter. The oesophagus wall is thick with mucas surface and internal parallel folds. The stomach is retilinical in form, presenting cardiac, caecal and pyloric portions. The caecal portion is long and is intermediary in position between the cardiac and pyloric portions. The cardiac portion of the stomach is short and cylindrical formed of simple epithelial cylindrical mucus cells. The caecal portion is long with narrow walls, a big cavity and smaller folds which give rise to gastric glands. The phyloric portion has no glands and primary or secondary mucas folds. The morphohistological aspects of the digestive tract of S. marmoratus indicate its adaptation to a carnivorous feeding habit

Avaliação do potencial de formigas (Hymenoptera: formicidae) como vetores mecânicos de bactérias do gêneroSstaphylococcus no ambiente hospitalar.

In a hospital environment, these bacteria can be spread by insects such as ants, which are characterized by high adaptability to the urban environment. Staphylococcus is a leading cause of hospital infection. In Europe, Latin America, USA and Canada, the group of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) is the second leading cause of these infections, according to SENTRY (antimicrobial surveillance program- EUA). In this study, we investigated the potential of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as vehicle mechanics of Staphylococcus bacteria in a public hospital, in Natal-RN. The ants were collected, day and night, from June 2007 to may 2008, in the following sectors: hospitals, laundry, kitchen, blood bank. The ants were identified according to the identification key of Bolton, 1997. For the analysis of staphylococci, the ants were incubated in broth Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) for 24 hours at 35 º C and then incubated on Mannitol Salt Agar. The typical colonies of staphylococci incubated for 24 hours at 35 ° C in Tryptic Soy Agar for the characterization tests (Gram stain, catalase, susceptibility to bacitracin and free coagulase). The identification of CoNS was performed through biochemical tests: susceptibility to novobiocin, growth under anaerobic conditions, presence of urease, the ornithine decarboxylation and acid production from the sugars mannose, maltose, trehalose, mannitol and xylose. The antimicrobial susceptibility examined by disk-diffusion technique. The technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to confirm the presence of mecA gene and the ability to produce biofilm was verified by testing in vitro using polystyrene inert surface, in samples of resistant staphylococci. Among 440 ants, 85 (19.1%) were carrying coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) of the species Staphylococcus saprophyticus (17), Staphylococcus epidermidis (15), Staphylococcus xylosus (13), Staphylococcus hominis hominis (10), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (10), Staphylococcus warneri (6), Staphylococcus cohnii urealyticum (5), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3), Staphylococcus simulans (3), Staphylococcus cohnii cohnii (2), and Staphylococcus capitis (1). No Staphylococcus aureus was found. Among the isolates, 30.58% showed resistance to erythromycin. Two samples of CoNS (2.35%), obtained from the ant Tapinoma melanocephalum collected in the post-surgical female ward, S. Hominis hominis and S. lugdunensis harbored the mecA gene and were resistant to multiple antibiotics, and the specie S. hominis hominis even showed to be a biofilm producer. This study proves that ants act as carriers of multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci and biofilm producers and points to the risk of the spreading of pathogenic microorganisms by this insect in the hospital environment

Exercícios anaeróbicos, padrão morfofuncional e os marcadores hematológicos em pessoas vivendo com hiv e aids

Estudos que relacionam a atividade física e HIV/AIDS enfatizam a perspectiva biológica, demonstrando a sua relevância, apontam a preocupação em estabelecer um tipo de atividade e intensidade que não comprometa o sistema imunológico, enfatizando as melhorias do exercício sobre os parâmetros antropométricos, na aptidão física bem como um grande aumento da capacidade funcional para o grupo testado. Objetivo: O presente estudo se caracteriza como quase-experimental e objetivou analisar o padrão morfofuncional, marcadores hematológicos em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS, através da oferta intervenção com exercícios anaérobicos (exercícios resistidos em sala de musculação) para pacientes portadores de HIV/AIDS. Métodos: A amostra foi composta por 11 indivíduos do gênero masculino, com média de idade de 43,2 anos, participantes do Programa Pro-Saúde e Atividade Física da Universidade Federal do Rio grande do Norte e atendimento clínico no Hospital Giselda Trigueiro da Secretaria de Estado de Saúde Pública/RN. A coleta de dados foi composta de exames laboratoriais para medir TCD4 e Carga Viral, medidas antropométricas: Índice de Massa Corporal - IMC, Relação Cintura Quadril- RCQ, e uma annamenese sociodemográfica. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se no presente estudo a estatistica descritiva com os valores de tendecia central e seus derivados. Para as variáveis de cunho discreto utilizou-se a análise de frequencia atavés de valores percentuais de aparecimento. Resultados: Os resultados entre os Pré e o Pós teste das variáveis estudadas foram assim apresentadas: para o IMC (pré média de 24,0 Kg/m2 e pós 24,2 Kg/m2), RCQ (pré média de 0,97cm e pós 0,95 cm), Somatório de Dobras cutâneas (Pré 117,1 e Pós 102,0), Somatório da Perimetria(Pré 310,5 e Pós 313,3), Força Escapular(Pré 30,9 Kgf e Pós 30,3 Kgf), Força Pressão Manual Direita(Pre 41,2 e Pós 42,1), Força Pressão Manual esquerda(Pré 39,4 e Pos 39,9), TCD4( Pré 579 e Pós 509 céls/mm3) e Carga Viral(pré e pós <50 cópias). Esses resultados apontam para uma melhora importante das variáveis antropométricas estudadas, principalmente em relação a RCQ, na contagem dos linfócitos TCD4 e manutenção da Carga Viral em níveis abaixo do limite mínimo(<50 cópias/ml) Conclusão:O Programa de Exercícios resistidos com características anaeróbicas promove melhorias no padrão morfofuncional, manutenção das células TCD4 em níveis considerados seguros para esta população e estabilização da carga viral, não apresentando riscos à saúde dos participantes

Eficácia do treinamento de força sobre parâmetros cardiovasculares e antropométricos em adultos sedentários

This study aimed to determine the influence of strength training (ST), in three weekly sessions over ten weeks, on cardiovascular parameters and anthropometric measurements. It is a before and after intervention trial, with a sample composed of 30 individuals. Participants were adults aged between 18 and 40 years, from both sexes and sedentary for at least three months previously. Tests were computed ergospirometry, CRP, PWV and body composition (dependent variables) before and after the experiment. Independent variables, age and sex, were considered in order to determine their influence on the dependent variablesevaluatedend. By comparing the initial cardiovascular parameters with those obtained after intervention in patients undergoing the ST proposed (a Student s t-test was conducted within each group for samples matched to parameters with normal distribution, while the Wilcoxin was applied for those without), there was no significant difference in PWV(p =0469) or PCR(p =0.247), but there was an increase in anaerobic threshold(AT) (p=0.004) and Maximal Oxygen Uptake(VO2max) (p =0.052). In regard to anthropometric measures, individuals significantly reduced their body fat percentage (p<0.001) and fat mass (p<0,001), as well as increasing lean mass (p<0.001). However, no changes were recorded in the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (p= 0.777), body mass (p=0.226) or body mass index (BMI) (p =0.212). Findings of this study lead us to believe that the proposed ST, and did not increase the VOP or PCR improves cardiorespiratory capacity and body composition. Devotees of this training can therefore safely enjoy all its benefits without risk to the cardiovascular system