Structural analysis of the Pimelodus maculatus (Lacépède, 1803) embryogenesis (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

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

HELMINTH FAUNA of TWO GECKO LIZARDS, HEMIDACTYLUS AGRIUS and LYGODACTYLUS KLUGEI (GEKKONIDADE), FROM CAATINGA BIOME, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL.

This study presented data on helminth fauna of two gecko lizards, Hemidactylus agrius and Lygodactylus klugei, from Caatinga biome in northeastern Brazil. It was found four helminth species parasitizing H. agrius, cistacanth of Centrorhynchidae (Acanthocephala) and the nematodes Physalopteridae (larvae), Parapharyngodon alvarengai (Pharyngodonidae) and Skrjabinelazia sp. (Seuratidade). The host Lygodactylus klugei presented two helminth species, one individual of Mesocoelium monas (Trematoda: Mesocoeliidae) in the small intestine and one encysted larvae of Physalopteridae (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) attached at stomach wall. The lizard species showed a low prevalence and low richness of helminths. Moreover, H. agrius presented a low intensity of infection. The foraging mode, arboreal habit and a restricted composition of diet could favoring the low prevalence, low infection rates and low richness of helminths found in these geckonid host species.

Glibenclamide effects on renal function and histology after acute hemorrhage in rats under sevoflurane anesthesia

Introduction. Hypovolemia from hemorrhage evokes protective compensatory reactions, such as the renin-angiotensin system, which interferes in the clearance function and can lead to ischemia. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of glibenclamide, a K-ATP(+) channel blocker, on renal function and histology in rats in a state of hemorrhagic shock under sevoflurane anesthesia. Material and Methods. Twenty Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of 10 animals each (G1 and G2), only one of which (G2) received intravenous glibenclamide (1 mu g.g(-1)), 60 min before bleeding was begun. Both groups were anesthetized with sevoflurane and kept on spontaneous respiration with oxygen-air, while being bled of 30% of volemia in three stages with 10 min intervals. There was an evaluation of renal function-sodium para-aminohippurate and iothalamate clearances, filtration fraction, renal blood flow, renal vascular resistance-and renal histology. Renal function attributes were evaluated at three moments: M1 and M2, coinciding with the first and third stages of bleeding; and M3, 30 min after M2, when the animals were subjected to bilateral nephrectomy before being sacrificed. Results. Significant differences were found in para-aminohippurate clearance, G1 < G2, and higher renal vascular resistance values were observed in G1. Histological examination showed the greater vulnerability of kidneys exposed to sevoflurane alone (G1) with higher scores of vascular and tubular dilatation. There were vascular congestion and tubular vacuolization only in G1. Necrosis and signs of tubular regeneration did not differ in both groups. Conclusion. Treatment with glibenclamide attenuated acutely the renal histological changes after hemorrhage in rats under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Rat model of depending prostaglandin renal state: Effect of ketoprofen

Introduction .The renal prostaglandins (PGs), vasodilators, preserve kidney function during increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system or renal sympathetic nerves (renal PG-dependent state [RPGD]). Ketoprofen (Ket) inhibits cyclooxygenase and, therefore, the synthesis of PGs. The aim of this study was to determine, in the rat, the action of Ket in the renal histology and function in a RPGD state (stress of anesthesia and hemorrhage). Material and Methods . Twenty male Wistar rats, anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, were randomly divided into two groups: G1-control ( n = 10) and G2-Ket ( n = 10) submitted to arterial hemorrhage of 30% of volemia (estimated as 6% of body weight) three times (10% each 10 min), 65 min after anesthesia. G2 animals received Ket, 1.5 mg. kg -1 , venously, 5 min after anesthesia and 60 min before the first hemorrhage moment (first moment of the study [M1]). Medium arterial pressure (MAP), rectal temperature (T), and heart rate were monitored. G1 and G2 received para-aminohippurate sodium (PAH) and iothalamate sodium (IOT) solutions during the entire experimental time in order to determine clearance of PAH (effective renal plasma flow [ERPF]) and clearance of IOT (glomerular filtration rate [GFR]) without urine collection (determination of blood concentrations of PAH and IOT through the high-performance liquid chromatography), filtration fraction (FF), and renal vascular resistance (RVR). The animals were sacrificed in M3, 30 min after the third hemorrhage (M2) moment, and the kidneys and blood collected during the hemorrhage periods were utilized for histological study and determinations of hematocrit (Ht), serum creatinine (S Cr ), ERPF, GFR, FF, and RVR, respectively. Results . There were significant reductions of MAP, T, and Ht and a significant increase of S Cr . During the experiment, ERPF and GFR did not change, but ERPF was always higher in G1 than in G2. Ket did not alter FF, which increased in G1 over the duration of experiment. The Ket group had significantly higher RVR than the control group. The histology verified that both G1 and G2 were similar for tubular dilation and necrosis, but they were significantly different for tubular degeneration: G1 > G2. Conclusion . The changes observed in kidney histology probably were determined by hemorrhage and hypotension. Ket inhibited the synthesis of PGs and diminished tubular degeneration.

Renal histology and immunohistochemistry after acute hemorrhage in rats under sevoflurane and ketoprofen effect

OBJETIVO: Investigar a influência do inibidor não-seletivo da ciclooxigenase, cetoprofeno (ceto) intravenoso, em alterações histológicas e dos níveis das citocinas renais - fator α de necrose tumoral (TNF- α) e interleucina 1 (IL-1) - após hemorragia de 30% da volemia (10%, três vezes, em intervalos de 10 min). MÉTODOS: Sob anestesia com sevoflurano (sevo), os grupos sevo e sevo+ceto (10 ratos cada) foram preparados cirurgicamente para leitura de pressão arterial média (PAM) e administração de solução de Ringer (5 mL/kg/h) e de cetoprofeno (1,5 mg/kg), no início da anestesia, no grupo sevo+ceto. Mediu-se temperatura retal continuamente. Os valores de temperatura e PAM foram observados antes da primeira hemorragia (T1), após a terceira hemorragia (T2) e 30 min após T2 (T3). Realizada nefrectomia bilateral nos dois grupos para análise histológica e imuno-histoquímica. RESULTADOS: Nos dois grupos, temperatura e PAM diminuíram com relação aos valores basais. Hipotermia foi mais acentuada no grupo sevo (p=0,0002). Necrose tubular foi mais frequente no grupo sevo (p=0,02). As citocinas estiveram igualmente presentes nos rins dos dois grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Cetoprofeno foi mais protetor no rim de rato durante anestesia com sevoflurano e hipovolemia, porém parece que TNF- α e IL-1 não estão envolvidas nessa proteção.

Influence of S(+)-ketamine analgesia in renal intraoperative ischemia: histological study in rats

OBJETIVO: Investigar, em ratos, o efeito da S(+)cetamina na histologia renal após hemorragia intra-operatória. MÉTODOS: Vinte ratos Wistar machos, anestesiados com pentobarbital sódico, foram divididos, aleatoriamente, em 2 grupos: G1 - controle (n=10) e G2 - S(+)cetamina (n=10), submetidos a hemorragia de 30% da volemia em 3 momentos (10% a cada 10 min) 60 min após anestesia. G2 recebeu S(+)cetamina, 15 mg. kg-1, i.m., 5 min após anestesia e 55 min antes do 1.º momento de hemorragia (M1). Foram monitorizadas a pressão arterial média (PAM), temperatura retal (T) e freqüência cardíaca. Os animais foram sacrificados (M4) 30 min após o 3.º momento de hemorragia (M3). Os rins e o sangue das hemorragias foram utilizados para estudo histológico e do hematócrito (Ht). RESULTADOS: Houve redução significativa da PAM, T e Ht. Na histologia, G1=G2 na dilatação tubular, congestão e necrose. A soma total dos escores foi significativamente diferente e G2>G1. CONCLUSÃO: Hemorragia e hipotensão determinaram alterações na histologia renal. O aumento da concentração sangüínea de catecolaminas provavelmente determinou escores mais altos de alterações histológicas com o uso de S(+)cetamina.

Healing process in anastomosis of homologous venous grafts preserved in glutaraldehyde implanted aorta of rabbits

Aim. Autologous vein (AV) is sometimes not suitable or present for a vascular restoration. Homologous vein preserved in glutaraldehyde may be an alternative to AV, but little is yet known about this graft and its healing process after implantation in arteries. The purpose of this study was to compare the initial healing process of glutaraldehyde-tanned homologous venous grafts (group 1) with fresh autologous venous grafts (group 2), at 4 or 15 days.Methods. Forty Norfolk rabbits were allocated in 2 groups of 20 animals each. The grafts was interposed in the infra-renal aorta of the rabbit. Anastomotic tensile strength (TS), hydroxyproline (HP) determination, and histology (HA) were performed.Results. TS increased in both groups, from the 4th to 15th day, (p < 0.01) in both proximal (G1: from 364.5 &PLUSMN; 98.3 g to 491.8 &PLUSMN; 107.3 g; G2: from 366.26 &PLUSMN; 85.15 g to 518.46 &PLUSMN; 82.79 g) and distal anastomosis (GI: from 363.53 &PLUSMN; 96.26 g to 507.32 &PLUSMN; 91.01 g; G2: from 352.30 &PLUSMN; 102.41 g to 528.67 &PLUSMN; 48.58 g), with no difference between the groups. HP did not change (p > 0.10) in this same period and was similar in both groups, in the proximal (GI: from 677.99 +/- 153.98 mug/100 mg to 914.92 +/- 459.83 mug/100 mg; G2: from 668.65 +/- 170.28 mug/100 mg to 669.46 +/- 319.80 mug/100 mg) as well as in the distal anastomosis (G1:from 740.07 +/- 213.53 mug/100 mg to 923.52 +/- 270.57 mug/100 mg; G2: from 737.66 +/- 266.76 mug/100 mg to 707.68 +/- 171.25 mug/100 mg). Initial inflammatory and reparative features of the anastomosis were similar in both groups.Conclusion. We can conclude that the healing process of the glutaraldehyde-tanned homologous vein graft was similar to that of the fresh autologous venous graft.

Diclofenac sodium and Imipenem action on rat intestinal mucosa: a biomechanical and histological study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações histológicas e biomecânicas do diclofenaco de sódio na mucosa intestinal do rato e a associação com o uso de Imipenem. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 240 ratos Wistar distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos experimentais: GI: 60 ratos tratados com injeção IM de soro fisiológico 0,9%; GII: 60 ratos tratados com injeção IM de diclofenaco de sódio na dose de 6mg/kg de peso por 4 dias; GIII: 60 ratos tratados com injeção IM de Imipenem na dose de 30 mg/kg de peso por 4 dias; GIV: 60 ratos tratados com injeção IM de soro fisiológico e diclofenaco de sódio nas doses acima. em cada grupo os animais foram posteriormente divididos em 4 momentos de 15 animais em cada um para sacrifício, respectivamente, no 4º, 7º, 14º e 21º dias após o início do tratamento. As alterações da cavidade abdominal, assim como as características histológicas e de força de ruptura do intestino delgado foram analisadas em cada momento, em cada grupo. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas alterações histológicas e biomecânicas nos animais do Grupo I nesse estudo. Lesões ulceradas na mucosa do intestino delgado foram observadas nos animais tratados com diclofenaco de sódio, assim como diminuição da força de ruptura. As lesões ulceradas encontradas foram prevenidas pelo uso de Imipenem. CONCLUSÃO: O diclofenaco de sódio induz lesões ulceradas na mucosa intestinal do rato que podem ser prevenidas pelo uso de Imipenem.

Effects of pentoxifylline and n-acetylcysteine on injuries caused by ischemia and reperfusion splanchnic organs in rats

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

AC Biosusceptometry Technique to Evaluate the Gastrointestinal Transit of Pellets under Influence of Prandial State

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

No mutations found in exon 2 of gene p16CDKN2A during rat tongue carcinogenesis induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide

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

Effects to exposure of tobacco smoke and alcohol on the tongue and pharynx of rats

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

CDX2, a highly sensitive and specific marker of adenocarcinomas of intestinal origin - An immunohistochemical survey of 476 primary and metastatic carcinomas

CDX2 is a recently cloned homeobox gene that encodes an intestine-specific transcription factor, expressed in the nuclei of epithelial cells throughout the intestine, from duodenum to rectum. While expression of CDX2 protein in primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas has been previously documented, neither the sensitivity nor the specificity of CDX2 expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry, for colorectal adenocarcinoma has been determined. We performed an immunohistochemical survey of 476 tumors with a monoclonal antibody, CDX2-88, including 89 tumors from the colon and duodenum and 95 tumors from other gastrointestinal sites, including the esophagus, stomach, pancreatobiliary system, gastrointestinal carcinoids, and liver. CDX2 was expressed uniformly (that is, in 76-100% of tumor cells) in all but one of the evaluated colorectal and duodenal tumors. High-level expression of CDX2 was also found, however, in mucinous ovarian carcinomas and adenocarcinomas primary to the urinary bladder of which 64% and 100% were positive, respectively. Gastric, gastroesophageal, and pancreatic adenocarcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas all showed similar, heterogeneous patterns of CDX2 expression. Most tumors in each group showed CDX2 expression by a minority of cells, whereas a substantial minority of cases in each group was completely negative and a smaller minority was uniformly positive. Gastrointestinal carcinoids gave similarly varied results, but the majority (58%) was negative. Hepatocellular carcinomas showed no expression of CDX2. Only very rare examples of carcinomas of the genitourinary and gynecologic tracts, breast, lung, and head and neck showed significant levels of CDX2 expression. In this study of primary and metastatic epithelial tumors, uniform CDX2 expression is demonstrated to be an exquisitely sensitive and highly, but incompletely, specific marker of intestinal adenocarcinomas. Compared with villin, a previously described marker of GI adenocarcinomas, CDX2 demonstrated superior sensitivity and comparable specificity. CDX2 expression can be seen, however, in selected non-GI adenocarcinomas such as mucinous ovarian carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the urinary bladder.

Isolation of coccidioides brasiliensis from armadillos (Dasypus noveminctus) captured in an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), was first isolated from armadillos from the Amazonian region where the mycosis is uncommon. In the present study, we report on the high incidence of PCM infection in armadillos from a hyperendemic region of the disease. Four nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were captured in the endemic area of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, killed by manual cervical dislocation and autopsied under sterile conditions. Fragments of lung, spleen, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes were processed for histology, cultured on Mycosel agar at 37 degrees C, and homogenized for inoculation into the testis and peritoneum of hamsters. The animals were killed from week 6 to week 20 postinoculation and fragments of liver, lung, spleen, testis, and lymph nodes were cultured on brain heart infusion agar at 37 degrees C. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was isolated from three armadillos both by direct organ culture and from the liver, spleen, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes of hamsters. In addition, one positive armadillo presented histologically proven PCM disease in a mesenteric lymph node. The three armadillos isolates (Pb-AL, Pb-A2, and Pb-A4) presented thermodependent dimorphism, urease activity, and casein assimilation, showed amplification of the gp43 gene, and were highly virulent in intratesticularly inoculated hamsters. The isolates expressed the gp43 glycoprotein, the immunodominant antigen of the fungus, and reacted with a pool of sera from PCM patients. Taken together, the present data confirm that armadillos an a natural reservoir of P. brasiliensis and demonstrate that the animal is a sylvan host to the fungus.

Comparison of omega-3 fatty acids and sulfasalazine in ulcerative colitis

Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids exert antiinflammatory effects on patients with ulcerative colitis. However, a comparative study in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis receiving only sulfasalazine or omega-3 fatty acids has not been performed. We sought to detect changes in the inflammatory disease activity with the use of either fish oil omega-3 fatty acids or sulfasalazine in patients with ulcerative colitis. Ten patients (five male, five female; mean age = 48 +/- 12 y) with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis were investigated in a randomized cross-over design. They received either sulfasalazine (2 g/d) or omega-3 fatty acids (5.4 g/d) for 2 mo. Disease activity was assessed by clinical and laboratory indicators, sigmoidoscopy, histology, and whole-body protein turnover (with N-15-glycine). Treatment with w-3 fatty acids resulted in greater disease activity as detected by a significant increase in platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and total fecal nitrogen excretion. No major changes in protein synthesis and breakdown were observed during either treatment. In conclusion, treatment with sulfasalazine is superior to treatment with omega-3 fatty acids in patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis. Nutrition 2000;16:87-901 (C) Elsevier B.V. 2000.