The Lanz® endotracheal tube decreases tracheal injury in dogs

Purpose: To determine, in dogs anesthetized with nitrous oxide (N2O), whether the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuffed with a Lanz® pressure regulating valve decreases the tracheal consequences of tracheal intubation. Methods: Sixteen mixed-breed dogs were allocated to two groups according to the ETT used: Control group (n = 8) - Rüsch ETT, and Lanz group (n = 8) - ETT with Lanz® pressure regulating valve. The ETT cuffs in both groups were inflated with air to an intracuff pressure of 30 cm H2O. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with pentobarbitone and N2O (1.5 L·min-1) and O2 (1 L·min-1). ETT cuff pressures were measured before (control) and 60, 120, and 180 min during N2O administration. The dogs were sacrificed, and biopsy specimens from four predetermined areas of the tracheal mucosa in contact with the ETT were collected for light and scanning electron microscopy (SM) examination. Results: Cuff pressures in the Control group were higher than in the Lanz group at all time points studied (P < 0.001), with an increase over time only in the Control group (P < 0.001). Median neutrophilic inflammatory infiltration values of the epithelial surface, and in the subepithelial layer in contact with the cuff, were higher in the Control group as compared to the Lanz group (3.0 vs 1.0 and 3.0 vs 1.5 respectively) (P < 0.05). On SM examination, median histological grades were higher in the Control group compared to Lanz group (2.9 vs 1.9 respectively), (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The Lanz® ETT decreases tracheal mucosal injury in dogs.

Structural characterization of novel chemotactic and mastoparan peptides from the venom of the social wasp Agelaia pallipes pallipes by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Islet of Langerhans transplantation. A comparative study of two different methods for isolating islet cells from rat pancreas

Two different methods for isolation of islet of Langerhans on control of metabolic abnormalities of alloxan-induced diabetic rat were tested. Sixty rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: GI included 10 non-diabetic control rats, GII included 10 diabetic control rats, without treatment, GIII included 20 diabetic rats (10 inbred and 10 outbred rats) that received islet of Langerhans transplantation (ILT) using islet cells prepared by collagenase, and GIV included 20 diabetic rats (10 inbred and 10 outbred rats) submitted to ILT using islet cells prepared by nonenzymatic method. Clinical and laboratory parameters at beginning and 4, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days of follow-up were recorded. Outbred rats were immunosuppressed with cyclosporin A, diabetes was induced by e.v. alloxan administration, and islet cells were isolated from normal donor Lewis rats and injected into the portal vein. ILT corrected the body weight gain, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and the high levels of blood and urine glucose in 73.7% of rats treated by enzymatic method and in 64.7% of those ones treated by nonenzymatic method. However, there was no significantly difference between the two methods (P > 0.50). We did not also observe significantly difference between the two methods when ILT was performed either in inbred or outbred rats. We concluded that ILT performed by nonenzymatic method may be an alternative treatment for diabetes due to be less expensive and to have possible advantages in the isolation process.

Ischemic postconditioning and subanesthetic S(+)-Ketamine infusion: effects on renal function and histology in rats

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

Trypanosoma cruzi and Its soluble antigens induce NET release by stimulating toll-like receptors

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

Participation of dectin-1 receptor on NETs release against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: role on extracellular killing

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a dimorphic fungus from the Paracoccidioides genus, which is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a chronic, subacute or acute mycosis, with visceral and cutaneous involvement. This disease that is acquired through inhalation primarily attacks the lungs but, can spread to other organs. Phagocytic cells as neutrophils play an important role during innate immune response against this fungus, but studies on antifungal activities of these cells are scarce. In addition to their ability to eliminate pathogens by phagocytosis and antimicrobial secretions, neutrophils can trap and kill microorganisms by release of extracellular structures composed by DNA and antimicrobial proteins, called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Here, we provide evidence that P. brasiliensis virulent strain (P. brasiliensis 18) induces NETs release. These structures were well evidenced by scanning electron microscopy, and specific NETs compounds such as histone, elastase and DNA were shown by confocal microscopy. In addition, we have shown that dectin-1 receptor is the main PRR to which fungus binds to induce NETS release. Fungi were ensnared by NETs, denoting the role of these structures in confining the fungus, avoiding dissemination. NETs were also shown to be involved in fungus killing, since fungicidal activity detected before and mainly after neutrophils activation with TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF was significantly inhibited by cocultures treatment with DNAse.

Efeito do plasma rico em uréia na apoptose de neutrófilos de cães

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

Efeito do plasma rico em glicose na apoptose de neutrófilos de cães

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

Valores hematológicos de morcegos hematófagos Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy, 1810) mantidos em cativeiro

Hematological values from captive vampire bats Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy, 1810). Desmodus rotundus is one of the hematophagous bat species that are responsible for significant losses to livestock and has important involvement on public health. The great interest on this bat species made it becomes the target of many investigations a required its maintenance in laboratories. Similarly to others mammals, hematological evaluation has been utilized to assess the health and morbidity state of bats, however there are scarce studies with captive bats. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that is possible to feed the vampire bat D. rotundus with frozen blood treated with citrate during a long captivity period without hematological dyscrasias. Therefore, complete blood count was performed monthly from 15 adult females kept for 345 days in cages and fed with frozen blood added to citrate. The erythrocyte concentration (9.02 ± 1.43 x1012/L), PCV (0.47 ± 0.08 L/L) and hemoglobin (163.9 ± 31.5 g/L) obtained from free-living bats (immediately after capture) were lower or similar to those obtained after 345 days of captivity, presenting erythrocytes’ count of 11.01 ± 0.82 x1012/L, packed cell volume of 0.50 ± 0.05 L/L and hemoglobin level of 158 ± 10.1 g/L. The total white blood cell (11.09 ± 6.07 x109 /L) and segmented neutrophil counts (9.85 ± 3.5 x109 /L) of free living D. rotundus decreased significantly after 345 days of captivity, with values of 3.98 ± 1.98 and 1.87 ± 978.6 x109 /L respectively, which are similar to bats from temperate regions in hibernation period. This study proved that is possible to feed D. rotundus for long periods of captivity with citrated blood without the occurrence of anemia, erythrocyte or other hematologic dyscrasia

Characterization of biomodified dentin matrices for potential preventive and reparative therapies

Biomodification of existing hard tissue structures, specifically tooth dentin, is an innovative approach proposed to improve the biomechanical and biochemical properties of tissue for potential preventive or reparative therapies. The objectives of the study were to systematically characterize dentin matrices biomodified by proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract (GSE) and glutaraldehyde (GD). Changes to the biochemistry and biomechanical properties were assessed by several assays to investigate the degree of interaction, biodegradation rates, proteoglycan interaction, and effect of collagen fibril orientation and environmental conditions on the tensile properties. The highest degree of agent–dentin interaction was observed with GSE, which exhibited the highest denaturation temperature, regardless of the agent concentration. Biodegradation rates decreased remarkably following biomodification of dentin matrices after 24 h collagenase digestion. A significant decrease in the proteoglycan content of GSE-treated samples was observed using a micro-assay for glycosaminoglycans and histological electron microscopy, while no changes were observed for GD and the control. The tensile strength properties of GD-biomodified dentin matrices were affected by dentin tubule orientation, most likely due to the orientation of the collagen fibrils. Higher and/or increased stability of the tensile properties of GD- and GSE-treated samples were observed following exposure to collagenase and 8 months water storage. Biomodification of dentin matrices using chemical agents not only affects the collagen biochemistry, but also involves interaction with proteoglycans. Tissue biomodifiers interact differently with dentin matrices and may provide the tissue with enhanced preventive and restorative/reparative abilities.

Effect of byrosima crassa and phenolic constituents on helicobacter pylori: induced neutrophils oxdative burst

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

Impact of sub-inhibitory concentrations of amoxicillin on helicobacter pylori virulence factors

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

Serum myeloperoxidase level is Increased in heavy smokers

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

Oxidation of amino acids by chlorpromazine cation radical and co-catalysis by chlorpromazine

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

Leucograma e metabolismo oxidativo dos neutrófilos de cães com leishmaniose visceral antes e após o tratamento com Antimoniato de Meglumina e Alopurinol

Leukogram and neutrophil oxidative metabolism from dogs with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were compared before and after treatment with meglumine antimoniate (AM) and with an association of meglumine antimoniate and allopurinol (AMA). The results obtained demonstrated that neutrophils of dogs with VL do not lose their capacity of reducing NBT and that oxidative metabolism has been more active in the majority of the cases. After treatment with AM and AMA, dogs with VL presented a redution of neutrophils oxidative metabolism, suggesting that this decrease was related with the decrease in the number of parasites and a probable inhibitor effect of these drugs on neutrophils oxidative metabolism.