Evaluation of semen characteristics of the species Mazama americana in captivity

In recent years the concept of genomic resource banks has grown as a way of maintaining the genetic variability of populations, while the quality of cryopreservation of the gametes determines the effectiveness of such banks. However, the absence of basic knowledge regarding the physiology of species and their semen characteristics hampers the establishment of reproductive biotechnologies. Thus, this paper aimed to determine certain physicochemical (volume, colour, appearance, pH and osmolarity) and microscopic characteristics (mass movement, motility, vigour, concentration, and sperm morphology and morphometry) of semen of the species Mazama americana. To achieve this, five males of the species were used, and three semen samples per buck (electroejaculation) were collected at intervals of 2 weeks. The volume, pH and osmolarity of the ejaculate were 0.39 ± 0.14 mL, 6.90 ± 0.74 and 297.74 ± 19.10 mOsm/kg, respectively, while the values obtained for mass movement, motility, vigour and concentration were 3.33 ± 0.82; 69.6 ± 8.92%; 3.53 ± 0.50, and 244.07 ± 98.65 × 107/mL, respectively. Regarding the colour of the ejaculate, five samples were classified as ivory, two as yellowish, two as whitish and six as white. Regarding appearance, seven samples were considered creamy and eight, milky. Morphology was analysed in a humid chamber under phase contrast microscopy and 73.50 ± 5.57% of cells presented normal morphology, 8.37 ± 3.15% presented major defects and 18.13 ± 6.46% presented minor defects. To determine sperm morphometry, an optical microscope (Leica DM 5000B) and the Leica Qwin image analyser program were used, resulting in 8.09 ± 0.40, 4.65 ± 0.30, 2.81 ± 0.44 and 30.25 ± 3.02 m for length, largest width, smallest width and area, respectively. Copyright © CSIRO 2013.

Evaluation of a propolis water extract using a reliable RP-HPLC methodology and in vitro and in vivo efficacy and safety characterisation

Since the beginning of propolis research, several groups have studied its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. However, most of these studies have only employed propolis ethanolic extract (PEE) leading to little knowledge about the biological activities of propolis water extract (PWE). Based on this, in a previous study, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of PWE. In order to better understand the equilibrium between effectiveness and toxicity, which is essential for a new medicine, the characteristics of PWE were analyzed. We developed and validated an RP-HPLC method to chemically characterize PWE and PEE and evaluated the in vitro antioxidant/antimicrobial activity for both extracts and the safety of PWE via determining genotoxic potential using in vitro and in vivo mammalian micronucleus assays. We have concluded that the proposed analytical methodology was reliable, and both extracts showed similar chemical composition. The extracts presented antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, while PWE demonstrated higher antioxidant activity and more efficacious for the most of the microorganisms tested than PEE. Finally, PWE was shown to be safe using micronucleus assays. © 2013 Bruno Alves Rocha et al.

In vitro evaluation of the effect of mouth rinse with trimetaphosphate on enamel demineralization

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) addition to mouth rinses to inhibit enamel demineralization. Design: Bovine enamel blocks (n = 88) were selected by surface hardness and divided into eight treatment groups (n = 11 per group): placebo, 100 or 225 μg F/ml; the rinses with 100 μg F/ml had differing TMP concentrations (range 0-0.6%). The blocks were subjected to pH cycling for 5 days and treated twice a day with mouth rinses. After that, surface and cross-sectional hardness as well as fluoride in enamel were measured. Results: The groups containing both 100 μg F/ml and 0.4% TMP inhibited demineralization most effectively (p < 0.001). This formulation yielded lower values of lesion areas than the formulations containing 100 or 225 μg F/ml but no TMP. The addition of 0.4% TMP increased the fluoride in enamel. Conclusion: It is possible to improve the effectiveness of a mouth rinse with 100 μg F/ml by addition of TMP, this being superior in inhibiting enamel demineralization compared with mouth rinses containing 225 μg F/ml. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Evaluation of Three Formulations of Culture Media for Isolation of Brucella spp. regarding Their Ability to Inhibit the Growth of Contaminating Organisms

Three culture media (Brucella agar, Farrell medium, and CITA) were compared for their effectiveness in inhibiting contamination and for isolating Brucella spp. One hundred lymph nodes from pigs (n = 50) and wild boars (n = 50) with lymphadenitis were collected in slaughterhouses in the State of Sao Paulo and were assessed on these three selective media for Brucella spp. All of the samples were negative for Brucella spp. on the three culture media. On the agar medium, fungal (70 plates) and Gram-positive bacterial (59 plates) contaminants were observed; in the CITA medium, the absence of fungal and Gram-positive bacteria on 15 plates was observed; no bacterial or fungal growth was observed on the Farrell media. The results demonstrated that the CITA and Farrell media inhibited the growth of contaminants better than the Brucella agar.

Sperm fertility and viability following 48 h of refrigeration: Evaluation of different extenders for the preservation of bull semen in liquid state

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

Evaluation of different treatment methods against denture stomatitis: a randomized clinical study

Objective. The aim of this clinical study was to determine the efficacy of Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) against denture stomatitis (DS).Study Design. Fifty patients with DS were randomly assigned into 3 groups to receive 2% miconazole, placebo, or 2% U tomentosa gel. DS level was recorded immediately, after 1 week of treatment, and 1 week after treatment. The clinical effectiveness of each treatment was measured using Newton's criteria. Mycologic samples from palatal mucosa and prosthesis were obtained to determinate colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) and fungal identification at each evaluation period.Results. Candida species were identified with HiCrome Candida and API 20C AUX biochemical test. DS severity decreased in all groups (P < .05). A significant reduction in number of CFU/mL after 1 week (P < .05) was observed for all groups and remained after 14 days (P > .05). C albicans was the most prevalent microorganism before treatment, followed by C tropicalis, C glabrata, and C krusei, regardless of the group and time evaluated. U tomentosa gel had the same effect as 2% miconazole gel.Conclusions. U tomentosa gel is an effective topical adjuvant treatment for denture stomatitis.

Evaluation of clinical safety and anthelmintic efficacy of aurixazole administed orally at 24 mg/kg in cattle

The current study evaluated, in vivo, the clinical safety and the anthelmintic efficacy of 24% aurixazole (24 mg/kg), administered orally, in bovines. Two experiments were conducted: the first one evaluating the clinical safety of 24% aurixazole (24 mg/kg) in cattle, and a second one evaluating the anthelmintic efficacy of aurixazole (24 mg/kg) against gastrointestinal nematodes on naturally infected cattle. Based on the results of clinical safety, no alterations on clinical and haematological signs and on the biochemical values obtained in animals treated orally with aurixazole 24 mg/kg were observed. Regarding the results of reduction or efficacy, obtained by eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) counts, the formulation of aurixazole reached values superior to 99% (arithmetic means) in all post-treatment dates. In two occasions, this formulation reached maximum efficacy (100%). Comparing these results with the reduction percentages obtained by EPG counts, it is possible to verify that the values obtained by all three formulations were compatible with the efficacy results. Aurixazole reached maximum efficacy (100%) against Haemonchus placei, Cooperia spatulata and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Against Cooperia punctata, this formulation reached an efficacy index of 99.99%. Regarding aurixazole, no specific trials were conducted on the field in order to evaluate the behaviour of this molecule against helminths that are resistant to other molecules, specially isolated levamisole and disophenolat: Due to this fact, future studies will be necessary to assess the effectiveness of aurixazole against strains of nematodes that are resistant to levamisole and disophenolat, but the results of clinical safety and efficacy described in this study allow us to conclude that the aurixazole molecule, concomitantly with other measures and orally administered formulations, can be another important tool in the control of nematodes parasitizing bovines. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Spectrophotometric evaluation of dental bleaching under orthodontic bracket in enamel and dentin

Aware of the diffusion capacity of bleaching in the dental tissues, many orthodontists are subjecting their patients to dental bleaching during orthodontic treatment for esthetic purposes or to anticipate the exchange of esthetic restorations after the orthodontic treatment. For this purpose specific products have been developed in pre-loaded whitening trays designed to fit over and around brackets and wires, with clinical efficacy proven. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate, through spectrophotometric reflectance, the effectiveness of dental bleaching under orthodontic bracket. Material and Methods: Thirty-two bovine incisors crown blocks of 8 mm x 8 mm height lengths were used. Staining of tooth blocks with black tea was performed for six days. They were distributed randomly into 4 groups (1-home bleaching with bracket, 2- home bleaching without bracket, 3- office bleaching with bracket, 4 office bleaching without bracket). The color evaluation was performed (CIE L * a * b *) using color reflectance spectrophotometer. Metal brackets were bonded in groups 1 and 3. The groups 1 and 2 samples were subjected to the carbamide peroxide at 15%, 4 hours daily for 21 days. Groups 3 and 4 were subjected to 3 in-office bleaching treatment sessions, hydrogen peroxide 38%. After removal of the brackets, the second color evaluation was performed in tooth block, difference between the area under the bracket and around it, and after 7 days to verified color stability. Data analysis was performed using the paired t-test and two-way variance analysis and Tukey’s. Results: The home bleaching technique proved to be more effective compared to the office bleaching. There was a significant difference between the margin and center color values of the specimens that were subjected to bracket bonding. Conclusions: The bracket bond presence affected the effectiveness of both the home and office bleaching treatments.

Evaluation of the pH, calcium release and antibacterial activity of MTA Fillapex

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Co-loaded with Simazine and Atrazine: Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Herbicidal Activity

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