Lung morphology and growth of rats exposed to tobacco smoke and alcohol

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos morfológicos da exposição crônica à inalação de fumaça do tabaco e o do consumo de álcool nos pulmões e no crescimento de ratos. MÉTODOS: Sessenta ratos Wistar machos foram distribuídos em quatro grupos: controle, tabaco, álcool e tabaco + álcool, e acompanhados por um período de 260 dias. No final do periodo foi realizada análise morfológica dos pulmões por microscopia óptica e eletrônica. O crescimento dos ratos foi investigado através da medição do comprimento focinho-ânus, peso corporal e índice de massa corporal. RESULTADOS: Os três grupos expostos às drogas apresentaram peso e comprimento significativamente menores que os do grupo controle. As percentagens de bronquiolite e alveolite, e o diâmetro alveolar médio foram maiores nos grupos expostos à fumaça do tabaco, mas sem significancia estatística quando comparadas ao grupo controle. A microscopia eletrônica revelou apoptose mais intensa e lesões degenerativas no grupo de fumantes, enquanto lesões degenerativas nos corpos lamelares foram mais intensas com a associação de ambas as drogas. CONCLUSÕES: Este modelo experimental mostrou alterações morfológicas observadas por microscopia eletrônica, principalmente devido à exposição ao tabaco. Tanto o alcool como o tabaco prejudicaram o crescimento dos animais, o tabaco mostrando um efeito maior sobre o comprimento e o álcool sobre o peso corporal.

Weight loss and changes in surface roughness of denture base and reline materials after simulated toothbrushing in vitro

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

Extruded vesicles of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and chloride investigated by light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy

Combined dynamic and static light scattering (DLS, SLS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) were used to investigate extruded cationic vesicles of dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride and bromide (DODAX, X being Cl- or Br-). In salt-free dispersions the mean hydrodynamic diameter, D-h, and the weight average molecular weight, M-w, are larger for DODAB than for DODAC vesicles, and both D-h and M-w increase with the diameter (phi) of the extrusion filter. NaCl (NaBr) decreases (increases) the DODAB (DODAC) vesicle size, reflecting the general trend of DODAB to assemble as larger vesicles than DODAC. The polydispersity index is lower than 0.25, indicating the dispersions are rather polydisperse. Cryo-TEM micrographs show that the smaller vesicles are spherical while the larger ones are oblong or faceted, and the vesicle samples are fairly polydisperse in size and morphology. They also indicate that the vesicle size increases with phi and DODAB assembles as larger vesicles than DODAC. Lens-shaped vesicles were observed in the extruded preparations. Both light scattering and cryo-TEM indicate that the vesicle size is larger or smaller than phi when phi is smaller or larger than the optimal phi* approximate to 200 nm. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biologia populacional e reprodutiva de Callinectes danae Smith (Crustacea, Portunidae), no Balneário Shangri-lá, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biometric relationship analysis of the wet weight by carapace width to the swimming crab Arenaeus-cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae)

The biometric relationship between the weigth and the carapace width in the swimming crab A. cribrarius was compared with the results from other portunid crabs studied previously. During November/1988 to October/1989, a total of 403 specimens (189 males and 214 females) were collected with otter-trawl nets in north coast of the São Paulo State, Brazil. The animals were measured (carapace width excluding lateral spines = LC! and weighed (wet weight = PE). The empiric points of this relation were fit according to the power function (Y = a.X(b)) for each sex, maturation phases and total of individuals. The relation PE x LC indicates that the mole's growth changes during the ontogenesys from isometric (in juvenile phase) to allometric positive (in adult phase). For the females the growth is isometric in the two phases. The weight grows in a higher proportion than the carapace width variable (allometric positive growth). The data can be grouped in a single equation (PE = 7.85.10(-5).LC(3.14)) for the convertion between the variables there was a greater similarity between the equations obtained far each sex. In spite of this, the males present the fattening grade value (''a'') slightly higher than that of the females, possibly because of the greater size reached in its devellopment. The mean weight of the males is greater than the females one (p < 0.01). In the range 80 proves 90mm the males were more abundant, probably due to the females terminal ecdysis is near this size. The females only have the mean weight greater than the males in the 60 proves 70mm range (p < 0.01) when the puberty molt occurs and they present morphological changes in their reproductive system.

Yield and quality of net melon cultivated in sand in the greenhouse

The behavior of two hybrids of muskmelon ('Bônus no 2' and 'Don Carlos') in relation to the productivity and quality of its fruits, making use of fertigation in sand substrate in protected environment, was studied. Amianthus cement structures of the Canalete runlet type were used to keep the plants 0.30m from each other and 1.0m between lines. 'Don Carlos' hybrid had fruit mean weight, longitudinal and transversal diameter, pulp mean thickness, and total acidity substantially superior in relation to 'Bônus no 2'. Considering the total soluble solid content, 'Bônus no 2' had better results. However, there was no significant difference in fruits/plant or pulp thickness between the two hybrids.

Compatibility of grafting in the melon cv. bônus No. 2, and effects on production

Twelve rootstocks were evaluated: 1) pumpkin 'Big Power' (Cucurbita ntoschata); 2) pumpkin 'Seca' (Cucurbita moschata); 3) bottle gourd 'Longa' (Lagenaria siceraria); 4) 'Cachi' (Lagenaria siceraria); 5) bottle gourd 'Marimba' (Lagenaria siceraria); 6) 'Mogango' (Cucurbita maxima); 7) pumpkin 'Kirameki' (Cucurbita moschata); 8) pumpkin 'Caravela' (Cucurbita moschata); 9) pumpkin 'Shelper' (Cucurbita moschata); 10) 'Gherkin' (Cucumis anguria); 11) 'Loofah' (Luffa cylindrica); and 12) pumpkin 'Goianinha' (Cucurbita moschata) with respect to compatibility with melon yield, and the production and quality of fruits from cv. Bônus No. 2, non-grafted and grafted with 9 of these rootstocks (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11). The bottle gourd 'Marimba' provided the highest percentage of grafting success between the vine and rootstock. The rootstocks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 did not differ from bottle gourd 'Marimba', therefore also indicating good compatibility with the melon cv. Bônus No. 2. For height of the plants, it was shown in the first evaluation that rootstock 5 produced a greater height of the plant, differing only from rootstocks 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and non-grafted cv. Bônus No. 2. In the second evaluation, 'Big Power' showed the greatest value for height of the plant, differing only from combinations with 'Cachi', 'Mogango', 'Shelper' and 'Loofah'. With regard to number of leaves, in the first evaluation rootstocks 3, 4 and 6 had the greatest number of leaves, but in the second 4, 9 and 11 had the greatest. For dry weight of the stem, the greatest value was obtained with 'Mogango' in the first evaluation and with 'Big Power' in the second. For leaf area of the plants, a difference was found among the treatments only in the first evaluation, where the combination with bottle gourd 'Longa' showed a greater leaf area, but did not differ from the combinations with rootstocks 1, 4, 5 and 6. Differences were demonstrated among the treatments only for the transverse diameter of the fruit, where the combination with rootstock bottle gourd 'Marimba' showed the greatest value, differing only from the combination with 'Gherkin'. There were no significant differences for the mean longitudinal diameter, pulp thickness and total soluble solids among the treatments studied.

Effectiveness of three solvents and two associations of solvents on gutta-percha and Resilon

This study evaluated the effectiveness of 3 solvents (Citrol orange oil, Eucalyptol and Tetrachloroethylene) and 2 associations of solvents (Citrol orange oil+Tetrachloroethylene and Eucalyptol+Tetrachloroethylene) on 3 types of gutta-percha (conventional, thermoplastic and EndoREZ) and Resilon. Ten discs (10 mm diameter x 1 mm thick) from each material were prepared using standard metallic molds. Each specimen was weighed to determinate its initial mass. The specimens were immersed in the solvents for 10 min, followed by immersion in distilled water for 20 min, and were then reweighed to obtain the final mass. The mean weight loss determined the solvent capacity. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. Tetrachloroethylene was the most effective on conventional gutta-percha (p<0.05). Tetrachloroethylene was also the most effective on thermoplastic gutta-percha, but it was not significantly different (p>0.05) from Eucalyptol+Tetrachloroethylene, Citrol+Tetrachloroethylene, and Citrol. All solvents and associations presented little effectiveness on Resilon. The association Eucalyptol+Tetrachloroethylene was the most effective on EndoREZ, but it did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from Citrol+Tetrachloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene. All evaluated substances presented solvent action. Tetrachloroethylene improved the effectiveness of both Citrol and Eucalyptol.

Suplementação de selênio orgânico em dietas de reprodutores de tilápia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Granulometria do milho de textura dentada ou dura em rações para frangos de corte

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Dacriocistografia em cães com o emprego da ressonância magnética (DCG-RM) e da tomografia computadorizada (DCG-TC)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of mucoadhesive polymers on the in vitro performance of insulin-loaded silica nanoparticles: Interactions with mucin and biomembrane models

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

Influence of stocking densities in the nursery phase on the growth of Macrobrachium amazonicum reared in net pens

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

Salt as a stress response mitigator of matrinxa, Brycon cephalus (Gunther), during transport

The present study evaluated the physiological responses of matrinxa, Brycon cephalus (Gunther), submitted to transport stress under the influence of sodium chloride, Different salt concentrations (0.0%, 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.6%) were added to four 200-L plastic tanks. Each tank was stocked with 30 fish (mean weight 1.0 +/- 0.2 kg) and transported for 4 h. Blood was sampled prior to transport and immediately after and 24 and 96 h after transport. Plasma cortisol and glucose and serum sodium and potassium, plasma chloride and ammonia were analysed, Changes in plasma cortisol were observed immediately after transportation, except in fish transported in 0.3% and 0.6% salt. Twenty-four hours later, this hormone had returned to its initial level in all fish. Blood glucose was not changed in fish treated with 0.6% salt immediately after transport, and returned to the initial level within 96 h after the other treatments. All treatments resulted in lower levels of plasma chloride after transport, except for fish treated with 0.6% salt, with fish treated with 0.0% and 0.3% salt recovering 24 h later, Serum sodium decreased immediately after transport only in the control fish, returning to the initial level 24 h later, the results indicate that treatment with 0.6% NaCl reduces most of the physiological responses of matrinxa to the stress of transport.

Transport stress in matrinxa, Brycon cephalus (Teleostei : Characidae), at different densities

Matrinxa, Brycon cephalus, is a native teleost fish from the Amazon Basin, and is of economic importance for cultivation for food and sport in Brazil. Mortality losses due to handling and transport of this stenohaline freshwater species are common. The effects of transportation at different densities on the biochemical stress responses of matrinxa (mean weight 1 kg) were examined. Fish were subjected to three different transport densities (100, 200, and 300 kg m(-3)) for four h in water with added salt (0.6%). The fish were bled at departure (baseline level), arrival (immediately after transportation) and at 24 and 96 h after arrival (recovery period). Blood glucose, cortisol, sodium, chloride, potassium and ammonia were used as stress bioindicators. No mortality was observed and no alterations in plasma cortisol were registered. However, blood glucose and ammonia levels increased and serum sodium and plasma chloride decreased on arrival for the fish transported at the highest densities. These stress responses were transient and the concentrations returned to baseline levels within 24 h. This study showed that matrinxa can be transported at densities as high as those tested in the present study, at least under the conditions employed in this study. A recovery period of at least 24 h is strongly recommended.