EFFECT OF Bifidobacterium animalis ON MICE INFECTED WITH Strongyloides venezuelensis

The administration of viable Bifidobacterium animalis was tested to induce resistance against Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in mice. Effects on parasite burden, worm length, egg output, and intestinal mucosal histology were evaluated. The oral administration of B. animalis, strain 04450B, starting 14 days before the inoculation of nematode larvae significantly decreased the worm burden and egg output. In probiotic treated animals, the percent reduction of adult worms in the intestine was of 33% and the reduction of egg production was of 21%, compared with those of the control group. The duodenum villous height and villous/crypt ratio were significantly higher in probiotic-treated mice, indicating that this group could be experiencing less intestinal damage. The present findings revealed that the administration of B. animalis for the amelioration of host response to nematode infections is biologically plausible and could have some potential for impacting public health. Meanwhile, further study is needed to delineate the nature and identity of the factor(s) involved in these beneficial effects.

Estudo imuno-histoquímico da co-expressão de citoqueratinas, vimentina e actina em neoplasias de glândula salivar

Human salivary gland tumors originated from intercalated ducts present a broad range of histologic and cytologic patterns, mainly due to the presence of myoepithelial cells. The aim of this study is to verify the differentiation grade of neoplastic cells and a possible relation between myoepithelial cell differentiation and the presence of luminal secretory contents. The expression of vimentin and cytokeratin (CK) intermediate filaments, actin myofilament and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was investigated by double labeling immunocytochemical technique, in thirty salivary gland neoplasms: 5 pleomorphic adenomas, 5 myoepitheliomas, 3 basal cell adenomas, 7 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) and 10 polimorphous low grade adenocarcinomas (PLGA). Tumors with intercalated duct differentiation (pleomorphic adenomas, basal cell adenomas and ACC) express CKs 7, 8, 18 and 19 in the luminal cells and coexpress eventually CK14 with these CKs. Some luminal cells stained with anti-EMA antibody, mainly where a secretory content in the lumen was observed. Outer ductal cells and other myoepithelial-like cells express vimentin, sometimes coexpressing actin and/or CK14 with vimentin. Plasmacytoid cells in myoepitheliomas and pleomorphic adenomas express vimentin and rarely CKs 7, 8, 18 and 19, sometimes coexpressing these CKs with CK14 but they are negative for the remaining antigens. Tumors without intercalated duct differentiation (solid basal cell adenoma and PLGA) express vimentin and CKs 7, 8, 14 and 18, sometimes coexpressing CKs 8 and 18 with CK14. In conclusion, in tumors with intercalated duct differentiation, myoepithelial cells express vimentin and sometimes coexpress actin and/or CK14 with vimentin, never coexpressing other CKs with vimentin. CK14 and actin are independently expressed by myoepithelial cells, so their expression is probably induced by different stimulus. However, the secretory function of luminal cells, visualized by EMA staining, ....

Caracterização molecular de Cryptosporidium spp. em bezerros (Bos taurus e Bos indicus) no município de Formiga, Minas Gerais - Brasil

A criptosporidiose, é a enfermidade de veiculação hídrica, possui como agravante a dificuldade de prevenção da contaminação ambiental e ausência de medidas terapêuticas eficazes. Com acentuada importância na bovinocultura, ocasiona inflamação e atrofia das vilosidades intestinais resultando em perda da superfície de absorção. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar a caracterização molecular da infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. em bezerros do Município de Formiga, Minas Gerais. Um total de 300 amostras de fezes de bezerros holandeses, Nelore e sem raça definida saudáveis foram avaliadas pela técnica de coloração contraste negativo de verde malaquita e por meio da reação de Nested-PCR para amplificação de fragmentos de DNA da subunidade 18S do gene do RNA ribossômico. Ocorrência de 5,33% (16/300) pelo verde malaquita e 4,66% (14/300), pela PCR foi observada, sendo que nenhuma correlação foi verificada entre a positividade e as variáveis estudadas. Por meio da caracterização molecular foram identificadas as espécies Cryptosporidium andersoni e Cryptosporidium ryanae. Como conclusão, observou-se baixa ocorrência da infecção e eliminação de oocistos por Cryptosporidium spp, ausência de sinais clínicos nos animais, houve forte concordância entre os resultados obtidos por meio das duas técnicas utilizadas e pela caracterização molecular (Nested-PCR) foram diagnosticadas as espécies C. andersoni e C. ryanae, presentes em faixas etárias não relatadas na literatura. Estas duas espécies de Cryptosporidium supracitadas são descritas pela primeira vez, parasitando bovinos no estado de Minas Gerais.

Revisão sistemática: hiperplasia fibroadenomatosa mamária felina

A hiperplasia fibroadenomatosa mamária felina é uma enfermidade não neoplásica que ocorre, principalmente em gatas jovens, devido ao estímulo excessivo de progesterona endógena ou exógena. Embora não seja relatada com frequência, sua incidência tem aumentado, especialmente no Brasil, em consequência do uso de anticoncepcionais de longa duração como, por exemplo, acetato de medroxiprogesterona. O objetivo desta revisão sistemática é avaliar as características clínicas e comparar os diferentes tratamentos preconizados para esta patologia. O uso de antiprogestágenos, como o aglepristone, mostrou-se muito eficiente no tratamento da hiperplasia fibroadenomatosa mamária felina por ser uma alternativa pouco invasiva e com resposta clínica mais rápida que os demais métodos

Changes in the TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio in hyperglycemia-associated pregnancies

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

Influence of microbiological quality of drinking water in the intestinal morphology of broilers

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

Morphology of ileal and jejunal pouches used as rectal substitutes

PURPOSE: Our aim was to determine whether the mucosa of a canine jejunal pouch used as a rectal substitute after proctocolectomy retains its morphologic features better than the mucosa of a canine ileal pouch so used. METHODS: Among ten dogs that underwent proctocolectomy, five had a jejunal pouch-distal rectal anastomosis and five an ileal pouch-distal rectal anastomosis. After six months, the animals were killed, the intestinal pouches and portions of unaltered distal ileum were removed, and a blinded, mucosal morphometric analysis was performed. RESULTS: The mucosa of the jejunal pouches had an overall thickness (mean ± standard deviation, anterior and posterior walls, 1,300 ± 140 μm), villous height (286 ± 46 μm), and crypt depth (790 ± 77 μm) greater than that of the ileal pouches (920 ± 170, 208 ± 47, and 530 ± 130 μm, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, the mucosal thickness of the jejunal pouches was similar to that of the distal ileum proximal to the pouch (1,200 ± 200 μm; P > 0.05), whereas the mucosal thickness of the ileal pouch was thinner (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The jejunal mucosa retains its major morphometric features when the jejunum is used as a rectal substitute after proctocolectomy. In contrast, the ileal mucosa atrophies when the ileum is so used.