Anti-inflammatory intestinal activity of Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & Grimes in TNBS colitis model

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Annexin-A1 gene expression during liver development and post-translation modification after experimental endotoxemia

Objective and design: We have previously reported a role for annexin-A1 in liver proliferation and tumorogenicity as well as its action as an acute phase protein in a model of endotoxemia in interleukin-6 null mice.Material and methods: In this study, we have investigated the analysis of the gene and protein expression in annexin-A1 null mice and the wild type livers during foetal and adult life, and in the presence of a proinflammatory stimulus.Results: The data indicate a link between the expression of the annexin-A1 as serine-phosphorylated-protein during early events of the inflammatory response and as tyrosine-phosphorylated-form at later time-points, during the resolution of inflammation.Conclusions: The study of annexin-A1 post-translation modification may promote a new annexin-A1 peptide discovery programme to treat specific pathologies.

4 '-Aminochalcones As Novel Inhibitors of the Chlorinating Activity of Myeloperoxidase

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

Low intensity laser therapy (LILT) in vivo acts on the neutrophils recruitment and chemokines/cytokines levels in a model of acute pulmonary inflammation induced by aerosol of lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli in rat

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

Sepsis and Neutropenia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Delivered of Mothers with Preeclampsia

Objective To study the association between maternal preeclampsia and neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight newborns.Study design We studied all infants with birth weights between 500 g and 1500 g who were admitted to 6 neonatal intensive care units of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research for 2 years. Exclusion criteria were major malformations, death in the delivery room, and maternal chronic hypertension. Absolute neutrophil count was performed in the first 72 hours of life.Results A total of 911 very low birth weight infants (preeclampsia, 308; non-preeclampsia, 603) were included. The preeclampsia group had significantly higher gestational age, more cesarean deliveries, antenatal steroid, central catheters, total parenteral nutrition, and neutropenia, and less rupture of membranes >18 hours and mechanical ventilation. Both groups had similar incidences of early sepsis (4.6% and 4.2% in preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups, respectively) and late sepsis (24% and 22.1% in preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups, respectively). Vaginal delivery and neutropenia were associated with multiple logistic regressions with early sepsis, and mechanical ventilation, central catheter, and total parenteral nutrition were associated with late sepsis. Death was associated with neutropenia in very preterm infants.Conclusions Preeclampsia did not increase neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants, and death was associated with neutropenia in very preterm infants. (J Pediatr 2010; 157: 434-8).

Local and remote lesions in horses subjected to small colon distension and decompression

The purpose of this study was to observe and characterize colonic and lung lesions in horses subjected to experimental distension and decompression of the small colon. Sixteen healthy adult horses were divided into 2 groups: 9 horses that were subjected to distension of the small colon by means of a latex balloon surgically implanted in the lumen and inflated to a pressure of 40 mm Hg for 4 h, and 7 horses in which the balloon was implanted but not inflated. Colonic biopsy specimens were collected before balloon implantation, at the end of the period of obstruction, and 1.5 and 12 h after decompression and were examined for hemorrhage, edema, and neutrophil infiltration; myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and hemoglobin concentration were measured as well. At the end of the experiment, lung samples were also collected and examined for neutrophil accumulation and MPO activity. The mucosa was not affected by luminal distension; lesions were restricted to the seromuscular layer. Neutrophil accumulation and edema were observed in the samples from both groups of horses but were greater in those from the distension group, in which there was also hemorrhage, fibrin deposition, and increased MPO activity in the seromuscular layer. Similarly, there was greater accumulation of neutrophils in the lung samples from the distension group than in those from the sham-operated group, as determined by histologic evaluation and MPO assay. These findings provide new evidence of reperfusion injury and a systemic inflammatory response, followed by remote lesions, in horses with intestinal obstruction.

Macrophage suppression following phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils is mediated by the S100A9 calcium-binding protein

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Myenteric Denervation Downregulates Galectin-1 and-3 Expression in Gastric Carcinogenesis

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

Fresh autogenous rib cartilage graft to the malar process of rats with and without removal of the perichondrium: a histological study.

A comparison was made of autogenous grafts of rib cartilage with and without removal of the perichondrium, applied to the malar process of rats. Seventy-two male albino rats were divided into two groups according to the kind of graft received by each animal. The experimental periods were 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 postoperative days. The results showed that, in the control group, the grafts maintained their vitality for the whole experimental period and the perichondrium was biologically integrated into the host bed. Appositional growth was also observed. The treated animals showed intense resorption of the grafts and more intense bone neoformation. The newly formed bone was in intimate contact with the graft in both groups.

Influence of hot environments on some blood variables of sheep

Thirty-two Polwarth sheep of ages up to 1 year were observed under temperatures varying from 10.5 to 46.5°C. The following blood cell counts were made: erythrocyte (RBC), leucocyte (WBC), eosinophil (EOS), neutrophil (NEU), lymphocyte (LYM) and monocyte (MON). Other traits measured were: haemoglobin (HB), haematocrit (HT), blood glucose (GLU) and serum protein (PROT). Multivariate analysis of variance was used and the results showed a significant (P<0.001) effect for the interaction of shearing and temperature treatment. Under temperatures >25°C, sheep presented a decrease of RBC, WBC, HB and HT, these differences being greater in the shorn than in the unshorn animals. Unshorn animals presented higher variations in EOS, NEU, LYM, MON and GLU. Blood glucose increased under high temperatures in the shorn animals (from 56.36±0.65 mg/100 ml to 60.52±0.69 mg/100 ml) as in the unshorn animals (from 54.72±0.74 mg/100 ml to 57.56±0.77 mg/100 ml). © 1992 International Society of Biometeorology.

Cloning and expression of the cDNA encoding rat granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) acts on precursor hematopoietic cells to control the production and maintenance of neutrophils. Recombinant G-CSF (re-G-CSF)is used clinically to treat patients with neutropenia and has greatly reduced the infection risk associated with bone marrow transplantation. Cyclic hematopoiesis, a stem cell defect characterized by severe recurrent neutropenia, occurs in man and grey collie dogs, and can be treated by administration of re-G-CSF. Availability of the rat G-CSF cDNA would benefit the use of rats as models of gene therapy for the treatment of cyclic hematopoiesis. In preliminary rat experiments, retroviral-mediated expression of canine G-CSF caused neutralizing antibody formation which precluded long-term increases in neutrophil counts. To overcome this problem we cloned the rat G-CSF cDNA from RNA isolated from skin fibroblasts. The rat G-CSF sequence shared a high degree of identity in both the coding and non-coding regions with both the murine G-CSF (85%) and human G-CSF (74%). The signal peptides of murine and human G-CSF both contained 30 amino acids (aa), whereas the deduced signal sequence for rat G-CSF possessed 21 aa. A retrovirus encoding the rat G-CSF cDNA synthesized bioactive G-CSF from transduced vascular smooth muscle cells.

Haematological and biochemical alterations in leprosy patients already treated with dapsone and MDT

Dapsone (DDS) is useful in the treatment of a number of inflammatory conditions which are characterized by neutrophil infiltration. It is the drug of choice for the treatment of leprosy and prophylaxis of malaria. Haematological side effects of methaemoglobinaemia and haemolysis have been long recognized. However, the frequency and severity of these side effects in patients already treated with DDS as a single drug or as part of a multidrug therapy (MDT) have not been well documented. We report herein an investigation of the effect of dapsone long-term treatment on the haematological and biochemical alterations in leprosy patients undergoing dapsone as a single drug (DDS group) or as part of a multidrug therapy in combination with rifampin and clofazimine (MDT group). Methaemoglobinaemia and haemolytic anaemia were the principal side effects observed. Reticulocytes were found to be elevated (> 1.5%) in 90% of the patients. Heinz bodies were also detected (6.6% of the patients). The osmotic fragility test showed a reduction in cell resistance and in the evaluation of white cells a severe eosinophilia was found. Hepatic, pancreatic and renal evaluation by the determination of biochemical parameters showed rare and occasional changes of no apparent clinical significance. We conclude that haematological side effects of dapsone are significant even at doses currently used to treat leprosy (100 mg/day) and that rifampin and clofazimine do not increase the incidence of these effects during long-term treatment.

Reaction of rat connective tissue to implanted dentin tube filled with mineral trioxide aggregate, Portland cement or calcium hydroxide.

The subject of this study was to observe the rat subcutaneous connective tissue reaction to implanted dentin tubes filled with mineral trioxide aggregate, Portland cement or calcium hydroxide. The animals were sacrificed after 7 or 30 days and the undecalcified specimens were prepared for histological analysis with polarized light and Von Kossa technique for mineralized tissues. The results were similar for the studied materials. At the tube openings, there were Von Kossa-positive granules that were birefringent to polarized light. Next to these granulations, there was an irregular tissue like a bridge that was Von Kossa-positive. The dentin walls of the tubes exhibited in the tubules a structure highly birefringent to polarized light, usually like a layer and at different depths. The mechanism of action of the studied materials has some similarity.

Hydroxylapatite implants with or without collagen in the zygomatic arch of rats. Histological study.

The authors studied the behavior of calcium phosphate materials used as inlay implants into bone cavities prepared in the zygomatic arch of rats. Fifty male albino rats were divided into four groups as follows: group I-preparation of bone cavities which did not receive any implant material as controls; group II-implants of Interpore 200; group III-implants of experimental hydroxylapatite; group IV-implants of experimental hydroxylapatite combined with collagen. The animals were sacrificed after 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days and the specimens were submitted to histological analysis. Results showed that the experimental hydroxylapatite used in group III presented better osteogenic properties compared to the other materials. All tested materials were biocompatible, although group IV presented a more intense inflammatory response.

Metabolismo oxidativo de neutrófilos em ovelhas naturalmente infectadas por nematódeos gastrintestinais e correlação entre nível sérico de cortisol e carga parasitária

The relationships between neutrophils oxidative metabolism, cortisol serum levels and worm burden, estimated by fecal egg count (EPG), were studied in sheep naturally infected by gastrointestinal parasites at the end of pregnancy, during lactation, and after weaning. Twenty-two Suffolk sheep three to four year old, of same parity and season of parturition were used. Serum cortisol was determined by radioimmunoassay and the neutrophils oxidative metabolism by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test. The highest EPG values were observed on the fifth week of lactation while the highest rates of cortisol and reduction of NBT occurred on the fourth week after weaning. A positive correlation (r = 0.52; P<0.01) was observed between the neutrophils capacity to reduce the NBT and the serum cortisol concentration in the pre-parturition period. Otherwise, the neutrophils oxidative metabolism decreased near to the parturition. A negative correlation (r = -0.39; P<0.01) between EPG and NBT reduction test was observed after weaning, which was coincident with the increase in the neutrophils capacity to reduce NBT, indicating that animals showing better immune response after weaning have neutrophils with higher oxidative metabolism and lower worm burden.