Lesions in the central amygdala impair sodium intake induced by the blockade of the lateral parabrachial nucleus

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

Commissural NTS lesions enhance the pressor response to central cholinergic and adrenergic activation

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

Evaluation of chronic periapical lesions by digital subtraction radiography by using adobe photoshop CS: A technical report

The purpose of this study was to describe a new technique by using Adobe Photoshop CS (San Jose, CA) image-analysis software to evaluate the radiographic changes of chronic periapical lesions after root canal treatment by digital subtraction radiography. Thirteen upper anterior human teeth with pulp necrosis and radiographic image of chronic periapical lesion were endodontically treated and radiographed 0, 2, 4, and 6 months after root canal treatment by using a film holder. The radiographic films were automatically developed and digitized. The radiographic images taken 0, 2, 4, and 6 months after root canal therapy were submitted to digital subtraction in pairs (0 and 2 months, 2 and 4 months, and 4 and 6 months) choosing image, calculation, subtract, and new document tools from Adobe Photoshop CS image-analysis software toolbar. The resulting images showed areas of periapical healing in all cases. According to this methodology, the healing or expansion of periapical lesions can be evaluated by means of digital subtraction radiography by using Adobe Photoshop CS software.

Er : YAG laser: Antimicrobial effects in the root canals of dogs' teeth with pulp necrosis and chronic periapical lesions

Objective: Our goal in this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Er:YAG laser applied after biomechanical preparation of the root canals of dog's teeth with apical periodontitis. Background Data: Various in vitro studies have reported effective bacterial reduction in infected root canals using Er:YAG laser. However, there is no in vivo research to support these results. Methods: Forty root canals of dogs' premolar teeth with pulp necrosis and chronic periapical lesions were used. An initial microbiological sample was taken, and after biomechanical preparation was carried out, a second microbiological sample was taken. The teeth were divided into two groups: Group I-biomechanical preparation was taken of root canals without Er:YAG laser application; Group II-biomechanical preparation was taken of root canals with Er:YAG laser application using 140-mj input, 63-mJ output/15 Hz. After coronal sealing, the root canals were left empty for 7 days at which time a third microbiological sample was taken. The collected material was removed from the root canal with a #40 K file and placed in transport media. It was serially diluted and seeded on culture dishes selective for anaerobes, aerobes, and total streptococci. Colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) were counted. Results: Groups I and II showed an increase of CFU/mL for all microorganisms 7 days after treatment, being statistically significant for anaerobes in Group I and for anaerobes and total streptococci in Group II. When comparing CFU/mL of Groups I and II, there was a statistically significant increase after 7 d for total streptococci in Group II. Conclusion: Er:YAG laser applied after biomechanical preparation did not reduce microorganisms in the root canal system.

Diet-induced obesity causes metabolic, endocrine and cardiac alterations in spontaneously hypertensive rats

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

Cardiac remodeling in a rat model of diet-induced obesity

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

Diet compounds, glycemic index and obesity-related cardiac effects

Background: Diet compounds may influence obesity-related cardiac oxidative stress and metabolic sifting. Carbohydrate-rich diet may be disadvantageous from fat-rich diet to cardiac tissue and glycemic index rather than lipid profile may predict the obesity-related cardiac effects.Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=8/group): (C) receiving standard chow (3.0 kcal/g); (CRD) receiving carbohydrate-rich diet (4.0 kcal/g), and (FRD) receiving fat-rich diet (4.0 kcal/g). Rats were sacrificed after the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 60 days of dietary treatments. Lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters were determined in serum. Myocardial samples were used to determine oxidative stress, metabolic enzymes, glycogen and triacylglycerol.Results: FRD rats showed higher final body weight and body mass index than CRD and C. Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were higher in FRD than in CRD, while triacylglycerol and oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in CRD than in FRD. CRD rats had the highest myocardial lipid hydroperoxide and diminished superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Myocardial glycogen was lower and triacylglycerol was higher in CRD than in C and FRD rats. Although FRD rats had depressed myocardial-reducing power, no significant changes were observed in myocardial energy metabolism. Myocardial beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase and citrate synthase, as well as the enhanced lactate debydrogenase/citrate synthase ratio indicated that fatty acid degradation was decreased in CRD rats. Glycemic index was positively correlated with obesity-related cardiac effects.Conclusions: Isoenergetic carbohydrate-rich and fat-rich diets induced different degree of obesity and differently affected lipid profile. Carbohydrate-rich diet was deleterious relative to fat-rich diet in the heart enhancing lipoperoxidation and shifting the metabolic pathway for energy production. Glycemic index rather than dyslipidemic profile may predict the obesity effects on cardiac tissue. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

microRNA evaluation of unknown primary lesions in the head and neck

Unknown primary malignancy in the head and neck is not an infrequent diagnosis for patients with metastatic cervical lymph nodes. Although linked with a relatively good prognosis following radiation treatment, widespread radiation is coupled with significant morbidity. Altered microRNA (miRNA) expression has been associated with both cancer progression and metastasis. We sought to determine whether miRNA expression analysis could be used as a diagnostic tool to discover the primary site of malignancy, within the head and neck. We used quantitative real-time PCR to identify miRNA expression profiles of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, base of tongue and post-nasal space, as well as their corresponding metastatic lymph nodes, from 6 patients. Our results revealed that each cancer maintained its expression profile between the primary site and the nodal metastasis (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). In addition, each anatomical sub-site maintained a distinct miRNA profile between individual patients (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001). Finally, between sub-sites, the miRNA profiles were distinct (p < 0.0001). As proof of principle, our study provides an indication that miRNA expression analysis may be useful to compare the primary lesion and local metastatic disease. This may be clinically relevant to predict the primary site of origin of metastatic disease, when the primary site remains obscure.

Atrophic Cardiac Remodeling Induced by Taurine Deficiency in Wistar Rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of Taurine on Cardiac Remodeling Induced by Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Background/Aims: To investigate the effect of taurine on cardiac remodeling induced by smoking. Methods: In the first step, rats were allocated into two groups: Group C (n=14): control; Group T (n=14): treated with taurine (3% in drinking water), for three months. In the second step, rats were allocated into two groups: Group ETS (n=9): rats exposed to tobacco smoke; Group ETS-T (n=9): rats exposed to tobacco smoke and treated with taurine for two months. Results: After three months, taurine presented no effects on morphological or functional variables of normal rats assessed by echocardiogram. on the other hand, after two months, ETS-T group presented higher LV wall thickness (ETS=1.30 (1.20-1.42); ETS-T=1.50 (1.40-1.50); p=0.029), E/A ratio (ETS=1.13 +/- 0.13; ETS-T=1.37 +/- 0.26; p=0.028), and isovolumetric relaxation time normalized for heart rate (ETS=53.9 +/- 4.33; ETS-T=72.5 +/- 12.0; p<0.001). The cardiac activity of the lactate dehydrogenase was higher in the ETS-T group (ETS=204 +/- 14 nmol/mg protein; ETS-T=232 +/- 12 nmol/mg protein; p<0.001). ETS-T group presented lower levels of phospholamban (ETS=1.00 +/- 0.13; ETS-T=0.82 +/- 0.06; p=0.026), phosphorylated phospholamban at Ser16 (ETS=1.00 +/- 0.14;ETS-T=0.63 +/- 0.10;p=0.003), and phosphorylated phosfolamban/phospholamban ratio (ETS=1.01 +/- 0.17; ETS-T=0.77 +/- 0.11; p=0.050). Conclusion: In normal rats, taurine produces no effects on cardiac morphological or functional variables. on the other hand, in rats exposed to cigarette smoke, taurine supplementation increases wall thickness and worsens diastolic function, associated with alterations in calcium handling protein and cardiac energy metabolism. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

Influence of different doses of retinoic acid on cardiac remodeling

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of AIN-93 diet on mortality and cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats

Background: The AIN-93 diet was proposed by the American Institute of Nutrition with the objective of standardising studies in experimental nutrition. Our objective was to analyze the effects of AIN-93 diet after myocardial infarction in rats.Methods: Post weaning, the animals were divided into two groups: control (C, n=62), fed the standard diet of our laboratory (Labina); AIN-93 Group (n=70), fed the AIN-93 diet. Achieving 250 g, the animals were subjected to myocardial infarction.Results: Early mortality was increased in AIN-93 animals, associated with lower serum levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus. on the other hand, after 90 days, AIN-93 showed smaller normalized left ventricular dimensions. The caloric and carbohydrate intake was smaller, but the fat intake was higher in AIN-93 rats. AIN-93 group also showed increased levels of beta-hydroxyacylcoenzyme A dehydrogenase and citrate synthase. In addition, serum levels of insulin and cardiac levels of malondialdehyde, metalloproteinases-2 and -9, and TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were decreased in the AIN-93 group.Conclusion: AIN-93 diet increased early mortality, while attenuated the chronic remodeling process after experimental coronary occlusion. Therefore, this diet has biological effects and should be use with attention in this model. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Butyl hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced oxidative stress: Effects on serum lipids and cardiac energy metabolism in rats

Recent lines of evidences indicate that several pathological conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, are associated with oxidative stress. In order to validate a butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced experimental model of oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue and serum lipids, 12 Wistar rats were divided into two groups, a control group and the BHT group, Which received BHT i.p. twice a week (1500 mg/kg body Weight) during 30 days. BHT group presented lower body weight gain and heart weight. BHT induced toxic effects on serum through increased triacylglycerols (TG), VLDL and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The heart of BHT animals showed alteration of antioxidant defenses and increased concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides, indicating elevated lipoperoxidation. TG concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase activities were elevated in the cardiac Muscle of BHT animals. Thus, long-term administration of BHT is capable to induce oxidative and metabolic alterations similarly to some pathological disorders, constituting an efficient experimental model to health scientific research. (c) 2005 Elsevier GrnbH. All rights reserved.