The inhibitory effect of MK886 on the inflammatory process caused by Paracoccidioidomycosis brasiliensis infection in genetically selected mice

Leukotrienes are classic inflammatory response mediators considered chemotactic agents and microbicidal activity regulators in cells of the innate immune system, playing a protective role against different infectious agents. In this study, we investigated the involvement of leukotrienes in the course of murine paracoccidioidomycosis based on the following immunologic parameters: cell influx, mieloperoxydase activity, NO production, cytokine production, and fungal recovery in lungs of mice selected according to the intensity of their low (AIRmin) and high (AIRmax) acute inflammatory response. Infection by P. brasiliensis induced considerable production of IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha cytokines, and led to cell recruitment, as well as NO production in lungs at different study periods. In animals treated with MK886, a leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor, IFN-gamma, IL-6 and TNF-alpha production was lower, while neutrophil influx and NO production decreased. These results may explain the higher fungal load in lungs of animals in which leukotriene synthesis was inhibited, suggesting that leukotrienes have a possible protective role in experimental paracoccidioidomycosis. AIRmax animals had lower fungal load in comparison with AIRmin ones, which can be related to the AIR phenotype regarding neutrophil migration, besides lower production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, mice presenting AIRmax background are more resistant to infection by P. brasiliensis.

The effect of propolis on CCL5 and IFN-gamma expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leishmaniasis patients

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The Effect of Propolis on Th1/Th2 Cytokine Expression and Production by Melanoma-bearing Mice Submitted to Stress

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

Effect of naringerin on biochemical parameters in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Dentre as numerosas terapias para minimizar as complicações diabéticas, os antioxidantes e flavonoides são testados na clínica médica. Foi analisado o efeito da naringerina sobre os parâmetros bioquímicos em ratos diabéticos induzidos por estreptozotocina (STZ - 60mg/kg, i.p.). Ratos machos foram divididos em 4 grupos: G1: controle não tratado; G2: ratos normais que receberam naringerina; G3: diabéticos não tratados; G4: ratos diabéticos que receberam naringerina. Naringerina (50mg/kg, i.p.), decresceu a hiperglicemia e a hiperlipidemia em ratos diabéticos. A concentração sérica de insulina em ratos tratados tendeu aumentar. A naringerina preveniu as alterações, provocadas pela estreptozotocina, na atividade hepática e cardíaca de ALT, AST e LDH, indicando o efeito protetor da naringerina sobre estes tecidos, contra toxicidade provocada pela STZ. O nível de glicogênio nos tecidos cardíaco e hepático elevou com a naringerina em ratos diabéticos. A naringerina melhorou o metabolismo da glicose e de lipídios e preveniu as complicações diabéticas.

Effect of paprika on the ovarian development of Africanized honeybee workers (Apis mellifera L.) in queenless colonies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Testing the quick meal hypothesis: the effect of pulp on hoarding and seed predation of Hymenaea courbaril by red-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina)

Red-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) are important seed dispersers/predators of Neotropical large-seeded plants. Several species of seeds cached by agoutis have an edible reward, in contrast to temperate rodent-dispersed diaspores. The quick meal hypothesis states that the presence of a reward such as edible pulp will enhance the efficiency of rodents as seed disperses by satiating the animal and, consequently, reducing seed predation and enhancing hoarding. In this study, this hypothesis was tested using as the reference system the pulp and seeds of Hymenaea courbaril. Seeds with and without pulp were offered to agoutis and the behaviour of each individual was recorded. Since the probability of predation and hoarding were complementary, we used the probability of predation. The proportion of agoutis that preyed on at least one seed was similar for seeds with (42.8% of individuals) and without (40.0% of individuals) pulp. In agoutis that preyed upon at least one seed, the probability that they killed a seed did not differ between seeds with (0.17 +/- 0.03) and without (0.20 +/- 0.08) pulp. Hence, these results do not support the 'quick meal hypothesis'.

Effects of temperature on lung and blood gases in the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus

The effects of temperature on lung and blood gases were measured in the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus). Arterial blood and lung gas samples were obtained from chronically cannulated animals at 15, 25, and 35 degrees C. As expected for reptiles, arterial pH fell with increased temperature (0.018 U degrees C-1 between 15 and 25 degrees C and 0.011 U degrees C-1 between 25 and 35 degrees C) while lung gas PCO2 rose from 5.8 mmHg at 15 degrees C to 13.2 mmHg at 35 degrees C. Concurrently, lung gas PO2 declined from 132 mmHg at 15 degrees C to 120 mmHg at 35 degrees C, and arterial PO2 increased from 33 to 76 mmHg in that temperature range. Arterial haemoglobin O-2 saturation rose from 0.53 at 15 degrees C to 0.83 at 25 degrees C but became slightly reduced (0.77) with a further elevation of temperature to 35 degrees C. Arterial haemoglobin concentration increased from 1.96 to 2.53 mM between 15 and 35 degrees C, consistent with higher demands on oxygen delivery to tissues at elevated temperatures. Moreover, the substantial increase of haemoglobin O-2 saturation between 15 and 25 degrees C conforms to the idea that reduction of the central vascular right-to-left shunt (pulmonary bypass of systemic venous return) is associated with high metabolic demands. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of phenobarbital on inducing insecticide tolerance and esterase changes in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

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

Effect of annealing on the semicrystalline structure of normal and waxy corn starches

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

Conversion Degree of Indirect Resin Composites and Effect of Thermocycling on Their Physical Properties

Purpose: This study evaluated the degree of conversion (DC) of four indirect resin composites (IRCs) with various compositions processed in different polymerization units and investigated the effect of thermal aging on the flexural strength and Vicker's microhardness.Materials and Methods: Specimens were prepared from four IRC materials, namely Gr 1: Resilab (Wilcos); Gr2: Sinfony (3M ESPE); Gr3: VITA VMLC (VITA Zahnfabrik); Gr4: VITA Zeta (VITA Zahnfabrik) using special molds for flexural strength test (N = 80, n = 10 per group) (25 x 2 x 2 mm(3), ISO 4049), for Vicker's microhardness test (N = 80, n = 10 per group) (5 x 4 mm(2)) and for DC (N = 10) using FT-Raman Spectroscopy. For both flexural strength and microhardness tests, half of the specimens were randomly stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours (Groups 1 to 4), and the other half (Groups 5 to 8) were subjected to thermocycling (5000 cycles, 5 to 55 +/- 1 degrees C, dwell time: 30 seconds). Flexural strength was measured in a universal testing machine (crosshead speed: 0.8 mm/min). Microhardness test was performed at 50 g. The data were analyzed using one-way and two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). The correlation between flexural strength and microhardness was evaluated with Pearson's correlation test (alpha = 0.05).Results: A significant effect for the type of IRC and thermocycling was found (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) on the flexural strength results, but thermocycling did not significantly affect the microhardness results (p = 0.078). The interaction factors were significant for both flexural strength and microhardness parameters (p = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Thermocycling decreased the flexural strength of the three IRCs tested significantly (p < 0.05), except for VITA Zeta (106.3 +/- 9.1 to 97.2 +/- 14 MPa) (p > 0.05) when compared with nonthermocycled groups. Microhardness results of only Sinfony were significantly affected by thermocycling (25.1 +/- 2.1 to 31 +/- 3.3 Kg/mm(2)). DC values ranged between 63% and 81%, and were not significantly different between the IRCs (p > 0.05). While a positive correlation was found between flexural strength and microhardness without (r = 0.309) and with thermocycling (r = 0.100) for VITA VMLC, negative correlations were found for Resilab under the same conditions (r = -0.190 and -0.305, respectively) (Pearson's correlation coefficient).Conclusion: Although all four IRCs presented nonsignificant DC values, flexural strength and microhardness values varied between materials with and without thermocycling.

Effect of welding on the microstructure and electrochemical corrosion of Al-Zn-Mg-Fe alloys

The effect of gas tungsten are welding on the microstructure and electrochemical corrosion of Al-Zn-Mg-Fe alloys submitted to different heat treatments (as fabricated, annealed and aged) has been studied using optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, EDX, cyclic voltammetry and corrosion potential measurements in chloride solutions. The electrochemical techniques were very sensitive to the change in the phase compositions produced by welding. Welding caused a decrease in the mean grain size, in the hardness and in the corrosion resistance of the age-hardened alloys. The structure of the latter became strongly altered by welding to lead to phase compositions very close to those of the cold rolled and annealed specimens. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of cerium on structure modifications of a hybrid sol-gel coating, its mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behavior

An organic-inorganic hybrid coating was developed to improve the corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy AA 2024-T3. Organic and inorganic coatings derived from glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and aluminum tri-sec-butoxide Al((OBu)-Bu-s)(3), with different cerium contents, were deposited onto aluminum by dip-coating process. Corrosion resistance and mechanical properties were investigated by electrochemical impedance measurements and nano-indentation respectively. An optimal cerium concentration of 0.01 M was evidenced. To correlate and explain the hybrid coating performances in relation to the cerium content, NMR experiments were performed. It has been shown that when the cerium concentration in the hybrid is higher than 0.01 M there are important modifications in the hybrid structure that account for the mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behavior of the sol-gel coating. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphology of eggs of Dioctophyme renale Goeze, 1782 (Nematoda: Dioctophymatidae) and influences of temperature on development of first-stage larvae in the eggs

Este estudo teve a finalidade de fornecer dados morfológicos de ovos de D. renale e do desenvolvimento de larvas de primeiro estádio em ovos mantidos em diferentes temperaturas. Os ovos foram obtidos por centrífugação da urina de cães parasitados e colocados em placas de Petri em estufa BOD, durante 90 dias. O experimento consistiu de três tratamentos (GI - 15 ºC, GII - 20 ºC e GIII - 26 ºC) com cinco repetições cada. Os ovos apresentaram tamanho médio de 67,23 x 42,78 µm, e o tempo médio de incubação foi inversamente proporcional à temperatura de incubação e as larvas apresentaram motilidade por aproximadamente uma semana após sua formação.

Effect of flooding on survival and initial growth of Ocotea pulchella (Nees) Mez. seedlings in semi-controlled light conditions

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