Histopathological evaluation of treatment with chondroitin sulphate for osteoarthritis induced by continuous immobilization in rabbits

The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically the action of chondroitin sulphate in osteoarthritis experimentally induced by continuous immobilization. Fourteen young female Norfolk rabbits aged 2.5-3 months at the beginning of the experiment were divided into two equitable groups submitted to immobilization of the right knee for a period of 12 weeks. The treated group received 1.0 ml/animal/s.c. of 12% chondroitin sulphate, once a week for 12 weeks, and the untreated group did not receive any treatment. Two additional animals were not submitted to knee immobilization (sham group). Microscopical examination of knee preparations stained with haematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome showed lesions of both joints in treated and untreated groups, with no significant difference between the scores obtained for the right and left knees. Examination of preparations stained with picrosirius red showed collagen fibre alignment and misalignment in the right and left knees of the animals of all groups, but statistic analysis could not be performed. It was not possible to differentiate the proteoglycan concentration between limbs or groups (treated and untreated) by safrtanin O or toluidine blue staining. It was possible to conclude that the chondroitin sulphate was not able to reduce the histological changes induced by this osteoarthritis experimental model.

Diabetes induces stromal remodelling and increase in chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans of the rat ventral prostate

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

A micelle nucleation model for the interaction of dodecyl sulphate with Lys49-phospholipases A(2)

Bothropstoxin-I (BthTx-I) is a Lys49-PLA(2) from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu that lacks detectable catalytic activity, yet causes rapid Ca2+-independent membrane damage. With the aim of understanding the interaction between BthTx-I and amphiphilic molecules, we have studied the interaction of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) with the protein. Circular dichroism and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectra of BthTx-I reveal changes in the alpha-helical organization of the protein at an SDS/BthTx-I molar ratio of 20-25. At SDS/BthTx-I ratios of 40-45 the alpha-helices return to a native-like conformation, although fluorescence emission anisotropy measurements of 2-amino-N-hexadecyl-benzamide (AHBA) demonstrate that the total SDS is below the critical micelle concentration when this transition occurs. These results may be interpreted as the result of SDS accumulation by the BthTx-I homodimer and the formation of a pre-micelle SDS/BthTx-I complex, which may subsequently be released from the protein surface as a free micelle. Similar changes in the alpha-helical organization of BthTx-I were observed in the presence of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes, suggesting that protein structure transitions coupled to organization changes of bound amphiphiles may play a role in the Ca2+-independent membrane damage by Lys49-PLA(2)s. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical behaviour of heat-treated Al-Zn-Mg alloys in chloride solutions containing sulphate

The electrochemical corrosion and passivation of Al-5Zn-1.7Mg-0.23Cu-0.053Nb alloys, submitted to different heat treatments (cold-rolled, annealed, quenched and aged, and quenched in two steps and aged), in sulphate-containing chloride solutions, has been studied by means of cyclic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The cyclic polarization curves showed that sulphate addition to the chloride solution produced a poor reproducible shift of the breakdown potential to more positive potentials. The repassivation potentials, much more reproducible, and practically separating the passive from the pitting potential region, were slightly displaced in the negative direction with that addition. When the alloys were potentiodynamically polarized in the passive potential region, sulphate was incorporated in the oxide film, thus precluding chloride ingress. In addition, Zn depletion was favoured, whereas Mg losses were avoided. Different equivalent circuits corresponding to different alloys and potentials in the passive and pitting regions were employed to account for the electrochemical processes taking place in each condition. This work shows that sulphate makes these alloys more sensitive to corrosion, increasing the fracture properties of the surface layer and favouring the pitting attack over greater areas than chloride alone. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnesium sulphate given topically by iontophoresis for viability of random skin flaps in rats

Our aim was to assess the effects of magnesium sulphate given by iontophoresis on the viability of random skin flaps in rats. Endovenous magnesium sulphate is used to treat pre-eclampsia and diseases of blood vessels. Iontophoresis is an electrotherapeutic method which has shown satisfactory results in controlling ischaemia within the boundaries of the area in which it was given. Forty-five adult male Wistar rats, weighing 300 to 440 g were randomly divided into three groups of 15 animals each: random skin flap (control); random skin flap treated with magnesium sulphate without electrical stimulation; and random skin flap treated with magnesium sulphate with electrical stimulation of 4 mA for 20 minutes. The treatments were applied immediately after the operation and repeated on the following two days. The percentage of necrotic area was measured on the seventh postoperative day using a paper template. For each group, the mean percentage of flap necrosis was as follows: control, 46%; magnesium sulphate without electrical stimulation, 34%; and magnesium sulphate with electrical stimulation, 42%. There was no significant difference among the groups (p=0.18). Magnesium sulphate given by iontophoresis does not increase the viability of random skin flaps in rats.

Zinc sulphate administered by transdermal iontophoresis improves breaking strength of surgical wounds in skin of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of magnesium sulphate on the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in patients aged 60 years and older: A randomised trial

BACKGROUND There is little information on the interaction between magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and rocuronium in elderly patients. With a growing number of older patients who need surgical procedures, it is increasingly important to study this age group. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of MgSO4 administration on the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in patients aged 60 years or older. DESIGN A randomised controlled trial. SETTING A tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS Sixty-four patients, aged 60 years or older, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classes I to III, scheduled for elective oncological head and neck surgery. Exclusion criteria were severe renal insufficiency (calculated creatinine clearance <30 ml min-1), preoperatorive serum magnesium concentration of more than 1.25 mmol l1 and patients receiving drugs known to affect neuromuscular function. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: in the magnesium group, patients received MgSO4 30mgkg1 intravenously, for 10 min, and then a continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of 1 g h-1. The control group received the same volume of physiological saline. Neuromuscular function was evaluated continuously in both groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total recovery time was the primary outcome. Onset time, clinical duration, recovery index and recovery time were considered as secondary endpoints. Values are given as mean [SD]. RESULTS Total recovery time from neuromuscular block (NMB) was 113 [36] min in the magnesium group and 101 [39] min in the control group. Clinical duration was 69 [23] min in the magnesium group and 59 [28] min in the control group. Recovery index was 19 [36] min in the magnesium group and 17 [6] min in the control group. Recovery timewas 44 [22] min in the magnesium group and 42 [18] min in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in any of the recovery indices. In the magnesium group, the mean onset time was 144 [58] s, significantly shorter than the onset time in the group that received physiological saline, which was 187 [90] s (P-0.03). Group variances were compared using an F test: onset time varied significantly less in the magnesium group (P-0.02). CONCLUSION In oncology patients of 60 or more years of age, preadministration of MgSO4, with the doses used in this study, significantly reduced the onset time of NMB induced by rocuronium. © 2013 European Society of Anaesthesiology.

Microbiological Assay for the Determination of Colistin Sulphate

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Continuous Electrical Current and Zinc Sulphate Administered by Transdermal Iontophoresis Improves Skin Healing in Diabetic Rats Induced by Alloxan: Morphological and Ultrastructural Analysis

Purpose. Evaluated the effects of continuous electrical current (CEC) or zinc administrated by transdermal iontophoresis (Zn+TDI). Methods. 120 male Wistar rats were submitted to an incision surgery at the anterior region of abdomen and distributed into 6 experimental groups with 40 animals: 3 diabetic groups and 3 normal groups, untreated and treated with CEC alone or with Zn+TDI. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups with 10 rats each to be evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after surgery. In each period, clinical and laboratory parameters from the animals were analyzed. Results. The analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy showed a delay in the phases of wound healing in diabetic rats without treatment in all periods of the experiment; breaking strength (BS) was significantly reduced in skin scars of untreated diabetic rats when compared to other groups. In contrast, BS in skin scars of nondiabetic groups and diabetic rats treated with Zn+TDI showed significant increase in those, besides not presenting delayed healing. Conclusion. Electrical stimulation of surgical wounds used alone or in association with zinc by TDI is able to consistently improve the morphological and ultrastructural changes observed in the healing of diabetic animals.

Crescimento e esporulação de Bipolaris euphorbiae cultivado sob diferentes condições nutricionais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Characterization and selection of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates effective against Sitophilus oryzae

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

Germinação de sementes de guandu sob efeito da disponibilidade hídrica e de doses subletais de alumínio

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a germinação de sementes das cultivares de guandu, IAPAR 43-Aratã e IAC Fava Larga, sob efeito da disponibilidade hídrica e de doses subletais de alumínio. Os experimentos foram instalados na Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias-UNESP, em Jaboticabal (SP), no período de março a maio de 2002. As sementes foram colocadas em caixas de germinação, previamente esterilizadas, revestidas com uma folha de papel germitest umedecido com diferentes concentrações de PEG 6000 (0,0; -0,6; -0,9; -1,2 e -1,5 MPa) e de sulfato de alumínio (0,0; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5; e 10,0 mmol.dm-3). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 2 x 5 x 5 (cultivares x disponibilidades hídricas x alumínio), com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. Para complementar a análise estatística foram realizadas análises multivariadas de agrupamento e componentes principais. O experimento foi desenvolvido em câmara de germinação, na temperatura de 25 ºC. A porcentagem de germinação foi verificada no 4.º e 10.º dias após a semeadura. No 10.º dia, as plântulas foram separadas em plúmulas e raízes primárias, para determinar a massa seca. A disponibilidade hídrica foi limitante para a germinação e o crescimento inicial. O efeito do alumínio associado ao estresse hídrico foi evidenciado somente até -0,9 MPa. As concentrações menos elevadas de alumínio estimularam o desenvolvimento das plântulas em condições de estresse hídrico até -0,6 MPa. Os efeitos simultâneos da disponibilidade hídrica e do alumínio reduziram a germinação de sementes da cv. IAC Fava Larga e o crescimento das raízes da cv. IAPAR 43-Aratã.

Nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio, adubo orgânico e calcário dolomítico na produção de sementes de grama-batatais (Paspalum notatum Flügge) em Latossol Vermelho Escuro

Comparou-se a produção de sementes de grama-batatais em Latossol vermelho Escuro com ou sem adição de sulfato de amônio (4g de N/m²), superfosfato simples (50g de P2O5/m²), cloreto de potássio (15g de K2O/m²), esterco de equino (10 litros/m²) e calcário dolomítico (220 g/m²). As produções foram avaliadas através de número de espigas por área, peso total de sementes, peso de sementes puras, relação entre peso de sementes puras e peso total de sementes, peso de 1000 sementes puras, peso total de sementes por espiga, peso de sementes puras por espiga, porcentagem de germinação das sementes e velocidade de emergência das plântulas. Foram determinados os teores de nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio, cálcio, magnésio, enxofre, boro, cobre, ferro, manganês e zinco na matéria seca de folhas e sementes. Verificou-se que a produção de sementes, tanto em quantidade como em qualidade, foi influenciada pela nutrição mineral. As porcentagens mais elevadas de carbono no solo estiveram associadas a maior quantidade e melhor qualidade das sementes produzidas. As melhores produções de sementes correspondem aos níveis mais baixos de fósforo, potássio, cálcio e zinco nas folhas. Verificou-se serem importantes nas características avaliadas as seguintes relações entre teores de nutrientes nas folhas ou nas sementes: N/P, P/Ca, P/Mg, P/S, P/Zn, K/Ca, K/Mg, K/B, Ca/Mg, Ca/B, Fe/Mn, Zn/Cu, Zn/Fe e Zn/Mn. Nas maiores produções, as sementes apresentaram concentrações menores de nitrogênio, boro e cobre, e mais elevadas de cálcio. As sementes de melhor qualidade apresentaram maiores concentrações de zinco e menores de boro. A aplicação de adubos ou calcário dolomítico não melhorou significativamente a produção de sementes.

Proteinogramas séricos de ratos Wistar experimentalmente infectados com Trypanosoma evansi

Estabeleceu-se o perfil eletroforético de proteínas séricas de ratos Wistar experimentalmente infectados com Tripanosoma evansi, utilizando-se 40 ratos, distribuídos em oito grupos de cinco animais cada. Um grupo foi mantido como testemunho (G1), e os demais (G2 a G8) foram inoculados, via intraperitoneal, com cerca de 10³tripomastigota de T. evansi. Amostras de sangue para obtenção de soro foram coletadas no quinto (G2), 10º (G3), 15º (G4), 30º (G5), 45º (G6), 60º (G7) e 75º (G1 e G8) dia após as inoculações. O fracionamento das proteínas foi realizado pela técnica SDS-PAGE. Foram identificadas 31 proteínas, sendo sete de fase aguda: ceruloplasmina (101KD), hemopexina (83KD), transferrina (75KD), albumina (66KD), antitripsina (60KD), haptoglobina (44KD) e glicoproteína ácida (38KD). As proteínas com pesos moleculares 12KD; 22KD; 25KD; 28KD; 32,5KD; 35KD; 53,5KD; 63KD e 72KD apareceram apenas nos ratos inoculados com T. evansi.