Effect of oral vanadyl sulfate treatment on serum enzymes and lipids of streptozotocin-diabetic young rats

In this work we investigate the possible toxicity of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4), a compound capable of reducing hyperglycemia, on the following serum enzymes of diabetic young rats: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LD) and creatine kinase (CK), as well as its effects on serum lipids. We find that at a concentration of 1 mg/mL VOSO4 has no toxic effect on the liver and muscles of diabetics young rats. These findings suggest that VOSO4 may be an alternative to insulin in the near future, due to its low cost, low toxicity and ready availability.

Antimicrobial resistance of aerobes and facultative anaerobes isolated from the oral cavity

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

Effects of prolonged oral administration of fumonisin B(1) and aflatoxin B(1) in rats

The effects of prolonged oral administration (21 days) of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) were evaluated on male Wistar rats. The animals were housed in individual metabolic cages and submitted to the following treatments: 1-0 mug AFB(1) + 0 mg FB(1)/100g bw.; 2-72 mug AFB(1)+ 0 mg FB(1)/100 g bw; 3-0 mug AFB(1) + 0.5 mg FB(1) g bw; 4-0 mug AFB(1) + 1.5 mg FB(1)/100 g bw; 5-72 mug AFB(1) + 0.5 mg FB(1)/100g bw; 6-72 mu gAFB(1) + 1.5 mg FB(1)/100g bw. on day 21, the rats were sacrificed for evaluation. The results showed that treated animals presented differences in body weight and absolute/relative weights of liver and kidney as well as altered hepatic function and cholesterol blood levels. Rats fed with the greatest doses of AFB(1) and FB(1) gained less weight (2.79 g/day) at the end of the experimental period; their blood concentrations of liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were above control levels (130.35 mu /l and 471.00 mu /l, respectively). Blood cholesterol increased in the groups treated with the highest dose of FB(1) or FB(1) associated with AFB(1). Histopathology revealed the occurrence of apoptosis in the liver of rats exposed to FB(1). The association of aflatoxin B(1) with fumonisin B(1) at higher dose probably potentiated the effects of the higher dose of fumonisin B(1)acting singly.

Enzymatic activity profile of a Brazilian culture collection of Candida albicans isolated from diabetics and non-diabetics with oral candidiasis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

In vitro evaluation of the enzymatic activity profile of non-albicans Candida species isolated from patients with oral candidiasis with or without diabetes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms and oral cancer

Since oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent malignant cancer in the oral cavity, several researches have been performed to study the role of important enzymes in this disease. Among them, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are highlighted, due to the fact that they are proteinases responsible to degrade many extra-cellular matrix components, making possible the invasion of neoplasic cells. Important tools in cancer prognosis have been utilized aiming to correlate high levels of MMPs and OSCC, such as immunohistochemical, zymographic and mRNA detection methods. However, these techniques are usually applied after cancer detection, characterizing a curative but not a preventive medicine. Trying to make interventions before the development of the disease and making possible the identification of people at high risk and, analysis of modifications in MMP genes has been a chance for modern medicine. Recently, polymorphisms in MMP genes have been related to different neoplasias, including OSCC. Despite investigation is beginning, MMP gene polymorphisms seems to have a promising future in oral cancer research and some of the present results have shown that there are MMP polymorphisms related to an increased risk for developing oral cancer. Key words:Oral cancer, polymorphism, matrix metalloproteinase.