Effect of collagenase ointment on a radiofrequency induced abrasive wound

• Aim: Radiofrequency is one of the methods used to treat wrinkles and skin lesions, but its application may result in an abrasive wound. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of collagenase ointment on the epithelial healing of an abrasive wound induced by a radiofrequency system. • Methods: An abrasive wound was produced using radiofrequency at the dorsal midline of 30 guinea pigs, which were randomly divided into 2 groups: one group were treated with saline solution and the other group treated with collagenase ointment; both used twice daily. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 7, 15, 30 and 60 postoperative days. Macroscopic, histological and morphometric evaluations were performed and the results were submitted to statistical analysis. • Results: The animals treated with collagenase ointment presented accelerated healing process and less inflammatory cell infiltration than the saline solution treated animals from one to fifteen postoperative days. Morphometric evaluation showed a thicker epidermis and a thinner dermis layer in the saline solution group at one and seven postoperative days, but significant differences between both groups were not observed at thirty and sixty postoperative days. • Conclusion: According to our results the use of collagenase ointment may accelerate the healing process of a radiofrequency induced abrasive wound.

Autologous orbicularis muscle for filling facial foldsan experimental and clinical study

Purpose: To present a technique for filling facial folds by using autologous orbicularis oculi muscle, based on an experimental model. Methods: two studies are presented: (1) an experimental study using 15 albino guinea-pigs from which a strip of the sural triceps muscle was removed and implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of the dorsal area. The animals were sacrificed 7, 30 and 60 days after the implantation, and the material was histologically evaluated. And (2%) an interventional prospective clinical trial carried out on 20 patients referred to blepharoplasty surgery. They received autologous preseptal orbicularis muscle for filling facial folds. The results where evaluated by patients satisfaction and clinical exam. Results: the sural tricep muscle, when implanted in the subcutaneous tissue, resulted in fibrosis. The patients whom received autologous orbicularis muscle implanted for filling facial folds showed that the procedure can be successfully carried out. Conclusions: autologous preseptal orbicularis muscle is a good material for filling facial folds. Cicatricial tissue will be formed on its implantation site, filling the tissue gap that forms the folds on the skin.

Morfologia do epidídimo de cobaio (Cavia porcellus) em diferentes fases do desenvolvimento pós-natal

The morphological evolution of the epididymal duct of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus, L.) was studied on 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 90 and 100 days of age, being complex, which is due to the proper differentiation postnatal in the epididymal epithelium. Thus, it was observed that the initial segment of the epididymis reveals an increase of epithelial height corresponding to the average height of the main tubular epithelium cells, generally progressive after 45 days of age. The epithelial height in the middle segment were higher in younger stages (10 to 45 days) than in the prepubertal age (60 days), and have a decrease among 70 to 100 days of age. The ductular terminal segment starts a gradual decrease of the epithelial heights from puberal age (70 days), until adult age (90 to 100 days). In addition, this segment showed epithelial waviness that disappeared after 70 days of age, when the lumen fills it with sperm and cellular exfoliation. The cell types of the epididymal tubular epithelium, principal cells, basal cells and apical cells, were observed in all ages. In the epididymis of very young animals, there was a predominance of undifferentiated columnar cells. After 20 days of age, there was natural prevalence of the principal cells on other cell types, what is a feature similar to other mammals.

Estudos por imagem e físico dos membros pélvicos de pacas (Cuniculus paca) criadas em cativeiro

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modelo experimental com caprinos e cobaias para avaliação da eficácia de vacinas contra o herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 e o vírus da diarreia viral bovina tipos 1 e 2

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O discurso do uso de animais nas pesquisas de Educação Física

It is possible in many countries, perhaps all, there is business groups of pharmaceuticals industry, cosmetics together with the universities that use animals in scientific research and testing for the creation of new products and medicines. Currently is growing discussion about standards and criteria for the use of these animals (guinea pigs) and also increases the number of debates on ethical issues in research with animal models. This research seeks to portray the reality of the use of animals in scientific research academic at the University, specifically to research in physical education, as it has used animals in the areas of Physiology of Sport and Physical Activity, Nutrition for Athletes, among others. Initially is shown the pre-reflection, exposing the laws governing the subject, treating the animal experimentation with regard to its history and the issues of speciesism and the methodological mistake. It reveals what it is and as is the use of animals in education and the inability of the student to change that reality, to refuse to participate in the cruel activity, and even they are aware of their rights as in the case of the withdrawal of consciousness. Presents researchers and universities not use animals and ends the pre-debate showing Who is really the most animal research at the university by providing alternatives for them. We conducted a literature survey on animal experimentation, research universities, and alternative methods. The following is the phenomenon in understanding and awareness of the researchers who use animals in their research, conducting a phenomenological analysis of his speeches, revealing the meanings of their animal research. The focus of this study is, therefore, the analysis of discourses of researchers who carried out research using animal experiments (guinea pigs). The phenomenon of understanding of the researchers about their research is made clear... (Complete abstract click ectronic access below)

Hypersensitivity induced in dogs by nymphal extract of Amblyomma cajennense ticks (Acari:Ixodidae)

In general, hosts develop resistance to ticks after repeated infestations; nevertheless, several studies on naturally occurring host-tick interactions were unable to detect resistance of hosts to ticks even after repeated infestations. The purpose of this investigation was to study the type of cutaneous hypersensitivity to unfed nymphal extract of A. cajennense in dogs, which, unlike guinea pigs, do not develop resistance. A first, but no second, peak in skin reaction was observed, suggesting that cellular immunity is an important mechanism of resistance to ticks. This may partially explain why guinea pigs, but not dogs, develop resistance against ticks.

Protein Hydrolysates Are Avoided by Herbivores but Not by Omnivores in Two-Choice Preference Tests

Background: The negative sensory properties of casein hydrolysates (HC) often limit their usage in products intended for human consumption, despite HC being nutritious and having many functional benefits. Recent, but taxonomically limited, evidence suggests that other animals also avoid consuming HC when alternatives exist. Methodology/Principal Findings: We evaluated ingestive responses of five herbivorous species (guinea pig, mountain beaver, gopher, vole, and rabbit) and five omnivorous species (rat, coyote, house mouse, white-footed mouse, and deer mouse; N = 16–18/species) using solid foods containing 20% HC in a series of two-choice preference tests that used a nonprotein, cellulose-based alternative. Individuals were also tested with collagen hydrolysate (gelatin; GE) to determine whether it would induce similar ingestive responses to those induced by HC. Despite HC and GE having very different nutritional and sensory qualities, both hydrolysates produced similar preference score patterns. We found that the herbivores generally avoided the hydrolysates while the omnivores consumed them at similar levels to the cellulose diet or, more rarely, preferred them (HC by the white-footed mouse; GE by the rat). Follow-up preference tests pairing HC and the nutritionally equivalent intact casein (C) were performed on the three mouse species and the guinea pigs. For the mice, mean HC preference scores were lower in the HC v C compared to the HC v Cel tests, indicating that HC’s sensory qualities negatively affected its consumption. However, responses were species-specific. For the guinea pigs, repeated exposure to HC or C (4.7-h sessions; N = 10) were found to increase subsequent HC preference scores in an HC v C preference test, which was interpreted in the light of conservative foraging strategies thought to typify herbivores. Conclusions/Significance: This is the first empirical study of dietary niche-related taxonomic differences in ingestive responses to protein hydrolysates using multiple species under comparable conditions. Our results provide a basis for future work in sensory, physiological, and behavioral mechanisms of hydrolysate avoidance and on the potential use of hydrolysates for pest management.

Experimental Inoculation of Coyotes with Mycobacterium bovis Susceptibility and Shedding

Several wildlife species have tested positive for bovine tuberculosis in Michigan and may potentially transmit the disease to other animals. Coyotes have the highest known prevalence in the endemic area and thus, our objective was to investigate the shedding of Mycobacterium bovis by coyotes. Four coyotes were orally inoculated with 1 ml of 1 x 105 CFU/ml of M. bovis. Oral and nasal swabs, and feces were collected regularly and tested by culture. Fecal samples were also tested by exposing guinea pigs to the coyotes' feces. All animals were necropsied to determine if infection occurred. All swabs, feces and tissues were negative on culture. The dosage of M. bovis given to these coyotes was considered biologically relevant, but was insufficient for causing infection. Due to the lack of infection, we still do not know the risk coyotes pose for shedding M. bovis.

Inhibitory activity of liposomal flavonoids during oxidative metabolism of human neutrophils upon stimulation with immune complexes and phorbol ester

Context and objective: The massive production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils during inflammation may cause damage to tissues. Flavonoids act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, liposomes loaded with these compounds were evaluated as potential antioxidant carriers, in attempt to overcome their poor solubility and stability. Materials and methods: Liposomes containing quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol or galangin were prepared by the ethanol injection method and analyzed as inhibitors of immune complex (IC) and phorbol ester-stimulated neutrophil oxidative metabolism by luminol (CLlum) and lucigenin-enhanced (CLluc) chemiluminescence (CL) assays. The mechanisms involved this activity of liposomal flavonoids, such as cytotoxicity and superoxide anion scavenging capacity, and their effect on phagocytosis of ICs were also investigated. Results and discussion: The results showed that the inhibitory effect of liposomal flavonoids on CLlum and CLluc is inversely related to the number of hydroxyl groups in the flavonoid B ring. Moreover, phagocytosis of liposomes by neutrophils does not seem to necessarily promote such activity, as the liposomal flavonoids are also able to reduce CL when the cells are pretreated with cytochalasin B. Under assessed conditions, the antioxidant liposomes are not toxic to the human neutrophils and do not interfere with IC-induced phagocytosis. Conclusion: The studied liposomes can be suitable carriers of flavonoids and be an alternative for the treatment of diseases in which a massive oxidative metabolism of neutrophils is involved.

Experimental infection of the tick Amblyomma cajennense, Cayenne tick, with Rickettsia rickettsii, the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

In the laboratory, Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) (Fabricius) larvae, nymphs and adults were exposed to Rickettsia rickettsii by feeding on needle-inoculated animals, and thereafter reared on uninfected guinea pigs or rabbits. Regardless of the tick stage that acquired the infection, subsequent tick stages were shown to be infected (confirming transstadial and transovarial transmissions) and were able to transmit R. rickettsii to uninfected animals, as demonstrated by serological and molecular analyses. However, the larval, nymphal and adult stages of A. cajennense were shown to be partially refractory to R. rickettsii infection, as in all cases, only part of the ticks became infected by this agent, after being exposed to rickettsemic animals. In addition, less than 50% of the infected engorged females transmitted rickettsiae transovarially, and when they did so, only part of the offspring became infected, indicating that vertical transmission alone is not enough to maintain R. rickettsii in A. cajennense for multiple generations. Finally, the R. rickettsii-infected tick groups had lower reproductive performance than the uninfected control group. Our results indicate that A. cajennense have a low efficiency to maintain R. rickettsii for successive generations, as R. rickettsii-infection rates should decline drastically throughout the successive tick generations.

Rho-kinase inhibition attenuates airway responsiveness, inflammation, matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress activation induced by chronic inflammation

Possa SS, Charafeddine HT, Righetti RF, da Silva PA, Almeida-Reis R, Saraiva-Romanholo BM, Perini A, Prado CM, Leick-Maldonado EA, Martins MA, Tiberio ID. Rho-kinase inhibition attenuates airway responsiveness, inflammation, matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress activation induced by chronic inflammation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 303: L939-L952, 2012. First published September 21, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00034.2012.-Several studies have demonstrated the importance of Rho-kinase in the modulation of smooth muscle contraction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation. However, the effects of repeated treatment with a specific inhibitor of this pathway have not been previously investigated. We evaluated the effects of repeated treatment with Y-27632, a highly selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, on airway hyperresponsiveness, oxidative stress activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, eosinophilic inflammation, and cytokine expression in an animal model of chronic airway inflammation. Guinea pigs were subjected to seven ovalbumin or saline exposures. The treatment with Y-27632 (1 mM) started at the fifth inhalation. Seventy-two hours after the seventh inhalation, the animals' pulmonary mechanics were evaluated, and exhaled nitric oxide (E-NO) was collected. The lungs were removed, and histological analysis was performed using morphometry. Treatment with Y-27632 in sensitized animals reduced E-NO concentrations, maximal responses of resistance, elastance of the respiratory system, eosinophil counts, collagen and elastic fiber contents, the numbers of cells positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, inducible nitric oxide synthase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, transforming growth factor-beta, NF-kappa B, IFN-gamma, and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha contents compared with the untreated group (P < 0.05). We observed positive correlations among the functional responses and inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress pathway activation markers evaluated. In conclusion, Rho-kinase pathway activation contributes to the potentiation of the hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, the extracellular matrix remodeling process, and oxidative stress activation. These results suggest that Rho-kinase inhibitors represent potential pharmacological tools for the control of asthma.

Stress amplifies lung tissue mechanics, inflammation and oxidative stress induced by chronic inflammation

Background: Mechanisms linking behavioral stress and inflammation are poorly understood, mainly in distal lung tissue. Objective: We have investigated whether the forced swim stress (FS) could modulate lung tissue mechanics, iNOS, cytokines, oxidative stress activation, eosinophilic recruitment, and remodeling in guinea pigs (GP) with chronic pulmonary inflammation. Methods: The GP were exposed to ovalbumin or saline aerosols (2x/wk/4wks, OVA, and SAL). Twenty-four hours after the 4th inhalation, the GP were submitted to the FS protocol (5x/wk/2wks, SAL-S, and OVA-S). Seventy-two hours after the 7th inhalation, lung strips were cut and tissue resistance (Rt) and elastance (Et) were obtained (at baseline and after OVA and Ach challenge). Strips were submitted to histopathological evaluation. Results: The adrenals' weight, the serum cortisol, and the catecholamines were measured. There was an increase in IL-2, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-gamma, iNOS, 8-iso-PGF2 alpha, and in %Rt and %Et after Ach challenge in the SAL-S group compared to the SAL one. The OVA-S group has had an increase in %Rt and %Et after the OVA challenge, in %Et after the Ach and in IL-4, 8-iso-PGF2 alpha, and actin compared to the OVA. Adrenal weight and cortisol serum were increased in stressed animals compared to nonstressed ones, and the catecholamines were unaltered. Conclusion & clinical relevance: Repeated stress has increased distal lung constriction, which was associated with an increase of actin, IL-4, and 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels. Stress has also induced an activation of iNOS, cytokines, and oxidative stress pathways.

Life-cycle and host preference of Amblyomma ovale (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions

This study evaluated for the first time the life cycle of Amblyomma ovale in the laboratory. For this purpose, larvae and nymphs were exposed to Gallus gallus (chickens), Cavia porcellus (guinea pigs), Rattus norvegicus (wistar rats), Oryctolagus cuniculus (domestic rabbits), Calomys callosus (vesper mouse), and Didelphis albiventris (white-eared opossum). Nymphs were also exposed to Nectomys squamipes (South American water rat). Adult ticks were fed on dogs. The life-cycle of A. ovale in laboratory could be completed in an average period of ca. 190 days, considering prefeeding periods of 30 days for each of the parasitic stages. Vesper mice were the most suitable host for A. ovale larvae, whereas water rats were the most suitable host for A. ovale nymphs. Our results, coupled with literature data, strongly indicate that small rodents have an important role in the life history of A. ovale. Chickens (the only avian host used in the present study) showed to be moderately suitable hosts for subadult A. ovale ticks, indicating that wild birds might have a secondary role in the life history of A. ovale. Domestic dogs showed to be highly suitable for the adult stage of A. ovale, in agreement with literature data that indicate that the domestic dog is currently one of the most important hosts of A. ovale adult ticks in Latin America.

Persistência do efeito otoprotetor: qual a duração da otoproteção à amicacina?

Há comprovação de que o fenômeno de resistência ocorre quando a dose não lesiva da amicacina protege as células ciliadas contra a ototoxicidade da própria amicacina. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar se o fenômeno de resistência é temporalmente persistente. MÉTODO: Estudo experimental com 14 cobaias albinas (Cavia porcellus) divididas em três grupos. Avaliação da função auditiva por emissões otoacústicas por produto de distorção (EOAPD): na pré-exposição à amicacina, no 15º dia de aplicação da dose não lesiva, no final da aplicação da dose lesiva e antes da decapitação. RESULTADOS: O Grupo A (controle) apresentou função auditiva e padrão histológico normais. No Grupo B (amicacina 20mg/kg/dia intramuscular por 30 dias e dose lesiva (400 mg/kg/dia) por 12 dias) e no Grupo C (mesmo esquema do grupo B, porém mantidos por 60 dias e sacrificados), as OEA-PD confirmaram função auditiva normal no período pré-exposição e manutenção do padrão após dose não lesiva, porém, houve perda importante da função auditiva após término do período de aplicação da dose lesiva. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve manutenção do fenômeno da autodefesa estendida por um período de 30 a 60 dias após a aplicação de doses lesivas de amicacina.