Rutin administration attenuates myocardial dysfunction in diabetic rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of irrigation and intracanal dressing on the healing process of dogs' teeth with apical periodontitis.

Dogs' teeth with apical periodontitis were treated endodontically, Dakin's solution being used in an experimental group as the irrigation solution, and camphorated paramonochlorophenol as an intracanal dressing. For a second group of teeth, the irrigation solution used was physiologic saline, dry cotton only being placed into the pulpal chamber to take the place of an intracanal dressing. In a second visit, overinstrumentation and a new application of the same kind of dressing were performed, the root canals being then filled with gutta-percha cones and zinc oxide-eugenol cement. Other specimens were treated, in one visit, where physiologic saline or Dakin's solution were the irrigation solutions. The animals were sacrificed 6 months after the obturation of the root canals. Histologic exams showed better results for the experimental group where Dakin's solution and camphorated paramonochlorophenol had been used, with signs of repair characterized by newly formed cementum and bone tissue, as well as a marked reduction in size of the periapical lesions. No differences were seen in the results with physiologic saline or Dakin's solution as irrigants.

Efeito de diferentes terapias locais para o tratamento de periodontite crônica em indivíduos diabéticos tipo 2: estudo clínico controlado randomizado triplo cego de boca dividida com acompanhamento de seis meses

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Queixas técnicas e eventos adversos a medicamentos notificados em um hospital sentinela do interior de São Paulo, 2009-2010

Objective: to describe technical complaints and adverse drug events reported in a sentinel hospital in São Paulo state in 2009 and 2010. Methods: This is a descriptive study. Information was obtained from the sentinel hospital Risk Management database. Results: we found 199 reports related to drugs: 70.0% were technical complaints, 21.0% ineffective therapy and 9.0% adverse reaction to medication. The pharmacological groups with highest number of reports were: drugs that act on alimentary tract and metabolism (25.1%), the nervous system (25.1%) and anti-infective drugs for systemic use (22.1%). Conclusion: technical complaints and adverse drug events were frequent, despite recognized underreporting. The characterization of these events could inform the adoption of control measures and permanent educational actions in health services in order to prevent their occurrence.

Antiulcerogenic activity of the aqueous fraction of Anacardium humile St. Hil (Anacardiaceae)

Anacardium humile St. Hil. is being used in traditional medicine to treat ulcer. The present work evaluated the mechanisms of action involved in the anti-ulcer properties of the aqueous fraction from leaves of A. humile (AHQ). Gastroprotection of A. humile was evaluated in ethanol and piroxicam models. Mechanisms of action such as mucus production, nitric oxide (NO), sulfhydryl compounds (SH) and the anti-secretory action were evaluated. The acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model was used to evaluate the A. humile healing properties. Results obtained in the ethanol model showed that AHQ provided significant gastroprotection at all the tested doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Thereby, the following protocols were performed using the dose capable of producing the most effective gastroprotection, which was the AHQ 200 mg/kg (P < 0.001). Moreover, AHQ (200 mg/kg) protected the mucosa from piroxicam-induced damage. Mucus, NO, and SH did not participate on this gastroprotection. AHQ interfere in H+ secretion in gastric mucosa, thus exerting an anti-secretory activity. Our results suggest that the gastroprotection and cicatrisation process executed by AHQ occurred due to its anti-secretory activity. This study reinforces its traditional medicinal use. Considering that the current therapies are based on the use of anti-secretory agents, the A. humile arises as a promising alternative antiulcer therapy.

Índice de resistência múltipla aos antimicrobianos, concentração inibitória e beta-lactamases de espectro estendido em linhagens de Proteus mirabilis e Proteus vulgaris isoladas de diferentes afecções em animais domésticos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Genes associados à virulência e multirresistência de antimicrobianos em linhagens Trueperella Pyogenes isoladas de mastite e outras afecções em animais domésticos

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

"100 CHALLENGES FACING STUDENTS OF COLOR IN THE 21st CENTURY"

"It is particularly critical to assess the impact, given the empirical data available, on institutions in California, Texas, Florida and Washington which anti-affirmative action laws and court orders have been passed/handed down."

Genes associados à virulência e multirresistência de antimicrobianos em linhagens Trueperella Pyogenes isoladas de mastite e outras afecções em animais domésticos

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

GLUTAMATERGIC MECHANISMS OF THE DORSAL PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY MATTER MODULATE THE EXPRESSION OF CONDITIONED FREEZING AND FEAR-POTENTIATED STARTLE

It is well known that excitatory amino acids induce unconditioned fear responses when locally injected into the dorsal periaqueductal gray matter (dPAG). However, there are only few studies about the involvement of excitatory amino acids mediation in dPAG in the expression of conditioned fear. The present series of experiments evaluates the participation of AMPA/Kainate and NMDA glutamatergic receptors of dPAG in the expression of conditioned fear, assessed by the fear-potentiated startle (FPS) and conditioned freezing responses. Wistar rats were subjected to fear conditioning to light. Twenty-four hours later, they received intra-dPAG injections of kainic acid or NMDA (AMPA/Kainate and NMDA agonists) and 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-6-nitro-2, 3-dioxo-benzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide disodium salt hydrate (NBQX) or D(-)-2-Amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (APT) (AMPA/Kainate and NMDA antagonists) and were submitted to the FPS test. Conditioned freezing response was simultaneously measured. Effects of drug treatment on motor activity were evaluated in the open-field test. Intra-dPAG injections of glutamatergic agonists enhanced conditioned freezing and promoted pro-aversive effects in the FPS. Lower doses of the agonists had no effect or enhanced FPS whereas higher doses disrupted FPS, indicating a non-monotonic relationship between fear and FPS. The antagonist NBQX had no significant effects while AP7 decreased conditioned freezing but did not affect FPS. Both antagonists reduced the effects of the agonists. The obtained results cannot be attributed to motor deficits. The results suggest an important role of the AMPA/Kainate and NMDA mechanisms of the dPAG in the expression of conditioned freezing and FPS. (C) 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Is zinc-alpha 2-glycoprotein a cardiovascular protective factor for patients undergoing hemodialysis?

Background: Zinc-alpha 2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a lipid mobilizing factor. Its anti-inflammatory action and expression pattern suggest that ZAG could act by protecting against the obesity-associated disorders. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, ZAG levels were described to be elevated but its effects on markers of inflammation and LDL oxidation are still unclear. We investigated the relationship between ZAG and markers of systemic inflammation and LDL atherogenic modification profile in HD patients. Methods: Forty-three patients regularly on HD were studied and compared to 20 healthy subjects. Plasma ZAG, adiponectin, electronegative LDL [LDL(-)], an atherosclerotic negatively charged LDL subtraction, and anti-LDL(-) autoantibodies levels were measured by ELISA. Markers of inflammation and atherogenic cell recruitment (TNF-alpha, interleukin-6, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and PAI-1) were also determined. Results: Inflammatory markers and atherogenic cell recruitment were higher in HD patients when compared to healthy subjects. ZAG levels were also higher in HD patients (151.5 +/- 50.1 mg/l vs 54.6 +/- 23.0 mg/l; p<0.0001) and its levels were negatively correlated with TNF-alpha (r= -0.39; p = 0.001) and VCAM-1 (r= -0.52; p<0.0001) and, positively correlated with anti-LDL(-) autoantibodies (r = 038; p = 0.016). On multivariate analyses, plasma ZAG levels were independently associated with VCAM-1 (p = 0.01). Conclusion: ZAG is inversely associated with markers of pro-atherogenic factors linked to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Thus, this adipokine may constitute a novel marker of a favorable metabolic profile regarding cardiovascular risk factors in HD population. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Treatment With Methotrexate Inhibits Atherogenesis in Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

A decrease in the number of cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis treated with methotrexate (MTX) has been observed in the literature. The aim of this study was to test whether MTX could promote anti-inflammatory effects and reduce the atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits with atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol feeding. Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 60 days. Starting from day 30 of cholesterol feeding, 10 animals were treated with 4 weekly intravenous injections of MTX (4 mg/kg) and 10 with 4 weekly saline solution injections for 30 days. MTX reduced the size of the lesion areas of cholesterol-fed animals by 75% and intima-media ratio 2- fold. The drug inhibited macrophage migration into the intima by 50% and the presence of apoptotic cells by 84% but did not inhibit the intimal proliferation of smooth muscle cells. MTX treatment also diminished the positive staining area of metalloproteinase 9 in the intima, which is probably beneficial. In the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cell line, incubation with MTX led to downregulation of 5 pro-inflammatory genes, TNF-alpha, VAP-1, IL-1 beta, CXCL2, and TLR2, and upregulation of the antiinflammatory TGF-beta 1 gene, thus showing endothelium-protective properties. In conclusion, MTX showed direct in vivo anti-atherosclerotic action and may have potential in the treatment of this disorder.

The neonatal immune system: immunomodulation of infections in early life

The innate and adaptive immune responses in neonates are usually functionally impaired when compared with their adult counterparts. The qualitative and quantitative differences in the neonatal immune response put them at risk for the development of bacterial and viral infections, resulting in increased mortality. Newborns often exhibit decreased production of Th1-polarizing cytokines and are biased toward Th2-type responses. Studies aimed at understanding the plasticity of the immune response in the neonatal and early infant periods or that seek to improve neonatal innate immune function with adjuvants or special formulations are crucial for preventing the infectious disease burden in this susceptible group. Considerable studies focused on identifying potential immunomodulatory therapies have been performed in murine models. This article highlights the strategies used in the emerging field of immunomodulation in bacterial and viral pathogens, focusing on preclinical studies carried out in animal models with particular emphasis on neonatal-specific immune deficits.

Congenital Chagas disease: time to screen pregnant women?

The congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi has gained epidemiological importance because it is partially responsible for the spread of Chagas disease worldwide. The feasibility of a cure when infected children are treated early makes the detection of congenital infection a valuable goal toward the control of the disease. Here, the authors review and discuss the findings of Bua et al., who quantified the parasitemia of infected women and their newborns by quantitative PCR. The authors demonstrate that the maternal parasite burden is directly related to the risk of neonatal infection. This study points out the importance of a quantitative screen for T. cruzi in pregnant women who live in, or have traveled to, endemic areas for improving the diagnosis of infected newborns and providing prompt treatment.