Fibrosis-related gene expression in the prostate is modulated by doxazosin treatment

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

A microscopic survey of the human temporomandibular joint disc

The articular disc of the temporomandibular joint was studied in a foetuses and children group (GI), a dentate group of adults (GII) and an edentulous, elderly group of humans (GIII) by light microscopy. The main, constituent bundles of type I collagen fibres are stratified and are orientated sagittally, transversely and obliquely in the middle portion of the disc. In the thick, posterior portion, transverse bundles constitute the main feature. In the anterior portion of the disc, the fibres are sagittally and obliquely orientated. Type III. collagen fibres, intermingled with type I collagen fibres are present in all groups. The disc is cellular in nature in foetuses and children becoming more fibrous with age. Chondroid cells are observed in all portions of the discs in groups GII and GIII. Elastic fibres are numerous in GI discs and decrease in number in the disc with age. These fibres lie parallel to the collagen fibres in all three portions of the three groups.

Sperm ultrastructure and a new type of spermiogenesis in two species of Pimelodidae, with a comparative review of sperm ultrastructure in Siluriformes (Teleostei : Ostariophysi)

During spermiogenesis, the spermatids of the pimelodid species Pimelodus maculatus and Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum show a central flagellum development, no rotation of the nucleus, and no nuclear fossa formation, in contrast to all previously described spermatids of Teleostei. These characteristics are interpreted as belonging to a new type of spermiogenesis, named here type III, which is peculiar to the family Pimelodidae. In P. maculatus and P. fasciatum, spermatozoa possess a spherical head and no acrosome; their nucleus contains highly condensed, homogeneous chromatin with small electron-lucent areas; and a nuclear fossa is not present. The centriolar complex lies close to the nucleus. The midpiece is small, has no true cytoplasmic channel, and contains many elongate and interconnected vesicles. Several spherical to oblong mitochondria are located around the centriolar complex. The flagellum displays the classical axoneme (9 + 2) and no lateral fins. Only minor differences were observed among the pimelodid species and genera. Otherwise, spermiogenesis and spermatozoa in the two species of Pimelodidae studied exhibit many characteristics that are not found in other siluriform families, mainly the type III spermiogenesis. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Experimental development of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in rodents

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) following the use of bisphosphonates has become of increased interest in the scientific community, due in particular to its as-yet-unsolved pathogenesis. An experimental model of ONJ was induced in normal male rats [alendronate (ALN); 1 mg/Kg/day; n = 10] and matched controls (saline solution; n = 10). After 60 days of drug treatment, all animals were subjected to extractions of the left first lower molars and were euthanized at 3 and 28 days postsurgery. The following analyses were performed: (i) descriptive and quantitative (scores) histological evaluation, (ii) stereometry of distal sockets and (iii) biochemical measurement of C-telopeptide cross-linked collagen type I (CTX) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP). The results showed that 28 days postsurgery the animals treated with ALN had areas of exposed and necrotic bone, associated with significant infection, especially in the interalveolar septum area and crestal regions, compared with controls. The levels of CTX, BALP and bone volume, as well as the degrees of inflammation and vascularization, were significantly reduced in these animals. Therefore, analysis of the data presented suggests that ALN therapy is associated with the development of osteonecrosis in the jaws of rodents after tooth extraction. © 2012 International Journal of Experimental Pathology.

Equine tendonitis therapy using mesenchymal stem cells and platelet concentrates: A randomized controlled trial

Introduction. Tendon injury is a major cause of lameness and decreased performance in athletic equines. Various therapies for tendonitis have been described; however, none of these therapies results in complete tissue regeneration, and the injury recurrence rate is high even after long recovery periods involving rest and physiotherapy. Methods. A lesion was induced with collagenase gel in the superficial digital flexor tendon in the center portion of the metacarpal region of eight equines of mixed breed. After two weeks, the lesions of the animals in the treated and control groups were treated through the intralesional administration of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (adMSCs) suspended in platelet concentrate (PC) and with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), respectively. Serial ultrasound analyses were performed every two weeks. After 16 weeks of therapy, a biopsy was performed for histopathological, immunohistochemical and gene expression (type I collagen (COL1A1), type III collagen (COL3A1), tenascin-C (TNC), tenomodulin (TNMD), and scleraxis (SCX)) analyses. Results: Differences in the ultrasound and histopathological analyses were observed between the groups. Improved results were reported in the group treated with adMSCs suspended in PC. There was no difference in the gene expression levels observed after the different treatments. The main results observed from the histopathological evaluation of the treated group were as follows: a prevention of the progression of the lesion, a greater organization of collagen fibers, and a decreased inflammatory infiltrate. A lack of progression of the lesion area and its percentage was observed in the ultrasound image, and increased blood flow was measured by Power Doppler. Conclusions: The use of adMSCs combined with PC for the therapy of experimentally induced tendonitis prevented the progression of the tendon lesion, as observed in the ultrasound examination, and resulted in a greater organization and decreased inflammation, as observed in the histopathological evaluation. These data demonstrate the therapeutic potential of this therapy for the treatment of equine tendonitis. © 2013 Carvalho et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Dissection of the role of pili and type 2 and 3 secretion systems in adherence and biofilm formation of an atypical enteropathogenic escherichia coli strain

Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) strains are diarrheal pathogens that lack bundle-forming pilus production but possess the virulence-associated locus of enterocyte effacement. aEPEC strain 1551-2 produces localized adherence (LA) on HeLa cells; however, its isogenic intimin (eae) mutant produces a diffuse-adherence (DA) pattern. In this study, we aimed to identify the DA-associated adhesin of the 1551-2 eae mutant. Electron microscopy of 1551-2 identified rigid rod-like pili composed of an 18-kDa protein, which was identified as the major pilin subunit of type 1 pilus (T1P) by mass spectrometry analysis. Deletion of fimA in 1551-2 affected biofilm formation but had no effect on adherence properties. Analysis of secreted proteins in supernatants of this strain identified a 150-kDa protein corresponding to SslE, a type 2 secreted protein that was recently reported to be involved in biofilm formation of rabbit and human EPEC strains. However, neither adherence nor biofilm formation was affected in a 1551-2 sslE mutant. We then investigated the role of the EspA filament associated with the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) in DA by generating a double eae espA mutant. This strain was no longer adherent, strongly suggesting that the T3SS translocon is the DA adhesin. In agreement with these results, specific anti-EspA antibodies blocked adherence of the 1551-2 eae mutant. Our data support a role for intimin in LA, for the T3SS translocon in DA, and for T1P in biofilm formation, all of which may act in concert to facilitate host intestinal colonization by aEPEC strains. ©2013, American Society for Microbiology.

Implante autólogo de células mononucleares provenientes de medula óssea notratamento de tendinites induzidas experimentalmente em equinos: avaliação a longo prazo - 120 dias

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

Caracterização histoquímica do colágeno e expressão de MMP-2, MMP-9 e TIMP-1 nas endometrites crônicas das éguas

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

Implante autólogo de células-tronco mesenquimais do tecido adiposo no tratamento de tendinites experimentais em equinos: avaliação clínica, ultrassonográfica, histopatológia e imunoistoquímica

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

Expressão de TGF-β1, metaloproteinases e avaliação dos índices de proliferação celular e apoptótico nas endometrites crônicas das éguas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Colágeno acelular e mucosa oral na substituição parcial da uretra: estudo comparativo em coelhos

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

Periostin as a modulator of chronic cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: After acute myocardial infarction, during the cardiac repair phase, periostin is released into the infarct and activates signaling pathways that are essential for the reparative process. However, the role of periostin in chronic cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between tissue periostin and cardiac variables in the chronic cardiac remodeling induced by myocardial infarction. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were assigned to 2 groups: a simulated surgery group (SHAM; n = 8) and a myocardial infarction group (myocardial infarction; n = 13). After 3 months, morphological, functional and biochemical analyses were performed. The data are expressed as means±SD or medians (including the lower and upper quartiles). RESULTS: Myocardial infarctions induced increased left ventricular diastolic and systolic areas associated with a decreased fractional area change and a posterior wall shortening velocity. With regard to the extracellular matrix variables, the myocardial infarction group presented with higher values of periostin and types I and III collagen and higher interstitial collagen volume fractions and myocardial hydroxyproline concentrations. In addition, periostin was positively correlated with type III collagen levels (r = 0.673, p = 0.029) and diastolic (r = 0.678, p = 0.036) and systolic (r = 0.795, p = 0.006) left ventricular areas. Considering the relationship between periostin and the cardiac function variables, periostin was inversely correlated with both the fractional area change (r = -0.783, p = 0.008) and the posterior wall shortening velocity (r = -0.767, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Periostin might be a modulator of deleterious cardiac remodeling in the chronic phase after myocardial infarction in rats.

Desenvolvimento de sistemas líquido cristalinos contendo Ac-WAhx-KTTKS para o tratamento do envelhecimento cutâneo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Extracellular matrix remodeling of the testes through the male reproductive cycle in Teleostei fish

During the fish reproductive cycle, testes undergo morphological changes related to germinal epithelium and remodeling of extracellular matrix components (ECM). ECM is degraded mainly by action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Due to the natural renewal of ECM in fish testes, we choose Pimelodus maculatus to study remodeling of ECM throughout reproductive cycle, using picrosirius (to identify type I, II, III collagen) and reticulin (type III collagen), and to immunolocalize MT1-MMP (membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase) and MMP-2 in testis cells. Testes were classified in four reproductive phases: regenerating, development, spawning capable and regressing. Picrosirius and reticulin demonstrated a differential distribution of total collagen fibers during the reproductive cycle. Immunohistochemistry showed MT1-MMP only in acidophilic granulocyte cells mainly inside blood vessels, in connective tissue of capsule close to the germinal compartment, and also infiltrated in interstitial connective tissue. MMP-2 was detected in fibroblast and endothelial cells of interstitial and capsule blood vessels, in epithelial cells of capsule, and in acidophilic granulocyte cells at same description for MT1-MMP. The fish testes ECM were remodeled throughout reproductive cycle in according to morphophysiological alterations. During reproductive season (spawning capable), the interstitium increased in total collagen fibers (type I, II, III). After spermiation period (regression and regenerating), the amount of collagen fibers decreased in response to action of MMPs on collagen degradation and other interstitial components (not assessed in this study). MMPs seem to be indispensable components for natural cyclic events of ECM remodeling of fish testes and for guarantee tissue homeostasis throughout reproductive cycle.

Longevity of dental implants in type IV bone: a systematic review

Bone quality and quantity are important factors with regard to the survival rate of dental implants. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of dental implants inserted in low-density bone and to determine the survival rate of dental implants with surface treatments over time. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken by two independent individuals; the Medline/PubMed database was searched for the period July 1975 to March 2013. Relevant reports on bone quality and osseointegration of dental implants were selected. The search retrieved 1018 references, and after inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 19 studies were selected for review. A total of 3937 patients, who had received a total of 12,465 dental implants, were analyzed. The survival rates of dental implants according to the bone density were: type I, 97.6%; type II, 96.2%; type III, 96.5%; and type IV, 88.8%. The survival rate of treated surface implants inserted in low-density bone was higher (97.1%) than that of machined surface implants (91.6%). Surface-treated dental implants inserted in low-density bone have a high survival rate and may be indicated for oral rehabilitation. However, more randomized studies are required to better evaluate this issue.