Study of caffeine urine and saliva of horses subjected to urinary acidification

The study of caffeine in racing horses has been of growing concern in veterinary sports medicine since the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) stated that it has no valid therapeutic use in racehorses. We examined the kinetic alterations in the urinary excretion and salivary secretion of caffeine in seven horses subjected to urinary acidification using ascorbic acid because this procedure can simulate the acidosis that follows anaerobic exercise. They participated in two treatment groups: the control group (SG) received 500 ml of saline and then 2.0 mg kg(-1) caffeine i.v. 30 min later; and the acidified group (AG) was subjected to urinary acidification with ascorbic acid at a dose of 0.5 g kg(-1) i.v. and then 2.0. mg kg(-1) caffeine i.v. 30 min later. Samples were collected 30 min before caffeine administration, immediately before caffeine administration (time zero) and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h afterwards. The samples were assayed by gas chromatography. The mean urinary pH for SG was 8.2, but for AG it was as low as 5.9 at 4 h, extending acidosis for up to 8 h. The kinetic curves for the two groups were similar for urinary excretion and salivary secretion. Differences occurred only in peak excretion and peak secretion in SG obtained at 1 h and 30 min, respectively, and in AG at 2 h and 1 h, respectively. This could be explained, in part, to the diuresis in AG compared with SG, resulting in less concentrated urine in the former group. The large difference between the pK(a) of caffeine and the pH of the medium may be responsible for the similar pharmacokinetics observed for the two groups. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Phenotypical characterization and adhesin identification in Escherichia coli strains isolated from dogs with urinary tract infections

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Urinary Mutagenicity in Chemical Laboratory Workers Exposed to Solvents

Solvents represent an important group of environmental pollutants to which people are exposed daily in the workplace. The physico chemical properties of solvents may result in disturbances to cellular structures, including damage to DNA. However, the effects of mixtures of solvents are not well known. Mutations caused by environmental agents are related to cancer development and other degenerative diseases. The work in a research laboratory that uses several types of solvents is equally predisposed to these hazards. In this study, we evaluated the mutagenicity of urine from 29 subjects exposed occupationally to solvents in a chemistry research laboratory and 29 subjects without occupational exposure (controls). Urine samples were collected in polyethylene containers at the end of the work shift. For the concentration and extraction of urine samples the XAD-2 resin was used with acetone as an eluting agent. Several strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA98, TA97a, TA1535, YG1024) should be used to assess mutagenic susceptibilities among workers exposed to organic solvents. Different doses of extract (1.5; 3.0; 6.0 and 12.0 m/ equivalents of urine per plate) were tested on S. typhimurium strains TA100 and YG 1024, with and without metabolic activation. The mutagenic activity, measured in Salmonella typhimurium YGI1024 with S9 mix, was significantly greater in urine from workers than from controls (p <= 0.05). These results indicate the relevance of using biomarkers to assess the risk of occupational exposure to organic solvents.

Efeitos da efedrina sobre as funções cardiovascular e renal de cães sob anestesia com pentobarbital sódico

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Com a perspectiva criada por algumas pesquisas de ações diferenciadas da efedrina sobre a função renal, dependendo da dose utilizada, e considerando-se as controvérsias ainda existentes a respeito dos seus efeitos sobre a função renal, esta pesquisa experimental tem como objetivo verificar se doses diferentes de efedrina determinam efeitos hemodinâmicos e renais diferenciados. MÉTODO: em 32 cães anestesiados com pentobarbital sódico (PS), submetidos a preparação cirúrgica, cateterismo, monitorização, expansão do volume do fluido extracelular e respiração controlada, foi estudada a hemodinâmica cardiovascular e renal e a função renal. Os cães foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos: G controle (n = 8), com os cães permanecendo apenas sob o efeito do PS, G ef. 2 µg (n = 8), G ef. 10 µg (n = 8) e G ef. 100 µg (n = 8), com os cães recebendo efedrina nas doses respectivas de 2, 10 e 100 µg.kg-1.min-1. Os atributos cardiovasculares e renais foram estudados em 5 momentos: controle (M1 e M2), durante a infusão de efedrina (M3 e M4) e após a suspensão da infusão de efedrina (M5). RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significante entre os grupos em relação aos atributos estudados. em G ef. 2 µg houve aumento significante de freqüência cardíaca, fluxo sangüíneo aórtico, débito urinário e excreção fracionária de sódio. em G ef. 10 µg houve aumento apenas da freqüência cardíaca e fração de filtração, enquanto em G ef. 100 µg ocorreu aumento de freqüência cardíaca, pressão arterial média, pressão venosa central, fluxo sangüíneo aórtico e hematócrito; por outro lado, ocorreu diminuição dos fluxos plasmático e sangüíneo renais e aumento da resistência vascular renal. CONCLUSÕES: A efedrina, dependendo da dose utilizada, apresenta ações hemodinâmicas e renais diferenciadas.

Metabolic assessment in patients with urinary lithiasis

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic investigation in patients with urinary lithiasis is very important for preventing recurrence of disease. The objective of this work was to diagnose and to determine the prevalence of metabolic disorders, to assess the quality of the water consumed and volume of diuresis as potential risk factors for this pathology. PATIENTS and METHODS: We studied 182 patients older than 12 years. We included patients with history and/or imaging tests confirming at least 2 stones, with creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min and negative urine culture. The protocol consisted in the collection of 2, 24-hour urine samples, for dosing Ca, P, uric acid, Na, K, Mg, Ox and Ci, glycemia and serum levels of Ca, P, Uric acid, Na, K, Cl, Mg, U and Cr, urinary pH and urinary acidification test. RESULTS: 158 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Among these, 151 (95.5%) presented metabolic changes, with 94 (62.2%) presenting isolated metabolic change and 57 (37.8%) had mixed changes. The main disorders detected were hypercalciuria (74%), hypocitraturia (37.3%), hyperoxaluria (24.1%), hypomagnesuria (21%), hyperuricosuria (20.2%), primary hyperparathyroidism (1.8%) secondary hyperparathyroidism (0.6%) and renal tubular acidosis (0.6). CONCLUSION: Metabolic change was diagnosed in 95.5% of patients. These results warrant the metabolic study and follow-up in patients with recurrent lithiasis in order to decrease the recurrence rate through specific treatments, modification in alimentary and behavioral habits.

Serum and urinary measurements of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) in dogs

Realizaram-se mensurações sérica e urinária de fosfatase ácida prostática (PAP) e antígeno prostático específico (PSA) de 20 cães. Os testes de PAP e PSA foram feitos em um equipamento automatizado, com o uso de kits comerciais para humanos. A média de PAP sérico foi de 0,7U/l e urinário 0,U/l. As médias do PSA sérico e urinário foram 0,005ng/dL e 0,004ng/dl, respectivamente. A determinação do dois biomarcadores in vivo é uma nova opção de diagnóstico na medicina veterinária e os valores obtidos devem ser correlacionados com a lesão morfológica da próstata.

Hematologic, serum biochemistry and urinary values for captive Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) in São Paulo state, Brazil

A importância do estudo dos valores hematológicos, de bioquímica sérica e urinários de Cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous) baseia-se na necessidade de cuidados e manutenção da sanidade destas populações. Este estudo visou investigar os parâmetros fisiológicos hematológicos, de bioquímica sérica e urinários dos Cachorros-do-mato de cativeiro, comparando as possíveis diferenças sexuais e de faixa etária. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 52 animais, pertencentes a diversos Zoológicos do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram colhidos cerca de 7mL de sangue, que foram utilizados para se obter os valores hematológicos e o perfil de bioquímica sérica. Também foram colhidos 5mL de urina para realização da urinálise. Não se encontraram diferenças entre os valores obtidos para machos e fêmeas tanto na hematologia, quanto na bioquímica sérica. Alguns parâmetros hematológicos e de bioquímica sérica foram afetados pela idade, mostrando diferenças significativas. Os resultados da urinálise foram demonstrados apenas em forma descritiva. Os principais valores encontrados foram, hemácias 4,35+0,73 x 106 células /µL, leucócitos totais 7,72+3,66 x 103 células /µL (predomínio de neutrófilos segmentados), plaquetas 227,06+111,58 x 103 células /µL, ureia 43,06+14,28mg/dL e creatinina 1,03+0,24mg/dL. Os valores hematológicos, de bioquímica sérica e urinários obtidos neste estudo podem ser utilizados como valores fisiológicos de Cachorros-do-mato de cativeiro. Pode-se concluir que as espécies silvestres necessitam de seus próprios valores de referência com necessidade de se diferenciar animais em cativeiro de animais de vida livre.

Identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from patients with urinary tract infection using a simple set of biochemical tests correlating with 16S-23S interspace region molecular weight patterns

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

Urinary incontinence and vaginal squeeze pressure two years post-cesarean delivery in primiparous women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus

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

Effects of uracil calculi on cell growth and apoptosis in the BBN-initiated Wistar rat urinary bladder mucosa

The different potential of initiated and non-initiated urinary bladder mucosa (UBM) to develop neoplasia was quantitatively evaluated in the male Wistar rat. Initiation of carcinogenesis was accomplished with N-butyl-N- (4-hydroxybutyl) -nitrosamine (BBN). Stimuli for cell proliferation and apoptosis were obtained by exposure followed by withdrawal of 3% Uracil in the diet. The proliferation index (PI) was estimated in UBM immunostained for the proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA). The apoptotic index (AI) and the density of papillary/nodular hyperplasia (PNH) were estimated in hematoxilin-eosin stained sections. PNH was the main proliferative response to the mechanical irritation by uracil, irrespective of previous initiation with BBN. Uracil exposure induced higher PI and PNH density in the initiated rats. After uracil withdrawal, there was a significant increase of the AI in both uracil-treated groups, which correlated well to the respective PNH density. However, at the end of the experiment, PNH incidence and density were significantly higher in the BBN-initiated mucosa, which also presented 18% incidence of papillomas and 27% of carcinomas. Therefore, under prolonged uracil calculi trauma, the UBM of BBN-initiated Wistar rats gives rise to epithelial proliferative lesions that progress to neoplasia through acquired resistance to apoptosis. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemopreventive property of dietary ginger in rat urinary bladder chemical carcinogenesis

The modifying potential of ginger on the development of preneoplasia and tumors in the male Wistar rat urinary bladder was investigated in a 36-week-long initiation-promotion assay for chemical carcinogenesis. Groups G1 to G3 were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN) in drinking water for 5 weeks and a 3% uracil meal for the subsequent 3 weeks. Groups G4 and G5 were treated with 3% uracil only for the same period. After these steps, groups G2, and G3 and G4 were fed for 26 weeks a ginger extract mixed at 0.5 and 1.0% in a basal diet, respectively. Thirty six weeks after the beginning of the experiment all rats were killed. The multiplicity of urothelial lesions (hyperplasia and neoplasia) was significantly lower (P = 0.013) in group G3 than in groups G1 and G2. The results suggest that 1.0% ginger meal exerts a protective effect on the post-initiation stage of rat chemically-induced urothelial carcinogenesis.

Effects of Diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] on the urinary bladder of male Wistar rats

Diuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) is a substituted urea herbicide widely used on agricultural crops such as soy, cotton and sugar cane. In a previous long-term study this herbicide exerted carcinogenic activity on the urinary bladder mucosa of male Wistar rats. In general, the genotoxic and mutagenic potentials of Diuron are considered to be negative. The present study aimed to evaluate the mode of action of Diuron on the urinary bladder mucosa of male Wistar rats. Six-week old male Wistar rats were fed pelleted Nuvilab diet mixed with Diuron at 125, 500 and 2500 ppm. As a positive control, 8.3% sodium saccharin (NaS) was fed in the diet. Preceding the sacrifice of the animals at the 20th week, urinary pH was measured and the genotoxic potential of Diuron was evaluated by the comet assay. Histological urothelial lesions in the urinary bladder and in the renal pelvis mucosa, cell proliferation/apoptosis evaluations, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the urinary bladder mucosa were also performed. No DNA changes were found in urothelial or peripheral blood cells, and urinary pH was comparable to controls in all Diuron groups. In the urinary bladder urothelium, the incidence of simple hyperplasia (SH) by light microscopy was significantly increased (7/10; p < 0.005) in the 2500 ppm Diuron group but not at the lower doses. By SEM, three of five animals treated with 2500 ppm Diuron showed urothelial cell necrosis and hyperplasia. In the renal pelvis, the incidence of SH was significantly increased in the Diuron 500 and 2500 ppm and in the NaS 8.3% groups. Cell proliferation was significantly increased in the Diuron 2500 ppm, (p < 0.05) and NaS 8.3% (p < 0.05) groups. The results indicate that a high dietary concentration of Diuron is associated with urothelial necrosis and continuous regenerative cell proliferation that leads to urothelial hyperplasia. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Absence of DNA damage in multiple organs (blood, liver, kidney, thyroid gland and urinary bladder) after acute fluoride exposure in rats

Fluoride has been widely used in dentistry as a caries prophylactic agent. However, there has been some speculation that excess fluoride could cause an impact on genome integrity. In the current study, the potential DNA damage associated with exposure to fluoride was assessed in cells of blood, liver, kidney, thyroid gland and urinary bladder by the single cell gel (comet) assay. Male Wistar rats aging 75 days were distributed into seven groups: Groups 1 (control), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 received 0 (deionized water), 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mgF/Kg body weight from sodium fluoride (NaF), respectively, by gastrogavage. These groups were killed at 2 h after the administration of the fluoride doses. The level of DNA strand breaks did not increase in all organs evaluated and at all doses of NaF tested, as depicted by the mean tail moment. Taken together, our results suggest that oral exposure to NaF did not result in systemic genotoxic effect in multiple organs related to fluoride toxicity. Since DNA damage is an important step in events leading to carcinogenesis, this study represents a relevant contribution to the correct evaluation of the potential health risk associated with chemical exposure.

Potential effects of the herbicide Diuron on mammary and urinary bladder two-stage carcinogenesis in a female Swiss mouse model

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