Pulmonary neutrophil recruitment and bronchial reactivity in formaldehyde-exposed rats are modulated by mast cells and differentially by neuropeptides and nitric oxide

We have used a pharmacological approach to study the mechanisms underlying the rat lung injury and the airway reactivity changes induced by inhalation of formaldehyde (FA) (1% formalin solution, 90 min once a day, 4 days). The reactivity of isolated tracheae and intrapulmonary bronchi were assessed in dose-response curves to methacholine (MCh). Local and systemic inflammatory phenomena were evaluated in terms of leukocyte countings in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, blood, bone marrow lavage and spleen. Whereas the tracheal reactivity to MCh did not change, a significant bronchial hyporesponsiveness (BHR) was found after FA inhalation as compared with naive rats. Also, FA exposure significantly increased the total cell numbers in BAL, in peripheral blood and in the spleen, but did not modify the counts in bone marrow. Capsaicin hindered the increase of leukocyte number recovered in BAL fluid after FA exposure. Both compound 48/80 and indomethacin were able to prevent the lung neutrophil influx after FA, but indomethacin had no effect on that of mononuclear cells. Following FA inhalation, the treatment with sodium cromoglycate (SCG), but not with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME, significantly reduced the total cell number in BAL. Compound 48/80, L-NAME and SCG significantly prevented BHR to MCh after FA inhalation, whereas capsaicin was inactive in this regard. on the other hand, indomethacin exacerbated BHR. These data suggest that after FA inhalation, the resulting lung leukocyte influx and BHR may involve nitric oxide, airway sensory fibers and mast cell-derived mediators. The effect of NO seemed to be largely restricted to the bronchial tonus, whereas neuropeptides appeared to be linked to the inflammatory response, therefore indicating that the mechanisms responsible for the changes of airway responsiveness caused by FA may be separate from those underlying its inflammatory lung effects. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Obesity enhances eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Low intensity laser therapy (LILT) in vivo acts on the neutrophils recruitment and chemokines/cytokines levels in a model of acute pulmonary inflammation induced by aerosol of lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli in rat

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

Seed dispersal by fishes in tropical and temperate fresh waters: The growing evidence

Fruit-eating by fishes represents an ancient (perhaps Paleozoic) interaction increasingly regarded as important for seed dispersal (ichthyochory) in tropical and temperate ecosystems. Most of the more than 275 known frugivorous species belong to the mainly Neotropical Characiformes (pacus, piranhas) and Siluriformes (catfishes), but cypriniforms (carps, minnows) are more important in the Holarctic and Indomalayan regions. Frugivores are among the most abundant fishes in Neotropical floodplains where they eat the fruits of a wide variety of trees and shrubs. By consuming fruits, fishes gain access to rich sources of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins and act as either seed predators or seed dispersers. With their often high mobility, large size, and great longevity, fruit-eating fishes can play important roles as seed dispersers and exert strong influences on local plant-recruitment dynamics and regional biodiversity. Recent feeding experiments focused on seed traits after gut passage support the idea that fishes are major seed dispersers in floodplain and riparian forests. Overfishing, damming, deforestation and logging potentially diminish ichthyochory and require immediate attention to ameliorate their effects. Much exciting work remains in terms of fish and plant adaptations to ichthyochory, dispersal regimes involving fishes in different ecosystems, and increased use of nondestructive methods such as stomach lavage, stable isotopes, genetic analyses and radio transmitters to determine fish diets and movements. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Osseous regeneration in the presence of fibrin adhesive material (Tissucol) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA).

The effects of Tissucol and Tissucol/EACA on bone healing were evaluated histologically. Experimental defects were made in both tibias of 25 rats. Test materials were placed in defects in right tibias and left tibias served as control. Five animals in each group were killed at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery. Results showed that: a) Tissucol did not interfere with connective and osseous tissue formation; b) Tissucol allowed new bone formation; c) Tissue residues in Tissucol groups in sections of 21-day specimens did not impair healing; d) Tissucol/EACA was usually completely resorbed and healing was complete 21 days after surgery in the Tissucol/EACA group.

ESTUDO DA UMIDIFICACAO E DO AQUECIMENTO DOS GASES INSPIRADOS DURANTE A VENTILACAO MECANICA NO CAO

The authors studied the effect of temperature and humidity of inhaled gases on the respiratory tract of dogs submitted to mechanic ventilation. According to these two variables, fourty dogs were divided in five groups: -G1: 22-26°C and 17-20 mg H2O.l-1; G2: 27-31°C and 23-27 mg H2O.l-1; G3: 32-36°C and 30-36 mg H2O.l-1; G4: 37-41°C and 40-49 mg H2O.l-1; G5: 42-46°C and 59-65 mg H2O.l-1. The following parameters were evaluated: medial arterial pressure, cardiac frequency, venous pressure of inferior cava (CVP), endotracheal pressure, arterial pH, PaO2, PaCO2, rectal temperature, and the histology of the tracheobronchial tree. In the groups G1 and G5, the endotracheal pressure and CVP presented a slight raise. In the groups G1, G2 and G3, there was no histological modification or progressive hypothermia. The group G5 presented metabolic acidosis and great histological alteration; in this group the rectal temperature remained stable. The group G4 presented great histological alteration and hypothermia. In conclusion, the temperature and humidity of inhaled gases should not be higher than 36°C and 36 mm H2O.l-1, respectively. However, the stability of body temperature only is achieved when the temperature of the inhaled air is 42°C or higher.

Chronic mild prenatal stress exacerbates the allergen-induced airway inflammation in rats

The effects of chronic mild prenatal stress on leukocyte infiltration into the airways was investigated in rat offspring. The chronic prenatal stress consisted of transitory and variable changes in the rat's living conditions. Offspring at adult age were actively sensitized (day 0) and intratracheally challenged (day 14) with ovalbumin. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in the offspring at 48 h after intratracheal challenge with ovalbumin. A significant increase in total leukocyte infiltration was observed in the non-stressed offspring group and this was associated with a marked recruitment of eosinophils without a significant effect on the influx of neutrophils and mononuclear cells. In the prenatal stressed offspring, the counts of both total leukocyte and eosinophils, as well as mononuclear cells, was increased by 50% compared to the non-stressed offspring. We provide here the first experimental evidence that chronic mild unpredictable prenatal stress produces a marked increase in the allergen-induced airway inflammation in the rat offspring.

Comparison of uroplakin expression during urothelial carcinogenesis induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in rats and mice

The expression of uroplakins, the tissue-specific and differentiation- dependent membrane proteins of the urothelium, was analyzed immunohistochemically in N butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-treated rats and mice during bladder carcinogenesis. Male Fischer 344 rats were treated with 0.05% BBN in the drinking water for 10 wk and were cuthanatized at week 20 of the experiment. BBN was administered to male B6D2F1 mice; it was either provided at a rate of 0.05% in the drinking water (for 26 wk) or 5 mg BBN was administered by intragastric gavage twice weekly for 10 wk, followed by 20 wk without treatment. In rats, BBN-induced, noninvasive, low grade, papillary, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) showed decreased uroplakin-staining of cells lining the lumen but showed increased expression in some nonluminal cells. In mice, nonpapillary, high-grade dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive carcinoma were induced. There was a marked decrease in the number of uroplakin-positive cells lining the lumen and in nonluminal cells. This occurred in normal-appearing urothelium in BBN-treated mice and in dysplasic urothelium, in carcinoma in situ, and in invasive TCC. The percentage of uroplakin-positive nonluminal cells was higher in control mice than in rats, but it was lower in the mouse than in the rat after BBN treatment. Uroplakin expression was disorderly and focal in BBN-treated urothelium in both species. These results indicate that BBN treatment changed the expression of uroplakins during bladder carcinogenesis, with differences in rats and mice being related to degree of tumor differentiation.

Subgingival utilization of a 1% chlorhexidine collagen gel for the treatment of periodontal pockets. A clinical and microbiological study.

This study evaluates the effect of subgingival irrigation with a 1% chlorhexidine collagen gel in periodontal pockets as an adjunct procedure to scaling and root planing (SRP). Thirty-seven sites with probing depth (PD) of 5-7 mm and BANA positive in 6 patients with chronic periodontal disease were selected. Sites were assigned to different treatment groups consisting of SRP only (group 1), SRP + irrigation with collagen gel (group 2), or SRP + irrigation with collagen gel containing 1% chlorhexidine (group 3). Subgingival irrigation was performed after initial SRP and at 7, 14 and 21 days. Clinical measurements including PD, plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival recession (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were performed at the selected sites at baseline, 60 and 90 days and the BANA test was performed on plaque samples from the same sites at baseline and 90 days. There was an improvement in clinical parameters in all groups with a significantly greater decrease in GI and bleeding in the chlorhexidine group. There was a greater reduction of BANA positive sites in groups 2 and 3. The authors concluded that 1% chlorhexidine collagen gel is a promising adjunct to SRP in the treatment of adult periodontitis.

Root instrumentation with an erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser: Effect on the morphology of fibroblasts

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser instrumentation of root surfaces on the morphology of fibroblasts from continuous lineage. Method and materials: Dentinal slices with 4 mm2 of surface area were obtained from teeth extracted for severe periodontal involvement. Specimens were assigned to one of three treatment groups: group 1, application of the laser with an energy level of 250 mJ at 103 pulses per second; group 2, application of the laser with an energy level of 80 mJ at 166 pulses per second; and group 3, similar to group 2, but with concomitant water irrigation of the device. The specimens were incubated in multiwell plates containing cell culture media. After 24 hours, the specimens were submitted to routine preparation for scanning electron microscopy. Three independent and blind examiners used photomicrographs to evaluate the morphology of the fibroblasts: 0 = without cells; 1 = flat cells; 2 = round cells; and 3 = combination of round and flat cells. Results: Statistical analysis indicated that there were significant differences among treatment groups and that group 3 was significantly different from groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: There was no difference between groups 1 and 2 in the morphology of fibroblasts. Laser instrumentation with concomitant irrigation impaired the adhesion of fibroblasts to dentinal surfaces.

Identificação de Enterobacter spp. através de técnicas convencionais e do sistema semi-automatizado Microscan (Autoscan-4)

A hundred and ninety-five (195) strains of Enterobacter spp., isolated from diverse clinical specimens - urine, feces, cateter, blood, wound, tracheal aspirate, vaginal fluid - were submitted to the conventional identification by biochemical tests, and were also submitted to the identification by panels NegCombo 20 of the system automated MicroScan - AutoScan- 4 (Dade Behring Inc., West Sacramento, CA, USA). The samples were from patients of the Clinical Laboratory from the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, SP, and from patients hospitalized at the University Hospital Domingos Leonardo Cerávolo, UNOESTE. Of the total of strains tested, 191 (97.9%) presented agreement between the two approaches utilized and 4 strains (2.1%) presented identification disagreement, that is, the genus identified was different in each approach. By this study, the conclusion is that both the approaches utilized for the identification presented advantages and disadvantages related to the cost, facility of execution, quickness, reliability and some other characteristics. Even so, our results showed that conventional methods represent a reliable tool for Enterobacter identification.

Efeito da lavagem peritoneal com bupivacaína na sobrevida de ratos com peritonite fecal

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Based on the knowledge of the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial actions of local anesthetics (LA), the objective of this study was to determine the effects of peritoneal lavage with bupivacaine on survival of mice with fecal peritonitis. METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar mice, weighing between 300 and 330 g (311.45 ± 9.67 g), undergoing laparotomy 6 hours after induction of peritonitis were randomly divided in 4 groups: 1 - Control, without treatment (n = 12); 2 - Drying of the abdominal cavity (n = 12); 3 - Lavage with 3 mL NS and posterior drying of the abdominal cavity (n = 12); and 4 - Lavage with 8 mg.kg -1 (± 0.5 mL) of 0.5% bupivacaine added to 2.5 mL of NS followed by drying out of the abdominal cavity (n = 12). Animals that died underwent necropsy and the time of death was recorded. Surviving animals were killed on the 11 th postoperative day and underwent necropsy. RESULTS: Group 1 presented a 100% mortality rate in 52 hours, 100% mortality rate in Group 2 in 126 hours, and Group 3 presented a 50% mortality rate in 50 hours. Animals in Group 4 survived. Survival on the 11 th day was greater in groups 3 and 4 than in Groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001) and greater in Group 4 than in Group 3 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal lavage with a solution of bupivacaine diluted in NS was effective in preventing death for 11 days in 100% of animals with fecal peritonitis. © Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia, 2008.

Influence of local tetracycline on the microbiota of alveolar osteitis in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of local tetracycline on the occurrence of alveolar osteitis in rats, and on the microbiota associated to this infection. Forty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=10): I - the rats had the maxillary right incisor extracted and the alveolar wound did not receive any treatment; II - adrenaline and Ringer-PRAS were introduced into the alveolar wound; III - the alveolar wound was irrigated with sterile saline; and IV - the alveolar wound was irrigated with an aqueous solution of tetracycline. Microbial samples from the alveolar wounds were collected 2 days after surgery and inoculated on blood agar (with and without 8 μg/mL of tetracycline) and other selective media, and were incubated in either aerobiosis or anaerobiosis at 37°C, for 2 to 14 days. It was verified that tetracycline reduced the occurrence of alveolar osteitis in the rats and caused significant changes in the microbiota of the surgical sites, decreasing the number of anaerobes and increasing the participation of tetracycline-resistant and multi-resistant microorganisms.

Pneumonias

Pneumonia is an infectious disease with great morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to the current guidelines recommendations the authors reviewed the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). In this paper will be presented data about etiology, clinics and diagnostic tools. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora.