New records and distribution expansion for Neotropical water-striders (Insecta: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha)

Based on material from several collections, summarized distributions and new records are presented for selected Neotropical species of Gerromorpha of the families Gerridae (Brachymetra albinervis albinervis, B. furva, B. lata, B. shawi, Cylindrostethus erythropus, C. linearis, C. palmaris, C. regulus, Halobatopsis platensis, Limnogonus aduncus aduncus, L. hyalinus, L. ignotus, L. profugus, L. recurvus, Neogerris lubricus, N. magnus, N. lotus, N. visendus, Ovatametra gualeguay, Rheumatobates crassifemur crassifemur, R. c. esakii, Tachygerris adamsoni, T. celocis and T. surinamensis), Hydrometridae (Hydrometra guianana and H. sztolcmani) and Mesoveliidae (Mesovelia amoena, M. mulsanti and Mesoveloidea williamsi).

Obtention and characterization of collagen and chitosan based cements for bone regerneration. Part 1: extraction and characterization of collagen

Several cements are used as biomaterials. Biopolymers such as chitosan and collagen exhibit excellent biocompatibility and can be used in the remodeling of bone tissue. The cement must have high mechanical strength and compatibility with original tissue. In this context, the objective of this study was to extract, characterize and cross-link collagen from bovine tendon, forlater associate it with chitosan and calcium phosphate to obtain cements for bone regeneration. Glutaraldehyde was used as cross-linker in 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 10% concentration. Infrared analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups characteristic of collagen, whereas the capacity of water absorption decreased with the increasing of cross-linking degree. Denaturation temperatures of collagen samples were obtained by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy showed the fiber structure characteristics of collagen, which were more organized for high degree of cross-linking samples.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): methodological aspects and clinical applications

The clinical use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is based on the increase in the concentration of growth factors and in the secretion of proteins which are able to maximize the healing process at the cellular level. Since PRP is an autologous biologic material, it involves a minimum risk of immune reactions and transmission of infectious and contagious diseases, and it has been widely used for the recovery of musculoskeletal lesions. Despite the great potential for applicability, the implementation of the therapeutic employment of PRP as a clinical alternative has become difficult, due to the lack of studies related to the standardization of the techniques and/or insufficient description of the adopted procedures. Therefore, it is required establish standard criteria to be followed for obtaining a PRP of high quality, as well as a larger number of studies which should establish the proper concentration of platelets for the different clinical conditions. In this context, the purpose of this review is to discuss some methodological aspects used for achieving the PRP, as well as to discuss the bioactive properties of PRP, and to point out its therapeutic use in different fields of regenerative medicine.

Uso do soro autólogo condicionado e do plasma rico em plaquetas na terapia ortopédica de equinos

Musculoskeletal injuries that occur in horses during sports activities are often disabling and require a long period of treatment and rehabilitation, most resulting in scar tissue, predisposing to recurrence. In search of more effective therapies and tissue regeneration, studies have been carried out with blood derivatives - platelet rich plasma and autologous conditioned serum. In spite of both being blood-derived therapies, platelet rich plasma and autologous conditioned serum are distinct products, with equally distinct indications for their use. Platelet rich plasma shows promising results in ligament and tendon injuries in clinical and experimental trials. This occurs also in osteoarticular lesions with both hemoderivates, autologous conditioned serum and platelet rich plasma. This review aims to present clinical and experimental studies (in vivo and in vitro) in the equine species, as an aid for an appropriate therapeutic choice, when hemoderivates are considered for treatment of musculoskeletal lesions.

Evaluation of the marsh deer stifle joint by imaging studies and gross anatomy

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

High-intensity resistance training attenuates dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy

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

Downhill running excessive training inhibits hypertrophy in mice skeletal muscles with different fiber type composition

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of running overtraining protocols performed in downhill, uphill, and without inclination on the proteins related to hypertrophy signaling pathway in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus of C57BL/6 mice. We also performed histological and stereological analyses. Rodents were divided into control (CT; sedentary mice), overtrained by downhill running (OTR/down), overtrained by uphill running (OTR/up), and overtrained by running without inclination (OTR). The incremental load, exhaustive, and grip force tests were used as performance evaluation parameters. 36 h after the grip force test, EDL and soleus were removed and immediately used for immunoblotting analysis or stored at -80°C for histological and stereological analyses. For EDL, OTR/down decreased the protein kinase B (Akt) and tuberous sclerosis protein 2 (TSC2) phosphorylation (p), and increased myostatin, receptor-activated Smads (pSMAD2-3), and insulin receptor substrate-1 (pIRS-1; Ser307/636). OTR/down also presented low and high relative proportions of cytoplasm and connective tissue, respectively. OTR/up increased the mammalian target of rapamycin (pmTOR), 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (pS6K1) and pSMAD2-3, and decreased pTSC2. OTR decreased pTSC2 and increased pIRS-1 (Ser636). For soleus, OTR/down increased S6 ribosomal protein (pS6RP) and pSMAD2-3, and decreased pIRS-1 (Ser639). OTR/up decreased pS6K1, pS6RP and pIRS-1 (Ser639), and increased pTSC2 (Ser939), and pSMAD2-3. OTR increased pS6RP, 4E-binding protein-1 (p4E-BP1), pTSC2 (Ser939), and pSMAD2-3, and decreased pIRS-1 (Ser639). In summary, OTR/down inhibited the skeletal muscle hypertrophy with concomitant signs of atrophy in EDL. The effects of OTR/up and OTR depended on the analyzed skeletal muscle type. J. Cell. Physiol. 9999: 1-12, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Analysis of experimental tendinitis in rats treated with laser and platelet-rich plasma therapies by Raman spectroscopy and histometry

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

Use of power doppler for the assessment of vascularization in equine tendinitis treated with mesenchymal stem cells

Tendinous lesions are very common in athlete horses. The process of tendon healing is slow and the quality of the new tissue is often inferior to the original, leading in many cases to recurrence of the lesion. One of the main reasons for the limited healing capacity of tendons is its poor vascularization. At present, cell therapy is used in equine practice for the treatment of several disorders including tendinitis, desmitis and joint disease. However, there is little information regarding the mechanisms of action of these cells during tissue repair. It is known that Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) release several growth factors at the site of implantation, some of which promote angiogenesis. Comparison of blood flow using power Doppler ultrasonography was performed after the induction superficial digital flexor tendon tendinitis and implantation of adipose tissue-derived MSCs in order to analyze the effect of cell therapy on tendon neovascularization. For quantification of blood vessel histopathological examinations were conducted. Increased blood flow and number of vessels was observed in treated tendons up to 30 days after cell implantation, suggesting promotion of angiogenesis by the cell therapy.

Acute and subchronic antihyperglycemic activities of bowdichia virgilioides roots in non diabetic and diabetic rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A influência da fadiga nos músculos eversores durante a entorse lateral do tornozelo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da resposta inflamatória local após aplicação de células tronco mesenquimais alogênicas em tendão flexor digital superficial de equinos

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

Ocorrência de lesões de ligamentares e músculo tendíneas ao longo das fases do ciclo menstrual de atletas de alto redimento: um estudo de caso longitudinal

Female athletes are more susceptible to injury when compared with males. This increased risk of injury, may be caused by fertile-menstrual cycle. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence in the occurrence of muscle-tendon and ligament injuries in different phases of the menstrual cycle over a period of high performance sports training and identify possible differences of occurrences between the phases. Fifteen female athletes, members of a women's basketball team, with ages between 15 and 22 years (average 17.5 ± 2.6 years), with regular menstrual cycles and daily practitioners of training, received follow-up during the menstrual cycle for 5 months. During the period were noted occurrences of injury in relation to the menstrual period of each athlete. The results showed 13 injuries, all of anterior cruciate ligament. The distribution of percentage values indicated a significantly higher risk of athletes suffer injuries in the follicular phase. The result makes us believe that significant elevations in the concentrations of estrogen in this fertile menstrual cycle phase, more open women to a higher risk of performing different injuries.

Metabolismo de proteínas na musculatura esquelética de animais diabéticos tratados com iogurte enriquecido com curcumina

A perda de massa muscular observada no diabetes mellitus (DM) tipo 1 é consequência da combinação entre redução na velocidade de síntese proteica e aumento na velocidade de proteólise. A curcumina, pigmento amarelo extraído dos rizomas de Curcuma longa L., promove diversos benefícios no metabolismo de carboidratos e lipídeos no DM. Deste modo, buscamos avaliar o efeito do tratamento de ratos diabéticos com curcumina incorporada em iogurte sobre o metabolismo proteico muscular. Ratos Wistar machos (150±10 g) receberam estreptozotocina (40 mg/kg, i.v.) para indução do DM e foram divididos nos grupos (n=8): diabético tratado com iogurte (DIOG), 90 mg/kg de curcumina (DC90), 4U de insulina (DINS) e ratos normais, não diabéticos, tratados com iogurte (NIOG). Após 35 dias de tratamento, os animais foram eutanasiados e os músculos esqueléticos soleus e extensor digitorium longus (EDL) foram retirados e utilizados para a determinação das atividades proteolíticas de caspase-3, calpaína e proteassoma (atividade quimiotripsina-like). O tratamento de animais diabéticos com curcumina incorporada em iogurte reduziu a glicemia, os níveis de ureia urinária e promoveu um maior ganho de peso corporal em relação aos animais diabéticos tratados somente com iogurte (DIOG). Animais DIOG apresentaram um aumento nas atividades de calpaína e proteassoma em músculos soleus e EDL em relação aos valores encontrados em músculos de animais NIOG; já o tratamento com curcumina reduziu as atividades de calpaína e proteassoma em EDL de ratos diabéticos, o que explica, pelo menos em parte, a menor perda de massa deste músculo em ratos DC90. Houve uma redução na atividade de caspase-3 em músculos de animais DIOG em comparação aos grupos...

Relação entre a reatividade de pontos de acupuntura e atividade física com afecções ortopédicas determinadas por exames de imagens em equinos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)