Electrical and mechanical effects of hyoscine butylbromide on the human stomach: a non-invasive approach

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sibutramine Effects on the Reproductive Performance of Pregnant Overweight and Non-Overweight rats

It is well established that sibutramine produces weight loss and is used frequently in women of childbearing age. However, the potential adverse consequences attributed to sibutramine use by women who may become pregnant is not known. It was thus of interest to determine the effects of sibutramine on the reproductive performance of pregnant rats. Overweight as well as non-overweight female Wistar rats were treated with sibutramine (6 mg/kg) orally, daily for 15 d and then mated with normal male rats. Pregnancy was confirmed and treatment continued with sibutramine until d 14 of pregnancy. on d 20 of pregnancy all rats were anesthetized for determination of various maternal and fetal parameters. There was a significant maternal weight reduction at the end of pregnancy in the non-overweight drug-treated group compared to the control (non-overweight, no drug). Sibutramine alone and overweight condition alone produced a significant increase in postimplantation loss and placental index. In the overweight with or without sibutramine groups a significant decrease in fetal weight was noted. Data suggest that sibutramine alone or the condition of excess weight in the absence of drugs produced impaired reproductive performance. However, treatment of overweight rats with sibutramine did not further exacerbate fetal loss compared to sibutramine alone or the effects noted with excess weight alone.

Short-Term Effects of the Use of Non-Rigid Tools for Postural Control by Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of prolonged running performed at the intensity corresponding to the onset of blood lactate accumulation, on maximum isokinetic strength in active non-athletic individuals

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os efeitos da corrida contínua prolongada realizada na intensidade correspondente ao início do acúmulo do lactato no sangue (OBLA) sobre o torque máximo dos extensores do joelho analisado em diferentes tipos de contração e velocidade de movimento em indivíduos ativos. MÉTODO: Oito indivíduos do gênero masculino (23,4 ± 2,1 anos; 75,8 ± 8,7 kg; 171,1 ± 4,5 cm) participaram deste estudo. Primeiramente, os sujeitos realizaram um teste incremental até a exaustão voluntária para determinar a velocidade correspondente ao OBLA. Posteriormente, os sujeitos retornaram ao laboratório em duas ocasiões, separadas por pelo menos sete dias, para realizar 5 contrações isocinéticas máximas para os extensores do joelho em duas velocidades angulares (60 e 180º.s-1) sob as condições excêntrica (PTE) e concêntrica (PTC). Uma sessão foi realizada após um período de aquecimento padronizado (5 min a 50%VO2max). A outra sessão foi realizada após uma corrida contínua no OBLA até a exaustão voluntária. Essas sessões foram executadas em ordem randômica. RESULTADOS: Houve redução significante do PTC somente a 60º.s-1 (259,0 ± 46,4 e 244,0 ± 41,4 N.m). Entretanto, a redução do PTE foi significante a 60º.s-1 (337,3 ± 43,2 e 321,7 ± 60,0 N.m) e 180º.s-1 (346,1 ± 38,0 e 319,7 ± 43,6 N.m). As reduções relativas da força após o exercício de corrida foram significantemente diferentes entre os tipos de contração somente a 180º.s-1. CONCLUSÃO: Podemos concluir que, em indivíduos ativos, a redução no torque máximo após uma corrida contínua prolongada no OBLA pode ser dependente do tipo de contração e da velocidade angular.

Lorentz symmetry breaking and planar effects from non-linear electrodynamics

We propose a modification of standard linear electrodynamics in four dimensions, where effective non-trivial interactions of the electromagnetic field with itself and with matter fields induce Lorentz violating Chern-Simons terms. This yields two consequences: it provides a more realistic and general scenario for the breakdown of Lorentz symmetry in electromagnetism and it may explain the effective behavior of the electromagnetic field in certain planar phenomena (for instance, Hall effect). A number of proposals for non-linear electrodynamics is discussed along the paper. Important physical implications of the breaking of Lorentz symmetry, such as optical birefringence and the possibility of having conductance in the vacuum are commented on.

Effects of a non-rinse conditioner on the enamel of primary teeth

O objetivo deste estudo in vitro foi de avaliar ao microscópio eletrônico de varredura os aspectos morfológicos do esmalte de dentes decíduos após condicionamento com ácido fosfórico a 36% ou com um agente condicionador não lavável. Foram selecionados 10 dentes decíduos anteriores esfoliados naturalmente. As amostras sofreram limpeza coronária com pasta de pedra-pomes e água, em baixa-velocidade. O condicionamento foi realizado no esmalte da face vestibular. Os espécimes foram divididos em dois grupos: G1 (n=10): condicionamento com ácido fosfórico a 36% na forma de gel - Conditioner 36 (Dentsply) durante 20 segundos, seguidos de lavagem com água durante 15 segundos; G2 (n=10): condicionamento com NRC - Non Rinse Conditioner (Dentsply) durante 20 segundos, seguidos de secagem com ar durante 15 segundos. As amostras foram desidratadas, montadas em bases metálicas e cobertas com ouro para análise ao microscópio eletrônico de varredura (Jeol JSM 6.100). A análise da eletromicrografias revelou que ambos os agentes condicionadores foram efetivos para condicionar o esmalte de dentes decíduos, causando microporosidades mas com melhor resultado quando utilizou-se o ácido fosfórico a 36% na forma de gel.

Non-ventilation during early incubation in combination with dexamethasone administration during late incubation: 1. Effects on physiological hormone levels, incubation duration and hatching events

This study investigated the effect of non-ventilation of the incubator during the first 10 days of incubation and its combination with dexamethasone administration at day 16 or 18 of incubation on hatching parameters and embryo and post-hatch chick juvenile physiology. A total of 2400 hatching eggs produced by Cobb broiler breeders were used for the study. Blood samples were collected at day 18 of incubation, at internal pipping stage (IP), at the end of hatch (day-old chick) and at 7-daypost-hatch for T-3, T-4 and corticosterone levels determination. From 448 to 506 h of incubation, the eggs were checked individually in the hatcher every 2 h for pipping and hatching. The results indicate that non-ventilation during the first 10-day shortened incubation duration up to IP, external pipping (EP) and hatch, had no effect on hatchability and led to higher T-3 levels at IP but lower corticosterone levels at 7-day-post-hatch. The injection of dexamethasone at days 16 and 18 of incubation affected hatching and blood parameters in both the ventilated and non-ventilated embryos differentially and the effect was dependent on the age of the embryo. Dexamethasone increased T-3 levels and T-3/T-4 ratios but the effect was greater with early non-ventilation of eggs. Dexamethasone decreased hatchability but the effect was greater when injected at day 16 and especially in ventilated embryos. The effects of incubation protocols and dexamethasone treatments during incubation were still apparent in the hatched chicks until 7 days of age. The changes in T-3, T-4 and corticosterone levels observed in response to the early incubation conditions and late dexamethasone treatments in this study suggest that incubator ventilation or non-ventilation may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) regulation of stress levels (in terms of plasma corticosterone levels) and thyroid function in the embryo with impact on incubation duration, hatching events and early post-hatch life of the chick. Our results also suggest that some stages of development are more sensitive to dexamethasone administration as effects can be influenced by early incubation protocols. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Force patterns of hypoxic myocardium applied to oxygenated muscle preparations: Comparison with effects of regional ischemia on the contraction of non-ischemic myocardium

Objective: To examine the basis for local wall motion abnormalities commonly seen in patients with ischemic heart disease, computer-controlled isolated muscle studies were carried out. Methods: Force patterns of physiologically sequenced contractions (PSCs) from rat left ventricular muscle preparations under well-oxygenated conditions and during periods of hypoxia and reoxygenation were recorded and stored in a computer. Force patterns of hypoxic-reoxygenating and oxygenated myocardium were applied to oxygenated and hypoxic-reoxygenating myocardium, respectively. Results: Observed patterns of shortening and lengthening closely resemble those obtained from ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial segments using ultrasonic crystals in intact dog hearts during coronary occlusion and reperfusion, and are similar to findings reported in angiographic studies of humans with coronary artery disease. Conclusion: The current study, demonstrating motions of oxygenated isolated muscle preparations which are similar to those in perfused segments of intact hearts with regional ischemia, supports the concept that the multiple motions of both ischemic and non-ischemic segments seen in regional myocardial disease can be explained by interactions of strongly and weakly contracting muscle during the physiologic cardiac cycle.

Non-mutagenic or genotoxic effects of medicinal aqueous extracts from the Agaricus blazei mushroom in V79 cells

Agaricus blazei Murill is a mushroom largely consumed due to its medicinal properties. Effects of aqueous extract from its lineage AB97/11 in 2 fruiting body development stages (closed and opened pileus) were evaluated on chinese hamster V79 cells using cytokinesis blocking micronucleus (CBMN) and comet assays. The cells were treated at 0.15% concentration of aqueous extract prepared at different temperatures: ice-cold (4°C), room temperature (21°C) and warm (60°C). The extracts were applied in mutagenicity and antimutagenicity protocols (simultaneous, pre-incubation and continuous). The results showed that the aqueous extracts of Agaricus blazei lineage AB97/11 obtained at the 3 temperatures and both development stages did not present mutagenic or antimutagenic effect in V79 cells either in CBMN or comet assay.