Cervical Lactobacillus and leukocyte infiltration in preterm premature rupture of membranes

Objectives: To evaluate the possible association between microorganisms present in the cervical secretions and amniotic fluid of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and histologic chorioamnionitis. Methods: Thirty-seven pregnant women with PPROM and 21 healthy pregnant women were studied. Secretions from the cervical canal and amniotic fluid were collected to isolate microorganisms present in the genital tract. Cervical smears were Gram stained and evaluated microscopically. At delivery, chorioamniotic membranes were collected for histopathologic analysis. Results: Microscopic examination of the cervical secretion smears obtained from the PPROM group showed a low rate of Lactobacillus species, large numbers of leukocytes, and a wide diversity of microorganisms compared with the control group. The PPROM group presented an 80% rate of chorioamnionitis. Staphylococcus aureus isolation in cervical secretion was associated with intense inflammatory infiltrate in the membranes and might play a role in the pathogenesis of PPROM. Conclusions: the low colonization of cervical flora by Lactobacillus species associated with an intense leukocyte infiltrate detected in Gram-stained cervical smears can be considered a rapid method of detecting chorioamnionitis in pregnant women with PPROM. (C) 2003 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier B.V. Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Chlamydia trachomatis Cervicitis in Pregnant Women at the Genital Tract Infection in Obstetrics Unit Care at Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil

Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis cervicitis in pregnant women seen at the Genital Tract Infection in Obstetrics Unit Care in Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University - UNESP.Materials and Methods. Between June 2006 and February 2008, 101 pregnant women were included in this study. During the gynecologic examination, cervical secretions were collected using cytobrush Plus GT (CooperSurgical Inc) to assess C. trachomatis using polymerase chain reaction. Vaginal flora were examined by Gram stain, and socio-demographic data were extracted from medical records.Results. of the 101 patients, 26 (25.7%) were positive for C. trachomatis. The median age of the infected group was 24 years (range = 13-40 y), and 48.5% of them had abnormal vaginal flora. The presence of chlamydial infection was associated with smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-7.19), residing in a city with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants (OR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.03-7.94), presence of condyloma acuminatum (p = .03), and presence of discreet inflammation on Pap smear (p = .02).Conclusions. The prevalence of C. trachomatis is high in pregnant women seen at the Genital Infection Unit Care, UNESP, and is related to many risk factors. Therefore, its screening is extremely important in reducing obstetrical and neonatal complications.

The impact of physical exercise on the gastrointestinal tract

Purpose of reviewPhysical exercise can be both beneficial and harmful for the gastrointestinal tract in a dose-effect relationship between its intensity and health. Mild-to-moderate intensity exercises play a protective role against colon cancer, diverticular disease, cholelithiasis and constipation, whereas acute strenuous exercise may provoke heartburn, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and even gastrointestinal bleeding. This review focuses on mechanisms involved in those symptoms and their associations with type of exercises in humans.Recent findingsOne quarter to one half of elite athletes are hampered by the gastrointestinal symptoms that may deter them from participation in training and competitive events. Vigorous exercise-induced gastrointestinal symptoms are often attributed to altered motility, mechanical factor or altered neuroimmunoendocrine secretions. Training, lifestyle modifications, meal composition, adequate hydration and avoidance of excessive use of some medications are the recommendations.SummaryStrenuous exercise and dehydrated states would be the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms referred by 70% of the athletes. Gut ischemia would be the main cause of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and (bloody) diarrhea. The frequency is almost twice as high during running than during other endurance sports as cycling or swimming and 1.5-3.0 times higher in the elite athletes than the recreational exercisers.

Lavado traqueobrônquico por via nasotraqueal como metodologia de colheita de células do trato respiratório de ovinos sadios e portadores de afecções pulmonares

Os estudos das secreções traqueobrônquicas são amplamente utilizados nas pesquisas de doenças pulmonares nas diversas espécies animais, inclusive no homem. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram a viabilização da técnica de colheita de lavado traqueobrônquico na espécie ovina e o estudo da relação clínico-citológica do lavado de ovinos portadores de broncopneumonia e sadios. Foram utilizados 33 ovinos, 18 sadios e 15 portadores de enfermidade respiratória com sinais clínicos de envolvimento das vias aéreas, divididos nos respectivos grupos, GS e GD. Após o exame físico foi realizado o lavado traqueobrônquico por via nasotraqueal. A colheita do lavado foi feita com a inoculação e aspiração de solução fisiológica estéril. As amostras foram processadas citologicamente através de citocentrifugação e coradas pelos métodos Wright-Giemsa e Shorr. Tanto a contagem total de células epiteliais quanto o número de hemácias por mililitro foi maior no grupo de animais com broncopneumonia. Nos animais sadios notou-se predomínio de macrófagos, seguido por células epiteliais cilíndricas, neutrófilos e linfócitos. No grupo de animais doentes havia menor número de macrófagos, e predomínio da população de neutrófilos. Por ser de fácil realização, pouco dispendiosa e pela obtenção representativa de material, a técnica estudada mostrou-se eficaz na obtenção de fluidos traqueobrônquicos e, portanto um bom método de colheita de células para uso nas pesquisas de vias aéreas.

Effects of neonatal castration and androgenization on sexual dimorphism in bone, leptin and corticosterone secretion

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Violência doméstica: análise das lesões em mulheres

Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a prevalência de lesões de cabeça e pescoço em mulheres, frente aos inquéritos policiais registrados como lesão corporal e maus-tratos na Delegacia de Defesa da Mulher de Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brasil, no ano de 2002. Foram totalizados 204 inquéritos policiais no ano de 2002, e destes extraídos 33 laudos periciais referentes aos crimes de lesões corporais e maus-tratos em mulheres. Analisou-se nos laudos médicos da perícia, aspectos relativos à idade das vítimas e local das lesões por elas apresentadas na ocasião do exame. Os resultados encontrados revelam que as agressões ocorrem em faixas etárias diversas, com predominância na infância e adolescência. Além disso, ocorreu a maior prevalência de lesões na região da cabeça e pescoço, área de atuação do cirurgião-dentista que necessita estar preparado para atender, entre outros, o paciente vítima de violência.

Orthodontic movement after periodontal regeneration of class II furcation: a pilot study in dogs

Purpose: the effect of orthodontic movement on the periodontal tissues of maxillary second pre-molars, after regenerative treatment for class II furcations, was evaluated in four mongrel dogs.Material and Methods: Class II furcation lesions were created. After 75 days they were treated with bovine bone mineral matrix and guided tissue regeneration with absorbable membrane. After 2 months of daily plaque control, each of the dog's furcation pre-molars was randomly assigned to a test or control group. Orthodontic appliances were placed on both sides of the maxilla using third pre-molars and canines as anchorages. In the test group, bodily orthodontic movement of the second pre-molars was performed in the mesial direction for 3 months while control pre-molars remained unmoved. The dogs were sacrificed for histometric and histologic analyses.Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in total bone and biomaterial areas or linear extension of periodontal regeneration on the radicular surfaces. In the test group, however, there was a tendency to a greater quantity of bone and a lesser quantity of biomaterial.Conclusion: the orthodontic movement was not pre-judicial to the results obtained with the regenerative periodontal treatment.

Changes in taste reactivity to intra-oral hypertonic NaCl after lateral parabrachial injections of an alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist

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

OIL GLANDS IN PTERODON PUBESCENS BENTH. (LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE): DISTRIBUTION, STRUCTURE, and SECRETION MECHANISMS

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

Cytodifferentiation during the spermatogenesis of the hermaphrodite caridea Exhippolysmata oplophoroides

Among the decapods, the caridean Exhippolysmata oplophoroides has been described as a simultaneous protandric hermaphrodite, seeing that it presents a male initial stage followed by a hermaphrodite one in which it can function as male and as female. This work had the aims of characterizing the microscopical morphology of the male portion of the ovotestes gonads from E. oplophoroides, at the different development stages, identifying each cell from the germ lines during spermatogenesis, as well as describing the ultramorphology of spermatozoans in the terminal region of the vasa deferentia. Shrimps were collected in Ubatuba, north coast of São Paulo, and their male gonads and the ampoule were removed, fixed and processed according to histological routine and for scanning electron microscopy. The testicular portion is divided in lobes, inside which cells at the same stage of the spermatogenic cycle are observed, with prevalence of spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stages I, II and V of gonad development, whereas spermatids and spermatozoans are found at stages III and IV, respectively. Ultramorphology of the terminal portion of the vasa deferentia exhibits mature aflagellated spike-shaped spermatozoans, encased in secretion and between membrane foldings that will constitute the spermatophores. Despite presenting reproductive characteristics common to other decapods. E. oplophoroides shows spermatozoans as well as spermatophore with typical morphology, which is important for its identification and taxonomy. Further, this species showed polysaccharide secretions where the spermatozoa are immerse as far as the testicular portion, which could have a roe in their transport and nutrition as well as spermatophore constitution and/or fixation; differently, other caridean species begin spermatophore formation during the passage of the gametes through the vasa deferentia. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Morphology and histology of male and female reproductive systems in the inseminating species Scoloplax distolothrix (Ostariophysi : Siluriformes : Scoloplacidae)

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

A new type of sternal gland present in Oxaea flavescens (Hymenoptera, Oxaeinae): location and histology

The sternal glands of the abdomen of Oxaea flavescens consist of class ill glandular cells, with the excretory canaliculus linking to the lateral intersegmental membrane of segments ill, TV and V. The intersegmental membrane is augmented and folded into several lobes forming a reservoir covered by secretory cells. The intersegmental membrane is then transformed into an intima that lines a reservoir space containing secretions of a type of mucus which is periodic acid-Schiff positive. The storage of a great amount of secretion suggests that it is not used continuously. These glands are absent from males, indicating that their products must have a specific function linked to the female sex.

PHEROMONES and EXOCRINE GLANDS IN ISOPTERA

Termites are eusocial insects that have a peculiar and intriguing system of communication using pheromones. The termite pheromones are composed of a blend of chemical substances and they coordinate different social interactions or activities, including foraging, building, mating, defense, and nestmate recognition. Some of these sociochemicals are volatile, spreading in the air, and others are contact pheromones, which are transmitted by trophallaxis and grooming. Among the termite semiochemicals, the most known are alarm, trail, sex pheromones, and hydrocarbons responsible for the recognition of nestmates. The sources of the pheromones are exocrine glands located all over the termite body. The principal exocrine structures considered pheromone-producing glands in Isoptera are the frontal, mandibular, salivary or labial, sternal, and tergal glands. The frontal gland is the source of alarm pheromone and defensive chemicals, but the mandibular secretions have been little studied and their function is not well established in Isoptera. The secretion of salivary glands involves numerous chemical compounds, some of them without pheromonal function. The worker saliva contains a phagostimulating pheromone and probably a building pheromone, while the salivary reservoir of some soldiers contains defensive chemicals. The sternal gland is the only source of trail-following pheromone, whereas sex pheromones are secreted by two glandular sources, the sternal and tergal glands. To date, the termite semiochemicals have indicated that few molecules are involved in their chemical communication, that is, the same compound may be secreted by different glands, different castes and species, and for different functions, depending on the concentration. In addition to the pheromonal parsimony, recent studies also indicate the occurrence of a synergic effect among the compounds involved in the chemical communication of Isoptera. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Mandibular glands in reproductives of asian termite coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

SPERMATOGENESIS, SPERMATOPHORE, and SEMINAL FLUID PRODUCTION IN THE ADULT BLUE CRAB CALLINESTES DANAE (PORTUNIDAE)

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