Epicatechin Used in the Treatment of Intestinal Inflammatory Disease: An Analysis by Experimental Models

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

Structure of the posthepatic septum and its influence on visceral topology in the tegu lizard, Tupinambis merianae (Teiidae : Reptilia)

The posthepatic septum (PHS) divides the body cavity of Tupinambis merianae into two parts: the cranial one containing the lungs and liver and the caudal one containing the remaining viscera. The PHS is composed of layers of collagenous fibers and bundles of smooth muscle, neither of which show systematic orientation, as well as isolated blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. Striated muscle of the abdominal wall does not invade the PHS. The contractions of the smooth muscles may stabilize the pleurohepatic cavity under conditions of elevated aerobic needs rather than supporting breathing on a breath-by-breath basis. Surgical removal of the PHS changes the anatomical arrangement of the viscera significantly, with stomach and intestine invading the former pleurohepatic cavity and reducing the space for the lungs, Thus, the PHS is essential to maintain the visceral topography in Tupitionibis. J. Morphol. 258:151-157, 2003. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss. Inc.

Estudo morfológico da polpa de molares de ratos Wistar frente a uma oclusão traumática experimental

As alterações morfológicas pulpares, decorrentes de um estímulo externo experimental (interferência oclusal), foram estudadas, em nível de microscopia de luz. Utilizaram-se restaurações de amálgama, em sobreoclusão nos primeiros molares superiores direitos de dez ratos Wistar, divididos em 3 grupos e sacrificados por perfusão transcardíaca com formol a 10%, aos 10, 20 e 30 dias. A avaliação foi feita nos molares inferiores direitos (lado experimental) e esquerdos (lado controle). As peças ósseas após descalcificação em solução de EDTA associada às microondas, seguiram técnica histológica de rotina e coloração por hematoxilina-eosina e tricrômico de Mallory. Verificou-se no lado controle uma reação intensa caracterizada por um posicionamento atípico dos odontoblastos, seguida pelo aparecimento de cálculos pulpares e posteriormente por uma aparente e uniforme acomodação tecidual em toda a polpa, com moderada incidência de fibras colágenas. No lado experimental, as alterações foram similares parecendo, porém, aumentar com o tempo, principalmente aos 30 dias, onde a imagem histológica era semelhante à do lado controle aos 10 dias. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que a interferência oclusal provocou alterações no tecido conjuntivo pulpar tanto no lado experimental como no controle e que as mesmas foram proporcionais à direção dos movimentos mandibulares.

Chronic administration of Abarema cochliacarpos attenuates colonic inflammation in rats

Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by a chronic clinical course of relapse and remission associated with self-destructive inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Active extracts from plants have emerged as natural potential candidates for its treatment. Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & Grimes, Fabaceae (Barbatimão), is a native medicinal plant in to Brazil. Previously we have demonstrated in an acute colitis model a marked protective effect of a butanolic extract, so we decided to assess its anti-inflammatory effect in a chronic ulcerative colitis model induced by trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNBS). Abarema cochliacarpos (150 mg/day, v.o.) was administered for fourteen consecutive days. This treatment decreased significantly macroscopic damage as compared with TNBS. Histological analysis showed that the extract improved the microscopic structure. Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) was significantly decreased. Study of cytokines showed that TNF-α was diminished and IL-10 level was increased after Abarema cochliacarpos treatment. In order to elucidate inflammatory mechanisms, expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were studied showing a significant downregulation. In addition, there was reduction in the JNK and p-38 activation. Finally, IκB degradation was blocked by Abarema cochliacarpos treatment being consistent with an up-regulation of the NF-kappaB-binding activity. These results reinforce the anti-inflammatory effects described previously suggesting that Abarema cochliacarpos could provide a source for the search for new anti-inflammatory compounds useful in ulcerative colitis treatment.

Estudo comparativo entre a sutura contínua e a com pontos separados na parede abdominal de ratos

O objetivo deste experimento foi comparar a sutura contínua e a sutura com pontos separados no fechamento da parede abdominal. Foram utilizados 48 ratos machos Wistar, submetidos a laparotomia com técnica de diérese padronizada, 24 submetidos a sutura da parede abdominal por técnica contínua e 24 com pontos separados, com fio polidioxanona. No 7º e 14º dia de pós-operatório foram submetidos a eutanásia 12 animais de cada grupo e deles retirados a camada músculo-fascial abdominal envolvendo a cicatriz operatória e dividida aleatoriamente em dois segmentos (cranial e caudal), um para ser submetido a avaliação da força de rotura mediante o uso de tensiômetro e outro para exame histológico, onde foi realizada a avaliação quantitativa de colágeno na linha de sutura. Os resultados encontrados foram analisados estatisticamente. Concluiu-se que no 7º dia de pós-operatório a parede abdominal suturada com pontos separados é mais resistente, porém sem diferenças significantes na quantidade de colágeno, do que a suturada por técnica contínua, e no 14º dia, ambas se equivalem nos dois parâmetros estudados, em ratos.

Efeitos od laser CO2 na mandíbula de ratos: Estudo através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura

A face lateral do corpo da mandíbula de ratos foi irradiada pelo laser CO2 com disparos contínuos de 10watts de potência. Após três meses, o sulco formado pela irradiação apresentou, em uma grande extensão, material fundido com diversas fraturas. Após sete meses, o periósteo neoformado recobriu amplas áreas da incisão, que apresentou ainda material carbonizado. Um ano após a incisão, o periósteo neoformado estava composto por fibras colágenas, que formaram feixes espessos, transversais à incisão, ou malhas regulares, que recobriram a incisão. Ainda nessa fase, resquícios de material carbonizado foram verificados, caracterizando um retardo na regeneração óssea

Picrosirius-polarization staining method as an efficient histopathological tool for collagenolysis detectin in vesical prolapse lesions

The Picrosirius-polarization method has been indicated as a selective histochemical stain for collagen detection in tissue sections. This method can also be of value for studying collagen degradation given that, under polarized light, collagen displays birefringence due to its molecular order. The aim of this study is to highlight this staining method as an additional instrument for a rapid and excellent confirmatory diagnosis of the presence of collagenolysis in connective tissue in the vaginal wall with vesical prolapse lesion, in tissue sections. Dramatic changes in collagen morphology were found in vaginal mucosa in vesical prolapse disorder: they were weakly stained by Sirius red and under polarized light appeared as thin, pale (weakly birefringent), greenish, and with fibers more scattered, while the histoarchitecture of the organ showed a disrupted appearance. Thus, in the present study, we showed in vaginal mucosa in the vesicle prolapse that corroded collagenous framework appears as fragmentary and irregularly separated collagenous structures, that are weakly birefringent, corresponding to a molecular disorganization of these fibers caused by collagenolysis. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

TOXIC DILATATION OF THE COLON IN CHAGAS-DISEASE

Toxic megacolon occurs in colitis of differing aetiology. This report describes 15 patients with chagasic megacolon with this complication. The clinical signs and symptoms in all patients were pain and progressive abdominal distension accompanied by fever, severe toxaemia and shock. Seven patients developed this clinical pattern after manual removal of faeces. The remaining patients had pain and abdominal distension followed by signs of severe toxaemia when first examined. Nine patients underwent total colectomy with ileostomy (one death), four partial colectomy (all died) and two received medical treatment (both died). At autopsy, three of the four patients undergoing partial colectomy had residual colitis and enteritis. The surgical procedure of choice for this complication of chagasic megacolon is total colectomy.

Collagen-hydroxyapatite films: piezoelectric properties

In this paper we report a study of the physicochemical, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of anionic collagen and collagen-hydroxyapatite (HA) composites, considering the development of new biomaterials which have potential applications in support for cellular growth and in systems for bone regeneration. The piezoelectric strain tensor element d(14), the elastic constant s(55) and the dielectric permittivity 8(11), were measured for the anionic collagen and collagen-HA films. The thermal analysis shows that the denaturation endotherm is at 59.47 degreesC for the collagen sample. The collagen-HA composite film shows two transitions, at 48.9 and 80.65 degreesC. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the collagen film shows a broad band characteristic of an amorphous material. The main peaks associated to the crystalline HA is present in the sample of collagen-HA. In the collagen-HA composite, one can also notice the presence of other peaks with low intensities which is an indication of the formation of other crystalline phases of apatite. The scanning electron photomicrograph of anionic collagen membranes shows very thin bundles of collagen. The scanning electron photomicrography of collagen-HA film also show deposits of hydroxyapatite on the collagen fibers forming larger bundles and suggesting that a collagenous structure of reconstituted collagen fibers could act as nucleators for the formation of apatite crystal similar to those of bone. The piezoelectric strain tensor element d(14) was measured for the anionic collagen, with a value of 0.062 pC N-1, which is in good agreement compared with values reported in the literature obtained with other techniques. For the collagen-HA composite membranes, a slight decrease of the value of the piezoelectricity (0.041 pC N-1) was observed. The anionic collagen membranes present the highest density, dielectric permittivity and lowest frequency constant f.L. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

OBTENCAO DE MESALAZINA (5-ASA) POR CARBOXILACAO DE P-AMINOFENOL

The 5-aminosalicylic acid is usually prepared: 1. by the reduction of the azodye from diazotized aniline and salicylic acid and the posterior reduction of the formed compound; 2. for carboxylation with carbon dioxide under high pressure of p-aminophenol. Both do not present high yield, but the carboxylation process of p-aminophenol can easily be used and can reduce the obtainment process of 3 steps to only 2. Another advantage of this process is the fact that the product is produced without contaminants, because only one solid reagent (p-aminophenol) and the agent of carboxylation (CO2) is used.

Indices de atividade da doença inflamatória do intestino: indicadores clínicos e laboratoriais.

The quantification of the degree of activity of inflammatory bowel disease is assuming growing importance nowadays. The activity index of the disease can be attained by clinical and laboratorial indicators. For ulcerative colitis the mostly used clinical parameters are daily bowel movements and presence of bloody diarrhea whereas albumin, hemoglobin, ESR and positive acute phase protein measurements are the laboratory parameters. For Crohn's disease activity besides the daily bowel movements the presence of abdominal pain and discomfort sensation are also frequently used whereas the C-reactive protein is the most used laboratory test which is able to detect the disease reactivation even before the appearance of any clinical sign. The combinations of clinical signs with the laboratory tests earned the sympathy of the specialists and the set of ensembled indicators has been recognized by the author's name. In this sense, the classification of the ulcerative colitis activity originally proposed by Truelove and Witts deserves presently a wide acceptance whereas such agreement is still lacking for Crohn's disease activity. In the mean time, the Bristol index is clinically the most feasible, once the Crohn's disease activity index and the Van Hees index are considered too complex. However the latter indexes are still useful mainly for comparisons among multicentric data. It seems that the currently existing clinical signs used for Crohn's disease activity would be quantitatively improved by adding some easily made laboratory tests such as C-reactive protein.

Reativação da retocolite ulcerativa com o uso de droga anti-inflamatória não esteróide: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

The case of a patient with ulcerative colitis and isolated sacro-ileitis is presented. She suffered reactivation of the intestinal disease with diclofenac. The patient was allergic to sulfasalazine and was using fish oil fatty acid. The possible mechanisms of reactivation of the inflammatory bowel disease with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are discussed. It is suggested when necessary the utilization of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibits the lipoxygenase in these patients.

Utilização do metabolismo protéico ( 15N-glicina) na detecção precoce de agravamento da atividade da doença em pacientes portadores de retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica

Disease activity was assessed in 10 (five males and five females) ulcerative colitis patients through the following parameters: clinical, laboratory, sigmoidoscopic and histological. Protein metabolism was also assessed with 15N-glycine and urinary ammonia as end product. Only one patient had exacerbation of the disease two months after the study started. This patient presented in the beginning of the study protein synthesis and breakdown of 4.51 and 3.47 g protein/kg/day, respectively, values higher than all other patients, showing an hypermetabolic state, suggesting an increase of the disease activity. However, this increase was not detected by others indicators and indexes utilised. These data allow to suggest the hypothesis that protein metabolism predicts precociously the exacerbation of disease activity in ulcerative colitis patients.

Advances in prodrug design

The background of prodrug design is presented herein as the basis for introducing new and advanced latent systems, taking into account mainly the versatility of polymers and other macromolecules as carriers. PDEPT (Polymer-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy); PELT (Polymer-Enzyme Liposome Therapy); CDS (Chemical Delivery System); ADEPT(Antibody-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy); GDEPT/VDEPT (Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy/Virus-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy); ODDS (Osteotropic Drug Delivery System) and LEAPT (Lectin-directed enzyme-activated prodrug therapy) are briefly described and some examples are given. © 2005 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Restabelecimento funcional do tendão extensor digital longo submetido a ressecção parcial em equinos: Observação macroscópica, histopatológica e ultra-sonográfica

The objective of this work was to study the macroscopic, ultrasonographic and histopathologic aspects from the newly formed cicatricial tissue at the site of the partial resection of the long digital extensor tendon in 10 equines at the moment of functional restoration of the limb with the animal in walk locomotion. The macroscopic exam was performed every 48 hours, the planimetric mensuration every 10 days, the ultrasonographic exam every 15 days and the histopathologyc exam at the end of the study. The wounds showed granulation tissue in retraction, without total lesion epithelization, and the aspects ultrasonographics revealed wound healing with newly formed tissues with variable density and high neovascularization without tendon structural reorganization. The histopathology showed newly formed vascularized tissue, with leukocytic infiltrate and collagenous deposition without full epithelization. The cicatrization tissue formed in the resection region of the tendon, immature and without the structural organization of the normal tendon, showed to be able to functional restoration of the operated limb.