Lesions of the commissural subnucleus of the nucleus of the solitary tract increase isoproterenol-induced water intake

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

Lesions in the central amygdala impair sodium intake induced by the blockade of the lateral parabrachial nucleus

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

Commissural NTS lesions enhance the pressor response to central cholinergic and adrenergic activation

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

Evaluation of chronic periapical lesions by digital subtraction radiography by using adobe photoshop CS: A technical report

The purpose of this study was to describe a new technique by using Adobe Photoshop CS (San Jose, CA) image-analysis software to evaluate the radiographic changes of chronic periapical lesions after root canal treatment by digital subtraction radiography. Thirteen upper anterior human teeth with pulp necrosis and radiographic image of chronic periapical lesion were endodontically treated and radiographed 0, 2, 4, and 6 months after root canal treatment by using a film holder. The radiographic films were automatically developed and digitized. The radiographic images taken 0, 2, 4, and 6 months after root canal therapy were submitted to digital subtraction in pairs (0 and 2 months, 2 and 4 months, and 4 and 6 months) choosing image, calculation, subtract, and new document tools from Adobe Photoshop CS image-analysis software toolbar. The resulting images showed areas of periapical healing in all cases. According to this methodology, the healing or expansion of periapical lesions can be evaluated by means of digital subtraction radiography by using Adobe Photoshop CS software.

Er : YAG laser: Antimicrobial effects in the root canals of dogs' teeth with pulp necrosis and chronic periapical lesions

Objective: Our goal in this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Er:YAG laser applied after biomechanical preparation of the root canals of dog's teeth with apical periodontitis. Background Data: Various in vitro studies have reported effective bacterial reduction in infected root canals using Er:YAG laser. However, there is no in vivo research to support these results. Methods: Forty root canals of dogs' premolar teeth with pulp necrosis and chronic periapical lesions were used. An initial microbiological sample was taken, and after biomechanical preparation was carried out, a second microbiological sample was taken. The teeth were divided into two groups: Group I-biomechanical preparation was taken of root canals without Er:YAG laser application; Group II-biomechanical preparation was taken of root canals with Er:YAG laser application using 140-mj input, 63-mJ output/15 Hz. After coronal sealing, the root canals were left empty for 7 days at which time a third microbiological sample was taken. The collected material was removed from the root canal with a #40 K file and placed in transport media. It was serially diluted and seeded on culture dishes selective for anaerobes, aerobes, and total streptococci. Colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) were counted. Results: Groups I and II showed an increase of CFU/mL for all microorganisms 7 days after treatment, being statistically significant for anaerobes in Group I and for anaerobes and total streptococci in Group II. When comparing CFU/mL of Groups I and II, there was a statistically significant increase after 7 d for total streptococci in Group II. Conclusion: Er:YAG laser applied after biomechanical preparation did not reduce microorganisms in the root canal system.

microRNA evaluation of unknown primary lesions in the head and neck

Unknown primary malignancy in the head and neck is not an infrequent diagnosis for patients with metastatic cervical lymph nodes. Although linked with a relatively good prognosis following radiation treatment, widespread radiation is coupled with significant morbidity. Altered microRNA (miRNA) expression has been associated with both cancer progression and metastasis. We sought to determine whether miRNA expression analysis could be used as a diagnostic tool to discover the primary site of malignancy, within the head and neck. We used quantitative real-time PCR to identify miRNA expression profiles of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, base of tongue and post-nasal space, as well as their corresponding metastatic lymph nodes, from 6 patients. Our results revealed that each cancer maintained its expression profile between the primary site and the nodal metastasis (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). In addition, each anatomical sub-site maintained a distinct miRNA profile between individual patients (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001). Finally, between sub-sites, the miRNA profiles were distinct (p < 0.0001). As proof of principle, our study provides an indication that miRNA expression analysis may be useful to compare the primary lesion and local metastatic disease. This may be clinically relevant to predict the primary site of origin of metastatic disease, when the primary site remains obscure.

Time-dependent expression of annexin 1 in a model of chronic granulomatous inflammation

Objective and design: To determine the expression pattern and distribution of the glucocorticoid-inducible protein annexin 1 (ANXA1) in a murine model of chronic granulomatous inflammation.Materials or subjects: TO Mouse.Treatment: Chronic granulomatous inflammation was induced by injecting into dorsal sub-cutaneous air-pouches in mice, a mixture of croton oil and Freund's complete adjuvant (CO/FCA).Methods: Western and northern analysis, corticosterone assay, and immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's pair-wise comparisons or Dunnett's multiple comparisons.Results: ANXA1 protein levels changed significantly throughout the 4-week time course, with an initial peak at day 7 and a later elevation at 28 days. ANXA1 mRNA levels peaked at days 1 and 3, with a significant decline at day 7 followed by an upward trend to day 28. Plasma corticosterone measurements taken throughout the time course revealed an increase from 14 days onward, suggesting that corticosterone does not influence ANXA1 expression during the initial stages of the model. Immunogold staining revealed that ANXA1 expression in the inflamed tissue was mainly in extravasated neutrophils, with intact protein (37 kDa) being predominantly observed on the cell membrane.Conclusions: the pattern of ANXA1 expression indicates that infiltrated neutrophils are responsible for the majority of ANXA1 present both at early and later stages of this model of granulomatous inflammation.

Apoptosis as a mediator of hyperplastic recovery in human prostate lesions: cytochemical and immunocytochemical evaluation

The present study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of apoptosis in human prostatic lesions with emphasis on nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinomas, using cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry. The results showed that apoptosis is a common event on nodular hyperplasia but not in adenocarcinomas. This led to the hypothesis that apoptosis may represent an important factor on the localized recovery response of the hyperplastic acini.

Detection of numerical chromosome anomalies in interphase cells of benign and malignant thyroid lesions using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Benign and malignant thyroid tumors constitute a wide range of neoplasias showing recurrent chromosome abnormalities. In an attempt to characterize specific numerical chromosome abnormalities in thyroid tissues, We present here the findings from a study of archival samples depicted by 10 malignant tumors, 30 benign lesions, and 10 normal thyroid tissues. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed on noncultured samples using biotinylated centromere-specific probes for chromosomes 7, 10, and 17. Trisomy or tetrasomy 7 were present in 19 benign and in 7 malignant tumors. Trisomy 10 or 17 were observed in 18 adenomas or goiters and in 9 carcinomas, and monosomy 17 was seen in 2 carcinomas. Our findings suggest that such abnormalities are an in vivo phenomenon and may be important in the neoplastic proliferation of thyroid gland. (C) Elsevier B.V., 2000. All rights reserved.

Expression of TERT in precancerous gastric lesions compared to gastric cancer

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

Age-related histopathological lesions in the Mongolian gerbil ventral prostate as a good model for studies of spontaneous hormone-related disorders

The Meriones unguiculatus (Mongolian) gerbil has demonstrated significant prostatic responses to hormonal treatments, and to drugs against human prostatic hyperplasia Spontaneous neoplasia develops in the older animals. Thirty gerbils (age 18 months) were divided into non-affected and prostatic lesion bearers and the prostate lesions were evaluated morphologically, immunohistochemically and quantitatively. The most frequent changes were in epithelial sites and, namely prostatic intraepithelial neoplasias, microinvasive carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. In the stromal compartment, cellular hyperplasia, when verified, was always associated with the sites of anomalous epithelium. Additionally, larger deposition of collagen fibrils, generating stromal fibrosis, was found in all the old gerbils analysed. The quantitative analysis showed that prostatic tissue proportions differed in altered areas, being specific for each lesion type. Isolated nuclear and nucleolar parameters were not effective in diagnosing the malign potential of lesions. However, the cellular proliferation and death indexes indicated larger cellular turnover in invasive lesions such as carcinomas. With these analyses, it could be verified that old gerbils present high propensity to develop spontaneous prostate changes and this may aid in a better understanding of the biological behaviour of human prostate cancer.

Expression of Ki-67 Antigen and Caspase-3 Protein in Benign Lesions and Esophageal Carcinoma

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

Fluctuation of annexin-A1 positive mast cells in chronic granulomatous inflammation

Objective: We have applied here a model of chronic granulomatous inflammation to study the profile of mast cell activation and their expression of annexin-A1 in the nodular lesion.Materials: Granulomatous inflammation was induced by injection of croton oil and Freund's complete adjuvant (CO/FCA) into the dorsal air-pouches of mice. Skin tissue samples were collected from control group (24 h time-point; i.e. before disease development) and 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 days post-CO/FCA treatment.Results: Histopathological analyses revealed an on-going inflammation characterized by an increased number of activated mast cells at sites of the chronic inflammatory reaction in all experimental groups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed skin mast cells highly immunoreactive for annexin-A1, both at an initial (day 7) and a delayed (day 28) phase of the inflammatory reaction.Conclusions: The observed time-dependent modulation of mast cell activation, during the granulomatous injury, indicates that multiple pathways centred on annexin-A1 might become activated at different stages of this chronic inflammatory response, including the delayed and pro-resolving phase.