Spectrophotometric Evaluation of the Behavior of Disperse Red 1 Dye in Aqueous Media and its Interaction with Calf Thymus ds-DNA

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

A multimetric index based on fish fauna for the evaluation of the biotic integrity of streams at a mesohabitat scale

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

Evaluation of the haematological parameters in Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg (Osteichthyes, Characidae) with Argulus sp. (Crustacea, Branchiura) infestation and treatment with organophosphate

Haematological parameters as erythrocytes, leukocytes and plasma glucose in Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 were analyzed. Fish were parasitized with Argulus sp. (Crustacea, Branchiura) and treated with 0.4 mg of thriclorphon 500/L water. The effects of parasitism and the action of the treatment were evaluated. Parasitized fish showed greater number of monocytes (P>0.05) and special granulocitic cells (P<0.01) in the peripheric blood than the unparasitized (control) fish. Parasitized fish showed lower number of thrombocytes (P>0.05). Organophosphate treatment presented significantly reduction (P>0.05) in red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin.

Evaluation of the effect of hyoscine-N-butyl bromide on the cardiovascular actions of detomidine in the horse

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of the tissue response to MTA and MBPC: Microscopic analysis of implants in alveolar bone of rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the quantitative and qualitative inflammatory responses and bone formation potential after implantation of polyethylene tubes filled with a new calcium hydroxide containing sealer (MBPc) and Prolloot mineral trioxide aggregate (MIA). There were 48 Wistar rats divided in three groups: Group I (control group) empty polyethylene tubes were implanted in the extraction site; group II and III, polyethylene tubes were implanted filled with ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MIA) and MBPc, respectively. At 7, 15, and 30 days after tube implantation, the animals were killed, the hemi-maxillas were removed and prepared to light microscopic analyses. The scores obtained were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis statistical test (p < 0.05). Significant differences between the materials were not observed. The results showed that both materials had similar biological response.

Longitudinal clinical evaluation of adjunct minocycline in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

Background: the clinical benefits of minocycline in combination with thorough scaling and root planing (SRP) have been examined in multicenter studies. The aim of this longitudinal investigation was to evaluate the clinical response to scaling and root planing combined with the use of locally delivered minocycline microspheres for 720 days in individuals with advanced chronic periodontitis.Methods: A total of 26 individuals aged 26 to 69 years (mean: 46.8 +/- 12.1 years) were included in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. After randomization, 13 individuals were selected for the test group (TG) and treated with SRP plus subgingival minocycline at baseline and 90, 180, and 270 days, and 13 individuals were selected for the control group (CG) and received SRP plus vehicle at the same time-points. Two homologous sites with probing depth (PD) >= 6 mm were chosen in each subject. To evaluate the clinical response after treatment, PD, plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) were assessed at baseline and 90, 180, 270, 360, and 720 days.Results: No statistical differences were found between test and control groups in relation to PD at the different timepoints. The mean values of PD demonstrated a higher reduction in the test group at 270 and 360 days. No statistical differences were observed at 90, 180, and 720 days between TG and CG (P < 0.05; Wilcoxon test). There were no statistically significant differences between TG and CG concerning PI and GI (P < 0.05; analysis of variance and t test) at all evaluated timepoints.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that both therapies reduced mean PD from 90 to 360 days; however, SRP combined with the use of subgingival minocycline showed a higher reduction at 270 and 360 days following therapy.

Evaluation of the in vitro activity of cefepime compared to other broad-spectrum cephalosporins against clinical isolates from eighteen Brazilian hospitals by using the Etest

The in vitro activity of cefepime was compared to that of ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime in a multicenter study involving 10 clinical microbiology laboratories and clinical isolates from 18 Brazilian hospitals from 7 cities (4 states). A total of 982 isolates consecutively collected between December 1995 and March 1996 were susceptibility tested by using Etest and following the NCCLS procedures for agar diffusion tests. The cefepime spectrum was broader than that of the other broad-spectrum cephalosporins against both Gram-negative rods and Gram-positive cocci. Cefepime tons particularly move active against Enterobacter sp. (MIC90, 2 mu g/ml), Serratia sp. (MIC90, 2 mu g/ml) and oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90, 3 mu g/ml). Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cefepime (MIC90 16 mu g/ml) was slightly more active than ceftazidime (MIC90 32 mu g/ml) and 8- to 16-fold more active than ceftriaxone or cefotaxime (MIC90 >256 mu g/ml). Our results show that nosocomial bacteria, especially Gram-negative rods, have a high rate of cephalosporin resistance in Brazil. However, part of these resistant bacteria remains susceptible to cefepime. The Etest was shown to be an excellent method for multicenter studies of the in vitro evaluation of new antimicrobial agents. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V.

Evaluation of grinding fluids in the grinding of a martensitic valve steel with CBN and alumina abrasives

In this paper the performances of different cutting fluids and grinding wheel types were analysed in the grinding of SAE HVN-3 workpieces. The resulting residual stress, wheel wear and roughness were evaluated. The influence of the cutting fluid jet velocity v(j) was also analysed. As a conclusion, the lubrication ability seems to be the governing factor in the cutting fluid performance. The use of CBN wheels can significantly reduce the thermal damage in grinding, leading to compressive residual stresses. The CBN wheel and the cutting oil give an optimum combination for performing this grinding operation.

Sealing evaluation of the cervical base in intracoronal bleaching

Discoloration of non-vital teeth is an esthetic deficiency frequently requiring bleaching treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the cervical base efficacy in order to prevent or to minimize the leakage along the root canal filling and into the dentinal tubules. Thirty-eight extracted single-root human teeth were used, which were biomechanically prepared, filled, and divided into three experimental groups: G1, a cervical base was applied (3 mm of thickness) below the cemento-enamel junction, with resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (Vitremer); G2, the base was done with glass-ionomer cement (Vidrion R); and G3 (Control), did not receive any material as base. A mixture of sodium perborate and hydrogen peroxide 30% was placed inside the pulp chamber for 3 days, and the access opening was sealed with Cimpat. This procedure was repeated thrice. Soon after this, a paste of calcium hydroxide was inserted into the pulp chamber for 14 days. All teeth were covered with two layers of sticky wax, except the access opening, and immersed in blue India Ink for 5 days. The results did not show statistically significant differences between the three groups concerning the leakage inside the dentinal tubules. Regarding the apical direction, a statistical difference (ANOVA P < 0.05) was observed among the experimental group G1 and control group G3. No statistically significant difference was observed between G2 and G3 groups. Therefore, the placement of a cervical base before internal bleaching procedures is still recommended.

Evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effects of lidocaine and fentanyl during surgery in dogs

Objective-To evaluate the isoflurane-sparing effects of lidocaine and fentanyl administered by constant rate infusion (CRI) during surgery in dogs.Design-Randomized prospective study.Animals-24 female dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy because of mammary neoplasia.Procedures-After premedication with acepromazine and morphine and anesthetic induction with ketamine and diazepam, anesthesia in dogs (n = 8/group) was maintained with isoflurane combined with either saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control), liclocaine (1.5 mg/kg [0.68 mg/lb], IV bolus, followed by 250 mu g/kg/min [113 mu g/lb/min], CRI), or fentanyl (5 mu g/kg [2.27 mu g/lb], IV bolus, followed by 0.5 mu g/kg/min [0.23 mu g/lb/min], CRI). Positive-pressure ventilation was used to maintain eucapnia. An anesthetist unaware of treatment, endtidal isoflurane (ETiso) concentration, and vaporizer concentrations adjusted a nonprecision vaporizer to maintain surgical depth of anesthesia. Cardiopulmonary variables and ETiso values were monitored before and after beginning surgery.Results-Heart rate was lower in the fentanyl group. Mean arterial pressure did not differ among groups after surgery commenced. In the control group, mean +/- SD ETiso values ranged from 1.16 +/- 0.35% to 1.94 +/- 0.96%. Fentanyl significantly reduced isoflurane requirements during surgical stimulation by 54% to 66%, whereas the reduction in ETiso concentration (34% to 44%) observed in the lidocaine group was not significant.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Administration of fentanyl resulted in greater isoflurane sparing effect than did liclocaine. However, it appeared that the low heart rate induced by fentanyl may partially offset the improvement in mean arterial pressure that would be expected with reduced isoflurane requirements.

PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF EXTRACTS FROM ANCHIETIA-SALUTARIS ON THE HISTAMINE-RELEASE INDUCED IN THE RAT AND THE GUINEA-PIG

The tea made with leaves and stems of plant Anchietia salutaris is traditionally used in Brazil to treat allergies. We examined the effects of a crude aqueous extract and of purified fractions of this plant on the histamine release induced in rat and guinea pig tissues. The crude extract (3-10 mu g/ml) inhibits the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 (0.5 mu g/ml) and antigen in rat peritoneal mast cells. The inhibition is significant after 10 s of preincubation and is completed after 3 min. The crude extract dissolved in the perfusion fluid (1-30 mu g/ml) also inhibits the histamine release induced in guinea pig heart by cardiac anaphylaxis and in hearts from pretreated animals (10-100 mg/kg i.p.). In pretreated animals, the effect manifests after 3 h, is maximum after 12 h and disappears after 48 h. The histamine release induced in isolated guinea pig heart by ionophore A23187 is inhibited by similar doses as in antigen-induced histamine release. Extraction with solvents concentrated the active principle (s) in the hexane fractions, as demonstrated by the inhibition of the histamine release induced by antigen in isolated cells from guinea pig heart dispersed with collagenase. In subfractions produced by the fractionation of the hexane fraction, the active principle(s) concentrated in the subfractions obtained by extraction with hexane and ethyl acetate, which shows the low polarity of the compound(s). The same subfractions that inhibit the histamine release induced by antigen in cells from guinea pig heart also inhibit pulmonary cells. Our result show that A. salutaris contains low-polarity compound(s) that inhibit the histamine release induced by three different mechanisms in mast cells from two animal species. These facts suggest that the active principle(s) of A, salutaris could be useful in the treatment of allergies and/or as a tool for the study of mast cell secretions.