A Randomized Trial of the Topical Effect of Antifibrinolytic Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid on Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Without Cardiopulmonary Bypass

We assessed the effect of the topical application of epsilon-aminocaproic antifibrinolytic acid (EACA) on the pericardium of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This is a prospective, randomized, and double-blind study. We evaluated 26 patients with chronic coronary heart disease indicated for CABG without CPB (EACA and placebo groups). The analysis of the postoperative hematological results showed no difference between groups in hemoglobin and hematocrit. There was no difference between the groups regarding the postoperative bleeding through the drains in the first 24 hours, 48 hours, and accumulated loss until removal of drains. The use of EACA in patients undergoing CABG without CPB presented no difference in the reduction of the amount of bleeding and the need for blood transfusions.

Desenvolvimento de nanopartículas de quitosana para adminstração nasal de zidovudina

Zidovudine (AZT) is the drug most commonly used in AIDS treatment, isolated or in combination with other antiretroviral agents, but it has certain limitations due to its therapeutic dose-dependent haematological toxicity. In addition, it has low oral bioavailability, since it undergoes pre-systemic metabolism. The nasal route has been used as an alternative route for drug administration, because it can promote its direct absorption to blood circulation, avoiding hepatic metabolism. However, this route presents as a factor limiting the mucociliary clearance mechanisms that remove quickly the formulation of the nasal cavity. To prolong the residence time of formulations, in this direction, has been proposed the development of mucoadhesive systems. Among the various existing systems, the use of chitosan (QS), as mucoadhesive polymer, has been widely exploited in the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs). The objective of this study was to develop and characterize QS’s NPs for intranasal administration of AZT. For both NPs have been developed by ionic crosslinking of QS with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). These NPs were characterized by studies of particle size distribution, zeta potential, morphology, mucoadhesion tests, assessing the ability of encapsulation of the drug and permeation profile of AZT. The evaluation of AZT in the NPs was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Mucoadhesion measures were made using a texture analyzer, using a mucin disk and porcine mucous membrane , and permeation assay were conducted using porcine nasal mucous membrane adapted to the Franz cell. These results suggest that the systems in hand have great potential for nasal AZT administration

Freqüência do parvovírus suíno em fetos mumificados, abortados e natimortos detectado através da reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR)

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) is associated with reproductive failure and it has been found worldwide, including Brazil. Many diagnostic procedures are used for its detection, for example, immunofluorescence, HA, HI and PCR and this is an important technique because it is very specific and sensitive. In this work, the presence of PPV in fetuses from swine farms with reproductive problems was detected by PCR. All of 170 samples from aborted fetuses, mummies or stillborns were sampled by PCR with primers designed to VP2 region of PPV and c-myc (endogenous control). Only 142 samples (83,53%) were positive for c-myc and among them six samples (4,22%) were positive for PPV which were tested in HA. In this test, erythrocytes suspension 1% was used and three samples (50%) agglutinated but they presented low titer (4). For this work, porcine parvovirus was detected in the samples analyzed by PCR and HA. It is important to emphasize the use of endogenous control when material with elevated degree of autolysis is examined

Diagnóstico dos riscos e impactos ambientais da suinocultura no Ribeirão dos Pinheirinhos, município de Torrinha, (SP)

The porcine activity is characterized by its great pollution capacity, generally produce loads of waste that usually are released in superficial water or soil without concern for the consequences to the environment. With this in mind, this study aimed to adjust the porcine production to the protection of water resources, in particular, Ribeirão dos Pinheirinhos in the town of Torrinha (SP), through inventory and diagnosis of the environmental impacts already present and environmental hazards linked to the activity in question. To achieve the proposed objectives, the productions of porcine on the studied area were raised and georeferenced, viewed and analyzed according to the technical and scientific literature. The production visited showed to be at odds with the protection of water resources due to lack of technical criteria in the development of treatment systems and waste handling, indiscriminate use of effluent and waste in the fertilization of crops and the lack of knowledge of producers on the influence of porcine waste into the environment. Based on these results, were set guidelines for action in the environmental awareness of farmers, to stimulate voluntary and conscious initiatives of environmental conservation in the direction of settlement of the activity.

Expansão ex vivo de células uroteliais em scaffolds 3D

Malformations and possible damages to the urogenital system can be originated in the embryonic period. Moreover, fire guns, knives and accidents, where there is the disruption of the urethra, also cause these lesions. The objective was to analyze the contribution of tissue engineering in the construction of neo-urethra, developed by bioengineering. We performed an urothelial ex vivo expansion of cells in 3D scaffolds (platelet gel matrix and acellular porcine aorta) to assess the contribution of this technique in the construction of a neo-urethra. Mechanical dissociation was made of the inner wall of 10 North Folk rabbit’s bladder, weighing 2.5 to 3.0 kg. After dissociation the cell content was centrifuged and obtained a pellet of urothelial cells. The pellet was ressuspended in culture medium DMEM F12 and cells were maintained in culture for 15 days. Immunohistochemical analysis characterized the urothelial culture. The cells were then implanted in the scaffold - platelet gel. In a second experiment using aortic porcine acellular matrix were implanted urothelial cells alone and urothelial cells on platelet gel, on the inner wall of the scaffold - aorta, with space for setting bordered by a urethral probe. The complex probe - cells - aorta and probe - cells in platelet gel - aorta, were sealed with suture material and culture were maintained in a humidified 37ºC incubator with 5% CO2 in air for 12 days to subsequent histological analysis of urothelium cell adhesion to the scaffolds. By observation under an optical microscope, we could see the growth of cells in the scaffold platelet gel, from a monolayer in to a three-dimensional structure. In the acellular porcine aortic matrix containing the platelet gel, we could observe a few quantity of urothelial cells adhered. However with the acellular porcine aortic matrix in which was implanted only the urothelial cells, we have obtained adhesion to the wall

Modelagem computacional das túnicas cardíacas para processamento e controle de qualidade

This paper considers a study of the anatomical features of the cardiac system and a three-dimensional model of the different tunics that comprise the heart wall, for processing and quality control of radiological images. The structures are built by the layer overlapping method, where a layer can be understood as a slice of the three-dimensional object. The pericardium, myocardium and endocardium were represented with three-dimensional cylinders and hexagons. The spatial arrangement of the cardiac system is determined by an background image of a real model, which values are defined according to the shape of the region and on the anatomical patients characteristics. The results are significant, considering the anatomical structures details, as well as the representation of the thicknesses of the regions of the heart wall. The validation of the anatomical model was accomplished through comparisons with dimensions obtained from a real model and allows verifying that the model is appropriate. The degree of representation will allow the verification of the influence of radiological parameters, morphometric peculiarities and stage of the diseases on the quality of the images, as well as on the performance of the Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD).

Comparative clinical sample preparation of DNA and RNA viral nucleic acids for a commercial deep sequencing system (Illumina MiSeq (R))

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

Molecular detection of the blood meal source of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a transmission area of American cutaneous leishmaniasis, Parana State, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efficiency of superstimulatory protocol P-36 associated with the administration of eCG and LH in Nelore cows

Recent work with P-36 demonstrates that the replacement of the last two doses of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) increases embryo yields. However, it is unclear if the positive effect of eCG is related to its FSH-like activity, LH-like activity, or both. This study aimed to verify the replacement of eCG with pLH on the last day of superstimulatory treatment. Twenty-five Nelore cows were allocated to four groups: P-36 (control), P-36/eCG, P-36/LH2, and P-36/LH4. All animals underwent four treatments in a crossover design. The control group cows were superstimulated with decreasing doses of porcine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (pFSH, 133 mg, im). In the P-36/eCG, P-36/LH2, and P-36/LH4 groups, the last two doses of pFSH were replaced in the former group by two doses of eCG (200 IU each dose, im) and in the latter two groups by two doses of pLH (1 and 2 mg each dose, im), respectively. Donors received fixed-time artificial insemination 12 and 24 hours after pLH. Embryo flushing was performed on D16. Data were analyzed by ANOVA (Proc Mixed, SAS). There was a trend of decreasing ovulation rate when comparing groups LH2 and eCG (P = 0.06). However, there was no significant difference in the mean number of viable embryos among groups P-36 (3.3 ± 0.7), P-36/eCG (4.5 ± 0.5), P-36/LH2 (3.7 ± 0.8), and P-36/LH4 (4.2 ± 1.0). It is concluded that the replacement of eCG by pLH on the last day of superstimulatory treatment can be performed with no significant variation in the production of viable embryos.

A curcumin-loaded liquid crystal precursor mucoadhesive system for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis

Women often develop vaginal infections that are caused primarily by organisms of the genus Candida. The current treatments of vaginal candidiasis usually involve azole-based antifungals, though fungal resistance to these compounds has become prevalent. Therefore, much attention has been given to molecules with antifungal properties from natural sources, such as curcumin (CUR). However, CUR has poor solubility in aqueous solvents and poor oral bioavailability. This study attempted to overcome this problem by developing, characterizing, and evaluating the in vitro antifungal action of a CUR-loaded liquid crystal precursor mucoadhesive system (LCPM) for vaginal administration. A low-viscosity LCPM (F) consisting of 40% wt/wt polyoxpropylene-(5)-polyoxyethylene-(20)-cetyl alcohol, 50% wt/wt oleic acid, and 10% wt/wt chitosan dispersion at 0.5% with the addition of 16% poloxamer 407 was developed to take advantage of the lyotropic phase behavior of this formulation. Notably, F could transform into liquid crystal systems when diluted with artificial vaginal mucus at ratios of 1:3 and 1:1 (wt/wt), resulting in the formation of F30 and F100, respectively. Polarized light microscopy and rheological studies revealed that F behaved like an isotropic formulation, whereas F30 and F100 behaved like an anisotropic liquid crystalline system (LCS). Moreover, F30 and F100 presented higher mucoadhesion to porcine vaginal mucosa than F. The analysis of the in vitro activity against Candida albicans revealed that CUR-loaded F was more potent against standard and clinical strains compared with a CUR solution. Therefore, the vaginal administration of CUR-loaded LCPMs represents a promising platform for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis.

Surfactant-based transdermal system for fluconazole skin delivery

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

Telas de polipropileno e de submucosa de intestino de suíno na reparação de falhas na parede abdominal de ratos (Rattus norvegicus Albinus)

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Image-Guided Cryoablation of the Spine in a Swine Model: Clinical, Radiological, and Pathological Findings with Light and Electron Microscopy

This study was designed to present the feasibility of an in vivo image-guided percutaneous cryoablation of the porcine vertebral body. Methods The institutional animal care committee approved this study. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided vertebral cryoablations (n = 22) were performed in eight pigs with short, 2-min, single or double-freezing protocols. Protective measures to nerves included dioxide carbon (CO2) epidural injections and spinal canal temperature monitoring. Clinical, radiological, and pathological data with light (n = 20) or transmission electron (n = 2) microscopic analyses were evaluated after 6 days of clinical follow-up and euthanasia. Results CBCT/fluoroscopic-guided transpedicular vertebral body cryoprobe positioning and CO2 epidural injection were successful in all procedures. No major complications were observed in seven animals (87.5 %, n = 8). A minor complication was observed in one pig (12.5 %, n = 1). Logistic regression model analysis showed the cryoprobe-spinal canal (Cp-Sc) distance as the most efficient parameter to categorize spinal canal temperatures lower than 19 °C (p<0.004), with a significant Pearson’s correlation test (p < 0.041) between the Cp-Sc distance and the lowest spinal canal temperatures. Ablation zones encompassed pedicles and the posterior wall of the vertebral bodies with an inflammatory rim, although no inflammatory infiltrate was depicted in the surrounding neural structures at light microscopy. Ultrastructural analyses evidenced myelin sheath disruption in some large nerve fibers, although neurological deficits were not observed. Conclusions CBCT-guided vertebral cryoablation of the porcine spine is feasible under a combination of a short freezing protocol and protective measures to the surrounding nerves. Ultrastructural analyses may be helpful assess the early modifications of the nerve fibers.

Dinâmica de corpos lúteos em protocolos com redução da dose de FSH na superovulação em ovelhas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

AÇÃO REGULATÓRIA DO GnRH NO DESENVOLVIMENTO EMBRIONÁRIO PRECOCE E VITRIFICAÇÃO DE EMBRIÕES SUÍNOS PELO MÉTODO DE MICROGOTA (ROLE OF GnRH DURING EARLY EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF SWINE EMBRYOS FOLLOWING VITRIFICATION BY MICRODROPLET METHOD)

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of GnRH on the preimplantation development of mouse embryos in vitro. GnRH-I, GnRH-II, and GnRH agonists: Des-Gly, Des-Trp and histrelin did not improve embryo development. However, treatment with the specific GnRH antagonist SB-75 blocked embryo development at morula stage. The inhibition of embryo development by SB-75 could be rescued by the addition of histrelin. To determine which intracellular signaling cascade is involved following binding of GnRH to the GnRHR, embryos were cultured in the presence of specific PKC (GFX) or PKA (SQ22536) inhibitors. The PKC inhibitor blocked embryo development at a similar stage as SB-75, whereas SQ22536 had an inhibitory effect, diminishing blastocyst formation and hatched rates. There are evidences that GnRH has an essential autocrine effect on mouse embryonic development via GnRHR, probably by activating PKC signaling cascade while the inhibition of the GnRH signaling does not activate apoptotic mechanisms involving caspase-3. In another experiment, development in vitro of embryos from Chinese Meishan (M) and occidental white crossbred (WC) females were investigated after improving the vitrification protocol for pig embryos. Efficient cryopreservation of zona pellucida-intact porcine embryos and studies of the difference among breeds could greatly impact the swine industry. The percentage of embryos surviving 24 h after cryopreservation without lysis or degeneration was higher for M (72%) than WC (44%). However, in vitro development of embryos that survived cryopreservation was not different between M and WC at the expanded (64%) or hatched (22%) blastocyst stages. Developmental rates were significantly higher for control embryos than frozen embryos from both breeds at expanded blastocyst stage, but not at hatched blastocyst stage. Rates of expanded blastocyst formation did not differ between M and WC control embryos (98 and 95%, respectively). With a new procedure to warm vitrified pig embryos, the survival rates may be improved. The optimal stages to vitrify pig embryos using the microdroplet method ranges from late compact morula to early expanded blastocyst. The results suggest that M embryos have a higher capacity to survive the vitrification process than WC embryos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a importância do GnRH no desenvolvimento embrionário precoce em camundongos. GnRH-I, GnRH-II e os GnRH agonistas: Des-Gly, Des-Trp e histrelina não incrementaram o desenvolvimento embrionário. Entretanto, o tratamento com SB-75, um antagonista específico do GnRH, bloqueou o desenvolvimento embrionário no estádio de mórula. A inibição do desenvolvimento embrionário pelo SB-75 pôde ser revertida com a adição de histrelina. Para determinar a cascata do sinal intracelular desencadeada pela ligação do GnRH com o seu receptor, embriões foram cultivados na presença de inibidores específicos da PKC (GFX) e da PKA (SQ22536). O inibidor da PKC bloqueou o desenvolvimento embrionário em estádio similar ao bloqueio mediado pelo SB- 75, enquanto o SQ22536 teve efeito inibitório diminuindo a formação de blastocisto e taxas de eclosão. Os resultados sugerem que o GnRH tem um efeito autócrino essencial no desenvolvimento embrionário através do GnRHR, provavelmente, ativando a cascata da PKC. Por outro lado, a inibição do sinal do GnRH não ativa mecanismos apoptóticos que involvam caspase-3. Em outro experimento, foi investigado o desenvolvimento in vitro de embriões da raça Meishan (M) e branco cruzado (WC) após vitrificação pelo método microgota. O desenvolvimento de protocolos eficientes para criopreservação de embriões suínos com a zona pelúcida intacta e a avaliação das diferenças entre raças pode ter um significativo impacto na suinocultura. A percentagem de embriões que sobreviveram à criopreservação depois de 24 h foi maior na M (72%) do que na WC (44%). No entanto, o desenvolvimento in vitro dos embriões que sobreviveram à criopreservação não foi diferente entre M e WC nos estádios de blastocisto expandido (64%) ou eclodido (22%). Os índices de desenvolvimento foram significativamente mais altos para os embriões controle do que para os embriões vitrificados nas duas raças no estádio de blastocisto expandido, porém não foram diferentes para o estádio de blastocisto eclodido. A formação de blastocisto expandido não diferiu entre os embriões controle M e WC (98 e 95%, respectivamente). Com o novo procedimento (“hot warm”) para descongelar embriões vitrificados pelo método de microgota, pode-se aumentar dos índices de sobrevivência. Os melhores estádios embrionários para a vitrificação de embriões suínos variam de mórula compacta tardia até blastocisto expandido inicial. Os resultados sugerem que embriões M têm mais capacidade de sobreviver ao processo de vitrificação do que embriões WC.