Tubo digestório de Urostreptus atrobunneus (Diplopoda): estrutura e função

Millipedes are macro-arthropods of soil which perform a important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, since they feed on decaying organic matter and because they promotes the soil enrichment, aeration and humidification. These animals are usually found in humid with low light places, under rocks and trunks. The diplopods exoskeleton is much resistant and impregnated with calcium salts. Due the secretion of defense, with strong and unpleasant smell, the animals of this class have few or no predators. Large diplopods populations are not observed, but explosions population can occur for unbalances enviromnmental, by climate change and by use of pesticides that may eliminate potential competitors. In this sense, the millipede Urostreptus atrobrunneus Pierozzi & Fontanetti, 2006, has presented points of infestation in urban centers of Sao Paulo state, causing many disorders of the human population. Because it is a newly described species, little is known of its aspects biological and morphological. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the structure and function of the digestive tract of the species U. atrobrunneus by means of histological, histochemistry and ultrastructural techniques. The results demonstrated that the digestive tract of U. atrobrunneus is similar to the descriptions given for other species. The foregut consists of a simple epithelium, composed of cells of different heights, covered by a cuticular intima, leaning on a thin basal membrane, followed by a well-developed muscular layer and an external membrane, around the foregut have a pair of salivary glands. The midgut epithelium has a pseudostratified, supported by a thick basal membrane, followed by a muscular layer and a layer of hepatic cells. The muscle is distributed unevenly coated with an external membrane, this portion is marked by the absence of cuticular intima... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Cytochemical study of Rhodnius neglectus and Rhodnius prolixus salivary gland cells (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Salivary and serum proteomics in head and neck carcinomas before and after surgery and radiotherapy

Several body fluids have been evaluated as new sources for cancer biomarker discovery. In this context, salivary and serum proteomics seem promising diagnostic and predictive tools for head and neck diseases. In the present study, we performed a proteomic analysis of saliva and serum from patients presenting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and compared the results before and after therapy. In saliva of cancer patients, we observed an altered protein profile, including over-expression of PLUNC and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein. Both proteins may contribute to control tumor growth and, therefore, represent targets for new analysis. We also detected serotransferrin and a modified transthyretin form with altered levels in serum from patients. Comparing preoperative and postreatment samples, the results showed that the protein profile after treatment reverted to a pattern closer to those observed for controls. These results add information on the role of secreted proteins in the cancer process and emphasize the potential of saliva and serum analysis for diagnosis and monitoring of HNSCC.

Use of salivary biomarkers for diagnosis of periodontal disease activity: a literature review

Periodontal disease is an infectious disease characterized by the connective tissue destruction and consequent alveolar bone loss in response to plaque accumulation on the tooth surface. The clinical diagnosis of periodontal disease is based both on clinical examination involving the evaluation of probing depth and radiographic examination of alveolar bone loss but these examinations are not enough to determine the activity of the disease process. For that reason, it has been proposed to seek predictive disease markers in an attempt to assess the disease activity and so, evaluate the efficacy of the periodontal disease treatment. The aim of this review is to present recent advances in the development of proteomic, genomics and microbial biomarkers and potential clinical applications. It was concluded that periodontal treatment based on assessing the levels of salivary biomarkers emerges as a promising method in near future and will become an integral part of the evaluation of periodontal health.

Displasia ectodérmica hipohidrótica: un síndrome de interés para la odontología

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare disease of genetic etiology. The most frequent form is of recessive linked to X-chromosome inheritance with affected male and female carriers. It can occur through autosomal mutations, of the gene EDA1 gene being responsible for the majority of the cases. It is characterized by the triad: hypohidrosis, oligodontia and hypotrichosis. We present two cases of patients with HED in which we observed characteristic signs of this syndrome: delicate skin, sparce hair, eyebrows and eyelashes, periorbital wrinkles, perioral and periorbital hyperpigmentation, prominent lips, in addition the patient in case 2 also present the depressed nasal bridge. We also found decreased salivary and lacrimal secretion and maxillary hypoplasia in both cases. At the oral examination in case 1 the upper right and left deciduous canines and lower right deciduous canine were present, and in case 2 the upper and lower (right and left) deciduous canines and two upper (one right and other left) permanent incisors were present with altered morphology, all of these dental elements were healthy. The early dental treatment of patients with HED, especially in the presence of oligodontia, as observed in our cases, is important not only to provide a better quality of life for these patients in the short term, but also an attempt to minimize the changes in facial growth to which these patients are subject.

Action of the salivary microorganisms having sorbitol as substratum

Microorganisms living in the saliva are able to ferment some sweetener types and to promote the fall of pH that has its critical point around 5.5; in this situation, they equal the input and the calcium output in the processes of remineralization and demineralization. For iteration of the three essential factors to the installation of the dental caries (microorganism, host and diet) suggested the accomplishment of a work that involved one of these factors. This work aims to study this issue, through the indication of substitute sweetener of the saccharose, whenever possible, it solved to evaluate pH of the saliva, exposed to sorbitol.

Androecia in two Clusia species: development, structure and resin secretion

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

Structure and secretion mechanisms of floral glands in Diplopterys pubipetala (Malpighiaceae), a neotropical species

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

Leaf colleters in Tabernaemontana catharinensis (Apocynaceae, Rauvolfioideae): structure, ontogenesis, and cellular secretion

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

Distribution of non-LEE-encoded type 3 secretion system dependent effectors in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

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

Ultrastructure of the parotid and submandibular glands of the Old World marten (Carnivora; Mustelidae)

The morphology of the parotid and submandibular glands in the marten, a carnivore, were studied and analyzed under a transmission electron microscope. The nature of the granules in both glands, as well as in the acini and in the secretory tubules, is rather mucous. The structure of the secretory tubules is very characteristic, especially the striated ones. The myoepithelial cells are close to the acini and tubules and covered by the basement membrane separating them from the connective tissue, which enhances its epithelial origin. The cytoplasm of the basal parts of the acinar and tubular cells is abundant and separates the nucleus from the secretion granules. Although the morphology of the salivary glands of many carnivores is known, those of the parotid gland of the marten present peculiar characteristics, since they produce a rather mucous saliva and the granules, when forming, are far from the base as well as from the apex of the secretory cells. The submandibular gland contains granules of different densities, an aspect that in general resembles that of other animals.

Dental mineralization and salivary activity are reduced in offspring of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

Several pathologies have been diagnosed in children of hypertensive mothers; however, some studies that evaluated the alterations in their oral health are not conclusive. This study analyzed the salivary gland activity and dental mineralization of offsprings of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Thirty-day-old SHR males and Wistar rats were studied. The salivary flow was evaluated by injection of pilocarpine, the protein concentration and salivary amylase activity, by the Lowry method and kinetic method at 405 nm, respectively. Enamel and dentin mineralization of the mandibular incisors was quantified with aid of the microhardness meter. The results were analyzed by the ANOVA or Student's t test (p<0.05). It was noticed that the salivary flow rate (0.026 mL/min/100 g ± 0.002) and salivary protein concentration (2.26 mg/mL ± 0.14) of SHR offspring were reduced compared to Wistar normotensive offspring (0.036 mL/min/100 g ± 0.003 and 2.91 mg/mL ± 0.27, respectively), yet there was no alteration in amylase activity (SHR: 242.4 U/mL ± 36.9; Wistar: 163.8 U/mL ± 14.1). Microhardness was lower both in enamel (255.8 KHN ± 2.6) and dentin (59.9 KHN ± 0.8) for the SHR teeth compared to the Wistar teeth (enamel: 328.7 KHN ± 3.3 and dentin: 67.1 KHN ± 1.0). These results suggest that the SHR offspring are more susceptible to development of pathologies impairing oral health, once they presented lesser flow and salivary protein concentration and lower dental mineralization.

Type IV secretion system is not involved in infection process in citrus

The type IV secretion system (T4SS) is used by Gram-negative bacteria to translocate protein and DNA substrates across the cell envelope and into target cells. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri contains two copies of the T4SS, one in the chromosome and the other is plasmid-encoded. To understand the conditions that induce expression of the T4SS in Xcc, we analyzed, in vitro and in planta, the expression of 18 ORFs from the T4SS and 7 hypothetical flanking genes by RT-qPCR. As a positive control, we also evaluated the expression of 29 ORFs from the type III secretion system (T3SS), since these genes are known to be expressed during plant infection condition, but not necessarily in standard culture medium. From the 29 T3SS genes analyzed by qPCR, only hrpA was downregulated at 72 h after inoculation. All genes associated with the T4SS were downregulated on Citrus leaves 72 h after inoculation. Our results showed that unlike the T3SS, the T4SS is not induced during the infection process.

The long-term administration of calcineurin inhibitors decreases antioxidant enzyme activity in the rat parotid and submandibular salivary glands

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)