Occurrence and morphometry of the hypopharyngeal glands in Scaptotrigona postica Lat. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae)

As compared to Apis mellifera where only workers have hypopharyngeal glands, in Scaptotrigona postica, these glands occur in workers, queens and males. They are composed of two long axial ducts with many unicellular secretory alveoli interconnected by secretory canaliculi. The axial ducts are longer in miles than in workers, but the alveolar areas of queens and males are generally smaller. In workers the alveoli have their greatest size in the nurses or middle-aged individuals while in queens and males they are larger in newly emerged individuals. The results indicate that the glands in workers may produce food for the brood as in A. mellifera, since they are well developed in the nurse workers. However, the function of the glands in queens and males remains to be clarified since these individuals have no part in brood care.

Toxin jararhagin in low doses induces interstitial edema and increases the metabolic rate and red blood cells in mice

Jararhagin is a metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca responsible for hemorrhage, inflammation, necrosis and edema. Effects of low doses of the toxin were analyzed on the energy metabolism of mice as well as its physiological implications. Measures of O-2 consumption (VO2) were quantified after 4 and 24 h of the jarathagin administration during four weeks. Hematocrit and histology of the lungs were also analyzed after the end of the treatment. Results showed that animals that received subcutaneous doses of jararhagin had significant increase in VO2 from second (120 ng) and third weeks (60 ng) after 4 and 24 h, comparing to control, as well as in the number of erythrocytes after four weeks. Histology of the lungs showed interstitial edema within the alveolar septum. Results suggest that the jararhagin toxin caused an increase in VO2 and edema of intra-alveolar septum. The increase of the erythrocytes could be a physiological response to adjust the higher necessity of oxygen, due to diffusional abnormalities caused by the edema. Thus, low doses of jararhagin promote endothelial edema which lead to changes in several physiological conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure, histochemistry, and ultrastructure of the epithelium and stroma in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) female prostate

The female prostate has aroused scientific interest because it is subjected to the same diseases compromising the male prostate during aging. The objective of this work was to characterize structurally, cytochemically, and ultrastructurally the tissue compartments of the normal adult female prostate of Meriones unguiculatus gerbils. The morphological analyses showed that the gerbil's female prostate is constituted of a cluster of glands and ducts inserted in a musculofibrous stroma. The alveolar epithelium is differentiated and consisted of basal proliferating cells, intermediary cells, and secretory cells. The secretory cells are the most numerous cell type and continuously secrete glycoproteins. The basal cells are the source of the secretory cells and they are then responsible for the alveolus renovation. The prostatic stroma is abundant and rich in elastic and collagen fibers, which are closely associated with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The results showed that the gerbil's female prostate shows morphological and ultrastructural homology to the human female prostate (Skene's gland), and despite being a small organ, it is a mature and physiologically active gland. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental endocrine therapies promote epithelial cytodifferentiation and ciliogenesis in the gerbil female prostate

The incidence of ciliated cells in the prostate gland of the female gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is uncommon and apparently becomes more frequent during androgen (testosterone cypionate) and anti-estrogen (letrozole) endocrine therapies. To evaluate the effects of such drug therapies on the induction of ciliogenesis in the glandular epithelium of female prostate glands, adult female gerbils aged 90 days were treated for 14 days with testosterone and letrozole after which their prostate glands were removed for histological, ultrastructural, and serological analyses. The cytodifferentiation of the ciliated phenotype in the alveolar epithelium became more frequent after both the testosterone and the letrozole treatments. The ciliogenesis phenomenon of the epithelial cells in the prostate gland of female gerbils thus appears to be induced by variations in the increase of androgen levels.

Effect of annexin-A1 peptide treatment during lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide

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

Endogenous annexin A1 counter-regulates bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis

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

Fluoxetine Inhibits Inflammatory Response and Bone Loss in a Rat Model of Ligature-Induced Periodontitis

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

Intraosseous foreign-body granuloma in the mandible subsequent to a 20-year-old work-related accident

The purpose of this article was to describe the clinical and microscopic features of an intraosseous foreign-body granuloma in the mandible that developed after the traumatic implantation of metal fragments during a work-related accident. A 65-year-old male patient had a severe pain in the body of mandible. Clinical examination showed facial asymmetry and a scar, extending to the left mental region. Intraoral examination revealed a soft mass involving the left alveolar bone with normal appearance of the mucosa surface. Panoramic radiographs showed a radiolucent lesion along the mandible extending from the central incisive to the first molar. Computed tomography revealed an osteolytic mass in the same area. His medical history included a work-related accident twenty years prior to evaluation. During the biopsy an important amount of bright metal-like pieces surrounded by soft tissue were found. A microscopic examination showed a foreign body associated with an aggregation of multinucleated giant cells. The final diagnosis was a foreign body granuloma. Even though foreign-body granulomas in the mandible are rare lesions, dentists should be familiar with their features and include them in the differential diagnosis of tissue masses.

Effects of experimental osteoporosis and low calcium intake on postextraction sockets of rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of two morphometric methods of bone loss percentages caused by periodontitis in rats in different locations

Objective: The present study evaluated morphometrically bone loss percentages in experimental periodontitis in rats, comparing different locations (lingual mandible, palatal maxilla and buccal maxilla) and two evaluation methods (distance and area methods). Material and Methods: Ligatures were placed around the maxillary right second molar and around the mandibular right first molar in 14 female Wistar rats. The contralateral molars served as intragroup control. After 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and their mandible and maxilla were removed. The specimens were dissected and stained with methylene blue dye. Bone loss was evaluated by two different methods on the surfaces of the defleshed jaw. In the first method, the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar bone crest was measured in the roots of teeth associated with ligature. In the second method, the area of bone loss was determined using the alveolar tissue bone, CEJ and the proximal region of roots associated with the ligature as reference. The data were converted to bone loss percentages caused by ligature: (ligated - unligated) x 100/ligated. Results: When comparing the distance and area methods, no statistically significant difference was observed (p>0.05). Both methodologies indicated that the maxilla presented greater bone loss than the mandible and it was more accentuated on the buccal side than on the palatal side (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study show that both the area and the distance methods can be used to evaluate bone loss caused by ligature placement in rats, and suggest applying the morphometric methodology to the maxilla on the buccal side.

Vertical Bone Augmentation Using a Polytetrafluoroethylene Nonporous Barrier for Osseointegrated Implants Partially Inserted in Tibiae of Rabbits

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of obtaining guided bone regeneration using a poly-tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nonporous barrier for 2 endosseous implants, partially inserted in tibiae of rabbits.Materials and Methods: Histologic characteristics of the interface between titanium implants (one group with titanium plasma-coated implants and the other group with acid-treated surfaces) and of the regenerated bone were also studied. Twenty screw-vent implants were placed in tibiae of 5 male New Zealand rabbits, 2 at the right side and 2 at the left side, protruding 3 mm from the bone level, to create a horizontal bone defect. At the experimental group the implants were with a PTFE nonporous barrier, whereas no barriers were used in contralateral implants. Animals were sacrificed 3 months after surgery and biopsy specimens were evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically under light microscopy. Student's t test was used for statistical analysis.Results: The histologic measurements showed a mean gain in bone height of 2.15 and 2.42 mm for the barrier group and 1.95 and 0.43 mm for the control group, for the titanium plasma-spray and acid-treated implant surfaces, respectively.Conclusion: The results of the investigation revealed that the placement of implants protruding 3 nun from crestal bone defects may result in vertical bone augmentation using a nonporous PTFE barrier. (Implant Dent 2009;18:182-191)

Utilização experimental de hidroxiapatita sintética em alvéolos dentários de gatos domésticos (Felis catus): estudo clínico, radiográfico e histomorfométrico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos cardiorrespiratórios da tiletamina-zolazepam em cães hipovolêmicos

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da associação tiletamina-zolazepam em cães hipovolêmicos. Estudaram-se as alterações cardiovasculares em 14 cães, divididos em grupo A (controle, n=7) e grupo B (experimental, n=7). Os cães foram anestesiados com sevoflurano (1,5 concentração alveolar mínima - CAM) para a implantação dos cateteres venosos, arteriais e da termodiluição. A concentração do sevoflurano foi reduzida (0,5 CAM) e nos cães do grupo B, induziu-se hipovolemia retirando-se sangue na proporção de 30ml/kg de peso corpóreo. Subseqüentemente, registraram-se as freqüências cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (FR), a pressão arterial (PAM) e o débito cardíaco (DC), e aplicaram-se 10 mg/kg de tiletamina-zolazepam, pela via intravenosa. Aos cães do grupo A aplicou-se igual tratamento. Os cães foram observados por 120 minutos. A associação tiletamina-zolazepam produziu apnéia transitória e manteve estável a FC, PAM e DC. O resultados permitem concluir que a associação manteve estáveis as pressões arteriais sistólica, diastólica e média, e não alterou o débito cardíaco, podendo vir a ser usada com segurança na anestesia de cães com hipovolemia.

Cardiac trauma confirmed by cardiac markers in dogs: two case reports

Relatam-se dois casos de miocardite em cães. A avaliação radiográfica mostrou pneumotórax e padrão alveolar no lobo diafragmático pulmonar em um cão e arritmia em ambos os cães. As análises das proteínas cardíacas altamente sensíveis, como a CK-MB e a troponina I cardíaca, associadas ao histórico clínico e aos achados eletrocardiográficos, indicaram, com acurácia, a extensão da injúria miocárdica secundária ao trauma.

FRÊNULO LABIAL SUPERIOR E INFERIOR: ESTUDO CLÍNICO QUANTO A MORFOLOGIA E LOCAL DE INSERÇÃO E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NA HIGIENE BUCAL

Foi realizada uma pesquisa visando a avaliação morfológica e o local de inserção dos frênulos labiais superiores e inferiores. A amostra foi constituída de 100 pacientes em condições sócio-econômicas semelhantes, tendo-se observado que o frênulo labial simples foi o mais prevalente, inserindo o superior na gengiva inserida e o inferior, na mucosa alveolar. A distância média da inserção, em relação à borda gengival livre, foi de 4,4 mm para o superior e de 5,6 mm para o inferior. Foi possível, nessas áreas, manter o controle clínico da placa bacteriana