Immunohistochemical evaluation of fibrillar components of the extracellular matrix of transversalis fascia and anterior abdominal rectus sheath in men with inguinal hernia

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the role of fibrillar extracellular matrix components in the pathogenesis of inguinal hernias. METHODS: samples of the transverse fascia and of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle were collected from 40 men aged between 20 and 60 years with type II and IIIA Nyhus inguinal hernia and from 10 fresh male cadavers (controls) without hernia in the same age range. The staining technique was immunohistochemistry for collagen I, collagen III and elastic fibers; quantification of fibrillar components was performed with an image analysis processing software. RESULTS: no statistically significant differences were found in the amount of elastic fibers, collagen I and collagen III, and the ratio of collagen I / III among patients with inguinal hernia when compared with subjects without hernia. CONCLUSION: the amount of fibrillar extracellular matrix components did not change in patients with and without inguinal hernia.

Effect of Hevea brasiliensis latex sap gel on healing of acute skin wounds induced on the back of rats

Objective : to evaluate the effect of topical delivery of latex cream-gel in acute cutaneous wounds induced on the back of rats. Methods : we subjected sixteen rats to dermo-epidermal excision of a round dorsal skin flap, with 2.5cm diameter. We divided the animals into two groups: Latex Group: application of cream-gel-based latex throughout the wound bed on postoperative days zero, three, six and nine; Control group: no treatment on the wound. Photographs of the lesions were taken on the procedure day and on the 6th and 14th postoperative days, for analyzing the area and the larger diameter of the wound. We carried out euthanasia of all animals on the 14th postoperative day, when we resected he dorsal skin and the underlying muscle layer supporting the wound for histopathological study. Results : there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of wound closure, in the histopathological findings or in the reduction of the area and of the largest diameter of the wounds among the groups studied on the 14th postoperative day. Conclusion : according to the experimental conditions in which the study was conducted, latex cream-gel did not interfere in the healing of acute cutaneous wounds in rats.

Tratamento da vaginose bacteriana com gel vaginal de Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi): ensaio clínico randomizado

OBJETIVOS: testar a eficácia e a tolerância do gel de aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) para tratamento da vaginose bacteriana. MÉTODOS: quarenta e oito mulheres com vaginose bacteriana sintomática (de acordo com os critérios de Amsel) foram incluídas em ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego, controlado, comparando-se o uso do gel vaginal de aroeira (25 casos) com placebo (23 casos). Os principais desfechos avaliados foram: taxa de cura, presença de lactobacilos na colpocitologia depois do tratamento e efeitos colaterais. Realizou-se análise estatística usando os testes chi2 e exato de Fisher, ao nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: adotando-se os parâmetros clínicos de Amsel para vaginose bacteriana, a taxa de cura foi de 84% no grupo da aroeira e 47,8% no grupo placebo (p = 0,008). Observou-se freqüência significativamente maior de lactobacilos na colpocitologia entre as pacientes tratadas com aroeira (43,5%) em relação ao placebo (4,3%) (p = 0,002). Efeitos adversos relacionados ao tratamento não foram freqüentes em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: o presente estudo indica que o gel vaginal de aroeira é efetivo e seguro para o tratamento da vaginose bacteriana. Além disso, sugerem-se potenciais efeitos benéficos na flora vaginal.

Produção de antígeno nucleoprotéico do vírus da artrite-encefalite caprina e comparação com o do vírus Maedi-Visna para utilização em teste de imunodifusão em ágar gel

Foi feita uma comparação entre os antígenos (Ag), preparados a partir dos vírus Maedi-Visna (MVV) e Artrite-encefalite Caprina (CAEV) para detecção de anticorpos contra o CAEV em 120 amostras de soro caprino. A sensibilidade e especificidade relativa da imunodifusão em ágar gel (IDAG) usando-se Ag MVV em relação ao Ag CAEV, foi 77,3% e 100%, respectivamente (X2, p<0,01). Assim, para diagnóstico de infecção pelo CAEV recomenda-se apenas o uso de Ag preparado a partir do CAEV.

Experimental poisoning by Senecio brasiliensis in calves: quantitative and semi-quantitative study on changes in the hepatic extracellular matrix and sinusoidal cells

Extracellular matrix plays an important role in chronic hepatic lesions and has been studied in experimental intoxication models. However in cattle, studies on chronic disease have focused on the hepatocellular damage and extracellular matrix (ECM) changes are usually overlooked. There are no specific studies on the hepatic ECM in either normal or chronically damaged bovine liver. Thus an experimental model of hepatic toxicity model using Senecio brasiliensis poisoned calves was designed. Senecio brasiliensis contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which cause either acute or chronic progressive dose dependent liver damage. Five calves were orally fed with 0.38g of dry leaves of S. brasiliensis/kg/day for 24 days. Liver needle biopsy specimens were obtained every 15 days for 60 days. Clinical signs of digestive complications appeared at 3rd week. One calf died on 45th day and four were evaluated up to 60th day. Biopsy samples were processed for routine light microscopy, immuno-histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. From 30th day on progressive liver damage characterized by hepatocellular ballooning, necrosis, apoptosis and megalocytosis, centrilobular, pericellular and portal fibrosis were seen by light microscopy. Quantitative and semi-quantitative measurements of hepatic ECM components were performed before and after the onset of lesions. Morphometric analysis of total collagen and elastic fiber system was conducted. Total collagen and I and III collagen types progressively increased in throughout the liver of affected calves. Changes in location, amount and disposition of the elastic fiber system were also observed. Then numbers of Kupffer cells were significantly increased at 30th day and total numbers of sinusoidal cells were significantly increased at 45th and 60th days. Liver damage was progressive and irreversible even after the exposure to the plant was discontinued. Severe fibrotic lesions occurred mainly in portal tracts, followed by veno-occlusive and pericellular fibrosis. Collagen types I and III s were present in every normal and damaged liver, with predominance of type I. In affected calves the increase of total collagen and elastic fibers system paralleled the number of total sinusoidal cells.

Non-linear analysis of laminated metal matrix composites by an integrated micro/macro-mechanical model

The present paper describes an integrated micro/macro mechanical study of the elastic-viscoplastic behavior of unidirectional metal matrix composites (MMC). The micromechanical analysis of the elastic moduli is based on the Composites Cylinder Assemblage model (CCA) with comparisons also draw with a Representative Unit Cell (RUC) technique. These "homogenization" techniques are later incorporated into the Vanishing Fiber Diameter (VFD) model and a new formulation is proposed. The concept of a smeared element procedure is employed in conjunction with two different versions of the Bodner and Partom elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model for the associated macroscopic analysis. The formulations developed are also compared against experimental and analytical results available in the literature.

Matrix Mind : on managerial reframing in multidimensional problem solving

Det är inte ovanligt att man i organisationer ställs inför problem som inte kan hanteras inom befintlig organisationsstruktur. Skälen kan vara att frågorna har många – ibland konflikterande – dimensioner och perspektiv som samtidigt måste beaktas. I den här avhandlingen studeras vilka tankemönster och föreställningar som fanns när grupper av chefer försökte lösa komplexa problem, som inte hade en naturlig organisatorisk hemvist och hur de omsatte dessa tankemönster i handling. Vad kännetecknade det ledarskap som utövades under problemlösningsprocessen? Avhandlingens empiri hämtas från ledarutvecklingsprogram i två internationellt verksamma företag i Sverige, och omfattar 14 verkliga affärsproblem i dessa företag och den process varigenom de löstes. De 14 seminarierna utgör exempel på hur mångdimensionella frågeställningar framgångsrikt hanteras utanför den befintliga organisationsstrukturen. Studien ger, genom att adressera frågor kring tankesätt och ledningsprocesser, en djupare förståelse för förutsättningarna för detta, och lyfter särskilt fram betydelsen av ett ledarskap som inbegriper begreppen intervention, förmåga och omtolkning. Som ett samlat begrepp introduceras bilden att utöva ledarskapet utifrån ett matrix mind. Att påverka strukturer (i vid mening) och därigenom de förmågor som utvecklas, är del i detta ledarskap. Det sker genom interventioner (ingrepp som påverkar relationer i t ex en grupp) och baserades i den aktuella empirin på uppfattningar om värdet av problematisering, erfarenhetsutbyte och av ett språk, som både beskriver och anger inriktning för aktiviteter. Interventioner i strukturer (och till dem knutna processer) beskriver dock bara delvis detta ledarskap. Att leda med ett matrix mind innefattar också ett nyfiket och kreativt förhållningssätt, och att utifrån detta leda omtolkning av problem. I empirin finns flera exempel på detta. Avhandlingen avser att ge ett bidrag inom såväl organisations- som ledarskapsteori.

Ultrastructure of the intercellular protuberances in leaves of Paepalanthus superbus Ruhl. (Eriocaulaceae)

Mature leaves of Paepalanthus superbus exhibit intercellular protuberances between the inner periclinal walls of the epidermal and the parenchyma cells surface, as well as on the surface of the parenchyma mesophyll cells. These structures are mostly prominent around the parenchyma cells, forming a gel capsule-like structure. Histochemical tests with ruthenium red indicate the pectic nature of the intercellular deposits, with scattered lipidic inclusions as revealed by sudan IV and sudan black B. Ultrastructural analyses show a fibrillar matrix with scattered fimbriate and tubular structures, and a distinct margin delimited by a dense membrane-like structure. Our results suggest that the protuberances are derived from secretory activity, and are formed after the development of the intercellular spaces. For P. superbus this structure may represent an important cell wall specialisation, related with the adhesion and transport mechanisms between cells.

Concanavalin A-reactive nuclear matrix glycoprotein

The binding capacity of concanavalin A (Con A) to condensed euchromatin and heterochromatin was investigated in chicken erythrocyte nuclei (CEN), mouse liver cells, Zea mays mays meristematic cells and Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes after 4 N HCl hydrolysis to determine whether binding was preferentially occurring in bands and heterochromatin. Dry mass (DM) variation was investigated in CEN by interference microscopy. Feulgen and Con A reactions were employed for all materials to correlate the loci of the two reactions. Quantifications and topological verifications were carried out by video image analysis (high performance cytometry). It was observed that 4 N HCl hydrolysis caused an important DM loss in CEN leaving a level corresponding to the average DNA DM content. In this material, Con A binding was restricted to the nuclear envelope, which reinforces the idea of the absence of a nuclear matrix in these cells. The other cell types exhibited a correspondence of Feulgen-positive and Con A-reactive areas. The Con A reaction was highly positive in the condensed chromatin areas and heterochromatin. This fact led us to speculate that Con A-positive proteins may play a role in the chromatin condensation mechanism, endowing this structure with physico-chemical stability towards acid hydrolysis and contributing to its rheological properties.