Exercise test and glucose homeostasis in rats treated with alloxan during the neonatal period or fed a high calorie diet

Background: Animal models appear well-suited for studies into the role of exercise in the prevention of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The aim of the present study was to analyze glucose homeostasis and blood lactate during an exercise swimming test in rats treated with alloxan during the neonatal period and/or fed a high calorie diet from weaning onwards.Methods: Rats were injected with alloxan (200 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (citrate buffer) at 6 days of age. After weaning, rats were divided into four groups and fed either a balanced diet or a high-caloric diet as follows: C, control group (vehicle + normal diet); A, alloxan-treated rats fed the normal diet; H, vehicle-treated rats fed the high-caloric diet; and HA, alloxan-treated rats fed the high-caloric diet.Results: Fasting serum glucose levels were higher in groups A and AH compared with the control group. The Homeostatic Model Assessment index varied in the groups as follows: H > A > HA = C. There were no differences in free fatty acids or blood lactate concentrations during the swim test.Conclusions: Alloxan-treated rats fed a normal or high-caloric diet have the potential to be used in studies analyzing the role physical exercise plays in the prevention of NIDDM.

Morphofunctional Alterations in Endocrine Pancreas of Short- and Long-term Dexamethasone-treated Rats

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

Cellular changes in the prostatic stroma of glucocorticoid-treated rats

Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) have been widely used for the treatment of prostate cancer because of their inhibitory property against tumour growth. However, their mechanism of action in the prostate has received little attention. Excess GCs can lead to peripheral insulin resistance resulting in hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. Insulin plays an important role as a cellular stimulant and high levels are related to low levels of androgens. Our objective has been to describe the effects of insulin resistance induced by dexamethasone treatment on the morphology of rat ventral prostate. Mate adult Wistar rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of dexamethasone or saline for five consecutive days after which the rats were killed and the ventral prostate was removed, weighed and prepared for conventional and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dexamethasone treatment resulted in atrophy and decreased proliferative activity of prostatic epithelial cells. TEM analysis revealed changes in the epithelium-stroma interface, with some interruptions in the basement membrane. Fibroblasts showed a secretory phenotype with dilated endoplasmic reticulum. Smooth muscle cells exhibited a contractile pattern with 50% atrophy, an irregular membrane and twisted nuclei. Mitochondrial alterations, such as enlarged size and high electron density in the mitochondrial matrix, were also detected in smooth muscle cells. Insulin resistance induced by dexamethasone is thus associated with epithelial atrophy similar to that described for diabetic rats. However, GCs are responsible for morphological changes in the stromal cell population suggesting the activation of fibroblasts and atrophy of the smooth muscle cells.

Reduction of insulin signalling pathway IRS-1/IRS-2/AKT/mTOR and decrease of epithelial cell proliferation in the prostate of glucocorticoid-treated rats

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

Co-stressors chilling and high light increase photooxidative stress in diuron-treated red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii but with lower involvement of H2O2

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

Fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth with different heights of crown ferrule restored with prefabricated carbon fiber post and composite resin core by intermittent loading

This study evaluated the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with prefabricated carbon fiber posts and varying quantities of coronal dentin. Sixty freshly extracted upper canines were randomly divided into groups of 10 teeth each. The specimens were exposed to 250,000 cycles in a controlled chewing simulator. All intact specimens were subjected to a static load (N) in a universal testing machine at 45 degrees to the long axis. Data were analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey test (alpha = .05). Significant differences (P < .001) were found among the mean fracture forces of the test groups (positive control, 0 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and negative control groups: 1022.82 N, 1008.22 N, 1292.52 N, 1289.19 N, 1255.38 N, and 1582.11, respectively). These results suggested that the amount of coronal dentin did not significantly increase the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth restored with prefabricated carbon fiber post and composite resin core. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2008;106:e52-e57)

In vitro evaluation of apical sealing in root apex treated with demineralization agents and retrofiled with mineral trioxide aggregate through marginal dye leakage

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o selamento de ápices radiculares tratados com diferentes agentes desmineralizantes e retrobturados com agregado de trióxido mineral (MTA), mediante infiltração marginal por corante. Cinqüenta e seis dentes unirradiculares humanos extraídos foram instrumentados, obturados e seccionados apicalmente. Os preparos cavitários apicais foram confeccionados com pontas ultra-sônicas e os agentes desmineralizantes foram aplicados previamente à retrobturação com Pro Root MTA. Os espécimes foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos (n=14): grupo 1 (sem agente desmineralizante); grupo 2 (ácido fosfórico 35% durante 15 s); grupo 3 (solução de EDTA 17%, pH 7, durante 3 min); grupo 4 (gel de EDTA 24%, pH 7, durante 4 min). A extensão da infiltração de corante (rodamina B 2% a 37°C, por 24 h) foi avaliada em milímetros utilizando-se um estereomicroscópio. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de análise de variância a um critério e do teste Tukey com nível de significância de 5%. Dentre os grupos experimentais, a menor extensão de infiltração do corante foi verificada no grupo 1 (1,89 mm), seguido pelos grupos 2 (2,18 mm), 4 (2,54 mm) e 3 (2,64 mm). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significante (p>0.05) na infiltração marginal pelo corante entre os grupos 1, 2 e 4 e os grupos 2, 3 e 4. Com base nos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que a aplicação de agentes desmineralizantes não pode ser recomendada quando da utilização do MTA em cirurgias parendodônticas.

Electrochemical behaviour of heat-treated Al-Zn-Mg alloys in chloride solutions containing sulphate

The electrochemical corrosion and passivation of Al-5Zn-1.7Mg-0.23Cu-0.053Nb alloys, submitted to different heat treatments (cold-rolled, annealed, quenched and aged, and quenched in two steps and aged), in sulphate-containing chloride solutions, has been studied by means of cyclic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The cyclic polarization curves showed that sulphate addition to the chloride solution produced a poor reproducible shift of the breakdown potential to more positive potentials. The repassivation potentials, much more reproducible, and practically separating the passive from the pitting potential region, were slightly displaced in the negative direction with that addition. When the alloys were potentiodynamically polarized in the passive potential region, sulphate was incorporated in the oxide film, thus precluding chloride ingress. In addition, Zn depletion was favoured, whereas Mg losses were avoided. Different equivalent circuits corresponding to different alloys and potentials in the passive and pitting regions were employed to account for the electrochemical processes taking place in each condition. This work shows that sulphate makes these alloys more sensitive to corrosion, increasing the fracture properties of the surface layer and favouring the pitting attack over greater areas than chloride alone. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical and structural characterization of heat-treated Cr3C2-NiCr coatings

The influence of heat-treatments on the electrochemical behavior of thermal spray Cr3C2-NiCr coatings prepared by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) was studied in NaCl solution, at 25 degrees C, using open-circuit potential (E-OC) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. Coating characterization were performed before and after the heat-treatments and electrochemical tests by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy. In addition to the changes in the original powder composition occurring during HVOF process, heat-treatment performed at 450 degrees C caused no significant changes in electrochemical response compared with untreated sample, and at 760 degrees C the main difference was the formation of a thin and defective layer of Cr2O3 at the coating surface, which increased the total impedance at the first day of immersion. Higher influence on the electrochemical was noted for samples treated at 880 degrees C, which also showed higher E-OC and total impedance, and lower corrosion current. This behavior was interpreted considering the formation of a chromium oxide layer on the coating surface, dissolution and decomposition of smaller carbide particles and their surface enrichment with Cr due to C diffusion and dissolution into the matrix, and possible Ni, Cr, and Fe diffusion to coating/substrate interface. (c) 2006 the Electrochemical Society.

Determination of sugar cane herbicides in soil and soil treated with sugar cane vinasse by solid-phase extraction and HPLC-UV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Biotreatment effects in films and blends of PVC/PCL previously treated with heat

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

Clinical and hematological alterations in dogs during experimental envenomation with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom and treated with antiophidic serum

The present work aimed to evaluate the clinical and hematological aspects during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with different antiophidic serum doses. Sixteen dogs were divided into two groups of eight animals each. Group I received 1mg/kg venom subcutaneously and 30mg antiophidic serum intravenously; Group II received 1mg/kg venom subcutaneously and 60mg antiophidic serum intravenously. In the clinical evaluation, we observed ataxia, moderate sedation, dilated pupils, sialorrhea, flaccid paralysis of mandibular muscles, and discreet edema at the site of venom inoculation. Evaluating red and white blood cells, we observed a decrease of hemoglobins, globular volume and erythrocytes, and an increase of plasmatic proteins, leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. Clotting time increased and there was blood incoagulability with return to normal clotting time six hours after antiophidic serum administration. Animals treated with six antiophidic serum flasks had a faster recovery than the animals that received three serum flasks.

Evaluation of epithelial cell proliferating activity and fibroblast nuclear kariometry in recurrent pterygium treated with mitomycin C

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia da mitomicina C (MMC) na prevenção da recorrência quando previamente utilizada no transplante autólogo de conjuntiva (TAC). A avaliação da proliferação celular epitelial pelo antígeno Ki-67 e a cariometria do núcleo dos fibroblastos foram usados como auxiliares na avaliação do tratamento. MÉTODOS: Vinte e nove pacientes com pterígio recidivado foram divididos em três grupos: Grupo (G) 1-TAC e colírio placebo (PLA); G2-TAC, MMC 0,015% subconjuntival e PLA; G3-TAC e colírio de MMC 0,02%. A imuno-histoquímica foi realizada no tecido excisado para o antígeno Ki-67, como a cariometria dos núcleos dos fibroblastos (divididos em lado nasal e temporal). A cariometria dos núcleos dos fibroblastos foi avaliada de acordo com os seguintes parâmetros: volume (Vl) e área (Ar) em pelos menos 50 células por paciente. RESULTADOS: A porcentagem das células epiteliais positivas para o antígeno Ki-67 no lado nasal e temporal após o tratamento dos três grupos estudados foi: nasal (3,30% G1, 4,49% G2 e 3,38% G3) e temporal (3,30% G1, 4,46% G2 e 4,14% G3) não mostrando diferença significativa. A cariometria do núcleo dos fibroblastos foi: Vl nasal (792,1 µ3 G1, 605,1 µ3 G2, e 549,9 µ3 G3) e a Ar (100,58 µ2 G1, 83,13 µ2 G2, e 78,41 µ2 G3). Os três grupos mostraram uma diferença significativa p=0,039 e p=0,035, respectivamente do Vl e da Ar no lado nasal. Após seis meses de tratamento, os três grupos apresentaram a seguinte taxa de recidiva: 22,22% G1, 18,18%, G2 e 33,33% G3 respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: O uso da MMC não interferiu nas células epiteliais positivas para o antígeno Ki-67 no pterígio recidivado, mas acarretou diminuição do volume e área dos núcleos dos fibroblastos no lado nasal do pterígio. As células epiteliais positivas para o antígeno Ki-67 parecem não ter relação com a recidiva do pterígio após seis meses da cirurgia. Outros estudos devem ser realizados para avaliar o papel da proliferação das células epiteliais na recorrência do pterígio.

Chemical properties of soils treated with biological sludge from gelatin industry

O impacto dos resíduos orgânicos agroindustriais no ambiente pode ser reduzido com o seu uso agrícola. do ponto de vista da fertilidade do solo, o que se deseja com a aplicação dos resíduos é aumentar o teor de matéria orgânica e fornecer nutrientes para as plantas. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do lodo biológico de indústria de gelatina em atributos químicos de dois Argissolos Vermelho-Amarelos (PVA-arenoso e PVA-textura média) e de um Latossolo Vermelho (LV-argiloso). O experimento foi conduzido por 120 dias em laboratório, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado e esquema fatorial combinando os três solos e seis doses de lodo (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 m³ ha-1), com três repetições. A aplicação de até 500 m³ ha-1 de lodo diminui a acidez do solo e aumenta a CTC efetiva e a disponibilidade de N, Ca, Mg e P, sem ultrapassar o limite de tolerância para Na. O aumento do teor de bases, maior do que o da CTC efetiva, indica que a maior parte dos cátions adicionados pelo lodo permanece em solução e pode ser perdida por lixiviação.