Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides, in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

The preventative intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalarithus bromelioides, was tested in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. This was performed in two different experimental settings, i. e. when the colonic mucosa is intact or when the mucosa is in process of recovery after an initial insult. The results obtained revealed that the paepalantine pretreatment, at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the colonic damage induced by TNBS in both situations, as it was evidenced both histologically and biochemically. This beneficial effect was associated with an improvement in the colonic oxidative status, since paepalantine prevented the glutathione depletion that occurred as a consequence of the colonic inflammation. In addition, the intestinal anti-inflammatory effect exerted by this isocoumarin was associated with an inhibition of colonic nitric oxide activity, which is upregulated as a consequence of the inflammatory process. In conclusion, the preventative effect exerted by paepalantine in the TNBS model of rat colitis is probably related with its antioxidant properties.

Ischaemia and reperfusion effects on skeletal muscle tissue: morphological and histochemical studies

This was a study on the oxidative stress due to ischaemia (I) and reperfusion (R) in skeletal muscle tissue. Using a tourniquet, groups of rats were submitted to ischaemia for 4 h, followed by different reperfusion periods. The animals were divided in four groups: control; 4 h of ischaemia (IR); 4 h of ischaemia plus 1 h reperfusion (IR-1 h); 4 h of ischaemia plus 24 h reperfusion (IR-24 h); and 4 h of ischaemia plus 72 h reperfusion (IR-72 h). At the end of the procedures, samples of soleus muscle were collected and frozen in n-hexane at -70 degrees C. Cryostat sections were submitted to haematoxylin-eosin, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR) stains. An additional muscle sample was processed for electron microscopy. No alterations were found in control animals. IR group showed fibres had normal aspect besides some round, acidophilic and hypertrophic fibres. There were several fibres with angular outlines and smaller diameters in this group compared with control group. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was moderately intense in most fibres. In some fibres, cytoplasm showed areas without activity and other fibres had very intense reactivity. IR-1 h group showed oedema hypercontracted fibres with disorganized myofibrils, mitochondria with focal lesions and dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was moderate to weak. IR-24 h showed intense inflammatory infiltrate in the endomysium and perimysium. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was similar to IR-1 h. IR-72 h showed necrotic fibres, areas with inflammatory infiltrate, reduced muscle fibres at different stages of necrosis and phagocytosis, and many small round and basophilic fibres characterizing a regeneration process. NADH-TR/SDH reaction was weak to negative. Our results suggest that ischaemia and the subsequent 1-, 24- and 72-h reperfusions induced progressive histological damage. Although progressive, it may be reversible because there were ultrastructural signs of recovery after 72-h reperfusion. This recovery could in part be due to the low oxidative stress identified by the morphological and histochemical analysis.

Proliferation of the vascular endothelium of the iris following total debridement of the corneal epithelium and limbal excision of rabbits

Background Damage to the corneal epithelium causes not only a reaction for its repair but also affects other parts of the cornea as well as different components of the anterior segment of the eye. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the consequences, following epithelial and limbal damage, to the iris of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).Methods The corneal epithelium was thoroughly scraped followed by surgical excision of the limbus. Next, (3)H-thymidine ((3)H-TdR) was injected intravitreally both into the right (experimental) and left (control) eyes which had their anterior segments processed for autoradiography at intervals of 2, 7 and 21 days after surgery (three rabbits per interval). The irises were also examined with scanning-electron and confocal microscopy after Evans blue injection.Results There was a high frequency of labeling in the cells of the iris blood vessels in the experimental eye, particularly the endothelial ones. The ratio of labeled cells between experimental and control irises was 40:1, with a population of nuclei increasing by 25% and remaining labeled up to 21 days. There was also an increase in the volume of the iris vasculature as shown by confocal microscopy. The high labeling frequencies of the vascular cells were observed throughout the iris from the ciliary to the pupillary regions.Conclusions The lesions on the corneal epithelium elicit proliferation of the iris vascular cells, mainly its endothelium, as well as an early breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier. The daughter cells resulting from the damage to the eye surface were detected up to 21 days after a single injection of (3)H-TdR, most likely due to their slow turnover. As a consequence of this proliferation, the vasculature of the iris increased in volume.

Esterase inhibition in tadpoles of Scinax fuscovarius (Anura, Hylidae) as a biomarker for exposure to organophosphate pesticides

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

Respostas fisiológicas ao déficit hídrico em duas cultivares enxertadas de seringueira (RRIM 600 e GT 1) crescidas em campo

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

Porous titanium for biomedical applications: An experimental study on rabbits

Objective: The aim of this study was to carry out an in vivo assessment of bone ingrowth in two different types of porous titanium -the first being completely porous, and the second with a porous surface and dense nucleus, manufactured by powder metallurgy- and to evaluate their mechanical properties. Study design: Ten scaffolds from each group were submitted to metallographic analysis and compression tests. Next, two scaffolds of each type were inserted into 14 rabbits, which were sacrificed 8 weeks after surgery. The samples were submitted for histological examination. Results: Metallographic analysis revealed interconnected pores, and the average interconnected pore diameter was about 360 mm, with 36% total porosity. The totally porous titanium samples and the titanium samples with porous surface and dense nucleus showed an average compressive strength of 16.19 MPa and 69.27 MPa, respectively. After 8 weeks, the animals showed bone ingrowth, even into the most internal pores. Conclusions: The pore morphology was effective in permitting bone ingrowth in both groups. Titanium scaffolds with a porous surface and dense nucleus showed the best mechanical properties and most adequate interface.

Calcitonin in bone-guided regeneration of mandibles in ovariectomized rats: densitometric, histologic and histomorphometric analysis

The aim of the present study was to investigate bone promotion in surgical defects created in the mandible of normal and ovariectomized female rats using calcitonin associated with a polytetrafluoroethylene barrier. The 100 female rats were divided into four groups: control (C), control treated with calcitonin (CM), ovariectomized control (OV) and ovariectomized treated with calcitonin (OVM). A circumscribed bone defect 4 mm in diameter was created in the region of the mandibular angle, and covered with the barrier. Groups CM and OVM received 2 IU/kg of synthetic salmon calcitonin intramuscularly three times a week. The animals were killed 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after surgery. The bone defects were submitted to densitometric, histologic and histomorphometric analysis. Groups C and CM showed higher levels of bone formation after 7 days compared to the OV and OVM groups. A significant difference was observed between groups C and OV at 3-14 days. The OV group presented slower bone regeneration of the surgical bone defect created in the mandibular angle than group C. Synthetic salmon calcitonin accelerated regeneration of the bone defect in the mandibles of OVM animals similarly to group C, and also increased the formation of new bone during the regeneration process in CM.

Influence of chronic alcoholism and oestrogen deficiency on the variation of stoichiometry of hydroxyapatite within alveolar bone crest of rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Femur bone repair in ovariectomized rats under the local action of alendronate, hydroxyapatite and the association of alendronate and hydroxyapatite

P>An evaluation was made of the local action of alendronate sodium (A), hydroxyapatite (HA) and the association of both substances (A + HA), in different molar concentrations, on the femur bone repair of ovariectomized rats. Ninety-eight animals were divided into seven groups: control (C), starch (S), alendronate 1 mol (A1), alendronate 2 mols (A2), hydroxyapatite 1 mol (HA1), hydroxyapatite 2 mols (HA2) and the association of alendronate + hydroxyapatite (A + HA). Rats weighing about 250 g were ovariectomized and 2.5-mm diameter bone defects were made on the left femur 30 days later. Each experimental group had defects filled with appropriate material, except for group C (control). The animals were killed 7 and 21 days after surgery. Histological, histomorphometric and statistical analyses of bone neoformation in the bone defect site were performed. From the histological standpoint, the major differences occurred after 21 days. All specimens in groups C, S, HA1 and HA2 presented linear closure of the bone defect, and most animals in groups A1, A2 and A + HA showed no bone neoformation in the central area of the defect. No statistically significant difference was found among the experimental groups after 7 days; after 21 days, group HA2 presented the highest amount of neoformed bone. There was no significant difference among groups A1, A2 and A + HA in the two study periods. It was concluded that alendronate, either isolated or in association with hydroxyapatite, had an adverse effect on bone repair in this experimental model. Moreover, the hydroxyapatite used here proved to be biocompatible and osteoconductive, with group HA2 showing the best results.

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy and Calcitonin on Bone Repair in Castrated Rats: A Densitometric Study

Objective: To investigate the healing of bone defects in male rats treated with salmon calcitonin, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), or both. Background: Healing of bone defects still represents a challenge to health professionals in several areas. In this article, the effect of calcitonin in combination with LLLT on bone repair was studied. Densitometry was used as a valuable tool for the measurement of bone regeneration. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats underwent bilateral castration surgery before the creation of a surgical bone defect. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: control, treated with calcitonin (Ca), treated with LLLT (La), and treated with calcitonin and LLLT (CaLa). Groups Ca and CaLa received 2 IU/kg of synthetic salmon calcitonin intra-muscularly three times a week. Groups La and CaLa received laser therapy using a gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser (10mW, 20 J/cm(2), wavelength 830 nm). Control animals were submitted to sham irradiation. The animals were sacrificed 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery, and bone defects were analyzed using densitometry. Results: The CaLa group had a higher degree of bone regeneration 14 and 21 days after surgery. Conclusions: The La and CaLa had significantly higher bone mineral density than the control and Ca groups.

Low-Level Laser Therapy and Calcitonin in Bone Repair: Densitometric Analysis

The aim of this work was to evaluate the association of low-level laser therapy (LLLT, 830 nm) and calcitonin in bone repair considering that bone healing remains a challenge to health professionals. Calcitonin has antiosteoclastic action and LLLT is a treatment that uses low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes to alter cellular function. Both are used to improve bone healing. Densitometry is a clinical noninvasive valuable tool used to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD). Sixty male rats were submitted to bone defect with a trephine bur, randomly divided into four groups of 15 animals each: control (C); synthetic salmon calcitonin (Ca); LLLT (La); LLLT combined with calcitonin (LaCa). Animals from Ca and LaCa received 2UI/Kg synthetic salmon calcitonin intramuscularly on alternate days after surgery. Animals from groups La and LaCa were treated with infrared LLLT (830 nm, 10mW, 20 J/cm(2), 6 s, contact mode). Five animals from each group were euthanized 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery and bone defects were analyzed by densitometry. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in BMD values in LaCa group at 7 and 21 days (P = 0, 005). The results of the densitometric study showed that LLLT (830 nm) combined with calcitonin improved bone repair.

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)

Design of dental implants, influence on the osteogenesis and fixation

The fixation and the bone ingrowth at the interface of porous cylindrical implants (total porosity of 37% and average pores diameter of 480 mu m) were compared in vivo to rough cylindrical implants (R-a = 5.3 mu m), both of commercially pure titanium, made by powder metallurgy. The implants were inserted into the tibias of 20 rabbits and the animals were sacrificed 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. The percentage of bone-implant contact observed in porous implant was significantly larger than in the rough ones for all of sacrifice periods, respectively, 57% vs. 46% after 4 weeks, and 59% vs. 50% after 8 weeks. The mechanical tests showed a significant increase in the shear strength of the porous implants for the two analyzed periods, 4 and 8 weeks (14 and 20 MPa), when compared with rough ones (4 and 13 MPa). These results suggest that porous implants improve the contact at the implant-bone interface and increase the fixation to the bone, improving the osseointegration. Thus, the porous implant might be an alternative to dental implant in less favorable conditions, and appear to be better fixed to bone, offering promising alternatives.

Infiltração de 5-fluorouracil no pré-operatório do pterígio

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do 5-fluorouracil (5FU) injetado intralesionalmente na cabeça do pterígio no período pré-operatório. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 53 olhos (52 pacientes), sendo 28 pterígios primários e 25 recidivados, divididos em dois grupos: grupo 1 (G1), composto por indivíduos que receberam a injeção de 5-fluorouracil 30 dias antes do procedimento cirúrgico e grupo 2 (G2), no qual o 5-fluorouracil foi injetado 10 dias antes da cirurgia. Todas as cirurgias foram realizadas seguindo-se a mesma técnica cirúrgica, pelo mesmo cirurgião. Os pacientes foram reavaliados 7, 30 e 60 dias após a cirurgia. Os resultados observados foram submetidos à análise estatística. RESULTADOS: A amostra estudada foi constituída por 52,8% de pterígios primários e 47,2% de recidivados, sendo composta igualmente por indivíduos de ambos os sexos. Não ocorreram complicações decorrentes da infiltração da droga. A recidiva foi mais freqüente nos pterígios recidivados e no G1. CONCLUSÃO: O uso intralesional de 5-fluorouracil no pré-operatório do pterígio não provocou efeitos deletérios aos olhos estudados. Houve menor recorrência quando usado o 5-fluorouracil 10 dias antes da exérese cirúrgica, em relação à aplicação 30 dias antes do procedimento.

Estudo comparativo da cicatrização de enterorrafias em planos aposicional e invaginante no cólon descendente de eqüinos

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