Effect of Bauhinia forficata aqueous extract on the maternal-fetal outcome and oxidative stress biomarkers of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bauhinia forficata Link, commonly known as paw-of-cow, is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes.Aim of this study: To evaluate the effect of Bauhinia forficata treatment on maternal-fetal outcome and antioxidant systems of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Materials and methods: Virgin female Wistar rats were injected with 40 mg/kg streptozotocin before mating. Oral administration of an aqueous extract of Bauhinia forficata leaves was given to non-diabetic and diabetic pregnant rats at increasing doses: 500 mg/kg from 0 to 4th day of pregnancy, 600 mg/kg from 5th to 14th day and 1000 mg/kg from 15th to 20th day. At day 21 of pregnancy the rats were anaesthetized with ether and a maternal blood sample was collected for the determination superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH). The gravid uterus was weighed with its contents and fetuses were analyzed.Results and conclusion: The data showed that the diabetic dams presented an increased glycemic level, resorption, placental weight, placental index, and fetal anomalies, and reduced GSH and SOD determinations, live fetuses, maternal weight gain, gravid uterine weight, and fetal weight. It was also verified that Bauhinia forficata treatment had no hypoglycemic effect, did not improve maternal outcomes in diabetic rats, but it contributed to maintain GSH concentration similarly to non-diabetic groups, suggesting relation with the decreased incidence of visceral anomalies. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of physiological overload on pregnancy in women with mitral regurgitation

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

Effect of raloxifene on the vaginal epithelium of postmenopausal women

Objective: The objective was to analyze the effect of raloxifene oil the vaginal epithelium of postmenopausal women.Study design: In this non-randomized clinical trial, 80 women (mean age = 60.6 years) were prospectively studied. Forty patients received 60 mg/day of raloxifene (RG), and 40 women constituted it non-treated control group (CG), paired by age and time since menopause. The treated group consisted of patients with osteoporosis of the lumbar spine. Those with a diagnosis of infection ill the lower genital tract and using hormone therapy (HT) up to 6 months prior to the study were excluded. Vaginal smears were collected at baseline and after 6 months of intervention. The vaginal maturation value (VMV) was determined, and counts of superficial, intermediate and parabasal cells were performed. Smears were analyzed by only one cytopathologist who was blinded to patient data. The t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Chi-Squared test were used in the statistical analysis.Results: The study groups were homogeneous regarding age, time since menopause, parity, HT use, smoking, and body mass index. No statistically significant differences were observed in VMV median values (RG, 39.7 and 35.7; CG, 50.0 and 50.0, respectively) or in the percentage of superficial, intermediate and parabasal cells between the groups at baseline and after 6 months (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between VMV and age, time since menopause, previous HT use, or body mass index, in either of the groups.Conclusion: Treatment with raloxifene for 6 months has no effect on the maturation of the vaginal epithelium ill postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seasonal variability in the fertilization rate of women undergoing assisted reproduction treatments

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether seasonality affects human-assisted reproduction treatment outcomes. For this, 1932 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were assigned to a season group according to the day of oocyte retrieval: winter (n = 435), spring (n = 444), summer (n = 469) or autumn (n = 584). Analysis of variance was used to compare the ICSI outcomes. The fertilization rate was increased during the spring (winter: 67.9%, spring: 73.5%, summer: 68.7% and autumn: 69.0%; p < 0.01). In fact, a nearly 50% increase in the fertilization rate during the spring was observed (odds ratio 1.45, confidence interval 1.20-1.75; p < 0.01). The oestradiol concentration per number of oocytes was significantly higher during the spring (winter: 235.8 pg/mL, spring: 282.1 pg/mL, summer: 226.1 pg/mL and autumn: 228.7 pg/mL; p = 0.030). This study demonstrates a seasonal variability in fertilization after ICSI, where fertilization is higher during the spring than at any other time.

Genotoxicity Evaluation in Severe or Mild Diabetic Pregnancy in Laboratory Animals

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evaluation of neonatally-induced mild diabetes in rats: Maternal and fetal repercussions

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

Efficacy of the motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) in predicting pregnancy after intrauterine insemination

Background: Although the motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) was developed merely as a selection criterion, its application as a method for classifying sperm morphology may represent an improvement in the evaluation of semen quality. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of normal sperm morphology using MSOME with regard to clinical pregnancy (CP) after intrauterine insemination (IUI).Methods: A total of 156 IUI cycles that were performed in 111 couples were prospectively analysed. Each subject received 75 IU of recombinant FSH every second day from the third day of the cycle. Beginning on the 10th day of the cycle, follicular development was monitored by vaginal ultrasound. When one or two follicles measuring at least 17 mm were observed, recombinant hCG was administered, and IUI was performed 12-14 h and 36-40 h after hCG treatment. Prior to the IUI procedure, sperm samples were analysed by MSOME at 8400x magnification using an inverted microscope that was equipped with DIC/Nomarski differential interference contrast optics. A minimum of 200 motile spermatozoa per semen sample were evaluated, and the percentage of normal spermatozoa in each sample was determined.Results: Pregnancy occurred in 34 IUI cycles (CP rate per cycle: 21.8%, per patient: 30.6%). Based on the MSOME criteria, a significantly higher percentage of normal spermatozoa was found in the group of men in which the IUI cycles resulted in pregnancy (2.6+/-3.1%) compared to the group that did not achieve pregnancy (1.2+/-1.7%; P = 0.019). Logistic regression showed that the percentage of normal cells in the MSOME was a determining factor for the likelihood of clinical pregnancy (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.51; P = 0.003). The ROC curve revealed an area under the curve of 0.63 and an optimum cut-off point of 2% of normal sperm morphology. At this cut-off threshold, using the percentage of normal sperm morphology by MSOME to predict pregnancy was 50% sensitive with a 40% positive predictive value and 79% specificity with an 85% negative predictive value. The efficacy of using the percentage of normal sperm morphology by MSOME in predicting pregnancy was 65%.Conclusions: The present findings support the use of high-magnification microscopy both for selecting spermatozoa and as a routine method for analysing semen before performing IUI.

Effect of indomethacin on the pregnant rat

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a performance reprodutiva, estudo morfológico do fígado e característicapost mortem de ratas Wistar prenhes tratadas com indometacina, um inibidor geral de COX. Indometacina foi administrada oralmente, nas doses de 0 (controle), 0,32, 1,68 e 8,40 mg/kg/dia (n=10/grupo), nos dias 3 e 4 de prenhez (dia 0 = primeiro dia de prenhez = esperma positivo). Os animais foram eutanasiados sob anestesia no 11º dia de prenhez, e foram realizadas necropsia e cultura de microorganismos. Os resultados mostraram que as doses de 0,32 e 1,68 mg/kg de peso corpóreo (dose terapêutica para humanos) de indometacina não causaram efeitos embriotóxicos ou letais. A maior dose (8,40 mg/kg) de indometacina prejudicou o processo de implantação e, portanto, interferiu no desenvolvimento fetal. A peritonite foi detectada na necropsia e nos estudos bacteriológicos dos animais tratados com 8,4 mg/kg e considerada a causa-morte destes animais. Portanto, este estudo analisou um agente farmacológico na prenhez de roedores e evidenciou que a indometacina apresentou efeitos embriotóxicos e letais na maior dose empregada, mas foi segura na dose terapêutica usada pelo homem.

Experimental pancreas transplantation: the consequences of the portocaval shunt on the blood glucose, plasma insulin, and glucagon

A proposição foi realizada, no período pós-operatório imediato, em 40 ratos Wistar, distribuídos por sorteio em doi grupos: grupo NC, vinte ratos correspondentes ao grupo controle, não diabético, submetidos a operação simulada e o grupo PT, 20 ratos correspondentes ao grupo diabético que recebeu transplante de pâncreas heterotópico de ratos Wistar normais. Durante sete dias, antes do transplante, e 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 horas após, determinava-se a glicose sanguínea, a insulina plasnática e o glucagon. Estes parâmetros eram obtidos também do grupo NC. Diabetes mellitus experimental era induzida pela administração intravenosa de aloxana. O grupo PT era imunosuprimido com ciclosporina A. O grupo NC apresentou níveis normais de glicose sanguínea, de insulina plásmica e de glucagon, durante todo o experimento. Foi encontrada nítida hiperinsulinemia no sangue venoso periférico do grupo PT. A insulina plasmática era significantemente maior no grupo PT comparada ao grupo NC começando 72 horas após o transplante. O glucagon plasmático, elevado no período pré-transplante, não se alterou após o transplante. Apesar de hiperinsulinemia e hiperglucagonemia, os níveis de glicose sanguínea eram elevados 6 horas após o transplante e mantiveram-se normais após este período. Considerando-se os níveis de glicose sanguínea 12 horas pós-transplante, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos PT e NC, até o sacrifício.

STORAGE RESULTS IN LOSS of THE ANTIGENOTOXIC PROPERTIES of LENTINULA EDODES (SHIITAKE MUSHROOM) and DEVELOPMENT of IN VIVO GENOTOXICITY

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

Influência da suplementação de vitamina E na profilaxia e tratamento da broncopneumonia moderada e grave em bezerros

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

O leucograma como indicador de estresse no desmame e no transporte rodoviário de bovinos da raça Nelore

Stress can cause economic losses due to lower weight gain and increased susceptibility of animal diseases. Among the events that cause stress in calves, stand out weaning and road transport, which can result in increased serum concentrations of adrenaline and / or cortisol. This study evaluated the influence of weaning and road transport on the leukogram of Nelore calves. With this purpose, 30 calves with seven to eight months of age, divided into three groups, the first being composed of lactating animals (GL), the second by weaning animals (GD) and the third by weaning animals subjected to road transport for four hours (GDT). The first day of weaning, but not in subsequent days, there were changes in GD and GDT leukogram compatible with the action of adrenaline, as significant increases counts of WBC and neutrophils (p < 0.05), without changing in the neutrophil lymphocytes ratio (NL). In the GDT, immediately after transport, but not in subsequent days, leukogram changes were (p < 0.05) compatible with the action of cortisol, as higher N: L ratio and decreased eosinophil count. It was concluded that, under the conditions of this experiment, there are changes in leukocytes on weaning and road transport related to the action of adrenaline and road transport, respectively, and that the WBC can be used as an indicator of stress in this species.

Cell-mediated immune response to Leishmania chagasi experimental infection of BALB/c immunosuppressed mice

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

Avaliação do Potencial para Ensilagem de Cultivares de Alfafa (Medicago sativa L.)

The objective of this trial was to study the ensilage potential of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L,.). The material used in the evaluation was harvested from an experiment in a complete randomized blocks design with three replicates, with seventeen alfalfa cultivars, Criouil, Florida 77, P555, P581, Moapa, Gilboa, 34 Linea, C/W 8754, C/W 4468, C/W 86, C/W 8746, Hunter Field, Trifecta, Sequel, CUF 101, Aurora e Siriver, during three years. The harvest used for the determinations was collected at 30(th) day of plants development and the material was submitted to two treatments: no wilting - Fresh alfalfa frozen immediately after harvest; wilting fresh alfalfa exposed to sun by three hours to get 35% DM. The dry matter content (DM), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and buffer capacity (BC) were evaluated in rhp forages Wilting increased the dry matter content (39,98%), however there were not differences among cultivars. The same occurred for the WSC content, with interaction among cultivars and treatments. The alfalfa cultivars, when submitted to effective wilting practice, presented appropriated characteristics of dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates for ensilage. Wilting had no effect on alfalfa buffer capacity.

Effects of adding a spray-dried polyclonal antibody preparation on ruminal fermentation patterns and digestibility of cows fed high concentrate diets

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