Sperm motility of Prochilodus lineatus in relation to dilution rate and temperature of the activating medium

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an activating solution on the sperm motility duration (SMD) of 'curimbatá', Prochilodus lineatus through of the definition of qualitative and quantitative parameters of the semen pool used in the experiment; evaluation of the effects of different ratios of semen dilution corresponding to 1-:-1, 1-:-2, 1-:-20, 1-:-200, 1-:-2000, 1-:-20-000 and 1-:-100-000 semen:dilute solution on the SMD and, assessment of the effects of different temperatures of the activating solution (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50°C) on the SMD. The results of SMD were directly proportional to the dilution (P<0.05), starting from the dilution of 1-:-2 (semen:water), with 23.04-s. Were used three replicates of the semen pool for each test. Two-year-old brookstock were maintained in ponds culture conditions. In November-December 2006, twelve mature males broodfish were selected (mean weight and length of 405.8±134.2-g and 25.6±3.1-cm, respectively). The males released that semen under slight pressure of the urogenital papilla were selected for the experiment. The SMD increased proportionally to the increase in dilution, until it reached a maximum of 28.83-s for the ratio 1-:-100-000 semen: dilute solution. The results of SMD in relation to the temperature of the activating solution exhibited a quadratic behavior (P<0.05) with a maximum theoretical performance in terms of sperm motility duration of 21.36-s at a temperature of 17.3°C. Thus, for the species considered, the increase in the dilution ratio proved favorable for the rise in motility duration until the maximum value studied of 1-:-100-000 semen:dilute solution. As for the temperature of the activating solution, the best results of SMD were obtained at the temperature of 17.3°C. At higher temperatures used in the experiment (25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50°C), a decrease in motility duration. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin.

Absence of mutagenicity of plants used to treat gastrointestinal disorders

The Brazilian Savanna (locally called Cerrado) is an important biome presenting several plants that are used in popular medicine. However, the risks associated with the consumption of derivatives from these plants are generally unknown. Studies with compounds obtained from different species have shown the risks of DNA damage. The present work assessed the in vivo mutagenicity of three plant species used in popular medicine to treat human gastrointestinal disorders (Mouriri pusa, Qualea grandiflora and Qualea multiflora). The micronucleus assay was performed in peripheral blood of mice submitted to acute treatments. Results showed that no assessed extracts were mutagenic in vivo. In fact, the absence of mutagenicity in the present study indicates that the extracts do not contain compounds capable of inducing DNA breaks or chromosomal loss. However, further analysis should be performed in others systems to guarantee their safety, mainly to human chronic use.

Atrophic gastritis: Risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Latin-American population

AIM: To study the association between atrophic gastritis (AG) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a Latin-America population. METHODS: A case-control study was performed at two reference Brazilian hospitals including patients diagnosed with advanced ESCC and dyspeptic patients who had been subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, with biopsies of the gastric antrum and body. All cases with ESCC were reviewed by a single pathologist, who applied standard criteria for the diagnosis of mucosal atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia, all classified as AG. The data on the patients' age, sex, smoking status, and alcohol consumption were collected from clinical records, and any missing information was completed by telephone interview. The association between AG and ESCC was assessed by means of univariate and multiple conditional logistic regressions. RESULTS: Most patients were male, and the median age was 59 years (range: 37-79 years) in both the ESCC and control groups. Univariate analysis showed that an intake of ethanol greater than 32 g/d was an independent risk factor that increased the odds of ESCC 7.57 times (P = 0.014); upon multiple analysis, alcohol intake of ethanol greater than 32 g/d exhibited a risk of 4.54 (P = 0.081), as adjusted for AG and smoking. Smoking was shown to be an independent risk factor that increased the odds of ESCC 14.55 times (P = 0.011) for individuals who smoked 0 to 51 packs/year and 21.40 times (P = 0.006) for those who smoked more than 51 packs/year. Upon multiple analyses, those who smoked up to 51 packs/year exhibited a risk of 7.85 (P = 0.058), and those who smoked more than 51 packs/year had a risk 11.57 times higher (P = 0.04), as adjusted for AG and alcohol consumption. AG proved to be a risk factor that increased the odds of ESCC 5.33 times (95%CI: 1.55-18.30, P = 0.008) according to the results of univariate conditional logistic regression. CONCLUSION: There was an association by univariate conditional logistic regression between AG and ECSS in this sample of Latin-American population. © 2013 Baishideng.

Esophageal transit time assessed by magnetic methods: An in vitro feasibility study of the novel alternating current biosusceptometry with 3-axis magnetorresistor

A hybrid magnetic instrumentation to detect a magnetic field from a permanent magnet, and to detect magnetic markers and tracers using alternating current biosusceptometry (ACB) is discussed. The instrument was used to in vitro evaluation of the esophageal transit time. The sensitivity between both magnetic methods was compared, showing sensitivity for in vivo applications. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in dancers and former dancers participating in the largest dance festival in the world

Objective: To verify the presence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in dancers and former dancers participating in the 27th Joinville Dance FestivalMaterial and methods: The research was conducted at the 27th Joinville Dance Festival in Santa Catarina, Brazil, with 173 participants in the competition, where 139 were dancers and 34 were former dancers with at least ten years of practiceIn order to obtain information related to MSDs, dancers answered a specific questionnaireResults: The study group consisted of adults (28±9 years) with body mass index within the normal range (21.3±2.3) with high weekly training time (955.7±837.2) and featuring long-time experience in dancing (18±7years)The lumbar spine and knees were the most affected by MSDsThe pain of high intensity was the symptom that most often appeared in reports among survey participantsConclusion: It is important to have deeper knowledge of the prevalence of pain among professional dancers, the factors associated with pain conditions and its impact on everyday life in order to plan new forms of prevention and plan new forms of prevention and treatment within a multidisciplinary approach© 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS.

Time-course morphological and functional disorders of the kidney induced by long-term high-fat diet intake in female rats

BackgroundEvidence is emerging that highlights the far-reaching consequences of a high-fat diet (HFD) on kidney morphology and function disorders.MethodsThe present study was performed on 3-, 5-, 7- and 9-week-old HFD female rats compared with the appropriate gender and age-matched animals. We evaluated the kidney expression of angiotensin type II receptor and fibrotic and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical and histological techniques, in parallel with kidney function.ResultsIn the current study, the time-course HFD-treated group showed, by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis, an early time-course increase in the expression of transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1) in the entire kidney of HFD-treated rats, compared with that observed in the control group. Simultaneously, the study shows a transient increase in the expression of ZEB2 in the HFD whole kidney accompanied by a fall in the E-cadherin expression and increased collagen and fibronectin deposition. A pronounced decrease in fractional urinary sodium excretion was also demonstrated in the long-term HFD-treated rats. The decreased FENa + was accompanied by a fall in FEPNa + and FEPP Na +, which occurred in association with significantly decreased CCr and, certainly on the sodium-filtered load. The reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) occurred in parallel to proteinuria and glomerular desmin overexpression.ConclusionsThe results of the current study suggest that podocyte injury in parallel with observed proteinuria and evidence of EMT transformation are associated with long-term loss of kidney function and renal sodium and water retention. © 2013 The Author. All rights reserved.

Sperm motility parameters for Steindachneridion parahybae based on open-source software

Summary: The objective of this work was to evaluate the sperm motility of 13 Steindachneridion parahybae males using open-source software (ImageJ/CASA plugin). The sperm activation procedure and image capture were initiated after semen collection. Four experimental phases were defined from the videos captured of each male as follows: (i) standardization of a dialogue box generated by the CASA plugin within ImageJ; (ii) frame numbers used to perform the analysis; (iii) post-activation motility between 10 and 20 s with analysis at each 1 s; and (iv) post-activation motility between 10 and 50 s with analysis at each 10 s. The settings used in the CASA dialogue box were satisfactory, and the results were consistent. These analyses should be performed using 50 frames immediately after sperm activation because spermatozoa quickly lose their vigor. At 10 s post-activation, 89.1% motile sperm was observed with 107.2 μm s-1 curvilinear velocity, 83.6 μm s-1 average path velocity, 77.1 μm s-1 straight line velocity; 91.6% were of straightness and 77.1% of wobble. The CASA plugin within ImageJ can be applied in sperm analysis of the study species by using the established settings. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Temporomandibular disorders, sleep bruxism, and primary headaches are mutually associated.

To investigate the association among temporomandibular disorders (TMD), sleep bruxism, and primary headaches, assessing the risk of occurrence of primary headaches in patients with or without painful TMD and sleep bruxism. The sample consisted of 301 individuals (253 women and 48 men) with ages varying from 18 to 76 years old (average age of 37.5 years). The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders were used to classify TMD. Sleep bruxism was diagnosed by clinical criteria proposed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and primary headaches were diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II. Data were analyzed by chi-square and odds ratio tests with a 95% confidence interval, and the significance level adopted was .05. An association was found among painful TMD, migraine, and tension-type headache (P < .01). The magnitude of association was higher for chronic migraine (odds ratio = 95.9; 95% confidence intervals = 12.51-734.64), followed by episodic migraine (7.0; 3.45-14.22) and episodic tension-type headache (3.7; 1.59-8.75). With regard to sleep bruxism, the association was significant only for chronic migraine (3.8; 1.83-7.84). When the sample was stratified by the presence of sleep bruxism and painful TMD, only the presence of sleep bruxism did not increase the risk for any type of headache. The presence of painful TMD without sleep bruxism significantly increased the risk in particular for chronic migraine (30.1; 3.58-252.81), followed by episodic migraine (3.7; 1.46-9.16). The association between painful TMD and sleep bruxism significantly increased the risk for chronic migraine (87.1; 10.79-702.18), followed by episodic migraine (6.7; 2.79-15.98) and episodic tension-type headache (3.8; 1.38-10.69). The association of sleep bruxism and painful TMD greatly increased the risk for episodic migraine, episodic tension-type headache, and especially for chronic migraine.

Atividade antiulcerogênica e avaliação dos mecanismos de ação anticerogênicos do β-Mirceno

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Função renal e homeostase de água, sódio e potássio em cães da raça Golden Retriever normais, portadores e afetados pela distrofia muscular

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inherited hemoglobin disorders in an Afro-Amazonian community: Saracura

ABSTRACT: The most common hemoglobinopathies, viz, hemoglobins S and C, and α-and β-thalassemias, were investigated through the molecular screening of 116 subjects from the community of Saracura, comprising fugitive African slaves from farms of the municipality of Santarém, in the west of Pará State, Brazilian Amazon. The observed frequency of the HBB*S gene (0.9%) was significantly lower than that encountered in other Afro-derived communities in the region. Concomitantly, the absence of the HBB*C allele has been reported for most of the Afro-Amazonian communities thus far studied. As remnant populations of quilombos are generally small, the heterogeneous distribution of HBB*S and HBB*C alleles among them is probably due to genetic drift and/or founder effect. The observed frequency of 3.7 kb deletion in Saracura (8.5%) was consistent with the African origin of the population, with a certain degree of local differentiation and admixture with individuals of Caucasian ancestry, placed in evidence by the occurrence of - -(MED) deletion (1.2%), a common mutation in Mediterranean regions. As regards f-thalassemia, among the seven different mutations found in Saracura, three βºand two β+ mutations were of Mediterranean origin, and two β+ of African. Thus, only 28% of the local β-thalassemia mutations found in Saracura were of African origin.

Prevalência de patologias no trato genital de machos bubalinos (Bubalus bubalis) nos estados do Pará, Amapá e baixo Amazonas, Brasil

Distúrbios reprodutivos estão associados a problemas adquiridos (estresse, manejo inadequado e de origem infecciosa), e genéticos (alta consangüinidade existente em alguns rebanhos do Brasil). Embora mostre o grau do potencial de fertilidade do macho, o exame andrológico e, em particular, o teste de funcionalidade, tem sido pouco utilizado, principalmente na seleção dos touros, embora, estes mesmos estudos, mencionem a importância do sêmen para avaliar a eficiência reprodutiva do macho. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalência de patologias clinicamente notáveis, através de palpação e inspeção e caracterizar o perfil espermático de búfalos criados em sistemas de produção, intensivo e extensivo. O estudo foi realizado em propriedades do Estado do Pará, nos Municípios de Belém, Ipixuna, Mojú, Nova Timbotéua, Paragominas, Santarém Novo e São Caetano de Odivelas, Muaná, Soure, Chaves e Ponta de Pedras. No estado do Amapá, nos Municípios de Cutias, Itaubal, Tartarugalzinho e no Arquipélago do Bailique. Os animais eram criados no sistema intensivo e extensivo, respectivamente. O período do estudo foi de março de 2008 a março de 2009. Foram utilizados 305 touros da raça Murrah, Mediterrânea e mestiços, com idade variando entre 2 a 15 anos, sendo que 160 no Estado do Pará, e 145 no Estado do Amapá. Os dados dos exames clínicos - andrológicos, assim como o espermiograma foram documentados em fichas especiais. A obtenção de sêmen foi realizada pela massagem das ampolas a avaliação física do sêmen contou da cor, aspecto, volume, motilidade, vigor, concentração e a avaliação morfológica e pH. A concentração foi aferida por espectrofotômetro da Central de Biotecnologia Animal (CEBRAN). Para a morfologia espermática foi utilizado o método de Cerovsky. Foram analisadas 200 espermatozóides em microscópio óptico em objetiva de imersão. Para análise estatística, foi empregado o programa estatístico BIOESTAT 5.0, estatísticas descritivas para todas as variáveis estudadas, biometrias testiculares, patologias do sistema reprodutor e características físicas e morfológicas do sêmen, registrando-se as médias, os desvios padrões e a distribuição de freqüências para as características de classes andrológicas. Os dados quantitativos referentes às idades dos touros, biometrias testiculares, avaliações físicas e morfológicas do sêmen foram submetidos à ANOVA, e quando houve efeito significativo pelo teste F, às médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5 % de probabilidade de erro. Dos 305 búfalos, nos animais do Estado do Amapá a media e o desvio padrão da circunferência escrotal foi superior ao do Estado do Pará independente do tipo de manejo. Indiferente de idade e sistemas de criação não foi encontrado nenhuma alteração no pênis. A bolsa escrotal bífida (fenda escrotal) foi a alteração mais prevalente. A maior freqüência de alterações no epidídimo foi epididimite granulomatosa tipo tuberculóide, observada nos animais de criação extensiva no estado do Amapá, com uma tendência aos touros de mais de quatro anos. Entre as alterações do testículo a mais prevalente foi à torção testicular e de causas infecciosa destacamos a ocorrência de casos de orquite interticial crônico ativa, orquite granulomatosa tipo tuberculóide, hipoplasia testicular grau I, hipoplasia testicular grau III associada à orquite tuberculóide e hipoplasia grau II (parcial). Outra observação bem evidente é com relação às percentagens de espermatozóide com defeitos maiores e menores que se apresentam muito altas as recomendadas pelo CBRA. Deste estudo pode-se concluir que os reprodutores criados de forma extensiva apresentam patologias de origem genética e infecciosa muito prevalente.

Radiographic study of dental anomalies in brazilian patients with neuropsychomotor disorders

The purposes of this study were to investigate radiographically the dental and maxillomandibular in patients with neuropsychomotor disorders and determine the role of panoramic radiographs for quantitative and qualitative analyses of dental alterations. A total of 322 panoramic radiographs from 190 males and 132 females aged 4 to 57 years were obtained from the files of the Center for Care to Patients with Special Needs (CAPE; Dental School, University of São Paulo) and subdivided into syndromes, special needs, neurological, neuromuscular or cerebral disorders, and sequels of diseases. 32% of dental alterations were in tooth position, with 69% of this group associated with tooth rotation. The mandible accounted for 54.62% of alterations. The male gender (55.85%) and the permanent dentition (78.7%) were most affected. Panoramic radiographs were proved to be well suited for quantitative evaluation of dental anomalies of epidemiological nature. Panoramic radiographs are important diagnostic resources when applied to patients with special needs because of the difficulty to place intraoral films and held them correctly positioned during the radiographic technique.

Painful temporomandibular disorders, self reported tinnitus, and depression are highly associated

Objetivo Investigar a associação entre disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) dolorosa, auto-relato de zumbido e níveis de depressão. Método A amostra foi composta por 224 indivíduos com idades de 18 a 76 anos. O Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders , eixo I, foi usado para classificar a DTM e o eixo II para obtenção do auto-relato de zumbido e dos níveis de depressão. Para a análise dos dados, foi aplicado o teste odds ratio (OR) com intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%. Resultado Somente a presença de DTM dolorosa estava significativamente associada aos níveis de depressão moderado/severo (OR=9,3, 95%; IC: 3,44-25,11). A presença concomitante de DTM dolorosa e auto-relato de zumbido aumentaram a magnitude da associação com os níveis de depressão moderado/severo (OR=16,3; 95% IC: 6,58-40,51). Conclusão Disfunção temporomandibular dolorosa, altos níveis de depressão e auto-relato de zumbido estão fortemente associados. Entretanto, o desenho do estudo não permite estabelecer uma relação causal entre essas três entidades.