Transdentinal cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of chlorhexidine gel applied on acid-conditioned dentin substrate

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

In vitro growth of Brassocattleya orchid hybrid in different concentrations of KNO3, NH4NO3 and benzylaminopurine

Entre as maiores aplicações da cultura de tecidos de plantas está a propagação massal de mudas de plantas ornamentais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o cultivo in vitro de um híbrido de orquídea Brassocattleya em diferentes concentrações de NH4NO3, KNO3 e BAP. Foram utilizadas sementes do híbrido de orquídea Brassocattleya 'Pastoral' e as plantas foram cultivadas em meio MS com redução pela metade das fontes de P, Mg e Ca e adição de 25 g L-1 de sacarose, 100 mg L-1 de mio-inositol, 1,5 g L-1 de carvão ativo e 6,5 g L-1 de ágar-ágar, sendo o pH ajustado para 5,8. Como tratamentos foram usados quatro concentrações dos sais NH4NO3 e KNO3 (2x; 1x; ½ e ¼ do meio MS) e três concentrações de BAP (0,0; 0,5 e 1,0 mg L-1). Avaliou-se a multiplicação, o crescimento em altura, massa fresca e seca, além dos teores de açucares redutores na massa seca das mudas. Observou-se grande influência das doses de NH4NO3 e KNO3 sobre o crescimento em altura das mudas, massa fresca e seca e teores de açucares redutores em Bc. ('Pastoral' x Auto). A dose de ¼ da utilizada no meio MS promoveu aumento significativo do crescimento das plantas. Para multiplicação, houve melhor resultado com a dose de ½ dos sais NH4NO3 e KNO3 utilizados no meio MS e 1,0 mg L-1 de BAP.

Propolis: Effect of different concentrations, extracts and intake period on seric biochemical variables

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees that possesses many biological activities, such as antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory, among others. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biochemical profile of propolis-treated rats to observe whether propolis might lead to side effects after administration. Three different treatments were analyzed: (1) rats were treated with different concentrations of propolis (1, 3 and 6 mg/kg/day) during 30 days; (2) rats were treated with I mg/kg/day of ethanolic or water extracts of propolis (EEP, WEP) during 30 days; (3) rats were treated with I mg/kg/day of ethanolic extract of propolis during 90 and 150 days. Our results demonstrated no alterations in the seric levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total lipids, triglycerides and in the specific activity of aminotransferases (AST) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) of propolis-treated groups when compared to controls. on the basis of our findings, since propolis does not induce any significant change in seric parameters, it is claimed that long-term administration of propolis might not have any cardiac injury. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Clove and eugenol in noncytotoxic concentrations exert immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory action on cytokine production by murine macrophages

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

Chemotherapeutic agents in low noncytotoxic concentrations increase immunogenicity of human colon cancer cells

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Chemotherapeutic Agents in Noncytotoxic Concentrations Increase Antigen Presentation by Dendritic Cells via an IL-12-Dependent Mechanism

Antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents may indirectly activate dendritic cells (DCs) by inducing the release of danger signals from dying tumor cells. Whereas the direct cytotoxic or inhibitory effect of conventional chemotherapy on DCs has been reported, modulation of DC function by chemotherapeutic agents in low noncytotoxic concentrations has not yet been investigated. We have tested the effects of different classes of antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents used in low noncytotoxic concentrations on the Ag-presenting function of DCs. We revealed that paclitaxel, doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and methotrexate up-regulated the ability of DCs to present Ags to Ag-specific T cells. Stimulation of DC function was associated with the up-regulation of expression of Ag-processing machinery components and costimulatory molecules on DCs, as well as increased IL-12p70 expression. However, the ability of DCs treated with paclitaxel, methotrexate, doxorubicin, and vinblastine to increase Ag presentation to Ag-specific T cells was abolished in DCs generated from IL-12 knockout mice, indicating that up-regulation of Ag presentation by DCs is IL-12-dependent and mediated by the autocrine or paracrine mechanisms. At the same time, IL-12 knockout and wild-type DCs demonstrated similar capacity to up-regulate OVA presentation after their pretreatment with low concentrations of mitomycin C and vincristine, suggesting that these agents do not utilize IL-12-mediated pathways in DCs for stimulating Ag presentation. These findings reveal a new mechanism of immunopotentiating activity of chemotherapeutic agents-a direct immunostimulatory effect on DCs (chemomodulation)-and thus provide a strong rationale for further assessment of low-dose chemotherapy given with DC vaccines for cancer treatment. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183: 137-144.

Chemomodulation of human dendritic cell function by antineoplastic agents in low noncytotoxic concentrations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Surface morphology of Diplodon expansus (Kuster, 1856; Mollusca, Bivalvia, Hyriidae) gill filaments after exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine herbicide

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

Growth of free-floating aquatic macrophytes in different concentrations of nutrients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of the free-floating aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, and Salvinia molesta. The plants were cultured in 2,000-l outdoor concrete tanks. Triplicate tanks, with a continuous flow of effluent from culture ponds containing Nile tilapia, were used for each plant type (n = 3). The plant material was collected monthly from 0.25 m(2) floating quadrats, at the two ends of the tanks (higher nutrient concentrations near the inflow and lower nutrient concentrations near the outflow). In low nutrient concentrations, the maximum relative growth rates (RGRs) for E. crassipes (0.016/day) and P. stratiotes (0.016/day) were significantly lower (P <= 0.05) than for S. molesta (0.029/day). There were no significant differences between the RGRs of S. molesta in the different nutrient concentrations. Eichhornia crassipes and P. stratiotes had their growth limited by nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The increase in plant density during the experiment probably also affected the growth of these species. In this context, E. crassipes and P. stratiotes can cause problems in nutrient-rich waterbodies, but under these experimental conditions their growth was limited by nitrogen and/or phosphorus concentrations. The growth of S. molesta was not influenced by the different nutrient concentrations.

Effects of Exercise Training on Hippocampus Concentrations of Insulin and IGF-1 in Diabetic Rats

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

Growth factors and glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats: effects of exercise training

To investigate the alterations of glucose homeostasis and variables of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF- 1) growth system in sedentary and trained diabetic (TD) rats, Wistar rats were divided into sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary diabetic (SD), and TD groups. Diabetes was induced by Alloxan (35 mg kg(-1) b.w.). Training program consisted of swimming 5 days week(-1), 1 h day(-1), during 8 weeks. Rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for determinations of serum glucose, insulin, growth hormone (GH), IGF-1, and IGF binding protein-3(IGFBP-3). Muscle and liver were removed to evaluate glycogen content. Cerebellum was extracted to determinate IGF-1 content. Diabetes decreased serum GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, liver glycogen, and cerebellum IGF-1 peptide content in baseline condition. Physical training recovered liver glycogen and increased serum and cerebellum IGF-1 peptide in diabetic rats. Physical training induces important metabolic and hormonal alterations that are associated with an improvement in glucose homeostasis and serum and cerebellum IGF-1 concentrations. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Women with TT genotype for eNOS gene are more responsive in lowering blood pressure in response to exercise

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

Regulation of ventilation in the caiman (Caiman latirostris): effects of inspired CO2 on pulmonary and upper airway chemoreceptors

In order to study the relative roles of receptors in the upper airways, lungs and systemic circulation in modulating the ventilatory response of caiman (Caiman latirostris) to inhaled CO2, gas mixtures of varying concentrations of CO2 Were administered to animals breathing through an intact respiratory system, via a tracheal cannula by-passing the upper airways (before and after vagotomy), or via a cannula delivering gas to the upper airways alone. While increasing levels of hypercarbia led to a progressive increase in tidal volume in animals with intact respiratory systems (Series 1), breathing frequency did not change until the CO2 level reached 7%, at which time it decreased. Despite this, at the higher levels of hypercarbia, the net effect was a large and progressive increase in total ventilation. There were no associated changes in heart rate or arterial blood pressure. on return to air, there was an immediate change in breathing pattern; breathing frequency increased above air-breathing values, roughly to the same maximum level regardless of the level of CO2 the animal had been previously breathing, and tidal volume returned rapidly toward resting (baseline) values. Total ventilation slowly returned to air breathing values. Administration of CO2 via different routes indicated that inhaled CO2 acted at both upper airway and pulmonary CO2-sensitive receptors to modify breathing pattern without inhibiting breathing overall. Our data suggest that in caiman, high levels of inspired CO2 promote slow, deep breathing. This will decrease deadspace ventilation and may reduce stratification in the saccular portions of the lung.

Total and individual carotenoid profiles in Solanum phureja of cultivated potatoes: I. Concentrations and relationships as determined by spectrophotometry and HPLC

Total and individual carotenoid concentrations were determined by spectro photometry and HPLC, in raw tubers of a sample of 23 accessions of Solanum phureja potatoes taken at random from the world germplasm collection following its stratification on tuber flesh color. Lutein, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin and beta-carotene were detected in all accessions and three distinct patterns of carotenoid accumulation were evidenced by cluster analysis. Accessions in group 1 showed the highest concentrations of total carotenoids (1258-1840 mu g 100 g(-1) FW) comprised largely of zeaxanthin (658-1290 mu g 100 g(-1) FW) with very low or no presence of beta-carotene (below 5.4 mu g 100 g(-1) FW). Accessions in group 2 presented moderate total carotenoid concentrations with violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin as the major carotenoids. Accessions in group 3 showed low concentrations of total carotenoids (97-262 mu g 100 g(-1) FW) and very low or no zeaxanthin, with lutein and violaxanthin as the predominant carotenoids and relatively high concentrations of beta-carotene(up to 27 mu g 100 g(-1) FW). Five accessions with significant concentrations of zeaxanthin were identified with the accession 703566 showing the highest concentration (1290 p g 100 g(-1) FW). This value is to our knowledge higher than any value previously reported for potatoes, including those achieved through genetic modification. For the 23 S. phureja accessions, total carotenoid concentration was positively and significantly correlated with antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin concentrations, and negatively and significantly correlated with beta-carotene concentration. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.