Comparative effects of acute and subacute lycopene administration on chromosomal aberrations induced by cisplatin in male rats

Lycopene is a natural carotenoid, free radical scavenger, and presents protective effects by inhibiting oxidative DNA damage. The objective of the current study was to investigate the cytogenetic effects of a single acute and four daily gavage administrations of lycopene, and to examine possible protective effects on chromosomal damage induced by the antitumor drug cisplatin (cDDP) in rat bone marrow cells. The animals were divided into treatment groups, with three lycopene doses in the acute treatment (2, 4, and 6 mg/kg b.w.), three lycopene doses in the subacute treatment (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg b.w.) with and without cDDP (5 mg/kg b.w. i.p.), and respective controls. The results indicated that lycopene is neither cytotoxic nor clastogenic when compared with the negative controls (P > 0.01). cDDP-treated animals submitted to acute and subacute treatments with different lycopene doses showed a significant reduction (p < 0.01) in the number of abnormal metaphases when compared with the animals treated only with cDDP. The protective effects of lycopene on cDDP-induced chromosomal damage may be attributed to its antioxidant activity. These results suggest that this carotenoid may prove useful in reducing some of the toxic effects associated with certain classes of chemotherapeutic agents. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Maternal separation stress in male mice: long-term increases in alcohol intake

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The influence of physical activity in the progression of experimental lung cancer in mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Male Homosexuality in Brazilian Indexing Languages: Some Ethical Questions

Studies on ethics in information organization have deeply contributed to the recognition of the social dimension of Information Science. The subject approach to information is linked to an ethical dimension because one of its major concerns is related to its reliability and usefulness in a specific discursive community or knowledge domain. In this direction, we propose, through an exploratory research design with qualitative and inductive characteristics, to identify the specific terminology that Brazilian indexing languages allow for terms relating to male homosexuality. We also analyzed the terms assigned to papers published in the Journal of Homosexuality, Sexualities and Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health between the years 2005 to 2009. From this analysis of terms and the Brazilian indexing languages, we see (1) the Brazilian context, (2) imprecision in the terminology, (3) indications of prejudices disseminated by political correctness, (4) biased representation of the subject matter, (5) and the presence of figures of speech.

Effects of pentoxifylline and n-acetylcysteine on injuries caused by ischemia and reperfusion splanchnic organs in rats

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

No mutations found in exons of TP53, H-RAS and K-RAS genes in liver of male Wistar rats submitted to a medium-term chemical carcinogenesis assay

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

Effects of swim training on liver carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats fed a low-fat or high-fat diet

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

Semen parameters, fertility and testosterone levels in male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Adult partner preference and sexual behavior of male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Impact of skeletal maturation on bone metabolism biomarkers and bone mineral density in healthy Brazilian male adolescents

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

Vitamin C partially attenuates male reproductive deficits in hyperglycemic rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The effects of male age on sperm analysis by motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME)

Background: This study aimed to investigate the influence of age on sperm quality, as analysed by motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME).Methods: Semen samples were collected from 975 men undergoing evaluation or treatment for infertility. Sperm cells were evaluated at 8400x magnification using an inverted microscope equipped with Nomarski (differential interference contrast) optics. Two forms of spermatozoa were considered: normal spermatozoa and spermatozoa with large nuclear vacuoles (LNV, defined as vacuoles occupying > 50% of the sperm nuclear area). At least 200 spermatozoa per sample were evaluated, and the percentages of normal and LNV spermatozoa were determined. The subjects were divided into three groups according to age: Group I, less than or equal to 35 years; Group II, 36-40 years; and Group III, greater than or equal to 41 years.Results: There was no difference in the percentages of normal sperm between the two younger (I and II) groups (P > 0.05). The percentage of normal sperm in the older group (III) was significantly lower than that in the younger (I and II) groups (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the percentage of LNV spermatozoa between the younger (I and II) groups (P > 0.05). The percentage of LNV spermatozoa was significantly higher in the older group (III) than in the younger (I and II) groups (P < 0.05). Regression analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in the incidence of normal sperm with increasing age (P < 0.05; r = -0.10). However, there was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of spermatozoa with LNV and male age (P < 0.05, r = 0.10).Conclusion: The results demonstrated a consistent decline in semen quality, as reflected by morphological evaluation by MSOME, with increased age. Considering the relationship between nuclear vacuoles and DNA damage, these age-related changes predict that increased paternal age should be associated with unsuccessful or abnormal pregnancy as a consequence of fertilisation with damaged spermatozoa. Given that sperm nuclear vacuoles can be evaluated more precisely at high magnification, these results support the routine use of MSOME for ICSI as a criterion for semen analysis.

Glutamate-induced obesity leads to decreased sperm reserves and acceleration of transit time in the epididymis of adult male rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alcohol screening instruments in elderly male: a population-based survey in metropolitan São Paulo, Brazil

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

Lesões sequelares na laringe em pacientes com paracoccidiodomicose

A Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é uma doença sistêmica que em sua forma sequelar se caracteriza por manifestações clínicas relacionadas às alterações anatômicas ou funcionais de órgãos e sistemas comprometidos no período de estado. OBJETIVO: Descrever as alterações anatômicas e funcionais laríngeas sequelares em pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo, sendo avaliados 49 pacientes do sexo masculino, na faixa etária de 30 a 60 anos, entre 1999 a 2004, com diagnóstico de PCM em acompanhamento pela disciplina de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, confirmado pela demonstração do fungo em escarro, exame citológico ou histopatológico. RESULTADOS: As pregas vocais foram a estrutura laríngea mais afetada, em 67% dos pacientes verificaram-se alterações. A epiglote estava acometida em 55% dos casos. As pregas ariepiglóticas tinham modificações em 53% dos pacientes. As pregas vestibulares estavam alteradas em 46% dos casos. em 40% dos casos verificaram-se alterações em aritenoides. Na fonação, 28% tinham limitação ao movimento das cordas vocais, paresia unilateral ocorreu em 4% casos. em 24% havia restrição da luz supraglótica e 4% tinham estenose glótica, sendo que 2% precisaram de traqueotomia. CONCLUSÃO: As lesões sequelares na laringe devido à infecção pelo P. brasilienses são extensas e causam restrições funcionais na maioria dos casos.