Atividade da beta-glucuronidase no suco gástrico e mucosa gástrica de ratos submetidos a carência proteica

An experiment was performed in order to evaluate the beta-glucuronidase activity in gastric juice and gastric mucosa of rats submitted to a protein-free diet. A group of 36 young adult male Wistar rats was fed a protein-free diet ad libitum for five weeks; a second group of 36 Wistar rats ingested a purified isocaloric 12,5% casein diet for the same period. The concentration of proteins in plasma, gastric juice and gastric glandular mucosa and the beta-glucuronidase activity in the gastric juice and gastric glandular mucosa were determined. Protein deficient rats had lower plasma protein concentrations and also lower protein concentrations in gastric juice and gastric mucosa. In these animals there was no significant change of beta-glucuronidase activity in the gastric juice, but there was a significant increase of the specific enzymatic activity in the gastric mucosa. The results suggest that protein restriction in young adult rats affects the gastric mucosa. The increase of the specific beta-glucuronidase activity might be due to heightened local catabolism or to a comparatively more severe protein depletion.

Influência da vagotomia gástrica proximal sobre a zona de alta pressão esofagogástrica do cão.

The influence of parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) on esophagogastric high pressure zone (HPZ) (pressure and length) was studied in 30 dogs. The animals were divided in 3 groups: group 1, 10 dogs submitted to PCV with gastric denervation until the esophagogastric junction; group 2, 10 dogs submitted to PCV with gastric denervation into esophagogastric junction and 3 cm above this; group 3 (control), 10 dogs submitted to laparotomy only. In the postoperative period (immediate and later) it wasn't observed any alteration of pressure and length of esophagogastric HPZ in three studied groups.

Lesões do trato gastrointestinal na síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida: estudo de 45 necrópsias consecutivas.

This study was designed to evaluate retrospectively the frequency and etiology of the gastrointestinal (GI) lesions in 45 consecutive necropsies of adult patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Gross descriptions and histological sections of the GI tract, from mouth to anus, were reviewed. The slides were H&E stained, and when necessary special stains and immunohistochemical methods were also employed. There were lesions in GI tract in 37 (82.3%) patients; the mouth was the segment most frequently involved (73.3% of the cases), followed by the colon (55.5%). Multiple lesions occurred in 17 (37.7%) cases. Cytomegalovirus caused colonic lesions in 35.7% of the cases. Candidiasis was observed in 26.6% mainly in the mouth and herpes simplex (8.8%) was the important agent of esophageal lesions. Oral hairy leukoplasia associated with HPV was found in 16 (35.5%) cases. Neoplasia was diagnosed in 7 (15.5%) cases: four Kaposi's sarcoma, two anal intramucosal carcinomas and one gastric lymphoma. Our data confirm the high frequency and variety of GI tract alterations in AIDS.

Dilatacao pneumatica no megaesofago avancado. Resultados do sequimento tardio

Six patients with advanced Chagas' megaesophagus with poor condition for surgical indication due to severe malnutrition and concomitant diseases were submitted to pneumatic dilatation with the aid of the endoscope. The method consists in leading the tip of the pneumatic dilatator into the cardia with the tip of the endoscope. Insufflation of the balloon must be slow and progressive with visualization of the mucosa of the cardia after insufflating of 2 pounds of air pressure. An excellent symptomatic relief was seen in the five-year follow-up but without improvement in the degree of the esophageal dilatation.

Tempo de latencia do rocuronio e da succinilcolina e condicoes de intubacao traqueal

Background and Objectives - Pulmonary aspiration of gastric content during induction of anesthesia for emergency surgical procedures is a serious complication; fast endotracheal intubation under these circumstances is of vital importance to secure the airways. Despite its numerous side effects, succinylcholine is used for this purpose. Rocuronium is the most recently introduced aminoesteroid neuromuscular blocking drug with short onset. The objective of this study was to compare the onset time and intubating conditions of rocuronium and succinylcholine. Methods - After informed consent, forty-five patients were randomly allocated into three groups of 15: Group I (GI) = succinylcholine 1 mg.kg-1; Group II (GII) = rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg-1; Group III (GIII) = rocuronium 0.9 mg.kg-1. Every patient was premedicated with midazolam 15 mg per os and induction of anesthesia was made with fentanyl 10 μg.kg-1 and etomidate 0.3 mg.kg-1. The neuromuscular block was monitored with the TOP-Guard neuromuscular transmission monitor. The TOP-Guard neuromuscular monitor uses an accelerometer to measure the response to nerve stimulation. The stimulating electrodes were placed close to the course of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. The onset time was considered as the time between the end of neuromuscular drug injection and the twitch height (T1) decrease to 10%. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure were registered at 6 moments before and after induction of anesthesia. Results - The onset time results were: Group I, 71 s; Group II, 120 s and Group III, 70 s or GI = GIII < GII (F = 8.862; p < 0.01). There were 43 patients exhibiting excellent intubating conditions and 2 with good intubating conditions. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure showed alterations due to induction of anesthesia and intubation. Conclusions - Rocuronium 0.9 mg.kg-1 can be used in rapid sequence induction because it has a short onset time which is similar to that of succnylcholine. It is likely that rocuronium would be a good indication in patients with high intracranial pressure, burns and neuromuscular diseases.

Frequent p53 mutations and occasional loss of chromosome 4 in invasive bladder carcinoma induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutil)nitrosamine in B6D2F1 mice

B6D2F1 mice (45/group) were treated with N-butyl-N-(4- hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) or uracil as follows: Group 1 received 0.05% BBN in drinking water for the entire experiment, Group 2 received 5 mg of BBN by gastric gavage in 0.1 mL of 20% ethanol twice per week for 10 wk, Group 3 received a 2.5% uracil-containing diet for the entire experiment, and Group 4 was controls (received 0.1 mL of 20% ethanol by gavage twice per week for 10 wk). The surviving mice in Group 1 were killed after week 26 and those in the other groups after week 30. By week 15, three of 11 Group 1 and one of 15 Group 2 mice had bladder carcinoma. By 26 and 30 wk, respectively, invasive carcinomas were observed in 33 of 34 and six of 21 mice in Groups 1 and 2 and renal pelvic carcinomas in 11 of 34 and three of 21 mice in Groups 1 and 2. Four of 19 uracil-treated mice had bladder nodular hyperplasia. By polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analyses, 16 of 20 and two of five bladder carcinomas from Groups 1 and 2, respectively, showed mutations in the p53 gene. Ha-ras mutation was present in one case. Loss of heterozygosity analysis with simple-sequence length polymorphism markers for chromosome 4 showed that 10 of 21, two of 15, and nine of 13 mice in Groups 1-3, respectively, had heterozygous or homozygous deletions. B6D2F1 mice are therefore susceptible to the urothelial carcinogenic effects of BBN and develop frequent p53 mutations and chromosome 4 deletions. Chromosome 4 deletions were also seen with uracil.

Estudo do extrato de Bauhinia forficata L. sobre o diabete em ratas prenhes

The objective of this paper was to study the aqueous extract of Bauhinia forficata L. (pata-de-vaca) effects on streptozotocin-induced diabete pregnant rats. We used Wistar pregnant rats, dividided in 3 experimental groups: control (C, n=7), non-treated diabetics (DNT, n=7) and streptozotocin induced-diabetics treated with an aqueous extract of pata-de-vaca leaves, 200 mg/kg dose (DT, n=7). The animals received the extract through a gastric tube (gavage). The blood glucose level were verified on day 0, 5, 14 and 20 of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the daily mean water intake, food intake and average maternal weight gains of rats were measured. The results demonstrated that plant extract reduced the postimplantation loss porcentage, increasing the number of live fetuses likely to the control group. We found increased food and water intake of the DT and DNT pregnant rats compared to control due to hyperglycemic state. We also observed average maternal weight gains was likely to the DT and control groups on different pregnant periods, suggesting treatment with the plant contributed for the rat weight gains. The blood glucose level of dams did not present significative differences between DT and DNT groups. Thus, the B. forficata aqueous extract, 200 mg/kg dose, did not present hypoglycemic effect on streptozotocin-induced diabete pregnant rats. Nevertheless, the results suggest that DT pregnant rats were kept safe the for B. forficata aqueous extract, allowing at term pregnant occurence.

Mecanismos de ação e controle da digestão de proteínas e peptídios em humanos

This review aims to report the major control mechanisms of protein and peptides digestion of special interest in human patients. Regarding protein assimilation its digestive process begins at the stomach with some not so indispensable actions comparatively to those of duodenal/jejunal lumen. However even the intestine processes are partially under gastric secretion control. Proteolytic enzyme activities are related to protein structure and amino acid constituents, tertiary and quartenary structures need HCl - denaturation prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Thereafter the exopeptidases are guided by either NH 2 (aminopeptidases) or COOH (carboxypeptidases) terminals of the molecule while endopeptidases are oriented by the specific amino acids constituents of the peptide. Both dietary and luminal secreted proteins and polypeptides undergo to either limited or complete proteolysis resulting basic or neutral free-amino acids (40%) or dioctapeptides. The brush border peptidases continue to degrade oligopeptide to di-tripeptides and neutral free-amino acids. Some peptides are uptaked by the enterocytes whose cytosolic peptidases complete the hydrolysis. Hence the digestive products flowing in the portal vein are mainly free-amino acids from either luminal or cytosolic hydrolysis and some di-tripeptides intactly absorbed. Both mechanical and chemical processes of digestion are under neural (vagal), neuroendocrinal(acetilcholine),endocrinal(gastrin, secretin and cholecystokinin) or paracrinal (histamine) controls. The gastric phase (hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen secretions) is activated by gastrin, histamine and acetilcholine which respond to both dietary-amino acids (tryptophan and phenylalanine) and mechanic distention of stomach. The pancreatic secretion is stimulated by either cephalic or gastric phases and has influence on the intestinal phase of digestion. The intestinal types of cells S and I release secretin and cholecystokinin respectively in response of acid quimo (cells S) or amino acids and peptides (cells I) in the lumen. Secretin stimulates the releasing of water, bicarbonate and enteropeptidases whereas cholecystokinin acts on pancreatic enzymes.

Effect of electrolytic lesion of the median raphe nucleus on behavioral and physiological measures of stress.

The effect of electrolytic lesion of the median raphe nucleus was measured on behavioral and physiological parameters related to stress 24 h after the lesion. In of the elevated plus-maze the lesion decreased the percentage of open arm entries and tended to shorten the time spent on the open arms indicating an increase in anxiety. In contrast, the lesion markedly increased the time spent in the bright (aversive) compartment of the light-dark box and decrease in attempts to cross from the dark toward the bright compartment, an anxiolyic effect. With the exception of plasma prolactin level, which was lowered by the lesion, the physiological measures used in the present study indicate that the lesioned animals are under stress. Thus, death rate and weight loss after the surgery were higher in lesioned than in control animals. In addition, lesioned animals showed higher plasma corticosterone levels, a high incidence of gastric ulcers in the fundus and a depressed immune response to the mitogen concavaline A. These results highlight the importance of the median raphe nucleus in the regulation of stress and anxiety. They also show that behavioral and physiological measures of stress may be dissociated.

Tempo de latencia e duracao do efeito do brometo de rocuronio no paciente submetido ao transplante renal

Background and Objectives - Successful cadaver kidney transplantation relies on a fast procedure. Patients with chronic renal failure may present with a delayed gastric emptying making it critical a fast tracheal intubation and airway maintenance. Rocuronium a recently introduced nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker with a fast onset. The aim of this study was to evaluate onset time and duration of rocuronium effects in patients undergoing renal transplantation. Methods - Sixty patients were allocated into two groups of 30: Group R (GR) = patients undergoing renal transplantation and Group N (GN) = patients with normal renal function. All patients were premedicated with oral midazolam (15 mg) and anesthesia was induced with 30 μg.kg-1 alfentanil, 0.3 mg.kg-1 etomidate and 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium injected through a central venous catheter. neuromuscular block was monitored by acceleromyography in the ulnar nerve pathway. The following parameters were evaluated: time between administration of rocuronium and first twitch reduction to 5% after supra-maximal stimulation (T1) (onset time = OT); time for first twitch to return to 25% (clinical duration = R25); time elapsed between 25% and 75% recovery of first twitch (relaxation recovery time = R25-75). Heart rate (HR) and mean blood pressure (MBP) were recorded in 6 moments. Results - Median OT was 31 sec. in GR and 47 sec. in GN. Median R25 was 51.5 min in GR and 33.5 min in GN. Median R25-75 was 28 min in GR and 20 min in GN. MBP and HR were higher in GR. Tracheal intubation conditions were excellent for most patients in both groups. Conclusions - These results open the possibility of 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium being injected through a central venous catheter when a faster onset is needed. Due to wide differences in individual responses, monitoring of neuromuscular block is recommended.

ABO, Lewis, secretor and non-secretor phenotypes in patients infected or uninfected by the Helicobacter pylori bacillus

CONTEXT: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated higher frequencies of the O blood group and the non-secretor phenotype of ABH antigens among patients suffering from peptic ulcers. Since Helicobacter pylori has been established as the main etiological factor in this disease, controversies about the associations of the ABO and Lewis blood group phenotypes and secretor and non-secretor phenotypes in relation to susceptibility towards infection by this bacillus have been presented. OBJECTIVE: To verify the frequencies of ABO, Lewis blood group phenotypes, secretor and non-secretor phenotypes in patients infected or uninfected by H. pylori. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twenty patients with dyspeptic symptoms who underwent endoscopy. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: ABO and Lewis blood group phenotypes were determined by a standard hemagglutination test and the secretor and non-secretor phenotypes were evaluated by saliva samples using the inhibitor hemagglutination test. RESULTS: The diagnosis of infection, made via breath and urea tests and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in gastric biopsy fragments, showed the presence of H. pylori in 61.7% of the patients and absence in 38.3%. The differences between the frequencies of the ABO blood group phenotypes among infected (A 27.0%; B 12.2%; AB 4.0% and O 56.8%) and uninfected patients (A 58.7%; B 13.0%; AB 4.3% and O 24.0%) were significant. The Lewis blood type, secretor and non-secretor phenotypes showed homogeneous distribution between the groups of patients analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the infection of H. pylori can be related to ABO blood groups but not to the Lewis blood group nor to secretor and non-secretor phenotypes. Copyright©2002, Associação Paulista de Medicina.

Anti-ulcerogenic and analgesic activities of the leaves of Wilbrandia ebracteata in mice

Wilbrandia ebracteata (Cogn.) Cogn. is a medicinal plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family used popularly as an antiulcer and analgesic medicine. The hydromethanol extract of leaves was investigated to determine its anti-ulcerogenic (ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric damage) and analgesic (writhing and tail-flick tests) activities in mice (efficacy), its acute toxicity (safety), and its phytochemistry (quality control). Oral administration of leaf extract at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body wt. significantly reduced 73.3% of the total area of lesion in ethanol-induced gastric damage, but was inactive in an indomethacin-induced gastric damage test. The hydromethanol extract was also inactive in both analgesic tests. Oral administration of the leaf extract did not produce mortality in mice, while the LD50 value of the roots was 22.10 mg/kg body wt. in female mice and 58.31 mg/kg body wt. in male mice. Leaves of W. ebracteata reacted positively for steroids, flavonols, flavanones, saponins, tannins and xanthones and negative for other compounds, including cucurbitacins. Leaf extract of W. ebracteata was active as an anti-ulcerogenic, probably through increasing gastric defensive factors, and flavonoids might be the main constituent responsible for this activity.

Morphological aspects of the capybara stomach (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris): Gross and microscopic structure

The digestive system of the capybara has been investigated because of its coprofagia habits, important for their absorptive activity. These species present differences in terms of gastrointestinal morphological characters when compared with other rodents. Macroscopiclly, the stomach of the capybara is constituted of the following parts: cardiac, pyloric, body, fundic and gastric diverticulum. It presents two curvatures, one big and another small. Externally, the presence of gastric bands (tenias) is observed. With regards to the volumetric view, the gastric capacity varies from 850 to 2010 ml, with an average of 1498.57 ml. So, the stomach of this animal can be classified as a simple stomach, in the format of a curved sack and similar to an inverted letter 'J'. The gastric mucous membrane presents a surface filled by numerous tortuous gastric folds and longitudinally distributed along all its extension. The mucous tunic also possesses recesses located among the successive gastric folds, which were denoted as gastric parts with numerous openings described as gastric pits. In the cardiac part, a glandular epithelium with cardiac glands is noticed containing a lot of parietal and mucous neck cells. The fundic part, body and gastric diverticulum contain proper gastric glands with main, parietal and mucous neck cells. Finally, the pyloric part has pyloric glands with two cellular types, mucous neck and parietal cells.

Associação entre o achado de cárdia incompetente à endoscopia digestiva alta e presença de esofagite de refluxo

Incompetent cardia (IC) or loose cardia is not uncommon at endoscopic examination but its meaning is not clear. Such incompetence could facilitate gastroesophageal reflux and the appearance of esophagitis as a consequence. The aim of this study is to investigate if there is an association between IC and reflux esophagitis (RE). A review was made of 395 consecutive endoscopic reports of adult males and females performed at the Botucatu Clinics Hospital, of the Unesp - University of the State of São Paulo. Diagnosis of IC is defined by the endoscopic image in which the cardia is partially opened and/or involves the endoscope in a loose manner. Esophagitis characterization was based in the Los Angeles classification. The statistical analysis showed a significant association between CI and RE (p < 0.0001). Although there is not a clear explanation for this association, some hypotheses could be suggested involving hypotonic LES, diaphragmatic crura ineffectiveness and TLESR disorders as conditions able not only to keep the cardia relaxed but also to the reflux followed by esophagitis.