PEDOT:PSS self-assembled films to methanol crossover reduction in Nafion (R) membranes

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

Vaccination of grazing calves with antigens from the intestinal membranes of Haemonchus contortus: effects against natural challenge with Haemonchus placei and Haemonchus similis

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

Mechanical properties and fracture dynamics of silicene membranes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determination of equine fetal sex by Doppler ultrasonography of the gonads

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

Cord blood cytokine levels in focal early-onset neonatal infection after preterm premature rupture of membranes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Undernutrition fetal programming: effects on kidney morphology, renal steroid and angiotensin receptors expression and urinary sodium excretion

Maternal undernutrition affects the foetal development, promoting renal alterations and adult hypertension. The present study investigates, in adult male rats, the effect of food restriction in utero on arterial blood pressure changes (AP), and its possible association with the number of nephrons, renal function and angiotensin II (AT1R/AT2R), glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MCR) receptors expression. The daily food supply to pregnant rats was measured and one group (n=5) received normal quantity of food (NF) while the other group received 50% of that (FR50) (n=5). The AP was measured weekly. At 16 weeks of life, fractionator’s method was used to estimate glomeruli number in histological slices. The renal function was estimate by creatinine and lithium clearances. Blood and urine samples were collected to biochemical determination of creatinine, sodium, potassium and lithium. At 90th and 23rd days of life, kidneys were also processed to AT1R, AT2R, GR and MCR immunolocalization and for western blotting analysis. FR50 offspring shows a significant reduction in BW (FR50: 5.67 ± 0.16 vs. 6.84 ± 0.13g in NF, P<0.001) and increased AP from 6th to 12nd week (6thwk FR50: 149.1 ± 3.4 vs. 125.1 ± 3.2mmHg in NF, P<0.001and, 12ndwk FR50: 164.4 ± 4.9 vs. 144.0 ± 3.3 mmHg in NF, P=0.02). Expression of AT1R and AT2R were significantly decreased in FR50 (AT1, 59080 ± 2709 vs. 77000 ± 3591 in NF, P=0.05; AT2, 27500 ± 95.50 vs. 67870 ± 1509 in NF, P=0.001) while the expression of GR increased in FR50 (36090 ± 781.5 vs. 4446 ± 364.5 in NF, P=0.0007). The expression of MCR did not change significantly. We also verified a pronounced decrease in fractional urinary sodium excretion in FR50 offspring (0.03 ± 0.02 vs. 0.06 ± 0.04 in NF, p=0.03). This occurred despite unchanged creatinine clearance. The study led us to suggest that fetal undernutrition, with increased fetal exposure... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Polimorfismo do gene IL6 candidato à predisposição à rotura prematura de membranas pré-termo e ao trabalho de parto pré-termo

Introduction: Preterm Labor (PTL) and Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) cause severe complications for both mother and fetus. Among the risk factors associated with preterm labor and PPROM, genetic predisposition has been gaining importance. However, the association between polymorphic genes and the pathogenesis of PTL and PPROM remains elusive. A better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying these adverse pregnancy outcomes may enable the identification of high risk patients and allow new approaches to minimize the deleterious effects of prematurity. Aim: To determine the association between maternal IL-6 polymorphism gene and the occurrence of PTL and PPROM. Patients and Methods: The study included 109 patients with prior history of PL and/or PPROM that delivered prematurely at the Obstetrical Unit Care of Botucatu Medical School, UNESP between 2003 and 2012. The control group consisted of 68 patients that delivered at term, matched to the case group by age, ethnicity, and sex of the newborn. Oral swabs (Cath-AllTM – Epicentre Biotechnologies) were collected for analysis of genetic polymorphisms by PCR. Statistical tests were performed to compare genotype, clinical and socio-demographic data from the groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The sociodemographic characteristics in both groups were homogeneously distributed. The frequency of the polymorphic allele C, associated with less production of IL-6, and therefore thought to be protective against PTL and PPROM, was 32,5% in the study group and 30,9% in the control group, without statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Considering the sample size included in this study, the frequency of the mutated allele is similar in pregnant women who delivered at term and gestational complications as PTL and PPROM

Infrared to visible up-conversion in biocellulose yttrium vanadate nanoparticle composite membranes. Demonstration of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine light emission under up-converted light excitation

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

Ciprofloxacin Release Using Natural Rubber Latex Membranes as Carrier

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Programação térmica fetal: efeitos sobre a temperatura de preferência e características morfofisiológicas de frangos de corte

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Aspectos histopatológicos e expressão de receptores hormonais (AR e ERα) na próstata de ratos expostos ao Di-n-Butil-Ftalato (DBP) desde o período fetal, iniciados pela N-Metil-N-Nitrosuréia (MNU)

Tendo em vista a problemática mundial com relação à degradação dos materiais plásticos e sua dispersão no meio ambiente, e diante de estudo realizado anteriormente onde se observou alterações histopatológicas e bioquímicas na próstata de animais expostos ao DBP (Di-N-Butil-ftalato) no período perinatal, este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o potencial carcinogênico do DBP administrado desde o período fetal e após iniciação pelo MNU em um modelo de carcinogênese prostática. Ratas prenhes foram divididas em 4 grupos experimentais: 2 tratados: n=16/grupo (TDBP100 e TDBP500) e 2 controles: n=8/grupo (CN e CMNU). O grupo TDBP100 foi exposto ao DBP (100 mg/kg) e o TDBP500 a 500 mg/kg do 15º. dia de gestação (DG15) até a 21º. dia pósnatal (DPN21), enquanto que os animais controle receberam o veículo. Após o desmame, os machos foram separados e os grupos tratados e CMNU receberam dose única de MNU (50 mg/Kg, i.p.) na 6ª. semana pós-natal. Metade dos animais tratados (n=8/grupo) continuaram recebendo o DBP (DBP100+ e DBP500+) após o desmame em doses semanais até o dia do sacrifício (DPN180), enquanto os demais foram mantidos pelo mesmo período sem tratamento (DBP100- e DBP500-).Após a aplicação do MNU, os animais foram submetidos a injeções semanais de Cipionato de Testosterona (promotor) 2mg/aplicação. No dia do sacrifício, o sangue foi coletado, os órgãos reprodutores foram pesados e fragmentos do lobo ventral da próstata foram processados para inclusão em resina e Paraplast para as análises estruturais; e imunocitoquímicas para a detecção de AR e ER. Fragmentos de próstata ventral foram congelados e estocados a -80ºC e após extração das proteínas, estas foram destinadas à reação de Western Blot para avaliar a expressão das mesmas proteínas. Houve diminuição na distância anogenital nos animais DBP500 no DPN1 quando comparado com o grupo controle apontando para o efeito efetivo do DBP ...

Combining xanthan and chitosan membranes to multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells as bioactive dressings for dermo-epidermal wounds

The association between tridimensional scaffolds to cells of interest has provided excellent perspectives for obtaining viable complex tissues in vitro, such as skin, resulting in impressive advances in the field of tissue engineering applied to regenerative therapies. The use of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells in the treatment of dermo-epidermal wounds is particularly promising due to several relevant properties of these cells, such as high capacity of proliferation in culture, potential of differentiation in multiple skin cell types, important paracrine and immunomodulatory effects, among others. Membranes of chitosan complexed with xanthan may be potentially useful as scaffolds for multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, given that they present suitable physico-chemical characteristics and have adequate tridimensional structure for the adhesion, growth, and maintenance of cell function. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess the applicability of bioactive dressings associating dense and porous chitosan-xanthan membranes to multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of skin wounds. The membranes showed to be non-mutagenic and allowed efficient adhesion and proliferation of the mesenchymal stromal cells in vitro. In vivo assays performed with mesenchymal stromal cells grown on the surface of the dense membranes showed acceleration of wound healing in Wistar rats, thus indicating that the use of this cell-scaffold association for tissue engineering purposes is feasible and attractive.

Chitosan-alginate membranes accelerate wound healing

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of chitosan-alginate membrane to accelerate wound healing in experimental cutaneous wounds. Two wounds were performed in Wistar rats by punching (1.5 cm diameter), treated with membranes moistened with saline solution (CAM group) or with saline only (SL group). After 2, 7, 14, and 21 days of surgery, five rats of each group were euthanized and reepithelialization was evaluated. The wounds/scars were harvested for histological, flow cytometry, neutrophil infiltrate, and hydroxyproline analysis. CAM group presented higher inflammatory cells recruitment as compared to SL group on 2nd day. On the 7th day, CAM group showed higher CD11b+ level and lower of neutrophils than SL group. The CAM group presented higher CD4+ cells influx than SL group on 2nd day, but it decreased during the follow up and became lower on 14th and 21st days. Higher fibroplasia was noticed on days 7 and 14 as well as higher collagenesis on 21st in the CAM group in comparison to SL group. CAM group showed faster reepithelialization on 7th day than SL group, although similar in other days. In conclusion, chitosan-alginate membrane modulated the inflammatory phase, stimulated fibroplasia and collagenesis, accelerating wound healing process in rats.

Effect of essential oil from Citrus aurantium in maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly frequency in rats

Citrus aurantium L., commonly known as bitter orange, is widely used in folk medicine, but there is little data in the literature about the s on pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of essential oil obtained from fruits of Citrus aurantium on the maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly incidence in rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n minimum = 12 animals/group): G1 = control, G2 to G4 = treated with essential oil from C. aurantium at dose 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Rats were orally treated, by gavage, with plant essential oil or vehicle during pre-implantation and organogenic period (gestational day 0-14). On gestational day 20 the rats were anaesthetized and the gravid uterus was weighed with its contents and the fetuses were analyzed. Results showed that the treated group with 500 mg/kg presented decreased placental weights and placental index, although the treatment with bitter orange essential oil did not show any alteration in maternal reproductive performance, toxicological , changes in ossification sites, and malformation index. In conclusion, the treatment of Citrus aurantium essential oil was not teratogenic and did not alter the maternal reproductive outcome.