Evidence of the presence of T helper type 17 cells in chronic lesions of human periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of the attachment structures of the teeth, triggered by potentially hazardous microorganisms and the consequent immune-inflammatory responses. In humans, the T helper type 17 (Th17) lineage, characterized by interleukin-17 (IL-17) production, develops under transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), IL-1 beta, and IL-6 signaling, while its pool is maintained by IL-23. Although this subset of cells has been implicated in various autoimmune, inflammatory, and bone-destructive conditions, the exact role of T lymphocytes in chronic periodontitis is still controversial. Therefore, in this study we investigated the presence of Th17 cells in human periodontal disease. Gingival and alveolar bone samples from healthy patients and patients with chronic periodontitis were collected and used for the subsequent assays. The messenger RNA expression for the cytokines IL-17, TGF-beta, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-23 in gingiva or IL-17 and receptor activator for nuclear factor-kappa B ligand in alveolar bone was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The production of IL-17, TGF-beta, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-23 proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and the presence of Th17 cells in the inflamed gingiva was confirmed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy for CD4 and IL-17 colocalization. Our data demonstrated elevated levels of IL-17, TGF-beta, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-23 messenger RNA and protein in diseased tissues as well as the presence of Th17 cells in gingiva from patients with periodontitis. Moreover, IL-17 and the bone resorption factor RANKL were abundantly expressed in the alveolar bone of diseased patients, in contrast to low detection in controls. These results provided strong evidence for the presence of Th17 cells in the sites of chronic inflammation in human periodontal disease.

Inflammatory mediators involved in the nociceptive and oedematogenic responses induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom injected into rat paws.

The present study investigated the role of kinins, prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) in mechanical hypernociception, Spontaneous nociception and paw oedema after intraplantar (ipl) injection of Tityus serrulatus venom (Tsv) in male Wistar rats. Tsv was ipl-injected in doses of 0.01-10 mu g/paw. Pre-treatment (30 min prior) with DALBK (100 nmol/paw) and icatibant (10 nmol/paw), B1 and B2 selective kinin receptor antagonists, L-NAME (50 mg/kg, i.p., a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or celecoxib, selective COX-2 inhibitor, was given 1 h prior per os (5 mg/kg, p.o.), significantly reduced the hypernociceptive response (Von Frey method), the spontaneous nociception (determined by counting the number of flinches) and paw oedema (plethysmometer method) induced by Tsv at doses of 1.0 and 10 mu g/paw for both nociceptive and oedematogenic responses, respectively. Nevertheless, indomethacin (5 mg/kg, i.p.. 30 min prior) was ineffective in altering all of these events. The results of the present study show that Tsv, injected ipl into the rat paw, causes a dose-dependent paw oedema, mechanical hypernociception and flinches (a characteristic biphasic response) in which kinins and NO are substantially involved. Although celecoxib was effective against the oedema and pain caused by Tsv, COX-2 does not seem to be involved in the inflammatory response caused by Tsv. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pain and tactile stimuli during arterial puncture in preterm neonates

The purpose of this study was to assess the behavioral and physiological reactivity of preterm neonates during different phases of a blood collection procedure involving arterial puncture. The sample consisted of 43 preterm and very low birth weight neonates with a postnatal age of 1 to 21 days who were hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The neonates were evaluated during the whole blood collection procedure. The assessment was divided into five consecutive phases: Baseline (BL); Antispsis (A), covering the period of handling of the neonate for antisepsis prior to puncture; Puncture (P): Recovery-Dressing (RD), covering the period of handling of the neonate for dressing until positioning for rest in the isolette; and Recovery-Resting (RR). Facial activity was videotaped and analyzed using the National Facial Coding System (NFCS). The sleep-wake state and heart rate were registered at the bedside. There was a significant increases in NFCS score and heart rate, and more active behavior during phases A, P, and RD relative to BL. Regarding the tactile stimulation of the infant in pre-puncture (A) and post-puncture (RD), it was observed increased NFCS score, heart rate, and active behavior in comparison to the BL an BR phases. There was evidence of distress responses immediately before and after a painful event, quite apart form the pain reaction to the puncture procedure. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of International Association for the Study of Pain.

Is pain relief equally efficacious and free of side effects with repeated doses of oral sucrose in preterm neonates?

The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy and potential side effects of repeated doses of oral sucrose for pain relief during procedures in NICU. Thirty-three preterm neonates were randomly allocated in blind fashion into two groups, the sucrose group (SG = 17) and the control group (CG = 16). The responses of neonates to pain and distress were assessed during blood collection on four consecutive assessment (ass.) days. For the first assessment, the neonates did not receive any solution before the blood collection procedure. During the next three days, the SG received oral sucrose (25%; 0.5 ml/kg) and the CG received sterile water, 2 min before each minor acute painful procedure. The neonates were evaluated during blood collection each morning. The assessment was divided into five phases: Baseline (BL), Antisepsis (A), Puncture (P), Dressing (D), and Recovery (R). The neonates` facial activity (NFCS), behavioral state, and heart rate were evaluated. The data analysis used cut-off scores for painful and distressful responses. No side effects of using sucrose were detected. There were significantly fewer SG neonates with facial actions signaling pain than CG neonates in P (ass.2) and in A (ass.3). We found significantly fewer SG neonates in the awake state than CG neonates in P (ass.2 and ass.4). There were significantly fewer SG neonates crying during A (ass.2), P (ass.2 and ass.4), and D (ass.3). There was no statistical difference between-groups for physiological response. The efficacy of sucrose was maintained for pain relief in preterm neonates with no side effects. (C) 2007 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Asymmetrical changes in lumbar sympathetic nerve activity following stimulation of the sciatic nerve in rat

Noxious stimulation of the leg increases hind limb blood flow (HBF) to the ipsilateral side and decreases to the contralateral in rat. Whether or not this asymmetrical response is due to direct control by sympathetic terminals or mediated by other factors such as local metabolism and hormones remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare responses in lumbar sympathetic nerve activity, evoked by stimulation of the ipsilateral and contralateral sciatic nerve (SN). We also sought to determine the supraspinal mechanisms involved in the observed responses. In anesthetized and paralyzed rats, intermittent electrical stimulation (1 mA, 0.5 Hz) of the contralateral SN evoked a biphasic sympathoexcitation. Following ipsilateral SN stimulation, the response is preceded by an inhibitory potential with a latency of 50 ms (N=26). Both excitatory and inhibitory potentials are abolished following cervical Cl spinal transection (N=6) or bilateral microinjections of muscimol (N=6) in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). This evidence is suggestive that both sympathetic potentials are supraspinally mediated in this nucleus. Blockade of RVLM glutamate receptors by microinjection of kynurenic acid (N=4) selectively abolished the excitatory potential elicited by ipsilateral SN stimulation. This study supports the physiological model that activation of hind limb nociceptors evokes a generalized sympathoexcitation, with the exception of the ipsilateral side where there is a withdrawal of sympathetic tone resulting in an increase in HBF. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

5-HT2C receptor regulation of defensive responses in the rat dorsal periaqueductal gray

Activation of 5-HT2C receptors in limbic structures such as the amygdala and hippocampus increases anxiety. Indirect evidence obtained with non-selective 5-HT2C-interacting drugs suggests that the same may occur in the dPAG, a brainstem region consistently implicated in the genesis/regulation of panic attacks. In this study we used more selective agonists and antagonists to unveil the role played by dPAG 5-HT2C receptors in the regulation of anxiety- and panic-related defensive behaviors. Our results showed that intra-dPAG microinjection of the endogenous agonist 5-HT (20 nmol) or the 5-HT2C receptor agonists MK-212 (1 and 10 nmol) and RO-600175 (40 nmol) significantly increased inhibitory avoidance acquisition in rats tested in the elevated T-maze, suggesting an anxiogenic effect. 5-HT, but not the two 5-HT2C receptor agonists, inhibited escape performance. In the elevated T-maze, inhibitory avoidance and escape responses have been related to generalized anxiety and panic attacks, respectively. The behavioral effects caused by 5-HT and MK-212 were fully blocked by previous local microinjection of the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084. Intra-dPAG injection of MK-212 also failed to affect escape expression in another test relating this behavior to panic, the electrical stimulation of the dPAG. Overall, the results indicate that 5-HT2C receptors in the dPAG are preferentially involved in the regulation of defensive behaviors related to anxiety, but not panic. This finding extends to the dPAG the prominent role that has been attributed to 5-HT2C receptors in anxiety generation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Role of neurokinin-1 expressing neurons in the locus coeruleus on ventilatory and cardiovascular responses to hypercapnia

We assessed the role of NK-1 receptors (NK1R) expressing neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) on cardiorespiratory responses to hypercapnia. To this end, we injected substance P-saporin conjugate (SP-SAP) to kill NK-1 immunoreactive (NK1R-ir) neurons or SAP alone as a control. Immunohistochemistry for NK1R, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-ir) and Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD-ir) were performed to verify if NK1R-expressing neurons, catecholaminergic and/or GABAergic neurons were eliminated. A reduced NK1R-ir in the LC (72%) showed the effectiveness of the lesion. SP-SAP lesion also caused a reduction of TH-ir (66%) and GABAergic neurons (70%). LC SP-SAP lesion decreased by 30% the ventilatory response to 7% CO(2) and increased the heart rate (fH) during hypercapnia but did not affect MAP. The present data suggest that different populations of neurons (noradrenergic, GABAergic, and possibly others) in the LC express NK1R modulating differentially the hypercapnic ventilatory response, since catecholaminergic neurons are excitatory and GABAergic ones are inhibitory. Additionally, NK1R-ir neurons in the LC, probably GABAergic ones, seem to modulate fH during CO(2) exposure, once our previous data demonstrated that catecholaminergic lesion does not affect this variable. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of six carbohydrate sources on diet digestibility and postprandial glucose and insulin responses in cats

The effects of diets with different starch sources on the total tract apparent digestibility and glucose and insulin responses in cats were investigated. Six experimental diets consisting of 35% starch were extruded, each containing one of the following ingredients: cassava flour, brewers rice, corn, sorghum, peas, or lentils. The experiment was carried out on 36 cats with 6 replications per diet in a completely randomized block design. The brewers rice diet offered greater DM, OM, and GE digestibility than the sorghum, corn, lentil, and pea diets (P < 0.05). For starch digestibility, the brewers rice diet had greater values (98.6%) than the sorghum (93.9%), lentil (95.2%), and pea (96.3%) diets (P < 0.05); however, starch digestibility was > 93% for all the diets, proving that despite the low carbohydrate content of carnivorous diets, cats can efficiently digest this nutrient when it is properly processed into kibble. Mean and maximum glucose concentration and area under the glucose curve were greater for the corn-based diet than the cassava flour, sorghum, lentil, and pea diets (P < 0.05). The corn-based diets led to greater values for the mean glucose incremental concentration (10.2 mg/dL), maximum glucose incremental concentration (24.8 mg/dL), and area under the incremental glucose curve (185.5 mg.dL(-1).h(-1)) than the lentil diet (2.9 mg/dL, 3.1 mg/dL, and -40.4 mg.dL(-1).h(-1), respectively; P < 0.05). When compared with baseline values, only the corn diet stimulated an increase in the glucose response, occurring at 4 and 10 h postmeal (P < 0.05). The corn-based diet resulted in greater values for maximum incremental insulin concentration and area under the incremental insulin curve than the lentil-based diet (P < 0.05). However, plasma insulin concentrations rose in relation to the basal values for cats fed corn, sorghum, pea, and brewers rice diets (P < 0.05). Variations in diet digestibility and postprandial response can be explained by differences in the chemical composition of the starch source, including fiber content and granule structure, and also differences in the chemical compositions of the diets. The data suggest that starch has less of an effect on the cat postprandial glucose and insulin responses than on those of dogs and humans. This can be explained by the metabolic peculiarities of felines, which may slow and prolong starch digestion and absorption, leading to the delayed, less pronounced effects on their blood responses.

Effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin and type of ovulatory stimulus in a timed-AI protocol on reproductive responses in dairy cows

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) supplementation (with or without eCG) and type of ovulatory stimulus (GnRH or ECP) on ovarian follicular dynamics, luteal function, and pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in Holstein cows receiving timed artificial insemination (TAI). On Day 0, 742 cows in a total of 782 breedings, received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and one intravaginal progesterone (P4) insert (CIDR). On Day 8, the CIDR was removed, and all cows were given PGF2 alpha and assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement: (1) CG: GnRH 48 h later; (2) CE: ECP; (3) EG: eCG + GnRH 48 It later; (4) EE: eCG + ECP. There were significant interactions for eCG x ovulatory stimulus and eCG x BCS. Cows in the CG group were less likely (28.9% vs. 33.8%; P < 0.05) to become pregnant compared with those in the EG group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.28). There were no differences in P/AI between CE and EE cows (30.9% vs. 29.1%; OR = 0.85; P = 0.56), respectively. Thinner cows not receiving eCG had lower P/AI than thinner cows receiving eCG (15.2% vs. 38.0%; OR = 0.20; P < 0.01). Treatment with eCG tended to increase serum progestesterone concentrations during the diestrus following synchronized ovulation (P < 0.10). However, the treatment used to induce ovulation did not affect CL volume or serum progesterone concentrations. In conclusion, both ECP and GnRH yielded comparable P/AI. However, eCG treatment at CIDR removal increased pregnancy rate in cows induced to ovulate with GnRH and in cows with lower BCS. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Categories of indigenous 'homelessness' people and good practice responses to their needs

Mainstream concepts of homelessness do not serve Indigenous people well. Those designing policies or programs for Indigenous homeless people may need to re-think or change their concepts of homeless in order to adequately understand and respond to the needs of this group of people.

Cardiovascular responses to different stages of restorative dental treatment unaffected by local anaesthetic type

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of maxillary infiltration using 2% lidocaine with 1: 100 000 adrenaline, 4% articaine with 1: 200 000 adrenaline, and 4% articaine with 1: 100 000 adrenaline in different stages during restorative dental procedures. Methods: Twenty healthy patients randomly received 1.8 mL of the three local anaesthetics. Systolic blood pressure, average blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated by the oscillometric and photoplethysmograph methods in seven stages during the appointment. Results: Statistical analysis by ANOVA and Tukey tests of cardiovascular parameters did not show significant differences between the anaesthetic associations. There were significant differences for the parameters among different clinical stages. Conclusions: The variation of cardiovascular parameters was similar for lidocaine and articaine with both adrenaline concentrations and showed no advantage of one drug over the other. Cardiovascular parameters were influenced by the stages of the dental procedures, which showed the effect of anxiety during restorative dental treatment.

Bone cell responses to the composite of Ricinus communis polyurethane and alkaline phosphatase

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of osteoblastic cells to the composite of Ricinus cominunis polyurethane (RCP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) incubated in synthetic body fluid (SBF). RCP pure (RCPp) and RCP blended with ALP 6 mg/mL polymer (RCP+ALP) were incubated in SBF for 17 days. Four groups of RCP were tested: RCPp, RCP+ALP, and RCPp and RCP+ALP incubated in SBF (RCPp/SBF and RCP+ALP/SBF). Stem cells from rat bone marrow were cultured in conditions that allowed osteoblastic differentiation on RCP discs and were evaluated: cell adhesion, culture growth, cell viability, total protein content, ALP activity, and bone-like nodule formation. Data were compared by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. The group RCP-A P was highly cytotoxic and, therefore, was not considered here. Cell adhesion (p = 0.14), culture growth (p = 0.39), viability (p = 0.46) and total protein content (p = 0.12) were not affected by either RCP composition or incubation in SBE ALP activity was affected (p = 0.0001) as follows: RCPp < RCPp/SBF < RCP+ALP/SBF. Bone-like nodule formation was not observed on all evaluated groups. The composite RCP+ALP prior to SBF incubation is cytotoxic and must not be considered as biomaterial, but the incorporation of ALP to the RCP followed by SBF incubation could be a useful alternative to improve the biological properties of the RCP. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.