Effect of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on the development of ligature-induced periodontitis in rats

Background: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on the progression of alveolar bone loss in an experimental periodontitis model in rats.Methods: One hundred eighty (180) Wistar rats were separated into 3 experimental groups. Cotton ligatures were placed at the gingival margin level of lower right first molars. The rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups that received: a daily oral dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of celecoxib (Ce1); 20 mg/kg body weight of celecoxib (Ce2); or 10 ml/kg of saline solution (C). Serum levels of celecoxib and white blood cell count were determined. Standardized digital radiographs were taken after sacrifice at 3, 5, 10, 18, and 30 days to measure the amount of bone loss around the mesial root surface of the first molar tooth in each rat.Results: Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that groups treated with celecoxib had significantly less bone loss compared to controls (P <0.0001) and that there was a significant interaction between treatment with celecoxib and time (P <0.03). Post-hoc comparisons showed that in both groups treated with celecoxib, the bone loss became significant only after 10 days of ligature placement, while in the control group it was already significant after 5 days. However, differences in mean bone loss between control and Ce1 were significant only at 18 days and, between control and Ce2, at 5 and 18 days. There was no significant difference in bone loss among experimental groups at the end of the experimental period.Conclusion: These data provide evidence that systemic therapy with celecoxib can modify the progression of experimentally induced periodontitis in rats.

Medium Chain Fatty Acids Are Selective Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor (PPAR) gamma Activators and Pan-PPAR Partial Agonists

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

Selective isolation of dematiaceous fungi from the workers of Atta laevigata (Formicidae: Attini)

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

Foraging Behavior and Mortality of Ectatomma brunneum (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Simultaneous Exposure to Ant Baits and Conventional Diet in Laboratory

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Site-selective ethanol conversion over supported copper catalysts

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Flow injection analysis of paracetamol using a biomimetic sensor as a sensitive and selective amperometric detector

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

CNS-selective noncompetitive cholinesterase inhibitors derived from the natural piperidine alkaloid (-)-spectaline

LASSBio-767 [(-)-3-O-acetyl-spectaline] and LASSBio-822 [(-)-3-O-tert-Boc-spectaline] were recently described as cholinesterase inhibitors derived from the natural piperidine alkaloid (-)-spectaline, obtained from the flowers of Senna spectabilis (Fabaccae). We investigated their mechanism of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and their efficacy in reversing scopolamine-induced amnesia. Competition assays with the substrate acetylthiocholine showed a concentration-dependent reduction in rat brain cholinesterase V-max without changes in apparent K-m. The kinetic data for LASSBio-767 and LASSBio-822 were best fit by a model of simple linear noncompetitive inhibition with K-i of 6.1 mu M and 7.5 mu M, respectively. A dilution assay showed a fast and complete reversal of inhibition, independent of incubation time. Simulated docking of the compounds into the catalytic gorge of Torpedo acetylcholinesterase showed interactions with the peripheral anionic site, but not with the catalytic triad. Anti-amnestic effects in mice were assessed in a step-down passive avoidance test and in the Morris water maze 30 min after injection of scopolamine (1 mg/kg i.p.). Saline, LASSBio-767, or LASSBio-822 was administered 15 min before scopolamine. Both compounds reversed the scopolamine-induced reduction in step-down latency at 0.1 mg/kg i.p. LASSBio-767 reversed scopolamine-induced changes in water maze escape latency at 1 mg/kg i.p. or p.o., while its cholinergic side effects were absent or mild up to 30 mg/kg i.p. (LD50 above 100 mg/kg i.p.). Thus, the (-)-spectaline derivatives are potent cholinergic agents in vivo, with a unique profile combining noncompetitive cholinesterase inhibition and CNS selectivity, with few peripheral side effects. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Absolute Configuration and Selective Trypanocidal Activity of Gaudichaudianic Acid Enantiomers

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

Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) displaying beach hunting behavior in the Cananéia Estuary, Brazil: social context and conservation issues

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

Semi-selective culture medium for Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens isolation from bean seeds

Curtobacterium wilt has become an important disease of beans in several localities in the country. Its causal agent, Curtobacterium flaccumfacciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff), survives and is disseminated through seeds. To date, few studies have been conducted with the objective of developing an effective and low-cost culture medium to isolate this bacterium from bean seeds, for health analysis purposes. Usually, the culture media employed for coryneform bacteria isolation contain specific carbon sources and antimicrobial products not available in the Brazilian market. A culture medium known as MSCFF was developed (peptone - 5 g, meat extract - 3 g, sucrose - 5 g, agar 15 g, skim milk powder* - 5 g. Congo red* - 0.05 g-, chlorothalonil* - 0.01 g, thiophanate methyl* - 0.01 g, nalidixic acid* - 0.01 g, nitrofurantoin* - 0.01 g. oxacillin* 0.001 g, sodium azide* - 0.001 g and distilled water q.s. 1L; *added after autoclaving the basal medium), which has the ability to inhibit growth of a large amount of saprophytic bacteria, but with low supressivity to Cff isolates. The MSCFF medium was highly effective for Cff isolation from naturally infected bean seeds and could be used for routine detection of this bacterium in bean seeds.