Photobiomodulation (λ=808nm) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for the Treatment of Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis in Wistar Rats.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes inflammation, pain, edema, and articular degradation and its treatment can be based on anti-inflammatory drugs, photobiomodulation (PBM) and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) that can decrease cell flow and promote local healing. In the present study, we evaluate the effects of PBM and PRP on acute arthritis in Wistar rats through inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were assigned to five groups (n=6, each group): Control, Sham, PRP, Laser, and PRP+Laser. For arthritis induction, all animals of groups Sham, PRP, Laser and PRP+Laser received an intraarticular injection of Zymosan® (200µg) in the right knee. Twenty-four hours post-arthritis induction, PRP was prepared and injected (8 × 105 of platelets) in animals of PRP and PRP+Laser groups. PBM was performed in Laser and PRP+Laser groups by single-dose therapy with the GaAlAs laser (λ=808 nm, P=25 mW, fluence=30 J/cm2, beam area=0.02 mm2, t=33 seconds, E=0.825 J, punctual application). After seven days of induction, serum samples were collected and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO) and catalase activity were analysed. Morphological parameters were measured for inflammation areas, cartilage thickness, and C3 protein expression in knee samples. Statistical analysis was performed with an ANOVA test and Tukey's post-hoc test with a significance level of 5% (P<0.05). Results: NO was lower in the treated groups compared to the Sham group, and TBARS did not show any differences, while catalase showed greater activity between PRP+Laser versus PRP (P<0.05). Inflammatory areas and cartilage thickness were lower in the treated groups compared to Sham (P<0.05), while no differences in C3 protein expression was observed. Conclusion: PBM associated with PRP is better for anti-inflammatory and joint preservation by morphological aspects and NO levels that concern a potential clinical application.

Intradermal Application of Crotamine Induces Inflammatory and Immunological Changes In Vivo.

Crotamine is a single-chain polypeptide with cell-penetrating properties, which is considered a promising molecule for clinical use. Nevertheless, its biosafety data are still scarce. Herein, we assessed the in vivo proinflammatory properties of crotamine, including its local effect and systemic serum parameters. Sixty male Wistar rats were intradermically injected with 200, 400 and 800 µg crotamine and analyzed after 1, 3 and 7 days. Local effect of crotamine was assessed by determination of MPO and NAG activities, NO levels and angiogenesis. Systemic inflammatory response was assessed by determination of IL-10, TNF-α, CRP, NO, TBARS and SH groups. Crotamine induced macrophages and neutrophils chemotaxis as evidenced by the upregulation of both NAG (0.5⁻0.6 OD/mg) and MPO (0.1⁻0.2 OD/mg) activities, on the first and third day of analysis, respectively. High levels of NO were observed for all concentrations and time-points. Moreover, 800 µg crotamine resulted in serum NO (64.7 µM) and local tissue NO (58.5 µM) levels higher or equivalent to those recorded for their respective histamine controls (55.7 µM and 59.0 µM). Crotamine also induced a significant angiogenic response compared to histamine. Systemically, crotamine induced a progressive increase in serum CRP levels up to the third day of analysis (22.4⁻45.8 mg/mL), which was significantly greater than control values. Crotamine (400 µg) also caused an increase in serum TNF-α, in the first day of analysis (1095.4 pg/mL), however a significant increase in IL-10 (122.2 pg/mL) was also recorded for the same time-point, suggesting the induction of an anti-inflammatory effect. Finally, crotamine changed the systemic redox state by inducing gradual increase in serum levels of TBARS (1.0⁻1.8 µM/mL) and decrease in SH levels (124.7⁻19.5 µM/mL) throughout the experimental period of analysis. In summary, rats intradermally injected with crotamine presented local and systemic acute inflammatory responses similarly to histamine, which limits crotamine therapeutic use on its original form.

Obtenção e avaliação da atividade antioxidante de farinha de cascas de uvas Niágara / Collection and evaluation of antioxidant activity of flours from the Niagara grape

Neste trabalho determinou-se a atividade antioxidante dos extratos preparados a partir das farinhas de cascas de uva Niágara (Vitis Labrusca L.), da família Vitaceae, através da redução do 1,1 – difenil – 2 – picrilhidrazil – DPPH. Para o preparo das farinhas, a secagem das cascas foi feita em estufa convencional, em estufa com circulação forçada de ar, em balança de infravermelho e em forno de microondas. Para a obtenção das farinhas de cascas de uva foram usadas diferentes temperaturas/potências, com posteiror moagem. Paralelamente determinou-se o poder antioxidante de uma série de soluções de ácido ascórbico padrão referencial. Observou-se que, dependendo das condições de secagem, o poder antioxidante da farinha obtida foi equivalente ao de uma quantidade diferente de ácido ascórbico, os valores encontrados foram: zero (para 60ºC em estufa normal ou em estufa com circulação forçada); 6,02. 10 – 6M (estufa normal a 90 ºC); 3,261.10 – 5 M (para estufa com circulação forçada a 40ºC); 6,354.10 – 5 M (estufa com circulação forçada a 90ºC); 5,350.10 - 5 M (balança de infravermelho); 8,383.10 – 5 M (forno microondas, potência alta) e 9,455.10 – 5 M de ácido ascórbico (forno microondas, potência média-baixa).