L-Arginine Modulates Intestinal Inflammation in Rats Submitted to Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to investigate whether exogenous offer of L-arginine (LARG) modulates the gene expression of intestinal dysfunction caused by ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Eighteen Wistar-EPM1 male rats (250-300 g) were anesthetized and subjected to laparotomy. The superior mesenteric vessels were exposed, and the rats were randomized into 3 groups (n = 6): the control group (CG), with no superior mesenteric artery interruption; the ischemia/reperfusion group (IRG), with 60 minutes of ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion and saline injections; and the L-arginine group (IRG + LARG), with L-arginine injected in the femoral vein 5 minutes before ischemia, 5 minutes after reperfusion, and after 55 minutes of reperfusion. The total RNA was extracted and purified from samples of the small intestine. The concentration of each total RNA sample was determined by using spectrophotometry. The first-strand complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized in equal amounts of cDNA and the Master Mix SYBR Green qPCR Mastermix (SABiosciences, a Qiagen Company, Frederick, Md). Amounts of cDNA and Master Mix SYBR Green qPCR Mastermix were distributed to each well of the polymerase chain reaction microarray plate containing the predispensed gene-specific primer sets for Bax and Bcl2. Each sample was evaluated in triplicate, and the Student t test was applied to validate the homogeneity of each gene expression reaction (P < .05). RESULTS: The gene expression of Bax in IRG (+1.48) was significantly higher than in IRG-LARG (+9.69); the expression of Bcl2L1 in IRG (+1.01) was significantly higher than IRG-LARG (+22.89). CONCLUSIONS: The apoptotic cell pathway of 2 protagonists showed that LARG improves the gene expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl2l1 (Bcl2-like 1) more than the pro-apoptotic Bax (Bcl2-associated X protein).

The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the burden of bacterial lower respiratory tract infections in children.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory diseases are common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and outcome of bacterial lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in HIV-infected and uninfected children at a primary level hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study of children aged 6 months-18 years was conducted. Recruitment included HIV-positive children who had been on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at least 6 months. A comparator group of HIV-negative children admitted with bacterial pneumonia was included. Laboratory data collected included CD4+ T-cell counts, HIV viral load and C-reactive protein (CRP). Data collected in both groups included demographic data, immunisation status, zinc supplementation, previous LRTIs, environmental exposures and treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-nine HIV-infected and 20 uninfected children were enrolled. The HIV-positive children were older, with a mean age of 107.2 (standard deviation 50.0) months v. 12.0 (5.8) months (p<0.005). The HIV-infected group had a mean CD4 percentage of 31.5%, and had had an average of 3.9 visits for bacterial LRTIs. All were treated with amoxicillin with no complications. In the HIV-uninfected group, cough and rapid breathing were the most common presenting symptoms, and the mean CRP level was 463.0 mg/L. The mean hospital stay was 4 days. CONCLUSION: HAART is effective in reducing the burden of LRTIs in HIV-positive children, even when the diagnosis is delayed. Cough and fast breathing are still the most reliable presenting symptoms of pneumonia. The majority of children still respond to amoxicillin as first-line therapy, with low complication rates.

Superação de dormência em sementes de Bombax malabaricum D. C. (Malvaceae) / Dormancy breaking in seeds of Bombax malabaricum D. C. (Malvaceae)

RESUMOA espécie Bombax malabaricum, popularmente conhecida por paineira-vermelha, apresenta metabólitos secundários de interesse medicinal. Como outras espécies da família Malvaceae, suas sementes possuem dormência tegumentar, o que dificulta sua propagação sexuada. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou superar a dormência de sementes de B.malabaricum por métodos físicos e químicos. Os métodos utilizados na escarificação mecânica foram: abrasão do tegumento com lixa e corte com tesoura na região oposta ao hilo. Para a escarificação química foram utilizados: ácido clorídrico (HCl), ácido nítrico (HNO3), ácido sulfúrico (H2SO4), hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) e hidróxido de potássio (KOH) por um período de 30 minutos. Também houve imersão de sementes em 40 mg L-1 de GA3 pelo mesmo período. Foram utilizadas quatro repetições por tratamento, constituídas de 25 sementes por placa e conduzidas em Câmara de Germinação. Os dados obtidos foram utilizados para o cálculo da Germinabilidade, Índice de Velocidade de Germinação, Tempo Médio de Germinação, e Porcentagem de Sementes Deterioradas. O HNO3 mostrou-se como o melhor tratamento na variável Germinabilidade (83,5%), seguido do HCl (71,5%) e das técnicas de escarificação mecânica, com lixa (71,5%) e tesoura (67,5%). O HNO3também apresentou o menor número de sementes deterioradas (3,5%); o H2SO4 foi o tratamento que mais causou danos às sementes (36,5%).

ABSTRACTThe species Bombax malabaricum, popularly known as red-cotton tree, presents secondary metabolites of medicinal interest. Like other species of the Malvaceae, their seeds have tegumentary dormancy, which hinders their sexual propagation. Thus, this study aimed to break the dormancy of B. malabaricum through physical and chemical strategies. For mechanical scarification of the seeds it were employed: abrasion of the tegument with sandpaper and cut with scissors in the region opposite to the hilum. For chemical scarification: hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), sulphuric acid (H2SO4), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) for a period of 30 minutes. The seeds were also subjected to immersion in 40 mg L-1 of GA3 for the same period. Four replicates of 25 seeds were used for each treatment and then they were conducted for calculation in a B.O.D. germination Chamber. The results obtained were applied in order to calculate: Germination, Germination Speed Index, Average Time of Germination and Percentage of Damaged Seeds. The HNO3proved to be the best treatment in the Germination trials (83.5%), followed by the HCl (71.5%) and the mechanical scarification techniques with sandpaper (71.5%) and scissors (67.5%). The HNO3 also showed the lowest percentage of damaged seeds (3.5%); The H2SO4 was the treatment that caused more damage to the seeds (36.5%).

Maternal-fetal outcome, lipid profile and oxidative stress of diabetic rats neonatally exposed to streptozotocin.

BACKGROUND: There is no evidence about the integrated issue on glycemia, lipid profile, oxidative stress, and anomaly frequency of pregnant diabetic rats neonatally exposed to streptozotocin. OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the impact of hyperglycemia in diabetic rats neonatally exposed to streptozotocin on maternal reproductive and fetal outcomes and the relationship with lipid profile and maternal oxidative stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten 90-day-old female Wistar rats were mated to obtain offspring. Some of these newborns received streptozotocin (70 mg/kg, i. p. - n5-STZ group) and the remainder given only citrate buffer (control group) on their day 5 of life. At adult life, these rats (n=13 animals/group) were mated and, at day 21 of pregnancy, they were killed to obtain a maternal blood samples for biochemical determinations. The gravid uterus was weighed with its contents and fetuses were analyzed. RESULTS: At day 0 of pregnancy, glycemic means of n5-STZ rats were significantly greater compared to those of control rats, but presented fetuses classified as small for pregnancy age. The n5-STZ rats showed increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, MDA concentrations, lower SOD activity and increased frequency fetal visceral anomalies as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the experimental model used led to mild hyperglycemia during pregnancy, although it did not lead to increased macrosomic fetus rates. The hyperglycemic maternal environment caused metabolic alterations, including increased triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations, and elevated oxidative stress, contributing to increase fetal visceral anomalies.

Pre-clinical validation of a vaginal cream containing copaiba oil (reproductive toxicology study).

The aims of this study was to evaluate the effects of oil-resin of Copaiba (Copaifera duckei Dwyer), aired in vaginal cream on the reproductive performance of female rats (Rattus norvegicus). To determine the components of the C. duckei oleoresin, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (CG-MS) was used, and considering the trans-caryophyllene sesquiterpene as a phytochemical marker in the oleoresin. Due to the extensive use of copaiba oleoresin in the suppository form for gynecological infections, an evaluation was carried out on the effects of copaiba oleoresin (Copaifera duckei Dwyer), delivered in a vaginal cream, on the reproductive performance of female Wistar rats. For this purpose, three groups (n=5-6/group) of female rats were treated as follows: 1--vaginal cream of copaiba oleoresin (28.6 mg/kg), 2--base vaginal cream and 3--control (physiological saline 0.9%), administered intravaginally, for 30 days before pregnancy, and from day zero to day 20 during pregnancy. Laparotomy was performed on the 21st day of pregnancy, followed by the determination of reproductive variables: number of live and dead fetuses, mass of the fetuses and placentas, number of implantations and resorptions, number of corpora lutea, pre- and post-implantation loss, and analyses of the fetuses with regard to external and internal anomalies and/or malformations (skeletal and visceral). The trans-caryophyllene present in the sample is suggested as a phytochemical marker and the results of this study demonstrate an absence of maternal toxicity and foetotoxicity embryofoetotoxicity at the dose administered, corresponding to ten times the recommended dose for use in humans. Accordingly, no significant statistical difference was observed between the treated and control groups, for the variables analyzed. Thus, it is concluded that the vaginal cream containing 2.5% copaiba oleoresin is safe during gestation, in female rats (Rattus norvegicus) of the Wistar strain.

Angiogenesis in squamous intraepithelial neoplasia of the uterine cervix in HIV-seropositive women.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to quantify angiogenesis in squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix in seropositive HIV patients as well as to establish a relationship between vascular density and variations in the CD4+ lymphocyte titer and the viral load of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: 125 patients, 55 HIV seropositive and 70 seronegative, were allocated with respect to grade of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). The obtained samples were stained with an immunohistochemical marker for CD34 antigen and vessel counts were performed in ten consecutive fields at 400x magnification. The seropositive HIV patients were distributed into groups according to the CD4+ index and HIV viral load. RESULTS: Seropositive HIV patients presented a higher mean vascular density (MVD) than the control group, even in the absence of cervical intraepithelial lesions. High- and low-grade lesions in the presence of HIV seropositivity presented higher MVD than that found in seronegative HIV patients. There was no significant variation in the MVD and CD4+ count ratio or viral RNA-HIV load, except for high-grade (H)SIL. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with HIV influenced angiogenesis of uterine cervix in the presence of squamous intraepithelial lesions and more significantly in HSIL.

The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor and omentopexy on revascularization and epithelial regeneration of heterotopic rat tracheal isografts.

Donor airway ischemia is a significant problem after clinical lung transplantation despite the use of omentopexy for accelerated local bronchial revascularization. Several growth factors have been shown to induce angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In the present study the quantitative effects on tracheal revascularization and epithelial regeneration of omentopexy and continuous local administration of basic fibroblast growth factor were investigated in a heterotopic rat tracheal isograft model. Tracheas were harvested from donor rats and heterotopically implanted into the omentum of syngeneic recipient rats. Animals were randomly assigned to study groups differing only in treatment of the tracheal segments: omental wrap for 2, 7, or 14 days; omental wrap plus continuous local administration of basic fibroblast growth factor for 7 or 14 days; or omental wrap plus local application of saline for 7 or 14 days. Two, 7, or 14 days after the animals were put to death, the vascularity of the tracheal segments and attached omentum and the tracheal epithelial morphology were assessed in a blinded fashion with use of light microscopy and morphometric image analysis. Vascularity in tracheal segments treated with basic fibroblast growth factor was significantly (p less than 0.05) greater than in control tracheas after 7 and 14 days. Epithelial regeneration was also improved in the basic fibroblast growth factor-treated groups at days 7 and 14 (p less than 0.05). We conclude that continuous local administration of basic fibroblast growth factor enhances early revascularization of tracheal segments induced by omentopexy and accelerates epithelial regeneration in a heterotopic rat tracheal isograft model.