Acute and subchronic effects of petroleum on the freshwater fish Hoplias aff. malabaricus / Efeitos agudo e subcrônico do petróleo no peixe de água doce Hoplias aff. malabaricus

Abstract Petroleum water soluble fraction (WSF) impairs organisms, but damages may vary among cell and tissue levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute (24 h, 48 h, 72 h) and subchronic effects (36 days) of WSF (0%, 25% and 100%) in juveniles of the Neotropical top predator fish Hoplias aff. malabaricus. The effects of WSF were evaluated at a molecular level using the comet assay and micronucleus test for genome damage; and at a morphological level through histological identification of liver pathologic lesions. In both acute and subchronic exposure we found low levels of DNA damage (< 10% of comet tail) and non-significant frequency of micronucleus in WSF exposed fish. The most significant liver lesions in WSF exposed fish were fatty vacuolization, hypertrophy and focal necrosis. Since these tissue injuries were progressive and persistent, their irreversibility may negatively affect fish recruitment, even in a such resistant top predator.

Resumo A fração solúvel de petróleo (WSF) prejudica os organismos, porém os danos podem variar entre os níveis celular e tecidual. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito agudo (24 h, 48 h e 72 h) e subcrônico (36 dias) da WSF (0%, 25% e 100%) em juvenis do peixe neotropical predador topo Hoplias aff. malabaricus. Os efeitos da WSF foram avaliados no nível molecular utilizando o ensaio do cometa e o teste do micronúcleo para o dano genômico e no nível morfológico através da identificação histológica de lesões patológicas no fígado. Em ambas exposições (aguda e subcrônica) encontramos baixos níveis de dano no DNA (< 10% de DNA na cauda do cometa) e frequência de micronúcleos não significativa em peixes expostos a WSF. As lesões mais significativas no fígado dos peixes expostos a WSF foram a vacuolização lipídica, hipertrofia e focos de necroses. Como estas lesões foram progressivas e persistentes, sua irreversibilidade pode afetar negativamente o recrutamento dos peixes, mesmo sendo um predador topo resistente.

Acute and subchronic effects of petroleum on the freshwater fish Hoplias aff. malabaricus.

Petroleum water soluble fraction (WSF) impairs organisms, but damages may vary among cell and tissue levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute (24 h, 48 h, 72 h) and subchronic effects (36 days) of WSF (0%, 25% and 100%) in juveniles of the Neotropical top predator fish Hoplias aff. malabaricus. The effects of WSF were evaluated at a molecular level using the comet assay and micronucleus test for genome damage; and at a morphological level through histological identification of liver pathologic lesions. In both acute and subchronic exposure we found low levels of DNA damage (< 10% of comet tail) and non-significant frequency of micronucleus in WSF exposed fish. The most significant liver lesions in WSF exposed fish were fatty vacuolization, hypertrophy and focal necrosis. Since these tissue injuries were progressive and persistent, their irreversibility may negatively affect fish recruitment, even in a such resistant top predator.

Eugenol influences the expression of messenger RNAs for superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase 1 in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of eugenol on growth, viability, antrum formation and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro. To this end, bovine ovaries were collected from a local slaughterhouse and in the laboratory the follicles were isolated from the ovarian cortex. The follicles were then cultured in TCM-199+ alone or supplemented with different concentrations of eugenol (0.5, 5.0 and 50.0 µM). Follicular diameters and antrum formation were evaluated on days 0, 6, 12 and 18. Viability analysis was performed using calcein and ethidium homodimer. Real-time PCR was used to quantify mRNA levels for SOD, CAT, GPX1 and PRDX6 in cultured follicles. Follicular diameters and mRNA levels in follicles cultured in vitro were compared using analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests, while follicular survival and antrum formation were compared using the chi-squared test (P < 0.05). The results showed that secondary follicles cultured with eugenol maintained similar morphology and viability to follicles cultured in the control group. A progressive increase in follicular diameter was observed between days 0 and 12 for all treatments, except for follicles cultured with 50 µM eugenol. Eugenol (5.0 and 50.0 µM) increased mRNA levels for GPX1 in cultured follicles, but 0.5 µM eugenol reduced mRNA levels for SOD. The addition of eugenol did not influence mRNA expression for CAT and PRDX6. In conclusion, eugenol supplementation reduces mRNA levels for SOD and increases mRNA levels of GPX1 in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro.

Removal of flocculated TiO2 nanoparticles by settling or dissolved air flotation.

Engineered nanoparticles of TiO2 (TiO2-NPs) are used in the industry for a great number of applications. After their usage, the particles end up in aquatic environments, contaminating supply waters and watercourses. Bench-scale studies report removal of TiO2-NPs (450 nm, the mean volumetric diameter) by flocculation followed by settling or by dissolved air flotation (4 bar saturation pressure and 30% recycling ratio). Floc formation was conducted after heterocoagulation with iron hydroxide (30-40 mg L-1 Fe3+) and gelatinized corn starch (10-20 mg L-1) as flocculant, at pH 7. Particle size distribution and zeta potential, removal efficiencies as a function of time and microphotography of flocs were analyzed. Mechanisms involve ferric hydroxide precipitation, heterocoagulation with the nanoparticles and flocculation of the loaded carrier precipitates with gelatinized starch. Best results showed removals between 95-100% of TiO2-NPs, either by settling or flotation after 5 min. Clear treated waters with low turbidity < 3 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) and TiO2-NPs concentrations <1 mg L-1 were obtained. A practical advantage in DAF was the higher solids content (1.9% w/w) of the sludge, when compared to settling (0.7% w/w). This would facilitate the sludge dewatering and disposal, but DAF has the disadvantage of the poor efficiency at high concentration of the nanoparticles of titanium oxide (>100 mg L-1). Conversely, the removal by settling of the flocs increased at high dosages. It is believed that both processes are sustainable in terms of reagents and the removal efficiencies of TiO2 nanoparticles from water.

Changes in mercury distribution and its body burden in delphinids affected by a morbillivirus infection: Evidences of methylmercury intoxication in Guiana dolphin.

An unusual mortality event (UME) attributed to morbillivirus infection was identified in two Guiana dolphin populations from the Southeastern Brazilian coast. The aim of this study was to characterize total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) bioaccumulation and body burden in Guiana dolphins from Sepetiba Bay (RJ) collected before (n = 61) and during the UME (n = 20). Significantly lower Se concentrations were found in the livers of individuals collected during the UME (Mann-Whitney test; p = 0.03), probably due to impairment of the detoxification process in the liver. There were differences in THg and Se concentrations in the organs and tissues of individuals (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05), but not MeHg (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.07). For THg, the liver showed the higher concentrations and differed among organs and tissues analyzed such as blubber (Tukey's test for unequal N; p = 0.003). For Se concentrations, the skin and kidney presented the higher concentrations and varied among other tissues/organs, like muscle (Tukey's test for unequal N; p = 0.02). Differences in body burdens were observed among specimens collected previously and during the UME probably due to the remobilization and transport of the muscle-stored MeHg to other tissues/organs. This abrupt input of MeHg into the bloodstream may cause serious health damage. Indeed, evidences of methylmercury intoxication was observed in Guiana dolphins in Sepetiba Bay. In conclusion, bioaccumulation patterns, the detoxification process and body burden were affected by morbillivirus.

Percutaneous electrical stimulation for overactive bladder in children: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this was to evaluate the efficacy (tolerance and safety) of once-a-week parasacral percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) to treat overactive bladder (OAB) in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective case series of children aged 4-14 years who underwent PENS for OAB. Acupuncture needles were used bilaterally and symmetrically at S3 for sacral nerve stimulation (Figure). Eighteen children with pure OAB underwent PENS weekly for 20 weeks. Frequency was 10 Hz. Intensity varied up to a maximum of 10 mA, as tolerated by the participant, but without reaching the motor threshold. Pulse width was 600 µs Patients' voiding history was assessed before treatment using a structured questionnaire. The dysfunctional voiding scoring system (DVSS) was used before and after treatment to quantify symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate treatment outcome. RESULTS: Seven boys and eleven girls (mean age, 7.82 ± 2.45 years) were included. According to the VAS, symptoms were resolved in 66% of patients. Urinary urgency, present in all children at baseline, was resolved in 84% (P = 0.001). The proportion of patients with involuntary loss of urine without urgency decreased from 77% before treatment to 27% (P = 0.04). Urge incontinence resolved in 13 of 16 patients after treatment (P = 0.001). Only one of the 12 children with frequent urination at baseline reported this complaint after treatment (P = 0.04). All cases of recurrent urinary tract infection were resolved (P = 0.001). Regarding nocturnal enuresis, treatment was successful in 9 of 14 children (P = 0.004). DISCUSSION: The theory behind this new method is that when skin impedance is overcome through the use of acupuncture needles and greater proximity is attained between the tip of the electrode and the sacral nerves, a more effective stimulus is achieved, with enough energy to provide the same benefits as parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with the advantage that treatment can be given only once a week. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation seems to be an effective and safe treatment for OAB over the short term. Furthers studies with a control group are needed.

Separation of emulsified crude oil in saline water by flotation with micro- and nanobubbles generated by a multiphase pump.

The flocculation-column flotation with hydraulic loading (HL, >10 m h-1) was studied for the treatment of oil-in-water emulsions containing 70-400 mg L-1 (turbidity = 70-226 NTU) of oil and salinity (30 and 100 g L-1). A polyacrylamide (Dismulgan, 20 mg L-1) flocculated the oil droplets, using two floc generator reactors, with rapid and slow mixing stages (head loss = 0.9 to 3.5 bar). Flotation was conducted in two cells (1.5 and 2.5 m) with microbubbles (MBs, 5-80 µm) and nanobubbles (NBs, 50-300 nm diameter, concentration of 108 NBs mL-1). Bubbles were formed using a centrifugal multiphase pump, with optimized parameters and a needle valve. The results showed higher efficiency with the taller column reducing the residual oil content to 4 mg L-1 and turbidity to 7 NTU. At high HL (27.5 m h-1), the residual oil concentrations were below the standard emission (29 mg L-1), reaching 18 mg L-1. The best results were obtained with high concentration of NBs (apart from the bigger bubbles). Mechanisms involved appear to be attachment and entrapment of the NBs onto and inside the flocs. Thus, the aggregates were readily captured, by bigger bubbles (mostly MBs) aiding shear withstanding. Advantages are the small footprint of the cells, low residence time and high processing rate.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Ixekizumab for Treatment of Psoriasis / Eficacia y seguridad clínica del ixekizumab para el tratamiento de la psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin disorder with a physical and emotional burden. Emerging evidence suggests that IL17-A is a key cytokine in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. Ixekizumab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that acts by neutralizing IL-17A. Data from Phase I-III studies reveal that ixekizumab is highly effective in treating patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. A large proportion of patients receiving ixekizumab achieved or maintained complete or near complete resolution of psoriatic lesions with an acceptable safety profile through week 60. These remarkable results introduce a paradigm shift in the medically management of psoriasis, where complete or almost completely clear skin becomes the new therapeutic goal (AU)

La psoriasis es un trastorno cutáneo común, crónico e inflamatorio con una carga física y emocional. Las pruebas recientes sugieren que la IL17-A es una citocina clave en la inmunopatogénesis de la psoriasis. El ixekizumab es un anticuerpo monoclonal IgG4 humanizado que actúa neutralizando la IL17-A. Los datos de los ensayos fase III muestran una alta eficacia del ixekizumab para tratar pacientes con psoriasis en placas de moderada a grave. Una gran proporción de los pacientes que tomaba ixekizumab consiguió o mantuvo la resolución completa o prácticamente completa de las lesiones psoriásicas, con un perfil de seguridad aceptable en la semana 60. Estos notables resultados suponen un cambio de paradigma en la gestión médica de la psoriasis, donde una piel completamente o casi completamente libre de lesiones es el nuevo objetivo terapéutico (AU)

Effect of protein supplementation on ruminal parameters and microbial community fingerprint of Nellore steers fed tropical forages.

In tropical regions, protein supplementation is a common practice in dairy and beef farming. However, the effect of highly degradable protein in ruminal fermentation and microbial community composition has not yet been investigated in a systematic manner. In this work, we aimed to investigate the impact of casein supplementation on volatile fatty acids (VFA) production, specific activity of deamination (SAD), ammonia concentration and bacterial and archaeal community composition. The experimental design was a 4×4 Latin square balanced for residual effects, with four animals (average initial weight of 280±10 kg) and four experimental periods, each with duration of 29 days. The diet comprised Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay with an average CP content of 9.8%, on a dry matter basis. Animals received basal forage (control) or infusions of pure casein (230 g) administered direct into the rumen, abomasum or divided (50 : 50 ratio) in the rumen/abomasum. There was no differences (P>0.05) in ruminal pH and microbial protein concentration between supplemented v. non-supplemented animals. However, in steers receiving ruminal infusion of casein the SAD and ruminal ammonia concentration increased 33% and 76%, respectively, compared with the control. The total concentration of VFA increased (P0.05) in species richness and diversity of γ-proteobacteria, firmicutes and archaea between non-supplemented Nellore steers and steers receiving casein supplementation in the rumen. However, species richness and the Shannon-Wiener index were lower (P<0.05) for the phylum bacteroidetes in steers supplemented with casein in the rumen compared with non-supplemented animals. Venn diagrams indicated that the number of unique bands varied considerably among individual animals and was usually higher in number for non-supplemented steers compared with supplemented animals. These results add new knowledge about the effects of ruminal and postruminal protein supplementation on metabolic activities of rumen microbes and the composition of bacterial and archaeal communities in the rumen of steers.

Differences in phosphorus translocation contributes to differential arsenic tolerance between plants of Borreria verticillata (Rubiaceae) from mine and non-mine sites.

We have identified new arsenic-tolerant plant species Borreria verticillata (Rubiaceae) that has mine and non-mine populations at a highly contaminated site (CS) and an uncontaminated site (UCS), respectively, in Brazil. Plants of B. verticillata from both sites were cultivated at different As and P concentrations. At low P concentration, CS plants showed reduced As uptake, higher P translocation to shoots, higher constitutive levels of phenolic compounds in roots, and higher tolerance to this metalloid. At the lowest P and highest As concentration, CS plants showed higher biomass. In addition, CS plants showed higher P uptake in the absence of As, suggesting that more efficient P translocation could contribute more to tolerance than decreased As uptake. In contrast, at low P concentration, UCS plants showed higher As content in shoot and root, increase in phenol levels in roots, reduction in dry biomass, and decrease of the effective efficiency of photochemical reactions and the electron transport rate. Under higher P concentrations, the decrease in As uptake was similar in both populations. The differences between the two populations with respect to As and P uptake suggest that altered kinetic properties or expression of P transporters contribute to higher As tolerance in B. verticillata from CS. As a ruderal and As-tolerant plant, B. verticillata could be successfully used for the revegetation of contaminated soils.

Caracterização anatômica da folha de Aniba firmula (Nees & C. Mart.) Mez (Lauraceae) / Anatomical characters of Aniba firmula (Nees & C. Mart.) Mez (Lauraceae) leaves

A partir de um estudo sobre a anatomia foliar de Aniba firmula (Nees & C. Mart.) Mez (Lauraceae), objetivou-se identificar caracteres anatômicos que possam auxiliar, de forma efetiva, sua morfodiagnose, tendo em vista que as espécies pertencentes a esse gênero são consideradas de difícil identificação devido à semelhança entre elas. Para realização do trabalho, foram utilizados métodos usuais em Anatomia Vegetal. Os resultados revelaram caracteres que podem ser considerados diagnósticos para a espécie, tais como: presença de tricomas tectores; estômatos paracíticos classificados como sendo do tipo "graminoide"; cristais prismáticos em células parênquimáticas no pecíolo; tricoesclereídes e braquiesclereides na lâmina foliar; sistema vascular em arco, com extremidades voltadas para o centro nas porções proximal e mediana do pecíolo e em arco com extremidades eretas na porção distal; sistema vascular na forma de arco com extremidades eretas, "V" aberto ou traço contínuo na nervura mediana; células oleíferas no mesofilo; padrão de venação camptódromo-broquidódromo, com venação marginal do tipo fimbrial. A análise de indivíduos ocorrentes em diferentes localidades foi determinante para a escolha de caracteres que não variam em decorrência das condições ambientais distintas.

The study about the leaf anatomy of Aniba firmula (Nees & C. Mart.) Mez (Lauraceae), aimed to identify anatomical characters that assists in its diagnosis, in view of the difficulty to identificate the Aniba species by being considered very similars. To realizate this research, usual methods in Plant Anatomy were applied. The obtained results considered like diagnostic characters were the presence of non glandular trichomes; paracitic stomata like "graminoid type"; prismatic crystals in parenchymatic cells, trichosclereids and brachisclereids; vascular system in arc form, with borders revolved to the center in the basal and middle region and "U" shaped in distal region of the petiole, midrib in "U" or "V" shaped or simple trace form; oil cells in the mesophyll and camptodromous-broquidodromous venation pattern with fimbrial margin. The analysis of specimens occuring in different towns was crucial to choose the characters that´s not change because of the different environmental conditions.

Diabetes in Mozambique: prevalence, management and healthcare challenges.

AIM: The growing trend towards and deficient management of diabetes in Africa are important public-health challenges requiring surveillance. For this reason, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and awareness of diabetes in urban and rural Mozambique, and to describe its management. METHODS: In 2005, a representative sample of the national Mozambican adult population (n=2343) was evaluated, according to the STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS). Twelve-hour fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured, using fingertip capillary whole blood, to estimate the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG; FBG ≥5.6 mmol/L and less than 6.1 mmol/L) and diabetes (FBG ≥6.1 mmol/L, or treatment with insulin and/or oral blood glucose-lowering drugs). Patients' awareness and management of diabetes were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes and IFG was 2.9% [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.8-4.0] and 2.5% (95%CI: 1.3-3.7), respectively. Diabetes was more frequent among urban dwellers (OR=2.92, 95%CI: 1.45-5.86), mostly due to urban-rural differences in age, education, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (adjusted OR=2.27, 95%CI: 0.83-6.26). In all, 13% of those with diabetes were aware of their condition, 10.9% had undergone glycaemia determination during the previous year, and 9% were being treated with oral blood glucose-lowering drugs and 3% with insulin. CONCLUSION: Diabetes prevalence is low in Mozambique, but most diabetic patients were neither aware of their condition nor being treated pharmacologically, thus posing serious challenges to the provision of adequate care in an already disadvantageous context.

Antinociceptive effect from Davilla elliptica hydroalcoholic extract.

Davilla elliptica St Hill (Dilleniaceae) is widely used for multiple purposes in Brazil. The aim of this study was to verify the pharmacological support of this folk use and evaluate its use as antinociceptive. The hydroalcoholic extract of the stems (100-1000 mg/kg, p.o.) induced reduction of response in the formalin test inflammatory phase in mice. This antinociceptive effect does not involve the opioidergic pathway since it was not reverted by pre-treatment with naloxone nor due to myorelaxant activity since it did not affect rota-rod and tail-flick performance. Our results indicate a participation of the nitrergic pathway and may be of particular potential importance in clinical medicine, in view of the current interest in the assessment of new medicines originated from plants.

Antinociceptive effect from Ipomoea cairica extract.

Ipomoea cairica L. Sweet (Convolvulaceae) is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism and inflammations. Ipomoea cairica ethanolic extract (100, 300, 1000 and 3000 mg/kg; per os) induced dose-dependent reduction of response in the formalin test inflammatory phase in mice. The same dose range did not modify neurogenic pain in formalin test, tail-flick reflex latency, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and Rota-Rod test motor performance. From the bio-active fraction 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid were obtained. These compounds have been previously reported to have analgesic and antioxidative effects. A possible explanation for the antinociception is that somehow the compounds present in the extract reduced the release of pro-nociceptive mediators unrelated to carrageenan-induced edema, such as histamine. Interestingly, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives have been reported to inhibit histamine release on in vitro models. The isolated caffeoylquinic acids could explain, at least in part, the antinociceptive effect of Ipomoea cairica polar extract.

Effect of methionine supplementation to a low-soybean protein diet on liver lipid metabolism.

Female Wistar rats were fed a low-soybean protein (8%) diet supplemented with different concentrations of DL-methionine (0-1.2%) during the lactation period. Diet supplementation with methionine caused a significant increase in rat body weight. The addition of 0.3% DL-methionine to the diet did not cause an increase in liver triacylglycerol concentration in 21-day-old rats, but an increase did occur after the addition of 0.6% DL-methionine to the diet. Supplementation of the diet with DL-methionine did not change liver phospholipid or protein concentrations, nor plasma triacylglycerol levels. Liver lipid synthesis from [1-14C]acetate in 21-day-old rats whose dams had been fed an 8% soybean protein diet supplemented with 1.2% DL-methionine was significantly higher than in the group receiving no DL-methionine supplementation. Hepatic production of CO2 and of water-soluble acid products from [1-14C]palmitate did not differ between groups. Inositol addition to a low-soybean protein diet supplemented with DL-methionine did not change triacylglycerol nor phospholipid levels in the liver.

[Coronary transluminal angioplasty after the use of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction]. / Angioplastia transluminal coronária após o uso de trombolítico no infarto agudo do miocárdio.

PURPOSE: To present the Cardiology Institute of Rio Grande do Sul experience with percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA), after thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Fifty-three patients with transmural AMI in whom early successful intravenous streptokinase recanalization was followed by PTCA. The mean age was 50 years, male patients were more frequent, the predominant area of infarct was anterior wall and more frequently the "culprit" coronary was the left anterior descendent. The main indication of PTCA was uniarterial lesion with less than 20 mm of length. RESULTS: The success comes out in 44 patients (81.5%). Ten patients (18.5%) were considered unsuccessful and were referred to emergency bypass graft surgery. The in-hospital AMI rate after PTCA was 5.5%. In the follow-up the reestenoses rate was 11% and reocclusion was 3.7%. New PTCA was necessary in 3 patients (5.5%) and in one, by-pass graft (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: PTCA is an important and secure modality of complementary therapy after thrombolytic therapy with low morbidity and mortality.