The effect of dietary corn oil and fish oil supplementation in dogs with naturally occurring gingivitis.

The aim of this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate if downregulation of the inflammatory response due to ingestion of high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can slow down gingivitis development, and thus delay the progression of periodontal disease (PD) in dogs. To this aim, 44 client-owned adult dogs (>1 and <8 years old) with naturally occurring PD (stages 1 and 2) were submitted to a plaque, gingivitis and calculus scoring followed by a dental cleaning procedure and collection of blood samples. The animals were then fed a canine adult maintenance diet, supplemented with either corn oil (0.00 g EPA and 0.00 g DHA) or fish oil (1.53 g EPA and 0.86 g DHA, both per 1,000 kcal ME) over the following 5 months. At the end of this period, the PD scoring and the blood sampling were repeated. The animals consuming fish oil had higher plasma levels of the longer chain (C ≥ 20) omega 3 fatty acids (p < 0.01) and similar plasma levels of alpha-linolenic acid (p = 0.53), omega 6 fatty acids (p > 0.63) and C reactive protein (p = 0.28) then the ones consuming corn oil. There were no differences between fish oil and corn oil diet supplementation on plaque (18.2 vs. 17.8, p = 0.78), calculus (10.1 vs. 11.5, p = 0.18) or gingivitis (19.3 vs. 19.0, p = 0.77) indexes. The authors conclude that supplementation with EPA + DHA does not slow down progression of PD in dogs.

Evaluation of bone turnover markers and serum minerals variations for predicting fracture healing versus non-union processes in adult sheep as a model for orthopedic research.

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) have been considered as an auxiliary method of following the fracture healing process and for early prediction of impaired bone healing. A better understanding of the potential of BTMs in this application could allow for earlier interventions and improved patient care. The aim of this study with a large animal experimental model was to assess the variation of bone formation markers - namely the total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and its bone-specific isoform (BALP), serum concentration of intact osteocalcin (OC), N-terminal propeptide type III procollagen (PIIINP) and of bone resorption markers - namely tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and deoxypyridinoline crosslink (DPD) during the first stages of a normal fracture healing process and of a segmental critical size defect (CSD), which progresses to a non-union process. Thirty healthy female sheep (Portuguese Churra-da-Terra-Quente breed), approximately 4-years-old, were enrolled in this study. Jugular venous blood samples were collected pre-operatively and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 post-operative weeks. The animals of the CSD group showed significant lower serum levels of BALP, OC and significant higher serum PIIINP levels at early stages of the fracture healing process, compared with animals that progressed in a normal fracture healing process. Serum BALP, OC and PIIINP levels could be useful as non-invasive auxiliary tools with other complementary methods for predicting the outcome of traumatic bone fractures.

Bone marrow stromal cells on a three-dimensional bioactive fiber mesh undergo osteogenic differentiation in the absence of osteogenic media supplements: the effect of silanol groups.

Osteogenic differentiation is a tightly regulated process dependent on the stimuli provided by the micro-environment. Silicon-substituted materials are known to have an influence on the osteogenic phenotype of undifferentiated and bone-derived cells. This study aims to investigate the bioactivity profile as well as the mechanical properties of a blend of starch and poly-caprolactone (SPCL) polymeric fiber mesh scaffolds functionalized with silanol (Si-OH) groups as key features for bone tissue engineering strategies. The scaffolds were made from SPCL by a wet spinning technique. A calcium silicate solution was used as a non-solvent to develop an in situ functionalization with Si-OH groups in a single-step approach. We also explored the relevance of silicon incorporated in SPCL-Si scaffolds to the in vitro osteogenic process of goat bone marrow stromal cells (gBMSCs) with and without osteogenic supplements in the culture medium. We hypothesized that SPCL-Si scaffolds could act as physical and chemical millieus to induce per se the osteogenic differentiation of gBMSCs. Results show that osteogenic differentiation of gBMSCs and the production of a mineralized extracellular matrix on bioactive SPCL-Si scaffolds occur for up to 2weeks, even in the absence of osteogenic supplements in the culture medium. The omission of media supplements to induce osteogenic differentiation is a promising feature towards simplified and cost-effective cell culturing procedures of a potential bioengineered product, and concomitant translation into the clinical field. Thus, the present work demonstrates that SPCL-Si scaffolds and their intrinsic properties sustain gBMSC osteogenic features in vitro, even in the absence of osteogenic supplements to the culture medium, and show great potential for bone regeneration strategies.

A eficácia da reabilitação pulmonar na capacidade de exercício, força da musculatura inspiratória e qualidade de vida de portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / Efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation: exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUÇAO: A reabilitação pulmonar é amplamente preconizada para o tratamento da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia da reabilitação pulmonar na capacidade de exercício, força da musculatura respiratória e qualidade de vida de portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. MÉTODO: Em um ensaio clínico não-randomizado e aberto, foram avaliados 27 portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica admitidos em programa de reabilitação pulmonar, estáveis clinicamente e ex-tabagistas. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados antes e depois da reabilitação pulmonar. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 65 ± 5 anos, o índice de massa corporal 25 ± 4 kg/m², o volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo 55 ± 25 por cento do previsto, a relação entre volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo e capacidade vital forçada 50 ± 12 por cento, e a pressão parcial de oxigênio no sangue arterial 70 ± 7mmHg. Comparando os valores antes e depois da reabilitação pulmonar, houve melhora na distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos (513 ± 99 m vs 570 ± 104 m), na carga máxima para membros superiores (2 ± 1 Kg vs 3 ± 1 Kg), na pressão inspiratória máxima (-89±23 cmH2O vs -102±23 cmH2O) e nos domínios atividade, impacto e escore total do questionário do Hospital Saint George na doença respiratória. CONCLUSAO: A reabilitação pulmonar, com enfoque no treinamento físico, e realizada de forma criteriosa, é eficaz na promoção do aumento da distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos, da carga máxima para membros superiores, da pressão inspiratória máxima e da qualidade de vida.

Efetividade da reabilitação pulmonar como tratamento coadjuvante da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / The effectiveness of the pulmonary rehabilitation program as an ancillary treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introdução: O paciente portador de DPOC diminui sua atividade física global devido a piora progressiva da função pulmonar como conseqüência de qualquer forma de esforço físico por ele realizado. A reabilitação pulmonar (RP) é utilizada nos EUA e Europa como alternativa terapêutica no tratamento da DPOC. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade do programa de RP como tratamento coadjuvante da DPOC. Pacientes e métodos: 30 pacientes prospectivamente submetidos ao programa de RP desenvolvido em seis semanas com freqüência semanal de três sessões. A avaliação compôs-se da história clínica e exame físico completos, do teste de caminhada de seis minutos, do teste de carga máxima sustentada pelos MMSS, do teste de potência máxima de MMII, do questionário de percepção de esforço físico e espirometria e gasometria. Resultados: No que se refere às variáveis espirométricas e gasométricas pré e pós-programa de RP, não houve alterações estatisticamente significativas (p > 0,05). Observaram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p < 0,05) nos períodos pré e pós-programa de RP em relação à diminuição da percepção do esforço físico e aumento da capacidade física funcional, do teste de carga máxima para MMSS e testes incrementais de MMII. Conclusões: Para o grupo estudado, os autores concluem que o programa de RP aumentou a sua capacidade física, carga máxima sustentada pelos MMSS e não alterou as variáveis espirométricas e gasométricas