Avaliação clínica e bioquímica de cães submetidos a dois métodos de hidroterapia / Clinical and biochemical evaluation of dogs submitted to two methods of hydrotherapy

Avaliou-se a resposta dos parâmetros fisiológicos de frequência cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (FR), temperatura retal (TR) e a atividade sérica das enzimas creatina quinase (CK) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH) em cães adultos hígidos, machos e fêmeas, sob duas modalidades de hidroterapia. Dez cães foram distribuídos em dois grupos de cinco animais, denominados de grupo I (caminhada em esteira aquática) e grupo II (natação) e submetidos a duas sessões por semana com duração inicial de 10 minutos, acrescida de cinco minutos por sessão até 30 minutos, durante nove semanas. As avaliações foram realizadas antes, imediatamente depois e quatro horas após o exercício em todas as sessões para as variáveis de FC, FR e TR e nos dias um, sete, 28 e 60 para CK e LDH. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) quando comparados os valores médios dos parâmetros fisiológicos de frequência cardíaca e respiratória e de temperatura retal. Os níveis de CK e LDH não se elevaram após a hidroterapia nos diferentes tempos e dias avaliados. Dessa forma, foi possível concluir que as sessões de natação e de caminhada em esteira aquática não causaram alterações nos parâmetros fisiológicos de frequência cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura retal e nos níveis sanguíneos de creatina quinase (CK) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH) no protocolo proposto.(AU)

The physiological parameters of heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (TR), and serum activity of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes were determined in healthy dogs, male and female, under two hydrotherapy modalities. Ten dogs were distributed in two groups of five animals, named Group I (underwater treadmill walk) and Group II (swimming), submitted to two sessions per week with initial duration of 10 minutes, plus 5 minutes per session up to 30 minutes, during 9 weeks. The evaluations were performed before, immediately after and 4 hours after exercise in all sessions for the HR, RR and TR variables and on days one, seven, 28 and 60 for CK and LDH. There was no difference (P> 0.05) when comparing the mean values of physiological parameters of heart and respiratory rate and rectal temperature. CK and LDH levels did not rise after hydrotherapy at different times and days evaluated. So, it was possible to conclude that swimming sessions and underwater treadmill walking did not cause alterations in the physiological parameters of heart and respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and the blood levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the proposed protocol.(AU)

Current Neurogenic and Neuroprotective Strategies to Prevent and Treat Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

The adult central nervous system is commonly known to have a very limited regenerative capacity. The presence of functional stem cells in the brain can therefore be seen as a paradox, since in other organs these are known to counterbalance cell loss derived from pathological conditions. This fact has therefore raised the possibility to stimulate neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation or survival by either stem cell replacement therapy or direct administration of neurotrophic factors or other proneurogenic molecules, which in turn has also originated regenerative medicine for the treatment of otherwise incurable neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders that take a huge toll on society. This may be facilitated by the fact that many of these disorders converge on similar pathophysiological pathways: excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial failure, excessive intracellular calcium and apoptosis. This review will therefore focus on the most promising achievements in promoting neuroprotection and neuroregeneration reported to date.

Convergence of a specialized root trait in plants from nutrient-impoverished soils: phosphorus-acquisition strategy in a nonmycorrhizal cactus.

In old, phosphorus (P)-impoverished habitats, root specializations such as cluster roots efficiently mobilize and acquire P by releasing large amounts of carboxylates in the rhizosphere. These specialized roots are rarely mycorrhizal. We investigated whether Discocactus placentiformis (Cactaceae), a common species in nutrient-poor campos rupestres over white sands, operates in the same way as other root specializations. Discocactus placentiformis showed no mycorrhizal colonization, but exhibited a sand-binding root specialization with rhizosheath formation. We first provide circumstantial evidence for carboxylate exudation in field material, based on its very high shoot manganese (Mn) concentrations, and then firm evidence, based on exudate analysis. We identified predominantly oxalic acid, but also malic, citric, lactic, succinic, fumaric, and malonic acids. When grown in nutrient solution with P concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 µM, we observed an increase in total carboxylate exudation with decreasing P supply, showing that P deficiency stimulated carboxylate release. Additionally, we tested P solubilization by citric, malic and oxalic acids, and found that they solubilized P from the strongly P-sorbing soil in its native habitat, when the acids were added in combination and in relatively low concentrations. We conclude that the sand-binding root specialization in this nonmycorrhizal cactus functions similar to that of cluster roots, which efficiently enhance P acquisition in other habitats with very low P availability.

Immunological and allergenic responses induced by latex fractions of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br.

Immunological and allergenic responses against the latex of Calotropis procera were investigated in mice by oral and subcutaneous routes. The latex was fractionated according to water solubility and molecular size of its components. The fractions were named as non-dialyzable latex (NDL) corresponding to the major latex proteins, dialyzable latex (DL) corresponding to low molecular size substances and rubber latex (RL) which was highly insoluble in water. Anti-sera against these fractions were assayed for total IgG and IgA titration by ELISA and IgE and IgG(1) were quantified by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats and mice, respectively. None of the fractions induced antibodies level increases when mice received latex fractions by oral route and thus, did not develop allergy. Nonetheless, anti-sera of mice sensitized with NDL and RL by subcutaneous route displayed considerable immunological response while DL did not. IgG level augmented consistently against NDL and RL while IgA response was detected only to NDL. NDL and RL induced very strong PCA reactions suggesting that both fractions would contain latex substances involved in allergy. Furthermore, protein analysis of NDL and RL suggests that RL still retain residual proteins abundantly found in NDL that could explain its similar allergenic effect. No IgG(1) reaction was detected in any of the anti-sera tested. According to the results, the proteins of latex of Calotropis procera can provoke allergy by subcutaneous route. The NDL has previously shown to display anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities by intraperitoneal injection. It should be relevant to determine whether NDL could induce such activities when assayed by oral route since it was ineffective to induce allergy by this way.

Synergistic effect of Glomus intraradices and Frankia spp. on the growth and stress recovery of Alnus glutinosa in an alkaline anthropogenic sediment.

The presence of actinorhizas and arbuscular mycorrhizas may reduce plant stresses caused by adverse soil conditions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using a sediment with a high pH, resulting from the disposal of waste originated at an acetylene and polyvinylchloride factory, in which Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) seedlings were inoculated either with Glomus intraradices BEG163 (originally isolated from the same sediment), Frankia spp. or both symbionts. After a 6-month growth period, plants inoculated with both symbionts had significantly greater leaf area, shoot height and total biomass when compared with the uninoculated control, the Frankia spp. and the G. intraradices treatments alone. In dual inoculated plants the N and P leaf content was significantly increased. A defoliation experiment was performed to evaluate the stress recovery of A. glutinosa and plants inoculated with both symbionts had a faster leaf regrowth and produced greater numbers of leaves. The dual inoculation resulted in greater numbers of and larger root nodules than when inoculated with Frankia spp. alone. The length and NADH diaphorase activity of the extraradical mycelium of G. intraradices was also significantly greater when dual inoculation was performed. The inoculation with Frankia spp. alone was shown to improve A. glutinosa growth, whereas G. intraradices alone had no positive effect under these environmental conditions. However, when the two symbionts were inoculated together a synergistic effect was observed resulting in a greater benefit for the plants and for both symbionts. The relevance of these findings for the phytorestoration of anthropogenic stressed sediments with high pH is discussed.

Venda livre de Sorocea bomplandii Bailon como Espinheira Santa no município de Rio de Janeiro- RJ

Este trabalho surgiu da observação de que a espécie vendida livremente nas feiras e bancas populares do município do Rio de Janeiro (RJ) difere botanicamente de Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. Ex. Reiss (Celastraceae), comercializada industrialmente (e com uso reconhecido e registrado no Ministério da Saúde) como Espinheira Santa. Por comparação botânica foi constatado que nenhuma das espécies recolhidas correspondia a M. ilicifolia Mart. Ex. Reiss e sim, provavelmente a Sorocea bomplandii Bailon (Moraceae), uma das espécies mais utilizadas na adulteração da Espinheira Santa. Uma vez que não existem estudos suficientes que justifiquem o uso ou comprovem a segurança de S. Bomplandii Bailon, este passa a configurar um problema de saúde pública.

This work started with the notice that the specie freely sold in fairs and popular stores in Rio de Janeiro city botanically differs from Mart. Ex. Reiss (Celastraceae), industrially commercialized (and with its use recognized and registered in the Ministry of Health) as Espinheira Santa. By botanical comparison it was evidenced that none of the collected species corresponded to M. ilicifolia Mart. Ex. Reiss but, probably, to Sorocea bomplandii Bailon (Moraceae), one of the most used species in the adulteration of Espinheira Santa. Once there aren't enough studies that justifies the use or that evidence the safety of S. Bomplandii Bailon, it becomes a public health issue.