The ability of topical and systemic statins to increase osteogenesis around dental implants: a systematic review of histomorphometric outcomes in animal studies.

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the quantitative histomorphometric outcomes of animal studies investigating statins as a pro-osteogenic agent to enhance the osseointegration of dental implants. Some animal studies have suggested a beneficial action of statins on bone tissue. Electronic and manual literature searches, without date or language restriction, ​​were performed by two independent review authors up to February 2017. Eligibility criteria included animal trials quantitatively analysing the pro-osteogenic effect of statins on dental implants. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the ARRIVE guidelines. The search and selection process yielded 12 studies, published between 2004 and 2015. The experimental animals models used were rats and dogs. The statins used in the studies were simvastatin and fluvastatin, which were administered locally or systemically, or applied to the implant surface. All of the selected studies showed a statistically significant positive effect of statins on bone formation around implants. The mean quality assessment score (ARRIVE) of the studies was 11.5±2.27 out of a possible total of 25 points. The histomorphometric data from available preclinical studies suggest a positive effect of statins on increasing osteogenesis around dental implants.

Effects of acute aerobic exercise on leukocyte inflammatory gene expression in systemic lupus erythematosus.

UNLABELLED: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a persistent systemic inflammation. Exercise induced inflammatory response in SLE remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of acuteexercise on leukocyte gene expression in active (SLEACTIVE) and inactive SLE (SLEINACTIVE) patients and healthy controls(HC). METHODS: All subjects (n = 4 per group) performed a 30-min single bout of acute aerobic exercise (~70% of VO2peak) on a treadmill, and blood samples were collected for RNA extraction from circulating leukocyte at baseline, at the end of exercise, and after three hours of recovery. The expression of a panel of immune-related genes was evaluated by a quantitative PCR array assay. Moreover, network-based analyses were performed to interpret transcriptional changes occurring after the exercise challenge. RESULTS: In all groups, a single bout of acute exercise led to the down-regulation of the gene expression of innate and adaptive immunity at the end of exercise (e.g., TLR3, IFNG, GATA3, FOXP3, STAT4) with a subsequent up-regulation occurring upon recovery. Exercise regulated the expression of inflammatory genes in the blood leukocytes of the SLE patients and HC, although the SLE groups exhibited fewer modulated genes and less densely connected networks (number of nodes: 29, 40 and 58; number of edges: 29, 60 and 195; network density: 0.07, 0.08 and 0.12, for SLEACTIVE, SLEINACTIVE and HC, respectively). CONCLUSION: The leukocytes from the SLE patients, irrespective of disease activity, showed a down-regulated inflammatory geneexpression immediately after acute aerobic exercise, followed by an up-regulation at recovery. Furthermore, less organized gene networks were observed in the SLE patients, suggesting that they may be deficient in triggering a normal exercised-induced immune transcriptional response.

Gene polymorphisms and increased DNA damage in morbidly obese women.

Obesity is characterized by increased adipose tissue mass resulting from a chronic imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Furthermore, there is a clearly defined relationship among fat mass expansion, chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation; leading to ROS-related pathological events. In the past years, genome-wide association studies have generated convincing evidence associating genetic variation at multiple regions of the genome with traits that reflect obesity. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationships among the gene polymorphisms ghrelin (GHRL-rs26802), ghrelin receptor (GHSR-rs572169), leptin (LEP-rs7799039), leptin receptor (LEPR-rs1137101) and fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO-rs9939609) and obesity. The relationships among these gene variants and the amount of DNA damage were also investigated. Three hundred Caucasian morbidly obese and 300 eutrophic (controls) women were recruited. In summary, the results demonstrated that the frequencies of the GHRL, GHSR, LEP and LEPR polymorphisms were not different between Brazilian white morbidly obese and eutrophic women. Exceptions were the AA-FTO genotype and allele A, which were significantly more frequent in obese women than in the controls (0.23% vs. 0.10%; 0.46 vs. 0.36, respectively), and the TT-FTO genotype and the T allele, which were less frequent in morbidly obese women (p<0.01). Furthermore, significant differences in the amount of genetic lesions associated with FTO variants were observed only in obese women. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the analyzed SNPs were not closely associated with morbid obesity, suggesting they are not the major contributors to obesity. Therefore, our data indicated that these gene variants are not good biomarkers for predicting risk susceptibility for obesity, whereas ROS generated by the inflammatory status might be one of the causes of DNA damage in obese women, favoring genetically related diseases as obesity comorbidities.

Desempenho reprodutivo de ovelhas mestiças da raça Santa Inês em Brachiaria humidícula e efeito do sexo no ganho de peso de cordeiros / Reproductive performance of crossbred ewes race Santa Ines in Brachiaria humidicula and e ffect of sex on weight gain of lambs

Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho reprodutivo de ovelhas deslanadas em função do manejo alimentar das crias e idade de desmame, além de mensurar o efeito do sexo no ganho de peso de cordeiros. Sessenta e quatro ovelhas mestiças da raça Santa Inês foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 x 2 - quatro idades de desmame (56, 70, 84 e 98 dias), sexo e manejo alimentar das crias, cada tratamento com quatro repetições. As ovelhas foram manejadas com a cria ao pé, em 14 piquetes de 1,5 ou 2,0 hectares, formados com pastagem de Brachiaria humidícola. As crias nascidas de partos simples, filhos de reprodutores Santa Inês puros de origem (PO). Após o desmame de todos os grupos, sessenta e quatro cordeiros (32 machos e 32 fêmeas) foram distribuídos ao acaso em baias individuais e confinados por 30 dias. A comparação dos parâmetros foi realizada pelo ajuste do modelo de regressão linear simples. Verificou-se vício de tempo longo do manejo alimentar das crias de + 3,7% (P<0,05) para o intervalo entre partos e de + 1,4% (P<0,05) para o período de serviço. Houve efeito linear crescente (P<0,05) da idade de desmame sobre o intervalo entre partos e período de serviço. Verificou-se vício de tempo longo do sexo das crias de + 2,0% (P<0,05) para o intervalo entre partos e de + 0,8% (P<0,05) para o período de serviço das ovelhas. Constatou-se vício de tempo longo do sexo de + 35,2% e + 36,9% (P<0,05), respectivamente, para o ganho de peso diário de cordeiros do nascimento ao desmame e pós desmame em confinamento. A suplementação das crias em alimentador privativo e a antecipação da idade de desmame reduzem o intervalo entre partos e período de serviço de ovelhas deslanadas em pastagem de Brachiaria humidícula. O sexo da cria é fonte de variação na análise da eficiência reprodutiva de matrizes ovinas e no ganho de peso de cordeiros mestiços da raça Santa Inês do nascimento ao desmame e após o desmame.

The purpose was to evaluate the reproductive performance of woolless ewes due to the feeding management of offsprings and weaning age in addition to measuring the effect of gender on weight gain of lambs. Sixty-four Santa Inês crossbred ewes were distributed in a completely randomized design in a factorial 4 x 2 x 2 - four weaning ages (56, 70, 84 and 98 days), sex and feeding management of the offspring, each treatment with four replications. The ewes were managed with the offsprings at the foot in 14 paddocks of 1,5 or 2,0 hectares, formed with Brachiaria humidícola. The offsprings were born by single birth, of Santa Inês pure of origin (PO). After the weaning of all groups, sixty-four lambs (32 males and 32 females) were randomly assigned in individual stalls and confined for 30 days. The comparison of the parameters was carried out by the adjustment of the simple linear regression model. It was verified over time addiction of the offspring feed management of + 3,7% (P<0,05) for the calving intervals and of + 1,4% (P<0,05) for the service period. There was increasing linear effect (P<0,05) of weaning age on calving intervals and service period. It was verified over time, addiction of the offspring sex of + 2,0% (P<0,05) for the calving intervals and + 0,8% (P<0,05) for the ewes service period. It was observed over time addiction of sex of + 35,2% and + 36,9% (P<0,05), respectively, for the daily weight gain of lambs from birth to weaning and post-weaning in feedlot. The supplementation of the offspring in private feeder and the anticipation of the weaning age reduce the calving intervals and the service period of woolless ewes in Brachiaria humidicula pasture. The offspring sex is the source of variation in the analysis of reproductive efficiency of ewe's mat rices and in the weight gain of Santa Inês crossbred lambs from birth to weaning, and after weaning.

Oxidative stress on cardiotoxicity after treatment with single and multiple doses of doxorubicin.

The mechanism of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity remains controversial. Wistar rats (n = 66) received DOX injections intraperitoneally and were randomly assigned to 2 experimental protocols: (1) rats were killed before (-24 h, n = 8) and 24 h after (+24 h, n = 8) a single dose of DOX (4 mg/kg body weight) to determine the DOX acute effect and (2) rats (n = 58) received 4 injections of DOX (4 mg/kg body weight/week) and were killed before the first injection (M0) and 1 week after each injection (M1, M2, M3, and M4) to determine the chronological effects. Animals used at M0 (n = 8) were also used at moment -24 h of acute study. Cardiac total antioxidant performance (TAP), DNA damage, and morphology analyses were carried out at each time point. Single dose of DOX was associated with increased cardiac disarrangement, necrosis, and DNA damage (strand breaks (SBs) and oxidized pyrimidines) and decreased TAP. The chronological study showed an effect of a cumulative dose on body weight (R = -0.99, p = 0.011), necrosis (R = 1.00, p = 0.004), TAP (R = 0.95, p = 0.049), and DNA SBs (R = -0.95, p = 0.049). DNA SBs damage was negatively associated with TAP (R = -0.98, p = 0.018), and necrosis (R = -0.97, p = 0.027). Our results suggest that oxidative damage is associated with acute cardiotoxicity induced by a single dose of DOX only. Increased resistance to the oxidative stress is plausible for the multiple dose of DOX. Thus, different mechanisms may be involved in acute toxicity versus chronic toxicity.

Surgical treatment for recurrent refractory skenitis.

We report a case of persistent skenitis that was initially misdiagnosed and treated as a urinary infection. Despite an adequate course of antibiotics, the symptoms failed to improve. The case was ultimately resolved with surgical intervention, which resulted in its prompt and complete resolution.

Chicken house as a resting site of sandflies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

During studies on the biology of sandflies in Itaipu, Rio de Janeiro state day catches were performed in a chicken house. Species such Lutzomyia intermedia, L. migonei and L. fischeri use the chicken house as refuge for blood digestion before moving for a better place to lay eggs. There is no evidence that chicken coop is a breeding site for those sandflies in the area.