Testicular toxicity in mice exposed to terephthalic acid in utero and during lactation.

Terephthalic acid (TPA) is a worldwide aromatic compound widely used to manufacture resins and the raw material for the polymerization reaction with ethylene glycol to produce polyethylene terephthalate, known as PET. The use of TPA extends to the synthesis of phthalates, plasticizers used in various industrialized products such as toys and cosmetics. The present study aimed to evaluate the testicular toxicity of terephthalic acid on male mice exposed in utero and during lactation to TPA in different developmental windows. The animals were treated intragastric with TPA at stock dispersal dosages corresponding to 0.0014 g/ml and 0.56 g/ml of TPA in 0.5% v/v carboxymethylcellulose as well as the control dose, composed solely of dispersion of carboxymethylcellulose (0.5% v/v). Four experimental windows were established: group I-treatment in utero, in the fetal period (gestational day-GD 10.5-18.5), with euthanasia at GD 18.5; group II-treatment in utero, in the fetal period (GD 10.5-18.5) and the lactational period (postnatal day (PND-15)), with euthanasia at 15 days; group III-treatment in utero in the fetal period (DG 10.5-18.5) with euthanasia at 70 days (age of sexual maturity, PND 70); group IV-treatment in utero, in the fetal period (GD 10.5-18.5) and the lactational period (PND-15), with euthanasia at 70 days (PND70). The results indicate that TPA changes the reproductive parameters (testicular weight, GI, penis size, and anogenital index) only at the dose of 0.56 g/ml in the fetal period. Data on the volumetric ratio of the testis elements show that the dispersion with the highest concentration of TPA significantly altered the blood vessel/capillary, lymphatic vessel, and connective tissue percentages. Only at the dose of 0.56 g/ml TPA was it effective in decreasing the Leydig and Sertoli cell numbers of the euthanized animals at GD 18.5. In group II, TPA increased the diameter and lumen of seminiferous tubules, which indicates that TPA accelerated the maturation process of Sertoli cells without changing the number and the nuclear volume of these cells. The Sertoli and Leydig cell numbers of the 70-day animals exposed to TPA in the gestational and lactational period were similar to the control. Therefore, the present study is the first in the literature to show that TPA presents a testicular toxicity during fetal (DG18.5) and postnatal life (PND15), without repercussion in adulthood (70 days).

Effects of 3-Heptyl-3,4,6-trimethoxy-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one alone or/in association with cyclophosphamide on testicular function.

Chemotherapy for cancer treatment may result in a temporary or long-term gonadal damage resulting in subfertility or infertility. Cyclophosphamide (CY) is a cytotoxic alkylating agent that has been widely used in the treatment of cancer. Recent studies have shown that synthetic resorcinol lipid AMS35AA (3-Heptyl-3,4,6-trimethoxy-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one) may be an important adjuvant chemotherapy that potentiates mutagenic damage and increases apoptosis caused by CY. The present study investigates the action of AMS35AA alone or/in association with CY on testicular function. Animals were divided into four groups: (a) control group: received only water; (b) CY group: received 150 µg/g of CY b.w., i.p.; (c) AMS35AA group: received 10 µg/g of AMS35AA b.w., i.p; and (d) associated group: received 10 µg/g of AMS35AA + 150 µg/g of CY b.w., i.p. Four weeks after the treatment, the results showed that testes weight of CY and associated groups decreased. However, the number of Sertoli cell and Leydig cell per testis was similar in control and treated groups. Our findings provide strong evidence that the AMS35AA alone or in CY association is not toxic to spermatogenesis. The absence of toxicity of AMS35AA supports the view that the resorcinolic lipid could be used associated with CY chemotherapy without causing adverse effects to testes function.

Jejum Pré-Operatório: Consensos e Controvérsias / Preoperative fasting: consensuses and controversie

Introdução: A prática do jejum pré-operatório se consolidou no século XX e prosseguiu praticamente inalterada até os anos 80, onde passou a ser reestruturada. Diante disso, o presente artigo tem o intuito de realizar uma revisão sobre o jejum pré operatório orientado na literatura comparando-o com o que é encontrado dentro da realidade brasileira. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo de revisão da literatura, de natureza exploratória, realizada por meio de pesquisa de artigos científicos, dissertações e teses disponíveis nas bases de dados online. Resultados: a American Society of Anesthesiologists desenvolveu a Task "Force on Preoperative Fasting" que estabelece para líquidos claros um jejum mínimo de 2 horas e para dieta leve de 6 horas. No Brasil, um estudo com 3.175 pacientes revelou que 46% deles jejuaram por um período superior a 12 horas. Discussão: Além de não aumentar a possibilidade de danos, observa-se que a redução do tempo de jejum pré-operatório está associada a benefícios no processo de recuperação do paciente. Dentre as causas para o jejum prolongado nas instituições de saúde do Brasil estão o atraso nas operações, a transferência de horário e de período ou o seu adiamento para o próximo dia. Conclusão: o aprimoramento do jejum pré-operatório é necessário, tendo como estratégia a melhor comunicação entre equipes médicas e de enfermagem e o paciente atendido nas instituições hospitalares. (AU)

Background: The practice of preoperative fasting was consolidated in the twentieth century and remained unchanged until the 1980s, when it was questioned. Therefore, the present article aims to review the preoperative fasting oriented in the literature comparing it with what is found in Brazilian reality. Methods: This is an exploratory literature review study, conducted through research of scientific articles, dissertations and theses available in online databases. Results: The American Society of Anesthesiologists has developed the Task Force on Preoperative Fasting, which establishes for clear liquids a minimum fasting of 2 hours and 6 hours for a light diet. In Brazil, a study with 3,175 patients revealed that 46% of them fasted for more than 12 hours. Discussion: In addition to not increasing the possibility of damage, it is observed that the reduction of preoperative fasting time is associated with benefits in patient's recovery process. Causes of prolonged fasting in Brazilian health institutions include delayed operations, changes on time and period, or postponement to the next day. Conclusions: the improvement of preoperative fasting is necessary, having as strategy a better communication between medical and nursing teams and the patients treated at hospitals. (AU)