Doxycycline reduces liver and kidney injuries in a rat hemorrhagic shock model.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic shock (HS), which causes insufficient tissue perfusion, can result in multiple organ failure (MOF) and death. This study aimed to evaluate whether doxycycline (DOX) protects cardiovascular, kidney, and liver tissue from damage in a rat model of HS. Immediately before the resuscitation, DOX (10 mg/kg; i.v.) was administered, and its protective effects were assessed 24 h later. Mean arterial pressure, renal blood flow, heart rate, vasoactive drug response, and blood markers such as urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, CPK, CPR, and NOx levels were determined. RESULTS: We showed that DOX has a significant effect on renal blood flow and on urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, CPK, and NOx. Morphologically, DOX reduced the inflammatory process in the liver tissue. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that DOX protects the liver and kidney against injury and dysfunction in a HS model and could be a strategy to reduce organ damage associated with ischemia-and-reperfusion injury.

Cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist reduces local and systemic inflammation associated with pneumonia-induced sepsis in mice.

Sepsis is a severe condition secondary to dysregulated host response to infection leading to tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Cannabinoid CB2 receptor has modulatory effects on the immune response. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of a cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist on the local and systemic inflammatory process associated with pneumonia-induced sepsis. Pneumonia-induced sepsis was induced in mice by intratracheal inoculation of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected 6, 24, or 48 h after surgery. Mice were treated with CB2 agonist (AM1241, 0.3 and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) and several parameters of inflammation were evaluated 24 h after sepsis induction. Polymorphonuclear cell migration to the infectious focus peaked 24 h after pneumonia-induced sepsis induction in male and female animals. Septic male mice presented a significant reduction of cannabinoid CB2 receptor density in the lung tissue after 24 h, which was not observed in females. CB2 expression in BAL macrophages was also reduced in septic animals. Treatment of septic mice with AM1241 reduced cell migration, local infection, myeloperoxidase activity, protein extravasation, and NOS-2 expression in the lungs. In addition, the treatment reduced plasma IL-1ß, increased IL-10 and reduced the severity and mortality of septic animals. These results suggest that AM1241 promotes an interesting balance in the inflammatory response, maintaining lung function and preventing organ injury. Therefore, cannabinoid CB2 receptors are potential targets to control the excessive inflammatory process that occurs in severe conditions, and agonists of these receptors can be considered promising adjuvants in pneumonia-induced sepsis treatment.

A 6-year field monitoring of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, in transgenic Bt maize in Brazil

ABSTRACT A 6-year field monitoring study was designed to compare the presence of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), leaf injury, its parasitoids, 100 seed weight, and seed yield of Bt maize hybrids approved for commercialization in the Brazilian market. Field trials were planted in two municipalities, divided into two periods, from 2011 to 2014 (period I), and due to the approval of different Bt hybrids, from 2015 to 2016 (period II). Treatments were Bt, non-Bt maize and all non-Bt maize sprayed with insecticide methomyl. Six Bt-maize hybrids were planted, expressing the following proteins: Cry1Ab, Cry1F, Cry1A.105 (Cry1Ab +Cry1Ac +Cry1F), Cry2Ab2a and Vip3. In 2015 and 2016 Bt Powercore was planted due to its commercial approval. The number of S. frugiperda larvae for most Bt hybrids was lower than on non-Bt hybrids, except for Fórmula TL and Herculex in period II, in both municipalities. In period I, Bt hybrids VT, VT 2 and Viptera showed almost no injury on their leaves, despite the high number of fall armyworm larvae found in plants. Different parasitoids emerged from larvae from Bt and non Bt hybrids: Archytas sp., Campoletis sp., Chelonus sp., Eiphosoma sp. and Ophion luteus. The average 100 seed weight was higher in municipality from Sete Lagoas for all Bt hybrids, non-Bt hybrids and non-Bt hybrids sprayed with methomyl, when compared to Nova Porteirinha during period I. Fórmula TL, non-Bt Fórmula TL sprayed with methomyl, and non-Bt Fórmula TL showed the lowest seed yield in both municipalities and periods.

O conhecimento de mulheres acerca do rastreamento do câncer de mama e suas implicações / Women's knowledge about breast cancer screening and its implications

Introdução: O câncer de mama é a principal causa de morte por câncer na população feminina e a segunda neoplasia mais frequente no mundo. A detecção precoce da doença, principalmente por meio da mamografia, é fundamental para reduzir o número de óbitos e melhorar o prognóstico. Objetivo: analisar o conhecimento de mulheres entre 35 e 69 anos cadastradas em Estratégias de Saúde da Família (ESF) de Alfenas ­ MG acerca do rastreamento do câncer de mama. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal no qual foram aplicados questionários em uma população amostral, selecionada a partir do total de mulheres cadastradas em cinco ESF de Alfenas ­ MG, sendo entrevistadas 224 mulheres a partir de questionário estruturado. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se a estatística multivariada por meio da técnica de componentes principais. Todos os critérios éticos foram respeitados. Resultados: As ações preventivas de rastreamento influenciaram na redução da mortalidade e melhor prognóstico da doença. A terapia de reposição hormonal está correlacionada com as alterações encontradas nas mamas. A idade da primeira menstruação mostrou-se correlacionada às mulheres que já estão na menopausa, características essas consideradas de risco para o desenvolvimento da neoplasia de mama. A regularidade com que as mulheres realizam a mamografia depende de seu conhecimento acerca deste exame, considerando-se a realização e prática do autoexame importante. Verificou-se que o uso de anticoncepcional está diretamente relacionado com a idade e o estado civil, além de alterações encontradas no exame clínico das mamas. Estar na menopausa esteve diretamente relacionado à realização de mamografia. Fatores de risco para câncer de mama como tabagismo, dieta rica em gordura e etilismo, além de estarem altamente correlacionados, apresentaram uma relação inversa com a realização da mamografia. Conclusões: o conhecimento acerca dos exames preventivos e da sua importância está relacionado com a regularidade com que as mulheres os realizam.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the female population, and the second most frequent neoplasm in the world. The early detection of neoplasms, mainly through mammography, is fundamental to reduce the number of deaths and improve the prognosis. Objective: analyze the knowledge of women between 35 and 69 years of age enrolled in Family Health Strategies (ESFs) of Alfenas - MG, about the screening of breast cancer. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive and cross - sectional study in which questionnaires were applied in a sample population, selected from the total number of women enrolled in five ESFs in Alfenas - MG, and 224 women were interviewed from a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multivariate statistics using the principal components technique. All ethical criteria have been respected. Results: The preventive actions of screening influenced the reduction of mortality and better prognosis of the disease. Hormone replacement therapy is correlated with changes found in breasts. The age of the first menstrual period was shown to be correlated to the women who are already in menopause, characteristics considered to be at risk for the development of breast cancer. The regularity with which women perform mammography depends on their knowledge about this examination, considering the performance and practice of the important self-examination. It was verified that the use of contraceptives is directly related to age and marital status, as well as alterations found in the clinical examination of the breasts. Being in menopause was directly related to mammography. Risk factors for breast cancer, such as smoking, high fat diet and alcoholism, besides being highly correlated, presented an inverse relationship with mammography. Conclusions: knowledge about preventive exams and their importance is related to the regularity with which women perform them.