Frutalin reduces acute and neuropathic nociceptive behaviours in rodent models of orofacial pain.

Orofacial pain is a highly prevalent clinical condition, yet difficult to control effectively with available drugs. Much attention is currently focused on the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of lectins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of frutalin (FTL) using rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic orofacial pain. Acute pain was induced by formalin, glutamate or capsaicin (orofacial model) and hypertonic saline (corneal model). In one experiment, animals were pretreated with l-NAME and naloxone to investigate the mechanism of antinociception. The involvement of the lectin domain in the antinociceptive effect of FTL was verified by allowing the lectin to bind to its specific ligand. In another experiment, animals pretreated with FTL or saline were submitted to the temporomandibular joint formalin test. In yet another, animals were submitted to infraorbital nerve transection to induce chronic pain, followed by induction of thermal hypersensitivity using acetone. Motor activity was evaluated with the rotarod test. A molecular docking was performed using the TRPV1 channel. Pretreatment with FTL significantly reduced nociceptive behaviour associated with acute and neuropathic pain, especially at 0.5 mg/kg. Antinociception was effectively inhibited by l-NAME and d-galactose. In line with in vivo experiments, docking studies indicated that FTL may interact with TRPV1. Our results confirm the potential pharmacological relevance of FTL as an inhibitor of orofacial nociception in acute and chronic pain mediated by TRPA1, TRPV1 and TRPM8 receptor.

Recursos imaginológicos no diagnóstico de neoplasias óssea malígnas do complexobucal e maxilofacial / Imaginologic resources in the diagnosis of malignants bony neoplasias of the oral and maxillofacial complex

As neoplasias ósseas malignas se apresentam sob diversas formas e, na maioria dos casos, por serem assintomáticas e de crescimento rápido, são detectadas já em estágios avançados, o que aumenta o porte da cirurgia e piora o prognóstico do paciente. Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar os diversos recursos imaginológicos que podem ser utilizados para o diagnóstico precoce e estadiamento das neoplasias malignas do complexo bucal e maxilofacial, bem como as limitações e indicações de cada exame, sempre procurando estabelecer um protocolo eficaz e acessível para o paciente, além de tornar a cirurgia mais conservadora e adequada a cada caso

Métodos de diagnóstico de cárie: uma comparaçäo clínica / The methods caries diagnosis: a clinical comparison

Considerando-se as dificuldades no diagnóstico de cárie oclusal, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar e avaliar a eficácia de diferentes métodos de diagnósticos, com o intuito de auxiliar o clínico na detecçäo de cárie oclusal. Para a execuçäo desta pesquisa, foram selecionados vinte (20) dentes primeiros molares permanentes superiores e/ou inferiores, com dúvida de diagnóstico, em crianças na faixa etária de 06 a 12 anos, de ambos os sexos. Os métodos usados foram: inspeçäo tátil, exame radiográfico e transiluminador por fibra ótica. Os dados foram analisados através das análises descritivas (figuras explicativas) e pelo teste de Cochram, o qual detectou diferença significativa ao nível de 1 por cento ao comparar os três primeiros métodos com a fibra ótica. Pôde-se concluir que a fibra ótica mostrou-se como sendo um método auxiliar eficaz no diagnóstico de cárie oclusal, quando comparado a inspeçäo visual, inspeçäo tátil e exame radiográfico, sendo no entanto, de grande valia para a complementaçäo do exame visual

Cloning of a cDNA encoding a novel heat-shock protein from Dictyostelium discoideum.

We have cloned, from Dictyostelium discoideum, a cDNA encoding a new heat-shock (HS) protein (Hsp) with a predicted molecular mass of 31,447 Da. Outside of its low molecular mass, this Hsp does not share any similarity with the small Hsp currently identified or with alpha-crystallins. Northern blot analysis indicates that this HS-inducible gene is also developmentally regulated

alpha-Crystallin polypeptides in developing chicken lens cells.

We provide evidence that the different cells that form the chicken lens have isoelectric variants of alpha-crystallins at early and late developmental stages. We separated the alpha A and alpha B-crystallin subclasses by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then further resolved each by isoelectric focusing and assays with specific anti alpha-crystallin antibodies. We found that the annular pad, cortical and nuclear fibers, as well as the epithelial cells, contain alpha A and alpha B native chains and their respective isoelectric variants. These results on adult and embryonic lenses obtained a short time after the onset of alpha-crystallin expression suggest that lens cells, having different phenotypes, are able to produce post-translational modifications of the alpha A and alpha B chains as a part of their developmental program.

Characterisation of eye-lens DNases: long term persistence of activity in post apoptotic lens fibre cells.

Fibre cells in the ocular lens exhibit a constitutive apoptotic process of nuclear degradation that includes chromatin breakage, generating a ladder pattern of DNA fragments. This process is intrinsic to the normal terminal differentiation program. Despite the loss of nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles, the terminal differentiated fibre cells remain in the lens during the whole life span of the individual. The lens cells thus provide a unique system in which to determine the presence and fate of endonucleases once the chromatin has been cleaved. We report here on the presence of DNase activity in nucleated and anucleated lens cells. Using a nuclease gel assay and double-stranded DNA as substrate, we found active 30 and 60 kDa DNases. The enzymatic activities were Ca(2+), Mg(2+) dependent, and active at neutral pH. The relative amount of these forms changed during development and aging of the lens fibre cells. Both forms were inhibited by Zn(2+), aurintricarboxylic acid, and G-actin. The proteins were also separated by SDS-PAGE, renatured after removing SDS and incubated in the presence of native DNA adsorbed to a membrane. Therefore it was possible to demonstrate, by means of a nick translation reaction, that the enzymes produced single strand cuts. Based on these findings we propose that these chick lens nucleases are probably related to DNase I.