Different cellular and immunohistochemical abdominal wall cicatrization parameters evaluation in comparison with sublay, onlay, and ipom technique in an experimental rat model.

PURPOSE: Incisional hernia (IH) occurs when there is a partial or complete solution of continuity of a fascia previously incised. Systematic reviews demonstrate that surgical treatment of IHs with the use of meshes are approximately 16%. Meta-analyses have demonstrated the superiority of mesh placement using sublay technique, but without a pathophysiological explanation. Thus, we aim to evaluate the different techniques of mesh positioning in an experimental model. METHODS: Fifty rats were distributed into five groups; control; simulation (SM)-submitted to laparotomy only; onlay-the mesh was positioned in onlay fashion; retromuscular (SL)-the mesh was positioned in a sublay fashion; intraperitoneal (IPOM)-positioning of the mesh adjacent to the transversalis fascia, inside the cavity. After 60 days, adhesions, tensiometry, histology, and immunohistochemistry were addressed. RESULTS: The IPOM group had the most adhesions, together with the SL group, with significantly relevant results. The SL group had higher values of tensiometric evaluation, while the IPOM group had the lowest mean in the tensiometry evaluation, being even lower than the SM group. Regarding histological and immunohistochemical findings, the SL group had a higher pixel number count compared to the groups, with statistical significance, in addition to higher expression of polymorphonuclear infiltrate and CD68 markers. CONCLUSION: The mesh positioning in sublay compartment is associated with the development of more pronounce minimum tensile force required for detaching the surrounding abdominal wall tissues it was incorporated. The intensity of these findings correlates to the different histological and immunohistochemical profiles observed following each repair, since SL group was characterized by a higher proportion of collagen, inflammatory, and reparative elements. Characterizing these pro-healing elements and its counterparts will allow the development of new therapeutic tools which could be added to the still far-from-ideal current therapeutic options for IH treatment.

External auditory canal exostoses: long-term surgical satisfaction and its relationship with surgical complications.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether complications related to surgery for exostoses are associated with a decrease in patients' quality of life. METHODS: This was a retrospective study for which the following information was collected: sex, age, pre- and post-operative symptoms, pre- and post-operative audiological evaluation results, surgical approach, instruments used, complications, and Glasgow Benefit Inventory score. RESULTS: The study included 67 patients (94 ears). The three main complaints reported were wax retention, otitis externa and hearing loss. Surgical complications occurred in 14.9 per cent of patients. Patients experienced a significant benefit from surgery, especially in relation to somatic state, with a global Glasgow Benefit Inventory score of + 44.3. No significant difference was found between the global Glasgow Benefit Inventory changes and surgery-related complications (p = 0.093). CONCLUSION: After surgery for exostoses, the vast majority of patients showed improvement. Complications related to surgery in general do not seem to influence patients' satisfaction with surgery.

Prevenção de nefropatia induzida por contraste após intervenções coronárias percutâneas com uso de contraste isosmolar / Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy after percutaneous coronary interventions using isosmolar contrast

INTRODUÇÃO: A despeito dos benefícios da angiografia coronária, para fins diagnósticos e/ou terapêuticos, esse método requer a injeção de contraste iodado, o que em alguns pacientes pode induzir a nefropatia induzida por contraste (NIC). METODOLOGIA: Foram avaliadas de maneira consecutiva todas as intervenções coronárias percutâneas (ICP) realizadas em hospital público terciário, entre janeiro e dezembro de 2016, buscando os pacientes de maior risco para NIC. Incluímos aqueles que utilizaram como contraste, o ioxaglato (baixa osmolaridade) ou iodixinol (isosmolar) e excluímos pacientes que utilizaram outros tipos de contraste ou já realizava hemodiálise. Objetivou-se determinar a taxa de NIC, definida como a elevação da creatinina acima de 25% ou aumento de 0,5mg/dL em relação ao valor basal. Secundariamente, avaliou-se também a mortalidade e necessidade de diálise nos primeiros 30 dias após a ICP. RESULTADOS: De um total de 1219 angioplastias, 382 pacientes fora incluídos em nossa análise. Todos os pacientes receberam hidratação padrão (0,5 a 1ml/kg/h de soro fisiológico 0,9%) pré e pós-procedimento. Contraste de baixa osmolaridade foi usado em 280 (73,2%) casos. Oito pacientes foram excluídos da análise, 5 por já realizarem hemodiálise e 3 por não apresentarem dados de creatinina após procedimento...(AU)

Potential chitosan-coated alginate nanoparticles for ocular delivery of daptomycin.

Daptomycin may offer an antibacterial alternative for the treatment of endophthalmitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other potential agents. In the present project, mucoadhesive chitosan-coated alginate (CS-ALG) nanoparticles are proposed as an effective delivery system for daptomycin permeation across ocular epithelia, with potential for the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. CS-ALG nanoparticles were prepared by ionotropic pre-gelation of an alginate core followed by chitosan polyelectrolyte complexation, and characterized regarding particle size, polydispersity, and zeta potential. The encapsulation efficiency was determined and antimicrobial activity was also tested after encapsulation of the antibiotic. Also, in vitro ocular permeability of free daptomycin and encapsulation into chitosan and CS-ALG nanoparticles was evaluated using ocular epithelial cell culture models. Formulated daptomycin-loaded CS-ALG nanoparticles were negatively charged, with a size range of 380-420 nm, suitable for ocular application. The encapsulation efficiency was between 79 and 92 %, with decreasing alginate:daptomycin mass ratios. The antibacterial activity of daptomycin against major microorganisms responsible for bacterial endophthalmitis was not affected by encapsulation into nanoparticles. Daptomycin permeability was up to 16 % (chitosan nanoparticles) and 9 % (CS-ALG nanoparticles) through corneal cell monolayer, and 18 % (chitosan nanoparticles) and 12 % (CS-ALG nanoparticles) for retinal cell monolayer after 4 h, demonstrating epithelial retention of the drug compared to free drug. The developed daptomycin-loaded CS-ALG nanoparticles seem to be an interesting and potential system for ocular daptomycin delivery and treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis.

Insight em macacos-prego (Sapajus spp) com diferentes contextos de treino das habilidades pré-requisitos / Insight in Capuchin-monkeys (Sapajus spp) with different contexts of training of prerequisite abilities

Insight, na Psicologia Experimental, indica, tradicionalmente, a resolução súbita e espontânea de um determinado problema. O presente estudo verificou a ocorrência de resolução súbita em macacos-prego (Sapajus spp.) a partir do treino de habilidades pré-requisitos de uma tarefa. Adicionalmente o estudo avaliou se a manipulação do local de treino altera a topografia de solução do problema. Dois sujeitos foram treinados a: a) encaixar objetos e b) pescar objetos fora do alcance utilizando uma ferramenta. O treino das duas habilidades se deu de forma independente e em diferentes contextos. A tarefa final consistiiu em pescar um alimento fora do alcance encaixando um par de ferramentas nunca antes manuseado. Os dois sujeitos resolveram a tarefa, entretanto, nenhum apresentou um desempenho tipicamente de insight, na medida em que as resoluções foram pouco fluidas, com pausas entre suas etapas, e aparentemente sem direcionamento. Discute-se o papel do treino das habilidades pré-requisitos em ambientes diferenciados como um fator que dificulta a resolução da tarefa (AU)

Impact of arterial injury on neointimal hyperplasia after Zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation: an IVUS study

The amount of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) correlates with the degree ofarterial injury after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. With first generationdrug-eluting stent (DES) this effect of arterial overstretch as assessed by balloonto-artery ratio (BAR) on NIH formation appears to be diminished; however theimpact of BAR on NIH following second generation DES remains unknown.Methods and results: From January to December 2006, 86 pts with 98 lesions(115 stents) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) withintravascular ultrasound (IVUS) evaluation twelve months after zotarolimus-elutingstent (ZES) implantation. Arterial injury was defined as BAR, which wascategorised into two groups: high BAR (>1.15, n=47) and low BAR (<1.15, n=39).The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of arterial injury on NIHfollowing implantation of ZES. Least-squares linear regression was use to assessthe association between NIH and BAR at twelve months. Overall, mean age was60 years and 33% had diabetes mellitus, there were no significant differencesregarding other baseline characteristics between groups. At baseline, meanreference vessel diameter (2.62±0.5 mm vs. 2.35±0.4 mm, p=0.006) and nominalstent diameter (3.15±0.5 mm vs. 2.85±0.3 mm, p=0.002) were smaller in the highBAR group; and at twelve-month evaluation, lumen volume (110.7±91.9 mm3 vs.154.3±91.3 mm, p=0.002), stent volume (134.0±113.8 mm vs. 174.9±98.0 mm,p=0.005) and vessel volume (249.2±207.5 mm vs. 325.0±161.8 mm, p=0.003)were higher in high BAR group as compared to the low BAR group. Regardingpercentage of NIH obstruction, there was no significant difference in low BAR vs.high BAR group (15.2±14.3% vs. 12.5±10.1%, p=0.62). Finally, arterial injury asassessed by BAR was not significantly associated with the amount of NIH (R20.0025, p=0.88).

Continuous neointimal hyperplasia formation after five years ofdifferent generations of DES: is there enough evidence of late‘catch-up’?

Aims: The amount of neointimal hyperplasia (IH) following drug-eluting stent (DES)implantation correlates with the potency of the anti-proliferative drug, its kineticrelease as well as some individual characteristics, as the presence of diabetesmellitus (DM). Recently, some publications have suggested a continuous growth ofIH following DES, which in some cases, might result in late “catch-up”. The aim ofthis study was to assess, by means of serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) thetemporal course of IH formation following the implantation of two differentgeneration of DES (durable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent [SES] andbiodegradable-polymer biolimus-eluting stent [BES]); and the role of diabetesmellitus in this scenario.Methods and results: Patients included in this study represent our single centerinitial experience with SES and BES. Twenty-five pts with single de novo lesions innative coronary arteries, with reference vessel diameter between 2.5 and 3.5 mmwere treated with Cypher-SES (n=12) and Biomatrix-BES (n=13), and underwentIVUS evaluation post procedure, at a mean of 9 months and 5 years. We onlyincluded patients with at least three serial IVUS acquisitions (post procedure, midand very long-term). Comparisons between baseline, first and second follow-up(FU) were done using the Friedman test and comparison between early and lateFU were done using the Wilcoxon test. The mean age was 59 years, with 28% ofDM. Stable coronary syndrome was the initial clinical indication for the majority ofthe cases (88%). Baseline characteristics did not differ between the groups.Overall, percentage of IH obstruction and IH volume markedly increased from midto long-term FU (percentage IH obstruction of 1.3% at 1st FU vs. 4.8% 2nd FU...

Cold modalities with different thermodynamic properties have similar effects on muscular performance and activation.

Although tissue cooling is widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries there is still controversy about its effects on muscular performance. The combination of cooling and exercise justifies the study of this topic. The aim was to compare the effects of ice pack and cold-water immersion on the muscular performance parameters of plantar flexors and muscular activation of the triceps surae. 41 healthy men (mean age: 22.1 years, SD: 2.9) were randomly assigned to cooling with either ice pack (n=20) or cold-water immersion (n=21). Independent variables were cold modality (ice pack or cold-water immersion) and pre- and post-cooling measurement time. Dependent variables were muscular performance (measured during isometric and concentric contractions of plantar flexors) and electromyography parameters of the triceps surae (median frequency and root mean square amplitude). Dependent-samples t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-cooling data and independent-samples t-tests were used to compare the difference (pre- and post-cooling) between groups. Ice pack increased isometric peak torque (mean: 9.00 Nm, P=0.01) and both cold modalities reduced muscular activation in triceps surae (P<0.0001); Cold-water immersion and ice pack reduced peak torque and total work during dynamic isokinetic contraction at both velocities (mean: -11,00 Nm, P<0.05) and affected muscular activation in different ways. In conclusion, ice pack increases isometric torque, while both ice pack and cold-water immersion decrease concentric muscular performance. These results indicate that these cooling methods should be chosen with caution, considering the type of task required during training or rehabilitation. New studies investigating other muscle groups and joints are necessary.

Simultaneous detection and identification of the Xanthomonas species complex associated with tomato bacterial spot using species-specific primers and multiplex PCR.

AIMS: To establish protocols for the simultaneous detection and identification of Xanthomonas species causing tomato bacterial spot. METHODS AND RESULTS: We verified the specificity and sensitivity of the previously reported sets of primers designed for strains of the four species of Brazilian tomato bacterial spot xanthomonads, consisting of 30 of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, 30 of X. vesicatoria, 50 of X. perforans and 50 of X. gardneri. Furthermore, we tested a multiplex PCR protocol for the purpose of concurrent species identification. The possibility of direct detection of the pathogens in diseased leaf samples was also verified. The primers were highly specific, amplifying only target DNA. The sensitivity of the primers in conventional PCR was 50 pg µl(-1) for purified DNA and ranged from 5 × 10(2) to 5 × 10(4) CFU ml(-1) when bacterial suspensions were analysed. The multiplex PCR was suitable for the detection of all four species and showed similar sensitivity to conventional PCR when tested on purified DNA. When using bacterial suspensions, its sensitivity was similar to conventional PCR only when a biological amplification step (Bio-PCR) was included. Both methods were able to detect the pathogens in symptomatic tomato leaves. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian Xanthomonas strains causing tomato bacterial spot can be differentiated and identified at species level by a PCR-based method and by a multiplex PCR. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This protocol may be a feasible alternative tool for the identification and detection of these pathogens in plant material and may be used for routine diagnostic purposes in plant pathology laboratories.

Acetylcysteine for prevention renal outcomes in patients undergoing coronary and peripheral vascular angiography

Methods and Results—We randomly assigned 2308 patients undergoing an intravascular angiographic procedure with at

least 1 risk factor for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (age 70 years, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, heart failure,

or hypotension) to acetylcysteine 1200 mg or placebo. The study drugs were administered orally twice daily for 2 doses

before and 2 doses after the procedure. The allocation was concealed (central Web-based randomization). All analysis

followed the intention-to-treat principle. The incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (primary end point) was

12.7% in the acetylcysteine group and 12.7% in the control group (relative risk, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.81 to

1.25; P 0.97). A combined end point of mortality or need for dialysis at 30 days was also similar in both groups (2.2%

and 2.3%, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 1.69; P 0.92). Consistent effects were

observed in all subgroups analyzed, including those with renal impairment.

Conclusions—In this large randomized trial, we found that acetylcysteine does not reduce the risk of contrast-induced

acute kidney injury or other clinically relevant outcomes in at-risk patients undergoing coronary and peripheral vascular

Resistência aos antimicrobianos e análise da diversidade genética de Staphylococcus aureus por PCR-RAPD / Resistance to antimicrobials and analysis of Staphylococcus aureus genetic diversity using RAPD-PCR

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a sensibilidade antimicrobiana in vitro de cepas de Staphylococcus aureusisoladas de tetos de vacas e mãos de retireiros, além de verificar o polimorfismo entre elas pela técnica de PCR-RAPD. Os testes foram realizados pela técnica de difusão em discos e, após a extração do material genético foram desenvolvidas as técnicas de PCR e RAPD, usando para isso 40 iniciadores diferentes. A análise do polimorfismo foi realizada empregando-se o programa de taxonomia numérica NTSYS. As sensibilidades dos antimicrobianos nas cepas obtidas de tetos de vacas foram 4% para a penicilina, 88% para a tetraciclina, 92% para a gentamicina, 96% para a vancomicina e 100% ao cloranfenicol. Para as cepas provenientes das mãos de retireiros, os resultados de sensibilidade foram zero para a penicilina, 70% para a tetraciclina e 90% para a vancomicina e 100% para os antimicrobianos gentamicina e cloranfenicol. A realização do E-teste indicou uma concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) maior que 256 mg/mL para as cepas resistentes ao antimicrobiano vancomicina. Os estudos permitiram detectar a resistência dos S. aureus mediante o uso dos antimicrobianos testados e determinar a diversidade genética entre as cepas de estafilococos devido à presença de muitas bandas polimórficas encontradas em todos os iniciadores.

The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from teats of cow udders and milking workers' hands as well as to verify polymorphism among them by using RAPD-PCR technique. Tests were conducted by disk diffusion technique and after the collection of the genetic material PCR and RAPD techniques were performed with the use of 40 different initiators. The analysis of polymorphism was conducted by using the NTSYS program of numerical taxonomy. The susceptibility of antimicrobials in the strains collected from teats of cow udders was 4% to penicillin, 88% to tetracycline, 92% to gentamicine, 96% to vancomycin and 100% to chloranfenicol. As for the strains collected from milking workers' hands, susceptibility results were 0% to penicillin, 70% to tetracycline and 90% to vancomycin and 100% to gentamicine and chloranfenicol antimicrobials. E-test showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) greater than 256 ?g/mL to strains resistant to the antimicrobial vancomycin. The studies made it possible to detect S. aureus resistance upon the use of the tested antimicrobials and to determine the genetic diversity found among strains of staphylococcus due to the presence of many polymorphic bands found in all initiators.

Genotoxic evaluation of different doses of inorganic lead (PbII) in Hoplias malabaricus.

Different genetic biomarkers have been used to evaluate the pollution effects of mutagenic agents such as metals and also a great variety of chemicals delivered on the environment by human activities. This way, the aim of the present report was to evaluate the effects of inorganic lead in fishes through the frequency of piscine micronuclei and nuclear morphological alterations in peripheral cells, chromosomal aberration frequency and comet assays in blood and kidney cells. Specimens of Hoplias malabaricus received different doses of lead by intra-peritoneal injections at time of 96 h. There was not a significant difference between control and treated groups for the piscine micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assays. In the comet assays there was a significant difference between control and contaminated groups. However, a significant difference between the applied doses was not observed. The results obtained with the comet assays also show that blood presented a higher sensibility than the kidney tissue, possibly due to the acute contamination. Although the results showed the genotoxic potential of lead at the 21 and 63 microg Pb(2 + )/g doses for both tissues, the lowest dose is considered more appropriate for future bioassays.

Radiological evaluation of facial types in mouth breathing children: a retrospective study.

Mouth breathing is a condition often associated with a long face, half-open mouth and increased anterior facial height. We performed conventional lateral and frontal cephalograms of eighty-nine children with nasal and mouth breathing and independently measured Total Facial Height using the analysis technique of Ricketts, and the Morphologic Facial Index employing the technique of Avila. It was concluded that dolicofacial following mesofacial were the most frequent patterns found in mouth-breathing children and this suggests that both analyses can be used independently.

Use of hepatocytes from Hoplias malabaricus to characterize the toxicity of a complex mixture of lipophilic halogenated compounds.

Organisms are continuously exposed to a plethora of anthropogenic toxicants daily released to the environment. In the present study, the effects of a mixture of halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) extracted from hepatic lipids were evaluated on the primary hepatocyte culture from fish Hoplias malabaricus. Cells were isolated through non-enzymatic perfusion protocol and cultured during 3 days to allow attachment. Two concentrations of the mixture of HOCs (10 ng ml(-1) [Mix10] and 50 ng ml(-1) [Mix50]) were tested in cells for 2 days by medium replacement. The control groups, with and without solvent (DMSO) were run in the same conditions. Both tested concentrations of HOCs increased the catalase and GST activities, but only the Mix50 increase the DNA damage and decreased the GSH concentration and cell viability. Lipid peroxidation increased in the Mix10 group, but it seems to be more a consequence of DMSO presence than the HOCs themselves. The DMSO at 0.1% increased the lipid peroxidation, GSH concentration, apoptosis and DNA damage. The present data suggest that DMSO interferes with the hepatocytes of H. malabaricus in culture and that the mixture of HOCs tested alters the redox state of the hepatocytes.

Prevalência de anticorpos contra o vírus da língua azul em bovinos e ovinos do Sudoeste e Sudeste do Rio Grande do Sul / Bluetongue virus antibodies in cattle and sheep in Southwest and Southeast regions of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

It was studied bluetongue virus antibodies prevalence for sheep and cattle in Southwest and Southeast regions of Rio Grande do Sul State. A total of 2613 serum samples (1272 bovine and 1341 ovine) were tested by agar gel immunodiffusion. Eight bovine and two ovine samples were positive meaning a prevalence of 0.63 percent and 0.15 percent, respectively. These results show that most of animals in these regions are negative to bluetongue.

Hematological findings in neotropical fish Hoplias malabaricus exposed to subchronic and dietary doses of methylmercury, inorganic lead, and tributyltin chloride.

Hematological indices are gaining general acceptance as valuable tools in monitoring various aspects the health of fish exposed to contaminants. In this work some effects of methyl mercury (MeHg), inorganic lead (Pb2+), and tributyltin (TBT) in a tropical fish species were evaluated by hematological methods after a trophic exposition at a subchronic level. Forty-two mature individuals of the freshwater top predator fish Hoplias malabaricus were exposed to trophic doses (each 5 days) of MeHg (0.075 microg g(-1)), Pb2+ (21 microg g(-1)), and TBT (0.3 microg g(-1)) using young fish Astyanax sp. as prey vehicle. After 14 successive doses over 70 days, blood was sampled from exposed and control groups to evaluate hematological effects of metals on erythrocytes, total leukocytes and differential leukocytes counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell indices mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Transmission electron microscopy and image analysis of erythrocytes were also used to investigate some morphometric parameters. Results show no significant effects in MCH and MCHC for all tested metals, but differences were found in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and white blood cells counts. The number of leukocytes was increased in the presence of MeHg, suggesting effects on the immune system. Also the MCV increased in individuals exposed to MeHg. No ultrastructural damages were observed in red blood cells but the image analysis using light microscopy revealed differences in area, elongation, and roundness of erythrocytes from individuals exposed to Pb2+ and TBT but not in the group exposed to MeHg. The present work shows that changes in hematological and blood indices could highlight some barely detectable metal effects in fish after laboratory exposure to contaminated food, but their application in field biomonitoring using H. malabaricus will need more detailed studies and a careful consideration of environmental parameters.