Hydrogel-Containing Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Action, Evaluation of Wound Healing, and Bioaccumulation in Wistar Rats.

Wound infections are feared complications due to their potential to increase healthcare costs and cause mortality since multidrug-resistant bacteria reduce treatment options. This study reports the development of a carbomer hydrogel containing biogenic silver nanoparticles (bioAgNPs) and its effectiveness in wound treatment. This hydrogel showed in vitro bactericidal activity after 2 h, according to the time-kill assay. It also reduced bacterial contamination in rat wounds without impairing their healing since the hydrogel hydrophilic groups provided hydration for the injured skin. The high number of inflammatory cells in the first days of the skin lesion and the greater degree of neovascularization one week after wound onset showed that the healing process occurred normally. Furthermore, the hydrogel-containing bioAgNPs did not cause toxic silver accumulation in the organs and blood of the rats. This study developed a bioAgNP hydrogel for the treatment of wounds; it has a potent antimicrobial action without interfering with cicatrization or causing silver bioaccumulation. This formulation is effective against bacteria that commonly cause wound infections, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, and for which new antimicrobials are urgently needed, according to the World Health Organization's warning.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide promotes hypophagia and metabolic changes: Role of paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and nitric oxide.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a neuromodulator present in the hypothalamus, plays an important role in the regulation of food intake. Paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is involved in ingestive responses and regulates the nitric oxide (NO) pathway. The main objectives of this study were to investigate metabolic changes established after different doses and times of VIP microinjection on the PVN, and the effect of VIP microinjection on the PVN on food intake and the role of NO in this control. In anesthetized rats, increased blood plasma glucose and insulin levels were observed following the doses of 40 and 80 ng/g of body weight. At the dose of 40 ng/g, VIP promoted hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia 5, 10, and 30 min after microinjection, and increased free fatty acids and total lipids plasma levels after 5 min, and triglycerides after 10 min. In awake animals, once again, VIP administration increased plasmatic levels of glucose, free fatty acids, corticosterone, and insulin 10 min after the microinjection. Moreover, VIP promoted hypophagia in the morning and night periods, and L-arginine (L-Arg) and monosodium glutamate (MSG) or a combination of both attenuated VIP-induced reduction on food intake. In addition, nitrate concentration in the PVN was decreased after VIP microinjection. Our data show that the PVN participates in the anorexigenic and metabolic effects of VIP, and that VIP-induced hypophagia is likely mediated by reduction of NO.

Arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus contributes to the hypophagic effect and plasma metabolic changes induced by vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide.

The arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus (ARC) integrates circulating factors that signal energy status. The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are widely distributed in the periphery and central nervous systems (CNS) and play important roles on energy balance. The present study aimed to investigate the responses of microinjection of VIP and PACAP in the ARC on metabolic changes and food intake. In addition, the activity of neurons in the ARC following intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjection of these peptides was also evaluated. Microinjection of VIP or PACAP in the ARC decreased fasting-induced hyperphagia and food intake, decreased total lipids, and increased free fatty acids plasma concentrations. VIP microinjection in the ARC induced hyperglycemia and decreased total cholesterol level; and PACAP reduced triglycerides concentration. ICV microinjection of VIP and PACAP enhanced neuronal activation in the ARC, associated with lower fasting-induced hyperphagia and plasma metabolic changes (only VIP). These results suggest that VIP and PACAP play important roles in ARC, inducing hypophagia and peripheral metabolic changes, as hyperglycemia, increased free fatty acids and decreased total lipids plasma levels.

Gluconeogenesis is reduced from alanine, lactate and pyruvate, but maintained from glycerol, in liver perfusion of rats with early and late sepsis.

Sepsis induces several metabolic abnormalities, including hypoglycaemia in the most advanced stage of the disease, a risk factor for complications and death. Although hypoglycaemia can be caused by inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, decreased and increased gluconeogenesis were reported in sepsis. Furthermore, gluconeogenesis from glycerol was not yet evaluated in this disease. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the gluconeogenesis from alanine, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol in rats with early (8 hours) and late (18 hours) sepsis. Parameters related to the characterization of sepsis were also evaluated. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture and gluconeogenesis was assessed in liver perfusion. Rats with early and late sepsis showed increased lactataemia, depletion of liver glycogen and peripheral insulin resistance, characterizing the establishment of sepsis. Rats with early and late sepsis showed decreased gluconeogenesis from alanine, lactate and pyruvate. Interestingly, gluconeogenesis from glycerol, a precursor that enters in the pathway at a later step, subsequent to the entry of alanine, lactate and pyruvate, was maintained in rats with early and late sepsis. In conclusion, gluconeogenesis is decreased from alanine, lactate and pyruvate, but maintained from glycerol, in liver perfusion of rats with early and late sepsis. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: The maintenance of gluconeogenesis from glycerol, but not from alanine, lactate and pyruvate, together with the liver glycogen depletion, points the glycerol as an important precursor for the maintenance of glycaemic homeostasis in sepsis. The findings open the possibility of further investigation on the administration of glycerol in the treatment of hypoglycaemia associated with more advanced sepsis.

Adrenalectomy impairs vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced changes in food intake and plasma parameters.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) and glucocorticoid in the changes induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on food intake and plasma parameters, as well as VIP receptor subtype 2 (VPAC2) mRNA expression in different hypothalamic nuclei of male rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (260-280 g) were subjected to ADX or sham surgery, 7 days before the experiments. Half of ADX animals received corticosterone (ADX + CORT) in the drinking water. Animals with 16 h of fasting received ICV microinjection of VIP or saline (0.9% NaCl). After 15 min: (1) animals were fed, and the amount of food ingested was quantified for 120 min; or (2) animals were euthanized and blood was collected for biochemical measurements. Determination of VPAC2 mRNA levels in LHA, ARC, and PVN was performed from animals with microinjection of saline. RESULTS: VIP treatment promoted the anorexigenic effect, which was not observed in ADX animals. Microinjection of VIP also induced an increase in blood plasma glucose and corticosterone levels, and a reduction in free fatty acid plasma levels, but adrenalectomy abolished these effects. In addition, adrenalectomy reduced mRNA expression of VPAC2 in the lateral hypothalamic area and arcuate nucleus, but not in the paraventricular nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adrenal glands are required for VIP-induced changes in food intake and plasma parameters, and these responses are associated with reduction in the expression of VPAC2 in the hypothalamus after adrenalectomy.

Corticotrophin-releasing factor mediates vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced hypophagia and changes in plasma parameters.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) are anorexigenic neuropeptides that act in the hypothalamus to regulate food intake. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjection of VIP promotes increased plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone, indicating that VIP activates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between VIP and CRF, by verifying the effects of ICV administration of VIP on the activity of neurons and CRF mRNA expression in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN). In addition, it was evaluated the effects of pretreatment with CRF type 1 receptor (CRFR1) antagonist (Antalarmin, ANT) or CRF type 2 receptor (CRFR2) antagonist (Antisauvagine-30, AS30) on VIP-induced changes on food intake and plasma parameters of male rats. Compared to Saline group, VIP increased not only the number of Fos-related antigens (FRA)-immunoreactive neurons in the PVN but also CRF mRNA levels in this nucleus. Both ANT and AS30 treatment attenuated the inhibition of food intake promoted by VIP, ANT showing a more pronounced effect. Both antagonists also attenuated VIP-induced reduction and enhancement of free fatty acids and corticosterone plasma levels, respectively, and only AS30 was able to attenuate the hyperglycemia. These results suggest that CRF is an important mediador of VIP effects on energy balance, and CRFR1 and CRFR2 are involved in these responses.

Pioglitazone improves insulin sensitivity and reduces weight loss in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats.

AIM: The lipogenic effect of pioglitazone (PGZ), an insulin (INS) sensitizer, is well established. However, few studies have evaluated PGZ effects in preventing weight loss in cancer. We investigated PGZ effects, alone or associated with INS, on INS resistance, cachexia and metabolic abnormalities induced by Walker-256 tumor in rats. MAIN METHODS: PGZ (5.0mg·kg-1, oral) or PGZ+INS (NPH, 1.0UI·kg-1, sc), were once-daily administered during 12days, starting on the day inoculation of Walker-256 tumor cells. Rats were separated in small (about 17g) and big (about 30g) tumor-bearing. KEY FINDINGS: Big tumor-bearing rats showed greater cachexia, blood triacylglycerol and free fatty acids and INS resistance. PGZ and PGZ+INS treatments did not change tumor growth and food intake, but reduced several abnormalities such as INS resistance, increased blood free fatty acids, retroperitoneal fat wasting and body weight loss in small tumor-bearing rats. The prevention of retroperitoneal fat wasting did not involve reduction of tumor necrosis factor-α expression increased. In big tumor-bearing rats, PGZ and PGZ+INS treatments reversed the high blood triacylglycerol and free fatty acids levels, but had no effect on other parameters. SIGNIFICANCE: PGZ and PGZ+INS improved INS peripheral sensitivity, possibly by decreasing blood free fatty acids, and reduced fat tissue wasting and body weight loss in small tumor-bearing rats. The results suggest clinical benefits of PGZ in preventing INS resistance, adipose tissue wasting and weight loss when the tumor is small, i.e., in less severe cachexia.

Changes in blood metabolic parameters during the development of Walker-256 tumour-induced cachexia in rats are not caused by decreased food intake.

Blood metabolic parameters of Walker-256 tumour-bearing rats, on days 5, 8, 11 and 14 after implantation of tumour, were compared with those of rats without tumour fed ad libitum (free-fed control) or with reduced feeding (pair-fed control), similar to the anorexic tumour-bearing rats. Cachexia parameters and tumour mass also were investigated. In general, especially on day 14 after implantation of tumour, there was reduction of body mass, gastrocnemius muscle mass, food intake and glycemia and increase of blood triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, lactate and urea, compared with free-fed controls rats. These changes did not occur in pair-fed control, except a slight reduction of glycemia. Pair-fed control showed no significant changes in blood cholesterol and glycerol in comparison with free-fed control, although there was reduction of cholesterol and increase of blood glycerol on day 14 after tumour implantation compared with pair-fed control. The results demonstrate that, besides the characteristic signs of the cachexia syndrome such as anorexia, weight loss and muscle catabolism, Walker-256 tumour-bearing rats show several blood metabolic alterations, some of which begin as early as day 5 after implantation of tumour, and are accentuated during the development of cachexia. Evidence that the alterations of blood metabolic parameters of tumour-bearing rats were not found in pair-fed control indicate that they were not caused by decreased food intake. These changes were probably mediated by factors produced by tumour or host tissue in response to the presence of tumour.

Adsorption of glyphosate on clays and soils from Paraná State: effect of pH and competitive adsorption of phosphate

This work showed that the adsorption of glyphosate (GPS) depends on surface area for clays and amount of clays and CEC for soils. Organic matter (OM) had a secondary role in the adsorption of GPS on soils. The adsorption of GPS on soils from Londrina and Floraí counties and clays (montmorillonite, kaolinite) decreased when pH increased, however, for bentonite clay and soil from Tibagi county was kept constant. For the soils, the competitive adsorption between GPS and phosphate showed that displace of GPS by phosphate was related to the amount of clays, CEC and pH. GPS was not easily displaced by phosphate on the clays. The FT-IR spectra of the soils and clays showed that soil from Londrina resembled kaolinite. Thus, this could explain the results of adsorption of GPS and the competitive adsorption between GPS and phosphate.

No presente trabalho foi mostrado que a adsorção de glifosato (GPS) depende da área superficial (argilas) e da quantidade de argilas e da CTC (solos). A matéria orgânica (MO) tem um papel secundário na adsorção do GPS sobre solos. A adsorção de GPS sobre os solos de Londrina e Florai e argilas (montimorilonita, caulinita) diminui com o aumento do pH e manteve-se constante para a bentonita e o solo de Tibagi. Para os solos estudados, a adsorção competitiva entre GPS e fosfato mostrou que o deslocamento do GPS pelo fosfato depende da quantidade de argilas, CTC e pH. O GPS não foi facilmente desorvido das argilas pelo fosfato. Os espectros IV-FT dos solos e argilas mostraram que o solo de Londrina e a caulinita são muito semelhantes. Portanto, isto poderia explicar os resultados de adsorção do GPS e da adsorção competitiva entre o GPS e o fosfato apresentarem resultados semelhantes.

Spectrophotometric determination of total proteins in blood plasma: a comparative study among dye-binding methods

A determinação de proteínas totais em plasma sangüíneo é importante em diversas áreas de pesquisa. Um estudo comparativo entre o método de biureto (método padrão para proteínas totais) e diversos métodos que utilizam corantes (Bradford, tetrabromofenolftaleína etil éster-TBPEE, e eritrosina-B) foi realizado para a determinação de proteínas totais em plasma sangüíneo de ratos. O método de Bradford mostrou a maior sensibilidade para proteínas e o de biureto a menor. Para todos os métodos, as absorbâncias para diferentes proteínas (BSA, caseína, e ovoalbumina) foram medidas e o método de Bradford mostrou a menor variação da absorbância. Utilizando o método de Bradford a concentração de proteínas totais obtida não foi estatisticamente diferente (p>0.05) daquela obtida pelo método do biureto. Porém, para os métodos da eritrosina-B e TBPEE as concentrações de proteínas totais foram estatisticamente diferentes (p<0.05) da obtida pelo método de biureto. Portanto o método de Bradford pode ser utilizado no lugar do método de biureto para a determinação de proteínas totais em plasma sangüíneo.

Fatores hepatotróficos e regeneraçäo hepática. Parte II: fatores de crescimento / Hepatotrophic factors and liver regeneration. Part II: growth factors

Várias substâncias identificáveis estäo implicadas no processo de crescimento hepático, entre elas os fatores de crescimento. A maioria deles possui diferentes açöes, estimulando a proliferaçäo de células, ou mesmo inibindo na dependência de suas concentraçöes. Dentre os fatores de crescimento, ou somatomedinas, com açäo sobre o fígado pode-se destacar: HGF; EGF; TGF-alpha; TGF b ; Interleucina 6; IGF; FGF; VEGF; KGF; HSS e ALR. A açäo conjunta dos hormônios HGF, TGF-alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, norepinefrina, EGF, permite que insulina, glucagon e o próprio EGF manifestem seus efeitos. O HGF tem papel vital, talvez o principal "gatilho" deste processo, gerando um sinal endócrino que ativa fortemente a mitogênese nos hepatócitos já "preparados" pelo EGF, IL-6, insulina, matriz remanescente e outros, levando à síntese de DNA. Admite-se que o EGF também participe dos eventos iniciais do processo logo após a hepatectomia e que FGF, VEGF e KGF também participem dos eventos ligados à recomposiçäo de outros tecidos.

Fatores hepatotróficos e regeneraçäo hepática. Parte I: o papel dos hormônios / Hepatotrophic factors and liver regeneration. Part I: the role of hormones

No complexo processo de proliferaçäo celular, os hormônios agem de diferentes maneiras ao atingirem seus receptores nos tecidos-alvo. Os principais fatores ligados ao crescimento hepático säo HGF, TGF-alpha, IL-6, TNF-alpha, norepinefrina, EGF e insulina. O GH estimula tanto o fígado a produzir fatores de crescimento, como a expressäo genética do HGF e a síntese de DNA. Hormônios tireoideanos aumentam a capacidade proliferativa dos hepatócitos. A insulina age sinergicamente com GH e glucagon. Näo tem potencial mitogênico primário mas intensifica o estímulo regenerativo iniciado pela epinefrina e norepinefrina. Esta amplifica os sinais mitogênicos do EGF e HGF, induz a secreçäo de EGF e antagoniza os efeitos inibitórios do TGF-beta 1. O glucagon isoladamente näo produz efeitos mas provavelmente participa na síntese de DNA e da resposta homeostásica pela qual a glicemia é mantida estável durante a regeneraçäo. Também há indícios de açäo hepatotrófica da gastrina.

Hormônio do crescimento (GH) e somatomedinas (IGFs). Suas funçöes no metabolismo e no crescimento / Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). Their functions on the growth and matabolism

O hormônio do crescimento (GH) é sintetizado e secretado pela adenoipófise atuando no metabolismo e no crescimento. Nesta abordagem säo enfocados vários aspectos do GH, sendo destacados seus controladores no hipotálamo, os caminhos de síntese e liberaçäo e papel no metabolismo e no crescimento associado às somatomedinas. O papel de outras substâncias endógenas e/ou exógenas, que pode alterar os mecanismos de açäo e funçäo do GH, o papel dos fatores de crescimento e suas proteínas transportadoras, os fatores ambientais, que podem almentar os ciclos do GH em pessoas normais, e de que modo o GH é controlado em algumas anomalias genéticas também säo evidenciados.(au)