Reduced bone resorption and inflammation in apical periodontitis evoked by dietary supplementation with probiotics in rats.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between systemic administration of probiotics and inflammation/resorption processes associated with apical periodontitis (AP) in a rat model. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used. AP was induced in the mandibular left/right first molars. The animals were arranged into three groups: Control, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. acidophilus. Probiotics were orally administered via gavage (109 colony-forming units (CFU) diluted in 5 mL of water) for 30 days during the development of AP. On the 30th day, blood was collected to analyse the calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase concentrations in plasma. Then, the animals were euthanized and the jaws removed for micro-computed tomography and immune-histopathological analysis for receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). After the Shapiro-Wilk test of normality, the Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunn's test was performed for nonparametric data, and analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test was performed for parametric data (P < 0.05). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the calcium and phosphorus levels in plasma amongst the groups (P > 0.05). The level of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the groups that consumed probiotics (P < 0.05). A significantly lower volume of bone resorption was observed in groups that consumed probiotics (P < 0.05). The inflammatory infiltrates and the immunolabelling for RANKL and TRAP were significantly lower in probiotic groups when compared to the control (P < 0.05). Also, the OPG was significantly more immunolabelled in the L. acidophilus group than in the L. rhamnosus and control groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Probiotic supplementation through gavage (L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus) had a significant effect on the reduction of inflammation and bone resorption in apical periodontitis development in rats.

Relação espacial entre o estojo córneo e a falange distal em éguas Campolina adultas com e sem obesidade / Spatial relationship between the hoof capsule and the distal phalanx in adult Campolina mares with and without obesity

A laminite endocrinopática tem acometido um número crescente de equinos com sinais de obesidade. Em um estudo recente com fêmeas jovens (até cinco anos) da raça Campolina, demonstraram-se indícios de alterações no dígito, ainda discretas, aparentemente associadas ao aumento da adiposidade. Com a hipótese de que essa associação é mais evidente em animais em faixa etária superior, o objetivo do presente estudo foi estudar éguas adultas (acima de cinco anos) da raça Campolina com e sem obesidade, avaliando-se radiograficamente a relação espacial entre estojo córneo e falange distal. Foram utilizadas 27 éguas entre seis e 14 anos de idade, sendo analisadas variáveis de adiposidade e medidas radiográficas dos cascos dos membros torácicos de equinos com escore corporal de 5 a 7/9 (grupo controle) e de 8 a 9 (grupo obeso). Foram feitas comparações entre os grupos e correlacionaram-se as variáveis de adiposidade com variáveis casco. A distância de afundamento da falange distal foi cerca de 20% superior nas éguas obesas (12,3±2,5 contra 10,2±2,2mm no grupo controle). Esse parâmetro também correlacionou (P<0,01) com vários parâmetros de adiposidade, com destaque para o escore de condição corporal (r=0,47) e a circunferência de pescoço a 75% (r=0,42). Os resultados corroboram estudos prévios que demonstraram associação entre obesidade e indícios de separação entre falange distal e estojo córneo em equinos de raças nacionais, comprovando, assim, a utilidade da avaliação radiográfica nesses animais. Em conclusão, éguas da raça Campolina com obesidade possuem alterações evidentes na relação espacial entre estojo córneo e falange distal, que se intensificam com o aumento da idade e da adiposidade.(AU)

In a recent study with young females (up to 5 years old) of the Campolina breed, there were discrete indications of alterations in the digit, apparently associated to the increase in adiposity. With the hypothesis that this association is more evident in horses in the upper age group, the objective was to study Campolina adult mares (above 5 years) with and without obesity, evaluating radiographically the spatial relationship between the horn and distal phalanx. Eighteen mares between six and fourteen years and with a body score of 5 to 7/9 (Control Group) and 8 to 9 (Obeso Group) were used. Adiposity and radiographic measurements from the forelimbs were analyzed. Comparisons were made between groups and adiposity variables were correlated with hoof variables. The sinking distance of the distal phalanx was about 20% higher in obese mares (12.3±2.5 versus 10.2±2.2mm). This parameter also correlated (P< 0.01) with several adiposity parameters, with emphasis on body score condition (r= 0.47) and neck circumference at 75% (r= 0.42). In conclusion, Campolina mares with obesity have obvious alterations in the spatial relation between the corneal and the distal phalanx, which get intense according to increases in age and adiposity.(AU)

Human and porcine Taenia solium infections in Mozambique: identifying research priorities.

The objective of this paper is to critically review and summarize available scientific and lay literature, and ongoing studies on human and porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique to identify knowledge gaps and direct immediate and long-term research efforts. Data on the spatial distribution and prevalence of the disease in human and swine populations are scarce and fragmented. Human serological studies have shown that 15-21% of apparently healthy adults were positive for cysticercosis antibodies or antigen, while in neuropsychiatric patients seroprevalence was as high as 51%. Slaughterhouse records indicate a countrywide occurrence of porcine cysticercosis, while studies have shown that 10-35% of pigs tested were seropositive for cysticercosis antibodies or antigen. Current research in Mozambique includes studies on the epidemiology, molecular biology, diagnosis and control of the disease. Future research efforts should be directed at better understanding the epidemiology of the disease in Mozambique, particularly risk factors for its occurrence and spread in human and swine populations, documenting the socio-economic impact of the disease, identifying critical control points and evaluating the feasibility and epidemiological impact of control measures and development of local level diagnostic tools for use in humans and swine.

Human and porcine taenia solium infections in mozambique: identifying research priorities

The objective of this paper is to critically review and summarize available scientific and lay literature, and ongoing studies on human and porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique to identify knowledge gaps and direct immediate and long-term research efforts. Data on the spatial distribution and prevalence of the disease in human and swine populations are scarce and fragmented. Human serological studies have shown that 15­21% of apparently healthy adults were positive for cysticercosis antibodies or antigen, while in neuropsychiatric patient's seroprevalence was as high as 51%. Slaughterhouse records indicate a countrywide occurrence of porcine cysticercosis, while studies have shown that 10­35% of pigs tested were seropositive for cysticercosis antibodies or antigen. Current research in Mozambique includes studies on the epidemiology, molecular biology, diagnosis and control of the disease. Future research efforts should be directed at better understanding the epidemiology of the disease in Mozambique, particularly risk factors for its occurrence and spread in human and swine populations, documenting the socio-economic impact of the disease, identifying critical control points and evaluating the feasibility and epidemiological impact of control measures and development of local level diagnostic tools for use in humans and swine.

A simple model for simulating immunity rate dynamics in a tropical free-range poultry population after avian influenza vaccination.

In developing countries, vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 (HPAI) in free-range poultry flocks is usually implemented as periodic campaigns and newborn chicks are generally not vaccinated by farmers between vaccination passes. The demographic population turnover leads to a continuous decrease in the population immunity rate (PIR) over time. We present a simple Leslie matrix model for estimating population turnover and PIR dynamics in a hypothetical small-size vaccinated free-range poultry population. Four different vaccination scenarios were identified assuming necessary procedures to achieve immunity. The results indicate that high levels of population immunity are difficult to sustain. Assuming an animal immunity response of 80% after vaccination and a constant population size, PIR 4 months after vaccination was 30% in all the scenarios. Predictions averaged over time showed mean PIR between 36% and 48%, which is below the population immunity thresholds for eradication approximated from R0 estimates.

Feline vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma: morphologic distinctions.

Forty-four primary feline vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas and 16 recurrences were examined histologically for detailed morphologic characterization with emphasis on tumor grade, presence of neoplastic multinucleated giant cells, presence and proportion of T and B lymphocytes within the tumor, and thin and intermediate filament contents of neoplastic and stromal cells. The microvascularity and proliferation rates of central and peripheral areas of the tumors were also quantified by computerized image analysis. For primary fibrosarcomas, 11 of 44 (25%) were grade I, 21 of 44 (47.7%) were grade II, and 12 of 44 (27.3%) were grade III. The recurrences followed a similar pattern: 4 of 16 (25%) were grade I, 8 of 16 (50%) were grade II, and 4 of 16 (25%) were grade III. A positive correlation was found between the presence of neoplastic multinucleated giant cells and tumor grade. These cells were present in 9 of 12 (75%) of grade III and none of the grade I tumors. Prominent peritumoral lymphoid aggregates or follicles were present in 59% of the tumors, and many contained high proportions of T lymphocytes, varying from 19 to 87%. All fibrosarcomas were immunoreactive for vimentin and 28 of 44 (64%) were reactive for alpha-smooth muscle actin. The actin-positive cells were either part of the tumor or formed a capsule around tumor nodules. The peripheral vascularity was significantly higher than the central vascular density but no difference was found in tumor cell proliferation rates between the two areas. Centrally located, fluid-filled micro- or macrocavitations were frequently observed in the large vaccine sarcomas and probably formed secondary to rapid tumor growth and central necrosis.

[Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. A form of presentation of stomach neoplasm]. / Anemia hemolítica microangiopática. Uma forma de apresentação de neoplasia do estômago.

The authors report the case of a 53-year-old female with symptomatic anemia and hemorrhagic diathesis. The patient presented thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and leukoerythroblastic reaction in peripheral blood film. The diagnosis of metastatic gastric carcinoma was made by subsequent studies. A review is made of the literature concerning microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, namely its etiology, mechanisms of pathogenesis and association with metastatic carcinoma.

[Comparison of epidemiological data on pulmonary tuberculosis in Sorocaba, Säo Paulo, Brazil, (1986-1996)]. / Comparação de dados epidemiológicos da tuberculose pulmonar em Sorocaba, SP, Brasil, em uma década (1986-1996).

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a serious public health problem in Brazil. Data were collected relating to the patients' health before diagnosis and also to the time lag between this diagnosis and the beginning of specific treatment over a period of three months. Fifty patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis were questioned about: symptomatology before diagnosis, lapse between the occurrence of the first symptoms and the beginning of treatment and relationship with AIDS. There had been no significant change in the time-lag between the time of discovery of new cases and the beginning of treatment, over the last ten years.

[The cardiac toxicity of cancer chemotherapy]. / Cardiotoxicidade da quimioterapia oncológica.

The presence of secondary effects following the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs is an important limitation to cancer therapy. Of these, cardiotoxicity is of crucial importance due to its negative influence on survival. The anthracyclines and cyclophosphamide are the most important cardiotoxic antineoplastic agents currently used. If we agree on a ceiling dosage of chemotherapy we will deprive some patients with a highly functional cardiac reserve of a potential benefit in the control of their cancer. Other patients who are more susceptible to the cardiotoxic effects of anticancer agents will suffer from severe cardiac disfunction following small cumulative doses of anthracyclines. The authors discuss the main cardiotoxic effects of several antineoplastic drugs with special attention given to the anthracycline group. Several diagnostic methods potentially useful in cardiac monitoring are described. Radionuclide angiocardiography is considered the gold-standard in monitoring anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Other invasive methods like endomyocardial biopsy and right heart catheterization can be clinically useful when nuclear angiocardiography is inconclusive. The authors propose an approach to the prevention of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Other chemotherapeutic agents like cyclophosphamide are associated with the presence of myopericarditis which is sometimes fatal. The cardiotoxic effects of anticancer treatment with 5-fluorouracil, mitoxantrone, carmustine, amsacrine and interferon are less frequent and usually more benign. Finally we discuss bone marrow transplantation and its related cardiotoxicity.

[Essential thrombocythemia. Apropos a case of cerebrovascular stroke]. / Trombocitemia essencial. A propósito de um caso de acidente vascular cerebral.

The authors report the case of a 60-year-old white man with a previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis, smoking habits, hypertension, intermittent claudication and erythromelalgia, admitted to our ward with an ischemic cerebral event. Initial laboratory evaluation documented thrombocytosis (platelet-950000/mm3) and discrete anemia. Additional studies confirmed the diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia, meeting all the criteria proposed by the Polycythemia Vera Study Group in 1986, after exclusion of the possible causes of reactive thrombocytosis. Therapy was initiated with alpha-2b interferon (3 MU/m2 subcutaneously three times a week) and aspirin. Platelet count control was obtained and the patient remained asymptomatic. Nine months later cutaneous toxicity obliged the discontinuance of alpha-interferon. Due to a continuous increase of platelet count, hydroxyurea was introduced. The patient is asymptomatic, with platelet counts < 500000/mm3, without toxicity manifestations, two years after diagnosis. The contribution of cardiovascular risk factors versus thrombocythemia in the pathogenesis of the ischemic cerebral event and the benefit of platelet count control are discussed.

Systemic lupus erythematosus: sex hormones in male patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare disease in males. There is evidence that a functional state of hypoandrogenism is important in the pathogenesis of the disease. We analysed the levels of several hormones (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), free estradiol (FE2) and prolactin (PRL)) in 17 male SLE patients and 17 male healthy controls with similar age distribution. Three lupus patients were excluded from the analysis due to previous cyclophosphamide therapy or pre-puberty. Thus 14 male lupus patients were eligible for the study. Six of the 14 SLE patients (43%) showed at least one abnormal level of FSH, LH or T. There were no abnormalities in these hormones in the 17 controls. This difference was significant (P < 0.01). In five of these 6 male patients (36% of all lupus patients) the hormonal profile was compatible with a functional state of hypoandrogenism (high LH and/or low T). The ratio E2/T (estradiol/testosterone:pmol/nmol) was also significantly higher in the SLE group (average = 6.5; SD 4.3) when compared with that of the control group (average 4.2; SD 1.2; Mann-Whitney rank sum test: P < 0.03). There were no significant differences in E2, FE2 or PRL between lupus patients and controls. We did not confirm the notion that left-handedness is frequent in male lupus as all our patients were right-handed. We found a significantly higher prevalence of sex hormone abnormalities in male lupus patients when compared with healthy controls with a similar age distribution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Pulmonary embolism--mortality risk]. / Embolia pulmonar--risco de mortalidade.

We conducted a retrospective analysis on 311 patients with clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in a period of 3 years. 163 patients were excluded based on clinical-laboratorial criteria. The remaining 146 patients had a median age of 69 years (range: 30-91 years). 54% of the patients were male. We found dyspnea (94%), abnormal cardiopulmonary observation (89%), risk factors for venous thromboembolism (74%), tachycardia (53%), cyanosis (49%), and neck vein distension (45%) to be the most frequent findings. 64% of the patients had heart failure, 32% had myocardial ischemia, 13% had cancer, and 11% had myocardial infarction. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was higher than two-fold in 54% of the patients. There was severe hypoxemia in 55% of the cases and hypocapnia in 43% of the cases. Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) was elevated in 16% of the cases. Electrocardiography was suggestive of PE in 37% of the cases. Echocardiography showed right heart dysfunction in 30% of the cases, 92% of the patients were treated with heparin, 37 patients (25%) died, 54% of which during the first 4 days after admittance. Trying to define an index of mortality in PE we evaluated all patients by discriminant analysis coming up with 14 items with good discriminative power. By approximation of their odds-ratios we determined how many points would correspond to each item in the total sum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Partial characterization of a liver serine-peptidase from different species which inactivates bradykinin.

Proteases which inactivate bradykinin were partially purified from the fresh exsanguinated liver of rat, man, dog, guinea-pig, chicken, frog and snake. The enzymes which are present in the soluble fraction of the liver homogenates, were prepared by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, in 0.025 M tris-HCl, pH 7.4. The peptidase activity was eluted with 0.09 M KCl; and further purification was achieved by gel-filtration in Sephadex G-150. The kininases are present in the same range of activity in all studied preparations, and final specific activities are also comparable. The molecular weight of the enzymes, as determined by gel filtration, are in the range of 70,000-100,000. All preparations were completely inhibited by 10 mM PMSF and 1 mM Tos-PheCh2Cl; 10 microM 2-mercaptoethanol, and 1 mM Tos-LysCH2Cl do not affect the enzymatic activity. The major site for the cleavage of bradykinin is the Phe5-Ser6 peptide bond. The serine-peptidase is found in the liver of all vertebrates so far studied.