Sintomatología neuropsiquiátrica en el síndrome post-COVID. Propuesta de manejo y derivación desde atención primaria / Neuropsychiatric symptomatology in post-COVID syndrome. Intervention proposal and referral from primary care

La infección por SARS-CoV-2 es una enfermedad multiorgánica. Tiene un amplio espectro de manifestaciones clínicas, entre ellas neurológicas y psiquiátricas, que se expresan en todos los estadios evolutivos de la enfermedad. En muchas ocasiones presenta sintomatología a largo plazo que se ha denominado síndrome post-COVID. Entre la sintomatología neuropsiquiátrica derivada del mencionado síndrome, nos centramos en este manuscrito, por su prevalencia, en la cefalea, el deterioro cognitivo, las alteraciones del gusto y olfato, la depresión, los trastornos de ansiedad y el insomnio. En este documento se revisa esta sintomatología y se proponen algoritmos de manejo y criterios de derivación de atención primaria (AP) a otros especialistas (AU)

SARS-CoV-2 infection is a multiorgan disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, including neurological and psychiatric, which are expressed in all stages of the disease and often has long-term symptoms, called post-COVID syndrome. Among the neuropsychiatric symptoms derived from this syndrome, in this article we focus on headache, cognitive impairment, taste and smell alterations, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Intervention algorithms for these symptoms in primary care establishing criteria for referral to specialized care are proposed (AU)

[Neuropsychiatric symptomatology in post-COVID syndrome. Intervention proposal and referral from primary care]. / Sintomatología neuropsiquiátrica en el síndrome post-COVID. Propuesta de manejo y derivación desde atención primaria.

SARS-CoV-2 infection is a multiorgan disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, including neurological and psychiatric, which are expressed in all stages of the disease and often has long-term symptoms, called post-COVID syndrome. Among the neuropsychiatric symptoms derived from this syndrome, in this article we focus on headache, cognitive impairment, taste and smell alterations, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Intervention algorithms for these symptoms in primary care establishing criteria for referral to specialized care are proposed.

Development and chemical characterization of biodegradable polymeric implants containing sirolimus for the treatment of malignant solid tumors.

The use of sirolimus and its analogs has been evaluated in studies aimed at combating several types of cancer; however, because of the limited bioavailability of the drug, the search for new forms of administration is required. Biodegradable polymeric implants containing sirolimus were developed and assessed as an alternative method of drug administration. Implants containing 25 % (w/w) sirolimus were prepared employing the polymer matrices chitosan, polycaprolactone and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) in two proportions: PLGA 50:50 and PLGA 75:25. Thermal analysis techniques such as thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, combined with x-ray diffraction were used to characterize and evaluate the compatibility of the constituents of the formulation. No incompatibilities were found between the components, but drug amorphization was observed in all samples. Implants made from the polymers chitosan and PCL may accelerate the degradation of SRL when these polymers are dissolved in methanol at 50 °C. HPLC analysis showed that the implant prepared with PLGA 75:25 did not present degradation products and maintained its appropriate drug content, even when dissolved in methanol and heated to 50 °C. Therefore, it represents the most suitable biodegradable polymer for use in implants developed for the treatment of malignant solid tumors. However, it is still necessary to further study the drug effects after amorphization of the crystal and also to perform stability and solubility analysis.

Comparison of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and immunological inflammatory biomarker activity of several endodontic sealers against immortalized human pulp cells.

AIM: To establish an SV40 T-Ag-transfected cell line of human pulp-derived cells in order to compare the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and to investigate the activities of immunological biomarkers of several endodontic sealers. METHODOLOGY: Primary human pulp cells and transfected cells were cultured. Cell morphology and proliferation were analysed, and the expression of cell-specific gene transcripts and proteins was detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Transfection of human pulp-derived cells resulted in an immortalized cell line retaining phenotypic characteristics from the primarily cells tested. The SV40 T-Ag-transfected cells were cultured and stimulated by sealers (Apexit Plus, Real Seal, AH Plus, and EndoREZ) to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by MTT and MTN assays, respectively. Immunological inflammatory biomarkers (IL6, IL8 and TNF-α) were determined by ELISA assay. The differences between median values were statistically analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests at 5% significance level. RESULTS: The cytotoxicity assay revealed that multimethacrylate (Real Seal) was the most cytotoxic sealer (P < 0.05) and exhibited the highest inflammatory potential against the SV40 T-Ag-transfected cells (P < 0.05). All root canal sealers tested were able to stimulate the immortalized pulp cells to produce IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α, with differences in relation to the control group (P < 0.05). Higher levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were found in cell supernatant after stimulation with multimethacrylate (Real Seal) compared to all other sealers tested (P < 0.05). No differences were found comparing epoxy resin-based sealer (AHPlus), single-methacrylate sealer (EndoREZ) and calcium hydroxide-based sealer (Apexit Plus), regardless of the cytokine investigated (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A SV40 T-Ag-transfected cell line of human pulp-derived cells was established. The methacrylate resin-based sealer (Real Seal) exhibited the greatest cytoxicity and inflammatory potential against immortalized pulp cells compared to an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus), a methacrylate-based sealer (EndoRez) and a calcium hydroxide-based sealer (Apexit).

Public resource usage in health systems: a data envelopment analysis of the efficiency of health systems of autonomous communities in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: The efficiency in the management of public resources is one of the main pillars of the welfare state. The objective of this work is to analyze the efficiency of the public resources that regional governments in Spain (Autonomous Communities (AC)) invest in health systems (HS). STUDY DESIGN: A dataset from of the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality of Spain has been used, which contains the most important indicators from the National HS. The following variables have been chosen in this study: the health care expenses per resident, the percentage of this investment that is forwarded to labour expenses, frequency of hospital care services, frequency of specialized external health care services and, primary health care services in medicine and nursing per resident. METHODS: To this end, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied, which enables researchers and managers to obtain measurements of efficiency of the analyzed regions, and to propose corrective steps to achieve efficiency for inefficient HS. Moreover, the super-efficiency measurement is shown for a constant and a variable scale. RESULTS: The results show that there are three groups of AC, first a group composed by six HS that are globally efficient, a second group composed by eight HS that are globally inefficient, and a third group composed by three HS that are efficient in some terms and their efficiency can be improved. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that DEA is an appropriate method for evaluating efficiencies of health systems and giving the adjustments for the application of economic, social and organizational policies to improve their efficiencies.

Goat milk during iron repletion improves bone turnover impaired by severe iron deficiency.

The effect of goat or cow milk-based diets, with either normal Fe content or an Fe overload, on bone turnover and the mineralization process was studied in control and anemic rats during chronic Fe repletion. One hundred eighty male Wistar rats were studied during a pre-experimental period of 40 d in which they were randomly divided into 2 groups, a control group receiving the AIN-93G diet with normal Fe content (45 mg/kg of diet) and the Fe-deficient group receiving the AIN-93G diet with low Fe content (5mg/kg of diet) for 40 d. After the pre-experimental period, the rats were fed for 10, 30, or 50 d with goat or cow milk-based diets with a normal Fe content (45 mg/kg of diet) or an Fe overload (450 mg/kg of diet). In anemic rats, goat milk with normal Fe content increased levels of the biomarker of bone formation N-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen and diminished parathyroid hormone levels after only 10 d of supplying this diet, indicating the beginning of restoration of the bone demineralization induced by the anemia, which was not observed with cow milk. After 30 d of supplying the milk-based diets with normal Fe content or an Fe overload, biomarkers of bone formation and bone resorption were not different between control and anemic rats, indicating that the bone demineralization induced by the Fe-deficiency anemia had recovered, although the process of stabilization of bone turnover began earlier in the animals fed goat milk. In addition, a higher Ca deposit was observed in femur, which positively affects bone mineralization, as well as an increase of Fe in sternum, which indicates that the hematopoietic process essentially recovered earlier on the goat milk diet compared with the cow milk diet.

Risk factors, pre-morbid functioning and episode correlates of neurological soft signs in drug-naive patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of consistent evidence regarding associations of neurological soft signs (NSS) with illness-related variables in schizophrenia. This study examined NSS in first-episode psychotic patients with respect to their factor structure and associations with risk factors, pre-morbid characteristics, psychopathology and spontaneous extrapyramidal syndromes. METHOD: First-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n=177) were assessed for NSS using the Neurological Evaluation Scale, and its 26 constituting items were factor analysed. The identified neurological dimensions were then entered into hierarchical regression models as outcome dependent variables of a set of predictors including risk factors (familial loading for schizophrenia, obstetric complications), pre-morbid characteristics (neurodevelopmental delay, symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, pre-morbid functioning), psychopathological domains (reality distortion, disorganization, negative symptoms, mania, depression, catatonia) and spontaneous extrapyramidal syndromes (parkinsonism, dyskinesia, akathisia). RESULTS: Five neurological domains were identified: sequencing, release signs, sensory integration, abnormal movements and coordination. Multivariate analyses showed independent associations (p<0.01) of sequencing with familial liability to schizophrenia, deterioration of pre-morbid adjustment and parkinsonism; release signs with obstetric complications, catatonic symptoms and parkinsonism; sensory integration with familial liability to schizophrenia; abnormal movements with familial liability to schizophrenia, obstetric complications, parkinsonism and dyskinesia; and coordination with neurodevelopmental delay. The empirically derived factors explained additional variance over and above that explained by subscale scores across the examined variables. CONCLUSIONS: Familial liability to schizophrenia, obstetric complications, neurodevelopmental delay, deterioration in pre-morbid functioning and observable motor disorders appear to contribute independently to domains of neurological dysfunction. The findings support a neurodevelopmental model of NSS in schizophrenia.

Efecto de la anemia ferropénica nutricional sobre el contenido en hueso de Ca, P y Fe / Iron deficiency anemia effect of nutrition on the content in bone, Ca, P and Fe

La anemia ferropénica nutricional provoca una alteración de gran importancia en el metabolismo fosfocálcico. Con este estudio pretendemos comprobar cómo la anemia ferropénica nutricional afect ael depósito de Ca y P en fémur y el contenido de Fe en esternón, para ello determinamos Fe y Ca por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica y de P por espectrofotometría ultravioleta visible en ratas macho raza Wistar albina ferrodeficientes. El depósito de Ca y P en el fémur es significativamente (P <0.001) más bajo para el grupo anémico. Esto puede deberse al incremento de los niveles séricos de PTH y cortisol, inducidos por la ferrodeficiencia severa (Campos y col., 2007). Además se produce una drástica disminución (P < 0.001) en el contenido de Fe en esternón, hecho que incide de manera muy negativa en el proceso hematopoyético(AU)

Nutritional iron-deficiency anemia provokes a noteworthy alteration in the phosphorus and calcium metabolism. With the current study we tried to check how the nutritional iron deficiency anemia affects Ca and P deposit in femur and the Fe content in sternum. We determined Fe and Ca by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and P by ultraviolet /visibly spectrophotometry in Fe-deficient male wistar albino rats. Ca and P deposit in femur is significantly lower in the anaemic group. This can be due to the increase of the serum levels of PTH and cortisol, induced by the severe Fe-deficiency. In addition, a drastic decrease in the Fe content in sternum was recorded, fact that affects in a very negative way in the haematopoietic process(AU)

Utilización nutritiva de hierro en el transcurso de la ferrodeficiencia / Nutritive utilization of iron during the evolution of a iron deficiency

Se ha estudiado la utilización digestiva y metabólica de hierro durante la evolución (20,30, 40 días) de una ferrodeficiencia nutricional en ratas en periodo de crecimiento. Se han usado 48 ratas (Ratusnovergicus, raza Wistar albina) con un peso inicial aproximado de 45-50. Los animales se dividieron en 6 grupos: tres grupos controles (C) y tres grupos ferrodeficientes (FD) que recibieron una dieta AIN93G con contenido normal (45 mg Fe/kg dieta) o con un bajo contenido de hierro (5 mg/Fe Kg dieta)respectivamente durante 20, 30 ó 40 días. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la utilización nutritiva de hierro aumenta progresivamente en todos los periodos, siendo esta diferencia significativa, si comparamos el día 40 con el 20, esto es debido a que dicha patología produce una depleción de los depósitos corporales de Fe, lo cual favorece la entrada a favor de gradiente de concentración por difusión simple de dicho mineral(AU)

The digestive and metabolic utilization of iron during the evolution (20, 30, 40 days) of a nutritional Fe-deficiency has been studied in growing rats. 48 rats (Ratus novergicus, Wistar albino breed) wereused with an initial approximate weight of 45-50g. The animals were divided in 6 groups: three groups control (C) and three groups Fe-deficient (FD) receiving a diet AIN 93G with normal-Fe content (45mg/kg diet) or with a low-Fe content (5 mg/Kg diet) respectively during 20, 30 ó 40 days. The results obtained indicate that the nutritive utilization of iron increases progressively in all the periods, being this difference significant, if we compare the day 40 with 20, due to the above mentioned pathology produces a depletion of the Fe body stores, which favours the up take in favour of gradient of concentration by simple diffusion(AU)

Utilización nutritiva de fósforo en el transcurso de la anemia ferropénica nutricional / Nutritive utilization of phosphorus during the course of nutritional ferropenic anaemia

Se ha estudiado el efecto de la evolución de la anemia ferropénica nutricional sobre la utilización digestiva y metabólica de fósforo en tres periodos 20, 30 y 40 días. Los animales de experimentación han sido 48 ratas macho de la raza Wistar albina que se dividieron en 6 grupos: tres grupos controles(C) y tres grupos ferrodeficientes (FD) que recibieron una dieta AIN 93G con contenido normal (45mg Fe/kg dieta) o con un bajo contenido de hierro (5 mg/Fe Kg dieta) respectivamente durante 20, 30 ó 40 días. Se ha encontrado un aumento significativo en la utilización digestiva y metabólica de fósforo en el transcurso de la anemia ferropénica nutricional, efecto que se va haciendo más patente a medida que evoluciona la ferrodeficiencia. Este incremento en la utilización nutritiva de fósforo es debido principalmente al mecanismo pasivo de absorción de fósforo que opera principalmente en el yeyuno-íleon y es predominante en situación de anemia ferropénica nutricional(AU)

The evolution of the nutritional iron deficiency anemia on the digestive and metabolic utilization of phosphorus has been studied during three periods: 20, 30 and 40 days. 48 male Wistar albino breedrats were divided in 6 groups: three control groups (C) and three Fe-deficient groups (FD) receiving AIN 93G with normal-Fe content (45 mg /kg diet) or with a low-Fe content (5 mg/Kg diet) respectively during 20, 30 ó 40 days. A significant increase in the digestive and metabolic utilization of phosphorus has been found in the course of the nutritional iron deficiency anemia, effect that become more pronounced as the ferrodeficiency is instaured. This increase in the nutritive utilization of phosphorus is due mainly to the passive mechanism of phosphorus absorption which operates principally in the jejunum-ileum and is predominant in situation of nutritional iron deficiency anemia(AU)

Relación hepatosomática y depósito de hierro en hígado durante la instauración de anemia ferropénica nutricional / Hepatosomatic index and iron liver stores during the instauration of nutritional ferropenic anaemia

El hígado es el principal órgano de almacén de hierro en el organismo y juega un papel crucial en la homeostasis de dicho mineral. Los niveles de hierro en se consideran un fiel reflejo del estatus de hierro en el organismo, hecho que nos indujo a determinar la relación hepatosomática y el contenido de hierro en hígado durante la instauración de la anemia ferropénica nutricional inducida experimentalmente en ratas en crecimiento. Los depósitos de hierro estaban profundamente deplecionados, el peso corporal y el peso hepático fue menor en animales anémicos. Como consecuencia, la relación hepatosomática se incrementó en animales ferrodeficientes. Durante la ferrodeficiencia, varios factores reguladores de la hepcidina se alteran, aumenta la demanda eritropoyética por disminución de los parámetros hematológicos, hay un menor aporte de oxígeno a los tejidos y se deplecionan los depósitos corporales, alterándose el metabolismo de hierro, hechos que conducen a una disminución de dicha hormona, lo cual se traducirá en una menor interacción con la ferroportina 1, evitando su internalización y degradación, de manera que aumenta el flujo de salida de hierro ferroso desde los hepatocitos y consecuentemente se reduce su depósito. Por otra parte, la ferrodeficiencia afectó el peso corporal, hecho que se puede atribuir a los menores niveles de hormonas tiroideas encontrados en esta patología. Puesto que hay una clara reducción de la hemoglobina y recuento de hematíes, el suministro de oxígeno a las células se limita considerablemente e incide negativamente en la síntesis de ATP e incremento de peso(AU)

Liver is main storage organ of iron in the organism and plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of this mineral. The levels of iron are considered a routine index of the iron status in the body, fact that encouraged us to asses the hepatosomatic index and the iron content in liver, during iron-deficiency anaemia in growing rats. In rats with iron-deficiency anaemia, iron deposits were deeply depleted, body weight and hepatic weight were lower, moreover the hepatic iron deposits were lower in anaemicrats. During the iron-deficiency, several regulatory factors of the hepcidin are impaired (the erythropoietic demand increase due to the decrease of the haematological parameters, there is a minor supply of oxygen to the tissues and the body stores are depleted, being the iron metabolism altered), facts that leads to a decrease of the above mentioned hormone, which will be translated in a minor interaction with the ferroportin1, avoiding its internalization and degradation, therefore increases the outflow of ferrous iron from the hepatocytes and consistently its storage diminishes in the above mentioned organ. On the other hand, the iron-deficiency impaired the body weight, fact that can be related with the lower levels of thyroid hormones found in this pathology. Moreover, since in iron deficiency situation the haemoglobin and red blood cells count diminish drastically, the supply of oxygen to the cells limits itself considerably, which affects in a negative way to the ATP synthesis andincrease of weight(AU)

Utilización nutritiva de magnesio durante el desarrollo de la anemia ferropénica nutricional / Nutritive utilization of magnesium during the development of nutritional iron deficiency anaemia

Dada la alta prevalencia de la anemia ferropénica y la diversidad de población a la que afecta es de interés conocer durante el desarrollo de la anemia las repercusiones de la deficiencia de hierro sobre el aprovechamiento nutritivo de otros minerales como el magnesio, para ello se ha determinado la utilización digestiva y metabólica a los 20, 30 y 40 días de suministrar una dieta con bajo contenido en hierro en ratas en crecimiento. La anemia incrementa la utilización nutritiva de magnesio en el día 30 del estudio. En los tres periodos estudiados, la utilización digestiva de magnesio en ratas controles presenta valores similares; en cambio, la relación magnesio retenido respecto al ingerido se eleva significativamente dadas las menores pérdidas urinarias de este mineral hacia el final del estudio. En ratas anémicas, el aprovechamiento digestivo y metabólico de magnesio aumenta en los últimos periodos estudiados debido al incremento del componente pasivo de la absorción de magnesio, ya que en situación de ferrodeficiencia la energía metabólica está disminuida y por tanto el componente activo de la absorción se encuentra reducido considerablemente(AU)

Taking into account the high prevalence of the iron deficiency anemia and the diversity of population affected, it is of great interest to know the repercussions of the iron deficiency during the development of the pathology on the nutritive utilization of other minerals such as magnesium, therefore we decided to study the digestive and metabolic utilization to 20, 30 and 40 days of supplying a diet with low content in iron in growing rats. The anemia increases the nutritive utilization of magnesium in the day 30 of the study. In the three studied periods, the digestive utilization of magnesium in control rats shows similar values; on the other hand, the relation magnesium retained with regard to the intake rises significantly because of the lower urinary losses of this mineral towards the end of the study. In anaemic rats, the digestive and metabolic utilization of magnesium increases in the last periods studied due to the increase of the passive component of the absorption of this mineral, since in situation of Fe-deficiency the metabolic energy is diminished and therefore the active component of the absorption is reduced considerably(AU)

GAPD and tubulin are suitable internal controls for qPCR analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

The selection of housekeeping genes is critical for gene expression studies. To address this issue, four candidate housekeeping genes, including several commonly used ones, were investigated in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. A simple quantitative RT-PCR approach was employed by comparing relative expression of the four candidate genes within two cancerous cell lines (HN6 and HN31) and one noncancerous cell line (HaCaT) treated or not with EGF and TGF-beta1. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by the NormFinder software program. On this basis, stability of the candidate housekeeping genes was ranked and non statistical differences were found using ANOVA test. On the other hand, the NormFinder was able to show that GAPD and TUBB presented the less variable results, representing appropriated housekeeping genes for the samples and conditions analyzed. In conclusion, this study suggests that the GAPD and the TUBB represent adequate normalizers for gene profiling studies in OSCC cell lines, covering, respectively, high and low expression levels genes.

Biofilm microbial communities of denture stomatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Denture stomatitis is a common lesion that affects denture wearers. Its multifactorial etiology seems to depend on a complex and poorly characterized biofilm. The purpose of this study was to assess the composition of the microbial biofilm obtained from complete denture wearers with and without denture stomatitis using culture-independent methods. METHODS: Samples were collected from healthy denture wearers and from patients with denture stomatitis. Libraries comprising about 600 cloned 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) bacterial sequences and 192 cloned eukaryotic internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences, obtained by polymerase chain reactions, were analyzed. RESULTS: The partial 16S rDNA sequences revealed a total of 82 bacterial species identified in healthy subjects and patients with denture stomatitis. Twenty-seven bacterial species were detected in both biofilms, 29 species were exclusively present in patients with denture stomatitis, and 26 were found only in healthy subjects. Analysis of the ITS region revealed the presence of Candida sp. in both biofilms. CONCLUSION: The results revealed the extent of the microbial flora, suggesting the existence of distinct biofilms in healthy subjects and in patients with denture stomatitis.

Bacterial diversity in aphthous ulcers.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent aphthous ulcers are common lesions of the oral mucosa of which the etiology is unknown. This study aimed to estimate the bacterial diversity in the lesions and in control mucosa in pooled samples using a culture-independent molecular approach. METHODS: Samples were collected from ten healthy individuals and ten individuals with a clinical history of recurrent aphthous ulcers. After DNA extraction, the 16S ribosomal RNA bacterial gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction with universal primers; amplicons were cloned, sequenced and matched to the GenBank database. RESULTS: A total of 535 clones were analyzed, defining 95 bacterial species. We identified 62 putative novel phylotypes. In recurrent aphthous ulcer lesions 57 phylotypes were detected, of which 11 were known species. Control samples had 38 phylotypes, five of which were already known. Only three species or phylotypes were abundant and common to both groups (Gemella haemolysans, Streptococcus mitis strain 209 and Streptococcus pneumoniae R6). One genus was found only in recurrent aphthous ulcer samples (Prevotella) corresponding to 16% of all lesion-derived clones. CONCLUSION: The microbiota found in recurrent aphthous ulcers and in the control groups diverged markedly and the rich variety of genera found can provide a new starting point for individual qualitative and quantitative analyses of bacteria associated with this oral condition.

Efeito do ultra-som e do d-pantenol na regeneracao tegumentar / Effect of ultrasound and dexpanthenol on wound healing

Estudar os efeitos dos tratamentos com ultra-som (US) e d-pantenol (d-p) na reparacao tegumentar em ratos por meio de analise histoetrica e histopatologica. Metodo: foram utilizados 50 ratos wistar, anestesiados por Thionembutal sodico (50 mg/kg), dos quais foi retirado 1cm2 de pele na rehiao dorsal, sendo que 25 foram submetidos a tratamento diario por 7 dias e 25 por 14 dias. Os grupos experimentais (n=5) foram: controle (C), gel (G), US (3MHz, 0,1 W/cm2, 1 minuto, modo continuo), d-p na concentracao de (10 por cento) e US+d-p. seccoes de 6 um de espessura da lesao foram procesados para coloracao em Hematoxilina-Eosina. A re-epitelizacao e o numero de fibroblastos e leucocitos foram obtidos num processador de imagens (Software Imagem Pro-Plus) e analisados pelo teste ANOVA, seguido de Tukey para comparacao da medias. Resultados: a re-epitelizacao dos grupos US(1869,6+-238,4 um) e US+d-p(2167,7+-232 um) foi maior (p<-0,05) em relacao ao C(987,7+-146,8 um), mas nao diferiram entre si. O numero de fibroblastos no grupo US (419+-37) com sete dias de tratamento foi significativamente maior em relacao aos demais grupos: (C:250+-17), (d-p:296+-49) e (US+d-p:274+-18). No grupo US, tratado por sete dias, a media de leucocitos (134+-15) foi menor (p<-0,05) em relacao ao C (253+-37), d-p (222+-29) e US+d-p (153+-14), evidenciando seu efeito na fase inicial do processo inflamatorio. Conclusoes: o US acelera o processo de reparo, bem como associado ao d-p. Porem, essa associacao dos tratamentos, US+d-p, n'ao mostrou resultados significativos em relacao ao tratamento com US isolado

Goat milk feeding causes an increase in biliary secretion of cholesterol and a decrease in plasma cholesterol levels in rats.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of goat milk with respect to cow milk observed in a previous study led us to examine the influence of goat and cow milk in the diet on certain aspects of biliary physiology in normal rats. The fat content in all diets was 10% but the lipid quality was varied: the standard diet was based on virgin olive oil, and the other 2 diets included fat obtained from lyophilized cow milk and goat milk. We characterized the bile secretion, including biliary phospholipid, cholesterol, and bile acid outputs, the interrelation between bile acids and bile lipids, and the lithogenic index. The consumption of goat milk in the diet, compared with that of cow milk, caused an increase in the biliary secretion of cholesterol together with a decrease in plasma cholesterol concentration, whereas values for bile phospholipids, biliary acid concentrations, and the lithogenic index remained normal. Moreover, consumption of this type of milk decreased plasma triglyceride concentration and therefore had a positive effect, similar to that of olive oil (standard diet), on the lipid metabolism; hence, it may be recommended for consumption by the general population.

Evaluation of the ultrasound influence in the cutaneous penetration of d-panthenol: test in vitro.

BACKGROUND: d-panthenol is a popular additive in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. However, in order for this vitamin to provide skin benefits, it must penetrate the stratum corneum. OBJECTIVE: To verify the penetrability of d-panthenol in the skin and evaluate the effect of ultrasound on the cutaneous penetration of this vitamin. METHODS: The diffusion cell technique with pig skin as the membrane, distilled water as the receptor solution, and a hydrophilic d-panthenol gel were used for the research. The experimental groups were gel + d-panthenol (10%) and gel + d-panthenol (10%) + ultrasound. The receptor solution was collected at predetermined times and the amount of d-panthenol was determined by using a spectrophotometer at 406 nm. RESULTS: Ultrasound resulted in a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in the penetration of d-panthenol at 2, 60, and 240 min. CONCLUSION: d-panthenol penetration through the pig's skin is enhanced through the use of ultrasound.

Efeito do ultra-som na permeacao cutanea do tiratricol: analise histologica / Effect of ultrasound on the tiratricol skin permeation: histologic analysis

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito do ultra-som na permeacao cutanea do tiratricol, farmacio lipolitico muito utilizado no tratamento mesoterapico para celulite. Trata-se, porem, de metodo invasivo, razao do interesse pela aplicacao topica. Os tratamentos topicos foram realizados no dorso de cinco suinos(Landrace x Large White), machos, com 50 dias, em areas de 8cm :C-controle, G-gel (carbpol 940), G+US-gel +ultra-som, G+T-gel+tiratricol (20mg/3 de gel), G+T+US-gel+tiratricol+ultra-som, e M- mesoterapia, tratados diariamente por 15 dias. O protocolo do US foi: 3 MHz, 0,2 W/cm, continuo. Apos processamento histologico em parafina com coloracao por HE, usando-se ocular milimetrada (Zeiss), forma feitas medidas histometricas da pele, analisadas pela (ANOVA) com teste de DUNNET a 5(por cento) (p>,0,05) de significancia. Essa analise mostrou espessamento na epiderme, em razao do poder hidratente do gel, o que nao ocorreu no tratamento com mesoterapia. A hipoderme das areas tratadas por mesoterapia sofreu reducao significativa em sua espessura (33,8(por cento), p<0,05), assim como as areas tratadas por gel + tiratricol + US (23,5 (por cento), p<0,05), o que nao ocorreu com o tiratricol isoladamente (6,08 por cento, p>0,05). Concluiu-se que o US aumentou a permeacao do tiratricol

Beneficial effect of goat milk on bioavailability of copper, zinc and selenium in rats.

We studied the effects of dietary inclusion of freeze-dried goat and cow milk on the utilization of copper, zinc and selenium, and on the metabolic fate of copper and zinc, in rats using a standard (non-milk) control diet recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition and diets based on goat or cow milk. For animals given the goat milk diet, the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of copper is similar to that obtained with the standard diet and higher than that in animals given the cow milk diet. The copper balance was higher among the rats given the goat milk and the standard diets than among those given cow milk. The ADC and retention of zinc and selenium were higher for the goat milk diet than for the other two diets. The copper content in the kidneys and in the femur was greater when the animals consumed a goat milk diet than a cow milk diet. Zn deposits in femur, testes, liver, kidney, heart and longissimus dorsi muscle were greatest with the goat-milk diet, followed by the standard diet and were lowest for the rats given cow-milk diet. This study shows that the goat-milk has an important and beneficial effect on the bioavailability of copper, zinc and selenium.