Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 on Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Lung Tumor Malignancy in a Mouse Model of Sleep Apnea.

An adverse role for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in cancer epidemiology and outcomes has recently emerged from clinical and animal studies. In animals, intermittent hypoxia (IH) mimicking OSA promotes tumor malignancy both directly and via host immune alterations. We hypothesized that IH could potentiate cancer aggressiveness through activation of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway and the concomitant increases in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The contribution of the COX-2 in IH-induced enhanced tumor malignancy was assessed using celecoxib as a COX-2 specific inhibitor in a murine model of OSA bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) tumors. Exposures to IH accelerated tumor progression with a tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) shift towards a pro-tumoral M2 phenotype. Treatment with celecoxib prevented IH-induced adverse tumor outcomes by inhibiting IH-induced M2 polarization of TAMs. Furthermore, TAMs isolated from IH-exposed mice treated with celecoxib reduced the proliferation of LLC1 naïve cells, while the opposite occurred with placebo-treated IH-exposed mice. Finally, in vitro IH exposures of murine macrophages and LLC1 cells showed that both cell types increased PGE2 release in response to IH. These results suggest a crucial role for the COX-2 signaling pathway in the IH-exacerbated malignant processes, and designate macrophages and lung adenocarcinoma cells, as potential sources of PGE2.

Behavior of vascular resistance undergoing various pressure insufflation and perfusion on decellularized lungs.

Bioengineering of functional lung tissue by using whole lung scaffolds has been proposed as a potential alternative for patients awaiting lung transplant. Previous studies have demonstrated that vascular resistance (Rv) could be altered to optimize the process of obtaining suitable lung scaffolds. Therefore, this work was aimed at determining how lung inflation (tracheal pressure) and perfusion (pulmonary arterial pressure) affect vascular resistance. This study was carried out using the lungs excised from 5 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats. The trachea was cannulated and connected to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to provide a tracheal pressure ranging from 0 to 15cmH2O. The pulmonary artery was cannulated and connected to a controlled perfusion system with continuous pressure (gravimetric level) ranging from 5 to 30cmH2O. Effective Rv was calculated by ratio of pulmonary artery pressure (PPA) by pulmonary artery flow (V'PA). Rv in the decellularized lungs scaffolds decreased at increasing V'PA, stabilizing at a pulmonary arterial pressure greater than 20cmH2O. On the other hand, CPAP had no influence on vascular resistance in the lung scaffolds after being subjected to pulmonary artery pressure of 5cmH2O. In conclusion, compared to positive airway pressure, arterial lung pressure markedly influences the mechanics of vascular resistance in decellularized lungs.

Effects of Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom on lung mechanics and inflammation in mice.

The present study evaluated the effects of an intramuscular injection of Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV) (0.67 miocrog/g) on lung mechanics and lung inflammation at 15, 30, 60 and 180 min after inoculation. TsV inoculation resulted in increased lung elastance when compared with the control group (p < 0.001); these values were significantly higher at 60 min than at 15 and 180 min (p < 0.05). Resistive pressure (DeltaP1) values decreased significantly at 30, 60 and 180 min after TsV injection (p < 0.001). TsV inoculation resulted in increased lung inflammation, characterised by an increased density of mononuclear cells at 15, 30, 60 and 180 min after TsV injection when compared with the control group (p < 0.001). TsV inoculation also resulted in an increased pulmonary density of polymorphonuclear cells at 15, 30 and 60 min following injection when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, T. serrulatus venom leads to acute lung injury, characterised by altered lung mechanics and increased pulmonary inflammation.

Software para extração de dados e análise estabilométrica / Software for data extration and stabilometric analysis

Vários sistemas baseados em plataformas de força são utilizados para medição e análise do equilíbrio. Estes sistemas geram uma grande quantidade de dados provenientes dos sensores dos equipamentos que os compõem. Devido aos formatos utilizados para gravação dos resultados obtidos no Footwork e a quantidade de dados gerados em ambos os sistemas, existe a dificuldade de utilização destes dados fora do sistema que os originou. Este estudo teve como objetivo, desenvolver um software para auxiliar na análise mais apurada dos dados de dois sistemas utilizados no Brasil, a fim de automatizar a extração das informações destes sistemas e realizar os cálculos necessários para a avaliação da estabilometria. O software foi concluído com êxito e os resultados obtidos foram excelentes, tornando o trabalho de análise de dados muito mais rápido e preciso.

Several systems based on force plate are used for equilibrium measurement and analysis. These systems generate a huge quantity of date received from the sensors of the pieces of equipment that compose the systems. Due to the formats used for saving the results obtained on the Footwork, and the quantity of data generated in both systems, it is difficult to use these data outside the system that generates them. The objective of this study was the development of software that helps to do a more accurate analysis of data from two systems used in Brazil, in order to make an automatic data retrieval from these systems and perform the calculations necessary for stabilometry analysis. The software was successfully concluded and provided excellent results, redering the data analysis work faster and more accurate.

Pulmonary mechanic and lung histology injury induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom.

In the present work we investigated the effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (CdtV) on the pulmonary mechanic events [static and dynamic elastance, resistive (DeltaP1) and viscoelastic pressures (DeltaP2)] and histology after intramuscular injection of saline solution (control) or venom (0.6 microg/g). The static and dynamic elastance values were increased significantly after 3 h of venom inoculation, but were reduced at control values in the other periods studied. The DeltaP1 values that correspond to the resistive properties of lung tissue presented a significant increase after 6h of CdtV injection, reducing to basal levels 12h after the venom injection. In DeltaP2 analysis, correspondent to viscoelastic components, an increase occurred 12 h after the venom injection, returning to control values at 24 h. CdtV also caused an increase of leukocytes recruitment (3-24 h) to the airways wall as well as to the lung parenchyma. In conclusion, C. durissus terrificus rattlesnake venom leads to lung injury which is reverted, after 24 h of inoculation.

Análise da interferência das disfunções oculomotoras na estabilidade de crianças / Analysis of the interference of eye disfunctions in the children stability

Este estudo teve como objetivo, avaliar o nível de oscilação postural em crianças com e sem alterações oculomotoras através da estabilometria. O estudo foi realizado com dois grupos de voluntários, Controle (GC) e Disfunção visual (GD), totalizando 192 crianças com 3 a 5 anos. Na aquisição de dados utilizou-se um baropodômetro do sistema Footwork, para obtenção das variáveis de velocidade de deslocamento (P) e deslocamento radial (Rd), nas situações olhos abertos e fechados. As comparações realizadas entre pé direito, pé esquerdo e corpo entre olhos abertos e fechados apresentaram p<0,05 para a variável P, em ambos os grupos. O parâmetro Rd não apresentou diferença significativa (P>0,05). Não houve diferença significativa (P>0,05) nas comparações dos baricentros do pé direito, pé esquerdo e corporal entre GD e GC. Apesar de apresentar maior instabilidade postural, o grupo com disfunção visual é capaz de se adaptar e manter o equilíbrio.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of postural oscillation in children with and without oculomotor alterations through the stabilometry. It was carried through with two groups of volunteers, Control (GC) and Visual Dysfucnction (GD), totalizing 192 children with 3 to 5 years. To data acquisitions it was used the Footwork System plate force, for attainment of displacement speed (P) and radial displacement (Rd) variables, in the situations open and closed eyes. The comparisons carried through right foot, left foot and body between open and closed eyes had presented p<0,05 for P, in both the groups. The Rd parameter did not present significant difference (P>0,05). It did not have significant difference (P>0,05) in the comparisons of the barycentres of the right foot, left and corporal foot between GD and GC. although to present greater postural instability, the group with visual dysfunction is capable of if adapting and keeping the balance.

Utilização da Osteopatia craniana no tratamento de pacientes com insônia primária crônica / Utilization of cranial osteopathy in treatment of chronic's primary insomnia patientes

O presente estudo teve como objetivo utilizar alguns recursos da osteopatia craniana no tratamento de pacientes com insônia primária crônica e observar os resultados após 4 semanas de tratamento. Foi realizada avaliação através de questionário e também pela Escala de Epworth, além de avaliação osteopática craniana (escuta craniana, mobilidade sutural). Para o tratamento foram utilizados diversos recursos osteopáticos cranianos para reequilíbrio articular e do SNA. Para a análise dos resultados utilizou-se de comparações pareadas paramétricas entre os valores obtidos antes e após o tratamento, no que diz respeito aos dados da escala de Epworth e do nº de horas de sono. Os resultados observados na Escala de Epworth demonstram uma diminuição significativa com p<0,0001 (p=2,4343-9) e na comparação de horas de sono, antes e após o tratamento, observa-se também um aumento significativo, com p<0,0001 (p=2,7273-6). Vale ressaltar que no presente estudo foi observado um grande número de indivíduos (66,6%) classificados com LEVE segundo a Escala de Epworth, e estes foram os que apresentavam sintomas há menos tempo, portanto, podemos sugerir que o emprego da osteopatia craniana tem melhor eficácio em indivíduos com quadro leve e de curta data de insônia, mesmo sendo considerados crônicos.