BALB/c and C57BL/6 mouse strains influence gastric function outcomes with administration of cisplatin and dexamethasone

Abstract Our aim was to evaluate the effects of cisplatin and dexamethasone alone and combined on gastric contractility and histomorphometry of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. BALB/c and C57BL/6 male mice (8-week-old) were randomly separated into: Control; Cisplatin (7.5 mg/Kg); Dexamethasone (2.0 mg/Kg); and Dexamethasone plus Cisplatin (2.0 mg/Kg of dexamethasone 1-hour prior to 7.5 mg/Kg of cisplatin). Drugs were administered intraperitoneally for three days. Body weight and food intake were evaluated on 2nd day. Alternating Current Biosusceptometry technique was employed to measure gastric contractions on 3rd day. Afterward, mice were killed for gastric histomorphometric analysis. Cisplatin decreased food intake and caused bradygastria in BALB/c mice; however, the amplitude of gastric contractions decreased in both BALB/c and C57BL/6. Dexamethasone and cisplatin combined restored the gastric frequency and food intake only in BALB/c, but drug combination reduced the gastric amplitude of contractions in both strains. Dexamethasone alone increased gastric mucosa thickness in C57BL/6 and decreased muscular thickness in BALB/c. In conclusion, the mouse strains presented differences in acute effects of cisplatin and dexamethasone alone and combined on gastric function. This reinforces the importance of choosing the appropriate mouse strain for studying the acute effects of drugs on the gastrointestinal tract.

Prevalence of hypertension and obesity in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Faced with the increase of type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM2) and the failure in treatment, questions have been raised about the clinical situation of these patients. The present study analyzes the prevalence of hypertension and obesity in DM2 patients. Data were collected through interviews and anamnesis of 16 participants. After the meetings, in which capillary glycemia and blood pressure were measured, the participants received guidance about glycemic monitoring, blood pressure control and changes in lifestyle. Approximately 75% of the participants were women with average age of 65 years, 87.5% were sedentary, 18.75% smoked and/or used alcoholic beverages and none performed regular blood glucose monitoring. The initial blood glucose average was 148 mg/ dL and finally decreased to 133 mg/dL. There was no significant difference in blood pressure levels. Regarding the body mass index, 89.4% of the patients were above normal standards and 100% had altered waist circumference values. There is a need for studies like this in order to promote educational practices for health and disease control, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary teams and the pharmaceutical professional, since non-adherence to blood glucose monitoring, also associated with hypertension and obesity, can interfere with the individual's clinical condition.