Effect of high ingestion of dehydrated pumklin (Cucurbita pepo L. ) on the cholesterol metabolism and on the hepatic histology in mice

The hypercholesterolemia is one of the most relevant risk factors in atherosclerosis, the latter being responsible for a high mortality in most Western countries. A high intake of foods from plant origin is one of the recommendations for the control of hypercholesterolemia, probably because of their fiber content. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the ingestion a pumpkin-based diet on cholesterol levels. Fifty mices were divided in three groups: I, animals fed on normocholesterolemic control diet: II, animals fed on a hypercholesterolemic diet; III, animals fed on a hypercholesterolemic diet containing dehydrated pumpkin during 8 weeks. The results showed that dehydrated pumpkin, when administered in high concentration in the diet, reduced the levels of plasmatic and hepatic cholesterol but may caue relevant lesions in liver. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the right proportion of pumpkin to reduce the cholesterolemia without undesirable effects. This study reinforces the need for the continuous support of an experienced histopathologist to detect eventual damage that are not evident on macroscopic examination in all nutritional studies involving tests with diets

Protective effect of Saccharomyces boulardii against the cholera toxin in rats

The effect of orogastric administration of Saccharomyces boulardii on the anatomopathological aspect of the jejunal villi was studied in male Fischer rats (weighing about 40 g) orogastrically infected with a culture of Vibrio cholerae. Experimental and control groups received lyophilized S. boulardii (25 mg suspended in 0.5 ml saline) or 0.5 ml saline, respectively, three times a day for 10 days by gastric intubation. On day 5 of treatment, 0.5 ml of a culture of V. cholerae containing 10(8) viable cells was inoculated by gastric intubation into both groups. Histopathological examination of the jejunal mucosa showed extensive lesions of the superficial epithelium of the villi from the control group whereas few lesions of this superficial epithelium were observed in the experimental group. These data show that the inhibition of the action of the cholera toxin on enterocytes by S. boulardii suggested by recent results in vitro can be demonstrated in vivo

The effect of chronic ingestion of ethanol on modulation of granulomatous inflammation in experimental schistosomiasis in mice

We studied the role of ethanol on the modulation of liver granulomata around Schistosoma mansoni eggs in mice. Albino mice, receiving 7 ethanol as the sole drinking liquid, at 60 and 90 days post-infection, presented smaller granulomata than controls did, when sacrificed at 120 days post-infection. No differences in diameters could be observed, when ethanol was given 4 months before up to 120 days after infection. The results suggested that modulation of schistosome granulomata by ethanol ingestion varies with time and duration of drug consumption.

Intragastric infection of conventional and germfree mice with Giardia lamblia

The effects of experimental infection with Giardia lamblia were studied in 30-day old conventional and germfree CFW mice (7 animals in each group) of both sexes. Cysts were observed in the feces of both groups 6 to 7 days after intragastric infection of each animal with about 2.5 x 10 5 G. lamblia trophozoites. Fecal cyst level was statisticaly higher in germfree mice (abouth 10 5 cysts/g feces) when compared with the conventional group (about 10 4 cysts/g feces). The peak of infection in the conventional group apparently occurred on the 10th day after infection as indicated by an increase of fecal weight and by histopathological examination. Intense infiltration of the lamina propria and high reactional hyperplasia of the lymphoiud component were observed in the conventional group. There was no infiltration or hyperplasia in germfree infected mice and fecal weight was relatively constant throughout the experiment. These results suggest that, as is the case for other intestinal pathogenic protozoa, the intestinal microflora is indispensable for the expression of the pathogenicity but not for the multiplication of G. lamblia

The acute phase of experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi is more severe in mice monoassociated with strict anaerobic bacteria

The influence of some components of the normal human intestinal flora on the acute phase of experimental infection with strain CL of Trypanosoma cruzi was studied in 30-day old germfree or gnotobiotic CFW (LOB) mice monassociated with Bacteroids fragilis, Peptostreptococcus sp or Clostridium sp by intragastrical inoculation of 10 6 bacteria 10 days before the intraperitoneal infections with 5 x 10 3 trypomastigotes/ g body weight. Significantly earlier parasitemia peak and mortality were observed in Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium-associated mice (16.75 ñ 0.96 and 15.00 ñ 1.15 days, respectively) when compared with germfree animals (18.83 ñ 1.17 days). More precocious mortlity (10.40 ñ 2.06 days) and , curiouslyy, much lower blood parasitemia were observed in Peptostreptococcus-associated mice than in other gnobiotic mice. The extent of cardiac tissue parasitism decreased in the following order: germfree, B. fragilis-associated, Clostridium-associated and Peptostreptococcus associated animals. The levels of inflammatory reaction decreased in the following order: germfree, Peptostreptococcus-associated , Clostridium-associated, and B. fragilis-associated mice. These results show that the acute phase of experimental infection with T. cruzi was more severe in mice associated with strict anaerobic bacteria when compared with germfree animals. This suggests that a normal intestinal flora may be another factor, in addition to nutritional and genetic factors, responsible for the different susceptibility of organisms of the same species infected with T. cruzi

Immune responses of germfree mice to experimental infection with trypanosoma cruzi

1. The immune responses to Trypanosoma cruzi infection of germfree mice were compared to the reponses of infected conventional mice. Two groups (40 animals in each group) of 2-month old female CFW germfree and vonventional mice were used. The IgM and IgG which bound to the surface of T. cruzi epimastigotes determined by ELISA were significantly lower in germfree than in conventional mice (1/3 and 1/5 for IgM and IgG, respectively). 2. After infection there was a three-fold increase in the circulating levels of these immunoglobulins in germfree but not in conventional mice. twenty-one days after T. cruzi inoculation, both IgG and IgM levels were similar in germfree and conventional animals. 3. Footpad swelling after T. cruzi-antigen inoculation was initially four-fold more intense in germfree than in conventional mice. 4. These results suggest that the reduced humoral immune response of germfree mice during ythe initiation of experimental Chagas' disease may be responsible for the more severe parasitism when compared to conventional mice

Intragastric infection of germfree and conventional mice with Salmonella typhimurium

The present study investigates the lethality of intragastric Salmonella typhimurium infection of germfree (GF) and conventional (CV, not germfree) mice. The introduction of only 10 viable S. typhimurium into the gastrointestinal tract of GF mice resulted in death of all animals within 8 days of inoculation. In contrast, the 50% lethal dose for CV mice was 4.7 x 10**3 viable organisms. The results demonstrate that resident microbes protect mice from the pathogenic effect of S. typhimurium infection

Functional and histopathological renal changes induced in rats by Bothrops jararaca venom

1. Ninety-eight female rats were injected with 14 microng/g B. jararaca venom intraperitoneally to determine functional and histopathological renal changes. 2. Glomerular filtrataion rate, renal plasma flow, filtration fractional, osmolar clearance, water transportation in collecting ducts, urinary sodium excretion, fractional sodium excretion, albuminuria, urinalysis, plasma creatinine, urinary output and mean arterial pressure were sstudied before and 24 and 48 h after venom administration. Light microscope examination of the kidneys was carried out in another group of rats before and 2,5 and 24h after venom administration. 3. Treated animals developed acute renal failure characterized by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate, osmolar clearance, and fractionalal and urinary sodium excretion, and by an increase in plasma creatinine. There was also a decrease in renal plasma flow and mean arterial pressure. Histopathological examination of the kidneys indicated mild proliferation of the mesangial matrix and degenerative changes of the tubules characterized by loss of brush border and cytoplasmic vacuolation. 4. the hemodynamic changes probably played and important role in the pathogenesis of the functional and histopathological renal changes developed by the animals after venon injection

Acantoma de celulas claras (tumor de Degos). / Clear cell acanthoma (Degos' tumor)

O acantoma de celulas claras constitui um tumor cutaneo intraepidermico incomum do qual reunimos cinco casos, fato que nos parece unico na literatura nacional.Trata-se de quatro pacientes do sexo feminino e um do sexo masculino, com idade variando entre 38 e 75 anos, todos com a lesao localizada nos membros inferiores.O diagnostico clinico nao foi estabelecido em nenhum dos casos, sendo o mesmo firmado em bases histopatologicas. Descrevemos os aspectos clinico-patologicos tipicos da lesao, discutimos a sua patogenia e concluimos que o acantoma de celulas claras deve representar uma acantose glicogenica reacional e nao uma neoplasia genuina

Figado gorduroso agudo idiopatico da gravidez. Estudo clinico-patologico de tres casos. / Idiopathic acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Clinico-pathological study of 3 cases

Os autores relatam tres casos de figado gorduroso agudo idiopatico da gravidez, estudados do ponto de vista clinico e anatomo-patologico: duas pacientes sobreviveram, tendo havido involucao da hepatopatia comprovada por puncao-biopsia percutanea, e uma terceira evoluiu para o obito, para o qual concorreu a coexistencia de descolamento prematuro da placenta. Chamam a atencao para a possibilidade da ocorrencia de nova gravidez nao complicada (caso I) bem como para o risco de hipoglicemia grave (casos I e II) capaz de determinar importante sequela neurologica (caso II) e a exigir a monitorizacao e o controle rigoroso dos niveis de glicose sanguinea

Acquired resistance of mice against S. mansoni and lung granulomatous reaction induced by BCG.

Pesquisas realizadas em camundongos Sw, nao singeneicos, mostraram nao ter havido correlacao entre a intensidade da reacao granulomatosa pulmonar e o grau de resistencia adquirida contra a infeccao por S.mansoni induzida pelo BCG

Malformacao adenomatoide cistica congenita do pulmao. Relato de um caso. / Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.A case report

Um caso de malformacao adenomatoide cistica pulmonar congenita, com expressivas manifestacoes clinicas nas primeiras horas de vida extra-uterina e relatado.Realizou-se o estudo clinicopatologico do caso, discutindo-se aspectos da etiopatogenia, conduta terapeutica e prognostico desta rara doenca pulmonar baseando-se em breve revisao da literatura

The association of Schistosoma mansoni infection with deficiency of vitamin A in mice.

Verificou-se que o desenvolvimento somatico do Schistosoma mansoni foi retardado em camundongos com deficiencia de vitamina A, quando comparado com aquele obtido no grupo controle. A diferenca foi mais acentuada no 12o. dia. A proporcao de vermes no 1o., 2o. e 3o. estagios de desenvolvimento foi de 66,5%; 31,0 e 2,5%, respectivamente, para os camundongos em avitaminose A, e 26,4; 37,4 e 36,2%, respectivamente, para os controles. No 18o. dia apos a exposicao cercariana, a proporcao de vermes no 1o., 2o., 3o., 4o. e 5o. estagios foi de 4,4; 0,0%; 46,45; 36,44 e 12,66% para os camundongos com deficiencia de vitamina A, e 0,0; 0,0; 17,54; 54,84 e 27,62%, respectivamente, para os controles. A oviposicao foi praticamente a mesma em ambos os grupos. Nao foi possivel detectar caroteno ou vitamina A nos vermes obtidos de animais em avitaminose A. Nos esquistossomos recuperados de animais-controles, os niveis de caroteno e vitamina A foram 1020 e 0,086 microgramo/g de verme, respectivamente.Alguns animais desenvolveram uma neuropatia, com consequente amputacao espontanea de uma das patas dianteiras. Nos grupos controle e dificientes de vitamina A infectados, a incidencia desta neuropatia foi de 4,9 e 23,1% respectivamente

Hibridos celulares (hibridomas): uma nova e potente biotecnologia. / Cell hybrids (hybridomas): a potent new biotechnology

Neste trabalho revemos os principios basicos e o significado geral da biotecnologia dos hibridomas celulares, metodo de producao virtualmente ilimitada de anticorpos monoclonais, homogeneos na classe, avidez pelo imunogeno e especificidade

Sindrome de Trousseau associada a hepatocarcinoma complicando gravidez

Relata-se um caso inusitado de manifestacao de uma sindrome de Trousseau (coagulopatia intravascular cronica associada a neoplasias malignas) em uma paciente gravida e portadora de um hepatocarcinoma. A revisao bibliografica em torno do assunto mostra ser este o primeiro relato de associacao entre uma sindrome de Trosseau e o complexo hepatocarcinoma-gravidez

Linfadenite no decurso da hanseniase: um importante diagnostico diferencial entre as linfanomegalias. / Lymphadenitis in the course of hanseniasis: an important differential diagnosis in lymphadenopathies

A linfadenomega;oa no decurso da hanseniase e bastante comum em nosso meio, sobretudo na forma Virchowiana. Paradoxalmente, o diagnostico de linfadenite hanseniana quase nunca e feito e sao escassas as referencias sobre este tipo de manisfestacao da hanseniase. Alguns trabalhos recentes enfatizam a importancia da analise morfologica de linfonodos no sentido de se avaliarem as condicoes imunitarias dos pacientes e, de certa maneira, prever-se a evolucao natural da doenca. A importancia dos linfonodos como reservatorios biologicos de bacilos deve tambem ser considerada. Relatamos 16 casos de linfadenite hanseniana cuja manifestacao clinica inicial foi de linfadenomegalia, clinicamente expressiva, classificada como maligna (linfoma, metastase). Os aspectos histologicos e fisiopatogeneticos da linfadenite, bem como sua importancia no diagnostico diferencial clinico-patologico sao enfantizados

Histiocitoma fibroso maligno dos ossos: um importante diagnostico diferencial entre as neoplasias osseas malignas. / Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bones an important differential diagnosis of malignant bone neoplasms

Sao relatados 3 casos de histiocitoma fibroso maligno primario dos ossos (HFMO), diagnosticados histologicamente, desde o inicio, como tal. Radiologicamente, o tumor caracterizouse por lesoes osteoliticas, unicas ou multiplas, de limites imprecisos, com expansao e/ ou destruicao cortical. Histologicamente, o tumor e constituido de histiocitos atipicos, com formas variaves, imitando varios outros tumores malignos. O prognostico,geralmente, e melhor que os dos outros tumores com que o HFMO e confundido. Entretanto, um dos casos faleceu com grande tumor e outro teve alta em precario estado geral, apos recusar qualquer forma de tratamento