Expression of bradykinin in human placenta from healthy and preeclamptic women / Expressão de bradicinina em placentas humanas saudáveis e pré-eclâmpticas

This study evaluated the expression of bradykinin (BK) in human placenta from healthy and preeclamptic women. This is a non -randomized experimental study, in which we performed histological analysis of placental tissue to observe changes that occur in each kind of placenta as well as immunohistochemical analysis to investigate the expression of bradykinin. We used 'Paleontological Statistics software package for education and data analysis' 3.06 and R for the statistical analysis. The Ethics Committee of the University of Rio Grande do Norte State approved this experiment under protocol number 166370, according to the determinations established by Resolutions 466/12 and 441/11.We found differences between the two kinds of placenta concerning the diameter of the vessels and the rate of cytotrophoblastic invasion. Student's t- test evidenced significant difference (p = 7.6395 x 10-5) indicating greater marking of BK per section in the healthy placenta group. The result of more significant expression of bradykinin in healthy placenta can be used as a starting point for deeper researches aiming to better characterize and quantify this expression.

Este estudo avaliou a expressão de bradicinina em placentas humanas saudáveis e pré-eclâmpticas. Trata -se de um estudo de caráter experimental não randomizado, no qual foi feita uma análise histológica dos tecidos placentários, permitindo a observação das alterações ocorridas em cada tipo de placenta, e a técnica de imuno-histoquímica, a fim de investigar a presença de bradicinina. Foi utilizado o Paleontological Statistics software package for education and data analysis 3.06 para a análise estatística. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte sob o protocolo número 166.370, de acordo com as diretrizes estabelecidas nas Resoluções 466/12 e 441/11. Foi possível observar diferenças no diâmetro dos vasos e na invasão citotrofoblástica entre os dois tipos de placentas. O teste t de Student mostrou significância estatística (p = 7,6395 x 10-5) para uma maior marcação de BK por secção no grupo de placentas saudáveis. O resultado obtido com relação à expressão mais significante de bradicinina em placentas saudáveis pode ser visto como precursor de uma pesquisa mais aprofundada, para melhor caracterizar e quantificar essa expressão.

Desenvolvimento dos estômagos de bezerros recebendo diferentes dietas líquidas / Development of the stomachs of calves receiving different liquid diets

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento dos compartimentos estomacais de bezerros mestiços submetidos a diferentes dietas líquidas. Foram utilizados 24 bezerros mestiços, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições: Leite integral; 50% Leite integral + 50% de Soro de queijo; 50% Leite integral + 50% de Soro de queijo adicionado de um ovo integral; e 50% Leite integral + 50% de Soro de queijo adicionado de um ovo integral adicionado de biotina. Foram avaliados o consumo de matéria seca, o ganho de peso, o peso absoluto e relativo (ao peso do corpo vazio e peso do estômago completo) dos quatro compartimentos estomacais, além da altura das papilas de quatro regiões do rúmen. As dietas testadas não afetaram nenhuma das características avaliadas, ficando evidenciada uma relação entre o desempenho dos animais e o desenvolvimento dos compartimentos gástricos. O desenvolvimento dos estômagos de bezerros não foi afetado pelas dietas líquidas testadas, sendo, portanto, possível a substituição de 50% do leite integral por soro de queijo.

This research evaluated the influence of different liquid diets on development of the stomach compartments of crossbred calves. It was used 24 crossbred calves distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications: whole milk, 50% whole milk + 50% of cheese whey, 50% whole milk + 50% cheese whey supplemented with a whole egg; whole milk and 50% + 50% of cheese whey a supplemented with a egg added with biotin. I was evaluated the dry matter intake, weight gain, absolute and relative weight (weight of the empty body and weight stomach full) of the four stomach compartments, and papillae height of four rumen regions. The experimental diets did not affect any of the traits, being shown a relationship between animal performance and development of gastric compartments. The development of calf stomachs was not affected by the tested liquid diets, therefore enabling the replacement of 50% of milk for cheese whey.

Tumor necrosis factor-á signaling cascades in apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis and cell proliferation

Tumor necrosis factor-á (TNF-á) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in host defense, inflammation, apoptosis, autoimmunity, organogenesis and lymphoid microarchitecture. Many of these activities may be explained by the ability of this cytokine to induce distinct signal transduction pathways that recruit regulatory proteins involved in differentiation, cell death or cell proliferation. In this review, we discuss the contribution of caspases -3, -6, -7 and -8, and of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), cyclin B and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKI p21 and p27), as well as retinoblastoma tumor suppressor in the signaling cascades triggered by TNF-á to induce apoptosis, necrosis and cellular proliferation in the murine cell lines NIH3T3 and WEHI-164 and the human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa-S3. Based on the findings of many literature reports and our own data, we discussed a model in which caspases are continuously activated throughout the cell cycle and kept at a critical threshold level by IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) antagonists. Following the release of Smac/Diablo and HtrA2/OMI from mitochondria in response to diverse stimuli, this threshold is overcome and results in amplified caspase activation and cell death. An alternative, caspase-independent mechanism of cell death is induced in NIH3T3 fi broblasts by a combination of TNF and the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VADfmk. This cell death phenotype, known as necroptosis, displays some morphological features of apoptosis and necrosis. Although caspases are critical regulators of the TNF signaling pathway during cellular life and death, the mechanisms involved in the fine regulation of their dual effects remain to be fully elucidated.

Molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial apoptogenic factor release through pores and megachannels

Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization is a biochemically well-defined phenomenon that occurs in response to numerous physiological and pathological processes that regulate cell survival. In many situations, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization is triggered by an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca2+ overload, and the interference of BH3-only proteins of the BCL-2 family, as well as by activated caspases that can act on components of the inner or outer membrane to cause the opening, assembly and/or activation of membrane mitochondrial permeability transition pores. These pores permit the release of apoptogenic factors such as cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor, Smac/Diablo, HtrA2/Omi and endonuclease G from the intermembrane space to the cytosol where they mediate many of the biochemical and morphological features of apoptosis and necrosis. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological, genetic and biochemical evidence that proteins, protein complexes and membrane structures can form pores through which apoptogenic factors can be released from mitochondria.

Estudo do leite de éguas sadias ou portadoras de mastite subclínica, pelo teste de Whiteside, análise microbiológica e contagem de células somáticas / Study of the milk in healthy mares or mares with subclinics mastitis using Whiteside test, microbiological culture and somatic cell count

Com o objetivo de identificar a microbiota existente no leite de éguas normais ou portadoras de mastite subclínica, coletaram-se amostras (10 a 15 ml) de leite de 38 animais, que foram examinadas pelo teste de Whiteside, após a homogeneização das amostras dos dois tetos de cada animal. Os resultados foram negativos. Os exames microbiológicos realizados em meios de ágar sangue bovino 10 por cento e ágar MacConkey revelaram presença de bactérias do gênero Staphylococcus spp. e Streptococcus spp. A contagem de células somáticas de amostras individuais de cada teto revelou números superiores a 500.000 células/ml de leite em somente 9,3 por cento das 73 amostras de leite examinadas. Os resultados sugerem a realização de novos estudos objetivando-se a padronização do número de células somáticas no leite de éguas.