Putative protective effect of Cadmium chloride high diluted solution on LLC-PK1 cell intoxicated by high concentration of this same metal: an isopathic in vitro assay

Cadmium is an important toxic environmental heavy metal. Several studies have demonstrated that a major site of cadmium toxicity in humans and in other animals is the proximal tubule of the kidney. A well established model for nefrotoxicity is the use of in vitro technique with proximal tubule epithelial cell lines, as LLC-PK1. Herein, we have the intention to study the possible protective effect of high diluted CdCl2 solutions. In a blinding way, LLC-PK1 cells were pre-treated with high diluted cadmium chloride in the potencies 10 cH, 15 cH and 20cH. After 4 days, these cells have received CdCl2 in a pre-determined toxic concentration. The cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. We have identified a protective effect of two CdCl2 high diluted solutions, 10 cH and 20 cH, when cells were intoxicated by sublethal CdCl2 concentration. The results indicate that probably the high dilutions have an expressive action on cells in sublethal intoxication.

O Cádmio é um contaminante ambiental relevante. Muitos estudos demonstram que o sítio de toxicidade em humanos e outros animais é o túbulo proximal do rim. Um modelo bem estabelecido para nefrotoxicidade é o uso de técnicas in vitro com linhagens de células epiteliais do túbulo proximal, conhecidas por LLC-PK1. Assim, nossa proposta foi a de estudar os eventuais efeitos protetores de uma alta diluição de CdCl2. Em um ensaio cego, células LLC_PK1 foram pré-tratadas com altas diluições de cloreto de cádmio nas diluições 10 cH, 15 cH e 20 cH. Após 4 dias, estas células receberam CdCl2 em uma concentração tóxica, previamente deteminada. A viabilidade cellular foi estudada por ensaios MTT. Observamos um efeito protetor para duas altas diluições de CdCl2, 10 cH e 20 cH, quando as células foram intoxicadas por concentrações subletais de CdCl2. Estes resultados indicam a possibilidade de que altas diluições tenham ação expressiva em células, em intoxicações subletais.

El Cádmio es un metal pesado com relevante acción tóxica en el medio ambiente. Varios estudios han demostrado que un sitio importante de la toxicidad del cadmio en los humanos y en otros animales es el túbulo proximal del riñón. Un modelo bien establecido de nefrotoxicidad es el uso de la técnica in vitro con células epiteliales del túbulo proximal, como las LLC-PK1. Estudiamos el posible efecto protector de soluciones altamente diluidas de CdCl2. Com uma metodologia em ciego, las células LLC-PK1 fueron pre-tratados con cloruro de cadmio altamente diluídos en las potencias 10 cH, 15 cH y 20 cH. Después de 4 días, estas células han recibido CdCl2 en una concentración tóxica predeterminado. La viabilidad celular se evaluó por el ensayo MTT. Hemos identificado un efecto protector de dos soluciones de altamente diluída de CdCl2, 10 cH y 20 cH, cuando las células se intoxicaron por concentración CdCl2 subletales. Los resultados indican que probablemente las altas diluciones tienen una acción expresiva en las células, en la intoxicación subletal.

Evaluation of preventive homeopathic treatment against Colibacillosis in swine production

Escherichia coli is the most important etiologic agent implied in neonatal diarrhea in swine; colibacillosis is the disease with highest impact in production of swine. The demands of consumers for meat without chemical residues and the ban on the use of antibiotics and chemotherapics in production of swine compelled to find alternative therapeutic and preventive treatments. Aims: to assess homeopathic treatment as preventive against colibacillosis in swine. Methods: the study was conducted in a farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil; stools of 4 piglets with diarrhea were collected to establish the presence of E. coli; concomitantly it was performed a clinical exam to identify the symptoms leading to the choice of a homeopathy remedy. Newborn piglets were divided into 4 groups (n= 11 or 12): 1) control, subjected to antibiotic treatment against diarrhea; 2) homeopathic treatment, performed with Phosphorus 30cH according to the symptoms collected; 3) biotherapic treatment, performed with Escherichia coli 30cH prepared from the locally obtained bacteria; 4) homeopathic + biotherapics treatment. Results: all 3 groups treated with homeopathy/isotherapy presented a significant reduction of diarrhea compared to the control group (p=0.02); the group treated with Phosphorus 30cH + Escherichia coli 30cH presented the highest weight gain which was significant by comparison to all other groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: homeopathic and biotherapics treatment were more effective than antibiotics in the control of diarrhea in newborn piglets; combination of homeopathic and isopathic treatment resulted in the highest weight gain. These results suggest that homeopathy and isopathy are effective alternatives for the treatment of diarrhea by E. coli in newborn swine.