Surgical application of fascia lata as a pericardial substitute in rabbits / Aplicação cirúrgica de fascia lata como substituto do pericárdio em coelhos

PURPOSE: To use fascia lata instead of pericardium and observe the presence of adhesions. METHODS: Twenty rabbits were divided into two group of ten. In group A, a 1×1 cm segment of pericardium was excised and resutured. In group B excised pericardium was substituted for autologous fascia lata. RESULTS: In the comparison of microscopic adhesion rate between two groups A, B after eight weeks, there was no significant statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Fascia lata is safe and it can be substituted for pericardium especially in repeat sternotomy in repairing congenital heart defects to avoid heart injury.

OBJETIVO: Utilizar fascia lata em vez de pericárdio e observar a presencça de aderências. MÉTODOS: Vinte coelhos foram distribuidos em dois grupos de dez. No grupo A, um 1×1 cm de segmento de pericárdio foi retirado e resuturado. No grupo B pericárdio retirado foi substituído por fáscia lata autóloga. RESULTADOS: Na comparação da taxa de aderência microscópica entre dois grupos A, B, após oito semanas, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante. CONCLUSÃO: A fascia lata é segura e pode ser substituta do pericárdio, especialmente em nova esternotomia na reparação de defeitos cardíacos congênitos para evitar lesão cardíaca.

Neuropathological changes in brain cortex and hippocampus in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease [AD] is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive loss of cognitive abilities and memory loss. The aim of this study was to compare neuropathological changes in hippocampus and brain cortex in a rat model of AD. Adult male Albino Wistar rats [weighing 250-300 g] were used for behavioral and histopathological studies. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, sham and beta-amyloid [Abeta] injection. For behavioral analysis, Y-maze and shuttle box were used, respectively at 14 and 16 days post-lesion. For histological studies, Nissl, modified Bielschowsky and modified Congo red staining were performed. The lesion was induced by injection of 4 microL of Abeta [1-40] into the hippocampal fissure. In the present study, Abeta [1-40] injection into hippocampus could decrease the behavioral indexes and the number of CA1 neurons in hippocampus. Abeta injection CA1 caused Abeta deposition in the hippocampus and less than in cortex. We observed the loss of neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and certain subcortical regions. Y-maze test and single-trial passive avoidance test showed reduced memory retention in AD group. We found a significant decreased acquisition of passive avoidance and alternation behavior responses in AD group compared to control and sham group [P<0.0001]. Compacted amyloid cores were present in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and white matter, whereas, scattered amyloid cores were seen in cortex and hippocampus of AD group. Also, reduced neuronal density was indicated in AD grouper ovariectomy