Subcutaneous injection of an immunologically tolerated protein up to 5 days before skin injuries improves wound healing

Oral tolerance blocks the development of specific immune responses to proteins ingested by the oral route. One of the first registries of oral tolerance showed that guinea pigs fed corn became refractory to hypersensitivity to corn proteins. Mice fed with chow containing corn are tolerant to zein, and parenteral injection of zein plus adjuvant blocks immunization to unrelated proteins injected concomitantly and reduces unspecific inflammation. Extensive and prolonged inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed is one of the causes of pathological wound healing. Previous research shows that intraperitoneal injection of zein concomitant with skin injuries reduces the inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed and improves wound healing. Herein, we tested if one subcutaneous injection of zein before skin injury improves wound healing. We also investigated how long the effects triggered by zein could improve skin wound healing. Mice fed zein received two excisional wounds on the interscapular skin under anesthesia. Zein plus Al(OH)3 was injected at the tail base at 10 min, or 3, 5, or 7 days before skin injuries. Wound healing was analyzed at days 7 and 40 after injury. Our results showed that a zein injection up to 5 days before skin injury reduced the inflammatory infiltrate, increased the number of T-cells in the wound bed, and improved the pattern of collagen deposition in the neodermis. These findings could promote the development of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of pathological healing using proteins normally found in the common diet.

Thyroid parafollicular cell hyperplasia and carcinoma in a sheep with enzootic calcinosis due to Nierembergia rivularis poisoning / [Hiperplasia e carcinoma de células parafoliculares da tireóide em ovino com calcinose enzoótica associada a intoxicação por Nierembergia rivularis]

Calcinose enzoótica, causada por Nierembergia rivularis, no Uruguai, e Nierembergia veitchii, no Brasil, é uma doença caracterizada por mineralização de tecidos moles, hiperplasia das células parafoliculares da tireoide e elevação nos níveis de cálcio e fósforo. Descreve-se um caso de hiperplasia e carcinoma de células parafoliculares bilateral em um ovino de quatro anos, com calcinose enzoótica associada à intoxicação por Nierembergia rivularis. O diagnóstico histológico de hiperplasia e carcinoma de células parafoliculares é suportado pelas marcações imuno-histoquímicas positivas para calcitonina, peptídeo relacionado ao gene da calcitonina e enolase neurônio específica. Como a hiperplasia de células parafoliculares é uma lesão pré-neoplásica induzida por hipercalcemia, sugere-se que a hipercalcemia crônica causada pela intoxicação por N. rivularis pode ter induzido hiperplasia de células parafoliculares seguida de transformação em carcinoma, neste caso. Os efeitos carcinogênicos das plantas calcinogênicas no sistema endócrino devem ser melhor explorados.(AU)

Effects of strain and age on ear wound healing and regeneration in mice

Round holes in the ears of MRL mice tend to close with characteristics of regeneration believed to be absent in other mouse strains (e.g., C57BL/6). We evaluated the kinetics and the histopathology of ear wound closure in young (8 weeks old) C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. We also used middle-aged (40 weeks old) C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the influence of aging on this process. A circular through-and-through hole was made in the ear, photographs were taken at different times after injury and wound area was measured with digital analysis software. The percentages of closed area measured on day 100 were: 23.57 ± 8.66 percent for young BALB/c mice, 56.47 ± 7.39 percent for young C57BL/6 mice, and 75.31 ± 23.65 percent for middle-aged C57BL/6 mice. Mice were sacrificed on days 1, 3, 5, 25, 44, and 100 for histological evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin, Gomori’s trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff, or picrosirius red staining. In young mice of both strains, healing included re-epithelialization, chondrogenesis, myogenesis, and collagen deposition. Young C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice differed in the organization of collagen fibers visualized using picrosirius-polarization. Sebaceous glands and hair follicles regenerated and chondrogenesis was greater in young C57BL/6 mice. In middle-aged C57BL/6 mice all aspects of regeneration were depressed. The characteristics of regeneration were present during ear wound healing in both young BALB/c and young C57BL/6 mice although they differed in intensity and pattern. Greater ear wound closure in middle-aged C57BL/6 mice was not correlated with regeneration.

Hydrolases in the hypopharyngeal glands of workers of Scaptotrigona postica and Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apinae)

Hydrolytic enzymes from hypopharyngeal gland extracts of newly emerged, nurse and foraging workers of two eusocial bees, Scaptotrigona postica, a native Brazilian stingless bee, and the Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera) in Brazil, were compared. The hypopharyngeal gland is rich in enzymes in both species. Fifteen different enzymes were found in the extracts, with only a few quantitative differences between the species. Some of the enzymes present in the extracts may have intracellular functions, while others seem to be digestive enzymes. Scaptotrigona postica, had lower beta-glucosidase and higher lipase esterase activities than A. mellifera. The differences may be due to different feeding habits and behavioral peculiarities of the two species.

Efeitos de compostos fenólicos sobre a atividade da urease de soja / Effects of phenolics compounds on soybean urease activity

Allelopathy is defined as any direct or indirect harmful effect of one plant (including microorganisms) on another through the production of chemical compounds that escape into the environment. The allelochemicals produced by microorganisms or higher plants include p-coumaric and ferulic acids: these phenolic compounds were found in soils at concentration between 0,01 mM and 0,1mM. Soybean urease (E.C.3.5.1.5) catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea, thus producing carbon dioxide and ammonia which are important for plant growth. This article analyzes a probable relation between allelopathic agents and enzymatic activity of urease. The results show that p-coumaric acids is an inhibitor of urease at high concentrations (10mM), while ferulic acid inhibits the enzyme at extremely low concentrations (10-7mM)

Efeito de resseccao dos rins primitivos em pacientes transplantados com hipertensao maligna. / Effect of the resection of native kidneys in transplant recipients with malignant hypertension

Os autores analisam a indicacao e beneficios da resseccao dos rins primitivos apos transplante renal, em 17 pacientes cuja doenca renal primitiva era hipertensao maligna. Em 10 casos a indicacao foi para controle de hipertensao arterial, em 5 casos para cura da poliglobulia e hipertensao associada e em 2 casos porque eram portadores de coronariopatia.Houve queda significativa da pressao arterial apos a cirurgia em todos os casos e correcao da poliglobulia, quando presente. Nao houve nenhum obito relacionado a cirurgia. O transplante renal, por si so, mesmo funcionando bem, nao corrige niveis pressoricos de pacientes portadores previamente de hipertensao maligna.A retirada dos rins primitivos promove a melhora ou cura da hipertensao arterial