Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on insulin signaling cascade, dyslipidemia, and body adiposity of diet-induced obese rats

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) has been indicated as an efficient medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. It remains unclear if its effects are due to an improvement of the insulin signaling cascade, especially in obese subjects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of GbE on insulin tolerance, food intake, body adiposity, lipid profile, fasting insulin, and muscle levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), and protein kinase B (Akt), as well as Akt phosphorylation, in diet-induced obese rats. Rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal fat diet (NFD) for 8 weeks. After that, the HFD group was divided into two groups: rats gavaged with a saline vehicle (HFD+V), and rats gavaged with 500 mg/kg of GbE diluted in the saline vehicle (HFD+Gb). NFD rats were gavaged with the saline vehicle only. At the end of the treatment, the rats were anesthetized, insulin was injected into the portal vein, and after 90s, the gastrocnemius muscle was removed. The quantification of IRS-1, Akt, and Akt phosphorylation was performed using Western blotting. Serum levels of fasting insulin and glucose, triacylglycerols and total cholesterol, and LDL and HDL fractions were measured. An insulin tolerance test was also performed. Ingestion of a hyperlipidic diet promoted loss of insulin sensitivity and also resulted in a significant increase in body adiposity, plasma triacylglycerol, and glucose levels. In addition, GbE treatment significantly reduced food intake and body adiposity while it protected against hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diet-induced obesity rats. It also enhanced insulin sensitivity in comparison to HFD+V rats, while it restored insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation, increased IRS-1, and reduced PTP-1B levels in gastrocnemius muscle. The present findings suggest that G. biloba might be efficient in preventing and treating obesity-induced insulin signaling impairment.

Viabilidade de embriões vitrificados oriundos da fertilização in vitro de oócitos de vacas suplementadas com canola / Viability of vitrified embryos obtained from the in vitro fertilization of oocytes from cows supplemented with canola

Avaliou-se a produção de oócitos e embriões de vacas Nelore in vitro e a resistência à vitrificação. Foram utilizadas 12 vacas Nelore, distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois tratamentos: T1-tratados com canola em grão (2,0kg/animal/dia) e T2-controle. Cada animal foi aspirado quatro vezes para obtenção de óocitos para fecundação in vitro. Os oócitos foram quantificados e classificados em viáveis ou inviáveis. Os zigotos foram cultivados in vitro e, sete dias após, os embriões foram avaliados quanto à qualidade e grau de desenvolvimento e vitrificados em hastes próprias. Na sequência, foram descongelados e cultivados em 6, 12 e 24 horas, observando-se a taxa de expansão e eclosão. Não houve diferenças (P>0,05) no número total de oócitos viáveis, T1=12,7% e T2=11,0%, na taxa de clivagem, T1=60,6% e T2=61,4%, e taxa de blastocistos, T1=23,7% e T2=27,0%, em função do tratamento. Também não houve influência na taxa de re-expansão, T1=70,5 e T2=59,6%, após a vitrificação e descongelamento. Todavia houve diferença (P<0,06) para a taxa de eclosão, T1=69,2 e T2=35,7. Conclui-se que a adição de canola na dieta de vacas não alterou a produção de embriões; entretanto, os embriões resultantes de oócitos coletados de vacas alimentadas com canola são mais resistentes à vitrificação.

It was evaluated the production of oocytes and embryos from Nellore cows in vitro, as well as its resistance to vitrification, when the animals were supplemented with canola grains. Twelve Nellore cows were randomly divided into two treatments: T1-treated with Canola grains (2.0kg/animal/day) and T2-control. Each animal was submitted to other four aspirations, to obtain oocytes for the in vitro fertilization. The oocytes were quantified and classified as viable or not viable. The embryos were cultivated in vitro, seven days after the quality and the level of development of embryos was evaluated and they were vitrified in vitrification straws. Then, the embryos were thawed and grown during 6, 12 and 24 hours, and the rate of expansion and hatching were recorded. There were no differences (P> 0.05) in the whole number of viable oocytes T1: 12.7±1.71 and T2: 11.0±1.77, cleavage rate T1= 60.6±4,72 and T2= 61.4±4.88 or blastocysts rate T1=23,7±5.12 and T2=27,0±5.30 due to the treatment. The treatments did not influence the rate of re-expansion T1= 70,5±6.99 and T2: 59.6±7.09 after vitrification and thawing. However, there was a significant difference (P <0.06) in the hatching rate (T1: 69.17±7.43; T2: 35.66±6.86). Thus, we conclude that supplementation with canola grains did not change embryos production, but the embryos yielded from oocytes of cows fed canola grains are more resistant to vitrification.

Desempenho de novilhas búfalas terminadas em confinamento em resposta ao uso de promotor de crescimento ou de esferas de chumbo no útero / Buffalo heifer's performance fattened in feedlot in response of the utilization of growth promoter or lead sphere introduced in the uterus

Avaliaram-se ganho de peso, ingestão e conversão alimentar de matéria seca e rendimento de carcaça quente de 20 novilhas bubalinas, confinadas, com média de peso de 350kg e média de idade de 16 meses. Os animais permaneceram em baias coletivas durante 84 dias e foram alimentadas com silagem de cana-de-açúcar + 1 por cento de uréia e concentrado. Os tratamentos foram: VAZ - novilhas vazias, PRC - novilhas com implante de promotor de crescimento e CHU - novilhas com 100 esferas de chumbo introduzidas no útero. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso com seis repetições no tratamento VAZ e sete repetições em PRC e CHU. O peso final, ganho médio diário e conversão alimentar da matéria seca foram mais elevados para as búfalas do tratamento PRC, respectivamente, 445,0kg; 1,2kg e 9,7kg de MS/kg de ganho de peso vivo, em comparação com as do tratamento VAZ, respectivamente, 412,6kg; 0,9kg e 11,4kg de MS/kg de ganho de peso vivo e as do tratamento CHU, respectivamente, 407,9kg; 0,8kg e 12,2kg de MS/kg de ganho de peso vivo. Peso final, ganho médio diário e conversão alimentar da matéria seca das búfalas dos tratamentos VAZ e CHU não diferiram entre si. Para o rendimento de carcaça quente não foi observado efeito entre tratamentos.

A completely randomized design with three treatments and seven replicates was used to evaluate the daily weight gain, dry matter intake, feed:weight gain ratio and hot carcass yield of 20 buffalo heifers averaging 350kg and 16 months of age, kept in feed lot for 84 days. Animals were fed on sugar cane silage + 1 percent of urea and soybean, corn meal and salt minerals. The treatments were EMP - open heifers GPR - growth promoter implanted heifers and LEA - heifers with 100 lead spheres introduced in the uterus. The GRP animals showed higher body weight, daily weight gain and feed:weight gain ratio (444.0kg, 1.2kg and 9.7kg/kg) in comparison to EMP animals (412.6kg, 9kg and 11.4kg /kg) and LEA animals (407.9, 8kg and 12.2kg/kg), respectively. No significant mean differences between EMP and LEA animals for all the studied traits and no treatment effect on carcass yield were observed.

Contribuiçäo ao estudo da anatomia do sistema de canais radiculares de caninos inferiores utilizando-se de cortes macroscópicos e da diafanizaçäo / Anatomy study of root system of lower canines using macroscopic cuts and clarifying technique

A anatomia dos canais radiculares tem sido tema de estudos desde 1942 e mesmo com as diversas observaçöes descritas por vários autores, permaneceu-se dúvidas a respeito dos aspectos morfológicos internos de vários grupos de dentes. O presente trabalho utilizou-se de 103 (cento e três) caninos interiores extraídos, onde se analisou os aspectos macroscópicos da cavidade pulpar, utilizando-se de cortes sagital, frontal e transversais, assim como da diafanizaçäo. Notamos que, em 100 po cento dos espécimes haviam uma raiz e um único canal radicular, sendo que em 83 por cento das amostras evidenciou-se permeabilidade dentinária. Os canais secundários foram verificados em 47 por cento dos dentes, assim com 3 por cento de canais laterais, 1 por cento canal acessório e 15 por cento co delta apical. fator importante que observamos também foi que, em 42 dos espécimes o forame apical coincidia-se com o ápice radicular; 23 por cento, abria-se para vestibular, 8 por cento, para distal; 8 por cento, para mesial e 4 por cento para lingual

Effects of ethanol intake on retinol concentration in the milk of lactating rats

The effect of the consumption of ethanol (5 percent) on retinol concentration in milk studied in the rat on day 12 after delivery, together with the evolution of dam body weight and pup growth rate. Female Wistar rats receiving alcohol (5 percent) in drinking water during lactation (N=7) were compared to normal controles fed ad libitum (N=6). The mean maternal alcohol intake was 3.96 + 0.23 g/kg body weight per day. To determine retinol levels in milk we used the Bessey and Lowry method, modified by Araújo and Flores (1978) Clinical Chemistry, 24:386-392). The pups were separated from dams for a 2-4h period, after which the dams were injected intraperitoneally with anesthetic and oxytocin. The concentration of retinol in milk was 162.88 + 10.60 mug/dl in the control group and 60.02 + 8.22 mug/dl in the ethanol group (P<0.05). The ethanol group consumed less food than the controls and lost a significant amount of weight during lactation. On days 8, 10 and 12, the body weight of the pups from rats given ethanol (13.46 + 0.43, 16.12 + 0.48 and 18.60 + 0.91 g, respectively) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than the weight of pups from controls (15.2 + 0.44, 18.36 + 0.54, 20.77 + 0.81 g). These data show that ethanol intake during the suckling period, even at low concentrations, decreases the amount of retinol in milk and, therefore, the amount available to the pups.

Primary germ cell tumours of the mediastinum.

Twenty nine cases of primary mediastinal germ cell tumours (MGCT) were seen at the Tata Memorial Hospital over a 16--year period (1974-1989). There were 5 benign MGCT occurring predominantly in females (80%), with these patients having an excellent result after surgery with all patients disease free at an median follow-up of 27 months. Malignant MGCT occurred only in males and demonstrated wide variation in response to treatment depending upon whether the tumour was seminomatous or non-seminomatous. There were 11 Seminomas, 5 Embryonal carcinomas, 5 Endodermal sinus tumours and 3 Teratocarcinomas. The diagnosis was established by surgical exploration or by biopsy of a lymph node or chest wall nodule in 20 patients. Four patients had needle biopsy. Seminomatous MGCT received radiotherapy as their main treatment modality and did well with 75% of the patients alive without disease at an average follow up of 33 months. The non-seminomatous MGCT could be divided into two groups. The mean survival for patients receiving cisplatinum based chemotherapy was 14 months as compared to the group not receiving such therapy where the survival was only 5.3 months. However, because of the advanced disease at presentation even in the group receiving cisplatinum chemotherapy, a long term complete response rate of only 20% could be achieved.

Cervical approach for repair of congenital tracheo-esophageal fistula presenting in an adult.

Congenital tracheo-esophageal fistula without esophageal atresia was diagnosed on barium swallow radiography and esophagoscopy findings in an adult patient presenting with difficult in swallowing. The fistulous opening seen on the anterior wall of the esophagus led to the trachea. On bronchoscopy, the tracheal opening was located posteriorly 5 cm below the vocal cords. Successful repair was undertaken via a left cervical approach. The anatomical and developmental basis for the preferred approach is discussed with a brief literature review on the subject.

Recurrent ameloblastoma of the mandible and maxilla.

Sixteen cases of recurrent ameloblastomas of the mandible and maxilla seen over a 14 year period at the Tata Memorial Hospital were analysed with emphasis on recurrence patterns, type of primary surgery and surgical management. Seventy-five percent of the cases had conservative surgery at the first instance. In our experience, recurrent tumors could be excised widely even in unusual locations with good results.

Laser in the management of stenosing oropharyngeal scleroma.

We present here our experience of laser for the management of stenosed oropharyngeal scleroma. The diagnosis of scleroma was made 14 years ago and the patient underwent repeated procedures like dilatation, diathermy excision of adhesions and cryosurgery during this period. He attended our out-patient department with complaints of dysphagia and difficulty in breathing, progressing to stridor. On examination, severe oropharyngeal stenosis due to cicatrization extending between the base of the tongue and the post-pharyngeal wall was seen. Using CO2 laser, cicatrix was released by making radial cuts and the oropharyngeal opening was widened. No tracheostomy was needed; no blood loss occurred and the patient was discharged on the next day.

Circumdural decompression by posterior vertebrectomy for relief of cord compression due to metastatic disease of thoracic and lumbar spine.

Circumdural cord decompression with total or almost total vertebrectomy in the thoracic or lumbar spine through a posterior approach can provide optimal decompression of neural tissue. This procedure combined with posterior instrumentation and immediate reconstruction of the anterior defect with polymethylmethacrylate can provide adequate stabilization. Immediate ambulation with minimal external support is possible. This single operative approach is preferred to anterior (transthoracic or retroperitoneal) decompression due to high morbidity associated with the latter. The authors' experience with this procedure in four cases is presented.