Beneficial Effects of Flaxseed and/or Mulberry Extracts Supplementation in Ovariectomized Wistar Rats.

Low endogenous estrogen action causes several injuries. Medicinal plants, such as flaxseed and mulberry, contain substances that have been shown to be effective to the organism. The aim was to verify the effects of flaxseed and/or mulberry extracts on ovariectomized Wistar rats. The animals received supplements of extracts and estrogen or saline by gavage for 60 days and were weighed weekly. Vaginal wash, blood, pituitary, uterus, liver, and kidneys were collected. Phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the extracts, lipid profile, uric acid, liver enzymes, and pituitary weight were measured. Histomorphometric for uterine wall and histopathological analyses for liver and kidney were performed. Flaxseed and mulberry extracts showed great antioxidant activity and large amounts of phenolic compounds. The treatment with extracts had less weight gain, increased pituitary weight, the predominance of vaginal epithelial cells, and reduced TC, LDL-c and lipase activity, similar to estrogen animals. Estrogen or flaxseed + mulberry animals reduced VLDL-c and TAG. HDL-c, uric acid, and liver enzymes did not differ. Estrogen or extracts demonstrated trophic action on the endometrial thickness and have not shown hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. We suggested the beneficial effects of flaxseed and mulberry extract as an alternative to reduce and/or prevent the negative effects caused by low estrogenic action.

Influence of the Expression of Inflammatory Markers on Kidney after Fetal Programming in an Experimental Model of Renal Failure.

Objective. To evaluate the expression of inflammatory markers in experimental renal failure after fetal programming. Methods. The offspring aged two and five months were divided into four groups: CC (control dams, control offspring); DC (diabetic dams, control offspring); CFA (control dams, folic acid offspring, 250 mg/Kg); and DFA (diabetic dams, folic acid offspring). Gene expression of inflammatory markers MCP-1, IL-1, NOS3, TGF-ß, TNF-α, and VEGF was evaluated by RT-PCR. Results. MCP-1 was increased in the CFA and DFA groups at two and five months of age, as well as in DC5 when compared to CC5. There was a higher expression of IL-1 in the CFA2, DFA2, and DC2 groups. There was a decrease in NOS3 and an increase in TNF-α in DFA5 in relation to CFA5. The gene expression of TGF-ß increased in cases that had received folic acid at two and five months, and VEGF decreased in the CFA5 and DFA5 groups. DC5 showed increased VEGF expression in comparison with CC5. Conclusions. Gestational diabetes mellitus and folic acid both change the expression of inflammatory markers, thus demonstrating that the exposure to harmful agents in adulthood has a more severe impact in cases which underwent fetal reprogramming.

Morphological and functional aspects of acute kidney injury after fetal programing in the offspring of diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of folic acid (FA)-induced renal failure in young offspring of diabetic mothers. METHODS: The offspring of streptozotocin-induced diabetic dams were divided into four groups: CC (controls receiving vehicle); DC (diabetics receiving vehicle); CA (controls receiving FA solution, 250 mg/kg) and DA (diabetics receiving FA solution, 250 mg/kg). Renal function tests and morphometry results were analyzed. RESULTS: An increase in creatinine and urea levels was observed in CA and DA groups at two and five months. FA administration caused a significant reduction in the number of glomeruli in the offspring of diabetic dams. The diabetes group treated with FA had fewer glomeruli compared to controls at two and five months. FA caused an increase in the area of the urinary space both in controls and offspring of diabetic dams at two and five months. The number of glomeruli and area of the urinary space at two months were negatively correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal programing promotes remarkable changes in kidney morphology and function in offspring. We suggest that the morphological changes in the kidneys are more pronounced when fetal programing is associated with newly acquired diseases, e.g. renal failure induced by FA.

Increase of placental sensitivity to melatonin and the alteration to its local synthesis in hypertensive syndromes in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between hypertensive syndromes and melatonin, and its possible protective role against lesions due to hypertension. METHODS: Placentas were classified into gestational hypertension (GH), chronic hypertension (CH), pre-eclampsia (PE) and pre-eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, and morphologically examined by hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff methods. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect tryptophan hydroxylase (TH) and melatonin receptor 1A (MR-1A). RESULTS: MR-1A expression was higher in all types of hypertensive syndromes in pregnancy (HSP), mainly in cases with GH, in Caesarean section delivery, preterm placentas and in the cases with alterations in the placental morphology, particularly those presenting inflammation. The expression of TH was higher in cases with CH when compared with the control. This expression was lower in primigestas, in the cases of inflammation and with PE. CONCLUSIONS: HSP therapies should be considered and studied, especially in the cases of HSP associated with PE, in which the placenta is more sensitive as it has more receptors, but its synthesis ability is reduced. As for GH and CH, the possible benefits should be evaluated, since the local placental ability to produce melatonin still exists.

Pulmonary innate immune response and melatonin receptors in the perinatal stress.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cytokines of the innate immune pulmonary response and the capacity for local response to melatonin according to the perinatal stress. METHODS: 49 cases of pediatric autopsies were evaluated, divided according to cause of death, perinatal stress, gestational age, and birth weight. The percentages of IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1ß, TNF-α, and melatonin receptor were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The IL-6 expression was higher in the children showing chronic stress, anoxia, and infection. The IL-6 expression showed a progressive increase according to the relation between weight and GA. There was no significant difference in the expression of IL-1ß and TNF-α. The CRP expression was higher in the cases showing chronic stress and premature cases. The expression of melatonin receptors was significantly higher in the cases showing chronic stress, being more evident in the cases showing infection. CONCLUSION: The cause of death and the type of stress influence the expression in situ of melatonin and cytokines of the innate immune pulmonary response. The evaluation of IL-6 and CRP may contribute to the understanding of the evolution of neonates with chronic stress. The greater sensitivity of the lung to melatonin in these cases may indicate an attempt at controlling the immunological response, in an attempt to diminish the harmful effects of stress.

Fetal wound healing biomarkers.

Fetal skin has the intrinsic capacity for wound healing, which is not correlated with the intrauterine environment. This intrinsic ability requires biochemical signals, which start at the cellular level and lead to secretion of transforming factors and expression of receptors, and specific markers that promote wound healing without scar formation. The mechanisms and molecular pathways of wound healing still need to be elucidated to achieve a complete understanding of this remodeling system. The aim of this paper is to discuss the main biomarkers involved in fetal skin wound healing as well as their respective mechanisms of action.

Influence of inflammatory infiltrate and alterations of the blood flow in the etiopathogenesis of the basement membrane of the amniotic epithelium (BMAE) thickening in patients with hypertensive syndromes in pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the mechanisms involved in the etiology of the basement membrane of the amniotic epithelium (BMAE) thickening in patients with hypertensive syndromes in pregnancy (HSP). METHODS: Eighty placentas from patients presenting HSP were morphologically examined in staining through hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff method. Placental morphological changes were classified into: diagnostic of low placental blood flow, characterized by a larger number of syncytial knots, fibrin deposits, and a larger number of vessels in terminal villi; and placentas with inflammation that presented inflammatory infiltrate in membranes or placental villi. Measurements of thickness were made with an automatic image analyzing software. RESULTS: BMAE thickness was higher in the group with HSP, particularly in cases with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (PSCH). In the placentas of the HSP group, the thickness of the BMAE was higher in cases with inflammatory infiltrate. There was a positive and significant correlation between the BMAE thickness and the thickness of the amniotic epithelium. The BMAE thickening areas were associated with hyperplasia and edema of the amniotic epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: BMAE thickening in cases with HSP is more evident when there is an interaction between the severe effects of uteroplacental hypoxia, with consequent death and remodelling of the amniotic epithelium cells, as in PSCH, with local inflammatory processes that make this thickening much more evident.

Foreskin analysis of circumcised boys with and without previous topical corticosteroid.

Problems with the foreskin are common reasons for pediatric surgery consultations. We collected the foreskin of 40 patients for 2 years and these samples were divided into groups with and without previous topical corticosteroid. We carried out histochemical hematoxylin & eosin and Picrosirius analyses of the foreskin. Collagen fibers and inflammatory infiltrate was higher in samples from patients who had complications related to phimosis. Fibrosis was higher in patients who used topical corticosteroid. A histopathologic study of the foreskin may provide an additional analysis of patients undergoing circumcision and it can also improve the accuracy of surgical indication.

Parâmetros métricos da traqueia e suas correlações com o perímetro torácico, peso e comprimento corporal de cães sem raça definida (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758) / Metric parameters of the trachea and their correlations with thoracic perimeter, weight and body length of unknown breed dogs (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758)

Com o presente estudo objetivou-se analisar dados métricos da traqueia de cães e correlacioná-los com o comprimento corporal, perímetro torácico e peso corporal. Utilizou-se 48 cães sem raça definida, 19 machos e 29 fêmeas. Os animais foram pesados e em seguida aferiu-se o comprimento corpóreo, o perímetro torácico, o comprimento e diâmetro traqueal, e o número de anéis traqueais. O peso dos cães variou de 4,2 a 21,5 kg, o comprimento corporal de 40,6 a 81,0 cm e o perímetro torácico de 36,0 a 63,5 cm. A traqueia exibiu número total de anéis entre 32 e 43, comprimento entre 13,0 e 23,4 cm, diâmetro de sua porção cervical entre 11,0 e 23,5 mm e de sua porção torácica entre 8,2 e 20,9 mm. Avaliou-se também a esqueletopia da terminação traqueal, que manteve relação com o 2º (2,0%), 3º (6,3%), 4º (20,8%) ou 5º (12,5%) espaços intercostais, e com a 3ª (6,3%), 4ª (35,4%) ou 5ª (16,7%) costelas. Evidenciou-se fortes correlações positivas do comprimento traqueal com o peso corporal (rS=0,763; p<0,001), o comprimento corporal (r=0,826; p<0,001) e o perímetro torácico (r=0,735; p<0,001). Portanto, o estudo anatômico da traqueia, ao fornecer subsídios morfológicos para a realização de procedimentos clínico-cirúrgicos nesse órgão, mostra-se como uma importante ferramenta na prática veterinária.

The present study aimed to analyze metric data from the trachea of dogs and to correlate them with the thoracic girth, body length and weight. We used 48 dogs of unknown breed, 19 males and 29 females. The animals were weighed and then body length, thoracic girth, length and diameter of the trachea, and the number of tracheal rings were measured. The weight of dogs ranged from 4.2 to 21.5 kg, body length from 40.6 to 81.0 cm and thoracic girth from 36.0 to 63.5 cm. The trachea exhibited a total number of tracheal rings between 32 and 43, length between 13.0 and 23.4 cm, diameter of the cervical portion between 11.0 and 23.5 mm and in the thoracic portion between 8.2 and 20.9 mm. We also evaluated the tracheal termination skeletopy, which maintained relations with the 2nd (2.0%), 3 (6.3%), 4 (20.8%) or 5 (12.5%) intercostal spaces, and with the 3rd (6.3%), 4th (35.4%) or 5th (16.7%) ribs. Strong positive correlations of tracheal length with body weight (rS = 0.756, p <0.001), body length (r = 0.808, p <0.001) and thoracic girth (r = 0.735, p <0.001) were found. Therefore, the anatomical study of the trachea provides morphological subsidies for the realization of clinical and surgical procedures in this organ, being an important tool in veterinary practice.

Morphologic analysis of fetal stress organsin different causes of perinatal death.

Complications act as stress-inducers during pregnancy so the fetus can develop functional compensatory mechanisms or morphologic changes. The cases analyzed are with congenital malformations or acute stress; chronic included cases with ascending infection (AI) and perinatal hypoxia/anoxia (PHA). The hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) was done to analyze the vacuolization, and the immunohistochemistry to the phagocytosis. The discreet standard of vacuolization was observed in 52.6% of the cases, 22.1% moderate, and 25.3% severe. The number of macrophages was higher in PHA. Changes in these organs are closely related to the cause of death and to the period during which the harmful agent.

Associação entre megacólon chagásico e adenocarcinoma gástrico em uma mulher idosa / Association between chagasic megacolon and gastric adenocarcinoma in an elderly woman

O objetivo deste relato foi apresentar o caso de uma paciente com megacólon chagásico perfurado associado a colite isquêmica, que evoluiu para peritonite fecal aguda. A paciente era uma mulherbranca, 82 anos, com cianose, anasarca, melena, dor, distensão abdominal e sorologia positiva para doença de Chagas. Seu estado evoluiu para o óbito e a autópsia revelou megacólon chagásico com perfuração e peritonite aguda fecaloide purulenta, sendo esta última a causa imediata do óbito. Esteé, provavelmente, um dos poucos relatos de colite isquêmica, megacólon chagásico perfurado e peritonite fecal aguda associada a adenocarcinoma gástrico não diagnosticado antes do óbito.

Avaliação da flexibilidade pelo método do Flexômetro de Wells em crianças com Paralisia Cerebral submetidas a tratamento hidroterapêutico: estudo de casos / Flexibility evaluation by the method of Wells? Flexometer in children with Cerebral Palsy submitted to hydrotherapy treatment: study of the cases

Avaliar a flexibilidade da cadeia muscular posterior, utilizando o método proposto por Wells e Dillon, antes e após cada sessão de hidroterapia. Foi verificada a flexibilidade de três crianças com Paralisia Cerebral (PC) diparéticas, com idades entre sete a dez anos. Os valores de flexibilidade foram aferidos, utilizando o Flexômetro de Wells. Houve aumento significativo da flexibilidade da cadeia muscular posterior dos pacientes após cada sessão de hidroterapia, tanto na avaliação em grupo quanto individual, assim como antes da primeira sessão de hidroterapia quando comparada com a última. O estudo sugere que a hidroterapia promove melhora da flexibilidade em relação à cadeia muscular posterior de crianças com PC diparéticas, pelo relaxamento global e consequente diminuição do tônus muscular, quando associada a exercícios de alongamentos passivos.

To evaluate the flexibility of the posterior muscle chain using the method proposed by Wells and Dillon, before and after each hydrotherapy session. The study verified the flexibility of three children with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP), aged 7 to 10. The values of flexibility were measured using the Wells? Flexometer. There was a significant increase in the flexibility of posterior muscle chain of the patients after each session of hydrotherapy, both in the individual evaluation and in the group, as well as before the first session of hydrotherapy compared to the last. The study suggests that hydrotherapy promotes the improvement of flexibility, by relaxation of muscle tone of children with diplegic CP, in relation to the posterior muscle chain, when combined with passive stretching exercises.

Acute Chagas' disease in postrenal transplant and treatment with benzonidazole.

Transplanted organs may act as a route of transmission of infectious diseases, such as Chagas' disease. The aim of this study was to describe the transmission of the Trypanosoma cruzi through a renal transplant and the anatomo-clinical evolution of the patient after treatment with benzonidazole. The patient was a 31-year-old white male from the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil. He had renal failure secondary to diabetes and later received a kidney from a cadaveric donor. The patient was undergoing immunosuppression therapy with azathioprine, cyclosporine A, and prednisone. After the transplant, he developed an acute phase of Chagas' disease and complications from diabetes and died 2 months later. In the autopsy, T cruzi amastigotes were found in the transplanted kidney, heart, bladder, liver, and pancreas. An important reduction in the parasitemia was obtained through the treatment of the infection with benzonidazole; however, the patient died due to complications from diabetes associated with tissue lesions caused by T cruzi.

Caracterização demográfica e morfométrica das síndromes hipertensivas da gestação / Demographic and morphometric characterization of the gestational hypertensives syndromes / Caracterización demográfica y morfométrica de los síndromes hipertensivos del embarazo

As Síndromes Hipertensivas da Gestação (SHG) possuem intensidade variável de acordo com seu tipo. Com este estudo objetivou-se descrever as características demográficas materno- fetais e as alterações morfométricas placentárias nos diferentes tipos de SHG, pela análise retrospectiva dos prontuários de pacientes hipertensas, com placentas avaliadas morfologicamente, processadas para imunohistoquímica utilizando anticorpo monoclonal anti-human CD31 e analisadas morfometricamente. Os resultados demonstraram que, entre as SHG, os grupos com Hipertensão Crônica (HC) e Pré-eclâmpsia sobreposta à Hipertensão Crônica (PSHC) apresentaram idade materna superior (p=0,017). A frequência das SHG foi superior entre as multíparas. Menor idade gestacional, menores índices de Apgar e pesos placentários inferiores ao esperado para a população (p<0,05) foram observados nos casos com Pré-eclâmpsia (PE) e PSHC. Não houve diferença no número de vasos das vilosidades tronco placentárias. Nas demais, houve aumento nos casos com PE e Hipertensão Gestacional (HGE) e redução nos casos com PSHC. A importância do estudo consiste na descrição demográfica e morfológica nas SHG, visando melhorar o atendimento obstétrico e a compreensão dos diferentes tipos de SHG. A gravidade do quadro clínico das SHG tem relação com maiores intercorrências materno-fetais e com alterações no padrão vascular placentário.

The hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (SHG) have variable intensity according to their type. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics and maternal-fetal morphometric changes of placenta in different types of SHG by retrospective analysis of medical records of hypertensive patients with placentas evaluated morphologically, processed for immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody anti-human CD31 and analyzed morphometrically . The results showed that among the SHG, the groups with chronic hypertension (CH) and Pre-eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (PSHC) showed higher maternal age (p = 0017). The frequency of the SHG was higher among multiparous. Lower gestational age, lower Apgar score and placental weights lower than expected for the population (p <0.05) were observed in cases with pre-eclampsia (PE) and PSHC. There was no difference in the number of vessels of placental stem villi. In the others, there was an increase in cases with PE and gestational hypertension (HGE) and reduction in cases with PSHC. The importance of the study is to describe the demographic and morphological SHG to improve the obstetric care and understanding of different types of SHG. The severity of symptoms of SHG is related to higher maternal and fetal complications and changes in placental vascular patern.

Los Síndromes Hipertensivos del Embarazo (SHG) tienen una intensidad variable de acuerdo con su tipo. El objetivo de este etudio fue describir las características demográficas materno-fetales y alteraciones morfométricas placentarias entre diferentes tipos de SHG. Los resultados mostraron que, entre los SHG, los grupos con Hipertensión Crónica (HC) e Preeclampsia relacionada a HC (PSHC) presentaron una edad materna estadísticamente superior (p=0,017). La frecuencia de los SHG fue superior entre las pacientes multíparas. Fue observada menor edad gestacional, menores índices de Apgar y pesos placentarios inferiores a los esperados para la populación general (p<0,05) en los casos con Preeclampsia (PE) y PSHC. No hubo diferencia en el número de vasos del tronco de las vellosidades placentarias. En los demás, hubo aumento en los casos con PE e Hipertensión Gestacional (HGE) y reducción en los casos con PSHC. La importancia del estudio consiste en la descripción demográfica y morfológica de los SHG, promoviendo mejorar el atendimiento obstétrico y la comprensión de los diferentes tipos de SHG. La gravedad del cuadro clínico de los SHG está relacionada con mayores complicaciones materno-fetales y con alteraciones en el padrón vascular placentario.