Sodium hydroxide or urea pretreatment of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) fruit residue increases dry matter degradability and reduces methane production in in vitro rumen fermentation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding different concentrations of either urea or NaOH in dehydrated acerola (Malpighia emarginata) fruit residue (DAFR) on chemical composition, in vitro rumen degradability, and gas and methane production. A completely randomized design was used with the following seven treatments: control, without chemical treatment, or pretreatment of DAFR with urea or NaOH at 20, 40, or 60 g/kg dry matter (DM). DM degradability and gas and methane production of DAFR were evaluated by semi-automated in vitro gas production technique. DAFR treated with urea or NaOH at concentrations of 40 and 60 g/kg DM decreased its neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.0115) and lignin (P < 0.0001) content, and this reduction was greater with the highest concentration (60 g/kg DM). In all tested concentrations, urea and NAOH were effective to increase the DM effective degradability of DAFR compared with the control treatment, although treatments with a concentration of 60 g/kg DM presented the highest values (P < 0.0001). Treatment of DAFR with NaOH or urea at 60 g/kg DM promotes greater lignin solubilization and DM degradability and lower gas and methane production in in vitro rumen fermentation.

Exosomes Could Offer New Options to Combat the Long-Term Complications Inflicted by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a complex clinical condition that promotes pelvic floor myopathy, thus predisposing sufferers to urinary incontinence (UI). GDM usually regresses after birth. Nonetheless, a GDM history is associated with higher risk of subsequently developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and UI. Some aspects of the pathophysiology of GDM remain unclear and the associated pathologies (outcomes) are poorly addressed, simultaneously raising public health costs and diminishing women's quality of life. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles produced and actively secreted by cells as part of their intercellular communication system. Exosomes are heterogenous in their cargo and depending on the cell sources and environment, they can mediate both pathogenetic and therapeutic functions. With the advancement in knowledge of exosomes, new perspectives have emerged to support the mechanistic understanding, prediction/diagnosis and ultimately, treatment of the post-GMD outcomes. Here, we will review recent advances in knowledge of the role of exosomes in GDM and related areas and discuss the possibilities for translating exosomes as therapeutic agents in the GDM clinical setting.

Fibrin biopolymer as scaffold candidate to treat bone defects in rats.

BACKGROUND: Bone tissue repair remains a challenge in tissue engineering. Currently, new materials are being applied and often integrated with live cells and biological scaffolds. The fibrin biopolymer (FBP) proposed in this study has hemostatic, sealant, adhesive, scaffolding and drug-delivery properties. The regenerative potential of an association of FBP, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated in defects of rat femurs. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were submitted to a 5-mm defect in the femur. This was filled with the following materials and/or associations: BPC; FBP and BCP; FBP and MSCs; and BCP, FBP and MSCs. Bone defect without filling was defined as the control group. Thirty and sixty days after the procedure, animals were euthanatized and subjected to computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy and qualitative and quantitative histological analysis. RESULTS: It was shown that FBP is a suitable scaffold for bone defects due to the formation of a stable clot that facilitates the handling and optimizes the surgical procedures, allowing also cell adhesion and proliferation. The association between the materials was biocompatible. Progressive deposition of bone matrix was higher in the group treated with FBP and MSCs. Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic lineage was not necessary to stimulate bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: FBP proved to be an excellent scaffold candidate for bone repair therapies due to application ease and biocompatibility with synthetic calcium-based materials. The satisfactory results obtained by the association of FBP with MSCs may provide a more effective and less costly new approach for bone tissue engineering.

Fibrin biopolymer as scaffold candidate to treat bone defects in rats

Bone tissue repair remains a challenge in tissue engineering. Currently, new materials are being applied and often integrated with live cells and biological scaffolds. The fibrin biopolymer (FBP) proposed in this study has hemostatic, sealant, adhesive, scaffolding and drug-delivery properties. The regenerative potential of an association of FBP, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated in defects of rat femurs. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were submitted to a 5-mm defect in the femur. This was filled with the following materials and/or associations: BPC; FBP and BCP; FBP and MSCs; and BCP, FBP and MSCs. Bone defect without filling was defined as the control group. Thirty and sixty days after the procedure, animals were euthanatized and subjected to computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy and qualitative and quantitative histological analysis. Results: It was shown that FBP is a suitable scaffold for bone defects due to the formation of a stable clot that facilitates the handling and optimizes the surgical procedures, allowing also cell adhesion and proliferation. The association between the materials was biocompatible. Progressive deposition of bone matrix was higher in the group treated with FBP and MSCs. Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic lineage was not necessary to stimulate bone formation. Conclusions: FBP proved to be an excellent scaffold candidate for bone repair therapies due to application ease and biocompatibility with synthetic calcium-based materials. The satisfactory results obtained by the association of FBP with MSCs may provide a more effective and less costly new approach for bone tissue engineering.(AU)

Qualidade do acolhimento na Unidade Básica de Saúde / Host quality in Basic Health Unit / Calidad de la recepción en la Unidad Básica de Salud

Objetivos: conhecer as estratégias de acolhimento implantadas em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família, verificar a qualidade do atendimento, elencar estratégias de acolhimento implantadas e identificar o grau de satisfação dos usuários com o acolhimento na unidade. Método: estudo exploratório descritivo com abordagem quantitativa realizado em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde de Teresina/PI. Os dados foram coletados com um questionário; em seguida, processados no Microsoft Excel 2010, apresentados com frequência simples em tabelas. O estudo teve aprovado o projeto de pesquisa pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, Protocolo nº 713.841. Resultados: identificou-se uma avaliação positiva dos usuários em relação ao acolhimento prestado pelos profissionais da Unidade Básica de Saúde, sendo que as atividades ofertadas foram avaliadas pelos usuários como boas. Conclusão: houve fragilidades em relação à estrutura física e condições de trabalho que afetam as ações desenvolvidas para acolher os usuários com qualidade e, desta forma, prestar a assistência de qualidade.(AU)

Objectives: recognizing the host strategies implemented in a Family Health Unit, checking the quality of care, listing implanted host strategies and identifying the degree of users' satisfaction with the reception in the unit. Method: an exploratory descriptive study of a quantitative approach performed in a Basic Health Unit in Teresina/PI. Data were collected with a questionnaire; then, processed in Microsoft Excel 2010, presented with simple frequency in tables. The study had the research project approved by the Research Ethics Committee, Protocol nº 713.841. Results: there was identified a positive evaluation of users in relation to the reception provided by the professionals of the Basic Health Unit, and the offered activities were evaluated by users as good. Conclusion: there were weaknesses in relation to the physical structure and working conditions that affect the actions taken to accommodate users with quality and thus providing a care of quality.(AU)

Objetivos: conocer las estrategias de acogida implementadas en una Unidad de Salud de la Familia, comprobar la calidad de la atención, listar estrategias de acogida implantadas e identificar el grado de satisfacción de los usuarios con la recepción en la unidad. Método: este es un estudio exploratorio descriptivo con enfoque cuantitativo, realizado en una Unidad Básica de Salud de Teresina/PI. Los datos se recogieron con un cuestionario, y luego procesado en Microsoft Excel 2010, presentados con frecuencias simples en tablas. El estudio tuvo aprobado el proyecto de investigación por el Comité de Ética en la Investigación, el Protocolo nº 713.841. Resultados: se identificó una valoración positiva de los usuarios en relación con la recepción proporcionada por los profesionales de la Unidad Básica de Salud, y las actividades que se ofrecen fueron evaluadas por los usuarios como buenas. Conclusión: hubo debilidades en relación con la estructura física y las condiciones de trabajo que afectan a las medidas adoptadas para dar cabida a los usuarios con calidad y proporcionar así la calidad de la atención.(AU)

1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis via modulation of cytokines, oxidative stress and NF-κB activity in mice.

AIMS: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition wherein pro-inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress, and NF-κB signaling play a key role. Currently, no specific therapy exists and treatment is mainly supportive and targeted to prevent local pancreatic injury and systemic inflammatory complications. This study was aimed to examine whether 1,8-cineole, a plant monoterpene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties could ameliorate cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. MAIN METHODS: AP was induced in Swiss mice by six one hourly injections of cerulein (50 µg/kg, i.p.). 1,8-cineole (100, 200 and 400mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 1h prior to first cerulein injection, keeping vehicle and thalidomide treated groups as controls. Blood samples were taken 6-h later to determine serum levels of amylase and lipase, and cytokines. The pancreas was removed for morphological examination, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and for nuclear factor (NF)-κB immunostaining. KEY FINDINGS: 1,8-cineole effectively reduced the cerulein-induced histological damage, pancreatic edema and NF-κB expression, levels of MPO activity and MDA, and replenished the GSH depletion. Cerulein increased serum levels of amylase and lipase, and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were also decreased by 1,8-cineole pretreatment, similar to thalidomide, a TNF-α inhibitor. The anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine level was, however, enhanced by 1,8-cineole. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings indicate that 1,8-cineole can attenuate cerulein-induced AP via an anti-inflammatory mechanism and by combating oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to clearly elucidate its benefits in patients on acute pancreatitis.

Vitamin E ameliorates high dose trans-dehydrocrotonin-associated hepatic damage in mice.

trans-Dehydrocrotonin (t-DCTN), the diterpenoid from Croton cajucara Bentham, exhibits hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities, but in high doses is associated with a discrete hepatotoxicity. In the search for measures to mitigate this, pretreatment with the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E has been examined. Mice that received a high dose t-DCTN (100 mg/kg) manifested hepatic damage, as evidenced by significant elevations in serum ALT and AST, and hepatic GSH, and histological alterations, which could be obliterated by pretreatment with vitamin E, but not with N-acetylcysteine, possibly by creating an effective antioxidant balance.