One or two ligatures inducing periodontitis are sufficient to cause fatty liver

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic disease that due to an intense inflammatory response triggers systemic changes such as hepatic alterations. This study aimed to compare hepatic damage in rats that received experimental periodontitis at one or two periodontal sites with ligatures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen rats were separated into three groups: control, without ligature; periodontitis 1, with one ligature; and periodontitis 2, with two ligatures. The following parameters were assessed: gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth, tooth mobility, alveolar bone loss, malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in periodontal tissue; histopathological evaluation of hepatic tissue (steatosis score); glutathione levels (GSH), MDA, MPO, cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver; and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). RESULTS: Periodontal evaluation data showed that the periodontitis model worked well. The groups with periodontitis did not differ significantly in relation to MPO activity and MDA levels in the gingival samples, but they were significantly different when compared with the control group. Steatosis was observed in the histological analysis of the groups with periodontitis, but between the periodontitis groups, two ligatures did not cause increase in steatosis score. The levels of GSH, MDA, total cholesterol and triglycerides in the hepatic tissue were not altered between groups with periodontitis, but they showed significant differences in comparison with the control group. The activity of MPO in hepatic tissue and serum levels of AST and ALT did not present significant difference among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that one or two ligatures inducing periodontitis were both sufficient to cause fatty liver. Steatosis caused by two ligatures did not present larger extension and severity than steatosis caused by one ligature

Occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp in dogs from Teresina, Piauí, Brazil / Ocorrência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp em cães de Teresina, Piauí, Brasil

Leptospirosis is a systemic disease caused by the species of bacteria Leptospira spp., which affects human beings, domestic and wild animals. The present study searched the presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in the canine population of the city Teresina, Piauí, and the most common serovars. Blood samples from 425 stray dogs were collected in the local zoonosis center in Teresina from July 2010 to January 2012 and submitted to the Microscopic Seroagglutination Test (MAT). This study found an average infection rate of 17.41% (IC 95%; 13,8 ­ 21,0) by 11 different serovars; the four most frequent were Canicola (18.9%), Autumnalis (16.2%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (12.1%), and Butembo (12.1%). The questions raised in this study indicated the occurrence of Leptospira spp infection in dogs of Terezina- Piaui, Brazil.(AU)

A leptospirose é uma doença sistêmica causada por bactéria Leptospira spp. que afeta seres humanos, animais domésticos e selvagens. O presente trabalho investigou a presença de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. na população canina da cidade de Teresina-Piauí, e os respectivos sorovares predominantes. Amostras de sangue de 425 cães foram coletadas no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Teresina, no período de julho de 2010 a janeiro de 2012, e submetidas à prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM). Este estudo encontrou uma taxa de infecção média com 17,41% (IC 95%; 13,8 ­ 21,0) e 11 sorovares reagentes, sendo os prevalentes Canicola (18,9%), Autumnalis (16,2%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (12,1%) e Butembo (12,1%). As questões levantadas neste estudo indicam a ocorrência de infecção por Leptospira spp em cães da cidade de Teresina-Piauí, Brasil.(AU)

Condições higiênico-sanitárias da comercialização de carne bovina no município de Timon, MA / Sanitary conditions of the commercialized of beef in the city of Timon, MA

Caracterizam-se as condições higiênico-sanitárias da comercialização de carne bovina em açougues do Município de Timon, MA. Foram verificados 49 estabelecimentos durante visitas técnicas do Serviço de Vigilância Sanitária da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. Foi aplicado um questionário junto aos comerciantes com a finalidade de obtenção de dados relativos ao abastecimento e comercialização das carnes. As informações obtidas permitiram também estimativas da quantificação do volume comercializado e a constatação das condições higiênico-sanitárias dos açougues. Os resultados revelaram uma predominante participação de carne clandestina no município e condições inadequadas durante a comercialização.

Forty years of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Piaui: a review.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been known to occur in the state of Piauí since 1934. The typically rural disease began to appear in urban areas over time, being concentrated mainly in Teresina, the capital of Piauí. Teresina was also affected by the first urban epidemic of VL in Brazil. Over 1,000 cases of the disease were reported during urbanization (1981-1986). Human population growth and migration led to land occupation on the outskirts of Teresina. These factors have contributed to vector proliferation, increasing the incidence of VL. At present, the incidence of human and canine disease is quite high and uncontrolled in Piauí. It seems that some measures, such as the elimination of seropositive dogs, failed to significantly reduce the number of new VL cases in Teresina. Despite previously conducted studies, little is known about VL epidemiology in urban areas. The aim of this review is to reveal the situation of VL in Teresina during the last 40 years, focusing on the major factors that may contribute to the high incidence and persistence of VL infection.

Forty years of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Piaui: a review / Quarenta anos de leishmaniose visceral no Estado do Piauí: revisão

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been known to occur in the state of Piauí since 1934. The typically rural disease began to appear in urban areas over time, being concentrated mainly in Teresina, the capital of Piauí. Teresina was also affected by the first urban epidemic of VL in Brazil. Over 1,000 cases of the disease were reported during urbanization (1981-1986). Human population growth and migration led to land occupation on the outskirts of Teresina. These factors have contributed to vector proliferation, increasing the incidence of VL. At present, the incidence of human and canine disease is quite high and uncontrolled in Piauí. It seems that some measures, such as the elimination of seropositive dogs, failed to significantly reduce the number of new VL cases in Teresina. Despite previously conducted studies, little is known about VL epidemiology in urban areas. The aim of this review is to reveal the situation of VL in Teresina during the last 40 years, focusing on the major factors that may contribute to the high incidence and persistence of VL infection.

A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é conhecida no Piauí desde 1934. Ao longo dos anos a doença, que era tipicamente rural, passou a ocorrer também em zonas urbanas, concentrando-se, principalmente em Teresina. Durante o processo de urbanização, Teresina experimentou a primeira epidemia urbana da leishmaniose visceral no Brasil, com mais de 1.000 casos notificados entre o período de 1981 a 1986. O crescimento populacional juntamente com o processo migratório promoveu ocupação de terras na periferia de Teresina que contribuíram para a proliferação dos vetores e aumento da incidência da doença humana e canina no Estado. Atualmente a incidência da doença humana e canina em Teresina é bastante elevada e fora de controle. Algumas medidas, como a eliminação de cães sorologicamente positivos no município, parecem não contribuir de modo relevante para a diminuição do número de casos novos de LV. Apesar dos estudos relacionados aos aspectos epidemiológicos da doença, ainda pouco se conhece sobre o real papel de cães no ciclo da LV. Objetivou-se com esta revisão divulgar a situação da LV em Teresina-PI, nos últimos 40 anos, enfocando os principais aspectos que contribuem para a alta incidência e persistência da infecção.

Morphometric analysis of the urethra of castrated female rats treated with tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on the weight and thickness of the urethral epithelium of castrated female rats. METHODS: Forty castrated adult female Wistar-Hannover rats were randomly divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) in which the animals received only the vehicle (propylene glycol) and Group II (n=20) in which the rats received tamoxifen 250microg/day by gavage. After 30 days of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the urethra was immediately removed for weighing. Next, the urethra was divided into the proximal and distal segments, which were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and submitted to routine histological techniques for morphometric study. The data were analyzed using the weighted minimum mean-square error method and Student's t-test for two independent samples (p<0.05). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mean weight of the urethra in the rats of Group II compared to the control group, 32.0+/-2.0mg and 22.0+/-1.6mg, respectively (p<0.001). The mean thickness of the distal urethral epithelium of the animals treated with tamoxifen was significantly greater than that of the control group, 42.8+/-2.0microm and 36.6+/-1.5microm, respectively (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the epithelial thickness of the proximal urethra (p=0.514). CONCLUSION: Treating castrated adult rats with 250microg/day of tamoxifen for 30 days may increase the weight of the urethra and the thickness of the distal urethral epithelium.