Leukoplakia and erythroplakia in youngers versus older individuals: a clinicopathological retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of oral cancer has exhibited a rise within the young population. Considering that oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) can precede the development of oral cancer, it is imperative to conduct studies in this particular younger population. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and conduct a comparative analysis of the clinical-demographic characteristics of OPMDs in two distinct age groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted with patients diagnosed with leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and leukoerythroplakia between 1965 and 2020. The individuals were categorized into two groups: those aged up to 40 years (Group Younger) and those aged 41 years and above (Group Older). RESULTS: A total of 640 lesions were subjected to analysis. Among these, patients aged up to 40 years constituted 10.63% of the sample, however, this proportion decreased significantly to 6.9% between 2010 and 2020. A predominant male representation was observed in both groups, with white lesions being the most common in both as well. However, the frequency of red or mixed lesions was significantly higher (p=0.034) in the older group, along with a higher prevalence of dysplastic lesions (26.9% versus 11.8%, p=0.01). Moreover, the older group exhibited a relatively higher percentage of smokers/ex-smokers (78.6%), compared to the younger group (61.5%, p=0.085) and alcohol consumers/ex-consumers (54.9% versus 22.7%, p=0.028). Elderly individuals exhibited an unfavorable progression (p=0.028). However, a logistic regression analysis identified as significant variables associated with malignant transformation, the presence of epithelial dysplasia, and red lesions diagnosed as erythroplakia. CONCLUSIONS: A declining frequency of OPMDs in young adults was observed over the years, whereas in older adults, these disorders exhibited an unfavorable progression.

Uso da hidrodissecção para remoção de flap conjuntival em 360° em cão – relato de caso / Use of hydrodissection to removal 360° conjunctival flap in dog case report

O objetivo desse trabalho foi relatar um caso onde foi usado a hidrodissecção para auxiliar na remoção da aderência de flap conjuntival em 360° em córnea, em um cão. Foi atendido um cão da raça buldogue francês, macho, 2 anos, 18 kg, apresentando olho esquerdo com presença de um flap conjuntival em 360°, em decorrência de tratamento prévio de uma úlcera em melting extensa há 40 dias. Após a realização de exames pré-operatórios de rotina, o paciente foi submetido a um novo procedimento cirúrgico para remoção do flap. Para isso foi realizada a técnica de hidrodissecção, que consistiu na injeção de 2 mL cloreto de sódio a 0,9% sob flap o conjuntival, seguida pela divulsão com tesoura de íris, removendo a aderência entre conjuntiva e córnea. O paciente apresentou excelente recuperação pós-operatória, com diminuição da cicatriz na córnea e ausência de inflamação da conjuntiva ao longo de três meses de avaliações seriadas. Concluiu-se que a técnica de hidrodissecção facilitou a remoção do flap conjuntival de 360° no paciente do presente caso, tornando-se uma manobra em potencial para utilização em outros procedimentos semelhantes.

The aim of this case report is to present a case where it was used hydrodissection to remove a 360° conjunctival flap° from a dog. A 2 year old, male french bulldog weighting 18 kg was taken to a veterinary service with a 360° conjunctival flap in its left eye due to a previous treatment of an extensive melting ulcer for the past 40 days. After performing routine preoperative exams, a new surgical procedure was performed to remove the flap. The technique of choice was hydrodissection, which consisted of injecting 2 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride under conjunctival flap, followed by the divulsion, releasing the conjunctiva from its corneal bed with the use of iris scissors until complete removal of the tissue. The patient showed excellent postoperative recovery, with decreased corneal scarring and no inflammation of the conjunctiva over 3 months of post op evaluation. The hydrodissection technique has facilitated the removal of the 360° conjunctival flap in this present case, making it a potential technique of choice in other similar procedures.

Uso da hidrodissecção para remoção de flap conjuntival em 360° em cão relato de caso / Use of hydrodissection to removal 360° conjunctival flap in dog case report

O objetivo desse trabalho foi relatar um caso onde foi usado a hidrodissecção para auxiliar na remoção da aderência de flap conjuntival em 360° em córnea, em um cão. Foi atendido um cão da raça buldogue francês, macho, 2 anos, 18 kg, apresentando olho esquerdo com presença de um flap conjuntival em 360°, em decorrência de tratamento prévio de uma úlcera em melting extensa há 40 dias. Após a realização de exames pré-operatórios de rotina, o paciente foi submetido a um novo procedimento cirúrgico para remoção do flap. Para isso foi realizada a técnica de hidrodissecção, que consistiu na injeção de 2 mL cloreto de sódio a 0,9% sob flap o conjuntival, seguida pela divulsão com tesoura de íris, removendo a aderência entre conjuntiva e córnea. O paciente apresentou excelente recuperação pós-operatória, com diminuição da cicatriz na córnea e ausência de inflamação da conjuntiva ao longo de três meses de avaliações seriadas. Concluiu-se que a técnica de hidrodissecção facilitou a remoção do flap conjuntival de 360° no paciente do presente caso, tornando-se uma manobra em potencial para utilização em outros procedimentos semelhantes.(AU)

The aim of this case report is to present a case where it was used hydrodissection to remove a 360° conjunctival flap° from a dog. A 2 year old, male french bulldog weighting 18 kg was taken to a veterinary service with a 360° conjunctival flap in its left eye due to a previous treatment of an extensive melting ulcer for the past 40 days. After performing routine preoperative exams, a new surgical procedure was performed to remove the flap. The technique of choice was hydrodissection, which consisted of injecting 2 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride under conjunctival flap, followed by the divulsion, releasing the conjunctiva from its corneal bed with the use of iris scissors until complete removal of the tissue. The patient showed excellent postoperative recovery, with decreased corneal scarring and no inflammation of the conjunctiva over 3 months of post op evaluation. The hydrodissection technique has facilitated the removal of the 360° conjunctival flap in this present case, making it a potential technique of choice in other similar procedures.(AU)

Marsupialization for the treatment of nictitating membrane cyst in a dog: case report / Marsupialização para o tratamento de cisto em membrana nictitante de cão: relato de caso

This study aims to describe the first Brazilian report of a nictitating membrane cyst's surgical treatment in a dog. A 6-month-old female French Bulldog presented at HOSVET-UNIME with a reddish mass-like structure in the medial canthus of both eyes, with a history of recurrent third eyelid gland prolapse previously treated with two surgeries performed at another clinic. Physical examination revealed a third eyelid gland prolapse in the right eye and a cyst in the left eye's third eyelid. The animal was submitted to surgical correction of the right eye's third eyelid prolapse using pocket technique and of the left eye's third eyelid using marsupialization technique for the cyst's treatment. 180 days after th1e surgical procedure no recurrence was observed. The marsupialization technique for the treatment of a third eyelid's lacrimal cyst in a dog allowed the maintenance of its gland and prevented the formation of a new cystic cavity.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho é descrever o primeiro relato no Brasil de tratamento cirúrgico de um cisto da membrana nictitante em um cão. Um Buldogue Francês, fêmea, seis meses, foi atendido no Hosvet-Unime, com queixa de aumento de volume avermelhado no canto medial de ambos os olhos, com histórico de recidiva de prolapso de glândula da terceira pálpebra, onde haviam sido realizadas duas cirurgias anteriormente em outro local. Ao exame físico, foi observado prolapso de glândula da terceira pálpebra no olho direito e a presença de um cisto na terceira pálpebra do olho esquerdo. O animal foi submetido ao procedimento cirúrgico de sepultamento de glândula da terceira pálpebra no olho direito e uma marsupialização na terceira pálpebra do olho esquerdo para o tratamento do cisto. Cento e oitenta dias após o procedimento cirúrgico, não foi observada recidiva. A técnica de marsupialização para tratamento de cisto lacrimal na terceira pálpebra em um cão possibilitou a manutenção da sua glândula e impediu a formação de nova cavidade cística.(AU)

Marsupialization for the treatment of nictitating membrane cyst in a dog: case report / Marsupialização para o tratamento de cisto em membrana nictitante de cão: relato de caso

This study aims to describe the first Brazilian report of a nictitating membrane cyst's surgical treatment in a dog. A 6-month-old female French Bulldog presented at HOSVET-UNIME with a reddish mass-like structure in the medial canthus of both eyes, with a history of recurrent third eyelid gland prolapse previously treated with two surgeries performed at another clinic. Physical examination revealed a third eyelid gland prolapse in the right eye and a cyst in the left eye's third eyelid. The animal was submitted to surgical correction of the right eye's third eyelid prolapse using pocket technique and of the left eye's third eyelid using marsupialization technique for the cyst's treatment. 180 days after th1e surgical procedure no recurrence was observed. The marsupialization technique for the treatment of a third eyelid's lacrimal cyst in a dog allowed the maintenance of its gland and prevented the formation of a new cystic cavity.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho é descrever o primeiro relato no Brasil de tratamento cirúrgico de um cisto da membrana nictitante em um cão. Um Buldogue Francês, fêmea, seis meses, foi atendido no Hosvet-Unime, com queixa de aumento de volume avermelhado no canto medial de ambos os olhos, com histórico de recidiva de prolapso de glândula da terceira pálpebra, onde haviam sido realizadas duas cirurgias anteriormente em outro local. Ao exame físico, foi observado prolapso de glândula da terceira pálpebra no olho direito e a presença de um cisto na terceira pálpebra do olho esquerdo. O animal foi submetido ao procedimento cirúrgico de sepultamento de glândula da terceira pálpebra no olho direito e uma marsupialização na terceira pálpebra do olho esquerdo para o tratamento do cisto. Cento e oitenta dias após o procedimento cirúrgico, não foi observada recidiva. A técnica de marsupialização para tratamento de cisto lacrimal na terceira pálpebra em um cão possibilitou a manutenção da sua glândula e impediu a formação de nova cavidade cística.(AU)

Electroretinography in eight species of neotropical deer / Eletrorretinografia em oito espécies de cervídeos neotropicais

The aim of this study was to establish normal baseline ERG values of 23 anesthetized deer belonging to 8 neotropical species (Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Mazama gouazoubira, Mazama nana, Mazama bororo, Ozotocerus bezoarticus, Odocoileus virginianus and Blastocerus dichotomus). Only right eyes were studied. Chemical restraint was performed using xylazine associated with ketamine, IM, for M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nemorivaga, M. nana, M. bororo, O. bezoarticus and O. virginianus. A combination of tiletamine/zolazepam diluted in xylazine 2% was used for B. dichotomus individuals. After 20min of dark adaptation, electroretinograms were obtained using a handheld electroretinography (ERG) machine using the QuickRetCheck Protocol at three different light intensities: 0.01cd.s/m2, 3cd.s/m2, and 10cd.s/m2. After light adaptation, photopic phase was recorded. A-wave amplitude recorded during pattern mixed rod/cone response in M. americana was significantly lower when compared to B. dichotomus. No other differences were observed between the species studied. ERG in Neotropical deer is applicable using a portable ERG system and did not show differences among species in relation to the retinal response at different light intensities. Therefore, the lifestyle of the species is more dictated by the selection pressure of the environment than by physiological factors.(AU)

Objetivou-se estabelecer valores de referência para eletrorretinografia (ERG) de 23 cervídeos anestesiados, de oito espécies neotropicais (Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Mazama gouazoubira, Mazama nana, Mazama bororo, Ozotocerus bezoarticus, Odocoileus virginianus e Blastocerus dichotomus). Somente os olhos direitos foram estudados. A contenção química foi realizada com cetamina/xilazina, IM, nas seguintes espécies: M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nemorivaga, M. nana, M. bororo, O. bezoarticus e O. virginianus. Para o B. dichotomus, foi utilizada a associação de tiletamina/zolazepam e xilazina. Após 20 minutos de adaptação ao escuro, os eletrorretinogramas foram obtidos com aparelho portátil de ERG, utilizando-se o protocolo "QuickRet Check", em três intensidades de luz: 0.01cd.s/m2, 3cd.s/m2 e 10cd.s/m2. Após adaptação à luz, realizou-se a fase fotóptica. Os valores para amplitude da onda A durante a resposta padrão mista de cones/bastonetes em M. americana foram significativamente menores quando comparados aos do B. dichotomus. Não foram observadas outras diferenças entre as espécies. A realização de ERG em cervídeos neotropicais é aplicável utilizando-se aparelho portátil e não demonstrou diferenças quanto à resposta retiniana a diferentes intensidades de luz. Dessa forma, o estilo de vida das espécies é ditado mais pela pressão de seleção do ambiente do que por fatores fisiológicos.(AU)

Electroretinography in eight species of neotropical deer / Eletrorretinografia em oito espécies de cervídeos neotropicais

The aim of this study was to establish normal baseline ERG values of 23 anesthetized deer belonging to 8 neotropical species (Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Mazama gouazoubira, Mazama nana, Mazama bororo, Ozotocerus bezoarticus, Odocoileus virginianus and Blastocerus dichotomus). Only right eyes were studied. Chemical restraint was performed using xylazine associated with ketamine, IM, for M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nemorivaga, M. nana, M. bororo, O. bezoarticus and O. virginianus. A combination of tiletamine/zolazepam diluted in xylazine 2% was used for B. dichotomus individuals. After 20min of dark adaptation, electroretinograms were obtained using a handheld electroretinography (ERG) machine using the QuickRetCheck Protocol at three different light intensities: 0.01cd.s/m2, 3cd.s/m2, and 10cd.s/m2. After light adaptation, photopic phase was recorded. A-wave amplitude recorded during pattern mixed rod/cone response in M. americana was significantly lower when compared to B. dichotomus. No other differences were observed between the species studied. ERG in Neotropical deer is applicable using a portable ERG system and did not show differences among species in relation to the retinal response at different light intensities. Therefore, the lifestyle of the species is more dictated by the selection pressure of the environment than by physiological factors.(AU)

Objetivou-se estabelecer valores de referência para eletrorretinografia (ERG) de 23 cervídeos anestesiados, de oito espécies neotropicais (Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Mazama gouazoubira, Mazama nana, Mazama bororo, Ozotocerus bezoarticus, Odocoileus virginianus e Blastocerus dichotomus). Somente os olhos direitos foram estudados. A contenção química foi realizada com cetamina/xilazina, IM, nas seguintes espécies: M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nemorivaga, M. nana, M. bororo, O. bezoarticus e O. virginianus. Para o B. dichotomus, foi utilizada a associação de tiletamina/zolazepam e xilazina. Após 20 minutos de adaptação ao escuro, os eletrorretinogramas foram obtidos com aparelho portátil de ERG, utilizando-se o protocolo "QuickRet Check", em três intensidades de luz: 0.01cd.s/m2, 3cd.s/m2 e 10cd.s/m2. Após adaptação à luz, realizou-se a fase fotóptica. Os valores para amplitude da onda A durante a resposta padrão mista de cones/bastonetes em M. americana foram significativamente menores quando comparados aos do B. dichotomus. Não foram observadas outras diferenças entre as espécies. A realização de ERG em cervídeos neotropicais é aplicável utilizando-se aparelho portátil e não demonstrou diferenças quanto à resposta retiniana a diferentes intensidades de luz. Dessa forma, o estilo de vida das espécies é ditado mais pela pressão de seleção do ambiente do que por fatores fisiológicos.(AU)

Electroretinography in eight species of neotropical deer / Eletrorretinografia em oito espécies de cervídeos neotropicais

The aim of this study was to establish normal baseline ERG values of 23 anesthetized deer belonging to 8 neotropical species (Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Mazama gouazoubira, Mazama nana, Mazama bororo, Ozotocerus bezoarticus, Odocoileus virginianus and Blastocerus dichotomus). Only right eyes were studied. Chemical restraint was performed using xylazine associated with ketamine, IM, for M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nemorivaga, M. nana, M. bororo, O. bezoarticus and O. virginianus. A combination of tiletamine/zolazepam diluted in xylazine 2% was used for B. dichotomus individuals. After 20min of dark adaptation, electroretinograms were obtained using a handheld electroretinography (ERG) machine using the QuickRetCheck Protocol at three different light intensities: 0.01cd.s/m2, 3cd.s/m2, and 10cd.s/m2. After light adaptation, photopic phase was recorded. A-wave amplitude recorded during pattern mixed rod/cone response in M. americana was significantly lower when compared to B. dichotomus. No other differences were observed between the species studied. ERG in Neotropical deer is applicable using a portable ERG system and did not show differences among species in relation to the retinal response at different light intensities. Therefore, the lifestyle of the species is more dictated by the selection pressure of the environment than by physiological factors.(AU)

Objetivou-se estabelecer valores de referência para eletrorretinografia (ERG) de 23 cervídeos anestesiados, de oito espécies neotropicais (Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Mazama gouazoubira, Mazama nana, Mazama bororo, Ozotocerus bezoarticus, Odocoileus virginianus e Blastocerus dichotomus). Somente os olhos direitos foram estudados. A contenção química foi realizada com cetamina/xilazina, IM, nas seguintes espécies: M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nemorivaga, M. nana, M. bororo, O. bezoarticus e O. virginianus. Para o B. dichotomus, foi utilizada a associação de tiletamina/zolazepam e xilazina. Após 20 minutos de adaptação ao escuro, os eletrorretinogramas foram obtidos com aparelho portátil de ERG, utilizando-se o protocolo "QuickRet Check", em três intensidades de luz: 0.01cd.s/m2, 3cd.s/m2 e 10cd.s/m2. Após adaptação à luz, realizou-se a fase fotóptica. Os valores para amplitude da onda A durante a resposta padrão mista de cones/bastonetes em M. americana foram significativamente menores quando comparados aos do B. dichotomus. Não foram observadas outras diferenças entre as espécies. A realização de ERG em cervídeos neotropicais é aplicável utilizando-se aparelho portátil e não demonstrou diferenças quanto à resposta retiniana a diferentes intensidades de luz. Dessa forma, o estilo de vida das espécies é ditado mais pela pressão de seleção do ambiente do que por fatores fisiológicos.(AU)

Anthropometric changes caused by hepatitis C treatment with interferon and ribavirin: which patients and which measures are affected?

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C causes chronic hepatic inflammation, which can lead to cirrhosis, terminal liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The treatment aims to achieve viral clearance, but the usage of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is linked to side effects such as severe weight loss, which can lead to complications and treatment discontinuation. The aim of this study was to investigate which anthropometric measures were more affected in patients with chronic hepatitis C during 24 weeks of treatment with pegy lated interferon and ribavirin. Then, the influence of age, sex, hepatic fibrosis stage, and ribavirin doses on each measure was also evaluated. METHODS: Seventy-six patients were included and their weight, triceps skin fold thickness, arm circumference, middle-arm muscle circumference, and corrected arm muscle area were measured before and after 24 weeks of treatment. Epidemiological data and liver biopsy findings were obtained from patients' records. The sample was divided into two groups: one with advanced hepatic fibrosis and another group with mild to moderate fibrosis. Comparisons into each group were made using Wilcoxon or paired tests. After that, a linear regression model was applied to estimate the anthropometric changes during the treatment according to age, sex, hepatic fibrosis stage, and ribavirin doses. RESULTS: The subjects suffered reductions of important anthropometric measures, mainly related to fat mass (p<0.001).Some decrease of fat-free mass was also observed in subjects with advanced fibrosis. The statistic model showed that age and sex were more associated with the anthropometric changes observed. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the antiviral treatment caused loss of relevant anthropometric measures, and the model proposed was able to estimate some of them

Autophagy analysis in oral carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of autophagy in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma and to correlate with clinical pathological features, as well as, the evolution of these lesions. METHODOLOGY: 7 Normal oral mucosa, 51 oral leukoplakias, and 120 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) were included in the study. Histological sections of the mucosa and leukoplakias were evaluated throughout their length, while the carcinomas were evaluated using Tissue Microarray. After the immunohistochemical technique, LC3-II positive cells were quantified in the different epithelial layers of the mucosa and leukoplakias and in the microarrays of the squamous cell carcinomas. The correlation between positive cells with the different clinical-pathological variables and with the evolution of the lesions was tested using the t test, ANOVA, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: We observed increased levels of autophagy in the oral squamous cell carcinomas (p<0.001) in relation to the other groups, but without any association with poorer evolution or survival of these patients. Among the leukoplakias, we observed a higher percentage of positive cells in the intermediate layer of the dysplastic leukoplakias (p=0.0319) and in the basal layer of lesions with poorer evolution (p=0.0133). CONCLUSION: The levels of autophagy increased during the process of oral carcinogenesis and are correlated with poorer behavior of the leukoplakias.

Lower values of handgrip strength and adductor pollicis muscle thickness are associated with hepatic encephalopathy manifestations in cirrhotic patients.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a late complication of liver cirrhosis and is clearly associated with poor outcomes. Chronic liver insufficiency leads to progressive muscle wasting, impairing ammonia metabolism and thus increasing the risk for HE. Given the association between lean mass and adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT), it has been used to predict outcome and complications in many conditions, but not yet in cirrhotic patients. Therefore, this article aimed to study the association between HE manifestations and measures related to muscle mass and strength. This cross-sectional study included 54 cirrhotic outpatients with HE varying from subclinical to grade II according to the West-Haven criteria, who were submitted to neuropsychometric tests, electroencephalogram, brain Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength (HGS) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry exam (DXA). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between body composition measures and HE grade. Analysis of the area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) curve revealed the values related to neurological manifestations (HE grades I and II). Reductions in APMT and HGS were associated with higher HE grades, suggesting a big impact caused by the loss of muscle mass and function on HE severity. The link between HE manifestations and anthropometric measures, namely APMT and HGS, point to a significant relation concerning skeletal muscles and the neurological impairment in this population.

In Vivo Effects of Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica, DC.) Leaf Extracts on Diarrhea Treatment.

Eugenia dysenterica is a plant typically found in the Cerrado biome and commonly used in popular medicine due to its pharmacological properties, which include antidiarrheal, skin healing, and antimicrobial activities. The effects of ethanolic extract, aqueous extract and infusion of E. dysenterica leaves on intestinal motility and antidiarrheal activity were evaluated using ricin oil-induced diarrhea in rats. At doses of 400 and 800 mg·Kg(-1), the ethanolic extract decreased intestinal motility while the other extracts showed no significant effects. Moreover, serum levels of chloride, magnesium, and phosphorus were also measured in rats. Histopathologic and enzymatic analyses were also performed to investigate any toxic effect. Animals treated with infusion, ethanolic extract, ricin oil, and loperamide presented morphological alterations in the small intestine, such as mucosa lesion, epithelial layer damage, and partial loss and/or morphological change of villi. Furthermore, the liver showed congestion and hydropic degeneration. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase increased significantly in all treatments, but none rose above reference values. In summary, our results suggest that compounds present in leaves of E. dysenterica may have therapeutic benefits on recovery from diarrhea despite their toxic effects.

Identification of E. dysenterica laxative peptide: a novel strategy in the treatment of chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

Plants have contributed over the years to the discovery of various pharmacological products. Amongst the enormous diversity of herbs with remarkable medicinal use and further pharmacological potential, here in this report we evaluated pulp extracts from Eugenia dysenterica fruits and further identified the active principle involved in such laxative activity in rats. For protein isolation, fruits were macerated with an extraction solution following precipitation with (NH(4))(2)SO(4) (100%). After dialysis, the peptide was applied onto a reversed-phase semi-preparative HPLC column, and the major fraction was eluted with 26% and 66% acetonitrile. The evaluation of molecular masses by MALDI-TOF and Tris/Tricine SDS-PAGE of HPLC fractions showed the presence of a major peptide with approximately 7 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid peptide sequence was determined and showed no similarity to other proteins deposited in the Data Bank. Peptide from E. dysenterica was able to enhance rats' intestinal motility by approximately 20.8%, probably being responsible for laxative activity. Moreover, these proteins were non-toxic to mammals, as observed in histopathology and hemolytic analyses. In conclusion, results here reported indicate that, in the near future, proteins synthesized by E. dysenterica fruits could be utilized in the development of novel biotechnological pharmaceutics with laxative properties for use in chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome treatment.

Congelamento de sêmen e inseminação artificial em cães, revisão / Semen freezing and artificial insemination in dogs, review

Foram utilizados para esta revisão trabalhos que estudassem o congelamento do sêmen canino. Os resultados na maioria das pesquisas constataram que o sêmen canino é de baixa qualidade. Publicações relatam obtenção de melhores resultados utilizando o tris-frutose-ácido cítrico como diluidor, glicerol como crioprotetor, método de congelamento lento e descongelamento em água a 37º C.