Ropivacaína isolada ou associada à metadona ou à morfina, pela via epidural, em cadelas submetidas à ovário-histerectomia / Ropivacaine sole or associated to methadone or morphine, by epidural route, in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos fisiológicos, sedativos e analgésicos da administração peridural de ropivacaína isolada ou associada à morfina ou à metadona. Para tal, 24 cadelas submetidas à ovário-histerectomia receberam acepromazina, e a anestesia foi induzida e mantida com propofol e isoflurano (FiO2 = 1,0), respectivamente. De acordo com o protocolo peridural, formaram-se três grupos de igual número: GR (ropivacaína - 2,0mg/kg); GRMETA (ropivacaína - 2,0mg/kg e metadona - 0,3mg/kg) e GRMORF (ropivacaína - 2,0mg/kg e morfina - 0,1mg/kg). Registraram-se os parâmetros fisiológicos intraoperatórios e os graus de sedação e analgesia pós-operatórios. No GR constataram-se maiores médias de pressões arteriais 30 minutos após a anestesia epidural em relação ao GRMETA (sistólica e média) e ao final do procedimento cirúrgico comparativamente ao GRMORF (sistólica, diastólica e média). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos relativamente à analgesia e ao grau de sedação pós-operatórios. A administração epidural de ropivacaína é segura e eficaz e proporciona boa analgesia, independentemente da sua associação com morfina ou metadona.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological, sedative and analgesic effects of epidural administration of ropivacaine sole or associated to morphine or methadone. Twenty-four bitches were submitted to ovariohysterectomy and received acepromazine and after, propofol and isoflurane (FiO 2 = 1.0) for anesthesia induction and maintenance, respectively. Based on established epidural protocol (L7-S1), three groups were formed: GR (ropivacaine - 2.0mg/kg); GRMETA (ropivacaine - 2.0mg/kg and methadone - 0.3mg/kg) and GRMORF (ropivacaine - 2.0mg/kg and morphine - 0.1mg/kg). Intraoperative physiological parameters and degrees of postoperative sedation and analgesia were recorded. In the GR, the means of arterial pressures, 30 minutes after epidural anesthesia, were higher compared with GRMETA (systolic and mean) and, at the end of the clinical procedure, compared to GRMORF (systolic, diastolic and mean). Differences between groups were not observed for postoperative analgesia and degree of sedation. Epidural administration of ropivacaine is safe and effective and provides good analgesia regardless of its association with morphine or methadone.(AU)

JAK2 46/1 haplotype is associated with JAK2 V617F--positive myeloproliferative neoplasms in Brazilian patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to verify the association between the JAK2 46/1 haplotype (V617F positive) and some hematological parameters in BCR-ABL-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (cMPNs) in our population. METHODS: The blood samples obtained from the patients with cMPN were genotyped for the JAK2 V617F mutation and JAK2 rs10974944 SNP screening using a PCR-RFLP assay. RESULTS: The JAK2 V617F mutation was detected in 80.15% of patients. The G variant of rs10974944 was more frequent in all MPNs, especially those that were JAK2 V617F positive, than in the control population. We also compared the 46/1 haplotype status in each MPN disease entity, polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis (PMF), and MPNu with controls. The G allele frequency relative to controls was significantly enriched in patients with PV and ET, but not in those with PMF and MPNu. PV and ET patients especially, all of whom had the JAK2 V617F mutation, showed significant excess of the G allele. The frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation was associated with elevated hematological parameters, but when we analyze the occurrence of the mutation and the presence of the G allele, just the high hemoglobin was significantly. CONCLUSION: In agreement with previous reports, JAK2 46/1 haplotype for JAK2 V617F was associated with cMPN positive in Brazilian patients.

Superstatistics model for T2 distribution in NMR experiments on porous media.

We propose analytical functions for T2 distribution to describe transverse relaxation in high- and low-fields NMR experiments on porous media. The method is based on a superstatistics theory, and allows to find the mean and standard deviation of T2, directly from measurements. It is an alternative to multiexponential models for data decay inversion in NMR experiments. We exemplify the method with q-exponential functions and χ(2)-distributions to describe, respectively, data decay and T2 distribution on high-field experiments of fully water saturated glass microspheres bed packs, sedimentary rocks from outcrop and noisy low-field experiment on rocks. The method is general and can also be applied to biological systems.

Neuroprotective effects of a new skin care formulation following ultraviolet exposure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure is a major environmental factor involved in extrinsic skin ageing (photo-ageing). Skin nerve fibres are significantly reduced in number following UV irradiation and new skincare compounds with neuroprotective effects are thus highly warranted. OBJECTIVES: We developed a new skincare formulation from a plant extract and evaluated its neuroprotective effects of ex vivo UV irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The new skincare emulsion was formulated from Echinacea purpurea extract and was enriched with antioxidants (patent no. PROV020110087075). Skin samples were obtained from 20 healthy patients enrolled for plastic surgery and were immediately treated with placebo (SPF 15) or test emulsions. Skin samples were exposed to UVA and UVB for 60 min. Nerve fibres were identified by immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody, anti-human CD56. Cell damage was quantified by image analysis. RESULTS: UVA and UVB significantly reduced (40-60%) densities of nerve endings in control samples treated with placebo (P < 0.001). Samples treated with test emulsion completely blocked UV-related effects on skin nerve endings. These neuroprotective effects were similarly observed regardless of age or tissue analysed (breast versus abdomen). CONCLUSIONS: Our new skincare formulation obtained from E. purpurea provides important neuroprotective effects of UV irradiation and could be used together with SPFs to prevent chronic deleterious effects of solar exposure.

Absence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells priming in hemodialysis patients.

As a consequence of the proinflammatory environment occurring in dialytic patients, cytokine overproduction has been implicated in hemodialysis co-morbidity. However, there are discrepancies among the various studies that have analyzed TNF-alpha synthesis and the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) priming in this clinical setting. We measured bioactive cytokine by the L929 cell bioassay, and evaluated PBMC TNF-alpha production by 32 hemodialysis patients (HP) and 51 controls. No difference in TNF-alpha secretion was observed between controls and HP (859 +/- 141 vs 697 +/- 130 U/10(6) cells). Lipopolysaccharide (5 microg/ml) did not induce any further TNF-alpha release, showing no PBMC priming. Paraformaldehyde-fixed HP PBMC were not cytotoxic to L929 cells, suggesting the absence of membrane-anchored TNF-alpha. Cycloheximide inhibited PBMC cytotoxicity in HP and controls, indicating lack of a PBMC TNF-alpha pool, and dependence on de novo cytokine synthesis. Actinomycin D reduced TNF-alpha production in HP, but had no effect on controls. Therefore, our data imply that TNF-a production is an intrinsic activity of normal PBMC and is not altered in HP. Moreover, TNF-alpha is a product of de novo synthesis by PBMC and is not constitutively expressed on HP cell membranes. The effect of actinomycin D suggests a putative tighter control of TNF-alpha mRNA turnover in HP. This increased dependence on TNF-alpha RNA transcription in HP may reflect an adaptive response to hemodialysis stimuli.

Absence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells priming in hemodialysis patients

As a consequence of the proinflammatory environment occurring in dialytic patients, cytokine overproduction has been implicated in hemodialysis co-morbidity. However, there are discrepancies among the various studies that have analyzed TNF-alpha synthesis and the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) priming in this clinical setting. We measured bioactive cytokine by the L929 cell bioassay, and evaluated PBMC TNF-alpha production by 32 hemodialysis patients (HP) and 51 controls. No difference in TNF-alpha secretion was observed between controls and HP (859 ± 141 vs 697 ± 130 U/10(6) cells). Lipopolysaccharide (5 æg/ml) did not induce any further TNF-alpha release, showing no PBMC priming. Paraformaldehyde-fixed HP PBMC were not cytotoxic to L929 cells, suggesting the absence of membrane-anchored TNF-alpha. Cycloheximide inhibited PBMC cytotoxicity in HP and controls, indicating lack of a PBMC TNF-alpha pool, and dependence on de novo cytokine synthesis. Actinomycin D reduced TNF-alpha production in HP, but had no effect on controls. Therefore, our data imply that TNF-alpha production is an intrinsic activity of normal PBMC and is not altered in HP. Moreover, TNF-alpha is a product of de novo synthesis by PBMC and is not constitutively expressed on HP cell membranes. The effect of actinomycin D suggests a putative tighter control of TNF-alpha mRNA turnover in HP. This increased dependence on TNF-alpha RNA transcription in HP may reflect an adaptive response to hemodialysis stimuli

Observation of image transfer and phase conjugation in stimulated down-conversion.

We observe experimentally the transfer of angular spectrum and image formation in the process of stimulated parametric down-conversion. Images and interference patterns can be transferred from either the pump or the auxiliary laser beams to the stimulated down-converted one. The stimulated field propagates as the complex conjugate of the auxiliary laser. The phase conjugation is observed through intensity pattern measurements.

Characterization of the Hsp110/SSE gene family response to hyperosmolality and other stresses.

Hsp110, Osp94, and Hsp70RY are members of the recently described Hsp110/SSE subfamily of (heat and osmotic) stress proteins whose members are structurally related to the Hsp70/BiP gene superfamily. To date, little is known about the response of this gene family to stresses in vitro or in vivo. In this study, an analysis of mRNA expression showed that Hsp110 and Osp94, like Hsp70, are induced in renal murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) epithelial cells by heat shock, hyperosmotic NaCl, and cadmium, whereas low pH had a suppressive effect on Osp94. H2O2 decreased expression of Osp94 while inducing levels of Hsp110 and Hsp70 message. Tunicamycin, hypertonic urea, and tumor necrosis factor- had no effects. Hsp70RY was responsive exclusively to cadmium chloride. Moreover, enhanced expression of Hsp110 and Osp94 was subsequent to induction of Hsp70 and was suppressed by inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide. RT-PCR analysis showed Hsp110, Osp94, and Hsp70RY are ubiquitously expressed in mouse tissues. In murine kidney, there was a corticomedullary gradient of expression of Hsp110, Osp94, Hsp70RY, and Hsp70 but not Hsc70 or BiP. Furthermore, dehydration increased inner medullary expression of Hsp110 and Osp94. An analysis of stress tolerance in mIMCD3 cells showed that heat shock and hyperosmotic NaCl stress are cross-tolerant stresses, suggesting hyperosmolality is a physiological correlate of heat shock in mammalian kidney. Thus Hsp110 and Osp94 behave as heat shock proteins, although they are regulated differently than Hsp70.

A combination of NaCl and urea enhances survival of IMCD cells to hyperosmolality.

Physiological adaptation to the hyperosmolar milieu of the renal medulla involves a complex series of signaling and gene expression events in which NaCl and urea activate different cellular processes. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of NaCl and urea, individually and in combination, on the viability of murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cells. Exposure to hyperosmolar NaCl or urea caused comparable dose- and time-dependent decreases in cell viability, such that 700 mosmol/kgH2O killed >90% of the cells within 24 h. In both cases, cell death was an apoptotic event. For NaCl, loss of viability at 24 h paralleled decreases in RNA and protein synthesis at 4h, whereas lethal doses of urea had little or no effect on these biosynthetic processes. Cell cycle analysis showed both solutes caused a slowing of the G2/M phase. Surprisingly, cells exposed to a combination of NaCl + urea were significantly more osmotolerant such that 40% survived 900 mosmol/kgH2O. Madin-Darby canine kidney cells but not human umbilical vein endothelial cells also exhibited a similar osmotolerance response. Enhanced survival was not associated with a restoration of normal biosynthetic rates or cell cycle progression. However, the combination of NaCl + urea resulted in a shift in Hsp70 expression that appeared to correlate with survival. In conclusion, hyperosmolar NaCl and urea activate independent and complementary cellular programs that confer enhanced osmotolerance to renal medullary epithelial cells.