ABSTRACT Purpose To present a model to reproduce the clinical condition, in order to better understand the pathophysiology of neurological impairment related to intoxication. Methods Twenty-five Wistar rats were used and divided into five groups: Shaw group (WHI), water gavage group (WGV), star fruit gavage group (SGV), nephropathic group with water gavage (NPW), nephropathic group with star fruit gavage (NPS).Nephropathic groups were submitted to surgery, developing nephropathy. After surgery, they received preestablished gavage with star fruit juice or water. The electroencephalographic records were evaluated in the experimental nephropathic group that received gavage of star fruit juice. Results To assess the induction of neurotoxicity using electroencephalographic data, the NPS group demonstrated the presence of epileptic seizures associated with star fruit intoxication. Conclusions The experimental model herein presented was adequate to reproduce the clinical condition experienced by nephropathic patients who ingest star fruit juice, establishing, thus, an experimental model utterly important for the study of the neurological toxicity process.

Abstract Purpose Studies have demonstrated that star fruit consumption by nephropathic patients triggers severe neurotoxic effects that can lead to convulsions or even death. Brain areas likely susceptible to star fruit poisoning have not been investigated. The objective of the present study was to map possible epileptogenic areas susceptible to star fruit intoxication in nephropathic rats. Methods The study analyzed 25 rats (5 groups). Rats in the experimental group underwent bilateral ureteral obstruction surgery and orogastric gavages with star fruit juice. An electroencephalogram was used to confirm convulsive seizures. Urea and creatinine levels were used to confirm the uremia model. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to map cells with c-Fos protein (c-Fos+ cells) to identify brain areas with increased neuronal activity. Control groups included non-nephropathic and nephropathic rats that did not receive star fruit. Results A statistically significant increase (p<0.01) in c-Fos+ cells was noted in nephropathic animals receiving star fruit juice compared to control groups, in brain areas commonly related to epileptogenic neural circuits including the hippocampus, amygdala, rhinal cortex, anterior cingulate area, piriform area, and medial dorsal thalamus. Conclusion These data corroborate the neurotoxic capacity of star fruit in nephropathic patients.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of application of 1% and 3% insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) cream on the process of wound healing in induced skin lesions in diabetic and non-diabetic rats and evaluate its effect on expression of myofibroblasts.METHODS: Ninety-six Wistar adult male rats were divided into six groups, with 16 rats in each group, as follows: group 1: non-diabetic, untreated; group 2: non-diabetic, treated with 1% IGF-1 cream; group 3: non-diabetic, treated with 3% IGF-1 cream; group 4: diabetic, untreated; group 5: diabetic, treated with 1% IGF-1 cream; and group 6: diabetic, treated with 3% IGF-1 cream. In groups 4, 5, and 6, diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of alloxan. After diabetes had been induced, animals were mantained for 3 months. The experimental procedure consisted of the creation of a circular incision of 0.9 mm in diameter using a metal punch. Following this, wounds were treated daily according to the assigned treatment regimen. Groups 2 and 5 were treated with 1% IGF-1 cream, groups 3 and 6 with 3% IGF-1 cream, and groups 1 and 4 and the untreated groups with 0.9% saline solution. From each group, samples from 4 rats were taken at three, seven, 14, and 21 days after the injury. Samples were fixed in 10% formalin to prepare slides for histological analysis. Slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson were observed vascular proliferation, mononuclear cells, polymorphonuclear cells, fibroblast proliferation, re-epithelialization, and collagen fibers. This study analyzed the expression of α-smooth muscle actin using specific antibodies to correlate the temporal expression of α-smooth muscle-specific actin (α-SM actin), a molecular marker for myofibroblast transformation.RESULTS:Macroscopic observation of wounds showed a more rapid re-epithelialization of wounds treated with IGF. Regarding acute inflammatory reactions, the results of the analysis of vascular proliferation and polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells showed no statistically significant differences in any of the periods studied (according to the results of a Mann-Whitney test). The initial immunohistochemical analysis of tissue samples conducted to compare the expression of α-smooth muscle actin between groups showed a relevant response in the expression of myofibroblasts. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and were found to be statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The topical application of 1% and 3% IGF-1 creams increases the expression of myofibroblasts in the process of wound healing in rats.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia da utilização do LigaSureTM na apendicectomia, com ou sem a presença de processo inflamatório agudo, comparando com ligadura simples ou técnica tradicional. MÉTODOS: Um total de 30 coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) foi alocado em dois grupos, grupos A e B, cada um composto por 15 animais. O grupo A não apresentava apendicite aguda e o grupo B com apendicite aguda, sendo os animais submetidos à apendicitectomia. Cada grupo foi divido em três subgrupos, cada um com cinco animais onde foram então submetidos à ligadura simples, técnica tradicional ou utilização do LigaSureTM. Foram avaliados parâmetros macroscópicos assim como microscópicos do coto apendicular assim como da ferida operatória. RESULTADOS: No grupo que apresentava apendicite aguda onde foi utilizado o LigaSureTM, foi observado fibrose em 100% dos animais, assim como nos outros dois grupos. Com isto mostrou-se que a aplicação do LigaSureTM é tão eficiente quanto as outras técnicas utilizadas na cicatrizaçãoo do coto apendicular. CONCLUSÕES: A utilização do LigaSureTM induz a formação de fibrose na região do coto apencicular. A técnica foi eficaz quanto à formação de tecido fibrótico evitando o extravassamento de conteúdo entérico.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the use of LigaSureTM in appendectomy, with or without acute inflammatory process, and to compare with simple ligature and conventional therapy. METHODS: A total of 30 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) randomly allocated in two groups, group A and B, of 15 animals each were used. The group A without acute appendicitis and the group B with acute appendicitis were submitted to appendectomy. After, the groups were subdivided into three groups, each group containing five rabbits submitted to simple ligature, conventional therapy and application of LigaSureTM. We assessed macroscopic and microscopy parameters of appendiceal stump and operative wound. RESULTS: The group with acute appendicitis that LigaSureTM was applied had fibrosis in 100% of animals, as well as in the other operative techniques used. It suggested that application of LigaSureTM is efficient as other techniques used in healing of appendiceal stump. CONCLUSIONS: The application of LigaSureTM induces the formation of fibrosis in the appendiceal stump. The technique proved efficacy to induce enough fibrous tissue to obstruct leakage of enteric content.

Nowadays, the study of dispersion of solid wastes through a porous media is very important in order to estimate the ecological impact that, in particular a radioactive solid waste, could produce when it spreads in the soil. There are some models available in literature which can help us to simulate the dispersion of contaminants through a porous media, taking into account the physicochemical properties of the waste and its effect over the mobility, the adsorption-desorption equilibrium and the irreversible adsorption over the walls that constitute the channel where it diffuses. However, the majority of these models do not consider the cooperative behavior given by the presence of other species competing each other for the substrate and the consequences that this competition produces in the thermodynamic equilibrium of the system. In this sense, the mesoscopic simulations have shown to be a viable alternative to study these kinds of systems. This work presents the study of the adsorption-desorption process for different components in a contaminated fluid by electrostatic mesoscopic molecular simulation using the dissipative particle dynamics method (DPD). Also it shows how the presence of different components modifies the adsorption-desorption equilibrium, this result suggests the importance of including, in the simulation of contaminated fluid in a porous media, the presence of all species in order to obtain results closer to reality.

El estudio de la dispersión de contaminantes en medios porosos es de suma importancia para estimar el impacto ecológico que los desechos sólidos de origen radioactivo ocasionan. Existen modelos que simulan la difusión de soluto en medios porosos considerando las características físico-químicas del contaminante disperso y su efecto en la movilidad, la adsorción-desadsorción y la adsorción irreversible sobre las paredes del canal a través del cual se difunde. La mayoría de estos modelos no considera la presencia de distintas especies interaccionando unas con otras y con el sustrato y las consecuencias de esta competencia entre distintas especies en el equilibrio termodinámico del sistema. En este trabajo se presenta el estudio del proceso de adsorción-desorción de distintos componentes presentes en los fluidos contaminados a través de simulaciones moleculares mesoscópicas electrostáticas tipo DPD (dissipative particle dynamics). Se muestra cómo la presencia de distintos componentes altera el equilibrio de adsorción-desorción, indicando que las simulaciones de dispersión del contaminante deberán tomar en cuenta, este cambio en la constante de adsorción para obtener resultados más cercanos a la realidad.

OBJETIVO: O presente trabalho propõe um modelo de treinamento de habilidades cirúrgicas em anastomoses vasculares utilizando um modelo que simula o calibre, a consistência e a resistência arterial e venosa, utilizando-se para isto a traquéia e esôfago de frango, respectivamente. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados pescoços de frango, onde foram dissecados esôfago e traquéia e após preparo foram seguidos todos os passos do procedimento da anastomose vascular. O fluxo das anastomoses foi comprovado por observação direta e teste de enchimento imediatamente após as anastomoses. RESULTADOS: Todas as amostras mostraram-se viáveis pelos critérios acima descritos. CONCLUSÃO: Pela primeira vez apresenta-se um modelo experimental interessante que serve para treinar suturas vasculares, pois é dotado de todos os requisitos necessários para o aprendizado da cirurgia vascular experimental.

PURPOSE: This paper proposes a model of training surgical skills using vascular anastomosis in an animal model that simulates the size, consistency and resistance arteries and veins, to use it to chicken trachea and esophagus, respectively. METHODS: We used chicken necks where the esophagus and trachea were dissected and after preparation were followed every step of the procedure of vascular anastomosis. The flow of the anastomosis was confirmed by direct observation and testing of filling (empty-and-refill test) immediately after the anastomosis. RESULTS: All samples proved to be viable by the criteria described above. CONCLUSION: For the first time presents an interesting experimental model used to train vascular sutures, because it is endowed with all the necessary requirements for the learning of experimental vascular surgery.