ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate inflammatory response in critical bone injuries after implantation of the biomaterial composed of hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly (lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA)/BLEED. Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats (280 ± 20 grams) were divided into two groups: control group (CG), in which the animals do not receive any type of treatment; and biomaterial group (BG), in which the animals received the HA/PLGA/BLEED scaffold. Critical bone injury was induced in the medial region of the skull calotte with the aid of a trephine drill 8 mm in diameter. The biomaterial was implanted in the form of 1.5-mm thick scaffolds. Serum and calotte were collected at one, three and seven days. Results: Biomaterial had a significant effect on the morphological structure of the bone, accelerating osteoblast activation within three days, without causing exacerbated systemic inflammation. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that BG induced upregulation of osteogenic genes such as runt-related transcription factor 2, and stimulated genes of inflammatory pathways such as tumor necrosis factor-α, on the first day without overexpressing genes related to bone matrix degradation, such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Conclusions: The HA/PLGA/BLEED® association can be used as a bone graft to aid bone repair, as it is capable of modulating expression of important genes at this stage of the repair process.

The protective effect of infectious agents against allergic reactions has been thoroughly investigated. Current studies have demonstrated the ability of some helminths to modulate the immune response of infected hosts. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between Toxocara canis infection and the development of an allergic response in mice immunised with ovalbumin (OVA). We determined the total and differential blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells using BALB/c mice as a model. To this end, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-10 and anti-OVA-IgE were measured using an ELISA. The inflammatory process in the lungs was observed using histology slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The results showed an increase in the total number of leukocytes and eosinophils in the blood of infected and immunised animals at 18 days after infection. We observed a slight lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate in the portal space in all infected mice. Anti-OVA-IgE levels were detected in smaller proportions in the plasma of immunised and infected mice compared with mice that were only infected. Therefore, we concluded that T. canis potentiates inflammation in the lungs in response to OVA, although anti-OVA-IgE levels suggest a potential reduction of the inflammatory process through this mechanism.

The significance of polyphenol intake for the prevention of chronic diseases is controversial. Objective: this study investigated the chemical composition and antioxidant potential of an anthocyanin-rich extract from Euterpe edulis fruits (LPEF) and its effects on liver steatosis in dyslipidemic apoE-/- knockout mice. Materials and methods: mice were divided into G1 (C57BL/6) standard diet; G2 (apoE-/-) standard diet, G3 (apoE-/-) 2% LPEF, G4 (apoE-/-) 6% LPEF, G5 (apoE-/-) 10% LPEF, G6 (apoE-/-) 2% α-tocopherol acetate. After 75 days of treatment, the animals were euthanized. The LPEF contained a high level of monomeric anthocyanins (301.4 mg/100g) and marked antioxidant activity. Results: Catalase activity was reduced in G3, G4, G5 and G6 compared to G2. Superoxide dismutase was reduced only in G4. The animals in G4, G5, and G6 showed low HDL and triglycerides levels compared to G2. The proportion of lipid droplets in liver tissue was reduced in G4 and G5 compared to G2, G3, and G6. Conclusion: The results indicated that E. edulis pulp is rich in anthocyanins and the LPEF dietary consumption can reduce the severity of liver steatosis in apoE-/- mice, an effect that is potentially mediated by the antioxidant activity of this extract and modulation of triglyceride serum levels.

El papel de los polifenoles en la prevencion de enfermedades cronicas es controvertido. Objetivo: este estudio investigo la composicion quimica y el potencial antioxidante de un extracto del fruto de Euterpe edulis rico en antocianinas (LPEF) y sus efectos en la esteatosis hepatica en ratones apoE-/- knockout con dislipidemia. Material y metodos: los ratones fueron divididos en los siguientes grupos; G1 (C57BL/6) con una dieta estandar; G2 (apoE-/-) con dieta estandar; G3 G3 (apoE-/-) con 2% de LPEF; G4 (apoE-/-) con 6% de LPEF; G5 (apoE-/-) con 10% de LPEF y G6 (apoE-/-) con 2% acetato α-tocoferol (α-tocopherol acetate). Despues de 75 dias de tratamiento, los animales fueron eutanizados. El LPEF contenia un alto nivel de antocianinas monomericas (301,4 mg/100 g) con notable actividad antioxidante. Resultados: la actividad catalasa fue reducida en los grupos G3, G4, G5 y G6 comparada con G2. La superoxidasa dismutasa solo se redujo en el grupo G4. Los animales de G4, G5 y G6 mostraron bajos niveles de HDL trigliceridos, comparados con G2. La proporcion de lipidos en el tejido hepatico fue reducida en G4 y G5, comparado con G2, G3 y G6. Conclusion: los resultados indicaron que la pulpa de E. edulis es rica en antocianinas, y que el consumo de LPEF en la dieta puede reducir la severidad de la esteatosis hepatica en ratones apoE-/-, un efecto que es potencialmente mediado por la actividad antioxidante de este extracto y la modulacion en los niveles sericos de trigliceridos.

FUNDAMENTO: A capacidade aeróbica é fundamental para o desempenho físico, e a baixa capacidade aeróbica está relacionada ao desencadeamento de diversas doenças cardiovasculares. OBJETIVO: Comparar a contratilidade e a morfologia de cardiomiócitos isolados de ratos com baixo desempenho e desempenho padrão para o exercício físico. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar, com 10 semanas de idade, foram submetidos a um protocolo de corrida em esteira até a fadiga, e foram divididos em dois grupos: Baixo Desempenho (BD) e Desempenho Padrão (DP). Em seguida, após eutanásia, o coração foi removido rapidamente e, por meio de dissociação enzimática, os cardiomiócitos do ventrículo esquerdo foram isolados. O comprimento celular e dos sarcômeros e a largura dos cardiomiócitos foram medidos usando-se um sistema de detecção de bordas. Os cardiomiócitos isolados foram estimulados eletricamente a 1 e 3 Hz e a contração celular foi medida registrando-se a alteração do seu comprimento. RESULTADOS: O comprimento celular foi menor no grupo BD (157,2 ± 1,3µm; p < 0,05) em relação ao DP (161,4 ± 1,3 µm), sendo o mesmo resultado observado para o volume dos cardiomiócitos (BD, 25,5 ± 0,4 vs. DP, 26,8 ± 0,4 pL; p < 0,05). Os tempos para o pico de contração (BD, 116 ± 1 vs. DP, 111 ± 2ms) e para o relaxamento total (BD, 143 ± 3 vs. DP, 232 ± 3 ms) foram maiores no grupo BD. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que os miócitos do ventrículo esquerdo dos animais de baixo desempenho para o exercício físico apresentam menores dimensões que os dos animais de desempenho padrão, além de apresentarem perdas na capacidade contrátil.

BACKGROUND: Aerobic capacity is essential to physical performance, and low aerobic capacity is related to the triggering of various cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To compare the morphology and contractility of isolated rat cardiomyocytes with low performance and standard performance for exercise. METHODS: Wistar rats with 10 weeks of age underwent a protocol of treadmill running to fatigue, and were divided into two groups: Low Performance (LP) and Standard Performance (SP). Then, the animals were sacrificed, the heart was quickly removed and, by means of enzymatic dissociation, left ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated. The cell and sarcomeres length and width of cardiomyocytes were measured using an edge detection system. The isolated cardiomyocytes were electrically stimulated at 1 and 3 Hz and cell contraction was measured by registering the change of their length. RESULTS: The cell length was shorter in the LP group (157.2 1.3µm; p < 0.05) compared to SP (161.4 1.3µm), and the same result was observed for the volume of cardiomyocytes (LP, 25.5 0.4. vs. SP, 26.8 ± 0.4 pL; p < 0.05). The time to peak contraction (LP, 116 1 vs. SP 111 2ms) and total relaxation (LP, 143 3 vs. SP 232 3ms) were higher in the LP group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that left ventricular myocytes of animals with low performance for exercise are smaller than animals with standard performance. In addition to that, they present losses in contractile capacity.