Abstract Introduction: in the last few years important changes have occurred in nutritional patterns. There has been an increase in the consumption of simple carbohydrates such as fructose, which has been associated with numerous metabolic disorders, including hepatic steatosis. Materials and methods: we sought to evaluate the impact of fructose consumption, as diluted in water at different concentrations, for two time periods, on the metabolic parameters of Wistar rats using ANOVA. Results: our data indicate that both time and fructose concentration promote variations in animal body mass, and in food, water, and caloric intake. The time variable influenced the modulation of biochemical parameters such as serum concentrations of glucose and total cholesterol. Both fructose concentration and time of exposure influenced the concentrations of serum triglycerides, creatinine, AST, TNF, and IL-6. When evaluating redox status and oxidative damage markers, we observed that fructose concentration and exposure time had an effect on total glutathione levels, which decreased with an increase in concentration and time. For superoxide dismutase, we evaluated the effects of time and interaction. A significant interaction was observed for TBARS. For carbonylated proteins, exposure time was a fundamental factor in generating an effect. Conclusions: we demonstrated that fructose modulates the parameters of triglycerides and total liver cholesterol, and that time influences the number of hepatocytes. Our data suggest that fructose concentration, exposure time, and an interaction between these two parameters have a significant effect on the metabolic parameters responsible for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT Objective Provide a comprehensive view of the events surrounding the sugar consumption, under conditions of energy equivalence; through the analysis of behavioral aspects of intake, and of biochemical, metabolic and physiological parameters, as well as the effect of this nutrient on the plasticity of adipose tissue. Materials and methods Newly weaned male Wistar rats were classified in two groups and subjected to the following normocaloric diets: standard chow diet or to high-sugar diet (HSD) ad libitum for 18 weeks. Results The animals submitted to the HSD were associated with a lower caloric intake during the 18 weeks of experimentation. However, the HSD induced a significant increase in body weight, white adipose tissue weight, adiposity index, Lee index, and the levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein in the serum. In addition, it induced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and compensatory increase of insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells. Also increased heart rate and induced hyperplasia, and hypertrophy of retroperitoneal visceral adipose tissue. In the liver, the HSD was associated with increased hepatic lipid content (i.e., triglycerides and cholesterol) and hepatomegaly. Conclusion The post-weaning consumption of HSD induces an adaptive response in metabolism; however, such an event is not enough to reverse the homeostatic imbalance triggered by the chronic consumption of this macronutrient, leading to the development of metabolic syndrome, irrespective of caloric intake. These findings corroborate recent evidence indicating that sugar is a direct contributor to metabolic diseases independent of a positive energy balance. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(1):71-81

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in tissue samples is important in many situations, such as testing of the reactivation of the infection. The detection of T. cruzi nests in endomyocardial biopsies (EMB) may be useful to evaluate graft rejection. Given their scarcity, such nests are not routinely identified. To increase the diagnosis sensitivity, immunohistochemistry (IHC) may serve as a promising strategy. Here, we validate an antiserum for the detection of T. cruzi infection by IHC. METHODS: We used 1) positive controls (PCs) - 13 EMB, 12 skin biopsies, and 1 heart with T. cruzi nests as sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE); 2) negative controls - a) 10 explant hearts and 10 EMB with no amastigote nests or clinical/laboratory signs of chagasic infection; and b) eight samples with leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, or histoplasmosis; and 3) Cases - 31 EMB of chagasic patients with no parasite nests in HE sections but detected positive for T. cruzi DNA by polymerase chain reaction. As a primary antibody, a hyperimmune serum from T. cruzi-infected rabbits was used. RESULTS: IHC results were positive for 21 of 26 PCs (80.8%) and one case of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In 4 of 31 cases, IHC revealed nests (12.9%), which were undetected by conventional histological examination. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that IHC with the tested antiserum increases the sensitivity of the diagnosis and may be recommended for routine use in EMB analyses of cardiac transplant patients with Chagas disease.

Objetivo Avaliar o desempenho dos laboratórios de citopatologia prestadores de serviço para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos estudo descritivo combase nos dados obtidos do Sistema de Informação do Câncer do Colo do Útero no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2012. Para avaliação da qualidade dos exames citopatológicos do colo do útero, foram analisados três indicadores de qualidade: índice de positividade, percentual de ASC (células escamosas atípicas) entre os exames alterados e percentual de exames compatíveis com HSIL (Lesão intraepitelial escamosa de alto grau). Os laboratórios foram classificados conforme escala de produção em:≤5.000; entre 5.001 e 10.000; entre 10.001 e 15.000 e 15.001. Após a coleta das variáveis e classificação dos laboratórios conforme escala de produção foi elaborado um banco de dados, o qual foi analisado por meio do programa Microsoft Office Excel 97-2003. Resultados Em 2012, no estado de Minas Gerais, 146 laboratórios prestaram serviço para o SUS realizando um total de 1.277.018 exames citopatológicos do colo do útero. Metade desses laboratórios apresentou escala de produção≤5.000 exames/ano, e efetuaram 13,1% do total de exames do estado, por outro lado 13,7% dos laboratórios apresentaram escala de produção > 15.001 exames/ano e efetuaram 49,2% do total de exames do estado. O índice de positividade apresentado pela maioria dos laboratórios que prestaram serviço para o SUS no ano de 2012, independente de sua escala de produção, foi abaixo ou muito abaixo do recomendado. Dentre os 20 laboratórios que efetuaram mais de 15.001 exames por ano, somente três apresentaram o percentual de exames compatíveis com HSIL acima do recomendado pelo Ministério da Saúde. Conclusão Amaioria dos laboratórios prestadores de serviço para o SUS no estado de Minas Gerais apresentou indicadores de qualidade fora dos parâmetros recomendados pelo Ministério da Saúde.

Objective The objective of this study is to assess the performance of cytopathology laboratories providing services to the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods This descriptive study uses data obtained from the Cervical Cancer Information System from January to December 2012. Three quality indicators were analyzed to assess the quality of cervical cytopathology tests: positivity index, percentage of atypical squamous cells (ASCs) in abnormal tests, and percentage of tests compatiblewith high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Laboratories were classified according to their production scale in tests per year≤5,000; from 5,001 to 10,000; from 10,001 to 15,000; and 15,001. Based on the collection of variables and the classification of laboratories according to production scale, we created and analyzed a database using Microsoft Office Excel 97-2003. Results In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, 146 laboratories provided services to the SUS in 2012 by performing a total of 1,277,018 cervical cytopathology tests. Half of these laboratories had production scales≤5,000 tests/year and accounted for 13.1% of all tests performed in the entire state; in turn, 13.7% of these laboratories presented production scales of > 15,001 tests/year and accounted for 49.2% of the total of tests performed in the entire state. The positivity indexes of most laboratories providing services to the SUS in 2012, regardless of production scale, were below or well below recommended limits. Of the 20 laboratories that performed more than 15,001 tests per year, only three presented percentages of tests compatible with HSILs above the lower limit recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Conclusion The majority of laboratories providing services to the SUS in Minas Gerais presented quality indicators outside the range recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Trypanosoma cruzi strains from distinct geographic areas show differences in drug resistance and association between parasites genetic and treatment response has been observed. Considering that benznidazole (BZ) can reduce the parasite burden and tissues damage, even in not cured animals and individuals, the goal is to assess the drug response to BZ of T. cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, before treatment. Mice infected and treated with BZ in both phases of infection were compared with the untreated and evaluated by fresh blood examination, haemoculture, polymerase chain reaction, conventional (ELISA) and non-conventional (FC-ALTA) serologies. In mice treated in the acute phase, a significant decrease in parasitaemia was observed for all strains. Positive parasitological and/or serological tests in animals treated during the acute and chronic (95.1-100%) phases showed that most of the strains were BZ resistant. However, beneficial effect was demonstrated because significant reduction (p < 0.05%) and/or suppression of parasitaemia was observed in mice infected with all strains (acute phase), associated to reduction/elimination of inflammation and fibrosis for two/eight strains. BZ offered some benefit, even in not cured animals, what suggest that BZ use may be recommended at least for recent chronic infection of the studied region.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection may be caused by different strains with distinct discrete typing units (DTUs) that can result in variable clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease. The present study evaluates the immune response and cardiac lesions in dogs experimentally infected with different T. cruzi strains with distinct DTUs, namely, the Colombian (Col) and Y strains of TcI and TcII DTU, respectively. During infection with the Col strain, increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, erythrocytes, haematocrit and haemoglobin were observed. In addition, CD8+ T-lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood produced higher levels of interleukin (IL)-4. The latter suggests that during the acute phase, infection with the Col strain may remain unnoticed by circulating mononuclear cells. In the chronic phase, a significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells was detected in the right atrium. Conversely, infection with the Y strain led to leucopoenia, thrombopoenia, inversion of the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes and alterations in monocyte number. The Y strain stimulated the production of interferon-&#947; by CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and IL-4 by CD8+ T-cells. In the chronic phase, significant heart inflammation and fibrosis were observed, demonstrating that strains of different DTUs interact differently with the host.

Species of the Lychnophora genus are plants native to Brazil, popularly known as "Brazilian arnica" and used in folk medicine as alcoholic and hydro-alcoholic preparations for the treatment of bruises, inflammation, pain, rheumatism and insect bites. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety of the use of Lychnophora pinaster Mart., Asteraceae. Acute toxicity of the crude ethanolic extract was evaluated by administration of the extract by oral route to male and female Swiss mice. A single extract dose of 125, 250 or 500 mg/kg was administered and the effects on spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory behavior, muscle strength, body weight, food and water consumption, relative organ weight, histology, as well as hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated. The three doses administered to the animals did not cause muscle tone alterations, but doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg induced a significant inhibition of the spontaneous locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of the animals in open-field test. There was no alteration to hematological parameters and consumption of water and food, body weight variation and organs relative weight. Changes were observed in AST and ALT during assessment of biochemical parameters. The histopathological evaluation showed that the extract provoked cellular alterations, such as vacuolar degeneration and inflammation in kidneys and liver at all doses. Liver morphometric analyses of male and female mice showed that the extract did not have dose-dependent effects. Although females showed a significant increase in inflammatory cells, the effect was not dose-dependent.

Chagasic megaoesophagus and megacolon are characterised by motor abnormalities related to enteric nervous system lesions and their development seems to be related to geographic distribution of distinct Trypanosoma cruzi subpopulations. Beagle dogs were infected with Y or Berenice-78 (Be-78) T. cruzi strains and necropsied during the acute or chronic phase of experimental disease for post mortem histopathological evaluation of the oesophagus and colon. Both strains infected the oesophagus and colon and caused an inflammatory response during the acute phase. In the chronic phase, inflammatory process was observed exclusively in the Be-78 infected animals, possibly due to a parasitism persistent only in this group. Myenteric denervation occurred during the acute phase of infection for both strains, but persisted chronically only in Be-78 infected animals. Glial cell involvement occurred earlier in animals infected with the Y strain, while animals infected with the Be-78 strain showed reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive area of enteric glial cells in the chronic phase. These results suggest that although both strains cause lesions in the digestive tract, the Y strain is associated with early control of the lesion, while the Be-78 strain results in progressive gut lesions in this model.

Resistance to infection by Leishmania major has been associated with the development of a Th1 type response that is dependent on the presence of interleukin 12 (IL-12). In this work the involvement of this cytokine in the response to infection by L. braziliensis, a less virulent species in the mouse model, was evaluated. Our results show that while interferon (IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT>) deficient (-/-) mice inoculated L. braziliensis develop severe uncontrolled lesions, chronic lesions that remained under control up to 12 weeks of infection were observed in IL-12p40 -/- mice. IL 12p40 -/- mice had fewer parasites in their lesions than IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT>-/- mice. Lymph node cells from IL-12p40 -/- were capable of producing low but consistent levels of IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT> suggestive of its involvement in parasite control. Furthermore, as opposed to previous reports on L. major-infected animals, no switch to a Th2 response was observed in IL-12p40 -/- infected with L. braziliensis.

As lesões observadas na cardiopatia chagásica crônica frequentemente produzem alterações eletrocardiográficas e afetam a função cardíaca. Através de uma análise morfométrica computadorizada nós quantificamos as áreas ocupadas por músculo cardíaco, tecido conjuntivo fibroso e tecido adiposo no átrio direito de cães experimentalmente infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi. Todos os cães infectados apresentaram miocardite crônica fibrosante com graus variáveis de redução de músculo cardíaco, fibrose e substituição por tecido adiposo. No miocárdio atrial dos cães infectados pelas cepas Be78 e Be62 foram observados 34 e 50% de músculo cardíaco, 28 e 32% de fibrose e, 38 e 18% de tecido adiposo, respectivamente. A fibrose observada era tanto difusa quanto focal e, principalmente intrafascicular interrompendo total ou parcialmente o percurso dos feixes musculares. Tais alterações histológicas provavelmente contribuiram para o surgimento dos distúrbios eletrocardiográficos verificados em 10 dos 11 cães estudados e que são comuns na cardiopatia chagásica crônica humana. De todos os achados microscópicos encontrados, a fibrose foi a mais importante por produzir rearranjos na fibras colágenas em relação aos miocardiócitos, modificando a fisionomia anatômica e o comportamento mecânico do miocárdio. Tais anormalidades estruturais podem contribuir para o surgimento à disfunção cardíaca, arritmias e à insuficiência cardíaca congestiva como verificado em dois cães analisados. A cepa Be78 produziu uma destruição de músculo cardíaco atrial estatisticamente superior à induzida pela cepa Be62.

Lesions observed in chronic chagasic cardiopathy frequently produce electrocardiographic alterations and affect cardiac function. Through a computerized morphometrical analysis we quantified the areas occupied by cardiac muscle, connective and adipose tissues in the right atrium of dogs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. All of the infected dogs showed chronic myocarditis with variable reduction levels of cardiac muscle, fibrosis and adipose tissue replacement. In the atrial myocardium of dogs infected with Be78 and Be62 cardiac muscle represented 34 and 50%, fibrosis 28 and 32% and adipose tissue 38 and 18%, respectively. The fibrosis observed was both diffuse and focal and mostly intrafascicular, either partially or completely interrupting the path of muscle bundles. Such histological alterations probably contributed to the appearance of electrocardiographic disturbances verified in 10 out 11 dogs which are also common in human chronic chagasic cardiopathy. Fibrosis was the most important microscopic occurrence found since it produces rearrangements of collagen fibers in relation to myocardiocytes which causes changes in anatomical physiognomy and mechanical behavior of the myocardium. These abnormalities can contribute to the appearance of cardiac malfunction, arrythmias and congestive cardiac insufficiency as observed in two of the analyzed dogs. Strain Be78 caused destruction of atrial cardiac muscle higher than that induced by strain Be62.

Neste trabalho foi avaliada a influência da fonte do inóculo (tripomastigota sangüíneo ou metacíclico) e da via de inoculação (intraperitoneal ou conjuntival) na evolução da infecção de cães pelas cepas Berenice-62 e Berenice-78 do Trypanosoma cruzi. O índice de infectividade e os níveis de parasitaemia foram significativamente influenciados pelas condições de inoculação, tendo sido maiores nos animais inoculados pela via conjuntival, com tripomastigotas metacíclicos. Por outro lado, não foi observada relação entre as condições de inóculo e as lesões teciduais nos animais infectados com a cepa Berenice-78, pois todos apresentaram miocardite aguda severa. De forma inversa, nos animais infectados com a cepa Berenice-62, foi observada miocardite aguda intensa apenas nos cães inoculados com tripomastigotas metacíclicos, via intraperitoneal. Estes resultados sugerem que a taxa de infectividade e a evolução da infecção do hospedeiro vertebrado pelo T. cruzi podem ser marcadamente influenciadas pela fonte do inóculo e pela via de inoculação, mesmo quando a mesma cepa do parasita é utilizada.

This paper aimed to verify the influence of the inoculum source (blood or metacyclic trypomastigote) and the route of inoculation (intraperitoneal or conjunctival) on the course of T. cruzi infection in dogs, using comparatively the T. cruzi strains Berenice-62 and Berenice-78. All dogs inoculated intraperitoneally became infected independently of the T. cruzi strain and source of trypomastigotes used. High level of infectivity was also observed when metacyclic trypomastigotes of both strains were inoculated by conjunctival route. However, when blood trypomastigotes were inoculated by conjunctival route the percentages of infectivity were significantly lower in dogs inoculated with both strains. Parasitaemia was significantly higher in animals infected with metacyclic trypomastigotes via the conjunctival route independently of the T. cruzi strain used. All animals infected with Berenice-78 strain showed severe acute myocarditis. On the other hand, animals infected with Berenice-62 showed severe acute myocarditis only when infected with metacyclic trypomastigote, via the intraperitoneal route. The results suggest that the source of the inoculum and the route of inoculation remarkably influence the evolution of the infection for the T. cruzi in the vertebrate host even when the same strain of the parasite is used.