We aimed to evaluate whether the administration of riboflavin to septic animals reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, organ dysfunction, and mortality. C57BL/6 mice, 6-8 weeks old, were allocated to the study group (polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) + antibiotic + iv riboflavin), control (CLP + antibiotic + iv saline), or naïve (non-operated controls). Serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), urea, and creatinine, and markers of inflammation [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2)], and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured 12 h after the experiment. Animal survival rates were calculated after 7 days. Means between groups were compared using linear regression models adjusted under the Bayesian approach. No significant difference was observed between control and study groups in serum concentrations of IL-6 (95% credible interval) (-0.35 to 0.44), TNF-α (-15.7 to 99.1), KC (-0.13 to 0.05), MIP-2 (-0.84 to 0.06), MDA (-1.25 to 2.53), or ALT (-6.6 to 11.5). Serum concentrations of CK-MB (-145.1 to -30.1), urea (-114.7 to -15.1), and creatinine (-1.14 to -0.01) were higher in the study group. Survival was similar in both groups (P=0.8). Therefore, the use of riboflavin in mice undergoing sepsis induced by CLP did not reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, organ dysfunction, or mortality compared with placebo.

A criação de parasitoides em larga escala representa uma etapa fundamental para programas de controle biológico. A progênie de Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) foi avaliada em pupas de Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) armazenadas em baixa temperatura. Pupas de B. mori, com 48 a 72 horas de idade, foram armazenadas a 10 ºC por 5, 10, 15 ou 20 dias e, posteriormente, expostas ao parasitismo por fêmeas de P. elaeisis. A duração do ciclo de vida do parasitoide foi menor em pupas de B. mori armazenadas a 10 ºC durante 15 dias. O parasitismo de P. elaeisis atingiu 100% de pupas de B. mori após armazenamento a 10 ºC em todos os períodos, com emergência de 78 a 100% desse parasitoide. A progênie por pupa de P. elaeisis foi maior quando pupas de B. mori foram armazenadas por 15 dias a 10 ºC. Pupas de B. mori podem ser armazenadas por até 15 dias a 10 ºC e serem utilizadas em criações de P. elaeisis.

The mass rearing of parasitoids represents a fundamental stage for programmes of biological control. The progeny of the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were evaluated on previously refrigerated pupae of Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Forty-eight to 72 hours-old pupae of B. mori were stored at 10 ºC for five, 10, 15 or 20 days and then exposed to parasitism by P. elaeisis females. This parasitoid showed shorter duration of the life cycle when reared on pupae of B. mori which were previously stored at 10 ºC during 15 days. P. elaeisis parasitized 100% of the pupae of B. mori after storage at 10 ºC during all periods with emergence of this parasitoid from 78 to 100% of these pupae. P. elaeisis had a higher number of progeny per pupa of B. mori stored for 15 days at 10 ºC. Pupae of B. mori can be stored for 15 days at 10 ºC before being used to rear P. elaeisis.

RESUMO Predadores generalistas são importantes para o controle biológico de pragas por se alimentarem de muitas espécies de insetos, especialmente daquelas em maior abundância, e por se manterem em diferentes agroecossistemas, mesmo em períodos de escassez de presa, tendo sido registrados em surtos de Lepidoptera desfolhadores em plantações de eucalipto. Foram estudados a longevidade e os parâmetros reprodutivos do predador Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) a 26 ± 2° C, 65 ± 10% de U.R. e fotofase de 12 horas, alimentado com Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (T1) ou com esta presa e mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (T2). A longevidade de machos e fêmeas foi de 27,4 ± 4,4 e 39,6 ± 3,4 dias e de 27,0 ± 4,6 e 34,5 ± 3,1 dias, respectivamente. As fêmeas foram sempre mais pesadas que os machos, com 141,1 e 104,9 mg apenas com T. molitor, e 148,8 e 108,3mg com essa presa e mudas de E. grandis, respectivamente. A viabilidade dos ovos, o número de ovos/fêmea e a longevidade de B. tabidus foram maiores no tratamento com essa presa e mudas de E. grandis.

ABSTRACT Generalist predators are important for the biological control of pests by feeding on many insect pests, especially those occurring in larger abundance. For this reason, they can maintain their populations in different ecosystems, even during periods of prey shortage, and they are found in outbreaks of Lepidoptera defoliators in eucalyptus plantations. The longevity and reproductive parameters of the predatorBrontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were studied at 26 ± 2° C, 65 ± 10% relative humidity and 12 hours photophase with Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (T1) pupae or with this prey and seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis (T2). The longevity of males and females of this predator were 27.4 ± 4.4 and 39.6 ± 3.4 days and 27.0 ± 4.6 and 34.5 ± 3.1 days, respectively. Females were always heavier than males, with 141.1 and 104.9 mg only with T. molitor and 148.8 and 108.3 mg with this prey and E. grandis seedlings, respectively. The viability and number of eggs/female and the longevity of B. tabidus had higher values in the treatment with T. molitor pupae and seedlings of E. grandis.

Bradykinin has been reported to act as a growth factor for fibroblasts, mesangial cells and keratinocytes. Recently, we reported that bradykinin augments liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is also a powerful bradykinin-degrading enzyme. We have investigated the effect of ACE inhibition by lisinopril on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Adult male Wistar rats underwent 70% partial hepatectomy (PH). The animals received lisinopril at a dose of 1 mg kg body weight-1 day-1, or saline solution, intraperitoneally, for 5 days before hepatectomy, and daily after surgery. Four to six animals from the lisinopril and saline groups were sacrificed at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 120 h after PH. Liver regeneration was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen using the PC-10 monoclonal antibody. The value for the lisinopril-treated group was three-fold above the corresponding control at 12 h after PH (P<0.001), remaining elevated at approximately two-fold above control values at 24, 36, 48 (P<0.001), and at 72 h (P<0.01) after PH, but values did not reach statistical difference at 120 h after PH. Plasma ACE activity measured by radioenzymatic assay was significantly higher in the saline group than in the lisinopril-treated group (P<0.001), with 81% ACE inhibition. The present study shows that plasma ACE inhibition enhances liver regeneration after PH in rats. Since it was reported that bradykinin also augments liver regeneration after PH, this may explain the liver growth stimulating effect of ACE inhibitors.

Baseando-se nos efeitos estimuladores do metabolismo energético pelo pré-condicionamento isquêmico (PCI) no tecido hepático, estudou-se dois grupos de ratos cirróticos submetidos a isquemia de 20 min e reperfusão de 120 min, após o PCI ou não respectivamente, determinando assim o valor do seu uso no prolongamento da manobra de Pringle e na regeneração hepática na hepatectomia.

We studied the influence of ischemic preconditioning in rat liver cirrhosis.The cirrhosis were induced in wistar rat with occlusion of biliary duct before 30 days operation and divided into group A, ischemic preconditioning and ischemic/reperfusion, and group B, only ischemic/reperfusion. In group A the preconditioning consisted of 5 min ischemic and 10 min reperfusion. The ischemic/reperfusion consisted of 20 min ischemic and 120 min reperfusion for both groups. The level of respiratory control reason (RCR) in the liver tissue 120 min after reperfusion was not difference significantly in the groups. Therefore it suggests that the preconditioning cam be viability and another object of studies must be rated in future this work.