RESUMO Defeitos ósseos constituem um problema de saúde global. O sistema Rigenera permite a extração de microenxertos ricos em células-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs). Objetivou-se avaliar o processo de regeneração óssea por enxertos obtidos pelo sistema Rigenera em defeitos críticos na calvária de ratos. Foram utilizados 18 ratos Wistar, machos, pesando 285±29g, distribuídos em três grupos (n=6), sendo cada animal controle de si mesmo, denominados G15-Controle e G15-Tratado (15 dias); G30-Controle e G30-Tratado (30 dias) e G60-Controle e G60-Tratado (60 dias). Foram realizadas duas lesões de 5mm de diâmetro em cada antímero da calvária. Nos grupos tratados, foram utilizados microenxertos autólogos de cartilagem xifoide, obtidos pelo sistema Rigenera. O defeito contralateral serviu como controle em todos os animais. Os animais foram eutanasiados aos 15, 30 e 60 dias após a cirurgia, e as amostras foram processadas para a histoquímica. Nos grupos controle, não foram observados sinais de regeneração óssea, enquanto nos grupos tratamento foram verificadas áreas de formação óssea e tecido mesenquimal ativado. O sistema Rigenera foi eficiente na obtenção de microenxertos autólogos, para terapia celular em defeito crítico de calvária de ratos. Com o aprimoramento do protocolo, o sistema Rigenera poderá ser amplamente utilizado no tratamento de lesões ósseas.

ABSTRACT Bone defects are a global health problem. The Rigenera system allows the extraction of micro grafts rich in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the bone regeneration process by grafts obtained by the Rigenera system in defects in the rats calvarian. Eighteen male Wistar rats were used, weighing 285 ± 29g, distributed in three groups (n = 6), where each animal was treatment and control, called G15-Control and G15-Treated (15 days); G30-Control and G30-Treated (30 days) and G60-Control and G60-Treated (60 days). Two 5mm diameter lesions were performed on each calvaria side. In the treated groups, autologous micrograft from xiphoid cartilage, obtained by the Rigenera system, were used. The other defect served as a control in all animals. The animals were euthanized at 15, 30 and 60 days after the surgery and the samples were processed for histochemistry. In the control groups, no signs of bone regeneration were observed, while in the treatment groups, areas of bone formation and activated mesenchymal tissue were verified. The Rigenera system was efficient in obtaining autologous micrograft for cell therapy in a critical calvaria defect in rats. Rigenera system can be widely used in the treatment of bone injuries.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a inclusão do concentrado proteico da destilação de etanol obtido de arroz (CPA) na alimentação do jundiá. Trezentos e setenta e cinco peixes foram distribuídos em sistema de recirculação de água com 15 caixas (125L). Foram testadas três dietas (37% PB e 3200kcal/kg de energia digestível), sendo uma controle e duas testando a substituição da proteína da farinha de peixe em 25% (CPA-25%) ou 50% (CPA-50%) pelo CPA. Aos 30 dias, foram avaliadas as variáveis de desempenho, composição corporal e índices somáticos. Os animais submetidos ao tratamento CPA-25% apresentaram resposta de crescimento equivalente aos que receberam o tratamento controle, mas superior aos peixes submetidos ao CPA-50%. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos para os índices somáticos avaliados. Os animais submetidos às dietas contendo CPA apresentaram maior teor de gordura corporal. Já a deposição de gordura corporal foi superior para os peixes alimentados com CPA-25%, e a deposição de proteína corporal menor para os alimentados com CPA-50%. Os resultados indicam que o CPA pode substituir em até 25% a proteína da farinha de peixe, sem comprometer o crescimento dos jundiás, tendo esse nível de substituição proporcionado, inclusive, uma redução de 8% no custo da dieta.

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the inclusion of protein concentrate from the distillation of ethanol from rice (CPA) in jundia feed. A total of 375 fish were distributed in water recirculation system with 15 boxes (125L). Three diets (37% PB and 3200kcal / kg digestible energy), one control and two were to test for the replacement of fishmeal protein by 25 (CPA-25%) and 50% (CPA-50%) by CPA. At 30 days, the variables of performance, body composition and somatic indexes were evaluated. The animals submitted to the CPA-25% treatment presented a growth response equivalent to those that received the Control treatment, but superior to the fish submitted to the CPA-50%. There were no significant differences between treatments for the somatic indices evaluated. Animals submitted to diets containing CPA had higher body fat content. Body fat deposition was higher for fish fed with CPA-25% and lower body protein deposition for those fed with CPA-50%. The results indicate that CPA can substitute up to 25% fish meal protein, without compromising the growth of jundias, and this level of substitution provided an 8% reduction in diet cost.

Abstract Production of a bioherbicide for biological control of weeds requires a series of steps, from selection of a suitable microbial strain to final formulation. Thus, this study aimed to select fungi for production of secondary metabolites with herbicidal activity using biological resources of the Brazilian Pampa biome. Phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from infected tissues of weeds in the Pampa biome. A liquid synthetic culture medium was used for production of metabolites. The phytotoxicity of fungal metabolites was assessed via biological tests using the plant Cucumis sativus L., and the most promising strain was identified by molecular analysis. Thirty-nine fungi were isolated, and 28 presented some phytotoxic symptoms against the target plant. Fungus VP51 belonging to the genus Diaporthe showed the most pronounced herbicidal activity. The Brazilian Pampa biome is a potential resource for the development of new and sustainable chemical compounds for modern agriculture.

A Bradypus variegatus habita florestas da América do Sul e alimenta-se de folhas, ramos e brotos de várias plantas. Em decorrência de sua dieta, bem como da escassez de literatura sobre aspectos morfológicos dos Xenarthras, avaliaram-se cinco línguas de Bradypus variegatus, que foram a óbito por causas naturais, provenientes do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi e doados ao Laboratório de Pesquisa Morfológica Animal (LaPMA) da UFRA, a fim de se elucidarem os diferentes tipos de papilas e a interface epitélio-tecido conjuntivo. Macroscopicamente, as línguas apresentaram formato alongado, ápice arredondado, corpo, raiz, sulco mediano do ápice à raiz e duas papilas valadas. A mucosa da língua revelou epitélio de revestimento pavimentoso estratificado queratinizado, enquanto a face ventral era delgada e lisa, desprovida de qualquer tipo de papila. Já a face dorsal apresentou-se irregular, com a presença de três tipos papilares: papilas filiformes, fungiformes e valadas. As papilas filiformes encontradas eram do tipo simples, com base circular, distribuídas irregularmente, com maior concentração e desenvolvimento no ápice e no corpo da língua. A papila fungiforme mostrou-se com superfície praticamente lisa e de formato irregular, com a presença de poros gustativos. Estas foram encontradas por toda a superfície dorsal, com maior concentração na parte rostral do ápice. Foram observadas apenas duas papilas valadas, dispostas na região da raiz da língua, com corpo rodeado por sulcos profundos e vários botões gustativos. As línguas de Bradypus variegatus apresentaram papilas linguais similares às descritas para outras espécies de Xenarthras e mamíferos selvagens.

The Bradypusvariegatus inhabits the forests of South America and feeds from leaves, branches and sprouts from different plants. Due to its diet and the lack of literature on the morphological aspect of Xenarthras, five Bradypusvariegatus tongues from animals which died from natural causes were evaluated, and they came from Pará State Museum Emílio Goeldi and were donated to the Laboratory of Animal Morphological Research (LaPMA) from UFRA, for revealing the different types of papillae and epithelial-connective tissue. Macroscopically, the tongues presented elongated shape, rounded apex, body, root, median sulcus in the root's apex, and two vallate papillae. The mucous membrane of the tongue revealed a keratinized stratified pavement epithelium, while the ventral surface of the tongue was thin and smooth, not provided with any type of papillae. However, the dorsal surface of the tongue was irregular with the presence of three types of papillae: filiform, fungiform and vallate papillae. The filiform papillae found were of a simple type, presenting a rounded base, irregularly distributed with a larger concentration and development on the tongue's apex and body. The fungiform papilla showed a practically smooth surface with irregular format, with the presence of gustatory pores; these were found all over the dorsal surface, with larger concentration at the rostral part of the apex. Only two vallate papillae were observed disposed in the root of the tongue, surrounded by a deep groove, and revealing several taste buds. The tongues from Bradypusvariegatus presented gustatory papillae similar to the ones described for other Xenarthras species and wild mammals.

A single bout of resistance exercise (RE) induces hormonal and immune responses, playing an important role in a long-term adaptive process. Whole-body vibration (WBV) has also been shown to affect hormonal responses. Evidence suggests that combining WBV with RE may amplify hormonal and immune responses due to the increased neuromuscular load. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate salivary cortisol (Scortisol) and salivary IgA (SIgA) concentrations following a RE session combined or not with WBV. Nine university students (22.9 ± 5.1 years, 175.8 ± 5.2 cm, and 69.2 ± 7.3 kg) performed five sets of squat exercise (70% one-repetition-maximum) combined (R+V30) or not (R) with WBV at 30 Hz. Saliva samples were obtained before and after exercise. Subjects also rated their effort according to the Borg CR-10 scale (RPE). Data were analyzed by a mixed model. RPE was higher after R+V30 (8.3 ± 0.7) compared to R (6.2 ± 0.7). However, Scortisol (pre: 10.6 ± 7.6 and 11.7 ± 7.6, post: 8.3 ± 6.3 and 10.2 ± 7.2 ng/mL for R and R+V30, respectively) and SIgA concentrations (pre: 98.3 ± 22.6 and 116.1 ± 51.2, post: 116.6 ± 64.7 and 143.6 ± 80.5 µg/mL for R and R+V30, respectively) were unaffected. No significant correlations were observed between Scortisol and RPE (r = 0.45, P = 0.22; r = 0.30, P = 0.42, for R and R+V30, respectively). On the basis of these data, neither protocol modified salivary cortisol or IgA, although RPE was higher after R+V30 than R.

We studied the effect of oral sirolimus, administered to prevent and treat in-stent restenosis (ISR), on the variation of serum levels of inflammatory markers following coronary stenting with bare metal stents. The mean age of the patients was 56 ± 13 years, 65% were males and all had clinically manifested ischemia. Serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentration were determined by chemiluminescence and serum levels of all other biomarkers by ELISA. One group of patients at high risk for ISR received a loading oral dose of 15 mg sirolimus and 5 mg daily thereafter for 28 days after stenting (SIR-G). A control group (CONT-G) was submitted to stenting without sirolimus therapy. The increase in hs-CRP concentration was highest at 24 h after stenting in both groups. A significant difference between SIR-G and CONT-G was observed at 4 weeks (-1.50 ± 5.0 vs -0.19 ± 0.4, P = 0.008) and lost significance 1 month after sirolimus discontinuation (-1.73 ± 4.3 vs -0.01 ± 0.7, P = 0.0975). A continuous fall in MMP-9 concentration was observed in SIR-G, with the greatest reduction at 4 weeks (-352.9 ± 455 vs +395.2 ± 377, P = 0.0004), while a positive variation was noted 4 weeks after sirolimus discontinuation (227 ± 708 vs 406.2 ± 472.1, P = 0.0958). SIR-G exhibited a higher increase in P-selectin after sirolimus discontinuation at week 8 (46.1 ± 67.9 vs 5.8 ± 23.7, P = 0.0025). These findings suggest that the anti-restenotic actions of systemic sirolimus include anti-proliferative effects and modulation of the inflammatory response with inhibition of adhesion molecule expression.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the silicone modeler in preventing graft retraction in dogs undergoing bladder replacement with de-epithelialized ileum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve female dogs underwent total cystectomy and bladder replacement by neobladder made of demucosalized ileal segment, comparing the group with modeler (group I) and the group without modeler (group II). Cystometry data, graft epithelization and radiological assessment (cystography and excretory urography) were analyzed. RESULTS: Neobladder capacity, at 2 months, ranged from 50 to 250 mL (mean 191 mL) and from 5 to 60 mL (mean 22 mL) and at 6 months, from 60 to 270 mL (mean 202.5 mL) and from 5 to 75 mL (mean- 30.5 mL), respectively in groups I and II, with a statistically significant difference between groups. After 30 days, postoperatively the presence of transitional epithelium was observed in all fragments obtained by biopsy. CONCLUSION: The use of the intravesical silicone modeler prevented the retraction of the neobladder of de-epithelialized ileum.