Daniel de Araújo Viana

Gingerol Fraction from Zingiber officinale Protects Against Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

ABSTRACT Nephrotoxicity is the main complication of gentamicin (GM) treatment. GM induces renal damage by overproduction of reactive oxygen species and inflammation in proximal tubular cells. Phenolic compounds from ginger, called gingerols, have been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated if oral treatment with an enriched solution of gingerols (GF) would promote a nephroprotective effect in an animal nephropathy model. The following six groups of male Wistar rats were studied: (i) control group (CT group); (ii) gingerol solution control group (GF group); (iii) gentamicin treatment group (GM group), receiving 100 mg/kg of body weight intraperitoneally (i.p.); and (iv to vi) gentamicin groups also receiving GF, at doses of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg, respectively (GM+GF groups). Animals from the GM group had a significant decrease in creatinine clearance and higher levels of urinary protein excretion. This was associated with markers of oxidative stress and nitric oxide production. Also, there were increases of the mRNA levels for proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-2, and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]). Histopathological findings of tubular degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration reinforced GM-induced nephrotoxicity. All these alterations were attenuated by previous oral treatment with GF. Animals from the GM+GF groups showed amelioration in renal function parameters and reduced lipid peroxidation and nitrosative stress, in addition to an increment in the levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Gingerols also promoted significant reductions in mRNA transcription for TNF-α, IL-2, and IFN-γ. These effects were dose dependent. These results demonstrate that GF promotes a nephroprotective effect on GM-mediated nephropathy by oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and renal dysfunction.

Gastroprotective effect of (‐)‐myrtenol against ethanol‐induced acute gastric lesions: possible mechanisms

(‐)‐Myrtenol is a natural fragrance monoterpenoid structurally related to α‐pinene found in diverse plant essential oils. This study was aimed to assess the anti‐ulcerogenic potential of (‐)‐myrtenol against ethanol‐induced gastric lesions and to elucidate the underlying mechanism(s).

Amyrins from Protium heptaphyllum Reduce High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice via Modulation of Enzymatic, Hormonal And Inflammatory Responses

Obesity remains a global problem. In search of phytochemicals that have antiobesity potential, this study evaluated α,β-amyrin, a triterpenoid mixture from Protium heptaphyllum, on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Groups of mice (n = 8) were fed a normal diet or a high-fat diet, and were orally treated or not treated with either α,β-amyrin (10 or 20 mg/kg) or sibutramine (10 mg/kg) for 15 weeks. Variables measured at termination were body weight, visceral fat accumulation, adipocyte surface area, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and lipoprotein lipase expressions in adipose tissue, the levels of plasma glucose and insulin, the satiety hormones ghrelin and leptin, the digestive enzymes amylase and lipase, and the inflammatory mediators TNF-α, interleukin-6, and MCP-1. Results showed that α,β-amyrin treatment resulted in lower high-fat diet-induced increases in body weight, visceral fat content, adipocyte surface area, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and lipoprotein lipase expressions, and blood glucose and insulin levels. Additionally, the markedly elevated leptin and decreased ghrelin levels seen in the high-fat diet-fed control mice were significantly modulated by α,β-amyrin treatment. Furthermore, α,β-amyrin decreased serum TNF-α and MCP-1. These results suggest that α,β-amyrin could be beneficial in reducing high-fat diet-induced obesity and associated disorders via modulation of enzymatic, hormonal, and inflammatory responses.

Food safety assessment of an antifungal protein from Moringa oleifera seeds in an agricultural biotechnology perspective.

Mo-CBP3 is an antifungal protein produced by Moringa oleifera which has been investigated as potential candidate for developing transgenic crops. Before the use of novel proteins, food safety tests must be conducted. This work represents an early food safety assessment of Mo-CBP3, using the two-tiered approach proposed by ILSI. The history of safe use, mode of action and results for amino acid sequence homology using the full-length and short contiguous amino acids sequences indicate low risk associated to this protein. Mo-CBP3 isoforms presented a reasonable number of alignments (>35% identity) with allergens in a window of 80 amino acids. This protein was resistant to pepsin degradation up to 2 h, but it was susceptible to digestion using pancreatin. Many positive attributes were presented for Mo-CBP3. However, this protein showed high sequence homology with allergens and resistance to pepsin digestion that indicates that further hypothesis-based testing on its potential allergenicity must be done. Additionally, animal toxicity evaluations (e.g. acute and repeated dose oral exposure assays) must be performed to meet the mandatory requirements of several regulatory agencies. Finally, the approach adopted here exemplified the importance of performing an early risk assessment of candidate proteins for use in plant transformation programs.

Following the Viterbi Path to Deduce Flagellar Actin‐Interacting Proteins of Leishmania spp.: Report on Cofilins and Twinfilins

For performing vital cellular processes, such as motility, eukaryotic cells rely on the actin cytoskeleton, whose structure and dynamics are tightly controlled by a large number of actin‐interacting (AIP) or actin‐related/regulating (ARP) proteins. Trypanosomatid protozoa, such as Leishmania, rely on their flagellum for motility and sensory reception, which are believed to allow parasite migration, adhesion, invasion and even persistence on mammalian host tissues to cause disease. Actin can determine cell stiffness and transmit force during mechanotransduction, cytokinesis, cell motility and other cellular shape changes, while the identification and analyses of AIPs can help to improve understanding of their mechanical properties on physiological architectures, such as the present case regarding Leishmania flagellar apparatus. This work conveniently apply bioinformatics tools in some refined pattern recognition techniques (such as hidden Markov models (HMMs) through the Viterbi algorithm/path) in order to...

Food safety assessment of Cry8Ka5 mutant protein using Cry1Ac as a control Bt protein.

Cry8Ka5 is a mutant protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that has been proposed for developing transgenic plants due to promising activity against coleopterans, like Anthonomus grandis (the major pest of Brazilian cotton culture). Thus, an early food safety assessment of Cry8Ka5 protein could provide valuable information to support its use as a harmless biotechnological tool. This study aimed to evaluate the food safety of Cry8Ka5 protein following the two-tiered approach, based on weights of evidence, proposed by ILSI. Cry1Ac protein was used as a control Bt protein. The history of safe use revealed no convincing hazard reports for Bt pesticides and three-domain Cry proteins. The bioinformatics analysis with the primary amino acids sequence of Cry8Ka5 showed no similarity to any known toxic, antinutritional or allergenic proteins. The mode of action of Cry proteins is well understood and their fine specificity is restricted to insects. Cry8Ka5 and Cry1Ac proteins were rapidly degraded in simulated gastric fluid, but were resistant to simulated intestinal fluid and heat treatment. The LD50 for Cry8Ka5 and Cry1Ac was >5000 mg/kg body weight when administered by gavage in mice. Thus, no expected relevant risks are associated with the consumption of Cry8Ka5 protein.

Cytologic diagnosis of feline cutaneous mycobacteriosis in Fortaleza (Ceará) - Case Report

Resumo: Uma gata, proveniente da cidade de Fortaleza (Ceará), adulta, sem raça definida, foi encaminhada ao Laboratório especializado em Anatomia Patológica e Patologia Clínica Veterinária Pathovet® para coleta de material e análise citológica de uma lesão alopécica em placa com múltiplas fístulas que, sob pressão táctil, dava origem a uma secreção viscosa amarelada na região abdominal. Para obtenção do material, foi realizado “imprint” da lesão e punção aspirativa. Diante da análise macroscópica da lesão, suspeitou-se de Micobacteriose, por isso foi realizada a coloração de Ziehl-Neelsen. Citologicamente, foram observadas grande quantidade de macrófagos reativos e epitelióides entremeados por linfócitos, neutrófilos íntegros e degenerados envolvendo bastonetes álcool-ácido resistentes (BAAR), o que foi decisivo para a conclusão diagnóstica. O exame citológico mostrou-se com uma ferramenta útil e de baixo custo para o diagnóstico rápido de micobacteriose cutânea felina, porém apresenta limitação na identificação da espécie de Mycobacterium spp. envolvida no processo, sendo necessárias outras técnicas diagnósticas em associação com o mesmo, para que a espécie envolvida seja identificada corretamente. Palavras – Chave: felina; Mycobacterium spp.; Abstract: A queen, originally from Fortaleza city (Ceará), with no stablished racial pattern, was forwarded to the specialized laboratory in Anatomical Pathology and Veterinarian Clinical Pathology Pathovet® for sample collection and cytological analysis of a lesion with alopecia and multiple fistulas in plaque that, over tactile pressure, originated a yellowish viscous secretion in the abdominal region. To obtain the material, it was performed the “imprint” of the lesion, together with fine needle aspiration punction. In light of the macroscopic analysis of the lesion, it was suspected of Mycobacteriosis, therefore being performed the Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Cytologically, it was observed a great amount of reactive and epithelioid macrophages associated with lymphocytes, integrate and degenerated neutrophils involving acid-alcohol resistant bacilli (BAAR), being crucial for the diagnosis elucidation. The cytological exam demonstrated to be a useful tool of a low cost for the rapid diagnosis of feline cutaneous mycobacteriosis, though it presents a limitation in the identification of the Mycobacterium spp. species involved in the process, being necessary other techniques in association with the one used in the present case, enabling the correct recognition of the involved etiological agent. Kew words: Chave: felina; Mycobacterium spp.;

Pulmonary mechanic and lung histology induced by Crotalus durissus cascavella snake venom

ABSTRACT This study have analyzed the pulmonary function in an experimental model of acute lung injury, induced by the Crotalus durissus cascavella venom (C. d. cascavella) (3.0 &mgr;g/kg ‐ i.p), in pulmonary mechanic and histology at 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after inoculation. The C. d. cascavella venom led to an increase in Newtonian Resistance (Symbol), Tissue Resistance (Symbol) and Tissue Elastance (Symbol) in all groups when compared to the control, particularly at 12 h and 24 h. The Histeresivity (Symbol) increased 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after inoculation. There was a decrease in Static Compliance (Symbol) at 6 h, 12 h and 24 h and inspiratory capacity (Symbol) at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h. C. d. cascavella venom showed significant morphological changes such as atelectasis, emphysema, hemorrhage, polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrate, edema and congestion. After a challenge with methacholine (MCh), Symbol demonstrated significant changes at 6, 12 and 24 h. This venom caused mechanical and histopathological changes in the lung tissue; however, its mechanisms of action need further studies in order to better elucidate the morphofunctional lesions. Symbol. No caption available. Symbol. No caption available. Symbol. No caption available. Symbol. No caption available. Symbol. No caption available. Symbol. No caption available. Symbol. No caption available. HIGHLIGHTSC. d. cascavella venom increased Newtonian resistance, tissue resistance, tissue elastance and histeresivity in rat lungs.C. d. cascavella venom reduced static compliance and inspiratory capacity in rat lungs.C. d. cascavella venom induced morphological changes in the lung tissue.

Cytopathologic diagnosis of skin and soft tissue palpable lesions in dogs

The identification of tumors requires the use of practical diagnostic techniques for early evaluation of these lesions. Cytology is the best option to achieve this goal due to its simplicity, fast results, low invasiveness and costs. This work aimed to evaluate the epidemiologic aspects and determine the prevalence of skin palpable lesions and soft tissue lesions of the dog population treated at Unidade Hospitalar Veterinaria (UHV) of Universidade Estadual do Ceara (UECE). There were forms filled with the lesions aspects and epidemiologic information of the animals. In total, 262 samples were collected of 186 animals that presented skin and soft tissue palpable lesions. The prevalence in dogs without breed standard was high in this study, a number about 55.4% of all animals, followed by the breeds Poodle, Pitbull and Cocker Spaniel. Of all concluded diagnoses, 184 were neoplastic lesions, 57 non-neoplastic and 21 were non-representative. Of the neoplasms, 22.3% were classified as epithelial origin, 34.8% were mesenchyme origin diagnosed and 45.1% were round cells tumors. Considering the anatomic regions, was observed that most of the samples were collected Revista Brasileira de Higiene e Sanidade Animal Brazilian Journal of Hygiene and Animal Sanity ISSN: 1981-2965

Clinical and laboratory diagnostic approach of intratbuluar sertolioma in a cryptorchid dog

Sertolioma is a common type of primary unilateral or bilateral testicular cancer, generally without signs that indicate the possibility of metastasis. This paper describes the clinical and laboratory diagnostic approach of a cryptorchid dog with sertolioma. The object of study was a male Pinscher dog, which reported the presence of a nodule in the inguinal region by its owner. Upon the nodule palpation during the physical examination, it was found the presence of edema and increased volume with firm consistency, but without fibrous features. Complete blood count, serum biochemical tests, ECG and echocardiogram, and fine-needle aspiration cytology were requested. Among other findings, cytology showed changes suggesting sertolioma: Numerous round and polygonal cells of large cytoplasm,