Junko Takano Osaka

Mycoplasma pneumoniae and/or Chlamydophila pneumoniae inoculation causing different aggravations in cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in apoE KO male mice.

BackgroundChamydophila pneumoniae (CP) and/or Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) are two bacteria detected in vulnerable atheromas. In this study we aimed to analyze whether CP and/or MP aggravates atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol-enriched diet in C57BL/6 apoE KO male mice. Thirty male apoE KO mice aged eight weeks fed by a diet containing 1% cholesterol until 32 weeks of age were divided into four groups: the first was inoculated with CP (n = 7), the second with MP (n = 12), the third with both CP + MP (n = 5), and the fourth with saline (sham n = 6). The animals were re-inoculated at 36 weeks of age, and sacrificed at 40 weeks of age. Two ascending aorta and one aortic arch segments were sampled. In the most severely obstructed segment, vessel diameter, plaque height, percentage of luminal obstruction and the degree of adventitial inflammation were analyzed. The plaque area/intimal surface ratio was obtained by measuring all three segments. The adventitial inflammation was semiquantified (0 absent, 1 mild, 2 moderate, and 3 diffuse).ResultsThe mean and standard deviation of plaque height, % luminal obstruction, external diameter, the plaque area/intimal surface ratio and the adventitial inflammation values are the following for each group: MP (0.20 +/- 0.12 mm, 69 +/- 26%, 0.38 +/- 0.11 mm, 0.04 +/- 0.04 and 0.22 +/- 0.67), CP (0.23 +/- 0.08 mm, 90 +/- 26%, 0.37 +/- 0.08 mm, 0.04 +/- 0.03, and 0.44 +/- 0.53), MP + CP (18 +/- 0.08 mm, 84 +/- 4.0%, 0.35 +/- 0.25 mm, 0.03 +/- 0.03 and 1.33 +/- 0.82) and sham (0.08 +/- 0.09 mm, 42 +/- 46%, 0.30 +/- 0.10 mm, 0.02 +/- 0.03 and 0.71 ± 0.76). A wider area of plaque/intimal surface was observed in MP + CP inoculated groups (p = 0.07 and 0.06) as well as an increased plaque height in CP (p = 0.01) in comparison with sham group. There was also an increased luminal obstruction (p = 0.047) in CP inoculated group in comparison to sham group. Adventitial inflammation in MP + CP inoculated group was higher than MP, CP and the sham groups (p = 0.02).ConclusionInoculation of CP, MP or both agents in C57BL/6 apoE KO male mice caused aggravation of experimental atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol-enriched diet, with distinct characteristics. CP inoculation increased the plaque height with positive vessel remodeling and co-inoculation of MP + CP caused the highest adventitial inflammation measures.

Comportamento biomecânico da pálpebra reconstruída

OBJECTIVE: To determine the importance of sutures of the eyelid border, tarsus and skin in resistance to rupture after reconstruction. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in rabbits submitted to total thickness resection of the eyelid. The animals were divided in 5 groups: G1(lid suture in 3 layers); G2 (lid suture excluding tarsus); G3(lid suture excluding skin), G4 (suture excluding the lid border), G5 (lid suture as in G1). The animals from group 1 to 4 were sacrificed on the 7th day and these from group 5 on the 2nd day. The palpebral specimens underwent rupture test with a tensiometer. RESULTS: 89 eyelids from 85 animals were analyzed. The group in which the border was not sutured (group 4) showed a significant reduction in all studied parameters: maximum tension, stretching and work, as compared with the other groups. CONCLUSION: The lack of suture in the eyelid border had a negative impact in scar tensile resistance. Additionally, we showed that if the eyelid border is repaired, the avoidance of tarsal suture does not interfere with the eyelid biomechanics.

Comparative analysis between sclera treated with glycerin and sclera treated with gamma irradiation, alkali and glycerin in the reconstruction of anophthalmic socket: experimental study in rabbits

PURPOSE To compare two sclera decontamination methods: treatment with glycerin versus treatment with gamma irradiation, alkali and glycerin, aiming to detect the clinical and histological alterations in rabbit anophthalmic sockets reconstructed with sclera-involved polymethylmethacrylate spheres. METHODS Thirty-nine New Zealand-breed rabbits were divided into two groups: group I, whose animals were submitted to enucleation of one eye and reconstruction with a polymethylmethacrylate sphere involved in glycerin-treated sclera; group II, where there was enucleation, and reconstruction performed with a polymethylmethacrylate sphere involved in sclera treated with gamma irradiation, alkali and glycerin. The two groups were observed at four moments, at 7, 21, 42 and 84 days after surgery. Preset times elapsed, the rabbits were euthanized, sockets were exenterated, the material was processed for embedment in paraffin, cut into 5 microm sections thick and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Massons trichrome techniques. The scleras were submitted to morphometric and semiquantitative analysis. Results were compared by Mann-Whitneys non-parametric test. RESULTS Comparative analysis of vascularization of the surgical interface pointed out a significative difference in the evaluation done 21 days after the implant (P<0.001), with group II showing greater neovascularization. Comparison of the fibrous capsule thickness displayed a significative difference at moments corresponding to 21 days (P<0.001) and 42 days (P<0.001). At both moments, group II presented a thicker fibrous capsule than group I. Likewise, there was variation in sclera thickness, being thicker in group II, at the 21-day post-implant (P=0.003) moment, and at the 42-day moment (P=0.024), as well. Along the experimental period, when groups were analyzed we could observe statistically significative diminution of vascularization in the surgical interface, in group I, as well as in group II, at the moment of 7, 21, 42 and 84 days. CONCLUSION When used as coating on the polymethylmethacrylate implant for the reconstruction of rabbit anophthalmic socket, the sclera treated with gamma irradiation, alkali and glycerin reacted similarly to the traditionally used glycerin-treated sclera. The two treatments induced a similar inflammatory response. The formation of neovessels, thickness of fibrous capsule and of sclera developed differently in the two groups. Nevertheless, they presented similar results at the end of the 84-day observation period. There was no significant difference between the two groups, with regard to sclera preservation.

Inbred F344 rats as a biologic model of intra-abdominal sepsis

Aiming to design a biologic model of acute intra-abdominal sepsis for experimental studies, conventional, isogenic rats F344 were infected with the bacteria Escherichia coli (E.coli), strain 11775, serotype H7:01:K1. Six hours after inoculation with E. coli, the animals - males and females - showed the following symptoms: piloerection, hyperpnea and decreased motor activity. The lethal dosis (LD50), was 6 x 105 CFU/ml, analyzed in 32 males and 32 females. The highest mortality rate was observed on the first 24 hours. Liver dysfunction, common in intra-abdominal sepsis, was evaluated at 0, 24, 48 and 168 hours after inoculation, by means of serum enzyme activities. Study of the migration of polymorphonuclear-neutrophil cells (PMN) and mononuclear-macrophage ones (MN) showed a significant increase of PMN in E. coli inoculated males (z > 4.7; P 6.2; P < 0.0003), when compared to control groups. As for MN cells, there were no differences between inoculated and control groups, in males (z = 2.3; P = 0.0107) and in females (z = 1.8; P = 0.0359) as well. In conclusion, these results show that inbred F344 rats are adequate biologic models for studies of acute, intra-abdominal sepsis.

Tratamento da endometriose induzida cirurgicamente em coelhas pelo Laser de Vapor de Cobre (LVC)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of copper vapor laser in treatment of the surgically induced endometriosis in rabbits. METHODS: 42 New Zeland rabbits were submitted to the experimental induction of the endometriosis, in agreement with standardized surgical technique. After 30 days of the induction, a group of 29 animals was submitted to the treatment by copper vapor laser (CVL) in times that varied of 2, 5, 15, 30 and 60 seconds and, other group of 13 rabbits served as control without any treatment. After 15 days of the second laparotomy, histopatologic evaluations have done with relationship to the endometriosis presence, glands and estroma. RESULTS: The experimental model of endometriosis induction was adequated, with 100% of effectiveness. The treatment with LVC was shown efficient, with destruction of the disease in 31,00% of the cases. In the rabbits that still had the lesion, there was decrease in 69,85% of glands amount. The destruction of the stroma ocurred in 41,38% of the cases, in the group laser. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the CVL is a adequated tool for the endometriosis treatment as observed in rabbits.