Seminal Ferritin And Seminal Parameters In Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis

Background: to verify the association of seminal parameter (SP) and seminal ferritin(SF) levels in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (CH), admitting possible antioxidative activity of SF. Methods: this was a case-control study in group of 60 men (case) in CH with more than 6 months and group of healthy men(control), aged 18-60 years, without clinical or laboratory signs of infection / inflammation. Patients underwent semen analysis, fertility index(FI) calculation, measurement of SF and hormonal profile(follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, and prolactin levels). Results: There were significant differences between cases and control (Table 1) in SP(p = 0.000), sex hormones (p = 0.000) and FI [0, 85(0,57) vs 5,54(1,3), p=0,000]. There was no difference between cases and control(Table 1) in SF levels (226.45 ± 51.03 vs 241.52 ± 30.52, p = 0.137) and age(49,47 ±5,56 vs 47,90 ± 6,22, p=0,229).There was no correlation (Table 2) between  SF and FI(r = 0.049, p = 0.711) and SP(p> 0.05). Conclusion: the results suggest that SF is not associated with changes in seminal parameters in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, and is not useful singly for initial evaluation of seminal parameters. &nbsp

Effect of Hevea brasiliensis latex sap gel on healing of acute skin wounds induced on the back of rats

Objetivo: avaliar o efeito da administração tópica do gel-creme de látex em feridas cutâneas agudas induzidas no dorso de ratos. Métodos: dezesseis ratos foram submetidos à excisão dermoepidérmica de retalho cutâneo dorsal, circular com 2,5cm de diâmetro. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos, um experimental e outro controle: Grupo Látex- aplicação em todo o leito da ferida do látex em base gel-creme no período zero, no terceiro, no sexto e no nono dias pós-operatórios; Grupo Controle- sem nenhum tratamento sobre a ferida. Foram feitas fotografias das lesões no dia da operação, no sexto e no 14º dia pós-operatório, para análise de área e do maior diâmetro da ferida. Realizou-se a eutanásia de todos os animais no 14º dia pós-operatório. Ressecouse a pele dorsal e o plano muscular subjacente contendo a ferida para estudo histopatológico. Resultados: não houve diferença estatisticamente significante no percentual de fechamento, nos achados histopatológicos ou na redução da área e do maior diâmetro das feridas, entre os grupos estudados no 14º dia pós-operatório. Conclusão: nas condições experimentais em que o estudo foi realizado, o gel-creme de látex não interferiu na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas agudas em ratos.Objective: to evaluate the effect of topical delivery of latex cream-gel in acute cutaneous wounds induced on the back of rats. Methods: we subjected sixteen rats to dermo-epidermal excision of a round dorsal skin flap, with 2.5cm diameter. We divided the animals into two groups: Latex Group: application of cream-gel-based latex throughout the wound bed on postoperative days zero, three, six and nine; Control group: no treatment on the wound. Photographs of the lesions were taken on the procedure day and on the 6th and 14th postoperative days, for analyzing the area and the larger diameter of the wound. We carried out euthanasia of all animals on the 14th postoperative day, when we resected he dorsal skin and the underlying muscle layer supporting the wound for histopathological study. Results: there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of wound closure, in the histopathological findings or in the reduction of the area and of the largest diameter of the wounds among the groups studied on the 14th postoperative day. Conclusion: according to the experimental conditions in which the study was conducted, latex cream-gel did not interfere in the healing of acute cutaneous wounds in rats

Rhinoscleroma causing severe bilateral nasal obstruction

AbstractRhinoscleroma is a chronic, infectious and granulomatous disease of the respiratory tract. There is often a delay in diagnosis due to unfamiliarity with the disease and also because culture is not always positive. We report a case in a 26-year-old woman with granular mass obstructing bilateral nasal cavities and causing breathing difficulty. Histopathological examination showed characteristic Mikulicz histiocytes containing numerous Gram-negative intracellular rod-shaped bacilli consistent with the diagnosis of rhinoscleroma. The patient was treated with gemifloxacin and tetracycline and remains asymptomatic over a year follow-up period. It is important to consider rhinoscleroma in cases of chronic nasal obstruction. As culture is not always positive, histopathological examination may be crucial to the diagnosis

Hybrid capture II and PapilloCheck® tests for detection of anal high-risk human papillomavirus

Introduction: This study evaluated the level of concordance between hybrid capture II (HCII) and PapilloCheck® for the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in anal samples. Methods: Anal cell samples collected from 42 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)+ patients were analyzed. Results: Considering only the 13 high-risk HPV types that are detectable by both tests, HCII was positive for 52.3% of the samples, and PapilloCheck® was positive for 52.3%. The level of concordance was 80.9% (Kappa = 0.61). Conclusions: Good concordance was observed between the tests for the detection of high-risk HPV

Amplificación de los genes que codifican la endotelina-1 y sus receptores en válvulas mitrales reumáticas

FUNDAMENTO: As cardiopatias são doenças de alta prevalência, sendo a cardite reumática uma doença de grande relevância em países em desenvolvimento. As alterações em câmaras cardíacas esquerdas se associam à disfunção endotelial, com aumento dos níveis de endotelina-1 (ET-1) e consequências sobre a circulação pulmonar, muitas vezes determinando a hipertensão pulmonar (HP). No entanto, a presença de ET-1 e seus receptores na própria valva mitral, promovendo alterações vasculares pulmonares e aumentando a deformação valvar reumática, ainda é um assunto não abordado na literatura. OBJETIVO: Determinar, mediante técnicas moleculares, a expressão dos genes da endotelina e dos seus receptores em valvas mitrais reumáticas. MÉTODOS: 27 pacientes submetidos à troca valvar mitral tiveram seu tecido valvar analisado, a fim de determinar a presença de genes de ET-1 e seus receptores A e B. Foram feitas análises histológica e molecular das valvas (divididas em fragmentos M1, M2 e M3) e colhidos dados clínicos e epidemiológicos dos pacientes. Foram divididos em três grupos: valvopatia mitral, mitroaórtica e pacientes reoperados. RESULTADOS: O estudo mostrou a manifestação do gene da ET-1 em 40,7% dos espécimes e de seu receptor A em todas as amostras, com manifestação minoritária do gene do receptor B (22,2%). CONCLUSÃO: Todos os pacientes expressaram a presença do gene do receptor A. Não houve diferença estatística quanto à gravidade da doença, expressa em classe funcional, e aos subgrupos estudados (valvopatas mitrais, mitroaórticos e pacientes reoperados), ou quanto à expressão dos genes da ET-1 e seus receptores entre os subgrupos estudados (valvopatas mitrais, mitroaórticos e pacientes reoperados).BACKGROUND: Cardiopathies are high prevalence conditions. Among them, rheumatic carditis is of high relevance in developing countries. Left cardiac chamber changes are associated to endothelial dysfunction and ET-1 levels increase. Pulmonary circulation is then affected, and not seldom leading to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the presence of ET-1 and its receptors in the mitral valve itself - promoting pulmonary vascular changes, with increased rheumatic valvular deformation - has not been discussed in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of endothelin gene and its receptors in rheumatic mitral valves through techniques of molecular genetics. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients submitted to mitral valve replacement had their valvular tissue examined to determine the presence of ET-1 genes and their A and B receptors. Histological and molecular analysis of the valves was performed (divided into M1, M2 and M3 fragments), with patients' clinical and epidemiological data collected. Patients were divided into 3 groups (mitral valvopathy, mitroaortic valvopathy, and reoperation patients). RESULTS: The study showed endothelin-1 gene expression in 40.7% specimens and A receptor in all samples; receptor gene B had lower expression (22.2%). CONCLUSION: All patients showed A receptor gene expression. No statistically significant difference was observed in regard to condition severity, expressed according to functional class, and subgroups (mitral valvopathy, mitroaortic valvopathy, and reoperation patients).FUNDAMENTO: Las cardiopatías son enfermedades de alta prevalencia, siendo la carditis reumática una enfermedad de gran relevancia en países en desarrollo. Las alteraciones en cámaras cardíacas izquierdas se asocian a la disfunción endotelial, con aumento de los niveles de endotelina-1 (ET-1) y consecuencias sobre la circulación pulmonar, muchas veces determinando la hipertensión pulmonar (HP). Mientras que, la presencia de ET-1 y sus receptores en la propia válvula mitral, promoviendo alteraciones vasculares pulmonares y aumentando la deformación valvar reumática, aún es un asunto no abordado en la literatura. OBJETIVO: Determinar, mediante técnicas moleculares, la expresión de los genes de la endotelina y de sus receptores en válvulas mitrales reumáticas. MÉTODOS: 27 pacientes sometidos a reemplazo valvular mitral tuvieron su tejido valvar analizado, a fin de determinar la presencia de genes de ET-1 y sus receptores A y B. Fueron hechos análisis histológico y molecular de las valvas (divididas en fragmentos M1, M2 y M3) y recogidos datos clínicos y epidemiológicos de los pacientes. Fueron divididos en tres grupos: valvopatía mitral, mitroaórtica y pacientes reoperados. RESULTADOS: El estudio mostró la manifestación del gen da ET-1 en 40,7% de los sujetos y de su receptor A en todas las muestras, con manifestación minoritaria del gen del receptor B (22,2%). CONCLUSIÓN: Todos los pacientes expresaron la presencia de gen del receptor A. No hubo diferencia estadística en cuanto a la gravedad de la enfermedad, expresada en clase funcional, y a los subgrupos estudiados (valvopatías mitrales, mitroaórticos y pacientes reoperados), o en cuanto a la expresión de los genes de la ET-1 y sus receptores entre los subgrupos estudiados (valvopatías mitrales, mitroaórticos y pacientes reoperados)

Effects of carbon dioxide therapy on the healing of acute skin wounds induced on the back of rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the healing effect of carbon dioxide therapy on skin wounds induced on the back of rats. METHODS: Sixteen rats underwent excision of a round dermal-epidermal dorsal skin flap of 2.5 cm in diameter. The animals were divided into two groups, as follows: carbon dioxide group - subcutaneous injections of carbon dioxide on the day of operation and at three, six and nine days postoperatively; control group - no postoperative wound treatment. Wounds were photographed on the day of operation and at six and 14 days postoperatively for analysis of wound area and major diameter. All animals were euthanized on day 14 after surgery. The dorsal skin and the underlying muscle layer containing the wound were resected for histopathological analysis. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between groups in the percentage of wound closure, in histopathological findings, or in the reduction of wound area and major diameter at 14 days postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Under the experimental conditions in which this study was conducted, carbon dioxide therapy had no effects on the healing of acute skin wounds in rats

The effect of carbon dioxide therapy on composite graft survival

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of carboxytherapy in auricular composite grafts in rabbits. METHODS: An experimental study was conducted using 20 rabbits randomly assigned to a treatment group of carboxytherapy or a control group of saline solution. In each ear, a circular graft with 1.5 cm or 2 cm of diameter was amputated and reattached. Animals underwent carbon dioxide or saline injection four times during the experiment. We analyzed clinical evolution of the animals, grafts survival, histopathology features and histomorphometry of collagen. RESULTS:The treated group had a significantly lower weight gain (p=0.038). Histopathology was not significantly different between groups. There was an increase in amount of collagen in 2 cm grafts submitted to carbon dioxide therapy (p=0.003). Carboxytherapy didn't influence graft survival rate for 1.5 cm grafts or 2 cm grafts (p=0.567 and p=0.777, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:Carbon dioxide therapy increased the amount of collagen in 2 cm grafts. CO2 was not significantly different from saline infusion on composite grafts survival, but this study suggests that there is a mechanical effect caused by distension which favored graft survival

Effect of glutamine supplementation on left colon healing in rats with extrahepatic biliary obstruction

Purpose: to evaluate the influence of glutamine and obstructive jaundice on left colon healing in rats. Methods: sixteen male rats were allocated across four groups: LG - Common bile duct ligation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. Supplementation with glutamine 2% from day 4 after duct ligation until euthanasia. L - Common bile duct ligation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. No glutamine supplementation. M - Common bile duct manipulation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. No glutamine supplementation. MG - Common bile duct manipulation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. Supplementation with glutamine 2% from day 4 after duct manipulation until euthanasia. On the day of euthanasia, bursting pressure of the sutured bowel segment was measured and samples were collected for histopathological analysis. Results: there were no differences in bursting pressure among groups : LG vs. M (110 ± 28 vs. 173 ± 12; p = 0.08). Groups L and MG were not different from group M (156 ± 12 and 118 ± 22. Glutamine supplementation was associated with less edema, polymorphonuclear lymphocyte infiltration, bacterial colonies, and abscess formation, as well as with increased collagen formation. Conclusion: obstructive jaundice had no negative effect and glutamine supplementation had no positive effect on colonic scar strength in rats