Ultrasonographic evaluation of the kidney in 5/6 nephrectomized rats: Correlation with biochemical and histopathological findings

To characterize the kidney alterations associated with renal mass reduction by two-dimensional ultrasound and assess the correlation of the ultrasonographic parameters with the histological and biochemical findings. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into two groups: sham-operated animals (n=13), and animals which underwent renal mass reduction (RMR) through 5/6 nephrectomy (n=14). Renal length, renal thickness, cortical thickness, medullary length and echogenicity of the kidneys were evaluated by ultrasonography at 3 and 6 months after the RMR. Results: Except for the renal length, the renal dimensions at 3 and 6 months were significantly higher in the RMR group when compared to the sham-operated group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the cortical and medullary echogenicity was significantly higher in the RMR group when compared to the sham-operated group (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the plasma creatinine level and the renal length 3 months after RMR (r=-0.612, p=0.045). Conclusion: These data support future application of ultrasonography for monitoring the progression of renal damage in chronic studies with the 5/6 nephrectomy model.This work was supported by : European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and National Funds by FCT – the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under project UID/AGR/04033/2013; and by European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016728 and National Funds by FCT – the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project PTDC/DTP-DES/6077/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Addressing the importance of animal models for breast cancer research

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancers among women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2020, breast cancer was diagnosed in approximately 2.3 million women and victimized 685.00 women. The increasing number of breast cancer cases leads to the need to search for more effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for breast cancer care. Animal models have been used since early times to understand several diseases. In vivo studies are essential to improve and discover new strategies to prevent and treat cancer more effectively, improving patients’ lifespan and quality of life. This presentation intends to describe the importance of animal models for breast cancer research, focusing on rodent models

Rodent models: what is their importance for cancer study?

Abstract: Cancer is one of the most frequent diseases worldwide, accounting for approximately 10 million deaths in 2020. The most common cancers in 2020 were: breast, lung, colon and rectum, prostate, skin, and stomach. Cancer arises from the conversion of normal cells into initiated cells as a result of the interaction between intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic factors, namely physical agents (ultraviolet radiation), chemical agents (asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, arsenic) and biological agents (Helicobater pylori, Schistosoma haematobium, hepatitis virus). Animal models are very useful to understand and follow several diseases, including cancer. In this way, in vivo studies are essential to improve and discover new strategies to prevent and treat cancer more effectively. This presentation intends to describe the rodent models available for cancer study, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their potential in the evaluation of several drugs and natural compounds for cancer treatment

Animal models of disease: useful or not?

Faustino-Rocha AI. 2021. Animal models of disease: useful or not? From in silico to animal models for the study of human diseases. 17 de março, Aveiro, Portugal

Modelos animais de cancro da mama: importância e aplicabilidade.

Faustino-Rocha AI. 2020. Modelos animais de cancro da mama: importância e aplicabilidade. IV Workshop Internacional em Doenças Crônicas e Negligenciadas - PROCAD/Amazônia, 26 de novembro, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil

Rodent models: what is their importance for cancer study?

Cancer is one of the most frequent diseases worldwide, accounting for approximately 10 million deaths in 2020. The most common cancers in 2020 were: breast, lung, colon and rectum, prostate, skin, and stomach. Cancer arises from the conversion of normal cells into initiated cells as a result of the interaction between intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic factors, namely physical agents (ultraviolet radiation), chemical agents (asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, arsenic) and biological agents (Helicobater pylori, Schistosoma haematobium, hepatitis virus). Animal models are very useful to understand and follow several diseases, including cancer. In this way, in vivo studies are essential to improve and discover new strategies to prevent and treat cancer more effectively. This presentation intends to describe the rodent models available for cancer study, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their potential in the evaluation of several drugs and natural compounds for cancer treatment

Effect of chaetomellic acid on hematocrit, urine specific gravity and urinary volume values in a rat model of renal mass reduction

Chaetomellic acid (CA) is a potent and highly specific inhibitor of ras farnesyl-protein transferase that seems to reduce both functional and histological damage in uninephrectomized rats subjected to renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of chronic treatment with CA on hematocrit, urine specific gravity and urinary volume in a model of renal mass reduction. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (RMR) or sham-operated (SO). One week after surgery, rats have been placed in four experimental groups: RMR rats without treatment (n=13); RMR rats treated with CA (n=13); SO rats without treatment (n=13); SO rats treated with CA (n=13). CA was intraperitoneally administered in a dose of 0.23 μg/kg three times a week for three months. We observed that animals from SO groups showed a higher hematocrit and urine specific gravity, and a lower urinary volume than animals from RMR groups (p<0.05). We did not observe differences between treated and no treated animals. These results suggest that three months of treatment with CA does not have a beneficial effect on hematocrit, urine specific gravity and urinary volume. However, these are preliminary data that warrant a larger scale study

Editorial: Special Issue “Addressing new therapeutic strategies using models”

A disease model displays pathological processes observed in human or animal diseases. These models are fundamental tools in biomedical research, and they are invaluable for providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying organ function, establishing the pathophysiology of a disease, and testing potential therapeutic approaches. Models have long been used to study several diseases, including cardiovascular, oncologic, metabolic, infectious, and neurological diseases, among others. Animals or cells displaying pathological processes observed in human or animal diseases have been used as models. Moreover, mathematical models are also of great importance to disease modeling. Animal models offer the unique opportunity to investigate the function of genes and pathways and the in vivo effects of drugs, bridging the gap between basic science and the treatment of diseases. The selection of a suitable model system is a crucial step in research design. For disease modeling to be meaningful, a relevant cellular or genetic phenotype must be observed. Without the use of models, both research and clinical practice worldwide would be vastly different today [1,2,3,4,5,6]

Teaching, learning and examination in veterinary anatomy: what do students tell us?

Introduction Anatomy is a fundamental curricular unit in medical courses. With the changes in society, the presence of students in an increasingly digital world, and the controversy associated with the use of corps for educational or experimental purposes, for ethical reasons and issues related to animal welfare, much has been done to circumvent and improve this practice. Our teaching team has been focused on developing pedagogical and examination practices that stimulate students and meet the programme objectives. With this work, we intended to evaluate the perception of the students of the Anatomy I curricular unit in relation to the new examination methods implemented. Methods The students belong to the Integrated Master degree in Veterinary Medicine, at University of Évora, Portugal. Using the Google Forms platform, a questionnaire was drawn up with 16 questions and sent out via the Moodle platform: 1) What is your gender?; 2) What is your age?; 3) Is this the first time you have enrolled and attended this course?; 4) Did looking at dissected corps (in atlases, applications, on the internet) help you understand myology?; 5) Did looking at images in atlases, software or on the internet make it easier to identify the muscles in the corps? ; 6) Would you consider studying myology using only software/models?; 7) Which resource do you consider most important when studying myology?; 8) Do you find it difficult to learn anatomy using only models?; 9) Are dissection classes useful for acquiring skills for other curricular units and for your professional future?; 10) Of the examination methods applied, which is your favourite?; 11) Which of the examinations do you think best prepares you for your professional future?; 12) What are the advantages of oral exam?; 13) What is the main difficulty inherent in oral exam?; 14) What are the advantages of written exam (without visualising any anatomical model or corps)?; 15) What is the main difficulty inherent in written exam (without visualising any anatomical model or corps)?; 16) What are the advantages of mixed exam (with visualisation of an anatomical model or corps)? The students answered the questionnaire anonymously. Results and discussion Of the 67 students who attended Anatomy I classes, 58 (86.6%) answered the questionnaire, the majority of whom were female (n=45, 77.6%). Most of the students who answered the questionnaire were 19 years old (n=24; 41.4%). Almost all the students (n=57; 98.3%) were attending the course for the first time. All the students (100%) considered that observing corps helped them understand dog myology. Fifty-six students (96.6%) said that looking at images in atlases, software or on the internet made it easier to identify the muscles in the corps. Fifty-seven students (96.6%) would not consider studying myology using software/models alone. The corps was considered the most important resource in the study of myology by 57 students (98.3%). One student (1.7%) considered the atlas to be the most significant resource. Surprisingly, 48 students (82.8%) found it difficult to learn anatomy using only models. All the students considered the dissection classes to be useful in acquiring skills for other curricular units and for their professional future. Mixed exam (n=33, 56.9%), followed by oral exam (n=23, 39.7%), were considered the examination methods favoured by the students. However, in terms of preparing for their professional future, 37 students (63.8%) chose oral exam as their preferred method, followed by mixed exam (n=20, 34.5%). When asked about the advantages and difficulties of the various examination methods (oral, written, and mixed), this is where students' opinions differ the most. The anxiety level parameter was identified as one of the main difficulties inherent to oral exams by 21 students (36.2%). On the other hand, this parameter was no longer relevant in mixed exams for 47 students (81.0%). Conclusions Despite all the alternative methods available for teaching and learning Veterinary Anatomy, students consider the corps to be essential in medical education. Regarding examination methods, students prefer mixed exam, but consider that oral exam is the method that prepares them best

Teaching, learning and examination in veterinary anatomy: what do students tell us?

Anatomy is a fundamental curricular unit in medical courses. With the changes in society, the presence of students in an increasingly digital world, and the controversy associated with the use of corps for educational or experimental purposes, for ethical reasons and issues related to animal welfare, much has been done to circumvent and improve this practice. Our teaching team has been focused on developing pedagogical and examination practices that stimulate students and meet the programme objectives. With this work, we intended to evaluate the perception of the students of the Anatomy I curricular unit in relation to the new examination methods implemented