Short-term immunosuppressive therapy does not affect the density of the pre-existing bone around titanium implants placed in rabbits

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da administração de ciclosporina A (CsA)/nifedipina e sua interrupção na densidade óssea em uma região lateral à superfície de implantes de titânio inseridos em coelhos. Dois implantes de titânio comercialmente puros foram inseridos bilateralmente em vinte e oito coelhos. Os animais foram aleatoriamente divididos em um dos seguintes grupos experimentais, recebendo injeções diárias subcutâneas por 14 dias: Grupos A e C: veículo (dimetil sulfóxido); Grupos B e D: CsA (10 mg/kg) e nifedipina (50 mg/kg). Os animais pertencentes aos Grupos A/B e C/D foram sacrificados 14 e 42 dias após a colocação dos implantes, respectivamente. Após o sacrifício, as tíbias foram removidas para a obtenção de secções não-descalcificadas. A densidade óssea foi obtida em uma zona de 500 mm lateral à superfície do implante através de análise histométrica. A análise intergrupo não revelou diferenças para os grupos teste e controle em 14 e 42 dias (p >; 0,05). Dentro dos limites deste estudo podemos concluir que a associação CsA/nifedipina, administrada em um curto prazo, não apresenta uma influência negativa na densidade do osso preexistente ao redor de implantes de titânio inseridos em coelhos.The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the administration and withdrawal of cyclosporin A/nifedipine on the bone density in a lateral area adjacent to implants placed in rabbits. Two screw-type titanium implants were placed bilaterally in twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits. The animals were assigned to one of the following groups and received daily subcutaneous injections for 14 days: Groups A and C: vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide); Groups B and D: CsA (10 mg/kg) plus nifedipine (50 mg/kg). The animals in Groups A and B were sacrificed 14 days postoperatively and, in Groups C and D, 42 days postoperatively. After sacrifice, the tibiae were removed and undecalcified sections were obtained. Bone density was obtained in a 500 mm-wide zone lateral to the implant surface. Intergroup analysis showed no significant difference (p >; 0.05) in the degree of bone density between control and test groups either on day 14 or on day 42. Thus, it appears that a short-term immunosuppressive therapy may not present a negative influence on the density of the pre-existing bone around titanium implants placed in rabbits

O PERFIL DE SENSIBILIZAÇÃO ACERCA DO DESCARTE E REUTILIZAÇÃO DE RESÍDUOS SÓLIDOS NA CIDADE UNIVERSITÁRIA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO MARANHÃO.

An important aspect the still absent in many universities is planning of disposal, storage and reuse of solid waste. The identification ofsituations faced by academic community regarding generation of waste is essential to the elaboration of programs, projects, systems andpolicies for sustainable management of generated waste. This study aimed to understand how aware of this issue is academic communityof the University City, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), through a profile of the production of solid waste and its impacts on theenvironment. The methodology was based on the application of 509 questionnaires during the year 2011 in four different campuses centers,including 33 undergraduate and graduate departments from various fields, and six administrative centers. The questionnaires consisted ofquestions about recycling policies and waste sorting. According to our results, 67.97 % of respondents know the 3Rs (reduce, reuse andrecycle) and 92.32 % said they would participate in a program for waste management if the university were to do so. However, over 60 % ofrespondents do not separate their household waste. Thus, it is important to note that, although encouraged by the university administration,an effective campaign should include the individual awareness of the academic body.Identificar situações com as quais a comunidade acadêmica se defronta quanto à geração de resíduos é imprescindível para que haja uma elaboração de programas e políticas de gestão sustentável em universidades. Este trabalho visou compreender como se dá a sensibilização da comunidade acadêmica da Cidade Universitária/ UFMA, acerca da produção de resíduos sólidos e seus devidos impactos ambientais. A metodologia baseou-se na aplicação de 509 questionários, com perguntas acerca de políticas de reciclagem e coleta seletiva, abrangendo 33 cursos de graduação e pós-graduação de diversas áreas e seis instâncias administrativas. De acordo com os resultados, 67,97% dos entrevistados conhecem as políticas de reaproveitamento, reutilização e reciclagem de resíduos e 92,32% afirmou que participaria de um programa interno caso houvesse incentivo para tal. Assim, é importante ressaltar que ainda que incentivado pelas instâncias administrativas, uma campanha efetiva deve incluir a sensibilização dos integrantes da comunidade acadêmica em questão

Clinical potential in modern medicine of fibrin glues as drug delivery system

In an attempt to achieve greater therapeutic efficiency of products, especially in the pharmacological area such as drugs in general, the drug delivery system that controls the distribution of substances through macromolecular carriers has been developed with the primary objective of optimizing their delivery to target locations [1].</p

In Vivo Study of Nasal Bone Reconstruction with Collagen, Elastin and Chitosan Membranes in Abstainer and Alcoholic Rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of collagen, elastin, or chitosan biomaterial for bone reconstruction in rats submitted or not to experimental alcoholism. Wistar male rats were divided into eight groups, submitted to chronic alcohol ingestion (G5 to G8) or not (G1 to G4). Nasal bone defects were filled with clot in animals of G1 and G5 and with collagen, elastin, and chitosan grafts in G2/G6, G3/G7, and G4/G8, respectively. Six weeks after, all specimens underwent radiographic, tomographic, and microscopic evaluations. Bone mineral density was lower in the defect area in alcoholic animals compared to the abstainer animals. Bone neoformation was greater in the abstainer groups receiving the elastin membrane and in abstainer and alcoholic rats receiving the chitosan membrane (15.78 ± 1.19, 27.81 ± 0.91, 47.29 ± 0.97, 42.69 ± 1.52, 13.81 ± 1.60, 18.59 ± 1.37, 16.54 ± 0.89, and 37.06 ± 1.17 in G1 to G8, respectively). In conclusion, osteogenesis and bone density were more expressive after the application of the elastin matrix in abstainer animals and of the chitosan matrix in both abstainer and alcoholic animals. Chronic alcohol ingestion resulted in lower bone formation and greater formation of fibrous connective tissue