Modernist Toilette: Degas, Woolf, Lawrence

<p>COPD animals were submitted to therapeutic protocols as described in materials and methods. Further, all animals were euthanized, lungs were obtained and sections were stained by PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff) as described in methods. In A) representative graphs and B) photomicrographs of PAS stained sections. Data representative of two experiments. n = 5–8 animals per group. One-way ANOVA.</p

Assessment of autonomic tone in young normotensive women using oral combined hormonal contraceptives containing drospirenone

Importância. O uso de anticoncepcional hormonal combinado oral é associado ao aumento do risco de eventos cardiovasculares adversos desde a sua introdução na prática clínica. O mecanismo exato pelo qual podem alterar o risco ainda não foi esclarecido, sendo escassa a literatura que avalia a ação dessa classe de medicação no sistema nervoso autonômico. Objetivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de contraceptivo contendo 20 mcg de etinilestradiol e 3 mg de drospirenona sobre a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, da sensibilidade do barorreflexo e sobre a pressão arterial de mulheres saudáveis. Métodos. Trata-se de estudo prospectivo controlado com 69 mulheres saudáveis, divididas em dois grupos: 36 voluntárias que fizeram uso de anticoncepcional hormonal combinado oral, e 33 voluntárias que utilizaram métodos contraceptivos não-hormonais. As mulheres foram avaliadas em dois momentos, antes da introdução do método contraceptivo e seis meses após seu uso. Para a aquisição dos dados, utilizou-se o Finomoter® (FMS, Finapres Medical System, Anhem, The Netherlands), obtendo-se de forma não invasiva registros contínuos da curva da pressão arterial batimento a batimento. A análise estatística foi realizada para determinar diferenças entre os grupos e entre os momentos, sendo p < 0,05 considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados. No momento basal, não houve diferenças nos parâmetros demográficos, hemodinâmicos e autonômicos entre os grupos. Além disso, a comparação dos diversos parâmetros hemodinâmicos e autonômicos ao final de seis meses do método contraceptivo não evidenciou diferença tanto entre os grupos como no decorrer do tempo. Conclusão. O uso de contraceptivo contendo 20 mcg de etinilestradiol e 3 mg de drospirenona não causou alterações significativas nos parâmetros hemodinâmicos e autonômicos de mulheres saudáveisBackground. The use of combined oral contraceptives has been associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Whether these drugs alter cardiac autonomic nervous system control is not completely determined. Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a contraceptive containing 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg of drospirenone on the heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure of healthy women. Methods. This is a prospective controlled trial with 69 healthy women allocated in two groups: 36 volunteers under oral combined contraceptive use and 33 volunteers under use of non-hormonal contraceptives methods. Subjects were tested before the introduction of the contraceptive method and 6 months after its use. The Finometer® (FMS, Finapres Medical System, Anhem, The Netherlands) was used for data acquisition, obtaining noninvasively continuous records of the blood pressure curve beat to beat. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences between groups and times, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results. At baseline, there were no differences in demographic, hemodynamic and autonomic parameters between groups. A comparison of various hemodynamic and autonomic parameters after 6 months of birth control methods showed no difference between both groups as over time. Conclusion. A contraceptive containing 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg of drospirenone causes no significant changes in hemodynamic and autonomic parameters of healthy wome

Human Tubal-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Associated with Low Level Laser Therapy Significantly Reduces Cigarette Smoke-Induced COPD in C57BL/6 mice.

Cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a very debilitating disease, with a very high prevalence worldwide, which results in a expressive economic and social burden. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches to treat these patients are of unquestionable relevance. The use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is an innovative and yet accessible approach for pulmonary acute and chronic diseases, mainly due to its important immunoregulatory, anti-fibrogenic, anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenic. Besides, the use of adjuvant therapies, whose aim is to boost or synergize with their function should be tested. Low level laser (LLL) therapy is a relatively new and promising approach, with very low cost, no invasiveness and no side effects. Here, we aimed to study the effectiveness of human tube derived MSCs (htMSCs) cell therapy associated with a 30mW/3J-660 nm LLL irradiation in experimental cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thus, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 75 days (twice a day) and all experiments were performed on day 76. Experimental groups receive htMSCS either intraperitoneally or intranasally and/or LLL irradiation either alone or in association. We show that co-therapy greatly reduces lung inflammation, lowering the cellular infiltrate and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and KC), which were followed by decreased mucus production, collagen accumulation and tissue damage. These findings seemed to be secondary to the reduction of both NF-κB and NF-AT activation in lung tissues with a concomitant increase in IL-10. In summary, our data suggests that the concomitant use of MSCs + LLLT may be a promising therapeutic approach for lung inflammatory diseases as COPD

Reduced cellular infiltration in the lungs of htMSC and LLLT treated COPD animals.

<p>COPD animals were submitted to therapeutic protocols as described in materials and methods. Further, all animals were euthanized and BAL obtained for cytospin and the quantification of total cells (A), macrophages (B), neutrophils (C) and lymphocytes (D). Data representative of three independent experiments. n = 5–8 animals per group. One-way ANOVA.</p

Reduction of T CD4⁺ and T CD8⁺ T cells infiltration in the lungs of htMSC and/or LLLT treated animals.

<p>COPD animals were submitted to therapeutic protocols as described in materials and methods. Further, all animals were euthanized and BAL obtained for flow cytometric analysis of the frequency of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. In (A and B), dot plots depict the gates used. In (C and D), graphs of the percentage of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, respectively. In (E and F),graphs of the absolute numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, respectively. Data representative of two independent experiments. n = 5–8 animals per group. One-way ANOVA.</p