Effectiveness of silver nitrate compared to talc slurry as pleural sclerosing agent in rabbits. Influence of concomitant intrapleural lidocaine

Não está ainda definido, qual o agente ideal para a produção de uma pleurodese efetiva. O talco é o agente mais freqüentemente utilizado apesar de suas manifestações colaterais. Outra possibilidade é o nitrato de prata, largamente usado no passado. OBJETIVOS: Determinar a influência da injeção intrapleural de lidocaina na produção de pleurodese com nitrato de prata, definir o efeito da lidocaina na maturação das fibras colágenas e confirmar que a pleurodese produzida pelo nitrato de prata é mais potente que a conseqüente à injeção intrapleural de talco. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados três grupos de 8 coelhos. Dois receberam nitrato de prata a 0,5%; em um deles, foi injetado previamente 0,5 ml de lidocaina a 2%. O terceiro grupo recebeu 2 ml de talco (400 mg/kg). Os animais foram sacrificados após 28 dias da injeção intrapleural e as cavidades pleurais examinadas macroscopicamente, analisando-se a presença de fusão entre os folhetos pleurais e microscopicamente avaliando-se a inflamação e a fibrose. Quantificou-se o total de colágeno na pleura e a distribuição de fibras finas e grossas, utilizando-se a coloração de pricrosirius. RESULTADOS: Nos dois grupos em que se injetou nitrato de prata (s/ lidocaina: 3.5 + 0.3 e com lidocaina: 3.2 + 0.3), a pleurodese macroscópica (scala 0 - 4) foi significantemente (p = 0.001) melhor do que a pleurodese resultante do talco (1.6 + 0.2). A média da fibrose pleural induzida pelo nitrato de prata (3.5 + 0.2) foi significantemente (p = 0.004) mais acentuada do que a produzida por talco (1.9 + 0.1). A instilação prévia de lidocaina determinou tendência a diminuir a quantidade de fibrose (3.1 + 0.4). A média (10³mm²) do colágeno pleural foi significantemente (p = 0.009) maior nos coelhos que receberam nitrato de prata (116.9 + 22.7) do que naqueles que receberam talco (10.7 + 3.4). A injeção de lidocaina reduziu discretamente o colágeno (80.1 + 30.3). A distribuição das fibras colágenas não foi diferente entre os grupos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: Este modelo animal confirma que, o nitrato de prata injetado no espaço pleural mais efetivo do que o talco na produção de pleurodese. A injeção intrapleural de lidocaina determina uma tendência a reduzir a quantidade de colágeno, mas não muda a efetividade da sínfise pleural ou modifica a maturação do colágeno.The ideal agent for producing pleurodesis has not been identified. Talc, the most commonly used, poses several problems. Another possibility is silver nitrate, which was widely used in the past. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of the intrapleural instillation of lidocaine in producing a pleurodesis with silver nitrate, to define the effect of lidocaine in the maturation of the collagen fibers, and to confirm that the pleurodesis after silver nitrate is stronger than after talc. METHODS: We studied three groups of 8 rabbits. Two groups received 0.5% silver nitrate; in one we had previously injected 0.5 ml of 2% lidocaine. The third group received 400 mg/kg talc (2 ml). The animals were sacrificed 28 days after the injection, and the pleural spaces were assessed grossly for evidence of pleurodesis and microscopically for evidence of inflammation and fibrosis. The total amount of pleural collagen and the distribution of thick and thin collagen fibers were quantified. Collagen was identified using picrosirius red stain. RESULTS: In the two groups that received silver nitrate (without lidocaine: 3.5 + 03 and with lidocaine: 3.2 + 0.3), the macroscopic pleurodesis (scale 0 -- 4) was significantly (p = 0.001) better than that resulting from talc (1.6 + 0.2). The mean degree of pleural fibrosis induced by silver nitrate (3.5 + 0.2) was significantly (p = 0.004) higher than that induced by talc (1.9 + 0.1). The previous instillation of lidocaine resulted in a tendency for decreased amounts of fibrosis (3.1 + 0.4). The mean amount (10³mm²) of pleural collagen was significantly (p = 0.009) greater in the rabbits that received silver nitrate (116.9 + 22.7) than in those that received talc (10.7 + 3.4). The injection of lidocaine slightly reduced the collagen (80.1 + 30.3). The distribution of collagen fibers did not differ among the groups. CONCLUSION: This rabbit model clearly confirms that intrapleural silver nitrate is more effective than talc for producing pleurodesis. The previous intrapleural instillation of lidocaine results in a decreasing trend in the amount of collagen, but does not change the effectiveness of the pleural fusion or modify the process of collagen maturation

Funções de agregação baseadas em integral de Choquet aplicadas em redimensionalização de imagens

O crescente aumento do volume de dados, juntamente com a alta complexidade destes, tem gerado a necessidade de se desenvolver técnicas de extração de conhecimento cada vez mais eficientes, tanto em custo computacional quanto em precisão. A maioria dos problemas que são tratados por esses técnicas tem informações complexas a serem identificadas. Para isso são utilizados métodos de aprendizado de máquina, onde esses métodos usam uma variedade de funções dentro das diferentes etapas que são empregadas em suas arquiteturas. Uma dessas consiste no uso de funções de agregação para redimensionar imagens. Neste contexto, apresenta-se um estudo de funções de agregação baseadas na integral de Choquet, onde a principal característica da integral do Choquet, em comparação com outras funções de agregação, reside no fato de que ela considera, por meio da medida fuzzy, a interação entre os elementos a serem agregados. Logo, apresenta-se um estudo avaliativo do desempenho das funções integral de Choquet clássica, integral de Choquet baseada em Cópula em relação as funções máximo e média, procurando resultados que podem ser melhores do que as funções de agregação usualmente aplicadas. Os resultados de tais comparações são promissores, quando avaliados através de medidas de qualidade de imagem

IFNG +874T/A polymorphism is not associated with American tegumentary leishmaniasis susceptibility but can influence Leishmania induced IFN-γ production

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon-gamma is a key cytokine in the protective responses against intracellular pathogens. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the first intron of the human IFN-γ gene can putatively influence the secretion of cytokine with an impact on infection outcome as demonstrated for tuberculosis and other complex diseases. Our aim was to investigate the putative association of IFNG+874T/A SNP with American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and also the influence of this SNP in the secretion of IFN-γ <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Brazilian ATL patients (78 cutaneous, CL, and 58 mucosal leishmaniasis, ML) and 609 healthy volunteers were evaluated. The genotype of +874 region in the IFN-γ gene was carried out by Amplification Refractory Mutational System (ARMS-PCR). <it>Leishmania</it>-induced IFN-γ production on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatants was assessed by ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There are no differences between +874T/A SNP frequency in cases and controls or in ML versus CL patients. Cutaneous leishmaniasis cases exhibiting AA genotype produced lower levels of IFN-γ than TA/TT genotypes. In mucosal cases, high and low IFN-γ producers were clearly demonstrated but no differences in the cytokine production was observed among the IFNG +874T or A carriers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that +874T/A polymorphism was not associated with either susceptibility or severity to leishmaniasis. Despite this, IFNG +874T/A SNP could be involved in the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis by influencing the amount of cytokine released by CL patients, although it could not prevent disease development. On the other hand, it is possible that in ML cases, other potential polymorphic regulatory genes such as TNF-α and IL-10 are also involved thus interfering with IFN-γ secretion.</p

In Vitro Evaluation of Essential Oils Derived from Piper nigrum (Piperaceae) and Citrus limonum (Rutaceae) against the Tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The present research aimed to study the chemical composition and acaricidal activity of Citrus limonum and Piper nigrum essential oils against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. GC-MS analysis of C. limonum essential oil showed limonene (50.3%), β-pinene (14.4%), and γ-terpinene (11.7%) as the major components; P. nigrum oil was mainly composed of β-caryophyllene (26.2%), σ-ocymene (5.8%), and α-pinene (5.5%). Acaricide activity was evaluated at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0% (v/v) of each plant oil, as well as 1 : 1 combination of both oils (5% : 5%, 2.5% : 2.5%, and 1.25% : 1.25% each), by immersing engorged R. microplus females for one minute. The LC90 of oils from C. limonum, P. nigrum, and the combination were 4.9%, 14.8%, and 5.1%, respectively. C. limonum essential oil caused 100% mortality of engorged females at the highest concentration (10%). P. nigrum essential oil inhibited egg-laying by up to 96% in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting it reduces tick fecundity. When combined, the oils presented toxicity as to C. limonum oil alone, but with stronger inhibition of oviposition (5% : 5%), indicating a possible additive effect against R. microplus. The present data provide support for further investigation of novel natural products to control bovine tick infestations

D2-40/podoplanin expression in chronic villitis of the placenta

<div><p>ABSTRACT D2-40/podoplanin (D2-40/PDPN) is a multifunctional protein that can be expressed in lymphatic endothelium and immune cells. D2-40/ PDPN expression in chronic villitis (CV) has not been studied. In 22 cases of CV, we analyzed both D2-40/PDPN expression as well as its coexpression with immune cells markers, and the relationship with stromal cells. In the non-inflamed villi, the D2-40/PDPN positive plexiform pattern has a lymphatic-like conductive network. In the inflamed villi, the D2-40/PDPN expression, predominantly restricted to stromal cells forming a cellular network, is likely related to a phase of the inflammatory response, such as reorganization of the damaged tissue.</p></div