Pathological Features of Bovine Pericardium Implanted Into Mice Abdominal Wall after Preservation with Glutaraldehyde or Glycerin

Background: Lately, the use of biological materials has been widely indicated in surgical procedures to restore structure and function of injured tissues. Bioimplants require different conservation techniques; among these, glutaraldehyde preservation stands out owing to its higher antimicrobial efficiency as compared to glycerin. In view of the need to determine a concentration of glutaraldehyde that can act as a biocide but do not cause undesirable tissue reactions, this study aimed to identify and quantify gross and microscopic tissue alterations after implantation of bovine pericardium, which was preserved in various concentrations of glutaraldehyde, in the abdominal wall of mice.Materials, Methods & Results: Fresh pericardia from 18 bovines were fractioned into 1cm2 samples and treated with a 98% glycerin solution for 30 days (control group), or 0.625%, 1%, and 1.5% glutaraldehyde solution for 18 days (experimental groups). An abdominal muscle fragment was excised from each mouse, and a 1-cm2 fragment of preserved pericardium was implanted in the area. Sixty mice (n = 15 per treatment) divided into groups were observed for 7, 14, and 30 days, and five animals from each group were euthanized at each time point for gross and microscopic examination. Fragments of the implants and adjacent skin lesions were harvested, fixed in formalin, and processed for routine histology and microscopic analysis. Both the type of inflammatory infiltrate and the repair process of the tissue response were similar between the groups that received glycerin-preserved pericardium and those that were subjected to pericardium preserved with 0.625% glutaraldehyde. Animals that received 1% glutaraldehyde-preserved implants and were examined 30 days thereafter exhibited a chronic, intense reaction with fibrosis and necrosis of the abdominal wall muscles, as well as calcification and presence of giant cells, when compared to the animals examined at 7 and 14 days in the same treatment group. These changes were also present and more intense in animals that received 1.5% glutaraldehyde-preserved pericardium examined at 14 and 30 days later, with tissue destruction and impaired incorporation of the implant into the adjacent muscle tissue.Discussion: The continuous cell destruction observed in animals treated with implants preserved with 1% or 1.5% glutaraldehyde is a hallmark of chronic inflammation, since several inflammatory cell molecules contribute to this lesion. A cycle is created: continuous degradation sustains inflammation, and inflammatory molecules contribute to the process of cell destruction. Consequently, we conclude that the use of glutaraldehyde at concentrations of 1 or 1.5% is not feasible for preservation of biological materials. Tissue repair was chronologically more effective in the group treated with glycerinpreserved implants, since animals treated with glutaraldehyde-preserved implants needed a longer period to restore due to presence of a persistent inflammatory response, immunogenicity, calcification, and deficient remodeling.  The ideal preservative for biological materials should not cause chronic and/or intense inflammatory reaction in order to preserve the implant’s structure and allow its perfect incorporation into the tissue, even if the chosen preservative is flexible and exhibits disinfectant properties. Therefore, we conclude that glutaraldehyde at concentrations of 0.625% to 1% is suitable as a preservative for biomaterials because the tissue reaction it causes is tolerable; additionally, glutaraldehyde at concentrations close to 1% has been described to have sterilizing properties

Avaliação do efeito do óleo-resina de copaíba (Copaifera sp.) na proliferação celular in vitro

O óleo de copaíba é uma resina extraída pela perfuração do tronco de árvores do gênero Copaifera sp., usado como cicatrizante em várias regiões do Brasil. São comprovados seus efeitos antimicrobianos e antiinflamatórios, sem relatos de atividade sobre a proliferação celular. No presente trabalho foi observada a dinâmica da proliferação de células MDBK (Madin Darby Bovine Kidney) mantidas em meio de cultivo adicionado de diferentes concentrações do óleo de copaíba, utilizando-se como controle células mantidas em meio sem adição do oleoresina (grupo M) e células no meio com aplicação do solvente tween 80, na diluição 10-3 (grupo MT). Diluições decimais de 10-1 até 10-3 mostraram-se tóxicas e, portanto, os estudos de proliferação partiram da diluição 10-4 até 10-7. Observou-se que houve crescimento mais acelerado em todos os grupos adicionados do óleo-resina nas primeiras 24 horas, com destaque para a diluição 10-5, que teve sua taxa de proliferação 5,47 vezes maior que a do grupo M. Concluiu-se que o óleo-resina de copaíba se mostrou estimulante da multiplicação celular, o que pode ser um dos mecanismos de seu efeito positivo sobre a cicatrização, somado àqueles previamente comprovados na literatura.Copaiba oleoresin is extracted from the trunk of Copaifera sp genus trees and used for treating wounds in several regions of Brazil. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects have been proved, however there are no reports of activity on cell growth. Proliferation of MDBK (Madin Darby Bovine Kidney) cells was evaluated under the influence of different concentrations of Copaiba oleoresin. Control groups consisted of cells in medium without addition of oleoresin (M group) and cells in the medium with application of the solvent Tween 80 at dilution 10-3 (TM group). Decimal dilutions of 10-1 to 10-3 were shown to be toxic and, therefore, the proliferation studies were conducted from dilution 10-4 to 10-7. Cell growth was faster in all groups that received the Copaiba oleoresin dilutions in the first 24 hours, specially the 10-5 dilution group, which proliferation rate was 5,47 higher than that of M group. It was concluded that Copaiba oleoresin stimulates cell multiplication, which may be one mechanism of its positive effect on wound healing, in association with those previously known

Avaliação morfológica e tensiométrica de pericárdio bovino pré-tratados em glutaraldeído e conservados em glicerina

O presente estudo teve por objetivo descrever o comportamento morfológico e mecânico do pericárdio bovino tratado em glutaraldeído nas concentrações de 0,625%, 0,8% e 1,0% por 18 dias, com posterior conservação em glicerina a 98% por 30 dias. Os pericárdios foram divididos nos grupos experimentais em controle (5 fragmentos de pericárdios bovinos conservados unicamente em glicerina a 98% por 30 dias seguidos), I (5 fragmentos de pericárdios bovinos tratados com glutaraldeído a 0,625% por 18 dias com posterior conservação em glicerina a 98% por 30 dias seguidos), II (5 fragmentos de pericárdios bovinos tratados com glutaraldeído a 0,8% por 18 dias com posterior conservação em glicerina a 98% por 30 dias seguidos) e III (5 fragmentos de pericárdios bovinos tratados com glutaraldeído a 1,0% por 18 dias com posterior conservação em glicerina a 98% por 30 dias seguidos), para avaliação histológica; para os ensaios de tração, além dos grupos já descritos, foi adicionado o grupo in natura (5 fragmentos de pericárdio bovino recém obtido sem nenhum tipo de tratamento ou conservação). Foram observadas alterações no aspecto físico quanto à coloração e textura das membranas tratadas com glutaraldeído comparadas ao do grupo controle. Não houve alterações histológicas e mecânicas do pericárdio bovino do grupo controle para os grupos experimentais I, II e III, mostrando, portanto, que a associação do glutaraldeído com a glicerina para preservação do pericárdio bovino apresentou morfologia e um comportamento dinâmico semelhante ao do grupo controle, sendo assim, considerado satisfatório para uma possível aplicação clínica

ORIENTA + COVID" CALL CENTER SERVICE IN THE XINGU-PA REGION

Em todo o mundo, foram desenvolvidas diretrizes que indicam a adoção de medidas que possam orientar e auxiliar a população em tempos de pandemia. Nesse sentido, diversos municípios têm incorporado a prática de centrais de atendimento em saúde com especialistas qualificados para prestar informações corretas sobre a doença, criando canais remotos para realização de ligações como telefones, videochamadas e aplicativos que não exigem aglomeração de pessoas nas unidades de saúde. O objetivo do trabalho foi descrever a experiência do serviço de teleatendimento “Orienta+COVID”, instalado na região do Xingu-PA, Brasil. O estudo foi realizado na região do Xingu, Pará, Brasil. Foram coletados os relatos dos atendentes participantes do projeto, bem como analisado o relatório de registro dos atendimentos, ocorridos no período de 25 de maio a 30 de junho de 2020. Foram realizados 1210 atendimentos no período analisado, por meio de 60 atendentes que se revezavam em plantões. Durante a teleorientação, os profissionais de saúde coletaram os dados dos pacientes, suas queixas e dúvidas para determinar, através da classificação dos sintomas, quais seriam as orientações a serem passadas. O teleatendimento realizado pelos profissionais de saúde durante o projeto foi essencial para sanar as dúvidas dos pacientes, no sentido de orientá-los sobre como proceder em casos suspeitos ou confirmados da COVID-19 e assim contribuir para a redução da procura por serviços de urgência e emergência.En todo el mundo se han desarrollado lineamientos que indican la adopción de medidas que puedan orientar y asistir a la población en tiempos de pandemia. En este sentido, varios municipios han incorporado la práctica de centros de salud con especialistas calificados para brindar información correcta sobre la enfermedad, creando canales remotos para realizar llamadas como teléfonos, videollamadas y aplicaciones que no requieran aglomeración de personas en unidades de salud. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la experiencia del teleservicio "Orienta+COVID", instalado en la región xingu-pa, Brasil. El estudio se realizó en la región de Xingu de Pará, Brasil. Recogimos los informes de los asistentes participantes en el proyecto, así como analizamos el informe de registro de las visitas, que se produjeron del 25 de mayo al 30 de junio de 2020. Se realizaron un total de 1.210 visitas en el periodo analizado, a través de 60 asistentes que estuvieron en turnos. Durante la teleorientación, los profesionales sanitarios recogieron datos de pacientes, quejas y dudas para determinar, a través de la clasificación de los síntomas, qué pautas se aprobarían. El teleservicio prestado por los profesionales sanitarios durante el proyecto fue fundamental para atender las dudas de los pacientes, con el fin de orientarlos sobre cómo proceder en casos sospechosos o confirmados de COVID-19 y contribuir así a la reducción de la demanda de servicios de emergencia y emergencia.Worldwide, guidelines have been developed that indicate the adoption of measures, which can guide and assist the population in times of pandemic. In this sense, several cities have incorporated the practice of health call centers with qualified specialists to provide correct information about the disease, creating remote channels to make calls such as telephones, video calls and applications that do not require the crowding of people at health units. The objective of the work was to describe the “Orienta+COVID” call center service installed in the Xingu-PA region, Brazil. The study was carried out in the Xingu region, Pará, Brazil. The reports of the attendants participating in the project were collected and the attendance registration report, which took place from May 25th to June 30th, 2020, was analyzed. A total of 1210 visits were made in the period analyzed through 60 attendants who took turns on duty. During tele orientation, health professionals collected patient data, their complaints and doubts to determine, through the classification of symptoms, what would be the guidelines to be passed. The call center performed by health professionals during the project was essential to answer patients' doubts as well as being able to better guide them on how to proceed in suspected or confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and thus contribute to reducing the demand for urgent and emergency services

Cartografia e diplomacia: usos geopolíticos da informação toponímica (1750-1850)

O artigo explora dimensões geopolíticas da toponímia, registradas em documentos cartográficos, desde as reformas empreendidas pelo consulado pombalino em meados do século XVIII, até às primeiras décadas do século XIX, em meio ao processo de afirmação do Estado imperial pós-colonial.This paper explores the geopolitical dimensions of toponymy as registered in cartographic documents dating from the reforms pushed through by the consulate of Marquis of Pombal in the mid 18th century to the early decades of the 19th century, as the post-colonial imperial State established itself

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pathological Features of Bovine Pericardium Implanted Into Mice Abdominal Wall after Preservation with Glutaraldehyde or Glycerin

Background: Lately, the use of biological materials has been widely indicated in surgical procedures to restore structure and function of injured tissues. Bioimplants require different conservation techniques; among these, glutaraldehyde preservation stands out owing to its higher antimicrobial efficiency as compared to glycerin. In view of the need to determine a concentration of glutaraldehyde that can act as a biocide but do not cause undesirable tissue reactions, this study aimed to identify and quantify gross and microscopic tissue alterations after implantation of bovine pericardium, which was preserved in various concentrations of glutaraldehyde, in the abdominal wall of mice.Materials, Methods & Results: Fresh pericardia from 18 bovines were fractioned into 1cm2 samples and treated with a 98% glycerin solution for 30 days (control group), or 0.625%, 1%, and 1.5% glutaraldehyde solution for 18 days (experimental groups). An abdominal muscle fragment was excised from each mouse, and a 1-cm2 fragment of preserved pericardium was implanted in the area. Sixty mice (n = 15 per treatment) divided into groups were observed for 7, 14, and 30 days, and five animals from each group were euthanized at each time point for gross and microscopic examination. Fragments of the implants and adjacent skin lesions were harvested, fixed in formalin, and processed for routine histology and microscopic analysis. Both the type of inflammatory infiltrate and the repair process of the tissue response were similar between the groups that received glycerin-preserved pericardium and those that were subjected to pericardium preserved with 0.625% glutaraldehyde. Animals that received 1% glutaraldehyde-preserved implants and were examined 30 days thereafter exhibited a chronic, intense reaction with fibrosis and necrosis of the abdominal wall muscles, as well as calcification and presence of giant cells, when compared to the animals examined at 7 and 14 days in the same treatment group. These changes were also present and more intense in animals that received 1.5% glutaraldehyde-preserved pericardium examined at 14 and 30 days later, with tissue destruction and impaired incorporation of the implant into the adjacent muscle tissue.Discussion: The continuous cell destruction observed in animals treated with implants preserved with 1% or 1.5% glutaraldehyde is a hallmark of chronic inflammation, since several inflammatory cell molecules contribute to this lesion. A cycle is created: continuous degradation sustains inflammation, and inflammatory molecules contribute to the process of cell destruction. Consequently, we conclude that the use of glutaraldehyde at concentrations of 1 or 1.5% is not feasible for preservation of biological materials. Tissue repair was chronologically more effective in the group treated with glycerinpreserved implants, since animals treated with glutaraldehyde-preserved implants needed a longer period to restore due to presence of a persistent inflammatory response, immunogenicity, calcification, and deficient remodeling.  The ideal preservative for biological materials should not cause chronic and/or intense inflammatory reaction in order to preserve the implant’s structure and allow its perfect incorporation into the tissue, even if the chosen preservative is flexible and exhibits disinfectant properties. Therefore, we conclude that glutaraldehyde at concentrations of 0.625% to 1% is suitable as a preservative for biomaterials because the tissue reaction it causes is tolerable; additionally, glutaraldehyde at concentrations close to 1% has been described to have sterilizing properties

Treatment of zolpidem poisoning with flumazenil in a cat

This report aims to describe the case of a cat intoxicated with zolpidem that was treated with flumazenil. Flumazenil is an imidazodiazepine that effectively reverses the central effects of benzodiazepines. In humans, it is used to treat zolpidem poisoning. Zolpidem is a sedative hypnotic agent, non-benzodiazepine, that is used to treat patients with insomnia. A 2-year-old Bengal cat weighing 2.5 kg showed signs of ataxia, incoordination and diarrhea after accidental ingestion of 10 mg zolpidem (Stilnox®). The cat was administered with 0.1 mg/kg of flumazenil intravenously, and after 20 minutes all clinical signs disappeared. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of flumazenil for the treatment of zolpidem poisoning in cats. Discussion regarding the treatment of zolpidem poisoning is necessary owing to the increased prescription of this drug in humans and, consequently, to a greater possibility of accidental poisoning in domestic animals

How does Dirofilaria immitis infection impact the health of dogs referred to cardiology care

Dirofilaria immitis is a nematode that can cause a disease that may present clinical signs from severe to absent. When dogs are symptomatic, the clinical signs are cardiorespiratory and nonspecific, which may be misleading. This study aimed to demonstrate the clinical presentations to cardiac care by evaluating 26 dogs subjected to clinical examination, complete blood count (CBC), specific tests for D. immitis infection, chest radiography, and echocardiography. Among them, 11 (42.3%) dogs were infected and 15 (57.7%) were non-infected. Most dogs presented with coughing (65.4%) and abnormal lung sounds (81%) independent of infection. Murmur at the tricuspid focus was present in 26.9% of the dogs, of which 57.1% were infected. Echocardiography revealed tricuspid regurgitation in 30.8% of the dogs and pulmonary regurgitation in 46.1%, of which 37.5% and 50% were infected, respectively. Worms were detected by echocardiography in 45.5% of the infected dogs. The x-rays showed that the bronchial pattern was present in 45.5% of the infected dogs and in 46.7% of the non-infected dogs. The interstitial pattern was present in 18.2% of the infected animals, in contrast to 6.7% of the non-infected dogs. The CBC results for all dogs were within the reference range, except for platelets. Although similar, the percentage of dogs with thrombocytopenia was higher among infected dogs (36.4%) than among the non-infected (6.7%). These results reinforce that due to the non-specific signs of infection, it is mandatory to perform parasitological assays when evaluating dogs presenting with cardiopulmonary signs