Internal inguinal ring closure by laparoscopy using homologous pericardium grafts in horses

The occlusion of inguinal ring is the treatment to avoid the inguinal hernia in horses. The aim of this study is evaluate the efficacy of homologous pericardium grafts for internal inguinal ring closure in horses, comparing mechanical or manual laparoscopic suture. Cross over study, using six healthy intact male Mangalarga breed horses aged between 3 and 12 years. Horses were operated under general anesthesia in 25º Trendelenburg position. Five laparoscopic portals were employed. Pericardium grafts measuring 4x5cm were anchored covering the left and right internal inguinal rings using either manual intracorporeal suture or laparoscopic stapler. Horses were followed-up during 11 weeks when were submitted to a laparoscopic control. Surgical time, trans and postoperative complications and effectiveness of internal inguinal closure were evaluated and statistically analyzed. The level of significance was set at 5% P<0.05. The procedures were realized without complications and the mean time required for manual and mechanical suture procedures differed significantly (67.8±15.3 and 14.1±2.1 min respectively; P<0.05). All manually sutured grafts remained in place and partial suture dehiscence with incomplete occlusion of the internal inguinal ring was observed in two stapled grafts. Non-severe complications were observed trans or postoperatively. One synechiae and three omental adhesions were observed by laparoscopic control on day 77, but without clinical relevance in the evaluated period. The use of homologous pericardium grafts was effectiveness to internal inguinal ring closure by laparoscopy. Mechanical suture was faster to perform than manual, but provided less satisfactory results concerning safety of graft fixation

Immunohistochemical staining of the macrophagic and astrocytic response in the brainstern of Wistar rats submitted to the ethidium bromide gliotoxic model and treated with cyclophosphamide

The gliotoxic ethidium bromide (EB) was used to study morphologically the macrophagic and astrocytic response under immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide (CY). Astrocyte immunoreactivity to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin (VIM) and macrophagic immunoreactivity to ED1 were investigated after EB injection. Male Wistar rats were injected with 0.9% saline solution (group 1), 0.1% BE (group II) and 0.1% EB associated with CY treatment (group III). Brainstem samples were collected from the 1(st) to the 21(st) day post-injection for GFAP, VIM and ED1 immunostaining. In groups II and III, it was observed increased immunoreactivity to GFAP and reexpression of VIM. In group II, ED1-positive cells were noted after the 2 Id day and in group III, after the 3(rd) day. On the 14(th) day post-injection, it was observed a greater quantity of ED1-positive cells in group III than in group II. Apparently, CY did not change the astrocytic response pattern.643B78779

Experimental murine mycobacteriosis: evaluation of the functional activity of alveolar macrophages in thalidomide- treated mice

Thalidomide is a selective inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine involved in mycobacterial death mechanisms. We investigated the role of this drug in the functional activity of alveolar macrophages in the presence of infection induced by intranasal inoculation of Mycobacterium avium in thalidomide-treated and untreated adult Swiss mice. Sixty animals were inoculated with 5 x 10(6) M. avium by the respiratory route. Thirty animals received daily thalidomide (30 mg/kg mouse) and 30 received water by gavage up to sacrifice. Ten non-inoculated mice were used as a control group. Lots of animals from each group were evaluated until 6 weeks after inoculation. Infection resulted in an increased total number of inflammatory cells as well as increased activity of pulmonary macrophages. Histologically, intranasal inoculation of bacilli resulted in small mononuclear infiltrates located at the periphery of the organ. Culture of lung fragments revealed the presence of bacilli only at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period. Thalidomide administration did not affect the microbiological or histological features of the infection. Thalidomide-treated and untreated animals showed the same amount of M. avium colonies 3 weeks after infection. Although it did not affect bacillary clearance, thalidomide administration resulted in a decreased percent of spread cells and release of hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that factors other than TNF-alpha play a role in the killing of mycobacteria by alveolar macrophages. Thalidomide administration also reduced the number of spread cells among resident macrophages, suggesting a direct effect of the drug on this phenomenon