Neuroinflammatory Effects of tDCS in Ovariectomized Rats with Chronic Inflammation

Introduction: Postmenopausal women are more susceptible to chronic condition such as osteoporosis, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Then, we investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) upon biomarkers levels in ovariectomized rats subjected to inflammatory model.Methods: 20 females adult Wistar rats were subjected to ovariectomy and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation model and divided into two groups: OAS and OAT (active tDCS). Fifteen days after, rats were submitted to bimodal tDCS treatment (20min, 0.5mA, 8 days). Rats were killed 24 h after the last session of tDCS, tissue samples (hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and brainstem) were collected, for biomarkers analysis by ELISA. And paws were extracted for histological analysis.Results: tDCS increased hypothalamus TNF-α; IL-1β; IL-10 and NGF levels. Also, tDCS group increased cortical cerebral TNF-α and NGF levels; as well as IL-1β levels in the brainstem. Inflammatory profile was observed in the histology of hindpaws, however, no tDCS effect was observed.Conclusion: bimodal tDCS showed an effect in the inflammatory central axis, with a small effect in the peripheral site evaluated in this current study through the histology

Electroacupuncture analgesia is associated with increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in chronic tension-type headache : a randomized, sham controlled, crossover trial

Background: Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is characterized by almost daily headaches and central sensitization, for which electroacupuncture (EA) might be effective. The central nervous system (CNS) plasticity can be tracked in serum using the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neuroplasticity mediator. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that EA analgesia in CTTH is related to neuroplasticity indexed by serum BDNF. Methods: We enrolled females aged 18–60 years with CTTH in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial, comparing ten EA sessions applied for 30 minutes (2–10 Hz, intensity by tolerance) in cervical areas twice per week vs. a sham intervention. Treatment periods were separated by two washout weeks. Pain on the 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) and serum BDNF were assessed as primary outcomes. Results: Thirty-four subjects underwent randomization, and twenty-nine completed the protocol. EA was superior to sham to alleviate pain (VAS scores 2.38 ± 1.77 and 3.02 ± 2.49, respectively, P = 0.005). The VAS scores differed according to the intervention sequence, demonstrating a carryover effect (P < 0.05). Using multiple regression, serum BDNF was adjusted for the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) and the VAS scores (r-squared = 0.07, standard β coefficients = −0.2 and −0.14, respectively, P < 0.001). At the end of the first intervention period, the adjusted BDNF was higher in the EA phase (29.31 ± 3.24, 27.53 ± 2.94 ng/mL, Cohen’s d = 0.55). Conclusion: EA analgesia is related to neuroplasticity indexed by the adjusted BDNF. EA modulation of pain and BDNF occurs according to the CNS situation at the moment of its administration, as it was related to depression and the timing of its administration

Lipoperoxidação no sangue de ratos com síndrome Hepatopulmonar

A sindrome hepatopulmonar (SHP) é caracterizada pela disfunção hepática e a presença de dilataçõesvasculares intrapulmonares, com alterações da difusão de gases, podendo ser demonstrado nomodelo experimental de ligadura de ducto biliar (LDB). O objetivo foi avaliar o potencial antioxidanteda N-acetilcisteína (NAC) no sangue de ratos cirróticos com SHP. Foram utilizados 20 ratos machosWistar, divididos em 4 grupos: Sham operated (SO)+NaCl, LDB+NaCl, SO+NAC e LDB+NAC.Foi avaliado as aminotransferases, gasometria arterial, lipoperoxidação e histologia. Os dados obtidossugerem que a NAC na SHP restaura a função hepática, atenua a lipoperoxidação no sangue e reduza vasodilatação pulmonar.Palavras-chaves: estresse oxidativo; ligadura de ducto biliar; síndrome hepatopulmonar; N-acetilcisteína

Neuroinflammatory effects of tDCS in ovariectomized rats with chronic inflammation

Introduction: Postmenopausal women are more susceptible to chronic conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on biomarker levels in ovariectomized rats subjected to an inflammatory model. Methods: Twenty adult female Wistar rats underwent ovariectomy and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation. We divided them into 2 groups: OAS (sham tDCS) and OAT (active tDCS). Fifteen days later, the rats underwent bimodal tDCS treatment (20 min, 0.5 mA, 8 days). After 24 h of the last tDCS session, we killed the rats and collected tissue samples (hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and brainstem) for biomarker analysis by ELISA. We removed the paws for histological analysis. Results: Active tDCS increased hypothalamic and cortical TNF-α and NGF levels, hypothalamic and brainstem IL-1β levels, and hypothalamic IL-10 levels. Histology of paws showed an inflammatory profile. We observed a small tDCS effect, not statistically significant. Discussion: Bimodal tDCS had an effect on the central inflammatory axis, with a small effect on the peripheral site as evaluated by histology in the current study

Isoflurane and the analgesic effect of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in an animal model of neuropathic pain

The present study aimed to determine whether isoflurane interferes with the analgesic effects of acupuncture (Ac) and electroacupuncture (EA), using a neuropathic pain (NP) rat model. In total, 140 male Wistar rats were used; isoflurane-induced nociceptive response was evaluated using the von Frey test, serum calcium-binding protein b (S100b) levels and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in the left sciatic nerve. The NP model was induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve at 14 days after surgery. Treatment was initiated after NP induction with or without isoflurane anesthesia (20 min/ day/8 days). The von Frey test was performed at baseline, 14 days postoperatively, and immediately, 24 h, and 48 h after the last treatment. Results of the nociceptive test and three-way analysis of variance were analyzed by generalized estimating equations, the Bonferroni test, followed by StudenteNewmaneKeuls or Fisher’s least significant difference tests for comparing biochemical parameters (significance defined as p 0.05). At baseline, no difference was noted in the nociceptive response threshold among all groups. Fourteen days after surgery, compared with other groups, NP groups showed a decreased pain threshold, confirming establishment of NP. Ac and EA enhanced the mechanical pain threshold immediately after the last session in the NP groups, without anesthesia. Isoflurane administration caused increased nociceptive threshold in all groups, and this effect persisted for 48 h after the last treatment. There was an interaction between the independent variables: pain, treatments, and anesthesia in serum S100b levels and NGF levels in the left sciatic nerve. Isoflurane enhanced the analgesic effects of Ac and EA and altered serum S100b and left sciatic nerve NGF levels in rats with NP

Body Painting e Peer to Peer como ferramentas de ensino-aprendizagem: Um estudo de coorte

Introdução: Body Painting e Peer to Peer são ferramentas utilizadas com o propósito de aprimorar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem no ensino superior, onde o estudante é o agente principal, assumindo um papel ativo e resignificando o aprendizado para a futura vida profissional. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é descrever o uso do Body Painting e Peer to Peer como ferramentas de ensino-aprendizagem no eixo de conhecimento de Estrutura e Função Humana para os cursos da saúde e o seu efeito sobre as notas e a necessidade de exame complementar. Método: Estudo de coorte com 3 anos, onde os estudantes de um centro universitário foram acompanhados enquanto cursavam os componentes curriculares de morfologia humana e sistemas corporais. Resultado: 3980 estudantes dos cursos de saúde participaram do estudo. Eles foram monitorados no período de 2014, 2015 e 2016, no eixo de estrutura e função humana. Observou-se uma redução gradual da necessidade de realização do exame final de 332, 183 e 124 ao longo dos anos. Também podemos observar que o número médio de estudantes que não precisaram de um exame final aumentou de 7 para 8 e 9. Considerações finais: Os estudantes apresentaram melhores desempenhos reduzindo o número de reprovações nas disciplinas. Assim, o uso do Body painting e peer to peer como ferramenta de ensino-aprendizagem no eixo de Estrutura e Função demonstrou melhor aproveitamento dos estudantes, colaborando para a formação acadêmica efetiva e a construção do conhecimento profissional

Neonatal morphine exposure and maternal deprivation alter nociceptive response and central biomarkers’ levels throughout the life of rats

In the present study, we investigated the effect of repeated neonatal morphine exposure and/or maternal deprivation(MD) on the nociceptive response and central biomarkers’ BDNF, IL-1β, and IL-4 levels at postnatal days 16(PND16), 30(PND30), and 60(PND60). At birth, the litters were standardized to contain 8 pups/dam (n = 58). From PND1 to PND10, the pups of the deprived groups were separated daily from their mothers for 3 h and divided into 5 groups: control(C), saline(S), morphine(M), deprived-saline(DS), and deprived-morphine (DM). The pups received subcutaneous injections of saline/morphine (5 μg) in the mid-scapular area between PND8 and PND14. Nociceptive responses were assessed by hot plate(HP) and tail-flick(TFL) tests and biomarker levels by ELISA. Thermal hyperalgesia(HP) was found in all assessments for the M, DS, and DM groups, and a decrease in nociceptive threshold(TFL) was found in the DS group at PND16; M and DM groups at PND30; and M, DS, and DM groups at PND60. There were interactions between treatment/deprivation/timepoint in all central biomarkers’ levels. The current study indicates that neonatal exposure to morphine and MD, which occurs in the pediatric ICU, can alter the nociceptive and neuroinflammatory responses

Quantificação do colágeno em fígado de ratos cirróticos induzidos por tetracloreto de carbono (CCl4) inalatório e a ação da N-acetilcisteína (NAC)

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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reverts behavioral alterations and brainstem BDNF level increase induced by neuropathic pain model: Long-lasting effect

AbstractIntroductionNeuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic pain modality that usually results of damage in the somatosensory system. NP often shows insufficient response to classic analgesics and remains a challenge to medical treatment. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique, which induces neuroplastic changes in central nervous system of animals and humans. The brain derived neurotrophic factor plays an important role in synaptic plasticity process. Behavior changes such as decreased locomotor and exploratory activities and anxiety disorders are common comorbidities associated with NP.ObjectiveEvaluate the effect of tDCS treatment on locomotor and exploratory activities, and anxiety-like behavior, and peripheral and central BDNF levels in rats submitted to neuropathic pain model.MethodsRats were randomly divided: Ss, SsS, SsT, NP, NpS, and NpT. The neuropathic pain model was induced by partial sciatic nerve compression at 14days after surgery; the tDCS treatment was initiated. The animals of treated groups were subjected to a 20minute session of tDCS, for eight days. The Open Field and Elevated Pluz Maze tests were applied 24h (phase I) and 7days (phase II) after the end of tDCS treatment. The serum, spinal cord, brainstem and cerebral cortex BDNF levels were determined 48h (phase I) and 8days (phase II) after tDCS treatment by ELISA.ResultsThe chronic constriction injury (CCI) induces decrease in locomotor and exploratory activities, increases in the behavior-like anxiety, and increases in the brainstem BDNF levels, the last, in phase II (one-way ANOVA/SNK, P<0.05 for all). The tDCS treatment already reverted all these effects induced by CCI (one-way ANOVA/SNK, P<0.05 for all). Furthermore, the tDCS treatment decreased serum and cerebral cortex BDNF levels and it increased these levels in the spinal cord in phase II (one-way ANOVA/SNK, P<0.05).ConclusiontDCS reverts behavioral alterations associated to neuropathic pain, indicating possible analgesic and anxiolytic tDCS effects. tDCS treatment induces changes in the BDNF levels in different regions of the central nervous system (CNS), and this effect can be attributed to different cellular signaling activations