Immediate and Late Effects of Stress on Kidneys of Prepubertal and Adult Rats

Background/Aims: Stress had been related to physiological and morphological alterations in different organs, however kidney morphology and function after stress conditions are not well-known. To evaluate the effects of chronic stress on renal morphology in prepubertal and adult rats, and to investigate if the effects of induced stress remain stable or worsen following removal of the stress stimuli. Methods: Forty prepubertal rats (4 weeks old) and thirty six adult rats (10 weeks old) were used. Each age group was divided a into control group and a stressed group. Stressed animals were restrained in rigid tubes 2 hours per day for 6 weeks. Animals were euthanized 24 hours after the last stress stimulus for immediate evaluation (50% of the groups), and 6 weeks after the last stress stimulus for late evaluation (50% of the groups). Kidney weight and volume, cortical-medullar ratio, glomerular volumetric density, volume-weighted glomerular volume, and number of glomeruli per kidney were evaluated using the Image J software. Results: Prepubertal stressed animals showed reduced kidney weight and volume, and increased cortical-medullar ratio in comparison to its control group when evaluated immediately. Furthermore, stressed prepubertal and adult animals evaluated immediately had reduced glomerular volumetric density. Most importantly, all stressed groups exhibited reduced number of glomeruli per kidney. Other analyzed parameters did not difeer significantly the groups. Conclusion: Chronic stress induced before and after puberty led to irreversible glomerular loss, however, renal impairment was interrupted by removal of the stress stimuli

Análise da Judicialização do Direito à Saúde, Subfinanciamento do setor e Políticas Públicas: Estudo de Caso no Estado de Alagoas

The judicial demands related to the requirement of the compliance of the Universal Right to Health in accordance with the Federal Constitution of 1988 have increased in recent years. It also accounts that the public financing for the sector is insufficient to cover the scope of the Constitution due to the budget limits for the implementation of health policies. This article aims to analyze the process of judicialization of health, noting the implications and impacts on public administration, and specifically for the management of public policy. Therefore, a qualitative research was organized through case study, analyzing the data regarding to the judicialization and the expenses of the Health Department in the State of Alagoas (SESAU). An evolution of judicial requests has mainly been related to the access to medications through actions from the Public Defender´s Office and the Public Prosecutor's Office with expenditures exceeding $ 100 million between 2009 and 2014. Thus, despite attempts to minimize the impact generated with the creation of an interinstitutional core aiming to mitigate the effects of judicialization, it is necessary to implement health public policy for the community and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of existing ones. However, the underfunding and ineffective management of the Unified Health System (SUS) are highlighted as main causes that block the implementation of alternative solutions.As demandas judiciais referentes à exigência do cumprimento do Direito Universal à Saúde, conforme prevê a Constituição Federal de 1988, aumentaram nos últimos anos. Também se registra que o financiamento público do setor é insuficiente para abarcar a abrangência do texto constitucional, decorrente de limites orçamentários para a implementação das políticas de saúde. Este artigo objetivou analisar o processo de judicialização da saúde, observando as implicações e impactos para a Administração Pública e, especificamente, para a gestão de políticas públicas. Para tanto, organizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, por meio de estudo de caso, analisando os dados referentes à judicialização e aos gastos da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Alagoas (SESAU). Contatou-se uma evolução das solicitações judiciais, principalmente buscando acesso a medicamentos, mediante ações da Defensoria Pública e Ministério Público, e que os gastos ultrapassaram 100 milhões de reais, entre 2009 e 2014. Desta forma, apesar das tentativas de minimização do impacto gerado, com a criação de um Núcleo Interinstitucional objetivando mitigar os efeitos da judicialização, é necessário implementar políticas públicas de saúde para a coletividade e avaliar a eficiência e efetividade das existentes. Contudo, ilustrou-se o subfinanciamento e a gestão ineficaz do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), dificultando a operacionalização das alternativas de soluções

Effects of chronic restraint stress in the prostate of prepubertal and adult rats

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the effects of chronic stress in the prostate of prepubertal and adult rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were assigned into four groups depending on the type of treatment (control or stressed) and the age at which stress was initiated (prepubertal or adult). Restraint stress stimuli were applied for six weeks. Stressed prepubertal and adult rats evaluated immediately after the last stress stimuli were named SP and SA groups, respectively. Age-matched rats were used as control groups (CP and CA). At the end of the experiment, the rats were euthanized, and prostate morphological parameters were evaluated and statistically compared. Results: Application of stress stimuli to the SP group resulted in reduced body weight, but no prostate morphological modification was noted. The SA group showed reduced testosterone level and prostatic epithelium surface density, in comparison to CA group. Further, the prostatic lumen surface density was increased in adult stressed animals, in comparison to adult controls. Conclusions: The stress stimuli promoted changes in hormonal and morphological parameters in the prostate of adult stressed rats. Prepubertal stressed animals did not presented modifications of prostate morphology

Use of pectoralis major fascia in dorsal nasal augmentation: case report

Increasing the nasal dorsum in rhinoplasty is the focus of several studies that seek the best graft sources and surgical techniques. The use of cartilage from the nasal septum, ear shell, or costal arches is already established for this purpose. In recent years, methods have been sought to reduce the palpability and dispersibility of cartilaginous grafts. Thus, synthetic materials such as SURGICEL® and autologous materials such as fascia have been explored. Temporal fascia are more widely used but require a new surgical incision, increasing surgical time and morbidity. Also described is the use of fascia lata and rectus abdominis fascia, which are comparatively thicker and less flexible. In many rhinoplasty procedures, it is necessary to remove the costal cartilage, which allows the collection of fascia from the major chest muscles through the same surgical incision. Thus, we describe the use of major chest muscle fascia and chopped costal cartilage in structured rhinoplasty to increase the dorsum

Negative interference on growth and morpho-anatomical modifications in young Parkia gigantocarpa plants under waterlogging

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the responses linked to growth and morphological and anatomical changes in young plants of Parkia gigantocarpa subjected to waterlogging conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized with two water conditions (control and waterlogging) combined with five evaluation times (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16-days waterlogging conditions). The parameters evaluated were leaf specific hydraulic conductance, plant height, stem diameter, numbers of leaf and leaflets, as well as shoot dry matter, root dry matter, and total dry matter. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance, and significant differences between the means were determined using the F-test at a probability level of 5 %. Additionally, transversal sections linked to primary and secondary roots were described. The segments from the primary root (removed from region located 4 cm below of the soil surface) and the secondary root (removed from region located 4 cm from the root apex) were fixed, stained and mounted, and subsequently photo-documented. The waterlogging provoked reduction in leaf specific hydraulic conductance, as well as negative interferences on growth. Anatomically, this stress induced the appearance of hypertrophic lenticels in base of the stem, adventitious root and formation of schizogenous aerenchyma located in cortical parenchyma of the secondary root. Therefore, these results reveal the susceptibility of young Parkia gigantocarpa plants subjected to waterlogging conditions