DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF AN HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF 17-Β ESTRADIOL IN POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES

Objective: A simple high-performace liquid chromatography method was developed and validated to determine 17-β estradiol in poly (ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules. Methods: The chromatographic conditions were as follows: C18 GL column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile:water (92:8 v/v) at flow rate of 1.5 mL/min with detection at 280 nm. The evaluated parameters were specificity, linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, accuracy, and robustness. Results: The method was specific and linear (r=0.9982). The limits of detection and quantification were 5.78 μg.mL-1 and 17.54 μg.mL-1, respectively. Suitable accurancy and robustness were obtained. The stability assay showed that pH variation occured after 120 days of storage, and no changes were observed regarding the size and polydispersion parameters. The applicability of the method was evaluated by determining the encapsulation efficiency of the E2 nanocapsules after 120 days of storage. The results showed values >99%. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the applicability of the developed and validated analytical method

Evaluation of cutaneous wound healing effect of associated zinc oxide (ZnO) and estrogen (E2) nanoparticles / Avaliação da cicatrização de feridas cutâneas tratadas com a associação de nanopartículas de óxido de zinco (ZnO) e estrógeno (E2)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de nanopartículas de estrógeno (EN) e óxido de zinco (ZnON) em feridas cutâneas de ratas ooforectomizadas. O ensaio animal foi realizado com 90 ratas Wistar divididas igualmente em 6 grupos: controle ooforectomizado (CO), grupo tratado com nanopartículas sem o fármaco (PCLN), grupos tratados com ZnOC 2.5 + EC 0.06; ZnON 2.5 + EN 0.06; ZnOC 5.0 + EC 0.12 and ZnON 5.0 + EN 0.12. Foi realizada análise da retração da lesão, parâmetros hematológicos, quantificação de infiltrado inflamatório e fibras colágeno tipo I e III. Não foi possível observar diferença estatística na taxa de retração da lesão, no entanto a análise hematológica de linfócitos e neutrófilos apresentou baixo efeito sistêmico nos grupos tratados com as nanopartículas associadas. A quantificação de células inflamatórias mostrou que houve uma melhor modulação da inflamação no grupo tratado com ZnON 5.0 + EN 0.12. Esses resultados mostraram que o tratamento tópico com a associação de nanopartículas de estrógeno e óxido de zinco pode modular o processo inflamatório, resultando em uma melhor progressão da cicatrização

Learning-dependent structural plasticity of intracortical and sensory connections to functional domains of the olfactory tubercle

The olfactory tubercle (OT), which is a component of the olfactory cortex and ventral striatum, has functional domains that play a role in odor-guided motivated behaviors. Learning odor-guided attractive and aversive behavior activates the anteromedial (am) and lateral (l) domains of the OT, respectively. However, the mechanism driving learning-dependent activation of specific OT domains remains unknown. We hypothesized that the neuronal connectivity of OT domains is plastically altered through olfactory experience. To examine the plastic potential of synaptic connections to OT domains, we optogenetically stimulated intracortical inputs from the piriform cortex or sensory inputs from the olfactory bulb to the OT in mice in association with a food reward for attractive learning and electrical foot shock for aversive learning. For both intracortical and sensory connections, axon boutons that terminated in the OT domains were larger in the amOT than in the lOT for mice exhibiting attractive learning and larger in the lOT than in the amOT for mice exhibiting aversive learning. These results indicate that both intracortical and sensory connections to the OT domains have learning-dependent plastic potential, suggesting that this plasticity underlies learning-dependent activation of specific OT domains and the acquisition of appropriate motivated behaviors

Evaluation of Hematological and Biochemical effects of sildenafil in hyperglicemic Rats/ Avaliação Hematológica e Bioquímica de Ratos Hiperglicêmicos tratados com Sildenafil

Diabetes mellitus is a pathology related to changes in glucose metabolism. The hormone insulin acts stimulating intracellular glucose metabolic pathways. The increase in cGMP signaling has the potential to increase insulin sensitivity in the muscle and can stimulate the secretion of this hormone by pancreatic beta cells. Sildenafil (SIL) is a potent peripheral vasodilator that acts attenuating the catabolism of cGMP thus increasing the signaling of the pathways involving the protein kinase G. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the sildenafil on hematological and biochemical paramethers in hyperglycemic rats. 55 male Wistar rats were separated into 4 groups: G1 (control), G2 (streptozotocin), G3 (streptozotocin + 10 mg/kg sildenafil) and G4 (streptozotocin + 15 mg/kg sildenafil). The animals received sildenafil during seven days before the application of streptozotocin, maintaining the treatment for another 3 weeks. After euthanasia, hematological and biochemical analyzes were performed. The group that received the highest dose of SIL, showed a decrease in leukocytes compared to the G2 group (p <0.05). In addition, G2 presented thrombocytopenia. Therefore, sildenafil appears to decrease the number of inflammatory cells in hyperglycemic rats in a dose dependent manner

Effect of oral insulin and hyperlipidic diet on intestinal epithelium and adipose tissue / Efeito da insulina oral e da dieta hiperlipídica no epitélio intestinal e tecido adiposo

O uso de insulina oral vem sendo estudado por seu potencial na reversão da hipertrofia intestinal característica de pacientes diabéticos e obesos. O presente estudo, avaliou a influência da insulina oral na hipertrofia e hiperplasia em adipócitos viscerais e alterações intestinais de ratos Wistar, tratados com dieta hiperlipidica e dieta padrão. Foram divididos 60 ratos em quatro grupos de animais, onde dois grupos foram tratados com ração hiperlipidica e dois grupos com dieta padrão; um grupo de cada tipo de ração recebeu todos os dias 20 UI de insulina oral. Durante 60 dias os animais foram pesados semanalmente e após este período eles foram eutanasiados e coletadas as gorduras e intestino foram realizadas. Houve influência positiva da insulina oral no peso dos animais, nos pesos das gorduras e na redução da hipertrofia dos adipócitos, possivelmente por alterações na microbiota e camada de muco do epitélio intestinal, propiciando um maior efeito incretínico; houve diferença no peso, altura e largura dos vilos intestinais relacionado possivelmente com a ação sensibilidade à insulina. Diante dos resultados encontrados podemos concluir que a insulina oral tem efeito positivo nas alterações intestinais e dos adipócitos em animais alimentados com dietas ricas em gordura

Effects of selenium supplementation on oxidative stress in the brain

Selenium is known to produce great effect on the oxidative stress of cells, both systemic and cerebral. Brain degeneration occurs as a result of several factors, one of them is the oxidative stress. We aim To analyze selenium effect on rats’ brains, investigating serum and immunohistochemical oxidative stress markers, and the neural structural pattern.  Selenium supplementation with 48 μg chelated selenium and with 96 μg chelated selenium for 60 days, followed by an evaluation of oxidative stress markers, as well as immunohistochemical markers.  Lower TBARS was observed in the rats subjected to 44mcg Se supplementation when compared to the other groups. Among the other oxidative stress markers, and immunohistochemical markers, little variation was observed. Improvement was observed in TBARS levels. However, the other measurements showed little statistical relevance. This raises some questioning regarding the dose used or the formulation and its bioavailability as influential factors in the oxidative response

Evaluation of blood biomarkers in rats submitted to nanotextured and polyurethane foam-coated silicone implants

Introduction: In recent decades, there has been a great evolution in breast implants' lining surface, which has resulted in decreased complications. In the postoperative period, the inflammation is constant and can be evaluated by the blood count, as it is a fast, inexpensive, and highly available examination. The present study evaluates blood biomarkers in rats submitted to the placement of nanotextured silicone implants and implants coated with polyurethane foam. Methods: 60 Wistar rats were used divided into two groups for nanotextured mini-implants and others mini-implants coated with polyurethane foam, subdivided into subgroups according to the animals' euthanasia in the 30, 60, and 90 days. At the time of euthanasia, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture and the blood count was analyzed. Results: Hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets had very similar results in all subgroups evaluated (30, 60, and 90 days). However, when the different subgroups were compared within each group, statistically significant results were obtained in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (nanotextured p=0.032 and polyurethane p=0.007) and leukocytes (nanotextured p=0.038 and polyurethane p=0.034). Changes in postoperative blood biomarkers were hypochromic anemia, normal leukocyte count, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Conclusion: After the placement of mini-silicone implants, the rats of both groups evolved with hypochromic anemia, normal leukocyte count at the expense of neutrophilia and lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia

Evaluation of protein adsorption in rats submitted to nanotextured and polyurethane foam-coated silicone mini-implants

Introduction: The control of protein absorption is necessary to define biomaterials' properties and their specific uses. Blood plasma contains several different proteins, including fibrinogen, which plays an important role in cell adhesion and biocompatibility results in implants. This study's objectives were to evaluate in the laboratory rats subjected to the placement of nano-textured silicone mini-implants and polyurethane foam-coated mini-implants based on the measurement of serum fibrinogen and plasma proteins. Methods: Sixty albino rats were used, divided into two groups of 30 animals for each type of silicone mini-implant (nanotextured and polyurethane foam) and subdivided into three subgroups, according to the animals' euthanasia time (30, 60 and 90 days). The mini-implants were inserted in the animals' backs below the Panniculus carnosus. At the time of euthanasia, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture. The thermal precipitation technique was used to determine total and serum plasma proteins, and the difference between the latter two obtained the fibrinogen value. Results: When the groups were compared, it was observed that the nanotextured group presented a higher amount of fibrinogen and plasma protein in the 90-day subgroup, with statistical significance (p=0.004). When comparing the subgroups among themselves, a significant difference was evidenced (p<0.001). Conclusion: The nanotextured miniimplants showed a lower protein absorption concerning polyurethane foam-coated implants in the 90-day subgroup

Library Policies of the Civil Information and Education Division, GHQ/SCAP in Japan, 1945-1952 : an Analysis of the Policy Statements

12 policy statements, in which 4 are during the former, 3 during the middle, 5 during the later Occupation Period (1945-1952) in Japan, are analyzed to investigate the course of library policies at the Education Division of the Civil Information and Education Section (CIE). General Headquarters, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP). In result we indicate that the national plan with public libraries made by P. O. Keeney was not taken over by his successors after his dismissal in April 1947,and that important library policies were begun by those except the libraries officers. And we consider that there was a concept of library developments among those of the CIE but there was no single continuing policy with the library

Integrative analysis on the effects of streptozotocin in the experimental model for diabetization in wistar rats: histological and laboratory study

The study of complications of diabetes mellitus is important to understand the alterations on the specific tissues affected by this chronic disease. An animal model that simulated this complication is necessary for further treatments and prevention of diabetes complications. The aim of this study was evaluated the biochemical and histological alterations on liver, kidney, small gut and retina tissues. The animal assay was made with 15 wistar rats divided in two groups: a control group, consisting of 5 rats that were healthy and non-diabetic (CONTROL), and a streptozotocin group (STZ), consisting of 10 rats who were diabetic. A dosage of streptozotocin at a concentration of 40 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally. Rats with glycemia levels below 150 mg/dl received a subsequent injection of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin, whereas rats with glycemia levels ranging from 150 to 250 mg/dl were given a subsequent injection of 20 mg/kg of streptozotocin. The biochemical results showed difference in triglyceride, AST and ALT levels between the groups. The histological analysis of liver, kidney, small gut and retina showed significant alterations related to the chronic diabetes complications. These results suggested that this animal model can be used for future studies of metabolics mechanisms to undertand and avoid the complications of diabetes