RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar os índices corporais e as características hematológicas entre machos e fêmeas de Astyanax bimaculatus. Quatrocentos peixes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro caixas de polietileno (100 peixes/unidade), em sistema de recirculação, e alimentados quatro vezes ao dia (3% da biomassa). Após 90 dias, 10 peixes (cinco ♀ e cinco ♂) foram retirados para realização das análises sanguíneas e para mensuração do peso, da altura, do comprimento total, da relação altura/comprimento, do fator de condição e da determinação dos índices: viscerossomático (IVS), hepatossomático (IHS) e gonadossomático (IGS). Os resultados mostraram um maior peso médio (g) nas fêmeas (12,32±0,71) em relação aos machos (6,98±0,75); o mesmo aconteceu para altura (cm) = (3,01± 0,07) e (2,40± 0,05), comprimento total (cm) = (3,01±0,07) e (2,40±0,05), IVS (%) = (11,43±0,81) e (3,55±1,05), IHS (%) = (0,72±0,08) e (0,30±0,04), respectivamente. Hemoglobina corpuscular média (pg) foi maior nas fêmeas (3,72±1,20) que nos machos (2,99±1,51). Em relação ao número de trombócitos (103/µL), houve um aumento nos machos (25,71± 3,91) em relação às fêmeas (17,40±6,40).

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the body indexes and hematological characteristics between Astyanax bimaculatus males and females. Four hundred fish were randomly distributed into four polyethylene tanks (100 fish/unit) in a recirculation system and fed four times a day (3% of biomass). After 90 days, ten fish (five ♀ and five ♂) were removed to perform blood tests and to measure weight, height, total length, height/length ratio, condition factor and index determination: vicerosomatic (VSI), hepatosomatic (HSI), and gonadosomatic (GSI). The results showed a higher average weight (g) in females (12.32±0.71) compared to males (6.98±0.75), the same happened to height (cm) = (3.01±0.07) and (2.40±0.05), total length (cm) = (3.01±0.07) and (2.40±0.05), VSI (%) = (11.43±0.81) and (3.55±1.05), HSI (%) = (0.72±0.08) and (0.30±0.04), respectively. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (pg) was higher in females (3.72±1.20) than in males (2.99±1.51). Regarding the number of thrombocytes (103.µL-1), there was an increase in males (25.71±3.91) compared to females (17.40±6.40).

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação dietética com diferentes doses de hidrolato de Curcuma longa nos parâmetros hematológicos, imunológicos e zootécnicos da tilápia-do-nilo cultivada em sistema de recirculação. Utilizou-se tilápia- do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus), distribuída em 16 caixas de polietileno, divididas em quatro tratamentos: 0,0%; 2,5%7,5% e 10,0% de hidrolato de Curcuma longa, em quadruplicata. Após 45 dias de tratamento, quatro peixes por unidade experimental foram anestesiados para remover uma alíquota sanguínea para análises hematológicas e imunológicas, e removeu-se o fígado para avaliar o índice hepatossomático e a biometria final. Na análise hematológica, os peixes alimentados com 2,5% apresentaram maior número de leucócitos, monócitos e linfócitos que no controle, enquanto as doses de 7,5% e 10,0% não diferiram. Por outro lado, a atividade antimicrobiana apresentou uma redução significativa à medida que a dose de hidrolato de C. longa aumentou. Os demais dados hematológicos, imunológicos, hepatossomáticos e zootécnicos não diferiram entre os tratamentos. Assim, a suplementação do hidrolato de Curcuma longa, na dose de 2,5%, melhorou os parâmetros hematoimunológicos e manteve a homeostase nesses animais, sendo sugerida para novos estudos.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with different doses of Curcuma longa hydrolate on the hematological, immunological and zootechnical parameters of Nile tilapia cultivated in a recirculation system (RAS). Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were used, distributed in 16 polyethylene boxes, divided into four treatments: 0.0%; 2.5%; 7.5% and 10.0% of Curcuma longa hydrolate, in quadruplicate. After 45 days of treatment, four fish per experimental unit were anesthetized to remove blood aliquot for hematological and immunological analyzes and dissect the liver to evaluate the hepatosomatic index and final biometry. In the haematological analysis, the fish fed with 2.5% had a higher number of leukocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes than control, while the doses of 7.5% and 10.0% did not differ. Antimicrobial activity showed a significant decrease as the dose of C. longa hydrolate increased. The other hematological, immunological, hepatosomatic index and zootechnical data did not differ between treatments. Thus, supplementation of the hydrolate of Curcuma longa at a dosage of 2.5%, improved and maintained blood-immune homeostasis parameters in these animals, being suggested for further studies.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os componentes do óleo essencial das folhas de Alpinia zerumbet (OEAz) e suas frações hexânica (FHOEAz), clorofórmica (FCOEAz) e metanólica (FMOEAz), e seu efeito anti-hipertensivo. OEAz foi extraído das folhas por hidrodestilação. Uma alíquota foi submetida à desadsorção seletiva com coluna de gel de sílica e eluída com hexano, clorofórmio e metanol. Os componentes do OEAz e fracções foram analisadas por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à detector de massa e por espectros de ressonância magnética nuclear de hidrogênio. Experimentos de reatividade vascular foram realizados com anéis aórticos isolados de ratos Wistar machos. Efeito anti-hipertensivo foi avaliado em ratos hipertensos submetidos à inibição da síntese de óxido nítrico. A pressão arterial foi medida indiretamente por pletismografia de cauda. FMOEAz mostrou a menor CE50 (150,45 μg/mL), 1,8-cineol (27,81%) e terpinen-4-ol (57,35%) como componentes principais. A administração em dose única por sonda nasogástrica de OEAz, frações e captopril reduziu significativamente a pressão arterial de ratos hipertensos, quando comparados aos animais do grupo controle negativo com água destilada. Em conclusão, a potência da FMOEAz foi maior que a do OEAz e outras frações. O efeito anti-hipertensivo de OEAz e frações foi semelhante, maior do que o controle negativo e menor do que o captopril.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to characterize components of the EOAz and its hexane (HFEOAz), chloroform (CFEOAz) and methanol (MFEOAz) fractions, and its antihypertensive effect. EOAz was extracted from leaves by hydrodistillation. Aliquot was subjected to selective desorption with silica gel column and eluted with hexane, chloroform and methanol. The components of the EOAz and fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hydrogen. Experiments of vascular reactivity were performed with isolated aortic rings of male Wistar rats. Antihypertensive effect was evaluated in hypertensive rats submitted to the inhibition of synthesis of nitric oxide. Blood pressure was measured indirectly by tail plethysmography. MFEOAz showed the lowest EC50 (150.45 µg/mL), 1,8-cineole (27.81%) and terpinen-4-ol (57.35%) as main components. Single administration by nasogastric tube of EOAz, fractions and captopril significantly reduced the blood pressure of hypertensive rats, when compared to animals of the negative control group with distilled water. In conclusion, the potency of the MFEOAz was higher than that of EOAz and other fractions. The antihypertensive effect of EOAz and fractions was similar, higher than the negative control and lower than that of captopril.

Implantation of Walker 256 tumor decreases acute systemic inflammation in rats. Inflammatory hyperalgesia is one of the most important events of acute inflammation. The L-arginine/NO/cGMP/K+ATP pathway has been proposed as the mechanism of peripheral antinociception mediated by several drugs and physical exercise. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible involvement of the NO/cGMP/K+ATP pathway in antinociception induced in Walker 256 tumor-bearing male Wistar rats (180-220 g). The groups consisted of 5-6 animals. Mechanical inflammatory hypernociception was evaluated using an electronic version of the von Frey test. Walker tumor (4th and 7th day post-implantation) reduced prostaglandin E2- (PGE2, 400 ng/paw; 50 µL; intraplantar injection) and carrageenan-induced hypernociception (500 µg/paw; 100 µL; intraplantar injection). Walker tumor-induced analgesia was reversed (99.3% for carrageenan and 77.2% for PGE2) by a selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME; 90 mg/kg, ip) and L-arginine (200 mg/kg, ip), which prevented (80% for carrageenan and 65% for PGE2) the effect of L-NAME. Treatment with the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (100% for carrageenan and 95% for PGE2; 8 µg/paw) and the ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) blocker glibenclamide (87.5% for carrageenan and 100% for PGE2; 160 µg/paw) reversed the antinociceptive effect of tumor bearing in a statistically significant manner (P < 0.05). The present study confirmed an intrinsic peripheral antinociceptive effect of Walker tumor bearing in rats. This antinociceptive effect seemed to be mediated by activation of the NO/cGMP pathway followed by the opening of KATP channels.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho identificar a infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em pardais domésticos (Passer domesticus, Linneaus 1758) procedentes de granjas avícolas no agreste do estado de Pernambuco. Foram utilizados 151 pardais (Passer domesticus) capturados em oito granjas de frango de corte, matrizes e poedeiras comerciais. Para a pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondi utilizou-se o teste de hemaglutinação indireta, aqueles animais que apresentaram titulação 1:16 foram encaminhados para pesquisa do DNA por meio da técnica de Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) seguida do Nested-PCR. Das 151 amostras analisadas observou-se que 91 (60,3%) foram reagentes e 60 (39,7%) não reagentes. Na análise da distribuição de freqüência dos animais infectados por granja constatou-se que em apenas uma (12,5%) não foi capturado animal reagente para T. gondii. Das dez amostras que foram encaminhadas para pesquisa do DNA do T. gondii, observou-se que três (30,00%) foram positivas ao PCR e quatro (40,00%) ao Nested-PCR. A ocorrência de anticorpos anti-T. gondii e a identificação molecular do agente confirmam a infecção natural por T. gondii em pardais em granjas avícolas no Brasil. Outros estudos devem ser conduzidos para elucidar a real importância destes animais na cadeia epidemiológica e sua eficiência da transmissão do parasito para felinos. Para tal serão necessárias pesquisas que utilizem técnicas de isolamento do parasito e molecular para determinar o perfil genômico do agente presente nestas granjas.

This paper aimed to identify Toxoplasma gondii infection in house sparrows (Passer domesticus, Linneaus 1758) coming from poultry farms in the "agreste" region of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. 151 sparrows (Passer domesticus) captured in eight broiler, egg layer and commercial laying poultry farms, were used. Indirect hemagglutination test was used to research anti-T. gondii antibodies. Animals that presented titration of 1:16 were destined to DNA research through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, followed by Nested-PCR. It was observed that, from 151 analyzed samples. 91 (60.3%) were reagents and 60 (39.7%) were not reagents. It was verified, through analysis of the distribution of infected animals frequency per farm, that in only one farm (12.5%) no animal reagent to T. gondii was captured. It was also observed that three (30.00%) of the ten samples destined to DNA research for T. gondii were positive to PCR and four (40.00%) were positive to Nested-PCR. Anti-T gondii antibodies occurrence and the molecular identification of the agent confirmed natural T. gondii infection in sparrows from poultry farms in Brazil. Other studies must be carried out to highlight the real importance of these animals in the epidemiological chain and their efficiency in the transmission of the parasite to felines. Therefore, researches that use parasite isolation and molecular techniques to determine genomic profile of the agent present in these poultry farms are needed.

Avaliou-se o efeito da adição de diferentes tipos e concentrações de soro sobre o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência de folículos ovarianos pré-antrais (FOPA) caprinos in vitro. Além disso, verificou-se a relação entre as concentrações de nitrito presentes no meio de cultivo e a viabilidade folicular. Cada par ovariano foi dividido em 29 fragmentos, sendo um destinado ao controle. Os fragmentos foram cultivados por um ou sete dias em meio essencial mínimo suplementado (MEM+) ou MEM+ com diferentes concentrações (10 ou 20%) de soro fetal bovino (SFB), soro de cabra em estro (SCE) ou soro de cabra em diestro (SCD). Na análise morfológica após sete dias, apenas o tratamento com 10% de SFB apresentou percentual de FOPA normais similar ao MEM+ (P>0,05). A análise ultra-estrutural dos folículos cultivados por sete dias com MEM+ ou MEM+ com 10% de SFB mostrou danos oocitários, porém células da granulosa normais. A análise do meio de cultivo revelou correlação positiva entre a viabilidade folicular e a produção de nitrito. A suplementação com soro não melhorou a viabilidade de FOPA e a concentração de nitrito no meio de cultivo funcionou como um indicador da viabilidade das células da granulosa de FOPA caprinos cultivados in vitro.

The effect of the addition of different types and concentrations of sera on the viability and development of caprine preantal follicles (PAF) in vitro cultured was analyzed. In addition, it was evaluated the correlation between nitrite concentrations in culture medium and folicular viability. Each ovarian pair was divided in 29 fragments and one was used as control. The fragments were cultured for one or seven days in minimal essential medium (MEM+) or MEM+ with different concentrations of (10 or 20%) bovine fetal serum (BFS), estrous goat serum (EGS), or diestrous goat serum (DGS). After seven days, the morphological analysis showed that only the treatment with 10% BFS maintained the percentage of normal PAF similar to MEM+ (P>0.05). The ultrastructural analysis of follicles cultured for seven days in MEM+ or MEM+ with 10% BFS showed some oocyte damage, although the granulosa cells were normal. Analysis of culture medium revealed a positive correlation between follicular viability and nitrite production. Supplementation with serum did not improve the viability of PAF and nitrite levels in culture medium served as an indicator of viability of granulose cells from caprine PAF in vitro cultured.

Third molar extraction is a common procedure frequently accompanied by moderate or severe pain, and involves sufficient numbers of patients to make studies relatively easy to perform. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the therapeutic combination of 10 mg piroxicam, 1 mg dexamethasone, 35 mg orphenadrine citrate, and 2.5 mg cyanocobalamin (Rheumazin®) when compared with 20 mg piroxicam alone (Feldene®) in mandibular third molar surgery. Eighty patients scheduled for removal of the third molar were included in this randomized and double-blind study. They received (vo) Rheumazin or Feldene 30 min after tooth extraction and once daily for 4 consecutive days. Pain was determined by a visual analogue scale and by the need for escape analgesia (paracetamol). Facial swelling was evaluated with a measuring tape and adverse effects and patient satisfaction were recorded. There was no statistically significant difference in facial swelling between Rheumazin and Feldene (control group). Both drugs were equally effective in the control of pain, with Rheumazin displaying less adverse effects than Feldene. Therefore, Rheumazin appears to provide a better risk/benefit ratio in the mandibular molar surgery. Since the side effects resulting from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration are a severe limitation to the routine use of these drugs in clinical practice, our results suggest that Rheumazin can be a good choice for third molar removal treatment.

Piplartine {5,6-dihydro-1-[1-oxo-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-propenyl]-2(1H)pyridinone} and piperine {1-5-(1,3)-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-oxo-2,4-pentadienyl]piperidine} are alkaloid amides isolated from Piper. Both have been reported to show cytotoxic activity towards several tumor cell lines. In the present study, the in vivo antitumor activity of these compounds was evaluated in 60 female Swiss mice (N = 10 per group) transplanted with Sarcoma 180. Histopathological and morphological analyses of the tumor and the organs, including liver, spleen, and kidney, were performed in order to evaluate the toxicological aspects of the treatment with these amides. Administration of piplartine or piperine (50 or 100 mg kg-1 day-1 intraperitoneally for 7 days starting 1 day after inoculation) inhibited solid tumor development in mice transplanted with Sarcoma 180 cells. The inhibition rates were 28.7 and 52.3% for piplartine and 55.1 and 56.8% for piperine, after 7 days of treatment, at the lower and higher doses, respectively. The antitumor activity of piplartine was related to inhibition of the tumor proliferation rate, as observed by reduction of Ki67 staining, a nuclear antigen associated with G1, S, G2, and M cell cycle phases, in tumors from treated animals. However, piperine did not inhibit cell proliferation as observed in Ki67 immunohistochemical analysis. Histopathological analysis of liver and kidney showed that both organs were reversibly affected by piplartine and piperine treatment, but in a different way. Piperine was more toxic to the liver, leading to ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, accompanied by microvesicular steatosis in some areas, than piplartine which, in turn, was more toxic to the kidney, leading to discrete hydropic changes of the proximal tubular and glomerular epithelium and tubular hemorrhage in treated animals.