PURPOSE: To compare two rat ovary cryopreservation techniques (vitrification vs. slow freezing) and two postmenopausal stages (early vs. late) with regard to graft take.METHODS:Thirty-three Wistar rats were submitted to bilateral oophorectomy. One ovary was submitted to histological analysis while the other was cryopreserved by slow freezing or vitrification. The cryopreserved ovary was thawed and reimplanted in the greater omentum one week (early menopause) or one month (late menopause) after oophorectomy. One month after ovary reimplantation, the graft take was evaluated macroscopically and histologically.RESULTS: Six of the animals were used ascontrols and seven died. The histological findings of 20 animals included atretic follicles (n=4), primordial follicles (n=2), and corpus luteum with primordial follicles (n=3). No ovarian tissue was found in 11 animals. Vitrification resulted in a higher graft take rate than slow freezing (50% vs. 38.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant. However, the graft take rate was 9.3 times higher in the early than in the late postmenopausal stage (61.5% vs. 14.3%) (p=0.043).CONCLUSION: Vitrification was superior to slow freezing as ovarian cryopreservation technique, and grafting was significantly more successful when the ovary was reimplanted in the late postmenopausal stage.

FUNDAMENTO: O papel do estresse oxidativo em pacientes idosos hipertensos com síndrome de apneia-hipopneia obstrutiva do sono (SAHOS) é desconhecido. Objetivo: O objetivo foi avaliar os níveis de Big Endotelina-1 (Big ET-1) e Óxido Nítrico (NO) em pacientes idosos hipertensos com e sem SAHOS moderada a grave. MÉTODOS: Os voluntários permaneceram internados durante 24 horas. Obtivemos os seguintes dados: índice de massa corporal (IMC), Monitorização Ambulatorial da Pressão Arterial (MAPA) - 24 horas, e medicação atual. Sangue arterial foi coletado às 7:00 h e às 19:00 h para determinar níveis plasmáticos de NO e Big ET-1. A oximetria de pulso foi realizada durante o sono. A correlação de Pearson, Spearman e análise de variância univariada foram utilizadas para a análise estatística. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 25 sujeitos com SAHOS (grupo 1) e 12 sem SAHOS (grupo 2), com idades de 67,0 ± 6,5 anos, 67,8 ± 6,8 anos, respectivamente. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos em IMC; no número de horas de sono; PA diastólica e sistólica em 24 h; PA de vigília; PA no sono; ou medicamentos usados para controlar a PA. Não foram detectadas diferenças nos níveis de NO e Big ET-1 plasmáticos às 19:00 h, mas às 7:00 h os níveis de de Big ET-1 foram mais altos (p = 0,03). No grupo 1, correlação negativa também foi observada entre a saturação de oxihemoglobina arterial média e a PA sistólica - 24 horas (p = 0,03, r = -0,44), e Big ET-1 (p = 0,04, r = 0,41). CONCLUSÕES: Na comparação entre idosos hipertensos com e sem SAHOS com PA e IMC semelhantes, observou-se níveis mais elevados de Big ET-1 após o sono no grupo SAHOS. Os níveis de NO não diferiram entre os pacientes hipertensos com ou sem SAHOS.

BACKGROUND: The role of oxidative stress in hypertensive elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to evaluate the levels of big endothelin-1 (Big ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in elderly hypertensive patients with and without moderate to severe OSAHS. METHODS: Volunteers were hospitalized for 24 h. We obtained the following data: body mass index (BMI); 24-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; and current medication. Arterial blood was collected at 7pm and 7am for determining plasma NO and Big ET-1 levels. Pulse oximetry was performed during sleep. Pearson's or Spearman's correlation and univariate analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We studied 25 subjects with OSAHS (group 1) and 12 without OSAHS (group 2) aged 67.0 ± 6.5 years and 67.8±6.8 years, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the groups in BMI; number of hours of sleep; 24-h systolic and diastolic BPs; awake BP, sleep BP and medications to control BP between groups. No differences were detected in plasma Big ET-1 and NO levels at 19:00 h, but plasma Big ET-1 levels at 7:00 h were higher in group 1 (p =0.03). In group 1, a negative correlation was also observed between the mean arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation level, 24-h systolic BP (p = 0.03, r = -0.44), and Big ET-1 (p = 0.04, r = -0.41). CONCLUSIONS: On comparing elderly hypertensive patients with and without OSAHS having similar BP and BMI, we observed higher Big ET-1 levels After sleep in the OSAHS group. NO levels did not differ between the hypertensive patients with or without OSAHS.

Variations in the trajectory of the brachiocephalic trunk and the common carotid artery predispose to disorders which might be critical in a tracheotomy and/or surgeries. Dissection of 110 formol fixed adult cadavers, both sexes, were performed to increase the anatomic knowledge of the neck vessels and its variations. Cadavers were from the Laboratory of Descriptive and Topographic Anatomy of the Federal University of São Paulo- Paulista Medical School- UNIFESP-EPM. In 109 of these cadavers no variations were found while in one (0.9 %) it was possible to observe a variation in the trajectory of the brachiocephalic trunk and in the right common carotid artery.

Las variaciones en el trayecto del tronco braquiocefálico y de la arteria carótida común predisponen a complicaciones que pueden ser fatales durante una traqueotomía y/o cirugías. Con el objetivo de ampliar el conocimiento anatómico de estos vasos del cuello y de sus variaciones, decidimos diseccionar 110 cadáveres, formalizados, adultos, de ambos los sexos, provenientes del Laboratorio de Anatomía Descriptiva y Topográfica de la Universidad Federal de São Paulo-Escuela Paulista de Medicina UNIFESP-EPM. En 109 (99,1%) de los cadáveres no encontramos variacionesEn un caso (0,9 %) observamos variación en el trayecto del tronco braquiocefálico y de la arteria carótida común derecha.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos metabólicos da L-glutamina (Gln) em ratos anestesiados submetidos à queimadura por água fervente. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados vinte e quatro ratos Wistar machos, anestesiados, submetidos a queimaduras da pele dorsal após exposição à água quente (100ºC) durante 10 segundos (30% de superfície corporal). Os ratos foram randomizados para receber, por gavagem, 2ml de água (G-1) ou igual volume de solução de Gln (0,5g/peso/dia) (G-2). Amostras de tecido (pele sadia e queimada, músculo e fígado) e sangue foram coletadas 24h (D1) e 48h (D2) pós-trauma para análise enzimática. RESULTADOS: A oferta de Gln induziu aumento significante nas concentrações de glicose na pele saudável em animais do G-2 no D2, e na pele queimada em G-2/D1. As concentrações de lactato também aumentaram significantemente em G-2/D1 no músculo (11,29 ± 1,25 mmol/g contra 7,43 ± 0,93 mmol/g - p<0,05) e no G-2/D2 no fígado (7,68 ± 1,49 mmol/g contra 3,27 ±0,67 mmol/g p<0,01), e em pele sadia (5,30 ± 0,42 mmol/g contra 3,57 ± 0,38 mmol/g - p<0,05). As concentrações de piruvato diminuíram significantemente no grupo G-2/D1 (músculo e fígado) e aumentaram na pele sadia no grupo G-2/D2. As concentrações de ATP diminuíram significantemente no músculo em G-2 nos tempos D1 e D2. CONCLUSÕES: A oferta de Gln sinaliza para utilização de piruvato para glicólise preponderantemente anaeróbica no músculo. O aumento nas concentrações de lactato tecidual pode vir a ser decorrente da oferta exógena de Gln, que transformada em glutamato, leva à ativação do ciclo malato-aspartato com conseqüente favorecimento da glicólise anaeróbica. A oferta de Gln induz a possível aumento na captação de glicose tanto por pele sadia quando na pele queimada. Houve falha de desenvolvimento da hipercetonemia adaptativa ao jejum em ambos os grupos. A oferta exógena de Gln parece não induzir alteração na ureagênese.

PURPOSE: Investigate the metabolic effects of L- glutamine (Gln) in rats subjected to scald burn. METHODS: Twenty-four anesthetized male Wistar rats were submitted to scald burn of dorsal skin secondary to exposure to hot water (100ºC) for 10 sec (30% of body surface). Eighteen and 42h later rats were randomized to receive (by gavage) 2ml of water (G-1) or equal volume (0,5g/Kg weight/day) of Gln solution (G-2). Tissue and blood samples were collected at the end of 24h (D1) and 48h (D2) post burn for enzymatic analysis. RESULTS: Glucose concentrations were significantly increased in healthy skin in G-2/D2 and in burned skin in G-2/D1. Lactate concentrations were significantly increased in G-2/D1 in muscle (11,29 ± 1,25 mmol/g versus 7,43 ± 0,93 mmol/g - p<0.05) and in G-2/D2 subgroups in liver (7,68 ± 1,49 mmol/g versus 3,27 ±0,67 mmol/g - p<0.01) and healthy skin (5,30 ± 0,42 mmol/g versus 3,57 ± 0,38 mmol/g - p<0.05). Pyruvate concentrations were significantly decreased in G-2/D1 subgroups in muscle and liver and increased in healthy skin in G-2/D2 subgroups. ATP concentrations were significantly decreased in muscle in G-2/D1 and G-2/D2. CONCLUSIONS: The offer of Gln signals for preponderance of pyruvate use for anaerobic glycolysis in muscle. Increase in tissue lactate concentrations may be due to exogenous offer of Gln, that once transformed in glutamate leads to the activation of malate-aspartate shuttle with consequent enhancing of anaerobic glycolysis. Offer of Gln induces possible increase in glucose uptake both in healthy and burned skin. There was a development flaw of the fast adapting hyperketonemia in both groups. Exogenous offer of Gln seems not to induce alteration in urea genesis.