The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Atorvastatin (ATV) on alveolar bone loss induced in rats. Periodontitis was induced by ligature placement around the upper second left molar in a total of 24 male Wistar rats (± 200 g). Groups of 6 animals received via oral gavage either saline or ATV (1, 3 and 9 mg/kg) during 11 days. After this time, the animals were sacrificed and their maxillae were removed, defleshed, radiographed by Digora System®, and latter stained to be photographed using a digital camera. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Bonferroni test at 5% significance level and presented as mean ± SEM. ATV (9 mg/kg) caused a significant increase on gray tone variation of over 48% (118.3 ± 12.0 gray tones) when compared to saline (79.8 ± 6.2 gray tones), indicating greater radiographic density. These data were corroborated by macroscopic findings, where ATV (9 mg/kg) reduced alveolar bone loss by over 47% (p<0.05), when compared to the group of untreated animals (saline). In summary, ATV was able to prevent alveolar bone loss seen on a ligature-induced periodontitis model.

The search for new compounds for controlling pain and inflammation, with minimal side effects has focused on marine algae. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the purified lectin from the green marine alga Caulerpa cupressoides (CcL) in classical models of nociception and inflammation. Male Swiss mice received i.v. CcL 30 min prior to receiving 0.8% acetic acid (10 ml/kg; i.p); 1% formalin (20 microl; s.c.) or were subjected to thermal stimuli. We observed that CcL (3, 9 or 27 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of writhes induced by acetic acid by 37.2%; 53.5% and 86.0%, respectively. CcL (27 mg/kg) also reduced the second phase of the formalin test. However, CcL (27 mg/kg) did not present significant antinociceptive effects in the hot plate test, when compared to morphine, suggesting that its antinociceptive action occurs predominantly through a peripheral mechanism. The antinociceptive effects were abolished when CcL was pre-incubated with mucin (20mg/kg; i.v.). When CcL (9 mg/kg) was administered i.v. in Wistar rats 30 min before carrageenan administration, neutrophil counts were reduced by 65.9%. CcL also inhibited paw edema in all time intervals, especially at the third hour. Finally, CcL (9 mg/kg) administered i.v. in mice did not cause hepatic or renal alterations and did not affect body mass or macroscopy of the organs examined. In conclusion, CcL appears to have important antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities and could represent an important agent for future studies.

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BackgroundThis study focused on the distribution and abundance of the eggs of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.MethodsEighty ovitraps were exposed for four days of each month in peri- and intradomiciliary environments of 40 urban residences on 20 street blocks that were drawn monthly in Sebastião, SP, between February 2011 and February 2012. The monthly distribution of positive ovitrap indices (POI) and mean egg counts per trap (MET) of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner (DSCF) test. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and simple linear regression were used to determine the association between the meteorological variables of temperature and rainfall and the number of ovitraps with eggs and the egg count.ResultsThe POI and MET of Ae. aegypti were higher in peridomiciliary premises. A positive correlation was found between the temperature and the number of ovitraps with eggs and the egg count of this species in domestic environments. There was no difference in the POI and MET of Ae. albopictus between the environments. A positive correlation was found between temperature and positive ovitraps of Ae. albopictus in peridomiciliary premises. The POI and MET of Ae. aegypti were higher than those of Ae. albopictus.ConclusionsPeridomiciliary premises were the preferred environments for oviposition of Ae. aegypti. The use of ovitraps for surveillance and vector control is reiterated.

ALD prevented BALP reduction and ABL and reduced inflammatory infiltrate, without causing systemic alterations.