No abstract

Sex differences in gut microbiota are acknowledged, and evidence suggests that gut microbiota may have a role in higher incidence and/or severity of autoimmune diseases in females. Additionally, it has been suggested that oral, vaginal, and gut microbiota composition can be regulated by estrogen levels. The association of vaginal microbiota with vulvovaginal atrophy at menopause is well described in the literature. However, the relevance of oral and gut microbiota modulation in the immune system during estrogen deficiency and its effect on inflammatory diseases is not well explored. Estrogen deficiency is a condition that occurs in menopausal women, and it can last approximately 30 years of a woman’s life. The purpose of this mini- review is to highlight the importance of alterations in the oral and gut microbiota during estrogen deficiency and their effect on oral and inflammatory diseases that are associated with menopause. Considering that hormone replacement therapy is not always recommended or sufficient to prevent or treat menopause-related disease, we will also discuss the use of probiotics and prebiotics as an option for the prevention or treatment of these diseases.

There is as yet no effective treatment for endometriosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of submitting women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain to a therapeutic protocol involving physical and psychological therapy. Twenty-six female volunteers were submitted to a treatment protocol consisting of 2.5-h sessions, once a week for 10 weeks. We applied a Visual Analogue Scale, the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Morning, afternoon, and evening levels of cortisol were determined in saliva samples. The PSQ scores were significantly lower after treatment, whereas the scores for the SF-36 vitality and physical functioning domains were significantly higher. Salivary cortisol levels were higher after treatment in the samples collected in the morning, but not in those collected in the afternoon or evening. The post-treatment cortisol levels were similar to those reported for healthy women. There were positive correlations between vitality, role emotional, social functioning, and mental health, and negative correlations to perceived stress. In conclusion, the physical and psychological intervention protocol applied in this study to women suffering of endometriosis was effective in reducing perceived stress, normalizing cortisol levels, increasing vitality and improving physical functioning.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a novel bioactive material (Biosilicate®) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on bone fracture consolidation in osteoporotic rats. Forty female Wistar rats were submitted to ovariectomy (OVX) to induce osteopenia. Eight weeks after surgery, the animals were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals each: a bone defect control group (CG); a bone defect filled with Biosilicate group (BG); a bone defect filled with Biosilicate and irradiated with LLLT at 60 J/cm(2) group (BG60); and a bone defect filled with Biosilicate and irradiated with LLLT at 120 J/cm(2) group (BG120). Bone defects were surgically performed on both tibias. The size of particle used for Biosilicate was 180-212 µm. Histopathological analysis showed that bone defects were predominantly filled with the biomaterial in specimens treated with Biosilicate. LLLT with either 60 or 120 J/cm(2) was able to increase collagen, Cbfa-1, VGEF and COX-2 expression in the circumjacent cells of the biomaterial. A morphometric analysis revealed that the Biosilicate + laser groups showed a higher amount of newly formed bone. Our results indicate that laser therapy improves bone repair process in contact with Biosilicate as a result of increasing bone formation, as well as COX-2 and Cbfa-1 immunoexpression, angiogenesis and collagen deposition in osteoporotic rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of long-term grape juice concentrate (GJC) consumption, in two dosages, on the reproductive parameters of cadmium-exposed male rats. The effects of the concentrate on body mass gain, plasma testosterone levels, reproductive organ weights, daily sperm production, sperm morphology, testis histopathological and histomorphometrical parameters, and testicular antioxidant markers were investigated. Wistar rats (n 54) were distributed into six groups: CdCl 2 ; cadmium and grape juice I (1·18 g/kg per d); cadmium and grape juice II (2·36 g/kg per d); grape juice I (1·18 g/kg per d); grape juice II (2·36 g/kg per d); control. A single dose of CdCl 2 (1·2 mg/kg body weight (BW)) was injected intraperitoneally and the grape juice was administered orally for 56 d. The results indicated that cadmium changed all reproductive and antioxidant parameters. At dosage I (1·18 g/kg BW), GJC consumption did not show the effects against cadmium-induced damages. In contrast, at dosage II (2·36 g/kg BW), the GJC improved the gonadosomatic index (P¼ 0·003), serum testosterone levels (P¼0·001), the relative weight of epididymis (P¼ 0·013) and ventral prostate (P¼0·052), the percentage of normal sperm (P¼ 0·001), and histopathological and histomorphometrical parameters. In addition, at this dosage, normalisation of the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (P¼0·001) and of testicular levels of glutathione (P¼0·03) were observed. The parameters of the non-exposed rats did not depict significant alterations. In conclusion, the product was able to act as a protector of reproductive function against cadmium-induced damage. Such a property was expressed in a dose-dependent manner as the more effective dose was dosage II. The GJC acted possibly by antioxidant mechanisms. Key words: Functional foods: Reproduction: CadmiumCadmium is a metal found in nature in low concentrations (1) .However, high levels of the metal can be found in the environment due to the burning of fossil fuels, the manufacture of batteries and the production of pigments and stabilisers (2) . The consequent contamination of soil and water results in the exposure of plants and animals to the metal and its bioaccumulation (3,4) . Moreover, tobacco smoke is another major source of human exposure to cadmium (5) .In the male reproductive system, cadmium is known to impair reproductive physiology and decrease sperm quality (6,7) . In addition, in vitro studies have shown that cadmium can stimulate Sertoli cell apoptosis, leading to the disruption of the blood -testis barrier (8,9) . Endocrine disruption is another consequence of cadmium exposure, caused by Leydig cell apoptosis and decreased serum levels of testosterone, as demonstrated in animal studies (10,11) . Clinical trials haveshown an inverse correlation between high serum levels of cadmium and semen quality, including sperm DNA damage, sperm count, motility and morphology (12 -15) . Oxidative stress is related to cadmium-induced damage, increasing the...

This study revealed that both LLLT and US therapies have positive effects on muscle metabolism after an injury in rats, but LLLT seems to produce a better response.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare mutagenicity (micronucleus) and cytotoxicity (karyorrhexis, pyknosis, and karyolysis) in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of children following cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or conventional radiograph exposure necessary for orthodontic planning. Materials and Methods: A total of 49 healthy children were submitted to CBCT or a conventional orthodontic radiographic protocol; they were divided into two groups based on exam: CBCT (n 5 24) and Radiographic Set (n 5 25) groups. The micronucleus test in the exfoliated buccal mucosa cells was applied.Results: There was not a statistically significant difference (P . .05) found between the number of micronucleated buccal mucosa cells (MNC) before and after exposure to radiation in either group, showing that neither group experienced a mutagenic effect. However, radiation did cause other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity, including karyorrhexis, pyknosis, and karyolysis, in both groups (P , .05). The CBCT group presented a greater increase in cell death than was noted in the Radiographic Set group (P , .044). Conclusion: According to the micronucleus test, mutagenicity was not induced by the CBCT or the conventional radiographs, but cytotoxicity was verified after these exams, especially after CBCT. That might have happened once the CBCT group received a greater radiation dose than the Radiographic Set group as a result of the protocols used in orthodontic planning for this study. (Angle Orthod. 2013;83:104-109.)

This study investigated the protective effect of spray-dried açaí powder (AP) intake on colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in male Wistar rats. After 4 weeks of DMH administrations, the groups were fed with standard diet, a diet containing 2.5% or 5.0% AP or a diet containing 0.2% N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for 10 weeks, using aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as the endpoint. Additionally, two groups were fed with standard diet or a diet containing 5.0% AP for 20 weeks, using colon tumors as the endpoint. In ACF assay, a reduction in the number of aberrant crypts (ACs) and ACF (1-3 AC) were observed in the groups fed with 5.0% AP (37% AC and 47% ACF inhibition, p=0.036) and 0.2% NAC (39% AC and 41% ACF inhibition, p=0.042). In tumor assay, a reduction in the number of invasive tumors (p<0.005) and tumor multiplicity (p=0.001) was observed in the group fed with 5.0% AP. Also, a reduction in tumor Ki-67 cell proliferation (p=0.003) and net growth index (p=0.001) was observed in the group fed with 5.0% AP. Therefore the findings of this study indicate that AP feeding may reduce the development of chemically-induced rat colon carcinogenesis.