No abstract

The EGb improved the Bcl-2 and reduced the Bax expression by osteoblasts in the mandibular alveolar bone and recovered the mineral content in the tibia of rats with glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis.

Hemodialysis patients have a marked decrease in functional capacity when compared to healthy individuals. We evaluated the factors associated with functional capacity in hemodialysis patients. A total of 102 hemodialysis patients were evaluated. The patients were submitted to a 6-min walk test, peripheral muscle strength tests, and an evaluation of quality of life, anxiety, and depression. The laboratory data were measured. The 6-min walk test distance correlated significantly with age, educational level, hemoglobin, creatinine, number of comorbidities, peripheral muscle strength, and some domains of SF-36 quality of life questionnaire and depression (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression showed that educational level, hemoglobin, peripheral muscle strength, and depression significantly affected the 6-min walk test distance (P < 0.05). The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.74, and the squared multiple correlation coefficient adjusted was 0.52. In conclusion, functional capacity was significantly associated with educational level, hemoglobin, peripheral muscle strength, and depression in hemodialysis patients.

The response of lungs with emphysema to an acute lung injury (ALI) remains unclear. This study compared the lung response to intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats with and without emphysema. Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomized to four groups: control group (C-G), ALI group (ALI-G), emphysema group (E-G), emphysema and ALI group (E-ALI-G). Euthanasia and the following analysis were performed 24 h after ALI induction: lung histology, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators, and blood gas measures. The histological analysis showed that animals of ALI-G (0.55 ± 0.15) and E-ALI-G (0.69 ± 0.08) had a higher ALI score compared to C-G (0.12 ± 0.04) and E-G (0.16 ± 0.04) (p < 0.05). The analysis of each component of the score demonstrated that ALI-G and E-ALI-G had greater alveolar and interstitial neutrophil infiltration, as well as greater amount of alveolar proteinaceous debris. Comparing the two groups that received LPS, there was a trend of higher ALI in the E-ALI-G, specially due to a higher neutrophil infiltration in the alveolar spaces and a higher septal thickening. Total cell count (E-G = 3.09 ± 0.83; ALI-G = 4.45 ± 1.9; E-ALI-G = 5.9 ± 2.1; C-G = 0.73 ± 0.37 × 10) and neutrophil count (E-G = 0.69 ± 0.35; ALI-G = 2.53 ± 1.09; E-ALI-G = 3.86 ± 1.4; C-G = 0.09 ± 0.07 × 10) in the BAL were higher in the groups E-G, ALI-G, and E-ALI-G when compared to C-G (p < 0.05). The IL-6, TNF-α, and CXCL2 mRNA expressions were higher in the animals that received LPS (ALI-G and E-ALI-G) compared to the C-G and E-G (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the BAL cellularity and in the expression of inflammatory mediators between the ALI-G and the E-ALI-G. The severity of ALI in response to intratracheal instillation of LPS did not show difference in rats with and without intratracheal-induced emphysema.

The EGb recovered the periodontal bone support and increased the mandibular cortical thickness. The EGb may be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Caesalpinia ferrea Mart (Leguminosae) is a medicinal plant used to treat diabetes, among other therapeutic properties, but which is also reported to have hepatotoxic effects. Although it contains substances such as flavonoids and coumarin, which are known to have antifertility activity, no studies have apparently been conducted to evaluate the potential adverse side effects of this plant on the function of the reproductive system after a chronic treatment. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect and safety of the long-term exposure to C. ferrea on male Wistar rats' vital organs, reproductive system and sperm production. Adult and immature male rats were treated with an aqueous extract of C. ferrea at a dose level of 300 mg/kg of body weight, administered during one or two spermatogenic cycles of this species. The reproductive and vital organs were analyzed, and sperm was collected from the epididymal secretion of the right epididymis cauda. The long-term administration of C. ferrea did not significantly alter the body, vital and reproductive organs weights. Gamete production was not affected either. The chronic assessment of C. ferrea suggests that this plant does not affect the normal functioning of the Wistar rat reproductive system.

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência e os fatores de risco para hipertensão arterial em acadêmicos do primeiro e oitavo períodos da Faculdade de Medicina de Barbacena. Metodologia: Foram utilizados questionários e aferição de pressão arterial para obtenção dos resultados. Valores maiores ou iguais a 140 mmHg para a pressão sistólica e/ou 90 mmHg para a pressão diastólica em pelo menos duas aferições realizadas em momentos diferentes foram considerados como risco do desenvolvimento da HA. Nos questionários foram obtidas informaçõessociodemográficas e acerca dos fatores de risco para a doença estudada. Resultados: A amostra foi constituída de 110 estudantes, dos quais 80 aceitaram participar da pesquisa. As variáveis relacionadas com o risco do desenvolvimento da HA foram: ICQ (índice cintura quadril), PAD (pressão arterial diastólica), tabagismo e etilismo. Conclusão: A prevalência de HA e de seus fatores de risco entre os acadêmicos de Medicina foi baixa, entretanto, observou-se que os que cursavam o oitavo período tiveram maior prevalência de fatores de risco, como tabagismo e etilismo.

In this experimental extrapulmonary mild ALI model, prone position ventilation for 1 h, when compared with supine position ventilation, was associated with lower lung inflammation and injury.