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Purpose:In this work, angiogenic activity of Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) ethanolic extract and dichloromethane and hexanic fractions were evaluated, considering medicinal properties, especially healing activity, are attributed to this plant. Methods: Models using 36 rats and 90 embryonated eggs were used to evaluate healing and angiogenic activities of extracts and fractions of the plant, through the induction of skin wounds and the chorioallantoic membrane, respectively. The effect of vascular proliferation was also tested from the study to verify the intensity of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cutaneous wounds in rats. Results: The angiogenic activity of the extract and the fractions was evidenced in both experimental models. It was verified that this effect is not directly related to the expression of VEGF and it could be associated to other pro-angiogenic factors. Conclusion: The healing activity referred to C. officinalis is related, among other factors, to its positive effect on angiogenesis, characterized by the induction of neovascularization. Key words: Calendula. Wound Healing. Neovascularization, Physiologic. Plants, Medicinal. Rats. RESUMOObjetivo: Neste trabalho a atividade sobre a angiogênese do extrato etanólico (EEC) e das frações diclorometano e hexânica das flores de Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) cultivada no Brasil foram avaliados, visto que propriedades medicinais têm sido atribuídas às flores da planta, destacando-se a atividade cicatrizante. Métodos: Modelos utilizando 36 ratos e 90 ovos embrionados foram usados para avaliar as atividades cicatrizante e angiogênica dos extratos e frações da planta, por meio da indução de feridas cutâneas e da membrana corioalantóide, respectivamente. O efeito proliferativo vascular foi também testado a partir do estudo imunoistoquímico, realizado para verificar a intensidade da expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF) na derme de ratos. Resultados: A atividade angiogênica do extrato e das frações foi evidenciada nos dois modelos experimentais empregados. Foi evidenciado que este efeito não estava diretamente relacionado à expressão do VEGF, podendo estar associado a outros fatores pró-angiogênicos. Conclusão: A atividade cicatrizante referida a C. officinalis está relacionada ao seu efeito positivo sobre a angiogênese, e este foi caracterizado pela indução de neovascularização. Descritores: Calendula. Cicatrização de Feridas. Neovascularização Fisiológica. Plantas Medicinais. Ratos.

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The correction of wall abdominal defects often requires the use of implants such as polypropylene meshes. In spite of presenting good tissue acceptance, these biomaterials can migrate to adjacent viscera, promote enterocutaneos fistulas, tissue adherence and visceral erosions. In this work, the barrier effect of chitosan films associated with polypropylene meshes on adhesion formation experimentally induced in Wistar rats was evaluated. The animals were divided into two groups with 10 animals each. Animals in the CPP group were implanted with chitosan films associated with polypropylene meshes, whereas the ones in the PP group received only polypropylene meshes. After 8 days, the animals were submitted to euthanasia using CO(2) and a descriptive study focusing adhesion formation, visceral involvement with sutures and mesh peritonization was performed. Also, subimplanted material was collected for histopathology analysis. The results showed that the CPP group presented weak adhesions to the omentum over the stitch knots in eight animals. In all animals, the meshes were peritonized, not allowing their visualization after removing the chitosan films. In the PP group, six animals presented intestinal adhesions to the meshes and, in one of them, hepatic adhesion to the mesh was observed, besides omentum adhesion on more than 50% of the mesh area. The protective effect of chitosan films when sutured over polypropylene meshes, as well as no exacerbation of inflammation associated to the peritoneal lesions was statistically demonstrated. Therefore, chitosan films can indeed minimize the formation of peritoneal adhesions induced by polypropylene meshes in rats.

RESUMODescreveram-se os sinais clínicos e achados anatomopatológicos da intoxicação crônica por cobre em um ovino da raça Texxel e definiu-se a conduta diagnóstica correta para confirmação da enfermidade. Um ovino foi encaminhado ao setor de patologia com histórico de apatia, hemoglobinúria e morte em dois a três dias. No exame necroscópico, observaram-se icterícia e edema subcutâneo, fígado aumentado de volume e amarelado e rins escuros. No exame histológico, observaram-se necrose zonal aleatória e acentuada no fígado, necrose epitelial tubular, gotas hialinas e cilindros marrom-alaranjados em túbulos coletores dos rins. O histórico alimentar, a sensibilidade de espécie/raça, o quadro clínico, as alterações macroscópicas e microscópicas sugeriram o quadro de intoxicação crônica por cobre. A confirmação diagnóstica somente foi possível após a marcação de pigmentos de cobre pela técnica histoquímica de Ulzmann e pela quantificação de cobre em matéria seca de fígado e rins, cujos valores foram mais altos que o normal.Palavras-chave: hemólise, hemoglobinúria, histoquímica, métodos analíticos, ovinos ABSTRACT The present work describes the clinical signs and anatomopathological findings of chronic copper toxicities in a Texxel

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Since 2000, written with elegance and accuracy, Hanahan and Weinberg have proposed six major hallmarks of cancer and, together, they provide great advances to the understanding of tumoral biology. Our knowledge about tumor behavior has improved and the investigators have now recognized that inflammatory microenvironment may be a new feature for the tumor entities. Macrophages are considered as an important component of tumoral microenvironment. Biologically, two forms of activated macrophages can be observed: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternative activated macrophages (M2). Despite the canonical pathways that control this puzzle of macrophages polarization, recently, mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated as an important piece in determining the metabolic and functional differentiation of M1 and M2 profiles. Currently, it is believed that macrophages related to tumoral microenvironment present an “M2-like” feature promoting an immunosuppressive microenvironment enhancing tumoral angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. In the present review we discuss the role of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and the role of mTOR pathway in M1 and M2 differentiation. We also discuss the recent findings in M1 and M2 polarization as a possible target in the cancer therapy.

Orchiectomized bulls have advantages in the meat quality and ease of handling. Chemical castration is an option for surgical castration and the sclerosing agents can be administered into the testicular or epididymis parenchyma. These agents have a lower incidence of complications than surgery, especially when associated with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), which has anti-inflammatory action and increases the absorption of other drugs. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single intratesticular injection of calcium chloride solution associated with DMSO for the chemical sterilization of bulls. Twenty-four young adult bulls were utilized, distributed into 3 groups (G20, G30 and G40, n = 8/group), according to the calcium chloride concentration (20, 30 and 40%), in 10mL volume. Serum concentrations of testosterone, body weight, testicular volume and ecotexture, clinical signs and behavior and were evaluated for 45 days. Thus, the animals were orchiectomized and testicles were assessed histologically. There were no changes in body weight, decreased serum testosterone concentrations (except G30), signs of scrotal sensitivity or changes in behavior over the period. However, there was significant increase in testicular volume, especially on the 2nd and 3rd day after treatment, with values returning to the value initials at 15 days. Testicular adherence and firm consistency were observed during orchiectomy. Ultrasound examination revealed a loss of integrity of the median raphe, with cavity formation and an alteration of the testicular echotexture. In the histological evaluation, coagulation necrosis of seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells was observed, mainly in the medial portion in all groups. Some animals presented total absence of tubular formations in all the studied groups, being the effects of greater intensity in the G40. Additionally, pronounced edema was noted in all groups, especially in G40. Inflammatory infiltrate, fibroplasia and neovascularization were found to be predominantly discrete. Based on the conditions used in this study, we conclude that calcium chloride associated with DMSO can be used as a method of chemical sterilization in bovines.