Schistosomicidal, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the N-acetyl-L-cysteine and/or praziquantel in experimental acute mansonic schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease, in which the major clinical manifestation includes hepatosplenomegaly, portal hypertension, and organs fibrosis. Clinically, treatment of schistosomiasis involves the use of praziquantel (PZQ) and supportive care, which does not improve the patient's outcome as liver injuries persist. Here, we report for the first time the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and/or praziquantel (PQZ) on , hepatic granuloma, serum markers for liver function and oxidative damage in acute schistosomiasis.

Storage and purification adaptations for the isolation of total RNA from the dura mater.

Background: RNA extraction is a step that precedes several molecular techniques. The fibrous tissue, more specifically the dura mater, has several limitations in routine protocols, and lacks optimization protocols to overcome these problems.

Objective: To test stock reagents and purification kits, optimizing commercial kit protocols for RNA extraction from the dura mater.

The parietal foramen anatomy: studies using dry skulls, cadaver and in vivo MRI.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical features encountered in the parietal foramen in a series of 178 human bones and 123 head MRI examinations. A cadaveric specimen was also dissected to demonstrate the trajectory of a superficial scalp vein through the parietal foramen as far as the dura mater. A literature review was performed regarding prevalence of parietal foramen in different populations.

Spatial and seroepidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic Southeast Brazilian area.

Introduction: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a public health problem, and its prevalence is associated with the coexistence of vectors and reservoirs. CVL is a protozoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum that is endemic in the southeast region of Brazil. Thus, vector and canine reservoir control strategies are needed to reduce its burden.

Palliative care need in patients with advanced heart failure hospitalized in a tertiary hospital.

Objective: To evaluate the need for palliative care in patients with advanced Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) hospitalized in a cardiology ward.

Method: Application of the World Health Organization Palliative Needs tool (NECPAL) with the assistant physician, patient and/or caregiver for evaluation of indication of Palliative Care (PC).

Results: 82 patients with a diagnosis of class III/IV Heart Failure or ejection fraction less than or equal to 40% in echocardiography of the last 12 months were included: Mean age 68 ± 20 years, 51 male patients and 31 female patients.

Cat epididymal semen cryopreserved with and without vitamin E: effect on sperm parameters and lipid peroxidation.

The aims of this study were to investigate: 1) if the addition of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in three concentrations (0.3, 0.6 and 0.

Biomarkers and renal arterial resistive index in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis frequently causes glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis, nephropathies for which diagnosis has been limited by the low sensitivity of traditional tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum cystatin C and urinary gamma-glutamyltransferase (uGGT) levels and the urinary GGT/urinary creatinine ratio (uGGT/uCR) and to measure the renal arterial resistive index (RARI) in dogs with leishmaniasis with varying degrees of renal injury based on the urine protein: creatinine ratio (UP/C) and serum creatinine (SCr) level. We tested 59 untreated adult dogs of both sexes and undefined breeds naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.

Increased ultrasensitive C-reactive protein is not associated with obesity in hospitalized heart failure patients.

Objective:: To evaluate the association between obesity and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with heart failure admitted to a tertiary hospital.

Methods:: Cross-sectional study with a consecutive sampling of hospitalized patients with heart failure. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and the nutritional status was assessed through indicators such as body mass index (in kg/m2), waist circumference (in cm), waist-hip ratio, triceps skinfold (in mm) and subscapularis skinfold (in mm).

Cationic liposomes containing antioxidants reduces pulmonary injury in experimental model of sepsis: Liposomes antioxidants reduces pulmonary damage.

The intracellular redox state of alveolar cells is a determining factor for tolerance to oxidative and pro-inflammatory stresses. This study investigated the effects of intratracheal co-administration of antioxidants encapsulated in liposomes on the lungs of rats subjected to sepsis. For this, male rats subjected to sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli or placebo operation were treated (intratracheally) with antibiotic, 0.

Prepubertal exposure to bisphenol-A induces ERα upregulation and hyperplasia in adult gerbil female prostate.

Prostate physiology is highly dependent on oestrogenic and androgenic homeostasis. Interferences in this equilibrium, especially in early periods of life, may disrupt the prostate and increase the susceptibility to the development of diseases with ageing. Taking this into account, and considering the increase of environmental chemicals with endocrine-disrupting potential such as bisphenol-A (BPA), this study aimed to evaluate the prostates of adult female gerbils exposed to BPA and BPA plus testosterone from pubertal to adult periods.

Intratracheal co-administration of antioxidants and ceftriaxone reduces pulmonary injury and mortality rate in an experimental model of sepsis.

Background And Objective: Recent studies showed that both sepsis and antibiotic therapy are associated with cell death and linked to reactive oxygen species generation. This study investigated the effects of intratracheal administration of combinations of antioxidants (n-acetyl cysteine (NAC), vitamins C and E) in the treatment of sepsis-induced lung injury.

Methods: Ninety-six male Wistar rats subjected to sepsis were treated with ceftriaxone plus NAC with or without vitamins C and E and compared to appropriate controls.

Scintigraphic assessment of radio-aerosol pulmonary deposition with the acapella positive expiratory pressure device and various nebulizer configurations.

Background: The Acapella device produces high-frequency oscillations and positive expiratory pressure to promote bronchial secretion clearance. Its performance during aerosol delivery has not been described. We evaluated the effect of nebulizer and Acapella configuration on pulmonary deposition of radio-tagged aerosol in healthy subjects.

Expectorant and antioxidant activities of purified fumarprotocetraric acid from Cladonia verticillaris lichen in mice.

Unlabelled: The lichen Cladonia verticillaris produces bioactive secondary metabolites, such as fumarprotocetraric (FUM) and protocetraric acids. Species of the genus Cladonia demonstrate anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities and have been used in folk medicine to treat respiratory diseases (throat irritation, cough, asthma and tuberculosis). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expectorant and mucolytic activities of fumarprotocetraric acid in albino Swiss mice.

Influence of change in lateral decubitus on pulmonary aerosol deposition.

Background: The lateral decubitus position leads to the greatest changes in regional pulmonary ventilation and is used in respiratory physical therapy routines.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of the lateral decubitus position on the pulmonary deposition of inhaled radioaerosol particles in young people and report the effects of the decubitus position on routine therapy.

Methods: Eight healthy male volunteers, mean age 23.

Antioxidant supplementation for the treatment of acute lung injury: a meta-analysis.

Objective: This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the evidence supporting antioxidant supplementation as an adjunct therapy to prevent oxidative damage and improve the clinical outcomes (mortality, length of hospital stay and duration of mechanical ventilation).

Methods: The search strategy for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involved the participation of two researchers who independently assessed the methodological quality of each full-text article that was available in the PubMed, ISI WEB of Knowledge and ScienceDirect databases.

Results: We extracted 110 studies from the past 10 years, but only 30 articles met the methodological criteria (RCT, blinded and statistically significant results), for a total of 241 animals and 256 patients.

Tracing the origins and signatures of selection of antifolate resistance in island populations of Plasmodium falciparum.

Background: Resistance of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has evolved worldwide. In the archipelago of São Tomé and Principe (STP), West Africa, although SP resistance is highly prevalent the drug is still in use in particular circumstances. To address the evolutionary origins of SP resistance in these islands, we genotyped point mutations at P.