Transplantation of conjunctival epithelial cells cultivated ex vivo in patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency.

Purpose: To report the outcomes of transplantation of autologous conjunctival epithelial cells cultivated ex vivo (EVCAU) in patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

Methods: EVCAU were cultivated on denuded human amniotic membrane and transplanted in 12 eyes of 10 patients with total LSCD. We evaluated the improvement in the defined clinical parameters of LSCD (loss of corneal epithelial transparency, superficial corneal neovascularization and epithelial irregularity/recurrent epithelial breakdown), vision acuity, impression cytology, immunocytochemical analysis (CK3/CK19), and the appearance of a regular hexagonal basal layer of cells on corneal confocal microscopy.

Hydrocarbons in sediments of a chronically contaminated bay: the challenge of source assignment.

Aliphatic hydrocarbons and 39 PAH (parental and alkylated homologs) determined in ca. 100 sediment samples from the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, were evaluated for source discrimination using new approaches. Concentrations of total PAH were in the range of 96-135,000 μg kg(-1) similar to other coastal urbanized embayment.

Effect of mangiferin, a naturally occurring glucoxylxanthone, on fear memory in rats.

Mangiferin (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-2-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] -xanthen-9-one, CAS 4773-96-0), a naturally occurring glucosylxanthone, is widely distributed in higher plants and a constituent of folk medicine. In the present study the effect of systemic administration of mangiferin on behavioural outcomes of neurological function in normal rats was investigated. A single intraperitoneal injection of mangiferin (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) immediately post-training produced an impairment of long-term memory for aversive training and a reduced freezing in a dose independent manner, when given immediately post-training.

Hydrocarbon composition and distribution in a coastal region under influence of oil production in northeast Brazil.

Waters and sediments from the Potiguar Basin (NE Brazilian coast) were investigated for the presence and nature of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The region receives treated produced waters through a submarine outfall system serving the industrial district. The total dispersed/dissolved concentrations in the water column ranged from 10-50 ng L(-1) for ∑16PAH and 5-10 μg L(-1) for total aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Acute fascioliasis--clinical and epidemiological features of four patients in Chile.

Because of its infrequent and protean presentation and the lack of clinical data, the management of acute infections with the foodborne trematode Fasciola hepatica is challenging. We report four serologically confirmed cases that illustrate our experience with this parasitic infection in Chile. All patients were adults presenting with upper abdominal pain.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate in combination with brain-derived neurotrophic factor reduces the viability of DAOY human medulloblastoma cells.

Purpose: Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are a promising class of anticancer agents for the treatment of brain tumors. HDACis can increase the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain cells. We have previously shown that BDNF reduces the viability of medulloblastoma cells.

[Cost analysis of early diagnosis of hydatidosis in children of 5 and 12 years old in the province of Ñuble, Bío-Bío Region, Chile].

This study conducted a cost analysis of different interventions in the early diagnosis of hydatidosis between the years 2006 -2007 in the Province of Nuble, Bio-Bio Region of Chile. The aim was to estimate the costs of early diagnosis of this condition. We included all children of 5 and 12 years old in rural areas of the province.

Albendazole sulphoxide kinetic disposition after treatment with different formulations in dogs.

New therapeutic strategies based on the search of alternative formulations of albendazole (ABZ) and albendazole sulphoxide (ABZSO) are under current development to optimize posology and antiparasite efficacy in dogs. In an incomplete block design, nine dogs were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6). Treatments were carried out in two phases as follows.

Residual concentrations of the flukicidal compound triclabendazole in dairy cows' milk and cheese.

Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is a flukicidal halogenated benzimidazole compound extensively used in veterinary medicine. Liver fluke control in lactating dairy cattle is difficult because treatment should be implemented only during the dry period to avoid milk residues. However, control in endemic areas is usually implemented as regular treatments three to four times a year, even during the lactating period.

[Scleral contact lens for ocular rehabilitation in patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome].

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of scleral contact lenses use on the management of ocular sequelae from Stevens-Johnson syndrome patients.

Methods: In a retrospective study, patients who suffered sequelae of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and started the use of scleral contact lenses were followed. Patients were submitted to an evaluation of symptoms through a questionnaire; ophthalmologic exam (visual acuity measurement, biomicroscopy, ocular surface staining with fluorescein drops, Schirmer test).

Current and emerging molecular targets in glioma.

Gliomas are the most common and lethal neurological cancers. Despite research efforts, the prognosis for patients with malignant gliomas remains poor. Advances in the understanding of cellular and molecular alterations in gliomas have led to the emergence of experimental molecularly targeted therapies.

Planar cell polarity signalling regulates cell adhesion properties in progenitors of the zebrafish laterality organ.

Organ formation requires the precise assembly of progenitor cells into a functional multicellular structure. Mechanical forces probably participate in this process but how they influence organ morphogenesis is still unclear. Here, we show that Wnt11- and Prickle1a-mediated planar cell polarity (PCP) signalling coordinates the formation of the zebrafish ciliated laterality organ (Kupffer's vesicle) by regulating adhesion properties between organ progenitor cells (the dorsal forerunner cells, DFCs).

Licking induced changes to the pattern of moxidectin milk elimination after topical treatment in dairy cows.

Pour-on administration of the macrocyclic lactones anti-parasitic compounds in beef and dairy cattle is now worldwide accepted. However, the information available on their milk excretion pattern, after topical administration is rather limited. Additionally, the cattle licking behaviour has been proven to affect the kinetics of these anti-parasitic compounds.

Glycerol as substrate for the production of biosurfactant by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UCP0992.

In this work the influence of the carbon source concentration, of the type and concentration of the nitrogen source and of the cultivation conditions (temperature, aeration and agitation speed) in mineral medium formulated with glycerol was studied for biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UCP0992. The kinetics of microorganism growth and biosurfactant production have been described for the medium supplemented with 3% glycerol and 0.6% NaNO(3), at 28 degrees C during 120 h under 200 rpm, showing a growth-associated production.

Ketamine impairs recognition memory consolidation and prevents learning-induced increase in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.

The non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist ketamine has been shown to produce cognitive deficits. However, the effects of ketamine on the consolidation phase of memory remain poorly characterized. Here we show that systemic administration of ketamine immediately after training dose-dependently impairs long-term retention of memory for a novel object recognition (NOR) task in rats.

Mangiferin, a naturally occurring glucoxilxanthone improves long-term object recognition memory in rats.

Mangiferin (2-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone) is a xanthone widely distributed in higher plants showing antioxidative, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and analgesic effects. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of systemic administration of mangiferin on behavioral outcomes of neurological function in normal rats. A single intraperitoneal injection of mangiferin (10, 50, or 100mg/kg body weight) enhanced novel object recognition (NOR) memory when given immediately post-training.

Analgesic effects of a single preoperative dose of pregabalin after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Background: The treatment of pain in obese patients is always a challenge. These patients have low pain thresholds, and the use of opioids can be especially harmful. Intraoperative nervous fiber section and the high temperatures of electrical scalpels probably contribute to the generation of postoperative neuropathic pain.

Thermal stability of antiparasitic macrocyclic lactones milk residues during industrial processing.

The chemical stability of residues of different antiparasitic macrocyclic lactone compounds in milk subjected to thermal treatment was assessed. Concentrations of ivermectin (IVM), moxidectin (MXD) and eprinomectin (EPM) in sheep milk, equivalent to those measured in vivo in milk excretion studies, were subjected to 65 degrees C over 30 min or to 75 degrees C for 15 s. Residue concentrations of IVM, MXD and EPM in milk were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (fluorescence detection) before and after heat treatment of the drug-fortified milk samples.

BDNF and PDE4, but not the GRPR, regulate viability of human medulloblastoma cells.

Medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor of childhood. Emerging molecular targets in medulloblastoma include neurotrophin and neuropeptide receptors. In the present study, we have examined the influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/TrkB receptor- and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)-mediated signaling on the viability of human medulloblastoma cells.

Reduced NGF secretion by HT-29 human colon cancer cells treated with a GRPR antagonist.

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is a therapeutic target in colon cancer. Here we show that the GRPR antagonist RC-3095 (10(-3), 10(-6), or 1 microM) decreases nerve growth factor (NGF) secretion measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. The results suggest that decreased secretion of neurotrophins might be a novel mechanism by which GRPR antagonists exert their antiproliferative effects in cancer cells.

Effect of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on apoptosis- and proliferation-induced MAPK signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Sex hormones induce death or cell proliferation in various cell lines and in primary cultures. However, the signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis in endothelial cells have not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that progesterone and testosterone induce apoptosis in HUVECs in a p38- and JNK-dependent manner, and that estradiol promotes proliferation via the activation of ERK2.