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Arthritis has important cardiovascular repercussions. Phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction is impaired in rat aortas in the early phase of the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA), around the 15th day post-induction. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify the effects of AIA on hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine in rat aortas. AIA was induced by intradermal injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (3.8 mg/dL) in the right hind paw of male Wistar rats (n=27). Functional experiments in isolated aortas were carried out 15 days after AIA induction. Morphometric and stereological analyses of the aortas were also performed 36 days after the induction of AIA. AIA did not promote structural modifications in the aortas at any of the time points studied. AIA reduced phenylephrine-induced contraction in endothelium-intact aortas, but not in endothelium-denuded aortas. However, AIA did not change KCl-induced contraction in either endothelium-intact or denuded aortas. L-NAME (non-selective NOS inhibitor), 1400W (selective iNOS inhibitor), and ODQ (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) reversed AIA-induced hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine in intact aortas. 7-NI (selective nNOS inhibitor) increased the contraction induced by phenylephrine in aortas from AIA rats. In summary, the hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine induced by AIA was endothelium-dependent and mediated by iNOS-derived NO through activation of the NO-guanylyl cyclase pathway.

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Arthritis has important cardiovascular repercussions. Phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction is impaired in rat aortas in the early phase of the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA), around the 15th day post-induction. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify the effects of AIA on hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine in rat aortas. AIA was induced by intradermal injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (3.8 mg/dL) in the right hind paw of male Wistar rats (n=27). Functional experiments in isolated aortas were carried out 15 days after AIA induction. Morphometric and stereological analyses of the aortas were also performed 36 days after the induction of AIA. AIA did not promote structural modifications in the aortas at any of the time points studied. AIA reduced phenylephrine-induced contraction in endothelium-intact aortas, but not in endothelium-denuded aortas. However, AIA did not change KCl-induced contraction in either endothelium-intact or denuded aortas. L-NAME (non-selective NOS inhibitor), 1400W (selective iNOS inhibitor), and ODQ (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) reversed AIA-induced hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine in intact aortas. 7-NI (selective nNOS inhibitor) increased the contraction induced by phenylephrine in aortas from AIA rats. In summary, the hyporesponsiveness to phenylephrine induced by AIA was endothelium-dependent and mediated by iNOS-derived NO through activation of the NO-guanylyl cyclase pathway.

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Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) hydrolyze acetylcholine (ACh) in neural synaptic clefts and are primarily found in erythrocytes and blood plasma, respectively. Besides inactivating ACh, cholinesterases may play a non-classical role in inflammation and in immune response. In a previous study, we reported that BChE levels were decreased in chronic Chagas disease patients presenting the mega syndromes. In this series, we reported that: i) the activity of AChE did not differ between patients and controls, irrespective of the presence or not of the 1057C > A ACHE polymorphism, and ii) the increased BChE levels modestly influenced the AChE activity in Chagas disease.

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We report an experimental study of the bimagnetic nanocomposites CoFe2/CoFe2O4. The precursor material, CoFe2O4 was prepared using the conventional stoichiometric combustion method. The nano-structured material CoFe2/CoFe2O4 was obtained by total oxygen reduction of CoFe2O4 using a thermal treatment at 350 °C in H2 atmospheres following the partial oxidation in O2 atmospheres at 380 °C during 120; 30; 15, 10, and 5 min. The X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and transmission electronic microscopy images confirmed the formation of the material CoFe2/CoFe2O4. The magnetic hysteresis for the nanocomposite with different saturation magnetization (from 87 to 108 emu/g) also confirms the formation of the CoFe2/CoFe2O4 with different content of CoFe2O4. Furthermore, the magnetic hysteresis curves for all samples presented a single magnetic behavior, suggesting the magnetic coupling between the phases of the nanocomposite. The effects of high energy milling on the magnetic properties of the precursor material and nanocomposites samples were evaluated.

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INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerotic disease is a diffuse disease that is strongly associated with age, risk factors, and variable progression. The anatomical prevalence of atheromas does not always follow, a sequence by sectors, and in many cases are concomitant. OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed at studying atherosclerosis in the arterial territories of the carotid and lower limbs, in order to correlate their extension as a form of primary prevention. METHODS: Participating patients with the main risk factors for atherosclerotic disease were composed of two groups: one with chronic peripheral obstructive arterial disease (PAD) and another without PAD. After performing carotid ultrasound Doppler (USD) of all patients, the occasional prevalence of the disease was evaluated. We performed by statistical tests the correlation between the findings in these patients and the risk factors. Obtaining n from 226 patients, in which 116 patients are from the PAD group and 110 patients are from the group without PAD. RESULTS: Our findings add up to 8.8% for lesions over 50% in patients with PAD, with 6.2% over 70% meeting the few published scientific findings. In this study, the correlation was evaluated between carotid stenosis and PAD, in which we observed a positive association. We observed in the studies that the prevalence of moderate and severe carotid stenosis was similar to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). There are a number of nonclassical risk factors that we do not evaluate, but even studying the traditional ones, we find that they are less than 27% dependent. CONCLUSION: Therefore, our study proposes an improvement in the clinical approach of patients with PAD for both the carotid and coronary territory, not using only 2 factors traditional risk factors, for the extension study and to consider the PAD that has 10% dependence alone, as effect and projection of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque.

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Trypanosoma cruzi infection triggers an intense production of pro-inflammatory cytokines mediated by T helper 1 lymphocytes, inducing the anti-inflammatory reflex of acetylcholine (ACh). The ACh concentration modulation is associated to the two major esterases, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). AChE H353N protein polymorphism is related to low Chagas chronic disease prognostic. In order to evaluate the correlation of plasmatic BuChE concentration and the presence of AChE H353N polymorphism in Chagas disease patients and healthy individuals, we studied two groups of individuals, one of 61 Chagas disease patients and another of 74 healthy individuals. Plasma concentration of BuChE was measured by the chemiluminescent method and AChE H353N polymorphism was investigated by PCR-RFLP and sequencing of the respective encoding AChE gene fragment. The BuChE concentration was statistically higher in Chagas disease patients, with no AChE genotype significant influence. AChE genotypes YT*A/YT*A, YT*A/YT*B and YT*B/YT*B, respectively, were expressed in 53 (86.88%), 7 (11.46%) and one (1.64%) chagasic patients, and in 68 (91.89%), 6 (8.10%) and none healthy individuals. BuChE activity may represent an important marker for chronic Chagas disease inflammatory process and prognostic. Lower BuChE concentration correlated with AChE YT*B allele, although without statistical power.

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Trypanosoma cruzi infection stimulates inflammatory mediators which cause oxidative stress, and the use of antioxidants can minimize the sequelae of Chagas disease. In order to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin C in minimizing oxidative damage in Chagas disease, we orally administered ascorbic acid to Swiss mice infected with 5.0 × 104 trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi QM2 strain. These animals were treated for 60 days to investigate the acute phase and 180 days for the chronic phase. During the acute phase, the animals in the infected and treated groups demonstrated lower parasitemia and inflammatory processes were seen in more mice in these groups, probably due to the higher concentration of nitric oxide, which led to the formation of peroxynitrite. The decrease in reduced glutathione concentration in this group showed a circulating oxidant state, and this antioxidant was used to regenerate vitamin C. During the chronic phase, the animals in the infected and treated group showed a decrease in ferric reducing ability of plasma and uric acid concentrations as well as mobilization of bilirubin (which had higher plasma concentration), demonstrating cooperation between endogenous non-enzymatic antioxidants to combat increased oxidative stress. However, lower ferrous oxidation in xylenol orange concentrations was found in the infected and treated group, suggesting that vitamin C provided biological protection by clearing the peroxynitrite, attenuating the chronic inflammatory process in the tissues and favoring greater survival in these animals. Complex interactions were observed between the antioxidant systems of the host and parasite, with paradoxical actions of vitamin C.

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ABSTRACT The stem bug (Tibraca limbativentris Stal, 1860) is one of the most harmful rice pests in Brazil. Resistant varieties can be an important method for controlling this pest. The present experiment was carried out in the greenhouse at Embrapa Arroz e Feijão. Evaluation was made of the antibiosis to nymphs of T. limbativentris in 16 rice varieties in an experimental design of randomized blocks in 8 replications. The parameters evaluated were the number of live nymphs, dry matter-mg, body surface-mm2, nymphs survival and development index, and insect days of life. There were three types of tests: a) considering only the data obtained in replications evaluated at 7, 13, 21 and 26 days after the infestation; b) considering only the data from 4 replications evaluated at 35 days after the infestation and; c) considering the data together on 8 replications. It was concluded that the varieties Arroz Comum and Desconhecido Branco, especially the former, showed some degree of antibiosis resistance to nymphs of T. limbativentris.

RESUMO O percevejo-do-colmo (Tibraca limbativentris Stal, 1860) é uma importante praga do arroz no Brasil. O uso de variedades resistentes a esse inseto é uma ferramenta importante para o seu controle. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação na Embrapa Arroz e Feijão. Foi avaliada resistência tipo antibiose em ninfas de T. limbativentris em 16 variedades de arroz em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados em oito repetições. Os caracteres utilizados para detectar indícios de resistência do tipo antibiose foram: número de ninfas vivas, massa seca (mg)/ninfas, superfície corporal/mm2, índice de sobrevivência e desenvolvimento e dias de vida das ninfas. Realizaram-se três tipos de análises: a) considerando somente os dados obtidos nas repetições avaliadas aos 7, 13, 21 e 26 dias após a infestação; b) considerando somente os dados das quatro repetições avaliadas aos 35 dias após a infestação e c) considerando os dados obtidos conjuntamente nas oito repetições. Conclui-se que as variedades Arroz Comum e Desconhecido Branco, principalmente a primeira, evidenciam possuir características que lhes confere determinado grau de resistência do tipo antibiose a ninfas de T. limbativentris.

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ABSTRACT Rice cultivars were evaluated in regard to their resistance to attack by the stem bug Tibraca limbativentris Stal, 1860 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in an experiment carried out in the greenhouse at Embrapa Arroz and Feijão, Brazil, in randomized augmented Federer blocks with ten replications. Seven traits related to plant resistance were evaluated. A total of 64 rice cultivars were used, 60 of which were considered traditional, and 4 of which were more recent cultivars, used as controls: Cica 8, Bonança, Primavera and BR IRGA 409. The results showed that the cultivars Nenenzinho, Miúdo Branco, Lageado Ligeiro, Guabirú, Branco Tardão, Agulhinha do Seco, Arroz do Governo, Arroz Misturado, Vermelho Trinca Ferro, Vermelhão, Chatão, Cutião Vermelho, Bacaba Branco, Catetão, Buriti, Bacaba, Agulha, Arroz Comum, Vermelho, Pingo DÁgua, Marabá Branco, Come Cru Vermelho and Agulhão stood out as resistant, possibly of the antibiosis type, while the cultivars Pela Mão, Arroz do Governo, Cana Roxa, Come Cru Branco, Bico Preto, Pingo de Ouro, Matão, Gojobinho, Buriti, Rabo de Burro, Poupa Preguiça, Vermelho Trinca Ferro, Miúdo Branco, Ligeiro Curto, Vermelho Agulha, Agulhão, Marabá Branco, Gojoba/75 Dias/Ligeiro, Pingo DÁgua, Arroz Comum and Vermelho were revealed as probably tolerant to attack of the stem bug and therefore should be explored in breeding programs for resistance to T. limbativentris.

RESUMO A resistência de cultivares de arrozao ataque do percevejo-do-colmo, Tibraca limbativentris Stal, 1860 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), foi avaliada em experimento conduzido em casa-de-vegetação na Embrapa Arroz e Feijão no período de dezembro de 2004 a fevereiro de 2005, em delineamento experimental de blocos aumentados de Federer com dez repetições. Na avaliação foram considerados sete caracteres de resistência ao ataque do inseto. Foram utilizados 64 cultivares de arroz, sendo 60 considerados tradicionais e quatro cultivares mais atuais como testemunhas: Cica 8, Bonança, Primavera e BR IRGA 409. Os resultados obtidos apontaram que os cultivares Nenenzinho, Miúdo Branco, Lageado Ligeiro, Guabirú, Branco Tardão, Agulhinha do Seco, Arroz do Governo, Arroz Misturado, Vermelho Trinca Ferro, Vermelhão, Chatão, Cutião, Vermelho, Bacaba Branco, Catetão, Buriti, Bacaba, Agulha, Arroz Comum, Vermelho, Pingo DÁgua, Marabá Branco, Come Cru Vermelho e Agulhão destacaram-se como resistentes possivelmente do tipo antibiose, enquanto os cultivares Pela Mão, Arroz do Governo, Cana Roxa, Come Cru Branco, Bico Preto, Pingo de Ouro, Matão, Gojobinho, Buriti, Rabo de Burro, Poupa Preguiça, Vermelho Trinca Ferro, Miúdo Branco, Ligeiro Curto, Vermelho Agulha, Agulhão, Marabá Branco, Gojoba/75 Dias/Ligeiro, Pingo DÁgua, Arroz Comum e Vermelho mostraram-se provavelmente como tolerantes ao ataque do percevejo-do-colmo podendo, portanto, ser devidamente explorados em programas de melhoramento para resistência a T. limbativentris.