Interstitial incisional hernia of greater omentum: An incidental finding during routine cadaveric dissection

Omental herniation, located between the rectus abdominis muscle and the anterior blade of the rectus sheath, can be triggered after a transverse suprapubic incision. It causes the development of an incisional interstitial hernia (IIH), which is an extremely rare and poorly understood condition. Based on this information, our work presents the first anatomical description of incisional interstitial hernia found during routine dissection at the Human Anatomy Laboratory of the Federal University of Ceará in a formalized female corpse.

Metabolic responses in bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus after exposure to zinc, copper and cadmium

This study investigated the activity of lactated dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzymes and the levels of glucose, protein and triglyceride in bullfrog tadpoles after exposure to 1 μg L^-1 of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) isolated and combined for 2 and 16 days. Zn, Cu + Cd and Zn + Cu + Cd increased the activity of the LDH (2 and 16 days) and MDH (2 days) enzymes in the liver; and MDH increased in the kidney after 16 days in all co-exposed groups compared to the control. Glucose increased in the liver in the Zn and Cu groups at 2 and 16 days of exposure and decreased in the kidney (groups Cd, Zn + Cd and Cu + Cd) and muscle (Cd) at 2 days of exposure. After 2 days of exposure, the protein increased in the liver (Zn), in the kidney in all groups exposed to metals except in the groups exposed to Cd and Zn + Cu + Cd, which did not change and decreased in muscle in all the groups exposed to isolated metals. Regarding triglycerides, the kidney and muscle were the most affected, leading to a decrease in the Zn, Cu and Cd groups and in the Zn + Cu (16 days) and Zn + Cu + Cd groups (2 days). The anaerobiosis and aerobiosis were activated in the liver and kidney after short-term exposure (2 days) and in the kidney, the aerobic metabolism was activated after chronic exposure (16 days). The metals caused toxicity and were higher in co-exposure to metals with a potential to cause metabolism damage in L. catesbeianus.

Blood cell responses and metallothionein in the liver, kidney and muscles of bullfrog tadpoles, Lithobates catesbeianus, following exposure to different metals

The hematological parameters and metallothionein (MT) levels in the liver, kidney and muscles were measured in bullfrog tadpoles, Lithobates catesbeianus, following exposures to 1 μg L^-1 of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) alone or in combination (1:1 and 1:1:1) for 2 and 16 days. Metal accumulation occurred in all organs, with the highest values found in the kidney, followed by the muscles and liver. After exposure to isolated metals, the accumulation was in the following order: Cd > Zn > Cu in the liver and muscles and Cd > Cu > Zn in the kidney. Exposure to combined metals (Zn + Cu, Zn + Cd, Cu + Cd and Zn + Cu + Cd) revealed complex responses, such as metal accumulation increased or decreased over the exposure periods, suggesting possible competion at the uptake sites and/or metabolization and elimination processes in each organ. The MT concentration increased in the organs of tadpoles following metal exposure alone, mainly in the liver, for both periods. After the combined exposures, the MT levels were higher in the liver and muscles at 16 days, suggesting that the interaction between metals was additive, and the level was decreased in the kidney after 2 and 16 days of exposure. The whole blood hemoglobin content (Hb), red blood cell count (RBCs) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) differed from the control groups after 2 and 16 days of exposure, showing changes in the improvement of oxygen transport. The number of lymphocytes increased, and the levels of neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes were reduced after exposure to the metals. The changes in blood cells suggested that tadpoles have a mechanism to improve oxygen transport probably because of the increased oxygen demand and a general reduction in defense cells. The exposure of L. catesbeianus to metals during the larval phase can generate long-term dysfunction to a degree, which could lead to alterations in their health status.

T1ρ and T2 mapping of the intervertebral disk: comparison of different methods of segmentation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intervertebral disk biochemical composition could be accessed in vivo by T1ρ and T2 relaxometry. We found no studies in the literature comparing different segmentation methods for data extraction using these techniques. Our aim was to compare different manual segmentation methods used to extract T1ρ and T2 relaxation times of intervertebral disks from MR imaging. Seven different methods of partial-disk segmentation techniques were compared with whole-disk segmentation as the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sagittal T1ρ and T2 maps were generated by using a 1.5T MR imaging scanner in 57 asymptomatic volunteers 20-40 years of age. Two hundred eighty-five lumbar disks were separated into 2 groups: nondegenerated disk (Pfirrmann I and II) and degenerated disk (Pfirrmann III and IV). In whole-disk segmentation, the disk was segmented in its entirety on all sections. Partial-disk segmentation methods included segmentation of the disk into 6, 5, 4, 3, and 1 sagittal sections. Circular ROIs positioned in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus were also used to extract T1ρ and T2, and data were compared with whole-disk segmentation

RESULTS

In the nondegenerated group, segmentation of ≥5 sagittal sections showed no statistical difference with whole-disk segmentation. All the remaining partial-disk segmentation methods and circular ROIs showed different results from whole-disk segmentation (P < .001). In the degenerated disk group, all methods were statistically similar to whole-disk segmentation. All partial-segmentation methods, including circular ROIs, showed strong linear correlation with whole-disk segmentation in both the degenerated and nondegenerated disk groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Manual segmentation showed strong reproducibility for T1ρ and T2 and strong linear correlation between partial- and whole-disk segmentation. Absolute T1ρ and T2 values extracted from different segmentation techniques were statistically different in disks with Pfirrmann grades I and II.

Negative impact of a cadmium concentration considered environmentally safe in Brazil on the cardiac performance of bullfrog tadpoles

A drastic amphibian decline has been observed worldwide, which can be attributed (among other factors) to exposure to pollutants. Considering that cadmium corresponds to the most rapidly increasing trace metal in the environment, the aim of this work was to evaluate whether the exposure (2 and 16 days) of bullfrog tadpoles to this trace metal, at the concentration currently considered environmentally safe (at 1ppb) in class 1 and 2 waters by the Brazilian Environmental Council, can affect the cardiac performance of these animals. The acute exposure (2 days) of tadpoles to cadmium resulted in a marked bradycardic response, which was correlated with an incomplete cardiac relaxation, without any compensation by improved cardiac twitch force (Fc) or contraction velocity (TPT), nor even by cardiac hypertrophy. Indeed, after 16 days of exposure, the cardiac function of tadpoles became even more depressed due to a marked decrease in Fc, a prolongation of TPT, and also incomplete relaxation (i.e. increases in the ventricle resting tension), without changes in ventricle relative mass. Altogether, the cardiodepressive effects of cadmium (especially after more prolonged exposure periods) impose negative alterations on a tadpole׳s development and also impede adequate homeostatic adjustments to respond appropriately to the exposure to cadmium with increase in energetic demand to counteract the deleterious effects of the xenobiotic. These disturbances can impair tadpoles׳ growth, development and reproduction. It is a fact that allows us to strongly suggest that cadmium concentrations, which are currently considered environmentally safe in Brazil, should be revised.

Interaction of warm acclimation, low salinity, and trophic fluoride on plasmatic constituents of the Antarctic fish Notothenia rossii Richardson, 1844

The adaptive evolution of the Notothenia rossii occurred under the selective pressure of stable and low temperatures. It is an opportunistic feeder of Antarctic krill and the fluoride in the krill carapace is apparently not toxic. We investigated the interactive effect of fluoride, elevated temperatures, and low salinity on the plasmatic constituents of this Antarctic fish. The experiments were conducted at the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF), located on King George Island. The Antarctic fish N. rossii was acclimatized to eight thermo-saline-trophic conditions, combining two temperatures (0 and 4 °C), two salinities (35 and 20), and two trophic conditions (with/without fluoride) for an 11-day period. Trophic fluoride was not able to alter the plasmatic levels of glucose, cholesterol, plasmatic protein, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and inorganic phosphate, but induced an acute elevation of triglycerides at 0 °C and salinity of 35. At low salinity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypocalcemia were observed. The thermo-saline interaction at 4 °C was able to minimize the effects of fluoride and low salinity on the plasmatic constituents levels.

Integrated use of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative damage in two fish species to assess pollution in man-made hydroelectric reservoirs

This study investigated the relationship between contaminant body burden and the oxidative stress status of the gills and livers of two wild fish species in the Furnas Hydroelectric Power Station (HPS) reservoir (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Gills and livers presented similar pathways of metals and organochlorine bioaccumulation. During June, organochlorines were associated with lipid peroxidation (LPO), indicating oxidative stress due to the inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. In the most polluted areas, metal concentrations in the liver were associated with metallothionein. During December, contaminants in the gills and liver were associated with catalase activity and LPO. Aldrin/dieldrin was the contaminant most associated with oxidative damage in the livers of both species. This integrated approach shed light on the relationship between adverse biological effects and bioaccumulation of contaminants inputted by intensive agricultural practices and proved to be a suitable tool for assessing the environmental quality of man-made reservoirs.

Anti-parasitic action and elimination of intracellular Toxoplasma gondii in the presence of novel thiosemicarbazone and its 4-thiazolidinone derivatives

Toxoplasma, which infects all eukaryotic cells, is considered to be a good system for the study of drug action and of the behavior of infected host cells. In the present study, we asked if thiosemicarbazone derivatives can be effective against tachyzoites and which morphological and ultrastructural features of host cells and parasites are associated with the destruction of Toxoplasma. The compounds were tested in infected Vero cell culture using concentration screens (0.1 to 20 mM). The final concentration of 1 mM was chosen for biological assay. The following results were obtained: 1) These new derivatives decreased T. gondii infection with an in vitro parasite IC50% of 0.2-0.7 mM, without a significant effect on host cells and the more efficient compounds were 2, 3 (thiosemicarbazone derivatives) and 4 (thiazolidinone derivative); 2) The main feature observed during parasite elimination was continuous morphological disorganization of the tachyzoite secretory system, progressive organelle vesiculation, and then complete disruption; 3) Ultrastructural assays also revealed that progressive vesiculation in the cytoplasm of treated parasites did not occur in the host cell; 4) Vesiculation inside the parasite resulted in death, but this feature occurred asynchronously in different intracellular tachyzoites; 5) The death and elimination of T. gondii was associated with features such as apoptosis-like stage, acidification and digestion of parasites into parasitophorous vacuoles. Our results suggest that these new chemical compounds are promising for the elimination of intracellular parasites by mainly affecting tachyzoite development at 1 mM concentration for 24 h of treatment.

In vitro screening for antiplasmodial activity of isoquinoline alkaloids from Brazilian plant species

In the search for new antimalarial agents, nine Brazilian plant species were selected, from the Annonaceae (6), Menispermaceae (2) and Siparunaceae (1) families naturally occurring at the cerrado and Atlantic rainforest regions, in order to investigate their in vitro antiplasmodial activity. The ethanol and the alkaloid extracts were tested against K1, chloroquine-resistant, and Palo Alto, chloroquine-sensitive, strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The majority of the alkaloid extracts were more active than the ethanol ones, with IC(50) ranging 0.3-8.2 microg/mL. The crude Guatteria australis alkaloids were the most active against K1 with an IC(50) = 0.3 microg/mL. The most promising total alkaloid fractions for further bioguided isolation are those with the IC(50) < or = 5 microg/mL: G. australis, Cissampelos ovalifolia and Duguetia lanceolata.

Dark stained tissues of the epicarp of encore mandarin: interactions with the production of hydroxyl radicals

The interactions between hydroxyl radical production and the composition of the epicarp cells associated with the dark stained tissues of mature fruits of Encore mandarin were investigated. Phosphatidylinositol content of the cells associated with dark stains was lower in unpitted tissues, whereas the concentration of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine did not vary significantly. In these pitted cells, protein content also showed a 1.59-fold increase. Additionally, the relative proportions of gln, thr, asp, glu and gly increased sharply, while ala and tyr decreased. The polypeptide patterns showed quantitative changes when samples of stained and unstained tissues were compared by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Qualitatively, the cells associated with pitted tissues revealed a new polypeptide band with an apparent mol. wt. of 50.4 kDa as well as the disappearance of another one of 10 kDa. Ethylene production in the dark stained tissues was lower than in unpitted tissues and these cells showed significant increases in membrane permeability, hydroxyl radical production, and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, in these tissues the levels of the carotenoids increased significantly but levels of chlorophyll decreased. It was concluded that in the pitted tissues the significant changes of the membrane composition are closely associated with an increasing acyl lipid peroxidation mediated by hydroxyl radical production. The modulation of this metabolism further indicates an incomplete degradation of fatty acids. The implications of the increasing accumulation of carotenoids in the synthesis of oxy radicals are also discussed.

Lethal effects of inorganic mercury on cells and tissues of Trichomycterus brasiliensis (Pisces; Siluroidei)

The uptake of heavy metals like mercury is rapid and tissue and cell pathologies are a consequence of its concentration in water and the time of exposure. For Trichomycterus brasiliensis, inorganic mercury is lethal above 0.1 mg.l(-1) in 24 hours. The gills were severely affected: an increased cell proliferation in the interlamellar regions leads to a thickening of the secondary lamellae. The lamellar fusion is higher 12 hours after exposure. The liver is increasingly damaged: after 4 hours the hepatocytes show hyaline sites around the nuclei proliferation of smooth ER, modified mitochondria and less electron dense nuclei without nucleolus. After 24 hours, necrosis is almost complete and blood comes out of all capillaries. The kidneys are also disorganized and tubule cells decrease in number and change in size, but there is a tendency of tissue recovery after 24 hours. Nerves such as the optic, show disorganized disposition of axons and mainly disruption and dissociation of myelin sheaths, leading to a decrease in motility and coordination. All these results demonstrate that T. brasiliensis is severely affected by inorganic mercury in concentrations that are sublethal for many other species.

Acute effects of mercuric chloride on the olfactory epithelium of Trichomycterus brasiliensis

The olfactory organ in fish has a distinct localization, a major biological significance, and an important role in fish behavior. One group of Trichomycterus brasiliensis was exposed to two different concentrations of mercuric chloride (0.05 and 0.1 mg HgCl2 liter-1). The surface of the olfactory epithelium was investigated with scanning electron microscopy. Forty individuals were used in this study. The olfactory epithelia were collected after 4, 12, 24, 48, and 96 hr from contaminated and control aquaria. In the experiment with 0.1 mg HgCl2 liter-1 all individuals died within 24 hr with significant damage to the olfactory epithelium. Type 1 ciliated cells were the most evidently altered. With 0.05 mg HgCl2 liter-1 the initial alterations were considerable, but after 96 hr the epithelial surface recovered its initial appearance compared with the control individuals. This recovery is due to the resistance of this species and to the decrease in the Hg2+ concentration in water. Therefore, the alterations observed in this study reveal that inorganic mercury affects the olfactory organs structurally, with evident interference with normal behavior.