Dynamic Involvement of Striatal NG2-glia in L-DOPA Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinsonian Rats: Effects of Doxycycline

SUMMARY STATEMENT

NG2-glia alters its dynamics in response to L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. In these animals, striatal NG2-glia density was reduced with cells presenting activated phenotype while doxycycline antidyskinetic therapy promotes a return to NG2-glia cell density and protein to a not activated state.

Muffin with pumpkin flour: technological, sensory and nutritional quality

Abstract Pumpkin is a yellow or orange-colored vegetable with a mild flavor that stands out as a fiber and nutrient source. However, the products with pumpkins are still little explored in Brazil, due to high perishability in natura and to the lack of eating habits of regional baked goods. This study aimed to produce and characterize a pumpkin flour to be used as an ingredient in muffins, evaluate the technological, and sensory characteristics of these cakes, and select the most sensorially accepted muffin for nutritional composition evaluation. Three muffins were produced as following: one control (M0); and two containing 5 (M1) and 10 (M2) g/100 g of partial substitution of wheat flour by pumpkin flour, thus maintaining the other ingredients common to cakes. The technological characteristics of firmness, volume and color were evaluated. Sensory acceptance was assessed using an affective test on an unstructured 9-point hedonic scale. There were no significant differences in the firmness and image analysis (distribution, size, and pore area of the crumb) among the three muffins, however, M1 and M2 presented darker crust color, more orange crumb, and a lower volume compared to M0. The sensory acceptability of the muffins was considered as a criterion for selection for nutritional composition analysis. The muffins’ acceptance of M1 was better than M0, but without differences to M2. The consumers’ opinions were also considered, and M1 was selected for having greater acceptance. Nutritionally, M0 and M1 presented similar levels of proteins, digestible carbohydrates, and lipids, however, M1 showed a higher content of ash and total dietary fibers: 2.01 ± 0.03 and 1.57 g/100 g (dry basis), respectively. Thus, the pumpkin flour could be produced and used as a regional, enriched, and natural-colored ingredient for muffins or other bakery products, and therefore they had a socially positive impact on family farming.

Temporomandibular inflammation mobilizes parvalbumin and FosB/deltaFosB neurons of amygdala and dorsal raphe

Pathophysiological mechanisms involved in orofacial pain and their relationship with emotional disorders have emerged as an important research area for multidisciplinary studies. In particular, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been evaluated clinically from both physiological and psychological perspectives. We hypothesized that an altered neuronal activity occurs in the amygdala and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), encephalic regions involved in the modulation of painful and emotional information. Adult male Wistar rats were used in an experimental complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation model. CFA was applied for 1 or 10 days, and the animals were euthanized for brain samples dissection for FosB/ΔFosB and parvalbumin (PV) immunostaining. Our results were consistent in showing that the amygdala and DR were activated in the persistent inflammatory phase (10 days) and that the expression of PV+ interneurons in the amygdala was decreased. In contrast, in the DR, the expression of PV+ interneurons was increased in persistent states of CFA-induced TMJ inflammation. Moreover, at 10 days of inflammation, there was an increased co-localization of PV+ and FosB/ΔFosB+ neurons in the basolateral and central nucleus of the amygdala. Different nuclei of the amygdala, as well as portions of the DR, were activated in the persistent phase (10 days) of TMJ inflammation. In conclusion, altered activity of the amygdala and DR was detected during persistent inflammatory nociception in the temporomandibular joint. These regions may be essential for both sensory and affective dimensions of orofacial pain.

Classificações e características nutricionais e tecnológicas de farinhas de mandioca comercializadas em Belém, Pará, Brasil

Resumo A região Norte é grande produtora de mandioca, cuja farinha tem sido consumida como parte diária do hábito alimentar da população, sendo produzida artesanalmente. Devido à escassez de informações técnicas, este trabalho objetivou classificar e caracterizar nutricional e tecnologicamente nove amostras de farinhas de mandioca adquiridas em Belém-PA. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e, quando significativos (p < 0,05), foi feito o teste de diferença de médias Scott Knott. As farinhas estavam dentro dos padrões da legislação brasileira em relação a umidade e cinzas, e foram classificadas como de alta acidez, sendo que quatro das nove farinhas apresentaram teor de cianetos entre 15 e 31 mg HCN/kg. Apesar de serem seguras para o consumo, recomendam-se melhorias em etapas de processo para diminuir o teor de cianetos. Quanto a cor e granulometria, foram consideradas amarelas (67%) e brancas (33%) e grossas (67%) e médias (33%), respectivamente. Nutricionalmente, podem contribuir como fonte de fibra alimentar (7,67% a 11,26%) e amido cru, sendo benéficas para dar saciedade. Tecnologicamente, apresentaram-se como espessantes, por apresentarem amido cru, tanto no consumo direto quanto em produtos cozidos, formando pastas claras, textura longa e não firmes. Estas variações nas características nutricionais e tecnológicas permitiram verificar que são necessárias modificações no processamento para padronização da qualidade das farinhas utilizadas como ingrediente alimentício sem glúten.

Laser therapy reduces gelatinolytic activity in the rat trigeminal ganglion during temporomandibular joint inflammation

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) alters the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) during different stages of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation in rats. It also evaluated whether LLLT modifies mechanical allodynia and orofacial hyperalgesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar rats (±250 g) were divided into groups that received saline (SAL) or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 50 μl) in the TMJ, and that later underwent LLLT (20 J cm(-2) ) at their TMJ or not (groups SAL, SAL + LLLT, CFA, and CFA + LLLT). LLLT was applied on days 3, 5, 7, and 9 after SAL or CFA. Mechanical allodynia was evaluated on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10; orofacial hyperalgesia was assessed on day 10. Gelatin zymography and in situ zymography aided quantification of MMPs in the TG.

RESULTS

Low-level laser therapy abolished the reduction in the mechanical orofacial threshold and the increase in orofacial rubbing during the orofacial formalin test induced by CFA. LLLT also decreased the CFA-induced rise in the levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 as well as the gelatinolytic activity in the TG.

CONCLUSION

Low-level laser therapy could constitute an adjuvant therapy to treat temporomandibular disorders and prevent inflammation-induced alterations in the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and in the gelatinolytic activity in TGs.

Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the rat trigeminal ganglion during the development of temporomandibular joint inflammation

Orofacial pain is a prevalent symptom in modern society. Some musculoskeletal orofacial pain is caused by temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This condition has a multi-factorial etiology, including emotional factors and alteration of the masticator muscle and temporomandibular joints (TMJs). TMJ inflammation is considered to be a cause of pain in patients with TMD. Extracellular proteolytic enzymes, specifically the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), have been shown to modulate inflammation and pain. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the expression and level of gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the trigeminal ganglion are altered during different stages of temporomandibular inflammation, as determined by gelatin zymography. This study also evaluated whether mechanical allodynia and orofacial hyperalgesia, induced by the injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the TMJ capsule, were altered by an MMP inhibitor (doxycycline, DOX). TMJ inflammation was measured by plasma extravasation in the periarticular tissue (Evans blue test) and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the synovial fluid (myeloperoxidase enzyme quantification). MMP expression in the trigeminal ganglion was shown to vary during the phases of the inflammatory process. MMP-9 regulated the early phase and MMP-2 participated in the late phase of this process. Furthermore, increases in plasma extravasation in periarticular tissue and myeloperoxidase activity in the joint tissue, which occurred throughout the inflammation process, were diminished by treatment with DOX, a nonspecific MMP inhibitor. Additionally, the increases of mechanical allodynia and orofacial hyperalgesia were attenuated by the same treatment.

Diagnosis and management of hyperprolactinemia: results of a Brazilian multicenter study with 1234 patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical and laboratorial features of 1234 patients with different etiologies of hyperprolactinemia, as well as the response of 388 patients with prolactinomas to dopamine agonists.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS

A total of 1234 hyperprolactinemic patients from 10 Brazilian endocrine centers were enrolled in this retrospective study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

PRL measurement, thyroid function tests, and screening for macroprolactin were conducted.

RESULTS

Patients were subdivided as follows: 56.2% had prolactinomas, 14.5% drug-induced hyperprolactinemia, 9.3% macroprolactinemia, 6.6% non-functioning pituitary adenomas, 6.3% primary hypothyroidism, 3.6% idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, and 3.2% acromegaly. Clinical manifestations were similar irrespective of the etiology of the hyperprolactinemia. The highest PRL levels were observed in patients with prolactinomas but there was a great overlap in PRL values between all groups. However, PRL>500 ng/ml allowed a clear distinction between prolactinomas and the other etiologies. Cabergoline (CAB) was more effective than bromocriptine (BCR) in normalizing PRL levels (81.9% vs 67.1%, p<0.0001) and in inducing significant tumor shrinkage and complete disappearance of tumor mass. Drug resistance was observed in 10% of patients treated with CAB and in 18.4% of those that used BCR (p=0.0006). Side-effects and intolerance were also more common in BCR treated patients.

CONCLUSION

Prolactinomas, drug induced hyperprolactinemia, and macroprolactinemia were the 3 most common causes of hyperprolactinemia. Although PRL levels could not reliably define the etiology of hyperprolactinemia, PRL values >500 ng/ml were exclusively seen in patients with prolactinomas. CAB was significantly more effective than BCR in terms of prolactin normalization, tumor shrinkage, and tolerability.