Search

Background: Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury can be caused by surgical procedures and inflammatory bowel disease. It is normally associated with the increased production of free radicals and changes in the enteric nervous system.Aims: Given the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of resveratrol, the present study assessed its influence on oxidative stress in the intestinal wall and the morphology of myenteric neurons in the ileum of rats subjected to ischemia/reperfusion.Methods: Resveratrol was orally administered daily at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 days. Changes in the ileum response to ischemia after 45 min were investigated followed by 3 h reperfusion. Lipoperoxide and carbonylated protein levels, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured following ischemia/reperfusion injury.Results: The density and morphometry of the general neuronal population, nitrergic neurons and glial cells, and morphometry of VIP varicosities in the ileum were also studied. Lipoperoxide and carbonylated protein levels were 171 and 40% higher during the ischemia/reperfusion, respectively, compared to control cohorts, and resveratrol attenuated these values. The glutathione ratio was 64% lower during ischemia/reperfusion, compared to control cohorts. Resveratrol increased the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio, attenuated the changes in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and the detrimental morphologic changes caused by ischemia/reperfusion in the general neuronal population and nitrergic neurons.Conclusions: Oral treatment with resveratrol reduced the oxidative stress in the ileum and attenuated the morphologic changes that occurred in the myenteric plexus of the ileum in rats subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated for its capacity to degrade the herbicide diuron in liquid stationary cultures. The presence of diuron increased the production of lignin peroxidase in relation to control cultures but only barely affected the production of manganese peroxidase. The herbicide at the concentration of 7 μg/mL did not cause any reduction in the biomass production and it was almost completely removed after 10 days. Concomitantly with the removal of diuron, two metabolites, DCPMU [1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-methylurea] and DCPU [(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea], were detected in the culture medium at the concentrations of 0.74μg/mL and 0.06 μg/mL, respectively. Crude extracellular ligninolytic enzymes were not efficient in the in vitro degradation of diuron. In addition, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT), a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, significantly inhibited both diuron degradation and metabolites production. Significant reduction in the toxicity evaluated by the Lactuca sativa L. bioassay was observed in the cultures after 10 days of cultivation. In conclusion, P. chrysosporium can efficiently metabolize diuron without the accumulation of toxic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to study the hearing of individuals in a fitness gym while exercising, analyzing their distortion product evoked otoacustic emissions (DPOAE) test after and before exposure to electronically amplified music. Methods: a questionnaire was applied to 20 individuals and evaluated through DPOAE test after and before physical exercises with electronically amplified music exposure. Results: most of the individuals (65%) had extra-occupational exposure. The most frequent complaints were headache and insomnia (40%); hearing difficulty (35%); aural fullness (25%); irritability and nervousness (25%); dizziness (20%); and tinnitus (15%) after exercises. Although DPOAE occurred in 100% of the ears before the exposure (moment 1 - M1), 25% failed on the second test, after the exercises (moment 2 - M2). The frequencies that most failed in the DPOAE test were 3 KHz, 4KHz and 5KHz. Conclusion: this study shows that individuals exposed to electronic amplified music, may have hearing loss complaints and have signs of such loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]