Heart remodeling produced by aortic stenosis promotes cardiomyocyte apoptosis mediated by collagen V imbalance

Cardiac remodeling (CR) is a structural change of the heart due to chronic hemodynamic overload related to changes in both myocyte and extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigated that the imbalance of collagen V promotes cardiomyocyte apoptosis that contributes to heart failure and cell death. Aortic stenosis was induced surgically and male Wistar rats were randomized to 18 weeks (Sham 18?w, n?=?12; AoS 18?w, n?=?12) and severe of heart failure (Sham HF, n?=?12; AoS HF, n?=?12) groups. Functional and structural echocardiogram, immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, TUNEL assay and Immunofluorescence for collagen were performed. Our main results were: (1) Progressive reduction of cardiac functional capacity due to cardiac remodeling with decreased eject fraction in heart failure; (2) Imbalance of collagen deposition with increased, crowded and irregular collagen I in situ expression; (3) Dysregulation of dynamic control of collagen fibers with exposed epitopes of collagen V; (4) Additional apoptosis that are dependent to cardiac injury. The collagen V expression in cardiac remodeling is for the first time described and may be related to additional apoptosis and autoimmune response. Our findings suggest a critical role of collagen V in cardiac remodeling to modulate and promote heart failure and death.     

Updates in biological therapies for knee injuries: menisci

The preservation of meniscal tissue is paramount for long-term joint function, especially in younger patients who are athletically active. Many studies have reported encouraging results following the repair of meniscus tears, including both simple longitudinal tears located in the periphery and complex multiplanar tears that extend into the central third avascular region. However, most types of meniscal lesions are managed with a partial meniscectomy. Options to restore the meniscus range from an allograft transplantation to the use of synthetic and biological technologies. Recent studies have demonstrated good long-term outcomes with meniscal allograft transplantation, although the indications and techniques continue to evolve, and the long-term chondroprotective potential of this approach has yet to be determined. Several synthetic implants, most of which are approved in the European market, have shown some promise for replacing part of or the entire meniscus, including collagen meniscal implants, hydrogels, and polymer scaffolds. Currently, there is no ideal implant generated by means of tissue engineering. However, meniscus tissue engineering is a fast developing field that promises to develop an implant that mimics the histologic and biomechanical properties of a native meniscus.     

Factors Associated with Prenatal Care and Seeking Assistance in Public Hospitals in Vitória,Espírito Santo,Brazil

Adequate prenatal care provides an opportunity for counseling and reducing the complications associated with pregnancy and delivery. Our objective was to describe the demographic, behavioral, and clinical profile of the pregnant women hospitalized at public maternity hospitals and to identify factors associated with six or more prenatal consultations in Vitória, Brazil. A cross-sectional study of 1,380 women was conducted in public maternity hospitals in Vitória, Brazil. Sixty-seven percent of participants had ≥6 prenatal consultations. Reasons for hospitalization were vaginal delivery (55.7%), cesarean section (32.9%), clinical treatment (7.7%), and abortion/miscarriage (3.7%). Having ≥9 years of schooling (odds ratio, OR = 1.8; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.1–3.1), being married (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2–2.9) and delivering at term (OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.6–8.2) were significantly independently associated with having ≥6 prenatal consultations. Although higher education, being married, and delivering at term were associated with ≥6 prenatal consultations in this population, the high rate of Cesarean sections demonstrates the need for ongoing educative strategies among health professionals.     

Occurrence of two autochthonous cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the neighborhood of Caju,city of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

American cutaneous leishmaniasis is in full geographic expansion in Brazil and it is considered among the infectious and parasitic diseases of utmost importance worldwide, not only by its frequency, but mainly by therapeutic difficulties, deformities and sequelae that may result. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the first autochthonous case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was registered by Rabello in 1913. The authors report two cases of the disease in the region around the Cemetery São Francisco Xavier, in the Caju neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro city, and emphasize the need for actions that aim to early diagnosis and treatment of American cutaneous leishmaniasis cases.     

Neutrophil Depletion and Chemokine Response after Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion

Hepatic surgery in mice is challenging because of the delicate nature of the liver, lack of intravenous access, and risk of hemorrhage. In order to study the ability of the liver to regenerate after surgical resection, we developed a novel, rapid, and safe technique for partial hepatectomy in mice. We determined the relative contributions of the seven lobes of the mouse liver and resected the three most anterior lobes for a 68% hepatectomy. We used general anesthesia, a small upper midline incision, silk suture to tie off the lobes to be resected, warming pads and lights, as well as subcutaneous saline injection to ensure minimal morbidity. We have performed a safe two-thirds hepatic resection in 288 of 300 C57BL6 mice (96%). Perioperative mortality was due to technical error. Minimal long-term morbidity was appreciated. This technique may be applied to any type of hepatic resection in mice. In addition, the general operative technique and perioperative management of these mice may be applied to all types of murine intra-abdominal procedures used for surgical research.