Orientador: Júlio Lopes Sequeira / Resumo: As neoplasias mamárias das gatas frequentemente são malignas e agressivas, sendo os tipos mais comuns classificados como carcinomas tubulopapilíferos, sólidos e cribriformes. O grau histológico tem relação com o comportamento biológico desses tumores. No entanto poucos estudos tem abordado a cinética celular, a expressão de marcadores epiteliais e mioepiteliais, ou mesmo de moléculas de adesão e suas relações com a agressividade tumoral. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi relacionar o tipo histológico dos carcinomas mamários das gatas e seus graus histológicos com os índices proliferativos e apoptóticos, e a expressão imuno-histoquímica de CK14, alfa-SMA, E-caderina e P-caderina. Foram utilizadas 31 amostras de carcinomas mamários de gatas. Submetidas a técnica imuno-histoquímica indireta com os anticorpos Ki-67, caspase-3-clivada, CK14, alfa-SMA, E-caderina e P-caderina. Predominaram as gatas SRD, com média de idade de 12 anos. Em frequência, o percentual dos tipos histológicos foi: 42%, 45,50% e 12,50% para os carcinomas tubulopapilíferos, sólidos e cribriforme; e foi de 9,65%, 41,95% e 48,80%, para os graus I, II e III, respectivamente. Os carcinomas tubulopapilíferos mostraram índice mitótico inferior aos carcinomas sólidos, assim como os carcinomas de grau I em relação aos de grau II e III. A característica basal (CK14 +) foi frequente nesses carcinomas. O subtipo complexo (alfa-SMA + ou alfa-SMA/CK14 +/-) é raro. Houve perda da expressão de E-caderina a medida que se ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Mammary tumors of the cats are often malignant and aggressive, the most common types classified as tubulopapillary, solid and cribriform carcinomas. The histological grade is related to the biological behavior of these tumors. However few studies have addressed the cell kinetics, the expression of epithelial and myoepithelial markers, or adhesion molecules and their relationship with tumor aggressiveness. The objective of this study was to correlate the histologic type of breast carcinomas of the cats and their histological grades with proliferative and apoptotic indices, and immunohistochemical expression of CK14, alpha-SMA, E-cadherin and Pcadherin. 31 samples of breast carcinomas cats were used. Subjected to indirect immunohistochemical technique with antibodies Ki-67, caspase-3, cleaved CK14, alpha-SMA, E-cadherin and P-cadherin. Predominated SRD cats, with a mean age of 12 years. In frequency, the percentage of histological types was 42%, 45.50% and 12.50% for tubulopapillary, solid and cribriform carcinomas; and it was 9.65%, 41.95% and 48.80% for grades I, II and III, respectively. The tubulopapillary carcinomas showed mitotic index lower than the solid carcinomas, as well as grade I carcinomas compared to levels II and III. The basal feature (CK14 +) was common in these carcinomas. The complex subtype (alpha-SMA + or alpha-SMA / CK14 +/-) is rare. There was a loss of Ecadherin expression as it becomes more aggressive. The P-cadherin was expressed high regardless of hi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

THE ASSESSMENT OF INFLUENCE OF ZINC IONS AND ECHINACEA PURPUREA (L.) MOENCH FOR MICE INTOXICATED BY CADMIUM IONS Abstract Background. Cadmium (Cd), a well-known environmental hazard, exerts a number of toxic effects in organism. It disturbs the activity of biochemical systems of cells. Accumulation of cadmium depends on the amount of essential trace elements, including zinc. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP) can modify its influence. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of ions of cadmium, zinc, and EP on organism in experimental model of mice. The objectives of the scientific work were as follows: 1. To evaluate the accumulation of cadmium in the internal organs of experimental mice after acute and chronic intraperitoneal and per oral intoxication. 2. To assess morphological changes in liver tissue, mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells after the intoxication by cadmium ions of different duration and dose. 3. To assess the effect of zinc ions to the accumulation of cadmium in the internal organs and to the mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells in the organism of mice intoxicated by cadmium. 4. To evaluate the effect of EP to accumulation of cadmium in internal organs, mitotic and apoptotic activity of liver cells after the chronic intraperitoneal and per oral intoxication by cadmium ions. The scientific novelty of the study. This work makes our knowledge about mechanisms and outcomes of acute and chronic exposure to cadmium deeper. The... [to full text]

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Technology: Biomedical Technology In the Faculty of Health and Wellness At the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2014 / Diabetes mellitus (DM) results in severe metabolic imbalances and pathological changes in many tissues. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Garcinia kola (Family: Guttiferae) is a plant well known for its ample medicinal values. The seed of the plant also known as ‘bitter kola’ due to its bitter taste is used as a masticatory agent in traditional hospitality, cultural and social ceremonies in Africa. Kolaviron (KV) is a defatted ethanol extract from the seeds of Garcinia kola (GK). Kolaviron has been shown in experimental models of diseases to have numerous beneficial effects due to the presence of flavonoids (mainly Garcinia biflavonoid (GB)-1, GB-2 and kolaflavanone). However, there is paucity of information regarding the possible effect of kolaviron on inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the potential beneficial effects of kolaviron on antioxidant status, inflammatory mediators and apoptosis. Other biochemical and histological alterations in the blood, liver and kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were also evaluated. A single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg.b.wt.) in citrate buffer (0.1M, pH 4.5) was administered to overnight fasted rats for diabetes induction. Diabetes was confirmed by stable hyperglycemia (>18 mmol/l) in the tail blood glucose after 5 days of streptozotocin injection. Kolaviron (100 mg/kg b.wt.) was administered to diabetic rats (by gastric gavage) on the 6th day after the induction of diabetes and treatment continued for 6 weeks (5 times weekly). The effects on blood glucose, body weight, organ (liver and kidney) weight, serum biochemical parameters, oxidative status, inflammatory mediators and histology of the liver, kidney and pancreas were assessed. Kolaviron (KV) treatment lowered blood glucose in diabetic and normoglycemic rats and reduced glycated haemoglobin [HbA1C (%)]. Plasma insulin level was raised in diabetic rats treated with KV. Histomorphometric analysis of the pancreas revealed increased β-cell area of pancreatic islets of kolaviron-treated diabetic group. The indices of organ (liver and kidney) damage were increased in diabetic rats. However, KV treatment protected against liver and kidney damage. The characteristic features of diabetic dyslipidemia such as elevated serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentration which are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease were also significantly reduced in KV-treated diabetic rats. Alteration in antioxidant enzymes status was observed in the liver, kidney and blood (erythrocyte, plasma and serum) of diabetic rats. Lowered catalase (CAT) activity was observed in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats while KV treatment significantly (p < 0.05) elevated catalase activity in the liver and kidney. There was no significant change (p > 0.05) in erythrocyte catalase activity among all treatment groups. Erythrocyte of diabetic rats showed a marked reduction in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) with no significant changes in liver and kidney SOD activity of diabetic rats compared to control whereas KV administration to rats markedly increased SOD activity. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity was elevated in the erythrocyte and kidney of STZ-induced diabetic rats with no significant effect on liver GPX activity. KV treatment reversed the alteration in GPX activity in the kidney and erythrocyte. Level of reduced glutathione (GSH), a non-enzymatic antioxidant was decreased in the both liver and kidney of diabetic rats and treatment of diabetic rats with KV elevated GSH concentration in both tissues. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation was elevated in the liver, kidney and plasma of diabetic rats and significantly (p < 0.05) lowered following KV treatment. Diabetes induction reduced the capacity of liver and kidney to absorb oxygen radicals as demonstrated by lowered oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values. KV administration to normal and diabetic rats significantly increased ORAC values. Increased rate of apoptosis, a major cellular response to high glucose induced stress was observed in the renal and hepatic tissues of diabetic control rats. Kolaviron treatment of diabetic rats protected the liver and kidney against hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis and decreased the number of TUNEL positive cells A significant (p < 0.05) elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines; monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-𝛂 was observed in the liver of diabetes rats. KV treatment lowered these inflammatory biomarkers. On the other hand, the kidney of diabetic rats showed elevated concentration of pro-inflammatory IL-1β with no significant effect on kidney TNF-𝛂. An increase in the serum concentration of MCP-1 and IL-1β was observed in the untreated diabetic rats while kolaviron treatment normalized the alteration in serum concentration of MCP-1, IL-1β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In conclusion, persistent and chronic hyperglycemia promotes the generation of free radicals and inflammatory molecules which contributes to progressive development of micro- and macro vascular complications and multi-organ damage. Kolaviron demonstrated beneficial effects on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the diabetic rats and also promoted the survival and functional integrity of the liver and kidney.