This study investigated the effects of 670 nm laser, at different fluences, on the viability of skin flap in rats. One hundred male animals were used. The animals were divided into control group; group treated with 3 J/cm(2); group treated with 6 J/cm(2); group treated with 12 J/cm(2) and group treated with 24 J/cm(2). The skin flap was made on the backs of all animals studied, with a plastic sheet interposed between the flap and the donor site. Laser irradiation was done immediately after the surgery and on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 after surgery. The percentage of necrosis of the flap was calculated at the 7th postoperative day. Additionally, a sample of each flap was collected to enable us to count the blood vessels. Treated animals showed a statistically significant smaller area of necrosis than did the control group. The necrosis in the treated groups was 41.82% (group 2), 36.51% (group 3), 29.45% (group 4) and 20.37% (group 5). We also demonstrated that laser irradiation at 670 nm, at all doses used, had a stimulatory effect on angiogenesis. Our study showed that the 670 nm laser was efficient to increase the viability of the skin flap, at all fluences used, with a tendency of reaching better results at higher doses.

BackgroundSome probiotic strains have the potential to assist in relieving the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. The impact of daily ingestion of a soy-based product fermented by Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Lactobacillus helveticus 416 with the addition of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 on chemically induced colitis has been investigated thereof within a period of 30 days.MethodsColitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium. The animals were randomly assigned into five groups: Group C: negative control; Group CL: positive control; Group CLF: DSS with the fermented product; Group CLP: DSS with the non-fermented product (placebo); Group CLS: DSS with sulfasalazine. The following parameters were monitored: disease activity index, fecal microbial analyses, gastrointestinal survival of probiotic microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids concentration in the feces. At the end of the protocol the animals’ colons were removed so as to conduct a macroscopical and histopathological analysis, cytokines and nitrite quantification.ResultsAnimals belonging to the CLF group showed fewer symptoms of colitis during the induction period and a lower degree of inflammation and ulceration in their colon compared to the CL, CLS and CLP groups (p<0.05). The colon of the animals in groups CL and CLS presented severe crypt damage, which was absent in CLF and CLP groups. A significant increase in the population of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. at the end of the protocol was verified only in the CLF animals (p<0.05). This group also showed an increase in short-chain fatty acids (propionate and acetate). Furthermore, the intestinal survival of E. faecium CRL 183 and B. longum ATCC 15707 in the CLF group has been confirmed by biochemical and molecular analyzes.ConclusionsThe obtained results suggest that a regular intake of the probiotic product, and placebo to a lesser extent, can reduce the severity of DSS-induced colitis on rats.

Obesity is related to greater alveolar bone loss and an accentuated local inflammatory response, which may be reflected in the clinical severity of periodontitis and dental loss.

Captive brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) were manually restrained to assess tear production by the Schirmer tear test I to measure intraocular pressure by applanation tonometry, to examine ocular conjunctival epithelial cells via cytologic and histologic samples, and to survey ocular conjunctival microflora by microbiologic culture. The mean value for the Schirmer tear test I was 8.9 +/- 1.8 mm/min, and the mean intraocular pressure was 15.3 +/- 3.1 mm Hg. Conjunctival epithelium contained stratified pavimentous layers of cells, and the microflora consisted of predominantly gram-positive bacteria.

A B S T R A C TThis work investigates the effect of a soy-based probiotic drink (Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707) on the fecal microbiota composition, body weight and inflammatory parameters in diet-induced obese mice. The probiotic group had a lower body weight until 9th week of the study, reduced area and diameter of adipocytes, and showed a significant increase of IL-6 and IL-10 compared to the obesite non-treated group. The intake of a high-fat diet results in an increase of Lactobacillus spp. while the probiotic drink positively modulates the intestinal microbiota by maintaining the population of microorganisms belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes and increases Bifidobacterium spp. Our study finds that the regular intake of this probiotic drink is able to reduce body weight gain and the size of adipocytes while modulating the fecal microbiota and the immune profile of animals, therefore acting in a beneficial manner in the control of obesity.