This study investigated the effect of bark extract of Bathysa cuspidata on hepatic oxidative damage and blood glucose kinetics in rats exposed to paraquat. Wistar rats were exposed to a single dose of paraquat (30 mg/kg, i.p.) and treated with an ethanolic extract of Bathysa cuspidata (200 and 400 mg/kg). Analyses were conducted of liver edema, blood glucose, serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, collagen, malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and histomorphometry. In the animals intoxicated with paraquat and treated with 400 mg/kg of extract, edema, hypertrophy of the nucleus of hepatocytes, serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly (p < .05). Catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, the number of hepatocytes per unit volume, and the glycogen proportion were maintained. The increase followed by progressive reduction of blood glucose observed in paraquat-exposed groups was significantly attenuated in the group treated with 400 mg/kg of extract (p < .05). Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic compounds. The bark extract of Bathysa cuspidata was able to inhibit large variations in blood glucose and reduce hepatic damage in rats exposed to paraquat. This finding suggests a contribution of the extract in reducing lipid peroxidation and the morphofunctional damage to the liver parenchyma.

The newly discovered SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of COVID-19, including severe respiratory symptoms with an important lethality rate and high dissemination capacity. Considering the indigenous people of Brazil, it is feared that COVID-19 will spread to these communities, causing another stage of decimation. Despite advances in indigenous health care in the country, there are still many challenges due to the social vulnerability of this population, whose lands continue to be illegally exploited. Based on these considerations, this article discusses challenges in caring for the indigenous population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

This study aims to investigate the effect of different energy densities provided by low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the morphology of scar tissue and the oxidative response in the healing of secondary intention skin wounds in rats. Twenty-four male adult Wistar rats were used. Skin wounds were made on the backs of the animals, which were randomized into three groups of eight animals each as follows, 0.9% saline (control); laser GaAsAl 30 J/cm(2) (L30); laser GaAsAl 90 J/cm(2) (L90). The experiment lasted 21 days. Every 7 days, the wound contraction index (WCI) was calculated and tissue from different wounds was removed to assess the proportion of cells and blood vessels, collagen maturation index (CMI), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels and catalase activity (CAT). On the 7th and 14th days, the WCI and the proportion of cells were significantly higher in groups L30 and L90 compared to the control (p < 0.05). At all the time points analyzed, there was a greater proportion of blood vessels and a higher CMI in group L90 compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). On the 7th and 14th days, lower TBARS levels and increased CAT activity were found in the L90 group compared to the control (p < 0.05). On the 7th day, a moderately negative correlation was found between TBARS levels and WCI, CMI and CAT in all the groups. LLLT may modulate the oxidative status of wounded tissue, constituting a possible mechanism through which the LLLT exerts its effects in the initial phases of tissue repair.

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Environmental factors can influence the reproductive rates in bats, and since morphometric information of bats testis is scarce, we aimed to compare the organization and quantification of the intertubular components in the testes of the bat Molossus molossus, collected in different seasons. Testicular histological sections were evaluated using light and electron microscopy. The intertubular compartment occupied an average 10% of the testes, being predominately constituted of Leydig cells (LC). The percentages of the testes occupied by the intertubular compartment and by LC were significantly higher in summer, while the other intertubular components did not vary significantly among the seasons. As suspected under light microscopy, the ultrastructural analysis confirmed the existence of multinucleated LC during winter. The increase in the nuclear percentage of LC in winter seems to have caused the decrease of the cytoplasmatic measurements in that season, as well as in the volume of LC. The highest cytoplasmatic values and volume of LC registered in the spring, summer, and fall can be related to greater activity of this cell in these seasons. The higher investment in intertubular tissue and in LC observed in summer, compared to winter; suggest an increase in the steroidogenic capacity of this bat during summer. The analyses correlating testicular morphometry and abiotic environmental factors in this study confirm the influence of climatic factors on the reproduction of M. molossus.