Cytotoxicity and the bioconversion strategy of Aristolochia spp

Aristolochia plants are notable from an ethnopharmacological viewpoint, but the relevance of these species for medicinal purposes has been debated because of their inherent toxicity. The convergence of these contrasting realities can be readily achieved using bioconversion methods, which have been shown to be useful tools for numerous applications, including the detoxification of biomass. In this context, methanolic extracts of leaves from Aristolochia triangularis and Aristolochia gibertii, as well as the feces of Battus polydamas larvae fed with leaves from these plants, were prepared, and their cytotoxic activities were evaluated on a human fibroblast cell line (GM07492). The leaf extracts were found to be cytotoxic, leading to reductions of 42.1 and 33.8% on cell viability, respectively, while the fecal extracts were considered inactive. In addition to evidencing the cytotoxicity of A. triangularis and A. gibertii, these findings demonstrated a potential bioconversion strategy for obtaining aristolochiaceous extracts with reduced toxicity using the larvae of a specialist phytophagous insect, thus renewing expectations in relation to the pharmacological importance of Aristolochia spp. The results were also ecologically relevant, as B. polydamas larvae were found to be able to detoxify compounds from host plants.(AU)

Cytotoxicity and the bioconversion strategy of Aristolochia spp

Aristolochia plants are notable from an ethnopharmacological viewpoint, but the relevance of these species for medicinal purposes has been debated because of their inherent toxicity. The convergence of these contrasting realities can be readily achieved using bioconversion methods, which have been shown to be useful tools for numerous applications, including the detoxification of biomass. In this context, methanolic extracts of leaves from Aristolochia triangularis and Aristolochia gibertii, as well as the feces of Battus polydamas larvae fed with leaves from these plants, were prepared, and their cytotoxic activities were evaluated on a human fibroblast cell line (GM07492). The leaf extracts were found to be cytotoxic, leading to reductions of 42.1 and 33.8% on cell viability, respectively, while the fecal extracts were considered inactive. In addition to evidencing the cytotoxicity of A. triangularis and A. gibertii, these findings demonstrated a potential bioconversion strategy for obtaining aristolochiaceous extracts with reduced toxicity using the larvae of a specialist phytophagous insect, thus renewing expectations in relation to the pharmacological importance of Aristolochia spp. The results were also ecologically relevant, as B. polydamas larvae were found to be able to detoxify compounds from host plants.(AU)

Intestine vascularization of sloth (Bradypus variegatus SCHINZ, 1825) / Vascularização do intestino do bicho-preguiça (Bradypus variegatusSCHINZ, 1825)

Common sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is a mammal that belongs to the superorder Xenarthra, typical from neotropical regions, with geographic distribution from Honduras to northern Argentina. Our study aimed to describe the intestine blood supply of these Bradipodids in order to collaborate with the clinical-surgical for these animals. For that, ten animals, included four females and six males, were sampled from the collection of the Anatomy Division, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco DMFA/UFRPE. Corpses received formalin, preserved in saline solution and subsequently dissected for description of the cranial (AMCr) and caudal (AMC) mesenteric arteries. Sixty percent of sloths presented AMCr and AMC, cwhile 30% of them had intestines (small and large) irrigation from the common mesenteric artery (AMCo), an arterial trunk from which AMCr and AMC originated. For 10% of the specimens, the entire intestine was vascularized only by AMCr. Along the AMCr branches, there were arched arrangements, with arches size reductionat the level of the small intestine. Therefore, B. variegatus presents anatomical variations regarding the irrigation of the intestine, which can be made from AMCr and AMC, from the AMCo arterial trunk or to a lower frequency exclusively through AMCr branches.

A preguiça-comum (Bradypus variegatus)é um mamífero pertencente à superordem Xenarthra, típica de regiões neotropicais, com distribuição geográfica de Honduras ao norte da Argentina. O estudo teve como objetivo descrever o suprimento sanguíneo do intestinodestes Bradipodídeos, com o intuito de colaborar com a clínica-cirúrgica destes animais. Neste contexto, foram utilizados dez animais pertencentes ao acervo da Área de Anatomia do Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco DMFA/UFRPE, sendo quatro fêmeas e seis machos. Os cadáveres foram formolizados e conservados em solução salina e, posteriormente, dissecados para a descrição das artérias mesentéricas cranial (AMCr) e caudal (AMC). Diante disto, observou-se que 60% das preguiças apresentaram AMCr e AMC.Enquanto que, em 30% delas, a irrigação dos intestinos (delgado e grosso) se deu a partir da artéria mesentérica comum (AMCo), um tronco arterial do qual se originaram AMCr e AMC. E em 10% dos espécimes, todo intestino foi vascularizado unicamente pela AMCr. Ao longo das ramificações de AMCr percebeu-se arranjos arqueados, com diminuição do tamanho dos arcos ao nível do intestino delgado. Portanto, B. variegatusapresenta variações anatômicas quanto a irrigação do intestino, podendo esta ser feita a partir de AMCr e AMC, do tronco arterial AMCo ou numa menor frequência através exclusivamente de ramos de AMCr.

Intestine vascularization of sloth (Bradypus variegatus SCHINZ, 1825) / Vascularização do intestino do bicho-preguiça (Bradypus variegatusSCHINZ, 1825)

Common sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is a mammal that belongs to the superorder Xenarthra, typical from neotropical regions, with geographic distribution from Honduras to northern Argentina. Our study aimed to describe the intestine blood supply of these Bradipodids in order to collaborate with the clinical-surgical for these animals. For that, ten animals, included four females and six males, were sampled from the collection of the Anatomy Division, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco DMFA/UFRPE. Corpses received formalin, preserved in saline solution and subsequently dissected for description of the cranial (AMCr) and caudal (AMC) mesenteric arteries. Sixty percent of sloths presented AMCr and AMC, cwhile 30% of them had intestines (small and large) irrigation from the common mesenteric artery (AMCo), an arterial trunk from which AMCr and AMC originated. For 10% of the specimens, the entire intestine was vascularized only by AMCr. Along the AMCr branches, there were arched arrangements, with arches size reductionat the level of the small intestine. Therefore, B. variegatus presents anatomical variations regarding the irrigation of the intestine, which can be made from AMCr and AMC, from the AMCo arterial trunk or to a lower frequency exclusively through AMCr branches.(AU)

A preguiça-comum (Bradypus variegatus)é um mamífero pertencente à superordem Xenarthra, típica de regiões neotropicais, com distribuição geográfica de Honduras ao norte da Argentina. O estudo teve como objetivo descrever o suprimento sanguíneo do intestinodestes Bradipodídeos, com o intuito de colaborar com a clínica-cirúrgica destes animais. Neste contexto, foram utilizados dez animais pertencentes ao acervo da Área de Anatomia do Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco DMFA/UFRPE, sendo quatro fêmeas e seis machos. Os cadáveres foram formolizados e conservados em solução salina e, posteriormente, dissecados para a descrição das artérias mesentéricas cranial (AMCr) e caudal (AMC). Diante disto, observou-se que 60% das preguiças apresentaram AMCr e AMC.Enquanto que, em 30% delas, a irrigação dos intestinos (delgado e grosso) se deu a partir da artéria mesentérica comum (AMCo), um tronco arterial do qual se originaram AMCr e AMC. E em 10% dos espécimes, todo intestino foi vascularizado unicamente pela AMCr. Ao longo das ramificações de AMCr percebeu-se arranjos arqueados, com diminuição do tamanho dos arcos ao nível do intestino delgado. Portanto, B. variegatusapresenta variações anatômicas quanto a irrigação do intestino, podendo esta ser feita a partir de AMCr e AMC, do tronco arterial AMCo ou numa menor frequência através exclusivamente de ramos de AMCr.(AU)

Phenolic compounds of Hibiscus sabdariffa and influence of organic residues on its antioxidant and antitumoral properties / Compostos fenólicos de Hibiscus sabdariffa e influência de resíduos orgânicos em sua propriedade antitumoral e antioxidante

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic and flavonoids contents and the antioxidant and antitumoral activity of leaf and calyx methanolic extracts from Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle) cultivated with poultry litter and organosuper® under three modes of application. The total phenolic content in the each extract was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and for aluminium chloride flavonoids. The antioxidant parameters were analyzed using a 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) free radical scavenging assay. An antitumor colorimetric assay using sulforhodamine B. The highest contents of phenolic and flavonoids were observed in leaf extracts (389.98 and 104.52 mg g–1, respectively) and calyx extracts (474.09 and 148.35 mg g–1, respectively) from plants cultivated with organosuper®, although these values did not differ significantly from those observed for the other treatments. The average IC50 of leaves (43.48 μg mL–1) and calyces (37.15 μg mL–1) demonstrated that both have substances that may contribute to free radical scavenging action. The methanol extract from calyces showed significant selective activity against a leukemia line (K-562), with IC50 values of 0.12 mg mL–1 (organosuper®) and 1.16 mg mL–1 (poultry litter), with concentration-dependent, cytotoxic and cytocidal effects.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antioxidante, antitumoral e o conteúdo de fenólicos e flavonoides do extrato metanólico das folhas e cálices de Hibiscus sabdariffa (rosela) cultivada com cama de frango e organosuper ® em três modos de aplicação. O conteúdo fenólico total de cada extrato foi determinado utilizando o reagente de Folin-Ciocalteu e cloreto de alumínio para flavonoides. Os parâmetros antioxidantes foram avaliados pelo ensaio de seqüestro de radical livre 2, 2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH.). Na avaliação antitumoral utilizou-se o ensaio colorimétrico com sulforrodamina B. Observou-se o maior conteúdo de fenólicos e flavonoides em extratos de folhas (389.98 e 104.52 mg g–1, respectivamente) e extratos de cálice (474.09 e 148.35 mg g–1, respectivamente) de plantas cultivadas com organosuper ®, embora esses valores não diferiram significativamente daqueles observados para os outros tratamentos. O IC50 de folhas (43.48 µg mL–1) e cálices (37.15 µg mL–1) demonstrou que ambos têm substâncias que podem contribuir para a ação seqüestradora de radicais livres. O extrato metanólico dos cálices mostrou seletividade na linhagem de leucemia (K-562), com valores de IC50 de 0,12 mg mL–1 (organosuper®) e 1,16 mg mL–1 (cama-de-frango) com concentração-dependente e efeito citotóxico e citocida.(AU)

Inflammatory response of Haemophilus influenzae biotype aegyptius causing Brazilian Purpuric Fever

The Brazilian Purpuric Fever (BPF) is a systemic disease with many clinical features of meningococcal sepsis and is usually preceded by purulent conjunctivitis. The illness is caused by Haemophilus influenza biogroup aegyptius, which was associated exclusively with conjunctivitis. In this work construction of the las gene, hypothetically responsible for this virulence, were fusioned with ermAM cassette in Neisseria meningitidis virulent strains and had its DNA transfer to non BPF H. influenzae strains. The effect of the las transfer was capable to increase the cytokines TNFα and IL10 expression in Hec-1B cells line infected with these transformed mutants (in eight log scale of folding change RNA expression). This is the first molecular study involving the las transfer to search an elucidation of the pathogenic factors by horizontal intergeneric transfer from meningococci to H. influenzae.

Acurácia do protocolo blue em relação à radiografia torácica em cães / Accuracy of blue protocol in relation to thoracic radiography in dogs / Precisión del protocolo azul en relación con la radiografía torácica en los perros

A abordagem do paciente crítico deve ser realizada de forma rápida e dinâmica, tendo profissionais preparados e capacitados para agirem de maneira precisa e ágil. Distrição respiratória é uma das mais comuns manifestações clínicas neste nicho de pacientes, possuindo, uma ampla gama de diferenciais. A radiografia torácica nestas situações torna-se inviável, por colocar o paciente em risco, até mesmo pelo simples posicionamento radiográfico. O protocolo do exame ultrassonográfico pulmonar ao leito, em inglês "Bedside Lung Ultrasound Exam (BLUE)" utilizado na medicina, e trazido para a medicina veterinária sob o nome de "VetBLUE", consta de uma análise ultrassonográfica do tórax, através de artefatos que interferem no padrão de reverberação normal do pulmão, como por exemplo as caudas de cometa, também chamadas linhas B, linhas verticais hiperecogênicas, que partem da linha pleural e apagam o padrão de reverberação pulmonar, elas são indicativas da presença de líquido no interstício pulmonar. O trabalho em questão utilizou 30 animais de forma randômica da rotina do Hovet-FMU, sendo primeiramente realizado a avaliação com o protocolo "BLUE" seguido do exame radiográfico, os resultados foram então analisados de duas formas: um teste não probabilístico Kappa das janelas do protocolo em comparação à radiografia e uma correlação dos achados de maneira mais simples, para verificar se o mesmo é tão eficiente quanto a radiografia para a visualização de alterações.(AU)

The critical patient approach should be performed quickly and dynamically, with trained and skilled professionals to act in a precise and agile manner. Respiratory distress is one of the most common clinical manifestations in this niche of patients, possessing a wide range of differentials. The chest radiography in these situations becomes impractical, because it puts the patient at risk, even by the simple radiographic positioning. The "Bedside Lung Ultrasound Examination Protocol (BLUE)" used in medicine, and brought to veterinary medicine under the name "VetBLUE", consists of a sonographic analysis of the thorax through Artifacts that interfere with the normal reverberation pattern of the lung, such as comet tails, also called B-lines, hyperechogenic vertical lines, which depart from the pleuralline and extinguish the pulmonary reverberation pattern, they are indicative of the presence offluid in the lung interstitium. The study used 30 animais randomly from the Hovet-FMU routine, and the evaluation was first performed with the BLUE protocol followed by the radiographic examination, the results were then analyzed in two ways: a non-probabilistic Kappa test of the windows Protocol in comparison to radiography and a correlation of the findings in a simpler way to verify if it is as efficient as the radiography for the visualization of changes. The results obtained demonstrated a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 85% and an accuracy of 80% in the perception of alterations in the pulmonary parenchyma of animais in several stages 01 evolution, from the incipient ones to the severely affected, in spite ofthe values obtained, the pulmonary ultrasound evaluation With the BLUE protocol should be limited to emergency patients, where most of the affections reach the thoracic periphery, thus allowing their visualization, and an adequate radiographic or tomographic evaluation is not possible.(AU)

El enfoque del paciente crítico debe ser realizado de forma rápida y dinámica, teniendo profesionales preparados y capacitados para actuar de manera precisa y ágil. La districión respiratoria es una de las más comunes manifestaciones clínicas en este nicho de pacientes, con una amplia gama de diferenciales. La radiografía torácica en estas situaciones se vuelve inviable, por colocar ai paciente en riesgo, incluso por el simple posicionamiento radiográfico. El protocolo del examen ultrasonográfico pulmonar ai lecho, en inglés "bedside pulmonar ultrasound exam" ("BLUE") utilizado en la medicina, y traído a la medicina veterinaria con el nombre de "VetBLUE", consta en un análisis ultrasonográfico del tórax, a través de los artefactos que interfieren en el patrón de reverberación normal del pulmón, como por ejemplo las colas de cometa, también llamadas líneas B, líneas verticales hiperecogénicas, que parten de la línea pleural y apagan el patrón de reverberación pulmonar, ellas son indicativas de la presencia de líquido en el intersticio pulmón. El trabajo en cuestión utilizá 30 animales de forma aleatoria de la rutina del Hovet-FMU, siendo primero realizada la evaluación con el protocolo "BLUE" seguido del examen radiográfico, los resultados fueron entonces analizados de dos formas: una prueba no probabilística Kappa de las ventanas del protocolo en comparación con la radiografía y una correlación de los hallazgos de manera más simple, para verificar si el mismo es tan eficiente como la radiografía para la visualización de cambios.(AU)

Acurácia do protocolo blue em relação à radiografia torácica em cães / Accuracy of blue protocol in relation to thoracic radiography in dogs / Precisión del protocolo azul en relación con la radiografía torácica en los perros

A abordagem do paciente crítico deve ser realizada de forma rápida e dinâmica, tendo profissionais preparados e capacitados para agirem de maneira precisa e ágil. Distrição respiratória é uma das mais comuns manifestações clínicas neste nicho de pacientes, possuindo, uma ampla gama de diferenciais. A radiografia torácica nestas situações torna-se inviável, por colocar o paciente em risco, até mesmo pelo simples posicionamento radiográfico. O protocolo do exame ultrassonográfico pulmonar ao leito, em inglês "Bedside Lung Ultrasound Exam (BLUE)" utilizado na medicina, e trazido para a medicina veterinária sob o nome de "VetBLUE", consta de uma análise ultrassonográfica do tórax, através de artefatos que interferem no padrão de reverberação normal do pulmão, como por exemplo as caudas de cometa, também chamadas linhas B, linhas verticais hiperecogênicas, que partem da linha pleural e apagam o padrão de reverberação pulmonar, elas são indicativas da presença de líquido no interstício pulmonar. O trabalho em questão utilizou 30 animais de forma randômica da rotina do Hovet-FMU, sendo primeiramente realizado a avaliação com o protocolo "BLUE" seguido do exame radiográfico, os resultados foram então analisados de duas formas: um teste não probabilístico Kappa das janelas do protocolo em comparação à radiografia e uma correlação dos achados de maneira mais simples, para verificar se o mesmo é tão eficiente quanto a radiografia para a visualização de alterações.

The critical patient approach should be performed quickly and dynamically, with trained and skilled professionals to act in a precise and agile manner. Respiratory distress is one of the most common clinical manifestations in this niche of patients, possessing a wide range of differentials. The chest radiography in these situations becomes impractical, because it puts the patient at risk, even by the simple radiographic positioning. The "Bedside Lung Ultrasound Examination Protocol (BLUE)" used in medicine, and brought to veterinary medicine under the name "VetBLUE", consists of a sonographic analysis of the thorax through Artifacts that interfere with the normal reverberation pattern of the lung, such as comet tails, also called B-lines, hyperechogenic vertical lines, which depart from the pleuralline and extinguish the pulmonary reverberation pattern, they are indicative of the presence offluid in the lung interstitium. The study used 30 animais randomly from the Hovet-FMU routine, and the evaluation was first performed with the BLUE protocol followed by the radiographic examination, the results were then analyzed in two ways: a non-probabilistic Kappa test of the windows Protocol in comparison to radiography and a correlation of the findings in a simpler way to verify if it is as efficient as the radiography for the visualization of changes. The results obtained demonstrated a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 85% and an accuracy of 80% in the perception of alterations in the pulmonary parenchyma of animais in several stages 01 evolution, from the incipient ones to the severely affected, in spite ofthe values obtained, the pulmonary ultrasound evaluation With the BLUE protocol should be limited to emergency patients, where most of the affections reach the thoracic periphery, thus allowing their visualization, and an adequate radiographic or tomographic evaluation is not possible.

El enfoque del paciente crítico debe ser realizado de forma rápida y dinámica, teniendo profesionales preparados y capacitados para actuar de manera precisa y ágil. La districión respiratoria es una de las más comunes manifestaciones clínicas en este nicho de pacientes, con una amplia gama de diferenciales. La radiografía torácica en estas situaciones se vuelve inviable, por colocar ai paciente en riesgo, incluso por el simple posicionamiento radiográfico. El protocolo del examen ultrasonográfico pulmonar ai lecho, en inglés "bedside pulmonar ultrasound exam" ("BLUE") utilizado en la medicina, y traído a la medicina veterinaria con el nombre de "VetBLUE", consta en un análisis ultrasonográfico del tórax, a través de los artefactos que interfieren en el patrón de reverberación normal del pulmón, como por ejemplo las colas de cometa, también llamadas líneas B, líneas verticales hiperecogénicas, que parten de la línea pleural y apagan el patrón de reverberación pulmonar, ellas son indicativas de la presencia de líquido en el intersticio pulmón. El trabajo en cuestión utilizá 30 animales de forma aleatoria de la rutina del Hovet-FMU, siendo primero realizada la evaluación con el protocolo "BLUE" seguido del examen radiográfico, los resultados fueron entonces analizados de dos formas: una prueba no probabilística Kappa de las ventanas del protocolo en comparación con la radiografía y una correlación de los hallazgos de manera más simple, para verificar si el mismo es tan eficiente como la radiografía para la visualización de cambios.

Biomedical and pharmacological potential of tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria isolated from marine pufferfish Arothron hispidus (Muller, 1841)

Specimens of the pufferfish Arothron hispidus collected at Parangipettai, on the southeast coast of India, were subjected to bacterial isolation and identification. Three species were identified, namely Bacillus sp., Kytococcus sedentarius and Cellulomonas fimi. Partially-purified microbial filtrates exhibited hemolytic activity on chicken and human erythrocytes of O, B and AB blood groups, with maximum activity of 32 HU. The microbial filtrates also presented ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase, Na+K+-ATPase and AchE enzymatic activities of positive neuromodulation in Kytococcus sedentarius with 1300, 300.1, 1549.98 and 140.55%, in Cellulomonas fimi with 620, 300, 10 and 128.42%, and in Bacillus species with 40, 200, 849.98 and 158.69%, respectively. Toxicity symptoms were observed when the bacterial filtrate was intraperitoneally injected into mice. The bacterial filtrate caused adverse effects on viability of the mouse muscle cell line (L929) and leukemia cell line (P388). Maximum level of inhibition was observed on the growth of L929 cell line. Bacillus lentimorbus inhibited the cell line from 84.03 to 94.43% whereas Bacillus species inhibited the growth in a range between 77.25 and 86.16% at the lowest dilution.Specimens of the pufferfish Arothron hispidus collected at Parangipettai, on the southeast coast of India, were subjected to bacterial isolation and identification. Three species were identified, namely Bacillus sp., Kytococcus sedentarius and Cellulomonas fimi. Partially-purified microbial filtrates exhibited hemolytic activity on chicken and human erythrocytes of O, B and AB blood groups, with maximum activity of 32 HU. The microbial filtrates also presented ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase, Na+K+-ATPase and AchE enzymatic activities of positive neuromodulation in Kytococcus sedentarius with 1300, 300.1, 1549.98 and 140.55 percent, in Cellulomonas fimi with 620, 300, 10 and 128.42 percent, and in Bacillus species with 40, 200, 849.98 and 158.69 percent, respectively. Toxicity symptoms were observed when the bacterial filtrate was intraperitoneally injected into mice. The bacterial filtrate caused adverse effects on viability of the mouse muscle cell line (L929) and leukemia cell line (P388). Maximum level of inhibition was observed on the growth of L929 cell line. Bacillus lentimorbus inhibited the cell line from 84.03 to 94.43 percent whereas Bacillus species inhibited the growth in a range between 77.25 and 86.16 percent at the lowest dilution.(AU)