Benefits of electroacupuncture and a swimming association when compared with isolated protocols in an osteoarthritis model.

Background and aim: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by pain and inflammation. Electroacupuncture (EA) and swimming (SW) are non-pharmacological interventions recommended for treating OA. The study evaluated the benefits of electroacupuncture (EA) and swimming (SW) association when compared with isolated protocols in an OA rodent model. Experimental. Procedures: An ankle monoarthritis model was induced in rats by applying Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). After seven days of induced OA, the groups were submitted to EA (ST36 and the GB 30 Acupoint), SW, or the EA + SW protocol. The nociceptive behavior was measured by the Von Frey test, the Cold Stimulation test, and the Paw Flick Immersion test. Inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring TNF levels, myeloperoxidase, NAGase, immunological parameters and the histology from the subcutaneous tissue. Results: Compared to CFA group, EA decreased the nociceptive scores in the cold stimulation test (p < 0.05), and it also increased the latency time in thermal cold (p < 0.01) and heat hyperalgesia (p < 0.001). Also, EA reduced NAGase (p < 0.01). SW reduced the edema (p < 0.05) and did not increase the inflammatory infiltrates or congestion, neither in the histological measurements nor by analyzing the levels of TNF. The association of EA + SW decreased the neutrophils and the monocytes, MPO (p < 0.05), and the glutamate levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, p < 0.001). Conclusion: There were statistical differences between combination therapy and monotherapy as seen by the inflammatory parameters, which could be associate to the delay of the chronification osteoarthritis retardation. However, EA + SW did not show benefits when compared to isolated protocols in nociceptive behavior.

Avaliação do desempenho de um teste rápido imunocromatográfico no diagnóstico de hanseníase em uma região endêmica no norte do Brasil / Evaluation of the performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test in the diagnosis of leprosy in an endemic region in northern Brazil

Introdução: A hanseníase é de grande importância para a saúde pública, devido à sua epidemiologia e a seu poder incapacitante. A eficiência no diagnóstico desta doença é limitada. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de analisar o desempenho de um teste rápido imunocromatográfico para hanseníase multibacilar (MB) e paucibacilar (PB), em amostras positivas e negativas pela baciloscopia de raspado dérmico em pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase, comparando analiticamente com os critérios da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Métodos: O estudo foi realizado no município de Ji-Paraná/RO, entre 2015 e 2016, sendo avaliados 140 indivíduos. A análise comparativa entre os métodos foi realizada pelo cálculo de sensibilidade e especificidade utilizando o software SPSS®. Foi estimado o índice de Kappa (k) para avaliação da concordância entre os métodos. Valores de p <0,05 foram considerados significativos. Resultados: O índice de concordância entre o teste rápido e a classificação da OMS foi de k= 0,94 (p <0,01). Quando comparado a baciloscopia de indivíduos com hanseníase PB e o teste rápido, foi verificada concordância não significante (k= 0,01; p= 0,59). Comparando a concordância entre a baciloscopia de indivíduos com hanseníase MB e o teste rápido, foi detectado um índice de k= 0,64 (p <0,01). Além disso, sensibilidade de 94% e especificidade de 98% foram detectadas para hanseníase PB. Para hanseníase MB a sensibilidade foi de 95% e a especificidade de 98%. Conclusão: O teste rápido avaliado é uma ferramenta útil, rápida e eficaz no auxílio do diagnóstico da hanseníase. (AU)

Introduction: Leprosy is of great importance for public health because of its epidemiology and disabling power. Efficiency in the diagnosis of this disease is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test for multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (BP) leprosy, in positive and negative samples by skin smear examination in patients with leprosy, and to compare the rapid test analytically with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Methods: The study was conducted in the municipality of Ji-Paraná/RO, Brazil, between 2015 and 2016. In total, 140 individuals were evaluated. For a comparative analysis of the methods, sensitivity and specificity were calculated using SPSS® software. The Kappa (k) index was used to evaluate agreement between the methods. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Regarding agreement between the rapid test and WHO classification, k index was 0.94 (p < 0.01). When skin smear of individuals with BP leprosy was compared to the rapid test, agreement was non-significant (k = 0.01; p = 0.59). For agreement between skin smear of individuals with MB leprosy and the rapid test, a k index of 0.64 (p < 0.01) was detected. In addition, for PB leprosy sensitivity was 94% and specificity was 98%, while for MB leprosy sensitivity was 95% and specificity was 98%. Conclusion: The rapid test is a useful tool, fast and effective in aiding the diagnosis of leprosy. (AU)

Análise fitoquímica e das atividades citotóxica, antioxidante, e antibacteriana das flores de Tabebuia serratifolia (Vahl) Nicholson / Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of Tabebuia serratifolia flowers (Vahl) Nicholson'

O presente estudo objetivou realizar a análise fitoquímica e avaliar as atividades antioxidante, citotóxica e antimicrobiana das flores de Tabebuia serratifolia (Ipê amarelo). A identificação de metabólitos secundários foi realizada por meio de testes qualitativos colorimétricos, a citotoxicidade pelo teste de letalidade frente à Artemia Salina, a atividade antioxidante foi avaliada pela capacidade de desativação do radical 2,2-difenil1-picrilhidrazila (DPPH) e a atividade antibacteriana foi avaliada pelo método de difusão em disco, frente aos microrganismos Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus e Shigella sp. Os resultados revelaram a presença de flavonoides, saponinas e triterpenos e/ou esteroides. Observou-se a citotoxicidade (DL50=679 µg/mL), atividade antioxidante (CE50=86 mg/mL) e atividade antibacteriana sobre todas as cepas testadas (CIM=25 mg/mL).(AU)

The present study aimed to analyze the phytochemical compounds, and evaluate the cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Tabebuia serratifolia flowers. The phytochemical analysis was performed using qualitative colorimetric tests, the cytotoxicity by the Artemia salina lethality test, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ability to deactivate the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method, against the microorganisms Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella sp. The results revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and triterpenes or steroids. It was observed the cytotoxicity (LD50=679 µg/mL), antioxidant activity (EC50=86 mg/mL) and antibacterial activity on all strains tested.(AU)