Assessment of the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic activities of sucupira oil (Pterodon emarginatus).

The present study aimed to assess the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic activities of sucupira oil (Pterodon emarginatus), which is commonly used as an anti-rheumatic, analgesic, antimicrobial, anticercariae, and anti-inflammatory. We used the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test as an experimental model. The experimental groups, which consisted of 5 animals, was administered sucupira oil (100 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally and evaluated 24 h after the treatment. The negative control group was treated with sterile distilled water, and the positive control group received an intraperitoneal dose of 4 mg/kg mitomycin C, a dose that corresponds to 80% of its median lethal dose. Cytotoxicity was determined by the polychromatic to normochromatic erythrocytes ratio (PCE/NCE). Sucupira oil had no significant effects (P > 0.05) on the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes as compared to the negative control group. However, the difference was significant (P < 0.005) as compared to the positive control group. The PCE/NCE (100 mg/kg oil and 4 mg/kg mitomycin) ratio did not differ between the experimental group and the positive control group, but it differed significantly when compared to the negative control group (P < 0.05). Thus, these findings suggested that the P. emarginatus oil showed no cytotoxic, mutagenic, or antimutagenic activities at a dose of 100 mg/kg.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis in students of a private university in São Paulo-Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the risk profile for atherosclerosis (AS) in adolescents and young adults of a private university in São Paulo. METHODS: Clinical, nutritional, and laboratory parameters were evaluated in 209 students of both genders aged 17 to 25 years. In addition to determination of the lipid profile, the association of its abnormal values with other risk factors for AS was also investigated. RESULTS: Increased levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides (TG) were observed in 9.1%, 7.6% and 16.3% of the students, respectively, and decreased levels of HDL-C in 8.6% of them. Prevalence of the remaining risk factors analyzed was elevated: sedentary life style (78.9%); high intake of total fat (77.5%); high cholesterol intake (35.9%); smoking, hypertension (15.8%) and obesity (7.2%). There was an association between elevated LDL-C and TG levels and sedentary life style and body mass index. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of risk factors for AS in young individuals draws attention to the need for adopting preventive plans.

[Comparison of preschool children's performance using the Denver developmental test, before and after nutritional intervention]. / Comparação do desempenho de pré-escolares, mediante teste de desenvolvimento de Denver, antes e após intervenção nutricional.

UNLABELLED: Psychomotor and development analysis must be emphasized when studying institutionalized children. Many previous investigations have been showing deleterious effects of day care centers over developmental performance in children. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at comparing the performance in the Development Screening Test (Denver) in children attending day care centers, before and after nutritional intervention with an energetic supplement enriched with iron. METHOD: 130 children from 2 to 6 years old, attending three municipal day care centers, were evaluated by means of the application of the Denver test; by trained psychologists, comparing the collected data according to sex and age group, before and after six months intervention with iron enriched protein energetic supplement. RESULTS: Most of the children had normal performance, both in first application (70.80%), and in the second one (80.80%). When comparing these results, 76.92% of the children had not altered their performance and 18.46% improved it substantially. As to sex, no significant differences were found and as to age group, there was significant improvement among children aged 4 to 6 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the nutritional aspects, factors such as learning readiness, family organization, and psychopedagogic orientation to the day care centers, must have fostered development, even if the low socioeconomic level of the studied population is considered.

Avaliação da atividade angiogênica da solução aquosa do barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens) / Angiogenic activity of the aqueous solution of Barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens)

RESUMO O Barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens) planta medicinal encontrada no bioma Cerrado apresenta propriedades físico-químicas que lhe garante importantes atividades farmacológicas tais como: anti-inflamatória, analgésica e uma atividade protetora da mucosa gástrica. A casca do tronco é a principal matéria-prima usada para o desenvolvimento de produtos medicinais. Neste estudo, o objetivo foi investigar a influência da solução aquosa da casca do barbatimão no processo de formação de vasos sanguíneos na membrana corioalontoide de ovo embrionado de galinha. Foram utilizadas 30g da casca triturada em um litro de água. Este processo permitiu a obtenção da Solução Aquosa de Barbatimão - SAB em uma concentração de 30mg/mL. A atividade angiogênica da solução aquosa do barbatimão foi avaliada mediante realização de testes laboratoriais “in vivo”, utilizando como modelo experimental a membrana do ovo embrionado de galinha (MCA). Utilizou-se como controle indutor o Regederm®, o qual apresenta atividade angiogênica conhecida. Os resultados demonstraram que a SAB apresentou um percentual de vascularização na MCA de (50.4%) não tendo diferença (p>0,05) aos valores detectados no controle indutor (52,9%). Com os resultados obtidos, percebe-se que o barbatimão apresenta atividade angiogênica no modelo experimental utilizado.

ABSTRACT The Barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens) medicinal plant found in the Cerrado biome has physicochemical properties which guarantee important pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatic, analgesic and protective activities of gastric mucosa. The bark of the trunk is the main raw material used for the development of medicinal products. In this study, the objective was to investigate the influence of the aqueous solution of barbatimão bark in the formation of blood vessels in the membrane of embryonated chicken egg corioalontoid. 30g of shredded bark was used in one liter of water. This process enabled the obtention of aqueous Barbatimão - BSA at a concentration of 30mg / ml. The angiogenic activity of the aqueous solution of barbatimão was assessed by laboratory testing “in vivo”, using the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken egg (MCA) as an experimental model. TheRegederm® controlinductor was used, which exhibits known angiogenic activity. The results showed that the percentage of BSA showed a vascularization of the MCA (50.4%) there was no difference (p> 0.05) in the values detected in the control inductor (52.9%). With the obtained results, it is clear that barbatimão shows angiogenic activity under the experimental model used.

Comparaçäo do desempenho de pré-escolares, mediante teste de desenvolvimento de Denver, antes e após intervençäo nutricional / Comparison of preschool children's performance through Denver develomental test, before and after nutritional supplement

A analise de performance psicomotora dde crianças institucionalizadas é de fundamental importância no planejamento de atividades educativas. Estudos anteriores têm mostrado prejuízos desta funçao em crianças de creches. Objetivo. Comparar o desempenho no teste de triagem de Denver em crianças de 2 a 6 anos de idade, de creches conveniadas com a Prefeitura de Sao Paulo, antes e após seis meses de intervençao nutricional com suplemento alimentar enriquecido com ferro. Método. Foram analisadas 130 crianças de 2 a 6 anos de idade, em três creches municipais de Sao Paulo, aplicando-se o teste de Denver, por psicólogas treinadas, comparando-se os resultados de acordo com o sexo, faixa etaria e estado nutricional, antes e após período de suplementaçao alimentar. Resultados. A maior parte das crianças teve desempenho normal, tanto na primeira aplicaçao (70,80 por cento), como na segunda (80,80 por cento), sem modificaçao do estado nutricional. Na comparaçao dos resultados, 76,92 por cento nao modificaram o desempenho e 18,46 por cento melhoraram significativamente. Em relaçao ao sexo, nao foram encontradas diferenças significantes, enquanto que, para a faixa etaria, houve melhora significante entre as crianças de 4 a 6 anos. Conclusoes. Além do aspecto nutricional, fatores como prontidao para aprendizagem, organizaçao familiar e orientaçao psicopedagógica das creches devem estar favorecendo o desenvolvimento, mesmo considerando-se o baixo nível socioeconomico da populaçao estudada.