A new C-type animal lectin isolated from Bothrops pirajai is responsible for the snake venom major effects in the isolated kidney.

We investigated the biochemical and biological effects of a new C-type galactoside specific lectin termed BPL that was isolated from the snake venom of Bothrops pirajai. This lectin was purified using size exclusion HPLC followed by an immobilized lactose affinity column. The purified BPL was homogeneous by reverse phase HPLC and SDS-PAGE. We evaluated the nephrotoxicity of the whole venom of B. pirajai and its lectin. The whole venom of B. pirajai (10 microg/mL) showed similar results as those observed for BPL (3, 10 and 30 microg/mL) evaluated by the perfused rat kidney method. They caused reductions in perfusion pressure (Control120 = 110.28 +/- 3.69; BP120 = 70.70 +/- 2.40*; BPL3(120) = 113.20 +/- 4.40; BPL10(120) = 67.80 +/- 3.00*; BPL30(120) = 64.90 +/- 3.50* mmHg; *: P < 0.05), renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate (Control90 = 0.695 +/- 0.074; BP90 = 0.142 +/- 0.032*; BPL3(90) = 0.314 +/- 0.064; BPL10(90) = 0.250 +/- 0.038*; BPL30(90) = 0.088 +/- 0.021* mLg(-1) min(-1); *: P < 0.05) and sodium (Control120 = 81.28 +/- 0.26; BP120 = 55.71 +/- 5.72*; BPL3(120) = 80.94 +/- 0.93; BPL10(120) = 65.23 +/- 1.47*; BPL30(120) = 76.03 +/- 1.70* %; *: P < 0.05), potassium and chloride tubular transport. Neither whole venom nor purified BPL induced direct vasoactive effects in perfused arteriolar mesenteric bed, and BPL did not potentiate bradykinin contraction in the ileum. We postulate that both B. pirajai and BPL promoted the same renal effects probably caused by the release of inflammatory mediators.

Investigation of medicines with potential xerostomic effect used in institutionalized elderly

Introduction: Several factors affect the salivary flow and cause xerostomia, i.e. aging, diets, radiation, various pathologies and the use of drugs. Objective: This study aimed to investigate drugs with potential xerostomic effect in institutionalized elderly patients. Material and methods: 235 elderly were investigated, of both sexes, of which 123 were women (52.3%) and 112 (47.7%) were men. In addition to the gender and age, the use of medications containing side effects of xerostomia/dry mouth/ hyposalivation or hyposialia was investigated. Such drugs were separated according to their medical area of expertise: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Allergy, Neurology and pulmonology Results: When investigated the amount of drugs used for female patients, it was observed that 83 (67.5%) used up to five drugs, 35 (28.4%) between 6 and 10 and medicines, and 5 (4.1%) more than 10 drugs. When analyzed the amount of drugs used for male patients, it was observed that 88(78.6%) used up to five drugs, 17 (15.2%) were between 6 and 10 7 medicines, and (6.2%) more than 10 drugs. By analyzing the drugs with xerostomic potential, we found 354 medicines. Among these, 181 (51.1%) were used in Neurology, 45 (12.7%) had been prescribed in Cardiology, 33 (9.2%) were used drugs for allergic conditions, 80 (22.3%) were prescribed in gastroenterology and 15 (4.3%) in pulmonology. Conclusion: It can be concluded that many medications used to treat institutionalized elderly had xerostomic potential effect, notably those used in Neurology. Polypharmacy is also present, especially in the older age group.

Efeito da microcistina - LR em rim e intestino isolados e na secreção de insulina / Effect of microcystin - LR in the intestine and kidney and isolated in insulin secretion

A microcistina-LR é uma toxina de cianobactéria amplamente distribuída nos reservatórios de água e que representa grande risco para a saúde de animais e humanos. Neste trabalho avaliou-se o efeito da microcistina-LR em anel de aorta isolado de rato nas doses de 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 e 300 ng/mL, os efeitos renais induzidos por sobrenadante de macrófagos estimulados com esta toxina (1μg/mL), o efeito secretório induzido por microcistina-LR (1μg/mL) e sobrenadante de macrófagos ativados em alça isolada e perfusão intestinal, além da atividade antimitótica e teratogênica da microcistina-LR em ouriço do mar, assim como, a atividade na secreção de insulina utilizando ilhotas de Langerhans isoladas. Observou-se que a toxina não exerceu nenhum efeito no modelo de anel de aorta isolado nas doses utilizadas. Por outro lado, o sobrenadante de macrófagos estimulados com microcistina mostrou-se capaz de alterar de modo significante (*p < 0,05), a pressão de perfusão, resistência vascular renal, fluxo urinário, ritmo de filtração glomerular, percentual de transporte de sódio e percentual de transporte proximal de sódio e potássio no modelo de rim isolado. Os bloqueadores farmacológicos, ciclohexamida (10-5M), dexametasona (10-5M) e quinacrina (10-5M) bloquearam a maioria das alterações renais observadas, enquanto talidomida (1,5 x 10-5M) reverteu apenas o efeito na resistência vascular renal. Estes resultados sugerem que macrófagos estimulados com microcistina-LR liberam mediadores capazes de promover nefrotoxicidade in vitro. Evidenciou-se também que a microcistina-LR assim como, o sobrenadante de macrófagos estimulados com esta toxina, induzem secreção de água e de eletrólitos (sódio, potássio e cloreto) de modo semelhante à toxina da cólera, em alça isolada e perfusão intestinal...