Acaricidal and anthelmintic action of ethanolic extract and essential oil of Achyrocline satureioides.

Although Brazilian livestock is considered one of the most productive in the world, the losses caused by parasites still greatly limit these activities and its incorrect control through traditional synthetic chemicals has caused problems such as parasitic resistance. The present study evaluated the anthelmintic and acaricidal action of ethanolic extract (EE) and essential oil (OE) obtained from Achyrocline satureioides inflorescences against an endo and an ectoparasite of great importance in sheep and cattle. The action against Haemonchus contortus was evaluated by the Larval Development Test (LDT) and the Egg Hatching Test (EHT), while the acaricidal potential against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was evaluated by the Adult Immersion Test (AIT) and Larval Package Test (LPT). Chemical analyzes were performed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass of spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in order to evaluate the chemical composition of EE and EO, respectively. Luteolin (m/z 285), quercetin (m/z 301) and methyl quercetin (m/z 315) were the major compounds detected in the A. satureioides EE, while 41 compounds were identified in EO. Among them, the major compounds were caryophyllene oxide (15.4%), limonene (10.9%), trans-calamenene + Î´-cadinene (8.0%), (E)-caryophyllene (5.5%), spathulenol (5.1%) and α-pinene (4.5%). Against H. contortus, by EHT, the EE and EO showed LC50 of 83.14 mg mL-1 and 10.42 mg mL-1, respectively. In LDT, LC50 were 0.16 mg mL-1 and 0.42 mg mL-1, respectively by EE and EO. In the AIT assay for R. (B.) microplus tick LC50 obtained for EE and EO were 76.43 mg mL-1 and 114.35 mg mL-1, respectively. EE at 100 mg mL-1 completely inhibited egg laying, while the EO at 50 mg mL-1 completely inhibited larval hatching. No significant larvicidal effect was observed in LPT for both extracts. The EE and EO presented a high efficacy at low concentrations in the inhibition of egg hatching and larval development of H. contortus. Although both extracts did not show consistent larvicidal action, the results were significant in inhibiting the oviposition of R. (B.) microplus engorged females.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in a patient with SCA type 1 / Transtorno obsessivo compulsivo em um paciente com SCA tipo 1

For many years, the cerebellum was thought to be only responsible for balance, movement, planning and execution. Nowadays, it is well accepted that most cerebellar connections are involved in non-motor functions. Herein, we provide a case report in which a 27-year-old Brazilian male, diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), has demonstrated cerebellar features that could be connected to Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA-1), an autosomal dominant polyglutamine neurodegenerative disorder that had been previously ruled out. Since obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) are known to correlate with alterations in the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry, we propose a possible association between OCS and SCA onset.

Durante muitos anos, o cerebelo foi considerado responsável exclusivamente pelo controle das funções de equilíbrio, movimento, planejamento e execução. Atualmente, já está consagrada a participação das conexões cerebelares em funções não-motoras. Apresentamos um relato de caso de um paciente de 27 anos de idade, diagnosticado com Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo (TOC). O paciente apresentava sintomas cerebelares compatíveis com o diagnóstico de ataxia espinocerebelar tipo 1 (SCA-1), um distúrbio da poliglutamina, autossômico dominante neurodegenerativo, que havia sido previamente descartado. Como os sintomas obsessivos compulsivos (SOC) são conhecidos por correlacionar-se com alterações nos circuitos cortico-estriato-tálamo-cortical, propomos uma possível associação entre o SOC e o início da SCA.

"Nunca Me Falaram sobre Isso!": o Ensino das Sexualidades na Perspectiva de Estudantes de uma Escola Federal de Medicina / "I've Never Been Told about That!": the Teaching of Sexualities from the Perspective of Undergraduates at a Federal Medical School

RESUMO Estudantes e profissionais de saúde se mostram embaraçados ao se depararem com questões relativas às sexualidades de seus pacientes. Diante disso, não é incomum o estabelecimento de uma relação superficial, erros no diagnóstico e a impossibilidade de condução do tratamento. Pesquisas indicam que essa dificuldade decorre de uma formação inadequada dos profissionais, especialmente no que diz respeito ao cuidado de grupos vulneráveis, cujas experiências extrapolam os marcos heteronormativos hegemônicos que delimitam o campo sexual. No Brasil, poucos estudos buscaram compreender como esse assunto é tratado no ensino médico. Esta investigação se debruçou sobre essa questão e teve como objetivo conhecer, na perspectiva de estudantes de uma escola federal de Medicina, como os aspectos relacionados às sexualidades e aos gêneros são abordados em suas graduações. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa em que foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 15 estudantes do último ano do curso. As falas foram gravadas, transcritas e examinadas por meio da análise de conteúdo. O diálogo entre as categorias empíricas que se sedimentaram ao longo da investigação e a literatura revelaram dificuldades dos alunos em lidar com um tema que não pode ser completamente apreendido por um saber técnico e operacional. A ideia de que não se fala sobre o assunto no curso de Medicina contribui para velar o fato de que se fala (e se fala muito) sobre tais questões. A abordagem, no entanto, se dá por um viés organicista, que contribui para a manutenção da crença em categorias binárias, naturalizadas e essencializadas, que reforçam as normas que regulam o campo da sexualidade. Apostando no protagonismo de todos aqueles envolvidos no ensino médico, discute-se, finalmente, a necessidade de alterações qualitativas no currículo que possibilitem a construção de novas formas de conhecimento e de atuação. Formas que, valorizando experiências, saberes e práticas pedagógicas diversas, possam romper com as dicotomias e com as hierarquias hegemônicas, transformando positivamente a realidade social.

ABSTRACT Health undergraduates and professionals feel embarrassment when facing issues concerning the sexuality of their patients. As a result, it is not uncommon to see the establishment of a superficial relationship, errors in diagnoses and the impossibility of giving treatment. Studies show that this difficulty is due to inadequate education of these professionals, especially regarding vulnerable groups whose experiences lie beyond the hegemonic heteronormativity which delimits the sexual field. In Brazil, there is limited research which aims to comprehend how this subject has been tackled in medical school. This investigation examined this issue and its main objective was to understand, from the perspectives of undergraduates at a federal medical school, how aspects regarding sexuality and gender are approached in the course. This is a qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews conducted with fifteen students in their final year of the course. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and examined based on content analysis. The subjects of the formal curriculum were also been analyzed, separating the titles of the classes which involved exclusively biological aspects from those which involved psychosocial aspects. Each one of these groups has been considered in relation to the total of content of the curriculum in order to assist us with the analysis of the interviews. The dialogue between the empirical categories and the bibliography shows the difficulty undergraduates feel in dealing with a theme that cannot be completely apprehended by technical and operational knowledge. The idea that the theme is not discussed in medical school contributes to hiding the fact that such a topic is, in reality, widely discussed. However, the approach used is organicist, contributing to the maintenance of binary, naturalized, essentialist categories which reinforce the norms that regulate the field of sexuality. Advocating the pivotal role that all individuals involved in medical education play, we finally discuss the need for qualitative changes in the curriculum which would enable us to build new forms of knowledge and performance. By valuing experiences, expertise and diverse pedagogical practices, these new forms can rupture the hegemonic dichotomies and hierarchies in order to positively transform social reality.

Modulatory Effect of Polyphenolic Compounds from the Mangrove Tree Rhizophora mangle L. on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Insulin Resistance in High-Fat Diet Obese Mice.

No scientific report proves the action of the phytochemicals from the mangrove tree Rhizophora mangle in the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of the acetonic extract of R. mangle barks (AERM) on type 2 diabetes. The main chemical constituents of the extract were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and flow injection analysis electrospray-iontrap mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS). High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were used as model of type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. After 4 weeks of AERM 5 or 50 mg/kg/day orally, glucose homeostasis was evaluated by insulin tolerance test (kiTT). Hepatic steatosis, triglycerides and gene expression were also evaluated. AERM consists of catechin, quercetin and chlorogenic acids derivatives. These metabolites have nutritional importance, obese mice treated with AERM (50 mg/kg) presented improvements in insulin resistance resulting in hepatic steatosis reductions associated with a strong inhibition of hepatic mRNA levels of CD36. The beneficial effects of AERM in an obesity model could be associated with its inhibitory α-amylase activity detected in vitro. Rhizophora mangle partially reverses insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis associated with obesity, supporting previous claims in traditional knowledge.

Phenolic Isomers from Plantago catharinea Leaves: Isolation, ldentification, Quantification and in vitro Antioxidant Activity.

In this study we isolated two polyphenolic acids of m/z 639, called catharinol A and catharinol B, from Plantago catharinea L. (Plantaginaceae) leaves. Although presenting very similar structures, catharinol A showed higher antioxidant activity when compared with gallic acid and quercetin standards. These compounds are position isomers and present in their chemical structure the rare sugar D-allose. Molecules with similar constitution are known to have imnportant biological activities such as antitumor and immunosuppressive. These compounds were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography HPLC) and characterized by mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This work is the first study on the chemical composition ofP. catharinea and encourages the production of Plantago species as a good source of bioactive molecules.