Evaluation of the Polyphenolic Composition and Bioactivities of Three Native Cabo Verde Medicinal Plants.

The use of medicinal plants in a variety of health conditions remains essential for the discovery of new treatments. The present study aimed to investigate the bioactive properties of three native plants from Cabo Verde Islands, namely Artemisia gorgonum Webb, Sideroxylon marginatum (Decne. ex Webb) Cout., and Tamarix senegalensis DC., contributing to the characterization of less-known medicinal plants and their potential benefits for human health. Known compounds, such as kaempferol, quercetin, caffeyolquinic, and apigenin derivatives, among others, were detected in the plant species under study. Overall, all species demonstrated good antioxidant capacity, especially the ethanolic extracts of A. gorgonum (EC50 = 0.149 mg/mL) in TBARS assay. Moreover, the ethanolic extracts of the studied plants showed cytotoxic properties against tumor cells, and again the A. gorgonum extract proved to be the most effective in inhibiting tumor growth, mainly in the CaCO2 (GI50 = 17.3 µg/mL) and AGS (GI50 = 18.2 µg/mL) cell lines. Only the ethanolic extracts of T. senegalensis and S. marginatum demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, albeit weak (EC50 = 35 and 43 µg/mL, respectively). The present study contributed to increased knowledge about the bioactive properties of these plants commonly used in traditional medicine, some of which was discussed for the first time, opening new perspectives for their use in a wider range of health conditions, especially in African countries, where access to modern health care is more limited.

Secular trend in length of hospital stay for healthy newborns: 1951-2000 / Tendência secular do tempo de permanência hospitalar de recém-nascidos sadios: 1951-2000

OBJETIVO: Estudar a tendência secular da permanência hospitalar de recém-nascidos com peso > 2.500 g em uma maternidade de grande porte. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, analítico e retrospectivo. Foram coletados dados de 5.001 nascidos vivos de 1951 a 2000, sadios, de gestação única. As variáveis estudadas foram: tempo de permanência hospitalar, peso, idade materna, tipo de parto e categoria de internação. Foi utilizada análise de regressão linear com estimação pelo método dos quadrados mínimos. RESULTADOS: A média anual da permanência hospitalar diminuiu no tempo estudado, sendo de 123 horas em 1951 e 67,2 horas em 2000. Utilizando-se método de regressão segmentada, evidenciou-se tendência significativa de queda no período entre 1951 e 1970, estabilização de 1971 a 1990 e discreto aumento, sem significado estatístico, a partir de 1991. A permanência hospitalar variou significativamente apenas com o tipo de parto. CONCLUSÃO: Houve decréscimo na permanência hospitalar no período estudado, devido apenas ao tipo de parto.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the secular trend in length of hospital stay for healthy newborns with birth weight > 2,500 g in a large maternity hospital of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: In this descriptive, analytical, retrospective study, data were collected from 5,001 live births from 1951 to 2000. Studied variables were length of hospital stay, birth weight, maternal age, type of delivery, and category of admission. Linear regression analysis was used, with least squares estimation. RESULTS: The annual mean length of stay decreased along the period assessed: 123 hours in 1951 and 67.2 hours in 2000. Segmented linear regression analysis revealed a significant decreasing trend between 1951 and 1970, a stable period between 1971 and 1990, and a non-significant increase between 1991 and 2000. Length of hospital stay varied significantly according to type of delivery. CONCLUSION: Length of hospital stay decreased significantly between 1951 and 2000 and was influenced by type of delivery only.

Análise microscópica da penetração de dois selantes comparados a dois cimentos de ionômero de vidro: estudo in vitro / Microscopical analysis of penetration of two sealants in comparison two glass ionomer: in vitro study

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo comparar a eficácia de materiais utilizados como selantes de fóssulas e fissuras oclusais (Vitremer, Vitrofill LC, Vitroseal Alpha e Flurosshield) em primeiros e segundos pré-molares humanos, bem como avaliar a sua penetração nos sulcos dos mesmos. Foram utilizados 40 dentes, sendo estes divididos em 4 grupos, um para cada material testado. Após o preparo dos elementos com broca 2137F, através da técnica invasiva, os espécimes foram seccionados e desgastados para análise microscópica e registro de imagens através do Sistema de Captura de Imagens da UFPE (Power VCR II). O material obtido após desmineralização teve seus tags medidos através do software Scion Image. Os valores resultantes foram submetidos à análise de variância, sendo realizado o teste estatístico de Tukey. Verificou-se uma grande variação dos somatórios dos comprimentos de tags em micrômetros. Concluiu-se, então, que o selante Fluroshield apresentou maior média de penetração, seguido do Vitroseal Alpha, dos ionômeros Vitremer e Vitrofill LC.

The present work has as objective to compare the effectiveness of materials used as occlusal pit and fictions selants (Vitremer, Vitrofill LC, Vitroseal Alpha and Fluroshield) in first and second premolars human being, as well as evaluating its adaptation and penetration in the grooves of the same ones. Had been used 40 teeth, which had been divided in 4 groups, one for each tested material. After the preparation of the elements with 2137F drill, through the invasive technique, the specimens had been parted and consumed for microscopical analysis and register of images through the System of Capture of Images of UFPE (Power VCR II). The material gotten after desmineralization had its tags measured through software Scion Image. The resultant values had been submitted to the analysis of variance, being carried through the statistical test of Tukey. A great variation of the somatorys of the lengths of tags in micrometers, was verified. It is concluded, therefore, that the sealant Fluroshield presented the greater average of penetration, followed of the Vitroseal Alpha, of the ionomer Vitremer and Vitrofill LC.

Triagem de mutações nos receptores de Angiotensina II, AGTR1 e AGTR2 e avaliação dos polimorfismos C573T e A1166C do gene AGTR1 em pacientes com adrenarca precoce idiopática / Mutation screening in Angiotensin II receptors, AGTR1 and AGTR2, and evaluation of AGTR1 polymorphisms C573T and A1166C in patients with premature adrenarche / Mutation screening in Angiotensin II receptors, AGTR1 and AGTR2, and evaluation of AGTR1 polymorphisms C573T and A1166C in patients with premature adrenarche

Pubarca precoce é o aparecimento de pêlos pubianos antes dos 8 anos em meninas e 9 anos em meninos, sendo sua etiologia mais freqüente a adrenarca precoce idiopática, a longo prazo, associada à síndrome metabólica. Dentre os fatores envolvidos na gênese da adrenarca precoce podemos citar a Angiotensina II (Ang II), a qual promove proliferação celular e esteroidogênese, podendo agir através de dois receptores, o tipo 1 (AT1) e o tipo 2 (AT2). Com o intuito de estudar mutações dos genes dos receptores da AngII, foram avaliadas 50 crianças com diagnóstico de adrenarca precoce idiopática e comparadas ao grupo controle de indivíduos normais. Não foram detectadas mutações dos genes AGTR1 e AGTR2, contudo dois polimorfismos foram identificados no gene AGTR1: o polimorfismo C573T (localizado no exon 5) e o A1166C (na região 3' não codificadora). A freqüência do alelo polimórfico T573 foi de 35 por cento nos pacientes e 38 por cento nos controles. O alelo polimórfico C1166 esteve presente em 24 por cento dos pacientes e em 26 por cento dos controles. Não houve diferença significante entre os grupos, assim como não houve correlação entre a freqüência dos polimorfismos C573T e A1166C e as variáveis clínicas e laboratoriais dos pacientes, ou com sua história familial de síndrome metabólica.

Precocious pubarche is the appearance of pubic hair before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. The most frequent etiology is idiopathic precocious adrenarche, suggested, after long-term follow-up, to be associated with metabolic syndrome. One of the factors involved in the genesis of precocious adrenarche is Angiotensin II (Ang II), which promotes cell proliferation and steroidogenesis through type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors. In order to study Ang II receptors mutations, 50 children with idiopathic precocious adrenarche were evaluated and compared to a control group of normal individuals. Mutations were not detected in the AGTR1 and AGTR2 genes; however, two polymorphisms were identified in the AGTR1 gene: the C573T (exon 5) and the A1166C (3' untranslated region). The polymorphic allele T573 was found in 35 percent of the patients and 38 percent of controls. The polymorphic allele C1166 was present in 24 percent of the patients and 26 percent of controls. There was no statistical difference between groups. There was also no correlation between the polymorphisms and clinical and laboratory findings, as well as their family history of metabolic syndrome.