Fungal Planet description sheets: 469-557.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia: Apiognomonia lasiopetali on Lasiopetalum sp., Blastacervulus eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus adesmophloia, Bullanockia australis (incl. Bullanockia gen. nov.) on Kingia australis, Caliciopsis eucalypti on Eucalyptus marginata, Celerioriella petrophiles on Petrophile teretifolia, Coleophoma xanthosiae on Xanthosia rotundifolia, Coniothyrium hakeae on Hakea sp., Diatrypella banksiae on Banksia formosa, Disculoides corymbiae on Corymbia calophylla, Elsinoë eelemani on Melaleuca alternifolia, Elsinoë eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus kingsmillii, Elsinoë preissianae on Eucalyptus preissiana, Eucasphaeria rustici on Eucalyptus creta, Hyweljonesia queenslandica (incl. Hyweljonesia gen. nov.) on the cocoon of an unidentified microlepidoptera, Mycodiella eucalypti (incl. Mycodiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus diversicolor, Myrtapenidiella sporadicae on Eucalyptus sporadica, Neocrinula xanthorrhoeae (incl. Neocrinula gen. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Ophiocordyceps nooreniae on dead ant, Phaeosphaeriopsis agavacearum on Agave sp., Phlogicylindrium mokarei on Eucalyptus sp., Phyllosticta acaciigena on Acacia suaveolens, Pleurophoma acaciae on Acacia glaucoptera, Pyrenochaeta hakeae on Hakea sp., Readeriella lehmannii on Eucalyptus lehmannii, Saccharata banksiae on Banksia grandis, Saccharata daviesiae on Daviesia pachyphylla, Saccharata eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus bigalerita, Saccharata hakeae on Hakea baxteri, Saccharata hakeicola on Hakea victoria, Saccharata lambertiae on Lambertia ericifolia, Saccharata petrophiles on Petrophile sp., Saccharata petrophilicola on Petrophile fastigiata, Sphaerellopsis hakeae on Hakea sp., and Teichospora kingiae on Kingia australis.Brazil: Adautomilanezia caesalpiniae (incl. Adautomilanezia gen. nov.) on Caesalpina echinata, Arthrophiala arthrospora (incl. Arthrophiala gen. nov.) on Sagittaria montevidensis, Diaporthe caatingaensis (endophyte from Tacinga inamoena), Geastrum ishikawae on sandy soil, Geastrum pusillipilosum on soil, Gymnopus pygmaeus on dead leaves and sticks, Inonotus hymenonitens on decayed angiosperm trunk, Pyricularia urashimae on Urochloa brizantha, and Synnemellisia aurantia on Passiflora edulis. Chile: Tubulicrinis australis on Lophosoria quadripinnata.France: Cercophora squamulosa from submerged wood, and Scedosporium cereisporum from fluids of a wastewater treatment plant. Hawaii: Beltraniella acaciae, Dactylaria acaciae, Rhexodenticula acaciae, Rubikia evansii and Torula acaciae (all on Acacia koa).India: Lepidoderma echinosporum on dead semi-woody stems, and Rhodocybe rubrobrunnea from soil. Iran: Talaromyces kabodanensis from hypersaline soil. La Réunion: Neocordana musarum from leaves of Musa sp. Malaysia: Anungitea eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus grandis × pellita, Camptomeriphila leucaenae (incl. Camptomeriphila gen. nov.) on Leucaena leucocephala, Castanediella communis on Eucalyptus pellita, Eucalyptostroma eucalypti (incl. Eucalyptostroma gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita, Melanconiella syzygii on Syzygium sp., Mycophilomyces periconiae (incl. Mycophilomyces gen. nov.) as hyperparasite on Periconia on leaves of Albizia falcataria, Synnemadiella eucalypti (incl. Synnemadiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita, and Teichospora nephelii on Nephelium lappaceum.Mexico: Aspergillus bicephalus from soil. New Zealand: Aplosporella sophorae on Sophora microphylla, Libertasomyces platani on Platanus sp., Neothyronectria sophorae (incl. Neothyronectria gen. nov.) on Sophora microphylla, Parastagonospora phoenicicola on Phoenix canariensis, Phaeoacremonium pseudopanacis on Pseudopanax crassifolius, Phlyctema phoenicis on Phoenix canariensis, and Pseudoascochyta novae-zelandiae on Cordyline australis.Panama: Chalara panamensis from needle litter of Pinus cf. caribaea. South Africa: Exophiala eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Fantasmomyces hyalinus (incl. Fantasmomyces gen. nov.) on Acacia exuvialis, Paracladophialophora carceris (incl. Paracladophialophora gen. nov.) on Aloe sp., and Umthunziomyces hagahagensis (incl. Umthunziomyces gen. nov.) on Mimusops caffra.Spain: Clavaria griseobrunnea on bare ground in Pteridium aquilinum field, Cyathus ibericus on small fallen branches of Pinus halepensis, Gyroporus pseudolacteus in humus of Pinus pinaster, and Pseudoascochyta pratensis (incl. Pseudoascochyta gen. nov.) from soil. Thailand: Neoascochyta adenii on Adenium obesum, and Ochroconis capsici on Capsicum annuum. UK: Fusicolla melogrammae from dead stromata of Melogramma campylosporum on bark of Carpinus betulus. Uruguay: Myrmecridium pulvericola from house dust. USA: Neoscolecobasidium agapanthi (incl. Neoscolecobasidium gen. nov.) on Agapanthus sp., Polyscytalum purgamentum on leaf litter, Pseudopithomyces diversisporus from human toenail, Saksenaea trapezispora from knee wound of a soldier, and Sirococcus quercus from Quercus sp. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided.

Amlodipine reduces blood pressure during dynamic resistance exercise in hypertensive patients.

This study investigated the effect of the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, amlodipine, on blood pressure (BP) during resistance exercise performed at different intensities in hypertensives. Eleven hypertensives underwent 4 weeks of placebo and amlodipine (random double-blinded crossover design). In each phase, they performed knee extension exercise until exhaustion following three protocols: one set at 100% of 1 RM (repetition maximum), three sets at 80% of 1 RM, and three sets at 40% of 1 RM. Intraarterial BP was measured before and during exercise. Amlodipine reduced maximal systolic/diastolic BP values achieved at all intensities (100% = 225 ± 6/141 ± 3 vs. 207 ± 6/130 ± 6 mmHg; 80% = 289 ± 8/178 ± 5 vs. 273 ± 10/169 ± 6 mmHg; 40% = 289 ± 10/176 ± 8 vs. 271 ± 11/154 ± 6 mmHg). Amlodipine blunted the increase in diastolic BP that occurred during the second and third sets of exercise at 40% of 1RM (+75 ± 6 vs. +61 ± 5 mmHg and +78 ± 7 vs. +64 ± 5 mmHg, respectively). Amlodipine was effective in reducing the absolute values of systolic and diastolic BP during resistance exercise and in preventing the progressive increase in diastolic BP that occurs over sets of low-intensity exercise. These results suggest that systemic vascular resistance is involved in BP increase during resistance exercise, and imply that hypertensives receiving amlodipine are at lower risk of increased BP during resistance exercise than non-medicated patients.

Post-resistance exercise hemodynamic and autonomic responses: Comparison between normotensive and hypertensive men.

To compare post-resistance exercise hypotension (PREH) and its mechanisms in normotensive and hypertensive individuals, 14 normotensives and 12 hypertensives underwent two experimental sessions: control (rest) and exercise (seven exercises, three sets, 50% of one repetition maximum). Hemodynamic and autonomic clinic measurements were taken before (Pre) and at two moments post-interventions (Post 1: between 30 and 60 min; Post 2: after 7 h). Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was monitored for 24 h. At Post 1, exercise decreased systolic BP similarly in normotensives and hypertensives (-8 ± 2 vs -13 ± 2 mmHg, P > 0.05), whereas diastolic BP decreased more in hypertensives (-4 ± 1 vs -9 ± 1 mmHg, P < 0.05). Cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance did not change in normotensives and hypertensives (0.0 ± 0.3 vs 0.0 ± 0.3 L/min; -1 ± 1 vs -2 ± 2 U, P > 0.05). After exercise, heart rate (+13 ± 3 vs +13 ± 2 bpm) and its variability (low- to high-frequency components ratio, 1.9 ± 0.4 vs +1.4 ± 0.3) increased whereas stroke volume (-14 ± 5 vs -11 ± 5 mL) decreased similarly in normotensives and hypertensives (all, P > 0.05). At Post 2, all variables returned to pre-intervention, and ambulatory data were similar between sessions. Thus, a session of resistance exercise promoted PREH in normotensives and hypertensives. Although this PREH was greater in hypertensives, it did not last during the ambulatory period, which limits its clinical relevance. In addition, the mechanisms of PREH were similar in hypertensives and normotensives.

Cardiac work remains high after strength exercise in elderly.

Moderate- to high-intensity strength training is recommended for healthy adults. In young subjects, a single session of strength training decreases blood pressure, while heart rate and cardiac work remain elevated afterwards. However, these effects have not been clearly demonstrated in elderly subjects. To investigate this issue, 16 elderly subjects each underwent a Control and an Exercise (3 sets, 8 RM, 9 exercises) session conducted in random order. Haemodynamic variables and heart rate variability were measured before and after the interventions. Systolic blood pressure did not change after the exercise session but did increase after the control session (+8.1±1.6 mm Hg, P≤0.05). Diastolic blood pressure, as well as systemic vascular resistance increased similarly after both sessions. Cardiac output and stroke volume decreased, while heart rate, rate-pressure product and the low- to high-frequency ratio of heart rate variability increased only after the exercise session ( - 0.5±0.1 L/min, - 9.3±2.0 ml,+3.8±1.6 bpm, +579.3±164.1 mmHg.bpm and +0.71±0.34, P≤0.05). Ambulatory blood pressure was similar after both sessions, while heart rate and rate pressure product remained higher after the exercise session for up to 4.5 h. After a single session of strength training, cardiac sympathetic modulation and heart rate remain elevated in elderly subjects, keeping cardiac work elevated for a long period of time.

New era of mesenchymal stem cell-based medicine: basis, challenges and prospects.

Stem cells of mesenchymal origin (MSC) arouse special interest due to their regenerative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative stress, antitumor or antimicrobial properties. However, its implementation in the clinic runs into drawbacks of cell therapy (immunological incompatibility, tumor formation, possible transmission of infections, entry into cellular senescence, difficult evaluation of safety, dose and potency; complex storage conditions, high economic cost or impractical clinical use). Considering that the positive effects of MSC are due, to a large extent, to the paracrine effects mediated by the set of substances they secrete (growth factors, cytokines, chemokines or microvesicles), the in vitro obtaining of these biological products makes possible a medicine cell-free regenerative therapy without the drawbacks of cell therapy. However, this new therapeutic innovation implies challenges, such as the recognition of the biological heterogeneity of MSC and the optimization and standardization of their secretome.

Can ureteral stents with a different format reduce patients' symptomatology? A single-blinded, randomized, controlled study comparing smooth-walled and grooved ureteral stents.

INTRODUCTION: The true benefits of perioperative JJ stent placement are being widely studied due to its known side effects. However, no consensus has been reached in the literature regarding the best type of stent. This prospective, randomized, single-blinded study therefore aimed to compare the symptomatology associated with two JJ stent designs: smooth-walled and grooved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study prospectively recruited 42 patients who underwent JJ stent placement between July 2019 and August 2020. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the JJ stent design used: the smooth-walled stent (control) and grooved stent (intervention) groups. After surgery, all patients completed the Portuguese-validated Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire at three timepoints (days 7 and 30 post-surgical procedure, and day 30 post-stent removal). RESULTS: No significant differences in gender, age, median body mass index, laterality, type of surgical procedure (flexible, semi-rigid or mixed ureteroscopy) were found. Smooth-walled JJ stents were associated with a higher incidence of flank pain (52.38% vs. 10%, P = .006) and suprapubic pain (57.14% vs. 30%, P = .04) on the 7th post-procedure day. Linear mixed regression showed significantly lower flank (P < .001) and suprapubic pain (P < .01), and significantly better sexual performance in the intervention group (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteral stent with a grooved format are associated with a lower incidence of flank and suprapubic pain and had less impact on the sexual performance of patients.

Effects of walking and strength training on resting and exercise cardiovascular responses in patients with intermittent claudication.

BACKGROUND: Exercise training is recommended as the first-line therapy for intermittent claudication patients. However, the effects of exercise therapy on cardiovascular function of these patients have been poorly studied. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of walking and strength training on cardiovascular responses assessed at rest and during exercise in patients with intermittent claudication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with stable symptoms of intermittent claudication were randomized into two groups: strength training (ST) consisting of eight exercises, three sets of 10 repetitions, intensity of 11 - 13 on 15-grade Borg scale, 2-min interval between sets; and walking training (WT) consisting of walking on a treadmill, 15 bouts of 2-min, intensity of 11 - 13 on 15-grade Borg scale, with a 2-min interval between bouts. Before and after 12 weeks, blood pressure, heart rate and rate pressure product were measured at rest and during a progressive treadmill test until maximal claudication pain. RESULTS: Fifteen patients in each group completed the training program. After the training programs, resting systolic blood pressure (ST:-6 ± 13 mmHg and WT:-3 ± 18 mmHg, P = .04), heart rate (ST: -6 ± 10 bpm and WT:-2 ± 9 bpm, P = .03), and rate pressure product (ST:-1485 ± 1442 mmHg*bpm and WT:- 605 ± 2145 mmHg*bpm, P = .01) decreased significantly and similarly in both groups. Submaximal systolic blood pressure (ST: -14 ± 23 mmHg and WT:-6 ± 23 mmHg, P = .02), and rate pressure product (ST:-1579 ± 3444 mmHg*bpm and WT: -1264 ± 3005 mmHg*bpm, P = .04) decreased significantly and similarly in both groups. There were no changes in submaximal heart rate after ST and WT. Maximal systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product did not change in either group, although maximal exercise time increased similarly in the ST and WT groups (+31 ± 19 %, and +31 ± 32 %, respectively, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Strength and walking trainings promoted similar increases in walking capacity and decreases in resting and submaximal exercise cardiovascular load.

Finger blood pressure during leg resistance exercise.

Blood pressure (BP) assessment during resistance exercise can be useful to avoid high BP, reducing cardiovascular risk, especially in hypertensive individuals. However, non-invasive accurate technique for this purpose is not available. The aim of this study was to compare finger photoplethysmographic (FPP) and intra-arterial BP values and responses during resistance exercise. Eight non-medicated hypertensive subjects (5 males, 30-60 years) were evaluated during pre-exercise resting period and during three sets of the knee extension exercise performed at 80% of 1RM until fatigue. BP was measured simultaneously by FPP and intra-arterial methods. Data are mean+/-SD. Systolic BP was significantly higher with FPP than with intra-arterial: at pre-exercise (157+/-13 vs. 152+/-10 mmHg; p<0.01) and the mean (202+/-29 vs. 198+/-26 mmHg; p<0.01), and the maximal (240+/-26 vs. 234+/-16 mmHg; p<0.05) values achieved during exercise. The increase in systolic BP during resistance exercise was similar between FPP and intra-arterial (+73+/-29 vs. +71+/-18 mmHg; p=0.59). Diastolic BP values and increases were lower with FPP. In conclusion, FPP provides similar values of BP increment during resistance exercise than intra-arterial method. However, it overestimates by 2.6+/-6.1% the maximal systolic BP achieved during this mode of exercise and underestimates by 8.8+/-5.8% the maximal diastolic BP.

Bone demineralization in the lumbar spine of dogs submitted to prednisone therapy.

Glucocorticoids are drugs widely used in veterinary medicine; however, besides their clinical benefits, their use can trigger undesirable effects. A clinical trial was performed on eight healthy dogs with the intent of evaluating possible alterations in the bone mineral density after therapy with prednisone using a helical computed tomography. All animals received prednisone orally at a dose of 2 mg/kg of weight for 30 days. The bone mineral density was determined by obtaining the vertebral body radiodensity of the second lumbar vertebra values immediately before and after the administration of the medication. The experimental protocol allowed for the characterization of a significant (P < 0.01) reduction of the vertebral body radiodensity of the second lumbar vertebra. At the end of the experiment, it was characterized by a loss of bone mass of approximately 14%. None of the animals presented pathologic fracture at the end of the administration of the medication. This study verified that the alterations in the bone metabolism of the dogs submitted to the therapy with prednisone in a dosage of 2 mg/kg occur rapidly, which recommends a monitoring of the patients for the prevention of pathologic fractures.

Biology of Corythucha gossypii Fabricius, 1794 (Hemiptera: Tingidae) in Ricinus communis at different temperatures and thermal requirements.

We studied the biology of Corythucha gossypii in Ricinus communis under different temperatures in climatic chambers adjusted at 20, 23, 25, and 28 °C, 60 ± 10% relative humidity, and a 12-h photoperiod. The development period and viability of eggs, the development period and survival rate of nymphs, and egg-adult cycle of C. gossypii as well as the adult longevity and fecundity were estimated. The thermal requirements (K) and temperature-base (Tb) were estimated for each of the immature stages and for the eggs-adults period. The duration of the eggs and nymphs phases and the egg-adult cycle of the C. gossypii on castor bean leaves at 20-28 °C were 7.6-17 days, 10.2-27.5 days, and 16.9-44.5 days, respectively. The lower temperature inhibited the oviposition of C. gossypii, whereas the higher temperatures were most favorable for its development. The municipalities of the Bahia state of Brumado, Irecê, Itaberaba, Jacobina, and Senhor do Bonfim were estimated to have a high potential for the population growth of C. gossypii. However, a greater number of generations per year of C. gossypii were observed in the municipalities of Brumado and Itaberaba.

Reducing the composting time of broiler agro-industrial wastes: The effect of process monitoring parameters and agronomic quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of considering different composting times on compost quality before the end of the bio-oxidative phase and after the maturation and storage phases. This study may provide useful information to optimize the composting process and increase the economic feasibility of the technology and its adoption without decreasing the quality of the end-product. In this study, three composts were prepared using chicken meat processing wastes mixed with urban tree trimmings, serving as a bulking agent, to evaluate the effect of reducing the durations of the bio-oxidative phase and the maturity stage on the different physico-chemical properties. Specifically, we evaluate water-soluble organic matter transformations by using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. The obtained results have shown that a composting time of 35 days combined with eight turnings was efficient for achieving the standard process control parameters for agro-industrial waste composting in the studied conditions and allowed for the production of stable and mature compost that is suitable for agricultural use.

Heteropicnotic chromatin and nucleolar activity in meiosis and spermiogenesis of Limnogonus aduncus (Heteroptera, Gerridae): a stained nucleolar organizing region that can serve as a model for studying chromosome behavior.

Males of Limnogonus aduncus were found to have the sex chromosome system X0 and chromosome number 2n = 23 (22A + X0). Testis cells were stained with lacto-acetic orcein and silver nitrate so that changes in the morphology and degree of staining of the heteropicnotic chromatin and the nucleolar material could be observed during meiosis and spermiogenesis. These structures share the same nuclear position and could be seen until almost the end of spermiogenesis. A chromosome region stained with silver nitrate was indicative of a nucleolar organizing region (NOR), which is rarely detected in Heteroptera with this technique. The NOR is located at one end of a single member of an autosome pair. The finding of this stained region enabled us to observe that the telomeric association of sister chromatids that characterizes the Heteroptera does not include the chromosome ends, where NORs are located; we also observed in anaphase that the chromosome end through which it is pulled to the pole is the one containing the NOR. Another observation was that the single nucleolar body present in the cells at anaphase never goes to the cell pole that does not receive the NOR. We conclude that L. aduncus is a good model for cytogenetic studies involving nucleolar activity and also may be useful for studying the mechanisms of activation and inactivation of kinetic activity at the chromosome ends. Although the chromosomes of Heteroptera are known to be holocentric, whether kinetic activity is restricted to one or involves both chromosome ends is still not well understood.

[Preliminary study on efficacy and tolerance of a "coupage" of olive oil in patients with chronic kidney disease. Nutritonal evaluation]. / Estudio preliminar sobre eficacia y tolerancia de un "coupage" de aceite de oliva en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. Evaluación del estado de nutrición.

The discrepancies among data reported by using olive oil (OO) in humans appear to be due to the great differences between the different OO used. Based on structure/function relationships we have chemically optimized an OO through the rational mixture ("coupage") of several Spanish extra virgin olive oils (methodology "oHo"). Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop a progressive picture of malnutrition and inflammation that lead them to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. In a pilot, randomised trial the nutritional efficacy and safety of "oHo" were evaluated in 32 patients (mean age 60,8 +/- 13,2 years old; 16 women) with CKD (KDIGO stages 4-5) at predialysis. After a 7 days wash out for statins and ACE inhibitors 19 patients had "oHo" at doses of 60 mL/day (20 mL t.i.d) for 30 consecutive days, whilst 13 patients remain as a control group without "oHo". At the end of the study only patients having "oHo" showed significant increases of serum albumin (p<0.05) and not significant increases of total proteins, weight, and BMI. Total cholesterol (p<0.05) and HDL-cholesterol (p<0.01) increased with "oHo". The number of cases with pathologic HOMA-IR in the control group increased from 1 to 2 patients whilst in the "oHo" group decreased from 2 to none. No significant changes of minerals, arterial pressure, hemoglobin, and other parameters related to CKD were seen. After a 30 days follow-up in the "oHo" group all parameters came back to basal ones, excepting for blood pressure that significantly decreased (p<0,05). Tolerance was excellent and constipation significantly diminished (p<0,001) in the "oHo" group. Of importance, none of these biological changes were seen in regular consumers of other conventional olive oils (control group). These intriguing results, seen by the first time, appear to partially satisfy the recent claims ("reverse epidemiology") about the need of a more correct nutrition in CKD patients. However, these data need to be proved in more larger trials as well as in CKD patients under dialysis with harder inflammatory/malnutrition conditions.

Treatments for intrusive luxation in permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intrusive luxation is a severe form of dental trauma and there is no consensus regarding its management for permanent teeth. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to identify the appropriate treatment for teeth with intrusive luxation. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, US Clinical Trials, and ISRCTN Registry electronic databases were used to search for articles in English and unpublished studies without a date limit. Eligible studies evaluated periodontal results (root resorption as the primary outcome; marginal bone defects and/or pulpal changes as secondary outcomes) after spontaneous re-eruption (SRE), orthodontic repositioning (ORP), or surgical repositioning (SRP) for patients with one or more traumatically intruded permanent teeth. Risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to compare treatments. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference (P>0.05) between SRP and SRE for root resorption. For secondary outcomes, SRE was significantly better than SRP and ORP (P<0.05). Subgroup analyses showed no significant differences among treatments in teeth with completely formed roots (P>0.05) and a better prognosis when SRE was performed in teeth with incompletely formed roots (P<0.05). The available evidence does not allow us to conclude on the best treatment for traumatically intruded teeth. More reliable evidence is needed.

Inhibitory effect of the Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Spreng) R.M. King & H. Rob. aqueous extract on human lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ and TNF-α production in vitro.

Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Asteraceae) is a plant commonly known as arnica-do-campo and belongs to the native flora of the Brazilian Cerrado. The alcoholic extract of the plant has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in folk medicine, but the biological mechanism of action has not been elucidated. The present study evaluated the composition of P. brasiliensis aqueous extract and its effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation. The extracts were prepared by sequential maceration of P. brasiliensis leaves in ethanol, ethyl acetate, and water. Extract cytotoxicity was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion assay, and apoptosis and necrosis were measured by staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide. The ethanolic (ETA) and acetate (ACE) extracts showed cytotoxic effects. The aqueous extract (AQU) was not cytotoxic. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin and treated with AQU (100 µg/mL) showed reduced interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression. AQU also inhibited lymphocyte proliferative response after nonspecific stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. The aqueous extract was analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and mass spectrometry. Quinic acid and its derivatives 5-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, as well as the flavonoids luteolin and luteolin dihexoside, were detected. All these compounds are known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that P. brasiliensis aqueous extract can inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokine production and proliferative response of lymphocytes. These effects may be related to the presence of chemical substances with anti-inflammatory actions previously reported in scientific literature.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is associated with microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in working-age individuals. Diabetic patients with proteinuria or those on dialysis usually present severe forms of diabetic retinopathy, but the association of diabetic retinopathy with early stages of diabetic nephropathy has not been entirely established. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1214 type 2 diabetic patients to determine whether microalbuminuria is associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in these patients. Patients were evaluated by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy and grouped according to the presence or absence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The agreement of diabetic retinopathy classification performed by ophthalmoscopy and by stereoscopic color fundus photographs was 95.1% (kappa = 0.735; P < 0.001). Demographic information, smoking history, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, glycemic and lipid profile, and urinary albumin were evaluated. On multiple regression analysis, diabetic nephropathy (OR = 5.18, 95% CI = 2.91-9.22, P < 0.001), insulin use (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.47-4.31, P = 0.001) and diabetes duration (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.07, P = 0.011) were positively associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and body mass index (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.86-0.96, P < 0.001) was negatively associated with it. When patients with macroalbuminuria and on dialysis were excluded, microalbuminuria (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.56-6.98, P = 0.002) remained associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, type 2 diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy more often presented renal involvement, including urinary albumin excretion within the microalbuminuria range. Therefore, all patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy should undergo an evaluation of renal function including urinary albumin measurements.

[Medication errors in two Brazilian hospitals]. / Errores de medicación de dos hospitales de Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To determine medication errors in a public and in a private hospital. METHOD: Cross-sectional. 638 dosis opportunities for errors (administered dosis + omitted dosis) were assessed in January, 2005. Medication error was defined as any given dose different from a legible prescription on patient chart. The error rate was calculated by the following equation: number of dosis/error opportunities. The errors were classified according to the categories: omission, unordered dose, extra-dose, wrong dose, wrong route, wrong form, wrong time. RESULTS: Out of 638 opportunities of error, 209 (32,9%) were wrong in some way. When wrong time errors were excluded, this rate decreased to 156 (25%). The most frequent types of errors were omission and unordered dosis, 67 (10,5%) and 65 (10,2%), respectively. There was no significant difference on the total error rate according to the type of hospital (public or private). CONCLUSIONS: The public hospital showed a double-fold unordered dose error rate as compared to the private hospital. Inversely, the private hospital showed a double-fold wrong time error rate than the public hospital.

[Drug-related clinical research--a practical opportunity for the hospital pharmacist]. / La investigación clínica con medicamentos: una oportunidad práctica para el farmacéutico hospitalario.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a pharmacist s field of activity in drug-related clinical trials. METHOD: A non-systematic assessment of available scientific literature in international databases queried during the period of May 05 to 31, 2005. RESULTS: In all, 36 papers were obtained regarding the role of hospital pharmacists in the development of drug-related clinical trials. Most common activities included dispensation, storage, and inventory. Participation in ethics committees and study coordination represent an expanding area. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-related clinical research is an excellent practical setting for the hospital pharmacist. Activities related to investigational drug control, including dispensation, randomization scheme management, and patient follow-up, are an example. This is a novel though rapidly expanding scenario in Brazil.

Urinary albumin excretion rate and glomerular filtration rate in single-kidney type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of single-kidney type 2 diabetic patients (SKD) and of single-kidney non-diabetic patients (SKN). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients who had only one kidney for at least 5 years, with no renal disease or hypertension at the time of the nephrectomy and with no calculus or systemic disease at the time of the evaluation, were included in this controlled cross-sectional study A total of 20 SKD (8 men, age 62 +/- 9 years; diabetes duration 8.5 +/- 7 years), 17 SKN (2 men, age 57 +/- 13 years), and 184 type 2 diabetic patients who were matched to the single-kidney diabetic group for age, sex, and BMI were studied. UAER was measured by immunoturbidimetry in timed 24-h sterile urine, and GFR was determined by the 51Cr-EDTA single-injection method. RESULTS: SKD patients presented a higher proportion (8 of 20, 40%) of microalbuminuria (UAER 20-200 microg/min) than SKN patients (3 of 17, 17.6%) and type 2 diabetic patients (37 of 184, 20%). SKD patients presented a higher proportion of macroalbuminuria (UAER >200 microg/min; 6 of 20, 30%) than SKN patients (1 of 17, 6%) but were similar to type 2 diabetic patients (43 of 184, 23%). The GFRs of normoalbuminuric SKN (71.7 +/- 21.4 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) and SKD patients (73.0 +/- 21.5 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) were similar but higher than the one-kidney GFR (GFR / 2) of the age-, sex-, and BMI-matched normal individuals (50.5 +/- 9.0 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) and normoalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients (54.0 +/- 11.6 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)). CONCLUSIONS: Increased GFR related to single-kidney status confers an increased risk of developing renal disease in the presence of diabetes.

Evaluation of climatic factors on the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil of Myrocarpus frondosus.

The species Myrocarpus frondosus is native to southern Brazil, and it is known as cabreúva. It is a large tree, and its wood is used as a reservoir for distilled spirits, especially Cachaça. In this pioneering work, the essential oil was extracted monthly from the leaves of M. frondosus, for a period of 1 year. The essential oil was extracted by using hydrodistillation and the determination of the chemical composition of essential oil was performed by using the chromatographic techniques GC-FID and GC-MS. Thirty-three compounds were identified in the essential oil and bicyclogermacrene was the major compound. Through multivariate analysis, it was determined that ß-caryophyllene, limonene and terpinen-4-ol were directly proportional to climatic factors. The yield of the oil was directly proportional to temperature and radiation.