A propolis extract and the labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m.

Since ancient times propolis has been employed for many human purposes because to their favourable properties. Blood constituents labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) have been used in nuclear medicine procedures. Some authors have reported that synthetic or natural drugs can interfere with the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the action of a propolis extract on the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc. Samples of whole blood of male Wistar rats were incubated in sequence with an aqueous propolis extract at different concentrations, stannous chloride and 99mTc, as sodium pertechnetate. Blood samples were centrifuged to separate plasma and blood cells, soluble and insoluble fractions of plasma and blood cells were also separated after precipitation in trichloroacetic acid solution and centrifugation. The radioactivity was counted and the percentage of incorporated radioactivity (%ATI) for each fraction was calculated. The data obtained showed that the aqueous propolis extract used decreased significantly the %ATI in plasma proteins at higher concentration studied. Results suggest that at high concentration the constituents of this extract could alter the labeling of plasma proteins competing with same binding sites of the 99mTc on the plasma proteins or acting as antioxidant compounds.

Effect of Aldicarb, Ethoprop, and Carbofuran on Control of Coffee Root-knot Nematode, Meloidogyne exigua.

Egg hatch of Meloidogyne exigua was significantly inhibited in 14 days pretreatment with aldicarb, ethoprop, or carbofnran at concentrations higher than 0.1 mug/ml; these eggs were found to delay hatch in 19 days posttreatment in ethoprop. Aldicarb and carbofuran solutions at concentrations greater than 0.1 mug/ml significantly decreased the motility and the life span of the second-stage juveniles; aldicarb was more toxic than carbofuran to the nematode. In a field test, aldicarb (Temik 10G), ethoprop (Mocap 10G), and carbofuran (Furadan 5G and Furadan Liquid 350F) significantly decreased M. exigua populations.

Teste de labirinto: instrumento de análise na aquisição de uma habilidade motora / Maze test: instrument for analyzing the acquisition of motor skills

CONTEXTO: A análise da aquisição de uma habilidade motora através de instrumento simples e fácil pode auxiliar no diagnóstico e no tratamento fisioterapêutico. OBJETIVO: O estudo se propôs a verificar se o teste de labirinto pode ser utilizado como um instrumento de análise na aquisição de uma habilidade motora, através de medidas, tais como, tempo de execução e número de tentativas para estabilizar o desempenho, sob a influência de pistas visuais. MÉTODO: A amostra consistiu de 70 estudantes universitários saudáveis do sexo masculino, de 20 ± 2 anos, divididos em dois grupos que fizeram testes de labirinto com e sem pistas visuais. Foram realizadas 30 tentativas e dois testes de retenção. Os dados foram analisados pela ANOVA two-way de medidas repetidas (Newman-Keuls post hoc). RESULTADOS: Verificou-se diferença significativa no tempo de execução entre as tentativas com estabilização do desempenho a partir da 8ª tentativa no labirinto sem pistas e da 6ª tentativa no labirinto com pistas, se mantendo após os testes de retenção. No teste de labirinto com pistas a estabilização ocorreu mais cedo e o tempo de execução do movimento foi maior. CONCLUSÕES: As evidências encontradas mostraram que o teste de labirinto permite identificar a quantidade adequada de prática para treinar uma habilidade motora e verificar a influência da pista visual na estabilização do desempenho, sugerindo um instrumento a ser utilizado na Fisioterapia

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the acquisition of motor skills by means of a simple and easily used instrument may assist in physiotherapeutic diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To verify whether the maze test can be used as an instrument for analyzing the acquisition of motor skills, by means of measurements such as the time taken and number of attempts required for performance stabilization, under the influence of visual clues. METHOD: The sample consisted of 70 healthy male university students, aged 20 ± 2 years, divided into two groups that underwent maze tests with and without visual clues. Thirty attempts were made and two retention tests were performed. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measurements (with post hoc Newman-Keuls test). RESULTS: There were significant differences in the time taken between attempts, with performance stabilization from the eighth attempt in the maze without clues and from the sixth attempt in the maze with clues, and this was maintained after the retention tests. In the maze test with clues, stabilization occurred earlier and the time taken to perform the movement was greater. CONCLUSION: The evidence showed that the maze test enables identification of the appropriate quantity of practice for training motor skills and verifying the influence of visual clues on performance stabilization of performance, thereby suggesting that this instrument can be used in physical therapy.

Citotoxic effects of stannous salts and the action of Mytenus ilicifolia, Bacchris genistelloides and Cymbopogon citratus aqueous extracts

In nuclear medicine, stannous, as stannous chloride (SnCl2) and stannous fluoride (SnF2), are used as reducing agents to obtain radiopharmaceuticals labeled with technetium-99m. In the literature, the SnCl2 action was studied and it seems to be mediated through free radicals (FR) production in a Fenton-like reaction. In this work it was evaluated: (i) the in vitro SnF2 effects in different concentrations using pBCKS plasmid deoxyribonucleid acid (DNA); (ii) the SnF, effects in different Escherichia coli (E.coli) cultures, proficient or deficient in DNA repair genes, treated simultaneously with FR scavengers; and (iii) the biological effects of Maytenus ilicifolia, Baccharis genistelloides and Cymbopogon citratus aqueous extracts on the SnCL2 action in E.coli culture. The SnF2 treatment induced plasmidd DNA damages (single and double DNA strand breaks), in a dose-dependent manner. Citotoxicity mediated by SNf2 was observed and the simultaneous tratment with FR scavengers has increased the cell survival, suggesting the participation of FR on the SnF2-deleterious effects. The vegetal extrracts prottected the E.coli cells agains the SnCl2 effects. The components of the extracts could be interacting with SnCl2 blocking its participation in the FR formation.