A importância da análise sedimentoscópica diante dos achados físico-químicos normais no exame de urina / The importance of urinary sediment analysis accompanying normal physicochemical test findings

Objetivo: A sedimentoscopia apresenta atividade manual acentuada, pouca uniformidade e maiores custos aos laboratórios. Em diversos países é utilizado o emprego seletivo da sedimentoscopia em amostras de rotina de urina com normalidade nas etapas físico-químicas, no Brasil não ocorre uma abordagem nesse modelo. Assim, é importante avaliar a aplicabilidade do emprego seletivo da sedimentoscopia tendo em vista o custo-benefício na análise da rotina de urina. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo analítico descritivo através de resultados de exames de urina de indivíduos do município de Paulo Afonso ­ BA. Para análise estatística foi utilizado o teste de qui-quadrado e o valor de p<0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: A partir dos resultados referentes aos 2.607 exames de urina de rotina analisados, foi observado que 66% das mostras não apresentaram alterações físico-químicas. Destas amostras com análise físico-química sem alterações, 12,89% compreenderam alteração na análise sedimentoscópica e, dentre os elementos analisados, a presença de piócitos foi a anormalidade que apresentou maior incidência. O valor preditivo negativo referente aos elementos encontrados na sedimentoscopia de urina com análise físico-química sem alterações foi de 86%. Conclusão: Apesar do considerável valor preditivo negativo, o valor de alterações encontradas em urinas com análise físico-química normal é relevante e expõe a necessidade da realização dessa etapa no exame de rotina de urina. A utilização seletiva da sedimentoscopia deve ser adotada de maneira crítica, pois é necessária uma avaliação minuciosa dos riscos relacionados à saúde do paciente e à qualidade do exame.

Objective: Sediment microscopy is a markedly manual activity, with poor uniformity and high labor costs. In several countries, the selective use of sediment microscopy for routine urine samples with normal physicochemical results is used, in Brazil, an approach in this model does not occur. It is therefore important to evaluate the applicability of a selective use of sediment microscopy in Brazil, taken from the view of cost-benefit analysis. Methods: A descriptive analytical study was carried out using results of urine exams from individuals in the city of Paulo Afonso/BA. The chi-square test was used for analysis and the value of p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: From the results of the 2607 routine urine tests analyzed, 1722 samples presented no physicochemical alterations. Of these samples with physicochemical analysis without alterations, 12.89% presented alterations during sediment analysis and among the elements analyzed the presence of pyocytes was the abnormality that presented higher incidence. The negative predictive value for the urine elements found during sediment microscopy of the normal physicochemical analyses was 86%. Conclusion: Despite the considerable negative predictive value, the value of alterations found in urines with normal physicochemical analysis is relevant and exposes the need to perform this step in the routine urinalysis. Since a thorough evaluation of the risks linked to the patient's health and quality examination

Antinociceptive activity of Sargassum polyceratium and the isolation of its chemical components

Abstract Marine algae have been the focus of important studies over the past fifty years, with a considerable number of components important to chemists and taxonomists having been isolated and characterized. The scientific data available on Sargassum polyceratium are extremely limited. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of an ethanol extract of S. polyceratium and to isolate its components. Intraperitoneal treatment with ethanol extract of S. polyceratium reduced the number of acetic acid-induced writhes and the amount of time spent in paw-licking in the second phase of the formalin test. Ethanol extract of S. polyceratium also reduced the amount of time spent in paw-licking in the glutamate test; however, there was no difference in the reaction time in the hot plate test at any of the doses tested. The chemical components isolated from ethanol extract of S. polyceratium were identified using one- and two-dimensional spectroscopic methods such as infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The analytical results were also compared with data obtained in the literature. The following porphyrin derivatives were isolated from S. polyceratium: 132-hydroxy-(132-R)-pheophytin-a, 132-hydroxy-(132-S)-pheophytin-a, pheophytin-a, and the steroid fucosterol. The present results indicate that the ethanol extract of S. polyceratium has antinociceptive activity. In addition, four new substances were isolated from the species evaluated.

Central nervous system effects of Dioclea grandiflora pods on mice / Efectos en el sistema nervioso central de la vaina de Dioclea grandiflora en camundongos

Many plant substances are known for their interference with the central nervous system (CNS). Dioclea grandiflora Mart. Ex. Benth (Fabaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine to treat prostate disorders and kidney stones whose extracts from its seeds and root barks were reported to have a significant activity on the CNS and analgesic effect in rodents. In this study, the psychopharmacological activities of D. grandiflora were investigated, using the pods of this plant. Swiss mice were submitted to acute treatments with ethanol extract from the pods of D. grandiflora (EDgP) at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg by intraperitoneal administration followed by the evaluation of anxiety, depressant and anticonvulsant-related responses. The treatment with EDgP produced a depressant activity on the CNS and a sedative effect in mice. These findings suggest that EDgP has a central activity in mice, indicating an anxiogenic effect.

Varias sustancias de plantas son conocidas por su acción en el sistema nervioso central (SNC). La Dioclea grandiflora Mart. Ex. Benth (Fabaceae) es una planta utilizada en la medicina popular para tratar enfermedades en la próstata y piedras en los riñones, cuyos extractos de sus semillas y de las cáscaras de sus raíces presentan una actividad significativa sobre el SNC y efecto analgésico en roedores. En este estudio, las actividades psicofarmacológicas de D. grandiflora fueron investigadas, utilizando la vaina de la planta. Camudongos Swiss fueron sometidos a tratamientos agudos por la administración intraperitoneal del extracto etanólico de la vaina de D. grandiflora (EDgP) en dosis de 75, 150 y 300 mg/kg administrados intraperitonealmente seguida por la evaluación de respuestas relacionadas con la ansiedad, depresión y anticonvulsivo. El tratamiento con EDgP produjo una actividad depresora sobre el sistema nervioso central y un efecto sedante en camundongos. Estos resultados sugieren que EDgP tiene una actividad central en camundongos, indicando un efecto ansiogénico.