Response to transarterial chemoembolization in candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria does not predict post-transplant disease-free survival.

INTRODUCTION: Few groups have studied the impact of pretransplant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the outcomes of liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We verified whether response to TACE in HCC candidates impacts post-transplant disease-free survival. METHODS: This a single center retrospective study of patients who underwent liver transplantation from 2006-2013. Included were those transplanted due to HCC within the Milan criteria who were treated with TACE in the pre-transplant period. Response to TACE followed the modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria. Disease free-survival was the main endpoint of the study. RESULTS: We included 187 patients in this study. The population had an average age of 57.5 years, predominantly formed by men (82.5%), with an average IMC of 26.7, MELD of 13, with viral hepatitis as main cause of liver disease. Average waiting time was 253 days and follow-up was 27.3 months. Based on response to TACE, 3-year disease-free survival was 84.1% for those with complete response to TACE, 84.1% for those with partial response to TACE, 85.7% for those with stable disease and 100% for patients with progressive disease. Multivariate analysis did not identify response to TACE as a predictor of disease-free post-transplant survival. CONCLUSIONS: Response to TACE in candidates with HCC within Milan criteria does not predict post-transplant disease-free survival.

Determinação de óleos essenciais de alfavaca (Ocimum gratissimum L. ), orégano (Origanum vulgare L. ) e tomilho (Thymus vulgaris L.) / Determination of essential oils of basil (Ocimum gratissimum L. ), oregano (Ocimum gratissimum L. ) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a caracterização de plantas frescas e secas (comerciais) de alfavaca, orégano e tomilho, a obtenção dos óleos essenciais através do método de arraste a vapor e a quantificação dos compostos químicos por CG/EM. As plantas frescas e as secas comerciais foram submetidas às análises de umidade, extrato etéreo, proteína, fibra bruta, cinzas, extrato não nitrogenado, valor calórico, teor de óleo essencial e identificação dos compostos majoritários através da cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massas. Dentre a caracterização obtida os resultados na base seca mostraram-se promissores, sendo o teor de proteína e de cinzas na alfavaca seca comercial com 17,34 g 100 g-1 e 8,12 g 100 g-1, respectivamente; a fibra bruta no orégano seco comercial com 15,65 g 100 g-1; o extrato etéreo, o extrato não nitrogenado e o valor calórico no tomilho seco comercial com 9,30 g 100 g-1, 52,72 g 100 g-1 e 356,74 Kcal 100 g-1, respectivamente. Obteve-se o maior rendimento de óleo essencial na alfavaca seca comercial com 1,02%, enquanto a alfavaca fresca apresentou o menor rendimento, com apenas 0,13%. Na alfavaca fresca encontrou-se 87,38% de eugenol e 6,27% de timol, enquanto na alfavaca seca comercial observou-se redução no eugenol (71,12%) e aumento do timol (13,28%). No orégano fresco foram quantificados quatro picos o γ-terpineno (33,45%), 4-terpineol (25,59%), timol (14,21%) e carvacrol (2,30%). Já no óleo essencial de orégano seco comercial houve redução no γ-terpineno (28,73%) e aumento no 4-terpineol (27,58%), timol (19,71%) e carvacrol (3,67%). No óleo essencial do tomilho fresco foram quantificados três picos o borneol (66,66%), timol (13,41%) e linalol (3,24%). Por outro lado, no óleo essencial do tomilho seco comercial houve redução no borneol (37,90%) e aumento no timol (20,61%) e linalol (10,34%). Pode-se concluir que as folhas secas comerciais analisadas de alfavaca, orégano, e tomilho apresentam potencial para o enriquecimento dos alimentos ou para a obtenção dos óleos essenciais.

This study aimed to characterize commercial fresh and dry medicinal plants (basil, oregano and thyme), to obtain essential oil by the steam distillation method and to quantify chemical compounds by means of GC/MS. The fresh and dry plants were subjected to the following analyses moisture, ether extract, protein, crude fiber, ash, non-nitrogenous extract, caloric value, essential oil content and identification of major compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Considering the obtained characterization, the following results on dry basis proved promising: protein and ash content in commercial dry basil with 17.34 g 100 g-1 and 8.12 g 100 g-1, respectively; crude fiber in commercial dry oregano with 15.65 g 100 g-1; ether extract, non-nitrogenous extract and caloric value in commercial dry thyme with 9.30 g 100 g-1, 52.72 g 100 g-1 and 356.74 Kcal 100 g-1, respectively. The highest essential oil yield was obtained for commercial dry basil with 1.02% and the lowest yield was obtained for fresh basil with only 0.13%. Chromatography indicated 87.38% eugenol and 6.27% thymol in fresh basil. For commercial dry basil, the chromatogram showed a reduction in eugenol (71.12%) and an increase in thymol (13.28%). Four peaks were quantified for fresh oregano the γ-terpinene (33.45%), 4-terpineol (25.59%), thymol (14.21%) and carvacrol (2.30%). For the essential oil of commercial dry oregano, there was a decrease in γ-terpinene (28.73%) and an increase in 4-terpineol (27.58%), thymol (19.71%) and carvacrol (3.67%). In the chromatogram of the essential oil of fresh thyme, three peaks were quantified: borneol (66.66%), thymol (13.41%) and linalool (3.24%). On the other hand, in the chromatogram of the essential oil of commercial dry thyme, there was a decrease in borneol (37.90%) and an increase in thymol (20.61%) and linalool (10.34%). It can be concluded that commercial dry leaves of basil, oregano and thyme are feasible to enrich foods or to obtain essential oils.

Atividade antimicrobiana "in vitro" do extrato etanólico de Punica granatum linn (romã) sobre isolados ambulatoriais de Staphylococcus aureus / Antimicrobial activity in vitro of the ethanol extract Punica granatum against of Staphylococcus aurus strains

A utilização de plantas medicinais com indicação para processos infecciosos, respaldada por pesquisas etnofarmacobotânicas, impulsionam vários estudos farmacológicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana “in vitro” do extato etanólico de Punica granatum (romã) e determinar sua concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) sobre amostras de Staphylococcus aureus de origem humana ambulatorial, avaliando-se o perfil de sensibilidade dessas cepas, frente aos antimicrobianos usados rotineiramente na clínica médica, como também, a detecção da produção de alguns fatores de virulência (coagulase, hemolisina e lípase). Determinou-se a CIM pelo método da diluição em placas e o antibiograma por disco-difusão, seguindo-se as recomendações do NCCLS (2002). Todas as cepas de S.aureus eram fermentadoras do manitol e hemolíticas, sendo que 10 (58,8%) apresentaram atividade lipolítica no Agar tween-cálcio. Todas as cepas mostraram-se sensíveis à vancomicina, tetraciclina e oxacilina. Enquanto que 11 (64,7%) apresentaram resistência à penicilina e à ampicilina. Observou-se também sensibilidade diminuída à clindamicina e à eritromicina em 10 (58,8%) das cepas. Concluiu-se que a CIM do extrato etanólico de P.granatum foi obtida na concentração de 10%, a qual, foi capaz de inibir 100% das cepas analisadas.

The use of medical plants with the indication to the infectious process, supported by etnopharmacobotanic researches, impel various pharmacological studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial ‘in vitro’ of the ethanol extract of Punica granatum (pomegranate) and to determine its minimum inhibit concentration (MIC) on strains of Staphylococcus aureus of human origin ambulatory evaluating also the sensibility profile of these strains, against the antimicrobial substance usually used in medicine after the verification of some virulence factor such as (coagulation, hemolysis e lipase). It was determined that a MIC by the method of dilution in plates and the antibiogram by disc diffusion, following the NCCLS (2002) recommendation. All the Staphylococcus aureus were mannitol and haemolytic producers, 10 (58,8%) presented lipolitic activity in the calcium Tween agar. All of the stains has shown to be sensitive to vancomicin, tetracycline and oxacillin. While 11 (64,7%) has presented resistance to penicillin and ampicillin . It has also been observed that diminished sensibility to clindamicin and to eritromicin in 10 (58,8%) of the samples. Concluding therefore, that a MIC of the ethanol extract of Punica granatum was taken in 10% concentration, which was able to inhibit in 100% of the strains analysed.