Avaliação clínica de bochechos com extratos de Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius) e Camomila (Matricaria recutita L. ) sobre a placa bacteriana e a gengivite / Clinical evaluation of mouthwash with extracts from aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius) and chamomile (Matricaria recutita L. ) on plaque and gingivitis

A presente pesquisa objetivou avaliar clinicamente o efeito de bochechos à base de extratos das plantas medicinais, aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius) e camomila (Matricaria recutita L.), sobre o controle da placa bacteriana e o tratamento da gengivite. Para tanto, foi realizado um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo cego, intervencionista, envolvendo 59 indivíduos adultos atendidos na Clínica do Curso de Odontologia da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB). A amostra foi constituída por pacientes portadores de gengivite crônica. A referida amostra foi selecionada aleatoriamente e dividida em três grupos: bochecho com Clorexidina (grupo controle positivo); bochecho com Camomila (grupo teste 1); bochecho com Aroeira (grupo teste 2). Durante a primeira visita do paciente, e, previamente à realização dos bochechos, todos foram orientados quanto à higiene bucal e submetidos ao procedimento de raspagem e alisamento radicular (RAR) da boca toda em uma única sessão. Os bochechos foram realizados a partir do primeiro atendimento clínico até o 15º dia após o início do tratamento, na frequência de duas vezes ao dia. Para avaliação da condição periodontal da amostra realizada no 1º, 7º e 15º dias foram aplicados os Índices de Sangramento Gengival (ISG) e de Placa (IP). Os pacientes foram reavaliados 7 e 15 dias após o início do uso do respectivo bochecho. Os resultados apontaram que o IP e o ISG apresentaram redução significativa nos três grupos. Quanto ao IP, o bochecho de camomila obteve a maior redução de acúmulo de placa e o bochecho de aroeira, a menor redução. Para os índices de sangramento, os resultados foram equivalentes, de forma que não foram consideradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os bochechos. Foram considerados satisfatórios os bochechos a base de Camomila (Matricaria recutita L.) e Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius) na redução do quadro de inflamação gengival da amostra, sendo o bochecho de Camomila (Matricaria recutita L.) o que apresentou melhor desempenho na redução do índice de placa bacteriana.

This study aimed to clinically evaluate the effect of mouthwash with extracts from the medicinal plants aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius) and chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) on plaque control and gingivitis treatment. Thus, a randomized, double-blind interventional clinical trial was conducted, involving 59 adults treated at the Clinics of the Dentistry Program of Univ Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB). The sample consisted of patients with chronic gingivitis. This sample was randomly selected and divided into three groups: mouthwash with chlorhexidine (positive control group), mouthwash with chamomile (test group 1); mouthwash with aroeira (test group 2). During the first visit, and prior to rinses, all patients were instructed in oral hygiene and subjected to scaling and root planing procedure (SRP) of the whole mouth in one single session. Rinses occurred from the first clinical appointment to the 15th day after the beginning of treatment, twice a day. To evaluate the periodontal condition of the sample on the 1st, 7th and 15th days, Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) and Plaque Index (PI) were used. The patients were reassessed at 7 and 15 days after the beginning of the respective rinses. Results indicated that PI and GBI significantly decreased in all three groups. As to PI, chamomile mouthwash led to the greatest reduction in plaque buildup, while aroeira mouthwash resulted in the smallest reduction. For bleeding rates, results were equivalent so that statistical differences among rinses were not considered significant. Mouthwashes with chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius) were considered satisfactory in reducing gingival inflammation in the sample; in addition, mouthwash with chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) showed the best performance in reducing the plaque index.

Increased cavernosal relaxation by Phoneutria nigriventer toxin, PnTx2-6, via activation at NO/cGMP signaling.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) mechanisms in diabetic patients are multifactorial and often lead to resistance to current therapy. Animal toxins have been used as pharmacological tools to study penile erection. Human accidents involving the venom of Phoneutria nigriventer spider are characterized by priapism. We hypothesize that PnTx2-6 potentiates cavernosal relaxation in diabetic mice by increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This effect is neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) dependent. Cavernosal strips were contracted with phenylephrine (10(-5) M) and relaxed by electrical field stimulation (20 V, 1-32 Hz) in the presence or absence of PnTx2-6 (10(-8) M). Cavernosal strips from nNOS- and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-knockout (KO) mice, besides nNOS inhibitor (10(-5) M), were used to evaluate the role of this enzyme in the potentiation effect evoked by PnTx2-6. Tissue cGMP levels were determined after stimulation with PnTx2-6 in presence or absence of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10(-4) M) and ω-conotoxin GVIA (10(-6) M), an N-type calcium channel inhibitor. Results showed that PnTx2-6 enhanced cavernosal relaxation in diabetic mice (65%) and eNOS KO mice, but not in nNOS KO mice. The toxin effect in the cavernosal relaxation was abolished by nNOS inhibitor. cGMP levels are increased by PnTx2-6, however, L-NAME abolished this enhancement as well as ω-conotoxin GVIA. We conclude that PnTx2-6 facilitates penile relaxation in diabetic mice through a mechanism dependent on nNOS, probably via increasing nitric oxide/cGMP production.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables and C-reactive protein in women undergoing cosmetic surgery.

UNLABELLED: Low-grade inflammation adversely influences metabolism and cardiovascular prognosis, nevertheless increased intake of fruits and vegetables has rarely been studied in this context. OBJECTIVE: In a prospective controlled study, the effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was assessed. METHODOLOGY: Sixty consecutive women undergoing cosmetic abdominal surgery were instructed to consume six servings each of fruits and vegetables during the first postoperative month. Detailed 24 h interviewer-administered dietary recall was conducted at baseline and at the end of the study, with weekly returns to monitor unscheduled dietary changes and compliance with the protocol. Variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) were evaluated to confirm significance and minimize confounding variables. RESULTS: No differences concerning age (42.2±5.3 vs 41.1±6.0 years) or BMI (25.5±3.1 vs 25.0±3.0 kg/m²) occurred. Ingestion of fruits increased to approximately 5.2 vs 3.9 and of vegetables 5.9 vs 3.4 servings/ day, respectively. CRP decreased more conspicuously in the treated group (P=0.028), and correlation between vitamin C input and CRP in supplemented participants was demonstrated (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Higher intake of antioxidant foods was feasible, and an antiinflammatory effect occurred. Further studies with longer administration and follow-up period are recommended.

Heavy metals extraction by microemulsions.

The objective of this study is the heavy metal extraction by microemulsion, using regional vegetable oils as surfactants. Firstly, the main parameters, which have influence in the microemulsion region, such as: nature of cosurfactant, influence of cosurfactant (C)/surfactant (S) ratio and salinity were studied, with the objective of choosing the best extraction system. The extraction/reextraction process by microemulsion consists of two stages. In the first one, the heavy metal ion present in the aqueous phase is extracted by the microemulsion. In a second step, the reextraction process occurs: the microemulsion phase, rich in metal, is acidified and the metal is recovered in a new aqueous phase, with higher concentration. The used system had the following parameters: surfactant-saponified coconut oil; cosurfactant-n-butanol; oil phase-kerosene; C/S ratio=4; salinity-2% (NaCl); temperature of 27+/-1 degrees C; water phase-aqueous solution that varied according to the heavy metal in study (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb). A methodology of experimental planning was used (Scheffé Net) to study the behavior of the extraction in a chosen domain. The extraction was accomplished in one step and yielded extraction percentage higher than 98% for all metals. In the reextraction HCl-8M was used as reextraction agent and the influence of the pH and time were verified. This work showed the great efficiency of the microemulsion, indicating that it is possible to extract selectively the heavy metals from the aqueous phase.

Assessment of the genetic diversity of Xylella fastidiosa isolated from citrus in Brazil by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S intergenic spacer and rep-PCR fingerprinting.

The genetic diversity among twenty three strains of Xylella fastidiosa, isolated from sweet orange citrus, was assessed by RFLP analysis of the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S intergenic spacer and by rep-PCR fingerprinting together with strains isolated from coffee, grapevine, plum and pear. The PCR products obtained by amplification of the 16S rDNA and 16S-23S spacer region were digested with restriction enzymes and a low level of polymorphism was detected. In rep-PCR fingerprinting, a relationship between the strains and their hosts was observed by using the BOX, ERIC and REP primers. Two major groups were obtained within the citrus cluster and relationships to the geographic origin of the strains revealed. Citrus strains isolated from the States of São Paulo and Sergipe formed one group and strains from the Southern States formed another group. Distinct origins of X. fastidiosa in the Southern and Southeastern States is postulated. The pear isolate was distantly related to all of the other X. fastidiosa strains.