Gastroprotective and cicatrizing activity of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. leaf hydroalcoholic extract.

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., popularly known as 'juazeiro', is a species used in popular medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, gastric ulcers, skin wounds, and in the manufacture of cosmetic and food products. The objective of this study is to evaluate the gastroprotective and cicatrizing activity of the Z. joazeiro Mart. leaf hydroalcoholic extract (EHFZJ). The acute pre-clinical toxicity was determined by the single administration of the EHFZJ (2000 mg/kg/p.o.) and by assessing clinical signs of toxicity, according to established criteria by Malone, or mortality. Gastroprotective activity was identified through classical models of acute gastric lesions induced by indomethacin, absolute and acidified ethanol (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/per os) and the physical barrier mechanism (400 mg/kg/per os or intraperitoneally). The cicatrizing activity of the EHFZJ was investigated by measuring the speed of wound closure and the percentage of contraction. The acute pre-clinical toxicity of EHFZJ showed no signs of toxicity and mortality. The EHFZJ demonstrated a gastroprotective effect at the 400 mg/kg dose in the classical models of acute gastric injury induced by indomethacin, absolute and acidified ethanol. The EHFZJ administration (orally) demonstrated significant inhibition, suggesting a possible physical barrier mechanism exists. The EHFZJ showed no significant differences in terms of percentage of contraction or the speed of wound closure during the observation times (0, 3, 7, 11 and 14 days). The results obtained in this study provide evidence of a potential gastroprotective activity for the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. Leaf hydroalcoholic extract.

Antinociceptive activity of discretamine isolated from Duguetia moricandiana.

The phytochemical study of Duguetia moricandiana Mart. (Annonaceae) yielded the isolation of the alkaloid which was identified by spectral analysis as discretamine. The evaluation of antinociceptive activity carried out by the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and hot plate tests in mice, suggests a potent antinociceptive effect. Discretamine (5, 10 and 20 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) significantly reduced the number of writhes similarly at all doses tested and the number of paw licks during the first phase of formalin test when compared to control. The effect of discretamine on hot plate response provides a confirmation of its central effect. These results indicate antinociceptive properties of this alkaloid.

Caregiver's education level, not income, as determining factor of dietary intake and nutritional status of individuals cared for at home.

INTRODUCTION: Home care should intervene in the nutritional status of the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the nutritional status of the elderly assisted by a Home Care Program (PAD) and associate it with income and education level of the caregiver. CASUISTIC AND METHOD: Thirty-four individuals of both genders who received home care from PAD. The MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) was used along with arm circumference. Dietary intake assessment was done with three 24-hour recalls in non-consecutive days. We collected data on income, education level of the caregiver and user in years of formal education and autonomy of user. The differences between the proportions of the nominal variables were tested by the chi-square test. The continuous variables were tested for normality and if normal, the Student's t-test or ANOVA was applied. The adopted significance level was P < 0.05. RESULTS: The studied sample represented individuals older than 65 years, assisted by PAD and 100% dependent on the caregiver. MNA revealed that 38.2% of the users were malnourished and 61.8% were at risk for malnourishment. Energy, fiber, vitamin E, calcium and zinc intakes were inadequate. Education level of the caregivers was a determining factor (P=0.01) for the nutritional status of the elderly while no association was found with respect to income. CONCLUSION: These findings allows us to conclude that the nutritional status of this population is worrisome and that it may be associated with low quality of life influenced by the education level of the caregiver, but also by age, economic conditions and limited autonomy of this population.

Clinical evaluation of abutment teeth of removable partial denture by means of the Periotest method.

Prosthodontics should be one of the means of establishing conditions for the maintenance of periodontal health. The forces applied to the abutment teeth and their effects are very important considerations in the design and construction of the removable partial dentures. This 6-month follow-up clinical study evaluated the degree of mobility of abutment teeth of distal extension and tooth supported removable partial dentures by using Periotest. Two types of clasp design were selected for evaluation. In cases with unilateral and bilateral distal-extension, a clasp design including a T clasp of Roach retentive arm, a rigid reciprocal arm and a mesial rest were used. For the abutments of tooth-supported removable partial dentures, a second clasp design with a cast circumferential buccal retentive arm, a rigid reciprocal clasp arm and a rest adjacent to the edentulous ridges was selected. A total of 68 abutment teeth was analysed. Periotest values were made at the time of denture placement (control) and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the denture placement. The statistical analysis was performed using Friedman test. All analysis was performed at a 0.05 level of significance. The results revelled that no significant changes in tooth mobility were observed during the 6-months follow-up (P > 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that adequate oral hygiene instructions, careful prosthetic treatment planning and regular recall appointments play an important role in preventing changes in abutment tooth mobility caused by removable partial denture placement.

[Comparative analysis of nutritional status, food intake and length of hospitalization considering two hospitals: public versus private]. / Comparación del estado nutricional, consumo alimenticio y tiempo de hospitalización de pacientes de dos hospitales, uno público y otro privado.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the nutritional status of hospitalized patients is important for the prevention of hospital malnutrition and planning of nutritional intervention. OBJECTIVE: To comparatively analyze the nutritional status of patients admitted to two hospitals, one public and another private, caring for populations with different socioeconomic profiles. CASE STUDY AND METHODS: This was a prospective study and samples were collected from patients of two hospitals, one public (PUH) and another private (PRH), which respectively represent the underprivileged and the more affluent populations. The analysis considered 51 patients from the PUH, aged between 53.9 +/- 15.6 years and 51 from the PRH, aged between 55.0 +/- 13.9 years, paired and grouped according to the following diseases: neoplasia (n+25), digestive tract disorders (n+11) and others (n+15). The statistical analysis was made by means of the T-Student test to compare PUH and PRH variables with p < 0.05, as well as to compare different variables in the same hospital, with p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.005 and p < 0.001. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences when the variables evaluated in both hospitals were compared, except for the length of hospitalization of patients with digestive tract disorders, which was longer for HPR. Upon hospitalization, 21.0% and 17.6% presented a body mass index (BMI) indicative of malnutrition. The patients with neoplasias presented current weight (CW) lower than habitual weight (HW). Both the patients with neoplasias and those with digestive tract disorders presented insufficient energy consumption in the period before hospitalization (p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between the length of hospitalization and the current weight/habitual weight ratio (r = 0.194, 0 < 0.05, n = 102) and BMI (r=-0.186, p < 0.05, n = 102), according to Pearson's coefficient. CONCLUSION: The similarity of nutritional conditions found points to similarity of nutritional status for patients of both institutions and reflects the changes in the nutritional status of the population. The nutritional intervention should consider the nutritional needs of the population assisted.

3-Methyl-5-hydroxy-5-trichloromethyl-1H-1-pyrazolcarboxyamide induces antinociception.

The antinociceptive action of a novel pyrazole-derived compound, 3-methyl-5-hydroxy-5-trichloromethyl-1H-1-pyrazolcarboxyamide (MPCA) was evaluated using the formalin and tail-immersion tests in mice. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by paw plethysmometry in adult rats using the carrageenin-induced paw edema test. Subcutaneous administration of MPCA (22, 66, and 200 mg/kg) induced a dose-dependent decrease in the time spent licking during the neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test, and preadministration of naloxone (1 mg/kg, sc) did not prevent MPCA-induced (200 mg/kg, sc) antinociception. Naloxone decreased the spontaneous locomotor activity of mice, while MPCA had no effect on locomotion. In contrast, administration of the opioid antagonist caused a significant increase in the locomotor behavior of mice previously injected with MPCA. MPCA was devoid of antinociceptive action by the tail-immersion test and of anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, MPCA had no effect on the motor performance of mice in the rotarod test. These results suggest that MPCA induces antinociception in the neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test, an effect that does not involve opioid receptors.

Canine visceral leishmaniosis: a remarkable histopathological picture of one case reported from Brazil.

This report describes a remarkable histopathological presentation of a symptomatic dog naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi from Brazil. An intense inflammatory granulomatous reaction was observed in the liver and spleen associated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mononuclear system (the classical histopathological picture of the disease). In addition, a spectrum of vascular lesions was observed in many organs. However, we did not find parasites (amastigotes of Leishmania) in any skin fragments of the ear, nose and or abdominal tissue. In fact, this animal had severe clinical signs, showed parasites in many organs, but no parasites in the skin. It appears that the presence or absence of parasites in the skin is not a good indicator of parasites in other organs or vice versa.

[Recount of the history of the Brazilian Nurses Association in Paraíba]. / Resgate histórico da Associção Brasileira de Enfermagem da Paraíba.

The purpose of the present study is to outline the trajectory of the Brazilian Association of Nursing(ABEn) in the federal state of Paraiba, from its foundation until the present days. Based on bibliographic review and on the analysis of meeting minute the investigation reports the historical antecedents and the foundation and development of the Nursing School of Paraíba and ABEn. It also points out the organizational structures and events, which were important landmarks in the history of this nursing association.

Influence of microbiota in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis in Swiss mice.

Infection of Swiss/NIH mice with Leishmania major was compared with infection in isogenic resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible BALB/c mice. Swiss/NIH mice showed self-controlled lesions in the injected foot pad. The production of high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and low levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) by cells from these animals suggests that they mount a Th1-type immune response. The importance of the indigenous microbiota on the development of murine leishmaniasis was investigated by infecting germfree Swiss/NIH in the hind footpad with L. major and conventionalizing after 3 weeks of infection. Lesions from conventionalized Swiss/NIH mice were significantly larger than conventional mice. Histopathological analysis of lesions from conventionalized animals showed abscesses of variable shapes and sizes and high numbers of parasitized macrophages. In the lesions from conventional mice, besides the absence of abscess formation, parasites were rarely observed. On the other hand, cells from conventional and conventionalized mice produced similar Th1-type response characterized by high levels of IFN-gamma and low levels of IL-4. In this study, we demonstrated that Swiss/NIH mice are resistant to L. major infection and that the absence of the normal microbiota at the beginning of infection significantly influenced the lesion size and the inflammatory response at the site of infection.

Polybitoxins: a group of phospholipases A2 from the venom of the neotropical social wasp paulistinha (Polybia paulista).

The neotropical wasp Polybia paulistinha is very aggressive and endemic in south-east Brazil, where it frequently causes stinging accidents. By using gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose under a pH gradient, a group of four toxins (designated as polybitoxins-I, II, III and IV) presenting phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities was purified. These toxins are dimeric with mol. wts ranging from 115,000 to 132,000 and formed by different subunits. The four toxins contain very high sugar contents attached to their molecules (22-43% w/w) and presented different values of pH optimum from 7.8 to 9.0; when dissociated, only residual catalytic activities were maintained. The catalytic activities of polybitoxins (from 18 to 771 mumoles/mg per minute) are lower than that of PLA2 from Apis mellifera venom and hornetin from Vespa basalis. The polybitoxins presented a non-linear steady-state kinetic behavior for the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine at pH 7.9, compatible with the negative co-operativity phenomena. All of the polybitoxins were very potent direct hemolysins, especially the polybitoxins-III and IV, which are as potent as the lethal toxin from V. basalis and hornetin from Vespa flavitarsus, respectively; polybitoxin-IV presented hemolytic action 20 times higher than that of PLA2 from A. meliferra, 17 times higher than that of neutral PLA2 from Naja nigricolis and about 37 times higher than that of cardiotoxin from Naja naja atra venom.

[Physico-chemical characteristics of meglumine antimoniate in different storage conditions]. / Características físico-químicas do antimoniato de meglumina em diferentes condições de armazenamento.

During the period October 1992 to July 1995 we measured the osmolarity and pH of ampoules of meglumine antimoniate (glucantime) from lot 9206L-004 (manufactured by Rhodia Farma Ltd, of São Paulo, SP, Brazil) maintained in three temperature conditions namely 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C and ambiental. Although we observed statistically significant differences in osmolarity between samples, the limited number of measurements and the variation of this property in ampoules maintained at the same temperature were obstacles to obtain definitive conclusions. Such a variation was not found with pH. Assuming these parameters could reflect structural changes in the pentavalent antimony molecule, clearly further better controlled experiments are indicated.

[An evolutionary study of mucosal leishmaniasis (a 7- to 17-year follow-up) due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in Tres Braços, Bahia]. / Estudo evolutivo da leishmaniose mucosa (7 a 17 anos de seguimento) causada por Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis em Três Braços, Bahia.

Seventy seven (68%) patients with mucosal leishmaniasis recorded during the period 1976-1986 in the region of Três Braços, Bahia were traced and re-evaluated clinically, diagnostically and therapeutically. Sixty-five patients were alive. The families of 12 dead patients were interviewed about probable cause of death. The 65 patients had a fresh clinical examination supplemented when necessary by a skilled ENT examination. All had a titre of circulating immunofluorescent antibodies estimated at the time. Eight patients with active mucosal lesions had triturated biopsies which were cultivated in NNN medium and inoculated in hamsters to attempt to recover Leishmania. The isolates were identified by monoclonal antibodies as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Fifty-six (86%) patients were judged clinically cured. Nine (13%) had active lesions. Of the 12 patients who died 5 (41%) had no signs of activity at death. Mucosal leishmaniasis was thought to be the direct cause of death in 3 patients. The field treatment programme at Três Braços has managed to clinically cure 61 patients (79%) during 17 years. Follow-up periods were a mean of 10 years (range 7-17).

Albright's syndrome: review of the literature and case report.

Albright's syndrome is characterized by the presence of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, endocrinopathies and brown spots on the skin. In the present article the authors describe a case occurring in a 20-year-old female patient, who is currently being followed radiographically after a mandibular bone biopsy.

Human syngamosis. Two cases of chronic cough caused by Mammomonogamus laryngeus.

Parasites of the genus Mammomonogamus may occasionally affect the human respiratory tract, causing human syngamosis. We describe two cases of chronic unproductive cough caused by Mammomonogamus laryngeus that occurred in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Some aspects related to human parasitism, diagnostic approach, and treatment are discussed.