Flavonoids: biological activities and therapeutic potential.

Flavonoids have aroused much interest in research, since they present a great diversity of biological activities observed in vitro, such as: antioxidant effect, modulation of the enzymatic activity and inhibition of cellular proliferation, exerting beneficial effects on the organism, as well as the use of its therapeutic potential. With wide distribution in the plant kingdom represent a class of phenolic compounds that differ in their chemical structure and particular characteristics. The objective of this review was to describe the relevant aspects of flavonoids, reporting the different known groups, the probable mechanisms by which they act, their pharmacological properties and to gain a better understanding of the reported beneficial health effects of these substances. This systematic review consisted of research using scientific databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, SciVerse and SciELO, without time limitation. Some pharmacological properties of some flavonoids and their health benefits have been confirmed by previous studies.

Standardized extract of Erythrina velutina Willd. attenuates schizophrenia-Like behaviours and oxidative parameters in experimental animal models.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of the standardized extract from the leaves of Erythrina velutina in behavioural and oxidative parameters in the ketamine-induced schizophrenia model. METHODS: Mice received ketamine (KET) or saline for 7 days. From 8th to 14th day, the animals received Erythrine (Eryt) (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg) or olanzapine (Olanz), 1 h after KET administration. At 14th day, 30 min after the last administration of KET, the open-field and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) tests were performed. Then, the animals were sacrificed and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC) and striatum (ST) were dissected for the oxidative tests. KEY FINDINGS: Ketamine increased spontaneous locomotor activity and grooming. KET decreased the PPI, which was reversed by combining it with Eryt or olanzapine. KET decreased GSH concentration in PFC and ST this was reversed by Eryt. KET increased MDA concentration in PFC and HC this was reversed by Eryt. Eryt and Olanzapine reduced MDA concentration in ST when compared to KET group. Nitrite concentration was reduced by administration of KET in the PFC. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the standardized extract of E. velutina can prevent behavioural symptoms and oxidative stress induced by repeated doses of KET.

Ethanolic extract of Erythrina velutina Willd ameliorate schizophrenia-like behavior induced by ketamine in mice.

Background Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder, characterized by positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. In general, several plants have shown activity in diseases related to the central nervous system (e.g., Erythrina velutina (EEEV), also known as "mulungu"). For this reason, we aimed to investigate the effects of standardized ethanol extract obtained from the stem bark of EEEV on the schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by ketamine (KET) administration. Methods Swiss mice were treated with KET (20 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 14 days. In addition, from 8th to 14th days, saline, EEEV (200 or 400 mg/kg, p.o.) or olanzapine (OLAN 2 mg/kg, p.o.) were associated to the protocol. On the 14th day of treatment, schizophrenia-like symptoms were evaluated by the prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI), locomotor activity evaluated by the open field test (OFT), spatial recognition memory evaluated by the Y-maze task and social interaction test (SIT). Results KET has caused deficits in PPI, and it has also has caused hyperlocomotion in OFT and deficits in SIT as compared to control. EEEV in both doses used, reversed behavioral changes induced by KET, likewise results obtained with the administration of OLAN. Conclusions Taken together, the results demonstrate that the standard extract of EEEV was able to revert schizophrenia-like symptoms, due to the administration in repeated doses of ketamine. Thus, our findings lead to a new perspective for the use of EEEV an interesting alternative for drug discovery in schizophrenia.

Complicações da sífilis congênita: uma revisão de literatura / Complications of congenital syphilis: a review of the literature

A sífilis congênita ocorre após infecção transplacentária, através do agente Treponema pallidum. As consequências da ausência do tratamento do recém-nascido podem acarretar sequelas irreversíveis, como surdez, cegueira e retardo mental. O estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica atualizada sobre as complicações da sífilis congênita. Trata-se de estudo descritivo e bibliográfico. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de levantamento bibliográfico nas bases de dados LILACS, MEDLINE e SciELO, no período de março a junho de 2012, usando os descritores: sífilis congênita, complicações, recém-nascido e enfermagem. A seleção dos artigos foi realizada através da leitura do resumo relacionado com sífilis congênita, sífilis congênita e complicação, sífilis congênita e tratamento, sífilis. Resultados mostram que a contaminação do feto se dá devido à falha no pré-natal.

Usos de antimicrobianos em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal em Fortaleza / Use of antimicrobials in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Fortaleza

Introdução: A utilização de antimicrobianos é o tratamento de escolha para infecções em recém-nascidos (RNs) e o respeito aos horários do aprazamento, além do tempo de uso, da posologia e da escolha adequada do medicamento, são critérios fundamentais para uma boa eficácia do tratamento. Objetivo: Descrever o uso de antimicrobianos na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN), identificando os esquemas mais utilizados em nosso meio, além de verificar as alterações mais comuns no aprazamento dos antimicrobianos. Material e método: Estudo transversal com 94 RNs prematuros que fizeram uso de antimicrobianos e permaneceram pelo menos 48 horas na UTIN de uma instituição pública de Fortaleza. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Estadual do Ceará, conforme resolução 196/96. A coleta dos dados foi realizada através de um formulário contendo variáveis como tipo de antimicrobiano utilizado e alterações do aprazamento. O software utilizado para a análise estatística foi o SPSS-13. Resultados: A idade gestacional mais prevalente por ocasião do parto foi entre 32 e 37 semanas (57,5) e 39,4% dos RNs pesavam menos de 1.500 g. A síndrome do desconforto respiratório foi a principal causa de internação (48,9%), mas a condição que mais necessitou da utilização de antimicrobianos foi a amniorrexe prematura (34%). O principal esquema utilizado foi o esquema único de ampicilina e amicacina (36,2%). Alterações de aprazamento foram 39 (41,4%), seguidas de erro de aprazamento em 9,6% dos casos.

Anticonvulsant action of Calotropis procera latex proteins.

Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. is a laticiferous plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. C. procera latex proteins were evaluated with respect to anticonvulsant and sedative activity in mouse models of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-, pilocarpine-, and strychnine-induced convulsions or turning behavior and pentobarbital-induced sleep. In the strychnine- and pilocarpine-induced seizure models, C. procera latex proteins caused no significant alterations in latencies to convulsions and death, as compared with controls. In the PTZ-induced seizure model, administration of C. procera latex proteins in high doses (50 or 100mg/kg) and diazepam caused significant increases in latencies to convulsions and death. C. procera latex proteins (50 or 100mg/kg) and 2mg/kg diazepam caused a decrease in sleep latency and an increase in sleep time compared with the control group and groups treated with 5 or 10mg/kg. Our results suggest that C. procera latex proteins have a central nervous system-depressant activity as reflected in their potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and their anticonvulsant action in the PTZ-induced seizure model.