Plants utilized as medicines by residents of Quilombo da Fazenda, Núcleo Picinguaba, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil: A participatory survey.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Participatory research can help to broaden the understanding of medical systems and beliefs of traditional communities. An ethnopharmacological survey in collaboration with local people focused on plants used in quilombos located in Southeast Region in Brazil identified cultural factors that influence plant and recipe choice. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the factors related to the therapeutic efficiency of medicinal plants from the perspective of Quilombo da Fazenda residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: University researchers collaborated with community residents for both aims and methods of the study. The local partners were trained in the gathering of ethnopharmacological data and then selected and interviewed the residents considered experts on the use of medicinal plants. Data on the use of each species were supported by voucher specimens collected by the local partners and university researchers. Participant observations and field diaries by the university researchers supplemented the data. RESULTS: Eight interviewees mentioned 92 medicinal species with 60 therapeutic uses, applied in 208 recipes or remedies. Asteraceae (13 species), Lamiaceae (5) and Urticaceae (5) contributed most medicinal plant species. Of the 12 etic categories of use, the circulatory system category had the highest number of plants mentioned. Decoction was the most commonly used preparation method (66.8%), and most remedies were administered orally (76.4%). Eighty-six recipes included more than one plant species and/or the addition of other components, such as sugar, salt or animal products. Several cultural factors influence medicinal plant use. Popular beliefs on the quality of blood or the humoral properties of plants and illnesses, characteristics of the plants and other factors determine which plant is used and why. CONCLUSIONS: The participatory method identified a large number of factors that influence medicinal plant use: the patient's blood type; the condition of the plant and the disease (hot-cold system); the route of administration and dosage; the preventive uses of the plants; and the influence of other factors, such as the sun, the moon and dew. The participatory approach is useful for gaining insight on the decision processes of medicinal plant use in traditional societies, and also for those communities wanting to document their knowledge with or without the participation of the academy.

Investigation of urban ethnoveterinary in three veterinary clinics at east zone of São Paulo city, Brazil.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Urban Ethnoveterinary should be further explored because of its value as it resists conventional medical care. In addition, the comparison between the resources used by Ethnoveterinary and Ethnopharmacology should be investigated in depth, increasing the availability of new bioactive potential in human and veterinary medicines. This project aimed to determine whether plants are used in the health care of dogs and/or cats in urban area and to compare its uses with other ethnoveterinary and ethnopharmacological data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three veterinary clinics from east area of São Paulo city were selected, in order to record the offering of plants to pets by their owners. Individual interviews were conducted from May to November 2012 and consisted of application of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A literature search was performed to compare our findings with other ethnopharmacological and ethnoveterinarian data from the literature. RESULTS: A total of 273 people were interviewed and 46 (16.84%) of them utilize medicinal plants for their pets. Most plant species are exclusively home grown (57.9%). The plants most cited were Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. The most frequent route of administration, part utilized and mode of preparation was oral (80.35%), leaves (89.47%) and infusion (61.90%), respectively. From 19 cited plants, 14 (73.7%) are mentioned in ethnoveterinary literature, whereas 11 (57.9%) are used for the same purposes. All plants reported in our study have at least one common use with ethnopharmacology. CONCLUSION: The survey provided evidence of ethnoveterinary use of medicinal plants for dogs and/or cats in urban area of São Paulo, complementarily with the official veterinary, and showed that the plants used in pets are also used in humans with the same purposes and routes of administration, as well as in other animals.

Mammary tumors in dogs - clinic and pathology survey at the Onco Cane Veterinary Clinic

The survey shows epidemiology and pathology information related to female dogs diagnosed with mammary tumors attended at Onco Cane, a specialized Veterinary Oncology Clinic, São Paulo, Brazil.[...](AU)

Mammary tumors in dogs - clinic and pathology survey at the Onco Cane Veterinary Clinic

The survey shows epidemiology and pathology information related to female dogs diagnosed with mammary tumors attended at Onco Cane, a specialized Veterinary Oncology Clinic, São Paulo, Brazil.[...]

Perfil microbiológico de peixes e água de cultivo em pesque-pagues situados na região nordeste do estado de São Paulo / Microbiological profile of fish and pond water in fee-fishing located in the northeast region of São Paulo state, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o número de coliformes totais, termotolerantes, Staphylococcus coagulase positivo e a presença de bactéria do gênero Salmonella no músculo, no tecido superficial, no trato gastrintestinal de peixes e na água de cultivo de pesque-pagues situados na microbacia do Córrego Rico, SP. Não foi detectado Staphylococcus coagulase positivo em nenhuma amostra de água e peixe. O número mais provável (NMP) de coliformes totais no peixe variou de 2,0 x 10 a >1,1 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1, na água de cultivo variou de 4,2 x 104 a > 2,4 x 105 NMP.100 mL-1. A contagem de coliformes termotolerantes no peixe variou de < 3 a 5,1 x 103 NMP.g-1, na água de cultivo variou de 3,8 x 102 a 2,0 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1. Não houve diferença estatística (P > 0,05) entre as populações de micro-organismos pesquisados na água, pele e trato gastrintestinal, o que reflete uma relação entre a presença dos micro-organismos na água e nesses dois locais analisados. Foi isolada Salmonella sp. em uma amostra de músculo e em duas amostras de trato gastrintestinal. O pescado pode ser veículo de contaminação cruzada, tendo como fonte dos micro-organismos a pele e o trato gastrintestinal para sua própria musculatura. Portanto, o monitoramento da qualidade da água é de suma importância para garantir a produção de peixes com boa qualidade.

The objective of this study was to determine the number of total and thermotolerant coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, and the presence of bacteria of the genus Salmonella in the muscle, surface tissue, and gastrointestinal tract of fish, and in the pond water of fee-fishing establishments located in the Córrego Rico microwatershed in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was not detected in any sample of pond water or fish. The most probable number (MPN) of total coliforms in fish ranged from 2.0 x 10 to > 1.1 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1, while in pond water it ranged from 4.2 x 104 to > 2.4 x 105 NMP.100 mL-1. The count of thermotolerant coliforms in fish ranged from < 3 to 5.1 x 103 NMP.g-1, while in pond water it ranged from 3.8 x 102 to 2.0 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1. There was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) among the studied populations of microorganisms in pond water, surface tissue and gastrointestinal tract, which reflects a relationship between the presence of microorganisms in the water and in the two tissues analyzed. Salmonella sp. was isolated in one sample of muscle and in two samples of gastrointestinal tract. The fish can be a vehicle for cross contamination, having the gastrointestinal tract and the surface tissue as a source of microorganisms for its muscles. Therefore, monitoring the water quality is important to ensure the production of fish with good quality.

PERFIL MICROBIOLÓGICO DE PEIXES E ÁGUA DE CULTIVO EM PESQUE-PAGUES SITUADOS NA REGIÃO NORDESTE DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the number of total and thermotolerant coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, and the presence of bacteria of the genus Salmonella in the muscle, surface tissue, and gastrointestinal tract of fish, and in the pond water of fee-fishing establishments located in the Córrego Rico microwatershed in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus was not detected in any sample of pond water or fish. The most probable number (MPN) of total coliforms in fish ranged from 2.0 x 10 to > 1.1 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1, while in pond water it ranged from 4.2 x 104 to > 2.4 x 105 NMP.100 mL-1. The count of thermotolerant coliforms in fish ranged from 3 to 5.1 x 103 NMP.g-1, while in pond water it ranged from 3.8 x 102 to 2.0 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1. There was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) among the studied populations of microorganisms in pond water, surface tissue and gastrointestinal tract, which reflects a relationship between the presence of microorganisms in the water and in the two tissues analyzed. Salmonella sp. was isolated in one sample of muscle and in two samples of gastrointestinal tract. The fish can be a vehicle for cross contamination, having the gastrointestinal tract and the surface tissue as a source of microorganisms for its muscles. Therefore, monitoring the water quality is important to ensure the production of fish with good quality.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o número de coliformes totais, termotolerantes, Staphylococcus coagulase positivo e a presença de bactéria do gênero Salmonella no músculo, no tecido superficial, no trato gastrintestinal de peixes e na água de cultivo de pesque-pagues situados na microbacia do Córrego Rico, SP. Não foi detectado Staphylococcus coagulase positivo em nenhuma amostra de água e peixe. O número mais provável (NMP) de coliformes totais no peixe variou de 2,0 x 10 a >1,1 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1, na água de cultivo variou de 4,2 x 104 a > 2,4 x 105 NMP.100 mL-1. A contagem de coliformes termotolerantes no peixe variou de 3 a 5,1 x 103 NMP.g-1, na água de cultivo variou de 3,8 x 102 a 2,0 x 104 NMP.100 mL-1. Não houve diferença estatística (P > 0,05) entre as populações de micro-organismos pesquisados na água, pele e trato gastrintestinal, o que reflete uma relação entre a presença dos micro-organismos na água e nesses dois locais analisados. Foi isolada Salmonella sp. em uma amostra de músculo e em duas amostras de trato gastrintestinal. O pescado pode ser veículo de contaminação cruzada, tendo como fonte dos micro-organismos a pele e o trato gastrintestinal para sua própria musculatura. Portanto, o monitoramento da qualidade da água é de suma importância para garantir a produção de peixes com boa qualidade.

Beneficial effect of growth hormone on atherogenic risk in children with growth hormone deficiency.

We studied changes in the atherogenic index (total cholesterol divided by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) in 12 prepubertal boys with growth hormone (GH) deficiency during 9 months of GH treatment. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased until 5 months without significant changes in total cholesterol level; thus GH therapy may be beneficial in reducing the atherogenic index in boys with GH deficiency.

Internal potassium shift in premature infants: cause of nonoliguric hyperkalemia.

To study the pathophysiology of nonoliguric hyperkalemia, we measured serum potassium concentration and external K balance (intake and excretion), and estimated internal K balance (a shift from intracellular space to extracellular space) in 24 nonoliguric premature infants during the first 72 hours after birth. Data were analyzed from two aspects: gestational age (group 1, 24 to 28 weeks, n = 9; group 2, 29 to 32 weeks, n = 9; group 3, 33 to 36 weeks, n = 6) and postnatal age (0 to 72 hours). Serum K concentration rose from baseline (0 hour) to 24 hours in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.01) but did not rise in group 3. The external K balance was negative in all groups during the study period, and was more negative in the more premature infants (group 1 > group 2 > group 3) during the second 24 hours. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) between the internal K balance of the three groups during the first 24 hours (group 1 > group 2 > group 3), and the K shift decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during the study period in groups 1 and 2. The more premature the infants, the larger the K shift and the larger the rise in serum K concentration during the first 24 hours, and the more negative the external K balance after 24 hours. These data indicate that K loading caused by the K shift associated with prematurity produces a rapid rise in serum K concentration, resulting in an increase in urinary K excretion. We conclude that an internal K shift inversely proportional to gestational and postnatal age is the primary cause of nonoliguric hyperkalemia in very premature infants.

[Chagas' disease among blood donors in Bolivia].

A questionnaire survey of blood donors at Santa Cruz General Hospital, Bolivia, showed that while there were no seropositive cases of syphilis, HBsAg, and HIV, the prevalence of Chagas' disease was very high (23%) among the 225 blood donors who responded to this questionnaire. Actual cases of Chagasic seropositive blood being used for blood transfusion were seen, including the urgent need for a program for Chagas' disease in Bolivia. From the results of this study, it is recommended that for blood donors from South American countries, the presence/absence of Chagas' disease should be confirmed.

[Determination of lactic acid in blood by enzymatic-spectrophotometry method in normal subjects]. / Determinação do ácido láctico no sangue pelo método enzimático-espectrofotométrico em indivíduos normalis.

The authors carried out duplicate dosages of lactic acid in 20 normal patients (11 females and 9 males) ages ranged from 17 to 48 years. The spectrophotometric method was employed, and the values obtained from 0.69 to 4.21 mMol/L with a mean value of 1.5095 +/- 0.975. Some of the difficulties of the method and how to avoid them are discussed.