Atividades antioxidante, antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória das folhas de Mucuna pruriens (L. ) DC / Antioxidant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of Mucuna pruriens (L. ) DC. leaves

A espécie Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) é popularmente conhecida no Brasil como "café berão" e "pó de mico". Suas sementes são bastante estudadas sendo empregadas na medicina popular para o tratamento de desordens nervosas e do aparelho reprodutor, porém poucas informações sobre a composição química e atividade farmacológica das folhas dessa espécie são descritas na literatura. Assim, os objetivos desse estudo foram: a determinação do perfil fitoquímico, a avaliação da atividade antioxidante in vitro, e a avaliação das atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva in vivo do extrato metanólico das folhas de M. pruriens nas concentrações de 100 e 300 mg/kg. O estudo fitoquímico foi realizado por meio da pesquisa qualitativa dos constituintes químicos e determinação quantitativa do teor de fenóis totais e flavonoides. O potencial antioxidante foi avaliado pelos métodos do DPPH e poder de redução. As atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva foram a ante foi promissor, com CI50 de 13,2∝g/mL pelo método do DPPH, e CE50 de 47,9∝g/mL pelo método que avalia o poder de redução. Em relação à atividade anti-inflamatória, o extrato foi capaz de inibir o edema de orelha em 63% (100mg/kg) e 28% (300mg/kg). Quanto à atividade antinociceptiva, houve redução do número de contorções abdominais de 64% (100 mg/kg) e 69% (300 mg/kg). Estes resultados indicam que M. pruriens apresenta um potencial farmacológico promissor e reforçam o conceito de que a pesquisa de plantas com usos etnofarmacológicos pode revelar um número substancial de respostas em ensaios in vitro e in vivo.

The species Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) is popularly known in Brazil as "café berão" and "pó de mico". Its seeds have been widely studied and used in folk medicine for the treatment of nervous and reproductive system disorders; however, few studies are related to the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of its leaves. Therefore, the aims of this study were: investigation of the phytochemical profile, in vitro assessment of the antioxidant activity, and in vivo evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of methanol extract of M. pruriens leaves at the concentrations of 100 and 300mg/kg. The phytochemical study was performed by means of qualitative identification of chemical constituents and quantitative determination of total phenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant potential was assayed by DPPH and reducing power methods. Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities were evaluated by croton oil-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced writhing tests, respectively. Alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, triterpenes and saponins were identified in the extract. Total phenol and flavonoid levels were 112 and 18.3mg/g extract, respectively. The antioxidant potential was promising, with IC50 of 13.2∝g/mL by DPPH assay and EC50 of 47.9∝g/mL by the method that evaluates the reducing power. Regarding the anti-inflammatory activity, the extract was capable of inhibiting by 63% (100mg/kg) and 28% (300mg / kg) the ear edema. As to the antinociceptive activity, there was a reduction in the number of writhings by 64% (100mg/kg) and 69% (300mg/kg). Results indicate that M. pruriens presents a promising pharmacological potential and reinforce the concept that the investigation of ethnopharmacologically used plants may reveal a substantial number of positive responses in in vitro and in vivo assays.

Colpocitologia em ambulatório de ginecologia preventiva / Colpocytology in a preventive gynecological ambulatory

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar os resultados de colpocitologia oncótica de mulheres atendidas em ambulatório de ginecologia preventiva (Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Säo Paulo). MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 6821 mulheres submetidas a exame clínico e ginecológico com realizaçäo de colpocitologia oncótica pela técnica de Papanicolaou. Estas mulheres foram consideradas conforme a faixa etária em três grupos: abaixo de 40 anos, entre 41 e 60 anos e acima de 60 anos. RESULTADOS: Amaioria das mulheres reconhecem tanto a necessidade da colpocitologia como sua periodicidade, principalmente entre as mais jovens. As mulheres acima de 60 anos eram as que mais referiam (54,1 por cento) näo conhecer a necessidade da colpocitologia oncótica, nem sua periodicidade (58,8 por cento); o grupo que melhor referia conhecimento da necessidade e periodicidade da colpocitologia oncótica foi o de mulheres entre 40 e 60 anos. O material foi considerado insuficiente para análise em 15,1 por cento ou inadequado em 1,1 por cento, sendo os resultados: classe I (21,7 por cento), II (59,9 por cento), III (2,0 por cento), IV (0,1 por cento) e V (0,1 por cento). Näo houve diferença significativa em relaçäo à distribuiçäo dos casos de neoplasia intraepitelial (NIC) entre as faixas etárias. O achado microbiológico mais freqüente foi Gardnerella sp. (8,6 por cento). Presença de papilomavírus humano (HPV) foi significativamente menor nas mulheres acima de 60 anos. CONCLUSÖES: O diagnóstico de alteraçöes colpocitológicas relacionadas a neoplasias foi de 2,2 por cento com detecçäo de Gardnerella sp. como o agente microbiológico mais prevalente por este método. A distribuiçäo de infecçäo pelo HPV mostrou declínio com o aumento da faixa etária. As mulheres mais velhas foram as que menos apresentavam conhecimento sobre a realizaçäo de colpocitologia

[Colpocytology in a preventive gynecological ambulatory service]. / Colpocitologia em ambulatório de ginecologia preventiva.

BACKGROUND: evaluate the results of Pap smear in women attended at a gynecology preventive ambulatory (University of São Paulo Medical School Clinical Hospital). METHODS: 6821 women were submitted to a medical interview, clinical and gynecologic exam. Cervical and vaginal cytology (Pap smear) were analyzed according to the Papanicolaou method and classification. All women were grouped according to their age into three categories:under 40 years old, between 41 and 60 years and over 60 years. RESULTS: most of them, and mainly the younger ones, had been submitted to a previous Pap smear in a period shorter than 1 year (44.2%). The majority of women recognized the usefulness of the exam and knew its interval; the group that best knew its importance and interval was the one with ages between 41 and 60 years, while most women over 60 years did not know both its importance and interval. Cytological material was considered insufficient for analysis in 15,1% and inadequate in 1.1%, and for those with adequate material results were classes I (21.7%), II (59.9%), III (2.0%), IV (0.1%) and V (0.1%). Distribution of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were similar in the three groups. The main microbiologic findings was Gardnerella sp. (8,6%) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) incidence was significantly lower among women over 60 years. CONCLUSION: Cytological diagnoses of neoplastic modifications were performed in 2,2% and Gardnerella sp. was the most prevalent microbiologic agent. Distribution of HPV showed a decrease with age. Older women had lower knowledge on the importance of regular Pap smear examination.

Müllerian adenosarcoma of the uterus with sarcomatous overgrowth following tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer.

Müllerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth presented by a 52-year-old female patient after adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for breast carcinoma is described. The diagnosis was made on histological basis after curettage and complementary total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The immunohistochemical study showed high expression of estrogen receptors in the epithelial component of the lesion and irregularly positive findings in the stroma. The proliferative activity evaluated by Ki-67 immunoexpression was higher in the stroma than the epithelium. Some of the stromal cells showed rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. The association of tamoxifen use and development of mesenchymal neoplasms is discussed.

[External jugular vein as central venous access in intensive care patients]. / Veia jugular externa como acesso venoso central em pacientes de terapia intensiva.

The authors studied 98 patients in need of a central venous line route, joined into two different groups: Group 1 - 62 (63.3%) patients, and Group 2 - 36 (36.7%). All the patients had a visible external jugular vein while on Trendelenburg position. According to the Seldinger technique using a J-wire guided catheter the authors describe a maneuver to make it easy to advance the catheter. Patients from Group 1 had the technique applied by operators with previous experience, and patients from Group 2 by operators with no previous experience, but under supervision. There was no significant difference in the success rate between these two groups: 96.8% in Group 1 and 94.4% in Group 2 (p > 0.5). There was only one case of local bleeding, managed by local compression.