Dexmedetomidine supplementation for surgical field enhancement in endonasal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine has been shown to effectively control intraoperative bleeding and improve surgical field visualization. However, its value in endonasal surgeries remains a matter of debate. METHODOLOGY: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies comparing dexmedetomidine with placebo in endonasal surgeries. Outcomes included bleeding, operative time (OT), surgeon’s satisfaction, postoperative pain (POP), and nausea/vomiting (PONV). For statistical analysis, we used RevMan 5.4.1, and assessed heterogeneity with I2 statistics. RESULTS: We included a total of 1386 patients from 22 studies. In the placebo group, there was higher bleeding volume, whereas the dexmedetomidine group showed lower scores on the Fromme-Boezaart scale. Additionally, the surgeon satisfaction risk ratio (RR) increased, and OT was reduced in the dexmedetomidine group. The dexmedetomidine group had lower incidences of POP and PONV. CONCLUSIONS: In endonasal surgeries, dexmedetomidine was associated with improvements in surgical field visualization as evidenced by reduced intraoperative bleeding and postoperative morbidities.

Depression and anxiety disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis: association with neurodegeneration and neurofilaments.

There is increasing evidence that neurofilament light chain (NF-L) can be considered as a biomarker for neuro-axonal damage. This polypeptide can be released into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood, where it can be quantified. The concentration of NF-L is elevated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and psychiatric disorders. We aimed to investigate the NF-L levels in the CSF from treated MS patients and the relationship with depression or anxiety. The study involved three groups: control group (individuals without inflammation), the relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)-untreated group, and the RRMS-Fingo group (RRMS patients who were treated with fingolimod). MS disability was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale, and depression and anxiety were evaluated by a neuropsychologist, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Individual CSF samples were collected to measure NF-L levels. The results of the statistical analysis on levels of NF-L in the CSF of control subjects, RRMS-untreated patients, and RRMS-Fingo patients were significant. The relationship between depression and anxiety in RRMS-Fingo patients and NF-L levels was not statistically significant. In conclusion, MS events such as anxiety and depression appear to contribute to the onset of clinical relapses, subclinical cases, and neurodegeneration.

Depression and anxiety disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis: association with neurodegeneration and neurofilaments

There is increasing evidence that neurofilament light chain (NF-L) can be considered as a biomarker for neuro-axonal damage. This polypeptide can be released into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood, where it can be quantified. The concentration of NF-L is elevated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and psychiatric disorders. We aimed to investigate the NF-L levels in the CSF from treated MS patients and the relationship with depression or anxiety. The study involved three groups: control group (individuals without inflammation), the relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)-untreated group, and the RRMS-Fingo group (RRMS patients who were treated with fingolimod). MS disability was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale, and depression and anxiety were evaluated by a neuropsychologist, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Individual CSF samples were collected to measure NF-L levels. The results of the statistical analysis on levels of NF-L in the CSF of control subjects, RRMS-untreated patients, and RRMS-Fingo patients were significant. The relationship between depression and anxiety in RRMS-Fingo patients and NF-L levels was not statistically significant. In conclusion, MS events such as anxiety and depression appear to contribute to the onset of clinical relapses, subclinical cases, and neurodegeneration.

Lethal Effect and Behavioral Responses of Leaf-Cutting Ants to Essential Oil of Pogostemon cablin (Lamiaceae) and Its Nanoformulation.

Leaf-cutting ants belonging to the genus Atta (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) are important pests in agricultural and forest environments. In the present study, we evaluated the formicidal activity of the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin and its nanoformulation on the leaf-cutting ants: Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier, 1939), Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758), and Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908. The nanoformulation was developed by magnetic stirring using polyoxyethylene (36%), pure ethanol (36%), essential oil of P. cablin (18%), and water (10%). Bioassays of acute toxicity by fumigation and behavioral bioassays in treated arenas, with and without choice, were performed. The essential oil of P. cablin and its nanoformulation demonstrated efficient insecticidal activity and irritability to ant species. The concentration required to kill 50% of workers varied from 1.06 to 2.10 µL L-1, with a mean time to death of less than or equal to 42 h. The essential oil of P. cablin and its nanoformulation reduced the displacement and velocity speed of the workers of A. opaciceps and A. sexdens rubropilosa in totally treated arenas. In the bioassays with choices, the three species of ants walked less and at a greater speed on the treated side of arena. This work demonstrates the potential of the essential oil of P. cablin and its nanoformulation to the generation of new formicidal products.

Poisonous mushrooms: a review of the most common intoxications.

Mushrooms have been used as components of human diet and many ancient documents written in oriental countries have already described the medicinal properties of fungal species. Some mushrooms are known because of their nutritional and therapeutical properties and all over the world some species are known because of their toxicity that causes fatal accidents every year mainly due to misidentification. Many different substances belonging to poisonous mushrooms were already identified and are related with different symptoms and signs. Carcinogenicity, alterations in respiratory and cardiac rates, renal failure, rhabidomyolisis and other effects were observed in toxicity studies with various species including edible and therapeutic ones. Proper identification is important to avoid accidents and toxicity studies are necessary to assure the safe use of mushrooms as food and for medicinal purposes.

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana do extrato etanólico bruto da casca da sucupira branca (Pterodon emarginatus Vogel) - Fabaceae / Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of crude ethanol extract from the bark of "sucupira branca" (Pterodon emarginatus Vogel) - Fabaceae

Pterodon emarginatus Vogel (Fabaceae) é uma árvore do Cerrado conhecida popularmente como "sucupira branca, faveiro, fava de sucupira e sucupira lisa" e utilizada na medicina popular em preparações anti-reumáticas, antiinflamatórias, analgésicas e antiinfecciosas. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo fazer a triagem fitoquímica do pó e avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato etanólico bruto das cascas da P. emarginatus contra bactérias Gram-positivas, Gram-negativas e o fungo Candida albicans. O extrato etanólico bruto foi obtido a partir das cascas dessecadas e pulverizadas. A concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) do extrato bruto foi determinada utilizando-se o inoculador de Steers. Os testes fitoquímicos detectaram a presença de flavonóides, heterosídeos saponínicos, resinas e traços de esteróides e triterpenóides. As CIM do extrato etanólico foram de 0,18 mg mL-1 para as bactérias Gram-positivas Rhodococcus equi ATCC 25923, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Micrococcus roseus IPTSP/UFG e para as bactérias Gram-negativas Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 e Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027; de 0,37 mg mL-1 para a Enterobacter cloacae FT 505 LEMC/EPM/UFG e de 0,74 mg mL-1 para as demais bactérias testadas e para o fungo C. albicans. O presente estudo abre perspectivas para o uso da cascas da P. emarginatus como antimicrobiano.

Pterodon emarginatus Vogel (Fabaceae) is a Cerrado tree popularly known as "sucupira branca", "faveiro", "fava de sucupira" and "sucupira lisa" and has been used in folk medicine as antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-infective. The aim of this work was to perform the phytochemical screening of the powder and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of crude ethanol extract from P. emarginatus barks against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans. The crude ethanol extract was obtained from desiccated and pulverized barks. Its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by using Steers inoculator. The phytochemical tests detected the presence of flavonoids, saponin heterosides, resins and traces of steroids and triterpenoids. Ethanol extract MICs were 0.18 mg mL-1 for the Gram-positive bacteria Rhodococcus equi ATCC 25923, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 and Micrococcus roseus IPTSP/UFG, and for the Gram-negative bacteria Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027; 0.37 mg mL-1 for Enterobacter cloacae FT 505 LEMC/EPM/UFG; and 0.74 mg mL-1 for the remaining tested bacteria and for the fungus C. albicans. This study opens perspectives for the use of P. emarginatus barks as an antimicrobial drug.