Inibição do crescimento micelial de Cercospora calendulae Sacc. por extratos de plantas medicinais / Inhibition of the mycelial growth of Cercospora calendulae Sacc. by medicinal plants extracts

O uso de extratos e óleos essenciais de plantas medicinais tem sido amplamente estudado no controle de doenças de plantas. O objetivo da realização do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de extratos de Ruta graveolens L., Mentha x villosa, Calendula officinalis L., Momordica charantia L., Symphytum officinale L., Ageratum conyzoides L. e Ricinus comunis L., nas concentrações de 0, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 e 10000 mg L-1, sobre a inibição do crescimento micelial de Cercospora calendulae Sacc. in vitro. Os extratos foram obtidos por infusão. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Fitopatologia da FCA/UFGD, estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, esquema fatorial 7 extratos x 7 concentrações, com seis repetições. Foi detectado efeito dos extratos e suas concentrações sobre o crescimento do fungo, sendo a interação significativa. Os extratos de calêndula, arruda, hortelã e melão de São Caetano, nas maiores concentrações resultaram em maiores porcentagens de inibição, próximas de 100%, 30%, 35% e 40%, respectivamente, a 10000 mg L-1.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the extracts of Ruta graveolens L., Mentha x villosa, Calendula officinalis L., Momordica charantia L., Symphytum officinale L., Ageratum conyzoides L. and Ricinus comunis L., in the concentrations of 0, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 mg L-1, on the inhibition of the mycelial growth of in vitro Cercospora calendulae Sacc. The extracts were obtained by infusion. The experiment was performed at the Laboratório de Fitopatologia - FCA/UFGD, in the Brazilian State of Mato Grosso do Sul. The experimental design was totally randomized, with a factorial arrangement of 7 extracts x 7 concentrations, with six repetitions. We detected the effect of the extracts and their concentrations on the growth of the fungus, with a significant interaction between the factor extracts and the concentration. Calendula officinalis L., Ruta graveolens L., Mentha x villosa and Momordica charantia L. extracts in higher concentration resulted in higher inhibition percentages in the order of 100%, 30%, 35% and 40%, respectively.

Inibição do crescimento in vitro de fitopatógenos sob diferentes concentrações de extratos de plantas medicinais / In vitro inhibition of fungal plant pathogens by different concentrations of medicinal plants extracts

Com o objetivo de avaliar in vitro o efeito de diferentes concentrações de extratos vegetais sobre o crescimento de Cercospora kikuchii, Fusarium solani, Colletotrichum sp. e Phomopsis sp., foram conduzidos quatro bioensaios experimentais, no Laboratório de Fitopatologia da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados. Foi adotado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 3 x 6, com 8 repetições para cada bioensaio. Foram utilizados extratos aquosos de alho, canela e cravo-da-índia, nas concentrações de 0; 0,5; 1; 5; 10 e 20%. Para obtenção dos extratos foram coletadas 30 g do material vegetal e trituradas em 120 mL de água destilada. Os extratos foram filtrados em papel Wathman nº 1 e incorporados ao meio BDA, de modo a obter as concentrações desejadas. Posteriormente, a solução foi vertida em placas de Petri, onde foram transferidos discos de micélio do patógeno, de 0,3 cm de diâmetro. Em seguida, as placas foram incubadas a 25º C, com fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Foi analisado o crescimento micelial da colônia fúngica. Os resultados revelaram que o efeito do extrato aquoso de canela para todos os patógenos estudados, e do extrato de alho para F. solani, Colletotrichum sp. e Phomopsis sp. foi dependente das concentrações utilizadas, constatando-se maior atividade antifúngica com o aumento das concentrações. Verificou-se com o uso do extrato de cravo-da-índia maior eficácia no controle dos fitopatógenos testados, sendo observada supressão sobre o crescimento de Colletotrichum sp., Cercospora kikuchii, F. solani e de Phomopsis sp. a partir das concentrações de 7,4, 7,5, 8,9 e 7,0%, respectivamente. O extrato aquoso de alho, na concentração de 9,7%, apresentou efetivo controle apenas sobre C. kikuchii.

In order to evaluate the in vitro effect of different concentrations of plant extracts on the growth of Cercospora kikuchii, Fusarium solani, Colletotrichum sp. and Phomopsis sp., 4 bioassays experiments were conducted at the Plant Pathology Laboratory of the Federal University of Grande Dourados, Brazil. The experimental design was a completely randomized design in a 3 x 6 factorial arrangement, with 8 replicates for each bioassay. Aqueous extracts of garlic, cinnamon and clove were evaluated in concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 20%. Extracts were obtained through maceration of 30 g of plant material in 120 mL of distilled water. The extracts were filtered in grade-1 Whatman paper and incorporated into PDA medium to obtain the desired concentrations. Subsequently, the solution was poured into Petri dishes, and then 3 mm-diameter-PDA plugs with pathogen mycelium were transferred to the center of the PDA + plant extract Petri dish. Plates were incubated at 25° C with a 12-h-day photoperiod. Fungal growth was performed daily by measuring the colony diameter. The results showed that the effect of aqueous extract of cinnamon for all pathogens studied, and garlic extract for F. solani, Colletotrichum sp. and Phomopsis sp., was dependent on the concentrations used, noting a higher antifungal activity with increased concentrations used. Clove extract presented the greatest effectiveness for the control of the plant pathogens tested, with observed suppression on the growth of Colletotrichum sp. C. kikuchii, F. solani and Phomopsis sp. at the concentrations 7.4, 7.5, 8.9 and 7.0%, respectively. The aqueous extract of garlic at a concentration of 9.7% presented effective control only for C. kikuchii.

Influência de diferentes metodologias de esterilização sobre a atividade antifúngica de extratos aquosos de plantas medicinais / Influence of different sterilization methods on the antifungal activity of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants

Foram conduzidos no Laboratório de Fitopatologia da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados três experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar in vitro a atividade antifúngica dos extratos aquosos de alho, canela e cravo-da-índia, submetidos a diferentes processos de desinfestação e/ou esterilização sobre o desenvolvimento de Fusarium solani. O delineamento experimental utilizado para cada ensaio foi inteiramente casualizado, com 5 tratamentos e 8 repetições. Utilizaram-se os extratos aquosos na concentração de 20 por cento, submetidos às metodologias de filtragem (FI), banho maria a 65°C (BM), autoclavagem a 100ºC (AT1), autoclavagem a 120ºC (AT2) e a testemunha (somente BDA). Posteriormente os extratos foram incorporados em meio BDA, acondicionados em placas de Petri, onde foram transferidos discos de micélio de F. solani medindo 0,3 cm de diâmetro. Após, as placas foram incubadas a 25ºC, com fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Os tratamentos foram analisados em relação ao crescimento micelial da colônia, a porcentagem de inibição e a taxa de crescimento de F. solani. Foi observado em todos os ensaios maior crescimento do fungo na testemunha, evidenciando o potencial antifúngico dos extratos. Foi observada influência da metodologia de esterilização sobre a eficiência dos extratos de alho e canela. Para o alho a FI proporcionou os melhores resultados, enquanto que para o extrato de canela não houve diferenças entre as metodologias FI, BM e AT1. As diferentes metodologias utilizadas não interferiram na eficiência do extrato aquoso de cravo-da-índia.

Three experiments were conducted in the Laboratory of Phytopathology of Federal University of Grande Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, to evaluate in vitro the antifungal activity of aqueous extracts of garlic, cinnamon and clove subjected to different processes of disinfection and/or sterilization against the development of Fusarium solani. The experimental design for each trial was completely randomized, with 5 treatments and 8 replicates. Aqueous extracts at a concentration of 20 percent were subjected to the methods of filtering (FI), water bath at 65ºC (WB), autoclaving at 100ºC (AT1), autoclaving at 120ºC (AT2) and control treatment (PDA alone). Subsequently, the extracts were incorporated into PDA medium, added to Petri dishes, to where F. solani mycelium discs of 0.3cm diameter were transferred. Then, the plates were incubated at 25ºC with 12-h photoperiod. The treatments were analyzed as to mycelial growth of the colony, percentage of inhibition and growth rate of F. solani. Increased fungal growth was observed for the control treatment, demonstrating the antifungal potential of the extracts. The sterilization method influenced the efficiency of garlic and cinnamon extracts. For garlic, FI led to the best results, whereas for cinnamon extract there were no differences among the methodologies FI, WB and AT1. The different methods used did not interfere with the efficiency of the aqueous extract of clove.

Estrogen receptor-positive breast carcinomas in younger women are different from those of older women: a pathological and immunohistochemical study.

The higher frequency of triple-negative and HER-2-positive tumors detected in younger patients has been suggested as an explanation for the more aggressive tumor types observed in this age group. However, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors are the most frequent subtype of breast carcinomas identified, even in younger patients. In this retrospective study, the morphological and immunohistochemical profiles of ER-positive breast carcinomas from women 35 yrs and younger that were diagnosed between 1997 and 2007 were evaluated. From these cases, 213 were selected based on the availability of pathology reports and paraffin blocks. For comparison, 117 consecutive cases of breast carcinomas diagnosed in patients >60 yrs from 2006 were included. Paraffin-embedded tumors were stained for expression of ER, progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), Ki-67 antigen, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cytokeratin 5/6, p53, vimentin, CD117, and p63 using tissue microarrays. ER-positive carcinomas were diagnosed in 120 (56.1%) samples of the younger patient group and in 92 (78.6%) samples of the older patient group. Of these ER-positive carcinomas, 48 (40%) from the younger patient group presented the subtype luminal A, compared with 53 (57.6%) from the older patient group (p=0.01). Tumors from the younger patient group were also associated with increased vascular involvement, co-expression of HER-2, and decreased expression of CD117. These results highlight differences in expression markers and the pathology of ER-positive tumors detected in younger women, with a notable characteristic being co-expression of HER-2.

Improved liver tests and greater biliary enrichment with high dose ursodeoxycholic acid in early stage primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Ursodeoxycholic acid is currently used for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis at 13-15 mg/kg/day, but liver tests of some patients do not return to normal at this dose. Studies reported here were designed to test whether a higher dose of ursodeoxycholic acid than is currently used would induce still greater biliary enrichment of ursodeoxycholic acid and whether such enrichment would lead to still further improvement in liver tests in patients with early primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with histologically proven primary biliary cirrhosis were enrolled. Patients had early stage primary biliary cirrhosis as serum bilirubin levels were normal and the Mayo risk score 4.2 +/- 0.5. Group 1 received 600, 1200 and 1800 mg/day of ursodeoxycholic acid; group 2 received 900, 1500 and 2100 mg/day. The order of periods was randomized. Each treatment period lasted 3 months followed by a further 3 months during which a standard dose of ursodeoxycholic acid was given. At the end of each treatment period, liver tests were evaluated, and biliary bile acid pattern of duodenal bile was determined using high pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Biliary bile acid became enriched in ursodeoxycholic acid in direct relationship to dosage [r = 0.84, p < 0.001). At doses of 1800 mg/day (25-35 mg/kg/day), biliary ursodeoxycholic acid averaged 69 +/- 6.6%. A progressive decrease of alanine aminotransferase [p < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase [p < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase [p < 0.02) was observed with increasing concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid in bile. Biochemical liver tests showed a stronger correlation with biliary concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid than with the administered dose. CONCLUSIONS: In early primary biliary cirrhosis, higher dose ursodeoxycholic acid appears to be more effective than doses currently recommended.

Predictors of atrial defibrillation threshold in internal cardioversion.

This study examined the clinical, echocardiographic, and electrophysiological factors influencing the atrial defibrillation threshold (ADFT) in patients with chronic, persistent AF undergoing transvenous, low energy, atrial cardioversion. Twenty-two patients (age 57 +/- 15 years) with a mean AF duration of 7.8 +/- 7.1 months (range 2-32 months) underwent internal cardioversion with catheters placed in the right atrium and coronary sinus. Biphasic shocks (3/3 ms) were delivered in a step-up protocol. ADFT was defined as the lowest energy shock that converted AF to sinus rhythm. All patients were successfully cardioverted at a mean ADFT of 5.62 +/- 2.82 J (range 2.6-12.9 J). Fifteen variables, including clinical characteristics (age, body mass index, AF duration, etiology), echocardiographic measurements (atrial diameter and volumes, indexes of ventricular performance), hemodynamic measurements, and mean atrial cycle during AF were analyzed as possible predictors of ADFT. In univariate regression analysis, AF duration, mean RR interval, and cardiac index correlated with ADFT. In multivariate regression analysis, AF duration remained as the only significant predictor of ADFT (B coefficient 0.311, P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.194-0.427). AF duration was the most powerful predictor of ADFT. It should be considered when planning internal CV of AF to limit the number of shocks delivered. Furthermore, long intervals between AF onset and CV should be avoided.

Repolarization changes in a double-blind crossover study of dofetilide versus sotalol in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to determine whether a therapeutic response to Class III antiarrhythmic drugs is related to predictable changes in repolarization on the electrocardiogram (ECG). A group of 57 patients with ischemic heart disease and inducible ventricular tachycardia (VT) at electrophysiological study (EPS) were selected from a population enrolled in a randomized double-blind crossover study of dofetilide (500 micrograms bid) versus sotalol (160 mg bid). ECGs were analyzed blindly, and RR, QT (maximum value/12 leads), QTc (Bazett's formula), QT dispersion (QTmax-QTmin over 12 leads) and QTc dispersion, were calculated at baseline and on the third day of treatment (4 hours after dosing), when patients underwent EPS to test the effects of study drugs on VT inducibility. RESULTS: At EPS 21 patients were responders to dofetilide and 22 to sotalol. On day 3, a significant increase in QT and QTc and decrease in QT and QTc dispersion, compared to baseline, was measured in responders and nonresponders, with both dofetilide and sotalol. No significant difference in QTc or QT dispersion between responders and nonresponders was observed in either treatment group. In conclusion, treatment with dofetilide and sotalol was associated with an increase in QT and QTc, and a decrease in QT and QTc dispersion. In contrast with previous reports, a differential effect on QT or QTc dispersion was not observed in drug responders versus nonresponders.

[Psychosomatic changes in video terminal operators]. / Alterazioni psico-somatiche in operatori addetti ai videoterminali.

The incidence of psychosomatic symptoms in a group of VDT operators is evaluated and compared with a control group (people not working at VDTs) by using questionnaires. The dta show that some psychosomatic symptoms are much more frequent in VDT operators in comparison with the control group.

[Ocular symptoms and video display terminals: study of a group of video-terminal operators]. / Sintomatologia oculare e VDT: studio condotto su un gruppo di operatori al video-terminale.

Ocular symptoms have been evaluated on a VDT operators group, by using questionnaires and an ophthalmological screening. The results show that some ocular fatigue symptoms are much more frequent in VDT operators in comparison with the control group. VDT operators working more than 4 hours/day at VDT are the most affected.

[Evaluation of stress indicators in 2 groups of video display terminal operators]. / Valutazione di alcuni indicatori di "stress" in due gruppi di operatori ai video-terminali.

The results of a study on 68 VDT operators are hereby presented. Various biochemical indexes are evaluated as markers of stress. In particular, urinary catecholamines and their metabolites (E, NE, DA, HVA, VMA), ACTH, cortisol, NEFA and fructosamine have been tested by the Authors. Each assay has been performed both in basal conditions, and after the completion of subjects workshift, taking into account the normal hormonal biorhythms. The data which emerged have been analyzed by statistical method ("Student t" with coupled data). Each subject data was confronted before and after workshift. The number of hours of VDT exposure and the different types of duties have been considered and evaluated. The results show that, although the data are all included within the normal range, some of the tested parameters after workshift are significantly higher, compared with the same parameters referring to the basal condition. In particular, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine seem to be the most effective markers of stress. Analogous studies will be pursued in the future by the Authors on a larger number of VDT operators.