Antiulcerogenic activity of Combretum leprosum.

This study investigates the effects of an ethanolic extract from the stem bark of Combretum leprosum Mart. & Eiche (Combretaceae) on experimental ulcers induced by ethanol and indomethacin and on gastric secretion and mucus content in pylorus-ligated rats. The effects were compared with those of ranitidine and carbenoxolone. Combretum leprosum orally administered elicited a complete inhibition of the appearance of gastric lesions induced by ethanol and a partial reduction when indomethacin was used as an ulcerogenic agent. Moreover, the protection against gastric ulceration induced by ethanol was decreased with indomethacin pretreatment. The intraduodenal administration of Combretum leprosum in four-hour pylorus-ligated rats increased the volume and pH of gastric juice while decreasing the acid output and produced a significant increase in gastric wall mucus content. The major compounds detected in a preliminary phytochemical screening were triterpenes, flavonoids, taninns and saponins. This study provides evidence that the ethanolic extract of Combretum leprosum possesses gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic effects, which are related to the inhibition of the gastric acid secretion and an increase of mucosal defensive factors such as mucus and prostaglandin.

Identification of three novel alleles of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-A in the Brazilian population.

Two human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 (HLA-DRB1*1376 and -DRB1*1465) and one HLA-A (HLA-A*2471) novel alleles have been identified in individuals from the Brazilian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. DNA sequencing of exon 2 for HLA-DRB1 alleles showed two and five nucleotide substitutions in -DRB1*1376 and -DRB1*1465, compared with closely related alleles, respectively. These substitutions result in a change of amino acid residues in HLA-DRB1*1376 at position 74 (Arg --> Glu) and in -DRB*1465 at positions 47 (Tyr --> Phe), 57 (Asp --> Ser) and 74 (Glu --> Ala). On the other hand, sequence analysis of exons 2 and 3 for HLA-A*2471 showed a single substitution, leading to a single amino acid change at position 151 (His --> Arg). These three novel alleles may have originated from other HLA alleles by gene conversion. However, it is also possible that HLA-A*2471 has evolved from one of the alleles of the HLA-A*2402 group through a point mutation.

Heteropterys aphrodisiaca (extract BST0298): a Brazilian plant that improves memory in aged rats.

Literature report is lacking on pharmacological studies of the plant Heteropterys aphrodisiaca, endemic to the scrublands of Brazil. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of oral dosing with extract BST0298 from this plant, on learning and on memory, in young (3-6-month-old) and aged (20-28-month-old) rats. The aged animals presented significant memory deficits in both the passive avoidance and T-maze left/right discrimination tests. Treatment for 7 days (50 mg/kg) or 26 days (100 mg/kg) with extract BST0298 restored the memory deficits in the passive avoidance test. However, no improvement in memory was observed after acute administration of extract BST0298 (100 mg/kg) in aged rats. An improvement in learning was also observed in the left/right discrimination test in aged rats treated for 109 days with BST0298 at a dose of 50 mg/kg. These results suggest that treatment for 7 days or more with H. aphrodisiaca improves learning and memory deficits in aged rats.

Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Machado : effects of extract BST 0298 on the oxidative stress of young and old rat brains.

The plant Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Machado is widely employed in Brazilian popular medicine as a stimulant, a tonic and a remedy for nervous debility. Several other plant products with similar therapeutic applications may have such effects based on the antioxidant content of polyphenols (gallates, cathecols, etc.) and flavonoids. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Machado extracts on the antioxidant defences and oxidative stress of young and old rat brains. Tests of lipoperoxidation in vitro, comparing H. aphrodisiaca extracts with butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), a classic antioxidant, showed an efficient inhibition of lipoperoxidation (Q(1/2) = 3.3 microg/mL). Chronic treatment of young and old rats with 50 mg plant extract/kg body weight resulted in a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities (40%) in the brain of old rats, but no changes in catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). No significant variations in antioxidant enzyme activities were observed in the brains of young rats. However, significantly lower levels of lipoperoxidation (30%) were detected in the brain of young rats upon plant extract administration, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca extracts reduced the oxidative stress to brain lipids.

[Neonatal arthritis of the hip due to group B streptococcus]. / Osteoartrite neonatal do quadril por Streptococcus beta-hemolítico do grupo B.

The authors describe a case of neonatal osteoarthritis of the hip due to group B streptococcus and discuss the importance of recognizing this bacteria in the late focal infections of the newborn.

The first isolation of human Yersinia enterocolitica in Brazil: case report.

The isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica from humans in Brazil has never been described before. The present report describes the isolation of an Y. enterocolitica isolate from a patient with clinical symptoms resembling appendicitis. The isolate showed typical sensitivity to the drugs and biochemical tests, with the exception of the motility at 22 degrees C, that was negative. The strain agglutinated with antisera 03 and the patient's serum showed an antibody titer of 1:80 against Y. enterocolitica serotype 03.