Atividade Antimicrobiana da Uncaria Tomentosa (Willd) D. C. / Antimicrobial activity of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC

A Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D. C. (unha de gato) é uma planta amplamente utilizada na medicina popular, originária da Amazônia. Possui atividades biológicas, como anti-inflamatória, antimutagênica e antioxidante. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato de U. tomentosa, seco e hidroalcoólico, obtido comercialmente, utilizando-se 12 cepas de microrganismos (6 Gram-positvas e 6 Gram-negativas). Os testes antimicrobianos foram realizados em ágar BHI pela técnica de difusão em ágar. Também foram determinadas a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Microbicida Mínima (CMM). Os testes demonstraram que os extratos inibiram o crescimento de bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas, sendo o extrato hidroalcoólico mais eficiente que o extrato seco. Conclui-se que o extrato de U. tomentosa possui atividade antimicrobiana podendo ser utilizado como uma alternativa terapêutica de baixo custo...

The plant Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC. (cat's claw), found in the Amazon region and widely used in popular medicine, has anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was to test the antimicrobial activity of two commercially prepared extracts of U. tomentosa, one dried extract of bark and the other hydroalcoholic leaf extract, against 12 strains of bacteria (6 Gram-positive and 6 Gram-negative). The antimicrobial tests were conducted by diffusion in BHI agar. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Microbicidal Concentration (MMC) were also determined. The tests showed that both extracts inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, but the hydroalcoholic extract was more effective and also inhibited Gram-negative bacteria. It is concluded that the U. tomentosa extract has an antimicrobial activity and can be used as a low-cost alternative treatment...

Parkin-proven disease: common founders but divergent phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and contrast clinical and genetic findings in six probands with parkinsonism with a parkin exon 3 438- to 477-bp deletion (Ex3Delta40) to search for evidence of a common founder. METHOD: Clinical review, parkin gene sequencing, dosage studies, and high-resolution genotype/haplotype analysis were performed. RESULTS: All subjects had two or more signs consistent with a diagnosis of possible or probable PD with age at onset younger than 45 years (mean +/- SD 29.3 +/- 10.2 years, range 16 to 42 years). Affected individuals were either homozygotes, compound heterozygotes, or Ex3Delta40 carriers with one normal parkin allele. Haplotype analysis revealed both Ex3Delta40 and Ex7 924 C-->T (R275W) mutations originated from common founders, the former most probably of Irish descent. Although three cases had Ex7 924 C-->T (R275W) and Ex3Delta40 mutations, their clinical presentation and mode of inheritance were variable. CONCLUSION: Parkin mutations on common parkin haplotypes provide testable hypotheses of parkin function in genetically defined parkinsonism.

Amoxapine shows an antipsychotic effect but worsens motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease and psychosis.

Amoxapine, a dibenzoxazepine antidepressant, has been suggested to have atypical antipsychotic properties. We tested it to control psychosis in three patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Two patients had significant improvement in hallucinations, whereas the third could not tolerate the drug for a sufficient period. All three patients experienced a decline in motor function; two also had concomitant reduction in dyskinesias. Therefore, although we found some support for amoxapine having antipsychotic properties, this drug seems to carry a risk of worsening motor function in patients with PD.

Bilateral pallidotomy for generalized dystonia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bilateral pallidotomies in five patients with generalized dystonia. BACKGROUND: Generalized dystonias are frequently a therapeutic challenge, with poor responses to pharmacological treatment. GPi (globus pallidus internus) pallidotomies for Parkinson's disease ameliorate all kinds of dyskinesias/dystonia, and recent studies reported a marked improvement of refractory dystonias with this procedure. METHODS: Five patients with generalized dystonias refractory to medical treatment were selected; one posttraumatic and four idiopathic. The decision to perform bilateral procedures was based on the predominant axial involvement in these patients. Dystonia severity was assessed with the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Scale (BFM). Simultaneous procedures were performed in all but one patient, who had a staged procedure. They were reevaluated with the same scale (BFM) by an unblinded rater at 1, 2, 3, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 days post-operatively. RESULTS: The four patients with idiopathic dystonia showed a progressive improvement up to three months; the patient with posttraumatic dystonia relapsed at three months. One patient had a marked improvement, being able to discontinue all the medications. A mean decrease in the BFM scores of 52,58% was noted. One patient had a trans-operative motor seizure followed by a transient hemiparesis secondary to rack hemorrhage; other was lethargic up to three days after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that bilateral GPi pallidotomies may be a safe and effective approach to medically refractory generalized dystonias; it can also be speculated that the posttraumatic subgroup may not benefit with this procedure.

Charcot and Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between Professor Charcot and Brazil. BACKGROUND: During the XIX century, French Neurology and its most prominent figure, Professor Charcot, dominated the area of nervous system diseases in the world. METHOD: We have reviewed some of the main publications about Charcot's life, the biography of Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil and the development of Neurology in Brazil. RESULTS: Among the most important patients in Charcot's practice was the Emperor of Brazil. Dom Pedro II became a close friend of Charcot and he was a distinguished guest at Charcot's house, particularly at Tuesday soirées on boulevard St. Germain. In 1887, during the visit of Dom Pedro II to France, Charcot evaluated him and made the diagnosis of surmenage. In 1889, Dom Pedro II was disposed and went to Paris, where he lived until his death in 1891. Charcot signed the death certificate and gave the diagnosis of pneumonitis. Charcot had a passionate affection for animals, a feeling shared by Dom Pedro II. Dom Pedro II was affiliated to the French Society for the Protection of Animals. It is conceivable that Charcot's little monkey, from South America, was given to him by Dom Pedro II. The Brazilian Neurological School was founded by Professor A. Austregésilo in 1911, in Rio de Janeiro. At the time, of Charcot's death in 1893, his influence was still very important in the whole world. He and his pupils played a major role in the development of Brazilian Neurology. CONCLUSION: Professor Charcot had a close relationship with the Emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro II. He was his private physician and they were close friends. The neurological school, created by professor Charcot, contributed significantly, albeit in an indirect way, to the development of Brazilian Neurology, starting in 1911, in Rio de Janeiro, by Professor A. Austregésilo.

[Use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia): preliminary study of twelve patients]. / O uso da toxina botulínica no tratamento da distonia laríngea (disfonia espasmódica): estudo preliminar com doze pacientes.

Laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia) is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary contractions of laryngeal muscles involved with vocalization. The introduction of botulinum toxin in the treatment of laryngeal dystonia had a major clinical impact due to the striking improvement of symptoms. We report the preliminary results of therapeutical use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of twelve patients with laryngeal dystonia. After an extensive clinical evaluation, the patients underwent a videostroboscopic exam for diagnostic confirmation. Botulinum toxin was injected in the cricothyreoid membrane, directed towards the thyreoaritenoid muscle, with the aid of eletromyography needles. Most of patients who underwent botulinum toxin injection had a significant improvement of their symptoms (83%), with effects lasting for four months in average and without important side effects.

Worsening of Parkinsonism after the use of veralipride for treatment of menopause: case report.

We describe a female patient with stable Parkinson's disease who has shown a marked worsening of her motor functions following therapy of menopause related symptoms with veralipride, as well as the improvement of her symptoms back to baseline after discontinuation of the drug. We emphasize the anti-dopaminergic effect of veralipride.

[Lafora's disease and movement disorders: report of 2 cases]. / Doença de Lafora e distúrbios do movimento: relato de dois casos.

Two cases of Lafora's disease with prominent movement disorders portraying rare initial manifestations are reported. In both patients, the first manifestations were cerebellar ataxia, dysartria and startle phenomenon. These symptoms occurred before seizures, myoclonic and progressive dementia, which are more well known as manifestations of Lafora's disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by the identification of PAS positive inclusion bodies in deep skin biopsy samples. Our patients presented an unexpected slow progression of the disease, with longer survival. Lafora's disease should be remembered among diseases causing slowly progressive ataxia associated with epileptic seizures.

The Rolex sign: first manifestation of Parkinson's disease: case report.

We describe a patient whose initial manifestation of Parkinson's disease was a malfunctioning of a self-winding wristwatch secondary to bradykinesia of his left arm. Andrade and Ferraz reported this sign in 1996, suggesting that it be called the Rolex sign.

[Internal carotid bilateral occlusion, meningovascular syphilis and AIDS: case report]. / Oclusão bilateral das artérias carótidas internas, sífilis meningovascular e SIDA. Relato de caso.

We report a case of bilateral occlusion of internal carotid arteries, presenting with right hemiparesis and hypoesthesia, associated to meningovascular syphilis in a patient with AIDS. CT scan showed few small hypodense lesions, with a predominance on the left side, and the angiography showed bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries. The association between syphilis and AIDS is not unusual, but the paucity of symptoms, probably due to a slow and gradual occlusion is not commonly reported.