BR-bombesin: a novel bombesin-related peptide from the skin secretion of the Chaco tree frog (Boana raniceps) with physiological gastric effects.

Bombesin mediates several biological activities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and central nervous system in mammals, including smooth muscle contraction, secretion of GI hormones and regulation of homeostatic mechanisms. Here, we report a novel bombesin-like peptide isolated from Boana raniceps. Its amino acid sequence, GGNQWAIGHFM-NH2, was identified and structurally confirmed by HPLC, MS/MS and 454-pyrosequencing; the peptide was named BR-bombesin. The effect of BR-bombesin on smooth muscle contraction was assessed in ileum and esophagus, and its anti-secretory activity was investigated in the stomach. BR-bombesin exerted significant contractile activity with a concentration-response curve similar to that of commercially available bombesin in ileum strips of Wistar rats. In esophageal strips, BR-bombesin acted as an agonist, as many other bombesin-related peptides act, although with different behavior compared to the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Moreover, BR-bombesin inhibited stomach secretion by approximately 50% compared to the untreated control group. This novel peptide has 80% and 70% similarity with the 10-residue C-terminal domain of human neuromedin B (NMB) and human gastrin releasing peptide (GRP10), respectively. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the GRP receptor had a binding energy equal to - 7.3 kcal.mol-1 and - 8.5 kcal.mol-1 when interacting with bombesin and BR-bombesin, respectively. Taken together, our data open an avenue to investigate BR-bombesin in disorders that involve gastrointestinal tract motility and acid gastric secretion.

Função sexual e qualidade de vida em mulheres climatéricas / Climacteric women's sexual function and quality of life

Introdução: O climatério é um período marcado por transformações no corpo feminino, desse modo, diversos problemas como: redução da lubrificação vaginal, anorgasmia e dispareunia podem surgir ou se agravar e, como consequência, há uma diminuição na qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Analisar a relação da função sexual e a qualidade de vida em mulheres climatéricas. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional, de corte transversal, analítico. A coleta de dados foi realizada com 20 mulheres climatéricas com faixa etária de 38 a 60 anos. Como instrumentos foram utilizados questionários contendo dados sociodemográficos, o Female Sexual Function Index para avaliar a função sexual e o World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOLBREF) para analisar a qualidade de vida. Resultados: Foi observado que nas mulheres que possuem disfunção sexual no domínio excitação, a média está abaixo do ponto de corte, o que não ocorre com mulheres que não possuem disfunção (p = 0,03), o mesmo ocorre com os domínios orgasmo e satisfação. Na correlação da função sexual com a qualidade de vida, há significância estatística nos domínios físico (p = 0,023) e meio ambiente (p = 0,049). Conclusão: Constatou-se que nas mulheres que possuem uma qualidade de vida reduzida os impactos da disfunção sexual são maiores. (AU)

Introduction: The climacteric period is a stage characterized by changes in women's bodies this way, numerous issues such as the decrease of vaginal lubrication, anorgasmia and dyspareunia may come up and be aggravated consequently promoting a reduction in the quality of life. Objective: To assess the relation between sexual functioning and life's quality in climacteric women. Methods: It is an observational and analytical study, with a cross-sectional design. The data collection was carried with 20 climacteric women aged from 38 to 60 years old. As instruments were used questionnaires that comprised sociodemographic data, the Female Sexual Function Index to examine the sexual function and the World Health Organization Quality of Life WHOQOL-BREF to assess life's quality. Results: It was noted that for women who have had sexual dysfunction in the excitation domain, the mean was below the cutoff point what does not happen with women who did not have dysfunction (p = 0,03), the same happens with orgasm and satisfaction domains. Correlating sexual function with life's quality, the physical (p = 0,023) and environmental (p = 0,049) present statistical significance. Conclusion: It was determined that for women who have a reduced quality of life the sexual dysfunction impacts are larger. (AU)

Protective effect of Platymiscium floribundum Vog. in tree extract on periodontitis inflammation in rats.

Periodontitis is an immuno-inflammatory disease, which can lead to tooth loss. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Platymiscium floribundum Vog., a Brazilian tree which has been used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, in a pre-clinical trial of periodontitis in rats. Periodontitis was induced by placing a sterilized nylon (3.0) thread ligature around the cervix of the second left upper molar of the rats, which received (per os) P. floribundum extract (0.1, 1 or 10 mg/kg) or vehicle 1h before periodontitis-challenge and once daily during 11 days. Treatment with P. floribundum (10mg/kg) decreased alveolar bone loss, MPO activity nitrite/nitrate levels, oxidative stress, TNF-α, IL1-ß, IL-8/CINC-1, and PGE2 gingival levels, and transcription of TNF-α, IL1-ß, COX-2, iNOS, RANK, and RANKL genes, while elevated both BALP serum levels and IL-10 gingival levels. The animals did not show signs of toxicity throughout the experimental course. These findings show that P. floribundum has anti-inflammatory and anti-resorptive properties in a pre-clinical trial of periodontitis, representing an interesting biotechnological tool.

O ser mãe de uma criança com microcefalia / Being mother of a child with microcephaly

Essa pesquisa objetiva analisar o impacto de ser mãe de uma criança com microcefalia, identificando as mudanças ocorridas no seu cotidiano após o nascimento do filho. Participaram desse estudo cinco mães, com faixa etária de 21 a 45 anos, todas atendidas na atenção básica, que tinham filhos de qualquer idade e sexo, com diagnóstico de Microcefalia, residentes no município de Jequié/BA. Trata-se de um estudo de caráter descritivo e abordagem qualitativa. Foram realizadas 5 entrevistas, que foram gravadas e transcritas na íntegra para a análise de conteúdo, usando a metodologia de Bardin. Após análise foram geradas categorias e subcategorias: 1. Conhecimento prévio da microcefalia; 2. Diagnóstico da microcefalia (Descoberta do diagnóstico, Cuidado do profissional de saúde ao passar o diagnóstico e Falta de conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde para o diagnóstico); 3. O pai diante da microcefalia; 4. Alterações na rotina da mãe (Interferência no sono e Impacto na rotina) 5. Acolhimento dos serviços de saúde e profissionais de saúde. Com os resultados percebeu-se que são diversas as dificuldades enfrentadas pelas mães que mudam totalmente suas rotinas, abandonam emprego, abdicam de momentos de lazer, vivenciam a separação dos seus parceiros no momento de dificuldade e a abdicação de si para cuidar do filho. Quanto aos profissionais de saúde, os resultados apontaram que não dominam o conhecimento sobre a microcefalia e demonstram pouca sensibilidade ao passar o diagnóstico as mães. Conclui-se assim que as mães de filhos microcefálicos mudam totalmente sua rotina e se veem negligenciadas pela Rede de Assistência em relação a sua própria saúde e de seus filhos. (AU)

This study aimed to analyze the impact of being mother of a child with microcephaly, identifying the changes that occurred in their daily life after the child birth. Five mothers, aged between 21 and 45 years, all attended in primary care, who had children of any age and sex, with diagnosis of Microcephaly, living in the municipality of Jequié in Bahia, Brazil, took part of this study. This is a descriptive study with qualitative approach. Five interviews were carried out, which were recorded and transcribed in full for the content analysis, using Bardin's methodology. After analysis, categories and subcategories were generated: 1. Previous microcephaly knowledge; 2. Microcephaly Diagnosis (Diagnosis discovery, Health professional care when informing the diagnosis and health professionals lack of knowledge for the diagnosis); 3. The father facing microcephaly; 4. Changes in the mother's routine (Sleep interference and Impact in the routine) 5. Reception of health services and health professionals. We observed several difficulties faced by mothers who totally change their routines, abandon their jobs, give up leisure time, experience separation from their partners at the difficulty moment, and abdicate themselves to care for their child. Regarding health professionals, the results indicated that they do not dominate microcephaly knowledge and show little sensitivity when informing the diagnosis to the mothers. We concluded that mothers of children with microcephalic change their routine completely and are neglected by the Care Network in relation to their own health and their children. (AU)

Função sexual e qualidade de vida em mulheres climatéricas / Climacteric women's sexual function and quality of life

Introdução: O climatério é um perí­odo marcado por transformações no corpo feminino, desse modo, diversos problemas como: redução da lubrificação vaginal, anorgasmia e dispareunia podem surgir ou se agravar e, como consequência, favorece uma diminuição na qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Analisar a relação da função sexual e a qualidade de vida em mulheres climatéricas. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional, de corte transversal, analí­tico. A coleta de dados foi realizada com 20 mulheres climatéricas com faixa etária de 38 a 60 anos. Como instrumentos foram utilizados questionários contendo dados sociodemográficos, o Female Sexual Function Index para avaliar a função sexual e o World Health Organization Quality of Life WHOQOL-BREF para analisar a qualidade de vida. Resultados: Foi observado que nas mulheres que possuem disfunção sexual no domí­nio excitação, a média está abaixo do ponto de corte, o que não ocorre com mulheres que não possuem disfunção (p = 0,03), o mesmo ocorre com os domí­nios orgasmo e satisfação. Na correlação da função sexual com a qualidade de vida, há significância estatí­stica nos domí­nios fí­sico (p = 0,023) e meio ambiente (p = 0,049). Conclusão: Constatou-se que nas mulheres que possuem uma qualidade de vida reduzida os impactos da disfunção sexual são maiores. (AU)

Introduction: The climacteric period is characterized by changes in women's bodies, and numerous issues like decrease of vaginal lubrication, anorgasmia and dyspareunia may come up and be aggravated, promoting a reduction in the quality of life. Objective: To assess the relation between sexual functioning and quality of life in climacteric women. Methods: This is an observational and analytical study, with a cross-sectional design. The data were carried out with 20 climacteric women 38 to 60 years old. We used questionnaires including sociodemographic data, the Female Sexual Function Index to examine the sexual function and the World Health Organization Quality of Life WHOQOL-BREF to assess quality of life. Results: We noted that for women who have had sexual dysfunction in the excitation domain, the mean was below the cutoff point what does not happen with women who did not have dysfunction (p = 0,03), the same happens with orgasm and satisfaction domains. Correlating sexual function with quality of life, the physical (p = 0,023) and environmental domains (p = 0,049) present statistical significance. Conclusion: In women with a reduced quality of life the sexual dysfunction impacts are larger. (AU)