Abortive and teratogenic effect of Acanthospermum hispidum DC. and Cajanus cajan (L.) Millps. in pregnant rats

Extracts of Acanthospermum hispidum and Cajanus cajan have been used by Brazilian people in an attempt to produce abortion. In order to evaluate the possible abortive and/or teratogenic effect of these plant extracts, female Wistar rats were treated with the aqueous extract (infusion, proportion C. cajan and A. hispidum 1:1.3). Doses of 0, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg were daily administered by gavage during the organogenic period. The animals were sacrificed at term. There was no significant change in the mean weight of the fetuses, and no change in the percentage of post implantation loss in the treated groups. However, there was an increase in the number of external malformations, and this was related to dose. No internal malformations were observed in fetuses at term, but there was a significant incidence of fetuses with visceral anomalies. The tendency of the pregnancy to continue or terminate did not change with the treatment.

Paraquat-loaded alginate/chitosan nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and soil sorption studies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Food-dependent, exercise-induced gastrointestinal distress

Among athletes strenuous exercise, dehydration and gastric emptying (GE) delay are the main causes of gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, whereas gut ischemia is the main cause of their nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and (blood) diarrhea. Additionally any factor that limits sweat evaporation, such as a hot and humid environment and/or body dehydration, has profound effects on muscle glycogen depletion and risk for heat illness. A serious underperfusion of the gut often leads to mucosal damage and enhanced permeability so as to hide blood loss, microbiota invasion (or endotoxemia) and food-born allergen absorption (with anaphylaxis). The goal of exercise rehydration is to intake more fluid orally than what is being lost in sweat. Sports drinks provide the addition of sodium and carbohydrates to assist with intestinal absorption of water and muscle-glycogen replenishment, respectively. However GE is proportionally slowed by carbohydrate-rich (hyperosmolar) solutions. on the other hand, in order to prevent hyponatremia, avoiding overhydration is recommended. Caregiver's responsibility would be to inform athletes about potential dangers of drinking too much water and also advise them to refrain from using hypertonic fluid replacements.

Diuron exposure induces systemic and organ-specific toxicity following acute and sub-chronic exposure in male Wistar rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of the polysaccharide beta-glucan on clastogenicity and teratogenicity caused by acute exposure to cyclophosphamide in mice

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Rational use of antimicrobials in dentistry during pregnancy

The use of medicines during pregnancy deserves special attention from dentists due to the potential risks to fetal development. The prescription of antimicrobial drugs during this period must be based not only on the etiology of the disease but also on the drug's effect on the embryo, which may be toxic, possibly leading to irreversible lesions. Interest in studies of the teratogenic effects of drugs increased in response to reports of the high incidence of phocomelia in patients treated with thalidomide. Although teratogenicity has long been known, pregnant women today are still exposed to this risk. The effects of drugs depend on the level of susceptibility of the fetus and on the period of exposure during pregnancy. In this context, and considering the paucity of studies on this subject in dentistry, the aim of this review was to offer an up-to-date compilation of data on the antimicrobial drugs most frequently used during pregnancy and the effects of their use.

Estudo anatômico comparativo entre formas normais e estruturas teratogênicas provocadas por 2,4 -D em cana-de-açúcar

A aplicação do herbicida 2,4-D amina, para controlar plantas daninhas em cultura de cana-de-açúcar, produziu estruturas anormais e afetou a própria cultura da cana. Foram estuda das as alterações anatômicas e organográfícas dessas formas teratogénicas e comparadas com as estruturas normais. Foram observadas deformações no colmo que apresentou curvatur as e entrenós mais finos e curtos; o sistema radicular apresentou-se pouco desenvolvido. Na região do anel meristemático e saída das raízes adventícias, observou-se um intumescimento com tumoração e posterior necrose. Anatomicamente, na região do anel meristemático, a epiderme e o parênquima cortical apresentaram células hipertrofíadas e crescimento desordenado; houve malformação de feixes fibrovasculares. Na região das raízes adventícias foi observada tumoração com acentuada hiperplasia e necrose na periferia.

Passagem transplacentária e efeitos embriofetais de drogas usadas em anestesia

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A anestesia da paciente grávida engloba situações diversas e que devem ser analisadas com muita propriedade. Além da exposição do feto e de uma possível ação tóxica dos agentes a serem utilizados na anestesia, devem ser considerados o período gestacional, as características de cada droga e as doses a serem utilizadas. A falta de informações adequadas sobre o risco do uso de drogas na gestação torna difícil ao anestesiologista uma opção segura quando se vê diante da necessidade de anestesiar uma paciente grávida, tanto para cirurgia não obstétrica, como em cirurgia obstétrica. No primeiro caso, é importante evitar o parto prematuro (ou o aborto) e o aparecimento de alterações permanentes no feto. No segundo caso, não deve haver interferência na contratilidade uterina nem depressão significativa no feto. A finalidade desta revisão é atualizar os conhecimentos sobre a passagem transplacentária e os efeitos maternofetais das drogas usadas em anestesia. CONTEÚDO: São revisados os mecanismos de passagem transplacentária de drogas, os princípios fundamentais de embriofetotoxicidade e analisados alguns aspectos importantes sobre efeitos embriofetais das drogas utilizadas na anestesia. Também é apresentada a classificação de risco teratogênico, de acordo com o FDA, das drogas que o anestesiologista mais utiliza durante o ato anestésico. CONCLUSÕES: Embora ainda persistam muitas dúvidas em relação à escolha de drogas para a anestesia de pacientes grávidas, o anestesiologista dispõe hoje de novas drogas e de informações que lhe permitem oferecer maior segurança para o binômio mãe-feto.

Patulina: Incidência e controle em derivados de maçã

The patulin, (4hydroxy-4furo[3,2-c]pyran(6H)-1), is a thermal resistent mycotoxin produced by several species of fungi are common in plants, mainly in derivatives and apples. Studies on the toxicity in animals have shown that mycotoxin has character teratogenic, and carcinogenic in mice immunotoxic. Its biosynthesis is well understood involving a series of reactions of condensation and oxiredução, many catalyzed by enzymes. The danger of contamination of food with patulin, warning about the need for a more rigorous control. Recent research aimed their removal and degradation as well as increase the sensitivity of the tests, making them faster and at less cost. The removal of patulin of food is made with composite adsorbents, with inconvenience to diminish the quality of the product by adsorbs other components desirable. The degradation is made with sulfur compounds, which are not allowed in food in many countries, and the growth of yeasts, such as the production of cider. Many yeasts have resistance against patulin and produce compounds capable degrade it. Here, we reviewed research on patulin with emphasis on its influence in food industry, incidence of patulin in apple juice and other foods, maximum permissible concentrations, health effects, biosynthesis, removal, degradation and most widely used methods for its detection and quantification.

Birth defects in newborns and stillborns: An example of the Brazilian reality

Background: This study constitutes a clinical and genetic study of all newborn and stillborn infants with birth defects seen in a period of one year in a medical school hospital located in Brazil. The aims of this study were to estimate the incidence, causes and consequences of the defects. Methods. For all infants we carried out physical assessment, photographic records, analysis of medical records and collection of additional information with the family, besides the karyotypic analysis or molecular tests in indicated cases. Result: The incidence of birth defects was 2.8%. Among them, the etiology was identified in 73.6% (ci95%: 64.4-81.6%). Etiology involving the participation of genetic factors single or associated with environmental factors) was more frequent 94.5%, ci95%: 88.5-98.0%) than those caused exclusively by environmental factors (alcohol in and gestational diabetes mellitus). The conclusive or presumed diagnosis was possible in 85% of the cases. Among them, the isolated congenital heart disease (9.5%) and Down syndrome (9.5%) were the most common, followed by gastroschisis (8.4%), neural tube defects (7.4%) and clubfoot (5.3%). Maternal age, parental consanguinity, exposure to teratogenic agents and family susceptibility were some of the identified risk factors. The most common observed consequences were prolonged hospital stays and death. Conclusions: The current incidence of birth defects among newborns and stillbirths of in our population is similar to those obtained by other studies performed in Brazil and in other underdeveloped countries. Birth defects are one of the major causes leading to lost years of potential life. The study of birth defects in underdeveloped countries should continue. The identification of incidence, risk factors and consequences are essential for planning preventive measures and effective treatments. © 2011 Fett-Conte et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Avaliação do potencial antagônico de leveduras, visando biocontrole de deterioração por penicillium expansum

Considerable losses during apple fruit storage occur due to microbiological diseases, mainly caused by Penicillium expansum, which in addition to fruit pulp deterioration produces patulin, a mycotoxin with carcinogenic and teratogenic activity. Biological control of post-harvest disease by antagonist yeasts focused on killer toxins is an appreciable alternative to the chemical fungicides, due to the low possibility of toxic residues demonstrated during fermentative processes. Twenty out of 44 yeasts (16 isolated from fruits, 10 from corn silage and 18 from laboratory anthill), showed antagonism against spores of P. expansum. The assay in solid medium pointed the strongest nutrient competition antagonism by D. hansenii strain C1 (31 mm inhibition diameter), while D. hansenii strain C7 (15 mm) showed higher antibiosis and parasitism pattern. In the following step the extracellular activity was tested performing the assay with culture supernatant in Yeast Medium agar, where C. guilliermondii P3 was more effective against conidia germination (inhibition rate of 58.15%) while P. ohmeri showed better inhibition on micelial growth (66.17%). The antibiosis showed by both yeasts could suggest probable mechanism associated with killer phenomenon, once both strains were killer positive against sensitive reference strains (S. cerevisiae NCYC 1006 and P. kluyveri CAY-15). In order to enhance the production of antifungal substance, these yeasts were cultivated with P. expansum, but the difference between culture supernatant obtained from yeasts cultivated alone and with mould was not significant (P > 0.05). The results demonstrated that the yeasts application constitute a promising tool, enhancing the biological control of P. expansum in post-harvest diseases of apple fruit.

Dental students' familiarity with the medical management of dental patients at Brazilian dental schools

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Diabetic rats exercised prior to and during pregnancy: Maternal reproductive outcome, biochemical profile, and frequency of fetal anomalies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise prior to or during pregnancy on maternal reproductive outcome, biochemical profile, and on fetal anomaly frequency in a rat pregnancy model utilizing chemically induced diabetes. Wistar rats (minimum n = 11 animals/group) were randomly assigned the following groups: group 1 (G1), sedentary, nondiabetic; G2, nondiabetic, exercised during pregnancy; G3, nondiabetic, exercised prior to and during pregnancy; G4, sedentary, diabetic; G5, diabetic, exercised during pregnancy; and G6, diabetic, exercised prior to and during pregnancy. A swimming program was utilized for moderate exercise. On day 21 of pregnancy, all rats were anesthetized to obtain blood for biochemical measurements. The gravid uterus was weighed with its contents, and the fetuses were analyzed. The nondiabetic rats exercised prior to pregnancy presented a reduced maternal weight gain. Besides, G2 and G3 groups showed decreased fetal weights at term pregnancy, indicating slight intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In the diabetic dams, the swimming program did not have antihyperglycemic effects. The exercise applied only during pregnancy caused severe IUGR, as confirmed by reduced fetal weight mean, fetal weight classification, and ossification sites. Nevertheless, exercise was not a teratogenic factor and improved the rats' lipid profiles, demonstrating that the exercise presented possible benefits, but there are also risks prior and during pregnancy, especially in diabetic pregnant women. © The Author(s) 2012.

Diagnóstico do sitema de prevenção e combate a incêndios florestais na Fazenda Monte Alegre em Agudos

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Desenvolvimento de sistemas líquido-cristalinos multifuncionais contendo nanopartículas de TiO2 para proteção solar e liberação controlada de terpinem-4-ol

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)