Estudo de efeitos de um extrato de Arctium lappa (Bardana) na marcação dos constituintes sangüíneos com Tecnécio-99m, na biodisponibilidade do radiofármaco pertecnatato de sódio e na morfologia de hemácias de ratos Wistar

Radionuclides have been used in Nuclear Medicine for diagnostic and treatment. In basic research, cellular and molecular structures are labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) and used as radiobiocomplexes. Some natural or synthetic drugs are capable to alter the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc, as well as in the biodistribution of radiobiocomplexes. Arctium lappa (Bardana) has been used to treat inflammatory processes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of an extract of Bardana on the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc, on the morphology of red blood cells, on the perimeter/area ratio of red blood cells and on the biodistribution of radiophamaceutical sodium pertechnetate in Wistar rats. Extract of Bardana was capable to alter the labeling of cellular compartment with 99mTc. Plasma and cellular proteins did not present alteration on the percentage of radioactivity (%ATI). Extract of Bardana was also capable to alter the morphology and the perimeter/area ratio of red blood cells. On the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate in animals treated with the extract of Bardana, it was observed a small and significant uptake in liver, tooth and tongue, and a high and a significant uptake in stomach, lung and testis (p<0.05). In conclusion, these findings could be justified due to the effects of some chemical compounds in the Bardana extract. This study was a multidisciplinary experimental research. It was developed with the contribution of the different Departments and Services of the Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto of the Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro

Prevalência e susceptibilidade antimicrobiana de Staphylococcusspp. em quadros de saúde e doença periodontal

The aim of this study was determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus spp. from patients with periodontal disease and periodontally healthy, correlate them with factors to host, local environment and traits of the diseases. To this, thirty adults from 19 to 55 years old were selected. They had not periodontal treatment and no antibiotic or antimicrobial was administered during three previous months. From these individuals, sites periodontally healthy, with chronic gingivitis and/or periodontitis were analyzed. Eighteen subgingival dental biofilm samples were collected through sterile paper points being six from each tooth randomly selected, representing conditions mentioned. They were transported to Oral Microbiology laboratory, plated onto Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) and incubated at 370C in air for 48 h. Staphylococcus spp. were identified by colonial morphology, Gram stain, catalase reaction, susceptibility to bacitracin and coagulase activity. After identification, strains were submitted to the antibiotic susceptibility test with 12 antimicrobials, based on Kirby-Bauer technique. To establish the relation between coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CSN) presence and their infection levels and host factors, local environment and traits of diseases were used Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests to a confidence level of 95%. 86,7% subjects harbored CSN in 11,7% periodontal sites. These prevalence were 12,1% in healthy sites, 11,7% in chronic gingivitis, 13,5% in slight chronic periodontitis, 6,75% in moderate chronic periodontitis and in sites with advance chronic periodontitis was not isolated CSN, without difference among them (p = 0,672). There was no significant difference to presence and infection levels of CSN as related to host factors, local environm ent and traits of the diseases. Amongst the 74 samples of CSN isolated, the biggest resistance was observed to penicillin (55,4%), erythromycin (32,4%), tetracycline (12,16%) and clindamycin (9,4%). 5,3% of the isolates were resistant to oxacilin and methicillin. No resistance was observed to ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and vancomycin. It was concluded that staphylococci are found in low numbers in healthy or sick periodontal sites in a similar ratio. However, a trend was observed to a reduction in staphylococci occurrence toward more advanced stages of the disease. This low prevalence was not related to any variables analyzed. Susceptibility profile to antibiotics demonstrates a raised resistance to penicillin and a low one to methicillin. To erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin was observed a significant resistance