Antiulcer activity and subacute toxicity of trans-dehydrocrotonin from Croton cajucara

The antiulcerogenic activity of trans-dehydrocrotonin (DHC), a nor-clerodane diterpene isolated from Croton cajucara Benth. ( Euphorbiaceae), and its subacute ( 35 days) toxicity were studied in mice and rats, respectively. For the antiulcerogenic tests, models of gastric ulcers induced in mice by ethanol/HCl or stress were used. In both models, an oral dose of DHC ( 100 mg/kg) significantly reduced (P< 0.01) the formation of gastric lesions. DHC was also tested for its ability to scavenge free radicals, but no such action was observed in rat liver mitochondria. To assess the subacute toxicity, rats were treated orally with DHC (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. A significant increase in liver weight was observed in male and female rats at highest doses, whereas a significant reduction in plasma alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol levels and an increase in gamma glutamyl transpeptidase were observed only at the highest dose ( 100 mg/kg) in female rats. DHC caused histopathological alterations in the liver that included a turbid tumefaction, microvacuolar degeneration and nuclear alterations. Despite the beneficial antiulcerogenic activity of DHC, our results suggest that the long-term use of this compound may induce liver damage.

Acetylated DNA-damaging clerodane diterpenes from Casearia sylvestris

In addition to the known diterpene casearin G (1), two new clerodane diterpene casearins type, casearin S (2) and casearin T (3), were isolated from an acetylated bioactive CH2Cl2/MeOH extract from leaves of Casealia sylvestris. The diterpenes 1-3 exhibited moderate but selective activity towards the DNA-repair deficient yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants RAD 52YK and RS 321. The structures of 1-3 were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic experiments (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran neolignans from Aristolochia pubescens

From a hexane extract of stems and roots of Aristolochia pubescens, the new neolignans (2S,3S,1'R,2'R)- and (2S,3S, 1'S,2'R)-2,3-dihydro-5-(1',2'-dihydroxypropyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbenzofuran) and (2S,3S,1'R,2'R)- and (2S,3S,1'S,2'R)-2,3-dihydro-5-(1',2'-dihydroxypropyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-3-methyl-benzofuran were isolated, together with the known neolignan licarin A, and its bisnor-neolignan aldehyde and acid derivatives. In addition, sitosterol, 8R,9R-oxide-beta-caryophyllene, kobusone, ent-kauran-16 alpha, 17-diol, vanillin, vanillic acid, (+)-sesamin, (+)eudesmin, and (-)-cubebin were isolated. The structures of the new compounds have been elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by chemical transformation using Mosher's acid chloride. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fecundity in Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) from Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.

The object of this work was to study the conditions of embryo development and egg production in Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819 at Ubatuba region of Brazil. The number of eggs laid by 21 females in a range of size was determined. Eggs at 3 differ ent stages of embryonic development were measured P. spinimanus fecundity varied between 188,065 and 682,992, with an average of 429,676 +/- 157,203, for animals with a carapace width ranging from 56.2 to 86.6 mm. Between the initial and final stages of development there was an increase of 55.1% in egg diameter. The relatively high fecundity of P. spinimanus may be a strategy of the species faced with a high mortality rate in the larval phase; however this hypothesis should be tested.

A computer-assisted approach for chemotaxonomic studies - Diterpenes in Lamiaceae

This paper describes a new computer approach for chemotaxonomic studies. The methodology employed enables the search for chemical substructures as taxonomic descriptors using all expert system built with plant natural products. The operation of the system was tested with diterpenes as taxonomic markers in Lamiaceae. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.

SISTAX - An intelligent tool for recovering information on natural products chemistry

This work describes the development of a new program, named SISTAX, for the expert system SISTEMAT. This program allows anyone interested in chemotaxonomy to carry out an intelligent search for organic compounds in databases through chemical structures. When coupled with can efficient encoding system, the program recognizes skeletal types and can find any substructural constraints demanded by the user. An example of an application of the program to the diterpene class found in plants is described.

Clerodane diterpenes from leaves of Casearia sylvestris swartz

Ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Casearia sylvestris yielded a novel clerodane diterpene, 15-hydroxy-3-cleroden-2-one, together with the known diterpenes (-)-hardwickiic acid, reported for the first time from this species, and casearins B and G, previously isolated from C. sylvestris. The structures of all four compounds were determined by spectrometric analysis. The new clerodane diterpene and (-)-hardwickiic acid contain structural features that are completely different from the highly oxygenated casearins and casearvestrins isolated from C. sylvestris.

Avaliação das dimensões transversas na maxila e mandíbula em pacientes na fase da dentição mista tratados com aparelho ortodôntico removível superior

Objeti vo: Avaliar os efeitos da expansão lenta na maxila e na mandíbula com o aparelho ortodônti co removível superior com torno de expansão simétrico e mediano, nas regiões oclusal, gengival e alveolar de pacientes jovens com atresia maxilar. Método: A amostra compreendeu 18 indivíduos leucodermas (11 meninas e 7 meninos; idade média: 8 anos e 10 meses no início do tratamento) que apresentavam atresia da maxila, acompanhadas ou não de mordida cruzada posterior uni ou bilateral na fase de denti ção mista. Todos os pacientes foram tratados com aparelho ortodônti co removível superior com torno de expansão simétrico e mediano, sendo o tempo médio de tratamento de 15,4 meses (± 7,6). Para avaliar a infl uência do tratamento nas mensurações dos pontos demarcados nas regiões oclusal, gengival e alveolar, foram uti lizados os modelos de gesso dos arcos superior e inferior (36 pares) obti dos em dois tempos: T1: início do tratamento e T2: ao fi nal do tratamento. Para cada paciente em ambos os tempos, foram mensuradas as distâncias transversas na região oclusal entre caninos decíduos, 1o molares decíduos ou 1o pré-molares permanentes e entre 1o molares permanentes, superiores e inferiores. Para verifi car se a movimentação ocorreu por inclinação ou por movimento de corpo, foram uti lizadas também medidas nas regiões gengival e alveolar. Os dados foram avaliados estati sti camente pelo teste “t student para amostras pareadas (5%). Resultados: Observou-se que em T2, todas as distâncias mensuradas para as regiões oclusal, gengival e alveolar apresentaram valores estati sti camente superiores às mesmas medidas em T1 (p<0,05). Conclusão: O aparelho ortodônti co removível superior é efeti vo nos casos de expansão lenta da maxila, agindo também indiretamente nas dimensões transversas do arco inferior.

Comparação entre as necessidades energéticas prescritas e administradas a pacientes em terapia nutricional enteral

Objective: evaluating the adequacy, prescription and energy supply of enteral nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients. Methods: was performed a retrospective survey of the evolution of TNE protocol of 59 patients hospitalized in a general hospital in Marília / SP / BR. Data collected included gender, age, clinical diagnosis, anthropometric and dietary data related to the prescribed dietary formula, route and method of administration of the enteral nutrition, the daily volume prescribed and administered, the daily amount of energy required and offered in the diet, as well as possible complications. Body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF) and arm muscle circumference (AMC) were used to establish the nutritional status of the patients. The adequacy of ENT was done according to the daily energy requirement compared to the average energy received during the daily use of ENT. Results: The average found to the BMI was 21.4 kg/m 2, and no differences were found comparing male and female. The data for TSF and AMC were different between genders (p<0.05) and suggest a more severe muscle mass in relation to adipose tissue. The averaged to the energy requirements was 1642 kcal/day but the average of energy prescribed was 1045 kcal/day and the amount offered was 1035 kcal/day. There was a significant difference between the necessity and the supplied energy offered through enteral nutrition (p=0.00) as well between the energy required and prescribed (p =0.00), both were shorter than the necessity. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in energy supply, volume of enteral nutrition prescribed and administered among eutrophic, underweight or overweight patients. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the prescription and energy supply were not based on the needs of these patients, causing a significant energy deficit, which can lead to worsening of the nutritional status of the same. In hospitalized patients in use of ENT, the energy requirement must be made by a qualified professional within the multidisciplinary team, based on the needs of each patient.

Clinical diagnosis and histological analysis of vocal nodules and polyps

Recent studies emphasize the importance of the clinical-histology correlation in laryngeal pathologies. Objective: To compare the ENT diagnosis with the pathology diagnosis one of 132 surgical specimens, from 119 patients with vocal nodules and polyps. Method: Retrospective study. We investigated the paraffin blocks corresponding to the lesions of the operated patients. We made new histology cross-sections, totaling 396 new slides, divided into three groups: hematoxylin and eosin, Gomori trichrome and PAS. We analyzed the following histological parameters: epithelium, lamina propria, basement membrane, vascular changes. We compared the laryngological and pathological diagnoses, and we did the statistical analysis, checking the predominant histological aspects in each lesion. Results: There was an agreement between the clinical and pathological diagnoses in 123 (93.18%) of 132 lesions analyzed (42.42% nodules and 50.76% polyps). In the histological parameters we found: epithelial changes such as nodules hyperplasia (82.14%) and polyp atrophy (31.34%). Lamina propria: edema in polyps (71.43%), fibrosis in the nodules (57.14%). Basement membrane: thickened nodules (100%), thin/no change in polyps (100%). There was a predominance of vascular changes in the polyps. Conclusion: We found a high correlation between the ENT diagnosis and the pathology report. Histopathologically, the nodules presented with predominantly epithelial changes, lamina propria and basement membrane fibrosis, while the polyps by changes strictly on the lamina propria and vascular aspects.

Tonsilar metastases of melanoma in an older person

We presented a rare case of metastasis of melanoma in palatine tonsils alerting healthcare professionals to this diagnose in black oral lesions. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.

Antinociceptive and Behavioral Effects of Methadone Alone or in Combination with Detomidine in Conscious Horses

The antinociceptive and behavioral effects of methadone (MET) alone or combined with detomidine (DET) were studied in horses. Intravenous treatments were randomly administered in a two-phase crossover study. In phase 1, six horses were treated with saline (control) or 0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg methadone (MET0.2; MET0.5, respectively). In phase 2, six horses were treated with 0.01 mg/kg DET alone or with DET combined with 0.2 mg/kg MET (DET/MET0.2). Thermal nociceptive threshold (TNT) and electrical nociceptive thresholds (ENT) were recorded by using a heat projection lamp and electrodes placed in the coronary band of the thoracic limbs, respectively. Spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) was studied by movement sensors in the stall (phase 1). Chin-to-floor distance was assessed in phase 2. In phase 1, the TNT increased significantly for 30 minute after MET0.5 but not after saline or MET0.2. Hyperesthesia and ataxia were observed in 2 of 6 and 6 of 6 horses after MET0.2 and MET0.5, respectively. SLA increased significantly for 120 minutes after MET in a dose-dependent way, but not after placebo. In phase 2, DET and DET/MET0.2 significantly increased the TNT and ENT above baseline for 15 and 30 minutes, respectively; thresholds were significantly higher with DET/MET0.2 than with DET at the same times. Chin-to-floor distance decreased significantly from baseline for 30 minutes, and no excitatory behavior was observed in both treatments. Although the higher dose of MET induced short-acting antinociception, the associated adverse effects may contraindicate its clinical use. The lower dose of MET potentiated DET-induced antinociception without adverse effects, which might be useful under clinical circumstances. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nitrogênio na semeadura e em cobertura para o feijoeiro em sistema plantio direto em fase de implantação e consolidado

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

Desenvolvimento de programa computacional para delineamento em blocos completos casualizados com respostas multidimensionais e sua aplicação em ensaios agronômicos

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

Análise do discurso e ciberespaço: heterotopias contemporâneas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)