Medicinal Plants in Pregnancy and Lactation: Perception of the Health Risk and Practical Educational Group in Araraquara, São Paulo State, Brazil

The use of medicinal plants among pregnant women and lactating is a common practice in diverse countries. However, many medicinal plants are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactating, due to various adverse effects, such as teratogenic, embryotoxic and abortive effects, exposing these women, their fetus and babies to health unknown risks. Thus, the purpose of this commentary, was to analyze the perception about the use of medicinal plants by pregnant women and lactating registered in the "baby on board" NGO, Araraquara, São Paulo state, Brazil, between 2010 at 2013. The group was constituted by 48 women, between the first and last trimester of pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding. Information was collected during group meetings by oral interview, using a questionnaire, as script. The nature of the study was a qualitative analysis. The results were based on reports about the use of medicinal plants by pregnant women during group meetings: use, indication of use, knowledge about risks. All participants received written and oral information about the study and they gave a written informed consent. The use of medicinal plants is a reality among pregnant and lactating women of the "baby on board" NGO. They reported that they feel that "natural" products are not harmful for their health. The primary information sources for the majority of women about medicinal plants during pregnancy are family, neighbors and herbalists. The plants most cited were: senna, chamomile, boldo, lemon balm, lemon grass. They were used mainly for: nausea, heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, intestinal and abdominal pain, anxiety, intestinal constipation and low milk production. The pregnant and lactating women lacked knowledge about the health risks of the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines in pregnancy and lactation. They also reported difficulties in clarifying some questions about the use of medicinal plants with their doctors. The results of the present study showed that educative actions about the rational use of medicinal plants in pregnancy and breastfeeding could be part of the operating protocols to promote the maternal and child health programs in Araraquara. Thus, our results also suggest the importance of creating institutionalized places, to the implementation of continued education programs about rational use of medicinal plants in pregnancy and lactation. These targeted programs are not only for health professionals, but also for community members, pregnant women and breastfeeding. Our results pointed out the importance of guidance of doctors and healthcare professionals on the scientific studies about medicinal plants and herbal medicines and the risk/benefit of using herbs during pregnancy. Finally, it is noted the importance of the health professionals to inform women of childbearing on risks to their health, as well as on possibilities of utilization of herbs during fertile period, giving special attention to the potential risk of self-medication

TOXICOLOGIA Y MANEJO DE AGROQUÍMICOS

GUÍA DE EVALUACIÓN DEL APRENDIZAJ

Mytilus edulis e Mytilus galloprovincialis : características e aquicultura

Mestrado em Toxicologia e EcotoxicologiaCom o objectivo de se proceder à identificação de qual a forma taxonómica do mexilhão existente na Ria de Aveiro, do género Mytilus spp., foi compilada uma série de características pelas quais se pode proceder à distinção entre as duas formas taxonómicas Mytilus edulis e Mytilus galloprovincialis, ambos existentes na Ria de Aveiro. Este trabalho apresenta igualmente como objectivo, analisar a viabilidade da implantação de uma unidade de mitilicultura, isto é, de aquicultura de mexilhão. Desta forma, ao longo do trabalho, serão expostas as características através das quais se poderá distinguir as duas formas taxonómicas de mexilhão e também as várias técnicas de cultivo utilizadas globalmente na aquicultura do mexilhão. ABSTRACT: With the objective of proceeding to the identification of which taxonomic form of the mussel Mytilus spp. exists in Ria de Aveiro, was compiled a series of characteristics from which it can be made the distinction between the two taxonomic forms Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis, both existing in Ria de Aveiro. This work presented also as an objective, analyze the viability of the implantation of a unit of mitiliculture, that is, of aquaculture of mussels. In such a way, throughout the work, the characteristics will be displayed through which if it will be able to distinguish the two taxonomic forms of Mytilus spp from l and the several culture techniques used globally in the aquaculture of the mussel

Evolució dels coneixements sobre metalls en toxicología

Els metalls han estat utilitzats per la humanitat només des de fa pocs millers d'anys. Alguns han tingut tanta importància que han donat nom a períodes històrics: edat del bronze, edat del ferro. Se'ls utilitzava àmpliament i era natural que d'aquest Ús se'n derivés alguna patologia. Però el nombre de metalls i de compostos era reduït. El seu increment fou molt lent, i podríem destriar-ne, en una visió molt general, tres etapes: a) utilització d'un nombre molt petit de metalls, i encara de pocs compostos, que va des de l'antiguitat fins pràcticament molt avançat el segle XVIIL. b) període d'increment 'no excessiu' del nombre de metalls que poden tenir alguna acció tòxica, que se centra sobre tot en el segle XIX; amb una cua fins ben entrat el segle XX. c) descripció extensa de la patologia de molts metalls i molts compostos, junt amb el coneixement del risc d'impregnació dels éssers vius. Correspon al nostre temps