Pain symptoms in patients with severe cerebral palsy: Prevalence among patients with higher degree of locomotor impairment

Purpose: To evaluate the presence of pain in patients diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy (CP) according to the degree of motor function impairment.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on students of the Association of Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children (APAE) diagnosed with cerebral palsy and with severe locomotor disability (GMFCS levels IV and V). The study included students of both genders and of any age. After signing the consent form, a structured questionnaire was administered to parents or caregivers to collect data on the history of the illness and the Paediatric Pain Profile (PPP). A score ≥ 14 out of a possible 60 points suggests the presence of pain.Results: A total of 93 subjects were evaluated. Of the 44 subjects classified with GMFCS level IV, 12 (21.4 %) suffer pain and among the 49 subjects classified with level V, 44 (78.6 %) had pain symptoms (ICDDN ≥ 14, PR = 3.29, 95 % CI 2.01 - 5.38, p < 0.01).Conclusion: The results show that pain is prevalent in individuals with severe CP. Furthermore, it is more prevalent in patients with a higher degree of locomotor impairment (GMFCS – level V).Keywords: Cerebral palsy, Pain measurement, Locomotor disability, Gross motor function classification system (GMFCS

Exopolysaccharides from Klebsiella oxytoca: anti-inflammatory activity

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Klebsiella oxytoca are of environmental, pharmaceutical,and medicinal interest. However, studies about the anti-inflammatory activity of EPS produced bythis microorganism still remain limited. The aim of this study was to produce, characterize, andevaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of EPS from K. oxytoca in a pleurisy model. Colorimetricanalysis revealed that precipitated crude exopolysaccharides (KEPSC) and deproteinatedexopolysaccharides (KEPS) present high levels of total carbohydrates (65.57% and 62.82%,respectively). Analyses of uronic acid (7.90% in KEPSC and 6.21% in KEPS) and pyruvic acid(3.01% in KEPSC and 1.68% in KEPS) confirm that the EPS are acidic. Gas chromatographymass spectrometry analyses demonstrated that the EPS consisted of rhamnose (29.83%), glucose(11.21%), galactose (52.45%), and mannose (6.50%). The treatment of an experimental pleurisymodel in rats through subcutaneous administration of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of KEPSdecreased both the volume of inflammatory exudate and the number of leukocytes recruited tothe pleural cavity. The present data showed that EPS production by K. oxytoca using the methoddescribed is easy to perform and results in a good yield. In addition, we show that KEPS exhibitanti-inflammatory activity when administered subcutaneously in rat

Effects of Anethole in Nociception Experimental Models

This study investigated the antinociceptive activity of anethole (anethole 1-methoxy-4-benzene (1-propenyl)), major compound of the essential oil of star anise (Illicium verum), in different experimental models of nociception. The animals were pretreated with anethole (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) one hour before the experiments. To eliminate a possible sedative effect of anethole, the open field test was conducted. Anethole (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect in the writhing model induced by acetic acid, in the second phase of the formalin test (125 and 250 mg/kg) in the test of glutamate (62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg), and expresses pain induced by ACF (250 mg/kg). In contrast, anethole was not able to increase the latency time on the hot plate and decrease the number of flinches during the initial phase of the formalin test in any of the doses tested. It was also demonstrated that anethole has no association with sedative effects. Therefore, these data showed that anethole, at all used doses, has no sedative effect and has an antinociceptive effect. This effect may be due to a decrease in the production/release of inflammatory mediators

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND FREE-RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF Guettarda viburnoides

Chemical investigation of Guettarda viburnoides (leaves) led to the isolation of ursolic acid, uncaric acid, secoxyloganin, and grandifloroside, along with a mixture of quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of their NMR data. The crude extract, ethyl acetate fraction, aqueous-methanol fraction, and grandifloroside showed significant DPPH free-radical scavenging activities with IC50 ranging from 18.92 to 26.47 µg mL-1. The topical administration of the crude extract and fractions markedly reduced the croton oil-induced mice ear edema in 67.0%-99.0%. Inhibition of tissue MPO activity was also observed, which demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect of the G. viburnoides species