Endothelial, renal and hepatic variables in wistar rats treated with Vancomycin

Vancomycin (VCM) is indicated in combat against Gram-positive infections, but it is not considered a first-choice drug because of its adverse effects. It is believed that oxidative stress is the primary mechanism of endothelial injury and the consequent VCM toxicity, which varies from phlebitis to nephrotoxicity. Moreover, dose recommendations, dilution, rates and types of infusion are still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different VCM dilutions in endothelial, liver and kidney injuries by biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis. Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups and subjected to femoral vein cannulation for drug administration. Control groups received 0.9 ml of saline and the others received VCM (10mg/Kg/day) at dilutions of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/mL for 3 and 7 days. Homocysteine, hs-CRP, AST, ALT, GGT, urea, creatinine, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol were analyzed. Kidney, liver and cannulated femoral vein fragments were collected.This study showed alterations in ALT which featured hepatotoxicity. However, drug dilutions were not able to show changes in other biochemical parameters. In contrast, kidney and endothelium pathological changes were observed. More studies are needed to characterize VCM induced kidney and endothelium toxicity and biochemical markers able to show such morphological modifications.A Vancomicina (VCM) é indicada no combate à infecções por Gram-positivas, porém não é considerada um agente de primeira escolha por causa dos seus efeitos adversos. Acredita-se que o estresse oxidativo é o principal mecanismo responsável pela lesão endotelial e consequente toxicidade da VCM, que varia desde flebites à nefrotoxicidade. Ademais, as recomendações de doses, diluições, taxas e tipos de infusão ainda são controversos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito de diferentes diluições de VCM na lesão endotelial, hepática e renal utilizando parâmetros bioquímicos e análise histopatológica. Ratos Wistar foram divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos e submetidos à canulação da veia femoral para a administração de medicamentos. Os grupos controle receberam 0,9 ml de salina e os outros receberam VCM (10mg/Kg/dia) nas diluições de 5.0 e 10.0 mg/ml durante 3 e 7 dias. Homocisteína, PCR-us, AST, ALT, GGT, ureia, creatinina, licopeno, alfa-tocoferol, beta-caroteno e retinol foram analisados. Fragmentos de rins, fígado e veia femoral canulada foram coletados. Este estudo mostrou alterações na ALT, caracterizando hepatotoxicidade. Entretanto, as diluições dos medicamentos não foram capazes de evidenciar alterações nos outros parâmetros bioquímicos. Por outro lado, alterações histopatológicas foram observadas nos rins e endotélio. Mais estudos são necessários para a caracterização do efeito da VCM quanto à toxicidade nos rins e endotélio e ainda na busca de marcadores bioquímicos capazes de evidenciar tais alterações morfológicas

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora