Efeito do extrato aquoso de Sida cordifolia na regeneração hepática após hepatectomia parcial

Introdução: O uso de plantas medicinais para o tratamento de patologias humanas tem aumentado em todo mundo. Muitas delas são usadas por administração oral, e após a absorção podem afetar muitos órgãos. Objetivo: Esse estudo, tem como objetivo verificar o efeito do extrato aquoso de Sida cordifolia, popularmente conhecida no Brasil como “malva-branca”, na regeneração hepática. Métodos: Vinte ratos foram divididos em 4 grupos: controle, Sida 100, Sida 200 e Sida 400. Os animais foram submetidos a administração oral de água destilada, 100, 200 e 400 mg/kg de extrato aquoso de Sida cordifolia, respectivamente. Imediatamente após, foi realizada hepatectomia parcial 67%. Vinte quatro horas após, os fígados foram removidos. A regeneração hepática foi avaliada por imunohistoquímica (PCNA), usando o anticorpo monoclonal PC-10. Resultados: Os grupos Sida100 e Sida200 mostraram índices de regeneração hepática maiores que o grupo controle (p<0.001 e p<0.05, respectivamente). Conclusão: O extrato aquoso de Sida cordifolia estimula a regeneração hepática após hepatectomia parcial a 67% em ratos. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Purpose: The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of human diseases has increased worldwide. Many of them are used by oral administration and, after absorption, may affect many organs. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the effects of the aqueous extract of Sida cordifolia leaves, popularly known in Brazil as “malva-branca”, on liver regeneration. Methods: Twenty rats were divided into four groups: control, Sida100, Sida200 and Sida400 groups. All animals were submitted to oral administration of distilled water, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the aqueous extract of Sida cordifolia, respectively. Immediately after this, they underwent 67% partial hepatectomy. Twenty four hours later, their livers were removed. Hepatic regeneration was assessed by immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) using the PC-10 monoclonal antibody. Results: Sida100 and Sida200 groups disclosed higher liver regeneration indices than control group (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Sida cordifolia stimulates liver regeneration after 67% partial hepatectomy in rats

From Mendel’s discovery on pea to today’s plant genetics and breeding

In 2015, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the presentation of the seminal work of Gregor Johann Mendel. While Darwin’s theory of evolution was based on differential survival and differential reproductive success, Mendel’s theory of heredity relies on equality and stability throughout all stages of the life cycle. Darwin’s concepts were continuous variation and “soft” heredity; Mendel espoused discontinuous variation and “hard” heredity. Thus, the combination of Mendelian genetics with Darwin’s theory of natural selection was the process that resulted in the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology. Although biology, genetics, and genomics have been revolutionized in recent years, modern genetics will forever rely on simple principles founded on pea breeding using seven single gene characters. Purposeful use of mutants to study gene function is one of the essential tools of modern genetics. Today, over 100 plant species genomes have been sequenced. Mapping populations and their use in segregation of molecular markers and marker–trait association to map and isolate genes, were developed on the basis of Mendel's work. Genome-wide or genomic selection is a recent approach for the development of improved breeding lines. The analysis of complex traits has been enhanced by high-throughput phenotyping and developments in statistical and modeling methods for the analysis of phenotypic data. Introgression of novel alleles from landraces and wild relatives widens genetic diversity and improves traits; transgenic methodologies allow for the introduction of novel genes from diverse sources, and gene editing approaches offer possibilities to manipulate gene in a precise manner

Hospitalizações por causas respiratórias e cardiovasculares associadas à contaminação atmosférica no Município de São Paulo, Brasil Respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations associated with air pollution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

A constatação de que os atuais níveis de poluição atmosférica são suficientes para causar danos à saúde torna imprescindível a definição de processos reguladores para a qualidade do ar. Este estudo analisa a associação entre exposição à poluição atmosférica e internações hospitalares no Município de São Paulo, Brasil, visando subsidiar a elaboração de medidas para redução dos riscos à saúde. Realizou-se um estudo ecológico de séries temporais, analisando hospitalizações por causas respiratórias e cardiovasculares em crianças e idosos em relação aos níveis diários observados de poluentes, por meio de modelos aditivos generalizados em regressão de Poison. Todos os poluentes, com exceção do ozônio, apresentaram associação significante com internações respiratórias e cardiovasculares. Um aumento de 10&micro;g/m³ no nível de material particulado inalável associa-se ao incremento de 4,6% nas internações por asma em crianças, de 4,3% por doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica em idosos e de 1,5% por doença isquêmica do coração também em idosos. Essas associações entre aumento no nível de poluentes na atmosfera e o aumento de hospitalizações estão de acordo com a literatura nacional e internacional sobre o assunto e indicam que os níveis atuais de contaminação do ar no Município de São Paulo têm impacto na saúde de sua população.<br>The recognition that current air pollution levels cause harmful health effects makes the definition of the air quality regulatory process imperative. This study examines the association between exposure to air pollution and hospital admissions in the city of São Paulo, aiming to support the development of measures to reduce such health risks. The authors conducted an ecological time series study of hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in children and the elderly in relation to daily air pollution levels, using generalized additive Poisson regression models. All air pollutants except ozone showed a statistically significant association with admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. An increase of 10&micro;g/m3 in fine particulate matter was associated with a 4.6% increase in asthma admissions in children and a 4.3% increase in admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 1.5% for ischemic heart disease in the elderly. These associations are consistent with a large body of literature in this area and indicate that the current air pollution levels in São Paulo have an important negative impact on the population's health

Adesividade e purulência de secreções respiratórias: implicações no transporte mucociliar em pacientes com bronquiectasias Adhesiveness and purulence of respiratory secretions: implications for mucociliary transport in patients with bronchiectasis

OBJETIVO: Analisar e comparar as propriedades de transporte de secreções respiratórias, classificadas através de parâmetros selecionados, de indivíduos com bronquiectasias não secundárias à fibrose cística. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas amostras de muco respiratório, classificadas como com propriedades de superfície adesivas ou não adesivas, assim como com aspecto mucoide ou purulento, de 35 participantes com bronquiectasias não secundárias à fibrose cística, quanto a velocidade relativa de transporte (VRT), deslocamento em máquina simuladora de tosse (MST) e ângulo de contato (AC). Para as comparações propostas, foram utilizados modelos de ANOVA, com nível de significância estabelecido em 5%. RESULTADOS: Houve uma diminuição significativa no deslocamento em MST, assim como um aumento significativo no AC, das amostras adesivas quando comparadas às não adesivas (6,52 ± 1,88 cm vs. 8,93 ± 2,81 cm e 27,08 ± 6,13º vs. 22,53 ± 5,92º, respectivamente; p < 0,05 para ambos). O mesmo ocorreu na comparação entre as amostras purulentas e mucoides (7,57 ± 0,22 cm vs. 9,04 ± 2,48 cm e 25,61 ± 6,12º vs. 21,71 ± 5,89º; p < 0,05 para ambos). Não houve diferença na VRT entre os grupos, embora os valores estivessem diminuídos, independentemente da adesividade (adesivas: 0,81 ± 0,20; não adesivas: 0,68 ± 0,24) ou do aspecto (purulentas: 0,74 ± 0,22; mucoides: 0,82 ± 0,22) das amostras. CONCLUSÕES: A secreção respiratória de pacientes com bronquiectasia apresentou uma diminuição do transporte ciliar. Maior adesividade e purulência favorecem a piora das propriedades de transporte, demonstradas pela diminuição do deslocamento em MST e pelo aumento do AC.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the transport properties of respiratory secretions, classified by selected parameters, in individuals with bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis. METHODS: We collected mucus samples from 35 individuals with bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis. The samples were first classified by their surface properties (adhesive or nonadhesive), as well as by their aspect (mucoid or purulent). We then tested the samples regarding relative transport velocity (RTV), displacement in a simulated cough machine (SCM), and contact angle (CA). For the proposed comparisons, we used ANOVA models, with a level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: In comparison with nonadhesive samples, adhesive samples showed significantly less displacement in the SCM, as well as a significantly higher CA (6.52 ± 1.88 cm vs. 8.93 ± 2.81 cm and 27.08 ± 6.13º vs. 22.53 ± 5.92º, respectively; p < 0.05 for both). The same was true in the comparison between purulent and mucoid samples (7.57 ± 0.22 cm vs. 9.04 ± 2.48 cm and 25.61 ± 6.12º vs. 21.71 ± 5.89º; p < 0.05 for both). There were no significant differences in RTV among the groups of samples, although the values were low regardless of the surface properties (adhesive: 0.81 ± 0.20; nonadhesive: 0.68 ± 0.24) or the aspect (purulent: 0.74 ± 0.22; mucoid: CONCLUSIONS: The respiratory secretions of patients with bronchiectasis showed decreased mucociliary transport. Increased adhesiveness and purulence cause the worsening of transport properties, as demonstrated by the lesser displacement in the SCM and the higher CA

A family-based study of gene variants and maternal folate and choline in neuroblastoma: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group

PURPOSE: Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system with embryonic origins. Previous epidemiologic studies suggest maternal vitamin supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk of neuroblastoma. We hypothesized offspring and maternal genetic variants in folate-related and choline-related genes are associated with neuroblastoma and modify the effects of maternal intake of folate, choline and folic acid. METHODS: The Neuroblastoma Epidemiology in North America (NENA) study recruited 563 affected children and their parents through the Children’s Oncology Group’s Childhood Cancer Research Network. We used questionnaires to ascertain pre-pregnancy supplementation and estimate usual maternal dietary intake of folate, choline and folic acid. We genotyped 955 genetic variants related to folate or choline using DNA extracted from saliva samples and used a log-linear model to estimate both child and maternal risk ratios and stratum-specific risk ratios for gene-environment interactions. RESULTS: Overall, no maternal or offspring genotypic results met criteria for a false discovery rate (FDR) Q-value <0.2. Associations were also null for gene-environment interaction with pre-pregnancy vitamin supplementation, dietary folic acid and folate. FDR significant gene-choline interactions were found for offspring SNPs rs10489810 and rs9966612 located in MTHFD1L and TYMS, respectively, with maternal choline dietary intake dichotomized at the first quartile. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that variants related to one-carbon metabolism are not strongly associated with neuroblastoma. Choline-related variants may play a role; however, the functional consequences of the interacting variants are unknown and require independent replication