Botanical (morphological, micrographic), chemical and pharmacological characteristics of Pfaffia species (Amaranthaceae) native to South Brazil

Alguns parâmetros são apresentados para o controle de qualidade de raízes de Pfaffia glomerata e Pfaffia paniculata, utilizando suas características botânicas e químicas. Realizou-se, também, um screening farmacológico de P. glomerata direcionado às atividades relacionadas com seu uso como "tônico". O extrato etanólico das raízes de P. glomerata não apresentou atividade antiviral, antiproliferativa, antifúngica ou atividade inibitória de monoaminoxidases. A avaliação da citotoxicidade determinou que a CI50 é >; 2.000 µg/mL. As principais características morfológicas e micrográficas das raízes de P. glomerata e P. paniculata descritas permitem auxiliar na sua identificação segura.Some parameters for the quality control of P. glomerata and P. paniculata roots using their botanical and chemical characteristics are presented. It was also carried out an in vitro pharmacological screening to evaluate some biological properties of P. glomerata that could be related to its popular use as "tonic". Relating to biological assays, ethanolic extract from P. glomerata roots did not present antiviral, antiproliferative, antifungal or MAO inhibitory activities. The cytotoxicity evaluation of P. glomerata determined that IC50 is >;2,000 µg/mL. The main morphological and micrographic characteristics of P. glomerata and P. paniculata roots are described in this paper in order to aid in their unequivocal identification

Biomarkers in community-acquired pneumonia : a state-of-the-art review

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) exhibits mortality rates, between 20% and 50% in severe cases. Biomarkers are useful tools for searching for antibiotic therapy modifications and for CAP diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up treatment. This non-systematic state-of-the-art review presents the biological and clinical features of biomarkers in CAP patients, including procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, copeptin, pro-ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide), adrenomedullin, cortisol and D-dimers