Enhancing Cushing’s disease diagnosis: exploring the impact of desmopressin on ACTH gradient during BIPSS

IntroductionThe differential diagnosis between Cushing’s disease (CD) and ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) is complex, and bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) is considered the gold-standard test. However, BIPSS with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation is rarely available.ObjectiveThis retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the accuracy of the inferior petrosal sinus to peripheral ACTH gradient (IPS:P) before and after desmopressin stimulation for the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (CS), applying different cutoff values.MethodsA total of 50 patients (48 with CD and 2 with EAS) who underwent BIPSS were included in this study. The sensitivity and specificity of IPS:P in BIPSS before and after desmopressin stimulation were evaluated. Various cutoff values for IPS:P were examined to determine their diagnostic accuracy.ResultsUsing the traditional IPS:P cutoff, the sensitivity was 85.1% before stimulation, 89.6% after stimulation, and a combined sensitivity of 91.7%. Applying cutoff values of IPS:P >1.4 before and >2.8 after stimulation, the sensitivity was 87.2% and 89.6%, respectively, with a combined sensitivity of 91.7%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined optimal cutoff values of 1.2 before stimulation and 1.57 after stimulation, resulting in a sensitivity of 93.6% and 93.8%, respectively, with a combined sensitivity of 97.9%. Specificity remained at 100% throughout all analyses. Among the 43 patients who responded positively to stimulation, 42 (97.7%) did so within the first three minutes, and all 43 (100%) did so within the first five minutes. None of the assessed clinical variables predicted the ACTH response to stimulation in BIPSS with statistical significance.DiscussionACTH stimulation with desmopressin during BIPSS improves the accuracy of IPS:P, making it a valuable tool for investigating ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Considering the low risk of complications, we recommend the use of desmopressin stimulation during BIPSS for the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent CS

Antibacterial evaluation of Anacardium occidentale (Linn) (Anacardiaceae) in semiarid Brazil

Microorganisms that cause losses are proving to be resistant to most known antibiotics, thereby encouraging the search for naturally occurring antibiotics. This study aimed to perform a phytochemical and bacterial study of ethanolic extracts of leaves and barks of Anacardium occidentale L. The samples were submitted for extraction using ethyl alcohol; the crude extract was used to perform phytochemical evaluation based on the identification of chemical constituents and to evaluate the antibacterial activity. The results of prospective chemical indicate the presence of tannins, phenols, alkaloids and catechins in the leaves and stem bark and compounds belonging to classes of flavonoids were found only in the leaves. Tests using the agar diffusion method for later determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) revealed that both parts of the plant have antibacterial activity, but the shell showed the largest zones of inhibition in most of the concentrations and strains. The MIC ranged from 512 to ≥ 1024 μg/ml, for the two parts of this species. The results indicate the need for further studies because this plant demonstrated considerable antibacterial therapeutic potential.Keywords: Antibacterial activity, phytochemicals, bacteria, minimum inhibitory concentrationAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(30), pp. 4836-484

Occurrence of the Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus in Jataí, Brazil

The objective was to characterize the introduction of the passion fruit woodiness disease in plants and fruits of passion fruit in Jataí - GO. Plants of passion fruit showed the symptoms of the virus at the end of the first year in the field. Infection was confirmed by serological analysis using the PTA ELISA indirect test. This report will contribute to the information already known about this disease, and will serve as a basis for passion fruit producers to identify symptoms in plants affected with the virus

ATIVIDADE BIOLÓGICA DE EXTRATOS DE FOLHAS DE CARYOCAR CORIACEUM WITTM. : ESTUDO IN VITRO

Caryocar coriaceum (Caryocaraceae), popularmente conhecida como pequi, é uma espécie endêmica da Chapada do Araripe, Ceará. Na medicina popular seu fruto é comumente utilizado para tratamento de infecções e inflamações, propriedades também demonstradas em modelos experimentais. Entretanto, existem poucos estudos sobre a folha desta planta. Dessa forma, objetivou-se investigar a toxicidade, as características fitoquímicas e a atividade antioxidante de extratos aquoso e etanólico de folhas do Caryocar coriaceum. O material vegetal foi identificado no Herbário Caririense Dárdamo de Andrade-Lima (HCDAL) sob registro 6684. O extrato etanólico foi concentrado em evaporador rotativo e o extrato aquoso foi submetido à ebulição e posteriormente liofilizado. Quanto à toxicidade à Artemia salina, os extratos aquoso (18,5 μg/mL) e etanólico (14,9 μg/mL) apresentaram Concentração Letal (CL50) inferior ao controle positivo (55,9 μg/mL). Em relação à prospecção fitoquímica, verificou-se a presença de taninos, fenóis, flavonas, flavonóis, xantonas, flavononóis e flavononas. Quanto a atividade antioxidante, os resultados demonstraram um considerável efeito dos extratos aquoso (CE50=2,70μg/mL) e etanólico (CE50=3,24 μg/mL) quando comparado ao controle positivo (CE50=42,0 μg/mL - BHT). A partir dos resultados obtidos, evidencia-se a necessidade da realização de testes mais específicos para quantificar e caracterizar os compostos bioativos assim como para comprovar a atividade antioxidante dos extratos para que seja estendido a ensaios experimentais in vivo

Atividade antibacteriana e interferência de Lantana camara L. e Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq. na resistência de aminoglicosídeos

In this work we report the antibacterial activity and interference of Lantana camara L. and L. montevidensis Briq. in activity of antibiotics classes of aminoglycosides. The extracts of leaves and roots of L. camara (EFLc and ERLc) and L. montevidensis (EFLm and ERLm) were assessed for antibacterial activity alone and in combination with aminoglycosides, by microdilution test. Standard and multi-resistant bacteria were used. The extracts showed an inhibitory activity for Gram-positive and Gram-negative analyzed. The most effective activity was demonstrated by the EFLm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 8 µg/mL), and Escherichia coli (MIC 16 µg/mL). Synergistic effects were observed in the interaction of the extracts with the aminoglycosides, with a reduction of MICs. A synergistic effect was observed by ERLm interaction with amikacin in P. vulgaris, with reduction of MIC (625-20 µg/mL). These data are promising and indicate that extracts of L. camara and L. montevidensis can be an alternative source of natural products with antibacterial activity and potential to modulate resistance to aminoglycosides.O presente trabalho relata a atividade antibacteriana e a interferência de Lantana camara L. e Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq. na atividade de antibióticos da classes dos aminoglicosídeos. Os extratos das folhas e raízes de L. camara (EFLc e ERLc) e L. montevidensis (EFLm e ERLm) foram avaliados com relação a atividade antibacteriana isoladamente e em associação com antibióticos aminoglicosídeos, pelo teste de microdiluição. Bactérias padrão e multirresistentes foram utilizadas. Os extratos apresentaram atividade inibitória para as bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas analisadas. A atividade mais efetiva foi demonstrada pelo o EFLm frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CIM 8 μg/mL), e Escherichia coli (CIM 16 μg/mL). Efeitos sinérgicos foram verificados na interação dos extratos com os aminoglicosídeos, com redução das CIMs. O efeito sinérgico mais representativo foi observado pelo ERLm na associação com a amicacina frente a P. vulgaris, com redução da CIM de 625 para 20 µg/mL. Esses dados são promissores e indicam que extratos de L. camara e L. montevidensis podem ser uma fonte alternativa de produto natural com atividade antibacteriana e potencial de modular a resistência de aminoglicosídeos

ANÁLISE FÍSICO-QUÍMICA DE ESPÉCIES DE SPONDIAS ORIUNDAS DO CARIRI CEARENSE

O cajá, o umbú e a cajarana, pertencentes à família Anarcadiaceae, são frutos típicos da região do Nordeste Brasileiro. O conhecimento do valor nutritivo desses frutos assume importância considerável, mediante ao conhecimento do valor nutricional dos alimentos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar o pH e acidez de Spondias mombim (Cajá), Spondias macrocarpa (Cajarana) e Spondias tuberosa (Umbú), provenientes da Região do Cariri Cearense. were verifiedForam verificadas acidez titulável dos frutos e avaliação do pH. Constatou-se que os frutos estudados apresentaram elevados teores de acidez e pH, características físicas variáveis, diferentes de outras regiões do Nordeste

A coleção ictiológica da Universidade Federal de Rondônia: Sua importância para o conhecimento da diversidade de peixes da Amazônia

Biological collections preserve the biodiversity of a nation. The fish collection of the Universidade Federal de Rondônia, recently established, contains about 41% of freshwater fish species known to occur in Brazil, and 24% of South America. The biological material is distributed into 1,067 species, 21,963 lots and 149,192 specimens, gathered during five years of work. From this collection, 99% of the lots have georeferenced location, and 94% of the species were sampled in the Madeira River basin, the largest tributary in flow, drainage area and sediment discharge of the Amazonas River basin. Among the 1,008 species collected in the Madeira River basin, 80% were reviewed by Brazilian, North American and French experts, and represents the highest richness among tributaries of the Amazonas River and other rivers worldwide. Fish collection from the Madeira River basin deposited in the ichthyological collection of the Universidade Federal de Rondônia accounts for about 75% of the lots and specimens of fish from that basin available for study in collections worldwide. © 2015 Eduem - Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringa. All rights reserved

PROSPECÇÃO FITOQUÍMICA E AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTIBACTERIANA E TOXICIDADE DO LÁTEX DE CALOTROPIS PROCERA (ASCLEPIDACEAE)

Calotropis procera (Asclepidaceae), é uma espécie lactífera e arbórea típica de áreas com baixos níveis de pluviosidade e solos pobres em nutrientes. Na medicina popular suas folhas e seu látex são utilizados no tratamento de úlceras, tumores e doenças hepáticas. A prospecção fitoquímica das frações hexano, acetato de etila, metanol e água do extrato do seu látex mostrou a presença de metabólitos como: flavonas, flavonóis, xantonas, flavononóis, esteróides e alcalóides. Todas as frações, exceto a hexano, demonstraram atividade antibacteriana contra linhagens Gram-negativas, merecendo destaque a fração aquosa por apresentar o melhor resultado frente a P. aeruginosa com CIM de 128 μg/mL. Os ensaios de toxicidade foram realizados frente à Artemia salina e indicaram resultados significativos para as frações acetato de etila e metanólica com CL50 de 10,0 e 16,5 μg/mL, respectivamente

Fishes of Cuniã Lake, Madeira River Basin, Brazil

This study presents an inventory of the ichthyofauna of Cuniã Lake, situated in the floodplain of the Madeira River in Rondônia State, Brazil. A total of 11,949 specimens representing eight orders, 34 families, and 189 species were sampled with gill, seine, and hand nets during the dry and wet seasons between 2008 and 2012. Most of the species recorded in Cuniã Lake are commonly found in other locations in the central Amazonian floodplains, although some are rare in collections (e.g. Acestrorhynchus minimus, Triportheus culter, Oxybrycon parvulus, Tyttocharax madeirae, Trachycorystes trachycorystes and Scorpiodoras lyophisus) or represent new distributional records. © 2013 Check List and Authors