Consumption of medicinal plants and herbal medicines by children and adolescents with chronic conditions: a survey in a tertiary-care outpatient clinic

Objectives. Medicinal plants and herbal medicines are widely used worldwide. However, patients with chronic health conditions or their caregivers do not often disclose these practices to their healthcare providers, leading to potentially severe interactions with current treatments, especially in children. We aimed to describe the prevalence of the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines by children and adolescents with chronic health conditions and whether their physicians were informed about it. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional electronic survey on parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with chronic health conditions seen at a university, tertiary-care pediatric outpatient clinic. The common names of the plants cited by respondents were reviewed and Latin names of the species were provided whenever possible. Results. From 20,213 text messages sent in May and June 2021, 521 valid responses were obtained. The prevalence of the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines was 34.6%, most without a medical prescription (self-medication), and few physicians (4.0%) were aware of it. The five most used species were: Mentha spicata L. (mint), Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel), “cidreira” (a common name possibly corresponding to Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Melissa officinalis L. or Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & Wilson, P.), Matricaria chamomilla L. (German chamomile), and Plectranthus barbatus Andrews (boldo). Conclusions. The prevalence of the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines by children and adolescents with chronic health conditions in a tertiary-care outpatient clinic was 34.6%, and only a few physicians were aware of it.Objetivos. Plantas medicinais e seus derivados são amplamente utilizados no mundo todo. Entretanto, pacientes com condições crônicas de saúde ou seus cuidadores frequentemente não informam essas práticas para seus profissionais de saúde, levando a interações potencialmente graves com os demais tratamentos, especialmente em crianças. Nós objetivamos descrever a prevalência do uso de plantas medicinais e derivados por crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas de saúde, e se seus médicos foram informados sobre isto. Métodos. Levantamento eletrônico transversal junto a pais e cuidadores de crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas de saúde atendidos em um serviço ambulatorial pediátrico universitário terciário. Os nomes comuns das plantas citadas pelos participantes foram revisados e os nomes latinos das espécies foram identificados, sempre que possível. Resultados. De 20.213 mensagens de texto enviadas em maio e junho de 2021, 521 respostas válidas foram obtidas. A prevalência de utilização de plantas medicinais e derivados foi de 34,6%, sendo a maioria sem prescrição médica (automedicação), e poucos médicos (4,0%) estavam cientes disto. As cinco plantas mais comumente utilizadas foram: Mentha spicata L. (hortelã), Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (funcho), “cidreira” (possivelmente correspondendo a Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Melissa officinalis L. ou Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & Wilson, P.), Matricaria chamomilla L. (camomila) e Plectranthus barbatus Andrews (boldo nacional). Conclusões. A prevalência de uso de plantas medicinais e derivados por crianças e adolescentes com condições crônicas de saúde em um serviço ambulatorial pediátrico terciário foi de 34,6%, com grande potencial para interações, e somente poucos médicos estavam cientes disto

Behaviour and environmental consciusness of tourists in rio Araguaia in July holiday

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónTítulo, resumen y palabras clave también en inglésSe pretende identificar la relación entre la consciencia ambiental y el comportamiento de practicantes de actividades de ocio en la naturaleza, concretamente de turistas y habitantes locales de las islas del Rio Araguaia durante las vacaciones del mes de julio. Se utilizó la Escala de Comportamiento Responsable, en una muestra de 235 personas. Se partió de la premisa de que la consciencia y el comportamiento no se relacionan de manera lineal. La investigación indicó que el 90.87% de los sujetos investigados presentan un nivel de consciencia ambiental adecuado, un número muy cercano de los 90.09% que conectan este nivel de consciencia con un comportamiento responsable. Los datos indican que existe la necesidad de profundizar en las prácticas pedagógicas, en las acciones y en las políticas públicas que puedan ayudar a las personas a reflexionar sobre su consciencia en sus actitudes.ES

Vancouver simplified grading system with computed tomographic angiography for blunt aortic injury

ObjectiveDelineation of blunt aortic injury by computed tomographic angiography guides management of this potentially fatal injury. Two existing grading systems are problematic to apply and not linked to outcomes. A simplified computed tomographic angiography–based grading system, linked to clinical outcomes, was developed, and feasibility and reliability were evaluated.MethodsRetrospective review was performed of all blunt aortic injury cases presenting to a single provincial quaternary referral center designated for blunt aortic injury management between 2001 and 2009. Management, associated injuries, hospital survival, and cause of death were determined. Initial computed tomographic angiography was reviewed, and injuries were graded according to the new Vancouver simplified grading system by 2 study authors. Three additional trauma radiologists then graded the aortic injuries with the 2 existing systems and the simplified system. Interrater reliability was determined.ResultsForty-eight patients were identified. Two had minimal aortic injury (grade I), 7 had an intimal flap larger than 1 cm (grade II), 32 had traumatic pseudoaneurysm (grade III), 6 had active contrast extravasation (grade IV), and 1 could not be rated. Survivals were 100%, 90%, and 33% for grades I and II, III, and IV, respectively. Of grade III injuries, 14% were medically managed, 68% repaired endovascularly, and 18% repaired with open surgery. Interrater correlation was best with the simplified score, with only 0.5% of cases unable to be classified.ConclusionsThe Vancouver simplified blunt aortic injury grading system is easy to use and correlates with clinical outcomes. Prospective external validation is required

Assessing, quantifying and valuing the ecosystem services of coastal lagoons

The natural conservation of coastal lagoons is important not only for their ecological importance, but also because of the valuable ecosystem services they provide for human welfare and wellbeing. Coastal lagoons are shallow semi-enclosed systems that support important habitats such as wetlands, mangroves, salt-marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as a rich biodiversity. Coastal lagoons are also complex social-ecological systems with ecosystem services that provide livelihoods, wellbeing and welfare to humans. This study assessed, quantified and valued the ecosystem services of 32 coastal lagoons. The main findings of the study are: (i) the definitions of ecosystem services are still not generally accepted; (ii) the quantification of ecosystem services is made in many different ways, using different units; (iii) the evaluation in monetary terms of some ecosystem service is problematic, often relying on non-monetary evaluation methods; (iv) when ecosystem services are valued in monetary terms, this may represent very different human benefits; and, (v) different aspects of climate change, including increasing temperature, sea-level rise and changes in rainfall patterns threaten the valuable ecosystem services of coastal lagoons.DEVOTES project, from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration [308392]; networks and communities of Eurolag; Future Earth Coasts; SCOR; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) Investigador Programme [IF/00331/2013]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [UID/MAR/04292/2013]; CESAM by FCT/MEC national funds (PIDDAC) [UID/AMB/50017/2013 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007638]; FEDER; European Commission, under the 7th Framework Programme through the collaborative research project LAGOONS [283157]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/107823/2015, SFRH/BPD/91494/2012

EDUCACIÓN RURAL Y LA EDUCACIÓN A DISTANCIA: ¿CUALES PROCESOS EDUCATIVOS ENCANJÁN EM LAS PANTALLAS?

Faced with a global public health crisis that took place in 2020 we were the transformation of educational processes that emerged from within schools and the presence of educational spaces behind the screens of computers and cell phones. Much has been discussed about the impacts of remote education for students from all over Brazil but little reflection was seen about the repercussions of social distancing in the formation of peasant peoples in the face of the concrete reality of a country on the periphery of capitalism in class society. This text aims to reflect on remote teaching in the light of the concepts and principles of Peasant Education and if there are possibilities for educational praxis of/for peasant people to materialize through this teaching modality as recommended by the National Council of Education (CNE).  Frente a una crisis de salud pública global que se produjo en 2020, nosotros enfrentamos a una transformación de los procesos educativos que cambió de las escuelas y de los espacios de capacitación a las pantallas de computadoras y teléfonos celulares. Mucho se ha discutido sobre los impactos de la educación a distancia para estudiantes de todo Brasil, pero se ha visto poca reflexión sobre las repercusiones del distanciamiento social en la formación de los pueblos rurales frente a la realidad concreta de un país en la periferia del capitalismo, en la sociedad de clases. Este texto tiene como objetivo reflexionar sobre la enseñanza a distancia a la luz de los conceptos y principios de la Educación Rural y si existen posibilidades de que la praxis educativa de / para la población rural se materialice mediante esta modalidad de enseñanza según lo recomendado por el Consejo Nacional de Educación (CNE).Diante de uma crise de saúde pública mundial que se estabeleceu no ano de 2020, nos vimos diante da transformação dos processos educativos que saíram de dentro das escolas e da presencialidade dos espaços de formação para detrás das telas dos computadores e celulares. Muito se discutiu acerca dos impactos do ensino remoto para os/as estudantes de todo Brasil, mas, pouca reflexão foi vista acerca dos rebatimentos do distanciamento social na formação dos povos do campo diante da realidade concreta de um país da periferia do capitalismo na sociedade de classes. Esse texto tem como objetivo refletir sobre o ensino remoto à luz das concepções e princípios da Educação do Campo (EdoC) e se há possibilidades das práxis educativas do/para os povos do campo se materializarem por meio dessa modalidade de ensino como foi preconizada pelo Conselho Nacional de Educação (CNE)

Coacervate whey protein improves inflammatory milieu in mice fed with high-fat diet

Background: Functional foods with bioactive properties may help in treat obesity, as they can lead to a decreased risks of inflammatory diseases. the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chitosan coacervate whey protein on the proinflammatory processes in mice fed with high-fat diet.Methods: Mice were divided into two groups receiving either a normolipidic or high-fat diet; the animals in each of the two diet groups were given a diet supplement of either coacervate (gavage, 36 mg protein/kg of body weight) or tap water for four weeks [groups: normolipidic diet plus water (C); normolipidic diet and coacervate (CC); high-fat diet and water (H); and high-fat diet and coacervate (HC)].Results: the high-fat diet promoted inflammation, possibly by decreased adiponectin/sum of adipose tissues ratio and increased phosphorylation of NF-kappa B p50. in HC we observed a positive correlation between IL-10 and TNF-alpha in mesenteric adipose tissue, retroperitoneal adipose tissue and liver tissue. We also observed a positive correlation between lipopolisaccharide with IL-10 in the liver tissue.Conclusions: High-fat diet treatment promoted metabolic alterations and inflammation, and chitosan coacervate whey protein modulated inflammatory milieu.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Fisiol, Disciplina Fisiol Nutr, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias & Tecnol, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Fisiol, Disciplina Fisiol Nutr, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias & Tecnol, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/04310-9Web of Scienc

Histopatologia da cicatrização da pele de ratos Wistar tratados com creme contendo extrato aquoso das folhas de goiabeira (Psidium guajava L.): Histopathology of skin healing in Wistar rats treated with cream containing aqueous extract of guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaves

A cicatrização é uma das temáticas mais relevantes dentro da existência humana e um assunto de grande interesse científico. Nesse sentido, este estudo buscou analisar os efeitos do processo cicatricial em ratos Wistar utilizando um creme base, incorporado com extrato aquoso de folhas de Psidium guajava L (goiabeira). Utilizou-se 24 animais divididos em 4 grupos com diferentes tratamentos, sendo que o grupo tratado com o extrato demonstrou uma intensificação e otimização do processo cicatrizante

A field evaluation of an isothermal DNA amplification assay for the detection of Theileria annulata infection in cattle

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was evaluated for the detection of Theileria annulata infection in cattle. The results were compared with a real-time PCR used for the quantification of T. annulata parasitaemia. One hundred bovine blood samples from 16 cattle farms were tested with LAMP and real-time PCR, with T. annulata DNA being detected in 66% and 67% of the samples, respec- tively. The results showed that the LAMP assay detects a parasitaemia as low as 0.00025%, indicating ahigh analytical sensitivity of LAMP for clinical diagnosis of bovine theileriosis

The natural history of cardiovascular risk factors in health professionals: 20-year follow-up

Background The knowledge of the presence and evolution of cardiovascular risk factors in young people may significantly contribute to actions to modify the natural history of these risks and prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease. Objectives To assess the presence and evolution of cardiovascular risk factors in health professionals over a 20-year period. Methods A group of individuals was evaluated when they first started graduate programs in medicine, nursing, nutrition, dentistry, and pharmacy, and 20 years later. Data obtained in the two phases were compared. Questionnaires about hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, family history of early-onset cardiovascular disease, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyle were administered. Cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Results Of the 281 individuals (62.9 % women; mean age 19.7 years) initially analyzed, 215 (59.07 % women; mean age 39.8 years) were analyzed 20 years later. An increase in mean values of systolic (111.6 vs 118.7 mmHg- p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (71vs 77.1 mmHg - p < 0.001), cholesterol (150.1 vs 182.4 mg/dL - p < 0.001), blood glucose (74.3 vs 81.4 mg/dL - p < 0.001) and BMI (20.7 vs 23.7 kg/m2 - p = 0.017) was observed. Despite the decrease of sedentarism (50.2 vs 38.1 % - p = 0.015), the prevalence of hypertension (4.6 vs 18.6 % - p < 0.001), excessive weight (8.2 vs 32.1 % - p < 0.001), hypercholesterolemia (7.8 vs 24.2 % - p < 0.001), and alcohol consumption (32.7 vs 34.9 % - p = 0.037) increased. There was no change in the prevalence of smoking. Conclusion Health professionals presented an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, and cholesterol over the 20-year study period. Regarding the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, increased blood pressure, overweight, hypercholesterolemia and alcohol consumption, and a decrease in sedentary lifestyle were observed

Serum cytokine responses over the entire clinical-immunological spectrum of human leishmania (l.) infantum chagasi infection

The clinical-immunological spectrum of human Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi infection in Amazonian Brazil was recently reviewed based on clinical, DTH, and IFAT (IgG) evaluations that identified five profiles: three asymptomatic (asymptomatic infection, AIsubclinical resistant infection, SRIand indeterminate initial infection, III) and two symptomatic (symptomatic infection, SIAmerican visceral leishmaniasis, AVLand subclinical oligosymptomatic infection, SOI). TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 serum cytokines were analyzed using multiplexed Cytometric Bead Array in 161 samples from endemic areas in the Brazilian Amazon: SI [AVL] (21 cases), III (49), SRI (19), SOI (12), AI (36), and a control group [CG] (24). The highest IL-6 serumlevels were observed in the SI profile (AVL)higher IL-10 serum levels were observed in SI than in SOI or CG and in AI and III than in SOIhigher TNF-alpha serum levels were seen in SI than in CG. Positive correlations were found between IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels in the SI and III profiles and between IL-6 and TNF-alpha and between IL-4 and TNF-alpha in the III profile. These results provide strong evidence for associating IL-6 and IL-10 with the immunopathogenesis of AVL and help clarify the role of these cytokines in the infection spectrum.Instituto Evandro Chagas (Secretaria de Vigilancia em Saude, Ministerio da Saude, Brazil)Nucleo de Medicina Tropical (Universidade Federal do Para, Brazil)Laboratorio de Investigacao Medica (LIM)-50 (Hospital de Clinicas (HC)-Faculdade de Medicina (FM)-Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP), Brazil)Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2006/56319-1]Parasitology Department, Evandro Chagas Institute, Surveillance Secretary of Health, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, PA, BrazilAlbert Einstein Israelite Hospital, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDivision of Immunology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilPathology Department, Medical School of São Paulo University, São Paulo, SP, BrazilTropical Medicine Nucleus, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, BrazilDivision of Immunology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2006/56319-1Web of Scienc