Chemical variability and biological activities of Eucalyptus spp. essential oils

Many plant species produce mixtures of odorous and volatile compounds known as essential oils (EOs). These mixtures play important roles in Nature and have been utilized by mankind for different purposes, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, aromatherapy, and food flavorants. There are more than 3000 EOs reported in the literature, with approximately 300 in commercial use, including the EOs from Eucalyptus species. Most EOs from Eucalyptus species are rich in monoterpenes and many have found applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, food flavorants, and perfumes. Such applications are related to their diverse biological and organoleptic properties. In this study, we review the latest information concerning the chemical composition and biological activities of EOs from different species of Eucalyptus. Among the 900 species and subspecies of the Eucalyptus genus, we examined 68 species. The studies associated with these species were conducted in 27 countries. We have focused on the antimicrobial, acaricidal, insecticidal and herbicidal activities, hoping that such information will contribute to the development of research in this field. It is also intended that the information described in this study can be useful in the rationalization of the use of Eucalyptus EOs as components for pharmaceutical and agrochemical applications as well as food preservatives and flavorants. View Full-Tex

Chemical Variability and Biological Activities of Volatile Oils from Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is widely used in folk medicine in various countries. Th e essential oils from H. suaveolens have been extensively investigated and are mainly composed of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, although significant diterpene content has been reported in recent studies. The survey of the literature concerning H. suaveolens essential oils revealed a high level of chemical variability in terms of quantity and composition that is commonly observed for volatile oils from other plant species. However, few researchers have dealt with the reasons for such chemical variability. Our research group has been investigating the relationships between growing conditions of the plants and the H. suaveolens (L.) Poit. essential oil composition. The results of these investigations have led to some advances in the characterization and knowledge of H. suaveolens chemotypes from Brazil. Nevertheless, since this species presents high level of genetic polymorphism and allows it to adapt to the alterations in environmental features resulting in interpopulational and intrapopulational variability in the volatile oil chemical compositions. Consequently, biochemical assays on the biosynthetic pathway are required in order to detect the molecular mechanisms involved in inducing differential terpenoid biosynthesis within H. suaveolens. These are some of the challenges which require resolution leading to an understanding of the complex secondary metabolism of this species, thereby making possible the volatile oil chemical standardization seeking productivity and phytotherapy

YouTube as a Source of Information About Physical Exercise During COVID-19 Outbreak

Context: Physical inactivity levels in the course of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak increased significantly. Our aim was to address how the information related to the physical exercise and COVID-19 posted on YouTube reaches the general public during COVID-19 outbreak. Evidence Acquisition: For this, research was carried out crossing the terms covid 19 and physical exercise in the YouTube database. The search was conducted only in the English language and was established/closed on April 26th (2020) to June 26th (2020) in order to observe the dynamics of video production on YouTube. Results: The main terms and concepts mentioned in the analysis of YouTube videos were COVID-19, pandemic, quarantine, social isolation and distance, physical activity, physical exercise, home-based physical exercise, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, and mental health. The information was posted and supported by renowned health and physical exercise experts and entities. The recommendations for physical exercise in the current scenario focused on programs that require little equipment and space (carried out indoors and at home) and at low cost in an attempt to maintain and improve physical and mental health from different population groups. Conclusions: Information about COVID-19 and exercise was growing and progressive throughout the pandemic on YouTube. However, care and guidance are needed in using the information provided by YouTube as a source of reference for the practice of physical exercise during the COVID-19 outbreak

Reference values for bone mass in young athletes: a cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil

Reference values for bone mass in young athletes need to be used for screening purposes, and country/regional reference values should be used to improve precision of comparisons. The aim of the present study was to develop reference values for bone health variables in Brazilian young athletes. The bone mass content (BMC), bone mass density (BMD), and total body less head (TBLH) BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were measured in 702 young athletes (327 men and 375 women) aged 8.5–18.5 years, divided into 5 groups, according to their age: group 1 (8.5–10.5 years), group 2 (10.6–12.5 years), group 3 (12.6–14.5 years), group 4 (14.6–16.5 years), and group 5 (16.6–18.5 years). Comparisons between the sexes and ages were performed and age-sex-smoothed reference values were constructed. Male athletes presented high BMC and BMD than female athletes in age groups 3, 4, and 5 (p < 0.005) and high TBLH BMD than female athletes in age groups 4 and 5 (p < 0.005). Reference values, including the percentiles are presented for the bone health variables of each sex and age group. The age-, sex-, and ethnic-specific reference data for bone variables presented in this study enabled more precise reference data for young Brazilian athletes. These data may assist in monitoring changes during an athletes’ growth and different phases of athletic training

Conteúdo e composição do óleo essencial da Artemisia annua em duas épocas de colheita

Artemisia annua is traditionally used in the treatment for malaria due to presence of the active principle artemisinin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the essential oil content and chemical composition of A. annua submitted to four doses of mineral fertilization in two harvest times. The seedlings of A. annua were cultivated in 10 L pots kept in a greenhouse. The tested doses of mineral fertilization were the following: without fertilization (D0), 50% of the recommended dose (D1), recommended dose (D2), and 150% of the recommended dose (D3). The samples for extracting the essential oils were collected at 60 and 125 days after transplantation (DAT). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Identification and relative percentage of the compounds of the essential oil were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The highest essential oil content obtained was 0.81% using the dose D0 at 60 DAT. The increase of the dose of mineral fertilization indicated a disadvantage with the reduction of the essential oil content in the two harvesting times. The major constituents found in the essential oil were camphor and borneol. The results indicate that A. annua could be an alternative source of borneol and camphor, active component with use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.Artemisia annua é utilizada tradicionalmente para o tratamento da malária devido à presença do princípio ativo artemisinina. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o teor e a composição química do óleo essencial de A. annua submetida a quatro doses de adubação mineral em duas épocas de colheita. As mudas de A. annua foram cultivadas em vasos de 10 L mantidas em casa de vegetação. As doses testadas de fertilização mineral foram as seguintes: sem fertilização (D0), 50% da dose recomendada (D1), dose recomendada (D2) e 150% da dose recomendada (D3). As amostras para extração dos óleos essenciais foram coletadas aos 60 e 125 dias após o transplante (DAT). O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação usando um aparelho do tipo Clevenger. A identificação e a porcentagem relativa dos compostos do óleo essencial foram realizadas por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa. O maior teor de óleo essencial obtido foi de 0,81% na dose D0 aos 60 DAT. O aumento da dose de adubação mineral indicou uma desvantagem com a redução do teor de óleo essencial nas duas épocas de colheita. Os constituintes majoritários encontrados no óleo essencial foram cânfora e borneol. Os resultados indicam que A. annua pode ser uma fonte alternative de borneol e cânfora, princípios ativos com uso na indústria química e farmacêutica

Chemistry and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Melaleuca L. Species

Essential oils from species Melaleuca genus, especially M. alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel, have been widely used worldwide in various industries. This review is a contribution to Melaleuca knowledge and describes five important essential oil-producing species and two subspecies of Melaleuca in terms of their essential oil chemical composition, medicinal applications, and leaf morphoanatomy. Some relationships between essential oil composition of these species and important biological activities are presented. Useful parameters for the certification of the essential oils are also highlighted

Efeitos de um programa de treinamento de força destinado à mulheres de meia idade e idosas

O processo de envelhecimento resulta em mudanças na aptidão física e interfere na manutenção da capacidade funcional. Objetivamos analisar os efeitos do treinamento de força nos componentes da aptidão física relacionada à saúde de mulheres. Vinte voluntárias com 61,9 ±6,0 anos, 26,7 ±2,0 kg/m2, 28,4 ±2,5 % de gordura, foram distribuídas em grupo treinamento (GT: n=9) e controle (GC: n=11). O programa de treinamento de 12 semanas consistiu em 8 exercícios realizados 3 vezes por semana entre 8 e 12 repetições máximas. Foram avaliadas pré e pós-intervenção: antropometria, força muscular, agilidade, flexibilidade e aptidão cardiorrespiratória. O GT apresentou redução da gordura corporal (Pré = 29,2 ±2,8 %, Pós=27,8 ±2,7%; p=0,002), aumento no salto vertical (Pré=11,06 ±2,34 cm; Pós=14,33 ±4,55 cm; p=0,005), aumento no teste de flexão de cotovelo (Pré=9,6 ±2,7 repetições, Pós=22,9 ±9,4 repetições; p=0,001), aumento no teste de sentar e levantar (Pré=11,1 ±0,8 repetições, Pós=22,0 ±3,5 repetições; p<0,001), aumento da aptidão cardiorrespiratória (Pré=24,3 ±5,5 mL/kg/min, Pós=27,6 ±4,4 mL/kg/min; p<0,001) e melhora na agilidade (Pré=22,38 ±0,69 segundos; Pós=19,90 ±0,66 segundos; p=0,003). Concluímos que o treinamento de força pode contribuir para a melhora da aptidão física relacionada à saúde de mulheres de meia idade e idosas

Skin color and severe maternal outcomes: evidence from the brazilian network for surveillance of severe maternal morbidity

Taking into account the probable role that race/skin color may have for determining outcomes in maternal health, the objective of this study was to assess whether maternal race/skin color is a predictor of severe maternal morbidity. This is a secondary analysis of the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity, a national multicenter cross-sectional study of 27 Brazilian referral maternity hospitals. A prospective surveillance was performed to identify cases of maternal death (MD), maternal near miss (MNM) events, and potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC), according to standard WHO definition and criteria. Among 9,555 women with severe maternal morbidity, data on race/skin color was available for 7,139 women, who were further divided into two groups: 4,108 nonwhite women (2,253 black and 1,855 from other races/skin color) and 3,031 white women. Indicators of severe maternal morbidity according to WHO definition are shown by skin color group. Adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PRadj - 95%CI) for Severe Maternal Outcome (SMO=MNM+MD) were estimated according to sociodemographic/obstetric characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and perinatal results considering race. Results. Among 7,139 women with severe maternal morbidity evaluated, 90.5% were classified as PLTC, 8.5% as MNM, and 1.6% as MD. There was a significantly higher prevalence of MNM and MD among white women. MNMR (maternal near miss ratio) was 9.37 per thousand live births (LB). SMOR (severe maternal outcome ratio) was 11.08 per 1000 LB, and MMR (maternal mortality ratio) was 170.4 per 100,000 LB. Maternal mortality to maternal near miss ratio was 1 to 5.2, irrespective of maternal skin color. Hypertension, the main cause of maternal complications, affected mostly nonwhite women. Hemorrhage, the second more common cause of maternal complication, predominated among white women. Nonwhite skin color was associated with a reduced risk of SMO in multivariate analysis. Nonwhite skin color was associated with a lower risk for severe maternal outcomes. This result could be due to confounding factors linked to a high rate of Brazilian miscegenation.2019CNPQ - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico402702/2008-

Diretriz da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia sobre Diagnóstico e Tratamento de Pacientes com Cardiomiopatia da Doença de Chagas

This guideline aimed to update the concepts and formulate the standards of conduct and scientific evidence that support them, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, with special emphasis on the rationality base that supported it.&nbsp; Chagas disease in the 21st century maintains an epidemiological pattern of endemicity in 21 Latin American countries. Researchers and managers from endemic and non-endemic countries point to the need to adopt comprehensive public health policies to effectively control the interhuman transmission of T. cruzi infection, and to obtain an optimized level of care for already infected individuals, focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic opportunistic opportunities. &nbsp; Pathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease were revisited after in-depth updating and the notion that necrosis and fibrosis are stimulated by tissue parasitic persistence and adverse immune reaction, as fundamental mechanisms, assisted by autonomic and microvascular disorders, was well established. Some of them have recently formed potential targets of therapies.&nbsp; The natural history of the acute and chronic phases was reviewed, with enhancement for oral transmission, indeterminate form and chronic syndromes. Recent meta-analyses of observational studies have estimated the risk of evolution from acute and indeterminate forms and mortality after chronic cardiomyopathy. Therapeutic approaches applicable to individuals with Indeterminate form of Chagas disease were specifically addressed. All methods to detect structural and/or functional alterations with various cardiac imaging techniques were also reviewed, with recommendations for use in various clinical scenarios. Mortality risk stratification based on the Rassi score, with recent studies of its application, was complemented by methods that detect myocardial fibrosis.&nbsp; The current methodology for etiological diagnosis and the consequent implications of trypanonomic treatment deserved a comprehensive and in-depth approach. Also the treatment of patients at risk or with heart failure, arrhythmias and thromboembolic events, based on pharmacological and complementary resources, received special attention. Additional chapters supported the conducts applicable to several special contexts, including t. cruzi/HIV co-infection, risk during surgeries, in pregnant women, in the reactivation of infection after heart transplantation, and others.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, two chapters of great social significance, addressing the structuring of specialized services to care for individuals with the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, and reviewing the concepts of severe heart disease and its medical-labor implications completed this guideline.Esta diretriz teve como objetivo principal atualizar os conceitos e formular as normas de conduta e evidências científicas que as suportam, quanto ao diagnóstico e tratamento da CDC, com especial ênfase na base de racionalidade que a embasou. A DC no século XXI mantém padrão epidemiológico de endemicidade em 21 países da América Latina. Investigadores e gestores de países endêmicos e não endêmicos indigitam a necessidade de se adotarem políticas abrangentes, de saúde pública, para controle eficaz da transmissão inter-humanos da infecção pelo T. cruzi, e obter-se nível otimizado de atendimento aos indivíduos já infectados, com foco em oportunização diagnóstica e terapêutica. Mecanismos patogênicos e fisiopatológicos da CDC foram revisitados após atualização aprofundada e ficou bem consolidada a noção de que necrose e fibrose sejam estimuladas pela persistência parasitária tissular e reação imune adversa, como mecanismos fundamentais, coadjuvados por distúrbios autonômicos e microvasculares. Alguns deles recentemente constituíram alvos potenciais de terapêuticas. A história natural das fases aguda e crônica foi revista, com realce para a transmissão oral, a forma indeterminada e as síndromes crônicas. Metanálises recentes de estudos observacionais estimaram o risco de evolução a partir das formas aguda e indeterminada e de mortalidade após instalação da cardiomiopatia crônica. Condutas terapêuticas aplicáveis aos indivíduos com a FIDC foram abordadas especificamente. Todos os métodos para detectar alterações estruturais e/ou funcionais com variadas técnicas de imageamento cardíaco também foram revisados, com recomendações de uso nos vários cenários clínicos. Estratificação de risco de mortalidade fundamentada no escore de Rassi, com estudos recentes de sua aplicação, foi complementada por métodos que detectam fibrose miocárdica. A metodologia atual para diagnóstico etiológico e as consequentes implicações do tratamento tripanossomicida mereceram enfoque abrangente e aprofundado. Também o tratamento de pacientes em risco ou com insuficiência cardíaca, arritmias e eventos tromboembólicos, baseado em recursos farmacológicos e complementares, recebeu especial atenção. Capítulos suplementares subsidiaram as condutas aplicáveis a diversos contextos especiais, entre eles o da co-infecção por T. cruzi/HIV, risco durante cirurgias, em grávidas, na reativação da infecção após transplante cardíacos, e outros.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Por fim, dois capítulos de grande significado social, abordando a estruturação de serviços especializados para atendimento aos indivíduos com a CDC, e revisando os conceitos de cardiopatia grave e suas implicações médico-trabalhistas completaram esta diretriz.&nbsp