Morphoanatomical and phytochemical studies for the quality control of Neurolaena lobata (L.) R.Br. ex Cass. (Asteraceae)

Neurolaena lobata (L.) R.Br. ex Cass. (Asteraceae)Is a popular folk remedy for in Central America. The plant is of commercial value in Guatemala but so far there is not any monograph to guide regional laboratories on ensuring identity and chemical tests for this species. As identity test we here run macro and micro morphoanatomical studies of the characters of the vegetative organs. We also developed standard chemical tests for quality by both TLC and HPLC for infusions and tinctures of varying alcoholic strength. Their radical scavenging activities in DPPH and NO were also measured. Macro and micro morphoanatomical characters of the vegetative organs present a set of characteristics to facilitate the identification of dry powdered samples of this species. We developed optimal conditions for the TLC and HPLC phytochemical fingerprints of the 4 most common pharmacopoeial liquid herbal preparations from this herbal drug, namely infusion, 70%, 45% and 20% hydroalcoholic tinctures. Our work provides the Latin-American industry with a set of analyses to establish the identity and chemistry of N. lobata samples for quality control purposes. © 2019, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. All rights reserved

CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES ÓRFÃOS: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A INFLUÊNCIA DA ORFANDADE NO PROCESSO DE FORMAÇÃO PSICOSSOCIAL E DESENVOLVIMENTO DA PERSONALIDADE

O presente estudo tem por objetivo investigar as influências conflituosas no desenvolvimento psicossocial de sujeitos órfãos de pai. Segundo diversos trabalhos que discutem a orfandade paterna, a ausência do genitor pode gerar situações aversivas de caráter psicossocial, de acordo com cada fase do desenvolvimento que o indivíduo se encontra. Participaram da pesquisa três adolescentes órfãos de pai, sendo que os mesmos foram entrevistados de forma individual com a finalidade de investigar por meio de pesquisa qualitativa descritiva, a orfandade e os fenômenos decorrentes da ausência da figura paterna em quatro diferentes temáticas: Aspectos do desenvolvimento infantil; Participação dos genitores no desenvolvimento; Relacionamento filho-pai; Avaliação do relacionamento com a família. Os conteúdos manifestos foram examinados pela técnica de análise de discurso. O estudo revelou que a ausência paterna afeta o desenvolvimento emocional de tal forma que os participantes da pesquisa expressam emoções regressivas na busca de reorganização psíquica, assim como pode vir acontecer durante a transição para fases posteriores ao longo da vida

Some arachnidan peptides with potential medical application

The search for new active drugs that can alleviate or cure different diseases is a constant challenge to researchers in the biological area and to the pharmaceutical industry. Historically, research has focused on the study of substances from plants. More recently, however, animal venoms have been attracting attention and studies have been successful in addressing treatment of accidents. Furthermore, venoms and their toxins have been considered good tools for prospecting for new active drugs or models for new therapeutic drugs. In this review, we discuss some possibilities of using different toxins, especially those from arachnid venoms, which have shown some potential application in diseases involving pain, hypertension, epilepsy and erectile dysfunction. A new generation of drugs is likely to emerge from peptides, including those found in animal venoms

APRESENTAÇÃO

Apresentação do Dossiê Volume 4, número 2, 2020. Ensino de História na amazônia: Práticas pedagógicas como reflexão para pesquisa

Skin cancer in outdoor workers exposed to solar radiation: a largely underreported occupational disease in Italy

Background Solar UV radiation (sUVR) is one of the main carcinogen exposures in occupational settings, and UV-induced skin cancers are the most frequent tumours in fair-skinned individuals worldwide. Objectives According to this premise, we should expect a high number of occupational skin cancers reported to the national workers' compensation authorities each year, also considering that the incidence of skin cancers has been constantly increased in recent years Methods We examined the data on reported non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and actinic keratoses (AK) to the Italian National Workers Compensation Authority (INAIL) from 2012 to 2017, and we compared the number of reported skin cancers for outdoor workers with the expected numbers, obtained from currently available NMSC incidence rates for the Italian population applied to the occupational sUVR-exposed workers estimated with the CAREX methodology in Italy in 2005. Results The cases of NMSC reported each year to INAIL in Italy are 34 per year on average, while for AK the mean number of reported cases is of only 15/year. We estimated a number of expected NMSC cases in Italy for solar UV-exposed workers ranging between 432 and 983, representing a proportion between reported vs. expected skin cancers of only 3.5-6.2%. Conclusions Our study clearly shows that occupational skin cancers in Italy are largely underreported, and, accordingly, urgent initiatives should be taken to raise appropriate awareness to the problem of occupational sUVR-induced skin cancers, so that adequate preventive measures can be implemented rapidly

Sarcopenia and risk of malnutrition as risk factors for complications from COVID-19

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo associar o risco nutricional e de sarcopenia com desfechos clínicos em pacientes idosos com COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de coorte retrospectivo longitudinal. Idosos hospitalizados com diagnóstico de COVID-19 foram incluídos no estudo. O risco nutricional foi avaliado usando o Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) e o risco de sarcopenia foi avaliado usando o SARC-F. As associações foram avaliadas por modelos logísticos multivariados. Resultados: No total, 127 pacientes (média de idade: 71,25 ±8,06 anos) foram acompanhados até o desfecho clínico. Risco de sarcopenia foi diagnosticado em 63,8% da amostra, enquanto risco nutricional foi observado em 72% deles. Além disso, 48,8% da amostra necessitoude internação em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI), 38,6% necessitaram ventilação mecânica e 32,3% foram a óbito. Idosos com risco de sarcopenia tiveram maior chance de internação em UTI (OR: 5,62; IC 95%: 2,2-14,3), necessidade de ventilação mecânica (OR: 4,0; IC 95%: 1,5-10,2) e óbito (OR: 5,06; IC 95%: 1,7-14,2). O risco de desnutrição avaliado pelo MUST foi um importante fator de risco para óbito (OR = 30,15; IC 95%: 3,6-245,8; p<0,01). Conclusão: O risco de sarcopenia foi fator de risco para óbito, internação em UTI e ventilação mecânica,enquanto o risco nutricional foi fator de risco para óbito.Purpose: This study aimed to associate nutritional and sarcopenia risk with clinical outcomes in elderly patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a longitudinal retrospective cohort study. Hospitalized elderly individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in the study. Nutritional risk was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the SARC-F. Associations were assessed throughmultivariable logistic models. Results: In total, 127 patients (mean age: 71.25 ±8.06 years) were followed up until the clinical outcome. Sarcopenia risk was diagnosed in 63.8% of the sample, whereas nutritional risk was observed in 72%. Hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) was required in 48.8% of the sample, 38.6% required mechanicalventilation, and 32.3% died. Elderly individuals with sarcopenia risk were more likely to be hospitalized inICUs (OR: 5.62; 95%CI: 2.2-14.3), require mechanical ventilation (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 1.5-10.2), and die (OR: 5.06; 95% CI: 1.7-14.2). The risk of malnutrition assessed through MUST was an important risk factor for death (OR = 30.15; 95% CI: 3.6-245.8; p<0.01). Conclusion: Sarcopenia risk was a risk factor for death, hospitalization in ICU, and mechanical ventilation, while nutritional risk was a risk factor for death

Perspectives on the Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell receptor interaction

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The critical initial event is the interaction of the trypomastigote form of the parasite with host receptors. This review highlights recent observations concerning these interactions. Some of the key receptors considered are those for thromboxane, bradykinin, and for the nerve growth factor TrKA. Other important receptors such as galectin-3, thrombospondin, and laminin are also discussed. Investigation into the molecular biology and cell biology of host receptors for T. cruzi may provide novel therapeutic targets

A study on the construct validity of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTSPC) in an urban population in Northeast Brazil

The Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTSPC) is one of the most widely used instruments in the world for investigating domestic violence against children, but targeted use has proven inadequate given the phenomenon's complexity. This study focused on the factor structure of CTSPC scales in an urban population in Northeast Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 1,370 children in Salvador, Bahia State. Factor analysis with promax oblique rotation was performed, and the Kuder-Richardson coefficient was calculated. Factor analysis showed a different distribution of items in the factors as compared to the original instrument. Violence showed a gradual profile in each factor. The Kuder-Richardson coefficient was 0.63 for factor 1, 0.59 for factor 2, and 0.42 for factor 3. The items behaved differently from the original instrument, corroborating international studies. These findings support proposing a resizing of the CTSPC