Neurotoxicological study about a medicinal plant of Cissus sulcicaulis Baker in pregnancy rats/ Estudo neurotoxicológico de uma planta medicinal de Cissus sulcicaulis Baker em ratas prenhes

The Cissus sulcicaulis Baker species belongs to the Vitaceae family is popularly used for its anti-inflammatory activity. This study investigated for the first time the reproductive capacity of pregnant rats exposed daily to Cissus sulcicaulis Baker, the fetal organogenesis (prenatal assay), and the development of the pups (postnatal assay). Pregnant rats were exposed for the entire gestational period to a saline solution (control), Cissus sulcicaulis Baker (0.2 or 0.4 g/kg/day) and diclofenac potassium (positive control - 1.0 mg/kg/day). Fertility and pregnant weight gain were monitored. Pups were monitored for body weight, offspring vitality, morphology, and physical and neurobehavioral development. Cissus sulcicaulis Baker at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day promotes alterations in reproductive performance of pregnant rats (p<0;05); at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg/day promoted morphologic changes in the offspring parameters (p<0;05); and in the dosage of 0.2 mg/kg/day significantly promotes neurotoxicity effects in the offspring (p<0;05).  In conclusion, these results indicate that the exposure of rats, during pregnancy period, to the Cissus sulcicaulis Baker proved not to be safe.

Bem-estar animal em laboratório: enriquecimento ambiental apresenta efeito positivo na experimentação animal

Reproductive and developmental toxicology has focused on the need to approach the effects of organism exposure to various drugs during pregnancy after the mid-50’s, when the thalidomide tragedy stroke humanity. In recent decades, this area of study has developed a lot due to animal testing, raising awareness on the need to improve the quality of life of such animals. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate how the science of animal welfare can improve scientific research as a whole, including the reproductive and developmental toxicology fields, by emphasizing environmental enrichment in animal facilities. To do so, we conducted an integrative literature review on several quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches that are applicable to toxicology studies. Here, we present evidence that environmental enrichment improves animal welfare and prevents or reduces the negative effects of captive housing, which must be a principle of toxicological research for ethical, legal and scientific reasons.Na toxicologia da reprodução e do desenvolvimento, a atenção necessária foi dada aos efeitos da exposição do organismo às inúmeras drogas durante o período gestacional somente após a metade dos anos 50, quando a tragédia da talidomida atingiu a humanidade. Assim, esta área alcançou desenvolvimento científico com a contribuição da experimentação animal nas últimas décadas. O uso de animais de laboratórios para a pesquisa científica expôs a necessidade de melhorar a qualidade de vida destas espécies. Portanto, este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar como a ciência do bem-estar animal pode melhorar a pesquisa científica como um todo, incluindo na área de toxicologia da reprodução e de desenvolvimento, enfatizando o enriquecimento ambiental em biotérios. Uma revisão integrativa de literatura foi realizada, incluindo abordagens quantitativas e qualitativas, quais podem ser aplicadas para estudos de toxicologia. Aqui, são mostradas evidências de que o enriquecimento ambiental melhora o bem-estar animal e previne ou reduz os efeitos negativos do cativeiro, qual deve um princípio da pesquisa toxicológica por razões éticas, argumentos legais e garantias científicas

Assessment of Cytotoxicity, Fetotoxicity, and Teratogenicity of Plathymenia reticulata Benth Barks Aqueous Extract

Scientific assessment of harmful interactions of chemicals over the entire reproductive cycle are divided into three segments based on the period: from premating and mating to implantation (I), from implantation to major organogenesis (II), and late pregnancy and postnatal development (III). We combined the segments I and II to assess Plathymenia reticulata aqueous extract safety. in order to investigate reproductive toxicity (segment I), pregnant rats received orally 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg of extract, daily, during 18 days. These concentrations were determined by a preliminary in vitro LD50 test in CHO-k1 cells. A control group received deionized water. the offspring was removed at the 19th day, by caesarean, and a teratology study (segment II) was carried out. the corpora lutea, implants, resorptions, live, and dead fetuses were then counted. Placenta and fetuses were weighted. External and visceral morphology were provided by the fixation of fetuses in Bouin, whereas skeletal analysis was carried out on the diaphanizated ones. the increase in the weights of placenta and fetuses was the only abnormality observed. Since there was no sign of alteration on reproduction parameters at our experimental conditions, we conclude that P. reticulata aqueous extract is safe at 0.5 to 1.0 g/kg and is not considered teratogenic.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Sorocaba, Postgrad Program Pharmaceut Sci, UNISO, BR-18023000 Sorocaba, SP, BrazilFed Univ Pampa, CIPBiotec, UNIPAMPA, BR-97300000 Sao Gabriel, RS, BrazilFed Univ Tocantins, PGCiamb, Postgrad Course Environm Sci, BR-77001090 Tocantins, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 04/09705-8FAPESP: 07/53883-6FAPESP: 08/52643-4CNPq: 35.0798/2004-4Web of Scienc

Vitamin D deficiency and acute respiratory infections among brazilian children

The prescription of antibiotics worldwide remains large, especially in children. The lack of accurate diagnoses leads to overuse of these drugs, increasing bacterial resistance. A large number of studies have shown that another important factor in the onset of upper respiratory infections (URI) is inadequate intake of nutrients for these children, especially vitamins A, C and D. This study aimed to understand the use of antibiotics and the profile of nutrient intake in children diagnosed with URI. During 12 months, a survey (24 h dietary recall) was applied in 131 parents of children using antibiotics. The results showed antibiotic prescriptions for viral infections (37 %), pointing out incorrect prescriptions. The presence of URI was directly related to the lack of intake of vitamins, especially A and D. Countries with poor sources of these vitamins (fish oil), in regular diet, should increase the dietary supplementation of vitamins to diminish the appearance of URIs.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Libidibia ferrea loaded in bacterial nanocellulose: evaluation of antimicrobial activity and wound care / Libidibia ferrea loaded in bacterial nanocellulose: evaluation of antimicrobial activity and wound care

The effects of Bacterial Nanocellulose (BNC) loaded with Libidibia ferrea (Lf) hydroalcoholic extract were investigated on the healing process of burn in diabetic and non-diabetic animals. In vivo assay was performed with 36 male rats, with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and burns induced by contact. Animals were divided into Nd-BNC (Non-diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes); Nd-BNC-Lf (Non-diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes + Libidibia ferrea); D-BNC (Diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes); D-BNC-Lf (Diabetic + Bacterial nanocellulose membranes + Libidibia ferrea). Wounds were evaluated for 28 days histologically. Lf extract and BNC-Lf extract showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The severe degree of infection, granulation and inflammation observed after 14 days in diabetic rats (exposed or not to Lf extract), disappeared after 21 days. On the 28th day, there was no histological difference among the groups. BNC-Lf extract demonstrated to have antimicrobial activity, however as an wound dressing, both BNC or BNC-Lf extract were effective in the healing of second-degree burn wounds

In vitro and in vivo safety evaluation of Dipteryx alata Vogel extract

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Dipteryx alata </it>Vogel popularly known as "baru" is an important commercial leguminous tree species from the Brazilian Cerrado, which possess medicinal properties, besides its fruits consumption by animals and humans. The use of the "naturally occurring plants" as herbal remedies and foods mainly from leaves, seeds, flowers and roots of plants or extracts require precautions before ensuring these are safe and efficacious. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of <it>D. alata </it>barks extract.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Vegetal drugs of <it>D. alata </it>barks were submitted to quality control assays and further to the safety assays under 1) <it>in vitro </it>parameter by <it>Salmonella </it>(Ames) mutagenicity, and 2) <it>in vivo </it>parameter on the pregnancy of rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The extract was non-mutagenic to any of the assessed strains TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 even after metabolic activation (+S9). All <it>in vivo </it>parameters (reproductive ability evaluation, physical development of rat offsprings, and neurobehavioral development assays) showed no changes related to control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>D. alata </it>barks extract is neither mutagenic by the Ames test nor toxic in the pregnancy of rats, with no physical-neurobehavioral consequences on the rat offsprings development.</p

Hipertireoidismo e hipotireoidismo na gravidez: uso racional de medicamentos

O presente estudo é uma revisão sobre o uso de drogas utilizadas em distúrbios da tireóide durante a gravidez, focalizando as alterações bioquímicas decorrentes da utilização desses medicamentos. Consideramos que este trabalho pode auxiliar durante a prescrição médica e contribuir com o profissional farmacêutico, no auxílio à gestante

Alternativas terapêuticas para o tratamento da degeneração macular relacionada à idade: um desafio para a saúde pública

A degeneração macular relacionada à idade (DMRI) é uma das maiores causas de redução da capacidade laborativa, devida à perda da visão central e evolução para cegueira legal, impossibilitando inclusive atividades básicas como ler, escrever, cozinhar, dirigir e reconhecer a fisionomia de pessoas. A incidência desta doença vem aumentando significativamente nos últimos anos e são muitas as dúvidas sobre a escolha do tratamento mais adequado. O objetivo desta revisão é apresentar a fisiopatologia da DMRI e discutir as dificuldades do tratamento desta doença, relacionadas principalmente às vias de administração de fármacos e à escolha do procedimento clínico. Neste contexto, o uso da terapia antiangiogênica na DMRI parece ser, atualmente, o tratamento mais eficaz, devido a sua alta especificidade, pois atua de forma direta no desequilíbrio entre os fatores pró e antiangiogênicos. Entretanto, com base nas evidências atuais, o grande desafio para a saúde pública ainda está na prevenção desta doença e em seu diagnostico precoce