Ecological phytochemistry of Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) plants

The Cerrado (the Brazilian savanna) is one of the vegetation formations of great biodiversity in Brazil and it has experienced strong deforestation and fragmentation. The Cerrado must contain at least 12,000 higher plant species.We discuss the ecological relevance of phytochemical studies carried out on plants from the Cerrado, including examples of phytotoxicity, antifungal, insecticidal and antibacterial activities. The results have been classified according to activity and plant family. The most active compounds have been highlighted and other activities are discussed. A large number of complex biochemical interactions occur in this system. However, only a small fraction of the species has been studied from the phytochemical viewpoint to identify the metabolites responsible for these interactions

Representações sociais da relação auxiliar de enfermagem-usuário no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família Representaciones sociales de la relación auxiliar de enfermería-usuario en el contexto del Programa de Salud de la Familia Social representations of the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user in the Health Program context

Os profissionais da enfermagem têm se responsabilizado pela "arte" de cuidar, sendo eles os que dedicam a maior parte do seu tempo ao usuário. Neste estudo, objetivou-se compreender a relação entre auxiliar de enfermagem e usuário através das representações sociais do ato de tocar, construídas por esses profissionais no contexto do Programa Saúde da Família (PSF). Trata-se de uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa com 25 profissionais. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: associação livre de palavras, entrevista e questionário. Evidenciou-se que o toque representa possibilidades de aproximação entre profissional-usuário, expressando-se na prática cotidiana, pois auxilia na cura do usuário e humaniza a relação.<br>Los profesionales de la enfermería tienen se responsabilizado por la "arte" de cuidar, siendo los que dedican la mayor parte de su tiempo al usuario. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprender la relación entre auxiliar de enfermería-usuario por las representaciones sociales del acto de tocar construidas por esos profesionales en el Programa Salud de la Familia. Se trata de una investigación cuali-cuantitativa con 25 profesionales. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: asociación libre de palabras, entrevista y cuestionario. Se evidenció que el toque representa posibilidades de aproximación entre profesional-usuario, expresándose en la práctica cotidiana, pues posibilita la cura del usuario y humaniza la relación.<br>Nursing professionals have themselves held liable for the "art" of take care of the users and are the ones who dedicate the major part of their time to them. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the nursing assistant and the user expressed by the social representations of the touch act by these professionals in the Family Health Program (PSF) context. The qualitative-quantitative research involved 25 nursing assistants. The instruments utilized were: free word association, interview, and questionnaire. It was observed that the touch represents possibilities of approximation between the professional and the user, as it helps in the user’s cure and humanizes the relationship

Alterations in epidermal growth factor receptors 1 and 2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) shows a 5-year survival rate below 10%, demonstrating the urgency in improving its treatment. Alterations in epidermal growth factor receptors are closely related to malignancy transformation in a number of tumors and recent successful targeted therapies have been directed to these molecules. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the expression of EGFR and HER2 and evaluated EGFR mutation profile as well as the presence of mutations in hotspots of KRAS and BRAF in ESCC patients. Methods: We performed RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and Fluorescent in situ hybridization to determine EGFR and HER2 expression in ESCC patients, and direct sequencing and PCR-RFLP for mutations and polymorphism analysis. Results: Our results showed an increased EGFR mRNA expression in tumors compared to surrounding tissue (p T) in 2.1% of the patients, and at codon 787 (G>A) in 79.2% of the cases. This last polymorphism was also evaluated in 304 healthy controls, which presented a similar frequency (73.7%) in comparison with ESCC patients. The absence of mutations of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF as well as the overexpression of EGFR and HER2 in less than 10% of the patients suggest that this signaling pathway is altered in only a small proportion of patients with ESCC. Conclusion: HER receptors target therapies may have the potential to be effective in only a minor fraction of patients with ESCC.12Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq