Anatomical study and phytochemical screening of leaves from Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage

O óleo essencial das folhas de Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage, espécie de elevada resistência ao frio, contém α-pineno como constituinte majoritário. Este trabalho avaliou a anatomia foliar de E. benthamii e realizou um screening fitoquímico para investigar a presença de outros metabólitos secundários nas folhas desse táxon. A partir do material botânico fixado, foram conduzidas as análises anatômicas, utilizando os métodos usuais de microscopia fotônica e eletrônica. O screening fitoquímico foi desenvolvido por meio de reações específicas para triterpenos/esteróides, alcalóides, antraquinonas, cumarinas, flavonóides, saponinas e taninos. A anatomia foliar evidenciou estômatos anomocíticos em ambas as faces do limbo foliar, mesofilo heterogêneo simétrico isobilateral, nervura mediana plano-convexa e sistema vascular do tipo bicolateral em arco aberto. Também foram visualizados idioblastos contendo cristais de oxalato de cálcio, cavidades secretoras com conteúdo lipofílico e súber cicatricial. O estudo fitoquímico revelou a presença de triterpenos e/ou esteróides, glicosídeos flavônicos, glicosídeos saponínicos e taninos.Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage is a species with remarkable cold tolerance. Its essential oil showed α-pinene as the major constituent. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the anatomy of leaves from E. benthamii. Also a phytochemical screening of others secondary metabolites was investigated. The anatomical analyses of previously fixed leaves from E. benthamii were performed by the usual light and scanning microtechniques. Phytochemical study was carried out by qualitative reactions for triterpenes/steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. Anomocytic stomata were observed on both surfaces of leaves from E. benthamii. Foliar blade showed a heterogeneous and symmetrical mesophyll as isobilateral arrange. The midrib showed plain-convex cross-section and was traversed by a bicollateral vascular bundle in open arc. Idioblasts with calcium oxalate prisms, secretory cavities with oil content and lenticel-like structures were also reported. The phytochemical screening revealed triterpenes/steroids, flavonoid glycosides, saponin glycosides and tannins.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Criação em larga escala de Biomphalaria tenagophila

An efficient method for breeding Biomphalaria tenagophila (Taim lineage/RS) was developed over a 5-year-period (2005-2010). Special facilities were provided which consisted of four cement tanks (9.4 x 0.6 x 0.22 m), with their bottom covered with a layer of sterilized red earth and calcium carbonate. Standard measures were adopted, as follows: each tank should contain an average of 3000 specimens, and would be provided with a daily ration of 35,000 mg complemented with lettuce. A green-house effect heating system was developed which constituted of movable dark canvas covers, which allowed the temperature to be controlled between 20 - 24 ºC. This system was essential, especially during the coldest months of the year. Approximately 27,000 specimens with a diameter of 12 mm or more were produced during a 14-month-period. The mortality rates of the newly-hatched and adult snails were 77% and 37%, respectively. The follow-up of the development system related to 310 specimens of B. tenagophila demonstrated that 70-day-old snails reached an average of 17.0 ± 0.9 mm diameter. The mortality rates and the development performance of B. tenagophila snails can be considered as highly satisfactory, when compared with other results in literature related to works carried out with different species of the genus Biomphalaria, under controlled laboratory conditions.Foi desenvolvido um método eficiente de criação em larga escala de Biomphalaria tenagophila (linhagem Taim/RS) durante o período de 2005-2010. Foi concebida uma instalação que consiste de quatro tanques de alvenaria (9,4 x 0,6 x 0,22) com fundos recobertos por uma mistura constituída de terra vermelha esterilizada e carbonato de cálcio. Foi padronizado que cada tanque de criação conteria em média 3.000 exemplares e receberia diariamente 35.000 mg de ração e alface como complemento. O desenvolvimento de um sistema de aquecimento por efeito estufa constituído de lonas escuras móveis permitiu controlar a temperatura entre 20 a 24 ºC, sistema essencial principalmente nos meses mais frios. Durante o período de 14 meses foram produzidos aproximadamente 27.000 exemplares com diâmetros superiores a 12 mm. As taxas de mortalidade dos caramujos recém-eclodidos e adultos foram de 77% e 37%, respectivamente. O acompanhamento do ritmo de crescimento de 310 B. tenagophila demonstrou que caramujos com 70 dias de idade alcançaram em média 17,0 ± 0,9 mm de diâmetro. As taxas de mortalidade e o desempenho de crescimento de caramujos do gênero B. tenagophila podem ser considerados altamente satisfatórios, comparando-se com os resultados da literatura realizados com espécies do gênero Biomphalaria em condições controladas de laboratório

CONTRIBUIÇÃO AO ESTUDO ALELOPÁTICO DE ÁGUA RECUPERADA DE [Chamomilla recutita (L.) RAUSCHERT]

Este trabalho buscou analisar a influência alelopática de águas recuperadas de [Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert] sobre o crescimento e germinação de sementes de Lactuca sativa. Os resultados demonstraram que apesar da composição das águas recuperadas após 3 horas, 6 horas e 9 horas de secagem a 70°C ser diferente, esta variação não se mostrou representativa nos resultados alelopáticos. Em todos os tempos de secagem, a água recuperada influenciou o crescimento do hipocótilo e a germinação das sementes de Lactuca sativa

ATIVIDADE DO EXTRATO, FRAÇÕES E SUBSTÂNCIAS ISOLADAS DAS CASCAS DE Geissospermum vellosii ALLEMÃO (APOCYNACEAE) SOBRE Artemia salina LEACH

O extrato, frações e substâncias isoladas das cascas de G. vellosii foram submetidos ao teste de bioatividade sobre A. salina. Os dados foram analisados pelo método Probitos e determinados os valores de DL50 e 95% de intervalos de confiança. As amostras foram consideradas ativas quando DL50 < 1000 µg.mL-1. Todas as amostras testadas demonstraram bioatividade contra A. salina, destacando-se F4 e F9, as quais apresentaram valores de DL50 de 7,60 e 29,48 µg.mL-1, respectivamente. Os resultados demonstram o potencial biotecnológico da espécie, pois segundo literatura este bioensaio pode ser utilizado como avaliação prévia de possível atividade antitumora

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Ovarian Hormone Deprivation Reduces Oxytocin Expression in Paraventricular Nucleus Preautonomic Neurons and Correlates with Baroreflex Impairment in Rats

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension increases dramatically in women after menopause, however the mechanisms involved remain incompletely understood. Oxytocinergic (OTergic) neurons are largely present within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Several studies have shown that OTergic drive from PVN to brainstem increases baroreflex sensitivity and improves autonomic control of the circulation. Since preautonomic PVN neurons express different types of estrogen receptors, we hypothesize that ovarian hormone deprivation causes baroreflex impairment, autonomic imbalance and hypertension by negatively impacting OTergic drive and oxytocin levels in pre-autonomic neurons. Here, we assessed oxytocin gene and protein expression (qPCR and immunohistochemistry) within PVN subnuclei in sham-operated and ovariectomized Wistar rats. Conscious hemodynamic recordings were used to assess resting blood pressure and heart rate and the autonomic modulation of heart and vessels was estimated by power spectral analysis. We observed that the ovarian hormone deprivation in ovariectomized rats decreased baroreflex sensitivity, increased sympathetic and reduced vagal outflows to the heart and augmented the resting blood pressure. Of note, ovariectomized rats had reduced PVN oxytocin mRNA and protein expression in all pre-autonomic PVN subnuclei. Furthermore, reduced PVN oxytocin protein levels were positively correlated with decreased baroreflex sensitivity and negatively correlated with increased LF/HF ratio. These findings suggest that reduced oxytocin expression in OTergic neurons of the PVN contributes to the baroreflex dysfunction and autonomic dysregulation observed with ovarian hormone deprivation