Modulatory effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Lamiales, Bignoniaceae) on doxorubicin-induced somatic mutation and recombination in Drosophila melanogaster

The wing Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) in D. melanogaster was used to study genotoxicity of the medicinal plant Tabebuia impetiginosa. Lapachol (naphthoquinone) and β-lapachone (quinone) are the two main chemical constituents of T. impetiginosa. These compounds have several biological properties. They induce apoptosis by generating oxygen-reactive species, thereby inhibiting topoisomerases (I and II) or inducing other enzymes dependent on NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, thus affecting cell cycle checkpoints. The SMART was used in the standard (ST) version, which has normal levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, to check the direct action of this compound, and in the high bioactivation (HB) version, which has a high constitutive level of CYP enzymes, to check for indirect action in three different T. impetiginosa concentrations (10%, 20% or 40% w/w). It was observed that T. impetiginosa alone did not modify the spontaneous frequencies of mutant spots in either cross. The negative results observed prompted us to study this phytotherapeuticum in association with the reference mutagen doxorubicin (DXR). In co-treated series, T. impetiginosa was toxic in both crosses at higher concentration, whereas in the HB cross, it induced a considerable potentiating effect (from ~24.0 to ~95.0%) on DXR genotoxity. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the possible risks associated with the exposure of living organisms to this complex mixture

Factores protectores frente al consumo de alcohol: concepción de maestros de nivel inicial Fatores protetores frente ao consumo de álcool: percepção de professores de educação básica Protection factors against alcohol consumption as perceived by basic education teachers

Esta investigación busca comprender la concepción de maestros de nivel inicial sobre los factores protectores frente al consumo de alcohol, basándose en los modelos teóricos de Resiliencia y Promoción de la Salud. De enfoque metodológico cualitativo, exploratorio, aplica entrevistas semi-estructuradas y observación no estructurada a una muestra de 25 maestras. Del análisis de contenido de los datos surgen tres categorías temáticas: Significado de Alcohol/Alcoholismo - interpretado como sustancia nociva y situación problema socio-cultural -; La Escuela como Espacio de Protección Frente al Consumo de Alcohol; El Maestro como Agente de Protección. Se asocia protección con informar hasta cuidar. El maestro entiende su función desde orientador hasta consejero/protector, para la cual, mayoritariamente, no se siente preparado fundamentándose en déficits psicopedagógicos, cognocistivos, jurídico-legales y por propios prejuicios sobre alcoholismo. Los resultados confirman los presupuestos de la investigación relativos al maestro y contexto escolar.<br>O objetivo desta pesquisa é entender a percepção de professores de educação básica sobre os fatores que protegem contra o consumo de álcool. Foi adotada uma metodologia qualitativa do tipo exploratório, com entrevistas semi-estruturadas e observação não-estruturada aplicadas a uma amostra de 25 professoras. A análise de conteúdo dos dados levantou três categorias temáticas: Significado de Álcool/Alcoolismo; A Escola como Espaço de Proteção contra o Consumo de Álcool; o Professor como Agente de Proteção. O primeiro é interpretado como uma substância nociva e uma situação problema sócio-cultural. A proteção é associada com informar, comunicar, educar, ou cuidar. Portanto, o professor compreende sua função como cobrindo desde orientador até conselheiro ou protetor. A maioria não se sente preparada para desempenhá-la, fundamentando-se em déficits psicopedagógicos, conhecimentos de saúde integral, o arcabouço jurídico-legal e, principalmente, seus próprios preconceitos sobre alcoolismo.<br>This research aims to understand how basic education teachers perceive factors that protect against alcohol consumption. An exploratory qualitative methodological approach is adopted. Semi-structured interviews and non-structured observation techniques are applied to a sample of 25 teachers. Content analysis of data gave rise to three thematic categories: the Meaning of Alcohol/Alcoholism; The School as an Area of Protection against Alcohol Consumption; the Teacher as a Protective Agent. The first one is interpreted as a harmful substance and a sociocultural problem situation. Protection is linked up with informing, communicating, educating or caring. Thus, the way teachers see their function ranges from guide to adviser or protector. Most teachers do not feel prepared for it, on the basis of psychopedagogical deficits, integral health knowledge, the legal framework and, mainly, their own prejudices on alcoholism

Modulatory effects of the antioxidant ascorbic acid on the direct genotoxicity of doxorubicin in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

In this study two different crosses involving the wing cell markers mwh and flr³ (standard (ST) cross and high bioactivation (HB) cross, the latter being characterized by a high constitutive level of cytochrome P450 which leads to an increased sensitivity to a number of promutagens and procarcinogens) were used to investigate the modulatory effects of ascorbic acid (AA) combined with the antitumor agent doxorubicin (DXR) in Drosophila melanogaster. We observed that the two different concentrations of AA (50 or 100 mM) had no effect on spots frequencies, while DXR treatments (0.2 or 0.4 mM) gave positive results for all types of spots, when compared to negative control. For marker-heterozygous (MH) flies, a protective effect was observed with the lower concentration of AA (50 mM) that was able to statistically decrease the frequency of spots induced by DXR (0.2 mM), while an enhanced frequency of spots induced by DXR was observed with the higher concentration of AA (100 mM), when compared to DXR treatment (p < 0.05). These results suggest that AA may interfere with free radicals generated by DXR and with other possible reactive metabolites. The efficiency of AA in protecting the somatic cells of D. melanogaster against mutation and recombination induced by DXR is dependent on the dose used and the protection is directly related to the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes

Prevalence of Anemia in Children Three to 12 Months Old in a Health Service in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil La prevalencia de anemia en niños de 3 a 12 meses de vida en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil Prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses de vida em um serviço de saúde de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency among children. This cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study is part of a multicenter project, which verified the prevalence of anemia in children aged three to 12 months, treated by a health service unit in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Interviews with mothers and determining hemoglobin dosage were carried out with 121 children who participated in the study. Two international criteria were adopted as parameters of anemia according to the children's age. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and associations were used for data analysis. The prevalence of anemia among 69 children aged three to 5 months was 20.2% and 48.0% among 52 children aged six to 12 months. The total prevalence of anemia was 32.2%. There was significant association between anemia and children's age, and anemia and the consumption of liquid cow's milk.<br>Entre las carencias nutricionales de niños, la anemia ferropénica es la más frecuente. Estudio transversal, descriptivo, cuantitativo es un extracto de un proyecto multicéntrico que verificó la prevalencia de anemia en niños de 3 a 12 meses de edad, en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Fueron realizadas entrevistas y dosificación de hemoglobina en los 121 niños. Dos criterios internacionales fueron adoptados como parámetro de anemia, de acuerdo con la edad del niño. Estadística descriptiva, medidas de tendencia central y testes de asociación fueron usados para el análisis de datos. La prevalencia de anemia en los 69 niños de 3 a 5 meses fue del 20,2%, y en los 52 niños de 6 a 12 meses fue del 48,0%. En total, la prevalencia de anemia fue del 32,2%. Encontró asociación significativa entre anemia y edad del niño y anemia y el consumo de leche de vaca liquido.<br>Das carências nutricionais entre crianças, a anemia ferropriva constitui-se no evento mais frequente. Este é um estudo transversal, descritivo, quantitativo, recorte de um projeto multicêntrico, que verificou a prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses, em um serviço de saúde em Ribeirão Preto, SP. Foram realizadas entrevistas e dosagem de hemoglobina de 121 crianças que participaram do estudo. Adotaram-se dois critérios internacionais como parâmetros de anemia, de acordo com a idade da criança. Para a análise dos dados foram utilizadas estatística descritiva, medidas de tendência central e associações. A prevalência de anemia nas 69 crianças de 3 a 5 meses foi de 20,2% e naquelas 52, de 6 a 12 meses, foi de 48%. A prevalência total de anemia foi de 32,2%. Encontrou-se associação significativa entre anemia e idade da criança e anemia e uso de leite de vaca fluido