Pharmacological mechanisms underlying the anti-ulcer activity of methanol extract and canthin-6-one of Simaba ferruginea A. St-Hil. in animal models

AbstractRelevanceSimaba ferruginea A. St-Hil. (Simaroubaceae) is a subshrub typical of the Brazilian Cerrado, whose rhizomes are popularly used as infusion or decoction for the treatment of gastric ulcers, diarrhea and fever.Aim of the studyTo evaluate the pharmacological mechanism(s) of action of the antiulcer effects of the methanol extract of Simaba ferruginea and its alkaloid canthin-6-one.Materials and methodsRhizome of Simaba ferruginea was macerated with methanol to obtain the methanol extract (MESf) from which was obtained, the chloroform fraction. Canthin-6-one alkaloid (Cant) was purified and then isolated from the chloroform fraction (CFSf). The isolated Cant was identified by HPLC. Anti-ulcer assays were determined using ethanol and indomethacin-induced ulcer models in mice and rats respectively. In order to determine the probable mechanisms of actions of MESf and Cant animals were pretreated with l-NAME prior to anti-ulcer agent treatments and ulcer induction and nitric oxide (NO) level determined in order to assess NO involvement in the gastroprotective effects. Assays of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were also carried out according to previously described methods.ResultsThe results indicate that the antiulcerogenic effects of MESf and Cant in ethanol-induced ulcer is mediated in part through increase in the production of protective endogenous NO as the antiulcerogenic activity of MESf and Cant was reduced in animals pre-treated with l-NAME. In indomethacin-induced ulcer pre-treatment with MESf and Cant showed reduction in the levels of MPO and MDA in the gastric tissue, thus indicating the participation of the antioxidant mechanisms on the gastroprotective effects. The plasma levels of IL-8 in ulcerated rats with indomethacin were also reduced by Cant, but not by MESf, indicating that inhibition of this cytokine contributes to the gastroprotective effect of Cant. However MESf and Cant had no effect on the mucosal membrane levels of PGE2, indicating that the gastroprotective effects of these agents is independent of PGE2 modulation.ConclusionThe results obtained in this study with MESf and Cant added insights into the pharmacological mechanisms involved in their mode of antiulcer action. The results indicate that Cant is one of the compounds responsible for these effects. Such findings are of extreme importance in the strive for future development of potent, safer and effective antiulcer agent. The efficacy of MESf and Cant in gastroprotection shows that Simaba ferruginea might be a promising antiulcer herbal medicine, in addition to confirming the popular use of this plant against gastric ulcer models utilised in this study

Parâmetros Morfodinâmicos da Praia de Imbé, RS

Foram determinados os principais parâmetros morfodinâmicos da praia de Imbé, através da execução de nove perfis praiais entre 18/05/89 e 21/04/90. Os dados foram coletados visualmente e com apoio de instrumental oceanográfico, e em cada perfil foram definidas as características do tamanho (Mz) e volume de sedimentos, declividade do perfil praial (m), velocidade e direção dos ventos e das correntes litorâneas, altura da onda (Hb) e profundidade (db) na linha de rebentação, bem como o período (T) e ângulo de incidência da onda (α), “surf scaling parameter” (€) e o coeficiente de rebentação (βb). A análise destes parâmetros define o estágio morfodinâmico do perfil praial, em Imbé, como intermediário a dissipativo e com baixa variabilidade temporal. Estas condições são confirmadas pelo tipo de rebentação deslizante e mergulhante. Os resultados do estudo sobre as correntes litorâneas sugerem que é possível a predição de suas velocidades.

Relatório de projeto: Fruticultura Catarinense – Valor da produção comercial na safra 2014/15

O boletim didático "Relatório de projeto: Fruticultura Catarinense – Valor da produção comercial na safra 2014/15", reúne dados e informações referentes às  principais culturas frutícolas comerciais de Santa Catarina na safra 2014/15 de estudo e levantamento de dados coordenado pelo Epagri/Cepa. O objetivo desta publicação é apresentar dados regionalizados sobre as frutas com maior participação na produção e no valor da produção na safra 2014/15. Neste trabalho, as culturas frutícolas com destaque nas Unidades de Gestão Técnica (UGTs) da Epagri são: ameixa, bananas (banana-caturra e banana-prata), laranja, maracujá, maçãs (maçã Fuji, maçã Gala e maçã ‘Outras’), pêra, pêssego/nectarina, tangerina e uvas (uva comum, uva de mesa e uva vinífera). Este boletim didático contém informações municipais, reunidas por UGTs, sobre o número de produtores, área plantada, área em produção, quantidade produzida, preço médio de venda recebido pelo produtor e distribuição mensal da colheita, com estimação da produtividade média (kg/ha), dos preços médios regional e estadual (R$/kg) e do valor bruto da produção (VBP) resultantes da safra 2014/15.

Perfil lipídico de pacientes com diabete melito tipo 2 com e sem nefropatia diabética

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Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700