Mutagenicity induced by the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal plant Plathymenia reticulata Benth

Plathymenia reticulata Benth has an anti-inflammatory effect and is capable of neutralizing the neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu or Crotalus durissus terrificus venoms, probably by precipitating venom proteins (an effect caused by plant tannins). The present study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic activity of P. reticulata by using the Salmonella mutagenicity assay (Ames test) and the micronucleus test in CHO-K1 cells. P. reticulata extract concentrations of 2.84, 5.68, 11.37, and 19.90 mg/plate were assayed by the Ames test using TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 bacterial strains, with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolic activation. Concentrations of 5, 1.6 and 0.5 ìg/mL of P. reticulata extract were used for the micronucleus test. P. reticulata extract was mutagenic to TA98 (-S9) and showed signs of mutagenic activity in TA97a and TA102 (both -S9) strains. Micronucleus test CBPI values showed that the endogenous metabolic system increased the number of viable cells when compared to the non-activated samples and the micronucleus frequency increased when the cells were treated in the absence of S9. We concluded that P. reticulata extract may present direct mutagenic properties.

Perfiles de personalidad de estudiantes de psicología de universidad privada comparados em similitud y congruencia / Personality profiles of psychology students from a privateuniversity compared by similarity and congruence

En continuidad con los estudios del área de Perfiles de la Cátedra de Psicología Experimental I y II, se llevó a cabo un análisis comparativo de Perfiles de Personalidad en estudiantes de psicología. La muestra fue intencional y autoseleccionada, quedó conformada por 153 estudiantes de Psicología. Se ha utilizado un diseño Descriptivo y Comparado. El instrumento utilizado fue el Inventario Multifásico de la Personalidad Minnesota-2 (MMPI-2). Los resultados reportan que existe un patrón de personalidad con similitudes muy acentuadas en los estudiantes de la carrera de psicología, independiente del curso al que pertenecen, y en comparación a los perfiles de años anteriores (n = 152, muestra 2001: n=168, muestra 2007: y n= 101 muestra 2008).

In continuity with the studies of the area of Profiles of the Professorship of Experimental Psychology I and II, a comparative analysis of Profiles of Personality in students of psychology was carried out. The sample was intentional and autoseleccionada, remained conformed by 153 (166) students of Psychology. A Descriptive design has been utilized and Compared. The instrument utilized was the Polyphase Inventory of the Personality Minnesota-2 (MMPI-2). The results report that a boss of personality with similarities exists very accentuated in the students of the career of psychology, independent of the course to which they belong, and in comparison to the profiles of previous years (n = 152 sample 2001; n = 168, sample 2007 and n = 101 sample 2008).

Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma briquet hydroalcoholic extract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 µg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6 percent (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g percent) and polyphenols (4.63 g percent) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.

Heparin and commercial bothropic antivenom against the paralyzing effect of Bothrops jararacussu snake venom

The crude venom of Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) is known to induce muscular paralysis in vitro. Many studies have shown that various substances, including heparin, neutralize the damage caused by snake venom. In the present study, the ability of heparin (Hep) and commercial bothropic antivenom (CBA) to neutralize neuromuscular effects of Bjssu venom, at different time-points, was analyzed. Mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation was used through a conventional myographic technique, following five different protocols: Group 1 was incubated with Bjssu (40 µg/mL) without any other treatment; Groups 2 and 3 were pretreated with heparin (1 µL/mL) and CBA (120 µL/mL), respectively, for 15 minutes before venom addition; Group 4 after 50 percent neuromuscular blockade induced by Bjssu crude venom received 1 µL/mL of heparin while Group 5 received a mixture of Hep:CBA:Bjssu. Control preparations (Tyrode) were treated with Hep and CBA (mean ± SEM; n = 3-6). After 120 minutes of venom incubation, Group 1 preparations presented twitch-tension of 12 ± 2 percent. However, in Groups 2 and 3, the neutralizations were 92 ± 1.9 percent and 81 ± 6 percent, respectively. The heparin addition, after 50 percent neuromuscular blockade by Bjssu, produced 40 ± 6 percent muscular response after 120 minutes of incubation. Hep:CBA:Bjssu mixture displayed a protective effect of 84 ± 10 percent against venom action. In conclusion, heparin and commercial bothropic antivenom efficiently neutralized the neurotoxic effects caused by B. jararacussu crude venom, even at different incubation time-points.

Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet hydroalcoholic extract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 ìg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6% (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g%) and polyphenols (4.63 g%) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.

Effects of manganese (Mn2+) on neurotoxic and myotoxic activities induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops jararacussu venoms in chick biventer cervicis preparations

In the present study, manganese (Mn2+), a neuromuscular blocker with pre and postsynaptic actions, was used to verify the neurotoxicity and myotoxicity induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) and Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venoms in biventer cervicis preparations (BCp). Preparations pretreated with 0.66 and 1.6mM Mn2+ did not affect Cdt venom-induced blockage nor change KCl-induced contracture but partially reduced ACh-induced contracture. However, both Mn2+ concentrations partially hindered Bjssu venom-induced blockage after washing the preparations with Krebs solution, and only 1.6mM Mn2+ preparations significantly recovered ACh-induced contracture. The effect of Cdt venom myotoxicity on contractile responses was different from that of Bjssu venom myotoxicity. Pretreatment with 1.6mM Mn2+ partially reduced muscle damage percentage and creatine kinase (CK) activity (U/l) induced by both venoms. In conclusion, Mn2+ interfered in ACh-induced contracture of the nicotinic receptor; did not prevent Cdt venom neurotoxicity but partially reduced its myotoxicity in vitro due to the stabilizing action of this venom on the sarcolemmal membrane; and partially attenuated myotoxicity and neuromuscular blockage induced by Bjssu venom. The Mn2+ dual action (pre and postsynaptic) is useful to study snake venoms since most of them present one or both of these actions; besides, Mn2+ allowed recovering coherent interpretation of experimental versus clinical results.

Neutralization of the neuromuscular activity of bothropstoxin-I, a myotoxin from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom, by a hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia sylvestris Sw. (Guaçatonga

Numerous plants are used as snakebite antidotes in Brazilian folk medicine, including Casearia sylvestris Swartz, popularly known as guaçatonga. In this study, we examined the action of a hydroalcoholic extract from C. sylvestris on the neuromuscular blockade caused by bothropstoxin-I (BthTX-I), a myotoxin from Bothrops jararacussu venom, in mouse isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) preparations. Aqueous (8 and 12 mg/ml, n=4 and 5, respectively) and hydroalcoholic (12 mg/ml, n=12) extracts of the leaves of C. sylvestris caused facilitation in PND preparations followed by partial neuromuscular blockade. BthTX-I (20 mg/ml, n=4) caused 50% paralysis after 65±15 min (mean ± S.E.M). Preincubation (30 min at 37°C) of BthTX-I (20 mg/ml, n=4) with a concentration of the hydroalcoholic extract (4 mg/ml) that had no neuromuscular activity, such as the control (n=5), prevented the neuromuscular blockade caused by the toxin. This protection may be mediated by compounds such as flavonoids and phenols identified by thin-layer chromatography and colorimetric assays

Neuromuscular activity of Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis snake venom in mouse nerve-muscle preparations

The pharmacological effects of Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis venom on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) preparations were studied. Venom (20 mug/ml) irreversibly inhibited indirectly evoked twitches in PND preparations (60 ± 10 percent inhibition, mean ± SEM; p<0.05; n=6). At 50 mug/ml, the venom blocked indirectly and directly (curarized preparations) evoked twitches in mouse hemidiaphragms. In the absence of Ca2+, venom (50 mug/ml), produced partial blockade only after an 80 min incubation, which reached 40.3 ± 7.8 percent (p<0.05; n=3) after 120 min. Venom (20 mug/ml) increased (25 ± 2 percent, p< 0.05) the frequency of giant miniature end-plate potentials in 9 of 10 end-plates after 30 min and the number of miniature end-plate potentials which was maximum (562 ± 3 percent, p<0.05) after 120 min. During the same period, the resting membrane potential decreased from - 81 ± 1.4 mV to - 41.3 ± 3.6 mV 24 fibers; p<0.01; n=4) in the end-plate region and from - 77.4 ± 1.4 to -44.6 ± 3.9 mV (24 fibers; p<0.01; n=4) in regions distant from the end-plate. These results indicate that B. n. pauloensis venom acts primarily at presynaptic sites. They also suggest that enzymatic activity may be involved in this pharmacological action.(AU)

Estudo da utilização de antimicrobianos e outros fármacos para distúrbios do trato respiratório em pecientes pediátricos hospitalizados / The study of medication in respiratory and antimicrobian treatment in hospitalized pediatrics patients

O tratamento das doenças respiratórias requerem a utilização de antibióticos, corticosteróides e broncodilatadores. Todavia é desejável que, na pediatria, estas medicações sejam restritas e se utilize uma via de administração confortável. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização dos medicamentos do trato respiratório e antimicrobianos em pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados, por meio da análise de seus prontuários. Os dados foram coletados durante 120 dias, observando-se os medicamentos prescritos, as doses, as vias de administração e as medidas não farmacológicas prescritas. O critério de inclusão na pesquisa foi estar o paciente internado na pediatria, ter na prescrição um antimicrobiano ou medicamento para o trato respiratório. As análises dos 136 prontuários mostrou que 97,06% continham um antimicrobiano, sendo o mais prescrito ampicilina e o fenoterol e ipratrópio como broncodilatadores. Destaca-se que 21,35% das prescrições apresentaram dosagem abaixo do mínimo e em, 21,89% acima do máximo. Embora em 93,75% dos casos tenha havido prescrição de dieta por via oral, 70,59% dos pacientes tiveram prescrição de medicação por via intravenosa. Esses dados revelam o uso de doses subterapêuticas, prescrição excessiva de antimicrobianos e o uso freqüente da via parenteral que encarecem o tratamento, predispõem ao aparecimento de efeitos indesejáveis como superinfecção, prolongando o tempo de permanência no hospital

Rabbit antivenom efficacy against myotoxic and neurotoxic activities of Bothrops jararacussu venom and Bothropstoxin-I

Bothrops jararacussu venom and its major toxin bothropstoxin-I (BthTX-I) possess myotoxic and neurotoxic properties. The efficacy of a rabbit antivenom raised against B. jararacussu venom in the neutralization of physiological, biochemical, and morphological changes induced by the venom and its major toxin BthTX-I was studied in mouse isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) preparations. The times required for 50 per cent neuromuscular blockade in PND and EDL preparations for venom were 70ñ11.5 (S.E.M., n=5) min and 58ñ8 (n=16) (50 µ/mL), and for BthTX-I 31ñ6 (n=3) min and 30ñ3 (n=5) min (20 µg/mL), respectively. After 120 min incubation, creatine kinase (CK) concentrations in solution containing the EDL preparations were 3464ñ346 U/L after exposure to venom (50 µg/mL, n=5) and 3422ñ135 U/L to BthTX-I (20µg/mL, n=4), respectively. Rabbit antivenom dose-dependently neutralized venom and toxin-induced neuromuscular blockade in both preparations and effectively prevented venom and toxin-induced CK release from EDL. Histological analysis showed that rabbit antivenom neutralized morphological damage caused by B.jararacussu venom and BthTX-I in EDL preparations. these results indicate that rabbit antivenom effectively neutralized the biological activities of B.jararacussu venom and BthTX-I.

Nutrición de hierro en lactantes mapuches alimentados con leche materna: 2a. etapa / Iron nutrition in Mapuche infants fed with human milk (2d phase)

Con el propósito de conocer el estado de la nutrición de hierro se estudiaron 140 lactantes mapuches rurales, sanos, de ambos sexos, entre 8 y 15 meses de edad; 90 habían sido amamantados exclusivamente con pecho y 50 destetados antes del cuarto mes de vida (grupo control). En los dos grupos la alimentación no láctea se introdujo en la misma época (5 ó 6 meses) y su composición fue semejante (de preferencia harinas y cereales). La evaluación hematológica consideró: hemoglobina, hematocrito, hierro sérico, capacidad total de combinación del hierro, saturación de transferrina y ferritina sérica. Los lactantes alimentados con leche materna presentaron sólo 4,5% de anemia por déficit de hierro, versus 38% el grupo control. Eritropoyesis deficiente en hierro en 5% del grupo estudiado y 81% el grupo control. Sin embargo, ambos grupos presentaron depósitos deficientes en hierro (76,4% y 81%, respectivamente). La leche humana protegería a este grupo étnico del desarrollo de anemia por deficiencia de hierro durante todo el primer año de vida, período más prolongado que en los lactantes chilenos no mapuches. Las razones de esta diferencia aún no han sido dilucidadas. Ellas podrían residir en distintos valores de hemoglobina propios de este grupo étnico y en la introducción más tardía de alimentos sólidos, con la favorable consecuencia de no aportar elementos inhibidores de la absorción de hierro de la leche materna antes de los 6 meses de vida