ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome that reaches more than 382 million people worldwide. It interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, causing chronic hyperglycemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Copaifera duckei, Dwyer, Fabaceae, oleoresin on streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. This study was based on the induction of diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.) in Wistar rats and treated with doses of C. duckei oleoresin (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.). Subsequently, the clinical, biochemical and histopathological of the pancreas parameters were evaluated. Gas chromatographic analysis indicated that β-bisabolene (22.29%), β-caryophyllene (21.25%) and α-farnesene (15.58%) sesquiterpenes were the major components of the C. duckei oleoresin. In streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, it was possible to observe that the C. duckei oleoresin treatment had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the clinical parameters, and that there was a positive improvement. This was attenuated by the urea, creatinine, and transaminases alterations (p < 0.001) observed in animals with diabetes mellitus, as well as the significantly reduced (p < 0.001) values of total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and glucose. In the histopathological analyses of the pancreas, it was observed that the C. duckei oleoresin was able to restore β-cells and to significantly increase the quantity and diameter of the Langerhans islets (p < 0.05), when compared to the diabetic group. The treatment with C. duckei oleoresin, employed under the conditions of this study, presented antidiabetic activity and can improve the complications found in this syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Resumo Objetiva-se no presente estudo analisar a atuação dos profissionais de Psicologia na Proteção Social Básica das Políticas Públicas de Assistência Social. Para dar conta de tal objetivo buscou-se suporte teórico na Psicologia Histórico-Cultural. Participaram do estudo oito profissionais de Psicologia que atuavam no Centro de Referência da Assistência Social (CRAS) do interior da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Recorreu-se a entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas individualmente. Para analisar os dados recorreu-se à análise de conteúdo. Dados empíricos revelaram formação acadêmica voltada para a atuação clínica individualizante, limitado suporte teórico-metodológico para atuação dos profissionais, demandas decorrentes da condição de vulnerabilidade social, violação de direitos, mas também de saúde mental e predomínio de atuação psicossocial e diversas limitações que dificultam a realização do trabalho do profissional de Psicologia. Conclui-se pela necessidade tanto de avanços na formação acadêmica dos profissionais de Psicologia, quanto de atuação engajada na luta por avanços na consolidação de um sistema de garantia de direitos.
Resumen Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la actuación de los profesionales de Psicología en la Protección Social Básica de las Políticas Públicas de Asistencia Social. Para ello, fue utilizado como soporte teórico la Psicología Histórico-Cultural. En el estudio participaron ocho profesionales de Psicología que actuaban en los Centros de Referencia de Asistencia Social - CRAS en pueblos del estado de Paraíba, noreste de Brasil. Entrevistas semiestructuradas fueran utilizadas, hechas individualmente. Para analizar los datos, se utilizó el análisis de contenido. Los datos empíricos revelaron que: los profesionales cuentan con una formación académica direccionada hacía la actuación clínica individualizada; tienen un respaldo teórico y metodológico muy limitado para sus actuaciones como profesionales; las demandas son decurrentes de la condición de vulnerabilidad social, violación de los derechos y de la salud mental; predominó la actuación psicosocial; además, emergieran diversas limitaciones que dificultaban la realización de su trabajo como profesional de Psicología. Se concluye entonces que hay una gran necesidad de avances en la formación académica de los profesionales de Psicología, a ello se añade una actuación profesional más comprometida en la lucha por los avances en la consolidación de un sistema de garantía de derechos.
Abstract This study aims to analyze the performance of Psychology professionals in the Basic Social Protection of the Social Assistance Public Policies. To meet this objective, Cultural-Historical Psychology was used as theoretical support. Eight Psychology professionals who worked at the Reference Center for Social Assistance (CRAS) in the countryside of Paraíba, northeast of Brazil, were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were made, individually. Content analysis was used to analyze data. Empirical data revealed: Academic background oriented to individualizing clinical practice; Limited theoretical and methodological support for the professionals' performance; Demands arising from social vulnerability conditions, violation of rights and mental health; Predominance of psychosocial performance; and several limitations that make the work of the Psychology professional difficult. The conclusion is that both, improvements in the academic background of the Psychology professionals and a more engaged work of professionals regarding the fight for improvements in consolidating a system of rights guarantee, are needed.
ABSTRACT
Copaiba trees and their oleoresin is an important natural product used as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug, in particular for gynecological infections. The in vitro release profile of sesquiterpenes in a vaginal cream containing copaiba (CVC – copaiba vaginal cream) oleoresin in buffered solutions at different pHs was evaluated in the present study. The dissolution test revealed that trans-caryophyllene (TC) was constantly released until the final test time. The maximum peaks were found at a concentration of 478.79 nL/mL for the buffer at pH 5 and at a concentration of 475.99 nL/mL for the buffer at pH 6, with a percentage release of 50.52% and 50.21%, respectively. Likewise, the caryophyllene oxide (CO) was released into the buffers at pHs 5 and 6, with maximum release peaks at 60 minutes at a percentage of 31.8% and 33.5% corresponding to concentrations of 2.779 and 2.925 μg/mL, respectively. The release and dissolution profiles of the sesquiterpene compounds indicated that a pH of 5-6 in the dissolution media is adequate for release of these markers of antimicrobial activity in Copaifera duckei Dwyer. Therefore, these conditions possibly favor the therapeutic action of CVC.
ABSTRACT
The piquia (Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers.) has drawn the attention of the scientific community for its potential as an oilseed crop species. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the topical anti-inflammatory activity of fixed oil from Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers. – OCV. To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity, the following assays were used in rats: a) granuloma assay (cotton-pellet), b) carrageenan-induced paw edema and c) vascular permeability assay. Gas chromatography analysis from the OCV, transesterified with a BF3-methanol sample, showed the following fatty acid esters to be major compounds of this species: methyl hexadecanoate (32%), methyl octadecanoate (29%) and methyl (E)-octadecanoate (29%). The ED50 calculated from the granuloma assay was 531 mg/kg. In the granuloma assay, rat model of carrageenan-induced paw edema and vascular permeability of histamine test, groups treated with a topical dose of 531 mg/kg OCV showed significant differences (p < 0.05, analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a multiple comparison Student-Newman-Keuls test) when compared to the control groups treated with distilled water. Thus, a 531 mg/kg dose of OCV elicited a topical anti-inflammatory effect in rats, and the fatty acid esters identified in the fixed oil from Caryocar villosum participate in the detected topical anti-inflammatory activity because compounds with this characteristic are capable of modulating acute and chronic inflammatory responses.
ABSTRACT
Oral transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi has been suspected when epidemic episodes of acute infection were observed in areas devoid of domiciled insect vectors. Considering that the distribution of T. cruzi biodemes differs in sylvatic and domestic cycles, results of studies on biodemes can be of interest regarding oral transmission. The infectivity of T. cruzi strains of different biodemes was tested in mice subjected to infection by the digestive route (gavage). Swiss mice were infected either with the Peruvian strain (Biodeme Type I, Z2b) or the Colombian strain (Biodeme Type III, Z1, or T. cruzi I); for control, intraperitoneal inoculation was performed in a group of mice. The Colombian strain revealed a similar high infectivity and pathogenicity when either route of infection was used. However, the Peruvian strain showed contrasting levels of infectivity and pathogenicity, being high by intraperitoneal inoculation and low when the gastric route was used. The higher infectivity of the Colombian strain (Biodeme Type III) by gastric inoculation is in keeping with its role in the epidemic episodes of acute Chagas disease registered in the literature, since strains belonging to Biodeme III are most often found in sylvatic hosts
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Chagas Disease , Trypanosoma cruzi , Chagas Disease , Disease Models, Animal , Time Factors , Trypanosoma cruziABSTRACT
Realizou-se um estudo transversal retrospectivo, onde avaliou-se o perfil dos pacientes psiquiátricos atendidos no Ambulatório Central da Universidade de Passo Fundo no período 1990-1995. Os resultados foram comparados a outros similares, que apontam prevalência de psicopatologias em adultos jovens, em idade de grande potencial econômico-ativo, do sexo feminino e casados, na grande maioria dos diagnósticos