Unlocking the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of halophyte plants from the southern Portugal

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) activity of organic extracts prepared from halophyte species collected in the southern coast of Portugal (Algarve), and chemically characterize the most active samples.@*METHODS@#Acetone, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were prepared from 31 halophyte species and tested in vitro against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of the Tulahuen strain of T. cruzi. The most active extract was fractionated by preparative HPLC-DAD, affording 11 fractions. The most selective fraction was fully characterized by (1)H NMR.@*RESULTS@#From 94 samples tested, one was active, namely the root dichloromethane extract of Juncus acutus (IC50 < 20 μg/mL). This extract was fractionated by HPLC, affording 11 fractions, one of them containing only a pure compound (juncunol), and tested for anti-parasitic activity. Fraction 8 (IC50 = 4.1 μg/mL) was the most active, and was further characterized by (1)H NMR. The major compounds were phenanthrenes, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes and benzocoumarins.@*CONCLUSION@#Our results suggest that the compounds identified in fraction 8 are likely responsible for the observed anti parasitic activity. Further research is in progress aiming to isolate and identify the specific active molecules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the in vitro anti T. cruzi activity of halophyte species.

Unlocking the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of halophyte plants from the southern Portugal

Objective To evaluate the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) activity of organic extracts prepared from halophyte species collected in the southern coast of Portugal (Algarve), and chemically characterize the most active samples. Methods Acetone, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were prepared from 31 halophyte species and tested in vitro against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of the Tulahuen strain of T. cruzi. The most active extract was fractionated by preparative HPLC-DAD, affording 11 fractions. The most selective fraction was fully characterized by

Modelos de decisão para avaliações econômicas de tecnologias em saúde / Decision modeling for economic evaluation of health technologies

A maioria das avaliações econômicas que participam dos processos de decisão de incorporação e financiamento de tecnologias dos sistemas de saúde utiliza modelos de decisão para avaliar os custos e benefícios das estratégias comparadas. Apesar do grande número de avaliações econômicas conduzidas no Brasil, há necessidade de aprofundamento metodológico sobre os tipos de modelos de decisão e sua aplicabilidade no nosso meio. O objetivo desta revisão de literatura é contribuir para o conhecimento e o uso de modelos de decisão nos contextos nacionais das avaliações econômicas de tecnologias em saúde. Este artigo apresenta definições gerais sobre modelos e preocupações com o seu uso; descreve os principais modelos: árvore de decisão, Markov, microssimulação, simulação de eventos discretos e dinâmicos; discute os elementos envolvidos na escolha do modelo; e exemplifica os modelos abordados com estudos de avaliação econômica nacionais de tecnologias preventivas e de programas de saúde, diagnósticas e terapêuticas.

Most economic evaluations that participate in decision-making processes for incorporation and financing of technologies of health systems use decision models to assess the costs and benefits of the compared strategies. Despite the large number of economic evaluations conducted in Brazil, there is a pressing need to conduct an in-depth methodological study of the types of decision models and their applicability in our setting. The objective of this literature review is to contribute to the knowledge and use of decision models in the national context of economic evaluations of health technologies. This article presents general definitions about models and concerns with their use; it describes the main models: decision trees, Markov chains, micro-simulation, simulation of discrete and dynamic events; it discusses the elements involved in the choice of model; and exemplifies the models addressed in national economic evaluation studies of diagnostic and therapeutic preventive technologies and health programs.

Diagnóstico de saúde das mulheres em idade fértil de Sergipe / Women's health during fertility - Sergipe

Relato parcial de uma pesquisa realizada pela Secretaria de Estado da Saúde em parceria com o UNICEF, intitulado de Diagnóstico Materno-Infantil do Estado de Sergipe. Nesta pesquisa as autoras realizam uma abordagem parcial sobre a saúde das mulheres em idade fértil. Objetivo: Medir por amostragem a nível estadual os indicadores: estado civil, idade da menarca, início da vida sexual, gravidez, abortos, prevençäo do câncer cérvico-uterino e mama, anticoncepçäo e utilizaçäo dos serviços de saúde. Os resultados foram coletados através da aplicaçäo de um formulário estruturado, abrangendo variáveis pré-concepcionais, biológicas e sociais. Os dados obtidos fornecem subsídos para ampla discussäo sobre a saúde das mulheres em Sergipe.