Comparison of blood neoangiogenesis and lymphatic vascularization in colorectal adenomas from patients with and without concomitant colorectal cancer

Blood and lymphatic vessel proliferation is essential for tumor growth and progression. Most colorectal carcinomas develop from adenomas (adenoma-carcinoma sequence) in a process due to accumulation of molecular genetic alterations. About 5% of adenomatous polyps are expected to become malignant, but data on the differential angiogenic patterns of these lesions in patients with and without concomitant cancer are missing. The aim of the present study is to compare the angiogenic and lymphatic patterns of adenomatous polyps from patients with and without sporadic cancer. Thirty adenomatous polyps (15 from patients with another principal malignant lesion, and 15 from patients without cancer) were submitted to immunohistochemical staining for CD105 (marker for neoangiogenesis) and D2-40 (marker for lymphatic endothelium). Microvessel density and total vascular area were determined by computer image analysis to quantify the immunostained and total areas, and to assess the number of microvessels. Adenomas from patients with carcinoma showed significantly higher values of total vascular area determined by immunostaining for CD105 (cutoff value = 4386 µm²; P = 0.019) and of lymphatic microvessel density determined by immunostaining with D2-40 (cutoff value = 11.5; P = 0.041) when compared with those from patients without cancer. The present data indicate a significant increase in blood microvascular area and in lymphatic microvascular counts in adenomas removed from patients with cancer.

Avaliação da qualidade de amostras comerciais de boldo (Peumus boldus Molina), pata-de-vaca (Bauhinia spp.) e ginco (Ginkgo biloba L.) / Control quality evaluation of commercial samples of boldo (Peumus boldus Molina), pata-de-vaca (Bauhinia spp.) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.)

O presente trabalho procurou avaliar a qualidade de produtos comercializados à base de boldo, pata-de-vaca e ginco, através dos parâmetros contidos na Farmacopéia Brasileira e na literatura específica. Foram analisadas oito amostras de boldo, nove de pata-de-vaca e sete de ginco, adquiridas em farmácias na cidade do Recife. A metodologia consistiu em avaliar: os rótulos e bulas dos produtos verificando se estavam de acordo com a RDC n o 17 de 24/02/2000 e a portaria 110/97 da ANVISA; realizar análise sensorial; verificar a autenticidade das amostras e sua pureza. Todas as embalagens de boldo, pata-de-vaca e seis de ginco continham erros ou ausência de informações científicas, além da falta de bula. Na verificação de impurezas, todas as de boldo, cinco de pata-de-vaca, e uma amostra de ginco foram reprovadas. Todos os produtos analisados apresentaram alguma irregularidade segundo os códigos oficiais, sendo necessário uma maior intensificação na vigilância de produtos à base de plantas medicinais no Brasil.

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of commercial products prepared with boldo (Peumus boldus Molina), pata-de-vaca (Bauhinia spp.) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) by using parameters from the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia and specific literature. Eight samples of "boldo", nine of "pata-de-vaca", and seven of ginkgo were analyzed, all bought from pharmacies in Recife (Pernambuco, Brazil). The methodology consisted in evaluating the products’ labels and instructions to verify their accordance to RDC n o 17 of 02/24/2000 and ANVISA (National Sanitary Surveillance Agency) decree 110/97, undertaking a sensorial analysis, and verifying the authenticity and purity of the samples. All of the packages of "boldo" and "pata-de-vaca" and six of the packages of ginkgo contained mistakes or lacked scientific information; instructions were also missing. After analyzing for impurities, all samples of "boldo", five of "pata-de-vaca", and one of ginkgo were rejected. All of the products analyzed had some sort of irregularity in relation to the official codes, making it necessary to intensify the inspection of medicinal plant products in Brazil.

Thermal behavior of biflorin by beans TG and a DSC photovisual system

This work proposes thermal characterization, of the biflorine, orto-quinon of Capraria biflora L., through the TG and DSC photovisual data. The thermogravimetric results showed that the decomposition reaction biflorine occurs three steps under air atmosphere, The DSC of biflorin presented five peaks relating to phase transitions. The DSC photovisual system demonstrated changes in biflorin.

Relato de um caso de latrodectismo ocorrido em Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil / Report of a case of latrodectism occurring in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Em 02/07/1995, foi atendido no Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas, paciente masculino, 11 anos, acidentado em Manaus, por picada na região retroauricular direita, clínicamente compatível com aquele causado por Latrodectus. Observavam-se abalos musculares, febre, calafrios e sudorese intensa. Instituída terapêutica com neostigmine precedido de atropina, gluconato de cálcio, cimetidina, diazepam e hidrocortisona. No terceiro dia apresentava-se melhorado, consciente, orientado e com diminuição importante do edema palpebral. A despeito de uma melhora progressiva diária, no quinto dia surgiu eritema máculo-pápulo-vesiculoso. Em 14/07/1995 teve alta, assintomático. O caso relatado é o primeiro descrito na região Amazônica, ocorrido na periferia de Manaus e pode ter sido uma consequência da expansão urbana das duas últimas décadas.

In July 2, 1995 arrived at the Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas as eleven-year-old male with complaining of spider bite on his right retroauricular region, presenting typical findings of latrodectism. The accident was reported as having occurred in the suburbs of Manaus. The patient was given neostigmine preceded by atropine, calcium gluconate, cimetidine, diazepan and hydrocortisone. Within three days the patient showed improvement, and was aware, orientated and with significant palpebral oedema reduction. Muscle spasms are still present, as well as fever, shivering, and intense sweating. In spite of a daily progressive improvement, at the fifth day appeared a spotted papular erythema. The patient was discharged without symptoms after the 13th day. This is the first such reported case which took place in Amazonian region, it might have been happened a consequence of the urban sprawl which has characterized the growth of the city of Manaus, in the last twenty years. It is not possible at this point to evaluate the epidemiological resound of the event, but in any case, it seems plausible to recommend that black widow antivenom become available.

Minimal doses of hydroxyurea for sickle cell disease

The use of hydroxyurea (HU) can improve the clinical course of sickle cell disease. However, several features of HU treatment remain unclear, including the predictability of drug response and determination of adequate doses, considering positive responses and minimal side effects. In order to identify adequate doses of HU for treatment of sickle cell disease, 10 patients, 8 with sickle cell anemia and 2 with Sbeta thalassemia (8SS, 2SBeta), were studied for a period of 6 to 19 months in an open label dose escalation trial (10 to 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1)). Hemoglobin (Hb), fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values and reticulocyte, neutrophil and platelet counts were performed every two weeks during the increase of the HU dose and every 4 weeks when the maximum HU dose was established. Reduction in the number of vasoocclusive episodes was also considered in order to evaluate the efficiency of the treatment. The final Hb and Hb F concentrations, and MCV values were significantly higer than the initial values, while the final reticulocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly lower. There was an improvement in the concentration of Hb (range: 0.7-2.0 g/dl) at 15 mg HU kg(-1) day(-1), but this concentration did not increase significantly when the HU dose was raised to 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1). The concentration of Hb F increased significantly (range: 1.0-18.1 per cent) when 15 mg HU was used, and continued to increase when the dose was raised to 20 mg kg(-1) day (-1). The final MCV values increased 11-28 fl (femtoliters). However, reticulocyte (range: 51-205 x 10(9)/l) and neutrophil counts (range: 9.5-1.3 x 10(9)/l) obtained at this dose were significantly lower than those obtained with 15 mg kg(-1) day(-1). All patients reported a decrease in frequency or severity of vasoocclusive episodes. These results suggest that a hydroxyurea dose of 15 mg kg(-1) day(-1) seems to be adequate for treatment of sickle cell disease in view of the minimal side effects observed and the improvement in laboratory and clinical parameters.