Mental stress induces endothelial dysfunction by AT1R-mediated redox imbalance in overweight/obese men

The main goal of this study was to determine whether oxidative imbalance mediated by AT1 receptor (AT1R) is responsible for deleterious endothelial responses to mental stress (MS) in overweight/obese class I men. Fifteen overweight/obese men (27±7 years old; 29.8±2.6 kg/m2) participated in three randomized experimental sessions with oral administration of the AT1R blocker olmesartan (40 mg; AT1R blockade) or ascorbic acid (AA; 3g) infusion or placebo [both intravenously (0.9% NaCl) and orally]. After two hours, endothelial function was determined by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before (baseline), 30 min (30MS), and 60 min (60MS) after a five-minute acute MS session (Stroop Color Word Test). Blood was collected before (baseline), during MS, and 60 min after MS for redox homeostasis profiling: lipid peroxidation (TBARS; thiobarbituric acid reactive species), protein carbonylation, and catalase activity by colorimetry and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by an ELISA kit. At the placebo session, FMD significantly decreased 30MS (P=0.05). When compared to baseline, TBARS (P<0.02), protein carbonylation (P<0.01), catalase (P<0.01), and SOD (P<0.01) increased during the placebo session. During AT1R blockade, FMD increased 30 min after MS (P=0.01 vs baseline; P<0.01 vs placebo), while AA infusion increased FMD only 60 min after MS. No differences were observed during MS with the AT1R blockade and AA regarding TBARS, protein carbonylation, catalase, and SOD. AT1R-mediated redox imbalances played an important role in endothelial dysfunction to mental stress.

Aerobic exercise prevents cardiomyocyte damage caused by oxidative stress in early cardiovascular disease by increasing vascularity while L-arginine supplementation prevents it by increasing activation of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase

L-Arginine and chronic exercise reduce oxidative stress. However, it is unclear how they affect cardiomyocytes during cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. The aim of this research was to investigate the possible effects of L-arginine supplementation and aerobic training on systemic oxidative stress and their consequences on cardiomyocytes during cardiometabolic disease onset caused by excess fructose. Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: control (C), fructose (F, 10% fructose in water), fructose training (FT; moderate running, 50-70% of the maximal velocity), and fructose arginine (FA; 880 mg/kg/day). Fructose was given for two weeks and fructose plus treatments for the subsequent eight weeks. Body composition, blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, nitrite, metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity, left ventricle histological changes, microRNA-126, -195, and -146, eNOS, p-eNOS, and TNF-α expressions were analyzed. Higher abdominal fat mass, triacylglycerol level, and insulin level were observed in the F group, and both treatments reversed these alterations. Myocardial vascularization was impaired in fructose-fed groups, except in FT. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was observed in all fructose-fed groups. TNF-α levels were higher in fructose-fed groups than in the C group, and p-eNOS levels were higher in the FA than in the C and F groups. Lipid peroxidation was higher in the F group than in the FT and C groups. During CVD onset, moderate aerobic exercise reduced lipid peroxidation, and both training and L-arginine prevented metabolic changes caused by excessive fructose. Myocardial vascularization was impaired by fructose, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy appeared to be influenced by pro-inflammatory and oxidative environments.

Short isocapnic hyperoxia affects indices of vascular remodeling and intercellular adhesion molecules in healthy men

In preparation for tracheal intubation during induction of anesthesia, the patient may be ventilated with 100% oxygen. To investigate the impact of acute isocapnic hyperoxia on endothelial activation and vascular remodeling, ten healthy young men (24±3 years) were exposed to 5-min normoxia (21% O2) and 10-min hyperoxia trials (100% O2). During hyperoxia, intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) (hyperoxia: 4.16±0.85 vs normoxia: 3.51±0.84 ng/mL, P=0.04) and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) (hyperoxia: 8.40±3.84 vs normoxia: 5.73±2.15 pg/mL, P=0.04) increased, whereas matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) activity (hyperoxia: 0.53±0.11 vs normoxia: 0.68±0.18 A.U., P=0.03) decreased compared to the normoxia trial. We concluded that even short exposure to 100% oxygen may affect endothelial activation and vascular remodeling.

Caracterização do insumo ibuprofeno e a correlação com propriedades de dissolução e de fluxo / Characterization of ibuprofen raw material and correlation with dissolution and flow properties

Ibuprofen is a moderately active non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrug, derived from β-phenylpropionic acid. Its analgesic action, which is related to its anti-inflammatoryproperties, is due to a decrease in the production of enzymes cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2). Ibuprofen exhibits distinct morphologies when crystallized under different conditions. In this study, the characteristics of the ibuprofen raw material and their impact on drug dissolution and processing properties were analyzed. Samples of raw ibuprofen from 3 different manufacturers were characterized by a variety of techniques. The analysis confirmed that all 3 samples exhibited the same crystalline form; thus, polymorphism could be discarded as one of the causes of any variation in performance of the drug. The results showed that the physical characteristics of each sample influenced its flow and dissolution properties. In fact, there was a detectable variation in the physical characteristics of the drug among the 3 different manufacturers. This demonstrates the importance of testing the characteristics of the drug raw material in order to correlate them with its performance in processing and eventual use, enabling pharmacotechnical improvement and development...

O ibuprofeno é um agente anti-inflamatório não esteróide, derivado do ácido fenilpropiônico que possui atividade anti-inflamatória de ação moderada. Sua ação analgésica está relacionada às propriedades anti-inflamatórias devido à redução da produção da ciclooxigenase-1 (COX-1) e da ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2). O ibuprofeno exibe diferentes morfologias quando cristalizado em diferentes solventes. Neste estudo, se avaliaram as características de matérias-primas do ibuprofeno e o impacto destas nas propriedades de dissolução e processamento. Foram avaliadas três matérias-primas do ibuprofeno de três diferentes fabricantes, utilizando variadas técnicas de caracterização. As análises confirmaram que todas apresentavam a mesma forma cristalina do ibuprofeno; assim, o polimorfismo foi descartado como uma das causas de influência na dissolução e no fluxo do fármaco. Os resultados mostraram que características físicas da matéria-prima ibuprofeno tiveram impacto nas propriedades de fluxo e dissolução e que existe uma variabilidade das características físicas do fármaco entre diferentes fabricantes. Isto mostra a importância da avaliação de características da matéria-prima para correlacioná-las com propriedades de desempenho, possibilitando o desenvolvimento e melhoramento farmacotécnico...

Crescimento, produção de fitomassa e teor de óleo essencial de folhas de capim citronela (Cymbopogon nardus (L. ) Rendle) em cultivo consorciado com algodoeiro colorido no semiárido mineiro / Growth, phytomass yield and essential oil content of leaves of citronella grass [Cymbopogon nardus (L. ) Rendle] intercropping with colored cotton

Avaliou-se o crescimento, a produção e o teor do óleo essencial de dois cortes de capim citronela em cultivo consorciado com algodoeiro colorido no semiárido. Para isso foram utilizados dois sistemas de consórcios (tratamentos): algodão colorido consorciado com capim citronela 3x1 e algodão colorido consorciado com capim citronela 1x1. A variedade de algodão colorido utilizada foi a BRS Rubi e as mudas de capim citronela foram produzidas no Horto de Plantas Medicinais da Unimontes. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados com dois tratamentos e 16 repetições. O experimento foi mantido em regime de sequeiro e foi avaliado a altura das plantas de capim citronela. Foram realizadas duas colheitas das folhas de capim citronela, sendo a primeira no momento da colheita da fibra do algodão e a segunda na rebrota do capim, seis meses após. Todas as plantas da parcela foram colhidas e as folhas frescas foram pesadas, no campo, com o auxílio de balança digital. Amostras das folhas colhidas foram retiradas e levadas para secagem em estufa com circulação forçada de ar a 35ºC até atingirem massa constante. Foi verificada a massa seca e posteriormente realizada a extração do óleo essencial pelo método de hidrodestilação em aparelho modificado de Clevenger. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste Skott-Knott (p<0,05). A altura das plantas não diferiu entre os tratamentos nas colheitas. Para a produção de massa fresca e seca houve diferença entre os tratamentos apenas na segunda colheita. Neste caso, as plantas cultivadas em consórcio 1x1 produziram mais do que as do consórcio 3x1. O teor de óleo essencial de capim citronela não variou entre os dois sistemas de consórcio, tanto no primeiro como no segundo corte.

The research was performed to evaluate the growth, production and essential oil content of the two harvests of citronella grass in intercropped with colored cotton in semiarid.For this, was used two system consortium (treatments): colored cotton intercropped with citronella grass 3X1 and colored cotton intercropped with citronella grass 1X1. The variety of colored cotton used was BRS Rubi and the citronella grass seedlings were produced in the Medicinal Plants Garden of Unimontes. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with two treatments and 16 repetitions. The experiment was maintained under rainfed conditions. Was evaluated plant height of citronella grass. Citronella grass leaves were harvested twice: the first was made at harvest of cotton fiber and the second in the grass regrowth, six months later. All plants in the plot were harvested and the fresh leaves were weighed, in the field, with the aid of a digital balance. Samples from leaves harvested were collected and taken for drying in an oven with forced air at 35ºC until reaching constant weight. Dry mass was verified and the performed the extraction of essential oil by hydrodestilation in Clevenger modified apparatus. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Skott-Knott test (p<0.05). The plants height did not differ between treatments in harvests. For the production of fresh and dry mass was significant difference between treatments only in the second harvest. In this case the plants cultivated in the consortium 1x1 produced more than in the consortium 3x1. The essential oil content of citronella grass did not vary between the two systems consortium, in the first and the second harvest.

O impacto regulatório no desenvolvimento de formulações farmacêuticas: estudo de caso de um medicamento pediátrico / Regulatory impact on pharmaceutical formulation development: case study of a pediatric drug product

O desenvolvimento de medicamentos tem sofrido grande avanço nos anos recentes. Diversas tecnologias têm surgido, incrementando as chances de obtenção de medicamentos mais adequados às inúmeras patologias que ainda assolam a humanidade. Tanto esses novos produtos quanto modernizações de produtos antigos sofrem, todavia, uma carga regulatória cada vez mais exigente e detalhista. Inúmeras são as normas atualmente em vigor voltadas especificamente para os produtos farmacêuticos. O trabalho do pesquisador focado no desenvolvimento de produtos farmacêuticos muda seu modus operandi, uma vez que a contemplação de tais normas passa a ser uma exigência preponderante e não mais apenas os aspectos estritamente técnicos, como outrora.

Drug product development has seen great advances in recent years. Many new techniques have appeared, increasing the chance of developing more effective medicines against the innumerable diseases that continue to assail humans. However, both these new products and also renewed forms of older products are under a heavy regulatory load, which is becoming more and more stringent and detailed. A great number of regulations specific to drug products are currently in force. Pharmaceutical researchers need to change their modus operandi, no longer taking only technical questions into consideration, but also all the regulatory aspects.

Partial characterization and anticoagulant activity of a heterofucan from the brown seaweed Padina gymnospora

The brown algae Padina gymnospora contain different fucans. Powdered algae were submitted to proteolysis with the proteolytic enzyme maxataze. The first extract of the algae was constituted of polysaccharides contaminated with lipids, phenols, etc. Fractionation of the fucans with increasing concentrations of acetone produced fractions with different proportions of fucose, xylose, uronic acid, galactose, and sulfate. One of the fractions, precipitated with 50 percent acetone (v/v), contained an 18-kDa heterofucan (PF1), which was further purified by gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-75 using 0.2 M acetic acid as eluent and characterized by agarose gel electrophoresis in 0.05 M 1,3 diaminopropane/acetate buffer at pH 9.0, methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Structural analysis indicates that this fucan has a central core consisting mainly of 3-ß-D-glucuronic acid 1-> or 4-ß-D-glucuronic acid 1 ->, substituted at C-2 with alpha-L-fucose or ß-D-xylose. Sulfate groups were only detected at C-3 of 4-alpha-L-fucose 1-> units. The anticoagulant activity of the PF1 (only 2.5-fold lesser than low molecular weight heparin) estimated by activated partial thromboplastin time was completely abolished upon desulfation by solvolysis in dimethyl sulfoxide, indicating that 3-O-sulfation at C-3 of 4-alpha-L-fucose 1-> units is responsible for the anticoagulant activity of the polymer.

Cyclophosphamide in the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Prednisone is the initial treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, when immunosuppressive agents in combination with steroids are used in the treatment of prednisone-dependent and prednisone-resistant patients the remission rate is variable. We report a long-term trial using cyclophosphamide (2.0 to 3.0 mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks) in combination with prednisone (1.0 to 2.0 mg/kg body weight), as compared with prednisone alone for the treatment of prednisone-resistant and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Fifty-four patients (34 males and 20 females) with a diagnosis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, followed-up for an average of 86.1 ± 82.4 months, were evaluated. Complete remission occurred in 20.4 percent and partial remission in 14.8 percent of the patients treated with steroids and in 26.7 and 20.0 percent of the patients treated with cyclophosphamide + prednisone, respectively. Of the 24 prednisone-resistant patients treated with steroids in combination with cyclophosphamide, 33.3 percent obtained a complete/partial response. At the time of final evaluation, 25 percent of the patients treated with prednisone and 10.0 percent of those treated with prednisone in combination with cyclophosphamide had reached end-stage renal disease. Persistent nephrotic syndrome and progressive renal insufficiency were more frequently observed among the patients treated with prednisone alone (50.0 vs 33.3 percent and 33.3 vs 16.7 percent, respectively). The treatments were well tolerated and no patient experienced adverse reactions requiring discontinuation of medications. Although open-label and non-randomized, the present trial showed that cyclophosphamide is a reasonable choice for the treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and prednisone-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Heterofucans from Dictyota menstrualis have anticoagulant activity

Fucan is a term used to denote a family of sulfated L-fucose-rich polysaccharides which are present in the extracellular matrix of brown seaweed and in the egg jelly coat of sea urchins. Plant fucans have several biological activities, including anticoagulant and antithrombotic, related to the structural and chemical composition of polysaccharides. We have extracted sulfated polysaccharides from the brown seaweed Dictyota menstrualis by proteolytic digestion, followed by separation into 5 fractions by sequential acetone precipitation. Gel electrophoresis using 0.05 M 1,3-diaminopropane-acetate buffer, pH 9.0, stained with 0.1 percent toluidine blue, showed the presence of sulfated polysaccharides in all fractions. The chemical analyses demonstrated that all fractions are composed mainly of fucose, xylose, galactose, uronic acid, and sulfate. The anticoagulant activity of these heterofucans was determined by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) using citrate normal human plasma. Only the fucans F1.0v and F1.5v showed anticoagulant activity. To prolong the coagulation time to double the baseline value in the APTT, the required concentration of fucan F1.0v (20 æg/ml) was only 4.88-fold higher than that of the low molecular weight heparin Clexane® (4.1 æg/ml), whereas 80 æg/ml fucan 1.5 was needed to obtain the same effect. For both fucans this effect was abolished by desulfation. These polymers are composed of fucose, xylose, uronic acid, galactose, and sulfate at molar ratios of 1.0:0.8:0.7:0.8:0.4 and 1.0:0.3:0.4:1.5:1.3, respectively. This is the fist report indicating the presence of a heterofucan with higher anticoagulant activity from brown seaweed.

Heparan sulfate and control of cell division: adhesion and proliferation of mutant CHO-745 cells lacking xylosyl transferase

We have examined the role of cell surface glycosaminoglycans in cell division: adhesion and proliferation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We used both wild-type (CHO-K1) cells and a mutant (CHO-745) which is deficient in the synthesis of proteoglycans due to lack of activity of xylosyl transferase. Using different amounts of wild-type and mutant cells, little adhesion was observed in the presence of laminin and type I collagen. However, when fibronectin or vitronectin was used as substrate, there was an enhancement in the adhesion of wild-type and mutant cells. Only CHO-K1 cells showed a time-dependent adhesion on type IV collagen. These results suggest that the two cell lines present different adhesive profiles. Several lines of experimental evidence suggest that heparan sulfate proteoglycans play a role in cell adhesion as positive modulators of cell proliferation and as key participants in the process of cell division. Proliferation and cell cycle assays clearly demonstrate that a decrease in the amount of glycosaminoglycans does not inhibit the proliferation of mutant CHO-745 cells when compared to the wild type CHO-K1, in agreement with the findings that both CHO-K1 and CHO-745 cells take 8 h to enter the S phase

Attractiveness of black Shannon trap for phlebotomines

A white Shannon-type trap was used for captures of female sand flies in the search for natural infection with flagellates, however, due to its low productivity and as a large number of phlebotomines settled on the researchers' black clothes, we decided to compare the relative attractiveness of black and white Shannon-type traps for sand flies. Several pairs of black and white traps were placed side by side in front of caves in four areas in the Serra da Bodoquena, Bonito county, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, for a total of 12 observations and 44 h of capture. The experiment resulted in 889 phlebotomines captured, 801 on the black and 88 on the white trap, representing 13 species. The hourly Williams' means were 8.67 and 1.24, respectively, and the black/white ratio was 7.0:1.0. Lutzomyia almerioi, an anthropophilic species closely associated with caves, was predominant (89 percent). Only two other species, Nyssomyia whitmani and Psathyromyia punctigeniculata, also anthropophilic, were significantly attracted to the black rather than to the white trap (chi2 test; p <= 0.01). The difference between the diversity index of the two traps was not significant at level 0.05. The black trap in these circumstances was much more productive than the white, especially for anthropophilic species

Ocorrência de leishmaniose visceral canina em assentamento agrícola no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil / Occurrence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an agricultural settlement in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

During previous research on phlebotomine fauna in a settlement of the Brazilian National Agrarian Reform Institute (INCRA) on the Bodoquena Range, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, dogs were observed with clinical aspects suggestive of visceral leishmaniasis. A serological survey to leishmaniasis in 97 dogs, by indirect immunofluorescence test, showed 23 (23.7%) serum positive dogs. Samples of the parasites were identified as Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi.

Durante estudos sobre a fauna flebotomínea em assentamento do Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agrária (INCRA) na Serra da Bodoquena, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, foram observados cães com manifestações clínicas sugestivas de leishmaniose visceral. Inquérito sorológico para leishmaniose em 97 cães, utilizando reação de imunofluorescência indireta, mostrou 23 (23,7%) soros reagentes. Amostras do parasita foram identificadas como Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi.

El coordinador de trasplantes: su importancia en el procuramiento de órganos en Chile / Transplant coordinator: it importance in the organ procurement in Chile

El coordinador de transplante ha sido definido como: la persona que facilita el transplanta, desde la pesquisa del donante hasta el implante del órgano. Desde la década del 70 que su perfíl profesional se ha ido definiendo progresivamente para haberse constituido en una subespecialidad dentro de los profesionales de la salud. Es una persona que conoce todas las estapas del procuramiento de órganos, sirve de nexo entre los diversos profesionales involucrados y desarrolla importantes actividades de promoción y educación sobre la donación y el transplante de órganos. El objetivo de esta revisión fue conocer cuál ha sido la importancia a nivel nacional. Desde 1992 en adelante la red de coordinadores se ha incrementado de 1 a 18 profesionales. El número de donantes potenciales y efectivos se ha casi cuadruplicado (32 donantes efectivos en 1992; 132 donantes efectivos en 1999). En aquellos centros, en los cuales estos coordinadores son más activos (9 centros nacionales) se obtiene el mayor número de procuramiento y, en conjunto, suman más de 2/3 del total nacional. La proporción de donantes potenciales versus donantes efectivos se ha mantenido estable en este período. El número de transplantes de órganos sólidos en Chile también se ha cuadruplicado (de 75 en 1992 a 300 en 1999). A futuro esta red debe incrementarse a todos los hospitales clase A del país

Development of new heparin-like compounds and other antithrombotic drugs and their interaction with vascular endothelial cells

The anticlotting and antithrombotic activities of heparin, heparan sulfate, low molecular weight heparins, heparin and heparin-like compounds from various sources used in clinical practice or under development are briefly reviewed. Heparin isolated from shrimp mimics the pharmacological activities of low molecular weight heparins. A heparan sulfate from Artemia franciscana and a dermatan sulfate from tuna fish show a potent heparin cofactor II activity. A heparan sulfate derived from bovine pancreas has a potent antithrombotic activity in an arterial and venous thrombosis model with a negligible activity upon the serine proteases of the coagulation cascade. It is suggested that the antithrombotic activity of heparin and other antithrombotic agents is due at least in part to their action on endothelial cells stimulating the synthesis of an antithrombotic heparan sulfate.

A fucan from the brown seaweed Spatoglossum schröederi inhibits Chinese hamster ovary cell adhesion to several extracellular matrix proteins

Fucans, a family of sulfated polysaccharides present in brown seaweed, have several biological activities. Their use as drugs would offer the advantage of no potential risk of contamination with viruses or particles such as prions. A fucan prepared from Spatoglossum schröederi was tested as a possible inhibitor of cell-matrix interactions using wild-type Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) and the mutant type deficient in xylosyltransferase (CHO-745). The effect of this polymer on adhesion properties with specific extracellular matrix components was studied using several matrix proteins as substrates for cell attachment. Treatment with the polymer inhibited the adhesion of fibronectin to both CHO-K1 (2 x 10(5))()and CHO-745 (2 x 10(5) and 5 x 10(5)) cells. No effect was detected with laminin, using the two cell types. On the other hand, adhesion to vitronectin was inhibited in CHO-K1 cells and adhesion to type I collagen was inhibited in CHO-745 cells. In spite of this inhibition, the fucan did not affect either cell proliferation or cell cycle. These results demonstrate that this polymer is a new anti-adhesive compound with potential pharmacological applications

Associaçäo entre raça e incidência de doença renal terminal secundária a glomerulonefrite: influência do tipo histológico e da presença de hipertensäo arterial / Association between race and incidence of end-stage renal disease secondary to glomerulonephritis: influence of the histologic type and presence of arterial hypertension

OBJETIVO: Avaliar retrospectivamente a associaçäo entre raça e incidência de doença renal terminal (DRT) em pacientes com glomerulonefrites em um Hospital Universitário do estado da Bahia. METODOS: A amostra foi composta de 79 pacientes com esclerose glomerular focal (EGF), 50 com glomerulonefrite membranoproliferativa (GNMP) e 44 com outros tipos de glomerulonefrites (OTGN), acompanhados entre 1970 e 1996 por pelo menos 6 meses. NÒo foram incluídos os pacientes com glomerulonefrite aguda, formas crescenticas, lesäo mínima, doenças do colágeno e com níveis de creatinina séica maior ou igual a 4 mg/dl. Quanto à raça, os pacientes foram classificados em brancos, mulatos ou negros. Para idades superiores a 18 anos e na ausência de uso de anti-hipertensivos, definiu-se como hipertensos pacientes que tiveram mÚdias das três primeiras determinaçöes da pressäo arterial sistólica ou diastólica iguais ou superiores a 140 e 90 mmHg, respectivamente; para idades igual ou abaixo de 18 anos foram utilizados critérios recomendados pela "Task Force on Blood Pressure in Children". RESULTADOS: No grupo de normotensos, a incidência de DRT foi 72 por cento menor em mulatos e negros (risco relativo (RR)=0,28; intervalo de confiança (IC) 95 por cento=0,11-0,67). No grupo de hipertensos, a associaçäo entre raça e DRT apresentou direçäo inversa (RR=1,49; IC 95 por cento=0,68-4,34; p=0,316) à observada em normotensos. Esta variaçäo no RR de acordo com a presenç ou ausência de HA foi estatisticamente significante (p=0,01). Entre os normotensos, parte da diferença racial na incidência de DRT pode ser explicada pela distribuiçäo de tipos histológicos de glomerulonefrite entre o grupo de brancos e o grupo de negros e mulatos. CONCLUSOES: Entre os normotensos com glomerulonefrite, a incidência de DRT foi significantemente maior em brancos do que em negros ou mulatos. Contrariamente, entre os hipertensos observou-se uma tendência para um risco maior de DRT no grupo de negros e mulatos. O estudo sugere que HA e o tipo histológico de glomerulonefrite influenciam a associaçäo entre raça e DRT

Venom production by africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) and africanized-european hybrids

This study used 15 beehives: five with Africanized queens sisters (Apis mellifera), five with Italian queens sisters (Apis mellifera ligustica), and five with Carniolan queens sisters (Apis meliifera carnica). The queens were fertilized naturally. This experiment was performed in the apiary of the Botucatu School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, UNESP, State of Säo Paulo, Brazil. The following data were obtained from the foraging bees: venom quantity in reservoir, 0.117ñ0.015, 0.139ñ0.020, and 0.147ñ0.024 (mg); venom quantity liberated in extraction apparatus, 0.073ñ0.012, 0.057ñ0.011 and 0.059ñ0.013 (mg); and sting electro stimulus threshold (volts), 10.75ñ1.37, 15.11ñ2.00, and 15.01ñ1.63 for Africanized, Italian x Africanized and Carniolan x Africanized, respectively. The Africanized honeybees possess less venom in reservoir than the European hybrids (Carniolan and Italian). However, they liberated a larger quantity of venom in the extraction apparatus and required lower electro stimulus threshold to promote stinging.

Diferenças raciais entre pacientes com esclerose glomerular focal e glomerulonefrite membranoproliferativa em residentes no estado da Bahia / Racial differences between patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis from the State of Bahia

Objetivo. Avaliar a relaçao entre raça e tipo histológico de glomerulomefrite, levando em consideraçao idade, sexo e presença da forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose mansônica. Material e Métodos. Pacientes do Serviço de Nefrologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, 80 com esclerose glomerular focal (EGF) e 50 com glomerulonefrite membranoproliferativa (GNMP) foram comparados quanto à distribuiçao dos tipos raciais (negro, mulato, branco). Pacientes com lupus eritematoso sistêmico ou qualquer outro tipo de doença auto-imune nao foram incluídos na presente análise. Comparaçoes ajustadas foram feitas através do método de Mantel-Haenszel e de um modelo de regressao logística múltipla. Resultados. Raça foi significantemente associada com o tipo histológico; a relaçao entre o número de negros ou mulatos e o número de brancos foi aproximadamente 2,4 vezes maior (odds ratio=2,43; IC 95 por cento=1,09-5,45) em pacientes com EGF do que em pacientes com GNMP. Esta associaçao entre raça e tipo histológico foi independente da idade, do sexo e da presença da forma hepatoesplênica da esquistossomose. No modelo de regressao logística múltipla, raça foi significativamente (p=0,037) associada com o tipo histológico (odds ratio=2,54; IC 95 por cento=1,06-6,06). Conclusao. A maior freqüência de negros e mulatos no grupo EGF nesta amostra de pacientes da Bahia é consistente com os achados de estudos realizados nos Estados Unidos. Os dados apoiam a posibilidade de uma relaçao entre descendência africana e susceptibilidade aumentada para EGF, independente da idade, do sexo e do diagnóstico de esquistossomose. A identificaçao dos mecanismos que determinam esta diferença racial representa uma importante questao para futuras investigaçoes.

Aumento da frequência de resistência à norfloxacina e ciprofloxacina em bactérias isoladas em uroculturas / Increase in the frequency of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin resistance of bacteria isolated from urine culture

Objetivo. Avaliar mudanças, ao longo dos anos, na freqüência de resistência à norfloxacina e ciprofloxacina em bactérias isoladas de uroculturas. Métodos. Resultados de todas as uroculturas com crescimento bacteriano de pelo menos 10(5) unidades formadoras de colônias por mL de urina (UFCmL), realizadas no Serviço de Nefrologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia durante o período 1983-1994, foram analisadas. As bactérias incluídas na análise foram aquelas mais freqüentemente isolados: Escherichia coli (n=668), Klebsiella spp. (n=286), Staphylococcus spp. (n=186), Proteus spp. (n=135) e Enterobacter spp. (n=129). Resultados. A freqüência de bactérias resistentes à norfloxacina foi de 3,2 por cento, no período 1983-1986; 5,9 por cento, no período 1987-1990; e 9,1 por cento no período de 1991-1994 (p<0,05). Klebsiella spp. e Enterobacter spp. foram as bactérias que apresentaram maiores aumentos na freqüência de resistência à norfloxacina. Para a ciprofloxacina, constatou-se resistência em 7,4 por cento das bactérias isoladas, no período 1985-1989, e 16,5 por cento, no período 1990-1994 (p<0,05). Esse aumento na freqüência de bactérias resistentes à ciprofloxacina foi mais marcante para Enterobacter spp. e Staphylococcus spp. Conclusoes. Os resultados do presente estudo mostram um aumento gradual na freqüência de resistência à norfloxacina e ciprofloxacina entre as bactérias mais comumente isoladas em uruculturas. A influência do uso prévio de quinolonas e de peculiaridades da bactéria infectante, nesses achados, representa importante questao a ser investigada.