Comparative effects of natural products on ischemia-reperfusion injury: relation to their "in vitro" antioxidant capacity / Efectos comparativos de productos naturales sobre la injuria por isquemia-reperfusión: relación con la capacidad antioxidante ¨in vitro¨

Our aim was to compare the effects of a non-alcoholic Cabernet-Sauvignon (CS), Malbec (M), Merlot blend (BW) red wine extracts, Ilex paraguariensis (Ip) or Ilex brasiliensis (Ib) aqueous extracts, Vaccinium meridionale Swartz (mortiño) fermented extract (FE), berry juice (BJ) and polyphenols-riched fractions of cocoa(PFC) against reperfusion injury. Isolated rat hearts were submitted to 20 min of global ischemia (GI) and 30 min of reperfusion (R). Other hearts were treated 10 min before GI and first 10 min of R with the extracts. CS, M, Ip, Ib and FE attenuated the myocardial dysfunction and oxidative damage whereas BW, BJ and PFC were ineffective. Paradoxically, PFC had the highest and BW similar scavenging activity than protective extracts. The beneficial actions were lost when nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was inhibited. These data indicate that in vitro antioxidant capacity of natural products is not primarily responsible for the cardioprotection being involved NO-dependent pathways.

Nuestro objetivo fue comparar los efectos de extractos no alcohólicos de los vinos tinto Cabernet-Sauvignon (CS), Malbec (M) y Merlot (BW), de extractos acuosos de Ilex paraguariensis (Ip) e Ilex brasiliensis (Ib), de un extracto fermentado (FE) de Vaccinium meridionale Swartz (mortiño), del jugo del mortiño (BJ) y de fracciones enriquecidas en polifenoles de cacao (PFC) sobre las alteraciones miocárdicas producidas por isquemia-reperfusión. Para ello, corazones aislados de rata fueron sometidos a 20 min de isquemia global (GI) y 30 min de reperfusión (R). Otros corazones fueron tratados 10 minutos antes de GI y durante los primeros 10 minutos de la R con los extractos. CS, M, Ip, Ib y FE atenuaron la disfunción contráctil postisquémica y el daño oxidativo mientras que BW, BJ y PFC fueron ineficaces. Paradójicamente, PFC mostró la más alta y BW similar actividad antioxidante que los extractos protectores. Las acciones beneficiosas fueron abolidas cuando la óxido nítrico sintasa (NOS) fue inhibida. Estos datos indican que la capacidad antioxidante in vitro de los productos naturales no es el principal responsable de la cardioprotección estando involucradas vías dependientes del NO.

Comparison of tapentadol with tramadol for analgesia after cardiac surgery.

Background: Tapentadol is a relatively new analgesic. We decided to compare it with tramadol for their various effects after cardiac surgery. Setting: A study in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: Sixty adults undergoing cardiac surgery were divided into 2 groups of 30 each by computerized random allotment (Group X = tapentadol 50 mg oral and Group Y = tramadol 100 mg oral). Informed Consent and Institutional Ethics Committee approval were obtained. The patients were given either drug X or drug Y after extubation in this single blinded study, wherein the data collectors and analyzers were blinded to the study. All patients received oral paracetamol qds and either drug X or drug Y tds. The pain score was noted on a Visual Analog Scale before each drug dose, 3 h later and on coughing. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure were recorded before the drug dose and 3 h later. Postoperative nausea or vomiting (PONV), temperature, and modified Glasgow Coma Scale readings were recorded. The above readings were obtained for 6 doses (up to 48 h after extubation). Statistics: t‑test, Pearson Chi‑square test, Fisher exact test, and Mantel–Haenszel test were used for statistics. Results: Tapentadol group patients had significantly better analgesia 3 h after the drug and “on coughing” than tramadol group. The difference in their effects on blood creatinine levels, temperature, hemodynamics, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate were not clinically significant. Tapentadol produced lesser drowsiness and lesser vomiting than tramadol. Conclusions: Tapentadol, due to its norepinephrine reuptake inhibition properties, in addition to mu agonist, is a better analgesic than tramadol and has lesser PONV.

Preventive Effects of Oligomerized Polyphenol on Estradiol-Induced Prostatitis in Rats

PURPOSE: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS, NIH category III) accounts for 90-95% of prostatitis cases. However, standard treatment has not yet been established. It is known that polyphenols have an inhibitory effect on inflammation by their antioxidative capacity, and oligonol, a polyphenol derivative, has much higher bioavailability and bioactivity than common polyphenols. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of oligonol in estradiol-induced prostatitis rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostatitis was induced by 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in Wistar male rats (n = 20). Ten rats were placed in the oligonol-treated group and 10 in the E2 + DHT-treated group. The other 10 rats were also included as normal control group. Oligonol (60 mg/kg/day) was administered via gavage tube for 4 weeks. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were quantified, and phosphorylation of IkappaBa and histological changes were also evaluated in prostatic tissue. RESULTS: The SOD and GPx activity showed tendencies to increase in the oligonol-treated group compared to the normal control group. TNF-alpha expression was slightly reduced in the oligonol-treated group. Western blotting demonstrated that phosphorylation of IkappaBa in the oligonol-treated group was significantly lower than in the normal control group. The E2 + DHT-treated group revealed severe atrophy of acinar epithelial cells and infiltration of leukocytes and lymphocytes in the prostate, however, the oligonol-treated group showed overall reduction in inflammatory features. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that oligonol improves estradiol-induced non-bacterial prostatitis by regulating phosphorylation of IkappaBa. These findings suggest that oligonol has a beneficial effect on prevention and treatment of CP/CPPS.

Food as medicine: potential therapeutic tendencies of plant derived polyphenolic compounds.

The last two decades have witnessed a major drift in the interests of the scientific community towards explaining better means to containing the health risks of the human race. The century old chemotherapies against various disorders have never been a success, albeit not a total failure. Such therapies have a major drawback of side effects that give rise to unseen disorders that emerge as a new challenge. In this regard, the concept of foodstuffs as natural medicines is very attractive. Epidemiological studies suggest that the vegeteranian food habit is associated with reduced risk of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Consistent with this hypothesis is the fact that the incidence of these disorders is least in Asian populations where fruits, vegetables and spices are the major elements in the human diet. Recent research has shown that plant-derived polyphenolic compounds are promising nutraceuticals for control of various disorders such as cardiovascular,neurological and neoplastic disease. The richness of the polyphenolic contents of green tea and red wine has made them popular choice for associated anticancer and cardiovascular health benefits. The present article is a brief review of the promises plant polyphenols, bioactive components of our food, hold for the future.

Tea and cancer chemoprevention: a comprehensive review.

Dietary components that are capable of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells without affecting the growth of normal cells are receiving considerable attention in developing novel cancer-preventive approaches. Tea, made from young leaves and leaf buds of the tea plant, 'Camellia sinensis', and the world's second most consumed beverage, has received a great deal of attention both from the general public and the scientific community because tea polyphenols are strong antioxidants, and tea preparations have inhibitory activity against tumorigenesis. Besides this, the wide spread consumption of tea throughout the world evoked the interest of the scientific community in the possibility of its use in cancer prevention. There are three main types of tea, all coming from the tea plant viz. black tea (fermented,) green tea (unfermented), or oolong tea (semi-fermented), classified based on the methods of brewing and processing. Inhibition of tumorigenesis by green or black tea preparations has been demonstrated in various animal models in different organs. Various epidemiological studies substantiate the correlation between tea consumption and cancer prevention; however, they have not yielded clear conclusions pertaining to the protective effects of tea consumption against cancer development in humans. Many mechanisms have been proposed for the inhibition of carcinogenesis by tea, including the modulation of signal transduction pathways (including growth factor-mediated, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent, and ubiquitin/proteasome degradation pathways ) that lead to the inhibition of cell proliferation and transformation; induction of apoptosis of preneoplastic and neoplastic cells, and inhibition of tumor invasion as well as angiogenesis. These mechanisms need to be evaluated, verified and corroborated in animal models and humans in order to gain more understanding on the effects of tea consumption on human cancer. Because the causative factors are different for different populations, tea consumption may affect carcinogenesis only in selected situations rather than having the general effect on all cancers. Although, on the basis of many epidemiological observations and numerous laboratory studies, it can be concluded that tea consumption is likely to have beneficial effects in reducing cancer risk in different populations, yet there is a need to define the population that could benefit from tea consumption. After careful evaluation of additional studies, it may be possible to recommend consumption of tea polyphenols by humans. Although considerable accumulating information provides a compelling body of evidence for the preventive potential of tea against cancer, naturally occurring tea polyphenols have yet to be evaluated in clinical intervention in human trials.

El efecto quimioprotector del té y sus compuestos / The chemo-protector effects of tea and its components

Tea has been consumed worldwide since ancient times to maintain and improve health. Its main active components are a type of polyphenols known as flavonoids, which include catechins and theaflavins. Several epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of green tea could prevent cancer development in humans. Likewise, animal studies have shown that green tea consumption may inhibit the development of prostate and breast cancer. It has been shown that, through several mechanisms, tea polyphenols present antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activities, thus affording several health benefits. It is important to better characterize tea components, to study their bio-availability and bio-transformation in vivo and to conduct clinical studies of its main active compounds.

Tratamiento de miasis oral con ivermetina: notificación de tres casos causados por cochliomyia hominivorax (coquerel) / Treatment of oral myiasis with ivermectine: report of three cases caused by Cochliomya Hominivorax (coquerel)

La infestación de tejidos del hombre por larvas de moscas (Miasis) no es frecuente y menos aún en la cavidad oral. Cuando ocurre, se asocia casi siempre con traumas o con lesiones abiertas o sobre infectadas que atraen a las moscas adultas, las cuales depositan allí los huevos, origen de las larvas que ocasionan la parasitosis. El cuadro clínico varía de acuerdo con la localización, la abundancia y estado de desarrollo de las larvas y con la especie de mosca; el manejo clínico y el tratamiento, por lo tanto, son también variados y a veces de difícil ejecución. Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), especie conocida como "gusano barrenador del ganado" y "gusano devorador de hombres", es uno de los principales agentes en el trópico americano. El tratamiento farmacológico con antiparasitarios de uso veterinario, como ivermectina y creolina, ha demostrado ser eficaz y sin efectos secundarios mayores en los humanos. En este artículo se notifican tres casos nuevos de Miasis oral post traumática, causados por la cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) y tratados con ivermectina (lactona macrocíclica sintética), creolina (mezcla de varios fenoles monovalentes) y el retiro manual de las larvas con resultados positivos, como contribución al conocimiento y manejo de este tipo de Miasis, de escaso registro en la literatura científica especializada.

Phenol block in the management of spastic cerebral palsy.

In the present series 116 cases of spastic cerebral palsy were selected; in whom perineal care and ambulation was affected. These cases were given peripheral nerve block (obturator 110, posterior tibial 134 and median nerve 2) with 6% aqueous phenol solution. The block relieved the spastic condition, allowed better nursing care, freed the patient from the embarrassment of a contorted limb, allowed voluntary movement to take place and eased in fitment of caliper to aid further ambulation. The period of effectiveness ranged from 3 months to 18 months, with an average of 13 months. Paraesthesia occurred following 5 nerve blocks. Eleven nerve blocks had to be repeated. Ease, simplicity, safety, therapeutic benefits and economic advantages of peripheral nerve block using phenol in cerebral palsy warrant its more widespread use.

Esophageal endoscopic sclerotherapy in children using 3% aqueous phenol.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EST) in controlling acute variceal bleeding and preventing recurrence of bleeding from esophageal varices in children. METHODS: Ninety children (mean age 7.3 +/- 3.0 years) with portal hypertension [extra-hepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) 83, cirrhosis 7] presenting with hematemesis and/or melena were subjected to EST using 3% phenol in water as sclerosant. RESULTS: Active variceal bleeding could be controlled in 31 of 34 (91%) cases. Varices could be obliterated in 87% of patients with a mean of 5.4 +/- 2.5 injection sessions. Pre-obliteration variceal rebleeding was observed in 15% of patients. Complications such as esophageal ulceration, stricture and perforation were observed in 32%, 4.5% and 1% of patients respectively. Strictures responded to dilatation whereas perforation responded to conservative treatment. Recurrence of varices was seen in 22% of patients at a mean interval of 5.8 +/- 1.9 months. The mortality in the emergency group was 9.5% and nil in the elective group. Ten percent of patients required surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: EST with 3% phenol in water is effective in controlling active bleeding as well as preventing recurrent bleeding from esophageal varices in children.

Estudio de la eficacia de los trifenoles y el prioxicam en dismenorrea / A study of triphenols efficacy in dysmenorrhea

En el estudio se valoró y ratificó la eficacia antiespasmódica-analgésica de los trifenoles en la dismenorrea mediante estudio comparativo doble ciego y randomizado, vs piroxicam en pacientes entre 18 y 35 años de edad seleccionadas en la consulta externa del Hospital General con manifestaciones bien definidas de disfunción uterina ocasionada por dismenorrea primaria y tratadas en forma ambulatoria a base exclusiva de trifenoles y piroxicam (cápsulas) con dosis promedio de 3 cápsulas de 20 mg al día por tres días y con seguimiento posterior por tres ciclos. El dolor para su estudio fue considerado como espástico (cólico) y marcado en una tabla como intenso, moderado, ligero y nulo, con localizacioón clásica en hipogastrio, valorado con escala visual del 1 al 10 como variable discontinua, con tabla comparativa en variable Método de Mann Whitney.

Morphological changes in esophagus following endoscopic sclerotherapy with 3% aqueous phenol.

Autopsy studies have shown that a majority of sclerosants presently used for endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy achieve their end result by a process of necrotizing inflammation of the esophageal wall followed by fibrosis and thrombosis, rather than bland thrombosis of varices. We have been using 3% phenol in water for variceal sclerotherapy and found it to be an effective sclerosant. To study the effect of this sclerosant on varices and the esophageal wall, autopsies were performed in 15 patients who died following sclerotherapy. Histopathological examination of sections from the esophagus showed (a) fresh thrombus in the varices immediately following injection, (b) intimal damage with medial sclerosis and superficial mucosal ulceration after one week, (c) organisation and recanalization with marked medial sclerosis at 3-4 weeks, and (d) complete obliteration of varices after 6-12 weeks. None of the patients was found to have esophageal necrosis, perforation or mediastinitis. Thus, 3% aqueous phenol appears to be an effective and safe sclerosant for variceal sclerotherapy.

Un enfoque racional para la selección de desinfectantes y esterilizantes / Rational focussing for the selection of desinfectants and sterilizing substances

El uso de desinfectantes químicos y esterilizantes en la práctica dental, constituyen una parte significativa del control de la infección. Sin embargo, el número creciente de tales agentes en el mercado y las aparentes quejas conflictivas de los fabricantes, crean dificultades en la selección de los productos apropiados para el uso en el consultorio dental. Este artículo brinda una selección de desinfectantes y esterilizantes

Ocorrência de infecçäo hospitalar em queimados / Occurrence of hospital infection in burned

Foi realizado um estudo na Policlínica Pato Branco, durante o período de 1985 a 1987, foram acompanhados 36 pacientes com diagnóstico de queimadura, estes pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos. Grupo A- representava os que fizeram uso de antibióticos (69%) B- os que näo receberam antibióticos (31%). As causas de queimadura eram as mais diversas, predominando as térmicas, e com profundidade da lesäo de I, II, III graus, extensäo variando de pequena (3%) até a grande (50%) área queimada (média de 23%). Os pacientes em estudo eram da faixa etária de 1 a 60 anos (média de idade 16) e de várias categorias, o período de internamento variou de 1 a 37 dias (média de 12 dias). O objetivo do trabalho foi demonstrar a näo ocorrência de infecçäo hospitalar sem o uso de associaçöes e em grande doses de antibióticos, a eficácia do banho com permanganato de potássio, seguida da aplicaçäo tópica de sulfadiazina de prata, bem como a importância da desinfecçäo de quarto con fenóis sintéticos, também foi fundamental a restriçäo de visitas. No decorrer do trabalho em questäo, observou-se que mesmo com uso de vários antibióticos associados e, ou doses elevadas, ocorria a infeccäo hospitalar (44%). E a medida que foi reduzido o uso de antibióticos, introduzido o banho com permanganato de potássio e intensificado os cuidados preventivos; a incidência de infecçäo diminuiu consideravelmente (91%)