In vitro evaluation of the effects of Viscum album homeopathic preparations on murine melanoma cells

Viscum album extract (VA) is a complementary treatment in cancer, with in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic effects on several tumor types when applied in phytochemical doses. However, highly diluted ethanolic homeopathic preparations' effects and mechanisms need further study. Aims:To assess the in vitro effects of highly diluted VA from the subspecies V. album abietis and V. album album at different potency levels in different dilution ratios on murine melanoma cells. Methodology:The VA mother tinctures (MT)from Abies alba (MTA) and Quercus robur (MTQ) were prepared with summer and winter samples, harvested in Switzerland. They were submitted to homeopathic ethanolic maceration and a subsequent dynamization process. MTA, MTQ and the following respective potencies were tested in B16F10 murine cells: 3x, 12x, 30x, 6cH, 12cH, 200cH, 2LM, 3LM, and 5LM. Dynamized water, dynamized and non-dynamized ethanol, and carboplatin were used as control groups. The mitochondrial activity and cell viability analysis were performed at 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours by in vitro incubation. MTA and MTQ harvested in summer, as well as 12x, 200cH and 5LM potencies were also tested to cell apoptosis and necrosis markers, reactive oxygens species (ROS) production, inflammatory cytokines profile, cell morphology, and migratory capacity. Results and discussion: MTA and MTQ induced a decrease in cell metabolism and higher cytotoxicity within 1 hour, with significant morphological changes and increased production of ROS and inflammatory cytokines. Both homeopathic dilutions 12x and 5LM showed an influence on cell metabolism, cell replication, and oxidative stress modulation with inflammatory cytokines, mitosis, and migration pattern changes. On the other hand, Quercus robur and Abies alba 200cH showed increased on cytotoxicity and ROS levels, respectively. Conclusion:The in vitro effects of Viscum album homeopathic solutions in melanoma cells highlight the promising antitumoral potential and reinforce the need for further research to better understanding their mechanisms of action.

Carcinosinumproduces phenotypic changes of 4T1 tumor cells in vitro

Considering that there are few published studies that specifically address the exclusive use of Carcinosinumin different potencies and, most of them focused on genotypic and clinical effects, the present study was proposed to identify possible phenotypic changes, including viability, expression of HER-2 and metastatic abilities, using 4T1 cells in vitroas a model. Carcinosinum was tested in different homeopathic potencies (12cH; 30cH; 200cH) mechanically prepared using sterile pure water. The time space between preparing the potencies and using them was 24 hours.The final dilutions were inserted into the culture medium in a volume equal to 10%, at the time of cell seeding. The same succussed vehicle used to prepare the drugs (70% ethanol) diluted 1:100 in sterile pure water was used as control. All treated cells were cultured in 25 mL flasks, with cell density of 5 x 105cells/mL. After 24 hours of treatment, cells were analyzed for apoptosis index using Annexin V kit and the Countess® system. The morphology of 4T1 cells was monitored by staining cell smears with hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa methods. HER-2 expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry and metalloproteinase activity was assessed by zymography. The determination of the cytokine profile was performed using Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). The samples were evaluated in quadruplicate and the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Carcinosinum30cH presented the highest apoptotic index and reduction of MMP-9-Pro expression; Carcinosinum200cH produced the highest positivity for HER-2 and no specific effect was seen after the treatment with Carcinosinum12cH. No change in cytokine expression was seen among treatments. We conclude that Carcinosinum30cH and 200cH can change phenotypic features important totumor development in vitro. The clinical meaning of these data deserves further investigation.

Condições de trabalho nos hospitais públicos de São Paulo: percepções e impressões do diretor de enfermagem / Working conditions in public hospitals in São Paulo: observations and impressions of the nursing director

Foram entrevistados 20 diretores de enfermagem em hospitais públicos na cidade de São Paulo, com o objetivo de levantar as percepções e as impressões desses responsáveis técnicos sobre as condições de trabalho oferecidas pela Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo. Utilizamos escalas classificatórias e somatórias Likert para abordar o grau de satisfação com as condições de trabalho referenciadas por Berti et al. Na opinião desses responsáveis técnicos, 64,7 por cento desses hospitais apresentam condição suficientemente satisfatória de trabalho, 23,5 por cento condição satisfatória, 11,7 por cento não satisfatória e não houve instituição com condição de trabalho altamente satisfatória para assistencia de enfermagem.

Como deve ser o rastreamento e o diagnóstico do diabetes mellitus gestacional? / What should be the screening and diagnostic strategies for gestational diabetes?

O diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) é uma das patologias mais comuns na gravidez. Quando não diagnosticado e não tratado, pode determinar sérias complicações durante a gravidez e parto com aumento da morbidade e mortalidade perinatal, além de ser marcador de risco de complicações tanto para a mãe como para a criança e de desenvolverem doenças no futuro. Apesar disso, não há consenso sobre a melhor forma de rastrear e diagnosticar essa doença na gravidez. Esta revisão teve como objetivo demonstrar quais os métodos descritos na literatura recente e nos consensos de especialistas para esse rastreamento, além de mostrar o esforço que tem sido feito para sistematizar e unificar o rastreamento e o diagnóstico do DMG.

Gestational diabetes (GD) is one of the most prevalent clinical disorders in pregnancy. When it is not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to serious complications during pregnancy and at delivery, as well as increase perinatal morbidity and mortality, besides being a condition that predisposes the mother and the child to future complicatons. Nevertheless, there is no consensus as to the best way of screening and diagnosing this disorder in pregnancy. This review presents the methods recently described in the literature and the consensus of specialists on screening, as well as the efforts to standardize and unify GD screening and dignosis.

Aspectos clínicos e anatomopatológicos da reparação de defeito osteocondral experimental da cabeça umeral de cães, após aplicação de laser a diodo de arsenieto de gálio / Effects of gallium arsenate diode laser application on articular cartilage experimental defect in dog umeral head

Foi avaliada, por meio de exames clínicos e anátomopatológicos, a influência do laser a diodo de arsenieto de galio (As-Ga) na reparação articular da cabeça umeral de 36 cães apos osteocondroplastia experimental. O laser determinou efeito analgésico logo apos a sua aplicação, melhorou a deambulação apos 21 dias e potencializou a reparação.

The influence of Gallium-Arsenate (As-Ga) diode laser on the repairing process of dog humeral heads after experimental osteochondroplasty was assessed by clinical and anatomopathological examinations. The laser provided analgesic effect immediately after its application, improved lameness after 21 days and had a great repairing potential.

Antimicrobial activity in different parts of three Senecio Species [chachacoma]

A comparative study on antimicrobial activity was carried out using ethanolic extracts from different parts of three Senecio [chachacoma] species collected in the province of San Juan [Argentina]. At 33 mg/ml, growth inhibition was detected against Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 in all extracts belonging to S. eriophyton J. Remy, S. nutans Sch. Bip. [chachacoma] [S. graveolens Weddell] and S. oreophyton J. Remy, with the exception of young and adult stems of S. nutans. The highest inhibitory activity was exhibited by leaves [equivalent to 3x10[-4] mg/ml amoxicillin] and capitula containing flower and fruit [equivalence: 4x10[-4] mg/ml amoxicillin] of S. nutans. These two last extracts were the only active on E. coli [equivalence: 2x10[-2] mg/ml cephazolin] and C. albicans [equivalence: 10[-2] and 10[-1] mg/ml miconazole, respectively]. They were inactive on Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Activity against Staphylococcus aureus oxacillin-sensitive was showed by extracts from S. nutans Sch. Bip. "chachacoma" [Senecio graveolens Weddell] corresponding to leaves and capitula containing flower and fruit [equivalence: 10[-2] mg/ml cephazolin] as well as by leaves, capitula containing flower and fruit and young stems from S. oreophyton [equivalence: 3xl0[-3], 3xl0[-3] and 1 x 10[-1] mg/ml cephazolin, respectively. Minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] was evaluated in the most active extracts, corresponding to S. nutans. Values were 8 mg/ml for leaves and 8, 4 and 16 for capitula containing fruit and flower on S, aureus, E coli and C. albicans, respectively. Minimal bactericidal concentration [MBC] was also assayed. The MBC/ MIC ratio was clearly higher than 1, indicating a bacteriostatic effect of the extracts on the micro-organisms tested. The results herein reported would suggest the potential usefulness of the components of these extracts as antiseptic agents

Displasia ectodérmica: relato de caso clínico / Ectodermal dysplasia: a clinical case report

A displasia ectodérmica é uma anomalia rara, hereditária, de caráter recessivo, ligada ao cromossomo X, caracterizada pelo desenvolvimento incompleto dos anexos cutâneos. Neste artigo, os autores relatam um caso clínico de uma criança de cinco anos de idade portadora desta síndrome, que apresenta alteraçöes de pele, pêlos, unhas, fácies, sudorese, além de alteraçöes pulmonar, mental e odontológica, de mucosas e glandulares; com alguns familiares maternos e descendentes masculinos também acometidos