Pro-inflammatory activity of Astronium fraxinifolium Schott on Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and immunomodulating activities of ethanolic extract from the sapwood of Astronium fraxinifolium (EEAF) on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The constituents of the EEAF were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant activity of EEAF was evaluated by its capacity of inhibiting the production of free radical 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid. For the analysis of its immunomodulatory properties, Nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) levels were determined in supernatants from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells after treatment with the EEAF at different concentrations. Expression for mRNA of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and detection of COX-2 protein were also analyzed. Caffeic acid, quercetin, followed by orientin and ρ-coumaric acid, were identified in the extract by the HPLC technique. The EEAF showed poor antioxidant activity when compared to the reference standard. NO, expression of COX-2 mRNA and COX-2 protein were found in high levels when LPS-stimulated cells were treated with the EEAF. Moreover, increased levels of TNF-α and low secretion of TGF-β were demonstrated in supernatants from LPS-stimulated cells treated with EEAF at different concentrations. In opposition to many different types of medicinal plants, the EEAF demonstrated a powerful pro-inflammatory capacity

Tratamento da doença de Graves: experiência de um hospital universitário / Treatment of Graves' disease: an university hospital experience

Com o objetivo de levantar as principais caracteísticas dos pacientes com doença de Graves, assim como analisar as diversas estratégias utilizadas no manejo desta doença em um hospital universitário, os autores revisaram os dados de 238 pacientes com doença de Graves atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas da UFPR, de janeiro de 1990 a junho de 1991. Observou-se uma preferência por drogas antitireoideanas como opçäo inicial de tratamento (74 por cento ), seguida de cirurgia (17 por cento ) e iodo radioativo (9 por cento ). A remissäo com antitireoideanos foi pequena, ocorrendo em 32,4 por cento dos pacientes. A maior indicaçäo de cirurgia em relaçäo ao iodo radioativo como primeira opçäo, revela características próprias do nosso hospital. Por último, os autores comentam as dificuldades em se predizer o curso clínico dos pacientes com doença de Graves, após a interrupçäo das drogas antitireoideanas