AMPA and angiotensin type 1 receptors are necessary for hemorrhage-induced vasopressin secretion

Hypovolemia induced by hemorrhage is a common clinical complication, which stimulates vasopressin (AVP) secretion by the neurohypophysis in order to retain body water and maintain blood pressure. To evaluate the role of brain L-glutamate and angiotensin II on AVP secretion induced by hypovolemia we induced hemorrhage (∼25% of blood volume) after intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of AP5, NBQX, or losartan, which are NMDA, AMPA, and AT1 receptor antagonists, respectively. Hemorrhage significantly increased plasma AVP levels in all groups. The icv injection of AP5 did not change AVP secretion in response to hemorrhage. Conversely, icv administration of both NBQX and losartan significantly decreased plasma AVP levels after hemorrhage. Therefore, the blockade of AMPA and AT1 receptors impaired AVP secretion in response to hemorrhage, suggesting that L-glutamate and angiotensin II acted in these receptors to increase AVP secretion in response to hemorrhage-induced hypovolemia.

Erythropoietin reduces the expression of myostatin in mdx dystrophic mice

Erythropoietin (EPO) has been well characterized as a renal glycoprotein hormone regulating red blood cell production by inhibiting apoptosis of erythrocyte progenitors in hematopoietic tissues. EPO exerts regulatory effects in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a lethal degenerative disorder of skeletal and cardiac muscle. In this study, we tested the possible therapeutic beneficial effect of recombinant EPO (rhEPO) in dystrophic muscles in mdx mice. Total strength was measured using a force transducer coupled to a computer. Gene expression for myostatin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Myostatin expression was significantly decreased in quadriceps from mdx mice treated with rhEPO (rhEPO=0.60±0.11, control=1.07±0.11). On the other hand, rhEPO had no significant effect on the expression of TGF-β1 (rhEPO=0.95±0.14, control=1.05±0.16) and TNF-α (rhEPO=0.73±0.20, control=1.01±0.09). These results may help to clarify some of the direct actions of EPO on skeletal muscle.

Fatores de risco associados ao desmame em crianças até seis meses de idade no município de São Paulo / Risk factors associated to weaning from breastfeeding until six months of age in São Paulo city / Factores de riesgo asociados al destete en niños hasta seis meses de edad en el municipio de São Paulo

Avaliar os fatores de risco associados à ausência de aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME) em crianças <6 meses de vida na cidade de São Paulo, em 2008. MÉTODOS: Aplicou-se o questionário do Projeto Amamentação e Municípios-1998 (AMAMUNIC) a pais/responsáveis de crianças <6 meses de idade durante a Campanha Nacional de Vacinação contra Poliomielite. Cálculo da amostra por conglomerados com sorteio em dois estágios. Os fatores analisados foram idade e educação materna, peso de nascimento, sexo, tipo de parto, nascer em Hospital Amigo da Criança, presença de aleitamento materno precoce, uso de chupeta nas últimas 24 horas e mãe trabalhando fora de casa. Análise estatística por regressão logística binária com SPSS, versão 15.0, sendo significante p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 724 entrevistas, das quais 275 referiram (39,1 por cento) aleitamento materno exclusivo (Grupo I - GI) e 429 (60,9 por cento) sem aleitamento materno exclusivo (Grupo II - GII). Houve diferenças entre os grupos quanto ao uso da chupeta nas últimas 24 horas (GI 32,3 versus GII 59,8 por cento; p<0.001), mães trabalhando fora (GI 12,4 versus GII 24,8 por cento; p<0.001) e idade da criança (GI 74,1±45,3 versus GII 105,8±49,5 dias; p<0,0001).Na análise multivariada, houve associação entre ausência de aleitamento materno exclusivo e uso de chupeta (OR 3,02; IC95 por cento 2,10-4,36), mãe trabalhando fora (OR 2,11; IC95 por cento 1,24-3,57) e idade da criança (OR 1,01; IC95 por cento 1,01-1,02). CONCLUSÕES: O uso da chupeta nas últimas 24 horas associou-se à ausência de AME em crianças menores do que seis meses, seguido pelo trabalho materno fora de casa e pela idade da criança, que são importantes fatores a serem controlados em programas de promoção do aleitamento materno.

To evaluate risk factors associated to interruption of exclusive breastfeeding among children <6 months of age in São Paulo city in 2008. METHODS: A special questionnaire (Breastfeeding and Cities Project-1998) was applied to the parents/guardians of children <6 months of age during the National Poliomyelitis Campaign. Sample calculation used a two stage cluster sampling procedure. The following groups were compared: I (children exclusively breastfed); II (children without exclusive breastfeeding). Factors analyzed: mother's age and schooling, infant birth weight, gender, type of delivery, being born in a Baby-Friendly Hospital, presence of early breastfeeding, use of pacifier in the last 24 hours, and mother working outside home. Statistical analysis included binary logistic regression by SPSS 15.0, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: 724 interviews were performed with 275 (39.1 percent) children in Group I and 429 (60.9 percent) in Group II. Differences between groups were found on: use of pacifier in the last 24 hours (GI 32.3 vs. GII59.8 percent; p<0.0001), mothers working outside home (GI 12.4 vs. GII 24.8 percent; p=0.0002) and child's age(GI 74.1±45.3 vs. GII105.8±49.5 days; p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed significant association of non-exclusive breastfeeding in this sample with use of pacifier in the last 24 hours (OR 3.02; 95 percentCI 2.10-4.36); mother working outside home (OR 2.11; 95 percentCI 1.24-3.57), and child's age (OR 1.01, 95 percentCI 1.01-1.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this population under six months of age, the use of pacifier in the last 24 hours was associated with not being exclusively breastfed, as well as mother work outside home and child's age. These are important factors to consider in breastfeeding promotion programs.

Evaluar los factores de riesgo asociados a la ausencia de lactancia materna exclusiva (LME) en niños con <6 meses de vida en la ciudad de São Paulo, Brasil, en 2008. MÉTODOS: Se aplicó el cuestionario del Proyecto Lactancia y Municipios-1998 (AMAMUNIC) a padres/responsables de niños con <6 meses de edad durante la Campaña Nacional de Vacunación contra la Poliomielitis. Cálculo de la muestra por conglomerados con sorteo en dos etapas. Los factores analizados fueron edad y educación materna, peso de nacimiento, sexo, tipo de parto, nacer en Hospital Amigo del Niño, presencia de lactancia materna precoz, uso de chupete las últimas 24 horas y madre trabajando fuera de casa. Análisis estadístico fue realizado por regresión logística binaria con el SPSS, versión 15.0, siendo significante p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Se realizaron 724 entrevistas, de las que 275 refirieron (39,1 por ciento) lactancia materna exclusiva (Grupo I - GI) y 429 (60,9 por ciento) sin lactancia materna exclusiva (Grupo II - GII). Hubo diferencias entre los grupos respecto al uso del chupete las últimas 24 horas (GI 32,3 vs. GII 59,8 por ciento; p<0.001), madres trabajando fuera (GI 12,4 vs. GII 24,8 por ciento; p<0.001) y edad del niño (GI 74,1±45,3 vs. GII 105,8±49,5 días; p<0,0001). En el análisis multivariado, hubo asociación entre ausencia de lactancia materna exclusiva y uso de chupete (OR 3,02; IC95 por ciento 2,10-4,36), madre trabajando fuera (OR 2,11; IC95 por ciento 1,24-3,57) y edad del niño (OR 1,01; IC95 por ciento 1,01-1,02). CONCLUSIONES: El uso de chupete las últimas 24 horas se asoció a la ausencia de LME en niños menores que seis meses, seguido por el trabajo materno fuera de casa y por la edad del niño, que son importantes factores a controlar en programas de promoción de la lactancia materna.

Genotoxic effect of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) extract on human lymphocytes treated in vitro

Physalis angulata L (Solanaceae) is a medicinal plant from North of Brazil, whose different extracts and infusions are commonly used in the popular medicine for the treatment of malaria, asthma, hepatitis, dermatitis and rheumatism. However, the genotoxic effects of P. angulata on human cells is not well known. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro genotoxic effects of aqueous extract of P. angulata using the comet assay and the micronucleus assay in human lymphocytes provided from 6 healthy donors. Treatments with P. angulata extracts were performed in vitro in order to access the extent of DNA damage. The comet assay has shown that treatments with P. angulata at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 microg/mL in culture medium were genotoxic. Lymphocytes treated with P. angulata at the concentrations of 3.0 and 6.0 microg/mL in culture medium showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronucleus (p<0.05), however, the cytokinesis blocked proliferation index (CBPI) was not decreased after P. angulata treatment. In conclusion, the present work demonstrated the genotoxic effects of P. angulata extract on human lymphocytes in vitro.

Quilotórax traumático en el niño / Traumatic chilothorax in children

Se relata el caso de una niña de cuatro años víctima de un politraumatismo por maltrato familiar.Ingresa con un trauma craneoencefálico y renal,dos días después se constata un hemotórax,el que se drena.Al cuarto día,coincidiendo con la realimentación oral se comprobó la presencia de un quilotoráx.El tratamiento fue conservador,con drenaje torácico y el uso de dieta con triglicéridos de cadena media.Seis días después hubo resolución completa del quilotórax.La terapéutica frente a esta afección puede ser clínica o quirúrgica.Cerca de 50 por ciento de los casos como en el descripto son tratados con éxito en forma conservadora.La opción quirúrgica se reserva para aquellas situaciones de falla del tratamiento clínico realizado por lo menos durante 4 a 6 semanas.Encontramos solo dos casos citados en la literatura de quilotórax traumático por apaleamiento