Antioxidant effects of açaí seed ( Euterpe oleracea ) in anorexia-cachexia syndrome induced by Walker-256 tumor

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To assess antioxidant effects of açaí seed extract on anorexia-cachexia induced by Walker-256 tumor. METHODS: A population of 20 lab rats were distributed into four groups (n=5): Control Group (CG), which only received tumor inoculation. Experimental Group-100 (EG-100), with animals submitted to tumor inoculation and treated with seed extract in a 100 mg / ml concentration through gavage. Experimental Group-200 (EG-200), with animals submitted to tumor inoculation and treated with seed extract in a 200 mg / ml concentration. Placebo Group (GP), which received tumor inoculation and ethanol-water solution. We analyzed proteolysis, lipid peroxidation, tumor diameter and weight. RESULTS: Lipid peroxidation was representative only in the cerebral cortex, where there was more oxidative stress in rats treated with the extract (p = 0.0276). For proteolysis, there was less muscle damage in untreated rats (p = 0.0312). Only tumor diameter in treated rats was significantly lower (p = 0.0200) compared to untreated ones. CONCLUSIONS: The açaí seed extract showed no beneficial effect on the general framework of the cachectic syndrome in lab rats. However, some anticarcinogenic effects were observed in the tumor diameter and weight.

Thalidomide: a re-look.

Thalidomide was synthesized in 1954 in erstwhile West Germany and marketed as a sedative in over 46 countries until the early 1960s. Owing to serious teratogenic effects, the drug was withdrawn from the market in 1961. A chance observation suggested the utility of thalidomide in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). After many controlled and uncontrolled trials were published, the World Health Organization recommended its use in ENL. The Food and Drug Administration, USA approved it for use in ENL in July 1998. Only established and well-defined studies conducted to substantiate the efficacy of thalidomide have been included in this review. Thalidomide is considered the drug of choice for the treatment of ENL, but for other conditions, it is recommended only when resistance to the currently available form of therapy is encountered. Once the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-TNF-alpha and anti-angiogenic properties of thalidomide were discovered, it was also tried in AIDS and related wasting, apthous ulcers, microsporidiosis and Kaposi's sarcoma. Thalidomide has no clinical place as an immunosuppressant in solid organ transplantation. However, it has a therapeutic role in graft-verus-host-disease. Among the dermatological conditions, thalidomide has been found to be effective in systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, actinic prurigo and prurigo nodularis. Used correctly, it is a safe and effective medicine (except for its teratogenic potential and delayed neuropathy) in a variety of disease conditions.

Ganancia de peso con el uso de acetato de magestrol (Megace'R) en pacientes con SIDA y pérdida de peso en México / Weight gain with magestron acetate (Megace) in patients with aids and weigth loss in Mexico

Introducción: El acetato de magestrol (Megace) es una progesterona sintética útil en el tratamiento de pacientes con carcinoma mamario. Un efecto secundario es aumento del apetito con ganancia de peso, por lo que se ha recomendado en pacientes con caquexia por cáncer o SIDA. Objetivo: Determinar la eficacia del megace para mejorar el peso corporal de pacientes con SIDA y pérdida de peso. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron diez pacientes con SIDA en estadio IV del CDC con pérdida de más de 10 por ciento de peso máximo, alcanzado durante tratamiento convencional con zidovudina. Se obtuvo el peso corporal en la visita inicial; el peso máximo alcanzado durante tratamiento con zidovudina; el peso al inicio del megace y al seguimiento después de administrar megace a dosis de 40 mg por vía oral cada 8 h durante 8 semanas Resultados: El peso inicial promedio de 62.1 Kg (rango = 53.5 a 82.5 kg) y el peso máximo alcanzado durante tratamiento con AZT fue de 64.3 kg (rango 53.5 a 83 kg) después de 22.4 semanas (p = 0.02). Iniciando megace, el peso promedio fue de 61.3 kg (rango 53 a 82 kg) alcánzandose un peso promedio máximo de 63.9 kg (rango 56 y 84) después de ocho semanas (p = 0.002). Nueve de diez pacientes ganaron peso con megace (promedio de 2.7 kg) y siete regresaron al peso máximo que habían alcanzado durante tratamiento con zidovudina. Ninguno presentó efectos secundarios indeseables atribuibles a megace (edema, enfermedad tromboembólica, etc.) Conclusiones: El magace es un medicamento útil para aumentar el peso corporal en pacientes con SIDA. Se requieren estudios subsecuentes para determinar la dosis ideal en población mexicana infectada por el VIH