In vitro comparison of enzymatic effects among Brazilian Bothrops spp. venoms.

In various types of snake venom, the major toxic components are proteinases and members of the phospholipase A2 family, although other enzymes also contribute to the toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the proteolytic, phospholipase, and L-Amino acid oxidase activities in the venom of five Bothrops species-Bothrops jararaca, Bothrops jararacussu, Bothrops moojeni, Bothrops neuwiedi, and Bothrops alternatus-all of which are used in the production of commercial antivenom, prepared in horses. The enzymatic activities of each species' venom were classified as high, moderate, or low. B. moojeni venom demonstrated the highest enzymatic activity profile, followed by the venom of B. neuwiedi, B. jararacussu, B. jararaca, and B. alternatus. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare all of these enzymes from multiple species, which is significant in view of the activity of L-amino acid oxidase across Bothrops species.

The role of polar phytocomplexes on anticonvulsant effects of leaf extracts of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown chemotypes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present work was to characterize the pharmacological profile of different L. alba chemotypes and to correlate the obtained data to the presence of chemical constituents detected by phytochemical analysis. METHODS: Essential oils from each L. alba chemotype (LP1-LP7) were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and extracted non-volatile compounds were analysed by HPLC and GC-MS. The anticonvulsant actions of the extracted compounds were studied in pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizures in mice and their effect on motor coordination was studied using the rota-rod test in rats. The synaptosomes and synaptic membranes of the rats were examined for the influence of LP3 chemotype extract on GABA uptake and binding experiments. KEY FINDINGS: Behavioural parameters encompassed by the pentylenetetrazole test indicated that 80% ethanolic extracts of LP1, LP3 and LP6 L. alba chemotypes were more effective as anticonvulsant agents. Neurochemical assays using synaptosomes and synaptic membranes showed that L. alba LP3 chemotype 80% ethanolic extract inhibited GABA uptake and GABA binding in a dose-dependent manner. HPLC analysis showed that LP1, LP3 and LP6 80% ethanolic extracts presented a similar profile of constituents, differing from those seen in LP2, LP4, LP5 and LP7 80% ethanolic extracts, which exhibited no anticonvulsant effect. GC-MS analysis indicated the occurrence of phenylpropanoids in methanolic fractions obtained from LP1, LP3 and LP6 80% ethanolic extracts and also the accumulation of inositol and flavonoids in hydroalcoholic fractions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the anticonvulsant properties shown by L. alba might be correlated to the presence of a complex of non-volatile substances (phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and/or inositols), and also to the volatile terpenoids (beta-myrcene, citral, limonene and carvone), which have been previously validated as anticonvulsants.

Importância da infecção pelo papilomavírus humano em pacientes do sexo masculino / The importance of the infection by human papilomavirus in patients of male sex

Evidências clínicas, experimentais e epidemiológicas demonstram que o papilomavírus humano (HPV) é de transmissão sexual, estando o homem diretamente implicado na cadeia epidemiológica desse vírus, como reservatório e mesmo como transmissor. O papel das infecçõespersistentes por alguns genótipos destes vírus nas neoplasias intra-epiteliais cervicais, na carcinogênese do colo uterino e também no carcinoma do pênis, está definitivamente estabelecido. Assim, atuando como portador e/ou reservatório de tipos oncogênicos do HPV, o homem pode ser responsável pelo aumento do risco de carcinoma de colo uterino, pela freqüente ausência de lesões a olho nu no infectado. Este etfudo descreve as principals possibilidades de diagnóstico do HPV no sexo masculino abordando desde o exame físico até as técnicas de avaliação através de biologia molecular. Os mecanismos de indução oncogênica pelo HPV e os co-favores associados à oncogênese também são discutidos (AUTOR)

Infelcção pelo papilomavírus humano alterações citológicas colposcópicas e histopatológicas em diferentes faixas etárias / Human papillomavirus infection cytological colposcopical and histopathological abnormalities in different age groups

A formulação de protocolos diferenciados de conduta nas pacientes com anormalidades citológicas do colo uterino requer o conhecimento da influência da idade nestas anormalidades, nos achados colposcópicos e nas alterações histopatológicas. Objetiva avaliar a distribuição das anormalidades citológicas, colposcópicas e histopatológicas segundo faixas etárias e o valor preditivo das LIEBG, das LIEAG e dos achados colposcópicos menor e maior

Performance da citologia e colposcopia frente a histopatologia no rastreamento e diagnóstico das lesöes precursoras do cancer do colo uterino / Performance of the cytology and colposcopy compared to histopathology in screening and diagnosis of cancer precursor lesions

Avalia a concordåncia e o valor preditivo positivo daLIEAG e do achado colposcópico maior com a histopatologia. Foram estudadas 794 pacientes com anormalidades citológicas e colposcópicas por meio de biópsia dirigida, curetagem de canal e conizaçäo eletrocirúrgica, quando indicados

Tétano acidental. Relato de complicaçäo incomum: fratura-luxaçäo do esterno e compressäo da artéria pulmonar / Tetanus followaring injury. Report of uncommon complications: sternal fracture-luxation and pulmonary artery compression

Relata-se caso grave de tétano generalizado, complicado por tromboflebite, septicemia, crises de apnéia, fraturas múltiplas de vértebras dorsais e fratura-luxaçäo do esterno. O paciente foi submetido aos exames radiográfico que mostraram a compressäo da artéria pulmonar, em sua origem, por fragmentos do esterno