Plasma nitric oxide, endothelin-1, arginase and superoxide dismutase in the plasma and placentae from preeclamptic patients.

The aim of this study was to determine parameters of NO metabolism in plasma and placenta of preeclamptic (PE) patients. It was conducted a case-control study at São José Hospital, Brazil. Thirty-three PE and 33 normotensive pregnant were included in the study. The diagnosis of PE was established in accordance with the definitions of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Peripheral venous blood and placenta samples were obtained at postpartum period. Plasma NO levels and SOD activity were significantly lower and endothelin-1 levels and arginase activity were significantly higher in PE women when compared to controls. None of the analyzed parameters were different in the placenta between groups. Our findings suggest that parameters associated with NO metabolism are altered only at the systemic level, but not in placenta of PE patients.

Oxidative damage, inflammation, and Toll-like receptor 4 pathway are increased in preeclamptic patients: a case-control study.

PROBLEM: There was no direct correlation between plasma and placental oxidative damage parameters and inflammation and evidence of TLR4 pathway activation in the placenta in preeclamptic (PE) patients. METHOD OF STUDY: 33 PE patients and 33 normotensive pregnant women were included. The maternal section of the placenta and blood were collected to the determination of oxidative damage markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive species and protein carbonyls), inflammatory response (interleukin-6 and myeloperoxidase activity), and activation of the TLR-4-NF-kB pathway. RESULTS: An increase of IL-6 levels in both plasma and placenta was observed, but myeloperoxidase activity was not significantly different comparing the groups. Oxidative damage parameters were increased in plasma and placenta in PE patients. A significant increase of the protein levels of TLR-4 and NF-kB was observed in the placenta. CONCLUSION: The TLR4-NF-kB pathway is upregulated in PE, probably generating local and systemic inflammatory response that is followed by local and systemic oxidative damage.

Prevalência do uso da fitoterapia para alívio de sintomas apresentados em pacientes climatéricas / Prevalence of the phytotherapy use for symptoms relief present in climacterics patients

Introdução: O climatério é considerado um evento natural, ocorrendo em função da falência ovariana podendo ou não apresentar sintomas denominados de síndrome climatérica. Objetivo: Conhecer a prevalência do uso da fitoterapia para alívio de sintomas apresentados em pacientes climatéricas cadastradas na Unidade de Saúde São Defende, município de Criciúma, Santa Catarina. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, no período de janeiro a agosto de 2008 por meio de questionário contendo questões abertas e fechadas em pacientes climatéricas entre 40 e 60 anos, cadastradas na referida Unidade de Saúde. Os dados obtidos pelos questionários quanto ao uso de plantas medicinais e/ou fitoterápicos foram submetidos ao programa Epi-Info versão 6.04d para a análise das variáveis quantitativas e qualitativas e utilizado o programa Excel for Windows para elaboração de gráficos e tabelas. Para verificar a associação entre as variáveis independentes e desfecho, foram feitas análises bivariadas utilizando o teste do x2 ao nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Das 51 mulheres que responderam o questionário, 40 (78%) fazem uso de plantas medicinais e/ou de fitoterápicos, destas 75% relataram que o resultado obtido com esta terapêutica foi satisfatório. Das 40 mulheres questionadas 19 (47,5%) fazem uso de fitoterápicos com ou sem prescrição médica. Conclusões: As plantas medicinais e os fitoterá-picos assumem relevância, por atender as necessidades pessoais e socioeconômicas das pacientes, bem como as integram no convívio social, dando-lhes como retorno melhor qualidade de vida, o que evidencia a necessidade de mais pesquisas conclusivas sobre o tema.

Introduction: The climacteric is considered a natural occurrence which occurs due to the ovarian failure able or not able to present symptoms called climacteric syndrome. Objective: To know the prevalence of the phytotherapy use to relieve the symptoms present in climacteric patients registered at Unidade de Saúde São Defende, Criciúma municipality, Santa Catarina. Methods: It was carried out a transversa study, from January to August in 2008, through questionnaires open and closed questions, in climacteric patients between 40 and 60 years old registered at the Unidade de Saúde referred before. The data obtained through such questionnaires in relation to the use of medicinal plants and/or phytotherapy were submitted to the Epi-Info program 6.04d version for the analyses of the quantitative and qualitative variables and the Excel for Windows program was used to have the graphics and tables developed. To verify the association between the independent variables and the outcome, bivariate analyses were done through the chi-square test in a level of significance of 5%. Results: 40 (78%) out of 51 women who answered the questionnaires make use of medicinal plants and/or phytotherapy, among these ones 75% reported that they had a satisfactory result. And 47,5% (19 women) make use of phytotherapy withor no medical subscription. Conclusions: The medicinal plants and the phytotherapy are relevant for meeting the patients personal and socio-economical necessities, as well as integrate them in the social living, providing them a better quality of living, showing up the necessity of more conclusive researches on the subject.

Transtornos alimentares e padrão circadiano alimentar: uma revisão / Eating disorders and circadian eating pattern: a review

Este artigo tem como objetivo revisar aspectos relacionados a transtornos alimentares e suas relações com as alterações no ritmo circadiano. Realizou-se uma busca sistematizada das informações nas bases de dados PubMed usando os seguintes descritores: eating disorders, circadian rhythm, night eating syndrome, binge eating disorder e sleep patterns. Os transtornos alimentares, como a síndrome do comer noturno e o transtorno da compulsão alimentar periódica, têm sido considerados e relacionados a um atraso no ritmo circadiano da ingestão alimentar e saciedade prejudicada. Os ritmos circadianos são aqueles que apresentam um período de 24 h, como, por exemplo, o ciclo sono-vigília, temperatura corporal, atividade e comportamento alimentar. Distúrbios provocados pelas alterações nos horários de sono/vigília influenciam o apetite, a saciedade e, consequentemente, a ingestão alimentar, o que parece favorecer o aumento desses transtornos. Percebe-se que o comportamento alimentar pode ser influenciado por ritmos circadianos. Porém, mais estudos e o maior conhecimento sobre a ritmicidade alimentar podem contribuir com o melhor entendimento do comportamento alimentar atual, atuando na prevenção e/ou tratamento de transtornos alimentares.

This review aims at reviewing aspects related to eating disorders arising from changes in circadian rhythm. There was a systematic search in PubMed databases, using the following descriptors: eating disorders, circadian rhythm, night eating syndrome, binge eating disorder, and sleep patterns. Eating disorders, such as night eating syndrome and binge eating disorder, have been considered and related to a delay in circadian rhythm in food intake and impaired satiety. Circadian rhythms are those that show a period of 24 h, for example, sleep-wake cycle, body temperature, activity and eating behavior. Disorders related to changes in sleep-wake schedules influence the appetite, satiety and consequently food intake, which seems to increase such disorders. Circadian rhythm can influence eating behavior. However, more studies and knowledge about food rhythmicity might contribute to better understanding the current eating behavior, acting in prevention and/or treatment of eating disorders.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

AIM: Although previous investigators have demonstrated the presence of oxidative stress and inflammation in preeclampsia, none directly correlate both to preeclampsia. METHODS: We determined in 35 preeclamptic and 35 normotensive pregnant women plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species, protein carbonyl, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6 and IL-10. RESULTS: Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive species and protein carbonyls were higher in preeclamptic patients. TNF-alpha and IL-6 (but not IL-1beta or IL-10) were higher in preeclamptic patients. We found significant correlation between plasma IL-6 and carbonyls, and these correlated to blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that some oxidative and inflammatory mediators were altered in preeclampsia, and some correlated to blood pressure.

Plasma nitric oxide, endothelin-1, arginase and superoxide dismutase in pre-eclamptic women.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine several parameters of nitric oxide metabolism in pre-eclamptic patients. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São José Hospital, Brazil. Thirty-five pre-eclamptic and 35 normotensive pregnant women were included in the study. Pre-eclampsia was diagnosed as an increase in diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 15 mm Hg and systolic BP of 30 mm Hg at two measurements at least 4 h apart, compared with BP obtained before 20 weeks of gestation, and proteinuria > 0.3 g/24 h in the absence of urinary tract infection. Fasting peripheral venous blood samples were obtained during the antepartum period in pre-eclamptic and control (matched for maternal age and gestational age) patients. RESULTS: Plasma nitrite was significantly lower and plasma endothelin levels were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women than in normotensive pregnant women. Superoxide dismutase activity was decreased and arginase activity was significantly increased in pre-eclamptic patients when compared to normotensive pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: We suggested that in pre-eclampsia excessive arginase and low superoxide dismutase activity leads to a decrease nitric oxide levels and oxidative stress, and this may promote microvascular oxidative damage and endothelial dysfunction.

Comportamento de restrição alimentar e obesidade / Restrained eating behavior and obesity

A obesidade é uma doença de alta prevalência no mundo e é responsável por sérias repercussões orgânicas e psicossociais, desde a infância até a vida adulta. O comportamento alimentar tem bases biológicas e sociais e, associado, à obesidade, torna-se um processo ainda mais complexo pelos aspectos psicológicos envolvidos, os quais se expressam por meio de humor depressivo, ansiedade, sentimento de culpa e, também, por mecanismos fisiológicos, como a resistência ao jejum na vigência de dietas restritivas. Há evidências de que, em indivíduos obesos, comportamentos de compulsão alimentar e ou restrição são mais freqüentes e parecem ser, em parte, responsáveis pelos fracassos observados no tratamento da obesidade. As restrições e auto-imposições das pessoas que fazem dieta, parecem ter um efeito rebote, resultando em compulsão alimentar, a qual pode associar-se a conseqüências psicológicas, como a perda da auto-estima, mudanças de humor e distração. As reflexões desta revisão sugerem que os programas para reducão de peso corporal devem enfocar as bases do comportamento alimentar e desenvolver, efetivamente, ações interdisciplinares que permitam obter resultados eficazes no tratamento da obesidade.