Hypoglycemic activity of dried extracts of Bauhinia forficata Link.

Leaves of the pantropical genus Bauhinia (Fabaceae) are known popularly as cow's foot, due to their unique characteristic bilobed aspect. The species Bauhinia forficata (Brazilian Orchid-tree) is widely used in folk medicine as an antidiabetic. The present work investigates the hypoglycemic activity of the dried extracts of Bauhinia forficata leaves in vivo, as well as the influence of the drying and granulation processes on this activity. The fluid extract was dried to generate oven-dried (ODE), spray-dried (SDE) and wet granulation (WGE) extracts, with the aid of colloidal silicon dioxide and/or cellulose:lactose mixture. The dried extracts were characterized by spectrophotometric, chromatographic and photo microscopy image analysis. 200 mg/kg body wt., p.o. of each dried product were administered orally to male Wistar rats over 7 days old, for biomonitoring of the hypoglycemic activity profile. The effect of the extracts was studied in STZ-induced diabetic rats. After 7 days of treatment, fasting glucose was determined, and the livers were removed, dried on tissue paper, weighed, and stored at -20 degrees C to estimate hepatic glycogen. Our results show that spray-drying or oven-drying processes applied to B. forficata extracts did not significantly alter its flavonoid profile or its hypoglycemic activity. Indeed, the dried extracts of B. forficata act differently from glibenclamide. Despite the lower active content in WGE, because of the higher concentration of adjuvants, the use of the granulation process improved the manufacturing properties of the ODE, making this material more appropriate for use in tablets or capsules.

Effects of lopinavir-ritonavir combined therapy during the rat pregnancy. Morphological and biochemical aspects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biochemical and morphological effects in rats subjected to three different dose associations of the protease inhibitors lopinavir and ritonavir administered throughout the entire period of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: The animals were treated throughout pregnancy with daily oral doses of lopinavir+ritonavir starting at the day one of pregnancy, and were divided into four groups: E1, 13.3+3.3 mg/kg; E2, 39.9+9.9 mg/kg; E3, 119.7+29.9 mg/kg and C, control (drug vehicle, propyleneglycol). The animals were then sacrificed and maternal blood and fetal and maternal organ samples were taken for morphological and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: No major changes were identified in the group treated with the lowest dose as compared with the control. In the group E2, we found hepatocytes with signs of atrophy, eosinophilic cytoplasm, picnotic nuclei and vasodilatation. The proximal convoluted tubules of maternal kidneys showed eosinophilic areas and hyperchromatic nuclei, as well as signs of vasodilation. In the group treated with the highest dose (group E3), in the maternal kidneys and livers, the morphological changes were similar to those found in E2, although more prominent. Regarding the fetal organs, the single abnormality observed was some liver vasodilation in the group E3 (highest dose). The treatment with lopinavir+ritonavir caused discrete, yet significant, alterations of aspartate aminotransferase activity, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine plasma levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the administration of a combination of lopinavir plus ritonavir to pregnant rats can cause morphological as well as functional changes in maternal and fetal liver and kidneys and, in higher than therapeutic doses, might be toxic to those animals.

Perfil de isolamento microbiano em cães com otite média e externa associadas / Profile of microorganisms isolated from dogs with associated media and extern otitis

Comparou-se o perfil de isolamento microbiano de amostras coletadas de cães com otite média (OM) e externa (OE) associadas. Sessenta e quatro cães com otite média e externa foram avaliados durante 10 meses. Amostras dos condutos auditivos externos foram coletadas com auxílio de swabs estéreis e aquelas do ouvido médio pela técnica cirúrgica da osteotomia da bula timpânica. Os microrganismos foram cultivados e identificados de acordo com os métodos previamente descritos, e a susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos avaliada pelo método de difusão em ágar estabelecido pelo National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Bactérias anaeróbias estritas não foram isoladas em qualquer amostra. Todas as amostras de OE mostraram crescimento bacteriano e/ou fúngico. Na OM, a positividade nas culturas foi de 48 por cento. Os microrganismos mais isolados na OE foram: Bacillus sp. (26,9 por cento), M. pachydermatis (22,2 por cento) e S. intermedius (21,7 por cento); na OM foram: S. intermedius (32,5 por cento), S. aureus subsp. aureus (22,5 por cento) e bacilos Gram-negativos não fermentadores (10,0 por cento). Observou-se alguma diferença no perfil de isolamento entre os quadros de OM e OE em 96,7 por cento dos animais. Verificou-se elevada resistência de cepas de S. intermedius à penicilina G, ampicilina, eritromicina, tetraciclina e clindamicina.

The isolation pattern of samples collected from dogs with both media (OM) and extern otitis (OE) was compared. Sixty-four dogs suffering from those conditions were studied over a 10-month period. Samples from the external ear were collected with sterile swabs while those from the middle ear were collected by osteotomy of the tympanic bulla. The microorganisms were cultured and identified according to methods previously described and to the susceptibility of antimicrobials according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards agar diffusion test. Anaerobic bacteria were not isolated in any sample. All samples from OE showed bacterial and/or fungal growth. Concerning media otitis, this percentage was 48 percent. The most common microorganisms isolated from OE were Bacillus sp. (26.9 percent), M. pachydermatis (22.2 percent) and S. intermedius (21.7 percent) and those from OM were S. intermedius (32.5 percent), S. aureus subsp. aureus (22.5 percent) and non-fermentative Gram-negative rods (10.0 percent). Some difference was observed in the isolation pattern between media and extern otitis in 96.7 percent of the animals. High resistance rates of S. intermedius strains to penicillin G, ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin were found.

Perfil de isolamento microbiano em cães com otite média e externa associadas / Profile of microorganisms isolated from dogs with associated media and extern otitis

Comparou-se o perfil de isolamento microbiano de amostras coletadas de cães com otite média (OM) e externa (OE) associadas. Sessenta e quatro cães com otite média e externa foram avaliados durante 10 meses. Amostras dos condutos auditivos externos foram coletadas com auxílio de swabs estéreis e aquelas do ouvido médio pela técnica cirúrgica da osteotomia da bula timpânica. Os microrganismos foram cultivados e identificados de acordo com os métodos previamente descritos, e a susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos avaliada pelo método de difusão em ágar estabelecido pelo National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Bactérias anaeróbias estritas não foram isoladas em qualquer amostra. Todas as amostras de OE mostraram crescimento bacteriano e/ou fúngico. Na OM, a positividade nas culturas foi de 48%. Os microrganismos mais isolados na OE foram: Bacillus sp. (26,9%), M. pachydermatis (22,2%) e S. intermedius (21,7%); na OM foram: S. intermedius (32,5%), S. aureus subsp. aureus (22,5%) e bacilos Gram-negativos não fermentadores (10,0%). Observou-se alguma diferença no perfil de isolamento entre os quadros de OM e OE em 96,7% dos animais. Verificou-se elevada resistência de cepas de S. intermedius à penicilina G, ampicilina, eritromicina, tetraciclina e clindamicina.(AU)

The isolation pattern of samples collected from dogs with both media (OM) and extern otitis (OE) was compared. Sixty-four dogs suffering from those conditions were studied over a 10-month period. Samples from the external ear were collected with sterile swabs while those from the middle ear were collected by osteotomy of the tympanic bulla. The microorganisms were cultured and identified according to methods previously described and to the susceptibility of antimicrobials according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards agar diffusion test. Anaerobic bacteria were not isolated in any sample. All samples from OE showed bacterial and/or fungal growth. Concerning media otitis, this percentage was 48%. The most common microorganisms isolated from OE were Bacillus sp. (26.9%), M. pachydermatis (22.2%) and S. intermedius (21.7%) and those from OM were S. intermedius (32.5%), S. aureus subsp. aureus (22.5%) and non-fermentative Gram-negative rods (10.0%). Some difference was observed in the isolation pattern between media and extern otitis in 96.7% of the animals. High resistance rates of S. intermedius strains to penicillin G, ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin were found.(AU)

Increasing seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) with age confirms HHV-8 endemicity in Amazon Amerindians from Brazil.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seroprevalences were determined in two isolated Amazon Amerindian tribes, according to age, gender and familial aggregation. Plasma and serum samples obtained from 982 Amazon Amerindians (664 Tiriyó and 318 Waiampi) were tested for antibodies against lytic and latent HHV-8 antigens by using 'in-house' immunofluorescence assays. Overall, HHV-8 seroprevalence was 56.8 % (57.4 % in the Tiriyó tribe and 55.7 % in the Waiampi tribe). Seroprevalence was independent of gender and increased linearly with age: it was 35.0 % among children aged 2-9 years, 51.4 % in adolescents (10-19 years), 72.9 % in adults and 82.3 % in adults aged >50 years. Interestingly, 44.4 % of children under 2 years of age were HHV-8-seropositive. No significant differences in seroprevalence between tribes and age groups were detected. It is concluded that HHV-8 is hyperendemic in Brazilian Amazon Amerindians, with vertical and horizontal transmission during childhood, familial transmission and sexual contact in adulthood contributing to this high prevalence in these isolated populations.

Efeito da degermacao quimica previa da pele abdominal de pacientes cesariadas, na deiscencia da incisao cirurgica, em presenca de processos infecciosos ou febris. / Effect of previous chemical degermation of abdominal skin in patients subjected to cesarean section in dehiscence of surgical wound, at the presence of infective or fever processes

Os autores estudaram a relacao existente entre estados febris ou infecciosos no terceiro trimestre da gestacao e no puerperio, com o aparecimento de deiscencia da incisao cirurgica em pacientes submetidas a operacao cesariana. Foi estudado tambem o efeito da degermacao da parede abdominal com um composto quaternario de amonia, em se evitar ou diminuir a incidencia de deiscencia da incisao cirurgica

Atividade antibacteriana do liquido amniotico. / Antibacterial activity of the amniotic fluid

Foi analisada a influencia da temperatura e do tempo de exposicao da bacteria ao liquido amniotico sobre a atividade antibacteriana atribuida a este fluido. A avaliacoa foi realizada utilizando-se amostras (30) de liquido amniotico obtidas de gestantes normais pertencentes ao Servico de Pre-Natal do Hospital das Clinicas de Ribeirao Preto-USP, atraves da amniocentese transabdominal. A bacteria utilizada foi o Staphylococcus epidermidis, por oferecer uma serie de vantagens. O meio de cultura utilizado foi o caldo-soja-tripticase. A atividade antibacteriana do liquido amniotico foi mais evidente quando o fluido incubado a temperatura de 35 graus C. Aquecimentos em temperaturas elevadas (50 e 100 graus C) promovem diminuicao da atividade, podendo tornar deficientes os mecanismos de defesa deste sistema. O tempo de incubacao durou 15 minutos. O tempo de exposicao da bacteria ao liquido amniotico apos oito horas possibilitou uma maior proliferacao bacteriana, diminuindo, portanto, a atividade antibacteriana do liquido amniotico. Acredita-se, pois, que os achados possam contribuir para o estudo da fisiopatologia das infeccoes intraamnioticas

Avaliacao da funcao renal em pacientes com retencao nitrogenada submetidos a urografia com bolus. / Evaluation of renal function in patients with nitrogenous retention subjected to urography with bolus

Os autores realizaram 16 urografias em pacientes portadores de insufiencia renal aguda e cronica, com altas doses de contraste iodado, obtendo imagens radiograficas diagnosticas, sem no entanto, evidenciarem alteracoes na funcao renal, baseado na dosasgem sanguinea de creatinina pre e pos exame radiologico. Tambem nao foram notados efeitos colaterais do tipo hipersensibilidade