Antivenom potential of the latex of Jatropha mutabilis baill. (Euphorbiaceae) against Tityus stigmurus venom: Evaluating its ability to neutralize toxins and local effects in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Species of the Jatropha genus (Euphorbiaceae) are used indiscriminately in traditional medicine to treat accidents involving venomous animals. Jatropha mutabilis Baill., popularly known as "pinhão-de-seda," is found in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil. It is widely used as a vermifuge, depurative, laxative, and antivenom. AIM OF THE STUDY: Obtaining the phytochemical profile of the latex of Jatropha mutabilis (JmLa) and evaluate its acute oral toxicity and inhibitory effects against the venom of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus (TstiV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The latex of J. mutabilis (JmLa) was obtained through in situ incisions in the stem and characterized using HPLC-ESI-QToF-MS. Acute oral toxicity was investigated in mice. The protein profile of T. stigmurus venom was obtained by electrophoresis. The ability of latex to interact with venom components (TstiV) was assessed using SDS-PAGE, UV-Vis scanning spectrum, and the neutralization of fibrinogenolytic and hyaluronidase activities. Additionally, the latex was evaluated in vivo for its ability to inhibit local edematogenic and nociceptive effects induced by the venom. RESULTS: The phytochemical profile of the latex revealed the presence of 75 compounds, including cyclic peptides, glycosides, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, coumarins, and terpenoids, among others. No signs of acute toxicity were observed at a dose of 2000 mg/kg (p.o.). The latex interacted with the protein profile of TstiV, inhibiting the venom's fibrinogenolytic and hyaluronidase activities by 100%. Additionally, the latex was able to mitigate local envenomation effects, reducing nociception by up to 56.5% and edema by up to 50% compared to the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: The latex of Jatropha mutabilis exhibits a diverse phytochemical composition, containing numerous classes of metabolites. It does not present acute toxic effects in mice and has the ability to inhibit the enzymatic effects of Tityus stigmurus venom in vitro. Additionally, it reduces nociception and edema in vivo. These findings corroborate popular reports regarding the antivenom activity of this plant and indicate that the latex has potential for treating scorpionism.

Improving the poor texture and technological properties of chicken wooden breast by enzymatic hydrolysis and low-frequency ultrasound.

Wooden breast (WB) is a recurrent myopathy in fast-growing birds, which alters the appearance, functionality, and the texture of the breast muscle. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the effect of a combined use of papain enzyme and ultrasound on the texture of WB chicken using response surface methodology and (ii) to assess the effect of marinating on the quality of WB chicken meat. Full factorial experimental design method was used to obtain the ideal conditions to soften the WB meat. The independent variables were the concentration of papain (0.1%-0.3%) and the time in ultrasonic bath (10-30 min); shear force (SF) was the dependent variable. The optimum results were obtained at a concentration of 0.2% papain and 20 min on ultrasound. Papain enzyme had a great influence on the texture of WB meat, reducing its hardness. However, the effect of the ultrasound time on the SF response was not observed. The marinated WB meat showed similar SF values and texture profile than those from normal (N) meat, with reduction in the parameters of protein and lipid oxidation. The use of papain without ultrasound bath proved to be an efficient means for improving the tenderness of WB breasts. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study shows the efficiency of the application of two technological procedures (enzymatic treatment and ultrasound) to improve the texture profile and technological properties of chicken breasts affected by the wooden breast myopathy. The economic loss caused by the world-wide occurrence of wooden breast is enormous, and the application of papain has been found to counteract the impaired properties of this abnormal chicken breasts. Since papain is already widely used in the food industry to tenderize meat, its application in improving the quality of WB meat is straightforward.

Fatores que influenciam a realização do exame preventivo do câncer cérvico-uterino em Porto Velho, Estado de Rondônia, Brasil / Factors influencing the implementation of cervical cancer screening in Porto Velho, Rondônia State,Brazil

O câncer do colo uterino é um importante problema de saúde pública no Brasil e sua identificação precoce aumenta consideravelmente a probabilidade de cura. O principal instrumento utilizado na detecção precoce deste câncer é o exame Papanicolau. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar fatores biopsicossociais que interferem na realização do exame preventivo do câncer do colo do útero entre mulheres do Município de Porto Velho, Estado de Rondônia, com ênfase na prática religiosa. Aplicou-se questionário individual mediante visita domiciliar e realizaram-se entrevistas semiestruturadas em igrejas locais onde são realizados exames preventivos mensalmente. A amostra foi de 227 mulheres, dentre as quais 82,8 por cento declararam já ter realizado alguma vez o exame. A etnia, o estado civil, o grau de instrução, a profissão e a religião não foram detectados como significativos para a não realização do exame preventivo. Há preferência entre as participantes pela realização do exame preventivo nas igrejas, pois estas oferecem um espaço físico e social de acolhimento. Políticas intersetoriais neste sentido podem ser desenvolvidas para aumentar as taxas de cobertura do exame.

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem in Brazil, and its early detection greatly increases the likelihood of cure. The main tool for the early detection of cervical cancer is the Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear). The aim of the present study was to analyze the biopsychosocial factors that affect the performance of cervical cancer screening tests among women in the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia State, Brazil, with an emphasis on religious practices. An individual questionnaire was applied during home visits, and semi-structured interviews were conducted in local churches where preventive screening is performed monthly. The sample consisted of 227 women of whom 82.8 per cent had previously undergone the test. Ethnicity,marital status, schooling, occupation and religion were not considered significant factors for the execution of preventive screening in the women. There was a preference among the participants towards performing the screening tests at the churches because they offer a physically and socially welcoming space. Therefore, intersectoral policies can be developed to increase the test’s coverage rates.

Dengue na Amazônia: aspectos epidemiológicos no Estado de Rondônia, Brasil, de 1999 a 2010 / Dengue in the Amazon: epidemiological aspects in Rondônia State, Brazil, from 1999 to 2010

A dengue é uma doença viral, aguda e sistêmica, que é transmitida principalmente pelo mosquito Aedes aegypti. Está presente em todos os 26 Estados da Federação Brasileira e no Distrito Federal e no país registram-se, aproximadamente, 70 por cento das notificações mundiais. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a epidemiologia da dengue entre os anos 1999 e 2010 no Estado de Rondônia, comparando os dados obtidos com a situação do país no período equivalente. Utilizaram-se como fonte de informações os registros oficiais do Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação, da Agência Estadual de Vigilância Sanitária e do Departamento de Informática do SUS. Os dados são referentes ao período de 1999, início das notificações, a 2010, último ano com números completos. Foram coletadas informações referentes aos casos notificados e confirmados, formas graves da doença, taxa de incidência, número de óbitos, entre outros...

Dengue is a viral, acute, and systemic disease that is mainly transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. It is spread through all 26 states of the Brazilian Federation and in the Federal District, and approximately 70 per cent of all the world’s notifications of dengue are recorded in Brazil. The objective of the present study is to analyze the epidemiology of dengue between 1999 and 2010 in Rondônia State, comparing the data obtained with that of the country as a whole during this period. As information sources, we used the official records from the National System for Notifiable Diseases (Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação), the State Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (Agência Estadual de Vigilância Sanitária), and the Department of Informatics (Departamento de Informática) of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS). The data refer to the period from 1999 (the beginning of the notifications) to 2010 (the last year with complete data). Information was collected regarding the notified and confirmed cases, severe forms of the disease, the incidence rate, and the number of deaths. From the beginning of documentation, there was an exponential increase in the cases of dengue in the state...