Larvicidal activity of Ramalina usnea lichen against Aedes aegypti

AbstractThe larvicidal activity of the methanol extract, fractions and compounds 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-propyl-methyl benzoate and (+)-usnic acid identified from the lichen Ramalina usnea (L.) R. Howe, Ramalinaceae, was tested against the third instar larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The methanol extract and three fractions showed activity, killing 100% and 96.6% of the larvae at a concentration of 150μg/ml at 24h. The isolated compounds, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-propyl-methyl benzoate and the (+)-usnic acid showed larvicidal activity, presenting LC50 values of 4.85 and 4.48μg/ml, respectively. This is the first study of its kind reporting the larvicidal activity against the A. aegypti mosquito with compound (1)

Development of Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro assays to identify compounds suitable for progression in Chagas’ disease drug discovery

Chagas' disease is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity in Latin America. Current treatments display variable efficacy and have adverse side effects, hence more effective, better tolerated drugs are needed. However, recent efforts have proved unsuccessful with failure of the ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor posaconazole in phase II clinical trials despite promising in vitro and in vivo studies. The lack of translation between laboratory experiments and clinical outcome is a major issue for further drug discovery efforts. Our goal was to identify cell-based assays that could differentiate current nitro-aromatic drugs nifurtimox and benznidazole from posaconazole. Using a panel of T. cruzi strains including the six major lineages (TcI-VI), we found that strain PAH179 (TcV) was markedly less susceptible to posaconazole in vitro. Determination of parasite doubling and cycling times as well as EdU labelling experiments all indicate that this lack of sensitivity is due to the slow doubling and cycling time of strain PAH179. This is in accordance with ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition by posaconazole leading to critically low ergosterol levels only after multiple rounds of division, and is further supported by the lack of effect of posaconazole on the non-replicative trypomastigote form. A washout experiment with prolonged posaconazole treatment showed that, even for more rapidly replicating strains, this compound cannot clear all parasites, indicative of a heterogeneous parasite population in vitro and potentially the presence of quiescent parasites. Benznidazole in contrast was able to kill all parasites. The work presented here shows clear differentiation between the nitro-aromatic drugs and posaconazole in several assays, and suggests that in vitro there may be clinically relevant heterogeneity in the parasite population that can be revealed in long-term washout experiments. Based on these findings we have adjusted our in vitro screening cascade so that only the most promising compounds are progressed to in vivo experiments

Organ preservation surgery for laryngeal cancer

The principles of management of the laryngeal cancer have evolved over the recent past with emphasis on organ preservation. These developments have paralleled technological advancements as well as refinement in the surgical technique. The surgeons are able to maintain physiological functions of larynx namely speech, respiration and swallowing without compromising the loco-regional control of cancer in comparison to the more radical treatment modalities. A large number of organ preservation surgeries are available to the surgeon; however, careful assessment of the stage of the cancer and selection of the patient is paramount to a successful outcome. A comprehensive review of various organ preservation techniques in vogue for the management of laryngeal cancer is presented

Desempenho agronômico de dez linhagens de soja-hortaliça

Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho de dez linhagens de soja-hortaliça, em campo. O delineamento experimental adotado foi blocos ao acaso, com dez tratamentos (linhagens) e cinco repetições. Cada parcela experimental foi constituída por quatro linhas de plantio, com cinco metros de comprimento. Utilizou-se irrigação por aspersão. As linhagens avaliadas foram: JLM003; JLM004; JLM010; JLM018; JLM019; JLM024; JLM030; BR36; BR155 e BRS216. Avaliaram-se a precocidade média, altura de inserção da primeira vagem, número de vagens chochas, número de vagens com um grão, número de vagens com dois grãos, número de vagens com três grãos, massa fresca de vagens com um, dois e três grãos, massa fresca de 100 sementes, provenientes de vagens com um, dois e três grãos, massa de vagens não comerciais e produção de vagens comerciais por planta. Com base nos resultados obtidos, a linhagem JLM010 foi a mais indicada para a produção de soja-hortaliça por apresentar produção de grãos imaturos de 12,53 t ha-1 e maior massa fresca de 100 sementes.The objective was to evaluate the performance of ten vegetable soybean strains, in field. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks with ten treatments (strain) and five replications. Plots comprised four rows measuring five meters in length. Sprinkle irrigation was used. The following strains were used: JLM003; JLM004; JLM010; JLM018; JLM019; JLM024; JLM030; BR36; BR155 and BRS216. The average earliness, insertion height of first pod, number of pods without grain, number of pods with one grain, number of pods with two grains, number of pods with three grains, fresh weight of pods with one, two and three grains, fresh weight of 100 seeds from pods with one, two and three grains, weight of no marketable pods and marketable production of pods per plant were evaluated. Results showed that the strain JLM010 is the best for vegetable soybean production, with total yield of immature grains of 12.53 t ha-1 and higher fresh weight of 100 seeds

Age-Related Impairment of Ultrasonic Vocalization in Tau.P301L Mice: Possible Implication for Progressive Language Disorders

Tauopathies, including Alzheimer's Disease, are the most frequent neurodegenerative diseases in elderly people and cause various cognitive, behavioural and motor defects, but also progressive language disorders. For communication and social interactions, mice produce ultrasonic vocalization (USV) via expiratory airflow through the larynx. We examined USV of Tau.P301L mice, a mouse model for tauopathy expressing human mutant tau protein and developing cognitive, motor and upper airway defects.At age 4-5 months, Tau.P301L mice had normal USV, normal expiratory airflow and no brainstem tauopathy. At age 8-10 months, Tau.P301L mice presented impaired USV, reduced expiratory airflow and severe tauopathy in the periaqueductal gray, Kolliker-Fuse and retroambiguus nuclei. Tauopathy in these nuclei that control upper airway function and vocalization correlates well with the USV impairment of old Tau.P301L mice.In a mouse model for tauopathy, we report for the first time an age-related impairment of USV that correlates with tauopathy in midbrain and brainstem areas controlling vocalization. The vocalization disorder of old Tau.P301L mice could be, at least in part, reminiscent of language disorders of elderly suffering tauopathy

Anesthesia advanced circulatory life support

The constellation of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) events, such as gas embolism, local anesthetic overdose, and spinal bradycardia, in the perioperative setting differs from events in the pre-hospital arena. As a result, modification of traditional ACLS protocols allows for more specific etiology-based resuscitation. Perioperative arrests are both uncommon and heterogeneous and have not been described or studied to the same extent as cardiac arrest in the community. These crises are usually witnessed, frequently anticipated, and involve a rescuer physician with knowledge of the patient's comorbidities and coexisting anesthetic or surgically related pathophysiology. When the health care provider identifies the probable cause of arrest, the practitioner has the ability to initiate medical management rapidly. Recommendations for management must be predicated on expert opinion and physiological understanding rather than on the standards currently being used in the generation of ACLS protocols in the community. Adapting ACLS algorithms and considering the differential diagnoses of these perioperative events may prevent cardiac arrest

Mulheres idosas: desvelando suas vivências e necessidades de cuidado

Estudo qualitativo com abordagem da fenomenologia social que objetivou a compreensão da vivência da mulher idosa, suas necessidades de cuidado e expectativas nesse período da vida. Participaram nove mulheres, cujos depoimentos foram obtidos de fevereiro a maio de 2011, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. A mulher idosa refere limitações de ordem física, mental e social, e valoriza a preservação de sua autonomia nas atividades diárias e no cuidado consigo mesma. Refere a família como suporte fundamental e tem expectativas e necessidades de se manter saudável, da busca pelo lazer e de ter melhor acesso aos serviços de saúde para receber informações e atendimento qualificado. Nessa fase, a ausência de perspectivas relaciona-se à perda de pessoas significativas e da saúde. Este estudo revelou facetas da vivência da mulher idosa, suscitando novas investigações e a adequação do ensino, prática e gestão às reais necessidades dessa mulher