De novo 7q deletion with a positive maternal serum triple test screening

A 32-year-old woman at 17 weeks of gestation had a high possibility (1:82) of having a child with Down syndrome. Fetal chromosome according to amniocentesis revealed 46,XX,del(7)(q11.23q21.2). The fetus' chromosomal defect was not inherent because the chromosome analysis of the parents did not have any abnormal findings. We were regularly monitoring the pregnant woman by routine prenatal schedule and she had a normal spontaneous delivery. The baby showed a typical facial malformation, epicanthal fold, decreased muscle tone, and cardiac abnormalities. This is the first patient prenatally diagnosed with de novo 7q deletion by positive triple marker screening test. We consider the triple test, which is the most popular examination used to clarify the risk of chromosome abnormality in obstetrics, will be used not only for trisomy 21 and 18, but also for any other chromosome abnormalities.     

Baccharis trimera: effect on hematological and biochemical parameters and hepatorenal evaluation in pregnant rats

AIM OF THE STUDY: This investigation evaluated the effect of a hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera on pregnant Wistar rats, once the plant is well-known consumed in pregnancy and little is known on its potentially toxic effects on pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five female rats were distributed into three groups. Those in treatments 1 and 2 were given 8.4 mg/kg of the extract orally from gestational day (GD) 1 to 19 and from GD 6 to 15, respectively, whereas those in the control group received distilled water orally from GD 1 to 19. Body weights were recorded on GD 1, 6, 15, and 20. On GD 20 animals were anesthetized, blood samples were collected and maternal livers, kidneys, and spleens were weighed and processed for histological studies. RESULTS: No clinical signs of maternal toxicity and no changes in hematological parameters were observed. Urea levels and kidney weights differed significantly between animals receiving treatment 1 and controls. Histopathological alterations were found in kidneys and livers in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera administered to pregnant rats at 8.4 mg/kg was toxic to maternal kidney and liver cells, although such alterations are reversible once administration is discontinued.     

Postnatal development of pups from nursing rats treated with Gingko biloba

The Gingko biloba extract is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation due to the lack of information about its effects on these reproductive phases. Previous studies have shown that G. biloba extract contains components with estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities, thus nursing dams treated with the extract of this plant could show reduction in milk production, resulting in malnutrition and poor development of pups. This work analyzes the postnatal development of pups, whose mothers were treated with G. biloba extract during the lactation period. Nursing Wistar rats received 3.5 mg/kg/day of G. biloba aqueous extract, corresponding to the highest human dose. Clinical signs of maternal toxicity were evaluated. The growth rate, viability, survival during treatment and lactation indices of the pups were calculated. The physical, motor and sensorial development of the pups was also evaluated. No maternal signs of toxicity were observed. As there were no biological differences between control and G. biloba treated pups, it is possible to assume that, in this experimental design, the administration of G. biloba aqueous extract to nursing rats during the lactation period seems to be devoid of toxic effect to mothers and to the physical, motor and sensory development of the pups.     

Evaluation of wound healing properties of Arrabidaea chica Verlot extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Arrabidaea chica Verlot. (Bignoniaceae), popularly known as Crajiru, has been traditionally used as wound healing agent. AIM OF THE STUDY: Investigate in vitro and in vivo healing properties of Arrabidaea chica leaves extract (AC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: AC was evaluated in vitro in fibroblast growth stimulation (0.25-250 microg/mL) and collagen production stimulation (250 microg/mL) assays. Allantoin (0.25-250 microg/mL) and vitamin C (25 microg/mL) were used as controls respectively. DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteau assays were used for antioxidant evaluation, using trolox (0.25-250 microg/mL) as reference antioxidant. To study wound healing properties in rats, AC (100mg/mL, 200 microL/wound/day) was topically administered during 10 days and wound area was evaluated every day. Allantoin (100mg/mL, 200 microL/wound/day) was used as standard drug. After treatment, wound sites were removed for histopathological analysis and total collagen determination. RESULTS: AC stimulated fibroblast growth in a concentration dependent way (EC50=30 microg/mL), increased in vitro collagen production and demonstrated moderate antioxidant capacity. In vivo, AC reduced wound size in 96%, whereas saline group showed only 36% wound healing. CONCLUSION: AC efficiency seems to involve fibroblast growing stimulus and collagen synthesis both in vitro and in vivo, beyond moderate scavenging activity, corroborating Crajiru folk use.     

Evaluation of antiulcer activity of the main phenolic acids found in Brazilian Green Propolis

Aim of the study

In a previous study, our group described the gastric protective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian green propolis. The main compounds found in Brazilian green propolis include phenolic acids, such as: caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the antiulcerogenic property of the main phenolic acids found in Brazilian Green Propolis.

Material and methods

The anti-ulcer assays were performed using the following protocols: nonsteroidal-antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced ulcer, ethanol-induced ulcer, and stress-induced ulcer. The effects of the phenolic acids on gastric content volume, pH and total acidity, using the pylorus ligated model, were also evaluated.

Results

It was observed that treatment using doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg of caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids and positive controls (omeprazol or cimetidine) significantly diminished the lesion index, the total area of the lesion and the percentage of lesion in comparison with the negative control groups. In addition, the percentage of ulcer inhibition was significantly higher in the groups treated with the different phenolic acids, cimetidine or omeprazol, in all the protocols used, compared with the negative control groups. In the model to determine gastric secretion, using ligated pylorus, treatment with phenolic acids and cimetidine reduced the volume of gastric juice and total acidity and significantly increased the gastric pH (p < 0.05), compared with the control group, with the exception of the group treated with 50 mg/kg of p-coumaric acid, in which no significant difference was observed, compared with the control. In relation to the acute toxicity, none sign of toxicity was observed when phenolic acids, used in this study, were administered for rats in dose of 2000 mg/kg.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the results of this study show that caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids display antiulcer activity.     

METHEMOGLOBIN FORMATION BY STERILE CULTURE FILTRATES OF PNEUMOCOCCUS

1. Sterile filtrates of aerobic cultures of pneumococcus which contain hydrogen peroxide are capable of converting catalase-free solutions of crystalline oxyhemoglobin into methemoglobin. This action is dependent upon the hydrogen peroxide in the filtrates and occurs only in the absence of blood catalase. 2. In catalase-containing solutions of hemoglobin from laked corpuscles, the actual methemoglobin-forming system of Pneumococcus involves a labile constituent of the bacterial cell. This intracellular substance is itself susceptible to oxidizing agents and may be rendered inactive, if exposed to peroxide or similar substances previous to its introduction into oxyhemoglobin solutions. The activity of this function in the case of sterile filtrates of pneumococcus cultures depends, therefore, upon the liberation of cell constituents into the medium and upon the protection of these cellular substances from the oxidizing agents which are formed when pneumococcus cultures are freely exposed to air. When these cultural conditions are fulfilled sterile culture filtrates of Pneumococcus convert oxyhemoglobin into methemoglobin independent of the presence of blood catalase.     

STUDIES ON THE OXIDATION-REDUCTION OF HEMOGLOBIN AND METHEMOGLOBIN : II. THE OXIDATION OF HEMOGLOBIN AND REDUCTION OF METHEMOGLOBIN BY ANAEROBIC BACILLI AND BY STERILE PLANT TISSUE.

The oxidation-reduction systems of anaerobic bacteria manifest their action upon the blood pigments by marked deoxygenation of oxyhemoglobin, prompt reduction of methemoglobin to hemoglobin, and to a less marked degree oxidation of hemoglobin to methemoglobin. The action of sterile plant tissue upon oxyhemoglobin, hemoglobin, and methemoglobin has been studied. The oxidations and reductions of the blood pigments which are induced by sterile plant tissue are similar to the reactions which are brought about by pneumococci and by anaerobic bacteria.