Este trabalho descreve a busca de novos agentes com potencial quimioterápico baseados em complexos de metais de transição com ligantes planares. Neste estudo, complexos polipiridilpaládio foram sintetizados e caracterizados por análise elementar e por espectroscopias de RMN e de absorção no UV-visível e no infravermelho. A interação dos complexos com DNA também foi investigada por métodos espectroscópicos. Todas as bandas de transferência de carga do metal para os ligantes (TCML) dos complexos polipiridilpaládio exibiram hipocromismo e deslocamento para o vermelho na presença de DNA. A constante de formação e os dados de viscosidade sugeriram que os complexos [PdCl2(phen)] e [PdCl2(phendiamine)] interagem com DNA por forças eletrostáticas. Adicionalmente, estes complexos induziram um efeito leishmaniostático importante sobre promastigotos de L. (L.) mexicana na concentração final de 10 µmol L-1 em 48 h.

This paper describes the search for new potential chemotherapeutic agents based on transition metal complexes with planar ligands. In this study, palladium polypyridyl complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, UV-VIS and IR spectroscopies. The interaction of the complexes with DNA was also investigated by spectroscopic methods. All metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) bands of the palladium polypyridyl complexes exhibited hypochromism and red shift in the presence of DNA. The binding constant and viscosity data suggested that the complexes [PdCl2(phen)] and [PdCl2(phendiamine)] interact with DNA by electrostatic forces. Additionally, these complexes induced an important leishmanistatic effect on L. (L.) mexicana promastigotes at the final concentration of 10 µmol L-1 in 48 h.

Se realizó una evaluación parasitológica, nutricional y hematológica en 103 niños de ambos sexos, entre 4-12 años de una escuela rural en Santa Fe, estado Sucre, Venezuela, durante el período enero-marzo 2003. Las muestras de heces se analizaron mediante un examen al fresco, Willis-Malloy y Kato-Katz cuantitativo. El estado nutricional se determinó utilizando la combinación de los índices antropométricos. Los parámetros hematológicos fueron evaluados por los métodos clásicos, y el grado de eosinofilia se expresó en valores absolutos de eosinófilos. 93,2% de los escolares estaban parasitados, presentando elevado poliparasitismo (83,3%). La prevalencia de helmintos intestinales fue de 82,5%, destacando la asociación de Trichuris trichiura y Ascaris lumbricoides (69,4%) y predominando una intensidad de infestación leve. De los individuos con desnutrición, el 91,2% (31/34) tenían helmintiasis. En 97,6% de los escolares infestados por helmintos se encontró eosinofilia (p<0,001). Del 23,3% de los niños con anemia, 83,3% (20/24) presentaron helmintiasis. El 88,8% de los niños con helmintiasis intestinal pertenecían al estrato socioeconómico V. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la población escolar evaluada habita en una zona hiperendémica de helmintos, consistente con el estrato socioeconómico encontrado. Adicionalmente, se estableció que la eosinofilia en estos escolares es un factor asociado a la helmintiasis intestinal.

A parasitological, nutritional and hematological evaluation was carried out on 103 children of both sexes between 4-12 years of age from a rural school at Santa Fe, Sucre state, Venezuela, from January-March 2003. Fecal samples were analyzed using a fresh test, Willis Malloy, and the quantitative Kato-Katz method. Nutritional status was determined by anthropometric indexes combinations. Haematological parameters were evaluated by classical methods and the degree of eosinophilia was expressed in absolute eosinophil counts. Exactly 93.2% of schoolchildren were found to have parasites with high poliparasitism (83.3%). Intestinal helminths prevalence was 82.5%, highlighted by 69.4% of Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides association, with a predominant light intensity of infestation. Around 91.2% (31/34) of individuals with malnutrition presented helminthiasis. Eosinophilia was found in 97.6% of schoolchildren infested by helminths (p< 0,001). And 83.3% (20/24) were infested by helminths in the group of children with anemia (23.3%). About 88.8% of children with intestinal helminthiasis belonged to the VTH level socioeconomic stratum. These findings suggest that the school population evaluated lives in a high helminth hyperendemic area, consistent with the socioeconomic stratum found. Additionally, it was established that eosinophilia in these schoolchidren is a factor associated with intestinal helminthiasis.