Objective: To compare prey and snake paradigms performed in complex environments to the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and T-maze (ETM) tests for the study of panic attack- and anticipatory anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Methods: PubMed was reviewed in search of articles focusing on the plus maze test, EPM, and ETM, as well as on defensive behaviors displayed by threatened rodents. In addition, the authors’ research with polygonal arenas and complex labyrinth (designed by the first author for confrontation between snakes and small rodents) was examined. Results: The EPM and ETM tests evoke anxiety/fear-related defensive responses that are pharmacologically validated, whereas the confrontation between rodents and snakes in polygonal arenas with or without shelters or in the complex labyrinth offers ethological conditions for studying more complex defensive behaviors and the effects of anxiolytic and panicolytic drugs. Prey vs. predator paradigms also allow discrimination between non-oriented and oriented escape behavior. Conclusions: Both EPM and ETM simple labyrinths are excellent apparatuses for the study of anxiety- and instinctive fear-related responses, respectively. The confrontation between rodents and snakes in polygonal arenas, however, offers a more ethological environment for addressing both unconditioned and conditioned fear-induced behaviors and the effects of anxiolytic and panicolytic drugs.

RESUMOEste estudo avaliou a aplicabilidade do kDNA-PCR como método de rotina para diagnóstico de leishmaniose tegumentar americana (ATL) no Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas (IIER), São Paulo, SP, Brasil. O método kDNA-PCR detectou DNA de Leishmania em 87,5% (112/128) dos pacientes com suspeita de ter leishmaniose e, os métodos tradicionais apresentaram as seguintes porcentagens de positividade: 62,8% (49/78) para o teste de Montenegro, 61,8% (47/76) para a pesquisa direta e 19,3% (22/114) para cultura in vitro. O método molecular confirmou a doença em amostras negativas ou inconclusivas pelos métodos laboratoriais tradicionais e, mostrou-se capaz de auxiliar na identificação de infecções causadas pela espécie Leishmania (V.) braziliensis. Além disso, a revisão dos prontuários médicos confirmou a importância do método PCR-RFLP no diagnóstico final de ATL, prognóstico e escolha do tratamento. Assim, recomendamos a inclusão do PCR como método diagnóstico de ATL na rotina hospitalar, e sugerimos um fluxograma para solicitação de exames laboratoriais.

SUMMARYThis study evaluated the applicability of kDNA-PCR as a prospective routine diagnosis method for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in patients from the Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas (IIER), a reference center for infectious diseases in São Paulo - SP, Brazil. The kDNA-PCR method detected Leishmania DNA in 87.5% (112/128) of the clinically suspected ATL patients, while the traditional methods demonstrated the following percentages of positivity: 62.8% (49/78) for the Montenegro skin test, 61.8% (47/76) for direct investigation, and 19.3% (22/114) for in vitro culture. The molecular method was able to confirm the disease in samples considered negative or inconclusive by traditional laboratory methods, contributing to the final clinical diagnosis and therapy of ATL in this hospital. Thus, we strongly recommend the inclusion of kDNA-PCR amplification as an alternative diagnostic method for ATL, suggesting a new algorithm routine to be followed to help the diagnosis and treatment of ATL in IIER.

O presente trabalho descreve o isolamento e a identificação de nove alcaloides indólicos monoterpênicos das cascas das raízes e folhas de Tabernaemontana salzmannii (Apocynaceae). As estruturas dos alcaloides foram identificadas através de métodos espectroscópicos uni (RMN ¹H, 13C, APT) e bidimensionais (¹H-¹H-COSY, ¹H-¹H-NOESY, HMQC e HMBC) e espectrometria de massas (EM), além da comparação com dados de literatura. Um screening in vitro da atividade antileucêmica foi feito com os alcaloides majoritários isolados. Dentre os nove alcaloides isolados, a isovoacangina e voacangina mostraram-se capazes de induzir morte celular por apoptose em células leucêmicas humanas THP-1.

This work describes the isolation and structural determination of nine monoterpenic indole alkaloids from the roots bark and leaves of Tabernaemontana salzmannii. The alkaloids were identified by spectroscopic methods uni (NMR ¹H, 13C, APT) and two-dimensional (¹H-¹H-COSY, ¹H-¹H-NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) and mass spectra besides comparison with literature data. An in vitro screening was done with the isolated major alkaloids. Among the nine alkaloids isolated, isovoacangine and voacangine alkaloids were able to induce apoptosis cell death in human leukemic cells line THP-1.

O presente trabalho descreve o isolamento e a identificação de nove alcaloides indólicos monoterpênicos das cascas das raízes e folhas de Tabernaemontana salzmannii (Apocynaceae). As estruturas dos alcaloides foram identificadas através de métodos espectroscópicos uni (RMN ¹H, 13C, APT) e bidimensionais (¹H-¹H-COSY, ¹H-¹H-NOESY, HMQC e HMBC) e espectrometria de massas (EM), além da comparação com dados de literatura. Um screening in vitro da atividade antileucêmica foi feito com os alcaloides majoritários isolados. Dentre os nove alcaloides isolados, a isovoacangina e voacangina mostraram-se capazes de induzir morte celular por apoptose em células leucêmicas humanas THP-1.

This work describes the isolation and structural determination of nine monoterpenic indole alkaloids from the root barks and leaves of Tabernaemontana salzmannii. The alkaloids were identified by spectroscopic methods uni (NMR ¹H, 13C, APT) and two-dimensional (¹H-¹H-COSY, ¹H-¹H-NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) and mass spectra besides comparison with literature data. An in vitro screening was done with the isolated major alkaloids. Among the nine alkaloids isolated, isovoacangine and voacangine alkaloids were able to induce apoptosis cell death in human leukemic cells line THP-1.

This paper describes the antioxidant effects of thirteen phenolic compounds isolated from plants of the genus Lychnophora. Two assays were performed to evaluate these effects: a cellular test that measured the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence produced by neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan and a cell-free test involving horseradish peroxidase-H2O2-luminol. In both assays, the antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds was dependent on their concentration and chemical structure. Our results suggest that the ability of phenolic compounds from Lychnophora species to scavenge and inhibit the generation of ROS may be a mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from Lychnophora spp.

Investigou-se o efeito da lidocaína isolada ou associada ao fentanil na anestesia epidural, para realização de ováriossalpingo-histerectomia. Dezoito cadelas foram tranqüilizadas com acepromazina, seguindo-se indução anestésica com propofol, para a realização da punção lombossacra. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: o grupo GL recebeu lidocaína (8,5mg/kg) e o GLF fentanil (5µg/kg) associado à lidocaína (6,5mg/kg). Mensuraram-se as freqüências cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (FR), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), variáveis hemogasométricas, concentração sérica de cortisol, necessidade de complementação anestésica com propofol durante a cirurgia, temperatura retal (T), período de latência e duração do bloqueio anestésico. Foi observada redução na FC, FR e PAS no GL e GLF, porém esses parâmetros mantiveram-se dentro dos limites fisiológicos. Para ambos os grupos, a concentração sérica de cortisol manteve-se estável após a cirurgia. Complementação anestésica foi necessária em 40% e 75% dos animais do GLF e GL, respectivamente. Conclui-se que ambos os protocolos foram suficientes para inibir a elevação sérica do cortisol, e resultaram em alterações mínimas cardiorrespiratórias, e que a complementação anestésica foi necessária.

The effects of lidocaine or lidocaine associated with fentanyl for epidural anesthesia in dogs were studied. Eighteen adult healthy bitches were sedated with acepromazine, with subsequent propofol anesthetic induction for the accomplishment of lumbosacral puncture. The animals were alloted in two groups and received: 8.5mg/kg lidocaine (GL group) or 5µg/kg fentanyl associated with 6.5mg/kg (GLF group). Heart and respiratory rates, systolic arterial blood pressure, blood gas variables, plasmatic concentration of cortisol, need of complementary doses of propofol for surgery, rectal temperature, and onset and duration of anesthesic block were measured. Mild alterations in the cardiorespiratory, blood gas variables and plasmatic concentration of cortisol were observed after the epidural anesthesia in both groups. There was no statistical significance in the onset and duration of anesthesic block. Complementary doses of propofol were necessary in 40% and 75% of the dogs in GLF and GL, respectively. The anesthesic protocols inhibited the elevation of the plasmatic concentration of cortisol, causing minimal cardiopulmonary alterations in the animals. Besides, the addition of fentanyl showed best results compared to the local anesthesic isolatedly.

Estudaram-se parâmetros indicativos da maturação de frutos de árvores de Caesalpinia echinata, visando determinar a melhor época de colheita para propagação. Foram utilizadas 10 plantas-matriz cultivadas em Mogi-Guaçu, SP, nas quais foram etiquetadas 250 inflorescências no pico da floração para acompanhamento da maturação. As coletas de frutos tiveram início a partir da 5ª semana após a antese, prolongando-se até a 9ª, com intervalos de sete dias. Em cada coleta, analisaram-se os parâmetros: comprimento, largura e teor de água dos frutos; teor de água das sementes (após três dias de exposição ao sol para deiscência do fruto e extração da semente); porcentagem de germinação e peso de matéria seca de frutos, sementes e plântulas. Observou-se, ainda, a coloração dos frutos como parâmetro visual de maturação das sementes. O experimento foi repetido por três anos. Os testes de germinação foram realizados em caixas Gerbox contendo vermiculita umedecida com água destilada. As sementes foram colocadas para germinar em câmara regulada para 30 ºC e fotoperíodo de 12 horas O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições de 25 sementes por parcela, nos anos de 1991, 1992 e 1993. As leituras de germinação foram realizadas nos 4º e 8º dias após a semeadura. Pelos resultados, conclui-se que o momento ideal para coleta dos frutos de C. echinata é no estádio de pré-dispersão (entre a 8º e 9º após a antese) visualizado através da coloração, quando estes mudam de verde para castanho.

Several indicative parameters regarding fruit maturity of Caesalpinia echinata were studied in order to establish the ideal harvest time. Ten matrix plants were cultivated in Moji-Guaçu, SP (22°11' to 1022°18' S and 47°13' to 47°20' WG), altitude between 600m and 730m. The climate of the region is classified as Cwa. Two hundred and fifty blossoms were tagged during the the peak blooming period for maturation analysis. Fruit-harvesting schedule ranged from the fifth to the ninth week after anthesis, with seven-day intervals. The following parameters where analyzed for each harvest: fruit length and width; fruit moisture content; seed moisture content (after natural pre-drying); germination percentage; seed, fruit and seedling dry matter weight. Fruit colors were also observed and used as a visual parameter of seed maturation. The experiment was repeated for three years. The germination tests were performed in Gerbox boxes, with vermiculite watered with distilled water. The seeds were set to germinate in B.O.D cameras, at 30°C, with a 12-hour photoperiod. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds per plot in 1991, 1992 and 1993. The germination was analyzed on the 4th and 8th days after seeding. The results showed that the ideal harvest time for Brazil-wood fruits is at the pre-dispersion stage, which can be identified visually through colors, when they change from green to chestnut-brown.

Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (pau-brasil) é a árvore nacional do Brasil, possui grande potencial ornamental, estando atualmente em perigo de extinção devido à exploração extrativista. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a germinação das sementes de C. echinata e o crescimento de mudas sob condições de sombreamento. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Seção de Ornamentais do IBt/SMA, São Paulo, SP. As sementes foram coletadas de frutos maduros, de árvores-matriz no arboreto experimental de C. echinata em Mogi-Guaçu, SP. Os testes de germinação foram realizados nos anos de 1999, 2000 e 2003, com quatro repetições de 25 sementes cada, sendo avaliadas a porcentagem de germinação e o índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), submetidas a cinco níveis de sombreamento (0, 20, 40, 60 e 80%). Mudas de C. echinata com nove meses de idade foram submetidas aos mesmos tratamentos de sombreamento das sementes, sendo as variáveis analisadas altura da planta, diâmetro do colo e número de folhas. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições e 24 plantas por parcela, totalizando 96 mudas por tratamento. Os resultados indicaram que a germinação e o IVE não sofreram influência dos níveis de sombreamento testados. O diâmetro do coleto das mudas a pleno sol, a 20 e 40% de sombreamento, não diferiram significativamente entre si, mas dos tratamentos de 60 e 80%.

Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood), Brazil's national tree, has ornamental potential, and due to years of exploitation this species has been reduced on the verge of extinction. This study was aimed to evaluate seed germination and seedling growth of brazil wood under shading conditions. The experiments were conducted at the IBt/SMA Ornamental Department, São Paulo-SP. Seeds were harvested from ripe fruits, from trees of the experimental arboretum of brazilwood at Mogí-Guaçu-SP. The germination tests were carried out in 1999, 2000 and 2003 with 4 replicates consisting of 25 seeds, the germination percentage and the speed germination index (SGI), subjected to five shading levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%) were evaluated. Nine-month-old brazilwood seedlings were submitted to the same shading treatments and the analyzed variables were seedling heights, stem base diameters and number of leaves. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replicates, and each experimental unit consisted of 24 plants, totaling 96 plants. The obtained results showed that shading levels did not the affect seed germination percentage and SGI. The stem base diameters were not statically significant for full sunlight, 20 and 40% of shading, but they were significant for the treatments with 60 and 80% of shading.

The authors report a case of a 60-year-old woman presenting with a renal cell carcinoma in which the first sign leading to its diagnosis was a cervical metastasis, an uncommon site of distant disease in renal neoplasms. The patient had an 18-month history of a progressively enlarging cervical mass at the anterior aspect of the neck. After laboratory and radiological evaluation, the cervical mass was excised, and the microscopic and immunohistochemical patterns suggested the possibility of a metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Computerized tomography of the abdomen showed a solid, 4 cm left renal mass. A radical left nephrectomy was performed, and the histology confirmed the suspected diagnosis. The patient received immunotherapy, and in a follow-up period of 9 months, there was no evidence of recurrent disease. It seems that head and neck metastasis of renal cell carcinoma should preferentially be treated with surgical excision because of the associated morbidity and quality-of-life issues.

Several strategies aim at characterizing the AIDS epidemic in different parts of the world. Among these, the identification of recent HIV-1 infections using the recently described serologic testing algorithm for recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion (STARHS) strategy was employed in four testing sites of the City of São Paulo Public Health Department (CSPPHD). Those identified as recently infected were invited to participate in a prospective clinical and laboratory evaluation study. We describe the establishment of the patient identification network and the success in enrolling the participants, as well as their clinical and laboratory characteristics. From May to December 2002, 6,443 persons were tested for HIV in the four participating sites, of whom 384 (5.96%) tested HIV-1 positive; 43 (11.2%) of them were identified as recently infected. Twenty-two were successfully enrolled in the follow-up study, but three of them did not meet clinical and/or laboratory criteria for recent HIV-1 infection. After these exclusions, the laboratory findings revealed a median CD4+ T lymphocyte count of 585 cells/muL (inter-quartile range 25-75% [IQR], 372-754), a CD8+ T lymphocyte count of 886 cells/muL (IQR, 553-1098), a viral load of 11,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL (IQR, 3,650-78,150), log10 of 4.04 (IQR 3.56-4.88). The identification of recent HIV infections is an extremely valuable way to evaluate the spread of the virus in a given population, especially when cohort studies, considered the gold standard method to evaluate incidence, are not available. This work demonstrated that establishing a network to identify such patients is a feasible task, even considering the difficulties in a large, resource-limited country or city.

OBJECTIVE: To assess by Doppler echocardiography the structural and functional alterations of rat heart with surgical induced extensive myocardial infarction. METHODS: Five weeks after surgical ligature of the left coronary artery, 38 Wistar-EPM rats of both sexes, 10 of them with extensive infarction, undergone anatomical and functional evaluation by Doppler echocardiography and then euthanized for anatomopathological analysis. RESULTS: Echocardiography was 100% sensible and specific to anatomopathological confirmed extensive miocardial infarction. Extensive infarction lead to dilatation of left ventricle (diastolic diameter: 0.89cm vs.0.64cm; systolic: 0.72cm vs. 0.33cm) and left atrium (0.55cm vs. 0.33cm); thinning of left ventricular anterior wall (systolic: 0.14cm vs. 0.23cm, diastolic: 0.11cm vs. 0.14cm); increased mitral E/ A wave relation (6.45 vs. 1.95). Signals of increased end diastolic ventricle pressure, B point in mitral valve tracing in 62.5% and signs of pulmonary hypertension straightening of pulmonary valve (90%) and notching of pulmonary systolic flow (60%) were observed in animals with extensive infarction. CONCLUSION: Doppler echocardiography has a high sensitivity and specificity for detection of chronic extensive infarction. Extensive infarction caused dilatation of left cardiac chambers and showed in Doppler signals of increased end diastolic left ventricular pressure and pulmonary artery pressure.

A cefaléia é sintoma de alta prevalência na população, sendo queixa freqüente na prática clínica. Cursa geralmente com exame físico geral e neurológico normais. A triagem de pacientes com cefaléia facilitaria o atendimento em centros médicos não especializados. No presente estudo utilizou-se um questionário baseado nos critérios da Sociedade Internacional de Cefaléias modificado pelos autores em 204 pacientes de ambulatório do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Metade destes pacientes foi submetida a consulta clínica. Os resultados do questionário foram então comparados com os resultados da consulta clínica (padrão-ouro). As cefaléias encontradas eram primárias (89,6%) na sua maioria. O questionário demonstrou sensibilidade de 90,2% para detecção das enxaquecas e especificidade de 57,9%, com coeficiente de comparação (kappa) de 0,47, e valor preditivo positivo (VPP) de 65,7% e um valor preditivo negativo (VPN) de 86,8 . A sensibilidade para detecção de cefaléia do tipotensional foi 60,8% e a especificidade foi 87,1% comkappa de 0,49, e VPP de 77,8% e VPN de 75,9. Concluímos que esse questionário pode ser utilizado como um método de triagem para o diagnóstico de cefaléias, podendo ser aplicado por pessoal não médico. Futuramente, ele poderá ser utilizado em estudos populacionais.

Headache is a common complaint with a high prevalence in ambulatory settings. The physical and neurological examinations are frequently normal. The use of questionnaires as a screening method for patients with primary headache could facilitate the diagnosis in non specialized medical centers. In the present study, we used a questionnaire , based on the IHS criteria and modified by the authors, applied to 204 patients from the outpatient clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Half of the patients were submitted to a clinical interview. We compared the results of the questionnaire with the results of the medical interview (gold standard). Most of the headaches we studied were primary headaches (89.6%). The questionnaire revealed a sensitivity of 90.2% and specificity of 57.9% for migraine detection with a chance corrected agreement {kappa) of 0.47 and a positive predictive (PPV) value of 65.7% and a negative predictive value (NPV) de 86.8%. The sensitivity for tension-type headache detection was 60.8% and the specificity 87.1 % with a kappa value of 0.49 and a PPV of 77.8% and a NPV of 75.9%. We conclude that this questionnaire can be used as a screening method for diagnosing headache and that it can be applied by non-medical personnel. This questionnaire could also be used for population studies.