RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar a sensibilidade, especificidade e os valores de pontos de corte do ROPScore, um escore baseado em fatores de risco cumulativos capaz de prever a ocorrência da retinopatia da prematuridade em prematuros de baixo peso no sul do Brasil. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo por meio de análise de prontuários de todos os prematuros com peso ao nascer ≤1500g e/ou idade gestacional ≤32 semanas selecionados para retinopatia da prematuridade em duas instituições brasileiras entre agosto de 2009 e dezembro de 2015. Resultados: O estudo incluiu 322 pacientes. A média do peso ao nascer foi de 1181,8 ± 292,5 gr e a idade gestacional média foi de 29,5 ± 2,3 semanas. A incidência de retinopatia da prematuridade em qualquer estágio e retinopatia da prematuridade grave foi de 68,3% e 17%, respectivamente. Os valores do ROPScore variaram de 8,7 a 19,9. O melhor ponto de corte para sensibilidade e especificidade foi estabelecido em 11 para retinopatia da prematuridade em qualquer estágio e 14,5 para retinopatia da prematuridade grave. Para retinopatia da prematuridade em qualquer estadiamento, o ROPScore apresentou sensibilidade de 98,6% (95%IC 97,9-99,3) e especificidade de 35,3% (95%IC 32,3-38,3), valor preditivo positivo (VPP) de 76,6% (95%IC 74,0-79,2) e valor preditivo negativo de 92,3% (IC95% 90,6-94,0). Para retinopatia da prematuridade grave, foi registrada sensibilidade de 100%, especificidade de 57,3% (95%IC 54,2-60,4), valor preditivo positivo de 22% (95%IC 19,4-24,6) e valor preditivo negativo de 100%. Os pontos de corte identificaram corretamente todos os pacientes que desenvolveram qualquer estágio ou retinopatia da prematuridade grave no estudo. Conclusão: O ROPScore foi importante para detectar pacientes prematuros com risco de retinopatia da prematuridade. Nesta população, o ROPScore detectou todos os pacientes em risco para qualquer retinopatia da prematuridade em estágio e retinopatia da prematuridade grave. Este estudo mostrou valores semelhantes aos descritos anteriormente, validando com sucesso a ROPScore para detecção precoce de retinopatia da prematuridade em prematuros de muito baixo peso.

ABSTRACT Purposes: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff points for the ROPScore, which is based on cumulative risk factors for the prediction of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), in a population of very low birth weight (BW) preterm infants in southern Brazil. Methods: The medical records of all preterm infants with a very low birth weight ≤1,500 g and/or gestational age ≤32 weeks screened for retinopathy of prematurity in two Brazilian institutions between August 2009 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. ROPScores were calculated using birth weight and gestational age, the use of oxygen therapy with mechanical ventilation, and weight gain proportional to birth weight, as measured at postpartum week six and the need for blood transfusions. Results: The study cohort included 322 infants with a mean birth weight of 1181.8 ± 292.5 g and mean gestational age of 29.5 ± 2.3 weeks. The incidences of any stage of retinopathy of prematurity and severe retinopathy of prematurity were 68.3% and 17%, respectively. ROPScore values ranged from 8.7 to 19.9. The best cutoff point for sensitivity and specificity was 11 for any stage of retinopathy of prematurity and 14.5 for severe retinopathy of prematurity. For any stage of retinopathy of prematurity, the sensitivity and specificity of the ROPScores were 98.6% (95% confidence interval = 97.9%-99.3%) and 35.3% (95% confidence interval= 32.3%-38.3%), with a positive predictive value of 76.6% (95% confidence interval= 74.0%-79.2%) and a negative predictive value of 92.3% (95% confidence interval= 90.6%-94.0%). For severe retinopathy of prematurity, the sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 57.3% (95% confidence interval= 54.2%-60.4%), with positive predictive value of 22% (95% confidence interval= 19.4%-24.6%) and negative predictive value of 100%. The cutoff points correctly identified all infants that developed severe retinopathy of prematurity in this cohort. Conclusions: The ROPScore was useful to identify preterm babies at risk for retinopathy of prematurity. In this population, the ROPScore detected all patients at risk for any stage retinopathy of prematurity and severe retinopathy of prematurity. The ROPScore values in this study were similar to those previously described, thereby successfully validating the ROPScore for early detection of retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight preterm infants.

Abstract Natural products, especially phytochemicals, have been extensively studies and have exhibited important antiproliferative effects. The American native species Urera baccifera (L.) Gaudich. ex Wedd. (Urticaceae) is widely distributed in Brazil, where it is known as urtiga-vermelha or urtigão. The leaves are popularly used as anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic and in the treatment of gastric disorders. However, the antiproliferative potential of this plant against human tumor cells remain to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative effects of U. baccifera leaves extracts and fractions against a panel of human tumor cell lines in vitro besides a chemical evaluation of the most active sample by mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MSn). The hydroalcoholic extract was inactive while dichloromethane extract showed moderate cytostatic activity against ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR-3, GI50 = 1.5 μg/mL). More, the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions did not show important activity against tumour cell while the dichloromethane and hexane fractions showed moderate cytostatic activity against ovarian tumor cell line (OVCAR-3, GI50 = 12.7 and 9.4 μg/mL, respectively). Finally, the chemical profile evaluated by mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MSn) allowed the detection of flavonoids in the HEU and hydroxylated fatty acid in DEU that can explain partially the biological effects observed. This is the first report of the antiproliferative effects of U. baccifera, and DEU has shown potential as a promising source of bioactive compounds.

Resumo: Variações ambientais locais e regionais levam à composição de espécies diferentes e áreas de transições. Um exemplo é a floresta com araucária e a floresta estacional no sul do Brasil. Nossos objetivos foram (1) descrever a composição e estrutura da comunidade arbórea de uma floresta subtropical no sul do Brasil e (2) comparar as relações florísticas entre duas tipologias florestais (Floresta com Araucária e Floresta Estacional) a fim de caracterizar a área de estudo e o padrão de distribuição de espécies arbóreas. Nós realizamos uma pesquisa na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó (no sul do Brasil) em uma área de 1.2 hectares, onde todos os indivíduos com circunferência à altura do peito ≥ 30 cm foram amostrados. A estrutura da comunidade foi descrita utilizando os parâmetros fitossociológicos tradicionais. Obtivemos as relações florísticas através da comparação dos nossos resultados com dados compilados de outros trabalhos científicos, através de análises de agrupamento (método de ligação de distância média não ponderada, UPGMA, baseado no coeficiente de similaridade de Jaccard). Foram amostrados 809 indivíduos pertencentes a 61 espécies e 28 famílias. A família mais rica foi Fabaceae e Coussarea contracta (Walp.) Müll.Arg. a espécie mais abundante. A diversidade taxonômica foi de 3.06 e a equabilidade foi de 0.74. A similaridade florística revelou que a composição de espécies da nossa área de estudo é mais similar a da floresta estacional. A composição de espécies está relacionada a fatores ambientais como a amplitude térmica e sazonalidade. Esta floresta subtropical é bem estruturada, altamente diversa e muito importante para a conservação da biodiversidade local e regional.

Abstract: Local and regional environmental variations lead to different species composition, creating transitional areas. An example is the Araucaria and Seasonal forest in southern Brazil. Our objectives were (1) to describe the tree community structure and composition of a subtropical forest in southern Brazil and (2) to compare the floristic relationships between two forest typologies (Araucaria and Seasonal forest) in order to characterize the study area and the distribution patterns of tree species. We conducted a survey at Chapecó National Forest (in southern Brazil) in an area of 1.2 ha, where all individuals ≥ 30 cm of circumference at breast height were sampled. Community structure was described using the traditional phytosociological parameters. The floristic relationships were obtained by comparing our results with compiled data from other scientific papers through cluster analyses using an unweighted average linkage method, based on Jaccard similarity coefficient. We sampled 809 individuals belonging to 61 species and 28 families. The richest family was Fabaceae and Coussarea contracta (Walp.) Müll.Arg. was the most abundant species. Taxonomic diversity was 3.06 and the evenness was 0.74. The floristic similarity revealed that species composition of our study area is more similar to Seasonal forest. Species composition is related to environmental factors such as great thermal amplitude and seasonality. This subtropical forest is well structured, highly diverse and extremely important for the local and regional biodiversity conservation.

ABSTRACT Plants are considered among the main sources of biologically active chemicals. The species Solidago chilensis Meyen, Asteraceae, is native to the southern parts of South America, where the aerial parts of the plant are commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. However, the effects of S. chilensis on human cancer cells remain to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative effects of the hydroalcoholic and dichloromethane extracts of S. chilensis, as well as their chemical constituents quercitrin and solidagenone against the five human tumor cell lines in vitro. The dichloromethane extract showed a promisor antiproliferative effects in vitro, especially against glioma cell line. Besides, the hydroalcoholic extract and quercitrin were inactive. The diterpene solidagenone showed highly potent antiproliferative effects against breast (MCF-7), kidney (786-0), and prostate cancer (PC-3) cells (total growth inhibition: TGI < 6.25 µg/ml). Solidagenone meets the theoretical physico-chemical criteria for bioavailability of drugs, according to the "Rule of Five" and, by theorical studies, the observed biological effects were probably related to the interaction of the molecule with nuclear receptors and as an enzymatic inhibitor. This study contributes to chemical study and to the identification of antiproliferative molecules in S. chilensis.