This study evaluated the safety of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. (Lythraceae) stem bark hydroalcoholic extract (LPE) through acute and subchronic toxicological assessments in mice. In the acute toxicity evaluation, a single 2000 mg/kg oral dose of LPE was administered to mice and clinical observations were conducted for 14 days. For subchronic toxicity, LPE doses (6.25-1000 mg/kg) were administered orally for 28 days and biochemical, hematological, histopathological analyses and renal and liver expression of Ki-67 were carried out. The acute oral toxicity evaluation of LPE showed no toxicity in mice and it was was classified as category 5 (LD50>2000-5000 mg/kg). In a repeated dose 28-day toxicity study, LPE (100-1000 mg/kg) led to an increase in reticulocytes, which suggests a possible proliferative effect on blood cells. In addition, LPE (400-1000 mg/kg) of produced alterations in biochemical parameters, although no microscopic changes were found in the organs analyzed. A normal expression of the Ki-67 cell proliferation indicator was observed in the kidney and liver tissues, which suggests that LPE does not bring about changes in the proliferative activity of these organs. In conclusion, LPE should be used with caution, particularly in larger doses over longer periods and also in combination with other medication.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the antifungal activity and cytotoxicity profile of the ellagitannin punicalagin, a compound extracted from the L. pacari A. St.-Hil (Lythraceae) leaf, against Cryptococcus neoformans species complex. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were checked using the broth microdilution method. Minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) and time of death were used to confirm the antifungal activity of the compound. The in vitro cytotoxicity of punicalagin was tested in BALB/c3T3 fibroblasts and A549 human lung cancer cell line, while the hemolytic potential was tested on sheep erythrocytes. The morphological changes induced in yeast strains by the presence of punicalagin were also analyzed. Tested on eight isolates of the C. neoformans complex punicalagin showed MIC of 0.5 to 4.0 μg/mL and MFC> 256 μg/mL. Punicalagin also demonstrated a good growth inhibitory activity in time-kill curves, but it was not able to achieve a statistically significant reduction of fungal growth suggesting a fungistatic effect of the compound. In vitro cytotoxicity studies using the two cell lines showed that punicalagin has low activity on these cells and no activity on sheep erythrocytes. Morphological changes were seen in the yeasts strains studied when treated with punicalagin. Therefore, punicalagin is a potential antifungal for important pathogenic yeasts and presents a low cytotoxicity profile associated with no hemolytic effects.

Introdução: Como a obesidade é atualmente um grande problema de saúde pública, a cirurgia bariátrica tem sido amplamente indicada devido às dificuldades envolvidas no manejo clínico de adultos obesos. Objetivos: Avaliar a qualidade de vida (QDV) de pacientes submetidos ao Desvio Gástrico em Y-de-Roux (DGYR) no Estado de Goiás, Brasil, onde ainda não há estudos sobre a QDV de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica. Métodos: Um estudo retrospectivo, utilizando o Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS), foi realizado em Goiânia e Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil, com 50 pacientes com idade superior a 18 anos, de ambos os gêneros, que realizaram DGYR com tempo pós-operatório mínimo de três meses. Resultados: Antes da DGYR, 48% dos indivíduos foram classificados como obesos mórbidos. A média de peso e índice de massa corporal (IMC) dos 50 pacientes entrevistados foram 119,37±18,44Kg e 43,54±5,33Kg/m², respectivamente. Em contrapartida, após a DGYR, esses parâmetros diminuíram significativamente para 78,01±11,06 kg e 28,46±3,61 kg/m², respectivamente, principalmente do 3◦ ao 85◦ mês de tempo pós-operatório (p < 0.0001). Além disso, 78% reportaram tendo apresentado comorbidades pré-operatórias, especialmente hipertensão (44%), reumatismo (34%), dislipidemia (24%) e diabetes (20%). Entretanto, após a cirurgia, as taxas de resolução foram de 77, 24, 100 e 100%, respectivamente, para essas mesmas condições clínicas. Em termos de QDV, alguns pacientes relataram se sentir melhor (8%) ou muito melhor (92%) após a DGYB. O resultado do método BAROS para esses pacientes foi classificado como insuficiente (2%), bom (8%), muito bom (24%) e excelente (66%). Conclusões: Resultados preliminares indicaram que a DGYB pode ser um procedimento cirúrgico para promover com sucesso a redução satisfatória e sustentada nas medidas corporais de pacientes com obesidade mórbida provenientes de Goiás, Brasil. Além disso, a pontuação final do BAROS mostrou melhorias das comorbidades associadas e também na QDV desses pacientes.

Introduction: As obesity is currently a major public health problem, bariatric surgery has been widely indicated due to the difficulties involved in the clinical management of obese adults. Objectives: Assess the quality-of-life (QOL) of patients who had undergone Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) in the State of Goiás, Brazil, where as yet no studies have been published on the QOL of patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Methods: A retrospective study, using the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS), was carried out in Goiânia and Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil, with 50 over 18-year-old patients of both genders, who had undergone RYGB and had at least three months of postoperative time. Results: Before RYGB, 48% of the individuals were classified as morbidly obese. Average weight and body mass index (BMI) of the 50 patients interviewed were 119.37±18.44 kg and 43.54±5.33 kg/m², respectively. By contrast, after the RYGB these parameters decreased significantly to 78.01±11.06 kg and 28.46±3.61 kg/m², respectively, mainly from the 3rd to 85th month of postoperative time (p < 0.0001). As well as that, 78% reported having presented preoperative comorbidities, especially hypertension (44%), rheumatism (34%), dyslipidemia (24%) and diabetes (20%). However, after surgery, the resolution rates were 77, 24, 100 and 100%, respectively, for these same clinical conditions. In terms of QOL, some patients reported feeling better (8%) or much better (92%) after RYGB. The outcome of the BAROS method for those patients was classified as fair (2%), good (8%), very good (24%) and excellent (66%). Conclusions: Preliminary results indicated that RYGB could be a successful surgical procedure to promote satisfactory and sustained reduction in the body measurements of morbidly obese patients from Goiás, Brazil. Furthermore, the final BAROS score showed improvements in associated comorbidity and also in the QOL of these patients.

Este estudo investigou os efeitos quimioprotetores do extrato alcoólico dos frutos da Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) (EPG) em camundongos expostos ao cromo hexavalente [Cr(VI)]. Os animais foram pré-tratados com o EPG (25, 50 ou 75 mg/kg/dia) durante 10 dias e subsequentemente expostos a uma dose subletal de Cr(VI) (30 mg/kg). A frequência de eritrócitos policromáticos micronucleados na medula óssea foi investigada e os níveis de Cr(VI) foram quantificados nos rins, fígado e plasma. Para a análise de sobrevida, os camundongos foram previamente tratados com EPG durante 10 dias e expostos a única dose letal de Cr(VI) (50 mg/kg). A exposição à dose subletal de Cr(VI) induziu aumento significativo na frequência de células micronucleadas. Entretanto, o tratamento profilático com EPG levou à redução de 44,5% (25 mg/kg), 86,3% (50 mg/kg) e 64,2% (75 mg/kg) na incidência de micronúcleo. Além disso, a dose de 50 mg/kg de EPG produziu maior efeito quimioprotetor, uma vez que a taxa de sobrevivência foi de 90%, quando comparada àquela do grupo não tratado. Nesses animais, quantidades reduzidas de cromo foram detectadas nos materiais biológicos, em comparação com os outros grupos. Em conjunto, os resultados demonstram que o EPG exerce efeito protetor contra a genotoxicidade induzida pelo Cr(VI).

This study investigated the chemoprotective effects of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) fruits alcoholic extract (PGE) on mice exposed to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. Animals were pretreated with PGE (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg/day) for 10 days and subsequently exposed to a sub-lethal dose of Cr(VI) (30 mg/kg). The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow was investigated and the Cr(VI) levels were measured in the kidneys, liver and plasm. For the survival analysis, mice were previously treated with PGE for 10 days and exposed to a single lethal dose of Cr(VI) (50 mg/kg). Exposure to a sub-lethal dose of Cr(VI) induced a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells. However, the prophylactic treatment with PGE led to a reduction of 44.5% (25 mg/kg), 86.3% (50 mg/kg) and 64.2% (75 mg/kg) in the incidence of micronuclei. In addition, the 50 mg/kg dose of PGE produced a higher chemoprotective effect, since the survival rate was 90%, when compared to that of the non-treated group. In these animals, reduced amounts of chromium were detected in the biological materials, in comparison with the other groups. Taken together, the results demonstrated that PGE exerts a protective effect against Cr(VI)-induced genotoxicity.