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BACKGROUND/AIMS: to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. METHODS: fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patient's clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. RESULTS: the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. CONCLUSION: we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Introducción/Objetivos: examinar la relación entre los potenciales antioxidantes y los parámetros de gravedad de la cirrosis en los seres humanos. Métodos: quince pacientes con cirrosis hepática (nueve sujetos - grupo Child B, y seis sujetos - grupo Child C) y nueve sujetos control fueron incluidos en el estudio. Los principales criterios que se tuvieron en cuenta para caracterizar el diagnóstico de la cirrosis y sus complicaciones fueron la AST: relación de ALT, AST índice de la relación de plaquetas, clasificación Bonacini, clasificación MELD y clasificación de Child. Estos parámetros fueron determinados con base en los resultados de laboratorio y los registros clínicos del paciente. Se midieron los niveles de Zn, ácido ascórbico (AA) y los parámetros de estrés oxidativo en muestras de sangre de pacientes cirróticos. Resultados: el análisis de los niveles plasmáticos de Se y AA mostraron bajas concentraciones en los pacientes cirróticos en comparación con los sujetos control (P < 0,05); sin embargo, hubo una correlación positiva entre el plasma de Se y los parámetros de gravedad de la cirrosis en pacientes del grupo Child B y C. En la actividad de las enzimas antioxidantes catalasa solamente fue menor en los pacientes del grupo Child C, en comparación con el grupo control. Conclusión: se encontraron niveles bajos en plasma de Se y AA en pacientes cirróticos. Sin embargo, no está claro por qué los niveles de selenio tienden a aumentar con la gravedad de la cirrosis hepática.

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Background/Aims: to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. Methods: fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patient’s clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. Results: the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. Conclusion: we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis (AU)

Introducción/Objetivos: examinar la relación entre los potenciales antioxidantes y los parámetros de gravedad de la cirrosis en los seres humanos. Métodos: quince pacientes con cirrosis hepática (nueve sujetos - grupo Child B, y seis sujetos - grupo Child C) y nueve sujetos control fueron incluidos en el estudio. Los principales criterios que se tuvieron en cuenta para caracterizar el diagnóstico de la cirrosis y sus complicaciones fueron la AST: relación de ALT, AST índice de la relación de plaquetas, clasificación Bonacini, clasificación MELD y clasificación de Child. Estos parámetros fueron determinados con base en los resultados de laboratorio y los registros clínicos del paciente. Se midieron los niveles de Zn, ácido ascórbico (AA) y los parámetros de estrés oxidativo en muestras de sangre de pacientes cirróticos. Resultados: el análisis de los niveles plasmáticos de Se y AA mostraron bajas concentraciones en los pacientes cirróticos en comparación con los sujetos control (P < 0,05); sin embargo, hubo una correlación positiva entre el plasma de Se y los parámetros de gravedad de la cirrosis en pacientes del grupo Child B y C. En la actividad de las enzimas antioxidantes catalasa solamente fue menor en los pacientes del grupo Child C, en comparación con el grupo control. Conclusión: se encontraron niveles bajos en plasma de Se y AA en pacientes cirróticos. Sin embargo, no está claro por qué los niveles de selenio tienden a aumentar con la gravedad de la cirrosis hepática (AU)

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Background/Aim. The use of herbal products as a supplement to minimize the effects of chemotherapy for cancer treatment requires further attention with respect to the activity and toxicity of chemotherapy. Uncaria tomentosa extract, which contains oxindole alkaloids, is one of these herbal products. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether Uncaria tomentosa extract modulates apoptosis induced by chemotherapy exposure. Materials and Methods. Colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29 cells) were grown in the presence of oxaliplatin and/or Uncaria tomentosa extract. Results. The hydroalcoholic extract of Uncaria tomentosa enhanced chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, with an increase in the percentage of Annexin positive cells, an increase in caspase activities, and an increase of DNA fragments in culture of the neoplastic cells. Moreover, antioxidant activity may be related to apoptosis. Conclusion. Uncaria tomentosa extract has a role for cancer patients as a complementary therapy. Further studies evaluating these beneficial effects with other chemotherapy drugs are recommended.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of Brazil nuts on the inflammatory markers of healthy individuals. METHOD: A randomized crossover study was conducted with 10 healthy individuals (mean age 24.7 ± 3.4 y). Each individual was tested four times regarding intake of different portions of Brazil nuts: 0, 5, 20 and 50 g. At each testing period, peripheral blood was collected before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 h after intake of nuts, as well as at 5 and 30 d after intake of various Brazil nut portions. Blood samples were tested for high-sensitivity to C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea, and creatinine. RESULTS: Consumption of nuts did not affect biochemical parameters for liver and kidney function, indicating absence of hepatic and renal toxicity. A single intake of Brazil nuts (20 or 50 g) caused a significant decrease in serum IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05), whereas serum levels of IL-10 were significantly increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a long-term decrease in inflammatory markers after a single intake of large portions of Brazil nuts in healthy volunteers. Therefore, the long-term effect of regular Brazil nut consumption on inflammatory markers should be better investigated.

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The objective of this study was to investigate δ-aminolevulinic acid (δ-ALA-D) activity and metabolic parameters of Cyprinus carpio exposed to clomazone herbicide. Fish were exposed 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg L(-1) of clomazone for 192 h. Results indicated that δ-ALA-D activity was decreased in the gills at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg L(-1). Liver glycogen increased, while muscle and gill glycogen levels decreased at 5, 10 and 20 mg L(-1). Glucose was increased in the gills and plasma. Lactate decreased in the gills and liver and increased in the muscle. Protein and amino acids levels increased in the liver and gills and decreased in the muscle. At a clomazone concentration of 20 mg L(-1), ammonia increased in the gills and muscle and decreased in the liver. The results indicated that the metabolic parameters of glycogen, lactate, protein and amino acids in liver, muscle and gills, blood glucose levels, and the enzyme δ-ALA-D in gills may be useful indicators of clomazone toxicity in carp.

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Background. This study investigates the effects of Brazil nut ingestion on serum lipid profile in healthy volunteers. Methods. Ten healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Each subject was tested 4 times in a randomized crossover in relation to the ingestion of different serving sizes of the Brazil nut: 0, 5, 20, or 50 g. At each treatment point, peripheral blood was drawn before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 hours and 5 and 30 days. Blood samples were tested for total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c, resp.), triglycerides, selenium, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT, urea, creatinine, and C-reactive protein. Results. A significant increase of the plasma selenium levels was observed at 6 hours within the groups receiving the nuts. Serum LDL-c was significantly lower, whereas HDL-c was significantly higher 9 hours after the ingestion of 20 or 50 g of nuts. The biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function were not modified by ingestion of nuts. Conclusions. This study shows that the ingestion of a single serving of Brazil nut can acutely improve the serum lipid profile of healthy volunteers.

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Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasm affecting women worldwide. Some of the recommended treatments involve chemotherapy whose toxic effects include leukopenia and neutropenia. This study assessed the effectiveness of Uncaria tomentosa (Ut) in reducing the adverse effects of chemotherapy through a randomized clinical trial. Patients with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma-Stage II, who underwent a treatment regimen known as FAC (Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide), were divided into two groups: the UtCa received chemotherapy plus 300 mg dry Ut extract per day and the Ca group that only received chemotherapy and served as the control experiment. Blood samples were collected before each one of the six chemotherapy cycles and blood counts, immunological parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative stress were analyzed. Uncaria tomentosa reduced the neutropenia caused by chemotherapy and was also able to restore cellular DNA damage. We concluded that Ut is an effective adjuvant treatment for breast cancer.

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Methods for the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human lung mononuclear cells (LMCs) have been proposed previously. This study describes a method that allows the separation of lymphocyte-rich LMCs from rats. Trypan blue was applied to determine cell viability. White blood cell and differential cell counts were also performed. Relationships between nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase, EC 3.6.1.5) activities expressed in milligrams of protein, millions of cells, and millions of viable cells were examined as linear correlations. The lung tissue yielded 82.46% lymphocytes, 8.6% macrophages, 2.20% monocytes, and 1.27% polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). In LMCs, a very strong correlation was observed as follows: between NTPDase activity, as determined using ATP or ADP as a substrate, expressed in milligrams of protein and that expressed in millions of cells (r ≥ 0.91), between that expressed in milligrams of protein and that expressed in millions of viable cells (r ≥ 0.91), and between that expressed in millions of cells and that expressed in millions of viable cells (r ≥ 0.98). Based on our results, we affirm that NTPDase activity could be expressed in millions of viable cells, millions of cells, or milligrams of protein.

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Fe (II) is a potential prooxidant in vivo and can induce cellular oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a powerful physiological antioxidant and, in the presence of free Fe (II), can exhibit prooxidant effects in vitro. However, in vivo prooxidant effects of Fe (II) and AA have not yet been indisputably demonstrated. Here we evaluate the potential toxic effect of supplementation of Fe (II) associated with AA. Nine healthy, nonsmoking male volunteers (20-31 years old) participated in the crossover study design. The volunteers were supplemented with either a dose of 2 g of AA, 150 mg of iron carbonyl or 2 g of AA plus 150 mg of iron carbonyl with a washout period of 15 days between each treatment. AA, iron, ferritin, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, catalase, delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase and SH thiol groups were measured in the blood of the volunteers. Plasma AA levels were increased at 2, 5 and 24 h after AA or AA plus iron ingestion. Plasma Fe levels were increased at 2 and 5 h in the AA plus iron group. Erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels decreased at 5 and 24 h after AA and 5 h after AA plus iron ingestion. Catalase activity from erythrocytes was increased 5 h after supplementation with AA plus iron. There was no significant difference between groups in the other biochemical parameters evaluated. Thus, the present study does not support the hypothesis that the combination of high plasma concentrations of AA and iron, or iron alone, could cause in vivo oxidative damage after a single supplementation dose.

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Sabe-se que a abordagem na assistência à saúde da criança é centrada na patologia, no sujeito ou no sujeito e sua família. Com o objetivo de identificar qual a percepção dos profissionais e voluntários sobre a abordagem de assistência à criança hospitalizada no Serviço de Hemato/Oncologia do HUSM, elaborou-se um questionário com 33 questões fechadas e 16 questões abertas, que foi enviado aos funcionários e voluntários que atuam no referido serviço, tendo sido garantido o anonimato. Foram devolvidos 54 questionários dos 120 enviados. Para análise das informações utilizou-se o modelo Processo-Pessoa-Contexto combinado com Cronossistema, da Teoria dos Sistemas Ecológicos de Bronfenbrenner. Com relação ao contexto, as respostas foram categorizadas de acordo com os parâmetros do contexto (microsistema, mesosistema, macrosistema) e considerando o modelo de Cronossistema propomos a análise nos tempos: no diagnóstico, durante o tratamento e após alta do tratamento. Verificou-se que o modelo de assistência à criança empregado tem uma tendência a ser centrado na criança e família, pois 47 por cento dos consultados informam que sua atividade profissional está direcionada à criança e sua família; 36 por cento referem-se que seu foco de atenção é a criança e apenas 6 por cento referem-se que sua assistência é centrada na patologia.

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Foram submetidas ao teste de Kleihauer-Braun-Betke, no período pós-parto e pós-aborto, 25 (vinte e cinco) mulheres Rh-negativo com a variante D(u) negativa, visando calcular a quantidade de imunoglobulina a ser administrada. A operaçao cesariana foi a forma de parto na qual se encontrou a maior quantidade de células fetais na circulaçao materna. Apenas uma terça parte (33,3 por cento) das pacientes recebeu imunoglobulina anti-Rh após gestaçao anterior. Salienta-se, por fim, a importância do teste de Kleihauer-Braun-Betke, assim como a necessidade de uma maior consciência sobre a profilaxia da sensibilizaçao materna pelo fator Rh.

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Foram submetidas ao teste de Kleihauer-Brown-Betke no período pós-parto e pós-aborto 27 mulheres Rh-negativo co a variante D negativa, visando calcular a quantidade de imunoglobulina a ser administrada. A operaçäo cesariana foi a forma de parto na qual encontrou-se a maior quantidade de células fetais na circulaçäo materna. Apenas uma terça parte (33,3 por cento) das pacientes recebeu imunoglobulina anti-RH após gestaçäo anterior. Salienta-se, por fim, a importância do teste de Kleihauer-Brown-Betke, assim como a necessidade de uma maior consciência sobre profilaxia da sensibilizaçäo materna pelo fator Rh.

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