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OBJECTIVE: Our poor understanding of how inflammatory mediators can affect osteoblast behavior led us to investigate the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α-induced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src phosphorylation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells were harvested at specific time points after either TNFα treatment or RAW267 stimulated conditioned medium, and thereafter cell extracts were prepared for Immunoblotting assay. ELISA detected TNFα content at conditioned medium. Tumor necrosis factor-α-neutralizing antibodies also were used. RESULTS: It was possible to show that TNFα provokes attenuation at Y-phosphorylation of both FAK (at Y397 ) and Src (at Y416 ) proteins (P < 0.05), suggesting a decrease in their activities. The very similar profile was observed when osteoblasts were incubated with conditioned medium from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, it being significantly different than control (FAK and Src, P < 0.05). Nevertheless, in order to validate these findings, we decided to pre-incubate osteoblasts with anti-TNFα neutralizing antibody (2 µg ml(-1) ) prior exposing to conditioned medium. Importantly, our results revealed that there was a diminution on those conditioned medium effects when the same biological parameters were evaluated (P < 0.05). Moreover, we also showed that TNFα impairs osteoblast adhesion, suggesting an interesting role on osteoblast performance. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these results suggest that LPS-stimulated macrophage mediators attenuate both FAK and Src activations in osteoblast, suggesting a novel role for TNFα on osteoblast performance.

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Nas pesquisas com fitoterápicos o uso popular pode sugerir espécies potencialmente importantes, porém, faz-se necessário uma série de estudos, entre eles, a identificação de espécies com comprovada ação farmacológica e/ou substâncias biologicamente ativas. O uso de fármacos fitoterápicos na prática clínica, tratamento e prevenção de afecções de menor severidade vêm sendo reconhecido pelo SUS ultimamente. Apesar da utilização de plantas medicinais na odontologia ser ainda pouco explorada, existe pesquisa científica sobre os efeitos antimicrobiano, analgésico e antinflamatório de algumas espécies, entre elas: óleo de copaíba, extrato de romã, cravo da Índia, malva, tanchagem, amoreira, sálvia, e camomila. Nesta revisão o objetivo foi reunir informação sobre o potencial da aroeira-do-sertão (M. urundeuva All), planta utilizada na medicina tradicional nordestina e em alguns países da América do Sul, como fitoterápico na odontologia. Os extratos de aroeira são obtidos através do preparo das folhas, raízes, entrecasca e casca do tronco e galhos. Da casca de M. urundeuva já foram isoladas: chalconas diméricas: urundeuvina A, B, C, e matosina. Encontramos pesquisas sobre os seguintes efeitos da aroeira-do-sertão: ação antimicrobiana; antiinflamatória/cicatrizante no tratamento de ferimentos; gastrites; úlceras gástricas; cervicites; vaginites e hemorróidas. A aroeira conta com bons resultados em pesquisas que avaliaram o controle de microorganismo relacionado à patologias bucais, tal como S. mutans. No entanto, necessita-se de estudos para comprovar seu mecanismo de ação e definir condições seguras para seu uso em patologias específicas.

With regards to the studies of phytotherapeutic medicines, their popular use proves to be potentially important; however, a series of studies are necessary focusing on the identification of the species that have proven pharmacological action and/or biologically active components. The use of phytotherapy medicines in the clinical practice, treatment and prevention of less severe disorders is being recently recognized by the Brazilian SUS. Particularly in dentistry, the use of medicinal plants is still underexplored. However, some studies were conducted with plants of popular medicine use, such as: copaiba oil, pomegranate extract, clove, malva, plantain, mulberry, sage and chamomile, among others, in the search for antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities. Some of these qualities were later proven in scientific studies. In this review, we aimed to highlight the potential of the "aroeira-do-sertão" tree (M. urundeuva All), which is a plant utilized in traditional medicine in the Northeast region of Brazil and in some South America countries, as a phytotherapeutic medicine in dentistry. The extracts of the "aroeira-do-sertão" tree are acquired through the preparation of the leaves, roots and bark of the trunk and branches. The dimeric chalcones, urundeuvina A, B, C and matosine were isolated in the M. urundeuva bark. Some published studies have investigated the effects of the "aroeira-do-sertão" such as; antimicrobial action, anti-inflammatory action, healing in the treatment of wounds, gastritis, gastric ulcers, cervicitis, vaginitis, and hemorrhoids. In this regard, the "aroeira-do-sertão" has shown good results in studies involving the control of microorganism related to oral conditions, such as S. mutans. However, further studies are needed to confirm its mechanism of action and establish safe conditions for its use in specific situations (i.e. diseases).

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ABSTRACT This study was carried out in order to compare the effectiveness of liquid and powder preparations of the fungusBeauveria bassiana, and to verify the potential effects of soil type and poultry farm bedding on the fungus, under laboratory conditions. The powder proved more effective than the liquid formulation, causing a confirmed larval mortality of 83.3% and a confirmed adult mortality of 33.4%, against 18.7 and 12%, respectively, for larvae and adults. LC50 values of 2.41 x 107 and 5.33 x 107 conidia/g, and LT50 values of 4.7 and 5.3 days were obtained with the powder preparation for larvae and adults, respectively. When in contact with the poultry farm soil, the fungus had its effectiveness reduced by about 40% compared to the hillside soil treatment, and no differences in larval mortality were observed between fresh and soiled bedding. Adult mortality was low in the soil combined with either fresh (11.5%) or soiled bedding (25%), as was larval mortality in the application of the fungus over (58.7%) or below (38.7%) the fresh bedding. It was verified that an increased contact time of the insects with the substrates tended to decrease mortality by about 12 times, regardless of substrate.

RESUMO O trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de comparar a eficiência de preparações líquida e em pó do fungo Beauveria bassiana e também verificar quais efeitos que o tipo de solo e cama de aviário podem causar sobre o fungo, em condições de laboratório. A formulação em pó mostrouse mais eficiente que a líquida, causando mortalidade confirmada de larvas de 83,3 e de 33,4% de adultos, contra 18,7 e 12%, respectivamente para larvas e adultos. A CL50 da preparação em pó foi de 2,41 x 107 e 5,33 x 107 conídios/g e TL50 de 4,7 e 5,3 dias para larvas e adultos, respectivamente. O fungo em contato com o solo de aviário teve sua eficiência reduzida em cerca de 40% em relação ao tratamento com solo de barranco, e a mortalidade de larvas não diferiu quando se utilizou cama nova ou usada. A mortalidade de adultos foi baixa tanto para solo combinado à cama nova (11,5%) quanto usada (25%), bem como a mortalidade de larvas na aplicação do fungo sobre (58,7%) e abaixo (38,7%) da cama nova. Constatou-se que o aumento do tempo de contato dos insetos com os substratos tende a diminuir a mortalidade em cerca de 12 vezes, independente do substrato.

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The main viruses involved in acute respiratory diseases among children are: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenzavirus (FLU), parainfluenzavirus (PIV), adenovirus (AdV), human rhinovirus (HRV), and the human metapneumovirus (hMPV). The purpose of the present study was to identify respiratory viruses that affected children younger than five years old in Uberlândia, Midwestern Brazil. Nasopharyngeal aspirates from 379 children attended at Hospital de Clínicas (HC/UFU), from 2001 to 2004, with acute respiratory disease, were collected and tested by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect RSV, FLU A and B, PIV 1, 2, and 3 and AdV, and RT-PCR to detect HRV. RSV was detected in 26.4 percent (100/379) of samples, FLU A and B in 9.5 percent (36/379), PIV 1, 2 and 3 in 6.3 percent (24/379) and AdV in 3.7 percent (14/379). HRV were detected in 29.6 percent (112/379) of the negative and indeterminate samples tested by IFI. RSV, particularly among children less than six months of life, and HRV cases showed highest incidence. Negative samples by both IFA and RT-PCR might reflect the presence of other pathogens, such as hMPV, coronavirus, and bacteria. Laboratorial diagnosis constituted an essential instrument to determine the incidence of the most common viruses in respiratory infections among children in this region.

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Os cursos de especializacao em Saude Publica atualmente existentes entre nos, com seu formato diferencial de curta duracao e alta abrangencia, constituem uma realidade recente em nosso pais, contando com pouco mais de dez anos. No Distrito Federal, realizaram-se nove deles, dos quais seis com a atuacao diretiva e docente dos autores. Com vistas a incorporar tal experiencia acumulada como contribuicao para com futuras iniciativas a respeito, apresentam-se os resultados obtidos com avaliacao terminal procedida em um deles, executada segundo o modelo atualmente recomendado pela Escola Nacional de Saude Publica. Foi ela aplicada em amostra randomica de alunos, docentes e coordenadores, na busca de identificacao de apreciacoes positivas e negativas, sobretudo dos aspectos operacional, administrativo, metodologico e institucional do mesmo. Em meio a percepcoes e formulacoes heterogeneas e pluralistas, obtiveram maiores frequencias em suas respectivas distribuicoes, por um lado, a adequacao do trabalho de campo, baseado na utilizacao de quatro regionais, acompanhadas pelos alunos apos cada area tematica e, por outro, a preocupacao para com a fragilidade de decisao institucional quanto a oferta e manuntencao do curso, bem como quanto ao aproveitamento dos egressos para a consolidacao do sistema de saude do Distrito Federal. Tais aspectos merecem, ao final, destacada discussao.

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