Abstract Cancer is considered the leading cause of death worldwide, and the number of new cases is expected to rise over the next few years. In this context, plant materials are increasingly studied in the search for substances to prevent and/or treat this disease. In this work, the cytotoxic activity of extracts from plants and friable calluses of five Brazilian peanut cultivars (IAC 886, IAC Caiapó, IAC Tatu ST, IAC 8112 and BR-1) against a leukemic cell line (K562) was compared. Inhibition of K562 cells viability (79.8%) was significantly higher in response to extracts from calluses of cultivar IAC 886 as compared to extracts of aerial parts of in vivo and in vitro plants from the same cultivar. Callus extracts displayed low toxicity on non-tumor cells (NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Trans-resveratrol was found in extracts from aerial parts of cultivar IAC Tatu ST and from calluses of cultivar IAC 886. In addition, three compounds with UV spectrum compatible with phenolic compounds were detected in the samples. Calluses from cultivar IAC 886 displayed higher relative contents of these compounds, which can be contributing to their cytotoxic activity.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar espécies de Leishmania em amostras de caninos e felinos, utilizando-se a reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR)- polimorfismo de comprimento de fragmento de restrição (RFLP). O estudo foi realizado na região de fronteira no sul do Brasil, divisa com Argentina e Uruguai. Amostras foram coletadas de 116 cães (Canis lupus familiaris) e 89 gatos (Felis catus). A PCR foi realizada com o gene alvo do fragmento LT1 do DNA do cinetoplasto (kDNA) para triagem e, as amostras positivas foram submetidas a uma segunda PCR com alvo ITS1 no DNA ribossomal (rDNA). O RFLP foi realizado com a endonuclease de restrição Haemophilus aegyptius (HAE III) (Fermentas ®). As sequências positivas no PCR-ITS1 foram depositadas no NCBI GenBank, além disso, a análise filogenética foi realizada. Foram detectadas 12,9% (15/116) amostras positivas em cães. Das 89 amostras de gatos todas foram negativas. Cepas de referência de Leishmania, com padrões diferentes na PCR-RFLP, e amostras positivas apresentaram similaridade das bandas com as espécies padrão de Leishmania infantum, o que foi comprovado no sequenciamento e análise filogenética. A técnica de RFLP, sozinha, demonstrou viabilidade para a aplicação prática e a confirmação das espécies de Leishmania spp. envolvidas.

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize Leishmania spp. from canine and feline samples using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). It was conducted in the southern region of Brazil, located at border crossings to Argentina and Uruguay. Samples were collected from 116 dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and 89 cats (Felis catus). The PCR was performed to screen for an LT1 fragment from kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) target gene, and positive samples were subjected to a second PCR for an internal transcribed spacers (ITS1) region from ribosomal DNA (rDNA) target. RFLP was performed using the Haemophilus aegyptius (HAE III) restriction endonuclease (Fermentas ®). Positive samples by PCR ITS1 were sequenced and deposited in NCBI GenBank, and a phylogenetic analysis was developed. We found that 12.9% (15/116) of the samples from dogs were positive. All the 89 cat samples were negative. Positive samples were tested against Leishmania reference strains presenting different patterns in PCR-RFLP, and these samples showed bands denoting similarity to the standard species of Leishmania infantum, proven through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The RFLP technique, alone, was shown to be feasible for practical application and confirmation of the involved Leishmania spp.

Abstract Passiflora species are well known for their common use in popular medicine for the treatment of several diseases, such as insomnia, anxiety, and hysteria, in addition to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and antibacterial potential. However, few data about the chemical composition and the medicinal potential of in vitro derived materials are available. Therefore, the goal of this work was to compare, for the first time, the phytoconstituents of in vitro derived materials of four Passiflora species, and evaluate the antibacterial potential of their extracts against 20 Gram-positive and negative strains. Chromatographic analysis indicated the presence of saponins in roots extracts from all studied species, whereas leaf extracts presented both saponins and flavonoids. Extracts from leaves and roots of P. alata and P. foetida exhibited a selective inhibitory activity against B. thuringiensis and S. pyogenes, which might be related to the presence of a high concentration of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and saponins.

A hemorragia perirrenal espontânea apresenta-se mais comumente como dor súbita no flanco ipsilateral, sem história de trauma. A doença renal cística adquirida é um achado frequente em pacientes sob tratamento hemodialítico crônico. Entretanto, a hemorragia espontânea proveniente da ruptura dos cistos é uma entidade clínica rara. Descrevemos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, 45 anos, portadora de hipertensão arterial sistêmica controlada há 8 anos, de insuficiência renal crônica por 15 anos e de nefrite lúpica há 2 anos, em tratamento hemodialítico três vezes por semana desde 2006, e que apresentava concomitantemente doença renal cística adquirida. Foi admitida no setor de emergência queixando-se de aparecimento súbito de dor em região toracoabdominal esquerda. Diagnosticou-se hematoma perirrenal por meio de ultrassonografia e tomografia computadorizada de abdômen. A paciente foi submetida à embolização da artéria renal esquerda, com boa evolução.

The spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage usually presents as sudden pain in the side ipsilateral, no history of trauma. Acquired cystic kidney disease is a common finding in chronic hemodialysis patients. However, spontaneous bleeding from the rupture of the cyst is a rare clinical entity. We describe the case of a female patient, 45 years old, with controlled hypertension for 8 years, chronic renal failure for 15 years and lupus nephritis 2 years ago, undergoing hemodialysis three times a week since 2006, and who presented concurrently acquired cystic kidney disease. She was admitted to the emergency department complaining of sudden onset of pain in the thoraco-abdominal left. Perirenal hematoma was diagnosed by ultrasound and computed tomography of the abdomen. The patient underwent embolization of left renal artery, with good evolution.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da suplementação da dieta com multimistura sobre o estado nutricional de crianças em fase pré-escolar em risco nutricional. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo tipo duplo cego com duração de dois meses e acompanhamento longitudinal de 135 crianças na faixa etária de um a seis anos. As crianças foram divididas em três grupos: intervenção 1 (GI1 n=48), intervenção 2 (GI2 n=45) e controle (GC n=42), recebendo 5g e 10g de multimistura e placebo, respectivamente. O estado nutricional das crianças em estudo foi avaliado antes e após a suplementação. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa nos indicadores peso/idade, altura/idade e peso/altura entre os grupos estudados na linha base (p=0,251 p=0,248 e p=0,399, respectivamente). Após a intervenção a diferença na prevalência de déficit antropométrico entre os grupos também não foi significante (p=0,100 p=0,435 e p=0,210, respectivamente). A comparação das médias antes e depois da intervenção, igualmente, não demonstrou diferenças (p>0,05 utilizando os métodos estatísticos de Kruskall - Wallis e Análise de Variância). CONCLUSÃO: Frente ao impacto das pequenas quantidades consumidas de suplemento, no caso a mistura de farelo de cereais, não se justifica esperar alterações significativas sobre a recuperação de crianças em risco nutricional, já que esses suplementos contêm somente pequenas quantidades de calorias e de macro e micronutrientes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a diet supplemented with a bran-based cereal mixture on the nutritional status of preschool children presenting nutritional risk. METHODS: This was a two-month double-blinded study with a longitudinal follow up using 135 children with ages ranging from one to six years old and divided into three groups: intervention 1 (GI1=48), intervention 2 (GI2 n=45) and control (CG n=42), receiving 5g and 10g of the multi-mixture and placebo, respectively. The nutritional situation of the children in the study was evaluated before and after supplementation. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the weight/age, height/age and weight/height indicators at the base line (p=0.251 p=0.248 and p=0.399 respectively) between the groups studied. After intervention, the difference between the groups in the prevalence of anthropometrical deficit was also not significant (p=0.100 p=0.435 and p=0.210 respectively) and a comparison of the averages before and after intervention revealed no differences (p>0.05 using the Kruskall - Wallis and Analysis of Variance statistical methods). CONCLUSION: In the specific case of the bran-based mixture, the impact of the small amounts of supplement ingested did not warrant expecting alterations in the recovery of children presenting nutritional risk, since these supplements contain only small amounts of calories and macro and micronutrients.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes substratos e pré-tratamentos in vitro, na aclimatização de plantas in vitro de Arachis retusa. As plantas foram transferidas para Plantmax ou areia e adubadas com solução de Hoagland. Plantas mantidas em areia, com adubação ou sem adubação, apresentaram maiores taxas de sobrevivência. Para avaliação da influência de pré-tratamentos in vitro, segmentos de caule foram cultivados em meio MS suplementado com diferentes concentrações de sacarose. As maiores taxas de sobrevivência e desenvolvimento foram observadas em plantas cultivadas em sacarose a 1,5% e 3%. Depois de cinco meses, foram observadas a floração e a produção de frutos.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of substrate and preconditioning treatments on the acclimatization of in vitro plants of Arachis retusa. Plants were transferred to Plantmax or sand, and fertilized with Hoagland's nutrient solution. Plants maintained in sand, with or without fertilizer, showed the highest survival rates. In order to evaluate the influence of in vitro preconditioning treatments, stem segments were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different sucrose concentrations. The highest survival and developmental rates were observed in plants from two accessions cultured on MS supplemented with 1.5% and 3% sucrose. Flowering and fruit production were observed after five months.

A regeneração in vitro de Arachis retusa foi avaliada visando à renovação e conservação de germoplasma. A estabilidade genética de plantas derivadas de eixos embrionários e segmentos apicais foi avaliada por RAPD. Foram analisados dez oligonucleotídeos decâmeros arbitrários, dos quais cinco foram selecionados. Noventa regiões genômicas foram avaliadas, com uma média de 18 loci por clone. Todos os segmentos amplificados foram monomórficos. Estes resultados indicam que as plantas são geneticamente estáveis nas regiões genômicas examinadas e que ambos os processos são adequados para a conservação in vitro do germoplasma de Arachis.

In vitro regeneration of Arachis retusa was examined for the purpose of germplasm renewal and conservation. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting was used to evaluate the genetic stability of plants derived from embryo axes and apical segments. Ten arbitrary decamer primers were screened and five of them were selected. Ninety genomic regions were evaluated, with an average of 18 loci per clone. All amplified segments were monomorphic. The results indicate that recovered plants are genetically stable at the assessed genomic regions and that both regeneration processes are suitable for in vitro germplasm preservation of Arachis species.