ABSTRACT Objective: We hypothesized that perinatal manipulations of the nitrergic system would affect adult animal behaviors. Methods: We tested this hypothesis by perinatally administering N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a non-specific antagonist of nitric oxide synthase for 15 days and assessed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in adult mice. At 70 days of age, the mice were subjected to a battery of tests consisting of the open-field, light/dark box, forced swim, and tail-flick tests. The tests were performed at two-day intervals, and the order of the tests within the battery was determined according to the progressive invasiveness degree. Results: L-NAME-treated animals exhibited decreased anxiety-like behavior in the light/dark box and open field tests, with no change in locomotor activity. Additionally, they demonstrated decreased depression-like behavior in the forced swim test and no change in pain perception in the tail-flick test. Conclusion: The nitrergic system is possibly involved in neural circuitry development that regulates behaviors since blocking perinatal nitric oxide production decreases anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in adult mice.

RESUMO Objetivos: analisar características socioeconômicas de enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem residentes no Brasil segundo cor/raça. Métodos: com base na amostra do Censo Demográfico 2010, foram selecionados 62.451 profissionais de enfermagem (enfermeiros e técnicos) residentes noBrasil. Diferenças da renda mensal foram estimadas por modelos multivariados, estratificados por grupos de cor ou raça (branca, parda e preta). Resultados: a maioria eram técnicos (61,9%) de cor branca (54,3%). A renda de enfermeiros brancos superou em mais de ¼ a dos pardos e pretos; entreos técnicos, brancos tinham renda aproximadamente 11% maior do que a de pardos e pretos. Conclusões: diferenças entre rendimentos dos trabalhadores da enfermagem estavam associadas ao pertencimento étnico-racial, revelando situações nas quais profissionais de cor/raça branca apresentaram, sistematicamente, condições mais favoráveis de trabalho e renda, em relação aos pretos e pardos.

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the socioeconomic characteristics of nurses and nursing technicians living in Brazil according to color/race. Methods: based on the 2010 Demographic Census sample, 62,451 nursing professionals (nurses and technicians) living in Brazil were selected. Differences in monthly income were estimated by multivariate models, stratified by color or race groups (white, brown, and black). Results: the majority were technicians (61.9%) of white color (54.3%). The income of white nurses exceeded that of brown and black nurses by more than a quarter; among technicians, white professionals had an income approximately 11% higher than brown and black nurses. Conclusions: differences between incomes of nursing workers were associated with ethnic/racial background, revealing situations in which white professionals systematically presented more favorable job and income conditions than black and brown professionals.

RESUMEN Objetivos: analizar características socioeconómicas de enfermeros y técnicos de enfermería residentes en Brasil segundo color/raza. Métodos: con base en la muestra del Censo Demográfico 2010, fueron seleccionados 62.451 profesionales de enfermería (enfermeros y técnicos) residentes en Brasil. Diferencias de la renta mensual fueron estimadas por modelos multivariados, estratificados por grupos de color o raza (blanca, mestiza y negra). Resultados: la mayoría eran técnicos (61,9%) de color blanca (54,3%). La renta de enfermeros blancos superó en más de ¼ a de los mestizos y negros; entre los técnicos, blancos tenían renta aproximadamente 11% mayor que la de mestizos y negros. Conclusiones: diferencias entre rendimientos de los trabajadores de la enfermería estaban relacionadas al pertenecer étnico-racial, revelando situaciones en las cuales profesionales de color/raza blanca presentaron, sistemáticamente, condiciones más favorables de trabajo y renta, en relación a los negros y mestizos.

Sidastrum micranthum (A. St.-Hil.) Fryxell, Malvaceae, grows in the northeastern region of Brazil, where the leaves of this species are traditionally used to treat coughs, bronchitis or asthma. Male Swiss mice (20-22 g) were tested in models of acute pain (acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, tail flick and formalin test), oedema assessment test (paw oedema test) and model for evaluation of spontaneous motor performance (open field test). The hydroethanolic extract of S. micranthum was administered orally at doses of 50-500 mg/kg. In addition were administered water, vehicle, morphine 5.01 mg/kg (evaluation of pain and motor performance) and dexamethasone 2.25 mg/kg (evaluation of oedema formation). The extract showed a significant effect at all doses in the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and at the second phase of the formalin test, while in the first phase of this test and in the paw oedema test only at the highest dose (500 mg/kg). In the formalin and paw oedema tests, the extract had a potentiation of the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects by pretreatment with L-NAME and reduction of the effect by pretreatment with L-arginine. The extract was not toxic after oral administration (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg).

Vitex cymosa Bertero ex Spreng., Lamiaceae, is found in Central and Amazon regions of Brazil, where it is popularly used as antirheumatic. Extracts from the leaves of V. cymosa were tested in analgesia models such as abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid and formalin to test peripheral analgesia; as well as the tail flick and hot plate models, to test spinal and supraspinal analgesia. A significant reduction was observed in the number of contortions with all extracts and in all doses. In the formalin model, a reduction in the second phase (inflammatory) was observed with all extracts, whereas only the n-butanol extract was able to act in the first, neurogenic, phase. In the tail flick model, all extracts increased latency time. Naloxone treatment reverted analgesic effect of all extracts with the exception of the dichloromethane one. All extracts developed peripheral and central analgesic activity. In the hot plate model no antinociceptive effect was observed for all tested extracts. All these results taken together suggest that V. cymosa leaf extracts were able to promote peripheral and central antinociceptive activity mediated by the opioid system.Twenty three substances were isolated and identified in the extracts and include flavonoids (C-glucosyl flavones, flavones and flavonols), triterpene acids from ursane and oleanane types, iridoids (free and glucosides), as well as simple phenols.