Global profile of anemia during pregnancy versus country income overview: 19 years estimative (2000-2019)

Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that is worst in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), reaching 60% of prevalence. The etiology of anemia is diverse and multifactorial, with iron deficiency being the most prevalent, and often found in pregnant women. Iron is indispensable for the production of red blood cells and approximately 80% of the available heme iron is used for hemoglobin synthesis in mature erythroblasts. Iron deficiency affects oxygen transport, compromising energy and muscle metabolism and can occur with depletion of iron storage, defective erythropoiesis, and low hemoglobin levels. We analyzed anemia prevalence in pregnant women from 2000 to 2019 worldwide correlating them with current (2022) country income, with especial attention to LMICs using WHO dataset. Our analysis indicates that pregnant women from LMICs had a higher probability (40%) of anemia during pregnancy especially those from Africa and South Asia. Africa and the Americas showed a higher decrease in the prevalence of anemia from 2000 to 2019. The Americas and Europe have a lower prevalence, concentrated in 57% of most upper-middle- and high-income countries. Black women are also more prone to develop anemia during pregnancy, especially if they are from LMICs. However, the prevalence of anemia appears to decrease with an increase in educational level. In conclusion, anemia prevalence fluctuated from 5.2 to 65.7% worldwide in 2019, validating it as a public health problem.

Structure-activity relationship of three new piperazine derivates with anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects

Anxiety and depression are common mental disorders affecting millions of people worldwide. Unsatisfactory clinical outcomes with the use of the available pharmacological interventions among some patients demand newer drugs with proven efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile. In this study, the LQFM211, LQFM213, and LQFM214 were designed from the piperazine scaffold and administered orally in mice. These mice were later evaluated in the open field, elevated plus maze, and forced swimming tests to assess the exploratory, anxiolytic, and antidepressant-like activities, respectively. The mechanism of action of these new derivatives was evaluated using Flumazenil (benzodiazepine antagonist) and WAY100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist). Unlike LQFM214, the LQFM211 and LQFM213 elicited anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects. The blockade of the effect of LQFM213 by WAY100635 suggests the involvement of the serotonergic pathway. Keywords: anxiety, behavioral pharmacology, depression, medicinal chemistry.

Behavioral effects of Bj-PRO-7a, a proline-rich oligopeptide from Bothrops jararaca venom

The heptapeptide Bj-PRO-7a, isolated and identified from Bothrops jararaca (Bj) venom, produces antihypertensive and other cardiovascular effects that are independent on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition, possibly relying on cholinergic muscarinic receptors subtype 1 (M1R). However, whether Bj-PRO-7a acts upon the central nervous system and modifies behavior is yet to be determined. Therefore, the aims of this study were: i) to assess the effects of acute administration of Bj-PRO-7a upon behavior; ii) to reveal mechanisms involved in the effects of Bj-PRO-7a upon locomotion/exploration, anxiety, and depression-like behaviors. For this purpose, adult male Wistar (WT, wild type) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) received intraperitoneal injections of vehicle (0.9% NaCl), diazepam (2 mg/kg), imipramine (15 mg/kg), Bj-PRO-7a (71, 213 or 426 nmol/kg), pirenzepine (852 nmol/kg), α-methyl-DL-tyrosine (200 mg/kg), or chlorpromazine (2 mg/kg), and underwent elevated plus maze, open field, and forced swimming tests. The heptapeptide promoted anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects and increased locomotion/exploration. These effects of Bj-PRO-7a seem to be dependent on M1R activation and dopaminergic receptors and rely on catecholaminergic pathways.

Effect of extender supplementation with various antimicrobial agents on viability of Brucella ovis and Actinobacillus seminis in cryopreserved ovine semen

The objective was to determine the effectiveness of various antimicrobial agents added to semen extender for inactivation of B. ovis or A. seminis in ovine semen after cryopreservation. In Experiment 1, 20 ejaculates from a crossbred ram infected with B. ovis were cryopreserved in Tris-based extenders with various antimicrobial agents: (I) control without antibiotics, (II) with penicillin and streptomycin (1000 IU/mL and 1 mg/mL, respectively), (III) lincomycin (0.15 mg/mL), (IV) sulphadiazine (0.60 mg/mL), and (V) gentamicin sulphate (0.25 mg/mL). Semen was stored in 0.25 mL straws at a final concentration of 150 × 10(6) spermatozoa/mL. After thawing (37 °C for 30 s), sperm total motility (TM), sperm morphology, integrity of sperm membranes, and bacterial growth were assessed. In Experiment 2, six B. ovis isolates were separately inoculated into aliquots of a fresh ejaculate from a B. ovis-free ram. Mock inoculated semen was processed for cryopreservation using the five extenders described above, and bacteriologically evaluated after thawing. In Experiment 3, sensitivity of A. seminis to the same antimicrobial agents was evaluated by inoculating an ejaculate from an A. seminis and B. ovis-free ram. There were no significant differences among treatments in post-thawing sperm parameters. B. ovis was isolated from 100% (20/20), 0% (0/20), 95% (19/20), 100% (20/20), and 5% (1/20) of semen samples diluted in tris-based extender of untreated (I) and treated semen samples with antimicrobial agents II, III, IV, and V, respectively. Frequencies of isolation from samples treated with antimicrobial agent II and V were significantly lower than untreated ones (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the profile of antimicrobial resistance of different B. ovis isolates. A. seminis had a similar sensitivity to the antimicrobial agents. We concluded that addition of a combination of penicillin and streptomycin or gentamicin alone to ram semen cryo-extenders inactivated B. ovis and A. seminis.

Antidepressant-like effect of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. ethanolic extract and fractions in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. (Lythraceae) has been referred in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases, among them depression. Nevertheless, there are not studies about this possible effect on the central nervous system (CNS).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of the ethanolic extract of Lafoensia pacari (PEtExt) and its fractions on the performance of male mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Antidepressant activity was studied using forced swimming (FST) and tail suspension (TST) tests, and motor activity in the open-field test. The ethanolic extract of Lafoensia pacari (PEtExt) were administered acutely (1.0 g/kg, p.o.), for 21 days (100, 300 mg, and 1.0 g/(kg day), p.o.), three administration in a 24-h period (1.0 g/kg, p.o.), and the fractions for 21 days. Imipramine (15 mg/(kg day), p.o.) was used as the control positive.

RESULTS

The PEtExt significantly reduced immobility time in FST and TST, without affecting the motor activity. Only the chloroformic fraction (50 mg/(kg day), p.o.) increase the latency to immobility and decrease the immobility time in the FST.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that the extract of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. possesses antidepressant-like properties in mice.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract fromSpiranthera odoratissimaA. St. Hillaire (Manacá) roots

Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, the tail flick test and carrageenan-induced peritonitis were used to study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the crude ethanolic extract from Spiranthera odoratissima roots. Pentobarbital-induced sleeping time was used to study the central depressant effect of the extract. The ethanolic extract caused a dose dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and leukocyte migration, and produced a significant, dose-related increase in the duration of sleep. The results suggest that Spiranthera odoratissima roots contain compounds with anti-inflammatory and central depressant actions.

Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) in bull semen: amplification and sequence analysis of the US4 gene

Bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5), which is potentially neuropathogenic, was detected in clinical samples of bovine semen, both directly and after isolation in cell culture, using a nested PCR system for amplifying the US4 gene. Nucleotide sequences generated from the amplicons were analysed and deposited at GenBank (NCBI, Bethesda, MD, USA) under the accession numbers AF298174 and AF330157. Alignment of these sequences and previously deposited sequences of BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 showed 82% and 98% similarity, respectively. The bulls, which were maintained at an artificial insemination centre, had presented no clinical signs, indicating that bovine semen should be screened for BoHV-5 to prevent transmission of the virus.

Anti-in?ammatory effect ofSolanum lycocarpum fruits

The croton oil-induced mouse ear oedema test, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, and carrageenan-induced peritonitis were used to study the anti-inflammatory effects of the crude ethanol extract and its alkaloid fraction from Solanum lycocarpum fruits. The alkaloid fraction induced a dose-dependent reduction in ear oedema formation and leukocyte migration, suggesting that S. lycocarpum fruits may contain steroidal alkaloids accounting for the anti-inflammatory effect of the crude ethanol extract.

Adult-onset nesidioblastosis causing hypoglycemia: an important clinical entity and continuing treatment dilemma

HYPOTHESIS

Nesidioblastosis is an important cause of adult hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, and control of this disorder can often be obtained with a 70% distal pancreatectomy.

DESIGN

The records of all adult patients operated on for hypoglycemia between 1974 and 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with the pathologic diagnosis of nesidioblastosis were contacted for follow-up (1.5-21 years) and are presented. Patients' results were compared with those of 36 other individuals with this disorder who were previously reported in the literature.

SETTING

The University of Chicago Medical Center (Chicago, Ill), a tertiary care facility.

PATIENTS

A consecutive sample of all patients operated on for hypoglycemia.

INTERVENTIONS

Seventy percent distal pancreatectomy for all patients with nesidioblastosis, and maintenance therapy with verapamil hydrochloride for 2 patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Achievement of normoglycemia with and without medication, development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, and need for reoperation.

RESULTS

Of 32 adult patients who underwent surgical exploration for hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia at our institution, 27 (84%) were found to have 1 or more insulinomas, and 5 (16%) were diagnosed with nesidioblastosis. Each patient with nesidioblastosis underwent a 70% distal pancreatectomy. Follow-up duration for the 5 patients ranged from 1.5 to 21 years, with 3 patients (60%) asymptomatic and taking no medications, and 2 patients (40%) experiencing some recurrences of hypoglycemia. The 2 patients with recurrences are now successfully treated with a calcium channel blocker, an approach, to our knowledge, never before reported for adult-onset nesidioblastosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Nesidioblastosis is an uncommon but clinically important cause of hypoglycemia in the adult population, and must always be considered in a patient with a presumptive preoperative diagnosis of insulinoma. This study indicates that a 70% distal pancreatectomy is often successful in controlling hypoglycemia, and rarely results in diabetes mellitus. However, the optimal treatment of this disorder remains to be determined.

[Risk behavior among Brazilian Military conscripts, 1998: an study of HIV infections following socioeconomic differences]

A study of HIV-related risk behavior was carried out in 1998 among Brazilian military conscripts aged 17-20 years. A sample of 30,318 subjects was selected in three strata, pertaining to counties from: 1) the North and Central-West (N/CW); 2) South (S); and the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. HIV prevalence rates were estimated in all strata. The objective of this paper was to analyze the results according to differences in socioeconomic status (SES). The statistical analysis used an index of sexual risk behavior and logistic regression models. The N/CW stratum showed the worst indicators for SES, sexual risk behavior, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as the highest HIV seroprevalence rate. The best indicators for all variables were found in the RJ/SP stratum. The South showed intermediate results. Level of schooling also played a relevant role. In all three strata the conscripts with an incomplete high school education displayed the worst sexual risk behavior index, shown to be a relevant predictor of STI-related problems, including HIV infection.

[Enalaprilat in the prevention of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol]

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether the enalaprilat, angiotensin I enzyme conversion inhibitor, could prevent the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) induced by isoproterenol.

METHODS

Seventy two adult Wistar-EPM rats were divided into four groups: CON, control; ENA, treated with enalaprilat (1 mg/kg via subcutaneous (s.c.) for 8 days); ISO, treated with isoproterenol (0.3 mg via s.c. for 8 days) e ENA + ISO, treated with both drugs simultaneously. Each group had the arterial blood pressure, cardiac rate and the left ventricle (LV) weight determined in 10 animals. In 8 animals from each group a small sample was taken from the LV and stained with hematoxyline-eosine and picrosirius for morphometric and ultra-structural studies with optic and transmission electronic microscopy.

RESULTS

The ISO group showed that the LV weight increased 47% in comparison with control. On the other hand the ENA + ISO group showed only 22.1% increase (p < or = 0.05). The morphometric and ultra-structural analyses revealed that isoproterenol induced cardiomyocite hypertrophy and augmented the content of the type I collagen in the cardiac interstitium.

CONCLUSION

Enalaprilat inhibited the isoproterenol action on the cardiomyocite, avoiding partially the LVH and decreasing the content of collagen fibers.

[Effect of verapamil on left ventricular hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol]

PURPOSE

We evaluated whether verapamil (VERA) has a protective effect on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) induced by Isoproterenol (ISO) in rat.

METHODS

Seventy two male adult rats were divided in four groups and treated accordingly during eight days: Control (CON), VERA (10 mg/kg), ISO (0.3 mg/kg) and VERA + ISO. It was measured in 10 animals from each group heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricle dry weight and ratio between left ventricular weight (LVW) and rat weight. Samples were taken from the left ventricle to be examined by light microscopy.

RESULTS

LVW of the CON group was 0.145 g, of VERA was 0.144 g, of ISO with 0.201 g, and of VERA + ISO was 0.148 g. The difference between ISO group and others was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The LVW/W ratio also showed similar result. The myocardial pattern induced by ISO was left hypertrophy and collagen content increase. In VERA + ISO group it was found a protective effect to hypertrophy (ISO group 97% vs VERA + ISO 87%; p < 0.001) and increased collagen content.

CONCLUSION

VERA prevents the deleterious effects of ISO in the myocardium. Probably this action is due to prevention the myocardial hypertrophy and proliferation of collagen tissue.

On the controversy about the efficacy of the antimeningococcal B vaccine: methodological pitfalls

The present communication analyses methodological problems related to evaluating the protection given by the antimeningococcal B vaccine to children under four years of age in a case-control study carried out in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Detection of a hospital selection bias, among other disturbing features of the study, suggests that the efficacy of the vaccine was underestimated. Altogether, data presented support a wider use of the Cuban-produced vaccine to reduce morbidity and mortality from serogroup B meningococcal disease.

Genetic and nongenetic determinants of blood pressure in a southern Brazilian sample

A probabilistic sample representative of the adult population of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was studied to estimate the genetic and nongenetic determinants of blood pressure. Four thousand five hundred and sixty-five individuals, 20 to 74 years old, from 2050 households, were examined. The genetic determination of the SBP (systolic blood pressure) and DBP (diastolic blood pressure) was evaluated in 557 families extracted from this sample. The analysis was performed first with no adjustments for other influencing factors, and then adjusting for the effects of the two significant covariates, age and Quetelet's index, identified through a multiple stepwise regression analysis with nine independent variables. Higher heritability estimates were obtained for DBP (raw data: 0.40; residuals: 0.45) than for SBP (raw data: 0.22; residuals: 0.26). The significant correlation coefficients varied from 0.13 (for father-offspring raw data, total sample), to 0.36 (for siblings, adjusted data, untreated sample). Slight differences were observed between the total and pharmacologically untreated samples in relation to correlation and heritability estimates.