RESUMO

Quorum sensing (QS) regulates bacterial gene expression and studies suggest quercetin, a flavonol found in onion, as a QS inhibitor. There are no studies showing the anti-QS activity of plants containing quercetin in its native glycosylated forms. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-QS potential of organic extracts of onion varieties and its representative phenolic compounds quercetin aglycone and quercetin 3-ß-D-glucoside in the QS model bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, and Serratia marcescens MG1. Three phenolic extracts were obtained: red onion extract in methanol acidified with 2.5% acetic acid (RO-1), white onion extract in methanol (WO-1) and white onion extract in methanol ammonium (WO-2). Quercetin 4-O-glucoside and quercetin 3,4-O-diglucoside were identified as the predominant compounds in both onion varieties using HPLC-DAD and LC-ESI-MS/MS. However, quercetin aglycone, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and quercetin glycoside were identified only in RO-1. The three extracts showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values equal to or above 125 µg/ml of dried extract. Violacein production was significantly reduced by RO-1 and quercetin aglycone, but not by quercetin 3-ß-D-glucoside. Motility in P. aeruginosa PAO1 was inhibited by RO-1, while WO-2 inhibited S. marcescens MG1 motility only in high concentration. Quercetin aglycone and quercetin 3-ß-D-glucoside were effective at inhibiting motility in P. aeruginosa PAO1 and S. marcescens MG1. Surprisingly, biofilm formation was not affected by any extracts or the quercetins tested at sub-MIC concentrations. In silico studies suggested a better interaction and placement of quercetin aglycone in the structures of the CviR protein of C. violaceum ATCC 12472 than the glycosylated compound which corroborates the better inhibitory effect of the former over violacein production. On the other hand, the two quercetins were well placed in the AHLs binding pockets of the LasR protein of P. aeruginosa PAO1. Overall onion extracts and quercetin presented antimicrobial activity, and interference on QS regulated production of violacein and swarming motility.

RESUMO

It is known as Pseudohermaphroditism or intersexual state, those entities in which external genitalia are ambiguous or are not according with gonadal o genetic chromosomic sex. They can have diverse etiology. Continual exposition to estrogens or androgens may induce female or male dysmorphism, and also development of benign or malignant tumors at target organs. We present a case of a young woman, 15 years old, with virilization, who attend medical consultation for progressive abdominal growing. The presence of ambiguous, genitalia since birth, was not a previous reason of concern. Diagnostic, findings, management and follow up for about 4 months are described and also a topic review. Genitalia develop during first trimester of intrauterine life, under influence of sexual steroids, and changes of sexual development can emerge as consequence of endocrine or morphologic disorders and the later ones, related to karyotypic abnormalities. Sexual steroid and their metabolites can demonstrate individually, different biological effects, suggesting the presence of individual receptors. The presence of cooperative effects between each steroid produce even more complexity to the evaluation of each steroid. Various mutations principally at gene receptors of sexual steroids, cause resistance to them. At female pseudohermaphroditism in difference from male P. there is no errancy at genetic gonadal transmission. These women are intrauterine exposed to excessive quantities of androgens, and they have normal internal genitalia but external ambiguous genitalia. The involved androgen comes from external factors, a it occurs at mother who receives progesterone to avoid abortion, but it is due frequently to androgen storage, caused by enzymatic blockade at steroidogenesis (adrenogenital syndrome).

Assuntos

Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/complicações , Germinoma/complicações , Neoplasias Ovarianas/complicações , Adolescente , Hiperplasia Suprarrenal Congênita/diagnóstico , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/diagnóstico , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/genética , Feminino , Germinoma/patologia , Germinoma/cirurgia , Humanos , Histerectomia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/patologia , Neoplasias Ovarianas/cirurgia , Ovário/patologia

RESUMO

Gastric carcinoid tumors arise from enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, these tumors represent 2-41% of all neuroendocrine tumors and 0.3% of malignant gastric neoplasias, being more common in men than in women, and commonly affecting people over 60 years old. These tumors arise from accelerated proliferation of the ECL cells as a consequence of the hypersecretion of gastrin, situation that can be present in atrophic gastritis and the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. We report the case of a 51 year old hispanic female who presented with a 3 month history of abdominal pain, meteorism and constipation; she was treated with ranitidine and metoclopramide without clinical improvement, thus she underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy which showed an atrophic gastritis and gastric polyps. Histopathologic examination revealed a neuroendocrine gastric tumor which was positive to serotonine and gastrin stainings. Hormonal screening showed normal serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol, ACTH, progesterone, calcitonin and cortisol. The serum level of gastrin was elevated with 500 pg/mL. Gammagraphic scanning with octreotide was negative for metastasis.

Assuntos

Tumores Neuroendócrinos , Neoplasias Gástricas , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Tumor Carcinoide/diagnóstico , Tumor Carcinoide/patologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Gastrinas/sangue , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/diagnóstico , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/patologia , Estômago/patologia , Neoplasias Gástricas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Gástricas/patologia

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To alert the pediatricians about a disease caused by herbal teas considered harmless. METHODS: Report of a case of Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease in a child and review of the literature (MEDLINE and LILACS). RESULTS: Description of a case of a sudden beginning portal hypertension, secondary to Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease in a 2 year and 5 month-old-patient, coming from Cruz Alta-RS-Brazil, after a chronic consumption of herbal tea called "maria-mole" (Senecio brasiliensis), which contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, known as hepatotoxic. After an adequate treatment, the patient presented a complete clinical and laboratorial recovery, and nowadays he doesnt show any symptoms anymore. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of this disease depends on its divulgation among physicians and the general population, and the knowledge of toxic effects of many "innocuous" teas.