RESUMO
Mexico is a megadiverse country that has 3,600 to 4,000 species of medicinal plants, of which approximately 800 are used to treat conditions related to diabetes mellitus (DM). DM is a chronic degenerative disease of energy metabolism that exists as two types: type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2). DM is considered a public health problem that affects 7% of the Mexican population older than 20 years. DM is clinically controlled with hypoglycaemic drugs, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, insulin secretion stimulants or the direct application of insulin. The hypoglycaemic effectiveness of specific molecules has been determined only for some medicinal plants in Mexico used to treat DM2. The presence of molecules called glucokinins, wich are similar to animal insulin molecules, has been reported in some plant species; glucokinins act as both growth factors and regulators of glucose metabolism in plants. Therefore, we hypothesized that the hypoglycaemic effectiveness of some of the popularly used species for the control of DM could be due to the presence of glucokinin, as reported for Bauhinia variegata. The goal of this work was to use histochemistry to detect, the accumulation of protein that is immunocytochemically compatible with glucokinin in slide sections of hypoglycaemic species used as remedies for DM2. The top fourteen most used medicinal plants in Mexico were selected for study via microscopic sections. Proteins were histochemically detected using naphthol blue black and Johansen's quadruple stain, and the immunocytochemical correspondence of the proteins with glucokinin was investigated using an insulin antibody. All species studied reacted positively to proteins and glucokinin in the same structures. The presence of glucokinin in these structures and the corresponding hypoglycaemic effects are discussed in the contex of the actions of other compounds.
Assuntos
Hipoglicemiantes/isolamento & purificação , Plantas Medicinais/metabolismo , Animais , Anticorpos Anti-Insulina/metabolismo , México , Camundongos , Pâncreas/metabolismo , Estruturas Vegetais/metabolismo , Plantas Medicinais/química , Coloração e RotulagemRESUMO
A 45 year old male was admitted to the hospital for unsteady gait and dizziness. The brain CT showed bilateral cerebellar ischemic stroke. The MRI corroborated the stroke in the cerebellum with a third acute ischemic stroke in the pons. The laboratory work up showed a positive anti beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies. The cerebral angiogram showed the territories occluded and also a rare malformation of the cranium vertebral junction called assimilation of the atlas. We concluded that due to the turbulence created in the V3 segment of the vertebral artery surrounding the atlas, the presence of the anti beta2-glycoprotein was the cause of the infarction in this patient.
Assuntos
Autoanticorpos/sangue , Atlas Cervical/anormalidades , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/sangue , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , beta 2-Glicoproteína I/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Solid plastic replicas of anatomical structures obtained by stereolithography from computed tomographic images and magnetic resonance imaging are being used as complementary tools for diagnostic purposes and therapy planning for diverse pathologies. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Case 1--The spine mold of a 62-year-old man with neurologic compromise secondary to degenerative cervical disease was used to study the pathologic features of his spine and to plan and simulate the approach to remove osteophytes before surgery. Also, by examining the replica of his spine, the unconvinced patient was able to understand the nature of his pathology and realize that his neurologic symptoms would disappear only through surgery, as they did. Case 2--A 27-year-old woman had uncontrolled back and leg pain possibly related to anxiety and depression. She had undergone one unsuccessful lumbo-sacral surgery and was now obsessed with the thought that her second surgery, performed by us, likewise had failed, even though her magnetic resonance images proved otherwise. It was not until she held a replica of her repaired spine in her hands that she was able to understand that her pain was unfounded. Once she was able to relax, her chronic pain and anxiety disappeared within a month, using the same antidepressive treatment that formerly had been ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: Spine replicas are useful devices for diagnosis, planning, and simulating surgery, and they enable patients to understand the nature of their pathologies and the surgical procedures at hand.
Assuntos
Ansiedade/complicações , Vértebras Cervicais/patologia , Depressão/complicações , Vértebras Lombares/patologia , Modelos Anatômicos , Dor/etiologia , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto/métodos , Osteofitose Vertebral/complicações , Osteofitose Vertebral/cirurgia , Adulto , Vértebras Cervicais/cirurgia , Feminino , Humanos , Dor Lombar/psicologia , Vértebras Lombares/cirurgia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cervicalgia/etiologia , Dor/psicologia , Osteofitose Vertebral/patologiaRESUMO
Acylhydroquinone-based compounds are attractive targets for the design of new leishmanicidal drugs. We have previously described sesquiterpene quinones and hydroquinones series, which exhibit different degree of potency against Leishmania amazonensis. The present study details the preparation of acylchloroquinones and hydroquinones possessing lipophilic substituents and examines their in vitro activity against intracellular L. amazonensis amastigotes. The quinone or hydroquinone nucleus is essential for the activity of the members of the series. The lipophilicity of the cycloaliphatic systems in these members seems to attenuate the cytotoxical effect and increases the selectivity of those compounds containing the norbornene system.