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Biomedical subjects

J C Carvalho

Publications and source records attributed to J C Carvalho.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Anti-inflammatory activity of flavone and some of its derivates from Virola michelli Heckel.

The phytochemical study using Virola michelli Heckel (Myristicaceae) leaves allowed the isolation of a flavone named titonine (7,4'-dimethoxy-3'-hydroxyflavone). Titonine was further submitted to methylation and acetylation reactions yielding a 7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone and a 7,3'-dimethoxy-4'-acetylflavone, respectively. These compounds were evaluated for both anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in rats using the paw edema test with carrageenin, while the analgesic activity was determined in mouse using the writhing test method. The different animal groups were treated with three compounds (10 mg/kg -i.p.) thirty min prior to stimuli application. The inhibition levels obtained for each compound were 22, 41 and 68%, respectively. Using the writhing test, oral doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg of natural flavone reduced the acetic acid-induced contortions in a dose-dependent manner.

Analgesics

Anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extract from the fruits of Pterodon emarginatus Vog.

The vegetal species Pterodon emarginatus Vog. (Leguminosae/Papilonaceae), popularly known in Brazil as 'sucupira branca', is widely used by domestic medicine as an anti-inflammatory. From these observations, the hexanic crude extract (HCE) of the fruits was obtained and submitted for assessment of its anti-inflammatory activity. For this purpose, the following tests were used: (1) Determination of ED50 and LD50; (2) Paw edema induced by carrageenin, dextran, histamine and nystatin; (3) Peritonitis caused by carrageenin and (4) Granuloma test. The ED50 (oral) in the edema induced by carrageenin was 500 mg/kg, and LD50 (oral) was 4.02 g/kg. In the edema caused by nystatin, there was a significant inhibition by 45% (P < 0.05 student's t-test) at the 6th hour following the treatment. In the granuloma test performed in animals treated with HCE, there was an inhibition of the granulomatous tissue formation by 22%. The migration of neutrophils towards the peritoneal cavity was inhibited in HCE treated animals by 43% (P < 0.05). However, in the edema caused by dextran and histamine, there was no significant response in HCE treated animals.

Animals

Oral health status in Belgian 3- to 5-year-old children.

The aim of this study was to determine the need for oral health care in young Belgian children in the municipality of Leuven, Belgium. The sample consisted of 750 boys and girls (3 years = 200, 4 years = 200 and 5 years = 350). Clinical examination was carried out by one examiner and duplicate recordings were made on 10% of the sample. The clinical examination included recording of: (1) plaque index; (2) gingival index; (3) caries index; and (4) fluorosis index. Plaque and gingival indices were recorded at six sites of smooth surfaces on selected teeth. Occlusal plaque was also registered. Before the clinical examination for caries and fluorosis, the children had their teeth professionally cleaned with toothbrushes and dental floss and dried by means of gauze bandages. In all age groups, the percentage of plaque-free sites was of the order of 60% and sound gingiva was identified at 83% of the recorded sites. The percentages of caries-free children were 69% (3 years), 57% (4 years) and 52% (5 years). The mean deft scores (standard error) were 1.37 (+/- 0.21), 1.76 (+/- 0.21) and 2.03 (+/- 0.17). The corresponding mean defs scores were 2.04 (+/- 0.44), 2.46 (+/- 0.35) and 3.75 (+/- 0.42). Non-cavitated active lesions, included in the defs scores, represented about 50% of all caries lesions. Early signs of dental fluorosis were identified in 19% (3 years), 17% (4 years) and 9% (5 years) of children. The need for oral health care in the population studied is mainly related to non-operative treatment procedures aimed at controlling the progression of disease.

Belgium

Malocclusion, dental injuries and dental anomalies in the primary dentition of Belgian children.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of malocclusion, dental injuries and dental anomalies in a sample of 3-5-year-old Belgian children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 3-5-year-olds attending kindergartens in the municipality of Leuven, Belgium. METHODS: A total of 750 boys and girls participated in the study. The children were examined at the University School Health Centre in connection with their obligatory medical check-up. The clinical examination was performed by one examiner using generally accepted criteria for these oral conditions. RESULTS: 10.1% of the examined children had posterior cross-bite whereas over-bite was seen in only 2.0% of the sample. Open-bite was detected in 32.0% of the studied population. Boys showed a tendency for a higher frequency of malocclusions than girls. Traumatic injuries were identified in 18.0% of children. These were almost entirely restricted to maxillary incisors. Crown fractures were responsible for 42% of all injuries. The following dental anomalies were seen: six cases of supernumerary teeth, three cases of hypodontia, five cases of double teeth and one case of conical maxillary lateral incisor. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of early detection of these oral conditions in order to permit effective and long-term planning, according to the child's individual requirements.

Belgium

Small doses of intrathecal morphine combined with systemic diclofenac for postoperative pain control after cesarean delivery.

UNLABELLED: Postoperative pain control after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia is effectively obtained with morphine 0.1-0.3 mg intrathecally, although there may be dose-dependent side effects. We evaluated the quality of analgesia and the incidence of side effects with smaller doses of intrathecal morphine combined with intramuscular (i.m.) diclofenac. One hundred-twenty pregnant patients were allocated into six groups, which received the following treatments: Groups 1, 3, and 5 received 0.1, 0.05, and 0.025 mg of intrathecal morphine, respectively, plus 75 mg of i.m. diclofenac every 8 h; Groups 2, 4, and 6 received 0.1, 0.05, and 0.025 mg of intrathecal morphine, respectively, plus i.m. diclofenac on demand. Spinal anesthesia was performed with 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Pain scores and side effects were evaluated hourly for the first 24 h. Groups 1 and 2 had lower pain scores than Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6. However, only patients in Groups 2, 4, and 6 requested additional analgesics. Severe pruritus was more frequent in Groups 1 and 2. No patient experienced respiratory depression. We conclude that there is no advantage in using doses larger than 0.025 mg of intrathecal morphine if they are combined with systemic diclofenac. IMPLICATIONS: A multimodal approach to pain control may provide good quality analgesia while reducing drug-related side effects. In this study, a very small dose of intrathecal morphine, in association with intramuscular diclofenac, proved effective for controlling pain after cesarean delivery, with a low incidence of morphine-induced pruritus.

Cesarean Section

Traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian pre-school children.

The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in a sample of Brazilian pre-school children with limited access to dental care. The sample included 1,853 one-to-five-year-old children attending public nursery schools in the Federal District of Brazil. Dental injuries were clinically assessed as follows: 1) uncomplicated crown fracture, 2) complicated fracture, 3) crown discoloration, 4) intrusive luxation, 5) extrusive luxation, 6) exarticulation or extraction after trauma and 7) subluxation. The results showed that 10% (< 2 years), 12% (3-4 years) and 20% (5 years) of the children had suffered at least one type of injury clinically identified at the time of the examination. Boys and girls were similarly affected. Dental injuries were almost entirely restricted to the maxillary central incisors (88%). Single tooth injury was predominant in all age groups. In the youngest group the most common types of injuries were crown fracture (69%) and crown discoloration (18%). However, from the age of three, crown discoloration showed percentages ranging from 41% to 47%. Prematurely lost tooth accounted for 11% of the injuries in 5-year-old children. The observed increase of dental injuries with age indicates accumulated treatment needs due to the children's limited access to dental care.

Brazil

Hypoxia and response of human umbilical artery strips to 5-hydroxytryptamine: role of prostaglandin F2 alpha.

1. This article examines the effects of hypoxia on the contractile response of isolated human umbilical artery strips to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). 2. Hypoxic conditions produce a large increase in the contractile response to 5-HT without a significant alteration of the sensitivity evaluated at the level of the pD2 value. Indomethacin (10 microM) reduced hypoxia-induced potentiation of the response to 5-HT and decreased the response to the monoamine under oxygenated conditions. 1-NAME (100 microM) did not further increase the effect of hypoxia on the vessel response to 5-HT and increased the response to 5-HT under oxygenated conditions. 3. Taken together, these results suggest that, at least partially, the response of human umbilical artery strips to 5-HT depends on 5-HT release of a contracting prostanoid which is a product of the cyclooxygenase pathway. Furthermore, during hypoxia in human umbilical artery strips, there appears to be impairment of the basal production and/or release of EDRF/NO. 4. A subthreshold concentration of prostaglandin F2 alpha (1 nM) potentiates the response to 5-HT in indomethacin-pretreated umbilical artery strips. The data raise the possibility that prostaglandin F2 alpha might be the prostanoid released during hypoxia, which in turn potentiates the response of the human umbilical artery to 5-HT.

Cell Hypoxia

Effects of simulated myocardial ischemic conditions on the responses of isolated human umbilical artery strips to 5-hydroxytryptamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha.

1. The effects of simulated myocardial ischemic conditions on the contractile response of isolated human umbilical artery (HUA) strips to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) were studied. 2. During simulated myocardial ischemic conditions the contractile response of HUA strips to 5-HT was lower than the response to the monoamine under oxygenated conditions. Under simulated ischemic conditions the response to 5-HT was further depressed by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10 microM) and increased by the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (100 microM). 3. During simulated ischemic conditions the response of the HUA to a submaximal concentration of PGF2 alpha (3 microM) was reduced. Indomethacin (10 microM) further reduced the response to the prostanoid whereas L-NAME (100 microM) enhanced the response to PGF2 alpha. 4. It is concluded that during simulated myocardial ischemic conditions lactate negatively modulates the contractile response of HUA strips to 5-HT. Apparently, during simulated myocardial ischemic conditions in the HUA the production and/or release of EDRF/NO was not affected.

Culture Media

Endogenous thromboxane A2 does not contribute to the contractile response of human umbilical artery strips to 5-hydroxytryptamine.

1. To investigate the possible role of endogenous thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced contraction, human umbilical artery strips were suspended in isolated organ chambers for measurement of isometric force. 2. In endothelium intact strips, arachidonic acid (AA;1 microM) potentiates the contractile response to 5-HT, whereas the response was reduced by indomethacin (INDO;10 microM). De-endothelialized strips showed reduced responses to 5-HT. 3. Arachidonic acid-induced potentiation of the responses to 5-HT was prevented by INDO, and the TXA2 synthase inhibitor dazoxiben (DAZ;1 microM and 10 microM) was without effect on the responses to 5-HT in endothelium intact strips. 4. Taken collectively, these results suggest that, in human umbilical artery strips, the contractile response to 5-HT is at least partly dependent on the 5-HT induced release of an endothelium-derived contracting factor (EDCF), which is a cyclooxygenase metabolite. The lack of effect of DAZ indicates that TXA2 is not the EDCF released during the contractile response of human umbilical artery strips to 5-HT.

Endothelins

Preliminary studies of analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Caesalpinia ferrea crude extract.

The crude aqueous extract of the fruits of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. (Leguminosae) has been investigated for possible anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The carrageenan induced rat hind paw edema was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by oral administration of 300 mg/kg of this extract. A centrally mediated analgesic effect was not observed, however, there was a dose dependent reduction in the number of total writhes induced by acetic acid.

Acetic Acid

Investigation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of trans-dehydrocrotonin, a 19-nor-clerodane diterpene from Croton cajucara. Part 1.

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of trans-dehydrocrotonin, isolated from the bark of Croton cajucara (Euphorbiaceae), were investigated using several animal models. The trans-dehydrocrotonin produced a significant inhibition of carrageenin-induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats. It also inhibited the writhings in mice induced by acetic acid, but did not show a significant effect in the hot-plate test in mice. The LD50 of t-DCTN was 555.0 mg/kg (p.o.) for mice.

Analgesics

Noise and the quality of sleep in two hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Male patients of two hospitals in Belo Horizonte completed a questionnaire during an interview on the day of discharge in order to evaluate sleeping conditions related to noise during the previous night and were retested 24 h later. Patients had a worse perception of sleep at the noisier hospital, the University Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (N = 13), whose internal mean nocturnal noise level was Leq = 53.7 db(A), than at the quieter hospital, Baleia (N = 22), whose internal mean nocturnal noise level was Leq = 45.5 db(A). Noise was the only sleep-disturbing factor which was statistically significant.

Adolescent

Restorative caries treatment patterns in Danish 20-year-old males in 1986 and 1991.

This study examines the restorative caries treatment pattern in Danish 20-year-old military conscripts in 1986 and 1991. The study groups comprised 85 and 164 males born in 1966 and 1971, respectively. The examination was performed as a part of the routine for each conscript according to directions from Dental Service, Danish Defense Forces and included surface recording of fillings on all teeth except third molars. Two bitewing radiographs were taken of all conscripts in the 1986-group and of those who gave permission (59) in the 1991-group. The mean number of filled surfaces was 10.2 and 8.8 in 1986 and in 1991, respectively. 80% of the occlusal surfaces on permanent first molars were filled in the 1986-group and filled or sealed in the 1991-group in contrast to 45% of permanent second molars. Data from maxillary molars indicated a tendency to placement of fillings related to tooth specific morphology whereas extended fillings involving the entire occlusal surface dominated on mandibular molars. The X-ray examination disclosed that the majority of approximal molar surfaces were classified as sound in both study groups. Less than 1% of the approximal molar surfaces were recorded as having lesions penetrating deep into the dentin. In 1981 and in 1986 the participants in the study groups were 15 yr old. In these years the mean number of filled surfaces in Danish children amounted to 11.0 and 6.9 respectively, which indicates that very few lesions in need of operative treatment developed from age 15 to age 20 in both study groups.

Adolescent

Light-weight ocular prosthesis.

The authors propose a variation of the technique for making ocular protheses for large ophthalmic cavities introducing an expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) to the acrylic resin at the time of making the prosthetic sclera, aiming at reducing the weight of the prosthesis and thus improving mobility and aesthetics. This study compares the differences in weight, absorption of water and resistance to rupture by hydrostatic pressure of the pieces made of acrylic resin, chemically activated, heat activated and cross-linked by the proposed technique and by the technique for hollow ocular prothesis. The proposed technique presents advantages in manufacturing time and handling of the material.

Acrylic Resins

Dental plaque and caries on permanent first molar occlusal surfaces in relation to sagittal occlusion.

This study examines the influence of sagittal occlusion on occlusal plaque formation in permanent first molars (PFM) in 72 7-10-yr-olds before loss of primary second molars. Of a total of 288 PFM, 140 (49%) were sealed and 23 (8%) filled. Occlusal plaque was recorded at two levels of examination: 1) visible plaque on the entire surface and 2) detailed macromorphologic mapping. Enamel caries was recorded after professional tooth cleaning. After 48 h without tooth brushing, plaque examinations were repeated. Stone models were used for 1) identification of interocclusal contact areas and 2) classification of sagittal molar occlusion. The detailed mapping of plaque on unfilled surfaces showed a clear pattern of preferential locations related to the macromorphology of the occlusal surfaces. Active caries was restricted to those anatomic structures where plaque accumulated. 48-h median plaque values on mandibular molars in normal and with one cusp distal occlusion were significantly lower (P < 0.01) compared to surfaces in 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 distal molar occlusion. Maxillary molars with normal and with 1 cusp distal occlusion had lower median plaque values than other sagittal occlusion categories. In general, however, plaque scores were higher in maxillary teeth because more than 2/3 of these teeth were without occlusal contact in the distal part. Mandibular occlusal surfaces in normal and with one cusp distal occlusion had significantly fewer active lesions than teeth with 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 cusp distal occlusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chi-Square Distribution