The purpose of this paper was to define the histologic distrito the endemic (African) and sporadic forms of Burkitt lymbution, clinical features, and treatment response of childhood phoma, which differ in their clinical presentation, regional non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in northeastern Brazil. We incidence, association with Epstein-Barr virus, and biologic Patients and methodsThere was a striking predominance of the small noncleaved cell (Burkitt) subtype, which occurred in 92 of the 98 children and adolescents diagnosed with NHL. Subsequent analyses Between January 1980 and October 1987, a total of 98 chilfocused on these patients. The majority (n = 84) had advanced dren were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the parental refusal/abandonment of therapy (10%). Epstein-BarrDiagnostic imaging studies were performed as indicated. virus (EBV) was detected in tumor cells from eight of the 11The pathologic diagnosis was established by histologic Of the 98 patients evaluated during the study period, 92 had small noncleaved cell histology. There were only five cases of lymphoblastic lymphoma and one of large cell histology. Having confirmed the predominance of Burkitt lymIntroduction phoma among the pediatric patients with NHL, we then focused on these 92 cases. Records were reviewed to evaluate The non-Hodgkin lymphomas of childhood are predominantly clinical and biological features, type of treatment, and outhigh-grade extranodal tumors that include the lymphoblastic, come. When sufficient paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was large cell, and small noncleaved cell subtypes. 1 The relative available, in situ RNA/RNA cytohybridization using plasmids frequency of these subtypes varies with geographic location.containing EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA was performed In the United States, the distribution is almost equal, 2 whereas at St Jude Children's Research Hospital to detect the presence small noncleaved cell tumors (Burkitt lymphoma) account for of Epstein-Barr virus DNA. 6 In these cases, the histologic diagthe majority of childhood NHLs in equatorial Africa. 3,4 In nosis was also reviewed and confirmed by a pediatric hematonortheastern Brazil -an area in which we have established a pathologist at St Jude (CWB). cooperative clinical program -anecdotal evidence suggests an increased overall incidence of lymphoma. However, to our knowledge, there have been no reports focusing on pediatric Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphomas in this region. TreatmentWe noted an apparent predominance of the small noncleaved cell histology among children treated for NHL at a There were two distinct treatment periods. From 1980 to major pediatric cancer center in Recife, Brazil. In the present 1983, all consenting patients were treated with induction study, we evaluated the accuracy of this clinical impression chemotherapy similar to that used in the LSA 2 L 2 regimen and assessed long-term treatment outcome. We also sought to described by Wollner et al, 7 followed by maintenance therapy determine the relationship of the small noncleaved...

No abstract

Abstract:In 2009 the Brazilian Ministry of Health published a document named RENISUS that lists 71 herbs traditionally used in Brazil that could result in phytomedicines to be dispensed by the governmental health care program. This manuscript reviews female reproductive and/or developmental toxicity information of these herbs. More than half (35) of the herbs lack information regarding female reproductive and/or developmental effects. From the fourteen herbs used traditionally to disturb female reproduction, five present experimental data corroborating their actions as abortifacients (Maytenus ilicifolia, Momordica charantia, Plectranthus barbatus, Ruta graveolens) or labour facilitator (Bidens pilosa). For 23 of the herbs evaluated experimentally for any type of female reproductive endpoint, only a single study was retrieved and at least twelve of these studies were conducted with a single dose. This scenario suggests that the scientific power of the published information is very low and that a scientifically-based risk/benefit analysis about the use of these herbs during pregnancy is not possible. Considering the appeal that phytomedicines have for pregnant women, usually aware and afraid of the risks that synthetic drugs may have in their pregnancy and progeny, well designed studies evaluating reproductive and/or developmental toxicity of these herbs urge.

No abstract

Passiflora incarnata is marketed in many countries as a phytomedicine. Even though the directions of most marketed phytomedicines recommend them to be used under medical supervision, reproductive and developmental studies are sparse and not mandatory for regulatory purposes. In this study, a reproductive toxicity evaluation of P. incarnata was conducted in Wistar rats gavaged (30 or 300 mg/kg) during pregnancy and lactation. Moreover, considering that antioxidant properties have been attributed to flavonoids present in the genus Passiflora, it was also evaluated the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in the plasma of these dams and the antioxidant potential in an in vitro test. P. incarnata treatment did not influence dams´ body weight as well as reproductive (gestation length, post-implantation loss, litter size, litter weight) and hepatic (albumin, AST, ALT, GGT) parameters. The antioxidant property of P. incarnata was evidenced both in vivo (increase in the total antioxidant plasmatic potential) and in vitro (decrease in neutrophil-induced respiratory burst). The results from the present study indicate that under the experimental conditions evaluated, P. incarnata treatment during gestation and lactation presented antioxidant activity in the absence of maternal reproductive toxicity.Uniterms: Phytomedicines/evaluation. Passiflora incarnata/use in pregnancy. Passiflora incarnata/ use in lactation. Passiflora incarnata/reproductive toxicity/experimental study. Pregnancy/use of phytomedicines. Lactation/use of phytomedicines. Oxidative stress.Passiflora incarnata é comercializada em muitos países como fitoterápico. Embora a bula da maioria dos fitoterápicos recomende que eles sejam usados sob supervisão médica, estudos sobre a toxicidade reprodutiva e do desenvolvimento desses produtos são raros e não obrigatórios para fins regulatórios. Neste estudo, realizamos uma avaliação da toxicidade reprodutiva da P. incarnata, administrada a ratas Wistar (30 ou 300 mg/kg, gavagem) durante a gestação e a lactação. Além disso, considerando as propriedades antioxidantes que têm sido atribuídas aos flavonoides presentes no gênero Passiflora, também avaliou-se o equilíbrio antioxidante/pró-oxidante no plasma destas fêmeas e conduziu-se um teste in vitro para avaliar o potencial antioxidante. O tratamento com P. incarnata não influenciou o peso corporal das fêmeas, bem como indicadores de toxicidade reprodutiva (perdas pós-implantação, número de filhotes vivos e peso da ninhada) e os parâmetros de função hepática (albumina, AST, ALT, GGT). A propriedade antioxidante da P. incarnata foi evidenciada tanto in vivo (aumento do potencial antioxidante total plasmático) quanto in vitro (diminuição do burst respiratório em neutrófilos). Os resultados deste estudo indicam que, nas condições experimentais avaliadas, o tratamento com P. incarnata durante a gestação e lactação apresentou efeito antioxidante, na ausência de toxicidade reprodutiva materna.Unitermos: Fitoterápicos/avaliação. Passiflora incarnata/uso na gestação. Passiflora inca...