Biological properties of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi essential oil

Abstract Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi green fruits essential oil (EO) was evaluated regarding its phytochemical profile, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, and toxicity. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was applied to identify its constituents, thereafter the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations, and its antibiofilm activity were evaluated. The EO cytotoxicity was assessed in tumor and non-tumor human cells, and in vivo toxicity was evaluated in a Galleria mellonella model. The major constituents of S. terebinthifolia EO were alpha-phellandrene and beta-phellandrene. The EO had a weak activity against all strains of Candida albicans (MIC 1000µg/mL) and had no activity against non-albicans strains, bacteria, and C. albicans biofilm. Cytostatic activity against all tumor cell lines was shown. Additionally, cell viability remained at EO concentrations up to 62.5 µg/mL. At 16 mg/mL, 50% hemolysis was observed, and it had low toxicity in vivo. Overall, the S. terebinthifolia EO was characterized by low antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities, with no evidence of toxicity to human tumor and non-tumor cells

Antifungal, antibiofilm, and antiproliferative activities of Guapira graciliflora Mart

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the antifungal, antibiofilm and antiproliferative activities of the extract from the leaves of Guapira graciliflora Mart. The phytochemical characterization of the extract was performed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The antimicrobial activity of the extract and its fractions was evaluated using the broth microdilution method against species of Candida. The inhibition of C. albicans biofilm was evaluated based on the number of colony-forming units (CFU) and metabolic activity (MTT). The antiproliferative activity of the extract and its fraction was evaluated in the presence of human tumor and non-tumor cells, and the cytotoxicity of the extract was determined on the RAW 264.7 macrophage line - both using the sulforhodamine B method. The phytochemical characterization indicated the presence of the flavonoids rutin and kaempferol. The extract and the methanol fraction exhibited moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. krusei, and C. glabrata, and strong activity against C. dubliniensis. In the biofilms at 24 and 48 hours, the concentration of 12500 µg/mL of the extract was the most effective at reducing the number of CFU s/mL (44.4% and 42.9%, respectively) and the metabolic activity of C. albicans cells (34.6% and 52%, respectively). The extract and its fractions had no antiproliferative effect on the tumor lines tested, with mean activity (log GI50) equal to or greater than 1.71 µg/mL. Macrophage cell viability remained higher than 80% for concentrations of the extract of up to 62.5 µg/mL. G. graciliflora has flavonoids in its chemical composition and demonstrates potential antifungal and antibiofilm activity, with no evidence of a significant change in the viability of human tumor and non-tumor cell lines.

Adesão ao Programa Suspirar nas Unidades Atenção Primária à Saúde do município de Juiz de Fora / Adhesion to the Sigh Program at the Primary Attention Health Care Units of the municipality of Juiz de Fora

A asma é a doença crônica de maior prevalência na infância, responsável por 2000 óbitos anualmente. Nesse contexto, em outubro de 2004 foi iniciado em Juiz de Fora, o Programa Suspirar, englobando crianças e adolescentes de zero a 19 anos. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a adesão das Unidades de Atenção Primária de Saúde de Juiz de Fora (UAPS)ao Programa Suspirar, dentre as quais 65,5% possuíam crianças e adolescentes cadastradas no Suspirar. Com relação à capacitação dos profissionais, 77,3% dos médicos envolvidos se consideravam plenamente capacitados para execução do programa. Houveram relatos de dificuldade no acesso ao nível secundário de saúde (encaminhamento ao pneumopediatra) para 23% dos questionários respondidos. Em relação à formação de grupos educativos, 86,4% das equipes de saúde não realizaram nenhuma atividade com esta finalidade. O cartão Suspirar foi distribuído somente por 42,9% das equipes. Através da análise de diversos fatores essenciais para o sucesso do Suspirar, constatou-se que a sua prática não é uniforme entre as unidades de saúde de Juiz de Fora. Portanto, ações devem ser instituídas para o desenvolvimento pleno do programa, contribuindo, assim, para melhorar a qualidade de vida da população asmática, como também para a otimização de custos do Sistema Única de Saúde.

Transfusion practices in a neonatal intensive care unit in a city in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Newborn infants are the most heavily transfused population inside intensive care units. The hemoglobin level used to indicate the need of transfusions is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate transfusional practices in newborns in the neonatal intensive care units of one specific city. METHODS: Red blood cell transfusion practices of all transfused newborns in all five of the neonatal intensive care units of the city were analyzed. Data are reported as descriptive statistics, including numbers and percentages and means and standard deviation. Univariate analysis, followed by stepwise logistic regression was performed in respect to transfusional data and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 949 patients were admitted to the intensive care units during the 12-month study period with 20.9% receiving at least one transfusion, most (62.4%) of whom received more than one transfusion. The mean number of transfusions per infant was 2.7 ± 2.16; in the liberal transfusion group the mean number was 1.59 ± 1.63 and in the restrictive group it was 1.08 ± 1.51. The mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were 9.0 g/dL (±1.4 g/dL) and 27.4% (±4.3%), respectively. The most common indications for blood transfusions were sepsis and prematurity. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the characteristics and the transfusion practices for newborns admitted in the neonatal intensive care units of Juiz de Fora are similar to recent pubications. There was no significant reduction in the number of transfusions per child in the restrictive group compared to the liberal group. Restrictive transfusions are an independent risk factor for peri-intraventricular hemorrhages and death...

Biological activities of a mixture of biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis and alkaline lipase from Fusarium oxysporum

In this study, we investigate the antimicrobial effects of a mixture of a biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis and an alkaline lipase from Fusarium oxysporum (AL/BS mix) on several types of microorganisms, as well as their abilities to remove Listeria innocua ATCC 33093 biofilm from stainless steel coupons. The AL/BS mix had a surface tension of around 30 mN.m-1, indicating that the presence of alkaline lipase did not interfere in the surface activity properties of the tensoactive component. The antimicrobial activity of the AL/BS mix was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) micro-assays. Among all the tested organisms, the presence of the mixture only affected the growth of B. subtilis CCT 2576, B. cereus ATCC 10876 and L. innocua. The most sensitive microorganism was B. cereus (MIC 0.013 mg.mL-1). In addition, the effect of the sanitizer against L. innocua attached to stainless steel coupons was determined by plate count after vortexing. The results showed that the presence of the AL/BS mix improved the removal of adhered cells relative to treatment done without the sanitizer, reducing the count of viable cells by 1.72 log CFU.cm-2. However, there was no significant difference between the sanitizers tested and an SDS detergent standard (p<0.05).

Control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (penz.) Sacc. In yellow passion fruit using Cymbopogon citratus essential oil

The use of antibiotics in agriculture is limited when compared to their applications in human and veterinary medicine. On the other hand, the use of antimicrobials in agriculture contributes to the drug resistance of human pathogens and has stimulated the search for new antibiotics from natural products. Essential oils have been shown to exert several biological activities including antibacterial and antifungal actions. The aim of this study was to determine the activity of 28 essential oils from medicinal plants cultivated at CPMA (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Collection), CPQBA/UNICAMP, against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc., the anthracnose agent in yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg), as well as evaluating their effect in the control of post-harvest decay. The oils were obtained by water-distillation using a Clevenger-type system and their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) determined by the micro-dilution method. According to the results, 15 of the 28 essential oils presented activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and the following four oils presented MIC values between 0.25 and 0.3 mg/mL: Coriandrum sativum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus and Lippia alba. The evaluation of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil in the control of post-harvest decay in yellow passion fruit showed that the disease index of the samples treated with the essential oil did not differ (P < 0.05) from that of the samples treated with fungicide. The present study shows the potential of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil in the control of the anthracnose agent in yellow passion fruit.

Purification and partial characterization of manganese peroxidase from Bacillus pumilus AND Paenibacillus sp

The production of manganese peroxidase (MnP) from Bacillus pumilus and Paenibacillus sp. was studied under absence and presence of the inducers indulin AT, guayacol, veratryl alcohol, lignosulfonic acid and lignosulfonic acid desulfonated. Indulin AT increased the activity of B. pumilus MnP up to 31.66 U/L after 8 h, but no improve was observed for Paenibacillus sp., which reached maximum activity (12.22 U/L) after 20 h. Both MnPs produced by these microorganisms were purified in phenyl sepharose resin and the proteins from crude extracts were eluted in two fractions. However, only the first fraction of each extract exhibited MnP activities. Tests in different pH and temperature values, from pH 5.0 to pH 10.0 and 30 ºC to 60 ºC, respectively, were carried out with the purified MnP. The maximum activity reached for B. pumilus and Paenibacillus sp. MnPs were 4.3 U/L at pH 8.0 and 25 ºC and 11.74 U/L at pH 9.0 and 35 ºC, respectively. The molar masses determined by SDS-PAGE gel eletrophoresis were 25 kDa and 40 kDa, respectively, for the purified enzyme from B. pumilus and Paenibacillus sp.

Use of Bacillus pumilus CBMAI 0008 and Paenibacillus sp. CBMAI 868 for colour removal from paper mill effluent / Emprego de Bacillus pumilus CBMAI 0008 e Paenibacillus sp. CBMAI 868 para remoção da cor do efluente da indústria papeleira

Bacillus pumilus and Paenibacillus sp. were applied on the paper mill effluent to investigate the colour remotion. Inocula were individually applied in effluent at pH 7.0, 9.0 and 11.0. The real colour and COD remotion after 48h at pH 9.0 were, respectively, 41.87% and 22.08% for B. pumilus treatment and 42.30% and 22.89% for Paenibacillus sp. Gel permeation chromatography was used to verify the molar masses of compounds in the non-treated and treated effluent, showing a decrease in the compounds responsible for the paper mill effluent colour.

Bacillus pumilus e Paenibacillus sp. foram aplicados separadamente no efluente da indústria papeleira a pH 7,0, 9,0 e 11,0, para verificação da remoção da cor e da DQO. As remoções da cor real e DQO após 48h a pH 9,0 foram, respectivamente, de 41,87% e 22,08% após o tratamento com B. pumilus e 42,30% e 22,89% após tratamento com Paenibacillus sp. As massas molares dos compostos presentes no efluente não tratado e tratado foram determinadas por cromatografia de permeação em gel. O emprego dos microrganismos reduziu os compostos responsáveis pela cor do efluente da indústria papeleira.

Diagnósticos diferenciais de Paracoccidioidomicose em Pediatria e seguimento de paciente portadora da doença / Differential diagnosis of Paracoccidioidomycosis in Pediatrics and follow-up of a case

O diagnóstico de Paracoccidioidomicose em criança de três anos e seis meses leva à discussão a respeito dos diagnósticos diferenciais da doença, bem como sobre o seguimento ambulatorial após o tratamento da fase aguda. No caso apresentado, chama atenção a demora no diagnóstico e tratamento específico, uma vez que a paracoccidioidomicose produz sintomas que mimetizam outras doenças de acordo com o(s) órgão(s) acometido(s). O diagnóstico definitivo foi obtido por meio de estudo anátomo-patológico. No tratamento, foram utilizados Sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima e Anfotericina B. Após a resolução da fase aguda, a criança foi encaminhada ao ambulatório de Infectologia Pediátrica para continuar em acompanhamento clínico.

The diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis in a 3-year-6-month-old child led to the discussion of its differential diagnosis and outpatient follow-up after treatment of the acute phase. In the case reported, because of the protean manifestations of the disease, according to the organ affected, there was a delay in the correct diagnosis and specific therapy. Histopathology gave the definitive diagnosis. Treatment was with cotrimoxazole and amphotericin B. After resolution of the acute phase, the child was referred to follow-up at the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Outpatient Service.

Susceptibility of Candida spp. Oral isolates for azolic antifungals and amphotericin B

Aims: Among the oral infections, candidosis may be considered the most frequent, and C. albicans the most prevalent species. Meanwhile, the non-albicans species may also be related to other infections processes and be able to affect the oral cavity, including periodontal disease. In this sense, understanding the relationship between Candida spp. and host, it is necessary and justified the search of mechanisms modulators of infections and treatments against diseases associated with these yeasts. Methods: Nineteen patients with periodontal disease were involved in this study. The aim was evaluate the susceptibility to azoles antifungals fluconozole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and the polienic anfotericin B against Candida spp isolated from three different sites of the oral cavity from these patients (periodontal disease, being periodontal pocket, oral mucosa and ridge gingival), by the minimum inhibitory concentration method – MIC. Results: Among the samples of C. albicans, 88% showed susceptibility depending on the concentration (SCD) and 3.6 % were resistant to at least one antifungal azole studied. Among the others species, 57% presented SDC and 42.8% showed resistance to at least one of the antifungal azole tested. Regarding to Anfotericin B, 90% of the C. albicans isolates and 3% of the nonalbicans showed resistance. There was no occurrence of resistance to the fluconazole and only 3.6% of C. albicans and 40% of the non-albicans were SDC to this antifungal. Conclusions: Patients with periondontal disease showed relevant levels of colonization by Candida spp, mainly at the oral mucosa and periodontal pocket showing important occurrence of SDC and resistance to the antifungals drugs tested.

Análise da biodegradação dos componentes do óleo cítrico por CG/EM e análise da população microbiana de um reator de lodo ativado no tratamento de água residuária de uma indústria cítrica / Analysis of biodegradation of citric oil compounds by GC/MSD and analysis of the microbial population of an activated sludge reactor in the treatment of a citric wastewater

Agua residuária da indústria cítrica foi utilizada como objeto de estudo de biodegradação através de um sistema de lodo ativado por batelada. As análises realizadas por CG/EM mostraram que os compostos provenientes do óleo de laranja como o limoneno, foram resistentes a biodegradação. A avaliação microbiológica realizada no decorrer do período mostrou que o número e tipo de colônias bacterianas variaram de acordo com o tempo, e pode ser observada uma sucessão de microrganismos durante a biodegradação do efluente cítrico. O microrganismo identificado como LAB-9 (Pseudomonas struzieri) e LAB-7 (não identificado) prevaleceram durante todo o processo, sugerindo que estes são organismos importantes para remoção da matéria orgânica no processo ou são melhores adaptados ao tipo de água residuária. O sistema de lodo ativado foi eficiente na redução de DBO e DQO, alcançando valores de 79 e 78 por cento respectivamente, num período de 15 h de reação, com uma relação F/M 4:2.

Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from aromatic plants used in Brazil

Oleos essenciais foram obtidos a partir das partes aéreas de Mentha piperita, M. spicata, Thymus vulgaris, Origanum vulgare, O. applii, Aloysia triphylla, Ocimum gratissimum e O. basilicum através de arraste de vapor em sistema tipo Clevenger. Os óleos foram avaliados quanto à atividade antimicrobiana contra bactérias e contra a levedura Candida albicans pelo método de bioautografia. A concentração mínima inibitória dos óleos com atividade positiva foi em seguida determinada pelo método da microdiluição. De acordo com os resultados, a maioria dos óleos essenciais estudados foram efetivos contra Enterococcus faecium e Salmonella cholerasuis. A.triphylla e O. basilicum apresentaram inibição moderada contra Staphylococcus aureus enquanto apenas A. tryphila e M. piperita foram capazes de inibir a levedura Candida albicans. Os óleos foram analisados quimicamente por técnicas de CG e CG-EM de modo a determinar os compostos majoritários presentes.

Cisto broncogênico simulando asma brônquica em criança / Brochongenic cyst mimicking asthma in an infant

O cisto broncogênico é a lesão cística mais comum do mediastino. Algumas de suas manifestações clínicas ocorrem por compressão das vias aéreas. Uma forma incomum de apresentação é o caráter recorrente dos sintomas obstrutivos, assemelhando-se a asma brônquica. Os autores relatam e discutem caso de cisto broncogênico simulando asma em uma criança, onde a retirada da lesão possibilitou a remissão completa dos sintomas

Leucemia linfocítica aguda: análise da proporção de hemoculturas positivas em neutropênicos febris e microrganismos mais frequentes em Pediatria / Acute lymphocytic leukemia: analysis of the proportion of positive blood cultures in febrile patients with neutropena and more frequently found organisms in pediatrics

A leucemia linfocítica aguda é a neoplasia mais frequente da infância, predominando no sexo masculino e na faixa etária abaixo dos 20 anos. As principais causas de óbitos nestes pacientes são as hemorragias e as infecções. A maioria dos processos infecciosos ocorre em vigência de neutropenia. Neste estudo retrospectivo, foram avaliados 36 pacientes portadores de leucemia linfocítica aguda, em vigência de neutropenia e febre, dos quais foram obtidas culturas de sangue antes da introdução da terapia empírica antimicrobiana. A proporção de hemoculturas positivas foi 31,0% sendo os principais agentes encontrados, Staphylococcus coagulase negativa e Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Characterization of alkaline xylanases from "Bacillus pumilus"

Alkaline xylanases produced by four different strains of "Bacillus pumilus" were characterized. The optimal pH and temperature were pH 9.0 and 60ºC for strain 13(a), and pH 8.0 and 55ºC for strains 5(2), 5(14), and 4(a). Under these conditions the following activities were found after 10 min in the presence of 1(per cent) xylan (birchwood): 328 U.ml(-1), 131 U.ml(-1), 90 U.ml(-1), and 167 U.ml(-1), respectively, for the four strains. The enzymes were stable at 40ºC, with 40(per cent) of the xylanase activity remaining after 2 hours for the enzymes of strain 5(2) and 60(per cent) for the other three strains. Stability at 50ºC was improved by addition of glycerol. Taking into account the conditions under which kraft pulps are bleached during the manufacture of paper xylanases from "B. pumilus" exhibit favorable potential for application to bleaching in the paper making process.