"In vitro" antifungal activity of ozonized sunflower oil on yeasts from onychomycosis

The "In vitro" antifungal activity of ozonized sunflower oil (Bioperoxoil®) was tested on 101 samples of yeasts originating from onychomycosis using the disk diffusion method. The oil was efficacious against several clinical fungal strains: Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans, Trichosporonasahii, Candida tropicalis and Candida guilliermondii.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-a for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been increasingly performed for a variety of hematologic diseases. Clinically significant acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs in 9 to 50 percent of patients who receive allogeneic grafts, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. There is no standard therapy for patients with acute GVHD who do not respond to steroids. Studies have shown a possible benefit of anti-TNF-a (infliximab)for the treatment of acute GVHD. We report here on the outcomes of 10 recipients of related or unrelated stem cell transplants who received 10 mg/kg infliximab, iv, once weekly for a median of 3.5 doses (range: 1-6) for the treatment of severe acute GVHD and who were not responsive to standard therapy. All patients had acute GVHD grades II to IV (II = 2, III = 3, IV = 5). Overall, 9 patients responded and 1 patient had progressive disease. Among the responders, 3 had complete responses and 6 partial responses. All patients with cutaneous or gastrointestinal involvement responded, while only 2 of 6 patients with liver disease showed any response. None of the 10 patients had any kind of immediate toxicity. Four patients died, all of them with sepsis. Six patients are still alive after a median follow-up time of 544 days (92-600) after transplantation. Considering the severity of the cases and the bad prognosis associated with advanced acute GVHD, we find our results encouraging. Anti-TNF-a seems to be a useful agent for the treatment of acute GVHD.

Monensina na engorda de novilhos mestiços Zebu X Angus sob pastejo / Monensin for finishing of crossbred steers on pasture

Estudou-se o efeito da monensina adicionada ao suplemento mineral sobre o peso de bovinos mestiços, criados sob pastejo, e seus efeitos sobre os rendimentos da carcaça. O trabalho foi conduzido no município de Carlos Chagas, MG, de agosto de 1994 a janeiro de 1995. Utilizaram-se 82 animais inteiros, mestiços Zebu X Europeu (14 1/4 europeu, filhos de touro P; 32 1/2 europeu, filhos de touros L e 36 1/4 europeu, filhos de touro SS) com peso e idade médios iniciais, respectivamente, de 350kg e 18 meses. Os 82 animais foram seqüencialmente sorteados dentro de peso inicial, touro ou grau de sangue em três tratamentos: T1 (n=28), grupo-controle; T2 (n=26), recebendo 3 por cento de rumensin (10 por cento de monensina) adicionado ao suplemento mineral (18 por cento de NaCl, 16 por cento de farelo de algodäo, 15 por cento de farelo de milho, 5 por cento de melaço, 20 por cento de uréia, 12 por cento de farinha de osso, 12,8 por cento de ortofosfato e 1,2 por cento de microminerais); T3 (n=28), idem ao T2, adicionado de 3 por cento de levedura de cana de açúcar (palatabilizante). Todos os animais permaneceram em pastagens de coloniäo. Näo houve diferença (P>0,05) no peso final dos animais dos grupos T1 e T2, mas os do grupo T3 apresentaram ganho de peso superior (P<0,01). O peso médio final foi de 510,19ñ3,01kg para T1; 505,84ñ3,14kg para T2 e 522,47ñ3,00kg para T3 (P<0,01). Animais filhos do touro P apresentaram peso médio final de 516,78ñ4,24kg comparado com 515,55ñ2,73 e 506,16ñ2,64kg, respectivamente, para touros L e SS (P<0,05). Näo se observou efeito da monensina (P>0,05) sobre o rendimento da carcaça