Antibacterial and antifungal activity of curcumin and methylene blue associated with laser on bacterial and fungal strains

Objective:To analyze the effect of methylene blue and 10% curcumin in fungi and bacteria through an in vitrostudy using photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods:Curcumin and methylene blue were photosensitized by a Photon Lase III laser applied for 90 s in a dark environment within a laminar flow chamber. Enterococcus faecalisand Candida albicans strains were cultured and standardized.Then, a minimum inhibitoryconcentration (MIC) assay was conducted for these photosensitizers, with concentration variations and incubation to evaluate their antimicrobial activity. Results:With PDT, Curcumin had significant antibacterial activity against E. faecalis (MIC = 250 µg/mL).In contrast, methylene blue had antibacterial activity against E. faecalis (MIC < 12.5 µg/mL with PDT) and antifungal activity against C. albicans (MIC <12.5 µg/mL with or without PDT).Both agents showed greater efficacy in the presence of the laser.The results suggest that curcumin and methylene blue associated with laser may effectively treat microbial infections. Conclusion:Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using these agents in animal and human models and theireffectiveness against different bacterial and fungal strains.

Videogravação e videofeedback no ensino-aprendizagem de habilidades de exame físico / Video recording and videofeedback in teaching-learning of physical examination skills

Resumo: Introdução: O ensino de habilidades de exame físico, parte integrante e obrigatória dos currículos de escolas médicas, ocorre, tradicionalmente, com uma abordagem baseada na "demonstração e prática", e, embora existam outros modelos, não há, até o momento, nenhuma evidência de que um seja superior ao outro. Inovações nessa área são apontadas como caminho para suprir as deficiências de ensino-aprendizagem. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivos descrever a incorporação da videogravação e do videofeedback no ensino-aprendizagem de habilidades de exame físico e avaliar a eficácia desses recursos. Método: Foi realizado um estudo historicamente controlado antes e depois da intervenção com alunos do primeiro ano de um curso de Medicina. O grupo de intervenção, em que se aplicaram a videogravação e o videofeedback, foi constituído de 91 alunos do semestre 2019.2, e o grupo controle contou com 72 alunos do semestre 2018.1. Ambas as turmas realizaram duas avaliações teóricas somativas (T1 e T2) e duas práticas, no formato de um exame clínico objetivo estruturado (OSCE). Na análise estatística comparativa das notas de ambas as turmas, utilizaram-se os testes não paramétricos da soma de postos de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney. Resultado: A mediana das notas das avaliações práticas (primeiro e segundo OSCEs) de 2019 foram maiores do que as de 2018. Constatou-se ainda que a turma de 2019 teve uma evolução positiva das suas notas práticas passando de uma mediana de 11,6 no primeiro OSCE para 13,85 no segundo OSCE, o que também ocorreu com as provas teóricas (p < 0,05). Já na turma de 2018, houve queda da mediana das notas da T1 para T2 e do primeiro OSCE para o segundo OSCE, mas sem significância estatística. Conclusão: A incorporação da videogravação e videofeedback no ensino-aprendizagem de habilidades de exame físico entre graduandos do primeiro ano do curso de Medicina, em ambientes simulados, mostrou-se efetiva na melhora do desempenho dos discentes em avaliações teóricas e práticas. Essa abordagem se mostra ainda como meio de desenvolvimento e aplicação de uma aprendizagem motora observacional, reflexiva, experiencial e da metacognição no ensino-aprendizagem de habilidades de exame físico entre estudantes de Medicina.

Abstract: Introduction: Physical examination skills, an integral and mandatory part of medical school curricula, are traditionally taught through an approach based on "demonstration and practice", and although other models exist, there is, to date, no evidence that one is superior to the other. Innovations in this area are pointed out as a way to supply deficiencies in teaching and learning. Objectives: To describe the incorporation of video recording and video feedback in the teaching-learning of physical examination skills and to evaluate the effectiveness of such approach. Method: A historically controlled study was carried out before and after the intervention with students in the first year of a medical course. The intervention group, in which video recording and video feedback was applied, consisted of 91 students from semester 2019.2 and the control group had 72 students from semester 2018.1. Both classes underwent two summative theoretical (T1 and T2) and two practical assessments, in the format of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). In the comparative statistical analysis of the grades of both classes, the non-parametric Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney rank test was used. Results: The median of the marks of the practical evaluations (1st and 2nd OSCE) of the 2019 class were higher than those of 2018. It was also found that the class of 2019 showed a positive evolution in its practical marks, with the median score increasing from 11.6 in the 1st OSCE to 13.85 in the 2nd OSCE, which also happened with the theoretical tests (p <0.05). In the class of 2018, there was a drop in the median mark from T1 to T2 and from the 1st OSCE to the 2nd OSCE, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: The incorporation of video recording and video feedback in teaching-learning physical examination skills among first-year medical students, in simulated environments, proved to be effective in improving student performance in both theoretical and practical assessments. This approach is also shown as a means of developing and applying observational, reflective, experiential and metacognition motor learning in the teaching-learning of physical examination skills among medical students.