New possibilities for chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis treatment: identification of two compounds from the MMV Pathogen Box® that present synergism with itraconazole

BACKGROUND Black fungi of the Herpotrichiellaceae family are agents of chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. There are few therapeutic options for these infections and it is common to associate antifungal drugs in their treatment. OBJECTIVES To investigate the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Pathogen Box® for possible compounds presenting synergism with antifungal drugs used to treat black fungal infections. METHODS An initial screening of the Pathogen Box® compounds was performed in combination with itraconazole or terbinafine at sub-inhibitory concentrations against Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Hits were further tested against eight Herpotrichiellaceae using the checkerboard method. FINDINGS No synergism was observed with terbinafine. MMV687273 (SQ109) and MMV688415 showed synergism with itraconazole against F. pedrosoi. Synergism of these compounds was confirmed with some black fungi by the checkerboard method. SQ109 and itraconazole presented synergism for Exophiala dermatitidis, F. pedrosoi, F. monophora and F. nubica, with fungicidal activity for F. pedrosoi and F. monophora. MMV688415 presented synergism with itraconazole only for F. pedrosoi, with fungicidal activity. The synergic compounds had high selectivity index values when combined with itraconazole. MAIN CONCLUSIONS These compounds in combination, particularly SQ109, are promising candidates to treat Fonsecaea spp. and E. dermatitidis infections, which account for most cases of chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis.

Fonoaudiologia e nutrição em ambiente hospitalar: análise de terminologia de classificação das consistências alimentares / Speech-Language and Nutritional Sciences in hospital environment: analysis of terminology of food consistencies classification

RESUMO Objetivos: Verificar se há concordância entre fonoaudiólogos e nutricionistas na classificação de consistências alimentares utilizadas em hospitais e as opiniões sobre as possíveis consequências das divergências nessa classificação. Métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal com 30 fonoaudiólogos e 30 nutricionistas que trabalhavam em 14 hospitais da rede pública e/ou privada de Belo Horizonte. Os profissionais responderam um questionário elaborado pelas pesquisadoras e classificaram cinco alimentos, com e sem direcionamento teórico. Empregaram-se os testes estatísticos Exato de Fisher e Z para comparação de proporções, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Tanto fonoaudiólogos (100%) quanto nutricionistas (90%) percebem divergência nas classificações, sendo que, respectivamente, 86,2% e 100% acreditam que essa divergência pode prejudicar a recuperação dos pacientes. O risco de aspiração de alimento foi o prejuízo mais citado. Para a classificação geral das consistências alimentares, a maior parte dos profissionais (88,5%) sugeriu de quatro a seis termos. Quanto à terminologia utilizada na classificação dos alimentos apresentados sem direcionamento teórico, os profissionais citaram 49 termos e concordaram apenas na classificação do sólido e do líquido. Com o direcionamento teórico, os profissionais concordaram também na classificação do pastoso grosso e do pastoso fino. Conclusão: Tanto fonoaudiólogos quanto nutricionistas reconhecem divergências na classificação das consistências alimentares e o consequente risco de prejuízos à recuperação do paciente. A utilização do direcionamento teórico aumentou a concordância entre os profissionais.

ABSTRACT Purpose To verify if there is an agreement between speech-language pathologists and nutritionists about the classification of food textures used in hospitals and their opinions about the possible consequences of differences in this classification. Methods This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with 30 speech-language pathologists and 30 nutritionists who worked in 14 hospitals of public and/or private network in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The professionals answered a questionnaire, prepared by the researchers, and classified five different foods, with and without theoretical direction. The data were analyzed using Fisher's exact and Z -tests to compare ratios with a 5% significance level. Results Both speech-language therapists (100%) and nutritionists (90%) perceive divergence in the classification and, 86.2% and 100% of them, respectively, believe that this difference may affect the patients' recovery. Aspiration risk was the most mentioned problem. For the general classification of food textures, most of the professionals (88.5%) suggested four to six terms. As to the terminology used in the classification of food presented without theoretical direction, the professionals cited 49 terms and agreed only in the solid and liquid classifications. With theoretical direction, the professionals also agreed in the classification of thick and thin paste. Conclusion Both the professionals recognized divergences in the classification of food textures and the consequent risk of damage to patient's recovery. The use of theoretical direction increased the agreement between these professionals.

Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil from Cuba and Brazil against housefly / Composição química e atividade inseticida do óleo essencial de Cymbopogon citratus de Brasil e Cuba contra mosca doméstica

Essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus collected from Brazil and Cuba was tested to a chemical characterization and then was tested on the post-embryonic development of Musca domestica. The chemical composition analysis by GC-MS of the oils from Brazil/Cuba allowed the identification of 13 and 12 major constituents respectively; nine of them common to both. In the both oils, the main components were the isomers geranial and neral, which together form the compound citral. This corresponds to a total of 97.92%/Brazil and 97.69%/Cuba of the compounds identified. The monoterpene myrcene, observed only in the sample of Cuba, presented a large relative abundance (6.52%). The essential oil of C. citratus (Brazil/Cuba) was dissolved in DMSO and tested at concentrations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% and citral was prepared by mixing 16.8 mg with 960 µL DMSO. Both essential oils and monoterpene citral were applied topically to newly-hatched larvae (1µL/larva). The results showed a lethal concentration (LC50) of 4.25 and 3.24% for the Brazilian and Cuban essential oils, respectively. Mortalities of larval and newly-hatched larvae to adult periods were dose-dependent for the two both oils as for monoterpene citral, reaching 90%. Both essential oils and citral caused morphological changes in adult specimens.

O óleo essencial de Cymbopogon citratus, coletado no Brasil e em Cuba, foi caracterizado quimicamente e testado no desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Musca domestica. A análise da composição química dos óleos essenciais (Brasil/Cuba), por Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massa (GC-EM), permitiu a identificação de 13 e 12 componentes principais, respectivamente; nove deles comuns aos dois. Em ambos os óleos, os principais componentes foram os isômeros geranial e neral, que, juntos, formam o composto citral. Esse corresponde a um total de 97,92%/Brasil e 97,69%/Cuba dos compostos identificados. O monoterpeno mirceno, observado na amostra cubana, apresentou grande abundância relativa (6,52%). O óleo de C. citratus (Brasil/Cuba) foi dissolvido em DMSO, obtendo–se as concentrações de 5, 10, 25, 75 e 100%; e o citral (16,8 mg) foi misturando com 960mL de DMSO. Tanto o óleo essencial como o monoterpeno citral foram aplicados topicamente nas neolarvas (1µL/larva). Os resultados mostraram uma concentração letal (CL50) de 4,25% e 3,24% para o óleo essencial brasileiro e cubano, respectivamente. As mortalidades do período larval e o de neo-larva a adulto foram dose-dependentes, tanto para os óleos como para o monoterpeno citral, podendo chegar a 90%. Ambos os óleos essenciais e citral causaram alterações morfológicas nos espécimes adultos.

Quantitative determination by HPLC of iridoids in the bark and latex of himatanthus sucuuba

The main iridoids from the bark and latex of Himatanthus sucuuba were isolated and characterised by spectroscopic methods. HPLC was used for the quantitative analyses of these iridoids and the chromatograms of bark and latex showed a similar iridoid composition. Both parts of the plant are used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments.

Os iridóides principais das cascas e látex de Himatanthus sucuuba foram isolados e caracterizados por métodos espectroscópicos. CLAE foi utilizada para a análise quantitativa desses iridóides e os cromatogramas da casca e do látex apresentaram uma composição semelhante de iridóides. Ambas as partes da planta são utilizadas na medicina popular para o tratamento de várias doenças.