The activity of propolis against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections

Abstract Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by bees from the buds or other parts of plants. It is known for having various biological properties, including antifungal activity. Among the substances present in propolis, flavonoids and phenolic acids and their esters are responsible for its antifungal properties. This means that propolis is ideal for use as an antifungal agent in alternative medicine to treat a number of both topical and systemic infections caused by Candida species and other yeast-like fungi, dermatophyte and nondermatophyte moulds, without the serious side effects typical of synthetic treatment. It is also active against strains of fungi that are resistant to polyenes and azoles, the classes of drugs most commonly used to treat fungal infections. In this article, we review current knowledge about the activity of propolis from different parts of the world and its components in vitro and in vivo against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections. The article also indicates the possible mechanism of antifungal activity of propolis and its components.

Risk index and early-warning model of H7N9 human infections / 预防医学

Objective To establish the risk index of early-warning on the human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus. Methods The risk index (X) was calculated by using Principal Component Analysis based on the surveillance results (including the positive rates of environmental specimens and premises) during the period from April 2013 to March 2017 in Zhejiang Province. Then, the method of Classification and Regression Trees was used to establish the early-warning model for forewarning the epidemic situation of H7N9 human infections. Results The weights of two rates (the positive rates of specimens and premises) used to establish the risk index were 0.0545 and 0.0230 respectively. In the model of Classification and Regression Trees, risk index was divided into 4 grades: X ≤0.140, 0.140<X ≤0.757, 0.757<X ≤3.285 and X>3.285. Compared to the 1st grade, the risk ratios of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades were 7.4, 21.7 and 29.9 respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of prediction were 86.1％ , 80.8％ and 87.3％ respectively, and the Kappa value was 0.592 . Conclusion The established risk index can be used to forewarn the H7N9 human infections, which is helpful for emergency preparedness and disease control.

Reflection on lemology teaching from the human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The advent of human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9)and the emerging communicable disease has brought us profound thoughts on lemology teaching recently. We analyzed the exiting challenges of lemology teaching, including great changes in communicable diseases com-posing but limited class hours, decreasing of communicable diseases cases, medical students' psycho-logical apprehension, lack of teachers, more and more requirements in the prevention and treatment for communicable diseases from the public, etc. Several suggestions on how to further improve the lemology teaching quality were proposed including adjusting the curriculum arrangement, paing atten-tion to accumulate teaching cases, applying multi-media materials, taking full advantage of the teach-ing cases from specialized hospital, teaching students knowledge about themselves protection, improv-ing the quality of young teachers, emphasizing discipline characteristics and the importance of public health, reforming the teaching method and promoting the effect of teaching in communicable diseases.

Infecções humanas causadas por poxvirus relacionados ao vírus vaccinia no Brasil / Human infections caused by vaccinia-like poxviruses in Brazil

A partir de 1999, infecções humanas por Orthopoxvirus vem sendo observadas em pelo menos oito estados no país, com a formação de vesículas as quais evoluem para pústulas e crostas, principalmente nos membros superiores e face, após contacto com bovinos apresentando lesões semelhantes no úbere. Alem das lesões na pele, foram descritas nos pacientes reações ganglionares axilares por vezes dolorosas, febre, cefaléia, fadiga, desidratação, anorexia, sudorese, artralgia e mialgia, evoluindo o quadro por três a quatro semanas. Lesão vulvar bem como transmissão intrafamiliar foram igualmente descritas. Estudos moleculares demonstraram que os poxvirus identificados são geneticamente relacionados a amostras do vírus vaccinia utilizadas no passado, nas campanhas de vacinação. Especimens clínicos de 80 infecções humanas foram estudados no laboratório e a infecção por orthopoxvirus confirmada em 68 casos. São apresentadas lesões observadas em pacientes bem como discutidas as implicações desta zoonose no Brasil.

Since 1999, human infection caused by Orthopoxvirus has been observed in at least eight Brazilian states, with the presence of vesicles that evolve to pustules and crusts, especially on the hands, arms and face, after contact with cows showing comparable lesions on the udder. In addition to the skin lesions, there have been descriptions of patients with axillary ganglionic reactions that are sometimes painful, along with fever, headache, fatigue, dehydration, anorexia, sudoresis, arthralgia and muscle pain. The condition evolves over a three to four-week period. Vulvar lesions and transmission within families have also been described. Molecular studies have shown that the poxviruses identified are genetically related to vaccinia virus samples that were used in vaccination campaigns in the past. Clinical specimens from 80 human infections were studied in the laboratory, and orthopoxvirus infections were confirmed in 68 cases. The lesions observed in these patients are presented and the implications of this zoonosis in Brazil are discussed.