Antifungal Susceptibility and Candida sp. Biofilm Production in Clinical Isolates of HIV-Positive Brazilian Patients under HAART Therapy.

The aim of the present study was to characterize biofilms formed by Candida spp. clinical isolates (n = 19), isolated from the oral mucosa of HIV-positive patients. For characterizing the biofilms formed by several Candida sp. strains, isolated from HIV-positive patients, in terms of formed biomass, matrix composition and antifungal susceptibility profile, clinical isolates (n = 19) were collected from oral mucosa and identified. The biofilm of the samples was cultured with fluconazole (1250 mg/L), voriconazole (800 mg/L), anidulafungin (2 mg/L) or amphotericin B (2 mg/L). Afterwards, the quantification of the total biomass was performed using crystal violet assay, while the proteins and carbohydrates levels were quantified in the matrix. The results showed a predominance of C. albicans, followed by C. krusei. Around 58% of the Candida spp. biofilm had susceptibility to fluconazole and voriconazole (800 mg/L), 53% to anidulafungin and 74% to amphotericin B. C. krusei presented both the lowest and the highest biofilm matrix contents in polysaccharides and proteins. The low resistance to antifungal agents reported here was probably due to the fact that none of the participants had a prolonged exposure to these antifungals. A predominance of less virulent Candida spp. strains with low or no resistance to antifungals was observed. This can be attributed to a low fungal selective pressure. This most probably happened due to a low fungal selective pressure but also due to a good adherence to HAART therapy, which guarantees a stable and stronger immune patient response.

Characterization of Oral Candida spp. Biofilms in Children and Adults Carriers from Eastern Europe and South America.

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans Candida species (NCACs) are known to colonize and invade various tissues, including the oral mucosa. In this work, we aimed to characterize mature biofilms of several Candida spp. clinical isolates (n = 33) obtained from the oral mucosa of children, adults, and elders of Eastern Europe and South America. METHODS: Each strain was evaluated for its capacity to form biofilms in terms of total biomass using the crystal violet assay and for matrix components production (proteins and carbohydrates) using the BCA and phenol-sulfuric tests, respectively. The effect of different antifungals on biofilm formation was studied. RESULTS: in the children's group, a predominance of C. krusei (81%) was observed, while, among adults, the main species was C. albicans (59%). Most strains showed a reduced response to antimicrobial drugs when in biofilm form (p < 0.01). Moreover, it was observed that strains isolated from children produced more matrix, with higher levels of protein and polysaccharides. CONCLUSIONS: children were more likely to be infected by NCACs than adults. More importantly, these NCACs were able to form biofilms richer in matrix components. This finding is of clinical importance, particularly in pediatric care, since stronger biofilms are highly associated with antimicrobial resistance, recurrent infections, and higher therapeutic failure.

Avaliação do crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil e fatores de risco de um município que integra uma universidade brasileira de cunho internacional / Evaluation of childhood growth and development and risk factors of a municipality that is part of an international brazilian university / Evaluación de los factores de crecimiento y desarrollo infantil y de riesgo de un municipio que forma parte de una universidad brasileña internacional

Fatores de risco, incluindo os de cunho materno, interferem no crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil. Nesse sentido, o conhecimento desses fatores e avaliação ade- quada desses processos são necessários para articulação de estratégias preventivas de transtornos futuros. Assim, o estudo visou investigar o crescimento e desenvolvimento de crianças atendidas em consulta de puericultura em unidades básicas de saúde de um mu- nicípio cearense, que integra uma universidade brasileira de cunho internacional, e seus fatores de risco. Trata-se de estudo observacional, analítico, transversal e de abordagem quantitativa, conduzido com crianças e suas mães no Centro de Saúde de Acarape e Posto de Saúde São Benedito (Acarape ­ CE), no período de fevereiro a julho de 2021. Após consentimento, as mães preencheram um questionário, seguido de avaliação do cresci- mento e desenvolvimento das crianças. Os dados obtidos foram analisados. Das 70 crian- ças, 50,00% (n = 17) e 51,43% (n = 18) dos meninos e meninas tinham baixa estatura para idade, respectivamente. Para o desenvolvimento psicossocial, dos 284 testes condu- zidos, 86,27% (n = 245) foram realizados em plenitude pelas crianças. Observou-se as- sociação significativa entre a gestante ter concebido o filho com, no mínimo, 9 meses de período gestacional e esse apresentar relação Peso/Idade adequada e Estatura/Idade ina- dequada. Houve associação significativa entre a criança não ingerir refresco em pó e apre- sentar relação Peso/Idade adequada. Conclui-se que as crianças tinham idade gestacional adequada e apresentavam estado nutricional apropriado, apesar da baixa estatura para idade. Manifestavam desenvolvimento psicossocial, de linguagem e físico normais. Sobre os fatores de risco, esses envolveram os de cunho materno e o consumo de alimentos cariogênicos.

Risk factors, including maternal ones, interfere with child growth and de- velopment. In this sense, knowledge of these factors and adequate evaluation of these processes are necessary to articulate preventive strategies for future disorders. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the growth and development of children seen in childcare con- sultations in primary health units in Ceará, part of a Brazilian university of international character, and their risk factors. This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted with children and their mothers at the Acarape Health Center and São Benedito Health Center (Acarape ­ CE), from February to July 2021. After consent, the mothers completed a questionnaire, followed by an assessment of the children's growth and development. The data obtained were analyzed. Of the 70 children, 50.00% (n = 17) and 51.43% (n = 18) of the boys and girls were short for their age, respectively. Of the 284 tests conducted for psychosocial development, 86.27% (n = 245) were entirely performed by the children. A significant association was observed between the pregnant woman having conceived her child at least nine months of gestation and having an adequate Weight/Age and Height/Age ratio. There was a significant asso- ciation between the child not ingesting powdered soft drinks and having an appropriate Weight/Age ratio. It was concluded that the children had an adequate gestational age and had an appropriate nutritional status, despite their low height for their age. They showed normal psychosocial, language, and physical development. The risk factors involved those of mother nature and the consumption of cariogenic foods.

Los factores de riesgo, incluidos los maternos, interfieren en el crecimiento y desarrollo infantil. En este sentido, el conocimiento de estos factores y la evaluación adecuada de estos procesos son necesarios para articular estrategias preventivas de futu- ros trastornos. Así, el estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el crecimiento y desarrollo de niños atendidos en consultas de puericultura en unidades básicas de salud de un muni- cipio de Ceará, que forma parte de una universidad brasileña de carácter internacional, y sus factores de riesgo. Se trata de un estudio observacional, analítico, transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo, realizado con niños y sus madres en el Centro de Salud de Acarape y el Centro de Salud São Benedito (Acarape ­ CE), de febrero a julio de 2021. Después del consentimiento, las madres completaron un cuestionario, seguido de una evaluación del crecimiento y desarrollo de los niños. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados. De los 70 niños, el 50,00% (n = 17) y el 51,43% (n = 18) de los niños y niñas eran bajos para su edad, respectivamente. Para el desarrollo psicosocial, de las 284 pruebas realizadas, el 86,27% (n = 245) fueron realizadas íntegramente por los niños. Se observó una asociación significativa entre la gestante haber concebido a su hijo con al menos 9 meses de gesta- ción y tener una adecuada relación Peso/Edad y Talla/Edad. Hubo asociación significativa entre el niño que no ingiere gaseosas en polvo y presentar una adecuada relación Peso/Edad. Se concluyó que los niños tenían una edad gestacional adecuada y un estado nutricional adecuado, a pesar de su baja talla para su edad. Presentaron un desarrollo psi- cosocial, lingüístico y físico normal. En cuanto a los factores de riesgo, estos involucraron los de naturaleza materna y el consumo de alimentos cariogénicos.

Pacientes hipertensos e diabéticos atendidos em ambiente hospitalar e maternidade: dos fatores sociodemográficos e econômicos aos clínicos e relacionados à saúde bucal / Hypertensive and diabetic patients assisted in a hospital and maternity environment: from sociodemographic and economic factors to clinical and oral health-related factors / Pacientes hipertensos y diabéticos atendidos en un entorno hospitalario y de maternidad: de los factores sociodemográficos y económicos a los factores clínicos y relacionados con la salud bucodental

O estudo objetivou determinar as características e associações entre os fatores sociodemográficos, econômicos, clínicos e relacionados à saúde bucal de hipertensos e diabéticos atendidos em hospital e maternidade de um município cearense. Trata-se de estudo observacional analítico transversal e de abordagem quantitativa realizado com pacientes hipertensos e diabéticos atendidos em hospital e maternidade do município de Redenção - CE, no período de dezembro de 2019 a fevereiro de 2020. Após consentimento, aplicou-se um questionário, abordando desde a presença e história clínica de Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (HAS) e Diabetes Mellitus (DM) aos aspectos relacionados à saúde bucal e consumo de alimentos cariogênicos. Em seguida, os participantes foram submetidos à verificação da pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados. Dos 42 participantes, 73,80% tinham história familiar de HAS, 92,85% desconheciam as doenças bucais e 73,80% não sabiam como preveni-las. Observou-se associação significativa entre ser participante que não admitia a influência da HAS e DM sobre a saúde bucal e não ser acompanhado pelo odontólogo, assim como ser hipertenso e/ou diabético com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos e conhecer os meios preventivos de doenças bucais. Conclui-se que os pacientes apresentavam HAS e DM controladas, desconheciam as doenças bucais e não acreditavam na influência da HAS e DM sobre a saúde bucal, apesar da consciência quanto à interferência da saúde oral sobre a saúde geral.

study aimed to determine the characteristics and associations between sociodemographic, economic, clinical, and oral health-related factors of hypertensive and diabetic patients treated at a hospital and maternity hospital in a municipality in Ceará. This is a cross-sectional analytical observational study with a quantitative approach carried out with hypertensive and diabetic patients treated at a hospital and maternity hospital in Redenção - CE, from December 2019 to February 2020. After consent, a questionnaire was applied, ranging from the presence and clinical history of Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) to aspects of oral health and consumption of cariogenic foods. Then, the participants underwent verification of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Data were tabulated and analyzed. Of the 42 participants, 73.80% had a family history of SAH, 92.85% were unaware of oral diseases, and 73.80% did not know how to prevent them. A significant association was observed between being a participant who did not admit the influence of SAH and/or DM on oral health and not being accompanied by a dentist, as well as being hypertensive and diabetic aged 60 years or older and knowing the preventive means of oral diseases. It was concluded that the patients who had controlled SAH and DM were unaware of oral diseases and did not believe in the influence of SAH and DM on oral health, despite being aware of the interference of oral health on general health.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar las características y asociaciones entre factores sociodemográficos, económicos, clínicos y relacionados a la salud bucal de pacientes hipertensos y diabéticos atendidos en un hospital y maternidad de un municipio de Ceará. Se trata de un estudio observacional analítico transversal con abordaje cuantitativo realizado con pacientes hipertensos y diabéticos atendidos en un hospital y maternidad de Redenção - CE, de diciembre de 2019 a febrero de 2020. Tras el consentimiento, se aplicó un cuestionario que abarcaba desde la presencia e historia clínica de Hipertensión Arterial Sistémica (HAS) y Diabetes Mellitus (DM) hasta aspectos de salud bucal y consumo de alimentos cariogénicos. A continuación, los participantes se sometieron a la verificación de la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica. Los datos se tabularon y analizaron. De los 42 participantes, el 73,80% tenía antecedentes familiares de HSA, el 92,85% desconocía las enfermedades bucodentales y el 73,80% no sabía cómo prevenirlas. Se observó una asociación significativa entre ser un participante que no admitía la influencia de la HSA y/o la DM en la salud bucodental y no estar acompañado por un dentista, así como ser hipertenso y diabético de 60 años o más y conocer los medios preventivos de las enfermedades bucodentales. Se concluyó que los pacientes que tenían controlada la HSA y la DM desconocían las enfermedades bucodentales y no creían en la influencia de la HSA y la DM en la salud bucodental, a pesar de ser conscientes de la interferencia de la salud bucodental en la salud general.

Quantitative evaluation of very early cartilage damage in experimental osteoarthritis using scanning electron microscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe parametric changes observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in very early stages in posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) models in mice. METHODS: Mice (5/group) had their knees subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), ACLT plus meniscectomy (MNCT) or sham surgery, sacrificed after 3, 7 or 14 days, had the articular cartilage evaluated under optical microscopy using Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) parameters as well as cartilage thickness, roughness, and a damage index using SEM. RESULTS: Alterations of the cartilage under optical microscopy were not significantly relevant among groups. SEM analysis revealed reduction of femoral and tibial cartilage thickness in ACLT and MNCT groups at 7 and 14 days, with increased cartilage roughness in MNCT group as early as 3 days postsurgery, being sustained up to 14 days. Articular damage index was significantly higher at 14 days post surgery in ACLT and MNCT vs control groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first demonstration of very early quantitative changes in the cartilage of mice subjected to posttraumatic experimental OA using SEM, revealing increased roughness and thickness as early as 3 days post surgery. These changes may be used as early surrogates for later joint damage in experimental OA.

Marine Compounds with Anti-Candida sp. Activity: A Promised "Land" for New Antifungals.

Candida albicans is still the major yeast causing human fungal infections. Nevertheless, in the last decades, non-Candida albicans Candida species (NCACs) (e.g., Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis) have been increasingly linked to Candida sp. infections, mainly in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. The escalade of antifungal resistance among Candida sp. demands broadly effective and cost-efficient therapeutic strategies to treat candidiasis. Marine environments have shown to be a rich source of a plethora of natural compounds with substantial antimicrobial bioactivities, even against resistant pathogens, such as Candida sp. This short review intends to briefly summarize the most recent marine compounds that have evidenced anti-Candida sp. activity. Here, we show that the number of compounds discovered in the last years with antifungal activity is growing. These drugs have a good potential to be used for the treatment of candidiasis, but disappointedly the reports have devoted a high focus on C. albicans, neglecting the NCACs, highlighting the need to perform outspreading studies in the near future.

Tumor necrosis factor prevents Candida albicans biofilm formation.

Candida species are commensals but some develop biofilms in prosthetic materials and host surfaces that may represent up to 30% of deaths related to infections, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) exhibits a plethora of functions in host defense mechanisms whereas excessive release of TNF in inflammation promotes tissue damage. Cytokines released in an inflammatory milieu may influence the development of microorganisms either by promoting their growth or displaying antimicrobial activity. In protozoa, TNF may affect growth by coupling through a lectin-like domain, distinct from TNF receptors. TNF was also shown to interact with bacteria via a mechanism that does not involve classical TNF receptors. Using an in vitro C. albicans biofilm model, we show that TNF dose-dependently prevents biofilm development that is blocked by incubating TNF with N,N'-diacetylchitobiose, a major carbohydrate component of C. albicans cell wall. This finding represents a relevant and hitherto unknown mechanism that adds to the understanding of why TNF blockade is associated with opportunistic C. albicans infections.

Cryopreservation of canine ovarian cortex using DMSO or 1,3-propanediol.

Cryopreservation of ovarian cortex is potentially an important tool for the conservation of endangered species. It will allow preserving the large pool of primordial and primary follicles to retrieve fertilizable oocytes in the future. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of slow freezing on the morphology and viability of canine follicles after thawing using DMSO or 1,3-propanediol (PROH) as cryoprotectants. Slices of canine ovarian tissue were equilibrated for 20 minutes at 20 °C in minimum essential medium containing either cryoprotectants at 1.5 M, and then frozen by a standardized protocol. Morphology of follicles after thawing was analyzed by means of histology and transmission electron microscopy, and viability was assessed using Trypan blue and fluorescent probes. The exposure of dog ovarian tissue to both cryoprotectants before freezing had no effect on follicular morphology and viability. Also after freezing, follicles remained histologically normal, but transmission electron microscopy revealed damage of ultrastructure in follicles, which were exposed to PROH. Postthaw viability was significantly reduced with 65.7% of the follicles remaining alive in DMSO and 48.7% in PROH. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the survival of canine oocytes within ovarian cortex cryopreserved by slow freezing using 1.5-M DMSO.

Dynamized follicle-stimulating hormone affects the development of ovine preantral follicles cultured in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of dynamized follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on the survival, activation and growth of ovine preantral follicles (PFs) in vitro. METHODS: Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 or 7 days in alpha minimum essential medium (α-MEM(+)) control in the absence or presence of alcohol (Al control) or FSH (6cH, 12cH and 30cH) added at intervals of 24 or 48 h. The ovarian fragments were processed, coded and analyzed by a blinded observer by classical histology (CH), fluorescence microscopy (FM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: After 7 days of culture, the group which to which FSH 6cH was added at 24 h intervals showed better rates of follicle survival and activation compared to α-MEM(+) control or Al control (p < 0.05). This group also showed higher follicle and oocyte growth than α-MEM(+) control (p < 0.05). FM and TEM techniques confirmed that FSH 6cH promoted viability and ultrastructural integrity of follicles after 7 days of culture. CONCLUSIONS: FSH 6cH (24 h) treatment maintained the viability, and promoted the activation and in vitro growth of ovine PFs.