Dose-related Effects of Resveratrol in Different Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive disease of pulmonary arterioles. This pathology is characterized by elevation of the pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure, leading to right heart failure and death. Studies have demonstrated that resveratrol possesses a protective effect on the mechanisms related to the genesis of the PAH-induced by different models. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the dose-related effects of resveratrol in different models of pulmonary arterial hypertension. METHODS: To identify eligible papers, we performed a systematic literature search on Scielo, Pub- Med, and Scholar Google. The research was limited to articles written in English in the last 10 years. We used the following descriptors to search: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Resveratrol, OR Resveratrol, and Animal models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, OR Resveratrol, and in vitro models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. RESULTS: 1724 studies were identified through the descriptors used, fifty-five studies with different models of pulmonary arterial hypertension were selected for the full review, forty-four were excluded after application of exclusion and inclusion criteria, totalizing eleven studies included in this systematic review. CONCLUSION: The results showed that resveratrol, at low and high doses, protects in a dosedependent manner against the development of PAH induced through monocrotaline, normoxia and hypoxia models. In addition to having chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. In the case of PAH-related myocardial injury, resveratrol protects cells from apoptosis, thus working as an antiapoptotic agent.

Topical Application of Cinnamaldehyde Promotes Faster Healing of Skin Wounds Infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Wound healing can be delayed following colonization and infection with the common bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. While multiple therapies are used for their treatment, these are ineffective, expensive, and labour-intensive. Thus, there is an enormous unmet need for the treatment of infected wounds. Cinnamaldehyde, the major component of cinnamon oil, is well known for its antimicrobial properties. Herein, we investigated the effects of sub-inhibitory concentrations of cinnamaldehyde in the virulence of P. aeruginosa. We also assessed its healing potential in P. aeruginosa-infected mouse skin wounds and the mechanisms involved in this response. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of cinnamaldehyde reduced P. aeruginosa metabolic rate and its ability to form biofilm and to cause haemolysis. Daily topical application of cinnamaldehyde on P. aeruginosa-infected skin wounds reduced tissue bacterial load and promoted faster healing. Lower interleukin-17 (IL-17), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide levels were detected in cinnamaldehyde-treated wound samples. Blockage of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, the pharmacological target of cinnamaldehyde, abrogated its healing activity and partially reversed the inhibitory actions of this compound on VEGF and IL-17 generation. We suggest that topical application of sub-inhibitory concentrations of cinnamaldehyde may represent an interesting approach to improve the healing of P. aeruginosa-infected skin wounds.

Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Human Bloodstream Infections Showed Multidrug Resistance Profile.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are important pathogens causing nosocomial infections worldwide with increasing resistance to antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to characterize resistance aspects of CNS isolated from patients with bloodstream infections acquired in hospitals in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Staphylococcus strains were characterized using repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) fingerprinting with (GTG)5 primer. Phenotypic resistance was analyzed using AST-P5085 card (bioMérieuxVitek®). PCR was used to detect mecA, vanA, blaZ, ermA/B/C, aac-aphD, and SCC-mec. For statistical analyses, we used hierarchical cluster, chi-square test (χ2), and correspondence. Several clusters were formed within the same species using (GTG)5 primer, and strains showed resistance to the following antimicrobials: benzylpenicillin (100%); oxacillin (93.1%); gentamicin (36.3%); ciprofloxacin (63.7%); moxifloxacin (32.7%); norfloxacin (81.0%); erythromycin (86.2%); clindamycin (75.8%); linezolid, teicoplanin and vancomycin (1.7%); tigecycline (0%); fusidic acid (10.35%); rifampicin (13.7%); and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (46.5%). Regarding genotypic analyses, 40%, 0%, 78%, 42%, 100%, 24%, and 30% were positive for mecA, vanA, blaZ, ermA, ermB, ermC, and aac-aphD, respectively. Regarding staphylococcal cassette mec (SCCmec) type, 3.4% presented type I; 5.0% type II; 27.1% type III; 20.3% type IIIA; and 32.2% type IIIB. Six clusters were formed and frequency distributions of resistant strains to oxacillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, vancomycin, fusidic acid, rifampicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and mecA, blaZ, ermC, aac-aphD, and SCCmec type differed (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the strains investigated in this study were multidrug resistant and carried multiple antibiotic resistance genes.

Lactobacillus fermentum ATCC 23271 Displays In vitro Inhibitory Activities against Candida spp.

Lactobacilli are involved in the microbial homeostasis in the female genital tract. Due to the high prevalence of many bacterial diseases of the female genital tract and the resistance of microorganisms to various antimicrobial agents, alternative means to control these infections are necessary. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the probiotic properties of well-characterized Lactobacillus species, including L. acidophilus (ATCC 4356), L. brevis (ATCC 367), L. delbrueckii ssp. delbrueckii (ATCC 9645), L. fermentum (ATCC 23271), L. paracasei (ATCC 335), L. plantarum (ATCC 8014), and L. rhamnosus (ATCC 9595), against Candida albicans (ATCC 18804), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ATCC 9826), and Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 13813). The probiotic potential was investigated by using the following criteria: (i) adhesion to host epithelial cells and mucus, (ii) biofilm formation, (iii) co-aggregation with bacterial pathogens, (iv) inhibition of pathogen adhesion to mucus and HeLa cells, and (v) antimicrobial activity. Tested lactobacilli adhered to mucin, co-aggregated with all genital microorganisms, and displayed antimicrobial activity. With the exception of L. acidophilus and L. paracasei, they adhered to HeLa cells. However, only L. fermentum produced a moderate biofilm and a higher level of co-aggregation and mucin binding. The displacement assay demonstrated that all Lactobacillus strains inhibit C. albicans binding to mucin (p < 0.001), likely due to the production of substances with antimicrobial activity. Clinical isolates belonging to the most common Candida species associated to vaginal candidiasis were inhibited by L. fermentum. Collectively, our data suggest that L. fermentum ATCC 23271 is a potential probiotic candidate, particularly to complement candidiasis treatment, since presented with the best probiotic profile in comparison with the other tested lactobacilli strains.