Production and characterization of the lipopeptide with anti-adhesion for oral biofilm on the surface of titanium for dental implants.

Titanium implants are subject to bacterial adhesion and peri-implantitis induction, and biosurfactants bring a new alternative to the fight against infections. This work aimed to produce and characterize the biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis ATCC 19,659, its anti-adhesion and antimicrobial activity, and cell viability. Anti-adhesion studies were carried out against Streptococcus sanguinis, Staphylococcus aureus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Proteus mirabilis as the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration. Cell viability was measured against osteoblast and fibroblast cells. The biosurfactant was classified as lipopeptide, with critical micelle concentration at 40 µg mL- 1, and made the titanium surface less hydrophobic. The anti-adhesion effect was observed for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sanguinis with 54% growth inhibition and presented a minimum inhibitory concentration of 15.7 µg mL- 1 for Streptococcus sanguinis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The lipopeptide had no cytotoxic effect and demonstrated high potential application against bacterial biofilms.

Effect of DMPEI coating against biofilm formation on PVC catheter surface.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant cause of morbidity in healthcare systems and are prominently associated with applying urethral catheters, particularly in surgeries. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is extensively utilized in the fabrication of catheters. Biofilms, complex polymeric constructions, provide a protective milieu for cell multiplication and the enhancement of antibiotic resistance. Strategies to counteract biofilm development on medical apparatuses' surfaces incorporate antimicrobial agents such as N,N-dodecyl, and methyl polyethylenimine (DMPEI). This research endeavored to characterize the morphology of PVC and PVC-DMPEI surfaces utilizing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and to gauge hydrophobicity through contact angle measurements. Employing Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans in adhesion assays enabled the assessment of DMPEI's efficacy in preventing microbial adherence to PVC. Butanol successfully solubilized 2 mg.mL-1 DMPEI without altering the PVC structure. SEM results substantiated the formation of a DMPEI layer on the PVC surface, which led to decreased surface roughness, as validated by AFM, and increased hydrophilicity, as demonstrated by contact angle evaluations. E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans exhibited significant adhesion reduction, 89.3%, 94.3%, and 86.6% on PVC-DMPEI surfaces. SEM visualizations confirmed reduced cellular colonization on PVC-DMPEI and highlighted considerable morphological modifications in E. coli. Consequently, DMPEI films effectively minimize the adhesion of E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans on PVC surfaces. DMPEI, with its potential as a protective coating for innovative medical devices, promises to inhibit biofilm adherence effectively.

Comparison of idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis [IRAP] and recurrent acute pancreatitis with genetic mutations.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis (IRAP) describes frequent episodes of pancreatitis without an etiology found using current testing. We compared the natural history of IRAP with recurrent acute pancreatitis with genetic mutations. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis (≥2 episodes) and negative conventional testing. All patients had ≥1 episode after cholecystectomy and completed genetic testing. Primary outcomes were chronic pancreatitis incidence, pancreatic cancer, and mortality. Secondary outcomes included opioid and ERCP utilization. RESULTS: 128 patients met criteria for presumed IRAP. 35 patients met criteria for true IRAP. 12 patients had recurrent acute pancreatitis with gene mutations. Chronic pancreatitis developed in 27 (77.1%) IRAP patients over a median of 6 years. Chronic pancreatitis incidence was similar in IRAP and CFTR mutation carriers; but developed later in SPINK1 carriers. No patients developed pancreatic cancer or died from pancreatic-related causes. Patients were frequently treated with oral opioids and ERCP, without significant differences within or between groups. CONCLUSION: IRAP and pancreatitis in mutation carriers is associated with chronic pancreatitis. Important differences in natural history were observed, but no association was found with cancer or pancreas-related mortality. Efforts to understand the genetic contributions to IRAP, minimize opioids and unnecessary ERCPs are encouraged.

Development and in vivo evaluation of chitosan-gel containing Mitracarpus frigidus methanolic extract for vulvovaginal candidiasis treatment.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is characterized by inflammatory changes in the vaginal mucosa caused by abnormal colonization of Candida species. Traditional topical therapies using reference antifungal drugs usually present several issues and limitations for VVC treatment. Thus, the interest in new vaginal formulations, mainly those based on compounds from natural origin, has been growing over the last years. Methanolic extract from the plant species Mitracarpus frigidus (Willd. Ex Reem Schult.) K. Schum (MFM) has presented potential antifungal activity against C. albicans vaginal infection. Here, we aimed to develop and characterize a gynecological gel formulation based on chitosan containing MFM and to evaluate its anti-C. albicans effectiveness in the treatment of VVC. First, MFM was incorporated into a gel formulation based on chitosan in three final concentrations: 2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 10.0 %. Next, these gel formulations were subjected to stationary and oscillatory rheological tests. Finally, the gel was tested in an experimental VVC model. The rheological tests indicated pseudoplastic fluids, becoming more viscous and elastic with the increase of the extract concentration, indicating intermolecular interactions. Our in vivo analyses demonstrated a great reduction of vulvovaginal fungal burden and infection accompanied with the reduction of mucosal inflammation after MFM chitosan-gel treatment. The present findings open perspectives for the further use of the MFM-chitosan-gel formulation as a therapeutic alternative for VVC treatment.

Efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis.

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is the main agent that causes vulvovaginal candidiasis. Resistance among isolates to azole antifungal agents has been reported. AIMS: Due to the well-known antifungal potential of curcumin, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro anticandidal activity of curcumin and its effect in the treatment of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis. METHODS: The anticandidal activity of curcumin was investigated against eight Candida strains by the broth microdilution assay, and its mechanism of action was evaluated by testing the binding to ergosterol. Then, the effect of curcumin in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis was evaluated in an immunosuppressed, estrogen treated rat model. RESULTS: Curcumin showed minimum inhibitory concentration values of 125-1000µg/ml, and the best result was observed against Candida glabrata. The compound was shown to be able to bind to the ergosterol present in the membrane, event that may be the mechanism of action. In addition, in the in vivo model of vulvovaginal candidiasis with C. albicans, treatments reduced the vaginal fungal burden in infected rats after seven days of treatment with different doses. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin could be considered a promising effective antifungal agent in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Impact of Rearing Conditions on the Ambrosia Beetle's Microbiome.

Ambrosia beetles, along with termites and leafcutter ants, are the only fungus-farming lineages within the tree of life. Bacteria harbored by ambrosia beetles may play an essential role in the nutritional symbiotic interactions with their associated fungi; however, little is known about the impact of rearing conditions on the microbiota of ambrosia beetles. We have used culture-independent methods to explore the effect of rearing conditions on the microbiome associated with Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus bispinatus, and Xyleborus volvulus, evaluating different media in laboratory-controlled conditions and comparing wild and laboratory conditions. Our results revealed that rearing conditions affected the fungal and bacterial microbiome structure and had a strong influence on bacterial metabolic capacities. We propose that the rearing conditions influence the ambrosia-associated fungal and bacterial communities. Furthermore, bacterial microbiome flexibility may help beetles adapt to different substrates.

Lo social en el currículo de formación de profesionales de la salud / The social thing in the curriculum of the formation of health professionals

La formación profesional y la salud son procesos y valores sociales por lo que lo social se sitúa en el centro de ambos procesos. Los objetivos de este trabajo son: delimitar el rol de lo social en el currículo de formación de profesionales de la salud en Cuba, analizar la concepción de lo social y su aporte al integrarse a los contenidos de las disciplinas y el aporte en la formación de los futuros egresados y su autotransformación; así como brindar criterios para concebirlo como eje curricular.

The professional formation and health are social processes and values in which the social thing is placed in the core of both processes. The objectives of this paper were to determine the role of the social aspects in the curriculum of health professional formation in Cuba, to analyze the conception of the social thing and its contribution when integrating with the contents of the disciplines, and its contribution to the formation of future graduates and their self-transformation, as well as to provide criteria to envisage it as an axis of the curriculum.

Análise das metas terapêuticas na prevenção secundária de DAC após CRM / Analysis of treatment goals in secondary prevention of CAD after CABG

Fundamentos: O controle dos fatores de risco cardiovascular em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana (DAC) é um grande desafio, principalmente nos pacientes mais graves nos quais as metas terapêuticas são mais rigorosas.Objetivo: Analisar a obtenção das metas terapêuticas e a prescrição das medicações nos pacientes portadores deDAC após revascularização miocárdica (CRM). Métodos: Analisados os prontuários de 68 pacientes submetidos à CRM, com pelo menos um ano deacompanhamento após a cirurgia. Pacientes submetidos à troca valvar associada foram excluídos da análise.Resultados: Quarenta e cinco (66,2%) pacientes eram do sexo masculino com média de idade de 60,3±9,1 anos. Aprincipal indicação para CRM foi angina instável (62%). Noventa e quatro por cento dos pacientes eram hipertensos, 28% diabéticos, 50% dislipidêmicos e 50% tinham história prévia de infarto agudo do miocárdio. A média da fração de ejeção foi 60±13%. A lesão do troncoda coronária esquerda ocorreu em 29% dos pacientes e o número médio de enxertos foi 2,7±0,75. Após um ano de pós-operatório, 73,0% dos pacientes usavam IECA, 86,6% betabloqueador, 83,0% AAS e 96,6% estatina. No pós-operatório, o controle dos fatores de risco foi obtido nas proporções: PAS<140mmHg (55,9%), PAD<90mmHg (62,7%), glicose<100mg% (41,1%), colesteroltotal<200mg% (70,9%),LDL<100mg% (57,7%) ou LDL<70mg% (28,8%), HDL>45mg% (32,0%) etriglicerídeos<150mg% (47,8%).Conclusão: Os pacientes após um ano de CRM apresentam índices de controle pressórico, glicêmico e lipídico inadequados. O uso das medicações para DAC foi considerado adequado, exceto para o uso de IECA que poderia ser mais utilizada.

Integración de lo social en los procesos de atención de salud y de formación del profesional de salud / Integration of the social aspects in the processes of health care and health professional formation

La atención a la salud y la formación del profesional de la salud son procesos sociales que garantizan la salud individual de los miembros de la sociedad cubana. Ambos tienen en Cuba la misma dirección para garantizar salud para todos. Es por tanto objetivo, revelar la naturaleza esencial de integración de lo social en correspondencia con los procesos de atención a la salud y formación de profesionales de la salud en el paradigma sociomédico. Se emplean métodos teóricos: análisis-síntesis, inducción-deducción y el histórico lógico. Se revela el principio de formación del profesional de la salud en la integración a lo social en correspondencia con los procesos de Atención de Salud, y conceptos fundamentales del que parte, así como su función, rasgos y acciones didácticas.

Health care and the formation of health professionals are social processes that guarantee the individual health of the members of the Cuban society. Both are directed to the same goal which is to assure health for all. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to reveal the essential nature of integration of the social aspects in line with the health care and health professional formation processes within the socio-medical paradigm. Theoretical methods such as analysis/synthesis, induction/deduction and the logical and historical method were used. The paper showed the principle of formation of the health professional within the integration to the social aspects, in conformity with the health care processes and the fundamental concepts from which they stem, as well as their function, traits and didactic actions.