Human papillomavirus in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus: association with viral load and lymphocyte count.

Women living with human immunodeficiency virus are at an increased risk of developing cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV). Thus, it is important to combine clinical assessments, serological screening, and HPV data for planning prevention policies. This study aimed to identify HPV and its specific types in the cervical, anal, and oral mucosa of HIV-seropositive women, associating it with viral load and lymphocyte count. Sociodemographic characteristics, health data (CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and viral load), and biological samples (cervical, anal, and oral) were collected from 86 HIV-positive women undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Data were classified according to the presence or absence of HPV-DNA, HPV-DNA presence at one or more anatomic sites, and level of oncogenic risk, considering low- and high-risk oncogenic HPV-DNA groups. The presence of HPV in the cervicovaginal site was 65.9%, 63.8% in anal canal, and 4.2% in oral mucosa. A viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL was associated with the presence of HPV-DNA. There was an association between viral load and the low-risk HPV or high-risk HPV groups. We found a high prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-seropositive women, particularly in the cervical and anal mucosa, with viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL being associated with HPV-DNA presence.

Human papillomavirus in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus: association with viral load and lymphocyte count

ABSTRACT Women living with human immunodeficiency virus are at an increased risk of developing cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV). Thus, it is important to combine clinical assessments, serological screening, and HPV data for planning prevention policies. This study aimed to identify HPV and its specific types in the cervical, anal, and oral mucosa of HIV-seropositive women, associating it with viral load and lymphocyte count. Sociodemographic characteristics, health data (CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and viral load), and biological samples (cervical, anal, and oral) were collected from 86 HIV-positive women undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Data were classified according to the presence or absence of HPV-DNA, HPV-DNA presence at one or more anatomic sites, and level of oncogenic risk, considering low- and high-risk oncogenic HPV-DNA groups. The presence of HPV in the cervicovaginal site was 65.9%, 63.8% in anal canal, and 4.2% in oral mucosa. A viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL was associated with the presence of HPV-DNA. There was an association between viral load and the low-risk HPV or high-risk HPV groups. We found a high prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-seropositive women, particularly in the cervical and anal mucosa, with viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL being associated with HPV-DNA presence.

Pythium insidiosum: inhibitory effects of propolis and geopropolis on hyphal growth

Abstract Propolis and geopropolis are resinous products of bees showing antimicrobial effects. There is no data concerning their action against Pythium insidiosum - the causative agent of pythiosis, a pyogranulomatous disease of the subcutaneous tissue that affects mostly horses, dogs and humans. Fragments of 15 isolates of P. insidiodum were incubated with propolis and geopropolis extracts and evaluated for up to seven days to detect the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). Propolis inhibited three isolates at 1.0 mg mL-1 after 24 h and all other isolates at 3.4 mg mL-1. Geopropolis led to more variable results, exerting predominantly a fungistatic action than a fungicidal one. Propolis was more efficient than geopropolis in inhibiting P. insidiosum since lower concentrations led to no growth after 24 h. This effect may be due to propolis chemical composition, which has more active compounds than geopropolis. Propolis seemed to be a good candidate for in vivo studies, since treatment with conventional antifungal compounds is difficult in most of the cases, requiring extensive surgical debridement.

Pythium insidiosum: inhibitory effects of propolis and geopropolis on hyphal growth.

Propolis and geopropolis are resinous products of bees showing antimicrobial effects. There is no data concerning their action against Pythium insidiosum - the causative agent of pythiosis, a pyogranulomatous disease of the subcutaneous tissue that affects mostly horses, dogs and humans. Fragments of 15 isolates of P. insidiodum were incubated with propolis and geopropolis extracts and evaluated for up to seven days to detect the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). Propolis inhibited three isolates at 1.0mgmL-1 after 24h and all other isolates at 3.4mgmL-1. Geopropolis led to more variable results, exerting predominantly a fungistatic action than a fungicidal one. Propolis was more efficient than geopropolis in inhibiting P. insidiosum since lower concentrations led to no growth after 24h. This effect may be due to propolis chemical composition, which has more active compounds than geopropolis. Propolis seemed to be a good candidate for in vivo studies, since treatment with conventional antifungal compounds is difficult in most of the cases, requiring extensive surgical debridement.

Effects of stingless bee propolis on experimental asthma.

Bee products have been used empirically for centuries, especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The present study evaluated the effect of treatment with a propolis hydroalcoholic extract (PHE) produced by Scaptotrigona aff. postica stingless bee in a murine asthma model. BALB/c mice were immunized twice with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously. After 14 days, they were intranasally challenged with OVA. Groups P50 and P200 received PHE by gavage at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The DEXA group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone. The OVA group received only water. The mice were treated daily for two weeks and then they were immunized a second time with intranasal OVA. The treatment with PHE decreased the cell number in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL). Histological analysis showed reduced peribronchovascular inflammation after treatment with PHE especially the infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. In addition, the concentration of interferon- γ (IFN- γ ) in the serum was decreased. These results were similar to those obtained with dexamethasone. Treatment with S. aff postica propolis reduced the pathology associated with murine asthma due an inhibition of inflammatory cells migration to the alveolar space and the systemic progression of the allergic inflammation.

Anticancer effects of geopropolis produced by stingless bees on canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro.

Geopropolis is produced by indigenous stingless bees from the resinous material of plants, adding soil or clay. Its biological properties have not been investigated, such as propolis, and herein its cytotoxic action on canine osteosarcoma (OSA) cells was evaluated. OSA is a primary bone neoplasm diagnosed in dogs being an excellent model in vivo to study human OSA. spOS-2 primary cultures were isolated from the tumor of a dog with osteosarcoma and incubated with geopropolis, 70% ethanol (geopropolis solvent), and carboplatin after 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell viability was analyzed by the crystal violet method. Geopropolis was efficient against canine OSA cells in a dose- and time-dependent way, leading to a distinct morphology compared to control. Geopropolis cytotoxic action was exclusively due to its constituents since 70% ethanol (its solvent) had no effect on cell viability. Carboplatin had no effect on OSA cells. Geopropolis exerted a cytotoxic effect on canine osteosarcoma, and its introduction as a possible therapeutic agent in vivo could be investigated, providing a new contribution to OSA treatment.

Geoprópolis de Melipona fasciculata SMITH: ações citotóxica, imunomoduladora, antibacteriana e antifúngica / Geopropolis of Melipona fasciculata SMITH: cytotoxica actions, immunomodulatory, antibacterial and antifungal

Própolis é composta por substâncias resinosas, coletadas de várias plantas por abelhas africanizadas, adicionando pólen, cera e secreções glandulares, enquanto para a produção de geoprópolis (Geo) as abelhas sem ferrão utilizam materiais resinosos de plantas, cera, e ainda acrescentam terra ou barro. As atividades biológicas da própolis produzida por Apis mellifera têm sido extensivamente estudadas, mas ainda são escassos os trabalhos sobre as propriedades da geoprópolis. Assim, o presente trabalho se propôs a investigar as atividades citotóxica, imunomoduladora, antibacteriana e antifúngica do extrato hidroalcoólico de geoprópolis de Melipona fasciculata Smith. Foi realizada a caracterização química da Geo, verificando que o principal grupo de compostos encontrados foram triterpenos. No tocante às células do carcinoma da laringe humana (HEp-2), Geo apresentou ação inibitória em concentrações mais elevadas; entretanto, esta ação foi somente citostática. Geo apresentou ação imunomoduladora sobre monócitos humanos, estimulando a produção das citocinas estudadas (TNF-α e IL-10). Não foi observada ação antibacteriana contra S. aureus e E. coli, havendo inibição destas linhagens somente com altas concentrações do extrato. Contudo, a associação de Geo com antibióticos favoreceu a ação do cloranfenicol sobre S. aureus. A Geo exerceu ação inibitória sobre Pythium insidiosum, tanto para o isolado obtido de caso humano como de eqüinos. Os resultados sugerem que a Geo apresentou inúmeras propriedades biológicas; contudo, sua ação é menor em comparação à própolis produzida por abelhas africanizadas, talvez devido ao baixo rendimento do extrato e sua difícil solubilidade...

Propolis is composed of resinous substances collected from various plants by Africanized honeybees, adding polen, wax and bee secretions, while for geopropolis (Geo) production stingless bees use resinous materials from plants, wax, but also adding mud or clay. The biological activities of propolis produced by Apis mellifera have been extensively studied, but there are few studies on Geo properties. Thus, the present study investigated the cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, antibacterial and antifungal activities of hydroalcoholic extract of Geo produced by Melipona fasciculata Smith. The chemical characterization of Geo was performed, revealing that the main group of compounds was triterpenes. Geo exerted an inhibitory action on human larynx carcinoma cells (HEp-2) using high concentrations, however, it was only a cytostatic action. Geo exhibited immunomodulatory effects on human monocytes, stimulating cytokines production (TNF-α and IL-10). No antibacterial activity was seen against S. aureus and E. coli. However, the combination of Geo with chloramphenicol favored its effect against S. aureus. Geo exerted an inhibitory action against Pythium insidiosum, both for human or equine isolates. Data suggested that Geo presented several properties; however, its activity is lower compared to propolis produced by honeybees, perhaps due to the low yield of the extract and its difficult solubility...