Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Composition of Different Monofloral and Polyfloral Brazilian Honey Extracts.

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from monofloral and polyfloral honey samples obtained from different Brazilian regions. The chemical composition (total content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids) of extracts were measured by using colorimetric assays and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by chemical and biochemical assays (reducing power assay, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic) acid (ABTS•+) scavenger assays. It was also investigated the ability of extracts in attenuate lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+ in phospholipids. The obtained results clearly demonstrated that the botanical origin and geographical region of honey collection influenced the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of extracts. Furthermore, the samples were constituted by phenolic acids and flavonoids, which p-coumaric acid was predominant among the compounds identified. All samples were able to scavenge free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation, and good correlations were obtained between the flavonoid content and honey color. In conclusion, the obtained extracts were constituted by antioxidant compounds, which reinforce the usage of honey in human diets, and demonstrated that the region of honey collection strong influenced in the chemical composition and, consequently, its biological effect.

Cytotoxicity of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf fractions, essential oil, citral, and geraniol in human leukocytes and erythrocytes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Our recently published paper demonstrated that ethyl acetate fractions obtained from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (C. citratus) leaves, which are consumed as infusion in folk medicine due to their therapeutic properties, are rich in polyphenols and exhibit promising antioxidant activity by acting through different mechanisms in vitro. However, studies regarding the toxicity of these fractions are necessary to investigate their safe use in future biomedical applications. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of ethyl acetate (obtained in acidic and basic conditions and after the essential oil removal from the leaves) and chloroform fractions, essential oil, and its pure constituents, citral and geraniol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The toxicity of C. citratus samples was evaluated by using Artemia salina (A. salina) and human blood cells (leukocytes and erythrocytes). RESULTS: The A. salina lethality assay demonstrated that C. citratus fractions were moderately toxic with LC50 values ranging from 146.12 to 433.15 µg mL-1, whereas the essential oil and isolated compounds were highly toxic with LC50 lower than 100 µg mL-1. Leukocyte viability decreased after incubation in the presence of the fractions obtained after the essential oil removal from the plant leaves, as well as in the presence of essential oil, citral and geraniol. The same samples increased the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes, and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis revealed significant changes in cell morphology. Interestingly, our results suggest that the previous removal of essential oil from plant leaves facilitated the extraction of cytotoxic compounds from C. citratus. CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that C. citratus ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions, essential oil, as well citral and geraniol were considered toxic to A. salina, cytotoxic to human blood cells and showed to induce alterations in the erythrocyte membrane at higher concentrations. These fractions will be further investigated to identify the phytochemicals involved in the observed cytotoxic effects and explored using in vivo models.

Estimation of chronic dietary intake of pesticide residues.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the maximum theoretical daily intake of pesticides potentially consumed, chronically, by the Brazilian population. METHOD: By using data from the food consumption section of the 2008-2009 Household Budget Survey to characterize the population diet, a database was built to group the foods based on the NOVA classification. Considering the maximum residue limit values of each pesticide authorized in the country until 2016, the limits of all consumed foods were added and multiplied by the amount consumed, resulting in the maximum theoretical intake index, which was compared with the acceptable daily intake. RESULTS: The results show that, of the 283 pesticides considered in the database, 71 (25%) compounds had estimates of zero intake, 144 compounds (50.8%) reached acceptable daily intake values and 68 compounds (24%) showed median intake that exceeded the acceptable daily value. The pesticide intake estimation according to the different regions of the country showed a variation in the amount of compounds that exceeded the acceptable daily intake (48 to 69 substances) due to the different consumption patterns. The categories of products that most exceeded the limits were the insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. CONCLUSION: The application of this methodology is valid for the first step in risk assessment, but the resulting values may be different from the actual exposure since they do not include other factors, such as the combined use of pesticides or unauthorized products. The importance of developing research on specific national food consumption data in a systematic way is emphasized, which generates data and analyses that allow a detailed risk assessment.

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, citral and geraniol exhibit anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects in pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in zebrafish.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (C. citratus) is consumed as an infusion in folk medicine due to its pharmacological properties and action in the central nervous system. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects millions of people. Since the currently available antiepileptic drugs often cause undesirable side effects, new alternative therapeutic strategies based on medicinal plants have been proposed. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of C. citratus essential oil (EO) and hydroalcoholic extract (E1) from its leaves, as well as of its related compounds citral (CIT) and geraniol (GER) against the effects of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in zebrafish (Danio rerio). MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the anticonvulsant properties of the samples, adult animals were pre-treated (by immersion) and subsequently exposed to PTZ solution. The involvement of GABAA receptors in the antiepileptic effects was investigated by the coadministration of flumazenil (FMZ), a known GABAA receptor antagonist. Oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed in zebrafish brain homogenates after PTZ exposure. RESULTS: All samples increased the latency time for the first seizure, which was reduced when animals were pretreated with FMZ, suggesting the involvement of GABAA receptors in the observed properties. The association between CIT and GER at the lowest concentration studied showed a synergistic effect on the anticonvulsant activity. Decreases in MDA and NO levels and increases in GSH and CAT levels in the brain of treated animals suggested the neuroprotective effect of the compounds investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results proved that C. citratus EO, E1, CIT and GER have anticonvulsant effects in zebrafish and could be used as a promising adjuvant therapeutic strategy for epilepsy treatment. Furthermore, zebrafish demonstrated to be an alternative animal model of epilepsy to evaluate the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of C. citratus.

Anxiolytic properties of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) stapf extract, essential oil and its constituents in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae) leaves is often consumed as infusion in folk medicine due to its therapeutic properties. This plant is also rich in essential oil, which has several beneficial effects to the human health. It is known that medications commonly used to treat anxiety disorders cause undesirable side effects. Thus, it is important to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of natural products from plants, such as C. citratus, as an alternative therapy to treat these disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic properties of C. citratus essential oil (EO), hydroalcoholic extract (E1), citral (CIT), geraniol (GER) and the mixture of these terpenoids, as well as its possible mechanism of action by using zebrafish as an anxiety model. METHODS: Adult zebrafish were treated (by immersion) with C. citratus EO, E1, CIT and/or GER. The anxiolytic effects were analyzed by using the light-dark test. The mechanism involved in the anxiolytic effects was further investigated by the coadministration of flumazenil (FMZ), an antagonist of GABAA receptors. The total polyphenols (phenolic and flavonoid compounds) content of E1 was determined by using spectrophotometric assays. RESULTS: All analyzed samples showed a remarkable anxiolytic effect on zebrafish in the highest concentrations, as the animals showed a preference for the light side of the tank. Furthermore, the observed effect of EO, E1, CIT and GER was reversed by pre-treatment with FMZ, suggesting that GABAergic receptors were involved in the anxiolytic effect displayed by these samples. The association between CIT and GER in the lowest studied concentrations showed an interesting synergistic behavior on anxiolytic effect observed in light-dark test. Besides, it was demonstrated that E1 was constituted by phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which could be involved in the observed effect. CONCLUSION: This work has proved that the low-cost zebrafish can be an adequate alternative as an animal model to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of C. citratus and its related compounds. Moreover, the involvement of GABAA receptors could be responsible for the effect showed by the samples. These obtained results can potentially validate the ethnopharmacological use of C. citratus as a medicinal plant for the treatment of anxiety disorders in folk medicine.

Isolamento e identificação de bactérias presentes em superfícies inanimadas de uma unidade básica de saúde no interior de São Paulo / Isolation and identification bacteria present in inanimate surfaces of a basic health units in the state of São Paulo

Objetivo ­ Identificar e isolar bactérias em superfícies inanimadas de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde no interior de São Paulo e verificar a suscetibilidade bacteriana frente aos antibióticos testados. Métodos ­ Foram coletadas 60 amostras de superfícies inanimadas de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde realizado um esfregaço da superfície utilizando um swab umidificado em solução salina estéril e inoculado em caldo BHI. Após foram semeadas em meio de cultura não seletivo e identificadas através de coloração de gram, catalase, crescimento no manitol, coagulase, DNAse, fermentação da lactose, EPM, Mili e Citrato. O teste de suscetibilidade antimicrobiana por difusão de disco foi aplicado. Resultados ­ Das 60 superfícies inanimadas analisadas, 59 (98,3%) estavam contaminadas, sendo 29% (17) contaminadas por Staphylococcus aureus, 71,1% (41) por Staphylococcus coagulase negativa e 72,9% por enterobactérias (20,9% Escherichia coli, 16,3% Citrobacter freundii, 13,9% Serratia marcescens, 13,9% Serratia liquefaciens, 7% Salmonella paratyphi, 7% Klebsiella pneumoniae, 4,6% Shigella sp., 4,6% Yersinia enterocolitica, 2,3% Klebsiella oxytoca, 2,3% Serratia odorifera, 2,3% Providencia sp. e 2,3% Enterobacter sp.). Foi observada uma multirresistência dessas bactérias frente aos antibióticos testados. Conclusão ­ A contaminação em superfícies inanimadas, assim como o perfil de resistência microbiana, foram evidentes na UBS analisada, resultados estes que demonstram a necessidade de uma maior vigilância no que diz respeito ao controle de infecções, assim ao que se refere a reavaliação das estratégias de limpeza e desinfecção dessas superfícies inanimadas

Objective ­ Identify and bacteria isolates on inanimate surfaces of a Basic Health Unit in the interior of São Paulo and to verify the bacterial susceptibility against the tested antibiotics. Methods ­ Sixty samples of inanimate surfaces from a Basic Health Unit were collected by swabbing the surface using a swab humidified in sterile saline and inoculated into BHI broth. After sowing in non-selective culture medium and identified by staining of gram, catalase, growth in mannitol, coagulase, DNAse, fermentation of lactose, EPM, Mili, Citrate. The antimicrobial susceptibility test by disk diffusion were applied. Results ­ Of the 60 inanimate surfaces analyzed, 59 (98.3%) were contaminated, with 28.9% (17) being contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus, 71.1% (42) Staphylococcus coagulase negative and 72.9% by enterobacteria (20.9% Escherichia coli, 16.3% Citrobacter freundii, 13.9% Serratia marcescens, 13.9% Serratia liquefaciens, 7% Salmonella paratyphi, 7% Klebsiella pneumoniae, 4.6% Shigella sp., 4.6% Yersinia enterocolitica, 2.3% Klebsiella oxytoca, 2.3% Serratia odorifera, 2.3% Providencia sp. e 2.3% Enterobacter sp.) A multiresistance of these bacteria was observed against the tested antibiotics. Conclusions ­ The contamination on inanimate surfaces, as well as the microbial resistance profile, were evident in the Basic Health Unit analyzed, which results demonstrate the need for greater vigilance with regard to infection control, as well as the reevaluation of strategies for cleaning and disinfecting these inanimate surfaces.

Probing the antioxidant activity of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in Cannabis sativa extracts.

Herein, we report the antioxidant activity of cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in pure and mixed solutions at different ratios, as well as of six different Cannabis sativa extracts containing various proportions of CBD and THC by using spectrophotometric (reducing power assay, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) scavenging assays) and electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry). The isolated cannabinoids, the different stoichiometric ratios of CBD and THC, and the natural extracts proved to have remarkable antioxidant properties in all the methods employed in this work. The antioxidant activity of CBD and THC was compared against that of the well-defined antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (AA), resveratrol (Resv) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Clear evidence of the synergistic and antagonistic effects between CBD and THC regarding to their antioxidant activities was observed. Moreover, a good correlation was obtained between the optical and electrochemical methods, which proved that the reported experimental procedures can easily be adapted to determine the antioxidant activity of extracts from various Cannabis sativa species and related compounds.

Importância do cirurgião-dentista em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva: avaliação multidisciplinar / Importance of dentist on intensive care unit: multidisciplinary analysis

Objetivo: verificar a importância que a equipe multidisciplinar de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e os cirurgiões-dentistas atribuem à integração de um cirurgião-dentista a essa equipe. Adicionalmente, investigar o protocolo de higienização bucal aplicado em pacientes internados em UTL Metodologia: O questionário foi aplicado em 58 profissionais que atuam diretamente na UTI: 38 técnicos em enfermagem, 08 médicos, 08 enfermeiros, 04 fisioterapeutas e 29 cirurgiões-dentistas que não atuam em equipe de UTL Após o recebimento dos formulários respondidos, os resultados foram tabulados e os percentuais relativos a cada questão foram calculados. Resultados: 57% da equipe multidisciplinar e 96% dos profissionais da odontologia responderam que é importante a presença do cirurgião-dentista neste setor. Sobre a influência do cirurgião-dentista na melhora do quadro clínico dos pacientes, foi verificado que 55% dos integrantes da equipe multidisciplinar concordaram que o cirurgião-dentista, atuando no atendimento a pacientes hospitalizados em UTI, resultaria em uma melhora no quadro clínico do paciente; e 100% dos voluntários concordaram que a higiene bucal eficiente é importante em pacientes internados em UTL Conclusão: Apesar da higiene bucal ser considerada fator importante em pacientes internados na UTI por todos os profissionais avaliados, não há unanimidade no reconhecimento da importância e do papel do cirurgião-dentista como integrante da equipe de profissionais da área da saúde que atuam em UTL Adicionalmente, os métodos de controle de biofilme atualmente usados como protocolo de higienização bucal nas UTls abordadas não foram os mais adequados.

Objective: The aim was to analysis the importance of multidisciplinary members of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and dentists assign to the integration of dentist into that group. Additionally, evaluate the oral hygiene protocol used in ICU patients. Methods: The questionnaire was applied in 58 staff who directly work on the ICU: 38 nursing technicians, 08 doctors, 08 nurses, 04 physiotherapists and 29 dentists that they was not members staff of ICU. After ali volunteers completed questionnaire, then the results were analyzed and the percentages for each question were calculated. Results: 57% of the multidisciplinary member and 96% of dentists agree that it is important the presence of dentists in this group. Considering the positive influence of dentists on improvement of clinical case of the ICU patient, it was verified that 55% of multidisciplinary members staff agree that the dentist on ICU member staff will result an improvement of the patient clinical case. Additionally, 100% volunteers agree that efficient oral hygiene is important for patients on ICU care. Conclusion: Even though oral hygiene was considered important in ICU patients by ali professionals. There was no agreement on recognizing the importance of the dentist on multidisciplinary group of ICU. Additionally, the proto-cal of biofilm control currently used on ICUs was not the most appropriate.

Série clínica de infectados por Stafilococcus Aureus Meticilino-resistente / Clinical Series of Patients Infected with Meticilin-Resistant Stafilococcus Aureus

Os autores apresentam uma série clínica de vinte e dois pacientes adultos infectados pelo Stafilococcus Aureus meticilino resistente (MRSA), de 1997 a 1999, observados do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley (HULW) em João Pessoa - Paraíba - Brasil. Além disso, enfatizam o intervalo médio entre a admissão do paciente e o diagnóstico da infecção por MRSA, quantificam a incidência de casos, a distribuição por sexo e por faixa etária, determinam o índice de mortalidade e abordam sobre a dificuldade atual no manuseio destas cepas meticilino-resistente

A relevância clínica, radiográfica, laboratorial e terapéutica das pneumonias adquiridas na comunidade / The clinical, radiographic, laboratory and therapeutic importance of the comunity-acquired pneumonitis

Este trabalho aborda, de maneira geral, as características clínicas, radiográficas convencionais, laboratoriais e terapêuticas das principais "pneumonias adquiridas na comunidade (PAC)". Enfatiza-se a importânciado reconhecimento precoce das cinco formas fundamentais de pneumonias, através de suas apresentaçöes anátomo-radiográficas: alvéolar-ductal, intersticial, broncopneumonia banal, broncopneumonia intersticial e broncopneumonia supurativa, bem como seus respectivos tratamentos empíricos com os quimioantibióticos convencionais

Pneumonia Alvéolo-Ductal Tuberculosa / Tuberculous pneumonia

Os autores fazem um estudo retrospectivo de dez casos de pneumonia alvéolo-ductal tuberculosa (PADT) consequente a reação de hipersensibilidade exsudativa a tuberculoproteína e outros componentes bacilares. Enfatizam as dificuldades clínica, radiográfica e terapêutica, no discrime com a clássica pneumonia pneumocócica, sobretudo quando esta cursa com sintomas símiler e radiográficamente com imagem de apresentação alvéolo-ductal com aerobroncograma de permeio. Tecem, enfim, considerações presuntivas laboratoriais de real valor clínico, na diferenciação da PADT com a pneumonia pneumocócica acrescida de uma revisão bibliográfica