Evaluation of minimum inhibitory concentrations of plant extracts against environmental fungi and dermatophytes

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of plant extracts

The outbreak of COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 forced the scientific world to search for new alternatives to help control the virus. Plant extracts have natural compounds that might provide a starting point for the research on the use of plants as an excellent source of new antiviral agents against viruses, including COVID-19 to be included in disinfectants, fabrics or other materials. In this study, the polyphenols content (Folin-Ciocalteu), antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and ORAC) and the phenolic profile (HPLC) of different hydroethanolic (ethanol:H2O 50:50 v/v) extracts of medicinal plants cultivated under controlled conditions in Portugal (echinacea, rosemary, laurel, thyme and rock rose) were determined, as well as the cytotoxicity effect against a keratinocyte cell line using cell viability assay by PrestoBlue and genotoxicity effect using the AMES test. According to the results, total phenolic content ranged from 204.54 ± 1.78 / 274.20 ± 3.14 (mg EAG/g extract) with the rock rose extract presenting the highest content (p < 0.05). The extracts showed a good antioxidant capacity demonstrated by the high values found for ORAC, which ranged 2855.03 ± 9.75 / 5285.35 ± 60.04 µMol Trolox/mg extract. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of different compounds in the extracts such as the kaempferol-O-glucuronide, catechin, protocatechuic acid and galloyl glucoside, representing a potential source of bioactive components with antioxidant capacity. No toxicity was observed towards the keratinocyte cells and none of them showed mutagenic effects. Based on the results of safety and high polyphenols content of the extracts they demonstrate a great potential as antimicrobial agents. This will allow the design of new experiments aimed at evaluating the antiviral activity of these extracts, especially against SARS-CoV-2.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of plant extracts

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Substantiation of the invisible: pedagogical documentation as professional development support

This study started from a collaborative work developed with a group of educators, who work in an institution that welcomes children from 0 to 6 years. The educators, after participating in a seminar on documentation and evaluation in early childhood education, showed enthusiasm to learn how to document the children’s voice and experiences. This study analyses the processes of awareness that occurred over a two-year period of action and that revealed how pedagogical documentation can support educators to reconstruct the image they have of children and the reconfiguration of their practices, substantiating the invisible. The staff-based learning and development is conceptualized from an ecological socio-constructivist following the Pedagogy-in-Participation approach. This piece of research assumes that pedagogical documentation is a process that values the children’s voice and enables educators to reflect, favoring the reconstruction of their practices.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia: [Grant Number UIDB/05777/2020]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Red grape pomace extract: bioactive potential against bacteria, fungi and SARS-CoV-2

The outbreak of COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 forced the scientific world to search for new alternatives to help control the virus. Grape pomace, which is an industrial residue obtained from the winemaking process, has bioactive compounds derived from the grape [1], which can be a starting point for research on the use this residue as a source of new antiviral agents. Thus, the objective of this study was to obtain an extract from the by-product of red grapes discarded by the wine industry in Portugal to be used as an antiviral agent with possible application in disinfectants, fabrics or other materials. The red grape pomace extract was obtained by maceration in a hydroethanolic solution (ethanol:H2O 50:50 v/v) under optimized conditions and submitted to freeze drying. The extract was tested against pathogenic bacteria and a variety of fungi, and the antiviral activity was evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells. The extract showed antimicrobial activity against a large number of bacteria tested, e.g., B. cereus (1.56 mg/mL), L. monocytogenes and S. aureus (3.125 mg/mL), and E. coli and S. Typhimurium (50 mg/mL). Regarding its antifungal potential, this extract did not show inhibition against the environmental fungi tested, however, it inhibited two of the tested dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes and the yeast M. furfur at a concentration of 6.25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL, respectively. Regarding the antiviral activity, the results achieved for the viral titer was 6000 PFU/mL, the antiviral activity for SARS-CoV-2 was 1.36 ± 0.15 Mv and the percentage of reduction was of 95.38 ± 1.54%. The results showed that the obtained extract revealed consistent results of antiviral activity, presenting a potential for applications against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, it showed potential against some bacterial pathogens and fungal dermatophytes. Further studies are required for the validation and application of this extract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Impairment of the stress response in matrinxã juveniles (Brycon amazonicus) exposed to low concentrations of phenol

In this study we measured plasma cortisol, plasma glucose, plasma sodium and potassium, and liver and gill hsp70 levels in juvenile matrinx\ue3 (Brycon amazonicus) subjected to a 96 h exposure to phenol (0, 0.2, and 2.0 ppm), and the effect of this exposure on their ability to respond to a subsequent handling stress. Fish were sampled prior to initiation of exposure and 96 h, and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h post-handling stress. During the 96 h exposure, plasma cortisol and glucose levels remained unchanged in all treatments. While plasma sodium levels were significantly reduced in all groups, plasma potassium levels only decreased in fish exposed to 0 and 0.2 ppm of phenol. Liver hsp70 levels decreased significantly at 96 h in fish exposed to 2.0 ppm of phenol. All groups, except fish exposed to 0.2 ppm of phenol, were able to increase plasma cortisol and glucose levels after handling stress. Fish exposed to 2.0 ppm of phenol showed decreased gill and liver hsp70 levels after the handling stress. Our data suggest that exposure to phenol may compromise the ability of matrinx\ue3 to elicit physiological responses to a subsequent stressor.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye