Chemical Defence in a Millipede: Evaluation and Characterization of Antimicrobial Activity of the Defensive Secretion from Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) (Diplopoda, Julida, Julidae)

The chemical defence of the millipede Pachyiulus hungaricus is reported in the present paper, in which a chemical characterization is given and antimicrobial activity is determined. In total, independently of sex, 44 compounds were identified. All compounds belong to two groups: quinones and pentyl and hexyl esters of long-chain fatty acids. The relative abundances of quinones and non-quinones were 94.7% vs. 5.3% (males) and 87.3% vs. 12.7% (females), respectively. The two dominant quinones in both sexes were 2-methyl-1,4,-benzoquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the defensive secretion was evaluated in vitro against seven bacterial strains and eight fungal species. With the aid of a dilution technique, the antimicrobial potential of the secretion and high sensitivity of all tested strains were confirmed. The lowest minimum concentrations of these compounds (0.20-0.25 mg/mL) were sufficient for inhibition of Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The growth of eight tested fungal species was inhibited by slightly lower concentrations of the secretion, with Fusarium equisetias the most sensitive fungus and Aspergillus flavus as the most resistant. Values of MIC and MFC in the employed microdilution assay ranged from 0.10 to above 0.35 mg/m L. The given extract contains antimicrobial components potentially useful as therapeutic agents in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries

Fatores associados ao uso de serviço de atenção pré-hospitalar por vítimas de acidentes de trânsito Factors associated with pre-hospital care in victims of traffic accidents

Em um estudo de corte transversal foram avaliadas as características das vítimas de acidentes de trânsito ocorridos em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, com o objetivo de conhecer as características dos acidentes e das vítimas que usaram o serviço de atendimento pré-hospitalar, e investigar se o uso deste serviço está associado a um menor tempo até o atendimento hospitalar. Participaram do estudo todas as 1.564 vítimas de acidente de trânsito atendidas nos três maiores hospitais públicos de referência para emergência na cidade entre 10 de novembro e 14 de dezembro de 2003. As associações foram investigadas utilizando-se razões de prevalência obtidas por regressão de Poisson. Os resultados mostraram que 49,7% das vítimas usaram o serviço de atendimento pré-hospitalar, sendo a utilização menor entre ocupantes de bicicleta e pedestres. A gravidade (AIS = 2 e AIS <FONT FACE=Symbol>&sup3;</FONT> 3), idade (30-39 anos, 40-49, <FONT FACE=Symbol>&sup3;</FONT> 50 anos), relato de uso de álcool e tempo de admissão hospitalar < 60 minutos estiveram associados ao transporte pelo serviço de atendimento pré-hospitalar. O uso do serviço de atendimento pré-hospitalar foi maior entre vítimas mais graves e esteve associado a um tempo menor de chegada até o hospital, características consideradas essenciais para um serviço de atenção pré-hospitalar.<br>This was a cross-sectional study of all victims of traffic accidents in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, admitted to the three largest public hospitals in the city from November 10 to December 14, 2003, to identify characteristics associated with the use of pre-hospital emergency treatment and investigate whether the time between the accident and hospital admission was shorter among these victims. The association between pre-hospital treatment and target variables was assessed by prevalence ratios obtained from Poisson regression. Among 1,564 victims, 778 (49.7%) were transported in vehicles with pre-hospital treatment. Pre-hospital treatment was less common for bicyclists and pedestrians. The prevalence ratio was higher among victims with more severe injuries (AIS = 2 and AIS <FONT FACE=Symbol>&sup3;</FONT> 3), older victims (30-39 years, 40-49 years, <FONT FACE=Symbol>&sup3;</FONT> 50 years), those who reported alcohol use, and when the time between accident and hospital admission was less than 60 minutes. According to the results, pre-hospital treatment is more frequent among severely injured victims and helps reduce the time between the accident and hospital admission

Variation in immune response genes and chronic Q fever. Concepts: preliminary test with post-Q fever fatigue syndrome

Acute primary Q fever is followed by various chronic sequelae. These include subacute Q fever endocarditis, granulomatous reactions in various organs or a prolonged debilitating post-infection fatigue syndrome (QFS). The causative organism, Coxiella burnetii, persists after an initial infection. The differing chronic outcomes may reflect variations within cytokine and accessory immune control genes which affect regulation of the level of persistence. As a preliminary test of the concept we have genotyped QFS patients and controls for gene variants spanning 15 genes and also examined HLA-B and DR frequencies. QFS patients exhibited a significantly increased frequency of HLA-DR-11 compared with controls and also significant differences in allelic variant frequencies within the NRAMP, and IFNgamma genes. These results indicate a possible genetic role in the expression of overt chronic Q fever. Further studies will be undertaken to increase sample sizes, to survey other forms of chronic Q fever and to examine Q fever patients who have recovered without sequelae.K. J. Helbig, S. L. Heatley, R. J. Harris, C. G. Mullighan, P. G. Bardy and B. P. Marmio