Antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng essential oil and Carvacrol against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Introduction: S. aureus and E. coli are pathogen that can cause persistent infections due to antibiotic resistance mechanisms and to its ability to adhere and form biofilm.The search for new agents from natural resources to counter microbial biofilm is an urgent priority in healthcare. Objetive: Chemical composition and antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of Plectranthus amboinicus essential oil (PAEO) and of carvacrol were investigated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methodology: PAEO chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by disc diffusion method and broth microdilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Antibiofilm activities were investigated using 96-well plates with crystal violet assay. Results: Carvacrol (85.25%) was the major component in the PAEO. According to disc diffusion test the ability of PAEO and carvacrol for inhibition of bacteria in planktonic form was confirmed. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of PAEO for S. aureus and E. coli were 0.31 and 1.25%, respectively, with bactericidal effect. Carvacrol demonstrated a significant antibacterial property (MIC = 0.31%), exhibiting bacteriostatic effect against S. aureus and bactericidal effect against E. coli. Carvacrol significantly inhibited the formation of E. coli biofilm (58.9%). Moreover, carvacrol inactivated a mature biofilm. Conclusion: The data obtained are promising, making it possible to develop new therapeutic alternatives. These results denote the potentiality of carvacrol as a source for the treatment of diseases caused by E. coli and S. aureus.Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are pathogens that cause chronic infections due to antibiotic resistance mechanisms and their ability to adhere to surfaces and to form biofilms. The search for new agents from natural resources to counter microbial biofilms is an urgent priority in healthcare. Objetive: chemical composition, antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of Plectranthus amboinicus essential oil (PAEO) and carvacrol were investigated against E. coli and S. aureus. Methodology: PAEO was chemically analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by the disc diffusion method and broth microdilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Antibiofilm activity was investigated using 96-well plates with a crystal violet assay. Results: carvacrol (85.25%) was the major component of PAEO. The disc diffusion test confirmed the ability of PAEO and carvacrol in inhibiting bacteria in their planktonic form. The MICs of PAEO against S. aureus and E. coli were 0.31 and 1.25%, respectively, with bactericidal effect. Carvacrol demonstrated a significant antibacterial property (MIC = 0.31%), exhibiting bacteriostatic effects against S. aureus and bactericidal effects against E. coli. Carvacrol considerably inhibited E. coli biofilm formations (58.9%). Moreover, carvacrol inactivated the mature biofilms. Conclusion: the data obtained are promising, and facilitates the development of new therapeutic alternatives. These results indicate the potential of carvacrol in treating diseases caused by E. coli and S. aureus

Análise da viabilidade do uso do concreto permeável na utilização de pavimento leve em vias urbanas / Analysis of the feasibility of using permeable concrete as lightweight sidewalk in urban roads

O crescimento urbano no Brasil tem sido de grande relevância nos dias atuais, chamando a atenção pela ocupação que tem ocorrido de forma acelerada. Assim o aumento das enchentes devido a alto índice de desmatamento, tem levado muitos estudantes e profissionais da área da engenharia a desenvolverem novas tecnologias relacionadas a drenagem urbana sustentável. O desenvolvimento dos pavimentos permeável na construção civil em muitas regiões tem sido de grande importância para se evitar catástrofes naturais, como enchentes, preservação ambiental, entre outras. A retirada total da cobertura vegetal, para construção de áreas impermeáveis, tais como calçadas totalmente de concreto, implantação de pavimentação nas ruas são as obras que nos chamam a atenção, pois são essas obras que quando não realizadas com planejamento são umas das principais causas de desconforto térmico principalmente nas grandes cidades, com altas temperaturas, precipitações desordenadas fora os grandes prejuízos na mobilidade urbana durante os períodos chuvosos. Diante disso tem-se observado que o pavimento permeável tem sido utilizados de forma bem significativa no decorrer dos anos, com intuito de tentar minimizar os impactos causados pelas características do solo tais como a impermeabilização, compactação natural e etc. Essa técnica construtiva tem sido implantada com muita força na execução de áreas destinadas ao tráfego leve de veículos, estacionamentos, sendo muito utlizado também em calçadas, praças e parques. Essa pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar os pontos positivos e negativos entre os fornecedores, pesquisadores e outras empresas que fabricam esses tipos de pavimentos, analisar sua resistência em laboratório e sua aplicabilidade como pavimento. Foram analisados comparativos entre as taxas de permeabilidade, trabalhos científicos, através de dentificações de pavimentos hidrologicamente funcionais

Avaliação da condição gengival de escolares

Objetivo: Verificar a condição gengival de crianças e adolescentes matriculados em escola pública e privada de Caruaru-PE. Material e Métodos:  A população foi composta por 121 escolares, de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária de sete a catorze anos. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizados o índice gengival (IG) e o índice de placa (IP). Também foi aplicado um questionário aos pais e responsáveis para avaliação da renda familiar e da escolaridade materna.  Foram aplicados o teste do qui-quadrado e/ou Exato de Fischer; t-Student  e Anova (αResultados: A maioria dos escolares tinha entre sete e dez anos de idade (57,9%), era do sexo feminino (55,4%), de escola pública (61,2%), com renda familiar abaixo de um salário (51,2%) cujas mães tinham menos de 12 anos de estudo (62,8%). A prevalência de gengivite e índice de placa não aceitável foi de 18,2% e 79,3%, respectivamente. Verificou-se associação significativa entre o índice gengival e mães sem instrução(p=0,025) . Com exceção da variável sexo, houve associação significativa entre o índice de placa e as demais variáveis (pConclusão: A maioria dos pesquisados não apresentou alterações gengivais e dentre os que apresentaram  gengivite, a inflamação leve foi predominante. Faz-se  necessário uma melhor atenção à saúde bucal no serviço público, bem como o aumento da informação aos pais, em especial aqueles em situação de deprivação social

A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study of Medical Oncologists

Funding Information: We would like to thank Andrea Bothwell who wrote the manuscript outline and first draft on behalf of Springer Healthcare Communications. We also thank Prof. Carina Silva (ESTEsL – Escola Superior de Tecnologias de Saúde de Lisboa) who performed the preliminary statistical analysis of this study. This medical writing assistance and statistical analysis was funded by CUF Oncologia. Funding Information: Diogo Alpuim Costa has received honoraria from the Portuguese Navy, CUF Oncologia, and NTT DATA, and has served as a speaker, advisory board member, or has received research or education funding from CUF Oncologia, AstraZeneca, Hoffmann-La Roche, Merck KGaA, Novartis, Pfizer, Uriage, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Nanobiotix, Puma Biotechnology Inc., Sanofi, and Seagen Inc. Margarida Brito has participated as advisory board member for Roche, Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Pfizer. Mário Fontes-Sousa has served as a speaker or advisory board member for Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Servier. Diogo Martins-Branco received honoraria and advisory board fees from Janssen, Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Angelini, AstraZeneca, and Novartis, meeting and travel grants from LEO Farmacêuticos, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Ipsen, Janssen, and Roche, and institutional grants from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. José Guilherme Gonçalves Nobre, João Paulo Fernandes, Marta Vaz Batista, Ana Simas, Carolina Sales, Helena Gouveia, Leonor Abreu Ribeiro, Andreia Coelho, Mariana Inácio, André Cruz, Mónica Mariano, Joana Savva-Bordalo, Ricardo Fernandes, André Oliveira, Andreia Chaves, Mafalda Sampaio-Alves, and Noémia Afonso have nothing to declare. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Introduction: Cancer care providers have faced many challenges in delivering safe care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional survey-based study investigated the impact of the pandemic on clinical practices of Portuguese medical oncologists caring for patients with breast cancer. Methods: An anonymous online survey comprising 42 questions gathered information regarding COVID-19 testing, treatment in (neo)adjuvant and metastatic settings, and other aspects of breast cancer management. Practices before and during the pandemic were compared, and potential differences in outcomes according to respondents’ regions, case volumes, and practice type were explored. Results: Of 129 respondents, 108 worked in the public health system, giving a representative national picture of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer management. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported a reduction in visits for new cases of breast cancer, and there was a shift towards increased use of telemedicine. Clinical decision-making was largely unaffected in the most aggressive indications (i.e., triple-negative, HER2-positive, visceral crisis). The use of neoadjuvant therapy increased when access to surgery was difficult, whereas dose-dense regimens decreased, and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor treatment decreased for less aggressive disease and increased for more aggressive disease. The use of oral formulations and metronomic chemotherapy regimens increased, and clinical trial participation decreased. Some differences by respondents’ region and case volume were noted. Conclusion: Medical oncologists in Portugal implemented many changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of which were logical and reasonable responses to the current healthcare emergency; however, the true impact on patient outcomes remains unknown.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin