Evaluation of the antibacterial, modulatory and anti-adherent properties of oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oil against food pathogenic bacteria

There are over 250 types of foodborne diseases, the majority of which are infections caused by bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus are considered contaminants of meat products. The use of natural products as antimicrobials to combat these diseases can be an effective and economical approach. This study proposes to assess the antibacterial, modulatory, and anti-adherent activity of the essential oil of Origanum vulgare against strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolated from meat products. The assay was conducted in duplicate. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using the broth microdilution technique. MIC represents the lowest concentration of the product capable of inhibiting the growth of the bacterial strain, whereas MBC represents the lowest concentration capable of inhibiting total growth. The study of association of the product with antimicrobials was undertaken by disk diffusion using ampicillin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, and ciprofloxacin, resulting in synergistic, antagonistic, or indifferent effects. Anti-adherent activity was determined in the presence of sucrose, as the lowest concentration of the agent in contact with sucrose that prevented adherence to the glass tube. Oregano oil exhibited strong inhibitory and bactericidal activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, with MIC values ranging from 32 to 512 μg mL-1 and MBC values ranging from 128 to 512 μg mL-1. Origanum vulgare oil showed varied interactions when associated with antimicrobials, with modulations for synergism (37.5%), indifference (50%), and antagonism (12.5%). Regarding anti-adherent activity, the test product effectively inhibited the adherence of P. aeruginosa bacterial strains in the presence of sucrose (1:8) but had no effect against K. pneumoniae or S. saprophyticus. Therefore, oregano oil proves to be an antibacterial and modulating agent against different bacteria isolated from meat products. Additionally, it displays anti-adherent properties against P. aeruginosa, making it a natural product that could serve as an interesting alternative in efforts to combat foodborne diseases

Avaliação do conceito sobre aspectos da qualidade da água e crise hídrica dos alunos do ensino médio de Itapetim-PE/Evaluation of the concept on aspects of water quality and water crisis in high school students in Itapetim-PE

Determinadas regiões brasileiras sofrem problemas graves de escassez de água, principalmente o Nordeste. Devido ao prolongado período de seca anual, as práticas de captação e armazenamento de água para o consumo têm sido as principais formas de abastecimento hídrico em muitas comunidades. Entretanto, um problema observado é que a água armazenada perde sua qualidade devido ações antrópicas, ou até mesmo, questões naturais. Segundo o Ministério da Saúde, “toda água destinada ao consumo humano, distribuída coletivamente por meio de sistema ou solução alternativo coletiva de abastecimento de água, deve ser objeto de controle e vigilância da qualidade da água”. Portanto, é necessário haver orientação da população, principalmente de jovens e adolescentes que estão em contato direto com a educação, podendo disseminar este conhecimento em sua comunidade. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a concepção de alunos do 3º ano do ensino médio de escola pública do município de Itapetim-Pe em relação à qualidade da água armazenada em suas residências. Os dados foram coletados através de um questionário semiestruturado, onde 78 alunos responderam a 15 questões. Os resultados mostraram que 49% (n=38) utilizam cisternas e caixa d’água como reservatórios. Nas questões sobre contaminação, 71% (n=55) consideram esta água adequada para o consumo, e que, segundo 51% (n=40), não seria possível a contaminação por este meio. Porém 63% (n=49) afirmaram que estes reservatórios estão livres de microrganismos patogênicos. Estes resultados apontam que os alunos mostraram-se desinformados e sem conhecimento no que diz respeito às situações presentes na realidade atual da região semiárida

O USO DA CANNABIS NO TRANSTORNO DO DÉFICIT DE ATENÇÃO E HIPERATIVIDADE: FATOR DE PIORA OU COMPONENTE TERAPÊUTICO?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the most diagnosed and medication-treated neurodevelopmental disorder in the world. It is estimated that about half of the population with the disorder will meet criteria for Substance Use Disorder at some point in their lives. Cannabis is a plant that has more than 100 extracts and presents robust evidence of effectiveness in treating some diseases and is also the illicit substance most consumed by people with ADHD in the world. This review sought to assess, through the PICOS strategy, how the use of cannabis can interfere with the clinical presentation of ADHD and whether those with the disorder can obtain therapeutic benefits from its use. Publications from the last five years were collected in the chosen databases, with subsequent analysis of the information and comparison between authors. It was observed that the use of cannabis in the context of Substance Use Desorder (SUD) was associated with worse scores on the ADHD clinical scales, but its use in a prescribed manner was associated with an improvement in the clinical condition. Furthermore, no validated dosage schemes were found for the medicinal use of cannabis and its compounds, revealing the need for greater scientific production with good methodological value.O Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) é o distúrbio do neurodesenvolvimento mais diagnosticado e tratado com uso de medicações no mundo. Estima-se que cerca de metade da população portadora do transtorno irá preencher critérios para o Transtorno do Uso de Substâncias em algum momento da vida. A cannabis é uma planta que conta com mais de 100 extratos e que apresenta evidências robustas de eficácia no tratamento de algumas doenças e é também a substância ilícita mais consumida por portadores de TDAH no mundo. A presente revisão buscou aferir, através da estratégia PICOS, como o uso da cannabis pode interferir na apresentação clínica do TDAH e se os portadores do transtorno podem obter benefícios terapêuticos do seu uso. Publicações dos últimos cinco anos foram coletadas nas bases de dados escolhidas, com posterior análise das informações e confronto entre autores. Foi observado que o uso da cannabis no contexto do Transtorno do Uso de Substância (TUS) foi associado à piores pontuações nas escalas clínicas do TDAH, porém seu uso de forma prescrita foi associado com melhora do quadro clínico. Ainda, não foram encontrados esquemas posológicos validados para o uso medicamentoso da cannabis e seus compostos, revelando a necessidade de maior produção científica com bom valor metodológico.&nbsp

Fish assemblage of the Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area, NE Brazil: abundance, composition and microhabitat availability along the mangrove-reef gradient

Reefs, mangroves and seagrass biotopes often occur in close association, forming a complex and highly productive ecosystem that provide significant ecologic and economic goods and services. Different anthropogenic disturbances are increasingly affecting these tropical coastal habitats leading to growing conservation concern. In this field-based study, we used a visual census technique (belt transects 50 m x 2 m) to investigate the interactions between fishes and microhabitats at the Mamanguape Mangrove-Reef system, NE Brazil. Overall, 144 belt transects were performed from October 2007 to September 2008 to assess the structure of the fish assemblage. Fish trophic groups and life stage (juveniles and adults) were recorded according to literature, the percent cover of the substrate was estimated using the point contact method. Our results revealed that fish composition gradually changed from the Estuarine to the Reef zone, and that fish assemblage was strongly related to the microhabitat availability, as suggested by the predominance of carnivores at the Estuarine zone and presence of herbivores at the Reef zone. Fish abundance and diversity were higher in the Reef zone and estuary margins, highlighting the importance of structural complexity. A pattern of nursery area utilization, with larger specimens at the Transition and Reef Zone and smaller individuals at the Estuarine zone, was recorded for Abudefduf saxatilis, Anisotremus surinamensis, Lutjanus alexandrei, and Lutjanus jocu. Our findings clearly suggests ecosystem connectivity between mangrove, seagrass and reef biotopes, and highlighted the importance of Mamanguape Mangrove-Reef System as a priority area for conservation and research, whose habitat mosaics should be further studied and protected

How, what, and why: housing, water & sanitation and wealth patterns in a cross-sectional study of the Guarani Birth Cohort, the first Indigenous birth cohort in BrazilResearch in context

Summary: Background: Despite the importance of social determinants of health, studies on the effects of socioeconomic, sanitary, and housing conditions on Indigenous child health are scarce worldwide. This study aims to identify patterns in housing, water & sanitation, and wealth (HSW) in the first Indigenous birth cohort in Brazil–The Guarani Birth Cohort. Methods: Cross-sectional study using baseline data from The Guarani Birth Cohort. We used Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The clusters identified were ordered in increasing degrees of access to public policies and wealth, defining the patterns of HSW. Finally, we explored the association between the patterns and one of the health outcomes, hospitalization, in the birth cohort. Findings: Three patterns were identified for housing and water & sanitation, and four for wealth status, resulting in 36 combinations of patterns (3 × 3 × 4). More than 62% of children in the cohort were found with the lowest wealth patterns. The distribution of children across patterns in one dimension was not fully determined by the other two dimensions. Statistically significant associations were found between precarious households and extreme poverty, and hospitalization. Interpretation: We observed substantial heterogeneity in the distribution of children across the 36 combinations. These findings highlight that, should the dimensions of HSW be associated with health outcomes, as seen for hospitalization, they should be considered separately in multivariable models, in order to improve the estimation of their independent effects. Funding: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil (CNPq); Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil (Fiocruz); Research Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (FAPERJ)

West Nile Virus in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil

In June 2019, a horse with neurological disorder was diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV) in Boa Viagem, a municipality in the state of Ceará, northeast Brazil. A multi-institutional task force coordinated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was deployed to the area for case investigation. A total of 513 biological samples from 78 humans, 157 domestic animals and 278 free-ranging wild birds, as well as 853 adult mosquitoes of 22 species were tested for WNV by highly specific serological and/or molecular tests. No active circulation of WNV was detected in vertebrates or mosquitoes by molecular methods. Previous exposure to WNV was confirmed by seroconversion in domestic birds and by the detection of specific neutralizing antibodies in 44% (11/25) of equids, 20.9% (14/67) of domestic birds, 4.7% (13/278) of free-ranging wild birds, 2.6% (2/78) of humans, and 1.5% (1/65) of small ruminants. Results indicate that not only equines but also humans and different species of domestic animals and wild birds were locally exposed to WNV. The detection of neutralizing antibodies for WNV in free-ranging individuals of abundant passerine species suggests that birds commonly found in the region may have been involved as amplifying hosts in local transmission cycles of WNV

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2011: volume 3: tecnologias da informação e comunicação e material pedagógico

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP