Condições sanitárias e avaliação dos procedimentos de biossegurança adotados em estúdios de tatuagem

Introduction: The tattoo procedure offers biological risk to professionals and clients. Objective: To describe the hygienic and sanitary conditions, as well as to analyze the adoption of procedures for the management of biosafety risks by professional tattoo artists who work in tattoo studios in a municipality located in the Northwestern Region of the State of Ceará, Brazil. Method: Qualitative, descriptive and transversal study, carried out in five tattoo studios through the application of a checklist based on the Technical Standard for the operation of tattoo and piercing services by the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (2009). Results: The main negative points allude to the functioning of clandestine studios, poor registration of personal data of customers and inadequate collection of infectious waste. On the other hand, the main positive points achieved in this study are related to the proper sharps waste, the existence of a reserved and adequate place for the tattoo procedure, including a sink for  washing hands close to the procedure site. The research also showed that professional tattoo artists have appropriate materials and equipment for their respective practices, but perform biosafety procedures incorrectly, which predispose professionals and clients to biological risk factors. Conclusions: The tattoo studios analyzed have poor compliance with health surveillance norms, which are insufficient to guarantee the promotion and maintenance of safety for the health of everyone involved in body aesthetic procedures such as tattoos.Introdução: O procedimento de tatuagem oferece risco biológico aos profissionais e clientes. Objetivo: Descrever as condições higiênicas e sanitárias, bem como analisar a adoção de procedimentos para a gestão de riscos de biossegurança por profissionais tatuadores que  atuam em estúdios de tatuagem de um município localizado na região noroeste do estado do Ceará, Brasil. Método: Estudo qualitativo, descritivo e transversal, realizado em cinco estúdios de tatuagem através da aplicação de um checklist baseado em Referência Técnica para o funcionamento dos serviços de tatuagem e piercing da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (2009). Resultados: Os principais pontos negativos fazem alusão ao funcionamento de estúdios clandestinos, registro precário dos dados pessoais dos clientes e coleta  inadequada do lixo infectante. Por outro lado, os principais pontos positivos alcançados nesse estudo estão relacionados com o descarte adequado de objetos perfurocortantes, existência de local reservado e adequado para o procedimento de tatuagem, incluindo pia para a lavagem das mãos próxima ao local do procedimento. A pesquisa evidenciou também que os profissionais tatuadores possuem materiais e equipamentos apropriados para as respectivas práticas, porém executam procedimentos de biossegurança de maneira incorreta, os quais predispõem  profissionais e clientes a fatores de risco biológico. Conclusões: Os estúdios de tatuagem analisados apresentam pobre adequação às normas da Vigilância Sanitária, as quais são insuficientes para garantir a promoção e manutenção da segurança para a saúde de todos os envolvidos em procedimentos de estética corporal do tipo tatuagem

Casbane diterpene as novel and natural antimicrobial agent against biofilm infections

Croton nepetaefolius is a plant native from northeastern Brazil and belongs to Euphorbiaceae family. The essential oil of this plant is widely used in folk medicine from the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders to the use as an antiseptic agent, with an antifungal action scientifically proven. The action of this plant has been extensively explored by the scientific community, being the secondary metabolites, which are responsible for their properties, alkaloids, diterpenes, and triterpenes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the secondary metabolite, casbane diterpene (CD) (isolated of the species mentioned above), to inhibit microbial growth and biofilm formation of several clinical relevant species (about 15 species among bacteria and fungi). Minimal inhibitory concentration was assessed by the standard technique of microdilution and biofilm inhibition was tested using microtiter plates with biomass quantification by crystal violet staining method. It was found that the CD possessed biocidal and biostatic activity for the majority of the species screened, with the minimal concentration active between 125 and 500 mg/L. Moreover, CD anti-biofilm action was also observed for some of the species. In addition, it was noticed some biofilm formation inhibition even when the planktonic growth was not significantly affected. In conclusion it can be speculated that casbane diterpene shows potential to be a natural tool for the treatment of diseases caused by different infectious microorganisms

Effect of algae and plant lectins on planktonic growth and biofilm formation in clinically relevant bacteria and yeasts

This study aimed to evaluate the abilities of plant and algae lectins to inhibit planktonic growth and biofilm formation in bacteria and yeasts. Initially, ten lectins were tested on Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and C. tropicalis at concentrations of 31.25 to 250 μg/mL. The lectins from Cratylia floribunda (CFL), Vatairea macrocarpa (VML), Bauhinia bauhinioides (BBL), Bryothamnion seaforthii (BSL), and Hypnea musciformis (HML) showed activities against at least one microorganism. Biofilm formation in the presence of the lectins was also evaluated; after 24 h of incubation with the lectins, the biofilms were analyzed by quantifying the biomass (by crystal violet staining) and by enumerating the viable cells (colony-forming units). The lectins reduced the biofilm biomass and/or the number of viable cells to differing degrees depending on the microorganism tested, demonstrating the different characteristics of the lectins. These findings indicate that the lectins tested in this study may be natural alternative antimicrobial agents; however, further studies are required to better elucidate the functional use of these proteins.This study was supported by the CAPES (Brazil) under the BEX NT 2052/11NT3 Project, by the IBB-CEB and FCT (Portugal), by the European Community Fund FEDER, and by the COMPETE Program under the auspices of the PTDC/SAU-ESA/646091/2006/FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007480 Project. Kyria Santiago Nascimento, Alexandre Holanda Sampaio, Benildo Sousa Cavada, and Edson Holanda Teixeira are Senior Fellows of CNPq. Mr. David Martin helped with the English editing of the paper that was also revised by AJE (American Journal Experts)

Lectinas como Biomarcadores de Tumores de Cavidade Oral: uma Revisão de Literatura

Introdução: Com o advento de novas pesquisas abordando o processo neoplásico, um grupo peculiar de proteínas tem sido amplamente estudado, as lectinas. Estas proteínas possuem a capacidade de se ligarem de forma reversível a carboidratos com alta especificidade. Devido às alterações no padrão glicoproteico de superfície celular durante o processo neoplásico, as lectinas se tornam uma ferramenta potencial como biomarcadores de células neoplásicas. Objetivo: Investigar a produção científica da aplicação lectinas como biomarcadores de lesões neoplásicas e potencialmente neoplásicas da cavidade oral e analisar quais grupos de lectinas e lesões orais foram mais extensamente estudados, com o objetivo final de traçar o perfil dessas publicações. Método: Realizou-se uma pesquisa de artigos científicos integrando periódicos indexados na base de dados Science Direct, Pubmed e BVS. Os critérios de inclusão estabelecidos foram: Tempo – de 1981 a 2010; Descritores – “lectin” AND “binding” AND “oral” AND “tumor”; Resumo/abstract – língua inglesa. Foi obtido um total de 108 artigos. As publicações foram avaliadas e classificadas em categorias pré-estabelecidas, como número/tipos de lesões e número/tipos de lectinas analisadas. As variáveis estudadas foram correlacionadas e o teste Qui-quadrado foi aplicado. Resultados: Houve notadamente um crescimento de estudos utilizando lectinas como biomarcadores tumorais ao longo dos anos, em que a lesão mais amplamente estudada foi o carcinoma espinocelular e a lectina mais avaliada foi a Arachis hypogea (PNA). Conclusão: Pode-se concluir que a utilização de lectinas como ferramenta de diagnóstico é de crescente importância para a pesquisa em cancerologia devido à sua aplicabilidade, versatilidade e fidedignidade de resultados

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Derriobtusone A isolated from Lonchocarpus obtusus

This study evaluated the effect of derriobtusone A, a flavonoid isolated from Lonchocarpus obtusus, on two important pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as well as its antioxidant activity and toxicity. Planktonic growth assays were performed, and the inhibition of biofilm formation was evaluated. In addition, antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH radical scavenging assay, ferrous ion chelating assay, ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, and β-carotene bleaching assay. Toxicity was evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality test. Results showed that derriobtusone A completely inhibited the planktonic growth of S. aureus at 250 and 500 μg/mL; however, it did not have the same activity on E. coli. Derriobtusone A reduced the biomass and colony-forming unit (cfu) of S. aureus biofilm at concentrations of 250 and 500 μg/mL. In various concentrations, it reduced the biofilm biomass of E. coli, and, in all concentrations, it weakly reduced the cfu. Derriobtusone A showed highly efficient antioxidant ability in scavenging DPPH radical and inhibiting β-carotene oxidation. The compound showed no lethality to Artemia sp. nauplii. In conclusion, derriobtusone A may be an effective molecule against S. aureus and its biofilm, as well as a potential antioxidant compound with no toxicity.This study was supported by CAPES (Brazil) through the BEX NT 2052/11NT3 Project and by IBB-CEB and FCT (Portugal) and European Community Fund FEDER, through Program COMPETE, in the ambit of Project PTDC/SAU-ESA/646091/2006/FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007480. Otilia Deusdenia Loiola Pessoa, Benildo Sousa Cavada, and Edson Holanda Teixeira are Senior Fellows of CNPq. Mr. David Martin helped with the English editing of the paper

Casbane diterpene as a promising natural antimicrobial agent against biofilm-associated infections

Croton nepetaefolius is a native plant from northeastern Brazil that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. The biological action of this plant has been extensively explored, being the secondary metabolites responsible for its properties alkaloids, diterpenes, and triterpenes. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of casbane diterpene (CD), isolated from the ethanolic extract of C. nepetaefolius, to inhibit microbial growth and biofilm formation of several clinical relevant species (bacteria and yeasts). It was found that CD possessed biocidal and biostatic activity against the majority of the species screened, with minimal active concentrations ranging between 125 and 500 µg/mL. In addition, it was observed that biofilm formation was inhibited even when the planktonic growth was not significantly affected. In conclusion, CD showed potential to be a natural tool for the treatment of diseases caused by different infectious microorganismsThis study was supported by FUNCAP and CNPq (Brazil) and by FCT (Portugal) through the project PTDC/SAU-ESA/64609/2006

Potencial biotecnolÃgico de lectinas: induÃÃo de apoptose em cÃlulas A549, efeito prÃ-cicatrizante em feridas experimentais e anÃlise de toxicidade sobre Artemia sp.

This work evaluated the biotechnological potential of lectins in the induction of apoptosis of neoplastic cells; the effect on wound healing in a murine model (in vivo) and established the level of toxicity on Artemia sp. Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins ubiquitously distributed in nature, being found from bacteria to humans. Since carbohydrates can act as mediators of biological information, the interaction with lectins can trigger some biologically important effect. To verify the role of lectins in the induction of apoptosis, A549 cells (lung carcinoma) were grown for 1 hour with lectins isolated from seeds of Canavalia ensiformis (ConA), C. brasiliensis (ConBr), C. boliviana (ConBol), C. grandiflora (Cgran) and C. gladiata (CGL) labeled with FITC. In addition, the relative gene expression of p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase 9 was also evaluated when the cells were cultured with ConA, ConBr and ConBol. The data showed that all lectins interacted with A549 cells. Nevertheless, p53 and Bax had no significant change. Unlike, the expression of BCL-2 was down-regulated while caspase 9 was up-regulated by treatment with lectins. Concerning the pro-healing potential, the lectin isolated from the red alga Bryothamnion seafortii (BS) was tested by topical treatment of skin lesions. The data showed that BS improved the quality of healing, probably through the induction of fibroblast proliferation. Finally, the lethality test of Artemia sp. was carried out to determine the toxicity of some Diocleinae lectins. ConBr is the most toxic lectin against Artemia, while ConA is the least toxic, and ConBol, ConM, ConGr and CGL exhibit intermediate levels of toxicity.Este trabalho avaliou o potencial biotecnolÃgico de lectinas na induÃÃo da apoptose de cÃlulas neoplÃsicas, o efeito sobre a cicatrizaÃÃo de feridas em modelo murino (in vivo) e estabeleceu o nÃvel de toxicidade sobre Artemia sp. Lectinas sÃo proteÃnas ou glicoproteÃnas distribuÃdas ubiquamente na natureza, sendo encontradas desde bactÃrias atà seres humanos. Tais proteÃnas possuem a capacidade de ligar-se seletivamente a carboidratos. Considerando que carboidratos possam atuar como mediadores da informaÃÃo biolÃgica, a sua interaÃÃo com lectinas pode desencadear algum efeito biolÃgico importante. Para verificar o papel das lectinas sobre a induÃÃo da apoptose, cÃlulas A549 (carcinoma de pulmÃo) foram cultivadas durante 1 hora juntamente com lectinas isoladas das sementes de Canavalia ensiformis (ConA), C. brasiliensis (ConBr), C. boliviana (ConBol), C. grandiflora (Cgran) e C. gladiata (CGL) marcadas com FITC. Em adiÃÃo, a expressÃo gÃnica relativa de p53, Bax, BCL-2 e caspase 9 foi tambÃm avaliada quando as cÃlulas foram cultivadas com ConA, ConBr e ConBol. Os dados mostraram que todas as lectinas intergiram com as cÃlulas A549. NÃo obstante, p53 e Bax nÃo tiveram nenhuma alteraÃÃo significativa. PorÃm, BCL-2 teve sua expressÃo diminuÃda enquanto a da caspase 9 foi aumentada pelo tratamento com as lectinas. Com relaÃÃo ao potencial pro-cicatrizante, a lectina isolada da alga vermelha Bryothamnion seafortii (BS) foi testada atravÃs do tratamento tÃpico de lesÃes cutÃneas. Os dados mostraram que BS melhora a qualidade da cicatrizaÃÃo, muito possivelmente atravÃs da induÃÃo da proliferaÃÃo de fibroblastos. Por fim, o teste de letalidade sobre Artemia sp. foi utilizado para verificar a toxicidade de algumas lectinas da subtribo Diocleinae. Os resultados mostraran que ConBr e ConA sÃo as lectinas mais tÃxica e menos tÃxica, respectivamente. ConBol, ConM, Cgran e CGL exibiram nÃveis intermediÃrios de toxicidade