Methodologies for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of efficacy of antifungal and antibiofilm agents and surface coatings against fungal biofilms

KT acknowledges receipt of a mandate of Industrial Research Fund (IOFm/05/022). JB acknowledges funding from the European Research Council Advanced Award 3400867/RAPLODAPT and the Israel Science Foundation grant # 314/13 (www.isf.il). NG acknowledges the Wellcome Trust and MRC for funding. CD acknowledges funding from the Agence Nationale de Recherche (ANR-10-LABX-62-IBEID). CJN acknowledges funding from the National Institutes of Health R35GM124594 and R21AI125801. AW is supported by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (grant 097377), the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (grant MR/N006364/1) at the University of Aberdeen MaCA: outside this study MaCA has received personal speaker’s honoraria the past five years from Astellas, Basilea, Gilead, MSD, Pfizer, T2Candida, and Novartis. She has received research grants and contract work paid to the Statens Serum Institute from Astellas, Basilea, Gilead, MSD, NovaBiotics, Pfizer, T2Biosystems, F2G, Cidara, and Amplyx. CAM acknowledges the Wellcome Trust and the MRC MR/N006364/1. PVD, TC and KT acknowledge the FWO research community: Biology and ecology of bacterial and fungal biofilms in humans (FWO WO.009.16N). AAB acknowledges the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – CRC FungiNet.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

CUIDADOS PERIOPERATÓRIOS: ESTRATÉGIAS PARA MELHORAR OS RESULTADOS EM CIRURGIA GERAL

Objective: To understand how perioperative care impacts improvements in general surgery outcomes. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted spanning from September 2001 to December 2023. The research was guided by the question "How do perioperative care strategies enhance outcomes in general surgery?" Virtual health databases such as PubMed were utilized, employing specific MeSH descriptors including "Perioperative Care," "Perioperative Period," and "General Surgery." Additionally, the search extended to the Scielo platform, using DeCS terms "General Surgery," "Perioperative Period," and "Perioperative Assistance." Results: Emphasis is placed on the importance of personalized perioperative care, effective interdisciplinary communication, precise fluid management, active patient education, effective antibiotic prophylaxis protocols, multidisciplinary involvement in rehabilitation, and continuous improvement based on indicators. These elements were identified as crucial for achieving more positive surgical outcomes in general surgeries. Conclusion: The outcomes of this systematic review underscore the imperative need for ironic approaches, synergistic interdisciplinary collaboration, and an interactive perspective in enhancing perioperative care in general surgery. These elements not only positively corroborate surgical outcomes but also fortify the framework for a more effective and patient-centered clinical practice.Objetivo: Entender como o cuidado perioperatório impacta no melhorias dos resultados em cirurgia geral. Metodologia: Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura abrangendo setembro de 200 a dezembro de 2023. A pesquisa teve como norteamento a pergunta "Como os cuidados perioperatórios são estratégias para melhorar os resultados das cirurgias gerais?". Utilizaram-se bases de dados virtuais em saúde, como o PubMed, com descritores MeSH específicos, incluindo "Perioperative Care", "Perioperative Period" e "General Surgery". Além disso, a pesquisa foi estendida à plataforma Scielo, utilizando os DeCs "Cirurgia Geral", "Período Perioperatório" e "Assistência Perioperatório". Resultados: Destaca-se  a importância de cuidados perioperatórios personalizados, comunicação interdisciplinar efetiva, gestão precisa de fluidos, educação ativa do paciente, protocolos de antibioticoprofilaxia eficazes, envolvimento multidisciplinar na reabilitação e melhoria contínua com base em indicadores. Esses elementos foram identificados como cruciais para alcançar resultados cirúrgicos mais positivos em cirurgias gerais. Conclusão: Os desdobramentos desta revisão sistemática ressaltam a imperatividade de abordagens irônicas, colaboração interdisciplinar sinergética e uma perspectiva interativa no aprimoramento dos cuidados perioperatórios em cirurgia geral. Estes elementos não só corroboram positivamente nos resultados cirúrgicos, mas também potencializam a estrutura para uma praxis clínica mais eficaz e centrada no paciente

Biofilm biomass disruption by natural substances with potential for endodontic use

This study evaluated the in vitro effects of four natural substances on the biomass of bacterial biofilms to assess their potential use as root canal irrigants. The following substances and their combinations were tested: 0.2% farnesol; 5% xylitol; 20% xylitol; 0.2% farnesol and 5% xylitol; 0.2% farnesol, 5% xylitol, and 0.1% lactoferrin; 5% xylitol and 0.1% lactoferrin; and 20 mM salicylic acid. The crystal violet assay was used to evaluate the effects of these substances on the biomass of biofilms formed by Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. All substances except for 20 mM salicylic acid and 20% xylitol reduced biofilm mass when compared to controls. The combination of farnesol and xylitol was the most effective agent against E. faecalis ATCC 29212 (p < 0.05). Farnesol combined with xylitol and lactoferrin was the most effective against biofilms of the endodontic strain of E. faecalis MB35 (p < 0.05). Similarly, combinations involving farnesol, xylitol, and lactoferrin reduced the biomass of S. epidermidis biofilms. In general, farnesol, xylitol, and lactoferrin or farnesol and xylitol reduced biofilm biomass most effectively. Therefore, it was concluded that combinations of antibiofilm substances have potential use in endodontic treatment to combat biofilms

A viagem científica de Neiva e Penna: roteiro para os estudos das doenças do sertão The scientific journey taken by Neiva and Penna: a blueprint for studies of diseases from the Brazilian hinterland

Analisa o relatório de Arthur Neiva e Belisario Penna , focalizando a contribuição dos autores ao estudo de uma das doenças endêmicas por eles encontrada ao longo de todo o trajeto percorrido, de longa data conhecida popularmente por 'mal de engasgo'. Observaram e descreveram com minúcia os sintomas apresentados pelos doentes e a associação frequente do mal de engasgo com outro mal endêmico conhecido por 'vexame' ou 'vexame do coração', que consistia em crises de palpitações. Os estudos epidemiológicos e clínicos de Neiva e Penna sobre o mal de engasgo muito contribuíram para o conhecimento dessa afecção e representaram um incentivo para todos os pesquisadores que se dedicaram ao seu estudo, especialmente quanto a sua relação com a doença de Chagas.<br>Analyze the report by Neiva and Penna, focusing on the contribution these authors made to the study of one of the endemic diseases encountered throughout their journey, which had been long known under the popular name of mal de engasgo (choking disease). They recorded their observations and detailed descriptions of the patients' symptoms and the association frequently encountered between mal de engasgo and another endemic disease, known as vexame or vexame do coração, characterized by bouts of palpitations. Neiva and Penna's epidemiological and clinical observations of mal de engasgo were crucial for all the researchers interested in the disease, especially its relationship with Chagas disease