Antibacterial Properties of Marine Sponges from Mauritius Waters

Purpose: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of crude and fractionated extracts of Biemna tubulosa and Stylissa spp. thriving in Trou aux Biches lagoon, North East Mauritius.Methods: Crude extracts (methanol: dichloromethane 1:1) and fractions of Biemna tubulosa and Stylissa spp (hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol) were tested against some bacterial organisms, namely, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, using broth microdilution assay. The extracts were screened for the presence of compounds that could be responsible for bioactivity.Results: Preliminary chemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, terpenes, alkaloids and phenols. The hexane fraction of Stylissa spp. and the ethyl actetate and butanol extracts of Biemna tubulosa were more active than the control antibiotic. Maximum antimicrobial activity was noted for the butanol fraction of Biemna tubulosa with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.091 mg/ml against E. coli. The hexane soluble fraction of Stylissa spp. was more active with MIC of 0.125 mg/ml against S. aureus and E. coli and 0.250 mg/ml against E. faecalis.Conclusion: The broad spectrum antibacterial activity of these sponges seemed to be due to the presence of sesterterpenes and triterpenes, alkaloids and tannins detected in the extract fractions. This is probably the first report on the antimicrobial activity of Biemna tubulosa and Stylissa spp. from Mauritius waters.Keywords: Biemna tubulosa, Stylissa spp., Antibacterial activity, Marine sponges, MIC

The percutaneous treatment of Patent Foramen Ovale, an effective and safe therapeutic choice

Introduction: The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the percutaneous closure of PFO (abnormal communication between the right and left atrium). Methods: Between July 2009 and October 2012 percutaneous closure was performed in 37 patients. The presence of PFO was diagnosed through the use of ultrasound techniques: transcranial doppler with contrast (cTCD), transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Follow-up was composed consisted of a Holter ECG 7 days after the closure with a 24 hour heart rhythm monitoring, to evaluate eventual arrhythmia cases and programmed controls which included a TTE at 1-3 months, TTE+ cTCD at 6-12 months, to evaluate the right positioning of the device and the complete closure of the defect. Results: We obtained 100% of procedural success (correct and stable implantation of the device in a perfect position on the interatrial septum).No complications were recorded during the procedure and no new onset atrial fibrillation was detected in any patients after the PFO closure. The follow up with cTCD and TEE reported a closing rate of 86.7%. No new clinical cerebrovascular events occurred in treated patients until now. Conclusion: Our experience describes the percutaneous PFO procedure as feasible, safe and effective with a high rate of procedural success, with an absence of significant adverse events and a high rate of complete closure. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg