Comparison of Brazilian Plants Used to Treat Gastritis on the Oxidative Burst of Helicobacter pylori

Ten Brazilian medicinal plants used to treat gastritis and ulcers were carefully selected on the basis of ethnopharmacological importance and antiulcerogenic activity previously described. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts was determined in analysis conditions that simulate a real biological activity on inhibition of the oxidative burst induced in neutrophils using Helicobacter pylori as activator, by a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence assay. The extracts, at low concentration (5 μg/mL), exhibited a large variation in inhibitory effects of H. pylori-induced oxidative burst ranging from 48% inhibition to inactive, but all extracts, excluding Byrsonima intermedia, had inhibitory activity over 80% at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. The total suppressive antioxidant capacity measured as the effective concentration, which represents the extract concentration producing 50% inhibition of the chemiluminescence induced by H. pylori, varies from 27.2 to 56.8 μg/mL and was in the following order: Qualea parviflora > Qualea multiflora > Alchornea triplinervia > Qualea grandiflora > Anacardium humile > Davilla elliptica > Mouriri pusa > Byrsonima basiloba > Alchornea glandulosa > Byrsonima intermedia. The main groups of compounds in tested extracts are presented. Differences in the phytochemical profile, quantitatively and qualitatively, of these plants can explain and justify their protective effect on the gastric mucosa caused by the neutrophil-generated ROS that occurs when H. pylori displays its evasion mechanisms

Staphylococcus aureus: portadores entre manipuladores de alimentos

Foram colhidas amostras de mãos e fossas nasais de 48 manipuladores de alimentos das principais casas comerciais da cidade de Araraquara, Estado de São Paulo (Brasil), e de 20 estudantes universitários. Dentre os indivíduos foram encontrados 44,1% e 34,8% que portavam Staphylococcus aureus em fossas nasais e mãos, respectivamente. Observou-se predomínio de fagotipos dos grupos I e III. Dos 12 portadores do microrganismo, concomitantemente em mãos e fossas nasais, 75,0% apresentaram cepas com vínculo epidemiológico. Os achados mostram o risco potencial representado pelas mãos nas intoxicações alimentares.Material was collected from the hands and nasal passages of forty-eight food handlers and twenty college students of Araraquara (S. Paulo State, Brazil) and analized in order to evaluate the carrier function with regard to Staphylococcus aureus. The organism discovered in both samples of nine out of the twelve volunteers were of the same S. aureus phage types. The incidence of carriage on the hands was much greater in the handlers' group. These findings demonstrate the potential risk represented by hands in the transmission of food poisoning

Práticas educativas em segurança alimentar: uma experiência de extensão universitária

Foodborne diseases are an important public health concern worldwide and affect individuals of all ages. These diseases may be prevented by practices targeting food safety, specifically, the implementation of good hygiene and handling practices. In order to do so it is necessary to guarantee the population’s access to information about how to prevent the occurrence of these diseases. Here we present a report of experiences obtained during the university extension project entitled "Training and Education in Food Safety", developed with residents of Araraquara city, São Paulo state, Brazil. The experience allowed the teaching of important information regarding food safety to children and adults, through educational activities such as development of teaching materials and group’s dynamics. Thus aiming to preserve and promote the health of the population.Las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos constituyen un importante problema de salud pública en el mundo y afectan a individuos de todas las edades. Éstas pueden evitarse por medio de prácticas que aseguren la inocuidad de los alimentos, basadas en las buenas prácticas de higiene y manipulación. Para eso es necesario que la población pueda acceder a la información acerca de cómo evitar la ocurrencia de dichas enfermedades. Este trabajo relata la experiencia obtenida a partir del proyecto de extensión universitaria “Entrenamiento y educación en Seguridad Alimentaria” desarrollado sobre la población residente en la ciudad de Araraquara, SP, Brasil. Las actividades desarrolladas posibilitarán llevar información relevante acerca de la higiene y seguridad alimentaria para individuos de diferentes grupos etarios, por medio de acciones educativas como el desarrollo de material didáctico y la oferta de talleres de orientación, buscando preservar y promover la salud de la poblaciónAs enfermidades transmitidas por alimentos constituem um importante problema de saúde pública no mundo e acometem indivíduos de todas as idades. Podem ser evitadas por meio de práticas que visem a segurança dos alimentos, pautadas nas boas práticas de higiene e manipulação. Para isso, é necessário que a população tenha acesso às informações sobre como evitar a ocorrência dessas enfermidades. Este trabalho apresenta um relato de experiência obtida a partir do projeto de extensão universitária “Treinamento e Educação em Segurança Alimentar”, desenvolvido com a população residente na cidade de Araraquara, SP, Brasil. As atividades possibilitaram levar informações relevantes sobre higiene e segurança alimentar para indivíduos de diversas faixas etárias. Foram desenvolvidos materiais didáticos e oferecidas oficinas e dinâmicas de orientação voltadas à promoção da saúde da população

Cervicovaginal aerobic microflora of women with spontaneous abortion or preterm delivery in Araraquara-Brazil

Rotina bacteriológica do conteúdo vaginal e cervical de 22 mulheres com histórico de aborto recente ou ruptura precoce das membranas foi realizada. Chlamydia trachomatis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Candida sp e Gardnerella vaginalis foram isolados em 54,5% (12) das pacientes. Apesar de Ureaplasma urealyticum ter sido frequentemente encontrado (45,5%), somente em 5 das 22 mulheres foi o único microrganismo presente nos materiais analisados. Esses resultados chamam a atenção para a importância de investigação quantitativa bem como qualitativa da microbiota genital em gestantes, tendo em vista ter consequências na gestação.Microbiological routine exams of endocervix and vaginal specimens of 22 women with clinical history of recent spontaneous abortion or premature rupture of membranes were accomplished. Chlamydia trachomatis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Candida sp and Gardnerella vaginalis were recovered from 54.5% (12) of the women. Ureaplasma urealyticum was frequently isolated (45.5%) but 5 out of 22 had U. urealyticum only. Our report stands for the importance of quantitative as well as qualitative investigation on genital microflora in pregnant women, since it is likely to influence on pregnancy outcome

Screening for antimicrobial activity of natural products using a microplate photometer

A técnica de microdiluição para a determinação da concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) de um produto natural utilizando espectrofotômetro para microplacas foi comparada ao método de diluição seriada em tubo. A CIM da Paepalantina para S. aureus foi a mesma por ambos métodos demonstrando possuir efeito antimicrobiano semelhante ao cloranfenicol.The microdilution technique, using a microplate photometer, to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for a natural product was compared to the serial tube dilution method. The MIC obtained for Paepalantine against S. aureus was the same by the two methods, showing an antimicrobial effect similar to chloramphenicol.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Influěncia defluídos biológicos na sobrevivěncia de staphylococus aureus sobre diferentes superficiessecas

It is known that the transmission of hospital infections, whether environmental or cross infection, is facilitated by the enhanced survival of microorganisms on dry surfaces that is caused by the presence of biological fluids. To demonstrate the need for care with bodily substances in the routine of cleaning, this study evaluated the influence of some body fluids (blood, urine and artificial saliva), deposited in the same way on various surfaces and allowed to dry, on the survival of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). Blood was able to preserve bacterial viability for up to 72 days when deposited on ceramic flooring. Fabric of cotton fiber allowed longer survival than synthetic fabric. These results show that the composition of biological fluid and type of support influence bacterial survival in normal conditions

Dispersão de bioaerossóis por aeradores em uma estação de tratamento de esgoto sanitário

The purpose of this work was to investigate the bioaerosols reach emitted from aerators of the Sanitary Sewage Treatment in Araraquara, Brazil, using the coliform group as indicated microorganisms. The concentration of viable airborne coliforms was enumerated from various distances of the aerators using a one-stage impaction air collector in Chromocult Coliform Agar (MERCK), having as referential standard the counting gotten in other points of the city. Meteorological parameters were determined simultaneously with the bacteriological sampler. ANOVA was used as statistical method. The concentration of coliforms showed a significant difference in distances of up to 100 m from the aerators in relation to the referential standard. The meteorological parameters had not significant effect in the preservation of these microorganisms from 100 m of the emitting sources. The dispersion of bioaerosol from the aerators of the Station of Treatment of Sanitary Sewer of Araraquara is not source of contamination for areas that surround this station.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Eficiência de máscaras cirúrgicas como equipamento de proteção respiratória contra aerossóis bacterianos

The use of masks is generally accepted as a means of protecting the individual against microbial pathogens that might be inhaled in unhealthy environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of disposable surgical masks sold in Brazil, against coliforms in aerosols emitted by the aerators of a sanitary sewage treatment station. The filtration efficiency varied from 50.9% to 99.9% for 6 masks from different sources.O uso de máscaras é aceito como método de proteção individual contra agentes microbianos presentes em ambientes insalubres que possam ser inalados. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a performance de máscaras descartáveis do tipo cirúrgica, comercializadas no Brasil, na filtração de bioaerossóis emitidos por aeradores de uma estação de tratamento de esgoto sanitário. A eficiência na filtração variou de 50,9% a 99,9% para seis produtos de diferentes procedências