Multi dynamic extraction: An innovative method to obtain a standardized chemically and biologically reproducible polyphenol extract from poplar-type propolis to be used for its anti-infective properties

Antimicrobial activity is a well-known property of propolis, making it a candidate for antimicrobial surfaces in biomedical devices. Nevertheless, large-scale use of propolis as an anti-infective agent is limited by the heterogeneity of its chemical composition and consequent variation in antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the multi dynamic extraction (M.E.D.) method produces standardized polyphenolic mixtures from poplar-type propolis, with reproducible chemical composition and anti-microbial activity, independently from the chemical composition of the starting raw propolis. Three raw propolis samples, from Europe, America, and Asia, were analyzed for their polyphenol chemical composition by means of HPLC-UV and then combined to obtain three mixtures of propolis, which werme submitted to the M.E.D. extraction method. The chemical composition and the antimicrobial activity of M.E.D. propolis against bacteria and fungi were determined. The three M.E.D. propolis showed similar chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities, exhibiting no relevant differences against antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant strains. The batch-to-batch reproducibility of propolis extracts obtained with the M.E.D. method encourages the design of drugs alternative to traditional antibiotics and the development of anti-infective surface-modified biomaterials

Association Of Anticardiolipin Antibody And C677t In Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Mutation In Women With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions: A New Path To Thrombophilia?

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) has been associated with venous thrombosis in the mother. Acquired and inherited thrombophilia factors are possible causes. To evaluate the association between thrombogenic factors and recurrent spontaneous abortion. Case-control study. Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. 40 ml of blood was collected from 88 women attending an RSA clinic and 88 fertile women attending a family planning clinic, to evaluate the presence of acquired and inherited thrombophilia factors. Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), lupus anticoagulant and deficiencies of proteins C and S and antithrombin III were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dilute Russell Viper Venom time (dRVVT), coagulometric and chromogenic methods. DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study factor V Leiden and G20210A mutations in the prothrombin gene and C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. Data were analyzed using odds ratios and a regression model for age adjustment. Fishers exact test was used to evaluate statistical relationships between associated factors and RSA. ACA was detected in 11 women with RSA and one fertile woman. Heterozygous C677T was detected in 59 women with RSA and 35 fertile women. Concomitant presence of ACA and C677T was found in eight women with RSA and no fertile women (p < 0.01). The meaning of the association between C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene and ACA is still not clear. It is possible that an inherited factor that alone would not strongly predispose a woman to thrombosis could, when associated with an acquired factor, start the process and increase the likelihood of thrombosis expression. ACA and C677T in the MTHFR gene are statistically associated with RSA. The association of these two conditions is a new finding in thrombogenic factors and RSA.12315-2

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Mutação do fator V de Leiden e ocorrencia de perdas gestacionais

Orientadores : Joyce Maria Annichino-Bizzacchi, Ricardo BariniDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências MédicasMestrad

Genetic polymorphisms in fetuses with malformations of vascular origin

Orientador: Egle Cristina Couto de CarvalhoTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências MédicasResumo: Contexto e objetivo: Algumas malformações congênitas têm origem vascular, e a trombose durante a organogênese já foi aventada como possível mecanismo para esta ocorrência. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre trombofilia fetal e malformações de origem vascular. Tipo de estudo e local: Foi realizado um estudo caso-controle, desenvolvido no ambulatório de Medicina Fetal do CAISM UNICAMP, de 2005 a 2010. Métodos: Foram incluídos no estudo 100 fetos com malformações de sistema nervoso central (SNC), gastrosquise, limb body wall e redução de membros (casos), submetidos a cordocentese como rotina do serviço, cujos resultados de cariótipo foram normais. Como controles, foram incluídos 100 fetos sem malformações cujo sangue de cordão fora previamente doado para o Banco de Sangue de Cordão do HEMOCENTRO UNICAMP. A pesquisa das mutações Fator V de Leiden, G20210A-FII e C677T-MTHFR foi realizada no sangue fetal dos dois grupos, e os resultados foram comparados. A análise descritiva foi feita utilizando Qui-quadrado e Teste Exato de Fisher. Para avaliar a associaçãoo entre as variáveis, foram utilizados o teste de Wilcoxon e a regressão logística. Resultados: Foram incluídos 78 fetos com malformações de SNC, 14 com gastrosquise, 3 com redução de membros e 2 com limb body wall. As mutações fator V de Leiden e G20210A-FII não foram encontradas nos casos e nos controles. A mutação C677T-MTHFR foi encontrada na forma heterozigota (CT) em 24 casos (24,8%) e em 6 controles. A mutação homozigota (TT) foi encontrada em 7 casos (7,2%) e em 1 controle. Estas diferenças foram estatisticamente significativas (p<0,0001). Quando avaliados os fetos com malformações de SNC (Artigo 1), a mutação CT foi encontrada com frequência significativamente maior nos casos do que nos controles (OR 10.309 IC95% 3.344-32.258), e a mutação TT também mostrou diferença significativa (OR 12.346 IC95% 1.388-111.11). A avaliação dos 14 fetos com gastrosquise (Artigo 2) não mostrou diferenças significativas quanto à presença da mutação CT ou TT entre os casos e os controles. Conclusão: A presença da mutação C677T-MTHFR no sangue fetal mostrou associação com malformações de SNC, tanto na forma homozigota quanto heterozigotaAbstract: Context and objective: Some congenital malformations have vascular origin, and a thrombosis during organogenesis is a possible mechanism for them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between fetal thrombophilia and malformations of vascular origin. Study type and location: A case-control study was performed at the Fetal Medicine Outpatient Clinic of CAISM UNICAMP, from 2005 to 2010. Methods: Ninety-seven fetuses with central nervous system malformations, gastroschisis, limb body wall and limb reduction were included in the study (cases), after routine cordocentesis showed normal karyotype results. A hundred fetuses without malformations were included as controls. These fetuses' cord blood had been donated to the Cord Blood Bank of HEMOCENTRO UNICAMP. DNA was extracted from fetal cord blood to study the mutations Factor V Leiden, G20210A-FII and MTHFR-C677T in both groups. Descriptive analysis was realized using Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Test. Wilcoxon test and logistic regression were used to analise the associations among variables. Results: We found 78 fetuses with central nervous system malformations, 14 with gastroschisis, 3 with member reduction and 2 with limb body wall. The mutations Factor V Leiden and G20210A-FII were not detected in cases nor in controls. The mutation MTHFR-C677T was encountered in 24 cases (24.8%) and in 6 controls its heterozygous form (CT). The homozygous mutation (TT) was found in 7 cases (7.2%) and in one control. These differences were statistically significant (p <0.0001). When the fetuses with central nervous system malformations were evaluated separately (Article 1), the frequency of the CT mutation was significantly higher in cases than in controls (OR 10.309 95% CI 3.344-32.258), as did the TT mutation (OR 12.346 95% CI 1.388-111.11). The 14 fetuses with gastroschisis were also evaluated separately (Article 2), and the results showed no statistically significant differences between cases and controls when concerning to the presence of the mutation MTHFR-C677T. Conclusion: The presence of the mutation MTHFR-C677T in fetal blood was associated with central nervous system malformations, both in homozygous and heterozygous formDoutoradoSaúde Materna e PerinatalDoutora em Ciências da Saúd

La politique italienne du contrôle de la pollution atmosphérique : limites, acteurs et réseaux des policy

Lizzi Renata, Zaccaria Rosetta, Valarié Pierre. La politique italienne du contrôle de la pollution atmosphérique : limites, acteurs et réseaux des policy. In: Pôle Sud, n°6, 1997. L'environnement au Sud, sous la direction de Pierre Valarié . pp. 86-100