Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of hydrolyzed extract of Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm., Asparagaceae

The hemolytic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties from hydrolyzed extract Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm., Asparagaceae (HEAS) was evaluated classic inflammation models. Male Swiss mice and male Wistars rats received HEAS (500 mg/kg) in two administration p.o. and i.p. in saline solution 0.9%. The acid hydrolysis inhibited the hemolytic action of saponins due to the retreat of side chain sugar. The treatment of the ear induced oedema by xylene with HEAS significantly reduced in two routes 13 +/- 1.5 and 10 +/- 0.63 mg, respectively, p.o. and i.p., in comparison with controls 27 1.5 saline and 13.5 +/- 1.2 AAS. The HEAS also diminished edema induced by carrageenin 43 +/- 1.58 mg (p.o.) and 17 +/- 1.26 mg (i.p.), when compared with control groups 52 +/- 1.58 mg (saline) and 10.05 +/- 1.58 (indomethacin). HEAS showed analgesic effects in abdominal constrictions 30.7% (p.o.), 88.7% (i.p.) comparable to that produced by (AAS) 70.6%. However in granuloma cotton pellet a chronic model of inflammation just the i.p. pathway decreased granulomatous tissue (20.4 +/- 1.32 mg) compared with controls 30.5 +/- 2.53 mg (saline) and 20.2 +/- 2.18 mg (dexamethasone). These data suggest that HEAS has anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity on acute and chronic processes.20337638

Comportamento visual e desenvolvimento motor de recém-nascidos prematuros no primeiro mês de vida

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar o comportamento visual e o desenvolvimento motor de RNPT com um mês de idade corrigida, nascidos na maternidade de um hospital escola. MÉTODO: Estudo descritivo, seccional no primeiro mês de idade corrigida em uma coorte de recém-nascidos prematuros, utilizando-se como instrumentos de avaliação o Método de Avaliação da Conduta Visual de Lactentes e o Alberta Infant Movement Scale (AIMS). RESULTADOS: Observou-se que os recém-nascidos prematuros apresentaram respostas esperadas para as provas que avaliam o comportamento oculomotor e com frequências inferiores para a prova do sorriso, conforme o método de avaliação utilizado no estudo. Na avaliação motora, 25% apresentaram percentil abaixo de 5; 8,3% com percentil 5; 8,3% com percentil 10; 25% com percentil 25; 8,3% com percentil 50 e 25% com percentil 75. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que mesmo em pequena amostra é possível observar atraso típico no desenvolvimento motor de lactentes prematuros quando se utiliza instrumento de avaliação adequado. Evidenciou-se que a idade gestacional pode ter influenciado o desempenho dos lactentes e que os recém-nascidos prematuros, mesmo com a idade corrigida, ainda estão aquém dos bebês a termo no que se refere às aquisições do desenvolvimento motor, indicando a necessidade de alerta ao desenvolvimento no percentil 10 ou abaixo, mesmo apresentando desempenho satisfatório no comportamento visual. A correção da idade foi um importante fator que norteou a compreensão das aquisições visuais e motoras de lactentes prematuros.OBJECTIVE: To characterize the visual behavior and the motor development of premature newborns (RNPT) with one month of age corrected, born in the maternity of a school hospital. METHOD: Descriptive study, sectional in the first month of age corrected in a cohort of a premature newborn, by using as instruments the Evaluation Method of the Visual behavior in newborns and the Alberta Infant Movement Scale (AIMS). RESULTS: It was observed that the premature newborns presented expected answers for the tests that evaluate the oculomotor behavior and with lower frequencies for the test of smile, in agreement with the method of evaluation utilized in the study. In the motor evaluation (AIMS), 25% presented below the percentage 5; 8.3% had percentage 5; 8.3% had percentage 10; 25% had percentage 25; 8.3% had percentage 50 and 25% had percentage 75. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study showed that in despite of the small sample it was possible to observe a typical delay in the motor development in RNPT through an adequate instrument of evaluation. It was evident that the gestational age influenced the performance of the newborns and that the premature newborns even with the corrected age are still behind the full term babies regarding the acquisition of motor development, indicating the need of alert to the development at the percentile 10 or below, even presenting satisfactory performance in the visual behavior. Age correction was a significant factor facilitating in the understanding of the visual and motor acquisitions in RNPT

Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus among the nursing staff of a teaching hospital in Pernambuco

Estudio realizado para identificar prevalencia de colonización por Staphylococcus aureus en profesionales de enfermería de hospital universitario de Pernambuco, así como evaluar el perfil de resistencia de la bacteria aislada. Se realizó un estudio transversal en el que se recolectaron muestras biológicas de manos y cavidad nasal. La identificación del S. aureus se realizó mediante cultivo en agar-sangre, agar-manitol salado y mediante pruebas de catalasa y coagulasa. El perfil de sensibilidad se determinó por técnica de Kirby Bauer y para la determinación de resistencia a meticilina se realizó screening en placa con oxalacina, con adición de 4% de NaCl. De 150 profesionales evaluados, 39 estaban colonizados, lo que demostró prevalencia de 25,8%. Entre las variables estudiadas, faja etaria y cantidad de EPI se presentaron asociadas con la colonización por la bacteria. De todas las cepas aisladas, apenas cinco presentaron resistencia a meticilina.This study was performed with the objective to identify the prevalence of colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in nursing professionals from a teaching hospital in Pernambuco, and evaluate the resistance profile of these isolates. To do this, we performed a cross-sectional study where biological samples were collected from the hands and nasal cavities of the subjects. S. aureus was identified using agar (blood agar and mannitol salt) via catalase and coagulase tests. The sensitivity profile was determined by Kirby Bauer technique and determination of methicillin resistance was performed with oxacillin screening with sodium chloride (NaCl) addition. Of the 151 professionals evaluated, 39 were colonized which showed a prevalence of 25.8%. Among the variables studied, age and use of PPE were associated with colonization by the organism. Of all the isolates, only five were resistant to methicillin.O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar a prevalência de colonização pelo Staphylococcus aureus em profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital universitário de Pernambuco, bem como avaliar o perfil de resistência deles isoladamente. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo transversal, no qual foram coletadas amostras biológicas das mãos e da cavidade nasal. A identificação do S. aureus foi realizada por meio do semeio em agar-sangue, agar manitol-salgado e através dos testes de catalase e coagulase. O perfil de sensibilidade foi determinado pela técnica de Kirby Bauer e para determinação da resistência à meticilina foi realizado o screening em placa com oxacilina com adição de 4% de NaCl. Dos 151 profissionais avaliados, 39 se encontravam colonizados, o que demonstrou uma prevalência de 25,8%. Dentre as variáveis estudadas, a faixa etária e a quantidade de EPI apresentaram-se associadas à colonização pelo microrganismo. De todas as linhagens isoladas, apenas cinco apresentaram resistência à meticilina

Dengue Virus Infection of the Aedes aegypti Salivary Gland and Chemosensory Apparatus Induces Genes that Modulate Infection and Blood-Feeding Behavior

The female Aedes aegypti salivary gland plays a pivotal role in bloodmeal acquisition and reproduction, and thereby dengue virus (DENV) transmission. It produces numerous immune factors, as well as immune-modulatory, vasodilatory, and anti-coagulant molecules that facilitate blood-feeding. To assess the impact of DENV infection on salivary gland physiology and function, we performed a comparative genome-wide microarray analysis of the naïve and DENV infection-responsive A. aegypti salivary gland transcriptomes. DENV infection resulted in the regulation of 147 transcripts that represented a variety of functional classes, including several that are essential for virus transmission, such as immunity, blood-feeding, and host-seeking. RNAi-mediated gene silencing of three DENV infection-responsive genes - a cathepsin B, a putative cystatin, and a hypothetical ankyrin repeat-containing protein - significantly modulated DENV replication in the salivary gland. Furthermore, silencing of two DENV infection-responsive odorant-binding protein genes (OBPs) resulted in an overall compromise in blood acquisition from a single host by increasing the time for initiation of probing and the probing time before a successful bloodmeal. We also show that DENV established an extensive infection in the mosquito's main olfactory organs, the antennae, which resulted in changes of the transcript abundance of key host-seeking genes. DENV infection, however, did not significantly impact probing initiation or probing times in our laboratory infection system. Here we show for the first time that the mosquito salivary gland mounts responses to suppress DENV which, in turn, modulates the expression of chemosensory-related genes that regulate feeding behavior. These reciprocal interactions may have the potential to affect DENV transmission between humans

Genomic analysis of two phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World.

Phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance as important vectors of human disease, transmitting bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens, including the kinetoplastid parasites of the genus Leishmania, the causative agents of devastating diseases collectively termed leishmaniasis. More than 40 pathogenic Leishmania species are transmitted to humans by approximately 35 sand fly species in 98 countries with hundreds of millions of people at risk around the world. No approved efficacious vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and available therapeutic drugs are either toxic and/or expensive, or the parasites are becoming resistant to the more recently developed drugs. Therefore, sand fly and/or reservoir control are currently the most effective strategies to break transmission. To better understand the biology of sand flies, including the mechanisms involved in their vectorial capacity, insecticide resistance, and population structures we sequenced the genomes of two geographically widespread and important sand fly vector species: Phlebotomus papatasi, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, (distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) and Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (distributed across Central and South America). We categorized and curated genes involved in processes important to their roles as disease vectors, including chemosensation, blood feeding, circadian rhythm, immunity, and detoxification, as well as mobile genetic elements. We also defined gene orthology and observed micro-synteny among the genomes. Finally, we present the genetic diversity and population structure of these species in their respective geographical areas. These genomes will be a foundation on which to base future efforts to prevent vector-borne transmission of Leishmania parasites