Anti- Sporothrix spp. activity of medicinal plants

ABSTRACT Cases of sporotrichosis in humans and animals without satisfactory clinical response have increased, a warning sign of strains resistant to conventional antifungal agents. The urgent search for alternative therapies was an incentive for research on medicinal plants with anti-Sporothrix spp. properties. A bibliographic survey was performed based on scientific papers about in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of essential oils and extracts of plants in differents solvents against the fungal of the Sporothrix schenckii complex. The study methodology consisted of a literature review in Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pubmed, Bireme and Springer link with papers from 1986 to 2015. We found 141 species of plants that were investigated, of which 100 species were concentrated in 39 botanical families that had confirmed anti-Sporothrix activity. Combretaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae represented the botanical families with the greatest number of plants species with antifungal potential, using different methodologies. However, there are few studies with medicinal plants in experimental infection in animals that prove their activity in the treatment of sporotrichosis. It reinforces the need for further research related to standardization of in vitro methodologies and in vivo studies related to safety and to toxicity potential of these plants with anti-Sporothrix spp. activity

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

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

Efeito da casca de mandioca sobre a qualidade da carne e parâmetros ruminais de ovinos

This work evaluated different forms of processing of cassava peel for use in sheep feeding and its effects upon composition, meat quality, lipid profile and rumen morphometrics. A total of 20 weaned Santa Inês male sheeps, with initial weight 19.02±0.21 kg, were used. The fac- torial scheme utilized was a completely randomized design, with 4 treatments (A: supplement with dehydrated cassava peel ground, using a 12 mm sieve; B: supplement with dehydrated cassava peel ground using a 5 mm sieve; C: supplement with ensiled cassava peel; D: supplement with hydrolyzed cassava peel). Each animal was considered a replication, with 5 replications per treatment. The animals were reared in semiexten- sive system, on Brachiaria decumbens pasture. Treatments were supplied as supplement at proportion of 1.5 % of live weight (ratio roughage: concentrate of 62.5:37.5 %), amounts of food were adjusted, every week, according to the animals' weight. The experiment lasted 84 days, including 14 days for adaptation to the diets. Animals were slaughtered at 30.72±1.46 kg final weight; after slaughter and cooling (24 hours at ±2 oC), samples of Longissimus lumborum muscle were collected to carry out the physicochemical analyses, and establish lipid profile. There were no significant differences for ashes, moisture and protein. The animals fed supplement with hydrolyzed cassava peel, presented higher values for ether extract. The fatty acid profile was not affected by processing type of cassava peels. The histological evaluation revealed alteration in the rumen epithelium and area of the omasal lamina, with higher values for coarsely ground cassava peel supplement. No influence of the supplements was found for physicochemical composition. The different supplements were not enough to alter the meat quality parameters, however, hydrolyzed cassava peel brought about increased accumulation of lipids in the muscle.Objetivou-se com este trabalho, avaliar dife- rentes formas de processamento da casca de mandioca para uso na alimentação de ovinos e seus efeitos sobre a composição centesimal, qualidade de carne, perfil lipídico e morfometria ruminal. Para o experimento foram utilizados um total de 20 ovinos machos da raça Santa Inês desmamados com peso inicial 19,02±0,21 kg. O esquema fatorial utilizado foi um DIC (delineamento inteiramente casualizado), sendo 4 tratamentos (tratamento A: suplemento com casca de mandio- ca desidratada triturada em moinho com peneira de 12 mm; tratamento B: suplemento com casca de mandioca desidratada triturada em moinho com peneira de 5 mm; tratamento C: suplemento com casca de mandioca ensilada; tratamento D: suple- mento com casca de mandioca hidrolisada), cada animal foi considerado uma repetição, totalizando 5 repetições por tratamento. Os animais foram criados em sistema semiextensivo, em pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens e o fornecimento dos tratamentos na forma de suplemento na proporção de 1,5 % do peso vivo (relação volumoso:concen- trado de 62,5:37,5 %), sendo a quantidade corrigida semanalmente em função do peso dos animais. O experimento teve duração de 84 dias, incluindo o período de 14 dias de adaptação às dietas e os animais foram abatidos com peso final de 30,72±1,46 kg, sendo coletado após abate e res- friamento (24 horas à ±2 oC), amostras do músculo Longissimus lumborum para realização das análises físico-químicas e do perfil lipídico. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa para as cinzas, umidade e proteína. Os animais que receberam suplemento com casca de mandioca hidrolisada apresentaram maiores valores de extrato etéreo. Não foi verificado modificação do perfil de ácidos graxos em virtude do processamento da casca de mandioca. A avaliação histológica revelou alteração no epitélio do rúmen e área da lâmina do omaso, com maiores valores no suplemento com uso da casca de mandioca moída grosseiramente. Para as variáveis da composição físico-químicas não foram verifi- cadas influência dos suplementos. Os diferentes suplementos não foram suficientes para alterar os parâmetros de qualidade de carne, entretanto, a casca de mandioca hidrolisada ocasionou maior acúmulo de lipídeos no músculo

Identificação e caracterização de genes vip e cry coleóptero‑específicos em isolados de Bacillus thuringiensis

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e caracterizar os genes cry3, vip1, vip2 e vip1/vip2 em uma coleção de 1.078 isolados de Bacillus thuringiensis potencialmente tóxicos para larvas de coleópteros. Foram utilizados pares de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores gerais obtidos a partir de regiões conservadas dos genes e do alinhamento de sequências consenso. Posteriormente, os isolados positivos foram caracterizados por meio da técnica de PCR‑RFLP, tendo-se utilizado enzimas de restrição específicas, para identificar novas subclasses de genes nos isolados. Cento e cinquenta e um isolados foram positivos para os genes avaliados, com maior frequência para o gene vip1/vip2 (139 isolados). Pela técnica de PCR‑RFLP, foram observados 14 perfis polimórficos, o que indica a presença de diferentes alelos e, consequentemente, de distintas subclasses desses genes