Maximum inhibitory dilution of mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine and polyhexamethylene biguanide against salivary Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro maximum inhibitory dilution (MID) of two chlorhexidine-based oral mouthwashes (CHX): Noplak (R), Periogard (R), and one polyhexamethylene biguanide-based mouthwash (PHMB): Sanifill Premium (R) against 28 field Staphylococcus aureus strains using the agar dilution method. Materials and Methods: For each product, decimal dilutions ranging from 1/10 to 1/655,360 were prepared in distilled water and added to Mueller Hinton Agar culture medium. After homogenization, the culture medium was poured onto Petri dishes. Strains were inoculated using a Steers multipoint inoculator and dishes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 24hours. For reading, MID was considered as the maximum dilution of the mouthwash still capable of inhibiting microbial growth. Results: Sanifill Premium (R) inhibited the growth of all strains at 1/40 dilution and of 1 strain at 1/80 dilution. Noplak (R) inhibited the growth of 23 strains at 1/640 dilution and of all 28 strains at 1/320 dilution. Periogard (R) showed inhibited growth of 7 strains at 1/640 dilution and of all 28 strains at 1/320 dilution. Data were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis statistical test, showing significant differences between the mouthwashes evaluated (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between Noplak (R) and Periogard (R) (p>0.05). Sanifill Premium (R) was the least effective (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that CHX-based mouthwashes present better antimicrobial activity against S. Aureus than the PHMB-based mouthwash.

Determination of the maximum inhibitory dilution of cetylpyridinium chloride-based mouthwashes against Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro study

The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the maximum inhibitory dilution (MID) of four cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)based mouthwashes: CPC+Propolis, CPC+Malva, CPC+Eucaliptol+Jua+Roma+Propolis (Natural Honey (R)) and CPC (Cepacol (R)), against 28 Staphylococcus aureus field strains, using the agar dilution method. Decimal dilutions ranging from 1/10 to 1/655,360 were prepared and added to Mueller Hinton Agar. Strains were inoculated using Steers multipoint inoculator. The inocula were seeded onto the surface of the culture medium in Petri dishes containing different dilutions of the mouthwashes. The dishes were incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 h. For readings, the MID was considered as the maximum dilution of mouthwash still capable of inhibiting microbial growth. The obtained data showed that CPC+Propolis had antimicrobial activity against 27 strains at 1/320 dilution and against all 28 strains at 1/160 dilution, CPC+Malva inhibited the growth of all 28 strains at 1/320 dilution, CPC+Eucaliptol+Jua+Roma+Propolis inhibited the growth of 2 strains at 1/640 dilution and all 28 strains at 1/320 dilution, and Cepacol (R) showed antimicrobial activity against 3 strains at 1/320 dilution and against all 28 strains at 1/160 dilution. Data were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis test, showing that the MID of Cepacol (R) was lower than that determined for the other products (p<0.05). In conclusion, CPC-mouthwashes showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and the addition of other substances to CPC improved its antimicrobial effect.

Differentiation of epithelial cells in the urinary tract

Uroplakins, cytokeratins and the apical plasma membrane were studied in the epithelia of mouse urinary tract. In the simple epithelium covering the inner medulla of the renal pelvis, no uroplakins or cytokeratin 20 were detected and cells had microvilli on their apical surface. The epithelium covering the inner band of the outer medulla became pseudostratified, with the upper layer consisting of large cells with stalks connecting them to the basal lamina. Uroplakins and cytokeratin 20 were not expressed in these cells. However, some superficial cells appeared without connections to the basal lamina; these cells expressed uroplakins Ia, Ib, II and III and cytokeratin 20, they contained sparse small uroplakin-positive cytoplasmic vesicles and their apical surface showed both microvilli and ridges. Cytokeratin 20 was seen as dots in the cytoplasm. This epithelium therefore showed partial urothelial differentiation. The epithelium covering the outer band of the outer medulla gradually changed from a two-layered to a three-layered urothelium with typical umbrella cells that contained all four uroplakins. Cytokeratin 20 was organized into a complex network. The epithelium possessed an asymmetric unit membrane at the apical cell surface and fusiform vesicles. Umbrella cells were also observed in the ureter and urinary bladder. In males and females, the urothelium ended in the bladder neck and was continued by a non-keratinized stratified epithelium in the urethra in which no urothelial cell differentiation markers were detected. We thus show here the expression, distribution and organization of specific proteins associated with the various cell types in the urinary tract epithelium.

Alterações anatômicas foliares em plantas de Brachiaria subquadripara submetidas à aplicação de herbicidas

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência do controle dos herbicidas diquat, glyphosate e imazapyr e as alterações anatômicas do limbo foliar provocadas por eles em plantas de Brachiaria subquadripara. As plantas foram cultivadas em caixas-d'água sob condições de campo e, quando atingiram estádio de pleno desenvolvimento vegetativo, foram pulverizadas com soluções de diquat a 400 g ha-1, glyphosate a 4.320 g ha-1 em associação com o adjuvante Aterbane a 0,5% v v-1 e imazapyr a 750 g ha-1. Além disso, utilizou-se uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicida. Foram realizadas avaliações de controle e das seguintes características anatômicas quantitativas das regiões da nervura central e da internervural do limbo foliar, além da região do colmo: porcentagem da epiderme adaxial e abaxial, porcentagem da endoderme, porcentagem do feixe vascular, porcentagem de lacunas do aerênquima, porcentagem de parênquima, espessura foliar, porcentagem da epiderme do colmo, porcentagem do câmbio vascular e diâmetro do colmo. Os herbicidas diquat e imazapyr promoveram o maior número de alterações nos caracteres anatômicos quantitativos das regiões da nervura central e internervural do limbo foliar e da região do colmo das plantas. Contudo, com exceção do diquat, os herbicidas foram eficientes no controle das plantas de B. subquadripara, porém todos eles permitiram a rebrota delas.

Alterações anatômicas foliares em Eichhornia crassipes submetidas à aplicação de herbicidas

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência do controle dos herbicidas 2,4-D, diquat e glyphosate e as alterações anatômicas do limbo foliar provocadas pelos produtos em plantas de Eichhornia crassipes, coletadas nos reservatórios do complexo CESP. As plantas foram cultivadas em caixas-d'água sob condições de campo e, quando atingiram estádio de pleno desenvolvimento vegetativo, foram pulverizadas com soluções de diquat a 400 g i.a.ha-1, 2,4-D a 1.340 g e.a. ha-1 e glyphosate a 4.320 g e.a. ha-1 em associação com o adjuvante Silwet L-77 a 0,01% v v-1. Foi utilizada uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicida. A seguir, foram realizadas avaliações de controle e das seguintes características anatômicas quantitativas das regiões da nervura central e da internervural do limbo foliar: porcentagem da epiderme adaxial e abaxial, porcentagem da endoderme, porcentagem do feixe vascular, porcentagem de lacunas do aerênquima, porcentagem de parênquima e espessura foliar (µm). Com base nos resultados, os principais caracteres anatômicos quantitativos das regiões da nervura central e internervural do limbo foliar que sofreram alterações após a aplicação dos herbicidas foram a porcentagem da epiderme adaxial, a porcentagem da endoderme e a espessura foliar. Os herbicidas diquat e 2,4-D foram os que mais promoveram alterações nos caracteres anatômicos quantitativos das regiões da nervura central e internervural do limbo foliar das plantas de E. crassipes. Apenas o glyphosate apresentou controle de 100% das plantas aos 22 dias após a aplicação, quando comparado com o observado na testemunha sem herbicida.

Alterações anatômicas do limbo foliar de plantas de Polygonum lapathifolium submetidas à aplicação de herbicidas

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência do controle dos herbicidas 2,4-D, diquat e glyphosate e as alterações anatômicas do limbo foliar provocadas por eles em plantas de Polygonum lapathifolium. As plantas foram cultivadas em caixas-d'água sob condições de campo e, quando atingiram seu pleno desenvolvimento (antes do florescimento), pulverizadas com os herbicidas. Avaliaram-se quantitativamente as seguintes características anatômicas da nervura central e internervural das folhas: porcentagem da epiderme adaxial e abaxial, porcentagem da bainha do feixe, porcentagem do feixe vascular, porcentagem de esclerênquima e colênquima, porcentagem de parênquima paliçádico e lacunoso, bem como a espessura foliar (μm). Os tratamentos químicos foram: diquat (400 g i.a. ha-1 do produto comercial Reward), 2,4-D (1.340 g e.a. ha -1 do produto comercial DMA 806 BR) e glyphosate (4.320 g e.a. ha-1 do produto comercial Rodeo) com a adição do surfatante Silwet L-77 a 0,01% v v-1. Os principais caracteres anatômicos quantitativos da região da nervura central do limbo foliar que sofreram alterações após a aplicação dos herbicidas foram a porcentagem da epiderme adaxial, a porcentagem de feixe vascular, a porcentagem de colênquima, a porcentagem de parênquima paliçádico e lacunoso e a espessura foliar. Para a região internervural do limbo foliar, os principais caracteres anatômicos quantitativos que sofreram alterações após a aplicação dos herbicidas foram a porcentagem da epiderme adaxial, a porcentagem da bainha do feixe e a espessura foliar. Os herbicidas diquat e 2,4-D foram ineficientes no controle das plantas de P. lapathifolium; o glyphosate apresentou controle superior a 90% das plantas aos 100 dias após a aplicação. Entretanto, todos os herbicidas permitiram rebrota das plantas.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides, in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

The preventative intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalarithus bromelioides, was tested in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. This was performed in two different experimental settings, i. e. when the colonic mucosa is intact or when the mucosa is in process of recovery after an initial insult. The results obtained revealed that the paepalantine pretreatment, at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the colonic damage induced by TNBS in both situations, as it was evidenced both histologically and biochemically. This beneficial effect was associated with an improvement in the colonic oxidative status, since paepalantine prevented the glutathione depletion that occurred as a consequence of the colonic inflammation. In addition, the intestinal anti-inflammatory effect exerted by this isocoumarin was associated with an inhibition of colonic nitric oxide activity, which is upregulated as a consequence of the inflammatory process. In conclusion, the preventative effect exerted by paepalantine in the TNBS model of rat colitis is probably related with its antioxidant properties.

The use of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes for the detection of poultry offal meal in meat-type quail feeds

The objective of the present study was to trace the inclusion of poultry offal meal (POM) in the diet of meat-type quails reared for a long period using the technique of stable isotopes. A number of 320 quails were randomly distributed into eight treatments: vegetable diet (T1), and a diet containing 8% POM were fed until the end of the experimental period (T2) or replaced by the vegetable diet on day 42 (T3), 56 (T4), 70 (T5), 84 (T6), 98 (T7), and 112 (T8). Breast muscle samples were collected from four birds randomly selected per treatment every 14 days. The obtained isotope results were submitted to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with the aid of the GLM procedure of statistical SAS program. Treatments were different from T1 when birds were sacrificed at least two weeks after the diet was changed. T2 results were different from T1 in all evaluated periods. It was concluded that it is possible to trace poultry offal meal inclusion in a strictly vegetable diet after the diet was changed for at least 14 days.

Ultrastructure of the ovary of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: cuterebridae). II. Origin of the tunica propria in ovarioles

Ovaries up to the 8th day pupae of Dermatobia hominis were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Ovarioles were recognized in ovaries of 4-day old pre-pupae, surrounded by a thin tunica propria of acellular fibrilar material similar in structure to the internal portion of the external tunica of the ovary. There is continuity of the tunica propria and the ovarian tunica, indicating that the former structure originates from the tunica externa. In 5 to 7-day pupae the interstitial somatic cells from the apical region of the ovary, close to the ovarioles, show delicate filamentous material inside of their rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae; similar material is seem among these cells. Our observations suggest that interstitial somatic cells do not originate the tunica propria but contribute to its final composition.

In vitro effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops jararaca venoms on Giardia duodenalis trophozoites

Considering the snake venoms' pharmacological properties and chemotherapeutic potential as well as the need for new alternatives for Giardia infection treatment, the present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the in vitro effects of crude Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops jararaca venoms on the growth and adherence of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites. Trophozoites (10(6)) were exposed to serial twofold dilutions of C. durissus terrificus and B. jararaca venoms that ranged from 3.125 to 200 mu g/ml and from 5 to 320 mu g/ml, respectively. The two venoms inhibited the growth of trophozoites, and the level of inhibition varied according to the assayed concentrations and incubation times. The highest reduction of parasite growth was observed with increasing concentrations of the venoms. No effect on parasite adherence was observed. Light microscope observations revealed changes of the pear-shape aspect of the cell and reduction of flagellar beating frequency in the great part of the trophozoites. This is the first attempt to evaluate the in vitro effects of snake venoms on Giardia trophozoites. The findings stress the need for more investigations and prompt us to perform further studies to identify active principles with antigiardial effect.

Occurrence of Microcerella halli (Engel) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in snake carrion in southeastern Brazil

Occurrence of Microcerella halli (Engel) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in snake carrion in southeastern Brazil. The occurrence of 27 second-instar larvae of the flesh fly Microcerella halli (Engel, 1931) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in a carcass of a snake usually called as Urutu, Bothrops alternatus (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) (Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae) is reported. The snake was kept in captivity in a snake farm in Morungaba, São Paulo state, Brazil. Descriptions of reptile carcass colonization by insects and general biological data of this flesh fly are scarce and this necrophagic behavior is described for the first time in literature.

Suplementação nutricional com antioxidantes naturais: efeito da rutina na concentração de colesterol-HDL

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Three new species of Salacioideae (Celastraceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Phylogeny of Celastraceae subfamily Hippocrateoideae inferred from morphological characters and nuclear and plastid loci

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diversidade de vespas sociais (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) em áreas de cerrado na Bahia

A diversidade de espécies de vespas sociais associadas à vegetação de cerrado no Oeste da Bahia foi analisada neste estudo. Dentre as dezenove espécies de vespas sociais encontradas, Chartergus globiventris de Saussure, Chartergellus communis Richards e Metapolybia cingulata (Fabricius) são registradas pela primeira vez para o estado. O cerrado arbóreo, apesar de apresentar maior riqueza (S = 19) e maior diversidade de espécies (H' = 2,33), apresentou níveis de abundância (N = 87 ninhos) inferiores aos sistemas agrícolas (N = 107 ninhos; S = 8 espécies; H' = 1,84). A fisionomia de cerrado campo sujo apresentou a menor abundância de colônias de vespas sociais (N = 61) e valores intermediários de riqueza (S = 13) e diversidade (H' = 2,20).