Microbiological Analysis of Surgeons' Hands in a Public Hospital in São Luis, Maranhão State, Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

Antisepsis of the hands of medical personnel is one of the most important steps in the process of patient care, since direct contact can cause the cross-transfer of potentially pathogenic microorganisms at surgical sites. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of microorganisms on the hands of 131 surgeons in a university hospital before the surgical procedure. Swabs were collected from each clinician's hands before and after handwashing. The samples were placed in a transport medium and immediately delivered to a private clinical analysis laboratory from São Luis-Maranhão. The microorganisms were identified by ionization source mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI-TOF), and antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) were performed using the Vitek2 and Phoenix-BD automated system. The results showed a high frequency (100%) of microorganisms before handwashing, but after surgical antisepsis, the rate dropped significantly (p < 0.05) to 27.5%. The gram-positive species most detected were Staphylococcus spp. and Micrococcus luteus, representing 83.9%, followed by gram-negative species, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas gessardi, Pantoea septica, Serratia marcescens, and Burkholderia lata. The effectiveness of hand antisepsis was 72.5%, demonstrating that surgeons' hands are an important source of microorganisms that can cause infections in hospitalized patients in different care settings.

Genomic Analysis of Limosilactobacillus fermentum ATCC 23271, a Potential Probiotic Strain with Anti-Candida Activity

Limosilactobacillus fermentum (ATCC 23271) was originally isolated from the human intestine and has displayed antimicrobial activity, primarily against Candida species. Complete genome sequencing and comparative analyses were performed to elucidate the genetic basis underlying its probiotic potential. The ATCC 23271 genome was found to contain 2,193,335 bp, with 2123 protein-coding sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the ATCC 23271 strain shares 941 gene clusters with six other probiotic strains of L. fermentum. Putative genes known to confer probiotic properties have been identified in the genome, including genes related to adhesion, tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts, tolerance to oxidative stress, and metabolism and transport of sugars and other compounds. A search for bacteriocin genes revealed a sequence 48% similar to that of enterolysin A, a protein from Enterococcus faecalis. However, in vitro assays confirmed that the strain has inhibitory activity on the growth of Candida species and also interferes with their adhesion to HeLa cells. In silico analyses demonstrated a high probability of the protein with antimicrobial activity. Our data reveal the genome features of L. fermentum ATCC 23271, which may provide insight into its future use given the functional benefits, especially against Candida infections.

Central drive and ventilatory failure in late-onset Pompe disease: At the gates of a new phenotype

Subjects with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) typically present as slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness. Respiratory muscle weakness and diaphragmatic paralysis are common features, and may be the initial manifestation of the disease. There is often a poor correlation between the severity of limb and respiratory muscle weakness. Early clinical observations about disproportionate hypercapnia to the respiratory muscular weakness in late-onset Pompe disease were recognized and will be discussed with special reference to blunted respiratory drive, and the connections between early clinical observations, respiratory functional studies and anatomical findings. According to new evidence about blunted respiratory drive in Pompe disease, it is necessary to rethink what is meant by "asymptomatic Pompe disease" and propose a new phenotype with its therapeutic implications. The conceptual model of the mechanisms leading to respiratory failure in this disease could be considered according to these new findings. It may broaden the diagnostic spectrum of the adult forms and warrants a closer interaction between neurologists and pulmonologists. The recognition of this new phenotype of predominant central alveolar hypoventilation in Pompe disease will improve the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ventilatory failure and could lead to improved future therapeutic strategies.

Serum adenosine deaminase and xanthine oxidase activities in silver catfish naturally infected with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis: The influence of these enzymes on inflammatory and oxidative status

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, through adenosine (Ado) levels, as well as xanthine oxidase (XO) activity through uric acid levels exerts an essential role on immune and inflammatory responses during infectious diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of seric ADA and XO activities in the inflammatory and oxidative status of silver catfish naturally infected with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Seric ADA activity decreased, while Ado levels increased in infected animals compared to uninfected animals. Moreover, the seric XO activity increased in infected animals compared to uninfected animals, alongside the seric levels of uric acid, metabolites of nitric oxide (NOx) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on this evidence, the downregulation of seric ADA activity exerts an anti-inflammatory profile, contributing to restricting the inflammatory process. The most important finding is that upregulation of seric XO activity leads to an excessive formation of uric acid, which contributes to oxidative and inflammatory processes. Moreover, uric acid induces the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative mediators, such NOx and ROS, which contribute directly to disease pathogenesis. In summary, the upregulation of XO activity may be considered a pathway involved in NOx and ROS production in silver catfish infected with I. multifiliis.

Levels of mannose-binding lectin in individuals with visceral leishmaniasis in the northeast region of Brazil

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the seven priority endemic diseases in the world. The clinical outcome of many infections is not only dependent on the pathogenic organism, but also on the genetic variability of the host susceptibility to infection. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein that plays an important role in the innate immune system. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of MBL between healthy controls and carriers of VL. The VL cases were recruited randomly from the main hospitals and referral outpatient clinics for VL in São Luís, and from home visits. Determination of MBL protein levels was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the 161 patients with VL and the 161 healthy controls, 60.9 and 67.1% had high levels of MBL, respectively. There was no significant difference in MBL levels between cases and controls. Low socioeconomic status and living conditions are conducive to the occurrence of VL. Owing to the small number of existing studies, it is extremely important to conduct further studies on MBL levels and susceptibility to VL, especially in regions where the disease is endemic, such as Maranhão, Brazil.

Antimutagenic action of the triterpene betulinic acid isolated from Scoparia dulcis (Scrophulariaceae)

The mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of triterpene betulinic acid {3b-3-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic} isolated from the roots of Scoparia dulcis (Scrophulariaceae) were analyzed using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in the wings of Drosophila melanogaster. The mutagenic potential of betulinic acid was evaluated at 3 different concentrations (1.64, 3.28, and 6.57 mM). Antimutagenic activity evaluation was performed by co-treatment trials in which the flies received betulinic acid at 3 different concentrations in addition to 10 mM pro-mutagenic urethane. The results demonstrated that betulinic acid was not capable of causing DNA damage. However, the frequency of small single spots, large spots, and twin spots was significantly reduced. In the high bioactivation cross, betulinic acid was significantly active and exerted enhanced antimutagenic activity, possibly as a desmutagen.

Contrasting patterns of within-species morphological variation in two cactophilic Drosophila species (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

In this work, we investigated the morphological variation of the intromittent male copulatory organ (aedeagus) of specimens from natural populations of two cactophilic Drosophila species distributed in the southeast region of Brazil, Drosophila gouveai Tidon-Sklorz & Sene and Drosophila antonietae Tidon-Sklorz & Sene. It was explored how the within-species variability is arranged for both species, considering their historical and ecological features. Our results showed two distinct aedeagal morphologies for these species, and differences within species were observed only in D. gouveai as specimens could be distinguished by their population origin. In contrast, after size discrepancies correction, this feature was not detected in D. antonietae. The contrasting patterns of intraspecific variation, together with the other features exhibited by these two species, are most likely to be explained by differences in the historical host plant association and distribution and in demographic events, which determined the evolutionary history of these two South American cactophilic Drosophila species.

Activity of cholinesterases and adenosine deaminase in blood and serum of rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

This study aimed to evaluate the activity of cholinesterases and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in blood and serum of rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Twelve adult rats were used in the experiment divided into two uniform groups. Rodents from group A (control group) were non-infected and animals from group B served as infected, receiving intraperitoneally 3·3×10(7) trypomastigotes/each. Blood collection was performed at days 60 and 120 post-infection (PI) in order to evaluate the hemogram, blood activity of acetylcholinesterase, and serum butyrylcholinesterase and ADA activities. Hematological parameters did not differ between groups. A significant increase (P<0·05) of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in blood while butyrylcholinesterase had a significant reduction (P<0·01) in serum of infected rats at days 60 and 120 PI. ADA activity in serum showed an inhibition in infected animals when compared to non-infected at day 120 PI. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that the activity of cholinesterases and ADA were changed in animals infected with T. cruzi. The possible causes of these alterations will be discussed in this paper.

Relationship between splenic sequestration and thrombocytopenia in Trypanosoma evansi infection in rats

Trypanosoma evansi infections in domestic animals are characterized by anemia and thrombocytopenia. The cause of the platelets decrease is unknown, but researchers suggest that thrombocytopenia may result from damage of the bone marrow, reduced survival of platelets, auto-immune thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and splenic sequestration. Some of these causes have already been tested by our research group and found to be unrelated. Therefore, this study has the objective of testing the hypothesis that splenic sequestration might be responsible for thrombocytopenia in T. evansi-infected rats. A total of 28 rats assigned to four groups were used in the experiment. Group A rats were splenectomized and infected with T. evansi, group B rats were infected with T. evansi, group C rats were splenectomized, but not infected and group D rats were normal controls. Five days post-infection all rats were anesthetized and blood was collected in order to measure the number of circulating platelets, fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The spleens of groups B and D were weighed at necropsy. The infected animals (groups A and B) showed a significant reduction in platelets and increased PT and aPTT when compared to negative control groups (groups C and D). Animals from group A showed increased levels of fibrinogen. The mean weight of spleen differed between group B (2.62g) and group D (0.55g). It was concluded that there is no relationship between thrombocytopenia and splenic sequestration in infection by T. evansi.