Immunomodulatory Activity of Probiotics in Models of Bacterial Infections.

As resistance to conventional antibiotics among bacteria continues to increase, researchers are increasingly focusing on alternative strategies for preventing and treating bacterial infections, one of which is microbiota modulation. The objective of this review is to analyze the scientific literature on the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in bacterial infections. This is an integrative review of the literature based on systematic steps, with searches performed in the databases Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect. The most prevalent bacterial genera used to evaluate infectious processes were Salmonella, Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Streptococcus. Lactobacillus was the most commonly used probiotic genus, with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is the most frequently used species. In most studies, prophylactic treatment with concentrations of probiotics equal to or greater than 8 log CFU/mL was chosen. However, there was considerable heterogeneity in terms of effective treatment duration, indicating that the results cannot be generalized across all studies. This review found that probiotics interact with the immune system through different mechanisms and have a positive effect on preventing different types of bacterial infections.

Therapeutic Potential of Punica granatum and Isolated Compounds: Evidence-Based Advances to Treat Bacterial Infections.

Punica granatum Linn has been known for its nutritional and medicinal value since ancient times and is used in the treatment of various pathologies owing to its antibacterial properties. This review reports the results of the most recent studies on the antibacterial effects of P. granatum and its isolated compounds on bacteria of clinical interest. A search in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science) databases was performed, which included articles that evaluated the antibacterial activity of P. granatum extracts and excluded articles that analyzed other microorganisms or nonpathogenic bacteria, as well as theses, dissertations, duplicate articles, and those not fully available. The literature suggests that P. granatum extracts can act on bacteria, such as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, fruit peel was the most commonly used pharmacogen and methanol, ethanol, and water were the most common solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds. The antibacterial potential of the methanolic extract of pomegranate peel could be attributed to the presence of active compounds, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, punicic acid, gallic acid, and punicalagin. Thus, there is evidence that these plant extracts, having high polyphenol content, can disrupt the bacterial plasma membrane and inhibit the action of proteins related to antimicrobial resistance. P. granatum shows antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with great potential against multidrug-resistant strains. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism of action related to this biological activity and investigate the isolated substances that may be responsible for the antibacterial effects.

Trend in infant mortality rate caused by sepsis in Brazil from 2009 to 2018.

Sepsis is the organ dysfunction resulting from an infection associated with an unregulated host inflammatory response, which generates high mortality rates in Brazil. The aim of this stydy was to analyze the trend of early, late and post-neonatal mortality rates due to sepsis in Brazilian regions, from 2009 to 2018. This is an ecological study of time series. The trend of infant mortality from sepsis was analyzed using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) according to the place of residence (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and Midwest). Death Certificate data were collected from the Mortality Information System database. The temporal trend was analyzed using the Prais-Winsten estimate, interpreted as increasing, decreasing or stable, through the dependent variable (logarithm of mortality rates) and interdependent variables (years of the historical series). The Stata 14.0 statistical software was used. There were 39,867 infant deaths due to sepsis (78.67% for unspecified bacterial sepsis of the neonate ). Most of the children were male, had mixed ethnicity (black and white) , were born preterm with low birth weight and most mothers were 20-34 years old. There were decreasing trends in mortality rates from 2009 to 2018: early neonatal, in the Southeast (-3.57%), North (-3.33%) and South (-2.91%); late neonatal, in the South (-4.12%), Southeast (-4.53%), North (-4.55%) and Midwest (-6.21%); and post-neonatal, in the Northeast (-1.84%), North (-3.62%), Southeast (-3.83%) and Midwest (-5.81%). The Northeast showed a stable trend in early and late neonatal mortality rates. It was concluded that most regions showed a decreasing trend in mortality rates from sepsis in all age components, despite regional differences.

Therapeutic potential of Punica granatum in wound healing: An overview

SUMMARY Objective: This review aim to report the results of the most recent research and applications of different extracts of P. granatum in the in vivo wound healing process. Methods: For the survey of articles in literature, a search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science) databases. Results: Punica granatum is a plant native to Iran and adjacent regions widely used worldwide as a food and medicinal source. Its healing property is closely linked to the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids, and its concentration in treatment formulations seems to be determinant for the acceleration of tissue repair, although few data on the standardization and stability of these formulations are available. Studies on experimental models were able to demonstrate the repair potential of P. granatum; however, human studies are still scarce. Conclusions: This contribution summarizes the use of P. granatum extracts in healing different types of lesions, emphasizing its effects on inflammatory, prolif-erative, and remodeling phases.

Objetivo: Relatar los resultados de investigaciones y aplicaciones más recientes de diferentes extractos de P. granatum en el proceso de cicatrización de heridas in vivo. Métodos: Para encuesta de artículos en la literatura, se realizó búsqueda en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct y Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science). Resultados: Punica granatum es una planta originaria de Irán y regiones adyacentes, ampliamente utilizada en todo el mundo como fuente alimenticia y medicinal. Su propiedad cicatrizante está íntimamente ligada a la presencia de compuestos fenólicos, taninos y flavonoides, y su concentración en las formulaciones de tratamiento parece ser determinante para aceleración de la reparación tisular, aunque se dispone de pocos datos sobre estandarización y estabilidad de estas formulaciones. Estudios sobre modelos experimentales pudieron demostrar el potencial de reparación de P. granatum; sin embargo, los estudios en humanos aún son escasos. Conclusiones: Este aporte resume el uso de extractos de P. granatum en la curación de diferentes tipos de lesiones, enfatizándose sus efectos en las fases inflamatoria, proliferativa y remodeladora.

Objetivo: Relatar os resultados de pesquisas mais recentes e aplicações de diferentes extratos de P. granatum no processo de cicatrização in vivo. Métodos: Para levantamento de artigos na literatura, realizou-se busca nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct e Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science). Resultados: Punica granatum é uma planta nativa do Irã e das regiões adjacentes, amplamente utilizada em todo o mundo como alimento e fonte medicinal. A propriedade cicatrizante está intimamente ligada à presença de compostos fenólicos, taninos e flavo-noides, cuja concentração nas formulações de tratamento parece ser determinante para aceleração do reparo tecidual, embora poucos dados sobre a padronização e estabilidade dessas formulações estejam disponíveis. Estudos em modelos experimentais foram capazes de demonstrar o potencial de reparo de P. granatum. No entanto, estudos em humanos ainda são escassos. Conclusões: Esta contribuição resume o uso de extratos de P. granatum na cicatrização de diferentes tipos de lesões, enfatizando os efeitos nas fases inflamatória, proliferativa e remodelação.

Salivary profile in diabetic patients: biochemical and immunological evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical and immunological characteristics of saliva from diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic adults. METHODS: Eighty-eight diabetic adults and 39 non-diabetic adults (control) were included in the study. Glucose, urea, calcium, total protein and amylase were determined by a colorimetric method. The levels of secretory IgA and the IgA anti-Streptococcus mutans and anti-insulin IgA antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Caries status was evaluated using the DMFT index. RESULTS: Glucose, urea, calcium, anti-S. mutans IgA, total IgA, and anti-insulin IgA were significantly higher in diabetic patients, whereas total protein and amylase levels were lower in these patients. There was no positive correlation between blood and salivary glucose levels in either group. Diabetic patients had a higher DMFT index. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed for the first time that IgA levels in diabetic patients'saliva, shows correlation with systemic biochemical parameters. Thus the saliva is an useful tool to follow the systemic health status in these patients.