Prevalência de Streptococcus agalactiae em gestantes atendidas em clínicas particulares em Caxias do Sul/RS / Prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women assisted in clinical individuals in Caxias do Sul/RS

Introdução: A colonização por Streptococcus agalactiae em pacientes durante a gestação é um fator considerado grave para o recém-nascido. Essa bactéria em contato com o neonato é capaz de causar infecções neonatais graves, como sepse, pneumonia e meningite, principalmente em situações de parto prematuro e ruptura de membranas, quando não se tem tempo hábil para a realização do diagnóstico de colonização. Objetivo: avaliar a prevalência de colonização por S. agalactiae em gestantes atendidas em clínicas particulares no município de Caxias do Sul. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo transversal e retrospectivo realizado entre janeiro de 2015 e janeiro de 2016, no qual foram analisados prontuários de pacientes gestantes. Resultados: Foram avaliados 174 prontuários de pacientes gestantes, nos quais 6,90% das pacientes apresentaram culturas positivas para S. agalactiae e 93,10% foram negativas. Para as pacientes positivas, observou-se que o antibiótico mais frequentemente utilizado foi a penicilina. Avaliaram-se, também, casos de infecções do trato urinário e observou-se que cinco gestantes, também colonizadas por S. agalactiae, tiveram infecção urinária, todas por Escherichia coli. Conclusões: O número de resultados positivos para S. agalactiae na pesquisa realiza foi baixo. As pacientes avaliadas não apresentaram complicações gestacionais ou para o concepto provavelmente devido às medidas profiláticas realizadas. Correlacionando o resultado deste trabalho com outros realizados no Brasil, percebeu-se a deficiência de estudos mais completos acerca dessa temática, os quais levam em consideração a idade gestacional, o sítio de coleta, o método utilizado para diagnóstico, bem como a utilização de metodologias confirmatórias.(AU)

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae colonization in patients during pregnancy is a serious factor for the newborn. This bacterium in contact with the neonate is capable of causing serious neonatal infections, such as sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis, especially in situations of preterm birth and membrane rupture when there is no time to perform the colonization diagnosis. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of S. agalactiae colonization in pregnant attended at private clinics in the city of Caxias do Sul. Methods: a cross-sectional and retrospective study was carried out between January 2015 and January 2016. Results: 174 medical records of pregnant women were evaluated, 6.90% of the patients presented S. agalactiae positive cultures and 93.10% were negative. For the positive patients it was observed that the most frequently used antibiotic was penicillin. We also evaluated cases of urinary tract infections and it was observed that five pregnant, also S. agalactiae colonized, had urinary infection, all of them due to Escherichia coli. Conclusion: The number of positive results for S. agalactiae in the research performed was low. The patients evaluated did not present gestational complications or for the concept probably due to the prophylactic measures performed. Correlating the results of this study with other studies carried out in Brazil, we noticed the lack of more complete studies about this subject, taking into account gestational age, collection site and method diagnosis used as well as the use of confirmatory methodologies.(AU)

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and socioeconomic evaluation of a country town in the Serra Gaucha region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Worms are a serious public health issue in Brazil, easily transmitted in school-age children. To evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and socioeconomic conditions in students in Ipê city, the children's guardians filled in a questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge about parasitosis and basic sanitary conditions; then, feces were analyzed with sedimentation and centrifugation-fluctuation techniques. Out of 124 analyzed samples, a positivity rate of 8.1% was observed, with the presence of Entamoeba coli (50%), Giardia intestinalis (20%), Enterobius vermicularis eggs (20%) or multiple parasites. The students' average ages were 8.2±1.5, of which 53.2% were female. In relation to the questionnaires, 80.6% of the respondents answered assertively concerning the definition of a parasite, and 91.1% thought they knew how parasitoses are acquired. Regarding basic sanitation, only 4% of the studied population does not possess piped drinking water at home, and waste collection was done in 89.5% of the residences. The current study found a low frequency of parasitoses, which may be due to the level of information on the part of the parents or guardians, to the basic sanitary conditions of the respondents and to the high percentage (84.7%) of students who had already used anti-parasitic drugs.

Antimutagenic and antioxidant properties of the aqueous extracts of organic and conventional grapevine Vitis labrusca cv. Isabella leaves in V79 cells.

Grapes are one of the most commonly consumed fruit, in both fresh and processed forms; however, a significant amount is disposed of in the environment. Searching for a use of this waste, the antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, and antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts from organic and conventional Vitis labrusca leaves were determined using V79 cells as model. The antigenotoxic activity was analyzed by the alkaline comet assay using endonuclease III and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase enzymes. The antimutagenic property was assessed through the micronucleus (MN) formation, and antioxidant activities were assessed using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(●)) radical scavenging, as well as with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity assays. In addition, phenolic content and ascorbic acid levels of both extracts were determined. Data showed that both organic and conventional grapevine leaves extracts possessed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic properties. The extract of organic leaves significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in V79 cells, and displayed greater ability for DPPH(●) scavenging and higher SOD and CAT activities than extract from conventional leaves. Further, the extract from organic leaves contained higher phenolic and ascorbic acid concentrations. In summary, extracts from organic and conventional grape leaves induced important in vitro biological effects.

Occupational risk assessment of oxidative stress and genotoxicity in workers exposed to paints during a working week.

OBJECTIVES: Paints are complex mixtures of solvents and metals that can induce health damages in workers exposed to them. The aim of the present work was to evaluate possible oxidative and genotoxic effects in workers exposed to paints. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Peripheral blood and buccal cell samples were collected from 33 workers exposed to paints and 29 non-exposed workers (controls) during an ordinary working week (Monday morning and Friday evening). Oxidative markers were assessed using thiobarbituric acid assay, carbonylated proteins, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Hippuric acid and delta-aminolevulinic acid were determined as biomarkers of toluene and lead exposure, respectively. Genotoxicity was measured through comet assay and micronucleus (MN) frequencies. RESULTS: The exposed group showed higher hippuric acid and delta-aminolevulinic acid levels (Friday samples) and lower superoxide dismutase activity (Monday samples) in relation to control group. DNA damage index (comet assay) was higher in the exposed group, both in Monday and Friday samples, compared to the control group. No differences were observed in frequency of micronuclei (MN) between the groups, either in lymphocytes or buccal cells. However, the exposed group presented an increase (Monday samples) in nuclear buds frequency in lymphocytes - a marker of gene amplification - as well as an increase in condensed chromatin in the buccal cells (Monday and Friday samples), suggesting induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, a decrease in the nuclear division index (Friday samples) was observed in the exposed group, indicating that paint exposure induces cytostatic effects in lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that individuals exposed to paints have increased levels of DNA damage.

Frozen fruit pulp of Euterpe oleraceae Mart. (Acai) prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced damage in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus of rats.

Oxidative stress is implicated in several human illnesses, including neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Acai is largely consumed in Brazil and contains high levels of antioxidant compounds. This work aims to study the antioxidant activity of acai frozen fruit pulp in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of rats treated with the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Pretreatment of tissue with acai decreased H(2)O(2)-induced damage of both lipids and proteins in all tissues tested. This fruit was also able to reduce the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase to basal levels. We observed a negative correlation between the polyphenol content of acai and the levels of lipid (r = -0.689; P

Antioxidant, mutagenic, and antimutagenic activity of frozen fruits.

Many studies have focused on the effect of fresh fruits on the risk of developing cancer and other diseases involved with reactive species and free radicals. The intake of frozen fruits has spread widely in the last years, but, until now, their biological activity is not completely known. In this study, 23 samples of frozen fruits were analyzed for their nutritional composition, total polyphenols, total carotenoids, and vitamin C content. Antioxidant, mutagenic, and antimutagenic effects were also evaluated. Antioxidant assays included 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(.)) scavenging activity and determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and catalase (CAT)-like activities. Mutagenic and antimutagenic evaluations were performed in eukaryotic cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Most samples (74%) showed antioxidant activity similar to vitamin C in the DPPH(.) assay, and this activity was positively correlated (r = 0.366; P