Impact of the ´Alforja Educativa' on Ecuadorian schoolchildren's knowledge of bacteria, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance, a pretest-posttest study.

BACKGROUND: Widespread use of antibiotics disrupts the balance in the microbial world and promotes development and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Educational initiatives are important as part of strategies to mitigate antibiotic resistance. The Alforja Educativa is an innovative educational program developed in Ecuador with the aim to teach schoolchildren about antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. The program places antibiotic resistance within a broader frame of health, well-being, and ecological awareness, highlighting the importance to maintain balance in the microbial world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Alforja Educativa on knowledge about bacteria, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance amongst fifth and sixth grade Ecuadorian schoolchildren. METHODS: This pretest-posttest intervention study was conducted between April and June 2017 and comprised fifth and sixth grade schoolchildren from 20 schools in Cuenca, Ecuador, recruited by purposeful sampling. The Alforja Educativa was implemented over twelve 80-minute sessions by trained university students. Schoolchildren's knowledge was assessed before and after participation in the educational program using a structured questionnaire. A mean total score, the proportion of correct responses for each individual knowledge-based question, as well as correct responses for each of the multiple-choice options of the knowledge-based questions were calculated for the pretest and posttest. RESULTS: A total of 1,257 schoolchildren participated in the Alforja Educativa program, of which 980 (78%) completed both the pretest and posttest. Overall, the mean total knowledge score increased from pretest to posttest (2.58/7.00 vs. 3.85/7.00; CI = 0.5, p < 0.001). After participation in the program, the proportion of schoolchildren that correctly identified that bacteria can be both good and bad increased from 35.0 to 84.3%. In addition, scores increased for correctly identifying the meaning of antibiotic resistance (37.4-72.0%); how to prevent antibiotic resistance (63.2-74.6%); and for identifying the meaning of self-medication (46.3-54.3%). CONCLUSION: The Alforja Educativa was effective in improving the knowledge of participating schoolchildren about concepts related to bacteria, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. The holistic perspective taken to explain the complex relationship between humans and bacteria, as well as the effect of antibiotics on the microbial world, may help provide a foundation for more sustainable antibiotic use.

The protective role of postpartum resilience on anxiety rates of Brazilian mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic / O papel protetor da resiliência pós-parto nas taxas de ansiedade de mães brasileiras durante a pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: We evaluated the protective effect of postpartum resilience (measured before the pandemic onset) on the prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The sample included 589 mothers from a longitudinal study in southern Brazil. Three months after delivery we assessed maternal resilience through the Resilience Scale (RS). The Generalized Anxiety Disorders 7-item (GAD-7) was used to assess anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The prevalence of severe to moderate anxiety symptoms in this sample was 28.4% (95% CI: 25.0; 32.0). Resilience showed to be a protective factor against moderate to severe anxiety symptoms during the pandemic (OR: 0.98; p<0.001). Conclusions: The results showed that postpartum resilience is a factor associated with lower odds of a more intense manifestation of anxiety during pandemic periods. Thus, strengthening resilience by reinforcing appropriate coping strategies can prevent mental health problems.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliou-se o efeito protetor da resiliência pós-parto (medida antes do início da pandemia) sobre a prevalência de sintomas de ansiedade moderados a graves durante a pandemia da doença por coronavírus (COVID-19). Métodos: A amostra incluiu 589 mães de um estudo longitudinal do Sul do Brasil. Três meses após o parto, avaliou-se a resiliência materna por meio da Resilience Scale (RS). O Generalized Anxiety Disorders 7-item (GAD-7) foi usado para medir os sintomas de ansiedade durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Resultados: A prevalência de sintomas de ansiedade moderados a graves nessa amostra foi de 28,4% (IC 95%: 25,0-32,0). A resiliência mostrou-se um fator protetor para os sintomas de ansiedade moderados a graves durante a pandemia (RC: 0,98; p<0,001). Conclusões: Os resultados revelaram que a resiliência pós-parto é um fator associado a menor chance de uma manifestação mais intensa da ansiedade durante os períodos pandêmicos. Dessa forma, fortalecer a resiliência, reforçando estratégias de enfrentamento apropriadas, pode prevenir problemas de saúde mental.

Influence of Lycium barbarum Extract Intake on Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the effects of Goji Berry extract (GB, Lycium barbarum) gavage administration on liver tissue oxidative stress in Wistar rats as well as to identify and quantify the content of the major bioactive compounds of the fruit. Four diets were applied: SW - standard diet + water; SG - standard diet + Goji Berry extract (125 mg/kg of animal); PW - palatable diet + water; PG - palatable diet + Goji Berry extract (125 mg/kg of animal). Results showed a significant increase in catalase enzyme activity in the liver of rats treated with GB and also in those intaking the palatable diet without GB when compared to the SW group. An increased mRNA expression of this enzyme in the same tissue and groups was also verified. Regarding lipid peroxidation, the GB extract produced a significant decrease in the oxidation state in the SG and PG groups. The results also showed a significant amount of bioactive compounds in GB extract.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of a Goji Berry Extract (Lycium barbarum) in Rats Subjected to Inflammation by Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of a Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum) fruit extract in Wistar rats submitted to a palatable diet presenting systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Forty-two Wistar female rats (Rattus Novergicus) were used with 60 days old. The animals were feed for 60 days and divided in six groups (n=7): standard diet+water; standard diet+L. barbarum; palatable diet+water; palatable diet+L. barbarum; standard diet+water+LPS; standard diet+L. barbarum+LPS. A significant difference was shown between the analyzed groups concerning C-reactive protein, with the standard diet+water+LPS group presenting the highest inflammatory response in comparison to the other groups. Decreased inflammatory response was observed in the group administered a palatable diet along with the fruit extract when compared to the group that received only a palatable diet. Significant decrease in glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity was observed in the standard diet+L. barbarum+LPS group compared to the standard diet+water group, as well as in the palatable diet+L. barbarum group compared to the palatable diet+water group. A significant increase in creatinine in the standard diet+water+LPS group was observed in according to the L. barbarum administration groups. The gene expression of the inflammatory markers genes in the liver showed a significant increase in TNF-α and IL-6 genes in the group treated with standard diet+L. barbarum+LPS when compared to the standard diet+LPS group. Thus, the administered L. barbarum extract displays the potential to reduce inflammatory responses induced by LPS and a palatable diet.

Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex associated with Brazilian rice: Phylogeny, morphology and toxigenic potential.

Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) is commonly detected in Brazilian rice, but knowledge of the species limits and their toxigenic potential is lacking. Seventy strains morphologically identified as FIESC-like, isolated from the major rice-growing regions of Brazil, were subjected to sequencing of EF-1α gene. Among them, 18 strains were selected and analyzed for their RPB2 gene sequences. Nine phylogenetic species were identified, among which eight matched the previously reported FIESC 4 (F. lacertarum), 6, 16, 17 (F. pernambucanum), 20 (F. caatingaense), 24, 26 and 29. One new phylogenetic species was identified, and named FIESC 38. Five strains formed new singleton lineages. The most dominant species were FIESC 26 (22/70 strains) and FIESC 38 (21/70), the newly identified species. The incarnatum morphotype was dominant (10 phylogenetic species) over the equiseti (4 species). Among 46 strains selected to represent all species, only 16 strains produced detectable levels of mycotoxins in vitro. FIESC 26 produced ZEA and FIESC 38 produced both ZEA and DON. ZEA was produced by nine isolates of three other species, among which few isolates produced trichothecenes: DON (5/46), NIV (3/46), 4-ANIV (2/46), 15-ADON (1/46) and 3-ADON (1/46). The T-2 and HT-2 mycotoxins were not detected. Our results contribute novel information on species limits and mycotoxin production within cereal-infecting FIESC in the southern hemisphere and provide baseline data for further exploring morphological differences among the species.

Incidência de constipação intestinal em estudantes de nível superior do sexo feminino / Incidence of intestinal constipation in female college students

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a incidência e as características da constipação intestinal em estudantes universitárias. Foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa descritiva com 104 estudantes do sexo feminino do Curso de Fisioterapia da UNIFRA, Santa Maria/RS.Os instrumentos utilizados foram o questionário de Roma III; uma ficha de avaliação e a escala de Bristol, respondidos pelas acadêmicas do curso de Fisioterapia. A incidência de constipação intestinal foide 59,62% para os critérios de Roma III. Observou-se relevância nas questões referentes ao esforço evacuatório, sensação de esvaziamento incompleto e utilização de manobras manuais, questões específicado questionário de Roma III. A sintomatologia mais referida foi a flatulência abdominal, com 49,04% da amostra. Se não tratada, a constipação pode desencadear patologias pélvicas como prolapsos e incontinências. Por isso, sugere-se a implantação do autocuidado para os futuros profissionais dos cursos de fisioterapia.

This research aimed to evaluate the incidence and the characteristics of intestinal constipation in college students. A descriptive research was developed with 104 female students of the Physical Therapy Course at UNIFRA, Santa Maria/RS. The instruments used for this research were the Rome III questionnaire, an evaluation form, and the Bristol scale, answered by the Physical Therapy students. The incidence of intestinal constipation was of 59.62% for theRome III criteria. It was observed relevance in the questions referring to the defecation effort, sensation of incomplete emptying and use of manual maneuvers, which are specific questions of the Rome III questionnaire. The most reported symptoms were abdominal flatulence, with 49.04% of the sample. If not treated, constipationmay trigger pelvic pathologies as prolapses and incontinences. For this, it is suggested the implantation of self caring for the future professionals of Physical Therapy courses.