Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of the Decoction of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825) Used by the Traditional Medicine.

Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus are two lizard species utilized in traditional medicine in Northeast Brazil. Their medicinal use includes diseases related with bacterial infections such as tonsillitis and pharyngitis. They are used in the form of teas (decoctions) for the treatment of illnesses. In this work, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the decoctions of T. hispidus (DTH) and T. semitaeniatus (DTS) against bacterial strains, namely, standard and multiresistant Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus, and Pseudomonas aureuginosa, alone and in combination with aminoglycoside antibiotics. The decoctions were prepared using the whole body of the dried lizards, and the filtrate was frozen and lyophilized. When tested alone, the samples did not demonstrate any substantial inhibition of bacterial growth. However, in combination with antibiotics as aminoglycosides, decoctions reduced the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the assayed antibiotics against multiresistant strains of S. aureus and P. aureuginosa. Chemical prospecting tests revealed the presence of alkaloids in DTS. This is the first study evaluating the medicinal efficacy of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus and contributes to the list of new sources of medicines from natural products of animal origin.

Trypanocide, cytotoxic, and antifungal activities of Momordica charantia.

CONTEXT: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a public health problem. Currently, chemotherapy is the only available treatment for this disease, and the drugs used, nifurtimox and benzonidazol, present high toxicity levels. An alternative for replacing these drugs are natural extracts from Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) used in traditional medicine because of their antimicrobial and biological activities. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the extract of M. charantia for its antiepimastigote, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethanol extract of leaves from M. charantia was prepared. To research in vitro antiepimastigote activity, T. cruzi CL-B5 clone was used. Epimastigotes were inoculated at a concentration of 1 × 10(5) cells/mL in 200 µl tryptose-liver infusion. For the cytotoxicity assay, J774 macrophages were used. The antifungal activity was evaluated by microdilution using strains of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. RESULTS: The effective concentration capable of killing 50% of parasites (IC(50)) was 46.06 µg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was ≤ 1024 µg/mL. Metronidazole showed a potentiation of its antifungal effect when combined with an extract of M. charantia. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that M. charantia could be a source of plant-derived natural products with antiepimastigote and antifungal-modifying activity with moderate toxicity.

Antibacterial and modulatory effect of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium.

CONTEXT: Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. (Leguminosae), a tree in Northeast Brazil (Chapada do Araripe), is used in popular medicine to treat different processes such as inflammation and infectious diseases, mainly caused by bacterial pathogens. OBJECTIVE: This study determined the modulatory and antimicrobial activity of the hydroethanol extract of dried stem bark, the most used form of this natural product, as a remedy by the traditional communities, against standard and clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antibacterial and modulatory activities of the hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves were obtained by maceration/hydrodistillation method and assayed by microdilution. RESULTS: In the microbiological assays, growth inhibition was demonstrated by this extract against the bacterial strains tested, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 512 µg/mL. However, when a subinhibitory concentration (MIC/8 = 64 µg/mL) was combined with conventional antimicrobial drugs (gentamicin, kanamycin, amikacin and neomycin), the extract showed a potentiating effect, reducing the MIC for all drugs assayed in a range between 312.5 and 2.4 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: We indicate that the extract of S. rotundifolium showed potential synergistic antibiotic activity. With the results obtained, these extracts proved to be a promising source of antibacterial and modulatory agents.

Perfil clínico-epidemiológico de idosos com aids / Clinical-epidemiologic profile off elderly with aids

Introdução: a análise da evolução da aids entre os idosos, através da descrição das características epidemiológicas da população afetada, contribuirá para a adoção de políticas públicas de enfrentamento desse problema. Objetivo: analisar o perfil epidemiológico de idosos com aids no município de João Pessoa, Paraíba. Métodos: pesquisa epidemiológica descritiva de fonte secundária de dados. A população foi formada por pacientes com idade superior a 59 anos atendidos no Complexo Hospitalar Clementino Fraga (CHCF), em 2007. Os dados foram obtidos a partir da análise dos prontuários dos pacientes e da consulta ao banco de dados do SINANW e do SINAN NET. As variáveis investigadas foram: faixa etária, sexo, grau de escolaridade, procedência, estado civil, categoria de exposição, uso de preservativo, tipo de parceria e óbitos. Os dados foram analisados através da avaliação de diferença de percentuais. Resultados: o gênero masculino foi predominante na amostra, correspondendo a 55% dos casos; 89% das mulheres e 54,55% dos homens declararam-se heterossexuais; entre as mulheres, 66,67% mantinham relações sexuais com parceiros soropositivos para o HIV, 22,2% não usavam preservativo, a maioria possuía baixo grau de instrução e procedia de cidades do interior; entre os homens, 36,37% mantinham relações sexuais com múltiplos parceiros, a maioria era formada por solteiros com baixo grau de instrução e provenientes de cidades do interior. Conclusão: a população em geral, tanto homens quanto mulheres, caracterizou-se por heterossexualidade, baixo grau de instrução e procedência, resultados que demonstram, nessa população, a tendência atual da epidemia de heterossexualização, pauperização e interiorização.

Introduction: analyzing the evolution of aids among the elderly through the description of epidemiologic characteristics of infected people will contribute to the adoption of public politics to face this problem. Objective: analysing the epidemiologic profile from the elderly in the of city João Pessoa, Paraíba. Methods: descriptive epidemiologic research based on secondary source of data. Results: the population was formed by patientes aged above 59 years old, who attended the Complexo Hospitalar Clementino Fraga (CHCF) between January 1st, 2004 and February 28th, 2008. The data had been obtained from handbooks of patients and from consultation to SINANW and SINAN NET databasis. The investigated variables were: age group, gender, educational level, origin, marital states, category of exhibition, use of preservative, type of parcery and deaths. The data were analysed through the evaluation of difference in percentages. Results: male gender was majority in the sample corresponding to 55% of cases; 89% of women and 54,55% of men were declared heterosexuals; among women, 66,67% was maintaining sexual relations with partners infected by HIV, 22,2% were not using preservative, the majority had low educational levels and proceeded from cities from countryside; among the men, 36,37% were maintaining sexual relations with multiples partners, the majority was formed by singles with low degree of education and originating from cities of the countryside. Conclusion: the population in general, both men and women, was characterized by heterosexuality, low degree of education and origin, results that demonstrate the current tendency of the epidemic in heterossexual, poor and countryside inhabitants process.

Análise epidemiológica dos pacientes dos pacientes HIV-positivo atendidos em hospital de referência da rede pública de João Pessoa - PB / Epidemic analysis of patients positives HIV assisted at public hospital of reference in João Pessoa - PB

Introdução: abordar a epidemia da aids através da análise epidemiológica de suas variáveis clínicas e sociodemográfi cas é uma das estratégias de controle da epidemia. Objetivo: analisar o perfi l clínico-epidemiológico dos pacientes acometidos pela aids, no município de João Pessoa, Paraíba. Métodos: tratase de uma pesquisa epidemiológica descritiva de fonte secundária de dados. A população foi formada por pacientes com HIV/aids atendidos no Complexo Hospitalar Clementino Fraga (CHCF), durante o ano de 2007. Os dados foram obtidos a partir do Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notifi cação (SINAN) disponibilizado pelo setor de epidemiologia do CHCF. As variáveis investigadas foram: gênero, faixa etária, grau de instrução; categoria de exposição e evolução do caso. Os dados foram analisados através da avaliação de diferença de percentuais. Resultados: do total de casos avaliados 63,12% eram homens; a maioria, em ambos os sexos, foi de heterossexuais (70,625%); A faixa etária de 30 a 35 anos (31,87%) predominou na amostra; a maioria dos pacientes (35%) estudou da 1a à 4a série incompleta do ensino fundamental (EF); 93,75% dos pacientes eram procedentes da zona urbana; 19,38% da população vieram a óbito no mesmo ano do diagnóstico da doença. Conclusão: a população investigada era, na sua maioria, formada por homens, adultos jovens; a maioria heterosssexual vem a corroborar com a heterossexualização da epidemia; a predominância de pacientes com baixo grau de instrução é umdos sinais da pauperização da aids. As ações de controle da epidemia devem ser intensifi cadaa entre os homens, jovens e heterossexuais

Introduction: to approach the aids epidemic through the epidemiologist analysis of its clinical and socio-demographic variables is one of the strategies of control epidemic. Objective: to analyze the clinical profi le epidemiologist from patients affected for aids in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba. Methods: it?s treated of a descriptive epidemiologist research of secondary source of data. The population was formed by patients with HIV/aids attended in the Complexo Hospitalar Clementino Fraga (CHCF), during the year of 2007. The data had been gotten from the National Reporting Information System (SINAN) available by Epidemiology Sector of the CHCF. The investigated variables were: sexes, age group, educational level; category of exhibition and evolution?s case. The data were analysed through the evaluation from difference of percentages. Results: of the total from evaluated cases 63,12% was men; the majority, in both sexes, was heterosexuals (70,625%); the age group between 30 and 35 years (31,87%) predominated in the sample; most of the patients (35%) studied of the 1st one to 4th incomplete serie of the basic teaching (BT); 93,75% of the patients was derived of the urbane zone; 19,38% of the population died in the same year of the disease?s diagnosis. Conclusion: the investigated population was, in his majority formed by men, young adults;the majority heterosexual comes to corroborate with the heterosexual process of the epidemic; the predominance of patients with low educational level is one the signs of the aids?s poverty. The actions of the epidemic?s control must be that it intensifi es between men, young persons and heterosexuals.