Antimycobacterial and antimalarial activities of endophytic fungi associated with the ancient and narrowly endemic neotropical plant Vellozia gigantea from Brazil

BACKGROUND Endophytic fungi, present mainly in the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla, are associated with different plants and represent important producers of bioactive natural products. Brazil has a rich biodiversity of plant species, including those reported as being endemic. Among the endemic Brazilian plant species, Vellozia gigantea (Velloziaceae) is threatened by extinction and is a promising target to recover endophytic fungi. OBJECTIVE The present study focused on bioprospecting of bioactive compounds of the endophytic fungi associated with V. gigantea, an endemic, ancient, and endangered plant species that occurs only in the rupestrian grasslands of Brazil. METHODS The capability of 285 fungal isolates to produce antimicrobial and antimalarial activities was examined. Fungi were grown at solid-state fermentation to recover their crude extracts in dichloromethane. Bioactive extracts were analysed by chromatographic fractionation and NMR and displayed compounds with antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, and antimalarial activities. FINDINGS Five fungi produced antimicrobial and antimalarial compounds. Extracts of Diaporthe miriciae showed antifungal, antibacterial, and antimalarial activities; Trichoderma effusum displayed selective antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium intracellulare; and three Penicillium species showed antibacterial activity. D. miriciae extract contained highly functionalised secondary metabolites, yielding the compound epoxycytochalasin H with high antimalarial activity against the chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum, with an IC50 approximately 3.5-fold lower than that with chloroquine. MAIN CONCLUSION Our results indicate that V. gigantea may represent a microhabitat repository hotspot of potential fungi producers of bioactive compounds and suggest that endophytic fungal communities might be an important biological component contributing to the fitness of the plants living in the rupestrian grassland.

Body posture changes in women with migraine with or without temporomandibular disorders / Alteracoes da postura corporal estatica de mulheres com migranea com e sem disfuncao temporomandibular

Background: Migraine and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are reported to be associated. However, there are no reports on the association among migraines, TMDs and changes in body posture. Objectives : To assess changes in body posture in women suffering migraines with or without TMD compared with a control group. Method: Sixty-six women with a mean age of 18 to 45 years participated in this study. The groups were composed of 22 volunteers with migraine and TMD (MTMD), 22 volunteers with migraines without TMD (MG) and 22 women in the control group (CG). Static posture was assessed by photogrammetry, and 19 angles were measured. Results: Postural asymmetry was observed in the face for 4 angles measured on the frontal plane in the MG group and for 4 angles of the trunk in the MG and MTMD groups with respect to CG. However, for comparisons between MTMD and CG, clinical relevance was identified for two angles of the sagittal plane (Cervical and Lumbar Lordosis, Effect Size - ES - moderate: 0.53 and 0.60). For comparisons between the MG and CG, the clinical relevance/potential was verified for three angles with moderate ES (ES>0.42). The clinical relevance when comparing MTMD and CG was identified for four angles of facial symmetry head inclination (ES>0.54) and for two angles between MG and CG (ES>0.48). Conclusion : The results demonstrated the presence of postural changes compared with a control group in women with migraines with or without TMD, and there were similar clinically relevant postural changes among the patients with migraines with and without TMD. .

Contextualização: Há relatos na literatura sobre associações entre migrânea e disfunção temporomandibular (DTM). Entretanto, não há relatos sobre a associação entre migrânea, DTM e alterações da postura corporal. Objetivos: Avaliar a presença de alterações da postura corporal em mulheres com migrânea com e sem DTM em relação a um grupo controle. Método: Foram avaliados três grupos de 22 integrantes cada, na faixa etária de 18 a 50 anos, sexo feminino, compostos de voluntárias com migrânea e DTM (GMDTM), migranosas sem DTM (GM) e grupo controle (GC). As voluntárias foram submetidas à avaliação da postura estática por meio da fotogrametria, e foram mensurados 19 ângulos. Resultados: Foram observadas assimetrias posturais em quatro ângulos mensurados no plano frontal na face no GM e em quatro ângulos do tronco no GM e no GMDTM em relação ao GC. Entretanto, foi verificada relevância clínica para dois ângulos posturais no plano sagital (GM vs. GMDTM - lordose cervical e lombar, Effect size - ES moderados: 0,53 e 0,60) e, para comparação entre o GM e o GC, foi observada relevância clínica/potencial para três ângulos (ES>0,42). Foi verificada relevância clínica para quatro ângulos de simetria facial/inclinação da cabeça na comparação GMDTM e GM (ES>0,54) e para dois ângulos entre o GM e o GC (ES>0,48). Conclusão: Os resultados do presente trabalho demonstraram a presença de alterações de postura corporal em mulheres com migrânea com e sem DTM em relação ao grupo controle, e as alterações de postura foram similares entre os GM e GMDTM na análise de relevância clínica. .

Eficácia dos exercícios de controle motor na dor lombopélvica: uma revisão sistemática / Efficacy of motor control exercises for lumbopelvic pain: a systematic review

O objetivo da revisão foi avaliar a eficácia dos exercícios de controle motor nas dores lombares (DL) e pélvicas. O estudo foi uma revisão sistemática de ensaios clínicos aleatorizados que investigaram a eficácia dos exercícios de controle motor no tratamento da DL e pélvica de várias populações. A eficácia desses exercícios foi sumarizada de acordo com os níveis de evidência empregados pela organização Cochrane. Oito ensaios cumpriram os critérios de inclusão. Há evidência limitada de que, a curto prazo, nos casos de DL aguda, exercícios de controle motor não sejam mais eficazes do que tratamento médico em diminuir dor e incapacidade. Entretanto, a longo prazo, há evidência limitada de que são capazes de reduzir o índice de recorrência nesses pacientes. Na DL crônica, existe forte evidência da eficácia dos exercícios de controle motor na diminuição da dor e incapacidade, quando comparados à fisioterapia convencional ou a nenhum tratamento. Há evidência limitada de que exercícios de controle motor sejam tão eficazes quanto a cirurgia de fusão lombar. Há evidência limitada de que, a curto e longo prazo, exercícios de controle motor sejam eficazes no tratamento das dores pélvicas pósparto.Assim, exercícios de controle motor não melhoram a dor e incapacidades nos casos agudos. No entanto, podem ser indicados como prevenção de recorrência e para indivíduos com quadros crônicos a fim de aliviar a dor, reduzir a incapacidade e melhorar a qualidade de vida...

The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the efficacy of motor control exercises for low-back and pelvic pain. It covered randomized controlled trials (RCT) that assessed the efficacy of motor control exercises in the treatment of low-back and pelvic pain of different populations. The effectiveness of the exercises was summarized according to the Cochrane level of evidence criteria. Eight RCT fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There is limited evidence, in the short term, that motor control exercises be more effective than medical treatment to reduce pain and disability in acute low-back pain. In turn, in the long term, there is limited evidence that exercises reduce recurrence in these patients. For -back pain there is strong evidence that motor control exercises are more effective in reducing pain and disability than conventional physical therapy or no treatment. There is limited evidence that motor control exercises are as equally effective as lumbar fusion surgery. There is limited evidence, in the short and long term, that specific stabilization exercises are effective in treating pelvic pain after delivery. Thus, motor control exercises do not relieve pain and disability in the acute lowback pain. However, they can be prescribed for prevention and treatment of chronic cases, thus relieving pain, reducing disability and improving these patients quality of life...