Amphotericin B-loaded natural latex dressing for treating Candida albicans wound infections using Galleria mellonella model.

Amphotericin B (AmB) is the gold standard for antifungal drugs. However, AmB systemic administration is restricted because of its side effects. Here, we report AmB loaded in natural rubber latex (NRL), a sustained delivery system with low toxicity, which stimulates angiogenesis, cell adhesion and accelerates wound healing. Physicochemical characterizations showed that AmB did not bind chemically to the polymeric matrix. Electronic and topographical images showed small crystalline aggregates from AmB crystals on the polymer surface. About 56.6% of AmB was released by the NRL in 120 h. However, 33.6% of this antifungal was delivered in the first 24 h due to the presence of AmB on the polymer surface. The biomaterial's excellent hemo- and cytocompatibility with erythrocytes and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) confirmed its safety for dermal wound application. Antifungal assay against Candida albicans showed that AmB-NRL presented a dose-dependent behavior with an inhibition halo of 30.0 ± 1.0 mm. Galleria mellonella was employed as an in vivo model for C. albicans infection. Survival rates of 60% were observed following the injection of AmB (0.5 mg.mL-1) in G. mellonella larvae infected by C. albicans. Likewise, AmB-NRL (0.5 mg.mL-1) presented survival rates of 40%, inferring antifungal activity against fungus. Thus, NRL adequately acts as an AmB-sustained release matrix, which is an exciting approach, since this antifungal is toxic at high concentrations. Our findings suggest that AmB-NRL is an efficient, safe, and reasonably priced ($0.15) dressing for the treatment of cutaneous fungal infections.

Effect of acupuncture on hematologic, muscular biomarkers, fibrinogen and serum lactate parameters in training rodeo bulls.

The study aimed to evaluated the effects of acupuncture in rodeo bulls in training, by determining hematological variables, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fibrinogen, and plasma lactate. Thirty adult healthy bulls, crossbred, were included in the study and randomly allocated into two groups of 15 animals, according to the use of acupuncture treatment for six months (GA) or not (GB). The variables were measured 30 min before (TP0) and 10 min (TP10min), 12 (TP12h), 24 (TP24h), 48 (TP48h), and 72 h (TP72h) after a single episode of jumping emulating rodeo exercise. The GB group showed variations in hemoglobin between TP0 and TP10min (p = 0.002) and TP0 and TP12h (p = 0.004), and the GA presented an increase in eosinophil values between TP0 and TP12h (p = 0.013) and TP0 and TP24h (p = 0.034). Leukopenia was observed in GB between TP10min and TP72h ((p = 0.008). The CK values were high (↑ 300 UI/l) after exercise until the TP24h, and decreased in TP48h, in both groups. The plasma lactate elevation was lower in the GA at TP10min (p = 0.011), TP12h (p = 0.008), TP72h (p < 0.001). The rodeo bulls submitted to acupuncture treatment showed smaller variations in hemogram, elevated eosinophils levels, and lower plasma lactate levels after exercise.