Standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba treatment and novelty on the weak encoding of spatial recognition memory in rats.

Long-term memory (LTM) formation is dependent on neurochemical changes that guarantee that a recently formed memory (short-term memory [STM]) remains in the specific neural circuitry via the consolidation process. The persistence of recognition memory has been evidenced by using behavioral tagging in young adult rats, but it has not been effective on aging. Here, we investigated the effects of treatment with a standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) associated with novelty on the consolidation of object location memory (OLM) and its persistence after weak training of spatial object preference in young adult and aged rats. The object location task used in this study included two habituation sessions, training sessions associated or not associated with EGb treatment and contextual novelty, and short-term or long-term retention testing sessions. Altogether, our data showed that treatment with EGb associated with novelty close to the time of encoding resulted in STM that lasted for 1 h and persisted for 24 h for both young adult and aged rats. In aged rats, the cooperative mechanisms induced robust long-term OLM. Our findings support and extend our knowledge about recognition memory in aged rats and the modulating effects of EGb treatment and contextual novelty on the persistence of memory.

Antimicrobial effect against different bacterial strains and bacterial adaptation to essential oils used as feed additives.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the essential oils derived from Origanum vulgare (oregano), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Cinnamomum cassia (cassia), and Thymus vulgaris (white thyme) against Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. The study also investigated the ability of these different bacterial strains to develop adaptation after repetitive exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of these essential oils. The MBC of the essential oils studied was determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. All essential oils showed antimicrobial effect against all bacterial strains. In general, the development of adaptation varied according to the bacterial strain and the essential oil (tea tree > white thyme > oregano). Therefore, it is important to use essential oils at efficient bactericidal doses in animal feed, food, and sanitizers, since bacteria can rapidly develop adaptation when exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of these oils.

La présente étude avait pour but d'évaluer l'activité antimicrobienne et de déterminer la concentration bactéricide minimale (CBM) des huiles essentielles dérivées d'Origanum vulgare (origan), de Melaleuca alternifolia (l'arbre à thé), de Cinnamomum cassia (cassia), et de Thymus vulgaris (thym blanc) contre Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, et Enterococcus faecalis. L'étude visait également à examiner la capacité de ces différentes souches bactériennes à développer une capacité d'adaptation après une exposition répétée à des concentrations sub-létales de ces huiles essentielles. La CBM des huiles essentielles étudiées a été déterminée par des méthodes de diffusion en disque et de dilution en bouillon. Toutes les huiles essentielles ont démontré un effet antimicrobien contre toutes les souches bactériennes. En général, le développement de la capacité d'adaptation variait selon la souche bactérienne et l'huile essentielle (arbre à thé > thym blanc > origan). Il est donc important que les huiles essentielles soient utilisées à des doses bactéricides efficaces dans la nourriture animale, les aliments, et les assainisseurs, étant donné que les bactéries peuvent rapidement développer une adaptation lorsqu'exposées à des concentrations sub-létales de ces huiles.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Family health: limits and possibilities for an integral primary care approach to health care in Brazil.

The article analyzes the implementation of the Family Health Strategy (FH) and discusses its potential to guide the organization of the Unified Health System in Brazil, based on the integration of FH to the health care network and intersectorial action, crucial aspects of a comprehensive primary health care. Four case studies were carried out in cities with high FH coverage (Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis e Vitória), using as sources: semi-structured interviews with managers and surveys with health care professionals and registered families. The integration analysis highlighted the position of FH Strategy in the health services network, the integration mechanisms and the availability of information for continuity of care. Intersectoriality was researched in relation to the fields of action, scope, sectors involved, presence of forums, and team initiatives. The results point to advances in the integration of FH to the health care network, strengthening basic services as services that are regularly sought and used as a preferential first contact services, although there are still problems in the access to specialized care. The intersectorial initiatives were broader when defined as integrated municipal government policy for the construction of interfaces and cooperation between the diverse sectors.