Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil Increases the Effect of Digluconate Chlorhexidine on Microcosm Biofilms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Cymbopogon citratus essential oil and its association with chlorhexidine on cariogenic microcosm biofilm composition and acidogenicity. Minimum inhibitory and bactericide concentrations from the essential oil and chlorhexidine were determined by broth microdilution assay. Microcosms (polymicrobial) biofilms were produced on glass coverslips, using inoculum from human saliva in McBain culture medium (0.5% sucrose exposure for 6 h/day) for 3 days in 24-well plates. The biofilms were treated twice a day and their composition was evaluated by microorganism quantification. The acidogenicity was evaluated by measuring the pH of the spent culture medium in contact with the biofilm. Overall, the association of C. citratus and chlorhexidine reduced total bacterial counts and aciduric bacteria (maximum reduction of 3.55 log UFC/mL) in microcosm biofilms. This group also presented the lowest acidogenicity even when exposed to sucrose-containing medium. C. citratus essential oil increases the effect of digluconate chlorhexidine on microcosm biofilms. Based on these findings, this study can contribute to the development of new formulations that might allow for the use of mouthwashes for a shorter period, which may reduce undesirable effects and increase patient compliance to the treatment.

Enriched Marine Oil Supplements Increase Peripheral Blood Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators Concentrations and Reprogram Host Immune Responses: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

RATIONALE: Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM-lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins) are produced via the enzymatic conversion of essential fatty acids, including the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and n-3 docosapentaenoic acid. These mediators exert potent leukocyte directed actions and control vascular inflammation. Supplementation of animals and humans with essential fatty acids, in particular omega-3 fatty acids, exerts protective actions reducing vascular and systemic inflammation. Of note, the mechanism(s) activated by these supplements in exerting their protective actions remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Given that essential fatty acids are precursors in the biosynthesises of SPM, the aim of the present study was to establish the relationship between supplementation and peripheral SPM concentrations. We also investigated the relationship between changes in plasma SPM concentrations and peripheral blood platelet and leukocyte responses. METHODS AND RESULTS: Healthy volunteers were enrolled in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study, and peripheral blood was collected at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours post administration of placebo or one of 3 doses of an enriched marine oil supplement. Assessment of plasma SPM concentrations using lipid mediator profiling demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent increase in peripheral blood SPM concentration. Supplementation also led to a regulation of peripheral blood cell responses. Here we found a dose-dependent increase in neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis of bacteria and a decrease in the diurnal activation of leukocytes and platelets, as measured by a reduction in adhesion molecule expression. In addition, transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood cells demonstrated a marked change in transcript levels of immune and metabolic genes 24 hours post supplementation when compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings demonstrate that supplementation with an enriched marine oil leads to an increase in peripheral blood SPM concentrations and reprograms peripheral blood cells, indicating a role for SPM in mediating the immune-directed actions of this supplement. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03347006.

Molecular approach indicates consumption of jellyfish by commercially important fish species in a coastal Mediterranean lagoon.

Until recently, jellyfish have been ignored as an important source of food, due to their low nutritional value. Here, quantitative PCR was used to detect and quantify the DNA of the jellyfish Aurelia coerulea in the gut contents of commercially important fish species from the Thau Lagoon. Individuals from five fish species were collected during two different periods: the bloom period, when the pelagic stages of A. coerulea are abundant, and the post-bloom period, when only the benthic stage - polyps - is present in the lagoon. The DNA of A. coerulea was detected in the guts of 41.9% of the fish analysed, belonging to four different species. The eel Anguilla anguilla and the seabream Sparus aurata were important jellyfish consumers during the bloom and post-bloom periods, respectively. These results provide new insights on the potential control of jellyfish populations and on jellyfish importance as a food source for exploited fishes.

Phytomedicines containing Matricaria species for the treatment of skin diseases: A biotechnological approach.

Skin diseases have a notable impact on the life of the affected and in their health conditions. In order to allow a more effective and economical treatment for such disorders, new therapeutic approaches have been continuously investigated. Due to its high therapeutic and phytochemical potential, Matricaria species emerges as a pleasant alternative, since it is an important source of bioactive secondary metabolites suitable for the treatment of varied skin diseases. Therefore, this review aimed to catalog inventions that have used Matricaria species as the active component for skin disease treatment in order to assess the status of the technological development of the fitomedicines. For this, a search of patents was performed in four specialized patent database, which have reported the discovery of pharmaceutical bioproducts that used Matricaria species in its composition for skin treatment. Therefore, it is possible to notice that the pharmaceutical industry has driven efforts and investment to produce medicines for the dermatopathies, using species of this genus as an active principle. Besides, a trend of growth has been identified for the last years, which is accompanied by the continuous publication of scientific articles on the subject. It is known that a long journey is traversed between the scientific findings and their applications in the pharmaceutical market, creating the perspective that new Matricaria-based medicines may reach the pharmaceutical market in the coming years.

Effect of Photodynamic Therapy on Microorganisms Responsible for Dental Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature followed by a meta-analysis about the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the microorganisms responsible for dental caries. The research question and the keywords were constructed according to the PICO strategy. The article search was done in Embase, Lilacs, Scielo, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Pubmed databases. Randomized clinical trials and in vitro studies were selected in the review. The study was conducted according the PRISMA guideline for systematic review. A total of 34 articles were included in the qualitative analysis and four articles were divided into two subgroups to perform the meta-analysis. Few studies have achieved an effective microbial reduction in microorganisms associated with the pathogenesis of dental caries. The results highlight that there is no consensus about the study protocols for PDT against cariogenic microorganisms, although the results showed the PDT could be a good alternative for the treatment of dental caries.

Tratamento de rosácea com duas faixas de comprimento de onda de luz intensa pulsada num mesmo disparo / Treatment of rosacea with dual-band wavelength intense pulsed light in a single shot

Introdução: A rosácea é doença crônica que geralmente se manifesta como flushing, eritema facial persistente, telangiectasias, pápulas e pústulas. A luz intensa pulsada é usada para tratamento de lesões vasculares de rosácea telangiectásica facial. Objetivos: Avaliar a melhora clínica e dermatoscópica do eritema facial e rubor, e o clareamento dos vasos à dermatoscopia após o uso de luz intensa pulsada. Métodos: Foram selecionados nove pacientes, com rosácea telangiectásica facial, com idade entre 36 e 59 anos, e fototipo I a III, sem qualquer tipo de tratamento nos últimos seis meses. O tratamento consiste em aplicações da luz intensa pulsada com dual-band, 535-680nm e 860-1200nm, no mesmo disparo. Por favorecer o alvo da hemoglobina, há maior proteção para a epiderme. Foram realizadas três sessões a intervalos de um mês. Resultados: Após o tratamento, 87,5% dos pacientes notaram redução de flushing e telangiectasias, e os médicos avaliadores, grande (> 75%) melhora clínica em 50% dos pacientes e melhora moderada (51%-75%) em 28,6%. Os efeitos adversos foram mínimos e transitórios. Conclusões: Até o momento nenhum tratamento mostrou-se completo para a rosácea telangiectásica. Este estudo demonstrou que o tratamento com luz intensa pulsada utilizando a tecnologia dual band é eficaz no tratamento da rosácea.

Introduction: Rosacea is a chronic disease that usually manifests as flushing, persistent facial erythema, telangiectasia, papules and pustules. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is reported for treatment of vascular lesions of facial telangiectasia rosacea. Objective: To assess clinical and dermoscopy improvement of facial erythema and flushing, and the clearing of vessels to dermoscopic after using IPL. Methods: Nine patients were selected, with facial telangiectasic rosacea, aged between 36 and 59 years, with skin types I to III, without any treatment in the past six months. The treatment consisted in applications of the Intense Pulsed Light(IPL) with dual-band, 535-680 nm and 860-1200 nm, in one single shot. To favor the target hemoglobin, there is a greater protection for the skin. Three sessions were conducted within the interval of 1 month. Results: After treatment, 87.5% of patients noticed reduction in flushing and telangiectasia. Adverse events were minimal and transient. To date no treatment was complete for telangiectasia rosacea. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that treatment with IPL technology using "dual-band" is effective in obtaining a large (>75%) clinical improvement in 50% of patients and moderate improvement (51% to 75%) in 28.6% of patients.

A regulatory network involving Foxn4, Mash1 and delta-like 4/Notch1 generates V2a and V2b spinal interneurons from a common progenitor pool.

In the developing central nervous system, cellular diversity depends in part on organising signals that establish regionally restricted progenitor domains, each of which produces distinct types of differentiated neurons. However, the mechanisms of neuronal subtype specification within each progenitor domain remain poorly understood. The p2 progenitor domain in the ventral spinal cord gives rise to two interneuron (IN) subtypes, V2a and V2b, which integrate into local neuronal networks that control motor activity and locomotion. Foxn4, a forkhead transcription factor, is expressed in the common progenitors of V2a and V2b INs and is required directly for V2b but not for V2a development. We show here in experiments conducted using mouse and chick that Foxn4 induces expression of delta-like 4 (Dll4) and Mash1 (Ascl1). Dll4 then signals through Notch1 to subdivide the p2 progenitor pool. Foxn4, Mash1 and activated Notch1 trigger the genetic cascade leading to V2b INs, whereas the complementary set of progenitors, without active Notch1, generates V2a INs. Thus, Foxn4 plays a dual role in V2 IN development: (1) by initiating Notch-Delta signalling, it introduces the asymmetry required for development of V2a and V2b INs from their common progenitors; (2) it simultaneously activates the V2b genetic programme.