Anticandida and antibiofilm activities of extract from Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. against Candida spp

Abstract The pathogenic nature of infections caused by Candida spp. underscores the necessity for novel therapeutic agents. Extracts of Schinopsis brasilienses Engl are / a promising source of agents with antifungal effects. This study aimed to assess the antifungal potential of the leaf extract of S. brasilienses. The antifungal activity was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations and fungicide concentrations (MIC and MFC). The antibiofilm potential was assessed by counting colony-forming units/mL. The study examined the inhibition kinetics of fungal growth and potential synergism between gallic acid or the extract and nystatin using the Checkerboard method. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through the MTT assay. The extract exhibited antifungal effect against all tested strains, with MIC and MFC ranging from 31.25-250 μg/mL. Gallic acid, the main isolated compound, displayed a MIC of 2000 μg/mL. The extract of S. brasilienses at 31.25 μg/mL inhibited the formation of biofilm by C. albicans and significantly reduced the mass of mature biofilm after 24 and 48 h (p < 0. 05). At a concentration of 125 μg/mL, the extract demonstrated significant inhibition of fungal growth after 6 hours. The combination of gallic acid or extract with nystatin did not exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effect. Furthermore, the extract did not induce cytotoxicity to a human cell line. The extract of S. brasiliensis demonstrates antifungal activity against Candida, generally exhibiting fungicidal action and capacity to inhibit biofilm formation as well as reduce mature biofilms. Additionally, the extract showed low cytotoxicity to human cells.

Accessibility to Specialized Public Oral Health Services from the Perspective of Brazilian Users.

The Specialized Dental Clinics (SDCs) represent the first government initiative in Latin America aimed at providing specialized oral health services. This study sought to evaluate the organizational accessibility to specialized oral health care services in Brazil and to understand the factors that may be associated with accessibility from the user's perspective. This epidemiological, cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted by means of interviews with individuals who sought specialized public oral health services in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, and consisted of a sample of 590 individuals. Users expressed a favorable view of the classification and resolutive nature of specialized services offered by Brazilian public health. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed weak points highlighting the difficulty involved in obtaining such treatments leading to unfavorable evaluations. In the resolutive nature item, difficulty in accessing the location, queues and lack of materials and equipment were highlighted as statistically significant unfavorable aspects. While many of the users considered the service to be resolutive, weaknesses were mentioned that need to be detected to promote improvements and to prevent other health models adopted worldwide from reproducing the same flaws.

Social, Educational and Dental Profiles of Brazilian Patients with Special Needs Attended at a Center for Dental Specialties

Objective: To identify the profiles of patients with special needs attended at a Center for Dental Specialties. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and quantitative study using an inductive approach, and a comparative and statistical procedure for analysis of the patients with special needs. Information concerning socioeconomic, medical and dental conditions was collected. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: It was observed that 58.6% of the users were males, single (54.7%), in the age group from 19 to 59 years (41.1%), being 97.4% without schooling. The most frequent clinical diagnoses were: deviations in intelligence (18.4%), behavioral deviations (18.4%) and physical defects (17.9%). We observed for oral health the presence of gingivitis (33.0%), and healthy gums (47.8%); the presence of caries (64.9%), with restored teeth (28.5%), and edentulism (12.3%). Dental intervention procedures were initiated with emphasis on: fluoride applications (39.7%) and subgingival scraping (34.9%). Topical fluoride applications (p=0.010) and prophylaxis (p=0.010) were realized in patients without autism. Also, prophylaxis (p=0.007) was more frequently performed and gingival alterations were more often verified (p=0.020) in patients without Down's syndrome. Conclusion: The users of the patients with special needs dental service can be generally described as male, single, aged between 19 and 54 years, with the special conditions of intelligence and behavioral deviation.

Anti-Biofilm and Hemolytic Effects of Cymbopogon citratus (Dc) Stapf Essential Oil

Abstract Objective: To perform chemical analysis and to evaluate the anti-biofilm and hemolytic effect of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus. Material and Methods: Gaseous chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer was performed for chemical characterization of the essential oil. To verify the antimicrobial action, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were determined. From MIC, MBC and MFC data, concentrations were established to verify the anti-biofilm effect and for the hemolysis test on human erythrocytes. A multispecies biofilm was developed in vitro and mouthwash applications were simulated to determine the inhibition of biofilm formation or its removal. Results were analyzed through ANOVA statistical test, complemented by the Tukey test, considering a significance level of 5% Results: The major component of the essential oil is citral. MIC verified for Streptococcus mutans was 1mg / mL, while for Candida albicans, it was 125 μg/mL, presenting microbicidal effect for both microorganisms tested. The essential oil was able to inhibit biofilm formation (p<0.001), presenting non-toxic hemolysis percentage in concentration below 500 μg/mL Conclusion: The essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus is antimicrobial, antibiofilm and non-toxic to human erythrocytes, representing a natural product with potential for use in Dentistry.