Short-term changes in magnetic resonance imaging and disease activity in response to infliximab.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise and quantify short-term changes in local inflammation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to correlate the findings with clinical disease activity in response to infliximab in patients with spondyloarthritis. METHODS: 28 consecutive patients with established spondyloarthritis under successful long-term treatment with infliximab underwent MRI immediately before and one week after re-administration of the TNF blocker. C-reactive protein and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were assessed at both time points. The MRI protocol included coronal and sagittal turbo-short T1 inversion recovery (STIR) images as well as contrast-enhanced sagittal T1-weighted, fat-suppressed images. Images were assessed in independent sessions using the ASspiMRI-a score, the signal-difference-to-noise ratios (SDNR) and volumetry to assess oedematous and inflamed tissues. RESULTS: BASDAI values were expectedly low at study entry (3.3, SD 2.3). One week after administration of infliximab, 46% of patients reached a BASDAI 20, 39% a BASDAI 50. Kappa values for qualitative assessments and all measurements were excellent (range between 0.83 and 1.0) The ASspiMRI-a dropped most in the thoracic (3.3 points), less in the lumbar (1.21 points) and least in the cervical spine (0.38 points). The decrease of the ASspiMRI-a, the SDNR and the inflamed volumes in response to infliximab re-treatment was significant (p<0.01). The BASDAI showed a weak correlation with the ASspiMRI-a (r = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: MRI proves to be a valid method to assess and quantify short-term effects of therapy in spondyloarthritis. Comparison between MRI and BASDAI changes show that the BASDAI may underestimate local inflammation. It suggests an explanation for the structural disease progression despite clinical remission.

Composição química e atividade antimicrobiana in vitro do óleo essencial de Eucalyptus cinerea F. Mull. ex Benth., Myrtaceae, extraído em diferentes intervalos de tempo / Chemical composition and antimicrobial in vitro activity of the essential oil Eucalyptus cinerea F. Mull. ex Benth., Myrtaceae, extracted in different time intervals

Eucalyptus cinerea é uma espécie aromática da família Myrtaceae, sendo utilizada como ornamental e que apresenta rendimento em óleo essencial considerável. O objetivo deste trabalho foi à avaliação da composição química e da atividade antimicrobiana deste óleo, e das frações coletadas em diferentes intervalos de tempo. A metodologia empregada para a extração do óleo essencial foi a hidrodestilação com arraste de vapor d'água, em aparelho de Clevenger. A análise da composição química foi procedida por CG/EM e para a determinação da atividade antimicrobiana foi utilizado o método de difusão em ágar frente aos microrganismos Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6.538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8.739, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12.228 e Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9.027 e Candida albicans ATCC 10.231. O rendimento do óleo essencial foi de 6,07 por cento (v/m), do qual grande parte foi extraída na primeira hora de hidrodestilação. Também foi observada maior concentração de 1,8-cineol nas frações coletadas em quinze minutos e uma hora. Os principais componentes identificados no óleo essencial de E. cinerea por CG/EM foram: 1,8-cineol, a-pineno, limoneno e a-terpineol. A avaliação de atividade antimicrobiana pelo método de difusão em disco indicou qualitativamente o potencial antimicrobiano do óleo essencial da espécie em questão frente a bactérias Gram-positivas, bactérias Gram-negativas e levedura.

Eucalyptus cinerea is used as an ornamental plant and shows good concentration of essential oil. The aim of this work is a chemical investigation and analysis of the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Eucalyptus cinerea collected at different time's interval. This oil was obtained by hydrodestilation in a Clevenger apparatus, the chemical ivestigation was perfoomed by GC/MS and the antimicrobial activity was assayed in vitro using the agar diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8.739, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12.228, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9.027 and Candida albicans ATCC 10.231. The yield of the essential oil was 6.07 percent (v/w) collected in the first hour of hidrodestilation. It was also observed a higher concentration of 1,8-cineole in the fraction collected in a quarter of hour and and one hour. The main components investigated in the essential oils by GC/MS were: 1,8-cineole, a-pineno, limoneno and a-terpineol. The antimicrobial study using agar diffusion method showed antimicrobial activity of the essential oil against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and yeast.