Inhibition of Fusarium culmorum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Rhizoctonia solani by n-hexane extracts of three plant species as a wood-treated oil fungicide.

AIMS: Wood as a packing tool is used for packaging and transportation of fruits and vegetables for a time period varying from hours to days. During transportation, fruits and vegetables can be affected by moulds with significant postharvest problems. The present study describes the possibility of using wood-treated oil fungicide of n-hexane extracts from Eucalyptus camaldulensis (aerial parts), Vitex agenus-castus (leaves) and Matricaria chamomilla (flowers) against the infestation of Fusarium culmorum, Rhizoctonia solani and Penicillium chrysogenum. METHODS AND RESULTS: Air-dried wood samples of Melia azedarach were prepared with the dimensions of 0·5 × 1 × 2 cm and treated with the oily extracts at the concentrations of 0, 1, 2 and 3%. Oils extracted with n-hexane from E. camaldulensis and V. agenus-castus showed promising antifungal activities against the isolated and molecularly identified three fungi F. culmorum, R. solani and P. chrysogenum, while M. chamomilla observed the lowest activity against the studied fungi. GC/MS analysis of oils reported that the major components in E. camaldulensis were ß-fenchol (25·51%), Cyclobuta[1,2:3,4]dicyclooctene-1,7(2H,6bH)-dione,dodecahydro,(6αß,6ßα,12αα,12ßß)- (17·05), 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) (12·01%) and sabinene (9·45%); in V. agenus-castus were eucalyptol (22·17%), (E)-ß-caryophyllene (18·39%), and ß-sitosterol (12·44%); while in M. chamomilla were bisabolol oxide A (27·87%), (Z)-ß-farnesene (16·11%), D-limonene (14·18%) and chamazulene (11·27%). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest using n-hexane oily extracts from E. camaldulensis and V. agenus-castus as a biofungicide for wood protection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study highlights the importance of using bio-friendly fungicide agents to protect wood against most common moulds occurring during handling of food packaging.

Antibacterial activity of extracted bioactive molecules of Schinus terebinthifolius ripened fruits against some pathogenic bacteria.

The aim of this work is to identify the chemical constituents and the bioactivity of essential oil (EO), acetone extract (ACE) and n-hexane extract (HexE) of S. terebinthifolius ripened fruits using GC-MS. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. The toxicity against the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus flavus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sarcina lutea, and Staphylococcus aureus was determined with measuring the inhibition zones (IZs) using the disc diffusion method at the concentrations from 125 to 2000 µg/mL, also, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using 96-well micro-plates and ranged from 4 to 2000 µg/mL. The major components in EO were α-pinene (36.9%), and α-phellandrene (32.8%). The major components in ACE were oleic acid (38.7%), α-phellandrene (13.33%), and δ-cadinene (11.1%), while the major methyl esters of fatty acids detected in HexE were oleic (12.8%), and palmitic (10.9%). The EO showed good activity against the growth of Staph. aureus and P. aeruginosa with MIC values of 16 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL, the ACE showed broad activity against the studied bacterial pathogens with MIC values ranged from of 4-128 µg/mL against the studied bacterial isolates, while HexE, however, showed weak antibacterial activity. The IC50 values of EO, ACE and HexE were 15.11 ±â€¯0.99, 118.16 ±â€¯1.7 and 324.26 ±â€¯2.45 µg/mL, respectively, compared to IC50 of Tannic acid (23.83 ±â€¯1.9 µg/mL) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, 2.9 ±â€¯0.1 µg/mL). Data suggested that the ripened fruits of S. terebinthifolius have potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Hypomagnesemia in critically ill cancer patients: a prospective study of predictive factors.

Hypomagnesemia is the most common electrolyte disturbance seen upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Reliable predictors of its occurrence are not described. The objective of this prospective study was to determine factors predictive of hypomagnesemia upon admission to the ICU. In a single tertiary cancer center, 226 patients with different diagnoses upon entering were studied. Hypomagnesemia was defined by serum levels <1.5 mg/dl. Demographic data, type of cancer, cause of admission, previous history of arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, drug administration (particularly diuretics, antiarrhythmics, chemotherapy and platinum compounds), previous nutrition intake and presence of hypovolemia were recorded for each patient. Blood was collected for determination of serum magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Upon admission, 103 (45.6%) patients had hypomagnesemia and 123 (54.4%) had normomagnesemia. A normal dietary habit prior to ICU admission was associated with normal Mg levels (P = 0.007) and higher average levels of serum Mg (P = 0.002). Postoperative patients (N = 182) had lower levels of serum Mg (0.60 +/- 0.14 mmol/l compared with 0.66 +/- 0.17 mmol/l, P = 0.006). A stepwise multiple linear regression disclosed that only normal dietary habits (OR = 0.45; CI = 0.26-0.79) and the fact of being a postoperative patient (OR = 2.42; CI = 1. 17-4.98) were significantly correlated with serum Mg levels (overall model probability = 0.001). These findings should be used to identify patients at risk for such disturbance, even in other critically ill populations.

Hypomagnesemia in critically ill cancer patients: a prospective study of predictive factors

Hypomagnesemia is the most common electrolyte disturbance seen upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Reliable predictors of its occurrence are not described. The objective of this prospective study was to determine factors predictive of hypomagnesemia upon admission to the ICU. In a single tertiary cancer center, 226 patients with different diagnoses upon entering were studied. Hypomagnesemia was defined by serum levels <1.5 mg/dl. Demographic data, type of cancer, cause of admission, previous history of arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, drug administration (particularly diuretics, antiarrhythmics, chemotherapy and platinum compounds), previous nutrition intake and presence of hypovolemia were recorded for each patient. Blood was collected for determination of serum magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Upon admission, 103 (45.6 percent) patients had hypomagnesemia and 123 (54.4 percent) had normomagnesemia. A normal dietary habit prior to ICU admission was associated with normal Mg levels (P = 0.007) and higher average levels of serum Mg (P = 0.002). Postoperative patients (N = 182) had lower levels of serum Mg (0.60 ± 0.14 mmol/l compared with 0.66 ± 0.17 mmol/l, P = 0.006). A stepwise multiple linear regression disclosed that only normal dietary habits (OR = 0.45; CI = 0.26-0.79) and the fact of being a postoperative patient (OR = 2.42; CI = 1.17-4.98) were significantly correlated with serum Mg levels (overall model probability = 0.001). These findings should be used to identify patients at risk for such disturbance, even in other critically ill populations

Hepatic adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia: differential diagnosis and treatment.

The diagnosis of benign hepatic tumors as hepatic adenoma (HA) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) remains a challenge for clinicians and surgeons. The importance of differentiating between these lesions is based on the fact that HA must be surgically resected and FNH can be only observed. A series of 23 female patients with benign liver tumors (13 FNH, 10 HA) were evaluated, and a radiologic diagnostic algorithm was employed with the aim of establishing preoperative criteria for the differential diagnosis. All patients were submitted to surgical biopsy or hepatic resection to confirm the diagnosis. Based only on clinical and laboratory data, distinction was not possible. According to the investigative algorithm, the diagnosis was correct in 82.6% of the cases; but even with the development of imaging methods, which were used in combination, the differentiation was not possible in four patients. For FNH cases scintigraphy presented a sensitivity of 38.4% and specificity of 100%, whereas for HA the sensitivity reached 60% and specificity 85.7%. Magnetic resonance imaging, employed when scintigraphic findings were not typical, presented sensitivities of 71.4% and 80% and specificities of 100% and 100% for FNH and HA, respectively. Preoperative diagnosis of FNH was possible in 10 of 13 (76.9%) patients and was confirmed by histology in all of them. In one case, FNH was misdiagnosed as HA. The diagnosis of HA was possible in 9 of 10 (90%) adenoma cases. Surgical biopsy remains the best method for the differential diagnosis between HA and FNH and must be performed in all doubtful cases. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for all patients with adenoma and can be performed safely. With the evolution of imaging methods it seems that the preoperative diagnosis of FNH may be considered reliable, thereby avoiding unnecessary surgical resection.

Pyogenic liver abscess: the role of surgical treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present an analysis of 48 patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) that were treated according to a protocol between 1975 and 1993. In this period, 35 patients with PLA were treated by surgical drainage (SD). The indication for surgical treatment of the abscess were patients in septic conditions, underlying intra-abdominal surgical disease and the failure/contraindication of other therapeutic methods. Thirty-one patients were submitted to surgical treatment as the initial procedure and four patients unsuccessfully treated by percutaneous drainage, underwent SD. RESULTS: The surgical approach was indicated in patients with severe disease and presented 91.5% of good results, and a mortality rate of 8.5%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that surgical treatment is a good alternative as a first step not only for the treatment of the primary cause of the abscess but also in septic patients with severe disease where a delay in adequate drainage, frequent in percutaneous management, can lead to high morbidity and mortality rates.

[Duodenal duplication in adult simulating pancreas pseudocyst]. / Duplicação duodenal em adulto simulando pseudocisto de pâncreas.

An adult patient with clinical and radiologic evidence of pancreas pseudocyst was undergone at laparotomy and a diagnosis of duodenal duplication was made. Due to the rarity of this case, a review of the literature is presented and the authors discuss the treatment of duodenal duplication.

[Pyogenic hepatic abscess: report of 51 cases]. / Abscesso hepático piogênico: análise de 51 casos.

Pyogenic hepatic abscesses are uncommon. We report our findings in 51 patients with pyogenic liver abscess treated from 1975 through 1992. Twenty-eight patients were men and twenty-three were women. The median age of patients was 46 years (range, 13 to 77 years). Fever was present in 100% of patients, abdominal pain in 58.8% and jaundice in 39.2%. Twenty eight patients (54.9%) had leukocytosis; 45% hyperbilirrubinemia and 35.3% a high serum level of alkaline phosphatase. The most common cause of abscesses was biliary tract disease (66%). Thirty-three (64.7%) were surgically treated and thirteen underwent percutaneous drainage with 90.4% and 69.2% of good results, respectively. Mortality was 9.6% in the surgical group and 0% in the percutaneously drained group. A review of literature of this condition and a discussion about the diagnosis, treatment and etiopathogenesis are presented.

[Bouveret's syndrome: a case report]. / Síndrome de Bouveret: relato de caso.

A patient with duodenal obstruction resulting from passage of a gallstone through the wall of the gallbladder into the duodenum is reported. The patient was successfully treated by removal of the gallstone. A review of literature concerning the diagnosis, treatment and etiopathogenesis is presented.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: report of a case]. / Leiomiossarcoma de veia cava inferior: relato de caso.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare tumor. The authors report a case and discuss the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of this disease. With recent advances in radiologic and surgical procedures an early diagnosis and radical resection might be possible, leading to a better prognosis or even to the cure of the condition.

[Progressive antithrombin activity in blood of pregnant women and neonates in the first four days of life (author's transl)]. / Atividade antitrombínica progressiva no sangue de gestantes e de recém-nascidos a termo nos primeiros dias de vida.

Progressive antighrombin activity was assayed in 45 term infants in the first four days of life, in 20 cord blood specimens and in the blood of 20 pregnant women (at term). In the term infants a positive correlation was shown between progressive antithrombin and postnatal age. No correlation could be demonstrated with sex, ethnic group or type of delivery. Maternal antithrombin activity was shown to be moderately decreased, maternal values being closely related to cord blood values.