Carrageenan from Gigartina skottsbergii: A Novel Molecular Probe to Detect SARS-CoV-2.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health and economic crisis, highlighting the importance of developing new molecular tools to monitor and detect SARS-CoV-2. Hence, this study proposed to employ the carrageenan extracted from Gigartina skottsbergii algae as a probe for SARS-CoV-2 virus binding capacity and potential use in molecular methods. G. skottsbergii specimens were collected in the Chilean subantarctic ecoregion, and the carrageenan was extracted -using a modified version of Webber's method-, characterized, and quantified. After 24 h of incubation with an inactivated viral suspension, the carrageenan's capacity to bind SARS-CoV-2 was tested. The probe-bound viral RNA was quantified using the reverse transcription and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) methods. Our findings showed that carrageenan extraction from seaweed has a similar spectrum to commercial carrageenan, achieving an excellent proportion of binding to SARS-CoV-2, with a yield of 8.3%. Viral RNA was also detected in the RT-LAMP assay. This study shows, for the first time, the binding capacity of carrageenan extracted from G. skottsbergii, which proved to be a low-cost and highly efficient method of binding to SARS-CoV-2 viral particles.

Reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay as a rapid molecular diagnostic tool for COVID-19 in healthcare workers.

In December 2019, the Chinese Center for Disease Control (CDC of China) reported an outbreak of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan (Hubei province, China) that haunted the world, resulting in a global pandemic. This outbreak was caused by a betacoronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several of these cases have been observed in healthcare professionals working in hospitals and providing care on the pandemic's frontline. In the present study, nasopharyngeal swab samples of healthcare workers were used to assess the performance of the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay and subsequently compared with the real-time reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method. Thus, in this study, we validated a method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 based on RT-LAMP that can be used to diagnose these workers. The methodology used was based on analyzing the sensitivity, specificity, evaluation of the detection limit, and cross-reaction with other respiratory viruses. The agreement was estimated using a dispersion diagram designed using the Bland-Altman method. A total of 100 clinical specimens of nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare workers in Pelotas, Brazil, during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. RT-LAMP assay, it was possible to detect SARS-CoV-2 in 96.7% of the healthcare professionals tested using the E gene and N gene primers approximately and 100% for the gene of human ß-actin. The observed agreement was considered excellent for the primer set of the E and N genes (k = 0.957 and k = 0.896), respectively. The sensitivity of the RT-LAMP assay was positive for the primer set of the E gene, detected to approximately 2 copies per reaction. For the primer set of the N gene, the assay was possible to verify an LoD of approximately 253 copies per reaction. After executing the RT-LAMP assay, no positive reactions were observed for any of the virus respiratory tested. Therefore, we conclude that RT-LAMP is effective for rapid molecular diagnosis during the COVID-19 outbreak period in healthcare professionals.

Higher frequency of specific periodontopathogens in hypertensive patients. A pilot study.

Periodontitis and arterial hypertension are two of the pathologies with the highest global prevalence; evidence reported so far has been favorable to an association between them. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate and compare the microbiological counts of hypertensive and normotensive patients with periodontitis. Sociodemographic, behavioral, systemic health data and periodontal clinical parameters were assessed. Counts of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia, P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using subgingival biofilm samples. Thirty-eight patients were included in this preliminary analysis, divided into two groups: Normotensive Group (NG) (n = 14) and Hypertensive Group (HG) (n = 24). Patients diagnosed with periodontitis composed both groups. Data analysis was performed with significance level of 5%. There was no significant difference between groups for clinical periodontitis diagnosis. In addition, hypertensive individuals had higher P. intermedia, P. gingivalis, and F. nucleatum counts when compared to normotensive individuals. The parameters probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and A. actinomycetemcomitans count did not presented statistical differences between groups. With these preliminary results, it can be concluded that the presence of arterial hypertension may be associated with a greater quantity of periodontopathogenic bacterial of some species in individuals with periodontitis.

Higher frequency of specific periodontopathogens in hypertensive patients. A pilot study

Abstract Periodontitis and arterial hypertension are two of the pathologies with the highest global prevalence; evidence reported so far has been favorable to an association between them. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate and compare the microbiological counts of hypertensive and normotensive patients with periodontitis. Sociodemographic, behavioral, systemic health data and periodontal clinical parameters were assessed. Counts of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia, P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using subgingival biofilm samples. Thirty-eight patients were included in this preliminary analysis, divided into two groups: Normotensive Group (NG) (n = 14) and Hypertensive Group (HG) (n = 24). Patients diagnosed with periodontitis composed both groups. Data analysis was performed with significance level of 5%. There was no significant difference between groups for clinical periodontitis diagnosis. In addition, hypertensive individuals had higher P. intermedia, P. gingivalis, and F. nucleatum counts when compared to normotensive individuals. The parameters probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and A. actinomycetemcomitans count did not presented statistical differences between groups. With these preliminary results, it can be concluded that the presence of arterial hypertension may be associated with a greater quantity of periodontopathogenic bacterial of some species in individuals with periodontitis.

Resumo A periodontite e a hipertensão arterial são duas das patologias com maior prevalência global, as evidências relatadas até o momento têm sido favoráveis ​​a uma associação entre elas. Este estudo transversal teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar contagem microbiológicas de pacientes hipertensos e normotensos com periodontite. Dados sociodemográficos, comportamentais, de saúde sistêmica e parâmetros clínicos periodontais foram avaliados. Contagens de A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia, P. gingivalis e F. nucleatum foram realizadas por reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real utilizando amostras de biofilme subgengival. Trinta e oito pacientes foram incluídos nesta análise preliminar, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Normotenso (GN) (n = 14) e Grupo Hipertenso (GH) (n = 24). Pacientes diagnosticados com periodontite compuseram os dois grupos. A análise dos dados foi realizada com nível de significância de 5%. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos para o diagnóstico clínico de periodontite. Além disso, os hipertensos apresentaram maior contagem de P. intermedia, P. gingivalis e F. nucleatum quando comparados aos normotensos. Os parâmetros profundidade de sondagem, sangramento à sondagem e contagem de A. actinomycetemcomitans não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos. Com esses resultados preliminares, pode-se concluir que a presença de hipertensão arterial pode estar associada a uma maior quantidade de bactérias periodontopatogênicas de algumas espécies em indivíduos com periodontite.

New low-cost biofilters for SARS-CoV-2 using Hymenachne grumosa as a precursor.

The ongoing global spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 2019 disease) is causing an unprecedented repercussion on human health and the economy. Despite the primary mode of transmission being through air droplets and contact, the transmission via wastewater is a critical concern. There is a lack of techniques able to provide complete disinfection, along with the uncertainty related to the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 in the natural environment and risks of contamination. This fact makes urgent the research towards new alternatives for virus removal from water and wastewater. Thus, this research aimed to characterize new lost-cost adsorbents for SARS-CoV-2 using Hymenachne grumosa as a precursor and verify its potential for removing SARS-CoV-2 from the solution. The aquatic macrophyte H. grumosa had in natura and activated carbon produced with H. grumosa and zinc chloride (ZnCl2,1:1) impregnation and carbonization (700 °C, 1 h) were incubated for 24 h with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viral suspension, and then the ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted and viral load quantified through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technique. The results demonstrated the great adsorption potential, achieving removal of 98.44% by H. grumosa "in natura", and 99.61% by H. grumosa with carbon activation, being similar to commercial activated carbon (99.67%). Thus, this study highlights the possibility of low-cost biofilters to be used for SARS-CoV-2 removal, as an excellent alternative for wastewater treatment or watercourses decontamination.

Lipid-core nanocapsules containing simvastatin improve the cognitive impairment induced by obesity and hypercholesterolemia in adult rats.

The development of cognitive impairment may be related to high levels of plasma cholesterol and obesity. Simvastatin (SV) and lovastatin (LV) are drugs that can potentially be used for the treatment of cognitive deficit. This study aimed to develop and characterize lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) containing SV (SV-LNC) or LV (LV-LNC), evaluating the effects of SV-LNC in an animal model of cognitive deficit. The formulations SV-LNC and LV-LNC presented a particle average size around 200 nm, a low-polydispersity index, and negative zeta potential. Analysis of differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy showed that there is no reaction among LNC components: LV was crystallized in the suspensions, and SV was molecularly dispersed. The encapsulation efficiency of the SV was high (98.9 ± 1.4%), while that of the LV was low (21.5 ± 1.5%).Based on these results, SV-LNC was used in the preclinical studies. Animals fed with a hyperlipidic diet (HD) developed obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and cognitive impairment, which was corroborated by the brain lesions indicated by histological analysis of some of the animals that received the high-fat diet. We observed that free simvastatin (CS3) was able to reduce the enzymatic activity of pyruvate kinase, an important enzyme for brain energy homeostasis, without affecting the memory of the animals that received a standard diet. However, it failed to improve the cognitive damage caused by a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fats. On the other hand, when simvastatin is "camouflaged" in the lipid-core nanocapsules (HNS3), this cognitive impairment improves. Thus, SV-LNC is a promising alternative therapy for the treatment of cognitive impairment.

Nanoemulsions containing Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil: Development, characterization, stability study and evaluation of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities.

The increase of microbial resistance generates the search for new substances with antimicrobial potential. The essential oil of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Lemongrass) stands out in the literature for its antimicrobial, insecticide and antioxidant properties, but it has high volatilization and low stability, and the nanoencapsulation of this oil could be an alternative to overcome these limitations. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop, for the first time, nanoemulsions containing the essential oil of C. flexuosus, through a method that does not use organic solvent and with temperature control to avoid the volatilization of the oil, characterize and evaluate of stability and the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of these nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions presented adequate physicochemical characteristics (average size less than 200 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.3, negative zeta potential and acid pH) which were maintained during 90 days of storage, and the nanoencapsulation of the C. flexuosus oil enhanced its therapeutic efficacy against the microorganisms evaluated in this study compared to the free oil. These results are very promising because among the microorganisms that the nanoemulsion containing C. flexuosus was able to inhibit the formation of biofilm are the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which were recently listed by the World Health Organization as priority pathogens for development of new antibiotics.

Physiological responses of Rhamdia quelen (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) to anesthesia with essential oils from two different chemotypes of Lippia alba

The aim of this study was to evaluate if Lippia alba has different chemotypes according to the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) considering collection site, and if the EO may have different effects on blood and plasma parameters in silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen, during and immediately after anesthesia. The citral (EO-C) and linalool (EO-L) chemotypes were identified, and both presented similar anesthetic effects for silver catfish. Fish were exposed to two concentrations of each EO, which induced slow and fast anesthesia (100 and 300 µL L-1, respectively). Blood ions did not change at any time of anesthesia induction and recovery and, therefore, the electrolyte balance was not altered. Blood gases oscillated through all exposure and recovery times, but there was an increase in pO2 after 10 min recovery in fish anesthetized with EO-C. Glucose increased in fish exposed to both EOs when compared with the control group. Overall, exposure to both EOs (except 100 µL L-1 EO-L at most times) reduced plasma cortisol levels compared to the control and/or ethanol groups. However, as plasma creatinine levels in fish anesthetized with EO-C were higher than control fish, the use of EO-L is preferable.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se Lippia alba apresenta diferentes quimiotipos de acordo com a composição química do óleo essencial (OE), considerando local de coleta e se o OE causa diferentes efeitos nos parâmetros sanguíneos e plasmáticos em jundiá, Rhamdia quelen, durante e imediatamente após a anestesia. Os quimiotipos citral (OE-C) e linalol (OE-L) foram identificados e ambos apresentaram efeito anestésico semelhante para jundiá. Os peixes foram expostos a duas concentrações de cada OE, que induziram anestesia lenta e rápida (100 e 300 mL L-1, respectivamente). Íons sanguíneos não se alteraram em nenhum tempo e consequentemente, o equilíbrio eletrolítico não foi alterado. Os gases sanguíneos oscilaram durante todo tempo de exposição e recuperação, mas houve aumento na pO2 após 10 min de recuperação em peixes anestesiados com OE-C. Níveis sanguíneos de glicose aumentaram nos peixes expostos a ambos OEs quando comparados com o grupo controle. De um modo geral, a exposição a ambos OEs (exceto 100 µL L-1 OE-L na maioria dos tempos) reduziu o cortisol plasmático comparado aos grupos controle e etanol. No entanto, como os níveis de creatinina plasmática em peixes anestesiados com OE-C foram maiores que nos peixes controle, é preferível o uso do OE-L.(AU)

Nanocapsules with glycerol monolaurate: Effects on Candida albicans biofilms.

Candida albicans does not only occur in the free living planktonic form but also grows in surface-attached biofilm communities. Moreover, these biofilms appear to be the most common lifestyle and are involved in the majority of human Candida infections. Nanoparticles can be used as an alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents and can also act as carriers for antibiotics and other drugs. In view of this, the aim of the study was develop, characterize and verify the anti-biofilm potential of GML Nanocapsules against C. albicans. The GML Nanocapsules showed mean diameter of 193.2 nm, polydispersion index of 0.044, zeta potential of -23.3 mV and pH 6.32. The microdilution assay showed MIC of 15.5 µg mL(-1) to GML Nanocapsules and 31.25 µg mL(-1) to GML. The anti-biofilm assay showed the significantly reduction of biomass of C. albicans biofilm treated with GML Nanocapsules while the GML does not exhibit effect. The kinetic assay demonstrated that at 48 h, the GML Nanocapsules reduce 94% of formed biofilm. The positive results suggest the promisor alternative for this public health problem that is biofilm infections.

Imazapyr+imazapic herbicide determines acute toxicity in silver catfish Rhamdia quelen.

Imazapyr (IMY) and imazapic (IMI) are imidazolinone herbicides which have been associated in a commercial formulation (Kifix(®)). To date, there are no studies on the toxicity of an IMY+IMI herbicide in fish. This work aimed to assess the acute toxicity (24 and 96 h) of IMY+IMI (0, 0.488 and 4.88 µg/L) towards Rhamdia quelen through hematological, biochemical, immunological, ionoregulatory and enzymatic indexes. Red blood cell count was lower at 4.88 than at 0.488 µg/L (24 and 96 h); mean corpuscular volume was lower than control at both concentrations (24 h) and at 0.488 µg/L (96 h); lymphocytes declined at 4.88 µg/L comparing to control (96 h); and monocytes increased at 4.88 µg/L (96 h) in comparison with the respective control and with 4.88 µg/L at 24h. Aspartate aminotransferase was higher at 0.488 µg/L (96 h) than the respective control and the respective concentration at 24 h; uric acid reduced at 4.88 µg/L comparing with 0.488 µg/L (96 h); and cortisol was lower at 4.88 µg/L compared to 0.488 µg/L and control (96 h). Herbicide exposure lowered plasma bactericidal activity at both concentrations (24 h) and at 0.488 µg/L (96 h); and plasma complement activity declined at 4.88 µg/L comparing with 0.488 µg/L and control (96 h), and was lower at all concentrations at 96 h than at 24 h. Plasma K(+) levels were higher at 4.88µg/L than in the remaining groups (24 and 96h); and Na(+) levels decreased at 4.88 µg/L compared to control (96 h). Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and H(+)-ATPase activities in gills were lower at 4.88 µg/L comparing with control (24 h) and with the respective concentration at 96 h; and AChE activity in brain was higher at 0.488 and 4.88 µg/L than control (24 h) and the respective concentrations at 96 h, while in muscle it was higher at 0.488 and 4.88 µg/L than control (96 h) and the respective concentrations at 24 h. The present findings demonstrate that, despite IMY+IMI targets the animal-absent AHAS enzyme, such formulation displayed an acute toxic effect upon R. quelen homeostasis by impacting on vital functions such as immune defense, metabolism, ionoregulation and neurotransmission.

Interference of melanin in the susceptibility profile of Sporothrix species to amphotericin B.

BACKGROUND: The presence of melanin in the fungal cell is a major virulence factor of the genus Sporothrix since it protects the fungal cells against the defense systems. AIMS: The present study aimed to investigate the interference of melanin in the susceptibility of Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto to amphotericin B and itraconazole, drugs recommended as therapy for disseminated and subcutaneous sporotrichosis, respectively. METHODS: Yeast cells were cultivated in minimal medium with or without l-DOPA in order to induce the production of melanin. Microdilution and killing assay methods were used to determine the antifungal activity against yeast cells with different amounts of melanin. RESULTS: The killing assay showed that melanization protected isolates within the S. schenckii complex from amphotericin B, particularly in the lower concentrations tested. CONCLUSIONS: Studies combining amphotericin B and inhibitors of melanin are required in order to avoid this effect.

Circulating Double-Stranded DNA in Plasma of Hemodialysis Patients and its Association with Iron Stores.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by oxidative stress, and most of the adverse effects of CKD are mediated by iron-catalyzed ROS generation. The DNA, in particular, is more susceptible to attack by ROS than other proteins and membrane lipids. Considering the evidence on the relationship between CKD, iron metabolism, and DNA damage, the purpose of this study was to evaluate cell-free DNA in the plasma of HD patients and its association with iron status biomarkers and kidney function. METHODS: Measurements of the circulating cell-free DNA in plasma, iron, ferritin, transferrin and other biochemical parameters were performed in 40 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and 40 healthy controls. Blood samples were also collected 1 hour before and 1 hour after the HD session to check whether a single HD session would be able to promote an increase in cell-free DNA in the plasma. RESULTS: Cell-free DNA in plasma was significantly increased in HD patients in comparison with healthy controls (p = 0.0017), and significant correlations were observed between cell-free DNA and GFR and ferritin. Our findings showed that a single HD session was not able to promote an increase in cell-free DNA. It was reported that increased ferritin levels and reduced GFR were associated with higher circulating cell-free DNA. CONCLUSIONS: The HD patients presented increased ceIl-free DNA. In addition, the increase of ferritin levels and the decrease of GFR were associated with DNA damage. We also observed that a single HD session was not able to promote an increase in cell-free DNA.

Avaliação da velocidade de hemossedimentação do analisadorautomático Microsed-System® em relação ao método de Westergrene correlação com os valores da proteína C-reativa (PCR) / Erythrosedimentation speed evaluation of automatic analyzer Microsed-System® compared to Westergren method and correlation with the C-reactive protein (CRP) values

O MicroSed-System® (Vital diagnóstico, Itália) é um analisador automático para a determinação da velocidade de hemossedimentação (VHS) que oferece coleta de sangue avácuo em tubos fechados de vidro, com leitura automatizada de ponto final, após 30 minutos. A dificuldade para aquisição dos tubos padronizados para o equipamento tem forçado muitos laboratórios a confeccionar seus próprios tubos, durante suas rotinaslaboratoriais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização de tubos confeccionados no laboratório para o equipamento MicroSed-System®, com o método de Westergren preconizado pelo Conselho Internacional de Padronização em Hematologia-ICSH (1988). Paralelamente, foi realizada uma correlação dos valores da VHS de um grupo de pacientes com valores quantificados da proteína C-reativa (PCR). Foram coletadas 139 amostrasde pacientes ambulatoriais e internados no Hospital de Guarnição de Santa Maria (HGuSM, Brasil, RS), de ambos os sexos, com idade variando entre 18 e 78 anos. Cada amostra ensaiada para VHS foi analisada no equipamento MicroSed-System® e pelométodo de Westergren, após diluição com uma solução de citrato de sódio 0,129 M. Os resultados dos valores obtidos para a VHS, no equipamento MicroSed-System® e pelo método de Westergren, indicaram boa correlação entre os métodos com coeficiente decorrelação, segundo Pearson, igual a 0,984 (p<0,001). Para a comparação dos valores da VHS e PCR, foi observada uma menor correlação, sendo o coeficiente igual a 0,791(p<0,0001), segundo Pearson. Assim, pode-se concluir que os tubos para MicroSed-System® confeccionados no laboratório podem ser utilizados como um método alternativo na determinação da VHS. Comparando os resultados da PCR e VHS foi observadamenor correlação.

Antimicrobial activity of Scutia buxifolia against the honeybee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae.

The honeybee disease American foulbrood (AFB) is a serious problem since its causative agent (Paenibacillus larvae) has become increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics. One of the feasible alternative treatments being used for control of this disease are plants extracts. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of crude extract and fractions of Scutia buxifolia against six Paenibacillus species, including P. larvae, and its potential use for the control of AFB. In vitro activity of S. buxifolia samples against Paenibacillus species were evaluated by the disk diffusion and microdilution methods, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) were also determined. All Paenibacillus species were sensitive to crude extract and fractions of S. buxifolia. The dichloromethane (DC) fraction showed the better MIC (1.56 mg/mL), followed by ethyl acetate (EtAc) (6.25 mg/mL), n-butanol (BuOH) (25 mg/mL) and Crude extract (CE) (50 mg/mL). Toxic effect of S. buxifolia crude extracts and fractions against bees were also evaluated by the spraying application method of the same concentrations of MICs. The samples tested showed no toxic effects for the bees after 15 days of observation. These results are first time described for this species and showed that S. buxifolia presented a important activity against Paenibacillus species and proved to be a natural alternative for the prevention/control of AFB.

Phylogenetic characterization of bovine parainfluenza 3 from contaminated cell cultures and field isolates from Brazil

Genomic fragments of the HN and L genes from Brazilian bovine parainfluenza 3 virus (bPIV-3) isolated as contaminants from cell cultures and clinical specimens were amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), sequenced using specific degenerate primers and analyzed by phylogenetic comparison with reference strains of bPI3V. The Brazilian isolates revealed a high degree of genomic when compared to SF4/32 prototype strain, within the recently proposed genotype A of bPIV-3.

Evaluation of the immunogenicity and in vivo toxicity of the antimicrobial peptide P34.

Immunogenicity and toxicity of antimicrobial peptide P34 were evaluated in vivo. BALB/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with peptide P34 alone and associated with Freund's adjuvant. For acute toxicity testing, different concentrations of the peptide P34 (82.5, 165.0, 247.5 and 330.0mg/kg) were orally administered. To evaluate the sub-chronic toxicity the tested dose of 0.825 mg/kg/day of the peptide P34 or nisin were administered for 21 days. There were no hypersensitivity reactions or significant increase in antibody titer during the immunogenicity experiment or death of animals during the acute or sub-chronic toxicity tests. The LD(50) was higher than 332.3 ± 0.76 mg/kg. No significant changes in serum biochemical parameters were observed in the animals treated with the peptide P34 unlike nisin-treated group showed a significant increase in alanine transaminase levels in comparison to controls. The group treated with 0.825 mg/kg/day of nisin showed histological changes in the spleen, skin and liver. In the group treated with peptide P34 histological changes in the spleen were observed, with the presence of megakaryocytes. Few studies report the use of animal models to evaluate the in vivo toxicity of antimicrobial peptides and such investigation is an essential step to ensure it safe use in foods.

Índice de concordância entre dois diferentes observadores na revisão de esfregaços citológicos cérvico-vaginais anteriormente diagnosticados como ASC-US: utilização da técnica convencional de Papanicolau / Indices of concordance between two different observes in reviews of cervical/vaginal cytologic smears after diagnostics of ASC-US: utilization of the conventional Papanicolau test

Atualmente, os problemas encontrados no diagnóstico de células escamosas atípicas de significado indeterminado são devido à falta de uniformização dos critérios citológicos utilizados por diferentes observadores em diferentes laboratórios, gerando altas taxas de discrepância entre seus resultados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi revisar os critérios morfológicos para ASC-US e comparar os resultados encontrados por dois diferentes observadores em 45 esfregaços, previamente diagnosticados por dois farmacêuticos bioquímicos especialistas em citologia clínica. Foram revisados 45 esfregaços com ASC-US. Destes, 35 esfregaços tiveram o diagnóstico final conclusivo para ASC-US, confirmado pelos observadores (Índice de concordância de 77,8 por cento; três esfregaços foram considerados pelos observadores apenas, como processos inflamatórios inespecíficos (6,7 por cento).