Electrospun Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Nanofibrous Mat Loaded with Green Propolis Extract, Chitosan and Nystatin as an Innovative Wound Dressing Material.

Purposes: The objective of this work was to produce and characterise biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibre loaded with green propolis extract (GPE), chitosan (CS) and nystatin (NYS) alone and in mixtures as a potential wound dressing material. Methods: The GPE, NYS and CS1% were loaded in electrospinning compositions based on PVA 7%, 8% and 12% solubilised in milli-Q water or a mixture of water and glacial acetic acid. The electrospinning compositions without actives (blank) and those loaded with actives were characterised by determining the pH, electrical conductivity and rheological properties. An image analysis procedure applied to photomicrographs obtained by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) allowed the determination of the nanofibres' diameter distribution and average surface porosity. The disintegration time and swelling ratio of the nanofibre mats were also determined. Results: The physicochemical parameters of the electrospinning compositions (pH, electrical conductivity and rheology) and the incorporated active ingredients (GPE, CS and NYS) affected the electrospun nanofibre mats properties. The electrospun nanofibres' mean diameters and surface porosity ranged from 151.5 to 684.5 nm and from 0.29 ± 0.04 to 0.50 ± 0.05. The PVA/CS electrospun nanofibres fibres exhibited the smallest diameters, high surface porosity, water absorption capacity and disintegration time. The characteristics of the PVA/CS nanofibres mat associated with the biodegradability of the polymers make them a novel material with the potential to be applied as wound and burn dressings.

Controle do vetor do dengue e participação da comunidade em Catanduva, São Paulo, Brasil / Dengue vector control and community participation in Catanduva, São Paulo State, Brazil

O trabalho teve o objetivo de identificar mudanças de conhecimentos e práticas de prevenção do dengue, e desenvolveu-se em duas áreas de Catanduva: Area de Estudo e Area Controle. Realizaram-se, entre 1999 e 2001, levantamentos quantitativo inicial e qualitativo; diagnóstico preliminar, apresentado à comunidade da Area de Estudo, desencadeando discussão para a definição e o direcionamento das ações; o desenvolvimento das ações na Area de Estudo, com a participação da comunidade; continuidade das atividades de rotina na Area Controle; e avaliação final. Na Area de Estudo, as ações realizadas foram: mudança do trabalho dos agentes de controle de vetores que passaram a demonstrar as medidas preventivas, sem a retirada de recipientes e sem utilização de larvicida; utilização de material educativo específico à realidade local; atividades relacionadas às prioridades dos moradores; atividades como música, teatro, gincanas e brincadeiras; demonstração do ciclo do vetor. Como resultado, houve a diminuição significante do número de recipientes por casa; o aumento significante da proporção de casas sem recipientes; e o aumento significante da proporção de pessoas que reconheceram as larvas do vetor na Area de Estudo em relação à de Controle.

[Dengue vector control and community participation in Catanduva, São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Controle do vetor do dengue e participação da comunidade em Catanduva, São Paulo, Brasil.

This study aimed to identify changes in knowledge and practices learned to prevent dengue fever in two areas of Catanduva, São Paulo State, from 1999 to 2001: a study area and a control area. The study included an initial quantitative survey, qualitative research, a preliminary diagnosis presented to the community to launch a discussion aimed at defining future actions, implementation of the actions in the study area with community participation (but without changes in the control area), and a final comparison of the two areas. Changes in the study area included: vector control workers began demonstrating preventive measures without removing potential breeding places or using larvicide; use of educational aids specific to the local reality; activities related to the residents priorities; and activities such as music, theater skits, scavenger hunts, and games to demonstrate the vector cycle. Potential domiciliary breeding sites were significantly reduced; the proportion of houses without breeding sites was significantly increased; and there was an increase in the percentage of individuals who recognized the larval form of the vector in the study area as compared to the control area.