Trichoderma strains accelerate maturation and increase available phosphorus during vermicomposting enriched with rock phosphate.

AIMS: To suggest microbial inoculation as a tool to shorten organic residues stabilization and increase rock phosphate (RP) solubilization through vermicomposting, thus increasing nutrient content in plants and making it more appealing to farmers. Two Trichoderma strains were inoculated alone or combined in a RP apatite-enriched vermicompost. Stability and plant-available phosphorus levels were monitored for 120 days. METHODS AND RESULTS: Observable higher total organic carbon reduction in the treatment with the combined Trichoderma strains, followed by the inoculation with T. asperellum and T. virens. Combined Trichoderma and inoculation with T. virens increased humic acids (HA) content in 38·2 and 25·0%, respectively; non-inoculated vermicompost with T. asperellum increased it by 15·0%. The combined Trichoderma strains and T. virens achieved the stability index based on the humic/fulvic acids (HA/FA) ratio after 120 days. T. asperellum, combined Trichoderma and T. virens increased the citric acid soluble-P content in 83·2, 62·2 and 49·5%, respectively, compared to the non-inoculated vermicompost. CONCLUSIONS: Inoculation with combined T. asperellum and T. virens efficiently accelerated vermicompost stabilization; T. asperellum increased the citric acid soluble-P in the final product. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Combined Trichoderma inoculation and RP enrichment improves the vermicompost quality, increasing HA and citric acid soluble-P, recycling organic waste nutrients and reducing agricultural dependence on phosphate fertilizers.

The antitumoral, trypanocidal and antileishmanial activities of extract and alkaloids isolated from Duguetia furfuracea.

The alkaloid extract and five alkaloids isolated from subterranean stem bark of Duguetia furfuracea (Annonaceae) were investigated for the following activities: antitumoral, trypanocidal and leishmanicidal. Dicentrinone showed weak cytotoxicity, but it had the strongest leishmanicidal activity (IC(50) 0.01 microM). Duguetine and duguetine beta-N-oxide caused considerable antitumoral activity in every cell lines evaluated, although duguetine was more active against trypomastigote forms (IC(50) 9.32 microM) than other alkaloids tested.

Antineoplastic activity of selected constituents of Duguetia glabriuscula.

The cytotoxic effects of seven constituents isolated from Duguetia glabriuscula were evaluated against Hep2 human larynx carcinoma cells. The cytotoxicity exhibited by beta-sitosterol was as strong as that of cis-platin. (+)-Alloaromadendran-10,14beta-diol caused inhibition of cellular growth with IC50 values lower than 25 microg/ml, a feature that was considered as revealing significant activity. Polycarpol showed borderline cytotoxicity, whereas the other compounds were inactive.

Knowledge, attitudes and status of oral health in children at risk for infective endocarditis.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status of 104 children (2-17 years of age) at risk for infective endocarditis attending the Paediatric Cardiology Service of the Martagão Gesteira Institute of Child Care and Paediatrics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and their guardians' attitudes towards and knowledge about endocarditis risks. METHODS: A structured interview was carried out with guardians and an oral examination was performed on each child to determine scores for the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and dmft/DMFT index. RESULTS: The percentage of guardians who understood the meaning of 'heart infection' was 9.6%, who knew the possibility of heart disease caused by dental procedures was 60.6%, who understood the requirement for antibiotic cover before dental treatment was 72.1%, and who understood the importance of good oral health to prevent infective endocarditis was 41.3%. As regards oral health behaviours, 46.1% of children brushed their teeth three times or more a day, 28.8% had never visited a dentist before, and only 24.3% attended the dentist for prevention. There was visible plaque in 98% and gingival bleeding in 99% of children in this study. The caries experience for primary dentition (dmft) was 2.62%, and 3.97 for permanent dentition (DMFT). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we can conclude that the guardians' knowledge and attitudes about oral health were not good. This group at risk has poor oral health, which may give rise to a frequent bacteraemia under physiological conditions.

[Hansenoid anergic leishmaniasis]. / Leishmaniose anérgica hansenóide.

The A. repport an anomalous form of tegumentar leishmaniasis, the to called "leishmaniasis cutis diffusa". The A. call attention to the rarity of this type in the neotropical region, where only 38 cases were registered in the medical literature. The A. call attention to the anergy and presence of nodular lesions, which are importtants elements, resembling the lepromatous' leprosy. Because of this symptoms, present in all cases, the A. propose the new denomination of Hansenoide Anergic Leishmaniasis of this type of the disease.