Antimycobacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of fractions and substances from Erythrina verna Vell focusing on dual severe TB treatment approach.

Tuberculosis remains a major health problem worldwide. Drug-resistant and hypervirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains can lead to a hyperinflammatory response and necrotic pathology in hyper-reactive individuals that require adjunctive treatment. Plant-derived substances have been investigated for TB treatment, among which flavonoids stand out. We evaluate the anti-Mtb, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities of fractions and substances 1, 2 and 3 isolated from Erythrina verna through a bioassay guided fractionation. Seven fractions (1, 3-5 and 7-9) obtained from dichloromethane E. verna extract inhibited NO production (IC50 ≤ 15 µg/mL) with none or poor cytotoxic effect, while the fractions 4 and 5 notably reduced TNF-a production. Fractions 4, 6 and 9 suppressed Mycobacterium growth with MIC50 ≤ 20 µg/mL. Fraction 4 was the most potent due to dual biological activities. Erythratidinone and alpinumisoflavone inhibited the growth of Mtb H37Rv and hypervirulent strain in bacterial cultures (MIC50 ≤ 20 µg/mL), with erythratidinone standing out in reducing intracellular growth of Mtb H37Rv (5.8 ± 1.1 µg/mL). Alpinumisoflavone and erythratidinone were capable of inhibiting NO and TNF-α production besides showing significant inhibitory effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with low toxicity in macrophages. Both substances are promising for further studies focusing on an anti-TB dual treatment approach.

Integrated solutions for urban runoff pollution control in Brazilian metropolitan regions.

One of the most important causes for poor water quality in urban rivers in Brazil is the low collection efficiency of the sewer system due to unforeseen interconnections with the stormwater drainage system. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Brazilian cities have adopted separate systems for sanitary sewers and stormwater runoff. Gradually these two systems became interconnected. A major challenge faced today by water managers in Brazil is to find efficient and low cost solutions to deal with this mixed system. The current situation poses an important threat to the improvement of the water quality in urban rivers and lakes. This article presents an evaluation of the water quality parameters and the diffuse pollution loads during rain events in the Pinheiros River, a tributary of the Tietê River in São Paulo. It also presents different types of integrated solutions for reducing the pollution impact of combined systems, based on the European experience in urban water management. An evaluation of their performance and a comparison with the separate system used in most Brazilian cities is also presented. The study is based on an extensive water quality monitoring program that was developed for a special investigation in the Pinheiros River and lasted 2.5 years. Samples were collected on a daily basis and water quality variables were analyzed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Two hundred water quality variables were monitored at 53 sampling points. During rain events, additional monitoring was carried out using an automated sampler. Pinheiros River is one of the most important rivers in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region and it is also a heavily polluted one.

Estudio descriptivo de lactantes sometidos a oxigenoterapia por halo y propuesta de un plan de atención de enfermería / Descriptive study of infant submitted to oxygen inhalation theraphy for halo and proposal of nursing care plan

El conocimiento de las fisiología y anatomía respiratoria es esencial para el diagnóstico y manejo de los niños con enfermedades respiratorias. Se han ideado nuevas técnicas de exploración aplicadas cada vez con mayor frecuencia, como sucede, por ejemplo, con las mediciones de gases en sangre, considerando indispensable para el manejo clínico de niños con patología respiratoria grave. La medición de proteina C reactiva en sangre también es indispensable para el tratamiento, ya que según los valores sabremos si estamos frente a una infección respiratoria viral o bacteriana y asi utilizar o no un antibiótico. La función del aparato respiratorio es servir de intercambiador de gases entre la atmósfera y el medio interno con este fin debe oxigenar sangre venosa que llega al pulmón para mantener las presiones normales de sangre arterial. Esto se logra mediante la conjugación de numeros procesos fisiológicos, pudiendo distinguirse lo siguente: 1.- Ventilación pulmonar 2.- Difusión 3.- Circulación pulmonar. Otro concepto de importancia es la relación: ventilación/perfusión (V/Q). En la práctica no siempre es posible apreciar sólo con bases clínicas las manifestaciones de un proceso, que esté produciendo limitación de la función respiratoria, debido a que esta función tiene amplia reserva, de modo que puede estar bastante alterada antes de presentar la sintomatología sugerente como lo son: Hiperventilación, hipoventilación, tos, polipnea, cianosis, retracción costal y aleteo nasal. En el tratamiento general de estas patologías se utiliza oxigenoterapia, ATB, nebulizaciones, KTR. Se demuestra que el peso relativo de la mortalidad por enfermedades respiratorias agudas en menores de 5 años es excepcionalmente inferior al 10 por ciento llegando a varios paises a cifras superiores al 30 por ciento