Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Colitis in Mice by Suppressing Key Pro-inflammatory Cytokines.

Background/Aims: Therapies aimed at modulating cytokines have been used to treat inflammatory illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease. On the other hand, patients may become intolerant, refractory, or present with several side effects. Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (SPI) is a blue-green microalga with bioactive molecules that have been evaluated to treat inflammatory diseases. On the other hand, few studies have examined their effects on the production of specific cytokines and the intestinal architecture in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Therefore, this study examined the effects of a treatment using SPI in a murine model of intestinal inflammation. Methods: All mice (C57BL/6 male) were evaluated daily for their food and water intake, bodyweight variations, and clinical signs of disease. Colon inflammation was induced by exposure to DSS for 6 consecutive days. SPI was given orally at 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg/day. ELISA was performed to assess the production of cytokines. Myeloperoxidase and nitric oxide were also investigated. The level of microscopic damage was assessed by staining colon sections with hematoxylin and eosin. Results: SPI attenuated the DSS-induced inflammation, with improvements in the clinical signs and a decrease in the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ. In addition, particularly at 250 mg/kg, SPI attenuated the severity of colitis by modulating the level of mucosal and submucosal cell infiltration, which preserved the epithelial barrier. Conclusions: SPI may be an alternative source of bioactive molecules with immunomodulatory properties, and has great potential to be used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Microorganisms causing urinary tract infections in a teaching hospital in northeastern Brazil / Microorganismos causantes de infecciones del tracto urinario en un hospital universitario en el noreste Brasil / Microorganismos causadores de infecções do trato urinário em um hospital universitário do nordeste do Brasil

Objective: to study the UTI-causing bacteria frequency and sensitivity profiles in a teaching hospital in northeastern Brazil. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted based on the review of 279 patients for whom uroculture and urinary catheter cultures were routinely processed in the Microbiology Laboratory of São Vicente de Paulo Hospital. Results: For the catheter culture group, the most frequent microorganism was Staphylococcus epidermidis (47%), while in urine culture group Escherichia coli was the microorganism most frequently isolated (52%). E. coli showed 76.46%, 70%, and 86.36% resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin and Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim respectively. S. epidermidis showed high resistance to most drugs used, demonstrating that these drugs should not be used to treat UTIs in this institution. Conclusion: This study represents the first study evaluating bacterial resistance in this institution and since data involving epidemiological surveillance and microbiological are limited in this region and due to its importance in the national context, the results may reflect important information to the body of research/data on bacterial resistance in the world.

Objetivo: estudiar los perfiles de frecuencia y sensibilidad de las bacterias causantes de ITUs en un hospital universitario del nordeste brasileño. Método: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de corte transversal, con base en la revisión de 279 pacientes, para los cuales las culturas de urocultura y catéter urinario fueron analizadas en el Laboratorio de Microbiología del Hospital São Vicente de Paulo. Resultados: En el grupo de cultivo de catéteres, el microorganismo más frecuente fue el Staphylococcus epidermidis (47%), mientras que en el grupo de la urocultura la Escherichia coli fue el microorganismo más aislado (52%). La E. coli mostró 76,46%, 70% y 86,36% de resistencia a la ampicilina, amoxicilina y sulfametoxazol/trimetoprima, respectivamente. S. epidermidis mostró una alta resistencia a la mayoría de los fármacos utilizados indicando que los medicamentos en cuestión no deben ser usados en el tratamiento de ITUs en esa institución. Conclusión: Este estudio representa el primer estudio que evalúa la resistencia bacteriana en esa institución y una vez que los datos que involucran vigilancia epidemiológica y microbiológica son limitados en esta región y debido a su importancia en el contexto nacional, estos resultados pueden reflejar informaciones importantes para el cuerpo de búsqueda/datos sobre resistencia en el mundo.

Objetivo: estudar os perfis de frequência e sensibilidade das bactérias causadoras de ITUs em um hospital universitário do nordeste brasileiro. Método: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de corte transversal, com base na revisão de 279 pacientes, para os quais as culturas de urocultura e cateter urinário foram analisadas no Laboratório de Microbiologia do Hospital São Vicente de Paulo. Resultados: no grupo de cultura de cateteres, o microrganismo mais frequente foi o Staphylococcus epidermidis (47%), enquanto no grupo da urocultura a Escherichia coli foi o microrganismo mais isolado (52%). A E. coli mostrou 76,46%, 70% e 86,36% de resistência à ampicilina, amoxicilina e sulfametoxazol/trimetoprima, respectivamente. S. epidermidis mostrou uma alta resistência à maioria dos fármacos utilizados indicando que os medicamentos em questão não devem ser usados no tratamento de ITUs nessa instituição. Conclusão: Este estudo representa o primeiro estudo que avalia a resistência bacteriana nessa instituição e uma vez que os dados que envolvem vigilância epidemiológica e microbiológica são limitados nesta região e devido a sua importância no contexto nacional, estes resultados podem refletir informações importantes para o corpo de pesquisa/dados sobre resistência no mundo.

Pentoxifylline reduces the inflammatory process in diabetic rats: relationship with decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Studies suggest that inflammation is a key factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, are produced by adipose tissue in large quantities, in obese and especially in diabetic individuals. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions that may contribute to alleviate diabetes side effects, as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. This study aims to investigate PTX anti-inflammatory effects on the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic animals (male Wistar rats, 200-250 g) were daily treated with PTX (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, p.o.), glibenclamide (GLI, 5 mg/kg, p.o., as reference) or water, for 5 days. Afterwards, carrageenan-treated paws were dissected, their skin removed and the tissue used for preparation of homogenates and measurements of IL-6 and TNF-alpha by Elisa. Serum levels of nitrite were also determined and paw slices used for iNOS immunohistochemistry assays. We showed that diabetic rats presented an amplification of the inflammatory response, as related to non-diabetic rats, what was evident 48 h after the edema-induction. The PTX-treatment of diabetic rats reduced glycemia (as related to untreated-diabetic ones) and the paw edema. It also brought edema volumes to values similar to those of non-diabetic rats, at the same observation time. The increased TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in paws of untreated-diabetic rats were reduced in diabetic animals after PTX treatments. Besides, the increased levels of nitrite in the serum of diabetic rats were also decreased by PTX. Furthermore, a higher number of iNOS immunostained cells was demonstrated in paw tissues from untreated-diabetic rats, as related to those of PTX-treated diabetic animals. Our results show that PTX reduces inflammatory parameters, as pro-inflammatory cytokines and iNOS expression, indicating the potential benefit of the drug for the treatment of diabetes and related pathologic conditions.

A comparative study of two clerodane diterpenes from Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. on the influx and mobilization of intracellular calcium in rat cardiomyocytes.

Baccharis trimera (Less.) D.C. (Asteraceae) is a medicinal species native to South America and used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal and liver diseases, kidney disorders and diabetes. The aqueous extract (AE) of the aerial parts of this species presented two mainly constituents: the ent-clerodane diterpene (Fig. 1) and the neo-clerodane diterpene (Fig. 2). The objective of this work was to study their activities on the blockade of Ca(2+)-induced contractions in KCL-depolarized rat portal vein preparations, and on the influx and mobilization of cytosolic calcium in rat cardiomyocytes by fluorescence measurements. The results showed that both the neo- and the ent-clerodane diterpenes reduced the maximal contractions induced by CaCl2, in KCl depolarized rat portal vein preparations, without modifying the EC50. The data on the concentration of cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)]c) showed that, while the neo-clerodane diterpene stimulates the mobilization of [Ca(2+)]c in rat cardiomyocytes, this effect was not observed with the ent-clerodane diterpene. On the other hand, the influx of calcium was not altered by the neo-clerodane diterpene, but was reduced in the presence of the ent-clerodane diterpene, indicating that this compound induces a blockade of the voltage-dependent calcium channels.