Does the addition of electrical stimulation or kinesiotherapy improve outcomes of amitriptyline treatment for women with vulvodynia? A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Women diagnosed with provoked vulvodynia frequently report a great deal of frustration in achieving symptomatic relief. Physical therapy and drug treatment are among the interventions most indicated by guidelines; however, whether those modalities are effective when combined remains unclear. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of adding a physical therapy modality compared with amitriptyline alone for the treatment of vulvodynia. METHODS: Eighty-six women with vulvodynia were randomized to (G1) 25 mg amitriptyline, once a day (n=27), (G2) amitriptyline + electrical stimulation therapy (n=29) or (G3) amitriptyline + kinesiotherapy (n=30). All treatment modalities were administered for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the reduction in vestibular pain. Secondary measurements focused on sexual pain, frequency of vaginal intercourse, Friedrich score, and overall sexual function. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat. RESULTS: All treatment modalities resulted in a significant decrease in vestibular pain (p<0.001), sexual pain (p<0.05), Friedrich score (p<0.001), and an increase in the frequency of sexual intercourse (p<0.05). G3 was more effective than G1 at reducing sexual pain (G1: 5.3±3.3 vs G3: 3.2±2.7; p=0.01) and at improving sexual function (G1: 18.8±9.8 vs G3: 23.9±7.8; p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Kinesiotherapy and electrotherapy additions to amitriptyline administration as well as amitriptyline alone, were effective at improving vestibular pain in women with vulvodynia. Women receiving physical therapy had the greatest improvement in sexual function and frequency of intercourse at post-treatment and follow-up.

Fotobiomodulação na Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson no Câncer de Mama Metastático: Relato de Caso / Photobiomodulation in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in a Metastatic Breast Cancer: Case Report / La Fotobiomodulación en el Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson en el Cáncer de Mama Metastásico: Informe de Caso

Introdução: A síndrome de Stevens-Johnson é uma condição rara e potencialmente fatal que requer diagnóstico precoce e tratamento adequado para garantir bom prognóstico. Em virtude da complexidade da síndrome e da falta de tratamento padrão para as feridas, o uso da fotobiomodulação tem sido discutido. Relato do caso: Mulher, 30 anos, com câncer de mama metastático, portadora das síndromes de Stevens-Johnson e de Li-Fraumeni Like, em uso da fotobiomodulação como estratégia adjuvante no tratamento da dor e das feridas na pele. As feridas cutâneas eritematosas envolveram quase toda a superfície corpórea, com lesões escamosas, crostosas e bolhosas, dolorosas, com pontos hemorrágicos em região posterior de ambos os lóbulos das orelhas e na região occipital, dificultando a acomodação da paciente em decúbito lateral e em posição semirreclinada. Foram realizadas duas aplicações da fotobiomodulação (vermelho, com comprimento de onda de 660 nm) nas regiões occipital e de orelhas, com dose de 2 Joules por ponto; e 4 Joules em região escapular para analgesia (infravermelho, com comprimento de onda de 808 nm). Ambas as aplicações foram seguidas de mobilização e liberação miofascial na região escapular. Em 48 horas, houve regressão das lesões cutâneas e melhora da dor, facilitando posicionamento adequado e indolor no leito. Após 15 sessões de fisioterapia, a paciente recebeu alta hospitalar. Conclusão: O uso da fotobiomodulação se mostrou eficaz para o tratamento complementar da fase aguda da síndrome de Stevens-Johnson no que diz respeito à regeneração tecidual e analgesia.

Introduction: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal condition, which requires early diagnosis and treatment to ensure good prognosis. Due to the complexity of the syndrome and the lack of a standard wound care treatment, the use of photobiomodulation has been discussed. Case report: A 30-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer and Stevens-Johnson and Li-Fraumeni Like syndromes using photobiomodulation as an adjuvant strategy in the treatment of pain and skin wounds. The erythematous cutaneous lesions involved almost the entire body surface with painful, scaly, crusted and bullous lesions with bleeding spots in the posterior region of both ears lobes and in the occipital region which made it difficult to accommodate the patient in lateral decubitus and in semi-recumbent position. Two photobiomodulation applications (red, with a wavelength of 660 nm) were performed, where lesions in the occipital region and ears were treated with a dose of 2 Joules per point and 4 Joules in the scapular region for pain relief (infrared, with a wavelength of 808 nm), followed by mobilization and myofascial release in the scapular region. In 48 hours, the cutaneous lesions reduced, and the pain improved, which facilitated the adequate and painless positioning in bed. After 15 physiotherapy sessions, the patient was discharged. Conclusion: Photobiomodulation has been shown to be effective in the complementary treatment of the acute phase of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome regarding tissue regeneration and analgesia.

Introducción: El síndrome de Stevens-Johnson es una condición rara y potencialmente fatal que requiere diagnóstico temprano y tratamiento adecuado para asegurar un buen pronóstico. Debido a la complejidad del síndrome y la falta de un tratamiento estándar de las heridas, se ha discutido el uso de fotobiomodulación. Informe del caso: Mujer, 30 años, con cáncer de mama metastásico, portadora de los síndromes de Stevens-Johnson y Li-Fraumeni Like en uso de la fotobiomodulación como estrategia adyuvante para el tratamiento del dolor y las heridas cutáneas. Las heridas cutáneas eritematosas comprometían casi toda la superficie corporal, con lesiones dolorosas, descamativas, costrosas y ampollosas, con puntos hemorrágicos en la región posterior de ambos lóbulos de las orejas y en la región occipital, que dificultaban la acomodación del paciente en decúbito lateral y en posición cómoda semirrecostada. Se realizaron dos aplicaciones de fotobiomodulación (rojo, con longitud de onda de 660 nm) en región occipital y auricular con dosis de 2 Joules por punto; y 4 Joules en la región escapular para analgesia (infrarrojo, con longitud de onda de 808 nm). Ambas aplicaciones fueron seguidas de movilización y liberación miofascial en la región escapular. En 48 horas hubo una regresión de las lesiones cutáneas y mejoría del dolor, lo que facilitó una adecuada e indolora posición en la cama. Después de 15 sesiones de fisioterapia, la paciente fue dada de alta del hospital. Conclusión: El uso de la fotobiomodulación demostró ser efectivo para el tratamiento complementario de la fase aguda del síndrome de Stevens-Johnson en lo que respecta a la regeneración tisular y la analgesia.

Antiprotozoal Activity of Mycelial Extracts of Several Medicinal Agaricomycetes Mushrooms against Giardia duodenalis.

Despite knowledge on the therapeutic properties of fungal bio-compounds, few studies have been reported on their anti-parasitic activities. The anti-parasitic activity (APA) of mycelial extracts from seven medicinal agaricomycetous mushrooms (Polyporus lipsiensis, Ganoderma applanatum, Pleurotus ostreatus, P. flabellatus, Oudemansiella canarii, Lentinula edodes, and Pycnoporus sanguineus) against Giardia duodenalis, and identification of chemical compounds produced by mycelium P. lipsiensis mycelium, have been reported. The extracts of mycelia and fermented culture broths of tested mushroom species were evaluated against G. duodenalis by biological assays. P. lipsiensis showed the highest APA. The chemical analysis of mycelial extract of P. lipsiensis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 73 molecules, including steroids, terpenes, and lipids. According to literature data, among these molecules, 11 possess APA. The present study revealed the diversity of compounds with anti-protozoal potential produced by mycelia of Agaricomycetes mushrooms, particularly P. lipsiensis against G. duodenalis.

Photobiomodulation as a treatment for dermatitis caused by chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell anal carcinoma: case report and literature review.

In-field dermatitis is a severe and common adverse effect of radiation therapy, that can cause significant pain and treatment interruptions in patients with squamous cell anal carcinoma (SCAC) being treated with radical chemoradiation protocols. There are no established therapies for the treatment of radiation induced dermatitis. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is an effective and low-cost treatment for radiation induced mucositis, but have recently been explored to treat in-field dermatitis. We present a case report of the successful use of PBM for the treatment of dermatitis in the anal area in a patient with SCAC treated with concomitant chemoradiation with curative intent and follow with a literature review of the recent advances and possibilities of the use of PBM as a promising strategy. PBM therapy proved to be efficient in the radiodermatitis treatment, both in relieving the symptoms and controlling dermatitis, in addition to improving the patient's quality of life.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation, Interferential Current and Photobiomodulation May Lead to the Recurrence of Breast Cancer in Rats? / Estimulação Elétrica Transcutânea, Corrente Interferencial e Fotobiomodulação podem levar à Recorrência do Câncer de Mama em Ratas? / ¿La Estimulación Eléctrica Transcutánea, la Corriente Interferencial y la Fotobiomodulación pueden Provocar la Recurrencia del Cáncer de Mama en Ratas?

Introduction: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential current therapy (IFC) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) have been used in the management of cancer-related pain in adults. However, there are still some controversy regarding the effects of this therapy on tumor cells that may remain after cancer treatment. Objective: To evaluate the risk of recurrence of breast cancer in rats when using TENS, IFC or PBMT. Method: An experimental, randomized, controlled and cross-sectional study. With 90 days of age, 7,12-dimetylbenz(a)anthracene (7,12-DMBA) was administered to rats by gastric gavage to induce mammary cancer. After 120 days the mammary glands of the rats belonging to the group with mammary cancer were removed. Results: 39 female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: 9 rats without induction of mammary carcinoma; 9 rats with induction of mammary carcinoma and without surgery; 9 rats with induction of mammary carcinoma with surgery and placebo application of TENS, IFC, PBMT; 9 rats with induction of mammary carcinoma, surgery and the application of TENS, IFC and PBMT. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there was local recurrence of tumors in rats that were stimulated with TENS or IFC, however no evidence of local recurrence with PBMT

Introdução: Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS), corrente interferencial (IFC) e fotobiomodulação (PBMT) são usadas no tratamento da dor relacionada ao câncer em adultos. No entanto, ainda existem algumas controvérsias sobre os efeitos dessa terapia nas células tumorais que podem permanecer após o tratamento do câncer. Objetivo: Avaliar o risco de recorrência de câncer de mama em ratos ao usar TENS, IFC ou PBMT. Método: Estudo experimental, randomizado, controlado e transversal. Com 90 dias de idade, 7,12-dimetilbenz(a)antraceno (7,12-DMBA) foi administrado em ratos por gavagem gástrica para induzir câncer mamário. Após 120 dias, as glândulas mamárias das ratas pertencentes ao grupo com câncer mamário foram retiradas. Resultados: Foram estudados 39 ratos-fêmeas Sprague-Dawley: nove ratos sem indução de carcinoma mamário; nove ratos com indução de carcinoma mamário e sem cirurgia; nove ratos com indução de carcinoma mamário com cirurgia e placebo, aplicação de TENS, IFC, PBMT; nove ratos com indução de carcinoma mamário, cirurgia e aplicação de TENS, IFC e PBMT. Conclusão: Este estudo demonstrou que houve recorrência local de tumores em ratos que foram estimulados com TENS ou IFC, no entanto, nenhuma evidência de recorrência local com PBMT

Introducción: Estimulación nerviosa eléctrica transcutánea (TENS), interferencial corriente (IFC) y la terapia de fotobiomodulación (PBMT) en el tratamiento del dolor relacionado con el cáncer en adultos. Sin embargo, todavía quedan algunas controversias sobre los efectos de esta terapia en las células tumorales que pueden permanecer después del tratamiento del cáncer. Objetivo: Evaluar el riesgo de recurrencia del cáncer de mama en ratos cuando se usa TENS, IFC o PBMT. Método: Estudio experimental, aleatorizado, controlado y transversal. Con 90 días de edad, se administró 7,12-dimetilbenz(a)antraceno (7,12-DMBA) a ratos por sonda gástrica para inducir cáncer de mama. Después de 120 días, las glándulas mamarias de las ratas pertenecientes al grupo con cáncer de mama fueron extraídas. Resultados: Se estudiaron 39 ratos-hembras Sprague-Dawley: nueve ratos sin inducción de carcinoma de mama; nueve ratos con inducción de carcinoma mamario y sin cirugía; nueve ratos con inducción de carcinoma mamario con cirugía y placebo aplicación de TENS, IFC, PBMT; nueve ratos con inducción de carcinoma mamario, cirugía y la aplicación de TENS, IFC y PBMT. Conclusión: Este estudio demostró que hubo recurrencia local de tumores en ratos que fueron estimulados con TENS o IFC, sin embargo, no hay evidencia de recurrencia local con PBMT

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation, Interferential Current and Photobiomodulation May Lead to the Recurrence of Breast Cancer in Rats? / Estimulação Elétrica Transcutânea, Corrente Interferencial e Fotobiomodulação podem levar à Recorrência do Câncer de Mama em Ratas? / ¿La Estimulación Eléctrica Transcutánea, la Corriente Interferencial y la Fotobiomodulación pueden Provocar la Recurrencia del Cáncer de Mama en Ratas?

Introduction: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential current therapy (IFC) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) have been used in the management of cancer-related pain in adults. However, there are still some controversy regarding the effects of this therapy on tumor cells that may remain after cancer treatment. Objective: To evaluate the risk of recurrence of breast cancer in rats when using TENS, IFC or PBMT. Method: An experimental, randomized, controlled and cross-sectional study. With 90 days of age, 7,12-dimetylbenz(a)anthracene (7,12-DMBA) was administered to rats by gastric gavage to induce mammary cancer. After 120 days the mammary glands of the rats belonging to the group with mammary cancer were removed. Results: 39 female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: 9 rats without induction of mammary carcinoma; 9 rats with induction of mammary carcinoma and without surgery; 9 rats with induction of mammary carcinoma with surgery and placebo application of TENS, IFC, PBMT; 9 rats with induction of mammary carcinoma, surgery and the application of TENS, IFC and PBMT. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there was local recurrence of tumors in rats that were stimulated with TENS or IFC, however no evidence of local recurrence with PBMT

Introdução: Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS), corrente interferencial (IFC) e fotobiomodulação (PBMT) são usadas no tratamento da dor relacionada ao câncer em adultos. No entanto, ainda existem algumas controvérsias sobre os efeitos dessa terapia nas células tumorais que podem permanecer após o tratamento do câncer. Objetivo: Avaliar o risco de recorrência de câncer de mama em ratos ao usar TENS, IFC ou PBMT. Método: Estudo experimental, randomizado, controlado e transversal. Com 90 dias de idade, 7,12-dimetilbenz(a)antraceno (7,12-DMBA) foi administrado em ratos por gavagem gástrica para induzir câncer mamário. Após 120 dias, as glândulas mamárias das ratas pertencentes ao grupo com câncer mamário foram retiradas. Resultados: Foram estudados 39 ratos-fêmeas Sprague-Dawley: nove ratos sem indução de carcinoma mamário; nove ratos com indução de carcinoma mamário e sem cirurgia; nove ratos com indução de carcinoma mamário com cirurgia e placebo, aplicação de TENS, IFC, PBMT; nove ratos com indução de carcinoma mamário, cirurgia e aplicação de TENS, IFC e PBMT. Conclusão: Este estudo demonstrou que houve recorrência local de tumores em ratos que foram estimulados com TENS ou IFC, no entanto, nenhuma evidência de recorrência local com PBMT

Introducción: Estimulación nerviosa eléctrica transcutánea (TENS), interferencial corriente (IFC) y la terapia de fotobiomodulación (PBMT) en el tratamiento del dolor relacionado con el cáncer en adultos. Sin embargo, todavía quedan algunas controversias sobre los efectos de esta terapia en las células tumorales que pueden permanecer después del tratamiento del cáncer. Objetivo: Evaluar el riesgo de recurrencia del cáncer de mama en ratos cuando se usa TENS, IFC o PBMT. Método: Estudio experimental, aleatorizado, controlado y transversal. Con 90 días de edad, se administró 7,12-dimetilbenz(a)antraceno (7,12-DMBA) a ratos por sonda gástrica para inducir cáncer de mama. Después de 120 días, las glándulas mamarias de las ratas pertenecientes al grupo con cáncer de mama fueron extraídas. Resultados: Se estudiaron 39 ratos-hembras Sprague-Dawley: nueve ratos sin inducción de carcinoma de mama; nueve ratos con inducción de carcinoma mamario y sin cirugía; nueve ratos con inducción de carcinoma mamario con cirugía y placebo aplicación de TENS, IFC, PBMT; nueve ratos con inducción de carcinoma mamario, cirugía y la aplicación de TENS, IFC y PBMT. Conclusión: Este estudio demostró que hubo recurrencia local de tumores en ratos que fueron estimulados con TENS o IFC, sin embargo, no hay evidencia de recurrencia local con PBMT

Scrambler Therapy no Controle da Dor Oncológica Crônica: Revisão Integrativa da Literatura / Scrambler Therapy for the Management of Chronic Oncologic Pain: Integrative Literature Review / Scrambler Therapy para el Manejo del Dolor Oncológico: Revisión Integradora de la Literatura

Introdução: A Scrambler therapy é uma nova e não invasiva modalidade de eletroanalgesia com a intenção de organizar a má adaptação dos sinais elétricos de nervos periféricos. Objetivo: Avaliar o benefício clínico da Scrambler therapy no controle de intensidade da dor em pacientes oncológicos. Método: Revisão da literatura conforme a metodologia Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) nas bases de dados eletrônicas LILACS, PEDro, SciELO e PubMed. Foram combinados aleatoriamente os descritores: "Scrambler therapy", "cancer", "pain", assim como o uso dos operadores booleanos AND e OR, em português, inglês e espanhol, sem limite de tempo. Resultados: Foram incluídos 15 estudos que, após avaliação crítica, demonstraram benefício clínico na redução na intensidade da dor. A Scrambler therapy é baseada em cinco neurônios artificiais controlados por um algoritmo otimizado para fornecer segurança e eficácia. O hardware recebe informações do algoritmo que cria as sequências de caracteres "não-dor" e as processa, transformando-as em fluxos potenciais de ação sintéticos (isto é, criados pela tecnologia) funcionalmente compatíveis com os potenciais endógenos. Conclusão: Os resultados positivos encontrados nos estudos preliminares com a Scrambler therapy indicam benefícios no controle da dor oncológica

Introduction: Scrambler therapy is a novel, non-invasive pain modifying technique that utilizes transcutaneous electrical stimulation of pain fibers with the intent of re-organizing maladaptive signaling pathways. Objective: Evaluate the benefits of Scrambler therapy to manage the intensity of pain in oncologic patients. Method: Integrative literature review based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) in the electronic databases LILACS, PEDro, SciELO and PubMed. The descriptors "Scrambler therapy", "cancer", "pain" were randomly combined in addition to the Boolean operators AND, OR in Portuguese, English and Spanish with no time limitation. Results: For this review, 15 articles were found relevant. The Scrambler therapy machine is based on 5 artificial neurons controlled by an optimized algorithm to provide safety and effectiveness. The hardware receives information from the algorithm that creates the strings of "non-pain," and processes them by transforming into potential flows of synthetic action (i.e. created by technology) functionally compatible with endogenous flows. Pain scrambler therapy had a potential to decrease pain in cancer patients. Conclusion: The positive findings from preliminary studies with Scrambler therapy endorses the benefits this device provides to manage oncologic pain

Introducción: Scrambler therapy es una modalidad nueva y no invasiva de electroanalgesia con la intención de organizar la pobre adaptación de las señales eléctricas de los nervios periféricos. Objetivo: Estudiar si la Scrambler therapy influye en la intensidad del dolor en pacientes con cáncer. Método: Revisión integradora de la Literatura según la Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), mediante búsqueda realizada en las bases de datos LILACS, PEDro, SciELO y PubMed, utilizando las palabras clave "terapia Scrambler", "cáncer", "dolor", así como el uso de los operadores booleanos AND y OR, en portugués, inglés y español, sin límite de tiempo. Resultados: Se incluyeron 15 artículos relevantes para la revisión, que muestran una reducción en la intensidad del dolor. La Scrambler therapy se basa en cinco neuronas artificiales controladas por un algoritmo optimizado para proporcionar seguridad y eficacia. El hardware recibe información del algoritmo que crea las cadenas de "no dolor" y las procesa transformándolas en flujos de potenciales de acción sintéticos (es decir, creados por la tecnología) funcionalmente compatibles con los endógenos. Conclusión: Los resultados positivos encontrados en los estudios preliminares con la Scrambler therapy indican beneficios en el control del dolor por cáncer

Blue LED as a new treatment to vaginal stenosis due pelvic radiotherapy: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the advancement cancer treatment technology improves overall survival, however, adverse events are still a challenge for health professional. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause and vaginal stenosis are conditions that impact the quality of life of patients undergoing radiotherapy. We present two such cases in patients with previous cervical and endometrial cancer. These conditions were handled with an innovative method using an energy-based device with blue light emitting diode for concomitant vaginal and vulvar irradiation. Positive impact in clinical findings, cytologic changes, and referred symptoms were documented. CASE SUMMARY: One patient diagnosed with vaginal severe vaginal stenosis with previous cervix cancer treatment and other patient diagnosed with mild stenosis with severe dyspareunia and recent endometrium cancer treatment were considered for vulvovaginal treatment with weekly blue led device and closely evaluated with repeated validated questionnaires and cytological samples. CONCLUSION: This innovative technique showed an improvement in all areas of the examiner's criteria, the cytological criteria, and most bothered symptoms.

Identification and antigiardial activity of biocompounds produced in the Ganoderma lipsiense mycelium in submerged fermentation.

Natural antiparasitic agents are used as a strategy for advances in the treatment of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as giardiasis. The present paper identified the compounds produced by Ganoderma lipsiense mycelium grown in submerged fermentation and investigated the antigiardial activity potential of extracts in vitro. G. lipsiense mycelium crude extract (CE) was obtained by the maceration process and after purification in column, thirty compounds were identified by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in hexane sub-fraction (HSF). To determine the antigiardial potential, different parts of the purified CE have been evaluated, where hexane (HEXf) and dichloromethane (DCMf) fractions showed in vitro reduction levels higher than 90% of the Giardia duodenalis trophozoites at 100 µg mL-1. This antigiardial activity was investigated aiming to explore the possibility of G. lipsiense mycelium extract as a novel antigiardial compound to the treatment of human giardiasis.

Fotobiomodulação na síndrome de stevens-johnson: relato de caso / Photobiomodulation for stevens-johnson syndrome: case report

Introdução: A Síndrome Stevens-Johnson (SSJ) é uma doença causada por hipersensibilidade a imunocomplexos e pode ser desencadeada por distintos fármacos, dentre eles a fenitoína. Devido sua complexidade e raridade, ainda nãohá consenso de tratamento padrão ouro, porém sabese da necessidade da atuação multidisciplinar. Para os cuidados com as feridas, pode-se citar os curativo se a fotobiomodulação (FBM). Objetivo: Relatar o uso da FBM como terapia complementar em um caso de SSJ no Hospital Universitário Regional dos Campos Gerais (HU-UEPG). Métodos: Paciente sexo feminino, 26 anos, deu entrada na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) com diagnóstico de SSJ secundária ao uso de fenitonína, escore de SCORTEN 1, com área sem epitélio íntegro 10- 30% e área acometida por lesões de 94,5%, poupando apenas o couro cabeludo. Foi abordada e tratada por uma equipe multidisciplinar e solicitado vaga em centro de especializado em queimados. No sétimo dia de UTI foi iniciado tratamento com FBM, 2 J por ponto, distância entre pontos de 2cm, comprimento onda vermelho (660nm), nas feridas que não apresentavam secreção, foram cinco sessões com intervalo de três dias entre a terceira e a quarta. Resultados: A paciente apresentou melhora visível das lesões cutâneas e recebeu alta hospitalar 5 dias após cessação da FBM. Conclusão: O uso da FBM pode ser efetiva no tratamento complementar da fase aguda SSJ desencadeada por fenitoína.

Introduction: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a disease caused by hypersensitivity to immune complexes and can be triggered by different drugs, including phenytoin. Due to its complexity and rarity, there is still no consensus on gold standard treatment, but the need for multidisciplinary action is known. For wound care, dressings and photobiomodulation (PBM) can be mentioned. Objective: This study is to report the use of PBM as complementary therapy in a case of SJS at Hospital Universitário Regional dos Campos Gerais (HU-UEPG). Methods: A 26-year-old female patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) diagnosed with SJS secondary to the use of phenytoin, SCORTEN score 1, with an area without intact epithelium 10-30% and an area affected by injuries of 94.5 %, saving only the scalp. She was approached and treated by a multidisciplinary team which requested a place in a specialized burn center. On the seventh day of ICU, treatment with PBM, 2J per point was started, distance between points of 2cm, red wave length (660nm), in wounds that did not present secretion, with a total of five sessions with an interval of three days between the third and fourth. Results: The patient showed a visible improvement of skin lesions and was discharged from hospital 5 days after cessation of PBM. Conclusion: Use of PBM can be effective in complementary treatment of acute SJS phase triggered by phenytoin.

Liposoluble compounds from Ganoderma lipsiense grown on solid red rice medium with antiparasitic and antibacterial properties.

Liposoluble molecules are a group of compounds that display potent biological and therapeutic properties. The present study aimed to identify liposoluble molecules produced by Ganoderma lipsiense grown in red rice medium using solid-state fermentation (SSF) techniques, and to investigate the antigiardial and antibacterial activities potential of extracts in vitro. Eighteen fatty acids and derivatives were identified by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis in G. lipsense extract. Qualitative (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance) characterizations identified the steroid ergosta-6,22-diene-3ß,5α,8α-triol in purified hexane subfraction (HEXsf) F19 isolated from hexane fraction (HEXf) of crude extract (CE). Ergosta-6,22-diene-3ß,5α,8α-triol exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Giardia duodenalis throphozoites (93.6%) in in vitro assays. CE and HEXf inhibited 95.38% and 92.74% of the G. duodenalis throphozoites in 100 µg mL-1 , whereas CE and their fractions dichloromethane (DCMf) and ethyl acetate (EAf) showed antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at 500 µg mL-1 . Importantly, some liposoluble compounds produced and identified in G. lipsiense are unpublished for this species. This is first report for the production of ergosta-6,22-diene-3ß,5α,8α-triol by G. lipsiense and its antiparasitic activity.

Medicinal fungi: a source of antiparasitic secondary metabolites.

Regions with a tropical climate are frequently affected by endemic diseases caused by pathogenic parasites. More than one billion people worldwide are exposed directly to tropical parasites. The literature cites several antiparasitic metabolites obtained from medicinal plants or via synthetic pathways. However, fungi produce a diversity of metabolites that play important biological roles in human well-being. Thus, they are considered a potential source of novel natural agents for exploitation in the pharmaceutical industry. In this brief review article, we will provide an overview of the current situation regarding antiparasitic molecules derived from filamentous fungi, in particular, those which are effective against protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania, vectors of some neglected tropical diseases. Diseases and parasitic agents are described and classified, and the antiparasitic properties of natural compounds produced by the fungi of the phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota are reviewed herein, in order to explore a topic only sparsely addressed in the scientific literature.

Ferulic acid chronic treatment exerts antidepressant-like effect: role of antioxidant defense system.

Oxidative stress has been claimed a place in pathophysiology of depression; however, the details of the neurobiology of this condition remains incompletely understood. Recently, treatments employing antioxidants have been thoroughly researched. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound with antioxidant and antidepressant-like effects. Herein, we investigated the involvement of the antioxidant activity of chronic oral FA treatment in its antidepressant-like effect using the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST) in mice. The modulation of antioxidant system in blood, hippocampus and cerebral cortex was assessed after stress induction through TST and FST. Our results show that FA at the dose of 1 mg/kg has antidepressant-like effect without affecting locomotor activity. The stress induced by despair tests was able to decrease significantly the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood, catalase (CAT) in the blood and cerebral cortex and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the cerebral cortex. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) levels were increased significantly in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, the results show that FA was capable to increase SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities and decrease TBA-RS levels in the blood, hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These findings demonstrated that FA treatment in low doses is capable to exert antidepressant-like effect with the involvement of the antioxidant defense system modulation.