An assessment of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent in sepsis.

Tissue lesion mechanisms provoked by sepsis include the infectious process, inflammation, and cellular energy deficit. We chose to test fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) because of its possible anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions. Wistar rats were used and divided into three experimental groups: a control group (n=10), in which a capsule was introduced into the peritoneum of the animals; a septic group (n=10), in which a capsule containing non-sterile fecal matter was introduced together with Escherichia coli (1.5 x 10(9)CFU); and a septic group treated with FBP 500 mg/kg (n=10). The blood cell tests revealed that levels of leukocytes increased significantly in the septic group when compared to both the septic group treated with FBP and the control group. The blood cultures were 100% positive in both the septic group and the septic group treated with bisphosphorylated sugar. The antibiogram only revealed an inhibitory halo in the case of the antibiotic ampicillin, there was no such indication for FBP. The anti-inflammatory power of FBP remained at 60% for 5 h in the rats that received the carrageenan injection. What is more, the sugar reduced the levels of ionic calcium in relation to the control group. This data proves the validity of using FBP in the treatment of sepsis, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory rather than antimicrobial action.

Prevalência de enteroparasitos em moradores de vilas periféricas de Porto Alegre, RS / Survey of intestinal parasites among inhabitants of Porto Alegre Metropolitan area

Realizou-se um trabalho integrado de pesquisa e extensão comunitária com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência das enteroparasitoses na vila Fátima (Mato Sampaio), Campo da Tuca e Vila dos Papeleiros, vilas periféricas de Porto Alegre. este estudo foi realizado durante os anos de 1999 e 2002 em uma população de 594 pessoas, todas residentes nestas vilas. As amostras fecais foram examinadas pela técnica de Hoffman, Pons e Janer. O maior percentual geral de infecção obtido para nematóides foi de 39,5% (235) para Ascaris lumbricoides e, entre os protozoários, a Giardia lamblia com 18,0% (107). As altas taxas de enteroparasitoses entre crianças e adultos jovens moradores destas vilas mostrou o baixo nível sócio-econômico, a falta de escolaridade e a inexistência de saneamento básico.