Effects of creatine supplementation on biomarkers of hepatic and renal function in young trained rats.

Creatine supplementation has been widely used by athletes and young physical exercise practioneers in order of increasing muscle mass and enhancing athletic performance, but their use/overuse may represent a health risk on hepatic and renal impaired function. In this study, we evaluated the effects of 40 days of oral creatine supplementation on hepatic and renal function biomarkers in a young animal model. Wistar rats (5 weeks old) were divided in five groups (n = 7): control (CONTR), oral creatine supplementation (CREAT), moderate exercise training (EXERC), moderate exercise training plus oral creatine supplementation (EXERC + CREAT) and pathological group (positive control for liver and kidney injury) by the administration of rifampicin (RIFAMPICIN). Exercise groups were submitted to 60 min/day of swimming exercise session with a 4% of body weight workload for six weeks. The EXERC + CREAT showed the higher body weight at the end of the training protocol. The CREAT and EXERC + CREAT group showed an increase in hepatic (Aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) and renal (urea and creatinine) biomarkers levels (p < 0.05). Our study showed that the oral creatine supplementation promoted hepatic and renal function challenge in young rats submitted to moderate exercise training.

Evaluation of 5 new media containing extracts of seeds applied to Candida dubliniensis screening.

Candida dubliniensis is a recently described pathogenic species that shares many phenotypic features with Candida albicans and so may be misidentified in microbiologic laboratories. The aim of this study is to find a useful and cost-effective method suitable for screening C. dubliniensis before proceeding to further identification. We examined the colony morphology and chlamydospore production of 26 C. dubliniensis isolates and 100 C. albicans isolates on the following 5 proposed media: sesame seed agar (SSA), rapeseed agar, canary grass seed agar, millet seed agar, and linseed agar (LA). The best results were obtained with SSA and LA because all 26 C. dubliniensis isolates showed rough colonies with peripheral hyphal fringes and abundant chlamydospores after 24 to 48 h of incubation at 25 degrees C. All C. albicans isolates (100%) showed smooth colonies without hyphal fringes or chlamydospores. These 2 media consist of new and simple tools for presumptive differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans.

Antibody levels to hantavirus in inhabitants of western Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is an infectious disease caused by hantaviruses of the family Bunyaviridae, and is transmitted by aerosols of excreta of infected rodents. The aim of the present study was to determine antibody levels to hantavirus in the population that lives at frontier of Brazil and Argentina. Participated of the study 405 individuals living in the municipalities of Bandeirante, Santa Helena, Princesa and Tunapolis, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. IgG antibodies to hantavirus were analyzed in sera by an ELISA that uses a recombinant N protein of Araraquara hantavirus as antigen. The results were also confirmed by immunofluorescent test. Eight individuals showed antibodies to hantavirus (1.97% positivity), with serum titers ranging from 100 to 800. Six seropositives were males, older than 30 years and farmers. Our results reinforce previous data on hantavirus circulation and human infections in the southern border of Brazil with Argentina.

Serosurvey of hantavirus infection in humans in the border region between Brazil and Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: According to reports by the Ministry of Health, in the far western region of the State of Santa Catarina, there have been no reports of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a zoonotic disease transmitted by feces of infected rodents. A seroepidemiological study of residents of this region, was conducted, with the aim of determining the presence of hantavirus infections. A total of 340 volunteers of both genus, from the towns of Belmonte and Paraíso, were studied. METHODS: The serum of these patients was collected and used to detect IgG antibodies against recombinant N protein of Araraquara hantavirus, by ELISA assay. The positive samples were then titrated and confirmed by immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: This study demonstrated the presence of IgG antibodies against hantavirus N protein in 3.5% of the population. The most frequent occupation was farm worker, 81% had direct and indirect contact with rodents, 91.7% of positive cases were farm workers, indicating that the probable cause of infection occurred during barn cleaning. These antibodies are noteworthy, given that the levels of antibodies were verified in individuals whose contact with hantavirus may have occurred many years ago. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the circulation of hantavirus in the region, a fact that until now, had not reported. All the serum reagents had contact with the pathogen, but did not develop pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome. It is important to remain alert, because hantavirus is a serious and emerging disease of some relevance.

Relationship between susceptibility of Candida spp. isolates to amphotericin B and death or survival of patients with candidemia episodes.

In this study, the susceptibility to amphotericin B of Candida spp. isolates obtained from patients with candidemia was related to their respective clinical outcomes. The susceptibility tests were carried out in three culture media: RPMI 1640, Antibiotic medium 3 and Yeast Nitrogen Base dextrose. We have found that minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal fungicidal concentrations obtained using AM3 and YNBd media were significantly higher for Candida spp. from patients who died than for those from patients who survived the candidemia (P < 0.05). The assays with RPMI 1640 medium did not show these differences.

Antibody levels to hantavirus in inhabitants of western Santa Catarina State, Brazil / Níveis de anticorpos para hantavírus em habitantes da região Oeste de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is an infectious disease caused by hantaviruses of the family Bunyaviridae, and is transmitted by aerosols of excreta of infected rodents. The aim of the present study was to determine antibody levels to hantavirus in the population that lives at frontier of Brazil and Argentina. Participated of the study 405 individuals living in the municipalities of Bandeirante, Santa Helena, Princesa and Tunapolis, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. IgG antibodies to hantavirus were analyzed in sera by an ELISA that uses a recombinant N protein of Araraquara hantavirus as antigen. The results were also confirmed by immunofluorescent test. Eight individuals showed antibodies to hantavirus (1.97% positivity), with serum titers ranging from 100 to 800. Six seropositives were males, older than 30 years and farmers. Our results reinforce previous data on hantavirus circulation and human infections in the southern border of Brazil with Argentina.

Síndrome Cardiopulmonar por Hantavírus (HCPS) é uma doença emergente, causada pelo gênero hantavírus membro da família Bunyaviridae, e são transmitidos aos humanos por aerossol de roedores infectados. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi determinar os níveis de anticorpos para hantavírus em uma população de residentes na fronteira do Brasil com a Argentina. Participaram deste estudo 405 indivíduos que moravam nos municípios de Bandeirante, Santa Helena, Princesa e Tunapólis, no estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Os anticorpos IgG para hantavírus foram analisados no soro por um ELISA que usa a nucleoproteína recombinante do vírus Araraquara como antígeno, posteriormente confirmados por imunofluorescência. Oito indivíduos apresentavam anticorpos para hantavírus (1.97% positivo), com titulo entre 100 a 800. Seis soropositivos foram homens, com idade superior a 30 anos e agricultores. Nossos resultados reforçam a circulação do hantavírus e infecção humana na fronteira do Brasil com a Argentina.

Serosurvey of hantavirus infection in humans in the border region between Brazil and Argentina / Estudo sorológico de infecção por hantavírus em humanos na região de fronteira, entre Brasil e Argentina

INTRODUCTION: According to reports by the Ministry of Health, in the far western region of the State of Santa Catarina, there have been no reports of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a zoonotic disease transmitted by feces of infected rodents. A seroepidemiological study of residents of this region, was conducted, with the aim of determining the presence of hantavirus infections. A total of 340 volunteers of both genus, from the towns of Belmonte and Paraíso, were studied. METHODS: The serum of these patients was collected and used to detect IgG antibodies against recombinant N protein of Araraquara hantavirus, by ELISA assay. The positive samples were then titrated and confirmed by immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: This study demonstrated the presence of IgG antibodies against hantavirus N protein in 3.5 percent of the population. The most frequent occupation was farm worker, 81 percent had direct and indirect contact with rodents, 91.7 percent of positive cases were farm workers, indicating that the probable cause of infection occurred during barn cleaning. These antibodies are noteworthy, given that the levels of antibodies were verified in individuals whose contact with hantavirus may have occurred many years ago. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the circulation of hantavirus in the region, a fact that until now, had not reported. All the serum reagents had contact with the pathogen, but did not develop pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome. It is important to remain alert, because hantavirus is a serious and emerging disease of some relevance.

INTRODUÇÃO: De acordo com relatórios do Ministério da Saúde, na região do extremo oeste do Estado de Santa Catarina, não há relatos de síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus, doença zoonótica transmitida por excretas de roedores contaminados. Com a finalidade de demosntrar a infecção por hantavírus, um estudo soroepidemiológico de moradores da região foi realizado. Assim, foi estudado um total de 340 voluntários de ambos os gêneros, dos municípios de Belmonte e Paraíso. MÉTODOS: O soro destes pacientes foi coletado e usado para a detecção de anticorpos IgG contra a proteína N recombinante de hantavírus Araraquara, pelo teste de ELISA. As amostras positivas foram tituladas e confirmadas por imunofluorescência indireta. RESULTADOS: Este estudo demonstrou a presença de anticorpos IgG contra a proteína N hantavírus em 3,5 por cento da população. A ocupação de lavrador foi a mais frequente, e 81 por cento tiveram contato direto e indireto com os roedores, 91,7 por cento dos casos positivos foram os agricultores, a causa provável da infecção foi através da limpeza de celeiros. Estes anticorpos são notáveis, dado que os níveis de anticorpos são encontrados nos indivíduos cujo contato com o hantavírus pode ter ocorrido há muitos anos. CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo mostra a circulação de hantavírus na região, um fato que até então não havia relatado, todos os reagentes soro tiveram contato com o patógeno, mas não desenvolveram a síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascular. É preciso estar alerta, porque é uma doença grave e emergente com grande importância.

Reavaliação da suscetibilidade de Candida à anfotericina B: estudo comparativo com isolados de três hospitais do estado do Rio Grande do Sul / Reevaluation of Candida susceptibility to amphotericin B: comparative study using isolates from three hospitals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

Comparou-se a suscetibilidade à anfotericina B de Candida spp isoladas de candidemias, sendo: 41 do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, 56 do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre e 47 da Santa Casa, Complexo Hospitalar de Porto Alegre. Os testes foram baseados no documento M27-A2 do Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Todavia, foram empregadas 20 concentrações de anfotericina B, variáveis entre 0,1 e 2µg/ml. Os testes foram realizados nos meios RPMI 1640 com glicose, antibiotic medium 3 e yeast nitrogen base dextrosado. O caldo antibiotic medium 3 gerou amplas faixas de concentrações inibitórias mínimas e concentrações fungicidas mínimas quando comparado aos demais. As variações de suscetibilidade entre os hospitais foram melhor detectadas no antibiotic médium 3; os isolados do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria evidenciaram menor sensibilidade do que os da Santa Casa, Complexo Hospitalar de Porto Alegre (p < 0,05). As causas das variações de suscetibilidade não foram avaliadas mas apontam para a necessidade de vigilância da suscetibilidade a anfotericina B.

Susceptibility to amphotericin B was compared between isolates of Candida spp that were obtained from candidemia cases as follows: 41 from Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, 56 from Hospital de Clínicas, Porto Alegre, and 47 from the Santa Casa hospital complex, Porto Alegre. The tests were based on the document M27-A2 from the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute, but with 20 concentrations of amphotericin B ranging from 0.1 to 2mg/ml. The tests were carried out using RPMI 1640 medium with glucose, antibiotic medium 3 and yeast nitrogen base-dextrose. The antibiotic medium 3 broth generated wide ranges of minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations in relation to the other agents. The variations in susceptibility between the hospitals were best detected in antibiotic medium 3. The isolates from Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria showed lower susceptibility than did those from the Santa Casa hospital complex, Porto Alegre (p < 0.05). The causes of the susceptibility variations were not assessed but they indicate the need for surveillance regarding the susceptibility to amphotericin B.