Fungi in archives, libraries, and museums: a review on paper conservation and human health.

The action of fungi on books, documents, maps, and works of art on paper can result in inestimable cultural losses. Plus, some of the fungi present in paper documents, surfaces and air from archives, libraries and museums are also a threat to human health. This work aims to review the literature on the most important and frequent microfungal populations found in paper-based collections all over the world, and correlate these data with human health risks. A total of 71 studies, dating between 1997 and 2018 were reviewed and organized. From 27 different countries, 207 fungal genera and 580 species were reported. Chaetomium sp. and Fusarium sp. were found to be special contaminants in the air of archives and have been associated with paper biodeterioration. The most common fungi reported (e.g. Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria species) have an impact on paper conservation but can also cause adverse human health effects. The most frequent fungal species retrieved from discoloured paper materials are discussed in greater detail. Considerations on methods of identification and quantification of fungal contamination are also presented. Finally, the authors acknowledge an urgent need for standardizing research in this area and further studies are proposed.

[Cutaneous Manifestations during Pregnancy]. / Manifestações Dermatológicas na Gravidez.

Pregnancy is a period characterized by complex and significant skin changes, which can have a major impact on a woman's life. The cutaneous manifestations associated with this period are usually divided into physiological changes related with pregnancy, pre-existing dermatoses modified by pregnancy, and pregnancy-specific dermatoses, with the latter being potentially associated with significant fetal morbidity. The diagnosis of dermatoses of pregnancy can be challenging due to the variability in its clinical presentation; therefore, a complete and detailed clinical history and a thorough physical examination are essential. Primary care clinicians should be able to recognize these entities and provide some therapeutic strategies, as well as to refer patients whenever there is a risk to the mother and/ or to the fetus. A multidisciplinary team is essential in the evaluation of the most complex entities, and should include dermatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians and family physicians, so that both the mother's symptomatic relief and the minimization of fetal risk can be achieved quick and concurrently.

A gravidez é um período caracterizado por alterações cutâneas significativas e complexas, as quais podem ter um grande impacto na vida da mulher. As manifestações cutâneas associadas a este período dividem-se habitualmente em alterações fisiológicas relacionadas com a gravidez, dermatoses pré-existentes modificadas pela gravidez e dermatoses específicas da gravidez, podendo estas últimas estar associadas a morbidade fetal significativa. O diagnóstico das alterações cutâneas associadas à gravidez pode constituir um desafio devido à variabilidade na sua apresentação clínica, sendo fundamental uma história clínica completa e detalhada e um exame físico minucioso. Os clínicos dedicados aos cuidados de saúde primários devem saber reconhecer estas entidades e providenciar algumas estratégias terapêuticas, bem como referenciar as utentes sempre que exista risco para a mãe e/ou para o feto. Na abordagem das entidades mais complexas é fundamental uma equipa multidisciplinar, envolvendo dermatologistas, pediatras, obstetras e médicos de família, de forma a que se consiga simultânea e rapidamente o alívio sintomático da mãe e a minimização do risco fetal.

Unveiling the Occupational Exposure to Microbial Contamination in Conservation-Restoration Settings.

Assuring a proper environment for the fulfillment of professional activities is one of the Sustainable Development Goals and is contemplated in the One Health approach assumed by the World Health Organization. This particular study is applied to an often neglected sector of our society-the conservators/restorers-despite the many health issues reported by these professionals. Three different specialties (textiles, paintings and wood sculpture) and locations were selected for evaluation by placement of electrostatic dust cloths. After treatment of the samples, bacterial and fungal contamination were assessed, as well as mycotoxin determination, the presence of azole-resistant strains and cytotoxicity of the microorganisms encountered. Bacteria were only present in one of medias used and showed relatively low numbers. The highest level of contamination by fungi was identified in one of the textiles settings. The textile area also showed the highest variability for fungi. Aspergillus sp. are one indicator of possible environmental issues, and A. sections Fumigati and Circumdati were particularly relevant in two of the settings and identified in all of them. No mycotoxins were detected and the large majority of the fungi identified were non-cytotoxic. Overall, these can be considered low-contaminated environments but attention should be given to the Aspergillus sp. contamination. Additional studies are needed not only to make these results more robust, but also to test if the environmental sampling alone is the best approach in a setting where there is very little movement and dust displacement and where professionals are in very close proximity to the artefacts being treated, which may suggest the existence of a micro-atmosphere worth evaluating and comparing to the obtained results.