Evaluation of the allergenicity of spore and mycelia extracts of Pisolithus tinctorius.

The antigenic and allergenic chemical analysis of spore and mycelia extracts of Pisolithus tinctorius was carried out. The spores were collected from basidiocarps in plantations of Eucalyptus spp and the mycelia from culture in MNM medium. With basis on the fungus growth curve, the mycelia masses were obtained after 10, 20, 30, and 40 days of incubation, which correspond, respectively, to the beginning, middle and end of the log phase, and beginning of the decline phase. The mycelia masses, together with the spores, were submitted to the action of three extractors (Coca, Tris-HCl, and ammonium bicarbonate). The contents of carbohydrates and proteins were determined. The SDS-PAGE electrophoretical analysis revealed separate fractions in these extracts, besides common fractions, in function of cultivation time and extraction methods. The selected extracts for the allergic tests were the ones with the highest number of fractions. The prick-tests were conducted in 374 patients--rural workers, eucalyptus plantation workers, and college students. The positivity to the "prick test" with the antigenic extract of P. tinctorius was, respectively, 3.78%, 28.20% and 6.40%. Most prick-test positive patients (82.75%) also presented symptoms of respiratory allergy (asthma and rhinitis). There was no reactivity difference when the spore and mycelia extracts were employed. The analysis of the positive patients' sera revealed the presence of IgE specific to the P. tinctorius antigens. Since Pisolithus tinctorius is found as mycorrhiza of Eucalyptus spp, and this plant is used in reforestation in most countries, the importance of that fungus should be regarded as a possible cause of respiratory allergies, especially in occupationally exposed workers.

[In vitro assessment of antibacterial activity of ozonized water against Staphylococcus aureus]. / Avaliação in vitro da atividade antibacteriana da água ozonizada frente ao Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus belongs to the normal flora of the skin, mucosa and nasopharynx of several animal species, including man, but it is also associated to illnesses such as abscesses, bacteremia, endocarditis and osteomyelitis, besides showing resistance to multiple drugs. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the disinfecting ability of ozone when dissolved in water. Suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus with concentrations varying from 10(6) to 10(16) microorganisms/ml were prepared. One milliliter of each recently prepared suspension was added to 99 ml of distilled water (with or without previous ozonization) contained in a crystal reactor. Aliquots of 0.1 ml of this new suspension were taken at various time intervals and, then, serially diluted and inoculated on plaques. The data indicated that there was difference in the disinfecting effect when distilled water was used with and without previous ozonization.

[Sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases in high school students in Rio Branco-Acre, Brazil]. / Atividade sexual e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis em escolares do 2 degrees grau de Rio Branco-Acre, Brasil.

This study was realized with 2.684 students of the high school in Rio Branco-Acre, Brazil, to verify aspects of the sexual activity and the occurrence of DST/AIDS. From the researched students, 48.9% had sexual intercourse, and the largest frequency was 34.3% for male sex, with the beginning at 13 years old, and for female sex 31.6%, with the beginning at 16 years old. The occurrence of mentioned DST/AIDS was: 58.4% for Hepatitis B, 39.4% for Monilíase and 2.2% for Gonorrhea. Among those ones who had their first sexual intercourse, 47.6% were with the boyfriend, 25.8% with the neighbor and 10.5% with the domestic maid. Concluding, the students who had sexual intercourse were 52.3% of private schools, 50.0% of federal ones, 45.7% of state ones and 41.8% of municipal ones.