Herbal drugs have been used since ancient times to treat a wide range of diseases. Morinda citrifolia Linn (popularly known as "Noni") has been used in folk medicine by Polynesians for over 2,000 years. It is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects, including effects against headache, fever, arthritis, gingivitis, respiratory disorders, infections, tuberculosis, and diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antibacterial properties of the aqueous extract from M. citrifolia leaves (AEMC). Antioxidant activity was observed against lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radicals. The antinociceptive effect of AEMC was observed in the acetic acid-induced writhing test at the higher dose. Moreover, AEMC significantly reduced the leukocyte migration in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg and showed mild antibacterial activity. Together, the results suggest that properties of M. citrifolia leaf extract should be explored further in order to achieve newer tools for managing painful and inflammation conditions, including those related to oxidant states.

The rise of Candida spp. resistant to classic triazole antifungal agents has led to a search for new therapeutic options. Here, we evaluated combinations of antifungals in a checkerboard assay against two groups of Candida glabrata strains: one containing fluconazole-susceptible clinical isolates (FS) and another containing fluconazole-resistant laboratory derivative (FR). The most synergistic combination observed was amphotericin B + flucytosine (synergistic for 61.77 % of FS strains and 76.47 % of FR strains). The most antagonistic combination observed was ketoconazole + flucytosine (FS 61.77 % and FR 55.88 %). Surprisingly, most combinations evidenced indifferent interactions, and the best synergism appeared when amphotericin B and flucytosine were combined against both groups of isolates.

Exceto onde especificado diferentemente, a matéria publicada neste periódico é licenciada sob forma de uma licença Creative Commons -Atribuição 4. Background and Objectives: Currently, there is an increase in fungal infections, especially in immune compromised patients. Among the fungi that cause invasive infections there is the yeast of the genus Candida,

Exceto onde especificado diferentemente, a matéria publicada neste periódico é licenciada sob forma de uma licença Creative Commons -Atribuição 4. however, its clinical importance is related to infections in newborns, which can cause severe pneumonia, septicemia and meningitis. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of colonization by S. Observou-se colonização em 22,5% (18/80) das gestantes analisadas. Os isolados foram sensíveis a grande maioria dos antimicrobianos testados, com exceção à eritromicina, evidenciando uma resistência em 22,2% (4/18) dos isolados. No entanto, nenhuma das amostras resistentes a eritromicina apresentou resistência induzida a clindamicina. Conclusão: A elevada colonização materna pelo S. agalactiae encontrada, enfatiza a importância do isolamento dessa bactéria no final da gestação, prevenindo a ocorrência da infecção neonatal. RESUMO ARTIGO ORIGINALPrevalência da colonização por Streptococcus agalactiae em gestantes atendidas na rede pública de saúde de Santo Ângelo/RS

<p><strong>Introdução:</strong> Os hospitais constituem importante fonte de infecções, pois, abrigam uma vasta gama de microrganismos, principalmente bactérias. A limpeza e desinfecção de superfícies em ambientes hospitalares são subsídios elementares e eficazes como medidas de controle para romper a cadeia epidemiológica das infecções. <strong>Objetivo</strong>: Verificar a prevalência de microrganismos em bandejas utilizadas pela enfermagem para a administração de medicamentos em ambiente hospitalar, através do crescimento dos mesmos por técnicas microbiológicas. <strong>Métodos:</strong> Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo transversal, de prevalência, com abordagem quantitativa realizada em um hospital de médio porte da região Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, no segundo semestre de 2015. A coleta das amostras se deu por meio da técnica de swab, que consistiu em deslizar um swab na superfície das bandejas utilizadas para a administração dos medicamentos. Para a análise dos dados foi realizada a pesquisa microbiológica e utilizada a estatística descritiva mediante a distribuição da frequência. <strong>Resultados:</strong> Os microrganismos isolados foram: <em>Staphylococcus </em>coagulase negativa, <em>Acinetobacter baumanni</em>,  <em>Enterobacter agglomerans</em>, <em>Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella ozaenae</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Acinetobacter lwoffii, Pseudomonas stutzeri, </em><em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>. <strong>Conclusão:</strong> Demonstrando a importância de se realizar os processos de higienização correta das mãos, dos materiais, dos utensílios, dentre outras, como forma possível de reduzir a transferência de patógenos entre profissionais, pacientes e ambiente.</p>

Background: Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty of falling asleep or maintaining sleep, which affects different age groups. Currently, melatonin is used as a therapeutic treatment in cases of insomnia in children, adults, and elderly people. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin in sleep disorders, its dosage, potential adverse effects, as well as labeling laws and regulations in Brazil. Methods: This integrative review was carried out using the Cochrane Library, Medline (Pubmed), and Science Direct databases. Twenty-five articles and three documents available on the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) and National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) websites published between 2015 and 2020 were selected to be evaluated in full. Results: It was found that in most of the selected articles the use of melatonin reduces sleep latency. The effective melatonin doses varied according to each age group, from 0.5 to 3 mg in children, 3 to 5 mg in adolescents, 1 to 5 mg in adults, and 1 to 6 mg in elderly people. Side effects are mild when taking usual doses. In Brazil, no registered drug and current regulation on the use and marketing of melatonin has been identified. Conclusion: The use of melatonin is an alternative therapy that can be used for sleeping disorders. According to the evidences found, it did not demonstrate toxicity or severe side effects, nor dependence even when administered at high doses, suggesting that it is a safe medication to treat patients of different ages suffering from sleeping disorders.

No abstract

As β-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL) são enzimas capazes de hidrolisar penicilinas, cefalosporinas de primeira, segunda, terceira e quarta gerações e o monobactâmico aztreonam, mas não as cefamicinas e os carbapenens. Entretanto, Prevalência das famílias TEM, SHV e CTX-M de β-lactamases ABSTRACTIn this study, the distribution and prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases belonging to the TEM, SHV and CTX-M families were estimated among samples of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. at the university hospital of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. Over a 14-month period, 90 microorganisms were selected as likely ESBL producers. The isolates were subjected to confirmatory phenotype tests for the presence of ESBL. Through investigating the respective genes using the polymerase chain reaction, the ESBL types present in each microorganism were then determined. Fifty-five samples (61.1%) were confirmed as ESBL-positive by means of the combined disc method, and 57 (63.3%) were found to be ESBL producers by means of the double disc method. From the polymerase chain reaction, ESBLs of TEM and SHV types were more frequently present in Klebsiella pneumoniae, while ESBL of CTX-M type was more frequently present in Klebsiella oxytoca.Key-words: extended-spectrum β-lactamases. Escherichia coli. Klebsiella spp. polymerase chain reaction.são inibidas por inibidores de β-lactamases como ácido clavulânico, sulbactam e tazobactam. Esta propriedade é a base dos testes laboratoriais utilizados para a detecção in vitro dessas enzimas 17 18 . Klebsiella pneumoniae e Escherichia coli são as espécies mais comumente relacionadas como produtoras de ESBLs 8 17 .A maioria das ESBLs evoluiu a partir de mutações genéticas em β-lactamases clássicas (TEM-1, TEM-2 e SHV-1), originando principalmente variedades de ESBLs dos tipos TEM e SHV 17 . Contudo, uma nova família de ESBLs, a CTX-M, emergiu nos últimos anos, principalmente em Escherichia coli, e tem se tornado uma das mais prevalentes famílias dessas enzimas em muitos países 2 11 14 18 21 .A presença de ESBLs nos ambientes hospitalares e suas conseqüências nas estratégias de tratamento com antimicrobianos constitui um importante agravante para pacientes hospitalizados 20 .