BACKGROUND Sepsis is a set of serious organic manifestations caused by an infection, whose progression culminates in exacerbated inflammation and oxidative stress, poor prognosis, and high hospital costs. Antioxidants used against sepsis have been evaluated, including essential oils such as β‐caryophyllene (BCP), and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory activity of the association of these two compounds. RESULTS Treatment with BCP‐DHA, at a dose of 200 μL/animal, significantly inhibited the migration of neutrophils in a Cg‐induced peritonitis model. After Staphylococcus aureus infection, in the groups treated with BCP‐DHA there was a significant decrease in the total and differential count of leukocytes, increased expression of cytokines TNF‐α and IFN‐γ in treated groups, an increase of IL‐4 and IL‐5 in B/D and B/D + SA groups, and an augmentation of IL‐6 and IL‐12 groups in B/D + SA groups. Histological and bacterial analysis revealed lower neutrophil migration and lower bacterial load in the infected and treated groups. CONCLUSION In general, the BCP‐DHA association presented anti‐inflammatory activity against two different models of acute inflammation and infection, showing promising potential as a therapeutic adjuvant in sepsis. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

BACKGROUND Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal component of the gastrointestinal and genital microbiota in humans and can lead to important infections in newborns. AIM To compare GBS isolation and identification methods as well as to assess the antibiotic susceptibility and to identify resistance genes in GBS strains from pregnant women attended in healthcare services from the city of Vitória da Conquista, in Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS From January 2017 to February 2018, vaginorectal swabs were obtained from 186 participants and the samples were seeded onto chromogenic agar for GBS before and after inoculation in selective broth. Confirmatory identification using 3 CAMP and latex tests was performed in samples with GBS-suggestive colonies. Then, disk diffusion antibiograms were performed in GBS-positive samples, and the detection of the resistance genes erm B, erm TR, mef A, and lin B in the clindamycin and/or erythromycin-resistant samples was carried out. RESULTS Thirty-two samples (17.2%) were GBS-positive. The culture in chromogenic agar after sample incubation in selective broth was the most sensitive method (96.9%) for GBS detection. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin. Clindamycin resistance was observed in 6 samples (18.8%), while 8 samples (25%) were erythromycin-resistant. All erythromycin and/or clindamycin-resistant GBS strains had negative D-tests. Two strains (25%) presented an M phenotype and 6 isolates (75%) presented a cMLSB phenotype. The erm B gene was identified in 4 samples (44.4%), the mef A gene was also found in 4 samples (44.4%), the erm TR gene was identified in 1 isolate (11.1%), and the lin B gene was not found in any isolate. CONCLUSION This study evidenced that the screening for SGB can be performed by means of various methods, including chromogenic media, and that the chemoprophylaxis for pregnant women who cannot use penicillin must be susceptibility-guided.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar na literatura científica evidências sobre a prevalência de anemia ferropriva em crianças com idade entre 1 e 5 anos. Realizou-se busca nas bases de dados Scielo e Pumed utilizando a palavras-chaves anemia ferropriva, deficiência de ferro, iron deficiency anemia children and prevalence. Os artigos selecionados tinham como base responder a questão norteadora: O que traz a literatura acerca da prevalência de anemia ferropriva entre crianças com a idade 1 a 5 anos? Foram identificados no total 2805 selecionados para a leitura 467 e lindo na integra 19 inserido nesta revisão. Estudos demostram que anemia ferropriva afeta 2 bilhões de pessoas, sendo 51,2% da população crianças com idade entre 2 meses e 5 anos. Os fatores como economia, aspectos sociodemográfico e nível escolaridade dos pais foram associados de acordo com a literatura com a alta prevalência da anemia ferropriva nas crianças. Foi possível observar nesta revisão que anemia ferropriva apresenta uma alta prevalência em crianças e que existem inúmeros fatores que podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento da mesma. Um distúrbio que afeta diferentes regiões no Brasil vale destacar que a sua alta prevalência foi em regiões que apresentaram carência nutricional e baixa economia entre as populações estudadas.

Inflammation is a complex biological response involving the immune, autonomic, vascular, and somatosensory systems that occurs through the synthesis of inflammatory mediators and pain induction by the activation of nociceptors. Staphylococcus aureus, the main cause of bacteremia, is one of the most common and potent causes of inflammation in public health, with worse clinical outcomes in hospitals. Antioxidant substances have been evaluated as alternative therapeutic analgesics, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, antitumor agents, and bactericides. Among these, we highlight the essential oils of aromatic plants, such as β-caryophyllene (BCP), and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological activities of BCP–DHA association in in vitro and in vivo experimental models of antinociception and inflammation. To determine the anti-inflammatory effects, monocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of adult male volunteers were infected with methicillin-resistant S. aureus and incubated with treatment for cytokine dosage and gene expression analysis. Antinociceptive effects were observed in the three models when comparing the control (saline) and the BCP-DHA treatment groups. For this purpose, the antinociceptive effects were evaluated in animal models using the following tests: acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, paw edema induced by formalin intraplantar injection, and von Frey hypernociception. There was a significant reduction in the GM-CSF, TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-12 levels and an increase in IL-10 levels in the BCP-DHA treatment groups, in addition to negative regulation of the expression of the genes involved in the intracellular inflammatory signaling cascade (IL-2, IL-6, IRF7, NLRP3, and TYK2) in all groups receiving treatment, regardless of the presence of infection. Statistically significant results (p < 0.05) were obtained in the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test, evaluation of paw edema, evaluation of paw flinching and licking in the formalin intraplantar injection model, and the von Frey hypernociception test. Therefore, BCP and DHA, either administered individually or combined, demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects.