Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is among the most prevalent vaginal diseases. Candida albicans is still the most prevalent species associated with this pathology, however, the prevalence of other Candida species, such as C. glabrata, is increasing. The pathogenesis of these infections has been intensely studied, nevertheless, no consensus has been reached on the pathogenicity of VVC. In addition, inappropriate treatment or the presence of resistant strains can lead to RVVC (vulvovaginal candidiasis recurrent). Immunomodulation therapy studies have become increasingly promising, including with the β-glucans. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated microbicidal activity, phagocytosis, intracellular oxidant species production, oxygen consumption, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-1β, and IL-1Ra in neutrophils previously treated or not with β-glucan. In all of the assays, human neutrophils were challenged with C. albicans and C. glabrata isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis. β-glucan significantly increased oxidant species production, suggesting that β-glucan may be an efficient immunomodulator that triggers an increase in the microbicidal response of neutrophils for both of the species isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis. The effects of β-glucan appeared to be mainly related to the activation of reactive oxygen species and modulation of cytokine release.

Brazilian green propolis may increase neutrophil burst oxidative response to RVVC leading to an efficient removal of C. albicans.

Estudo transversal que teve por objetivo caracterizar o perfil de mães adolescentes e comparar características sociais, obstétricas e do recém-nascido entre o grupo de adolescentes precoces (10 a 14 anos) e tardias (15 a 19 anos), no município de Bandeirantes, Paraná, de 1.995 a 2.009. As informações foram levantadas em junho de 2.012, no banco de dados do DATASUS. Os resultados evidenciaram que no período em estudo, ocorreram 8.364 partos, dos quais 1.833 (21,9%) foram em adolescentes, sendo 73 (3,9%) entre as precoces e 1.760 (96,1%) entre as tardias. Esteve associada à gestação na adolescência precoce características como: menor escolaridade materna, ausência de companheiro, menor número de consultas de pré-natal e baixo peso ao nascer. Os achados reitera que piores condições sócio demográficas influenciam a ocorrência e o prognóstico da gravidez na adolescência, ressaltando a importância dos profissionais de saúde implementarem estratégias que diminuam sua (re)ocorrência.

The cervical cancer is characterized as a public health problem. The human papillomavirus, especially the high-risk types 16 and 18, is present in 99.7% of cases of invasive cervical cancers. Due to high prevalence, the search for new drugs for the treatment is continuous. The apocynin, compound belonging to the class of catecholmethoxy acetophenone, has been used as an effective and non-toxic inhibitor of the NADPH oxidase complex, in many experimental models. Some early studies have indicated that apocynin also exerts antiproliferative activity inducing cell death by apoptosis. Thus, we evaluated the effect of apocynin in cervical epithelial cells infected by human papillomavirus 16 (SiHa cells) by analyzing oxygen species production, cell cycle, cell morphology, cell volume, membrane integrity and mitochondria membrane potential. Our data showed that apocynin induces antiproliferative effects by decreasing reactive oxygen species production and inducing cell cycle arrest, activating pathways that induce apoptosis cell death. Keywords SiHa • HPV 16 • Apocynin • Reactive oxygen species