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Background and Aims: Consumption of a high caloric diet induces autonomic imbalance, which can lead to cardiovascular disease. Impaired arterial baroreflex control is suggested to play an important role in cardiovascular autonomic imbalance, often seen in obesity. We previously demonstrated that cafeteria diets increase the sympathetic drive to white and brown adipose tissue.Methods and Results: After feeding a cafeteria diet to rats for 26 days, we evaluated: (i)heart rate (HR) and arterial pressure (AP); (ii)baroreflex and chemoreflex function; and (iii) autonomic modulation of the heart and vessels, measured through pulse interval (PI) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability analyses and following administration of autonomic blockers. The cafeteria diet increased body fat mass and serum insulin, leptin, triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels. Baseline HR (15%) was also increased, accompanied by increased power in the low frequency band (60%) and in the low frequency/high frequency ratio (104%) in the PI spectra. Nonlinear analysis revealed an increased occurrence of 0V (39%) and decreased occurrence of 2UV (18%) patterns. Following administration of autonomic blockers, we observed an increase in cardiac sympathetic tone (425%) in cafeteria diet-fed rats. The cafeteria diet had no effect on AP, SAP variability, baroreflex and chemoreflex control.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that consumption of a cafeteria diet increases sympathetic drive to the heart but not to the blood vessels, independent of impairment in baroreflex and chemoreflex functions. Other mechanisms may be involved in the increased cardiac sympathetic drive, and compensatory vascular mechanisms may prevent the development of hypertension in this model of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is one of the most frequent causes of gynecological consultations. Therefore, the development of new antifungal therapies against VVC is relevant. In this context, the leaves of Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L. G. Lohmann are considered a therapeutic alternative since they are traditionally used in VVC therapy. However, no scientific evidence has supported this use against fungal vaginal infections. Then, we aimed to characterize the antifungal effect of a hydroethanolic extract of F. chica leaves (HEFc) and evaluate the therapeutic potential of this extract in a VVC model. HEFc inhibited the growth of C. albicans (256–1,204 µg/mL) and C. krusei (512 µg/mL) in vitro. HEFc inhibited yeast-to-hypha transition in C. albicans and has a low ability to induce resistance in this species. Intravaginal use of the HEFc at 50 mg/mL causes mycological cure in animals with VVC after 6 days of treatment, similar to the effect observed for the commercial antifungal nystatin. These results support the traditional use of F. chica leaves as a topical therapeutic option to treat VVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida is a fungus commonly involved in diseases of the skin and mucous membranes and has a high resistance to antifungal drugs. Moreover, there are few therapeutic options to treat these infections. Honey is a popular product that is easily accessible and has a diverse chemical composition, such as phenolic compounds that can have an antimicrobial effect in various metabolic pathways. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to characterize the antifungal activity of tree popular Brazilians honey against Candida species. Aroeira, Eucalyptus and Assa-Peixe honey was characterized by total phenolics and its antifungal activity on Candida species was tested by the microdilution method, antibiofilm activity, yeast to hypha (Y–H) transition, combination assays, multistage resistance study, and antibi-scanning electron microscopy of the fungi. Aroeira honey showh potent antifungal activity in vitro against planktonic cells of C. albicans (MIC 20–30% w/v) and non- albicans (MIC 30–40% w/v) and also breaks down mature biofilms formed by these yeasts at 40% w/v. Urethral catheters sensitized with 30% Aroeira honey reduced adhesion and biofilm formation by C. albicans. Aroeira honey did not induce resistance in C. albicans during the 21-day exposure. Its ability to alter fungal membrane structure contributes to the synergistic effects of Aroeira honey with commercial antifungal agents (miconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole). Aroeira honey inhibits yeast-to-alpha transition in C. albicans, and its prior exposure for 1 h reverses the azole resistance profile of a highly resistant strain of C. albicans. Taken together, these results indicate that Aroeira honey is a promising therapeutic agent against superficial candidiasis. [Display omitted] • Aroeira honey exhibits a potent antifungal effect against Candida albicans and non- albicans. • Aroeira honey interacts synergistically with azole antifungals. • Aroeira honey breaks down mature biofilms of Candida. • Aroeira honey reverses resistance to azoles in a lineage of Candida albicans. • Aroeira honey does not induce resistance in Candida albicans in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic review was performed in order to integrate and synthesize available information on mcr genes dissemination in Latin America. Four databases were searched for articles reporting plasmid-mediated colistin resistance between bacteria isolated from countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Abstract books of scientific events realized in each region were also examined. After search and selection, 48 studies that included 18,705 isolates recovered between 2000 and 2018 were evaluated. The overall frequency of mcr genes in Latin America was 2.9% (550/18,705), with IncX4 plasmids shown to be the key vectors responsible for the dissemination of genes within the continent. Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina were the countries with the highest number of mcr -positive isolates, and only Colombia (mcr -5) and Brazil (mc r-3) presented mcr genes other than type 1. Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium were mainly found to carry the gene within the continent and these microorganisms showed high susceptibility to ertapenem, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, fosfomycin and tigecycline. This review showed that the mcr gene is circulating in several countries of Latin America. Thus, it is important to encourage microbiological and molecular surveillance programs to avoid the spread of these genes within and outside the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical importance of invasive fungal diseases (IFD) contrasts with the limited therapeutic arsenal available and the increasing resistance rate of pathogenic fungi. Thus, the search for news antifungal drugs is imperative. Many studies highlight the antimicrobial activity of plants from Lamiaceae family such as Melissa officinalis, Mentha sp., Ocimum basilicum, Plectranthus barbatus and Rosmarinus officinalis , but the antifungal potential these species remains still poorly known. The present study was to evaluate the effect of these Lamiaceae species against fungi involved in IFDs. Fresh plants were macerated with ethanol and the extract obtained was partitioned with different solvents. Phytochemical analyzes were conducted and the volatile compounds were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Subsequently, the standardized vegetal material was used to evaluate the antifungal activity through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. Ethanol extract of M. officinalis , Mentha sp., O. basilicum , and R. officinalis showed good to moderate activity against Paracoccidioides spp. (MIC 62.5-500 μg/mL). The spectrum of antifungal activity of P. barbatus ethanol extract includes, besides P. brasiliensis (MIC 125–500 μg/mL), several species of Candida spp. (MIC 31.25-500 μg/mL) and the yeasts Cryptococcus gattii , Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (MIC 62.5 μg/mL). Flavonoids, steroids/triterpenes, and alkaloids were associated with antifungal activity of extracts and fractions, and the phytol was pointed as the main active compound of the extracts. Lamiaceae plants are a promising source of new antifungal prototypes and phytotherapeutic agents for the pharmaceutical industry, especially against Paracoccidioides spp. Image 1 • M. officinalis, Mentha sp., O. basilicum and R. officinalis showed good activity against Paracoccidiodes. • Ethanol extract of P. barbatus exhibited a broad antifungal spectrum. • Hexane fraction of O. basilicum showed good activity against C. glabrata. • In general, the extracts presented higher antifungal activity compared to the fractions of Lamiaceae species. • Flavonoids, steroids/triterpenes, and alkaloids were associated with antifungal activity of extracts and fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]