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Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are metals commonly found at high concentrations in underground water. These metals are essential for the good functioning of living organisms, but high concentrations lead to imbalance, potentiating the appearance of pathologies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exposure to naturally occurring metals in groundwater, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an experimental model. Thus, zebrafish were exposed to Fe (0.8 and 1.3 mg/L), Mn (0.2 and 0.4 mg/L), and groundwater collected from deep tube wells with Fe and Mn (Fe 0.8/Mn 0.2 mg/L and Fe 1.3/Mn 0.4 mg/L) for 30 days. Bioaccumulation of these metals has been demonstrated in the livers and muscles of zebrafish. Acetylcholinesterase activity changed only in zebrafish muscles in all groups. Sulfhydryl levels changed mainly in the group Mn 0.4. SOD/CAT ratio decreased in the groups Fe 0.8 and 1.3, Mn 0.4, and Fe 0.8/Mn 0.4. An increase in the frequency of micronucleus in all groups was shown as a consequence of these changes. Behavioral parameters (time and distance traveled, mean speed, turn angle, latency, and number of crossings between compartments) have also changed, mainly in the groups Fe 1.3, Mn 0.4, and Fe 1.3/Mn 0.4. Therefore, long-term exposure to Fe and Mn, even at not so high concentrations, may cause biochemical, genotoxic, and behavioral changes in zebrafish.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek, Celastraceae, is popularly known as “espinheira-santa” and used to treat pathologies related to the stomach. However, in popular culture, this species has also been used to treat other disorders such as diabetes, but without scientific evidence, requiring more phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the plant. Aim of the study This work aims to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic potential of ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves from two different accessions of Maytenus ilicifolia (MIA and MIB) in normal hyperglycemic rats. Materials and methods The animals were divided into different experimental groups: normal hyperglycemic (negative control); MIA (treatment of Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 116); MIB (treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 122; and glipizide (positive control). At 30 min after treatment, all animals received glucose overload orally. Blood collection occurred at different periods for the assessment of blood glucose (0, 60, 90 and 210 min after treatment) and at the end of the experiment blood was collected through cardiac puncture and the liver, muscle, pancreas and intestine were dissected for further analysis. Results Chromatographic analysis identified oleic and palmitic acid as the most common constituents, and both extracts of Maytenus ilicifolia caused a reduction in blood glucose levels within 60 min after administration of glucose overload when compared to the normal hyperglycemic group. No significant changes were observed in hepatic and muscular glycogen levels, plasma insulin concentration and disaccharidases activity with none of the extracts in the model employed. However, hyperglycemic rats treated with the extracts showed a marked increase in triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels. Conclusions Our data suggest that Maytenus ilicifolia extracts from different locations showed differences in chemical composition which did not reflect significant differences in the results of biological tests. In addition, it was possible to conclude that the treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia had a discreet anti-hyperglycemic effect; however, it was not possible to identify the responsible mechanism, being necessary, therefore, new studies using different technologies in order to determine the possible mechanisms of action of the extract.

A levedura Candida spp., pertencente à microbiota normal, pode causar graves infecções, principalmente em pacientes no ambiente hospitalar. Os variados graus de patogenicidade e sensibilidade a antifúngicos apresentados pelas diversas espécies, combinados ao aumento da frequência de infecções por Candida spp. e às altas taxas de morbimortalidade, apontam a importância da identificação das espécies, assim como a realização de testes de suscetibilidade para o sucesso do tratamento de candidíases. Neste estudo foram identificadas espécies de Candida em isolados clínicos de pacientes atendidos em um hospital da região oeste de Santa Catarina, Brasil, utilizando o método CHROMagar Candida, bem como avaliados seus respectivos perfis de suscetibilidade a antifúngicos usados no âmbito hospitalar utilizando o método de disco-difusão em ágar. Das 43 amostras analisadas, a maior prevalência da candidíase foi encontrada em pacientes com idade entre 51 e 70 anos e do gênero masculino. A maioria do isolados foi obtida de amostras de urina (n=25) e da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (n=22). As espécies mais frequentes foram C. albicans (n=24) e C. glabrata (n=13). A maioria dos isolados foi sensível à anfotericina B (86,05%) e a minoria (13,95%) sensível ao fluconazol. O setor de UTI, as amostras de urina e as culturas identificadas como C. albicans apresentaram vários isolados resistentes a todos os antifúngicos testados. O elevado número de isolados resistentes aos antifúngicos azólicos, provenientes principalmente de pacientes de UTI, indicam a importância do antifungigrama para a escolha do antifúngico e da dose mais adequados no tratamento de candidíases em pacientes críticos. Species of Candida Spp. in Clinical Isolates and Susceptibility for Antifungals used at Hospital Level ABSTRACT: The Candida yeast belongs to normal microbiota and can cause serious infections especially in the hospital environment. The various degrees of pathogenicity and sensitivity to antifungal presented by several species, combined with the increased frequency of infections caused by Candida spp. and the high morbidity and mortality rates indicate the importance of species identification as well as performing susceptibility testing for the successful treatment of candidiasis. In this study Candida species were identified in clinical isolates of patients treated in a hospital in the western region of Santa Catarina, Brasil, using CHROMagar Candida method and evaluated their susceptibility profiles to antifungal agents used in hospitals by disk diffusion agar method. Of the 43 samples analyzed, the highest prevalence of candidiasis was found in patients aged between 51 and 70 years old and male. Most of the isolates were obtained from urine samples (n = 25) and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (n = 22). The most common species were C. albicans (n = 24) and C. glabrata (n = 13). Most isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B (86.05%) and the minority (13.95%) sensitive to fluconazole. The ICU sector, urine samples and cultures identified as C. albicans showed several isolates resistant to all tested antifungals. The high number of isolates resistant to azole antifungal mainly from ICU patients indicate the importance of antifungal susceptibility test to select the most appropriate antifungal and dose in the treatment of candidiasis in critically ill patients.