Márcia Regina Batista

In vivo activity of Sapindus saponaria against azole-susceptible and -resistant human vaginal Candida species

BackgroundStudy of in vivo antifungal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract (HE) and n-BuOH extract (BUTE) of Sapindus saponaria against azole-susceptible and -resistant human vaginal Candida spp.MethodsThe in vitro antifungal activity of HE, BUTE, fluconazole (FLU), and itraconazole (ITRA) was determined by the broth microdilution method. We obtained values of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) for 46 strains of C. albicans and 10 of C. glabrata isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). VVC was induced in hyperestrogenic Wistar rats with azole-susceptible C. albicans (SCA), azole-resistant C. albicans (RCA), and azole-resistant C. glabrata (RCG). The rats were treated intravaginally with 0.1 mL of HE or BUTE at concentrations of 1%, 2.5% and 5%; 100 μg/mL of FLU (treatment positive control); or distilled water (negative control) at 1, 24, and 48 h after induction of the infection, and the progress of VVC was monitored by culturing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The toxicity was evaluated in cervical cells of the HeLa cell line.ResultsThe extracts showed in vitro inhibitory and fungicidal activity against all the isolates, and the MIC and MFC values for the C. glabrata isolates were slightly higher. In vivo, the SCA, RCA, and RCG infections were eliminated by 21 days post-infection, with up to 5% HE and BUTE, comparable to the activity of FLU. No cytotoxic action was observed for either extract.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that HE and BUTE from S. saponaria show inhibitory and fungicidal activity in vitro, in addition to in vivo activity against azole-resistant vaginal isolates of C. glabrata and azole-susceptible and resistant isolates of C. albicans. Also considering the lack of cytotoxicity and the low concentrations of the extracts necessary to eliminate the infection in vivo, HE and BUTE show promise for continued studies with purified antifungal substances in VVC yeast isolates.

Coexistence of insulin resistance and increased glucose tolerance in pregnant rats: a physiological mechanism for glucose maintenance.

AIM The contribution of insulin resistance (IR) and glucose tolerance to the maintenance of blood glucose levels in non diabetic pregnant Wistar rats (PWR) was investigated. MAIN METHODS PWR were submitted to conventional insulin tolerance test (ITT) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) using blood sample collected 0, 10 and 60 min after intraperitoneal insulin (1 U/kg) or oral (gavage) glucose (1g/kg) administration. Moreover, ITT, GTT and the kinetics of glucose concentration changes in the fed and fasted states were evaluated with a real-time continuous glucose monitoring system (RT-CGMS) technique. Furthermore, the contribution of the liver glucose production was investigated. KEY FINDINGS Conventional ITT and GTT at 0, 7, 14 and 20 days of pregnancy revealed increased IR and glucose tolerance after 20 days of pregnancy. Thus, this period of pregnancy was used to investigate the kinetics of glucose changes with the RT-CGMS technique. PWR (day 20) exhibited a lower (p<0.05) glucose concentration in the fed state. In addition, we observed IR and increased glucose tolerance in the fed state (PWR-day 20 vs. day 0). Furthermore, our data from glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis suggested that the liver glucose production did not contribute to these changes in insulin sensitivity and/or glucose tolerance during late pregnancy. SIGNIFICANCE In contrast to the general view that IR is a pathological process associated with gestational diabetes, a certain degree of IR may represent an important physiological mechanism for blood glucose maintenance during fasting.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Kaingang native americans in southern Brazil

The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and obesity among a Brazilian indigenous population. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008 among Kaingang native Americans from the central region of the state of Parana, Brazil. Eighty two of the inhabitants aged 15 or older were selected. Height, weight, blood pressure, waistline circumference, and hip circumference were measured. After fasting, the blood was collected for the measurement of glucose, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, total cholesterol, AI and B apolipoprotein, and hemoglobin. The prevalences found were: fasting hyperglycemia (9.8%), hypercholesterolemia (4.9%), reduced HDL cholesterol (13.4%), hypertriglyceridemia (11%), abdominal obesity (37.8%), generalized obesity (26.8%), arterial hypertension (26.8%), and anemia (46.3%). The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among the Kaingang was 11%, all in females 20 to 49 years of age. The results suggested that the changes in the indigenous lifestyle, especially in eating habits and physical activity, have occurred.

Effect of experimental diabetes on the development and maintenance of vulvovaginal candidiasis in female rats.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to develop an experimental model of diabetes in female rats and verify its influence on vulvovaginal candidiasis. STUDY DESIGN The animals were divided into control and diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced with the use of an intravenous solution of alloxan (42 mg/kg bodyweight). One week after confirmation of hyperglycemia, the inoculation of Candida albicans yeast, previously standardized from a vaginal isolate, in concentrations of about 5 x 10(8), was performed. Infection control was made through vaginal culture, Papanicolaou cytology, and scanning electron microscopy (SCEM). RESULTS The results pointed to different glycemias between the control (74.8 +/- 2.6) and experimental groups (543.1 +/- 12.1) and a significant bodyweight decrease (227.6 +/- 4.77 and 204 +/- 6.39, respectively). The positive infection was shown by culture, Papanicolaou test, and SCEM in the experimental group. CONCLUSION Diabetes mellitus causes hyperglycemia, which was favorable to the vaginal colonization and infection by C albicans.

Are Physiological Changes in Meal-Fed Rats Determined by the Amount of Food Ingested in the Last Meal or Due to Feeding Schedule?

Rats trained to eat a single meal from 0800 to 1000 AM, (MF rats), increased food intake from the 1st (7.0 g) to the 13th (16.1 g) day and showed higher hepatic glycogen concentration and glycemia during fasting. To verify if these changes were determined by the higher food intake or due to the disciplining condition we compared rats at the 1st (MF(1st day-5 g) group) and 13th day (MF(13th day-5 g) group) of training, refed with a fixed amount of food (5 g). In addition, a third group (MF(13th day-12 g) group) composed by trained meal-fed rats, refed on day 13 with approximately 75% of food ingested by MF rats on day 13 ( 12 g) of feeding training was included. The experiments with these 3 groups were performed at zero (1000 h), 6 (1600 h), 13 (2300 h), 18 (0400 h) and 22 (0800 h) h after meal. Our results demonstrated that part of the physiological changes of MF rats is consequence of feeding training (increased food intake during the fixed meal time and spontaneous elevation of glycemia 13 h after meal) and part of the differences (hepatic glycogen concentration, gastric and intestinal emptying) correlate well with effective time of fasting. In addition, hepatic gluconeogenesis from L-lactate and glycerol was influenced by both factors.

Design and optimization of self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) of felodipine for chronotherapeutic application

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on the development and maintenance of Candida albicans in the vagina of oophorectomized Wistar rats. The animals were divided into negative control groups (NCG), which received injections of sterile saline; positive control groups (PCG), which were given injections of estradiol valerate; and progesterone groups (PG), which were given injections of Depo-Provera®. After one week of hormonal induction, vaginal infection by C. albicans was induced in all the groups and detected by vaginal yeast culture and Papanicolaou smear. In addition, scanning and transmission electron microscopy images were obtained to confirm the vaginal infection by yeast in PG. A difference in progesterone levels in PG was observed between the basal level and after hormonal induction (P<0.0001). In this group, 100% of the rats acquired vaginal infection in the first week, but did not maintain it until the third week. The pharmaceutical brand of DMPA was effective for inducing the metestrus or diestrus phase of the estrous cycle in rats, similar to the use of pure progesterone. In contrast to estrogen treatment, progesterone alone could not support an experimental vaginal infection by C. albicans for any significant period of time.

Biological Effects of Hydrolyzed Quinoa Extract from Seeds of Chenopodium quinoa Willd.

An extract from seeds of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa), termed hydrolyzed quinoa (HQ), was obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis from seeds of the quinoa variety BRS-Piabiru. Analysis of the physical and chemical properties of quinoa and HQ showed that the hydrolyzed extract is rich in essential amino acids, particularly those with branched chains (leucine, isoleucine, and valine). In addition, we evaluated the biological effects of HQ, particularly the toxicological potential. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were assigned randomly to four groups: (1) sedentary supplemented group, which received HQ (2,000 mg/kg); (2) sedentary control group, non-supplemented; (3) exercised supplemented group (i.e., rats subjected to aerobic physical exercise that received HQ [2,000 mg/kg]); and (4) exercised control group (i.e., rats subjected to aerobic physical exercise, non-supplemented). After 30 days, all groups were analyzed for levels of serum glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, total protein, albumin, uric acid, and urea and activities of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. Body weight gain, dietary intake, and lipid deposition were also analyzed. The results showed no hepatic and renal toxicity of HQ. Moreover, decreased food intake, body weight, fat deposition, and blood triacylglycerol level were observed in the supplemented groups (sedentary and exercised supplemented groups). These results suggest a potential use of HQ in human nutrition.

Comparative performance of lab tests and blood testing device to monitor glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol in type 2 diabetic patients

Comparou-se a performance de avaliacao da glicemia atraves de dosagens laboratoriais (DL) ou dispositivo para teste de sangue capilar (DTSC) vs. hemoglobina glicada A1c (A1c). Comparou-se ainda a performance de avaliacao da glicemia, colesterol total (CT) e triacilglicerol (DL vs. DTSC). Avaliou-se estes parametros a partir das mesmas amostras de sangue coletadas em pacientes diabeticos tipo 2 (PDT2) em jejum noturno, sendo as comparacoes realizadas atraves de analise de regressao linear. A A1c correlacionou-se melhor com a glicemia-DL (r = 0,58) em relacao a glicemia-DTSC (r = 0,42). Comparou-se DL vs. DTSC obtendo se r = 0,90, 0,82 e 0,92 para glicemia, CT e triacilglicerol, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que houve melhor performance da glicose-DL em relacao a glicose-DTSC. Alem disso, considerando que o triacilglicerol e TC avaliado atraves de DTSC correlaciona-se melhor com DL em comparacao a DTSC-glicose vs. DL-glicose, a inclusao de DTSC-TC e DTSC-triacilglicerol visando detectar e monitorar hyperlipidemia in PDT2 deve ser considerada.

Ultrastructural Imaging of Candida albicans Adhesion to Rat Genital Epithelium through Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy

The adhesion of Candida albicans to the genital epithelium has not been fully investigated in vivo. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ultrastructural aspects of C. albicans adhesion in the lower genital system of female Wistar rats through scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The genital infection persisted until the end of the experiment, and all rats showed the same adhesion aspects. Various associated yeast/hyphae were observed in the lumen and adhered both at the vaginal and endocervical levels where the fungal filamentation process occurred. In the vaginal epithelium, closely adhered yeasts were observed as stretched strands bridging between yeasts and the epithelium surface. Different stages of the adhesion, where yeasts internalized into the epithelial cell inside a cytoplasmic vacuole, resembling endocytosis, and a wide fibrillar-floccular, glycocalyx-like layer on the yeasts were observed. On the endocervix, the adhesion occurred between the cilia. In the uterine body, only a yeast-like form was observed with superficial contact. This study reached the initial goal of demonstrating an experimental model for in vivo studies. Continuation of this line of research is important for studies of vulvovaginal candidiasis.