ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the effects of rosemary leaf essential oil-based ointments on the healing of rat skin lesions. Methods: Sixty adult male rats, with dorsal excisional skin wounds made surgically under anesthesia, were divided into three groups (n = 20): Sham group (untreated wounds); control group (CG, wounds treated with vehicle); and essential oil (EO) treated group (wounds treated with essential oil-based ointments), administered topically once daily. Skin wounds were evaluated at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days after EO or vehicle treatments. Lesions were analyzed macroscopically for the contraction degree. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of skin wounds were used for histopathological evaluation. Results: Macroscopic evaluation showed wounds edges with thin crust without firmness and yellowish color, along with an improvement in wound contraction in EO group when compared to the other groups. A reduced inflammatory reaction, along with newly formed small diameter capillaries and more organized and elongated collagen fibers, were more frequently observed in EO group than in the other groups. Moreover, blood vessel number and collagen fibers density were significantly higher in EO group. Conclusions: Skin lesion treatment with rosemary leaf essential oil-based ointments accelerates the initial stages of healing, reduces inflammation, and increases angiogenesis, collagen fibers density, and wound contraction in rats.

SUMMARY Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by muscle weakness, atrophy, fasciculations, and decreased reflexes due to upper and lower motor neurons death. It can be present in both sexes (55-65 years), but with predominance in males. However, in female patients, ALS presents its first symptoms when they are already postmenopausal, when then the incidence ratio of the disease is practically equal between the sexes, which leads to a probable involvement of sex hormones in the development and protection against ALS. The aim of this systematic review, which used the PRISMA consensus and NOS (New Castle-Ottawa Scale) score, was to evaluate the evidence of the action of hormone therapy in women with ALS. The Medline and Cochrane databases were accessed from March 2019 to June 2019, and only full-text articles in Spanish, English, and Portuguese were included. Only four articles matched our inclusion criteria. Postmenopausal women who used exogenous estrogen did not have the same protective factor as women still under the action of endogenous estrogen in the same age group. There was also no increase in the survival of these women.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose is to study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and autologous platelet concentrates in healing the fibula bone of rabbits after induced fractures. METHODS: A total of 128 male New Zealand albino rabbits, between 6-8 months old, were subjected to a total osteotomy of the proximal portion of the right fibula. After surgery, the animals were divided into four groups (n = 32 each): control group, in which animals were subjected to osteotomy; autologous platelet concentrate group, in which animals were subjected to osteotomy and autologous platelet concentrate applied at the fracture site; hyperbaric oxygen group, in which animals were subjected to osteotomy and 9 consecutive daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions; and autologous platelet concentrate and hyperbaric oxygen group, in which animals were subjected to osteotomy, autologous platelet concentrate applied at the fracture site, and 9 consecutive daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to a pre-determined euthanasia time points: 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postoperative. After euthanasia at a specific time point, the fibula containing the osseous callus was prepared histologically and stained with hematoxylin and eosin or picrosirius red. RESULTS: Autologous platelet concentrates and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, applied together or separately, increased the rate of bone healing compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and autologous platelet concentrate combined increased the rate of bone healing in this experimental model.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde, em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal, causadas pelo Staphylococcus coagulase negativa, verificando o perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana e possíveis esquemas antibióticos eficazes. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo retrospectivo de uma série de casos de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde tardias de origem hospitalar atribuída ao Staphylococcus coagulase negativa, avaliando o perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana. Foram estudados os recém-nascidos internados entre 1º de janeiro de 2010 a 30 de junho de 2012 em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, sendo todos os pacientes oriundos de outras unidades. RESULTADOS: Foram admitidos 765 pacientes, totalizando 3.051 pacientes-dia e uma densidade de incidência de infecção geral de 18,9 por 1.000 pacientes-dia. A taxa de utilização de cateteres venosos centrais foi de 71,6% e a positividade das culturas de todos os sítios para todas as infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde foi de 68,4%. O Staphylococcus coagulase negativa foi implicado em 11 (19,2%) das 57 infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde e Klebsiela pneumoniae produtor de betalactamase de espectro estendido e Candida sp em 5 ocasiões cada. Das 11 infecções, 10 (90,9%) foram atribuídas a infecções primárias de corrente sanguínea. A sensibilidade dos isolados de Staphylococcus coagulase negativa em relação à vancomicina, clindamicina, ciprofloxacin, oxacilina e gentamicina foi de 100%, 81,8%, 72,7%, 27,2%, 22,2%, respectivamente. Não houve óbito atribuído diretamente à infecção por Staphylococcus coagulase negativa. CONCLUSÃO: O Staphylococcus coagulase negativa foi o principal agente encontrado nas infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde tardias de origem hospitalar, sendo baixas as taxas de infecções relacionadas a cateter venoso central. Em hospitais semelhantes ao aqui estudado, com elevado perfil de resistência à oxacilina, a vancomicina pode ser utilizada como terapêutica inicial, sendo também a clindamicina uma alternativa viável.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate infections related to health care caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci in a neonatal intensive care unit by assessing antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and potentially effective antibiotic regimens. METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive study performed on a case series of healthcare-associated infections, and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were evaluated. Newborns from other hospitals who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Rio de Janeiro between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2012, were studied. RESULTS: In total, 765 patients were admitted, totaling 3,051 patient-days, and the incidence density of general infection was 18.9 per 1,000 patient-days. The rate of central venous catheter use was 71.6%, and the positive culture rate for all sites and all infections related to health care were 68.4%. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were identified in 11 (19.2%) of 57 health care-related infections, and infections with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida sp. constituted 5 cases each. Of the 11 cases of coagulase-negative Staphylococci, 10 (90.9%) were primary bloodstream infections. The sensitivity of the coagulase-negative Staphylococci isolates to vancomycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, oxacillin and gentamycin was 100%, 81.8%, 72.7%, 27.2% and 22.2%, respectively. There were no deaths directly attributed to coagulase-negative Staphylococci infection. CONCLUSION: Coagulase-negative Staphylococci was the main agent identified in healthcare-associated infections, with low rates of infections related to central venous catheter. In hospitals with a high oxacillin resistance profile, similar to those included in this study, vancomycin may be used as an initial therapy, although clindamycin represents a viable alternative.