Antimicrobial packaging is a promising type of active packaging, which has an antimicrobial agent incorporated into the polymer matrix, capable to eliminate or inhibit deteriorating and/or pathogenic microorganisms. The zinc compounds are antimicrobial agents commonly used to confer this feature. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of biodegradable Ecoflex® films with 1% and 2% (w/w) zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and 1% and 2% (w/w) glass microparticles doped with ionic zinc (Zn MCs), against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The sample’s biodegradation in soil also were studied. Microbiological results showed that biodegradable polymeric films obtained were effective to inhibit and/or kill S. aureus and E. coli at the initial concentration of 104 CFU.mL-1 after 24 h of contact. When evaluated the biodegradation of the polymers containing the additives, the results showed that the addition of zinc compounds to the biodegradable polymer did not affect its biodegradability characteristic. The antimicrobial biodegradable films developed have potential application to the food packaging industry.

FUNDAMENTO: A síndrome de pré-eclâmpsia se associa com a disfunção endotelial e o diagnóstico diferencial entre pré-eclâmpsia pura (PE) e sobreposta (PES) só pode ser feito após 12 semanas do parto. OBJETIVO: Comparar a avaliação da função endotelial através de dilatação mediada por fluxo de gestantes com pré-eclâmpsia pura e sobreposta. MÉTODOS: A dilatação mediada por fluxo da artéria braquial foi realizada utilizando as recomendações da International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force em gestantes com a Síndrome de Pré-eclâmpsia. Pré-eclâmpsia (n = 14) e pré-eclâmpsia sobreposta (n = 13) foram diagnosticadas no pós-parto segundo as definições do National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy. RESULTADOS: A mediana da dilatação mediada por fluxo (DMF) na PES (6,0%; 1,9-10,3) foi reduzida em comparação com PE (13,6%; 4,4-17,1), uma disparidade aparentemente relevante, mas sem diferença estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,08). A DMF inferior a 10% foi detectada em 30,8% das PE e em 69,2% das PES (p = 0,057). Diferenças significativas não ocorreram na comparação entre a morfologia das artérias uterinas de PE e PES através do espectro do Doppler. CONCLUSÃO: A DMF da artéria braquial de pacientes com Síndrome de Pré-eclâmpsia não se mostrou ser um método capaz de diferenciar PE de PES. Entretanto, os dados sugerem que PES se associa com pior função endotelial em comparação a PE.

BACKGROUND: The preeclampsia syndrome is associated with endothelial dysfunction and the differential diagnosis between pure preeclampsia (PE) and superimposed preeclampsia (SPE) can be only be attained 12 weeks after delivery. OBJECTIVE: To compare the assessment of endothelial function through flow-mediated dilatation in pregnant women with pure preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia. METHODS: The flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery was carried out according to the recommendations of the International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force in pregnant women with preeclampsia syndrome. PE (n=14) and SPE (n=13) were diagnosed in the postpartum period according to the definitions of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy. RESULTS: The median of the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in SPE (6.0%; 1.9-10.3) was decreased in comparison with the PE (13.6%;4.4-17.1), an apparently relevant difference , but not statistically significant (p = 0.08). The FMD < 10% was detected in 30.8% of the PE cases and in 69.2% of the SPE cases (p = 0.057). Significant differences could not be detected in the morphology of the uterine arteries between the PE and SPE cases through the Doppler spectrum. CONCLUSION: The FMD of the brachial artery of patients with preeclampsia syndrome was not capable of differentiating between PE and SPE. However, the data suggest that SPE is associated with worse endothelial function I comparison to PE.

FUNDAMENTO: El síndrome de preeclampsia se asocia con la disfunción endotelial y el diagnóstico diferencial entre preeclampsia pura (PE) y sobreagregada (PES) sólo puede realizarse 12 semanas después del parto. OBJETIVO: Comparar la evaluación de la función endotelial a través de dilatación mediada por flujo en gestantes con preeclampsia pura y sobreagregada. MÉTODOS: La dilatación mediada por flujo de la arteria braquial se realizó utilizando las recomendaciones de la International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force en gestantes con Síndrome de Preeclampsia. La Preeclampsia (n = 14) y preeclampsia sobreagregada (n = 13) fueron diagnosticadas en el posparto según las definiciones del National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy. RESULTADOS: El promedio de la dilatación mediada por flujo (DMF) en la PES (6,0%; 1,9-10,3) fue reducido en comparación con la PE (13,6%; 4,4-17,1), una disparidad aparentemente relevante, pero sin diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,08). Una DMF inferior al 10% se detectó en el 30,8% de las PE y en el 69,2% de las PES (p = 0,057). No aparecieron diferencias significativas en la comparación entre la morfología de las arterias uterinas de PE y PES a través del espectro del Doppler. CONCLUSIÓN: La DMF de la arteria braquial de pacientes con Síndrome de Preeclampsia no demostró ser un método capaz de diferenciar PE de PES. No obstante, los datos sugieren que la PES se asocia a una peor función endotelial en comparación con la PE.