Abstract Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) associated with milia lesions has been increasingly reported, but its prevalence has not been reported in a Brazilian BP population yet. Objectives: To describe the occurrence and clinical-laboratorial findings of BP-milia association in a southeastern Brazilian sample. Methods: A descriptive study based on the medical charts of 102 BP patients was accomplished. Clinical and laboratory data of BP-milia patients were compiled. Total serum IgE measurements, immunoblot assays based on basement membrane zone antigens, and HLA-DQ alleles typing were performed. Results: Milia was evident in 8 (7.8%) BP patients, five males, aged between 46 and 88 years. Increased total IgE levels were determined in 7 (87.5%) of the eight patients. In five of eight patients, immunoblotting showed IgG reactivity against the BP180-NC16a domain but not against collagen VII or laminin-332; it also revealed reactivity against the BP180 C-terminal domain or LAD-1, or both in four of them. The HLA-DQB1*03:01 and HLA-DQA1*05:05 alleles were identified in three of five BP-milia patients. Moreover, three of five cases presented the HLA-DQB1*06 allelic group. Study limitations: HLA determination was performed in five patients. Conclusions: Milia formation in BP patients seems to be less uncommon than previously admitted. Laboratory data revealed increased IgE; autoantibodies against the BP180 C-terminal domain or LAD-1, or both; and the HLA-DQB1*06 allelic group, described for the BP-milia association. Careful determination of antibodies against basement membrane zone molecules and HLA characterization in different populations may provide further insights into this association. © 2022 Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Abstract We evaluated the antimicrobial activity of Aspilia latissima - an abundant plant from the Brazilian Pantanal region - against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The crude extracts and fractions showed activity in all tested microorganisms. The chloroform fraction of the leaves and roots showed the most antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, with an MIC of 500 μg/mL. This fraction was submitted to bioautographic assays to characterize the activity of the compounds. Two bands from the leaves (L-A and L-B) and three bands from the roots (R-C, R-D and R-E) were bioactive. Within the root-derived bands, the terpene derivatives stigmasterol, kaurenoic acid and kaura-9(11), 16-dien-18-oic acid were identified. Antibiotic activity of A. latissima is reported for the first time.

A atividade antimicrobiana de Aegiphila sellowiana Cham., Lamiaceae, contra patógenos da cavidade bucal foi avaliada empregando-se o método de microdiluição em caldo, segundo o protocolo CLSI M7-A7, utilizando-se clorexidina como controle positivo. O extrato etanólico bruto das partes aéreas de A. sellowiana, obtido por maceração, exibiu atividade contra os microrganismos testados neste trabalho, entretanto, os valores de CIM (concentração inibitória mínima) aumentaram após a partição com n-hexano, diclorometano e acetato de etila. Entre as frações testadas, a fração n-hexânica foi a mais efetiva contra os patógenos bucais avaliados, com valores de CIM entre 140 e 350 µg/mL-1. Dados obtidos por CG-EM revelaram que ésteres de ácidos graxos, esteróides e hidrocarbonetos sesquiterpênicos alifáticos são os constituintes majoritários desta fração. Embora esses compostos possam ser os responsáveis pela atividade da fração n-hexânica, outros constituintes químicos presentes nas frações em diclorometano, acetato de etila e hidroalcoólica podem potencializar suas atividades no extrato bruto.

The antimicrobial activity of Aegiphila sellowiana Cham., Lamiaceae, against oral pathogens is reported. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) for inhibiting the microorganisms growth were determined using the broth microdilution method from the CLSI M7-A7 protocol. Chlorhexidine was used as the positive control. The ethanol crude extract of the aerial parts of A. sellowiana exhibited activity against the microorganisms tested in this work; however, the activity decreased after partition with n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate. Among the tested fractions, the n-hexane fraction was found to be the most effective against the evaluated oral pathogens. GC-MS analysis of this latter fraction revealed that fatty acids esters, steroids, and aliphatic sesquiterpene hydrocarbons are its major constituents. These compounds may be responsible for the activity of the n-hexane fraction, but other chemical constituents of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and hydroalcoholic fraction may potentialize their activities in the crude extract.

Denervation of the colon is protective against the colon cancer; however, the mechanisms involved are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the denervated colonic mucosa could be less responsive to the action of the chemical carcinogen dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Three groups of 32 male Wistar rats were treated as follows: group 1 (G1) had the colon denervated with 0.3 mL 1.5 mM benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium (benzalkonium chloride, BAC); G2 received a single ip injection of 125 mg/kg DMH; G3 was treated with BAC + the same dose and route of DMH. A control group (Sham, N = 32) did not receive any treatment. Each group was subdivided into four groups according to the sacrifice time (1, 2, 6, and 12 weeks after DMH). Crypt fission index, ß-catenin accumulated crypts, aberrant crypt foci, and cell proliferation were evaluated and analyzed by ANOVA and the Student t-test. G3 animals presented a small number of aberrant crypt foci and low crypt fission index compared to G2 animals after 2 and 12 weeks, respectively. From the second week on, the index of ß-catenin crypt in G3 animals increased slower than in G2 animals. From the 12th week on, G2 animals presented a significant increase in cell proliferation when compared to the other groups. Colonic denervation plays an anticarcinogenic role from early stages of colon cancer development. This finding can be of importance for the study of the role of the enteric nervous system in the carcinogenic process.

O conhecimento das características e propriedades dos solos de várzea do RS, utilizados atualmente com a cultura do arroz irrigado, torna-se essencial para a adoção de práticas que envolvam irrigação, drenagem, correção da acidez e da fertilidade, principalmente quando se deseja obter altos níveis de produtividade, com menor custo e com menores possibilidades de degradação destes solos e do ambiente onde estão situados. Dentro deste panorama, avaliou-se a compactação de um Planossolo cultivado sob diferentes sistemas de manejo, através da resistência mecânica do solo à penetração. Camadas compactadas foram identificadas, de forma mais acentuada, na profundidade intermediária (0,10-0,20 m) nos sistemas com maior utilização da mecanização agrícola (T2 - sistema de cultivo contínuo de arroz e T3 - sistema de cultivo de arroz x rotação de culturas). Observou-se que, em todos os sistemas, houve aumento dos valores de resistência mecânica do solo à penetração em relação à testemunha (T6 - solo mantido sem cultivo), principalmente na camada intermediária (0,10-0,20 m), quando o solo foi submetido ao sistema de cultivo contínuo de arroz (T2). Os tratamentos T3 (sistema de cultivo de arroz x rotação de culturas) e T5 (sucessão de culturas: soja (sistema convencional) x arroz (sistema de semeadura direta)) apresentaram os valores mais altos de resistência à penetração, provavelmente em decorrência da baixa umidade e dos efeitos do cultivo e da utilização de máquinas responsáveis pela deformação da estrutura do solo.

Understanding the characteristics and properties of the soils of the state of Rio Grande do Sul low lands, which are being used now with the culture of irrigated rice, is indispensable for the adoption of practices involving irrigation, drainage, correction of acidity and fertility. Mainly when high productivity levels are desired with lower cost and with fewer possibilities of soil and air degradation. The objective of this work was to evaluate compaction of a Planossolo cultivated under different handling systems through the technique of mechanical resistance of the soil to penetration. The occurrence of compacted layers was identified, in the intermediary depth (0.10-0.20 m) in the systems with larger use of agricultural mechanization (T2 - Continuous rice cultivation system and T3 - rice x crop rotation cultivation system). An increase of the values of the soil's mechanical resistance to penetration was observed in relation to the control in all the systems (T6 - Soil without cultivation), mainly in the intermediary layer (0.10-0.20 m), when the soil was submitted to the continuous rice cultivation system (T2). The treatments T3 (rice x crop rotation) and T5 (succession of cultures: soybean (conventional system) x rice (zero tillage)) showed the highest values of resistance to penetration, probably due to low humidity and to the cultivation effects and the use of machines, causing deformation of the soil structure.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivos: (a) verificar possíveis diferenças entre seis genótipos de grão-de-bico (Cicer arietinum L.), selecionados no Instituto Agronômico, quanto à suscetibilidade ao ataque de Callosobruchus phaseoli (Gyllenhal), C. maculatus F. e Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say), pragas de armazenamento dessa fabácea; (b) relacionar as diferenças em suscetibilidade com a composição química das sementes, e (c) avaliar a qualidade de cozimento das sementes dos genótipos com características agronômicas mais promissoras para o cultivo. Foram utilizadas sementes do cv. IAC-Marrocos e dos genótipos IAC-Sonora, IAC-Sonora-FE, IAC-GB2, IAC-GB3 e IAC-GB4 de grão-de-bico, as quais foram infestadas separadamente com as três principais espécies de insetos, obtendo-se o número de ovos por fêmea (Callosobruchus), a percentagem de ovos que se desenvolveram até adulto, o período de desenvolvimento de ovo a adulto e a perda de peso das sementes por inseto desenvolvido, parâmetros utilizados para avaliação dos genótipos, cuja composição em ácidos graxos foi determinada, procurando-se relacionar as diferenças obtidas com as diferenças em suscetibilidade. Verificaram-se diferenças de resistência ao ataque de bruquídeos entre os genótipos estudados. O IAC-GB2 foi o menos favorável ao desenvolvimento de C. maculatus, C. phaseoli e A. obtectus. A resistência de grão-de-bico a bruquídeos pode estar relacionada com componentes do tegumento que conferem coloração mais escura e/ou com a composição em ácido linoléico, influindo na oviposição e na alimentação e/ou biologia das larvas. Foi observada diferença na qualidade de cozimento entre os genótipos estudados. O IAC-Sonora apresentou qualidade de cozimento significativamente superior ao IAC-GB2.

The bruchids have been observed as the most important species in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) storage. Nevertheless, many authors reported in some genotypes of Fabacea differences in susceptibility to bruchids attack, suggesting the use of resistant cultivars as a method to avoid infestation during storage. The Instituto Agronômico of Campinas (IAC), State of São Paulo, Brazil, has been selecting chickpeas genotypes suitable to local conditions. The main objective of this research was to verify the occurrence of resistance to Callosobruchus phaseoli (Gyllenhal), C. maculatus F. and Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) in six chickpeas genotypes during storage. The genotypes were: cv. IAC-Marrocos, IAC-Sonora, IAC Sonora-FE, IAC-GB2, IAC-GB3 and IAC-GB4. Each of them was infested by insects of the three main species. The differences in resistance were evaluated by: (a) the percentage of eggs developed until adult phase, (b) period from egg to adult, (c) loss of weight in seeds per insect developed and (d) the number of eggs per female, the last one was applied only for Callosobruchus species. The seeds chemical composition, fat acids, was evaluated in order to establish a relationship with the seeds resistance or susceptibility. The cultivars IAC-Marrocos and IAC-GB2 showed evidences of resistance to bruchids. IAC-Sonora and IAC-Sonora-FE, which have the best agricultural characteristics, had their seeds cooking quality analyzed. Differences in bruchids attack were observed among the six chickpeas genotypes. IAC-GB2 was the less susceptible to C. maculatus, C. phaseoli and A. obtectus. The resistance to bruchids in chickpea may be related to tegument components as pigments, in dark tegument genotypes, and to the presence of linoleic acid, affecting oviposition and also larval feeding and/or larval biology. Cooking quality differed among genotypes. Cooking quality of IAC-Sonora was significatively higher than that of IAC-GB2.