OBJECTIVE: A previous study by our research group evaluated the levels of DNA damage using the comet assay in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The same blood samples were also evaluated using the cytochalasin B micronucleus assay. A comparison of the results of the two assays is presented here. METHODS: Whole blood samples were collected from 22 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on hemodialysis and from 22 control subjects. Samples were collected from patients early in the morning on Mondays, before the first weekly hemodialysis session. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) was used to evaluate genomic instability. RESULTS: The frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear buds were higher in patients than in controls (p-value = 0.001 and p-value < 0.001, respectively). There was a correlation between the frequency of micronuclei and DNA damage with the results of the comet assay (p-value < 0.001). The difference in the frequency of micronuclei and nuclear buds between patients and controls was more pronounced in the group with higher median comet values than in the group with lower comet values. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increased rates of DNA damage as measured by the comet assay and influenced by the weekly routine therapy of these patients has a mutagenic effect, thereby increasing the risk of cancer in this group.

Background: The carrier state of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is pointed as an infection predictor and a factor for environmental and person-to-person dissemination, including health service workers. These, when colonized are commonly associated to outbreaks. Objective: Analyze the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in saliva of workers at a university hospital. Methodology: Epidemiologic longitudinal study carried out in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, with 486 workers between April 2006 and June 2008. Three saliva samples were collected and a data collection instrument was applied. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from the clinical specimen and characterized by phenotypes. The data from the instrument and the laboratory results were organized and processed with EPI-Info software and analyzed via descriptive statistics. Results: Among the healthcare workers studied, 60.9% were colonized by Staphylococcus aureus in saliva; of those, 67.9% were transitory carriers and 32.1% were persistent carriers; the prevalence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the isolated cases was 15.7%. The average prevalence of MRSA was 12.7% and higher among nurses’ aides (21.4%) and cleaning aides (20.6%) and lower among nurses (4.5%) and doctors (5.9%). Conclusions: Healthcare workers presented high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in saliva, indicating the mouth as an important body site to investigate colonization by MRSA and a potential source to its dissemination.

Introdução: O estado de portador de Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina é apontado como preditor de infecção e fator para a disseminação ambiental e de pessoa a pessoa, incluindo trabalhadores de serviço de saúde. Estes quando colonizados são freqüentemente associados a surtos. Objetivo: Analisar a prevalência de Staphylococcus aureus na saliva de trabalhadores de hospital universitário. Metodologia: Estudo epidemiológico longitudinal realizado em Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil, com 486 trabalhadores no período de abril de 2006 a junho de 2008 compreendeu a coleta de três amostras de saliva e aplicação de instrumento de coleta de dados. Staphylococcus aureus foram isolados dos espécimes clínicos e caracterizados fenotipicamente. Os dados foram organizados e processados no Programa EPI-Info e analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. Resultados:Entre os trabalhadores investigados, 60,9% estavam colonizados por Staphylococcus aureus na saliva, sendo 67.9% carreadores transitórios e 32.1% carreadores persistentes; a prevalência de Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA) entre os isolados foi de 15.7%. A prevalência média de MRSA foi de 12.7% sendo maior entre técnicos em enfermagem (21.4%) e auxiliares de limpeza (20.6%) e menor entre enfermeiros (4.5%) e médicos (5.9%). Conclusões: Os trabalhadores apresentaram alta prevalência de Staphylococcus aureus na saliva, indicando a boca como importante sítio corporal para a investigação da colonização por MRSA e potencial fonte para sua disseminação.

Neste estudo, avaliou-se a atividade cicatrizante de uma pomada contendo uma fração acetato de etila 1% obtida de cascas de "barbatimão" (Stryphnodendron adstringens) em feridas excisionais na pele de ratos após 4, 7 e 10 dias de tratamento. Feridas controle foram tratadas com pomada base, sem extrato. A proliferação dos queratinócitos na área reepitelizada foi avaliada através da contagem do número de queratinócitos bloqueados em metáfase, pelo sulfato de vincristina. O comprimento da margem reepitelizada e a contração das feridas foram mensurados. As feridas tratadas com barbatimão apresentaram um maior número de mitoses do que aquelas tratadas com a pomada base, em todos os tempos avaliados. A aplicação tópica da pomada de "barbatimão" estimulou a proliferação epitelial contudo não teve efeito sobre a migração dos queratinócitos ou sobre a contração das feridas.

This study evaluated the cicatrizant effect of an ointment containing 1% of the ethyl-acetate fraction extracted from the stem bark of "barbatimão" (Stryphnodendron adstringens), in wounds made in the skin of rats, after 4, 7 and 10 days of treatment. Control wounds were treated with a base ointment without extract. The proliferation of keratinocytes in the area of reepithelialization was evaluated by counting the number of epithelial cells that were blocked in metaphase by vincristine sulfate. The length of the reepithelialized margin and the contraction of the wound were measured. Topical application of the "barbatimão" ointment stimulated proliferation of the keratinocytes, but had no effect on the length of the epithelium or on the contraction of the wounds.