Failures in endodontic treatments are mostly associated with the difficulty in eradicating microbes of the root canal system, highlighting the need to develop novel effective antimicrobials. Punica granatum (pomegranate) leaf hydroalcoholic extract may be a potential alternative in canal dressing, owing to its antimicrobial properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Punica granatum (HEPg) alone or in combination with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans in isolation and in mono- and polymicrobial biofilms. Microdilution tests in broth and assays for inhibition of biofilm formation were carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of HEPg and HEPg + Ca(OH)₂ against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The cytotoxicity of HEPg in HaCaT cells was evaluated by MTT assay. HEPg and HEPg + Ca(OH)₂ exerted significant antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells and mono- and polymicrobial biofilms. The combination of Punica granatum extract with Ca(OH)₂ appears to be a promising alternative in endodontic treatments, which could be tested in vivo to confirm the efficacy of this mixture in disinfecting root canal systems.

Introduction: Although fewer children have been affected by the severe form of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be the leading global cause of child hospitalizations and deaths. Aim: This study investigated the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well its subtypes (RSV A and B), adenovirus (ADV), rhinovirus (HRV), metapneumovirus (HMPV), coronavirus (NL63, OC43, 229E and HKU1), parainfluenza virus subtypes (PI1, PI2 and PI3), bocavirus and influenza A and B viruses (FluA and FluB) in children diagnosed with CAP during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 200 children with clinically confirmed CAP were initially recruited, of whom 107 had negative qPCR results for SARS-CoV-2 and were included in this study. Viral subtypes were identified using a real-time polymerase chain reaction in the nasopharyngeal swab samples. Results: Viruses were identified in 69.2% of the patients. RSV infections were the most frequently identified (65.4%), with type RSV B being the most prevalent (63.5%). In addition, HCoV 229E and HRV were detected in 6.5% and 3.7% of the patients, respectively. RSV type B was associated with severe acute respiratory infection (ARI) and a younger age (less than 24 months). Conclusions: New strategies for preventing and treating viral respiratory infections, particularly RSV infections, are necessary.

Introdução: Bisfosfonatos são fármacos utilizados para o tratamento de enfermidades ósseas, como a osteoporose e metástases ósseas, em razão do seu mecanismo de ação, que consiste na diminuição do processo de reabsorção do osso. Outros estudos verificaram que bisfosfonatos de alta potência, como o zoledronato, poderiam auxiliar no tratamento de outras enfermidades malignas por causa da promoção de um efeito antiproliferativo. Objetivo: Este estudo in vitro objetivou avaliar a atividade antiproliferativa de zoledronato em diferentes linhagens de células tumorais. Método: Nove linhagens humanas (U251; MCF7; NCI/ADR-RES; 786-0; NCI-H460; PC-3; OVCAR-3; HT29; K-562 e HaCaT) foram submetidas ao tratamento com as concentrações de 0,12; 1,2; 12 e 120 μM de zoledronato e tiveram sua atividade proliferativa avaliada após 48 horas, utilizando-se o corante sulforrodamina B. Resultados: Verificou-se que as concentrações de 12 μM e 120 μM de zoledronato foram eficazes para a redução em 50% e 100%, respectivamente, da proliferação das células 786-0 (carcinoma renal). A maior concentração de zoledronato (120 μM) promoveu um efeito citostático (redução da proliferação celular em 50%) para as células HaCaT (queratinócito humano não tumoral), HT-29 (carcinoma de cólon), NCI-ADR/ RES (adenocarcinoma de ovário com fenótipo de multirresistência) e NCI-H460 (carcinoma pulmonar). Conclusão: Esses resultados sugerem um promissor efeito auxiliar do zoledronato para o tratamento de alguns tipos de tumores; estudos complementares in vitro e in vivo são necessários para a validação dessa hipótese.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection usually presents similarly to other respiratory viral pathogens. Children and adolescents do not present as a group that is highly affected by the disease, having low infection rates. However, limited publications are associated with the findings of pneumonia in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Objective: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological aspects of children and adolescents hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in a pre-Amazon region. Methods: A retrospective study, carried out in four public hospitals in São Luís, Brazil where medical records of children and adolescents aged from 0 to 13 years, of both sexes, with clinical diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia were evaluated from March 2020 to March 2021. Results: Almost 40.0% of children were aged between 1 year and 5 years. Of the 128 children who had SARS-CoV-2, 3 are of indigenous ethnicity. Additionally, 78.6% of the children had fever and there was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients and those of other respiratory viruses. Eighteen patients had chronic neurological disease, which is the most common comorbidity observed in patients with coronavirus infection. Ground glass opacity attenuation was observed in 24.8% of children and adolescents with COVID-19. Anemia and increased inflammatory response markers were related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. More than 90.0% of patients admitted to hospital, regardless of etiology, were treated with antibiotics. Eighteen patients died. Pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (PMIS) was diagnosed in 17 patients. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents is mild, but the condition of patients with PMIS is more serious, with an increase in inflammatory biomarkers which can lead to death. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and differentiation of agents causing respiratory diseases are necessary for better therapeutic decision making, since the results of this study make us question the excessive use of antibiotics without meeting well-defined clinical–epidemiological criteria.

A aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) é tradicionalmente utilizada no tratamento de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e urinárias, enquanto o angico (Piptadenia colubrina Benth) é empregado para doenças respiratórias, além de infecções sexuais e urinárias. Ambas são plantas nativas do Nordeste brasileiro, amplamente utilizadas pela população de forma empírica. Para sua aplicação comercial, faz-se necessário respaldo científico. Este estudo avaliou in vitro o efeito antibacteriano e antifúngico dos extratos de angico e aroeira contra cepas de bactérias gram-positivas de relevância clínica (Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes e Streptococcus pneumoniae) e contra o fungo Candida albicans. A citotoxicidade foi testada em queratinócitos humanos HaCat por microdiluição em caldo, determinando-se as concentrações inibitória mínima (CIM) e bactericida mínima (MBC). Os extratos foram caracterizados por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência e espectrometria de massa (HPLC-MS). Os valores de CIM e MBC foram de 2 e 4 mg/mL, respectivamente, para ambas as plantas. A citotoxicidade apresentou-se acima de 60%, não sendo detectada toxicidade a partir de 0,25 e 0,125 mg/mL para aroeira e de 1 a 4 mg/mL para angico. A atividade antioxidante, avaliada pelo radical livre DPPH, foi significativa: aroeira apresentou ação entre 5 mg/mL e 0,312 mg/mL; angico entre 0,625 mg/mL e 0,039 mg/mL. Os resultados indicam que os extratos de aroeira e angico possuem potencial no tratamento de bactérias gram-positivas, apresentam ação antioxidante e baixa toxicidade, embora demonstrem baixa efetividade frente a fungos. Estudos adicionais sobre sinergia entre os extratos são recomendados.