ABSTRACT Propolis is a rich source of bioactive molecules made by bees by collecting an infinite variety of secondary metabolites from plants. This study determined the chromatographic and mass spectrometry profile along with the biological activity of propolis produced by the native Brazilian bee Melipona quadrifasciata. A hydroalcoholic crude extract was prepared and partitioned in solvents of different polarities, generating aqueous, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and insoluble fractions. The phenolic and flavonoid content was also determined in crude aqueous and methanolic extracts as well. The antioxidant activity was determined by three different methods and correlated with the phenolic and flavonoid content. Extracts and fractions were tested against the herpes simplex virus type 1, and the cytotoxicity was evaluated in fibroblast L929 cells. The chromatographic and mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of catechin, epicatechin, aromadendrin, naringenin, pinocembrin and p-coumaric acid. The methanolic extract, ethyl acetate fraction and insoluble fraction possess higher phenolic and flavonoid content along with better antioxidant activities. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions, along with the FM14 and FM45 subfractions demonstrated better viral inhibition, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 90.5, 294, 188 and 58.5 µg ml−1, respectively. Among these, the ones presenting the best selectivity index were the ethyl acetate and FM45 fractions, with a pronounced virucidal effect. The methanolic extract stood out in the antioxidant activities and showed no cytotoxicity bellow 125 µg ml−1, exhibiting the most promising biological activity. Although this propolis seems to act in the early stages of herpetic infections, it is still difficult to correlate this activity with a single constituent of this complex mixture, suggesting a synergism in the extract components. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind with this propolis type.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Medical students have an occupational risk for hepatitis B (HB). This study sought to determine anti-HBs and anti-HBc IgG levels in vaccinated students, check their seroconversion, and correlate this with vaccination. METHODS One hundred and forty-three students’ blood samples and their vaccination schedules were analyzed. RESULTS: 65.7% were positive for anti-HBs; however, anti-HBs was absent in 34.3%. Only two samples were positive for anti-HBc IgG. CONCLUSIONS More than 30% of students did not have minimum protective levels. Comparing HBV vaccination and anti-HBs reactivity, the majority of reactive individuals received their last dose within the past 16 years.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The objective was to identify comorbidities related to HIV-positive patients in Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive observational design study which analyzed data from 424 patients assisted by the sexually transmitted disease/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (STD/AIDS) Specialized Care Service (SCS). RESULTS: Of 424 medical records analyzed, 388 patients presented CD4+/CD8+ ratios lower than 1. The most prevalent comorbidities were smoking, depression, alcoholism, and herpes zoster infection, in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: The most relevant comorbidity in both genders was herpes zoster, an important marker of immunity in patients. The lowest mean was observed among patients with neurotoxoplasmosis.

Resumo Giardia spp. e Cryptosporidium spp. são protozoários patogênicos de transmissão fecal-oral de veiculação hídrica, que causam vários problemas de saúde, como doenças gastrointestinais associados com consumo de água contaminada. Devido à escassez de dados sobre a ocorrência destes protozoários em águas superficiais no Sul do Brasil, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a presença de cistos e oocistos na água bruta das estações de tratamento de água no município de Blumenau, SC, Brasil. Para a pesquisa dos protozoários foi utilizada a metodologia de filtração em membranas de ésteres mistos de celulose, seguida por reação de imunofluorescência utilizando o kit Merifluor(r). Para as análises microbiológicas, empregou-se a metodologia do "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater"; para as análises físico-químicas foi utilizada sonda multiparâmetros. Cistos de Giardia spp. foram encontrados em 23,19% das amostras e oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp. em 7,24% do total de amostras analisadas (n=67). Todas as amostras analisadas apresentaram contaminação por Escherichia coli e 11,76% apresentaram valores de turbidez da água bruta acima do recomendado. Nas análises da turbidez da água tratada 23,52% apresentaram valores acima do preconizado pela Portaria 2914/2011. A detecção de protozoários patogênicos na água bruta das estações de tratamento de água aponta para a importância de adoção de medidas preventivas, como a proteção de áreas de mananciais e tratamento adequado do esgoto doméstico objetivando reduzir os riscos de transmissão de protozoários por meio da água de consumo humano na região de Blumenau, SC, Brasil.

Abstract Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. are water-borne pathogenic protozoans spread through fecal-oral transmission which cause several health problems, to include gastrointestinal diseases associated with the consumption of contaminated water. There are limited data regarding the occurrence of these protozoans in surface waters in southern Brazil. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the presence of cysts and oocysts in untreated water collected from water treatment plants in Blumenau, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The methodology employed to study the protozoans was filtration through mixed cellulose ester membranes followed by the immunofluorescence reaction using the Merifluor(r) kit. Microbiological analysis was conducted using the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater and multi-parameter probes were used for the physico-chemical analysis. Cysts of Giardia spp. were found in 23.19% of the samples and oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in 7.24% of the samples (n=67). All of the samples analyzed were contaminated with Escherichia coli and 11.76% of the untreated water samples had turbidity values higher than the recommended limit. In the case of the treated water samples, 23.52% had turbidity values above the limit established by legislation (Portaria MS 2914/2011). The detection of pathogenic protozoans in the untreated water at the treatment plants highlights the importance of adopting preventative measures, such as the protection of areas where water is present and adequate treatment of domestic sewage, in order to reducing the risk of protozoan transmission via potable water.