ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition of a commercial sample of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii R.T. Baker and its antifungal activity against Microsporum canis ATCC 32903, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 14683, Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 9533, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11480, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11481, and Trichophyton rubrum CCT 5507. METHODS: Morphological changes in these fungi after treatment with the oil were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal activity of the oil was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. RESULTS: The compound 1,8-cineole was found to be the predominant component (72.2%) of the essential oil. The MIC values of the oil ranged from 62.5μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1, and the MFC values of the oil ranged from 125μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1. SEM analysis showed physical damage and morphological alterations in the fungi exposed to this oil. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the potential of Eucalyptus smithii essential oil as a natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Objetivo: Confirmar evidências prévias indicando uma associação entre autismo e baixos níveis séricos de vitamina D. Métodos: Este estudo preliminar avaliou os níveis circulantes de 25-hidroxivitamina D (25-OHD) em pacientes pediátricos com autismo e em controles apresentando desenvolvimento típico em Juiz de Fora, Brasil. Resultados: Os níveis séricos de 25-OHD foram menores em crianças com autismo (26,48 ± 3,48 ng mL-1) em comparação com indivíduos com desenvolvimento típico (40,52 ± 3,13 ng mL-1) (p < 0,001). Conclusão: Nossos resultados confirmam a importância da suplementação de vitamina durante a gravidez e no tratamento de crianças com autismo, que costumam apresentar um baixo consumo de vitamina D.

Objective: To confirm previous evidence suggesting an association between autism and low vitamin D serum levels. Methods: This preliminary exploratory study assessed the circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in pediatric patients with autism and in typically developing controls from Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Results: Serum levels of 25-OHD were lower in children with autism (26.48 ± 3.48 ng mL-1) when compared to typically developing subjects (40.52 ± 3.13 ng mL-1) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings attest to the importance of vitamin supplementation during pregnancy and in the treatment of children with autism, who tend to present low vitamin D consumption rates.