Abstract The genus Conus includes over 900 species of marine invertebrates known as cone snails, whose venoms are among the most powerful described so far. This potency is mainly due to the concerted action of hundreds of small bioactive peptides named conopeptides, which target different ion channels and membrane receptors and thus interfere with crucial physiological processes. By swiftly harpooning and injecting their prey and predators with such deadly cocktails, the slow-moving cone snails guarantee their survival in the harsh, competitive marine environment. Each cone snail species produces a unique venom, as the mature sequences of conopeptides from the venoms of different species share very little identity. This biochemical diversity, added to the numerous species and conopeptides contained in their venoms, results in an immense biotechnological and therapeutic potential, still largely unexplored. That is especially true regarding the bioprospection of the venoms of cone snail species found off the Brazilian coast - a region widely known for its biodiversity. Of the 31 species described in this region so far, only four - Conus cancellatus, Conus regius, Conus villepinii, and Conus ermineus - have had their venoms partially characterized, and, although many bioactive molecules have been identified, only a few have been actually isolated and studied. In addition to providing an overview on all the cone snail species found off the Brazilian coast to date, this review compiles the information on the structural and pharmacological features of conopeptides and other molecules identified in the venoms of the four aforementioned species, paving the way for future studies.

Candida species are of common occurrence in the buccal cavity and these yeasts are present in about 50% of healthy individuals. This percentage can change depending on the studied population. The infectious processes caused by Candidavary of benign clinical pictures, to serious and fatal pictures as the invasive infections and disseminated. In this study it was evaluated the colonization of yeasts of the Candida genus on 312 saliva sample of the hospital workers from "Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás" in the city of Goiania-Goiás/Brazil,during the period from July to December of 2007. Candidaspecies were identified by production of germ-tube, chlamydospore formation, assimilation sugar tests and culture on CHROMagar®Candida. The hospital workers analyzed presented colonization of the saliva by yeasts of the Candidagenus in 61.9% from samples studied, being isolated C. albicans (58.5%), C. parapsilosis (24.4%), C. krusei (8.3%) and C. famata (3.6%). The publication of these results can serve as an aid for the prevention and control of oral candidiasis in the workers of the area of health that live in contact with individuals susceptible to infections.

Especies de Candida son de ocurrencia común en la cavidad bucal y estas levaduras están presentes en cerca del 50% de individuos sanos. La frecuencia varía, dependiendo de las personas investigadas. Los procesos infecciosos causados por Candida varían de cuadros clínicos benignos, a los cuadros serios y fatales como las infecciones invasivas y diseminadas. En este estudio ha sido evaluado la colonización de las especies de Candidaen la saliva de los obreros del Hospital das Clínicas de la Universidad Federal de Goiás en Goiânia, Brasil, entre julio y diciembre de 2007. El trabajo se llevó a cabo con 312 muestras de saliva. Las especies de Candidaaisladas de la saliva fueron identificadas a través de la formación de tubo germinal y de clamidoconídio, asimilación de carbohidratos y cultivo en CHROMagar® Candida. En nuestro estudio, 61.9% de los trabajadores analizados del hospital presentaron colonización de la saliva por las levaduras del género Candida, estar aislado C. albicans (58.5%), C. parapsilosis (24,4%), C. krusei(8,3%) y C. famata(3,6%). La divulgación de estos resultados puede servir como una ayuda para la prevención y control de candidíase bucal en los trabajadores del área de salud que viven en contacto constante con individuos susceptibles a las infecciones.

As espécies de Candida são de ocorrência comum na cavidade bucal sendo que estas leveduras estão presentes em cerca de 50% de indivíduos saudáveis, podendo este porcentual variar dependendo da população estudada. Os processos infecciosos causados por Candida variam de quadros clínicos benignos, a quadros graves e fatais como as infecções invasivas e disseminadas. Neste estudo foi avaliada a colonização de leveduras do gênero Candida em 312 amostras de saliva de profissionais do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás, na cidade de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil, durante o período de julho a dezembro de 2007. As espécies de Candida isoladas da saliva foram identificadas através da produção de tubo germinativo e de clamidoconídios, assimilação de carboidratos e cultivo em meio CHROMagar® Candida. Os profissionais estudados mostraram colonização por leveduras do gênero Candida em 61,9% das amostras analisadas, sendo isolados C. albicans (58,5%), C. parapsilosis (24,4%), C. krusei (8,3%) e C. famata (3,6%). A divulgação destes resultados pode servir como um auxílio para a prevenção e controle de candidíase bucal nos trabalhadores da área de saúde que vivem em contato constante com indivíduos altamente suscetíveis a infecções.

Embora existam recomendações especificas envolvendo o tratamento das dislipidemias em pacientes com alto risco, estas recomendações dificilmente são seguidas adequadamente. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar fatores de risco em pacientes com alto risco cardiovascular acompanhados ambulatorialmente no Brasil e Venezuela. Os prontuários de 412 pacientes foram selecionados em 4 instituições. Os pacientes foram divididos conforme a utilização de hipolipemiantes. Pacientes sem hipolipemiantes apresentavam níveis mais elevados de colesterol total (p< 0,001), LDL colesterol (p< 0,001) e HDL colesterol (p< 0,001), além de menores níveis de triglicérides (p< 0,001). O uso de hipolipemiantes foi associado à diminuição dos níveis de colesterol total (251,0 ± 40,0 para 196,0 ± 46,0), LDL colesterol (168,0 ± 36,0 para 116,0 ± 39,0), HDL colesterol (51,0 ± 46,0 para 46,0 ± 12,0) e triglicérides (181,0 ± 120,0 para 160,0 ± 79,0). Concluímos que apenas um pequeno percentual de pacientes, mesmo em uso de estatinas, apresenta níveis de colesterol compatível com os atualmente recomendados. Desta forma, embora as recomendações para tratamento das dislipidemias sejam bem conhecidas, um pequeno percentual de pacientes atinge os valores desejados de colesterol. É necessário um melhor controle dos níveis lipídicos dos pacientes, tanto através da utilização de doses maiores de estatinas como da utilização da associação de hipolipemiantes.

Although there are specific guidelines regarding the treatment of dyslipidemia in highly risk patients, these recommendations are usually inadequately followed. The aim of this study is to investigate risk factors in patients with increased cardiovascular risk currently treated in Brazil and Venezuela. Medical charts of 412 patients were selected in 4 institutions. Patients were divided into groups according to the use of lipid-lowering drugs (LLD), particularly statins. Patients who did not use LLD showed higher levels of total cholesterol (p< 0.001), LDL cholesterol (p< 0,001) and HDL cholesterol (p< 0.001), besides lower levels of triglycerides (p< 0.001). The use of statins was associated with a decrease in levels of total cholesterol (from 251.0 ± 40.0 to 196.0 ± 46.0), LDL cholesterol (from 168.0 ± 36.0 to 116.0 ± 39.0), HDL cholesterol (from 51.0 ± 46.0 to 46.0 ± 12.0) and triglycerides (from 181.0 ± 120.0 to 160.0 ± 79.0). Finally, only a small percentage of patients, even those under treatment with LLD, showed cholesterol levels according to currently available guidelines. Therefore, although the guidelines for the treatment of dyslipidemia are widely known, only a small percentage of patients achieve adequate levels of cholesterol. It is necessary to decrease lipid levels of these patients by increasing the dose of the statins or using a second drug.

Objetivo. Isolar e identificar microrganismos em baratas capturadas em um hospital público e determinar o seu perfil de suscetibilidade antimicrobiana. Métodos. As baratas foram capturadas nos períodos matutino e noturno, colocadas em frascos desinfetados com álcool a 70%, transferidas para um frasco estéril e levadas ao laboratório. Consideraram-se as baratas íntegras e vivas, as quais foram colocadas em solução salina estéril (0,8%) e homogeneizadas. Essa solução foi semeada nos meios de cultura ágar MacConkey, caldo nutriente, infusão de cérebro e coração (ágar BHI), ágar Sabouraud e ágar manitol. As culturas foram examinadas em um estereomicroscópio para a contagem das unidades formadoras de colônias. Para a determinação do perfil de suscetibilidade antimicrobiana utilizou-se o teste de difusão de disco. Resultados. Detectou-se prevalência de 56% de enterobactérias e de 18% de estafilococos coagulase negativos. Identificaram-se 15 espécies de enterobactérias. As mais freqüentes foram Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%); Enterobacter aerogenes (14%); Serratia marcescens (13%); Hafnia alvei (12%); Enterobacter gergoviae e Enterobacter cloacae (9%); e Serratia spp. (6%). Tanto as enterobactérias quanto os estafilococos coagulase negativos apresentaram uma resistência significativa aos antimicrobianos, inclusive à oxacilina. Conclusões. A prevalência de bactérias enteropatogênicas e de estafilococos coagulase negativos isolados de baratas Periplaneta americana no hospital estudado demonstra a fragilidade das condutas adotadas tanto para o controle de vetores quanto para o uso dos antimicrobianos. Os resultados demonstram a necessidade da implementação de um programa efetivo de saneamento ambiental e do uso racional dos antimicrobianos dentro das instituições de saúde.

Objective. To isolate and identify microorganisms from cockroaches that were captured in a public hospital and to test the antimicrobial susceptibility of these microorganisms. Methods. Cockroaches were captured in the morning and at night. They were placed in flasks rinsed with 70% alcohol, transferred to sterilized flasks, and then taken to the laboratory. Only cockroaches captured whole and live were utilized for the study. After being immobilized at 0 degrees C, each cockroach was placed in a test tube with sterile saline solution (0.8%) and then homogenized. The resulting solution was then placed in the following five culture media: MacConkey agar, nutrient broth, brain-heart infusion agar, Sabouraud agar, and mannitol. The cultures were examined using a stereomicroscope, and colony-forming units were counted. The disk diffusion test was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. Results. We found a 56% prevalence of enterobacteria and an 18% prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Fifteen species of enterobacteria were identified. The most frequent were Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%), Enterobacter aerogenes (14%), Serratia marcescens (13%), Hafnia alvei (12%), Enterobacter gergoviae and Enterobacter cloacae (each 9%), and Serratia spp. (6%). Both the enterobacteria and the coagulase-negative staphylococci showed significant resistance to antimicrobials, including oxacillin. Conclusions. The prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria and coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from Periplaneta americana cockroaches in the studied hospital reflects the weakness of the measures adopted both for vector control and for antimicrobial use. The results show the need to implement effective health-institution programs focusing on hygiene and the rational use of antimicrobials.