The effect of resveratrol on surgery-induced peritoneal adhesions in an experimental model

Adhesion formation is a common cause of complications following surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on intra-abdominal adhesion prevention in a rat model. Twenty one Wistar-Albino rats weighing 200-250 g were assigned to three groups, of 7 rats each. After a midline laparotomy was performed, a 1 cm area of the ceacum was abraded in two of the groups. They were then given either resveratrol (Group 1), or saline (Group 2) intraperitoneally. Group 3 rats (sham operation) received no treatment, without the serosal damage. On the 14th day, the rats were killed and the adhesion score was determined according to Mazuji's adhesion grade scale. The tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. The mean Mazuji's adhesion grade in the resveratrol group was 1.0 +/- 0.0, in the saline group 2.57 +/- 1.51, and zero in the sham operated group (p < 0.05 between the resveratrol group and saline group comparison). The levels of MDA and NO in the resveratrol group were significantly lower than those of the saline group (p < 0.001). The level of GSH in the resveratrol group was significantly higher than in the saline and sham operated groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Introduction of resveratrol into the peritoneal cavity at the time of surgery reduced adhesion formation effectively in this model. Resveratrol probably acts through reduction of lipid peroxidation products.     

Internal and External Mycoflora of the American Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), and Its Ecological Implications

Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, the anamorph of Microascus brevicaulis (Microascaceae, Ascomycota), has been identified in the body contents of the tick Dermacentor variabilis. After topical application of the fungal inoculum, tick mortality was marked. This is the first account describing the internal mycoflora of D. variabilis with a novel technique used to recover potential biological control agents.     

Biofunctionalization of cellulosic fibres with l-cysteine: Assessment of antibacterial properties and mechanism of action against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae

The main purpose of this work is to obtain a cotton-based textile material functionalized with l-cysteine (l-cys) to achieve an antimicrobial effect with potential application in biomedical, geriatric or pediatric textiles. The binding capacity of l-cys to cotton fibres was assessed through different functionalization strategies—surface activation and exhaustion processes. A subsequent analysis of the possible antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was performed according with the Japanese International standard ( JISL, 2008). To determine the mechanism of action of l-cys on the selected strains, flow cytometry was used.     

Covalent modification of cellulosic-based textiles: A new strategy to obtain antimicrobial properties

In the past years the textile industry has witnessed new advances in the area of textile fiber chains engineering, which allow the modification of the structure of such chains so as to produce polymers responsive to changes in the environment, thus capable of attaching to cells and bioactive molecules. On the other hand, following our society’s trend towards higher hygiene standards, the research and development of antimicrobial textiles has shown a remarkable increase. Applications of such textiles can nowadays be found in underwear, sportswear, home furnishing, protective clothing, wound-dressings and in microbial infection high risk settings, such as health care institutions. The present research aims at the development of a strong, durable and washable antimicrobial L-Cysteine (L-Cys)-functionalized cotton by means of a covalent mechanism. The covalent binding of L-Cys onto cellulosic fibers was assessed by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Antimicrobial assays showed that the functionalized cotton yielded strong microbial killing rates, exhibiting inhibition ratios of 89 and 83% against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the covalent modification of cotton fabrics with L-Cys adding antimicrobial properties to cotton fibers and thus open the door to a world of applications in the area of increased risk microbial infections.