The following study aimed to evaluate, in vitro and in vivo, the anti-inflammatory effect of Ulomoides dermestoides, a beetle commonly used as a remedy for a variety of diseases including respiratory disorders and asthma. We used an acute inflammation model of injury, injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity of rats. The rats were treated intraperitoneally with the aqueous extract of U. dermestoides 8 and 16 mg/kg. The exudate volume, protein concentration, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and total leukocyte were measured. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the blood of healthy subjects and we investigated the immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effect of aqueous extract of U. dermestoides. In conclusion, in vitro we observed a non-cytotoxic effect and antiproliferative activity on the dose of 12.5 mg/dL. In vivo, this paper clarifies the great clinical relevance of the aqueous extract of U. dermestoides in elucidating its role as an anti-inflammatory agent.

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Comunicação Breve/Short Communication Resumo Objetivo: Pesquisar quais os microrganismos prevalentes em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) de três hospitais da região de Porto Alegre, RS, a fim de analisar o perfil de resistência dos principais antibióticos em relação às bactérias identificadas. Métodos: Os dados foram coletados, retrospectivamente, de mapas de trabalho, no período de janeiro a abril de 2013. Resultados: Das 98 amostras com resultado positivo para bactérias, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Escherichia coli foram os patógenos mais encontrados, seguidos de Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus coagulase negativa e Acinetobacter baumannii. Conclusão: Encontrou-se uma variada prevalência de microrganismos, de acordo com o sítio infeccioso. Palavras-chave Unidades de terapia intensiva; Infecções bacterianas; Prevalência

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium present in natural marine environments that causes infections in immunocompromised people. Sepsis in humans caused by this microorganism is usually accompanied by bullous skin lesions. In the present study we report a case of infection caused by this bacterium affecting a diabetic man, 74 years old, who fell overboard and hurt his leg. The identification of the V. vulnificus was made in the blood culture sample. This is the first report of isolation of V. vulnificus in Santa Catarina, Brazil, showing the dissemination of this bacterium in warm seawater over the world. Keywords: Vibrio vulnificus; infection; immunocompromised; seawater RESUMOVibrio vulnificus é uma bactéria que se desenvolve em ambientes marinhos naturais e causa infecção em pessoas imunocomprometidas. Sepse em humanos causada por esse microrganismo é geralmente acompanhada por lesões bolhosas da pele. Relatamos um caso de infecção causada por esta bactéria que afetou um homem diabético, de 74 anos, que caiu ao mar e machucou a perna. A identificação do V. vulnificus foi feita na amostra de hemocultura. Este é o primeiro relato de isolamento de V. vulnificus em Santa Catarina, Brasil, elucidando a disseminação das bactérias de ambiente marítimo de água quente pelo mundo. Palavras-chave: Vibrio vulnificus; infecção; imunocomprometido; água do marVibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative bacillus from natural marine environments 1,2 . Although it is a rare cause of illness, this bacterium may cause sepsis, which is life-threatening in patients with chronic health conditions, in those immunocompromised, and even in healthy people. People affected are usually taken to emergency departments for treatment, because the infection quickly becomes severe. Rapid diagnosis and administration of appropriate antibiotics are mandatory, since death can occur in 1 or 2 days after exposure to the bacteria. The two main modes of infection by V. vulnificus bacteria are consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish, primarily oysters, and exposure of open wounds to seawater (while fishing, boating, wading, swimming, or handling raw seafood 2 . This is a halophilic microorganism whose growth is favored in waters with salinity from 0.7% to 1.6% and warm temperatures 2,3 , such as other potentially pathogenic halophilic vibrios. V. vulnificus is part of normal marine flora and reaches sufficient concentrations to cause clinical illness only in the warm months of the year. This pathogen was the second most common Vibrio species isolated from human cases in Florida and evidence suggests that infections with V. vulnificus have increased in the United States, particularly in the Gulf Coast, as well as in the waters of Hawaii, Utah, and Massachusetts [4][5][6] .