Impact of a probiotic fermented milk in the gut ecosystem and in the systemic immunity using a non-severe protein-energy-malnutrition model in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malnutrition affects the immune response, causing a decrease of defence mechanisms and making the host more susceptible to infections. Probiotics can reconstitute the intestinal mucosa and stimulate local and systemic immunity. The aim of this work was evaluate the effects of a probiotic fermented milk as a complement of a re-nutrition diet, on the recovery of the intestinal barrier, and mucosal and systemic immune functions in a murine model of non-severe protein-energy-malnutrition. Its potential protection against <it>Salmonella enterica </it>serovar Typhimurium (<it>S</it>. Typhimurium) infection was also analyzed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were undernourished and divided into 3 groups according to the dietary supplement received during re-nutrition (milk, probiotic fermented milk or its bacterial free supernatant) and compared to well-nourished and malnourished mice. They were sacrificed previous to the re-nutrition and 5 days post re-nutrition. The phagocytic activity of macrophages from spleen and peritoneum and the changes in the intestinal histology and microbiota were evaluated. Different immune cell populations and cytokine productions were analyzed in the small intestine tissues. The effect of the re-nutrition supplements on the systemic immunity using OVA antigen and against an infection with <it>S. </it>Typhimurium was also studied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Probiotic fermented milk was the most effective re-nutrition diet that improved the intestinal microbiota. Its administration also increased the number of IgA+ cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. The production of different cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12) by these cells and the phagocytic activity in peritoneum and spleen was also increased. This re-nutrition diet also stimulated the systemic immune response against OVA antigen which was diminished after the malnutrition period and also improved the host response against <it>S. </it>Typhimurium, decreasing the spread of pathogenic bacteria to the liver and the spleen. The importance of the metabolites released during milk fermentation was also demonstrated through the analysis of the bacterial free supernatant obtained from the probiotic fermented milk, but the whole product showed the best effects in the parameters evaluated in this study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The administration of probiotic fermented milk as a dietary supplement during the re-nutrition process in a murine immunodeficiency model by malnutrition could be a good adjuvant diet to improve the gut and systemic immune response for the protection against <it>Salmonella </it>infection.</p

The Role of Pediatricians in Providing Greater-Quality Care for Children: An Ongoing Debate

Child healthcare frequently is regarded as a secondary objective in the development of public health policies and not as a central issue. Cost-containment policies instead of quality of healthcare frequently have inspired strategic decisions in public health investments for pediatric structures and workforce. The negative implications of this decisional approach have been shown by the substantial unpreparedness of virtually all European health systems during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,5 particularly in the area of primary care. The debate on the negative effects of cost-containment policies in the area of primary care in not new. In recent years, the role of pediatricians within the several European healthcare systems was variously reformed by governments, with an eye more to the budget than to the quality of care and its structural components, including staffing adequacy, training, and consistency as well as facility environment and size.1 As a result, the number of general pediatricians in Europe has decreased during the past 20 years.Data from the World Health Organization show that the average number of general pediatricians per 100 000 population in Europe declined 30.1% from 26.5% in 1998 to 18.5% in 2013.A further reduction in the pediatric workforce was reported in 2018 by the European Paediatric Association, the Union of National European Paediatric Societies and Associations (EPA-UNEPSA). During the past 20 years, due to different factors, including socioeconomic and political reasons, several European countries decided to reform their public health systems and the responsibility of pediatric healthcare delivery was moved from pediatricians to general and family practitioners. The aim of this commentary by the Spanish Primary Care Pediatrics Association (AEPap), in collaboration with the European Confederation of Primary Care Pediatricians and EPA-UNEPSA, is to discuss data supporting the essential role played in Europe by well-trained pediatricians vs other providers in delivering quality healthcare for children

Active faulting and earthquakes in the central Alboran Sea

Central Alboran Sea constitutes a key area to analyze the relationships between active tectonic structures and moderate seismicity. The heterogeneous crustal layered structure and the propagation of the deformation along the fault zones are key features to relate active faults and seismic hazard. The NW-SE oblique convergence between Eurasian and African plates determines the broad band of tectonic deformation and seismicity along the Alboran Sea basin (westernmost Mediterranean). The Betic-Rif Cordilleras are connected through the Gibraltar Arc and surround the Alboran Sea formed by thinned continental crust. This basin is filled since the Neogene by sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Central Alboran Sea is now undergoing shortening and is mainly deformed by a system of conjugated WNW-ESE dextral and NE-SW sinistral faults with recent activity formed by indenter tectonics related to a heterogeneous crustal behavior. In addition a NNW-SSE normal fault set and large ENE-WSW folds deform the central and northern Alboran Sea. These structures support a present-day N160 E maximum compression and orthogonal extension. In this setting, most of the recent seismicity is concentrated along a NNE-SSW zone that extends landward from Campo de Dalias (SE Spain) to Al Hoceima (Morocco). The Campo de Dalias 1993-1994 seismic crisis reached up to magnitudes Mw= 5.3, while the Al Hoceima area was affected by seismic crisis of 1994 (May 26, Mw=5.6) and 2004 (Feb 24, Mw= 6.4). The main active fault related to the 2004 earthquakes, even that it was a vertical NNE-SSW oriented fault and focal depth was 6 km, did not reach the surface probably due to the presence of a mechanically layered crust. The main active surface faults located in Al Hoceima area (the NNE-SSW transtensional sinistral Trougout fault zone) extended northwards towards the NE-SW sinistral Al Idrissi Fault that intersects the Alboran Sea and are connected with the normal NNW-SSE Balanegra Fault zone. Although these active faults determine most of the seismicity of the central Alboran Sea, the seismic crisis that occurred since January 2016, reaching Mw= 6.3 is located in a region westward of Al Idrissi Fault, underlining the relevance of growth of new faults to determine the seismic hazard of the region. Earthquake focal mechanisms support that the main active fault has a NNE-SSW orientation, similar to Al Idrissi Fault zone. Maximum magnitude suggests a surface rupture length of at least 12 km and a subsurface rupture of 20 km. Propagation of a new fault is more efficient to accumulate elastic deformation, and to produce highest magnitude earthquakes than already formed faults. This new fault is connected probably in deep crustal levels with the blind sinistral fault responsible of the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake. The tsunami hazard of the region should be consequence of both seabottom displacement due to fault activity and co-seismic submarine landslides. The INCRISIS cruise, scheduled by May 2016, will provide evidences of seabottom effects of this seismic crisis

Aceitação de pães do tipo francês com teor reduzido de sódio.

O sódio é o componente principal do sal, que exerce uma função muito importante na fabricação dos pães, não apenas no que se refere às qualidades viscoelásticas da massa, deixando-a mais resistente e com melhor hidratação, mas também regula a fermentação, ajuda na conservação, confere aspecto suave ao miolo, inibe a ação de fermentos proteolíticos que prejudicam o desenvolvimento do glúten e contribui para o sabor (SEBESS, 2011). O Estado do Rio de Janeiro é o segundo da união em número de padarias e, assim, o pão francês, que é um dos alimentos de consumo diário para grande parte da população carioca é importante para a avaliação da redução deste ingrediente. Devido às mudanças, exigências e conveniência da vida moderna, muitos dos brasileiros consomem produtos alimentícios industrializados ou se alimentam fora dos seus lares. De acordo com o ministério da saúde, esta mudança nos hábitos alimentares tem levado ao aumento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e assim têm sido realizadas ações que visam a melhoria nutricional dos alimentos processados, tais como o incentivo à redução da adição de sódio nestes tipos de produtos. Em 2010 em conjunto com a ANVISA (AGÊNCIA NACIONAL DE VIGILÂNCIA SANITÁRIA) e entidades representativas da indústria, este ministério propôs uma agenda com vistas a contribuir para os esforços de redução do consumo de sódio da população brasileira a menos de 2000 mg/pessoa/dia até 2020. A análise sensorial é utilizada para medir, analisar e interpretar as reações produzidas no consumo de alimentos e como elas são percebidas pelos nossos órgãos da visão, olfato, gosto, tato e audição. a análise sensorial frente à redução de sódio em alimentos processados é uma ferramenta fundamental no que se refere à reformulação de produtos pela indústria. O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir o nível de redução de sal que é percebido sensorialmente e como esta redução afeta as características e a aceitação dos pães elaborados.ENAAL. 1 CD-ROM. Seção Trabalhos. Ref. 2906. Promoção: SBAAL. 13 a 16 de agosto

Mechanism of action of probiotics

The modern diet doesn't provide the required amount of beneficial bacteria. Maintenance of a proper microbial ecology in the host is the main criteria to be met for a healthy growth. Probiotics are one such alternative that are supplemented to the host where by and large species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces are considered as main probiotics. The field of probiotics has made stupendous strides though there is no major break through in the identification of their mechanism of action. They exert their activity primarily by strengthening the intestinal barrier and immunomodulation. The main objective of the study was to provide a deep insight into the effect of probiotics against the diseases, their applications and proposed mechanism of action

Ocorrência de doenças causadas por molicutes e por vírus em milho nas províncias de Tucumán e de Córdoba na Argentina.

A incidência de doenças causadas por molicutes e por vírus foi avaliada em lavouras de milho (Zea mays) nas Províncias de Tucumán e de Córdoba, na Argentina, em fevereiro de 2000. Na Província de Tucumán verificou-se que 44% das lavouras apresentaram altos níveis de incidência de plantas com sintomas de enfezamentos causados por molicutes (50 a 100%), em altitudes variando de 300 a 2.000 m. A presença de fitoplasma e de espiroplasma foi confirmada em amostras de folhas de plantas com sintomas de enfezamentos, através dos testes de PCR e de ?Western blotting?. Constatou-se, porém, que a eficiência desses testes para detecção destes patógenos, quando os sintomas apresentados pelas plantas eram muito acentuados, foi da ordem de 70%, e de apenas 30% quando os sintomas eram menos acentuados. Na localidade Jesus Maria, foram encontradas plantas apresentando acentuado nanismo, folhas estreitas e com deformações. Dentre quatro amostras destas plantas, submetidas a testes de PCR, em duas foi detectada a presença de fitoplasma, possivelmente d istinto do ?Maize Bushy Stunt Phytoplasma?. A cigarrinha Dalbulus maidis, inseto vetor dos molicutes, foi encontrada apenas em Tucumán, estando ausente em Córdoba. O Mal de Rio Cuarto virus foi detectado em seis lavouras em Córdoba, e em três em Tucumán. A cigarrinha Delphacodes kuscheli foi detectada em todas as lavouras em Córdoba, e em apenas três lavouras em Tucumán. O Maize dwarf mosaic virus foi detectado em cerca de 60% das lavouras amostradas nas duas Províncias e o Maize rayado fino virus em apenas uma localidade em Tucumán

Geologic carbon sources may confound ecosystem carbon balance estimates: Evidence from a semiarid steppe in the southeast of Spain

At a semiarid steppe site located in the SE of Spain, relatively large CO2 emissions were measured that could not be attributed to the ecosystem activity alone. Since the study site was located in a tectonically active area, it was hypothesized that a part of the measured CO2 was of geologic origin. This investigation included a survey of soil CO2 efflux, together with carbon isotope analyses of the CO2 in the soil atmosphere, soil CO2 efflux (ie, Keeling plots), groundwater and local thermal springs. These measurements confirmed the ... Articoli in Schola

Cereais matinais à base de sorgo produzidos em escala industrial.

bitstream/item/224357/1/BPD-37-15abr2021.pd

Homo-PROTACs:bivalent small-molecule dimerizers of the VHL E3 ubiquitin ligase to induce self-degradation

E3 ubiquitin ligases are key enzymes within the ubiquitin proteasome system which catalyze the ubiquitination of proteins, targeting them for proteasomal degradation. E3 ligases are gaining importance as targets to small molecules, both for direct inhibition and to be hijacked to induce the degradation of non-native neo-substrates using bivalent compounds known as PROTACs (for 'proteolysis-targeting chimeras'). We describe Homo-PROTACs as an approach to dimerize an E3 ligase to trigger its suicide-type chemical knockdown inside cells. We provide proof-of-concept of Homo-PROTACs using diverse molecules composed of two instances of a ligand for the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase. The most active compound, CM11, dimerizes VHL with high avidity in vitro and induces potent, rapid and proteasome-dependent self-degradation of VHL in different cell lines, in a highly isoform-selective fashion and without triggering a hypoxic response. This approach offers a novel chemical probe for selective VHL knockdown, and demonstrates the potential for a new modality of chemical intervention on E3 ligases.Targeting the ubiquitin proteasome system to modulate protein homeostasis using small molecules has promising therapeutic potential. Here the authors describe Homo-PROTACS: small molecules that can induce the homo-dimerization of E3 ubiquitin ligases and cause their proteasome-dependent degradation

Host immunity in the protective response to nasal immunization with a pneumococcal antigen associated to live and heat-killed Lactobacillus casei

Background: At present, available pneumococcal vaccines have failed to eradicate infections caused by S. pneumoniae. Search for effective vaccine continues and some serotype independent pneumococcal proteins are considered as candidates for the design of new vaccines, especially a mucosal vaccine, since pneumococci enter the body through mucosal surfaces. Selection of the appropriate adjuvant is important for mucosal vaccines, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with immunostimulant properties are promissory candidates. In this work, we assessed the adjuvant effect of a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus casei (L. casei), when nasally administered with a pneumococcal antigen (pneumococcal protective protein A: PppA) for the prevention of pneumococcal infection. Adjuvanticity of both live (LcV) and heat-killed (LcM) was evaluated and humoral and cellular antigen-specific immune response was assessed in mucosal and systemic compartments. The potential mechanisms induced by nasal immunization were discussed.Results: Nasal immunization of young mice with PppA+LcV and PppA+LcM induced anti-PppA IgA and IgG antibodies in mucosal and systemic compartments and levels of these specific antibodies remained high even at day 45 after the 3rd Immunization (3rd I). These results were correlated with IL-4 induction by the mixture of antigen plus LcV and LcM. Also, PppA+Lc (V and M) induced stimulation of Th1 and Th17 cells involved in the defence against pneumococci. The protection against pneumococcal respiratory challenge at day 30 after the 3rd I showed that PppA+LcV and PppA+LcM immunizations significantly reduced pathogen counts in nasal lavages while prventing their passage into lung and blood. Survival of mice immunized with the co-application of PppA plus LcV and LcM was significantly higher than in mice immunized with PppA alone and control mice when intraperitoneal challenge was performed. No significant differences between the treatments involving LcV and LcM were found.Conclusions: Live and heat-killed L. casei enhanced the antigen-specific immune response when administered nasally with a pneumococcal antigen. Considering the potential risk associated with live bacteria, the design of a nasal vaccine based on pneumococcal antigens and heat-killed L. casei emerges as a safe and effective strategy for the prevention of pneumococcal infections and opens new possibilities of application of dead LAB as adjuvants in vaccine formulations against other pathogens.Fil: Vintiñi, Elisa Ofelia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Marcela Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentin