Respiratory antiviral immunity and immunobiotics: Beneficial effects on inflammation-coagulation interaction during influenza virus infection

Influenza virus (IFV) is a major respiratory pathogen of global importance, and the cause of a high degree of morbidity and mortality, especially in high-risk populations such as infants, elderly, and immunocompromised hosts. Given its high capacity to change antigenically, acquired immunity is often not effective to limit IFV infection and therefore vaccination must be constantly redesigned to achieve effective protection. Improvement of respiratory and systemic innate immune mechanisms has been proposed to reduce the incidence and severity of IFV disease. In the last decade, several research works have demonstrated that microbes with the capacity to modulate the mucosal immune system (immunobiotics) are a potential alternative to beneficially modulate the outcome of IFV infection. This review provides an update of the current status on the modulation of respiratory immunity by orally and nasally administered immunobiotics, and their beneficial impact on IFV clearance and inflammatory-mediated lung tissue damage. In particular, we describe the research of our group that investigated the influence of immunobiotics on inflammation-coagulation interactions during IFV infection. Studies have clearly demonstrated that hostile inflammation is accompanied by dysfunctional coagulation in respiratory IFV disease, and our investigations have proved that some immunobiotic strains are able to reduce viral disease severity through their capacity to modulate the immune-coagulative responses in the respiratory tract.Fil: Zelaya, María Hortensia del Rosario. Grupo de Investigación de Inmunobioticos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquímica Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Gladis Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Grupo de Investigación de Inmunobioticos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquímica Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Grupo de Investigación de Inmunobioticos; Argentin

Analisis de la gestion educativa desde una educacion hibrida en una institución educativa pública de Lima Metropolitana- 2023

El objetivo de la presente investigación, es analizar la gestión educativa desde una educación híbrida en una institución educativa pública de Lima Metropolitana 2023. Es una investigación de tipo básica y forma parte del enfoque cualitativo, de paradigma interpretativo y método descriptivo con diseño fenomenológico. Se contó con 12 participantes para el recojo de información, entre directivos, docentes, estudiantes y padres de familia, a quienes se les realizó una entrevista estructurada, teniendo como instrumento una guía de entrevista con 11 preguntas en las que se fusionaron las categorías de gestión educativa y educación híbrida. Las conclusiones resaltan el rol que desempeña el directivo como gestor de una organización educativa, considerando que la gestión educativa tiene que ser ejercida en todas sus dimensiones y que además se deben formular acciones de mejora en el marco de educación híbrida a partir de las disposiciones y políticas que considera el actual sistema educativo

Lactobacillus casei modulates the inflammation-coagulation interaction in a pneumococcal pneumonia experimental model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We have previously demonstrated that <it>Lactobacillus casei </it>CRL 431 administration improved the resistance to pneumococcal infection in a mouse model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study examined the effects of the oral administration of <it>Lactobacillus casei </it>CRL 431 (<it>L. casei</it>) on the activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems as well as their inhibitors during a <it>Streptococcus pneumoniae </it>infection in mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The alveolo-capillary membrane was damaged and the coagulation system was also activated by the infection. As a consequence, we could see fibrin(ogen) deposits in lung histological slices, increased levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TATc) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and plasma, decrease in prothrombin activity (PT) and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time test (APTT) values. Factor VII (FVII) and factor X (FX) were decreased in plasma, whereas fibrinogen (F) and factor VIII (FVIII) were increased. The low levels of protein C (PC) in BAL and plasma proved damage on inhibitory activity. The infected animals showed reduced fibrinolytic activity, evidenced by an increase in plasminogen activation inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in BAL and plasma. The pathogen induced an increase of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in BAL and serum a few hours after challenge followed by a significant decrease until the end of the assayed period. IL-4 and IL-10 in BAL and serum were also augmented, especially at the end of the experiment. The animals treated with <it>L. casei </it>showed an improvement of alveolo-capillary membrane, lower fibrin(ogen) deposits in lung and decrease in TATc. APTT test and PT, FVII and FX activity were normalized. L. casei group showed lower F levels than control during whole experiment. In the present study no effect of <it>L. casei </it>on the recovery of the inhibitory activity was detected. However, <it>L. casei </it>was effective in reducing PAI-1 levels in BAL and in increasing anti-inflammatory ILs concentration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>L. casei </it>proved effective to regulate coagulation activation and fibrinolysis inhibition during infection, leading to a decrease in fibrin deposits in lung. This protective effect of <it>L. casei </it>would be mediated by the induction of higher levels of IL-4 and IL-10 which could regulate the anti-inflammatory, procoagulant and antifibrinolytic effects of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.</p

Evaluation of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil to prevent gray mold in rose flowers

The main pathogen that deteriorates the quality of rose flowers during the postharvest stage belongs to the fungal genus Botrytis. The chemical products used to control the disease caused by this pathogen have been losing effectiveness due to the appearance of resistance. The present study describes the in vitro and in vivo fungicidal activity of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil and its chemical composition. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation, and the in vitro fungicidal activity was determined by agar diffusion assays, showing 100% of fungal growth inhibition at 250 ppm. In vivo assays were performed on Rosa grandiflora flowers treated with 250 ppm of P. graveolens essential oil, using distillate water as a positive control and the commercial fungicide carbendazim as a negative one. No significant differences were obtained between the treatment with the essential oil and the treatment with the commercial fungicide. The chemical profile of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS. The main compounds detected were geraniol (24.89%), citronellol (19.50%), linalool (10.92%) and γ-eudesmol (8.93%). These results encourage the possible use of P. graveolens essential oil for the control of B. cinerea in rose flowers.Fil: Stegmayer, María Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Norma Hortensia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Cultivos Intensivos; ArgentinaFil: Sager, Néstor Gaspar. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Cultivos Intensivos; ArgentinaFil: Buyatti, Marcela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Cultivos Intensivos; ArgentinaFil: Derita, Marcos Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Química Orgánica. Área Farmacognosia; Argentin

Modulation of the immuno-coagulative response in a pneumococcal infection in malnourished mice nasally treated with Lactobacillus casei

We studied the systemic effects of the intranasal administration of Lactobacillus casei on the immuno-coagulative response in pneumoccocal infection in immunocompromised mice. Weaned mice consumed a protein-free diet (PFD) for 21 days and were therefore malnourished. Malnourished mice were fed a balanced conventional diet (BCD) for 7 days (BCD group) or a BCD for 7 days with nasal administration of viable L. casei on days 6 and 7 (BCD+LcN group). The malnourished control mice (MNC) received a PFD, whereas the well-nourished control mice (WNC) continually consumed a BCD. At the end of the treatment period, the mice were infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae. At different times after infection, we analysed the following parameters: global coagulation system, activation of coagulation, coagulation inhibitors, platelet count, leukocyte count and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, total proteins, albumin and acute phase proteins (APPs). The MNC group showed greater impairment in the coagulation tests and an increase in the positive APPs. These parameters were normalized by the L. casei treatment. However, the number of leukocytes, decreased by malnutrition, was improved only by the administration of L. casei. After infection, the BCD+LcN group showed similar results to those of the WNC group for most of the haemostatic parameters. The BCD+LcN group did not show significant variations in the prothrombin time or in the level of anticoagulant protein C, but showed higher levels of fibrinogen, platelets, albumin, leukocytes and MPO activity compared with the different experimental groups. The intranasal administration of L. casei was effective in modulating the pro-inflammatory aspects of coagulation without affecting coagulation itself.Fil: Zelaya, María Hortensia del Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquimica Clinica Aplicada. Catedra de Bioquimica Clinica I; Argentina;Fil: Laiño, Jonathan Emiliano. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquimica Clinica Aplicada. Catedra de Bioquimica Clinica I; Argentina;Fil: Haro, Ana Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquimica Clinica Aplicada. Catedra de Bioquimica Clinica I; Argentina;Fil: Alvarez, Gladis Susana. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquimica Clinica Aplicada. Catedra de Bioquimica Clinica I; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (i); Argentina;Fil: Agüero, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Bioquimica Clinica Aplicada. Catedra de Bioquimica Clinica I; Argentina

Obtaining Enzymatic Extract from Pleurotus spp. Associated with an Integrated Process for Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Bioproducts

The pretreatment of biomass has been integrated with enzyme production through the recycling of aqueous fractions. A process integrated with Pleurotus cystidiosus was grown, and enzymatic hydrolysis was realized. Samples of every liquid fraction from the fungal growing medium were analyzed to determine the chemical oxygen demand (OCD), glucose (Glu), xylose (Xyl), and total reducing sugars (RS). Separately, to obtain valuable polymers from this integration process, solid hemicellulose and lignin were isolated from the remaining liquid fractions through pH variation. The composition of the samples was determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical stereoscopic microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and was compared with commercial homologs. The maximum conversion of cellulose to glucose by the obtained liquid fraction of the fungal medium was 61.3 ± 0.9% of the theoretical conversion yield of the commercial enzyme. Similarly, the conversion of hemicelluloses to xylose was 69.5 ± 1.5%. Finally, in this work, an integrated platform for cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, enzymatic extract, and sugars production, which also significantly reduces water consumption, was proposed

Retinal thickness study with optical coherence tomography in patients with diabetes

To quantitatively assess retinal thickness by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal subjects and patients with diabetes. This study was intended to determine which retinal thickness value measured with OCT best discriminates between diabetic eyes, with and without macular edema. METHODS: OCT retinal thickness was measured by a manual technique in a total of 26 healthy volunteers (44 control eyes) and 85 patients with diabetes (148 eyes) with the clinical diagnosis of no diabetic retinopathy (45 eyes), nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without clinically significant macular edema (CSME; 54 eyes), proliferative diabetic retinopathy without CSME (21 eyes), and 28 eyes with diabetic retinopathy with CSME. Independent predictors of the presence of CSME were quantified by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate and compare the predictor variables. The correlation of retinal thickness measurements and visual acuity was calculated. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in foveal thickness between control eyes and all the other eye groups (P = 0.001). Diabetic eyes with CSME had a statistically significant greater thickness in each of the areas compared with the other groups. In a multivariate logistic regression model, foveal thickness was a strong and independent predictor of CSME (odds ratio [OR], 1.037; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.05). The area under the ROC curve of this predictor variable was 0.94 (P = 0.001). For a cutoff point of 180 microm, the sensitivity was 93%, and specificity was 75%. Foveal thickness correlated with visual acuity in a log minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) scale (Spearman's rho = 0.9, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that foveal thickening over 180 microm measured by OCT may be useful for the early detection of macular thickening and may be an indicator for a closer follow-up of the patient with diabetes