Sonic Hedgehog y el origen de las formas biológicas

Artículo de divulgación cientica sobre el origen de las formas biológicas. Discutimos los mecanismos posibles por los cuales un grupo de células de simetría simple puede dar lugar a formas y patrones, origenando un individuo complejo. Analisamos el rol de la proteína Sonic Hedgehog, una de las más importantes de la morfogénesis en el reino animal, que también está relacionada con algunas anomalías congénitas, como el labio leporino y la holoprosencefalia.Fil: Guisoni, Nara Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Bergero, Paula Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Diambra, Luis Anibal. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

Conventional and alternative antifungal therapies to oral candidiasis

Candida-associated denture stomatitis is the most common form of oral candidal infection, with Candida albicans being the principal etiological agent. Candida adheres directly or via an intermediary layer of plaque-forming bacteria to denture acrylic. Despite antifungal therapy to treat denture stomatitis, infection is reestablished soon after the treatment ceases. In addition, many predisposing factors have been identified as important in the development of oral candidiasis, including malnourishment, common endocrine disorders, such as diabetis mellitus, antibacterial drug therapy, corticosteroids, radiotherapy and other immunocompromised conditions, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These often results in increased tolerance to the most commonly used antifungals. So this review suggests new therapies to oral candidiasis.82483

Data Descriptor: DataTri, a database of American triatomine species occurrence

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is transmitted to mammals - including humans - by insect vectors of the subfamily Triatominae. We present the results of a compilation of triatomine occurrence and complementary ecological data that represents the most complete, integrated and updated database (DataTri) available on triatomine species at a continental scale. This database was assembled by collecting the records of triatomine species published from 1904 to 2017, spanning all American countries with triatomine presence. A total of 21815 georeferenced records were obtained from published literature, personal fieldwork and data provided by colleagues. The data compiled includes 24 American countries, 14 genera and 135 species. From a taxonomic perspective, 67.33% of the records correspond to the genus Triatoma, 20.81% to Panstrongylus, 9.01% to Rhodnius and the remaining 2.85% are distributed among the other 11 triatomine genera. We encourage using DataTri information in various areas, especially to improve knowledge of the geographical distribution of triatomine species and its variations in time.Fil: Ceccarelli, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Balsalobre, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Medone, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Cano, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Gonçalves, Rodrigo Gurgel. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Feliciangeli, Dora. No especifica;Fil: Vezzani, Dario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Wisnivesky Colli, Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Gorla, David Eladio. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marti, Gerardo Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Jorge Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

In vitro antimicrobial activity of plants extracts against Candida spp, Streptococcus mutans e Staphylococcus aureus

Orientador: Jose Francisco HoflingDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: A cavidade oral abriga uma complexa comunidade de microrganismos que podem estar aderidos aos dentes, à mucosa epitelial ou formando biofilme. A maioria desses microrganismos são comensais, com uma minoria causando infecções oportunistas. Dentre esses microrganismos, encontramos as leveduras do gênero Candida, principalmente em indivíduos imunocomprometidos; o principal agente etiológico da cárie dental Streptococcus mutans e, apesar da presença controversa, o patógeno oportunista Staphylococcus aureus. Diante do desenvolvimento de resistência aos antimicrobianos, há uma grande preocupação relacionada a qual tipo de tratamento utilizar no combate às infecções provocadas por esses microrganismos. O emprego de extratos brutos de plantas tem merecido a atenção de pesquisadores de vários países, já que podem inibir o crescimento bacteriano e fúngico por diferentes mecanismos quando comparados aos antimicrobianos, justificando a pesquisa em questão. As plantas utilizadas nesta pesquisa foram a Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus officinalis, Tabebuia avellanedae, Arrabidaea chica, Syzygium cumini e Punica granatum, extraídas com os solventes diclorometano e metanol, os quais foram eliminados em rotaevaporador, para a obtenção dos extratos brutos, a fim de se avaliar sua concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) frente a essas cepas de microrganismos. Os resultados obtidos revelaram-se promissores com as espécies de Candida testadas, principalmente com o extrato metanólico, cuja inibição apresentou atividade com alta sensibilidade das leveduras, porém essa mesma atividade não ocorreu entre as bactérias. Esses dados indicam a necessidade da ampliação do conhecimento sobre as espécies de plantas com potencial antimicrobiano, além de se testar extratos mais purificados e com propriedades farmacológicas ativas contra organismos microbianos. De qualquer forma, estes resultados nos levam a considerar esses extratos vegetais como fontes valiosas para a descoberta de novas moléculas bioativas empregadas para o tratamento alternativo no combate aos agentes microbianos, principalmente àqueles resistentes às drogas antifúngicas e antibacterianas convencionaisAbstract: The oral cavity is a source of a complex microorganisms community that may adhere to teeth, epithelial mucosa or form biofilms. Most of these strains are thought to be commensal, and a small number cause opportunistic infections. Among these microorganisms Candida yeast is the most commom in immunocompromised patients; Sretptococcus mutans is regarded as the primary etiologic agent of dental caries and, although considered controversial the presence, Staphylococcus aureus is also mentioned as an opportunistic pathogen in the oral cavity. Considering the frequent use of antifungal and antibiotics as antimicrobial agents, the development of resistance to these drugs has become an important and worrying factor for the treatment of the infections caused by these microorganisms. The use of crude plants extracts has been a researcherâ?¿s concern from all over the world, since they may inhibit the bacteria and fungi growing by different mechanisms present in the conventional antimicrobials, becoming an important source of investigation. The plants used in this research were Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus officinalis, Tabebuia avellanedae, Arrabidaea chica, Syzygium cumini and Punica granatum, extracted with dichloromethane and methanol solvents, followed by a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation. The data obtained with Candida strains were promising, specially with the methanolic extract that showed activity in a higher sensibility, but the same activity did not occur among the bacterias. This information increases our knowledge of the crude plants extracts effect against microbial organisms. Nevertheless, the results of this study indicated that these extracts are a promising source for the alternative treatment against the microbial agents, specially for those resistant to the conventional antimicrobial agentsMestradoMicrobiologia e ImunologiaMestre em Biologia Buco-Denta

Study of chemical composition and inihibitory action of extracts from L. (pomegranate) against Candida spp

Orientadores: Jose Francisco Hofling, Mary Ann FoglioTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: A diversidade de produtos naturais, por muitos anos, inspirou pesquisadores para identificar novos produtos que podem ser, eventualmente, desenvolvidos para novas terapias. Extratos obtidos Punica granatum L. (romã) tem demonstrado diversas atividades, dentre elas, efeito antimicrobiano. Nas últimas duas décadas, infecções por leveduras do gênero Candida cresceram significantemente pelo mundo inteiro, em decorrência do uso prolongado de antifúngicos, ligado ao aumento da resistência a esses fármacos. Sendo assim, pesquisas por novos componentes com ação antifúngica, os quais podem estar presentes nos compostos da P. granatum, justificam este estudo. Os extratos obtidos de diferentes partes do fruto da P. granatum foram testados através da metodologia da concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) frente a dez espécies de Candida spp. e analisados por espectrometria de massas. Foi observado, também, se os extratos produziam efeitos na morfologia e estrutura das leveduras através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos revelaram-se promissores, pois as cepas testadas foram sensíveis aos extratos, com CIM de 125µg/mL, causando danos em sua morfologia, como irregularidades em sua superfície e em sua parede celular, e a espectrometria de massas revelou compostos de reconhecida ação antimicrobiana, dentre eles, taninos. Esses dados indicam que os compostos da Punica granatum possuem ação antifúngica, sendo que as substâncias detectadas podem ser consideradas as principais responsáveis por essa atividade. Sendo assim, substâncias da Punica granatum apresentam capacidade antimicrobiana, sendo um campo promissor para descoberta de novos fitomedicamentos para o tratamento alternativo de doenças, abrindo caminhos para pesquisas que visem explorar de forma coerente essas substâncias, manipulando-as com segurança, eficácia e qualidade padronizadosAbstract: The diversity of natural products has inspired researchers for many years to identify novel products that could eventually be developed into therapeutics. The extracts obtained from Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) have demonstrated several activities as antimicrobial affects, among others. In the last couple decades infections by yeast genus Candida increased significantly worldwide, in consequence of abuse use of antifungal, associated with increase drug resistance. There researches for new compounds with antifungal action, which may be present at P. granatum justify this study. The extracts were obtained from different parts of P. granatum fruit and tested against ten strains of Candida spp., by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) methodology and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Also scan and transmission electron microscopy was employed to evaluate the extracts effects on the yeast's morphology and structures. The results obtained were promising, because the tested strains demonstrated sensibility towards the extracts, with MIC of 125µg/mL, causing damage to the morphology, as irregularities on its superfaces and cell wall. The mass spectrometry analysis showed compounds with known antimicrobial action, among them, tannins. The data indicated that compounds of Punica granatum have antifungal action and the detected substances can be considered to be involved with this activity. Therefore, P. granatum extracts presented antimicrobial capacity and is a promising source for the discovery of new therapeutic agents for alternative treatment, promoting scientist to continue studies on safety, efficiency and standard quality issues for P. granatumDoutoradoMicrobiologia e ImunologiaDoutor em Biologia Buco-Denta

Evidence of Heterokaryon compatibility on Candida albicans biofilm

Aims: Candida species, especially Candida albicans , are frequently found associated with biomaterials and immunosuppressed patients, and have been described as the most virulent yeasts in human fungi diseases. These yeasts have recently been isolated from periodontal pockets, revealing the penetration of hyphae into the periodontal connective tissue. Methods: In this study, 7 periodontal C. albicans strains were applied individually in biofilm development on titanium discs and the samples were thereafter analyzed as for the number of colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), dry-weight and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Counting of CFU/ mL and determination of dry-weight showed that all samples formed biofilm. SEM analysis showed the development of a polymorphic network in the biofilms and the presence of hyphal anastomosis in the sites where fusion between the hyphae occurred. Conclusion: periodontal C. albicans strains present heterokaryon compatibility

&lt;b&gt;Potential pharmacological and toxicological basis of the essential oil from Mentha spp.&lt;/b&gt;

&lt;p align="justify"&gt;During the past few years, interest in the potential clinical and pharmacological basis of the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines has increased greatly, due to widespread domestic self-medication with these agents. Some authors have analyzed the use of Mentha ssp. in the pharmacological industry. The essential oil from Mentha spp. is used to treat discomfort of the gastrointestinal tract, irritable bowel syndrome, myalgia and neuralgia, as well as oral mucosal inflammation, and also as an expectorant, an antimicrobial and an ingredient in many analgesic creams. The essential oil also contains chemical compounds that are associated with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, flushing and headaches. Therefore, the purpose of the present review was to examine the literature on the efficacy and safety of the possible clinical and pharmacological uses of the essential oil from Mentha spp. in human beings. &lt;b&gt;Keywords:&lt;/b&gt; Mentha spp. Antimicrobial activity. Essential oil.&lt;/p&gt