Larva migrans cutânea em crianças de uma escola em área do Centro-Oeste do Brasil

This paper reports an outbreak of cutaneous larva migrans in children of a school located in Campo Grande, MS. Six out of the 16 students (37.5%) acquired this parasitic dermatitis in two playgrounds contaminated by cat feces, in which ancylostomid larvae were found. The serpiginous lesions and/or papules were located in the hands, feet, buttocks, thighs, vulva and scrotum. Control measures of this parasitosis are discussed.Relata-se a ocorrência de larva migrans cutânea em crianças de uma escola de educação infantil de Campo Grande, MS (Brasil). Dos 16 alunos que freqüentam a escola, seis (37,5%) adquiriram essa dermatite parasitária em duas áreas de recreação com areia contaminada por fezes de gatos, cujo exame parasitológico revelou a presença de larvas de ancilostomídeos. As lesões serpiginosas e/ou papulares essavam localizadas nas mãos, pés, nádegas, coxas, vulva e saco escrotal. São discutidas medidas de controle dessa parasitose

Proposta metodológica para avaliação audiométrica e da incomodidade do ruído de baixa frequência

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo apresentar uma proposta metodológica de avaliação da incomodidade ao ruído, que contribua para a discussão orientada, exclusivamente, para as baixas frequências. O estudo enquadra-se no âmbito de um projeto mais alargado e que se encontra em curso. Este projeto tem por objetivo compreender os impactes da poluição sonora de baixa frequência na qualidade de vida da população e na sustentabilidade dos lugares. A proposta metodológica compreende duas vertentes de análise: a componente objetiva e a subjetiva. A primeira abarca a medição dos níveis sonoros e a gravação do som. A segunda diz respeito à realização de testes audiométricos adaptados iniciados em março de 2016 e compostos por três etapas: a determinação do limiar de audição, a avaliação da incomodidade da exposição ao ruído (usando uma escala de Likert) e a realização de testes cognitivos. A realização dos testes audiométricos adaptados tiveram como base a ISO 8253-1. O procedimento de teste tem uma duração aproximada de 25 minutos. O limiar de audição para os sons puros apresenta intensidades sonoras distintas, sendo variável de indivíduo para indivíduo (variando entre 40 dB â 80 dB para a frequência de 18 Hz; 25 dB â 80 dB para 21 Hz; 40 dB â 75 dB para 39 Hz e 25 dB â 50 dB para 51 Hz). A média dos testes do limiar de audição para o som gravado é de 45 dB. A componente subjetiva de avaliação da incomodidade devida ao ruído é imprescindível para avaliar os impactes do ruído de baixa frequência na qualidade de vida da população.This research aims to present a methodology for assessing the discomfort to noise exposure, to contribute to the discussion focused exclusively for the low frequencies. The study falls within the scope of an ongoing larger research project. This project aims to understand the impacts of low frequency noise in the population's quality of life and sustainability of the places. The methodology comprises two forms of analysis: the objective and the subjective components. The first covers the measurement of sound levels and sound recording. The second concerns the implementation of adapted audiometric tests that was started in March 2016 and consisting of three stages: determining participants’ hearing thresholds, the evaluation of noise exposure discomfort and the application of cognitive tests. The development of adapted audiometric tests were based on ISO 8253-1. The test procedure has a duration of approximately 25 minutes. The hearing threshold for pure tones has different sound intensities, variable for individual to individual (ranging between 40 dB - 80 dB at the frequency of 18 Hz, 25 dB - 80 dB for 21 Hz, 40 dB - 75 dB to 39 Hz and 25 dB - 50 dB to 51 Hz). The average hearing threshold tests for the recorded sound is 45 dB. The subjective evaluation component of noise exposure discomfort is essential to assess the impact of low frequency noise in the population's quality of life

Sensitive bi-enzymatic biosensor based on polyphenoloxidases–gold nanoparticles–chitosan hybrid film–graphene doped carbon paste electrode for carbamates detection

A bi-enzymatic biosensor (LACC–TYR–AuNPs–CS/GPE) for carbamates was prepared in a single step by electrodeposition of a hybrid film onto a graphene doped carbon paste electrode (GPE). Graphene and the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were morphologically characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler velocimetry. The electrodeposited hybrid film was composed of laccase (LACC), tyrosinase (TYR) and AuNPs entrapped in a chitosan (CS) polymeric matrix. Experimental parameters, namely graphene redox state, AuNPs:CS ratio, enzymes concentration, pH and inhibition time were evaluated. LACC–TYR–AuNPs–CS/GPE exhibited an improved Michaelis–Menten kinetic constant (26.9 ± 0.5 M) when compared with LACC–AuNPs–CS/GPE (37.8 ± 0.2 M) and TYR–AuNPs–CS/GPE (52.3 ± 0.4 M). Using 4-aminophenol as substrate at pH 5.5, the device presented wide linear ranges, low detection limits (1.68×10− 9 ± 1.18×10− 10 – 2.15×10− 7 ± 3.41×10− 9 M), high accuracy, sensitivity (1.13×106 ± 8.11×104 – 2.19×108 ± 2.51×107 %inhibition M− 1), repeatability (1.2–5.8% RSD), reproducibility (3.2–6.5% RSD) and stability (ca. twenty days) to determine carbaryl, formetanate hydrochloride, propoxur and ziram in citrus fruits based on their inhibitory capacity on the polyphenoloxidases activity. Recoveries at two fortified levels ranged from 93.8 ± 0.3% (lemon) to 97.8 ± 0.3% (orange). Glucose, citric acid and ascorbic acid do not interfere significantly in the electroanalysis. The proposed electroanalytical procedure can be a promising tool for food safety control

The microbial culture collections of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and the new consortium towards the establishment of BRC-UFPE

The UFPE from Recife in Brazil hosts a bacterial (UFPEDA) and a fungal (URM) collections since 1951 and 1954, respectively. The UFPEDA was established by Prof. Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima and is register in WDCM as 114. It is hosted at Antibiotic Department (DA) of UFPE and started out with 200 species mainly of the genus Streptomyces. Nowadays this collection holds 4000 strains of actinomycetes isolated from all the Brazilian places and from the International Streptomyces Project (ISP). The URM – University of Recife Mycology was established by Prof. Augusto Chaves Batista and is register in WDCM as 604. Actual it holds 9000 identified species including 1400 yeasts and 7600 filamentous fungi. All major fungal taxonomic groups are cover by this collection. The collections preserve each strain at least by two different techniques. Water and mineral oil storage were used for long operation time while freeze-drying and freezing at -80 ºC become the main techniques used at this stage. Special care is taken to test whether cultures recovered from preserved material conform to the original deposit. These collections have a range of services which are acceptance of free and confidential deposits, supply strains for academia, industry and services, support research and education (graduate and post-graduate students, as well as advanced training courses), identification services and confidential contracts (e.g. fungal medical diagnosis, starters for agro-industry companies, etc.). The OECD initiative related to guidance for the operation of Biological Resource Centres (BRC) is now a key reference for these collections. The right management of biological resources and their associate information including quality control are perused by these collections. The recent national projects, with reasonable budgets to support their activities, either on networking activities or requalification and management create a new breath and responsibilities to these collections. Taking advantage of good and well equipped premises of LIKA these collections are now open new avenues working in consortium to improve the quality control of their holdings using new tools from molecular biology and spectral analysis (MALDI-TOF) to achieve in the future a certified BRC for the UFPE microbial culture collections

Encapsulation of clove oil in nanostructured lipid carriers from natural waxes: Preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of the cholinesterase enzymes

Eugenol is a phenolic compound largely found in the clove essential oil that possesses promising biological activity. However, its low water solubility is a major concern and encapsulation is an alternative to improve water affinity. The objective of this work was to produce nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) by hot homogenization/ultrasound emulsification and to evaluate the effect of free and encapsulated clove oil on the in vitro cholinesterase enzymes modulation using Drosophila melanogaster (DM) tissue. The NLC composed of a natural wax (carnauba or beeswax) and crodamol showed an average diameter between 121 and 367 nm with good dispersion and colloidal stability. The spherical shape and solid character together with the semi-crystalline environment confirm the formation of NLC. DSC analysis indicated polymorphic transition events of the waxes. In vitro tests using DM demonstrated that free clove oil showed a good inhibition of the butyryl and acetylcholinesterase enzymes above a concentration of 10 mM, with IC50 values of 4.3 and 3.5 mM, respectively. The dispersions of the NLC loaded with clove oil showed a decrease in the IC50 enzymes values, indicating the preservation of the clove essential oil and suggesting an increased in the solubility. Results indicate that NLC dispersions have good potential to be used for foods and cosmetic aqueous formulations possessing biological activity.Authors thank the financial support from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), and also Laboratório Central de Microscopia Eletrônica of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (LCME/UFSC) for TEM analyses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reviewing the History of HIV-1: Spread of Subtype B in the Americas

The dispersal of HIV-1 subtype B (HIV-1B) is a reflection of the movement of human populations in response to social, political, and geographical issues. The initial dissemination of HIV-1B outside Africa seems to have included the passive involvement of human populations from the Caribbean in spreading the virus to the United States. However, the exact pathways taken during the establishment of the pandemic in the Americas remain unclear. Here, we propose a geographical scenario for the dissemination of HIV-1B in the Americas, based on phylogenetic and genetic statistical analyses of 313 available sequences of the pol gene from 27 countries. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods were used to explore the phylogenetic relationships between HIV-1B sequences, and molecular variance estimates were analyzed to infer the genetic structure of the viral population. We found that the initial dissemination and subsequent spread of subtype B in the Americas occurred via a single introduction event in the Caribbean around 1964 (1950–1967). Phylogenetic trees present evidence of several primary outbreaks in countries in South America, directly seeded by the Caribbean epidemic. Cuba is an exception insofar as its epidemic seems to have been introduced from South America. One clade comprising isolates from different countries emerged in the most-derived branches, reflecting the intense circulation of the virus throughout the American continents. Statistical analysis supports the genetic compartmentalization of the virus among the Americas, with a close relationship between the South American and Caribbean epidemics. These findings reflect the complex establishment of the HIV-1B pandemic and contribute to our understanding between the migration process of human populations and virus diffusion

Evaluation of the inflammatory responses to sol-gel coatings with distinct biocompatibility levels

[EN] The immune system plays a crucial role in determining the implantation outcome, and macrophages are in the frontline of the inflammatory processes. Further, cellular oxidative stress resulting from the material recognition can influence how cell responses develop. Considering this, the aim of this study was to study oxidative stress and macrophages phenotypes in response to sol-gel materials with distinct in vivo outcomes. Four materials were selected (70M30T and 35M35G30T, with high biocompatibility, and 50M50G and 50V50G, with low biocompatibility). Gene expression, immunocytochemistry and cytokine secretion profiles for M1 and M2 markers were determined. Moreover, oxidative stress markers were studied. Immunocytochemistry and ELISA showed that 50M50G and 50V50G lead to a higher differentiation to M1 phenotype, while 70M30T and 35M35G30T promoted M2 differentiation. In oxidative stress, no differences were found. These results show that the balance between M1 and M2, more than individual quantification of each phenotype, determines a biomaterial outcome.Generalitat Valenciana, Grant/Award Number: GRISOLIAP/2018/091; Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Grant/Award Numbers: MAT2017-86043-R, RTC2017-6147-1; Universitat Jaume I, Grant/Award Number: POSDOC/2019/28Cerqueira, A.; Araújo-Gomes, N.; Zhang, Y.; Van Den Beucken, JJJP.; Martínez-Ramos, C.; Ozturan, S.; Izquierdo, R.... (2021). Evaluation of the inflammatory responses to sol-gel coatings with distinct biocompatibility levels. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 109(9):1539-1548. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.37149S15391548109

Complement proteins regulating macrophage polarisation on biomaterials

[EN] One of the events occurring when a biomaterial is implanted in an host is the protein deposition onto its surface, which might regulate cell responses. When a biomaterial displays a compromised biocompatibility, distinct complement pathways can be activated to produce a foreign body reaction. In this article, we have designed different types of biomaterial surfaces to study the inflammation process. Here, we used different concentrations of (3-glycidoxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), an organically-modified alkoxysilane as a precursor for the synthesis of various types of sol-gel materials functionalizing coatings for titanium implants to regulate biological responses. Our results showed that greater GPTMS surface concentrations induced greater secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-10 on RAW 264.7 macrophages. When implanted into rabbit tibia, osseointegration decreased with higher GPTMS concentrations. Interestingly, higher deposition of complement-related proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and ficolin-2 (FCN2), two main activators of distinct complement pathways, was observed. Taking all together, inflammatory potential increase seems to be GPTMS concentration-dependent. Our results show that a greater adsorption of complement proteins can condition macrophage polarization.This work was supported by MINECO [MAT2017-86043-R]; Universitat Jaume I [Predoc/2014/25, UJI-B2017-37]; Basque Government [IT611-13, Predoc/2016/1/0141]; University of the Basque Country [UFI11/56]; CIC bioGUNE is supported by Basque Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Etortek and Elkartek programs), ProteoRed-ISCIII [PRB3 IPT17/0019]; CIBERehd Network and Severo Ochoa Grant [SEV-2016-0644]. Authors would like to thank Antonio Coso and Jaime Franco (GMI-Ilerimplant) for their inestimable contribution to this study, and Raquel Oliver, Jose Ortega (UJI), René van Rheden, Vicent Cuijpers (Radboudumc) and Iraide Escobes (CIC bioGUNE) for their valuable technical assistance.Araújo-Gomes, N.; Romero-Gavilán, F.; Zhang, Y.; Martínez-Ramos, C.; Elortza, F.; Azkargorta, M.; Martín De Llano, JJ.... (2019). Complement proteins regulating macrophage polarisation on biomaterials. Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces. 181:125-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.05.039S12513318

Development of thermo-and pH-sensitive liposomal magnetic carriers for new potential antitumor thienopyridine derivatives

The development of stimuli-sensitive drug delivery systems is a very attractive area of current research in cancer therapy. The deep knowledge on the microenvironment of tumors has supported the progress of nanosystems’ ability for controlled and local fusion as well as drug release. Temperature and pH are two of the most promising triggers in the development of sensitive formulations to improve the efficacy of anticancer agents. Herein, magnetic liposomes with fusogenic sensitivity to pH and temperature were developed aiming at dual cancer therapy (by chemotherapy and magnetic hyperthermia). Magnetic nanoparticles of mixed calcium/manganese ferrite were synthesized by co-precipitation with citrate and by sol–gel method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy in transmission mode (STEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The citrate-stabilized nanoparticles showed a small-sized population (around 8 nm, determined by XRD) and suitable magnetic properties, with a low coercivity and high saturation magnetization (~54 emu/g). The nanoparticles were incorporated into liposomes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesteryl hemisuccinate (DPPC:CHEMS) and of the same components with a PEGylated lipid (DPPC:CHEMS:DSPE-PEG), resulting in magnetoliposomes with sizes around 100 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) measurements were performed to investigate the pH-sensitivity of the magnetoliposomes’ fusogenic ability. Two new antitumor thienopyridine derivatives were efficiently encapsulated in the magnetic liposomes and the drug delivery capability of the loaded nanosystems was evaluated, under different pH and temperature conditions.This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding of CF-UM-UP (UIDB/04650/2020) and through the research project PTDC/QUI-QFI/28020/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028020), financed by the European Fund of Regional Development (FEDER), COMPETE2020, and Portugal 2020. J.M.R. acknowledges FCT, ESF (European Social Fund—North Portugal Regional Operational Program) and HCOP (Human Capital Operational Program) for a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/115844/2016)

Imidazole derivatives as promising agents for the treatment of Chagas disease

More than 100 years later after being firstly described, Chagas disease remains endemic in 21 Latin American countries and has spread to other continents. Indeed, this disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is no longer just a problem for the American continent but has become a global health threat. Current therapies, nifurtimox and benznidazole (Bz), are far from being adequate due to undesirable effects and their lack of efficacy in the chronic phases of the disease. In this work, we present an in-depth phenotypical evaluation in T.cruzi of a new class of imidazole compounds, discovered in a previous phenotypic screening against different trypanosomatids and designed as potential inhibitors of cAMP phosphodiesterases (PDEs). The confirmation of several activities similar or superior to Bz prompted a synthesis program of hit optimization and extended SAR, aimed at improving drug-like properties such as aqueous solubility, resulting in additional hits with IC50 similar to Bz. The cellular effects of one representative hit, compound 9, on bloodstream trypomastigotes were further investigated. Transmission electron microscopy revealed cellular changes, after just 2 h of incubation with the IC50 concentration, that were consistent with induced autophagy and osmotic stress - mechanisms previously linked to cAMP signaling. Compound 9 induced highly significant increases in both cellular and medium cAMP, confirming that inhibition of T.cruzi PDE(s) is part of its mechanism of action. The potent and selective activity of this imidazole-based PDE inhibitor class against T.cruzi constitutes a successful repurposing of research into inhibitors of mammalian PDEs