Cytoprotective role of heme oxygenase-1 and heme degradation derived end products in liver injury

The activation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) appears to be an endogenous defensive mechanism used by cells to reduce inflammation and tissue damage in a number of injury models. HO-1, a stress-responsive enzyme that catabolizes heme into carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin and iron, has previously been shown to protect grafts from ischemia/reperfusion and rejection. In addition, the products of the HO-catalyzed reaction, particularly CO and biliverdin/bilirubin, have been shown to exert protective effects in the liver against a number of stimuli, as in chronic hepatitis C and in transplanted liver grafts. Furthermore, the induction of HO-1 expression can protect the liver against damage caused by a number of chemical compounds. More specifically, the CO derived from HO-1-mediated heme catabolism has been shown to be involved in the regulation of inflammation; furthermore, administration of low concentrations of exogenous CO has a protective effect against inflammation. Both murine and human HO-1 deficiencies have systemic manifestations associated with iron metabolism, such as hepatic overload (with signs of a chronic hepatitis) and iron deficiency anemia (with paradoxical increased levels of ferritin). Hypoxia induces HO-1 expression in multiple rodent, bovine and monkey cell lines, but interestingly, hypoxia represses expression of the human HO-1 gene in a variety of human cell types (endothelial cells, epithelial cells, T cells). These data suggest that HO-1 and CO are promising novel therapeutic molecules for patients with inflammatory diseases. In this review, we present what is currently known regarding the role of HO-1 in liver injuries and in particular, we focus on the implications of targeted induction of HO-1 as a potential therapeutic strategy to protect the liver against chemically induced injury.FAPESP (Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), 07/07139-3FAPESP (Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), 10/02024-6CNP

Computerized physician order entry in a university hospital: writing failure and users´ opinions

Este estudo analisou as falhas de redação da prescrição médica eletrônica e opiniões dos usuários acerca das suas vantagens e desvantagens. Foram analisadas 1.351 prescrições médicas de um hospital universitário e entrevistados 84 profissionais da área da enfermagem e medicina. Os resultados indicaram que 17,7% das prescrições apresentavam rasuras, em 16,8 % havia medicamentos suspensos, em 28,2% havia informações que podiam deixar os profissionais em dúvida e em 25% havia medicamentos prescritos manualmente. Os profissionais indicaram as seguintes vantagens: facilidade de leitura dos dados e rapidez com que a prescrição é feita e liberada e como desvantagens: repetição de prescrições de dias anteriores sem revisão e informações digitadas de forma incorreta. Conclui-se que apesar de ser uma estratégia importante na redução de erros, é preciso revisão desse sistema e educação dos profissionais na sua utilização.This study analyzed the writing failure of the computerized physician order entry system and its advantages and disadvantages according to users. At a university hospital 1,351 physician orders were analyzed and 84 nursing and medical professionals were interviewed. The results showed that 17.7% of the orders presented erasures, medication had been suspended in 16.8%, in 28.2% there was dubious or misleading information and in 25% medication had been prescribed manually. The professionals indicated advantages such as: ease of data reading and the quickness with which the order is entered and released, among others. They also reported disadvantages such as the repetition of orders from previous days without a review and incorrectly typed information. Therefore, it is concluded that, despite representing an important strategy for error reduction, this system must be overhauled and professionals must be trained to use it.Este estudio tuvo por objetivo identificar las fallas en la redacción de la prescripción médica electrónica y las opiniones de los usuarios sobre sus ventajas y desventajas. Fueron analizadas 1351 prescripciones médicas de un hospital universitario y entrevistados 84 profesionales de las áreas de enfermería y medicina. Los resultados indicaron que el 17,7% de las prescripciones presentaban rasgaduras, en el 16,8% habían medicamentos suspendidos, en el 28,2% habían informaciones que podían dejar a los profesionales en duda y en el 25% habían medicamentos prescriptos manualmente. Los profesionales indicaron algunas ventajas como: facilidad para leer los datos y rapidez con que la prescripción es realizada y liberada, entre otras, y como desventajas: repetición de prescripciones de días anteriores sin revisión e informaciones digitadas incorrectamente. Se concluye que a pesar de ser una estrategia importante para la reducción de errores, es necesario una revisión de ese sistema y educación de los profesionales en su utilización

DE “TAPERA” AO TURISMO: QUANDO ORGANIZAÇÕES TRANSFORMAM CIDADES

RESUMO Este estudo focaliza a influência da atuação de uma organização no âmbito dos processos de territorialização e da emergência de novos sujeitos políticos que reorganizam o espaço da cidade, potencializando os recursos e abrindo novos caminhos de desenvolvimento local. Articulando esses tópicos, a pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa e fazendo uso da “descrição densa”, relata a experiência de desenvolvimento territorial sob a égide da gestão social e cultural vivenciada na cidade de Nova Olinda a partir do trabalho da organização “Fundação Casa Grande Memorial do Homem Kariri e Escola de Comunicação da Meninada do Sertão”. A influência da atuação da referida organização na cidade de Nova Olinda possibilitou a mobilização e participação continuada de diferentes atores locais, visando à melhoria das condições de vida e trabalho a partir das ações articuladas em projetos de memória, comunicação, artes, turismo e sociabilidade produtiva dos moradores da cidade. Esses achados inferem os processos de busca e reencontro de identidades em torno da experiência vivida no lugar aos fluxos de desenvolvimento de uma cidade, da transformação do território e da promoção da cidadania. Palavras-chaves: Desenvolvimento sócio; Territorial; Cidades; Turismo

Molecular diagnosis of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in dogs from an endemic area in Pernambuco State, Brazil

A survey was carried out to detect American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) among dogs in an area where a human outbreak had occurred in the state of Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil. Domiciled dogs living in the district of Três Ladeiras, Igarassu were used in the present study. The following procedures were performed: The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (n = 126); the Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) (n = 80); and a parasitological examination to detect amastigote forms of Leishmania sp. in skin lesions (n = 43). Associations between the infection in animals and the clinical and epidemiological factors were analyzed using Fisher's exact test or the Pearson’s chi-squared test. In total, 46.8% (59/126) of the samples tested were PCRpositive. Although a higher frequency of positivity was detected among males (46.3 %) and animals aged between 3 and 4 years (50.0 %), no significant associations were recorded for these variables (p> 0.05). Similarly, the clinical signs and aspects related to the environment in which the animal lives did not differ significantly, but differences were recorded for the variable locality. In the IFAT, only 6.2% (5/80) of the dogs were positive and no amastigote forms of Leishmania sp. were detected

Soil Fungal Diversity and Ecology Assessed Using DNA Metabarcoding along a Deglaciated Chronosequence at Clearwater Mesa, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula

We studied the fungal diversity present in soils sampled along a deglaciated chronosequence from para- to periglacial conditions on James Ross Island, north-east Antarctic Peninsula, using DNA metabarcoding. A total of 88 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected, dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. The uncommon phyla Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Zoopagomycota and Basidiobolomycota were detected. Unknown fungi identified at higher hierarchical taxonomic levels (Fungal sp. 1, Fungal sp. 2, Spizellomycetales sp. and Rozellomycotina sp.) and taxa identified at generic and specific levels (Mortierella sp., Pseudogymnoascus sp., Mortierella alpina, M. turficola, Neoascochyta paspali, Penicillium sp. and Betamyces sp.) dominated the assemblages. In general, the assemblages displayed high diversity and richness, and moderate dominance. Only 12 of the fungal ASVs were detected in all chronosequence soils sampled. Sequences representing saprophytic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected. Based on the sequence diversity obtained, Clearwater Mesa soils contain a complex fungal community, including the presence of fungal groups generally considered rare in Antarctica, with dominant taxa recognized as cold-adapted cosmopolitan, endemic, saprotrophic and phytopathogenic fungi. Clearwater Mesa ecosystems are impacted by the effects of regional climatic changes, and may provide a natural observatory to understand climate change effects over time

Cryptosporidium spp. em população de comuninades, PE- Brasil / Cryptosporidium spp. in a community population, PE- Brazil

Cryptosporidium spp. é um protozoário gastrointestinal que pode infectar as microvilosidades das células do intestino de mais de 150 espécies de vertebrados. Muitos fatores são determinantes para que os oocistos se disseminem e o risco da infecção depende da dose, virulência e infectividade dos mesmos, além do grau de susceptibilidade do hospedeiro. A transmissão ocorre pela ingestão de oocistos que são eliminados nas fezes em sua forma infectante. Água, alimentos contaminados e animais infectados são principal fonte de transmissão de Cryptosporidium spp. Esta enfermidade é considerada uma zoonose de grande importância em saúde pública devido à ocorrência de casos assintomáticos. Quando o sistema imunológico está comprometido os indivíduos podem vir a óbito. No presente estudo objetivou-se avaliar a freqüência de infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. e sua associação com as condições higiênico-sanitárias da população humana de comunidades dos municípios de Recife, Camaragibe, Goiana e Igarassu - PE, Brasil. As pessoas foram convidadas a assinar um termo de Consentimento Livre Esclarecido (TCLE), confirmando sua participação na pesquisa, selecionados por amostragem não probabilística. As amostras fecais foram processadas utilizando a técnica de centrífugo-flutuação em formol éter e cada lâmina foi corada segundo a Técnica de Ziehl-Neelsen modificado (Kinyoun). Foram realizadas três repetições para cada amostra. Da amostragem foi obtida uma positividade de 17,12% (62/362) para Cryptosporidium spp.nas onze comunidades das quatros cidades

Diversity, distribution and ecology of fungal community present in Antarctic lake sediments uncovered by DNA metabarcoding

We assessed fungal diversity in sediments obtained from four lakes in the South Shetland Islands and James Ross Island, Antarctica, using DNA metabarcoding. We detected 218 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota and Chytridiomycota. In addition, the rare phyla Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota as well as fungal-like Straminopila belonging to the phyla Bacillariophyta and Oomycota were detected. The fungal assemblages were dominated by unknown fungal taxa (Fungal sp. 1 and Fungal sp. 2), followed by Talaromyces rubicundus and Dactylonectria anthuriicola. In general, they displayed high diversity, richness and moderate dominance. Sequences representing saprophytic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected, including the phytopathogenic fungus D. anthuriicola that was abundant, in the relatively young Soto Lake on Deception Island. The lake sediments studied contained the DNA of rich, diverse and complex fungal communities, including both fungi commonly reported in Antarctica and other taxa considered to be rare. However, as the study was based on the use of environmental DNA, which does not unequivocally confirm the presence of active or viable organisms, further studies using other approaches such as shotgun sequencing are required to elucidate the ecology of fungi in these Antarctic lake sediments

Aspectos socioeconômicos e higiênico-sanitários da infecção por Schistosoma mansoni em comunidades, PE- Brasil / Socio-economic and hygiene-sanitary aspects of schistosoma mansoni infection in communities, PE- Brazil

A esquistossomose, causada pelo trematódeo Schistosoma mansoni no Brasil, assume caráter de doença infecciosa com quadros agudos e crônicos, estando a instalação da doença intimamente ligada à persistência dos focos de transmissão, às precárias condições socioambientais e à presença do vetor Biomphalaria glabrata. Em Pernambuco, embora a doença predomine em áreas rurais, casos em áreas litorâneas vêm sendo registrados, principalmente onde existem problemas de saneamento básico. Objetivou-se com este estudo, avaliar a frequência da infecção por S. mansoni e analisar aspectos socioeconômicos e higiênico-sanitários ligados ao parasitismo em comunidades da Região Metropolitana de Recife - PE. O estudo foi desenvolvido em 14 comunidades nos municípios de Camaragibe, Goiana, Recife e Igarassu, com anuência das Secretárias de Saúde de cada município.  Para o diagnóstico da doença, utilizaram-se as técnicas de Kato-katz, sistema Coprotest®, Hoffmann, Faust e Willis. Aplicou-se um questionário para a obtenção de dados epidemiológicos. Obteve-se positividade de 7,3%, sendo as variáveis de associação significativa a cidade e comunidade de residência dos indivíduos, a faixa etária, número de pessoas na residência, tipo de habitação, e, principalmente, aquelas ligadas à obtenção, uso e contato com a água

Fusarium: more than a node or a foot-shaped basal cell

Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family Nectriaceae. Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus Fusarium was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in Nectriaceae based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded. A DNA phylogeny based on 19 orthologous protein-coding genes was presented to support a very broad concept of Fusarium at the F1 node in Nectriaceae. Here, we demonstrate that re-analyses of this dataset show that all 19 genes support the F3 node that represents Fusarium sensu stricto as defined by F. sambucinum (sexual morph synonym Gibberella pulicaris). The backbone of the phylogeny is resolved by the concatenated alignment, but only six of the 19 genes fully support the F1 node, representing the broad circumscription of Fusarium. Furthermore, a re-analysis of the concatenated dataset revealed alternate topologies in different phylogenetic algorithms, highlighting the deep divergence and unresolved placement of various Nectriaceae lineages proposed as members of Fusarium. Species of Fusarium s. str. are characterised by Gibberella sexual morphs, asexual morphs with thin- or thick-walled macroconidia that have variously shaped apical and basal cells, and trichothecene mycotoxin production, which separates them from other fusarioid genera. Here we show that the Wollenweber concept of Fusarium presently accounts for 20 segregate genera with clear-cut synapomorphic traits, and that fusarioid macroconidia represent a character that has been gained or lost multiple times throughout Nectriaceae. Thus, the very broad circumscription of Fusarium is blurry and without apparent synapomorphies, and does not include all genera with fusarium-like macroconidia, which are spread throughout Nectriaceae (e.g., Cosmosporella, Macroconia, Microcera). In this study four new genera are introduced, along with 18 new species and 16 new combinations. These names convey information about relationships, morphology, and ecological preference that would otherwise be lost in a broader definition of Fusarium. To assist users to correctly identify fusarioid genera and species, we introduce a new online identification database, Fusarioid-ID, accessible at www.fusarium.org. The database comprises partial sequences from multiple genes commonly used to identify fusarioid taxa (act1, CaM, his3, rpb1, rpb2, tef1, tub2, ITS, and LSU). In this paper, we also present a nomenclator of names that have been introduced in Fusarium up to January 2021 as well as their current status, types, and diagnostic DNA barcode data. In this study, researchers from 46 countries, representing taxonomists, plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, and students, strongly support the application and use of a more precisely delimited Fusarium (= Gibberella) concept to accommodate taxa from the robust monophyletic node F3 on the basis of a well-defined and unique combination of morphological and biochemical features. This F3 node includes, among others, species of the F. fujikuroi, F. incarnatum-equiseti, F. oxysporum, and F. sambucinum species complexes, but not species of Bisifusarium [F. dimerum species complex (SC)], Cyanonectria (F. buxicola SC), Geejayessia (F. staphyleae SC), Neocosmospora (F. solani SC) or Rectifusarium (F. ventricosum SC). The present study represents the first step to generating a new online monograph of Fusarium and allied fusarioid genera (www.fusarium.org)