Feline morbillivirus infection associated with fatal encephalitis in a Bengal cat.

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a recently discovered morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae, which include several highly contagious viruses with zoonotic potential. In this case report we describe the detection of FeMV in archived brain tissue of a 2-month-old Bengal cat with nonsuppurative encephalitis from the year 2011 in Switzerland by high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Our metagenomics approach was able to obtain a full-length sequence covering the entire FeMV genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that our FeMV strain clustered within FeMV genotype 1. We were able to detect FeMV RNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) in brain sections with inflammatory lesions and demonstrated its potential neurotropism and association with encephalitis. Our results provide further insight into this recently discovered morbillivirus and encourage further investigations into the pathogenesis and epidemiology of associated diseases in cats and potentially other species

The AGMA1 poly(amidoamine) inhibits the infectivity of herpes simplex virus in cell lines, in human cervicovaginal histocultures, and in vaginally infected mice

The development of topical microbicides is a valid approach to protect the genital mucosa from sexually transmitted infections that cannot be contained with effective vaccination, like HSV and HIV infections. A suitable target of microbicides is the interaction between viral proteins and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). AGMA1 is a prevailingly cationic agmatine-containing polyamidoamine polymer previously shown to inhibit HSPGs dependent viruses, including HSV-1, HSV-2, and HPV-16. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of AGMA1 against HSV infection and assess its antiviral efficacy and biocompatibility in preclinical models. The results show AGMA1 to be a non-toxic inhibitor of HSV infectivity in cell cultures and human cervicovaginal histocultures. Moreover, it significantly reduced the burden of infection of HSV-2 genital infection in mice. The investigation of the mechanism of action revealed that AGMA1 reduces cells susceptibility to virus infection by binding to cell surface HSPGs thereby preventing HSV attachment. This study indicates that AGMA1 is a promising candidate for the development of a topical microbicide to prevent sexually transmitted HSV infections

Oxygen-loaded nanodroplets effectively abrogate hypoxia dysregulating effects on secretion of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 by human monocytes

Monocytes play a key role in the inflammatory stage of the healing process. To allow monocyte migration to injured tissues, the balances between secreted matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) must be finely modulated. However, a reduction of blood supply and local oxygen tension can modify the phenotype of immune cells. Intriguingly, hypoxia might be targeted by new effective oxygenating devices such as 2H,3H-decafluoropentane- (DFP-) based oxygen-loaded nanodroplets (OLNs). Here, hypoxia effects on gelatinase/TIMP release from human peripheral monocytes were investigated, and the therapeutic potential of dextran-shelled OLNs was evaluated. Normoxic monocytes constitutively released ~500 ng/mL MMP-9, ~1.3 ng/mL TIMP-1, and ~0.6 ng/mL TIMP-2 proteins. MMP-2 was not detected. After 24 hours, hypoxia significantly altered MMP-9/TIMP-1 balance by reducing MMP-9 and increasing TIMP-1, without affecting TIMP-2 secretion. Interestingly OLNs, not displaying toxicity to human monocytes after cell internalization, effectively counteracted hypoxia, restoring a normoxia-like MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio. The action of OLNs was specifically dependent on time-sustained oxygen diffusion up to 24 h from their DFP-based core. Therefore, OLNs appear as innovative, nonconventional, cost-effective, and nontoxic therapeutic tools, to be potentially employed to restore the physiological invasive phenotype of immune cells in hypoxia-associated inflammation

Different scenarios for Candida parapsilosis fungaemia reveal high numbers of mixed C-parapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis infections

Nosocomial fungal bloodstream infections (BSI) are increasing significantly in hospitalized patients and Candida parapsilosis has emerged as an important pathogen responsible for numerous outbreaks. The objective of this study was to evaluate C. parapsilosis sensu lato infection scenarios, regarding species distribution and strain relatedness. One hundred isolates of C. parapsilosis sensu lato derived from blood cultures and catheter tips were analysed by multiplex microsatellite typing and by sequencing D1/D2 regions of the ribosomal DNA. Our results indicate that 9.5 % of patients presented infections due to C. parapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis, 57.1 % due to C. parapsilosis, 28.3 % due to C. orthopsilosis and 4.8% due to Candida metapsilosis. Eighty per cent of the C. parapsilosis BSIs were due to a single strain that was also identified in the catheter, but in 10% of the cases C. parasilosis was identified in the catheter but the BSI was due to C. orthopsilosis. There is a significant probability that C. parapsilosis isolates collected from the same patient at more than 3 months interval are of different strains (P=0.0179). Moreover, several isolates were identified persistently in the same hospital, infecting six different patients. The incidence of polyfungal BSI infections with C. parapsilosis and C. orthopsilosis is reported herein for the first time, emphasizing the fact that the species identified in the catheter is not always responsible for the BSI, thus impacting the treatment strategy. The observation that strains can remain in the hospital environment for years highlights the possible existence of reservoirs and reinforces the need for accurate genotyping tools, such as the markers used for elucidating epidemiological associations and detecting outbreaks.Financial support was provided by CAPES Foundation (BEX 19194/12-9), Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia (DF 70.040-020), by FEDER through POFC-COMPETE and by Portuguese funds from FCT (PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014). R.M.Z.-O. is supported in part by CNPq (350338/2000-0) and FAPERJ E (26/103.157/2011). We are grateful to Ronaldo Rozembaun from HSE and SAM and Andrea Pussenti Derossi from HUPE for providing the Candida isolates and technical assistance in sampling. Automated sequencing was done using the genomic platform/DNA sequencing platform at Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, PDTIS/FIOCRUZ (RPT01A), Brazil. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

2H,3H-decafluoropentane-based nanodroplets: New perspectives for oxygen delivery to hypoxic cutaneous tissues

Perfluoropentane (PFP)-based oxygen-loaded nanobubbles (OLNBs) were previously proposed as adjuvant therapeutic tools for pathologies of different etiology sharing hypoxia as a common feature, including cancer, infection, and autoimmunity. Here we introduce a new platform of oxygen nanocarriers, based on 2H,3H-decafluoropentane (DFP) as core fluorocarbon. These new nanocarriers have been named oxygen-loaded nanodroplets (OLNDs) since DFP is liquid at body temperature, unlike gaseous PFP. Dextran-shelled OLNDs, available either in liquid or gel formulations, display spherical morphology, ~600 nm diameters, anionic charge, good oxygen carrying capacity, and no toxic effects on human keratinocytes after cell internalization. In vitro OLNDs result more effective in releasing oxygen to hypoxic environments than former OLNBs, as demonstrated by analysis through oxymetry. In vivo, OLNDs effectively enhance oxy-hemoglobin levels, as emerged from investigation by photoacoustic imaging. Interestingly, ultrasound (US) treatment further improves transdermal oxygen release from OLNDs. Taken together, these data suggest that US-activated, DFP-based OLNDs might be innovative, suitable and cost-effective devices to topically treat hypoxia-associated pathologies of the cutaneous tissues

Importance of the three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography in deep endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to demonstrate the importance of three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography (US 3D) in the diagnosis of deep endometriosis and level of intestinal involvement in the decision of the therapy of endometriosis of rectovaginal septum. METHODS: A prospective study between March 2007 and July 2009. Sixty-five women with pelvic endometriosis and gastrointestinal complaints were evaluated and submitted to 3D U.S.. Twenty patients, mean age 33.7 years, with suspected of intestinal endometriosis were submitted to laparoscopic procedure and surgical treatment. RESULTS: In nineteen women (95%), the laparoscopic findings confirmed endometriosis in the rectum. The procedure was performed to laparoscopy: the focus peritoneal excision (n = 1), partial resection of rectosigmoid (n = 9), excision of a nodule of rectum (n = 10). The average operative time per procedure was 120 minutes. The average time to stay in hospital was 1.7 days. Two patients had the appearance as complication of rectovaginal fistula. CONCLUSION: We conclude that three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography is specific in the assessment of anorectal segment, crucial for detecting endometriosis focus of the rectovaginal septum and evaluates possible associated diseases in this segment, determining the appropriate therapeutic strategy and surgical.OBJETIVO: Este estudo visa demonstrar a importância da ultra-sonografia anorretal tridimensional (US 3D) no diagnóstico da endometriose profunda e o grau de acometimento do trato intestinal na decisão terapêutica da endometriose do septo retovaginal. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo realizado entre março de 2007 e julho de 2009. Sessenta e cinco mulheres com endometriose pélvica e com queixas gastrointestinais foram avaliadas e submetidas a US 3D. Vinte pacientes, média de idade 33,7anos, com suspeita de foco endometriótico intestinal foram submetidas ao procedimento laparoscópico para a realização de inventário da cavidade abdominal e tratamento cirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Em dezenove mulheres (95%), os achados laparoscópicos confirmaram a presença do foco endometriótico retal. O procedimento realizado à laparoscopia foi: exérese de foco peritoneais (n= 1); ressecção parcial do retossigmóide (n= 9); exérese de nódulo de reto (n= 10). O tempo operatório médio por procedimento foi de 120 minutos. O tempo médio de alta foi 1,7 dias. Duas pacientes apresentaram como complicação o aparecimento de fistula retovaginal. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que a ultra-sonografia anorretal tridimensional é exame específico na avaliação do segmento anorretal, decisivo na detecção de focos endometrióticos do septo retovaginal e avalia eventuais doenças associadas nesse segmento, determinando a estratégica terapêutico-cirúrgica adequada.Universidade Estadual do Oeste do ParanáUFC/CE Universidade Estadual do Oeste do ParanáUniversidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia SOBENGEUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) Universidade Estadual do Oeste do ParanáUFPR Universidade Estadual do Oeste do ParanáUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM)UNIFESP, EPM, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do ParanáUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

INCUBAÇÃO DE CALCÁRIO FINAMENTE MOÍDO E CARACTERÍSTICAS QUÍMICAS DO SOLO SOB CULTIVO DE SOJA E MILHO

The chemical changes in the soil and the behavior of soybean and corn resulting from the application of doses of finely ground calcitic and dolomitic limestone were studied. The experiment was carried out in 10 L pots in a 2x4 factorial scheme with four replications, whose treatments consisted of two limestones (calcitic and dolomitic) and four doses: 0.0; 3.0; 6.0; 9.0 Mg ha-1. The soil was incubated and sampled at 90, 200 and 300 days. At 90 days of incubation, the soybean was sown and harvested at the end of the cycle. Next, corn was sown, which was also harvested. The results showed that the increasing doses of lime influenced all soil and plant variables with a linear or quadratic effect; the levels of calcium, magnesium, their CEC saturations and the Ca/Mg ratio were affected due to the higher content of each nutrient in the respective corrective and the application of finely ground limestone increased base saturation to values ​​close to the value calculated at the lowest doses. , not reaching the desired value only at the dose of 12 Mg ha-1, reaching the reaction peak at 90 days, decreasing from this date.Estudou-se as modificações químicas no solo e o comportamento da soja e do milho decorrente da aplicação de doses de calcário calcítico e dolomítico finamente moído. O experimento ocorreu em vasos de 10 dm³ em esquema fatorial 2x4 com quatro repetições, cujos tratamentos consistiram em dois calcários (calcítico e dolomítico) e quatro doses: 0,0; 3,0; 6,0; 9,0 t ha-1. O solo foi incubado e amostrado aos 90, 200 e 300 dias. Aos 90 dias de incubação semeou-se a soja e colhida no final do ciclo. Em sequência semeou-se o milho, o qual também foi colhido. Os resultados mostraram que as doses crescentes de calcário influenciaram todas as variáveis do solo e das plantas com efeito linear ou quadrático; os teores de cálcio, magnésio, suas saturações na CTC e a relação Ca:Mg foram afetadas em função do maior teor de cada nutriente no respectivo corretivo e a aplicação de calcário finamente moído elevou saturação de bases para valores próximos do valor calculado nas menores doses, não chegando ao valor desejado apenas na dose de 9,0 t ha-1, atingindo o pico de reação aos 90 dias, decaindo a partir desta data Palavras-chave: incubação; calcário; reatividade; PRNT.   Incubation of finely ground limestone and soil chemical characteristics under cultivation of soy and corn   ABSTRACT: The chemical changes in the soil and the behavior of soybean and corn resulting from the application of doses of finely ground calcitic and dolomitic limestone were studied. The experiment was carried out in 10 dm³ pots in a 2x4 factorial scheme with four replications, whose treatments consisted of two limestones (calcitic and dolomitic) and four doses: 0.0; 3.0; 6.0; 9.0 t ha-1. The soil was incubated and sampled at 90, 200 and 300 days. At 90 days of incubation, the soybean was sown and harvested at the end of the cycle. Next, corn was sown, which was also harvested. The results showed that the increasing doses of lime influenced all soil and plant variables with a linear or quadratic effect; the levels of calcium, magnesium, their CEC saturations and the Ca:Mg ratio were affected due to the higher content of each nutrient in the respective corrective and the application of finely ground limestone increased base saturation to values ​​close to the value calculated at the lowest doses. , not reaching the desired value only at the dose of 9.0 t ha-1, reaching the reaction peak at 90 days, decreasing from this date. Keywords: incubation; limestone; reactivity; PRNT