Discriminating among Earth composition models using geo-antineutrinos

It has been estimated that the entire Earth generates heat corresponding to about 40 TW (equivalent to 10,000 nuclear power plants) which is considered to originate mainly from the radioactive decay of elements like U, Th and K, deposited in the crust and mantle of the Earth. Radioactivity of these elements produce not only heat but also antineutrinos (called geo-antineutrinos) which can be observed by terrestrial detectors. We investigate the possibility of discriminating among Earth composition models predicting different total radiogenic heat generation, by observing such geo-antineutrinos at Kamioka and Gran Sasso, assuming KamLAND and Borexino (type) detectors, respectively, at these places. By simulating the future geo-antineutrino data as well as reactor antineutrino background contributions, we try to establish to which extent we can discriminate among Earth composition models for given exposures (in units of kt$\cdot$ yr) at these two sites on our planet. We use also information on neutrino mixing parameters coming from solar neutrino data as well as KamLAND reactor antineutrino data, in order to estimate the number of geo-antineutrino induced events.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, final version to appear in JHE

Antiplasmodial and trypanocidal activity of violacein and deoxyviolacein produced from synthetic operons.

BACKGROUND: Violacein is a deep violet compound that is produced by a number of bacterial species. It is synthesized from tryptophan by a pathway that involves the sequential action of 5 different enzymes (encoded by genes vioA to vioE). Violacein has antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antiviral activities, and also has the potential of inducing apoptosis in certain cancer cells. RESULTS: Here, we describe the construction of a series of plasmids harboring the complete or partial violacein biosynthesis operon and their use to enable production of violacein and deoxyviolacein in E.coli. We performed in vitro assays to determine the biological activity of these compounds against Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and mammalian cells. We found that, while deoxyviolacein has a lower activity against parasites than violacein, its toxicity to mammalian cells is insignificant compared to that of violacein. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed E. coli strains capable of producing biologically active violacein and related compounds, and propose that deoxyviolacein might be a useful starting compound for the development of antiparasite drugs

Epstein-Barr Virus in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: Evaluation of the Viral Presence and Significance in Skin and Peripheral Blood

The importance of viral agents in the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is still debated. For this purpose, we retrospectively evaluated the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) presence in Sézary syndrome (SS), mycosis fungoides (MF), inflammatory dermatoses (ID), and healthy donors (HD) using different approaches: EBV-DNA was quantified in skin biopsies and peripheral blood using real-time PCR, EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) transcripts were detected by in situ hybridization (ISH), and latent membrane protein1-2 antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry. Skin biopsies were EBV-DNA-positive in 8/30 (27%) SS, 7/71 (10%) MF, and 2/18 (11%) ID patients and in none of the 25 normal skin samples. Positive mRNA (EBER) signals, always confined to cerebriform T lymphocytes, were found in 5/30 SS patients (17%), whereas signals in all MF and ID patients were negative. The presence of EBV-DNA in skin and blood samples was associated with a significantly lower survival in MF/SS patients. In evaluating EBV serological status, most (>70%) SS, MF, and ID patients showed a serological reactivation demonstrated by the presence of anti-EA IgG. In conclusion, although the finding of EBV-DNA in CTCL does not prove its etiopathogenetic role and may be related instead to immunosuppression, our study demonstrates that it has prognostic relevance

Natural Resistance of Leishmania infantum to Miltefosine Contributes to the Low Efficacy in the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Brazil

In India visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani has been successfully treated with miltefosine with a cure rate of > 90%. To assess the efficacy and safety of oral miltefosine in L. infantum-causing Brazilian VL patients, a phase II, open-label, dose-escalation study of oral miltefosine was conducted in children (ages 2-12) and adolescent-adults (ages 13-60). Definitive cure was assessed at a 6 month follow-up visit. The cure rate was only 42% (6 out of 14 patients) with the recommended 28 days of therapy and 68% (19 out of 28 patients) with an extended treatment of 42 days. The in vitro miltefosine susceptibility profile of intracellular amastigote stages of the pre-treatment isolates, from cured and relapsed patients, showed a positive correlation with clinical outcome. The IC50 mean (SEM) of eventual cures was 5.1 (0.4) µM whereas that of eventual failures was 12.8 (1.9) µM (P = 0.0002). An IC50 below or above 8.0 µM predicts cure or failure, respectively with 82% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The finding of L. infantum amastigotes resistant to miltefosine in isolates from patients who eventually failed treatment, strongly suggests natural resistance to this drug, as miltefosine had never been used in Brazil before this trial was carried out

SOROPREVALÊNCIA PARA HIV E SÍFILIS EM CAMINHONEIROS QUE TRAFEGAM PELA BR153 NO CENTRO-OESTE BRASILEIRO

Introdução e objetivos: O longo período fora de casa favorece o comportamento de risco para DSTs, como aids e sífilis entre caminhoneiros. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a soroprevalência para HIV-1/2 e sífilis entre os caminhoneiros. Metodologia: Os caminhoneiros foram recrutados em um posto de combustível na BR-153, Km 15, Goiás, entre fev/2014 e fev/2015 (CEP #065/2013). Um questionário estruturado sobre os dados sócio demográficos foi realizado e foram colhidos 10 mL de sangue para realização da sorologia mediante ensaio imunoenzimatico para anti-HIV-1/2 (Interkit™) e para anti-Treponema pallidum (Tp) (Symbiosys™) e se positivos, realizados o sequenciamento do gene pol (protease e transcriptase reversa) para identificar mutações de resistência aos antirretrovirais (ARV) e os subtipos do HIV-1, e o VDRL, respectivamente. Resultados e discussões: Dos 666 caminhoneiros, 0,9 %(n=6) apresentaram sorologia positiva para HIV-1, sendo dois do subtipo C, uma BF e uma B, dessas, nenhuma apresentou resistência aos ARV e duas não amplificaram. 3/6 caminhoneiros HIV-1+ afirmaram relacionamento com parceiros ocasionais e 1/3 afirmou prática de sexo desprotegido. A soroprevalência para sífilis foi de 10,4% (69/666), 16/69 (23,2%) apresentaram VDLR positivo, 29/69 relataram ter relacionamento com parceiros ocasionais sendo que 10,1 % (n=7) afirmaram não usar preservativo. Entre os que passam de 15 a 30 dias fora de casa a soroprevalência para sífilis foi maior (p<0,05). Conclusão: O longo período fora de casa, que reflete a ausência familiar, foi um fator preponderante para maior prevalência da sífilis e a infecção pelo HIV-1 de diferentes subtipos demonstra que os caminhoneiros continuam dentro de uma rede de transmissibilidade contribuindo para a disseminação das DSTs em todo o país devido sua grande mobilidade geográfica

SOROPREVALÊNCIA PARA HEPATITES B E C EM CAMINHONEIROS QUE TRAFEGAM PELA BR153 PASSANDO PELO ESTADO DE GOIÁS NO CENTRO-OESTE BRASILEIRO

Introdução e objetivos: o hábito de vida dos caminhoneiros os condiciona a percorrer grandes distâncias e passar vários dias distante de sua companheira, o que predispõe a práticas sexuais eventuais, aumentando o risco para doenças sexualmente transmissíveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a soroprevalência de hepatites B e C entre os caminhoneiros. Metodologia: caminhoneiros foram recrutados em um posto de combustível (BR-153, Km 515) entre fev/2014 e fev/2015. Dados sócio-demográficos foram colhidos mediante questionário estruturado. Foram coletados 10mL de sangue e o soro foi aliquotado para a realização do enzimaimunoensaio anti-HBc total (WienerTM), HBsAg (WirnerTM) e anti-HCV (InterkitTM). Resultados e discussões: Um total de 666 caminhoneiros fez parte do estudo, sendo que 82 (12,3%) apresentaram sorologia positiva para anti-HBc e 5/82 (6,1%) para HBsAg. A mediana de idade dos caminhoneiros com sorologia positiva para hepatite B foi de 46,5 anos, 54,9% eram das regiões Sul/Sudeste e 40,2% passavam entre 15 e 30 dias longe de casa. 100% relataram ser heterossexuais, 55,2% eram casados, 42,7% (n=35) costumavam ter parceiros sexuais eventuais e 23,5% praticam sexo desprotegido, enquanto aqueles que possuem parceiras fixas (n=74), 63,5% alegam que nunca usam ou utilizam às vezes preservativos com suas parceiras. 13/82 alegam já ter recebido transfusão sanguínea, 5 (38,5%) antes de 1988. Houve um caso de hepatite C, em indivíduo do sexo feminino, 25 anos, casada, heterossexual, parceiro fixo e nunca recebeu transfusão sanguínea. Conclusões: a alta prevalência para hepatite B entre os caminhoneiros revela um grupo de comportamento de risco, sendo necessária a conscientização quanto a transmissibilidade das DSTs e a prática de sexo seguro

The Effect of Sodium Hypochlorite and Chlorhexidine as Irrigant Solutions for Root Canal Disinfection: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Introduction This systematic review aimed to compare the effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine for root canal disinfection during root canal therapy. Methods A literature search for clinical trials was made on the PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Knowledge, SCOPUS, and Science Direct databases and in the reference lists of the identified articles up to January 2015. Quality assessment of the selected studies was performed according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement. Results One clinical trial and 4 randomized clinical trials were selected from the 172 articles initially identified. There was heterogeneity in the laboratory methods used to assess the root canal disinfection as well as in the concentrations of the irrigants used. Therefore, meta-analysis was not performed. Two studies reported effective and similar reductions in bacterial levels for both irrigants. Sodium hypochlorite was more effective than chlorhexidine in reducing microorganisms in 1 study, and another reported opposite findings. Both root irrigants were ineffective in eliminating endotoxins from necrotic pulp root canals in 1 study. Trial design and information regarding randomization procedures were not clearly described in the clinical trials. No study compared laboratory results with clinical outcomes. Conclusions The available evidence on this topic is scarce, and the findings of studies were not consistent. Additional randomized clinical trials using clinical outcomes to compare the use of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine during root canal therapy are needed

Direito, emancipação e cidadania: a experiência do projeto Promotoras Legais Populares no embate à violência contra a mulher e na transformação de realidades

O artigo fala sobre o Projeto de Extensão Promotoras Legais Populares, grupo que debate e discute temas relacionados ao direito, à discriminação de gênero, cidadania etc. O objetivo primordial do grupo é fornecer às mulheres ”“ de diferentes contextos socioculturais ”“maior conhecimento e maior senso crítico sobre seus direitos, que são constantemente sobrepostos e esquecidos dentro de uma sociedade machista. O projeto se funda, principalmente, em três bases teóricas: na visão mais ampliada do direito, na educação jurídica popular e nas ações afirmativas em gênero

Design and Status of the ELIMED Beam Line for Laser-Driven Ion Beams

Charged particle acceleration using ultra-intense and ultra-short laser pulses has gathered a strong interest in the scientific community and it is now one of the most attractive topics in the relativistic laser-plasma interaction research. Indeed, it could represent the future of particle acceleration and open new scenarios in multidisciplinary fields, in particular, medical applications. One of the biggest challenges consists of using, in a future perspective, high intensity laser-target interaction to generate high-energy ions for therapeutic purposes, eventually replacing the old paradigm of acceleration, characterized by huge and complex machines. The peculiarities of laser-driven beams led to develop new strategies and advanced techniques for transport, diagnostics and dosimetry of the accelerated particles, due to the wide energy spread, the angular divergence and the extremely intense pulses. In this framework, the realization of the ELIMED (ELI-Beamlines MEDical applications) beamline, developed by INFN-LNS (Catania, Italy) and installed in 2017 as a part of the ELIMAIA beamline at the ELI-Beamlines (Extreme Light Infrastructure Beamlines) facility in Prague, has the aim to investigate the feasibility of using laser-driven ion beams in multidisciplinary applications. ELIMED will represent the first user's open transport beam line where a controlled laser-driven ion beam will be used for multidisciplinary and medical studies. In this paper, an overview of the beamline, with a detailed description of the main transport elements, will be presented. Moreover, a description of the detectors dedicated to diagnostics and dosimetry will be reported, with some preliminary results obtained both with accelerator-driven and laser-driven beams