Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) : characterization and comparison

Introduction: Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are responsible for avian colibacillosis and human urinary tract infections, respectively. There are genetic similarities between the APEC and UPEC pathotypes, suggesting the APEC strains could be a potential reservoir of virulence and antimicrobial-resistance genes for the UPEC strains. This study aimed to characterize and compare APEC and UPEC strains regarding the phylogroup classification, pathogenicity and antimicrobial susceptibility. Methodology: A total of 238 APEC and 184 UPEC strains were selected and characterized. The strains were assayed for antimicrobial susceptibility and classified into phylogenetic groups using a multiplex-PCR protocol. In addition, the APEC strains had previously been classified according to their in vivo pathogenicity. Results: The results showed that both pathotypes had variation in their susceptibility to most of the antimicrobial agents evaluated, with few strains classified as multidrug resistant. The highest resistance rate for both pathotypes was to amoxicillin. Classifying the APEC and UPEC strains into phylogenetic groups determined that the most frequently frequencies were for groups D and B2, respectively. These results reflect the pathogenic potential of these strains, as all the UPEC strains were isolated from unhealthy patients, and most of the APEC strains were previously classified as pathogenic. Conclusions: The results indicate that distribution into phylogenetic groups provided, in part, similar classification to those of in vivo pathogenicity index, as it was possible to adequately differentiate most of the pathogenic and commensal or low-pathogenicity bacteria. However, no relationship could be found between the specific antimicrobial agents and pathogenicity or phylogenetic group for either pathotype

Soybean growth and production under straw of maize, Urochloa brizantha, Conyza spp. and Digitaria insularis

Weeds can cause serious damage during soybean development, due to allelopathy, competition for water, light and nutrients. It is necessary to investigate the influence of straw, of weeds Conyza spp. and Digitaria insularis, in soybean growth, production and composition and grains. If there is influence of allelopathic compounds at the crop. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of straw of maize and Urochloa brizantha (A.Rich.) R.D.Webster crops and Conyza spp., D. insularis, on growth, production and composition of grains produced by soybean. Treatments consisted of the control (absence of straw), maize straw, Urochloa brizantha straw, Conyza spp. straw (500, 1000, 1500 or 2000 kg ha-1) and D. insularis straw (500, 1000, 1500 or 2000 kg ha-1). The chlorophyll index, height of plants and insertion of the first pod, stem diameter at the collar and at 5 cm from the collar, root dry mass, number of pods and grains, weight of total grains, weight of 100 grains, protein and nitrogen (N), catalase and peroxidase contents in grains were evaluated. There was no difference between treatments for plant height, first pod height and chlorophyll index, as well as for total pods and 100 grain weight and protein content, N content and peroxidase and carboxylase enzymatic activity of the grains produced. For stem diameter, a higher value was found for the treatment with maize straw compared to the control (no straw). For dry root matter, treatments without straw and with Conyza spp. straw up to 1500 kg ha-1, differed from the treatment with maize straw. Even in some respects they provided beneficial effects compared to the absence of straw, which indicates the importance of crop residues. No allelopathic effects of weeds were observed on the growth and development of soybean. Conyza spp., D. insularis, maize or U. brizantha straws do not negatively affect soybean growth, production and grain composition

Identification of virulence-associated markers in Escherichia coli isolated from captive red-browed amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha)

Due to the genetic similarity of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from birds and pathotypes of human origin, it is suggested that they have a common ancestor and may exchange virulence-associated genes. This study aimed to detect virulence-associated genes in E. coli strains isolated from the Red-browed Amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha) kept at a conservation institute in Brazil. High genetic variability in virulence was observed, since 12 virulence profiles were found among 14 strains. The number of virulence-associated genes of single strains ranged from 5 to 22 out of 33 genes tested, and only one strain did not present any virulence genes. Regarding adhesion genes, most strains presented from two to five genes, and crlA (85.7%) and fimC (85.7%) were the most frequent. Frequencies were similar for invasion and iron acquisition genes. Variations among genes were observed for serum resistance and toxin-related genes. Some of the E. coli strains isolated from parrots presented virulence genes that are commonly associated with pathotypes of human origin, including newborn meningitis E. coli, uropathogenic E. coli, and sepsis-associated E. coli. It is noteworthy that some of these genes were present in the majority of the analyzed strains. Our results indicate that these strains detected in clinically healthy parrots can be potential reservoirs of several virulence-associated genes. These genes can be transmitted to other E. coli strains, including those that affect humans. These E. coli strains present a high pathogenic potential of virulence-associated genes in extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strains

Eficácia terapêutica do exenatide no tratamento da doença de Parkinson: revisão sistemática

Parkinson's disease is one of the most diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases in the world and is identified as a progressive condition of the Central Nervous System. The resulting dopamine deficiency triggers dysfunction and death of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, responsible for motor control. A new compound called exenatide, transmitted to the peptide hormone glucagon 1 (GLP-1), showed satisfactory reactions for the treatment of PD through randomized clinical trials. The objective of this research was to carry out a systematic literature review of randomized studies and their respective clinical trials on pharmacotherapeutic actions of the compound exenatide to point out the effects of treatments administered to patients. Searches were carried out in the PubMed, MEDLINE, ProQuest, Cochrane and Scholar Google databases, from August 2022 to September 2022, for studies published between the years 2013 to 2022, in English, Portuguese and Spanish. A total of 1,521 articles were found, and 4 studies were used for the analysis. The satisfactory results that all patients participating in the groups treated with the exenatide compound showed an improvement in the estimates of motor functions compared to the controlled groups. Quantification of specific proteins involved in brain insulin signaling and activity showed a greater amount of important biomarkers for the insulin signaling cascade compared to participants using placebo. The importance of carrying out further studies with the aim of verifying the degree of effectiveness of the compound in improving motor behavior and consequently in neuroprotection.Introdução: a Doença de Parkinson é uma das doenças neurodegenerativas mais diagnosticadas no mundo sendo caracterizada como uma condição progressiva do Sistema Nervoso Central. A deficiência de dopamina é causada pela morte de neurônios dopaminérgicos da via nigro-estriatal, responsável pelo controle motor. Um novo composto denominado exenatide, análogo ao hormônio peptídico glucagon 1 (GLP-1), apresentou reações benéficas para o tratamento da Doença de Parkinson por meio de ensaios clínicos randomizados. Objetivo: realizar uma análise sistemática da literatura de estudos randomizados e seus respectivos ensaios clínicos sobre ações farmacoterapêuticas do composto exenatide para apontar os efeitos dos tratamentos proporcionados aos pacientes. Metodologia: foram realizadas pesquisas nas bases de dados PubMed, MEDLINE, ProQuest, Cochrane e Google Scholar, no período de agosto de 2022 a setembro de 2022 de estudos publicados entre os anos de 2013 a 2022, nos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol. Resultados: um total de 1.521 artigos foram encontrados, sendo que 4 estudos foram utilizadospara a análise. Os resultados demonstraram que todos os pacientes participantes dos grupos tratados com o composto exenatide apresentaram uma melhora nas avaliações das funções motoras em comparação aos grupos controles. A quantificação de proteínas específicas envolvidas na sinalização e atividade da insulina cerebral apresentaram maior quantidade de biomarcadores importantes para a cascata de sinalização de insulina em comparação com participantes usando placebo. Conclusão: evidencia-se a importância da realização de estudos mais aprofundados com o objetivo de verificar o grau de eficácia do composto na melhora do comportamento motor e consequentemente na neuroproteção

Powdered garlic in the alternative feeding of broiler chickens

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito da inclusão de alho em pó (Allium sativum) em rações para frangos, sobre desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e partes, peso de órgãos, níveis de colesterol e triacilgliceróis sangüíneos, e morfometria intestinal. Foram utilizados 720 pintainhos machos Cobb, com um dia de idade, distribuídos em blocos casualizados com seis tratamentos: ração sem promotor de crescimento (PC), sem anticoccidiano (AC) e com 0,00, 0,25, 0,50, 0,75 e 1,00% de alho; e ração com PC+AC, com quatro repetições de 30 aves cada. Peso, ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e mortalidade foram obtidos aos 21 e 42 dias de idade. Aos 42 dias de idade foram abatidas 20 aves por tratamento para determinação do rendimento de carcaça e 4 aves para avaliação do peso de órgãos e morfometria intestinal. Sangue de 8 aves por tratamento foi colhido para determinação de colesterol e triacilgliceróis. Em aves alimentadas até 42 dias de idade com ração sem promotor de crescimento e anticoccidiano, a inclusão de até 1,00% de alho em pó beneficiou a conversão alimentar e não alterou o rendimento de carcaça e partes, peso relativo dos órgãos, mucosa intestinal, nem os níveis séricos de colesterol e triacilgliceróis. O alho não substitui com eficiência o antibiótico usado como promotor de crescimento em rações de frangos.The objective of this work was to evaluate the inclusion of powered garlic (Allium Sativum) in diets of broiler chickens and the effect of this inclusion on the performance, carcass yield and parts, organ weights, serum cholesterol and triacilglycerols levels, as well as intestinal morphometry. Seven hundred and twenty male Cobb chicks one-day-old were distributed in randomized blocks with six treatments: diet without growth promoter and without anticoccidial (GP+AC) and with 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% of powered garlic, and diet with GP+AC, with four replications of 30 chickens each. Chickens were reared up to 42 days old. Weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and mortality were obtained at 21 and 42 days. At the 42nd, 20 chickens per treatment were slaughtered in order to determine carcass yield and other 4 chickens per treatment were used to estimate organ weights and intestinal morphology. Blood of 8 chickens per treatment was collected to determine cholesterol and triacilglycerols. For the birds feeding on the diet without growth promoter and without anticoccidial, the inclusion up to 1.00% of powered garlic in the diet improved feed conversion and did not alter carcass yield and parts, organ weights, intestinal mucous or influenced the serum levels of cholesterol and triacilglycerols. The garlic did not replace efficiently the antibiotic

Avanços recentes na compreensão da patogênese da Artrite Reumatoide: insights e implicações terapêuticas

A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma doença autoimune sistêmica que afeta cerca de 1% da população mundial. Caracterizada por inflamação sinovial crônica e erosões ósseas progressivas, a AR provoca deformidade articular e incapacidade funcional, prejudicando seriamente a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. A patogênese da AR é complexa e envolve uma interação dinâmica entre fatores genéticos, imunológicos e ambientais. Nesta revisão, analisamos aprofundadamente o papel da imunidade inata e adaptativa na patogênese da AR e exploramos os avanços recentes na terapêutica da doença, com destaque para os medicamentos modificadores da doença (DMARDs), tanto biológicos quanto sintéticos. Discutimos também as perspectivas futuras para a pesquisa em AR e o desenvolvimento de terapias, com o objetivo de identificar as áreas de pesquisa mais promissoras e as lacunas ainda presentes no nosso entendimento