Antifouling Marine Coatings with a Potentially Safer and Sustainable Synthetic Polyphenolic Derivative

The development of harmless substances to replace biocide-based coatings used to prevent or manage marine biofouling and its unwanted consequences is urgent. The formation of biofilms on submerged marine surfaces is one of the first steps in the marine biofouling process, which facilitates the further settlement of macrofoulers. Anti-biofilm properties of a synthetic polyphenolic compound, with previously described anti-settlement activity against macrofoulers, were explored in this work. In solution this new compound was able to prevent biofilm formation and reduce a pre-formed biofilm produced by the marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas tunicata. Then, this compound was applied to a marine coating and the formation of P. tunicata biofilms was assessed under hydrodynamic conditions to mimic the marine environment. For this purpose, polyurethane (PU)-based coating formulations containing 1 and 2 wt.% of the compound were prepared based on a prior developed methodology. The most effective formulation in reducing the biofilm cell number, biovolume, and thickness was the PU-based coating containing an aziridine-based crosslinker and 2 wt.% of the compound. To assess the marine ecotoxicity impact of this compound, its potential to disrupt endocrine processes was evaluated through the modulation of two nuclear receptors (NRs), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), and pregnane X receptor (PXR). Transcriptional activation of the selected NRs upon exposure to the polyphenolic compound (10 mu M) was not observed, thus highlighting the eco-friendliness towards the addressed NRs of this new dual-acting anti-macro- and anti-microfouling agent towards the addressed NRs

Methodological considerations for kinematic analysis of upper limbs in healthy and poststroke adults Part II: a systematic review of motion capture systems and kinematic metrics

To review the methods used to analyze the kinematics of upper limbs (ULs) of healthy and poststroke adults, namely the motion capture systems and kinematic metrics. A database of articles published in the last decade was compiled using the following search terms combinations: (“upper extremity” OR “upper limb” OR arm) AND (kinematic OR motion OR movement) AND (analysis OR assessment OR measurement). The articles included in this review: (1) had the purpose to analyze objectively three-dimension kinematics of ULs, (2) studied functional movements or activities of daily living involving ULs, and (3) studied healthy and/or poststroke adults. Fourteen articles were included (four studied a healthy sample, three analyzed poststroke patients, and seven examined both poststroke and healthy participants). Most articles used optoelectronic systems with markers; however, the presentation of laboratory and task-specific errors is missing. Markerless systems, used in some studies, seem to be promising alternatives for implementation of kinematic analysis in hospitals and clinics, but the literature proving their validity is scarce. Most articles analyzed “joint kinematics” and “end-point kinematics,” mainly related with reaching. The different stroke locations of the samples were not considered in their analysis and only three articles described their psychometric properties. Future research should validate portable motion capture systems, document their specific error at the acquisition place and for the studied task, include grasping and manipulation analysis, and describe psychometric properties.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oclusão arteriolar retiniana e a oxigenoterapia hiperbárica

Introdução: A oxigenoterapia hiperbárica (OTHB) consiste na administração de uma fracção inspirada de oxigénio próximo de 100%, num ambiente com uma pressão superior (2,5 atm) a pressão atmosférica a nível do mar. este aumento de pressão irá resultar num aumento da pressão arterial e tecidular de oxigénio, em que o volume de oxigénio dissolvido e transportado pelo plasma, aumenta mais de 22 vezes, o que estará na base da maioria dos efeitos fisiológicos e terapêuticos do oxigénio hiperbárico. O principio de actuação da OTHB na oclusão arteriolar retiniana é o aumento de oxigénio ligado à hemoglobina e fundamentalmente no plasma, com consequentemente aumento da concentração de oxigénio no território vascular da coroideia. De acordo com as recomendações baseadas na evidência cientifica emitidas pelo European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) as doenças oftalmológicas isquémicas agudas têm uma medicação de tipo III-opcional. Objectivos: Avaliar os resultados funcionais e estruturais em doentes com oclusão arteriolar retiniana tratados co OTHB. Métodos: Os autores apresentam os resultados funcionais e estruturais de três doentes submetidos a esta terapêutica, no contexto de oclusão da artéria central da retina (doente 1) da artéria cilio-retiniana (doente 2) e de ramo da artéria central da retina (doente 3). Os casos foram documentados com retinografia e tomografia de coerência óptica de forma seriada. Resultados: Nos casos clínicos apresentados, assistiu-se a uma acentuada melhoria funcional e estrutural. O doente 1 iniciou OTHB às 24 horas de evolução e ocorreu uma melhoria de acuidade visual (AV) de “movimentos de mão” para 0,3, o doente 2 iniciou OTHB às 18 horas de evolução e ocorreu uma melhoria de AV de 0,1 para 0,5; o doente 3 iniciou OTHB às 20 horas de evolução e ocorreu uma melhoria da AV de 0,4 para 1,0 com procura de campo. Conclusão: Embora não existam estudos controlados e aleatorizados que confirmem a eficiência da terapia com oxigénio hiperbárico no tratamento da patologia retiniana oclusiva este pode ser uma alternativa válida, a par do controlo dos factores de risco predisponentes

The effects of chronic stress on hippocampal adult neurogenesis and dendritic plasticity are reversed by selective MAO-A inhibition.

Online first version - Oct 14, 2014There is accumulating evidence that adult neurogenesis and dendritic plasticity in the hippocampus are neuroplastic phenomena, highly sensitive to the effects of chronic stress and treatment with most classes of antidepressant drugs, being involved in the onset and recovery from depression. However, the effects of antidepressants that act through the selective inhibition of monoamine oxidase subtype A (MAO-A) in these phenomena are still largely unknown. In the present study, adult neurogenesis and neuronal morphology were examined in the hippocampus of rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) and treated with the selective reversible MAO-A inhibitor (RIMA) drug, pirlindole and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine. The results provide the first demonstration that selective MAO-A inhibition with pirlindole is able to revert the behavioural effects of stress exposure while promoting hippocampal adult neurogenesis and rescuing the stress-induced dendritic atrophy of granule neurons.This research was funded by a collaborative research project established between ICVS and Grupo Tecnimede

RKIP Inhibition in cervical cancer Is associated with higher tumor aggressive behavior and resistance to cisplatin therapy

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, being high-risk group the HPV infected, the leading etiological factor. The raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) has been associated with tumor progression and metastasis in several human neoplasms, however its role on cervical cancer is unclear. In the present study, 259 uterine cervix tissues, including cervicitis, cervical intraepithelial lesions and carcinomas, were analyzed for RKIP expression by immunohistochemistry. We found that RKIP expression was significantly decreased during malignant progression, being highly expressed in non-neoplastic tissues (54% of the samples; 73/135), and expressed at low levels in the cervix invasive carcinomas (,15% (19/124). Following in vitro downregulation of RKIP, we observed a viability and proliferative advantage of RKIP-inhibited cells over time, which was associated with an altered cell cycle distribution and higher colony number in a colony formation assay. An in vitro wound healing assay showed that RKIP abrogation is associated with increased migratory capability. RKIP downregulation was also associated with an increased vascularization of the tumors in vivo using a CAM assay. Furthermore, RKIP inhibition induced cervical cancer cells apoptotic resistance to cisplatin treatment. In conclusion, we described that RKIP protein is significantly depleted during the malignant progression of cervical tumors. Despite the lack of association with patient clinical outcome, we demonstrate, in vitro and in vivo, that loss of RKIP expression can be one of the factors that are behind the aggressiveness, malignant progression and chemotherapy resistance of cervical cancer.This work was partially supported by the Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (grant PTDC/SAU-TOX/114549/2009). Olga Martinho and Sara Granja were recipients of PhD fellowships (SFRH/BD/36463/2007 and SFRH/BD/51062/2010, respectively), and Filipe Pinto and Vera Miranda-Goncalves were recipients of research fellowships (UMINHO/BI/016/2011 and SFRH/BI/33503/2008, respectively), both from FCT, Portugal. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding received for this study

Genetic characterization of Bhanja virus and Palma virus, two tick-borne phleboviruses

The genomes of Bhanja virus (BHAV) and Palma virus (PALV) two tick-borne viruses hitherto grouped into the Bhanja virus antigenic complex of the Bunyaviridae were determined by pyrosequencing. Phylogenetic analysis groups all three segments of BHAV and PALV into a distinct clade of tick-borne phleboviruses together with the newly described severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and Uukuniemi virus. The terminal signature sequences which are signatures for taxonomic grouping and important for virus replication and RNA transcription show marked differences in the L- and S-segments

The Evolution of Pepsinogen C Genes in Vertebrates: Duplication, Loss and Functional Diversification

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Aspartic proteases comprise a large group of enzymes involved in peptide proteolysis. This collection includes prominent enzymes globally categorized as pepsins, which are derived from pepsinogen precursors. Pepsins are involved in gastric digestion, a hallmark of vertebrate physiology. An important member among the pepsinogens is pepsinogen C (<em>Pgc</em>). A particular aspect of <em>Pgc</em> is its apparent single copy status, which contrasts with the numerous gene copies found for example in pepsinogen A (<em>Pga</em>). Although gene sequences with similarity to <em>Pgc</em> have been described in some vertebrate groups, no exhaustive evolutionary framework has been considered so far.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p>By combining phylogenetics and genomic analysis, we find an unexpected <em>Pgc</em> diversity in the vertebrate sub-phylum. We were able to reconstruct gene duplication timings relative to the divergence of major vertebrate clades. Before tetrapod divergence, a single <em>Pgc</em> gene tandemly expanded to produce two gene lineages (<em>Pgbc</em> and <em>Pgc2</em>). These have been differentially retained in various classes. Accordingly, we find <em>Pgc2</em> in sauropsids, amphibians and marsupials, but not in eutherian mammals. <em>Pgbc</em> was retained in amphibians, but duplicated in the ancestor of amniotes giving rise to <em>Pgb</em> and <em>Pgc1</em>. The latter was retained in mammals and probably in reptiles and marsupials but not in birds. <em>Pgb</em> was kept in all of the amniote clade with independent episodes of loss in some mammalian species. Lineage specific expansions of <em>Pgc2</em> and <em>Pgbc</em> have also occurred in marsupials and amphibians respectively. We find that teleost and tetrapod <em>Pgc</em> genes reside in distinct genomic regions hinting at a possible translocation.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>We conclude that the repertoire of <em>Pgc</em> genes is larger than previously reported, and that tandem duplications have modelled the history of <em>Pgc</em> genes. We hypothesize that gene expansion lead to functional divergence in tetrapods, coincident with the invasion of terrestrial habitats.</p> </div

Staphylococcus aureus Survives with a Minimal Peptidoglycan Synthesis Machine but Sacrifices Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance

Many important cellular processes are performed by molecular machines, composed of multiple proteins that physically interact to execute biological functions. An example is the bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis machine, responsible for the synthesis of the main component of the cell wall and the target of many contemporary antibiotics. One approach for the identification of essential components of a cellular machine involves the determination of its minimal protein composition. Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive pathogen, renowned for its resistance to many commonly used antibiotics and prevalence in hospitals. Its genome encodes a low number of proteins with PG synthesis activity (9 proteins), when compared to other model organisms, and is therefore a good model for the study of a minimal PG synthesis machine. We deleted seven of the nine genes encoding PG synthesis enzymes from the S. aureus genome without affecting normal growth or cell morphology, generating a strain capable of PG biosynthesis catalyzed only by two penicillin-binding proteins, PBP1 and the bi-functional PBP2. However, multiple PBPs are important in clinically relevant environments, as bacteria with a minimal PG synthesis machinery became highly susceptible to cell wall-targeting antibiotics, host lytic enzymes and displayed impaired virulence in a Drosophila infection model which is dependent on the presence of specific peptidoglycan receptor proteins, namely PGRP-SA. The fact that S. aureus can grow and divide with only two active PG synthesizing enzymes shows that most of these enzymes are redundant in vitro and identifies the minimal PG synthesis machinery of S. aureus. However a complex molecular machine is important in environments other than in vitro growth as the expendable PG synthesis enzymes play an important role in the pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: epidemiological trends and controversies in treatment

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus has the widest geographic range of all tick-borne viruses and is endemic in more than 30 countries in Eurasia and Africa. Over the past decade, new foci have emerged or re-emerged in the Balkans and neighboring areas. Here we discuss the factors influencing CCHF incidence and focus on the main issue of the use of ribavirin for treating this infection. Given the dynamics of CCHF emergence in the past decade, development of new anti-viral drugs and a vaccine is urgently needed to treat and prevent this acute, life-threatening disease