Genetic and virulence characterization of colistin-resistant and colistin-sensitive A. baumannii clinical isolates.

Treatment of infections caused by A. baumannii is becoming a challenge due to the ability to develop multidrug-resistance, virulence, and high mortality. We described the colistin resistance and virulence genes present in sixA. baumannii clinical isolates using WGS, expression by qPCR, and virulence in the Galleria mellonella model. The colistin-resistant isolates were assigned as ST233 and the colistin-susceptible isolates as ST236 and ST407. The colistin-resistant isolates contained mutations within PmrA/PmrB, and the pmrA showed up-regulation in all of them. Only one colistin-resistant isolate indicating virulence in G. mellonella. This particular isolate belonged to a different clone, and it was the only isolate that presented non-synonymous mutations in pmrB. Colistinresistance in A. baumannii isolates seems to be caused by up-regulation of pmrA gene. Only one isolate appeared to be virulent in the G. mellonella model. This finding indicating low virulence in isolates belonging to emerging clones circulating in our hospital

Ambulatório Pais-Bebês: experiência em um hospital escola

The objective of this article is to present the work developed at the parent-baby clinic(Ambulatório Pais-Bebês) at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, so as to emphasizethe importance of this assistance modality to professionals of related areas within thehospital environment. The authors emphasize the experience developed by aninterdisciplinary group of professionals who are dedicated to research, teaching andproviding assistance for babies and their families for about 10 years. It is hoped thatthe both research and practice will be stimulated in this area of childhood and adolescentpsychiatry, still little explored in Brazil. This collaboration among professionals resultedfrom the need to assist a growing number of babies who present development-relatedhealth problems, as well as to prevent gaps in the relationship with the caretakers. Ingeneral, although most cases are serious, intervention tends to be brief and withfavorable results. The authors believe that this may result from the fact that, between0 and 3 years of age, babies are extremely responsive to environmental changes.Therapeutic interventions that focus on such changes elicit responses from the babieswho, in turn, also stimulate their caretakers to provide better qualified care. The clinicalexperience throughout our experience has shown that the cost of such interventionsis extremely low, and as a consequence such actions should be prioritized as part ofthe effort to prevent mental problems in children.O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar o trabalho que vem sendo realizado noambulatório pais-bebês, enfatizando a importância desta modalidade de atendimentopara os profissionais de áreas afins, em âmbito hospitalar. Os autores destacam aexperiência desenvolvida por um grupo multidisciplinar de profissionais, que se dedicaà pesquisa, ao ensino e ao atendimento de bebês e suas famílias há cerca de 10anos. Visa-se estimular a prática e a pesquisa nessa área de conhecimento dapsiquiatria da infância e adolescência, ainda pouco exploradas em nosso país. Surgiuda necessidade de atender uma demanda crescente de bebês com problemas desaúde em diversas áreas do desenvolvimento, bem como de prevenir falhas na relaçãocom seus cuidadores. Em geral, apesar dos casos serem graves, as intervençõescostumam ser breves e com bons resultados. Os autores acreditam que isso possaocorrer em função de que, entre 0 e 3 anos de idade, os bebês são muito responsivosàs mudanças em seu ambiente. Intervenções terapêuticas, que focalizam taismudanças, provocam respostas nos bebês que, por sua vez, também estimulam seuscuidadores a proporcionarem uma maternagem mais qualificada. A experiência clínica,ao longo deste tempo, tem demonstrado que tais intervenções são de baixíssimocusto e, conseqüentemente adquirem uma magnitude prioritária na prevenção deproblemas mentais em crianças

How far can we go in simplifying biomonitoring assessments? An integrated analysis of taxonomic surrogacy, taxonomic sufficiency and numerical resolution in a megadiverse region

The need for biodiversity conservation is increasing at a rate much faster than the acquisition of knowledge of biodiversity, such as descriptions of new species and mapping species distributions. As global changes are winning the race against the acquisition of knowledge, many researchers resort to the use of surrogate groups to aid in conservation decisions. Reductions in taxonomic and numerical resolution are also desirable, because they could allow more rapid the acquisition of knowledge while requiring less effort, if little important information is lost. In this study, we evaluated the congruence among 22 taxonomic groups sampled in a tropical forest in the Amazon basin. Our aim was to evaluate if any of these groups could be used as surrogates for the others in monitoring programs. We also evaluated if the taxonomic or numerical resolution of possible surrogates could be reduced without greatly reducing the overall congruence. Congruence among plant groups was high, whereas the congruence among most animal groups was very low, except for anurans in which congruence values were only slightly lower than for plants. Liana (Bignoniaceae) was the group with highest congruence, even using genera presence-absence data. The congruence among groups was related to environmental factors, specifically the clay and phosphorous contents of soil. Several groups showed strong spatial clumping, but this was unrelated to the congruence among groups. The high degree of congruence of lianas with the other groups suggests that it may be a reasonable surrogate group, mainly for the other plant groups analyzed, if soil data are not available. Although lianas are difficult to count and identify, the number of studies on the ecology of lianas is increasing. Most of these studies have concluded that lianas are increasing in abundance in tropical forests. In addition to the high congruence, lianas are worth monitoring in their own right because they are sensitive to global warming and the increasing frequency and severity of droughts in tropical regions. Our findings suggest that the use of data on surrogate groups with relatively low taxonomic and numerical resolutions can be a reliable shortcut for biodiversity assessments, especially in megadiverse areas with high rates of habitat conversion, where the lack of biodiversity knowledge is pervasive. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.PhD scholarship from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq

Silver nanoparticles-composing alginate/gelatine hydrogel improves wound healing in vivo

Polymer hydrogels have been suggested as dressing materials for the treatment of cutaneous wounds and tissue revitalization. In this work, we report the development of a hydrogel composed of natural polymers (sodium alginate and gelatin) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with recognized antimicrobial activity for healing cutaneous lesions. For the development of the hydrogel, different ratios of sodium alginate and gelatin have been tested, while different concentrations of AgNO3 precursor (1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mM) were assayed for the production of AgNPs. The obtained AgNPs exhibited a characteristic peak between 430450 nm in the ultraviolet-visible (UVVis) spectrum suggesting a spheroidal form, which was confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) analysis suggested the formation of strong intermolecular interactions as hydrogen bonds and electrostatic attractions between polymers, showing bands at 2920, 2852, 1500, and 1640 cm1. Significant bactericidal activity was observed for the hydrogel, with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.50 µg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 53.0 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. AgNPs were shown to be non-cytotoxic against fibroblast cells. The in vivo studies in female Wister rats confirmed the capacity of the AgNP-loaded hydrogels to reduce the wound size compared to uncoated injuries promoting histological changes in the healing tissue over the time course of wound healing, as in earlier development and maturation of granulation tissue. The developed hydrogel with AgNPs has healing potential for clinical applications.This research received funding from the Coordenação Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sergipe (FAPITEC), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, #443238/2014-6, #470388/2014-5), and from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) projects M-ERA-NET/0004/2015 (PAIRED) and UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

INIBIÇÃO DA INFECÇÃO in vitro DE MACRÓFAGOS POR Leishmania amazonensis POR EXTRATO E FRAÇÕES DE Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

A utilização de espécies vegetais, como Chenopodium ambrosioides L., para o tratamento da leishmaniose na terapêutica tradicional tem despertado interesse na busca de novos compostos mais eficazes e menos tóxicos. Nosso grupo demonstrou as atividades imunoestimuladora e anti-Leishmania in vivo do extrato bruto hidroalcoólico (EBH) de C. ambrosioides e efeito anti-promastigota in vitro do EBH e das suas frações. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a atividade anti-Leishmania do EBH e suas frações acetato de etila (FAc) e clorofórmica (FCHCl3) em macrófagos infectados in vitro por Leishmania amazonensis. Foram realizados dois modelos: “proflático” e “terapêutico”. No primeiro, macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos Swiss  foram tratados com EBH, FAc ou FCHCl3 nas concentrações de 62,5µg/mL, 125µg/mL e 250µg/mL e, após 4 horas, infectados com formas promastigotas do parasito na razão de 1:10 por 24 horas. No segundo, os macrófagos foram infectados com promastigotas (1:10) e, após 4 horas, tratados com EBH, FAc ou FCHCl3 por 24 horas. Foram então realizados a quantifcação das amastigotas fagocitadas e o cálculo das taxas de infecção. No modelo “proflático”, apenas os macrófagos expostos ao EBH nas maiores concentrações apresentaram  taxas de  infecção  inferiores ao controle negativo. Entretanto, no modelo “terapêutico”, as  três concentrações de EBH e também da FAc reduziram a infecção de macrófagos em relação ao controle negativo, sendo a maior concentração do EBH mais efetiva inclusive que o controle positivo.  Em conclusão, o EBH de folhas de C. ambrosioides e a sua FAc possuem efeito terapêutico anti-Leishmania na infecção in vitro de macrófagos.Descritores: Leishmaniose; Leishmania amazonensis; Chenopodium ambrosioides.AbstractInhibit  of  in  vitro  macrophage  infection  by  Leishmania  amazonensis  by  extract  and  fractions  from Chenopodium ambrosioides L. The use of plant species such as Chenopodium ambrosioides L. for the treatment of leishmaniasis in traditional medicine has aroused interest in fnding new, more effective and less toxic compounds. Our group demonstrated the immunostimulatory and in vivo anti-Leishmania activities of the crude hydroalcoholic extract (HCE) from C. ambrosioides L. and the in vitro anti-promastigote effect of the HCE and its fractions. In this study, we evaluated the anti-Leishmania activity of the HCE and its fractions ethyl acetate (FAc) and chloroform (FCHCl3) in macrophages infected in vitro with Leishmania amazonensis. Two models, “prophylactic” and “therapeutic”, were performed. In the frst, Swiss mice peritoneal macrophages were treated with CHE, FAc or FCHCl3 in concentrations of 62,5μg/mL, 125μg/mL and 250μg/mL and, after 4 hours, infected with promastigote forms in the ratio of 1:10 for 24 hours. In the second model, the macrophages were infected with promastigotes (1:10)  and,  after 4 hours,  treated with HCE, FAc or FCHCl3 for 24 hours. Quantifcation of phagocytosed amastigotes and calculation  of  infection  rates were  then  perfomed.  In  the  “prophylactic” model,  only macrophages  exposed  to  the  highest concentrations of HCE presented  infection  rates  lower  than  the negative  control. However,  in  the  “therapeutic” model,  the three concentrations of both the HCE and FAc reduced the infection of macrophages compared to the negative control, with the highest concentration of HCE being even more effective than the positive control. In conclusion, the HCE from leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides and its FAc have an anti-Leishmania therapeutic effect on the in vitro macrophages infection.Descriptors: Leishmaniasis. Leishmania amazonensis. Chenopodium ambrosioides

ATIVIDADE LEISHMANICIDA in vitro DE FRAÇÕES DO EXTRATO HIDROALCOÓLICO DAS FOLHAS DE Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

A leishmaniose é uma doença infecciosa causada por protozoários do gênero Leishmania e representa sério problema de saúde pública em paises da África, Ásia e América Latina. Chenopodium ambrosioides L.,  popularmente conhecido como mastruz, tem sido utilizado no Maranhão para o tratamento tópico de úlceras leishmanióticas. O trabalho avaliou a eficácia das frações do extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas de C. ambrosioides contra formas promastigotas da espécie Leishmania amazonensis. O fracionamento foi realizado pela partição sequencial do extrato hidroalcoólico de folhas de C. ambrosioides com solventes de polaridade crescente (hexano, clorofórmio e acetato de etila). As formas promastigotas foram cultivadas em meio RPMI 1640 com e sem as frações. Após 24h de incubação a 26ºC, o número de promastigotas viáveis foi contado pelo método direto em câmara de Neubauer. As concentrações que inibem o crescimento de 50% (CI50 ) das promastigotas de L. amazonensis foram calculadas a partir da avaliação da mortalidade das promastigotas in vitro. De acordo com escores padrões nas frações de acetato de etila e hidroalcoólica remanescente não foi observada atividade leishmanicida significativa, mas as frações hexânica e clorofórmica apresentaram-se ativas. Os resultados obtidos demonstram uma ação leishmanicida promissora das frações. Estudos futuros são necessários para investigar a eficácia destas frações no tratamento da leishmaniose em modelos experimentais in vivo.Descritores: Chenopodium ambrosioides L.; Mastruz; Leishmaniose; in vitro. Abstract:  In vitro leishmanicidal activity of fractions obtained from hydroalcoholic extracts of  Chenopodium ambrosioides’  leaves. Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and represents serious public health problem in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Chenopodium ambrosioides, popularly known as “mastruz”, has been used in Maranhão for the topical treatment of leishmanial ulcers. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the fractions from hydroalcoholic extract of C. ambrosioides’  leaves against the promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. Fractionation as accomplished by partition sequential extract of leaves of C. ambrosioides with solvents of increasing polarity (hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate). The promastigotes forms were cultured in supplemented RPMI 1640 with or without fractions. After 24h incubation at 26°C, the number of viable promastigotes was counted by the direct method in a Neubauer chamber. The concentrations that inhibit growth of 50% (IC50 ) of L. amazonensis’ promastigotes were calculated from the assessment of the mortality of promastigotes in vitro. According to standard scores, in the ethyl acetate and hydroalcoholic remaining fractions there was no leishmanicidal activity, while the hexane and chloroform fractions were actives. The results showed a promissor leishmanicidal activity of fraction. Future studies are necessary to investigate the effectiveness of these fractions in the treatment of these fractions in experimental models in vivo.Descriptors: Chenopodium ambrosioides L.; Mastruz; Leishmaniasis; in vitro

Correction: Diniz et al. Silver Nanoparticles-Composing Alginate/Gelatine Hydrogel Improves Wound Healing In Vivo. Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 390

In the original publication, there was a mistake in Figure 6 as published [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Staphylococcus aureus isolates colonizing and infecting cirrhotic and liver-transplantation patients: comparison of molecular typing and virulence factors

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud \ud S. aureus is an important agent of colonization and infection in liver transplant patients. It harbors several virulence factors that can increase its pathogenicity. However, studies of virulence and molecular typing of MRSA in cirrhotic and liver transplantation patients are scarce.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Here we use SCCmec, PFGE, spa typing, MLST and virulence factors to characterize MRSA isolates in pre and post liver transplantation patients. Sixteen (13 %) of 126 cirrhotic and 15 of the 64 liver-transplanted patients (23 %) were colonized by MRSA (p = 0.091). SCCmec types I, II and III that are generally associated with nosocomial infections were identified in 91 % of the isolates. None of the isolates carried PVL, adhesion factors and fib gene. Only three MRSA colonized isolates carried tst gene and were characterized as SCCmec type I and t149. Ten spa types and five STs were identified; t002 and ST105 were the most frequent profiles. Spa types and ST1510 never described in Brazil and a new spa type t14789 were identified. Nineteen PFGE subtypes were found and grouped into nine types. There was a predominant cluster, which was related to the New York/Japanese epidemic clone and harboured SCCmec type II identified in both cirrhotic and post-transplantation patients. Based on SCCmec and virulence factors the MRSA isolates belonged to NY/Jpn clone seen be more similar to the USA100 MRSA isolates.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Although without significance, liver-transplantation was more frequently colonized by MRSA than cirrhotic patients. The most frequent SCCmec was type II, and the predominant cluster was related to the New York/Japanese clone. A new spa t14789, and ST1510 never reported in Brazil were identified.The authors are grateful to financial support by FAPESP (Fundação de\ud Amparo à pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) and CNPQ (Conselho Nacional\ud de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)

The Ninth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) presents the first spectroscopic data from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). This ninth data release (DR9) of the SDSS project includes 535,995 new galaxy spectra (median z=0.52), 102,100 new quasar spectra (median z=2.32), and 90,897 new stellar spectra, along with the data presented in previous data releases. These spectra were obtained with the new BOSS spectrograph and were taken between 2009 December and 2011 July. In addition, the stellar parameters pipeline, which determines radial velocities, surface temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities of stars, has been updated and refined with improvements in temperature estimates for stars with T_eff<5000 K and in metallicity estimates for stars with [Fe/H]>-0.5. DR9 includes new stellar parameters for all stars presented in DR8, including stars from SDSS-I and II, as well as those observed as part of the SDSS-III Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration-2 (SEGUE-2). The astrometry error introduced in the DR8 imaging catalogs has been corrected in the DR9 data products. The next data release for SDSS-III will be in Summer 2013, which will present the first data from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) along with another year of data from BOSS, followed by the final SDSS-III data release in December 2014.Comment: 9 figures; 2 tables. Submitted to ApJS. DR9 is available at http://www.sdss3.org/dr