Species Composition and WNV Screening of Mosquitoes from Lagoons in a Wetland Area of the Algarve, Portugal

The aim of this study was to evaluate mosquito abundance, species diversity, larval and adult population dynamics in seven lagoons integrated in the wetland coastal system of the Algarve, Portugal, in the summer of 2007, as well as the screening of these for West Nile virus (WNV). WNV has been isolated from mosquitoes in this region, in the summer of 2004, next to the putative area of infection of two linked human WN cases. Adult mosquitoes were collected with CDC traps baited with CO2, and potential breeding sites were surveyed for immature stages. Morphological identification of 1,432 adult mosquitoes and 85 larvae revealed the presence of 10 species: Anopheles atroparvus, Anopheles algeriensis, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culex modestus, Culex pipiens, Culex theileri, Culex univittatus, Culiseta longiareolata, Aedes caspius, and Aedes detritus. Adult mosquito peak densities were recorded in July, contrasting with null larval breeding in the same month in the surveyed biotopes. Most abundant species were C. pipiens (52%), C. theileri (29%), and A. caspius (11%). Lagoon Salgados and Quinta das Salinas, exhibited the highest similarity of culicid fauna, despite being most distant from each other, Female mosquitoes (1,249 specimens) screened by RT-PCR, did not reveal WNV products. However, previous detection of WNV activity in this area, susceptible to re-introductions, demands for continued vigilance

Hemispheric asymmetry in the sunspot cycle as a nonextensive phenomenon

The appearance of dark sunspots over the solar photosphere is not considered to be symmetric between the northern and southern hemispheres. Among the different conclusions obtained by several authors, we can point out that the North-South asymmetry is a real and systematic phenomenon and is not due to random variability. In the present work, we selected the sunspot area data of a sample of 13 solar cycles divided by hemisphere extracted from the Marshall Space Flight Centre (MSFC) database to investigate the behavior of probability distributions using an out-of-equilibrium statistical model a.k.a non-extensive statistical mechanics. Based on this statistical framework, we obtained that the non-extensive entropic parameter $q$ has a semi-sinusoidal variation with a period of $\sim$22 year (Hale cycle). Among the most important results, we can highlight that the asymmetry index $q(A)$ revealed the dominance of the northern hemisphere against the southern one. Thus, we concluded that the parameter $q(A)$ can be considered an effective measure for diagnosing long-term variations of the solar dynamo. Finally, our study opens a new approach to investigating solar variability from the nonextensive perspective.Comment: 17 pages, 2 tables and 5 figures. Submitted to Solar Physic

Anti-oxidative and anti-ulcerogenic activity of Ipomoea imperati

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and wounds, as well as to treat pains and stomach problems. This work evaluates the anti-oxidative activity by ESR (Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy) and the preventive and curative actions of I. imperati in gastric ulcer animal model. Ipomoea imperati (200 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented the formation of gastric lesions in 78% (p<0.05) when compared with the negative control tween 80. Lanzoprazole, prevented in 85% the gastric lesions formation induced by ethanol (p<0.05). Therefore, the oral administration of I. imperati one hour before the ulcerogenic agent prevented the ulcer formation, conserving the citoprotection characteristics of the gastric mucosa and assuring the integrity of gastric glands and gastric fossets. The healing activity of I. imperati (200 mg/kg, p.o.) evaluated in chronic ulcer experiments induced by the acetic acid, was 72% (p<0.05). The positive control, ranitidine, healed 78% of the gastric lesions (p<0.05). The histological analysis confirmed the recovery of the mucosal layer and the muscle mucosal layer harmed by the acetic acid. Experiments in vitro with DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) of anti-oxidative activity demonstrated that I. imperati presents an IC50 of 0.73±0.01 mg/mL21697898

Anti-oxidative and anti-ulcerogenic activity of Ipomoea imperati

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and wounds, as well as to treat pains and stomach problems. This work evaluates the anti-oxidative activity by ESR (Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy) and the preventive and curative actions of I. imperati in gastric ulcer animal model. Ipomoea imperati (200 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented the formation of gastric lesions in 78% (p<0.05) when compared with the negative control tween 80. Lanzoprazole, prevented in 85% the gastric lesions formation induced by ethanol (p<0.05). Therefore, the oral administration of I. imperati one hour before the ulcerogenic agent prevented the ulcer formation, conserving the citoprotection characteristics of the gastric mucosa and assuring the integrity of gastric glands and gastric fossets. The healing activity of I. imperati (200 mg/kg, p.o.) evaluated in chronic ulcer experiments induced by the acetic acid, was 72% (p<0.05). The positive control, ranitidine, healed 78% of the gastric lesions (p<0.05). The histological analysis confirmed the recovery of the mucosal layer and the muscle mucosal layer harmed by the acetic acid. Experiments in vitro with DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) of anti-oxidative activity demonstrated that I. imperati presents an IC50 of 0.73±0.01 mg/mL.21697898

Atividade antinociceptiva de Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and wounds, as well as to treat pains after childbirth and for stomach problems. Administration of ethanol extract, lipid and aqueous fraction of I. imperati(300, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the abdominal constriction in mice induced by acetic acid; increased the sleeping time evoked by pentobarbital sodium and showed a significant activity by inhibiting formalin-induced paw edema in mice. The same dose of I. imperatialso raised the pain of mice in the hot-plate test and increased the latency at all observation times. The pre-treatment of the animals with naloxone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) suggested the participation of the opioid system in the antinociceptive effect of Ipomoea imperati.A espécie vegetal Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, é usada popularmente para tratar inflamação, inchaço e feridas, bem como para tratar dor após o parto e dor estomacal. A administração do extrato etanólico e das frações lipídica e aquosa de I. imperati(300, 100 e 200 mg/kg) inibiu significativamente as contrações abdominais em camundongo induzidas por ácido acético, aumentou o tempo de sono evocado por pentobarbital sódico e mostrou significativa atividade inibitória sobre o edema de pata de camundongo induzido por formalina. As mesmas doses de I. imperati(300, 100 e 200 mg/kg) também elevou a latência de todos os tempos observados no teste da placa quente. O pré-tratamento de animais com naloxona (5 mg/kg, i.p) sugere a participação do sistema opioide no efeito anti-nociceptivo de Ipomoea imperati

Atividade antinociceptiva de Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and wounds, as well as to treat pains after childbirth and for stomach problems. Administration of ethanol extract, lipid and aqueous fraction of I. imperati(300, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the abdominal constriction in mice induced by acetic acid; increased the sleeping time evoked by pentobarbital sodium and showed a significant activity by inhibiting formalin-induced paw edema in mice. The same dose of I. imperatialso raised the pain of mice in the hot-plate test and increased the latency at all observation times. The pre-treatment of the animals with naloxone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) suggested the participation of the opioid system in the antinociceptive effect of Ipomoea imperati.A espécie vegetal Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, é usada popularmente para tratar inflamação, inchaço e feridas, bem como para tratar dor após o parto e dor estomacal. A administração do extrato etanólico e das frações lipídica e aquosa de I. imperati(300, 100 e 200 mg/kg) inibiu significativamente as contrações abdominais em camundongo induzidas por ácido acético, aumentou o tempo de sono evocado por pentobarbital sódico e mostrou significativa atividade inibitória sobre o edema de pata de camundongo induzido por formalina. As mesmas doses de I. imperati(300, 100 e 200 mg/kg) também elevou a latência de todos os tempos observados no teste da placa quente. O pré-tratamento de animais com naloxona (5 mg/kg, i.p) sugere a participação do sistema opioide no efeito anti-nociceptivo de Ipomoea imperati.20218018

Atividade antinociceptiva de ipomoea imperati (vahl) griseb., convolvulaceae

Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, swelling and wounds, as well as to treat pains after childbirth and for stomach problems. Administration of ethanol extract, lipid and aqueous fraction of I. imperati(300, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the abdominal constriction in mice induced by acetic acid; increased the sleeping time evoked by pentobarbital sodium and showed a significant activity by inhibiting formalin-induced paw edema in mice. The same dose of I. imperatialso raised the pain of mice in the hot-plate test and increased the latency at all observation times. The pre-treatment of the animals with naloxone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) suggested the participation of the opioid system in the antinociceptive effect of Ipomoea imperati202180185A espécie vegetal Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Griseb., Convolvulaceae, é usada popularmente para tratar inflamação, inchaço e feridas, bem como para tratar dor após o parto e dor estomacal. A administração do extrato etanólico e das frações lipídica e aquosa de I. imperati(300, 100 e 200 mg/kg) inibiu significativamente as contrações abdominais em camundongo induzidas por ácido acético, aumentou o tempo de sono evocado por pentobarbital sódico e mostrou significativa atividade inibitória sobre o edema de pata de camundongo induzido por formalina. As mesmas doses de I. imperati(300, 100 e 200 mg/kg) também elevou a latência de todos os tempos observados no teste da placa quente. O pré-tratamento de animais com naloxona (5 mg/kg, i.p) sugere a participação do sistema opioide no efeito anti-nociceptivo de Ipomoea imperat

Dance training improves cytokine secretion and viability of neutrophils in diabetic patients

Background. Evidence suggests that exercise improves neutrophil function. The decreased functional longevity of neutrophils and their increased clearance from infectious sites contribute to the increased susceptibility to infection and severity of infection observed in patients with diabetes. Objective. Herein, we investigated the effects of a dance program on neutrophil number, function, and death in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy volunteers. Methods. Ten patients with T2DM and twelve healthy individuals participated in a moderate-intensity dance training program for 4 months. The plasma levels of leptin, free fatty acids (FFAs), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra); neutrophil counts; extent of DNA fragmentation; cell membrane integrity; and production of TNF-α, interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in neutrophils were measured before and after training. Results. Training reduced plasma levels of TNF-α (1.9-fold in controls and 2.2-fold in patients with T2DM) and CRP (1.4-fold in controls and 3.4-fold in patients with T2DM). IL-1ra levels were higher in the control group (2.2-fold) after training. After training, neutrophil DNA fragmentation was decreased in patients with T2DM (90%), while the number of neutrophils increased (70% in controls and 1.1-fold in patients with T2DM). Conclusion. Dance training is a nonpharmacological strategy to reduce inflammation and improve neutrophil clearance in patients with T2DM

Parámetros para la evaluación del impacto de los morteros de revestimiento en las condiciones acústicas de los espacios históricos

Se realiza una evaluación del efecto que produce en el acondicionamiento acústico de recintos históricos los diferentes tiois de morteros utilizado en el revestimiento

Sialic Acid Glycobiology Unveils Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigote Membrane Physiology.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the flagellate protozoan agent of Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis, is unable to synthesize sialic acids de novo. Mucins and trans-sialidase (TS) are substrate and enzyme, respectively, of the glycobiological system that scavenges sialic acid from the host in a crucial interplay for T. cruzi life cycle. The acquisition of the sialyl residue allows the parasite to avoid lysis by serum factors and to interact with the host cell. A major drawback to studying the sialylation kinetics and turnover of the trypomastigote glycoconjugates is the difficulty to identify and follow the recently acquired sialyl residues. To tackle this issue, we followed an unnatural sugar approach as bioorthogonal chemical reporters, where the use of azidosialyl residues allowed identifying the acquired sugar. Advanced microscopy techniques, together with biochemical methods, were used to study the trypomastigote membrane from its glycobiological perspective. Main sialyl acceptors were identified as mucins by biochemical procedures and protein markers. Together with determining their shedding and turnover rates, we also report that several membrane proteins, including TS and its substrates, both glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, are separately distributed on parasite surface and contained in different and highly stable membrane microdomains. Notably, labeling for α(1,3)Galactosyl residues only partially colocalize with sialylated mucins, indicating that two species of glycosylated mucins do exist, which are segregated at the parasite surface. Moreover, sialylated mucins were included in lipid-raft-domains, whereas TS molecules are not. The location of the surface-anchored TS resulted too far off as to be capable to sialylate mucins, a role played by the shed TS instead. Phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase-C activity is actually not present in trypomastigotes. Therefore, shedding of TS occurs via microvesicles instead of as a fully soluble form