To be or not to be hospitalised with tuberculosis in Portugal

SETTING: In Portugal, as in other countries, tuberculosis (TB) is considered a disease that should be managed on an ambulatory basis. However, hospitalisation remains important to manage some at-risk groups and complications. OBJECTIVE: To identify the possible risk factors associated with hospitalisations in TB patients in Portugal. DESIGN: Data extraction through two national databases (one for registration of TB cases and the other with hospitalisation information in public health facilities) between 2007 and 2013. Univariate and multivariate analysis of demographic and clinical variables was performed. RESULTS: We identified 4421 hospitalisations. Chronic diseases, cancer, substance abuse, a higher social/economic risk, extra-pulmonary TB, lung cavitary disease and previous uncompleted treatment were more frequent among hospitalised patients. Human immunodeficiency virus coinfection, cancer, alcohol abuse, extra-pulmonary TB and uncompleted previous TB treatment were the most important predictors of hospitalisation with TB. The hospitalisation rate among TB patients in Portugal was lower when compared with other countries with lower and higher incidences. CONCLUSION: Immune dysfunctions and progression of chronic diseases are associated with more severe forms of TB and frequent adverse effects which can be sufficiently severe to necessitate hospital admission. Despite having an intermediate TB incidence, the hospitalisation rate in Portugal is not higher than that of other countries

Activity of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus and of its proteases on Panagrellus sp. larvae

Biological control has been shown to be one of the possible biotechnological applications of fungi and their proteases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nematicidal activity of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus and its proteases on Panagrellus sp. larvae. Proteolytic activity of P. ostreatus (PLO 06) was measured and characterized at different pHs, temperatures and in the presence of a inhibitor (PMSF). Daily samples of culture medium were collected in order to determine the period of maximum enzyme production. A zymogram showed the profile of several proteases. Predatory activity of the fungus P. ostreatus (PLO 06) was evaluated on Panagrellus sp. larvae (assay A) as well as the nematicidal activity of PLO 06 proteases on the same larvae (assay B). At pH 9 and 60°C, the activity of the proteases reached the maximum. In the presence of inhibitor, there was no proteolytic activity. A sample collected on the fifth day of incubation showed the highest enzyme activity. P. ostreatus demonstrated capture activity on larvae Panagrellus sp. The values of the reduction of the larvae (Assay A) were: day 1 (65.6%); day 2 (77.4%); day 3 (95.2%). The reduction of the larvae (Assay B) was 42%. P. ostreatus (PLO 06) and its proteases were very effective against Panagrellus sp. larvae, demonstrating great potential for use in integrated biological control.Keywords: Pleurotus, protease, Panagrellus sp., biological control, nematicidal. Abbreviation: PMSF, Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride

Tamanho de amostra para avaliação de caracteres de cenoura em sistemas de cultivo agroecológico.

O correto dimensionamento de experimentos deve ser utilizado para que se possa reduzir o erro experimental e com isso, maximizar a precisão das informações obtidas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o número mínimo de famílias e de plantas por parcela para avaliação de caracteres de raiz em uma população de cenoura cultivada em sistema agroecológico. Os ensaios foram conduzidos no verão de 2006/2007 em duas propriedades com cultivo agroecológico em Brasília: Associação Mokiti Okada, que segue modelo de Agricultura Natural em Brazlândia-DF e Núcleo Rural Taguatinga, seguindo modelo de Agricultura Orgânica em Taguatinga-DF. Foram avaliadas 100 famílias de meio-irmãos de cenoura dispostas em delineamento de blocos casualizados com duas repetições e parcelas de 1 m2. Foram colhidas 20 plantas competitivas por parcela e avaliadas individualmente para os caracteres comprimento de raiz, diâmetro da raiz, massa da raiz, diâmetro do xilema da raiz, relação diâmetro do xilema/diâmetro da raiz, tipo de ponta da raiz, tipo de ombro da raiz, parâmetro a* para os tecidos xilema e floema. Foi realizada análise de variância conjunta e para cada sistema, com informação entre e dentro de parcelas. Foram realizadas ainda análises de representatividade do número mínimo de famílias e de plantas para representar uma população de cenoura. Foi verificado que uma amostra de 18 plantas competitivas/parcela coletadas em ensaios com 2 repetições, bem como de 74 famílias, são suficientes para garantir uma adequada avaliação de famílias meio-irmãos de cenoura para os caracteres estudados

Demonstration of the event identification capabilities of the NEXT-White detector

In experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay, the possibility of identifying the two emitted electrons is a powerful tool in rejecting background events and therefore improving the overall sensitivity of the experiment. In this paper we present the first measurement of the efficiency of a cut based on the different event signatures of double and single electron tracks, using the data of the NEXT-White detector, the first detector of the NEXT experiment operating underground. Using a 228Th calibration source to produce signal-like and background-like events with energies near 1.6 MeV, a signal efficiency of 71.6 ± 1.5 stat± 0.3 sys% for a background acceptance of 20.6 ± 0.4 stat± 0.3 sys% is found, in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. An extrapolation to the energy region of the neutrinoless double beta decay by means of Monte Carlo simulations is also carried out, and the results obtained show an improvement in background rejection over those obtained at lower energies. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Cell walls of the dimorphic fungal pathogens Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis exhibit bilaminate structures and sloughing of extensive and intact layers

This work was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), grants E-26/202.974/2015 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), grants 229755/2013-5, Brazil. LMLB is a senior research fellow of CNPq and Faperj. NG acknowledged support from the Wellcome Trust (Trust (097377, 101873, 200208) and MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Radiogenic backgrounds in the NEXT double beta decay experiment

Natural radioactivity represents one of the main backgrounds in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay. Within the NEXT physics program, the radioactivity- induced backgrounds are measured with the NEXT-White detector. Data from 37.9 days of low-background operations at the Laboratorio Subterráneo de Canfranc with xenon depleted in 136Xe are analyzed to derive a total background rate of (0.84±0.02) mHz above 1000 keV. The comparison of data samples with and without the use of the radon abatement system demonstrates that the contribution of airborne-Rn is negligible. A radiogenic background model is built upon the extensive radiopurity screening campaign conducted by the NEXT collaboration. A spectral fit to this model yields the specific contributions of 60Co, 40K, 214Bi and 208Tl to the total background rate, as well as their location in the detector volumes. The results are used to evaluate the impact of the radiogenic backgrounds in the double beta decay analyses, after the application of topological cuts that reduce the total rate to (0.25±0.01) mHz. Based on the best-fit background model, the NEXT-White median sensitivity to the two-neutrino double beta decay is found to be 3.5σ after 1 year of data taking. The background measurement in a Qββ±100 keV energy window validates the best-fit background model also for the neutrinoless double beta decay search with NEXT-100. Only one event is found, while the model expectation is (0.75±0.12) events. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Energy calibration of the NEXT-White detector with 1% resolution near Q ββ of 136Xe

Excellent energy resolution is one of the primary advantages of electroluminescent high-pressure xenon TPCs. These detectors are promising tools in searching for rare physics events, such as neutrinoless double-beta decay (ββ0ν), which require precise energy measurements. Using the NEXT-White detector, developed by the NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) collaboration, we show for the first time that an energy resolution of 1% FWHM can be achieved at 2.6 MeV, establishing the present technology as the one with the best energy resolution of all xenon detectors for ββ0ν searches. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

A mass accuracy sensitive probability based scoring algorithm for database searching of tandem mass spectrometry data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become one of the most used tools in mass spectrometry based proteomics. Various algorithms have since been developed to automate the process for modern high-throughput LC-MS/MS experiments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A probability based statistical scoring model for assessing peptide and protein matches in tandem MS database search was derived. The statistical scores in the model represent the probability that a peptide match is a random occurrence based on the number or the total abundance of matched product ions in the experimental spectrum. The model also calculates probability based scores to assess protein matches. Thus the protein scores in the model reflect the significance of protein matches and can be used to differentiate true from random protein matches.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The model is sensitive to high mass accuracy and implicitly takes mass accuracy into account during scoring. High mass accuracy will not only reduce false positives, but also improves the scores of true positive matches. The algorithm is incorporated in an automated database search program MassMatrix.</p

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets

Identification of a Novel Calotropis procera Protein That Can Suppress Tumor Growth in Breast Cancer through the Suppression of NF-κB Pathway

10.1371/journal.pone.0048514PLoS ONE712