A new paradigm in respiratory hygiene: modulating respiratory secretions to contain cough bioaerosol without affecting mucus clearance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several strategies and devices have been designed to protect health care providers from acquiring transmissible respiratory diseases while providing care. In modulating the physical characteristics of the respiratory secretions to minimize the aerosolization that facilitates transmission of airborne diseases, a fundamental premise is that the prototype drugs have no adverse effect on the first line of respiratory defense, clearance of mucus by ciliary action.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To assess and demonstrate the primary mechanism of our mucomodulators (XLs), we have built our evidence moving from basic laboratory studies to an <it>ex-vivo </it>model and then to an <it>in-vivo </it>large animal model. We exposed anesthetized dogs without hypersecretion to different dose concentrations of aerosolized XL "B", XL "D" and XL "S". We assessed: cardio-respiratory pattern, tracheal mucus clearance, airway patency, and mucus viscoelastic changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure of frog palate mucus to XLs did not affect the clearance of mucus by ciliary action. Dogs maintained normal cardio-respiratory pattern with XL administration. Tracheal mucociliary clearance in anesthetized dogs indicated a sustained 40% mean increase. Tracheal mucus showed increased filance, and there was no mucus retention in the airways.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The <it>ex-vivo </it>frog palate and the <it>in-vivo </it>mammalian models used in this study, appear to be appropriate and complement each other to better assess the effects that our mucomodulators exert on the mucociliary clearance defence mechanism. The physiological function of the mucociliary apparatus was not negatively affected in any of the two epithelial models. Airway mucus crosslinked by mucomodulators is better cleared from an intact airway and normally functioning respiratory system, either due to enhanced interaction with cilia or airflow-dependent mechanisms. Data obtained in this study allow us to assure that we have complied with the fundamental requirement criteria established in the initial phase of developing the concept of mucomodulation: Can we modulate the physical characteristics of the respiratory secretions to reduce aerosolization without affecting normal mucociliary clearance function, or even better improving it?</p

Respuesta agronómica del cultivo del pepino (cucumis sativus, l) en condiciones de casas de cultivo (Original)

The investigation was carried out in the Company Several Cultivations Paquito Rosales Benítez of the municipality Yara (Veguita), county Granma. With the objective to evaluate the effect of the QuitoMax and efficient microorganism (MOE), on the cultivation of the cucumber under conditions of cultivation house, cultivating valued it was Hybrid YA - 2005. Three treatments were applied with the biostimulants QuitoMax (300 mg ha-1), efficient microorganism (MOE) (4 mL L-1) and a control. The valued mensurations were: height of the plant to fructification beginning (cm), number of flowers and number of fruits. Later to the crop they took 20 fruits for treatment to which were evaluated the following variable: long of the fruit (cm), weigh total of the fruits (g) and yield (kg m2) they were carried out three crops with interval of seven days. You it used the block design at random with three repetitions. The utilized statistical analysis was an ANOVA of double classification, with test of multiple comparison of stocking for Tukey for a level of 5% of probability. The biggest yield is obtained with the application of QuitoMax with 12, 11 kg m2 followed by the treatment with MOE (5,6 kg m2) and the treatment control with 4,77 kg m2.&nbsp;&nbsp;La investigación se realizó en la Empresa Cultivos Varios Paquito Rosales Benítez del municipio Yara (Veguita), provincia Granma. Con el objetivo evaluar el efecto del QuitoMax y microorganismo eficiente (MOE), sobre el cultivo del pepino&nbsp; &nbsp;en condiciones de casa de cultivo,&nbsp; el cultivar evaluado fue Hibrido YA- 2005. Se aplicaron tres tratamientos con los bioestimulantes QuitoMax (300 mg ha-1), microorganismo eficiente (MOE) (4 mL L-1) y un control. Las variables evaluadas fueron: altura de la planta a inicio de fructificación (cm), número de flores y número de frutos. Posterior a la cosecha se tomaron 20 frutos por tratamiento a los cuales se le evaluó las siguientes variables: largo del fruto (cm), peso total del fruto (g) y rendimiento (kg m2). Se realizaron tres cosechas con intervalo de siete días. Se empleó el diseño de bloque al azar con tres réplicas. El análisis estadístico utilizado fue &nbsp;un ANOVA de clasificación doble, con prueba de comparación múltiple de media por Tukey para un nivel de 5 % de probabilidad. El mayor rendimiento se obtiene con la aplicación de QuitoMax con 12,11 kg m2 seguido del tratamiento con MOE (5,6 kg m2) y el tratamiento control con&nbsp; 4,77 kg m2

Síndrome de Brugada: a Propósito de Cinco Casos

El síndrome de Brugada es causa frecuente de muerte súbita en pacientes sin cardiopatía estructural demostrable. Está caracterizado por aparente bloqueo de rama derecha, elevación del segmento ST en V1-V3 y probabilidad de presentar síncope o paro cardiaco por arritmias ventriculares malignas. Se diagnosticaron cinco pacientes en los últimos 5 años con exclusión de patología estructural cardiaca; cuatro debutaron con una parada cardiaca en fibrilación ventricular y uno con síncope. En un paciente se detectó alternancia de la morfología del ST, complejo a complejo en V1-V2, en la prueba de ajmalina, rechazó implantarse un desfibrilador automático, se indicó amiodarona y propranolol, evolucionó sin arritmias durante 4 años y 9 meses. A tres se les implantó el desfibrilador; uno recibió 12 choques adecuados, 9 de ellos en 72 horas en el mes 18 del implante, debido a un

Síndrome de Brugada: a Propósito de Cinco Casos

El síndrome de Brugada es causa frecuente de muerte súbita en pacientes sin cardiopatía estructural demostrable. Está caracterizado por aparente bloqueo de rama derecha, elevación del segmento ST en V1-V3 y probabilidad de presentar síncope o paro cardiaco por arritmias ventriculares malignas. Se diagnosticaron cinco pacientes en los últimos 5 años con exclusión de patología estructural cardiaca; cuatro debutaron con una parada cardiaca en fibrilación ventricular y uno con síncope. En un paciente se detectó alternancia de la morfología del ST, complejo a complejo en V1-V2, en la prueba de ajmalina, rechazó implantarse un desfibrilador automático, se indicó amiodarona y propranolol, evolucionó sin arritmias durante 4 años y 9 meses. A tres se les implantó el desfibrilador; uno recibió 12 choques adecuados, 9 de ellos en 72 horas en el mes 18 del implante, debido a un

Cough aerosol in healthy participants: fundamental knowledge to optimize droplet-spread infectious respiratory disease management

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Influenza A H1N1 virus can be transmitted via direct, indirect, and airborne route to non-infected subjects when an infected patient coughs, which expels a number of different sized droplets to the surrounding environment as an aerosol. The objective of the current study was to characterize the human cough aerosol pattern with the aim of developing a standard human cough bioaerosol model for Influenza Pandemic control.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>45 healthy non-smokers participated in the open bench study by giving their best effort cough. A laser diffraction system was used to obtain accurate, time-dependent, quantitative measurements of the size and number of droplets expelled by the cough aerosol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Voluntary coughs generated droplets ranging from 0.1 - 900 microns in size. Droplets of less than one-micron size represent 97% of the total number of measured droplets contained in the cough aerosol. Age, sex, weight, height and corporal mass have no statistically significant effect on the aerosol composition in terms of size and number of droplets.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have developed a standard human cough aerosol model. We have quantitatively characterized the pattern, size, and number of droplets present in the most important mode of person-to-person transmission of IRD: the cough bioaerosol. Small size droplets (< 1 μm) predominated the total number of droplets expelled when coughing. The cough aerosol is the single source of direct, indirect and/or airborne transmission of respiratory infections like the Influenza A H1N1 virus.</p> <p>Study design</p> <p>Open bench, Observational, Cough, Aerosol study</p

Evaluación del Pectimorf y Quitomax en el cultivo de la papaya (Carica papaya, L) cv Maradol roja (Original)

The work was developed in the areas of the parcel belonging to the Productive Educational Department of the University of Granma, with the objective of evaluating the effect of the Pectimorf and QuitoMax on the cultivation of the papaya cv. Red Maradol. For the assembly of the experiment was carried out at random in way in parcels without a previous design, three treatments were evaluated, QuitoMax was applied (T1: 300 mg ha-1) and Pectimorf (T2: 200 mg ha-1)) and a treatment control (T3: humidified the plants with water). The products were applied, to the beginning of the flowering they were marked 10 plants and 10 fruits at random in the crops for the mensurations. The evaluated variables were, Height of the plants (cm). Quantity of flowers, Number of fruits, Wide of the fruits (cm). Long of the fruits (cm),&nbsp; Weigh of the fruits (g), obtained Yield (t ha-1). The analysis statistical employee was an Analysis of Simple Variance and when significant difference existed a Test of Comparison of Stockings it was used by Duncan for 5% of probability of the error. In the productive indicators when the production was zero a t-student test it was applied to evaluate the treatments where it was applied (QuitoMax and Pectimorf). The obtained results allow us with concluding that when QuitoMax is applied the yield it is increased up to 54,41 t ha-1 followed by the application of Pectimorf 24,71 t ha-1.&nbsp;El trabajo se desarrolló en las áreas de la parcela perteneciente al Departamento Docente Productivo de la Universidad de Granma,&nbsp;&nbsp; con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del Pectimorf y QuitoMax sobre el cultivo de la papaya cv. Maradol roja. Para el montaje&nbsp; del experimento se realizó de manera al azar en parcelas sin un diseño previo, se evaluaron tres tratamientos, se aplicó QuitoMax (T1: 300 mg ha-1) y Pectimorf (T2: 200 mg ha-1)) y un tratamiento control (T3: asperjadas las plantas con agua). Los productos fueron aplicados, al inicio de la floración se marcaron al azar&nbsp; 10 plantas y 10 frutos en las cosechas para las mediciones. Las variables evaluadas fueron, Altura de las plantas (cm).&nbsp; Cantidad de flores, Número de frutos, Ancho de los frutos (cm). Largo de los frutos (cm), Peso de los frutos (g), Rendimiento obtenido (t ha-1).&nbsp; El análisis estadístico empleado fue un Análisis de Varianza Simple y cuando existió diferencia significativa se empleó una Prueba de Comparación de Medias por Duncan para el 5 % de probabilidad del error. En los indicadores productivos cuando la producción fue cero se aplicó una prueba de t-student para evaluar los&nbsp; tratamientos donde se aplicó&nbsp; (QuitoMax y Pectimorf). Los resultados obtenidos nos permiten con concluir que cuando se aplica QuitoMax se incrementa el rendimiento hasta 54,41 t ha-1 seguido de la aplicación de Pectimorf 24,71 t ha-1

AFCo1, a meningococcal B-derived cochleate adjuvant, strongly enhances antibody and T-cell immunity against Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 4 and 5

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whilst a large number of malaria antigens are being tested as candidate malaria vaccines, a major barrier to the development of an effective vaccine is the lack of a suitable human adjuvant capable of inducing a strong and long lasting immune response. In this study, the ability of AFCo1, a potent T and B cell adjuvant based on cochleate structures derived from meningococcal B outer membrane proteoliposomes (MBOMP), to boost the immune response against two <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>antigens, merozoite surface protein 4 (MSP4) and 5 (MSP5), was evaluated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), which is able to confer protection against malaria in animal MSP4/5 vaccine challenge models, was used as positive control adjuvant. MSP4 and 5-specific IgG, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), T-cell proliferation, and cytokine production were evaluated in parallel in mice immunized three times intramuscularly with MSP4 or MSP5 incorporated into AFCo1, synthetic cochleate structures, CFA or phosphate buffered saline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>AFCo1 significantly enhanced the IgG and T-cell response against MSP4 and MSP5, with a potency equivalent to CFA, with the response being characterized by both IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes, increased interferon gamma production and a strong DTH response, consistent with the ability of AFCo1 to induce Th1-like immune responses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Given the proven safety of MBOMP, which is already in use in a licensed human vaccine, AFCo1 could assist the development of human malaria vaccines that require a potent and safe adjuvant.</p

A proteomics approach to decipher the molecular nature of planarian stem cells

Background In recent years, planaria have emerged as an important model system for research into stem cells and regeneration. Attention is focused on their unique stem cells, the neoblasts, which can differentiate into any cell type present in the adult organism. Sequencing of the Schmidtea mediterranea genome and some expressed sequence tag projects have generated extensive data on the genetic profile of these cells. However, little information is available on their protein dynamics. Results We developed a proteomic strategy to identify neoblast-specific proteins. Here we describe the method and discuss the results in comparison to the genomic high-throughput analyses carried out in planaria and to proteomic studies using other stem cell systems. We also show functional data for some of the candidate genes selected in our proteomic approach. Conclusions We have developed an accurate and reliable mass-spectra-based proteomics approach to complement previous genomic studies and to further achieve a more accurate understanding and description of the molecular and cellular processes related to the neoblasts

A transcriptomic analysis of Echinococcus granulosus larval stages:implications for parasite biology and host adaptation

The cestode Echinococcus granulosus--the agent of cystic echinococcosis, a zoonosis affecting humans and domestic animals worldwide--is an excellent model for the study of host-parasite cross-talk that interfaces with two mammalian hosts. To develop the molecular analysis of these interactions, we carried out an EST survey of E. granulosus larval stages. We report the salient features of this study with a focus on genes reflecting physiological adaptations of different parasite stages.We generated ~10,000 ESTs from two sets of full-length enriched libraries (derived from oligo-capped and trans-spliced cDNAs) prepared with three parasite materials: hydatid cyst wall, larval worms (protoscoleces), and pepsin/H(+)-activated protoscoleces. The ESTs were clustered into 2700 distinct gene products. In the context of the biology of E. granulosus, our analyses reveal: (i) a diverse group of abundant long non-protein coding transcripts showing homology to a middle repetitive element (EgBRep) that could either be active molecular species or represent precursors of small RNAs (like piRNAs); (ii) an up-regulation of fermentative pathways in the tissue of the cyst wall; (iii) highly expressed thiol- and selenol-dependent antioxidant enzyme targets of thioredoxin glutathione reductase, the functional hub of redox metabolism in parasitic flatworms; (iv) candidate apomucins for the external layer of the tissue-dwelling hydatid cyst, a mucin-rich structure that is critical for survival in the intermediate host; (v) a set of tetraspanins, a protein family that appears to have expanded in the cestode lineage; and (vi) a set of platyhelminth-specific gene products that may offer targets for novel pan-platyhelminth drug development.This survey has greatly increased the quality and the quantity of the molecular information on E. granulosus and constitutes a valuable resource for gene prediction on the parasite genome and for further genomic and proteomic analyses focused on cestodes and platyhelminths