Epigenetic and Drug Response Modulation of Epigalocaten-In-3-Gallate in Staphylococcus aureus with Divergent Resistance Phenotypes

Healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections represent extremely high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. We aimed to assess the antimicrobial potential and synergistic effect between Epigalocatenin-3-gallate (EGCG) and different antibiotics in S. aureus strains with divergent resistance phenotypes. EGCG exposure effects in epigenetic and drug resistance key modulators were also evaluated. S. aureus strains (n = 32) were isolated from infected patients in a Lisbon hospital. The identification of the S. aureus resistance phenotype was performed through automatized methods. The antibiotic synergistic assay was performed through disk diffusion according to EUCAST guidelines with co-exposure to EGCG (250, 100, 50 and 25 µg/mL). The bacteria's molecular profile was assessed through FTIR spectroscopy. The transcriptional expression of OrfX, SpdC and WalKR was performed by using qRT-PCR. FTIR-spectroscopy analysis enabled the clear discrimination of MRSA/MSSA strains and the EGCG exposure effect in the bacteria's molecular profiles. Divergent resistant phenotypes were associated with divergent transcriptional expression of the epigenetic modulator OrfX, particularly in MRSA strains, as well as the key drug response modulators SpdC and WalKR. These results clearly demonstrate that EGCG exposure alters the expression patterns of key epigenetic and drug response genes with associated divergent-resistant profiles, which supports its potential for antimicrobial treatment and/or therapeutic adjuvant against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Implicit sequence learning is preserved in dyslexic children

This study investigates the implicit sequence learning abilities of dyslexic children using an artificial grammar learning task with an extended exposure period. Twenty children with developmental dyslexia participated in the study and were matched with two control groups-one matched for age and other for reading skills. During 3 days, all participants performed an acquisition task, where they were exposed to colored geometrical forms sequences with an underlying grammatical structure. On the last day, after the acquisition task, participants were tested in a grammaticality classification task. Implicit sequence learning was present in dyslexic children, as well as in both control groups, and no differences between groups were observed. These results suggest that implicit learning deficits per se cannot explain the characteristic reading difficulties of the dyslexics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evidence of antineutrinos from distant reactors using pure water at SNO

The SNO+ Collaboration reports the first evidence of reactor antineutrinos in a Cherenkov detector. The nearest nuclear reactors are located 240 km away in Ontario, Canada. This analysis uses events with energies lower than in any previous analysis with a large water Cherenkov detector. Two analytical methods are used to distinguish reactor antineutrinos from background events in 190 days of data and yield consistent evidence for antineutrinos with a combined significance of 3.5σ

Potential application of rLc36 protein for diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is fatal if left untreated. Infected dogs are important reservoirs of the disease, and thus specific identification of infected animals is very important. Several diagnostic tests have been developed for canine VL (CVL); however, these tests show varied specificity and sensitivity. The present study describes the recombinant protein rLc36, expressed by Leishmania infantum, as potential antigen for more sensitive and specific diagnosis of CVL based on an immunoenzymatic assay. The concentration of 1.0 μg/mL of rLc36 enabled differentiation of positive and negative sera and showed a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 71% (with 95% confidence), with an accuracy of 76%

Potential application of rLc36 protein for diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis

<div><p>Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is fatal if left untreated. Infected dogs are important reservoirs of the disease, and thus specific identification of infected animals is very important. Several diagnostic tests have been developed for canine VL (CVL); however, these tests show varied specificity and sensitivity. The present study describes the recombinant protein rLc36, expressed by Leishmania infantum, as potential antigen for more sensitive and specific diagnosis of CVL based on an immunoenzymatic assay. The concentration of 1.0 μg/mL of rLc36 enabled differentiation of positive and negative sera and showed a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 71% (with 95% confidence), with an accuracy of 76%.</p></div

Determinantes da experimentação do cigarro e do início precoce do tabagismo entre adolescentes escolares em Salvador (BA) Determinants of smoking experimentation and initiation among adolescent students in the city of Salvador, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Identificar os fatores associados à experimentação do cigarro e ao início precoce do tabagismo por adolescentes escolares (11-14 anos). MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional com adolescentes escolares (ensino fundamental e médio) de escolas públicas e particulares de Salvador, Bahia. Foi utilizado um protocolo de amostragem em múltiplos estágios. Os participantes da pesquisa responderam a um questionário anônimo, de preenchimento voluntário e autoaplicável. As variáveis dependentes foram o uso experimental do cigarro e o início precoce do tabagismo. Variáveis sociodemográficas, educacionais, relacionadas à influência da mídia e ao consumo de álcool foram consideradas variáveis independentes. Foi realizada a análise de regressão logística multivariada, seguida da análise da adequação do modelo de regressão logística final. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de experimentação do cigarro foi de 16,1% (IC95%: 15,1-17,2). Dos 5.347 alunos avaliados, 757 experimentaram cigarros, e 462 (61,2%) desses 757 o fizeram antes dos 15 anos de idade (média de idade de experimentação de cigarros, 13,9 ± 1,8 anos). O início precoce do tabagismo associou-se com o tabagismo paterno (OR = 1,53; IC83%: 1,07-2,19) e com a influência da mídia (OR = 2,43; IC83%: 1,46-4,04). A experimentação de cigarros associou-se com o consumo do álcool (OR = 6,04; IC83%: 4,62-7,88), o tabagismo de amigos (OR = 3,18; IC83%: 2,54-3,99) e de namorados (OR = 3,42; IC83%: 1,78-6,56), assim como a intervenção educacional agressiva/coercitiva dos pais (OR = 1,60; IC83%: 1,26-2,04). CONCLUSÕES: O consumo do álcool e a influência de pessoas da convivência do jovem apresentaram uma forte associação com a experimentação de cigarros. O tabagismo paterno e a influência da mídia para os produtos do tabaco aumentaram as chances de consumo desta substância.<br>OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors associated with smoking experimentation and initiation among adolescent students (11-14 years of age). METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study involving adolescent (middle and high school) students at public and private schools in the city of Salvador, Brazil. A multiple-stage sampling protocol was used. The participants completed an anonymous, voluntary, self-report questionnaire. The dependent variables were age at smoking experimentation and smoking initiation. Sociodemographic and educational variables, as well as those related to media influence and alcohol consumption, were considered independent variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, followed by analysis of the fit of the final logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking experimentation was 16.1% (95% CI: 15.1-17.2). Of the 5,347 students evaluated, 757 had experimented with cigarettes, and 462 (61.2%) of those 757 had done so before the age of 15 (mean age at smoking experimentation, 13.9 ± 1.8 years). Smoking initiation was associated with paternal smoking (OR = 1.53; 83% CI = 1.07-2.19) and with media influence (OR = 2.43; 83% CI: 1.46-4.04). Smoking experimentation was associated with alcohol consumption (OR = 6.04; 83% CI: 4.62-7.88), having friends who smoke (OR = 3.18; 83% CI: 2.54-3.99), having a boyfriend/girlfriend who smokes (OR = 3.42; 83% CI: 1.78-6.56), and coercive/aggressive educational interventions by the parents (OR = 1.60; 83% CI: 1.26-2.04). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption and the influence of peers and relatives who smoke showed a strong association with smoking experimentation. Paternal smoking and media influence were found to increase the chances of adolescent smoking