Glia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal cord injury: common therapeutic targets

The toolkit for repairing damaged neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury (SCI) is extremely limited. Here, we reviewed the in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials on nonneuronal cells in the neurodegenerative processes common to both these conditions. Special focus was directed to microglia and astrocytes, because their activation and proliferation, also known as neuroinflammation, is a key driver of neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation is a multifaceted process that evolves during the disease course, and can be either beneficial or toxic to neurons. Given the fundamental regulatory functions of glia, pathogenic mechanisms in neuroinflammation represent promising therapeutic targets. We also discussed neuroprotective, immunosuppressive, and stem-cell based approaches applicable to both ALS and SCI

Does Petrolisthes armatus (Anomura, Porcellanidae) form a Species Complex or Are We Dealing with Just One Widely Distributed Species?

Fernando L. Mantelatto, Leonardo G. Pileggi, Ivana Miranda, and Ingo S. Wehrtmann (2011) Does Petrolisthes armatus (Anomura, Porcellanidae) form a species complex or are we dealing with just one widely distributed species? Zoological Studies 50(3): 372-384. Petrolisthes armatus has the widest distribution known among members of the family Porcellanidae and is one of the most ubiquitous and locally abundant intertidal decapods along the Atlantic coast of the Americas. Considering its geographical distribution and morphological plasticity, several authors postulated the existence of a P. armatus species complex. In the present study we used genetic data from the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal gene to determine the genetic variability of P. armatus from selected locations within its eastern tropical Pacific and western Atlantic distributions. Our phylogenic analysis included 49 specimens represented by 26 species of the genus Petrolisthes and 16 specimens from 10 species and 4 related genera. Genetic distances estimated among the analyzed Petrolisthes species ranged from 2.6%-22.0%; varied between 0%-5.7% for 16S. Additionally, the revision of P. armatus specimens from Pacific Costa Rica and Brazilian Waters showed no geographically significant morphological variations among the analyzed specimens. Therefore, our morphological and genetic data do not support the hypothesis of a P. armatus complex within the specimens studied herein from the Americas, but convincingly confirm the monophyly and non-separateness of the members assigned as P. armatus. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/50.3/372.pdfCNPq-Brazil[Proc. 491490/2004-6]CNPq-Brazil[490353/2007-0]CONICIT-Costa Rica[CII-001-08]Univ. de Costa Rica[808-A8-209]CNPq[PQ 301261/04-0]CNPq[301359/07-5]CNPq[140677/08-9]FAPESP[2010/15588-8]FAPESP[05/50651-1]CAPES-Sandwich[1467/09-3]CAPES[02630/09-5]Universidade de São Paulo - FFCLRP/USPUniversidade de São Paulo - Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMar/USP

REUSE OF THE AQUEOUS PHASE OF BIO-OIL FRACTIONATION AS A WATER-REPELLENT AGENT FOR WOOD

A simple method to extract pyrolytic lignin from bio-oil is under agitation in water or organic solvent. This process produces a water-insoluble fraction (pyrolytic lignin) and a water-soluble fraction (WS). In this study, we used a physical fractionation technique with water as a liquid agent to separate the two fractions of the fast pyrolysis bio-oil and obtain the WS — the object of study — to test its efficiency as a protective agent for lignocellulosic materials. The study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the aqueous phase (WS) as a water-repellent agent when impregnated into Pinus elliotti wood. To obtain WS, we used two bio-oil:water ratios (1:50 and 1:100) and two agitation speeds (17,000 and 8,500 RPM); they were respectively named WS50 and WS100, both with an average yield of 61% WS. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), thermogravimetry (TGA), contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the WS and the veneers impregnated with it. There were no morphological changes on their surface, especially regarding the non-coating of the wood pits; meanwhile, the TGA showed visible changes in the degree of thermal degradation of the impregnated material related to the chemical composition of the WS identified in the GC-MS. There was a significant increase, on average 62%, in the apparent contact angle of the impregnated wood, approximately 126°. The WS has shown to be efficient as a protective agent by converting the hydrophilic surface of Pinus elliotti into a hydrophobic one, and this effect partially remained after 45 days of exposure

Instances for the Recoverable Robust Two-Level Network Design Problem

We provide the instances used in the paper "The Recoverable Robust Two-Level Network Design Problem", by E. Alvarez-Miranda, I. Ljubic, S. Raghavan and P. Toth, accepted for publication in the INFORMS J. on Computing, 2014 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2014.0606). This repository contains both the instances used in the paper as well as the results obtained by the proposed algorithm

Displacements Monitoring over Czechia by IT4S1 System for Automatised Interferometric Measurements Using Sentinel-1 Data

The Sentinel-1 satellite system continuously observes European countries at a relatively high revisit frequency of six days per orbital track. Given the Sentinel-1 configuration, most areas in Czechia are observed every 1–2 days by different tracks in a moderate resolution. This is attractive for various types of analyses by various research groups. The starting point for interferometric (InSAR) processing is an original data provided in a Single Look Complex (SLC) level. This work represents advantages of storing data augmented to a specifically corrected level of data, SLC-C. The presented database contains Czech nationwide Sentinel-1 data stored in burst units that have been pre-processed to the state of a consistent well-coregistered dataset of SLC-C. These are resampled SLC data with their phase values reduced by a topographic phase signature, ready for fast interferometric analyses (an interferogram is generated by a complex conjugate between two stored SLC-C files). The data can be used directly into multitemporal interferometry techniques, e.g., Persistent Scatterers (PS) or Small Baseline (SB) techniques applied here. A further development of the nationwide system utilising SLC-C data would lead into a dynamic state where every new pre-processed burst triggers a processing update to detect unexpected changes from InSAR time series and therefore provides a signal for early warning against a potential dangerous displacement, e.g., a landslide, instability of an engineering structure or a formation of a sinkhole. An update of the processing chain would also allow use of cross-polarised Sentinel-1 data, needed for polarimetric analyses. The current system is running at a national supercomputing centre IT4Innovations in interconnection to the Czech Copernicus Collaborative Ground Segment (CESNET), providing fast on-demand InSAR results over Czech territories. A full nationwide PS processing using data over Czechia was performed in 2017, discovering several areas of land deformation. Its downsampled version and basic findings are demonstrated within the article

Screening assay for inhibitors of a recombinant Streptococcus pneumoniae UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase

The UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase of Streptococcus pneumoniae (GalUSpn) is absolutely required for the biosynthesis of capsular polysaccharide, the sine qua non virulence factor of pneumococcus. Since the eukaryotic enzymes are completely unrelated to their prokaryotic counterparts, we propose that the GalU enzyme is a critical target to fight the pneumococcal disease. A recombinant GalUSpn was overexpressed and purified. An enzymatic assay that is rapid, sensitive and easy to perform was developed. This assay was appropriate for screening chemical libraries for searching GalU inhibitors. This work represents a fundamental step in the exploration of novel antipneumococcal drugs.Fil: Zavala, Agustín. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Kovacec, Verónica Ivana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Levín, Gustavo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Moglioni, Albertina Gladys. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Miranda, Maria Victoria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: García, Ernesto. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas; EspañaFil: Bonofiglio, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mollerach, Marta Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic properties and acute toxicity of Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. inner bark aqueous extract

BACKGROUND: Tabebuia avellanedae is a tree from the Bignoniaceae family. Commonly know as "pau d'arco" in Brazil, its inner bark is used as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplasic and diuretic at the Brazilian northeast. A validation of the plant usage has not been previously performed. RESULTS: Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic effects of Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. inner bark were measured by nociceptive experimental models in mice. A rat paw edema test induced by carrageenan (1%) was also performed in rats to access the plant's antiedematogenic effect. The inner bark aqueous extract, administered via oral in three different concentration, namely 100, 200 and 400 mg/Kg, reduced the nociception produced by acetic acid (0.6% in water, i.p.) by 49.9%, 63.7% and 43.8%, respectively. The aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/Kg, p.o.) reduced formalin (1%) effects only at the second phase of the experiment by 49.3% and 53.7%, respectively. Naloxone (5 mg/Kg, i.p.) was not able to revert the extract effect, however caffeine (10 mg/Kg, i.p.) reverted its effect by 19.8% at the second phase of the formalin test. The aqueous extract (200 mg/Kg, p.o.) inhibited edema by 12.9% when we used the rat paw edema model. The acute toxicity was low in mice. CONCLUSION: The T. avellanedae inner bark aqueous extract presented antinociceptive and antiedematogenic activities at the used models, with a possible antinociceptive effect associated to the adenosine system

Notificação de parceiros sexuais com infecção sexualmente transmissível e percepções dos notificados

OBJETIVO Conocer las percepciones de los pacientes con infecciones transmitidas sexualmente y parejas sexuales sobre la notificación de la infección. MÉTODO Estudio descriptivo y cualitativo, basado en la técnica del discurso del sujeto colectivo, llevado a cabo en cuatro Unidades Sanitarias de referencia en Fortaleza/CE, de marzo a julio de 2014. Muestra compuesta de 21 sujetos (11 pacientes índice y 10 parejas notificadas). RESULTADOS Pacientes índice relataron complicidad, preocupación con la salud de la pareja y revelación del diagnóstico como forma de preservación de la relación. Para las parejas, las percepciones fueron antagónicas: tranquilidad-traición, miedo de la muerte, de la incurabilidad y el diagnóstico, especialmente del VIH. Los motivos para la comparecencia fueron: miedo de estar enfermo, atenuación de la culpa relativa a la transmisión, necesidad del diagnóstico, inicio precoz del tratamiento. CONCLUSIÓN Predominó el miedo de la ruptura de la confianza, inseguridades al manejar una infección sexual y ser responsable o corresponsable de la transmisión. Las formas de comunicación a las parejas sexuales fueron diversificadas: verbal (teléfono, tarjeta de comunicación), atendiendo a una conveniencia individual. Se sugiere la unión de métodos alternativos de notificación y un sistema de notificación integrado.OBJETIVO Conhecer as percepções dos pacientes com infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e parceiros sexuais sobre a notificação da infecção. MÉTODO Estudo descritivo e qualitativo, baseado na técnica do discurso do sujeito coletivo, realizado em quatro Unidades de Saúde de referência em Fortaleza/CE, de março a julho de 2014. Amostra composta por 21 sujeitos (11 pacientes-índice e 10 parceiros notificados). RESULTADOS Pacientes-índice relataram cumplicidade, preocupação com a saúde do parceiro e revelação do diagnóstico como forma de preservação do relacionamento. Para os parceiros, as percepções foram antagônicas: tranquilidade-traição, medo da morte, da incurabilidade e do diagnóstico, especialmente do HIV. Os motivos para o comparecimento foram: medo de estar doente, atenuação da culpa relativa à transmissão, necessidade do diagnóstico, início precoce do tratamento. CONCLUSÃO Predominou o medo da quebra da confiança, inseguranças em lidar com uma infecção sexual e ser responsável ou corresponsável pela transmissão. As formas de comunicação às parcerias sexuais foram diversificadas (verbal, telefone, cartão de comunicação), atendendo a uma conveniência individual. Sugere-se a união de métodos alternativos de notificação e um sistema de notificação integrado.OBJECTIVE Learn the perceptions of patients with sexually transmitted infections and sexual partners who are notified of the infection. METHOD A descriptive and qualitative study, based on the collective subject discourse technique, was conducted in four healthcare centers of reference in Fortaleza, Ceará, from March to July 2014. The sample comprised 21 subjects (11 index patients and 10 notified partners). RESULTS The index patients reported complicity, concern about the partner's health and revelation of diagnosis aiming to preserve the relationship. The partners showed antagonistic perceptions: tranquility-betrayal, fear of death, of incurability and the diagnosis, especially of HIV. The reasons for coming to a healthcare center were: fear of being sick, attenuation of guilt of infection transmission, need for diagnosis, early start of treatment. CONCLUSION Fear of losing trust, insecurities when dealing with a sexual infection and being responsible or co-responsible for the transmission were the predominant feelings. Various types of partner notification were reported (verbal, telephone, notification card), according to individual convenience. This study suggests the use of alternative methods of notification and an integrated system of notification

Administration of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to modulate fecal microbiome in feedlot cattle

Modulation of animal gut microbiota is a prominent function of probiotics to improve the health and performance of livestock. In this study, a large-scale survey to evaluate the effect of lactic acid bacteria probiotics on shaping the fecal bacterial community structure of feedlot cattle during three experimental periods of the fattening cycle (163 days) was performed. A commercial feedlot located in northwestern Argentina was enrolled with cattle fed mixed rations (forage and increasing grain diet) and a convenience-experimental design was conducted. A pen (n = 21 animals) was assigned to each experimental group that received probiotics during three different periods. Groups of n = 7 animals were sampled at 40, 104 and 163 days and these samples were then pooled to one, thus giving a total of 34 samples that were subjected to high-throughput sequencing. The microbial diversity of fecal samples was significantly affected (p < 0.05) by the administration period compared with probiotic group supplementation. Even though, the three experimental periods of probiotic administration induced changes in the relative abundance of the most representative bacterial communities, the fecal microbiome of samples was dominated by the Firmicutes (72-98%) and Actinobacteria (0.8-27%) phyla, while a lower abundance of Bacteroidetes (0.08-4.2%) was present. Probiotics were able to modulate the fecal microbiota with a convergence of Clostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae associated with health and growth benefits as core microbiome members. Metabolic functional prediction comparing three experimental administration periods (40, 104 and 163 days) showed an enrichment of metabolic pathways related to complex plant-derived polysaccharide digestion as well as amino acids and derivatives during the first 40 days of probiotic supplementation. Genomic-based knowledge on the benefits of autochthonous probiotics on cattle gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota composition and functions will contribute to their selection as antibiotic alternatives for commercial feedlot

Correlation between obesity and severity of periodontitis in adults

Cilj: Mnoga objavljena istraživanja dokazala su umjerenu povezanost između pretilosti i parodontitisa, no većina ih je uključivala dijabetičare i pušače te nijedno nije provedeno na području istočne Europe. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je procijeniti povezanost između pretilosti i parodontitisa na uzorku pacijenata bez dijabetesa te nepušača starosti od 31 do 75 godina. Studija je bila presječna. Ispitanici i metode: Ukupno je regrutirano 320 pacijenata Klinike za dentalnu medicinu Kliničkog bolničkog centra Rijeka. Potpuni parodontni status uzet je za 292 osobe; parodontitis je kategoriziran kao početni, umjereni i uznapredovali. Za svakog pacijenta su zabilježeni dob i spol, visina, težina te razina obrazovanja. Parodontitis je bio uzet kao nezavisna varijabla, dok je indeks tjelesne mase (engl. body mass index; BMI) bio zavisna varijabla. Rezultati: Parodontitis nije značajno korelirao s BMI-jem, no analizom logističke regresije dokazano je da pretile žene s 8 ili manje godina formalnog obrazovanja staro- sti od 36 do 55 godina imaju 5,2 – 6,5 puta veći rizik od razvoja teških oblika parodontalne bolesti. Zaključak: Pretilost i parodontitis mogu biti povezani i to u skupini žena s 8 ili manje godina formalnog obrazovanja od 36 do 55 godina starosti.Aim: Many published investigations proved a moderate obesity-periodontitis relationship. However, many studies included diabetics and smokers, and none was performed on Eastern European patients. The aim of this research was to assess the association be- tween obesity and periodontitis in a sample of non-smoking non-diabetic patients aged 31-75 years. Design: cross-sectional study. Patients and methods: A total of 320 patients were recruited at the Dental Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia. Periodontal examination was completed for 292 subjects; periodontitis was categorized as early, moderate and advanced. Age, gender, height, weight, and education level were recorded for every patient. BMI was used as predictor variable, while periodontitis was used as dependent variable. Results: Periodontitis did not correlate significantly with periodontitis. However, logistic regression analysis provides that obese, women with 8 years of education or less aged 36-55 years were at a 5,2–6,5 times greater risk of developing severe forms of periodontal disease. Conclusion: The association between obesity and periodontitis is rather weak in this sample of population and is limited to women with 8 years of education or less aged 36-55 years