18 research outputs found
Dataset OROV
<p><b>First outbreak of Oropouche
Fever reported in a non-endemic central-western region of the Peruvian Amazon. </b><b>Molecular diagnosis
and clinical characteristics. </b></p><p><b>Introduction: </b>Oropouche
virus (OROV) is an underreported and emerging infectious disease. Its incidence
is underestimated mainly due to clinical similarities with other diseases that
are also caused by arboviruses present in endemic areas. We report the first
outbreak of OROV in the western region of the Peruvian Amazon in the department
of Huanuco, Peru. </p><p><b>Methods</b>:
This outbreak occurred in the region of Huanuco, Peru during July of 2016.
Blood samples were taken from 268 patients who presented acute febrile syndrome
to be later analyzed for Oropouche Virus via Polymerase Chain Reaction.</p><p><b>Results</b>:
Of all 268 patients, 46 (17%) cases tested were positive for OROV. the most
common symptom reported was headaches with a frequency of 87% (n=40) followed
by myalgias with 76% (n=35), arthralgias with 65.2% (n=30), retro-ocular pain
60.8% (n=28) and hyporexia with 50% (n=23). </p><p>
Concerning
signs and symptoms that may suggest severe OROV infection, 4.3% (n=2) had low
platelet count, 8.6% (n=4) had intense abdominal pain, and only 2.1% (n=1) had
a presentation with thoracic pain<br></p
Incorporation of a Clot-Binding Peptide into Polythiophene: Properties of Composites for Biomedical Applications
Biocomposites
formed by a pentapeptide (CREKA), which recognizes
clotted plasma proteins, entrapped into the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)
(PEDOT) matrix have been prepared using three very different procedures.
X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicate that PEDOT-CREKA films,
prepared by chronoamperometry in basic aqueous solution (pH = 10.3)
and deposited onto a PEDOT internal layer, present the higher concentration
of peptide: one CREKA molecule per six polymer repeat units. The surface
of this bilayered system shows numerous folds homogeneously distributed,
which have been exhaustively characterized by scanning electron microscopy
and atomic force microscopy. Indeed, the morphology and topography
of such bilayered films is completely different from those of biocomposite-prepared
acid aqueous and organic solutions as polymerization media. The impact
of the entrapped peptide molecules in the electrochemical properties
of the conducting polymer has been found to be practically negligible.
In contrast, biocompatibility assays with two different cellular lines
indicate that PEDOT-CREKA favors cellular proliferation, which has
been attributed to the binding
of the peptide to the fibrin molecules from the serum used as a supplement
in the culture medium. The latter assumption has been corroborated
examining the ability of PEDOT-CREKA to bind fibrin. The latter ability
has been also used to explore an alternative strategy based on the
treatment of PEDOT-CREKA with fibrin to promote cell attachment and
growth. Overall, the results suggest that PEDOT-CREKA is appropriated
for multiple biomedical applications combining the electrochemical
properties of conducting polymer and the ability of the peptide to
recognize and bind proteins
Clinical symptoms in patients with arbovirus infection positive by PCR.
<p>Clinical symptoms in patients with arbovirus infection positive by PCR.</p
Scatter matrix and Pearson coefficient of correlation for the odd-ratios of clinical symptoms.
<p>Scatter matrix and Pearson coefficient of correlation for the odd-ratios of clinical symptoms.</p
Scatter matrix and Pearson coefficient of correlation for the clinical symptoms.
<p>Scatter matrix and Pearson coefficient of correlation for the clinical symptoms.</p
Polypyrrole-Supported Membrane Proteins for Bio-Inspired Ion Channels
Biomedical platforms constructed
by immobilizing membrane proteins
in matrixes made of synthetic organic polymers is a challenge because
the structure and function of these proteins are affected by environmental
conditions. In this work, an operative composite that regulates the
diffusion of alkali ions has been prepared by functionalizing a supporting
matrix made of poly(<i>N</i>-methylpyrrole) (PNMPy) with
a β-barrel membrane protein (Omp2a) that forms channels and
pores. The protein has been unequivocally identified in the composite,
and its structure has been shown to remain unaltered. The PNMPy–Omp2a
platform fulfills properties typically associated with functional
bio-interfaces with biomedical applications (e.g., biocompatibility,
biodegrabadility, and hydrophilicity). The functionality of the immobilized
protein has been examined by studying the passive ion transport response
in the presence of electrolytic solutions with Na<sup>+</sup> and
K<sup>+</sup> concentrations close to those found in blood. Although
the behavior of PNMPy and PNMPy–Omp2a is very similar for solutions
with very low concentration, the resistance of the latter decreases
drastically when the concentration of ions increases to ∼100
mM. This reduction reflects an enhanced ion exchange between the biocomposite
and the electrolytic medium, which is not observed in PNMPy, evidencing
that PNMPy–Omp2a is particularly well suited to prepare bioinspired
channels and smart biosensors
Demographics in patients with arboviral infections from Puerto Maldonado, Peru.
<p>Demographics in patients with arboviral infections from Puerto Maldonado, Peru.</p
Primers and probes used in the PCR assays.
<p>Primers and probes used in the PCR assays.</p
Thermomechanical Response of a Representative Porin for Biomimetics
The
thermomechanical response of Omp2a, a representative porin
used for the fabrication of smart biomimetic nanomembranes, has been
characterized using microcantilever technology and compared with standard
proteins. For this purpose, thermally induced transitions involving
the conversion of stable trimers to bigger aggregates, local reorganizations
based on the strengthening or weakening of intermolecular interactions,
and protein denaturation have been detected by the microcantilever
resonance frequency and deflection as a function of the temperature.
Measurements have been carried out on arrays of 8-microcantilevers
functionalized with proteins (Omp2a, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin).
To interpret the measured nanofeatures, the response of proteins to
temperature has been also examined using other characterization techniques,
including real time wide angle X-ray diffraction. Results not only
demonstrate the complex behavior of porins, which exhibit multiple
local thermal transitions before undergoing denaturation at temperatures
higher than 105 °C, but also suggest a posttreatment to control
the orientation of immobilized Omp2a molecules in functionalized biomimetic
nanomembranes and, thus, increase their efficacy in ion transport
Clinical symptoms in PCR confirmed cases for <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> and <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>.
<p>Clinical symptoms in PCR confirmed cases for <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> and <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>.</p