Adenosine receptors differentially mediate enteric glial cell death induced by Clostridioides difficile Toxins A and B

Increased risk of intestinal dysfunction has been reported in patients after Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Enteric glial cells (EGCs), a component of the enteric nervous system (ENS), contribute to gut homeostasis. Previous studies showed that adenosine receptors, A2A and A2B, modulate inflammation during CDI. However, it is unknown how these receptors can modulate the EGC response to the C. difficile toxins (TcdA and TcdB). We investigated the effects of these toxins on the expression of adenosine receptors in EGCs and the role of these receptors on toxin-induced EGC death. Rat EGCs line were incubated with TcdA or TcdB alone or in combination with adenosine analogues 1h prior to toxins challenge. After incubation, EGCs were collected to evaluate gene expression (adenosine receptors and proinflammatory markers) and cell death. In vivo, WT, A2A, and A2B KO mice were infected with C. difficile, euthanized on day 3 post-infection, and cecum tissue was processed. TcdA and TcdB increased A2A and A3 transcripts, as well as decreased A2B. A2A agonist, but not A2A antagonist, decreased apoptosis induced by TcdA and TcdB in EGCs. A2B blocker, but not A2B agonist, diminished apoptosis in EGCs challenged with both toxins. A3 agonist, but not A3 blocker, reduced apoptosis in EGCs challenged with TcdA and TcdB. Inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) and CREB, both involved in the main signaling pathway driven by activation of adenosine receptors, decreased EGC apoptosis induced by both toxins. A2A agonist and A2B antagonist decreased S100B upregulation induced by C. difficile toxins in EGCs. In vivo, infected A2B KO mice, but not A2A, exhibited a decrease in cell death, including EGCs and enteric neuron loss, compared to infected WT mice, reduced intestinal damage and decreased IL-6 and S100B levels in cecum. Our findings indicate that upregulation of A2A and A3 and downregulation of A2B in EGCs and downregulation of A2B in intestinal tissues elicit a protective response against C. difficile toxins. Adenosine receptors appear to play a regulatory role in EGCs death and proinflammatory response induced by TcdA and TcdB, and thus may be potential targets of intervention to prevent post-CDI intestinal dysmotility

Yellow Fever Virus DNA in Urine and Semen of Convalescent Patient, Brazil

Yellow fever virus RNA is usually detected in blood of infected humans. We detected virus RNA in urine and semen samples from a convalescent patient. A complete virus genome was sequenced for an isolate from a urine sample. This virus had a South American I genotype and unique synapomorphic changes

Fatores associados à tuberculose pulmonar em pacientes que procuraram serviços de saúde de referência para tuberculose Factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis among patients seeking medical attention at referral clinics for tuberculosis

OBJETIVO: A identificação de fatores comportamentais e clínicos associados à tuberculose pulmonar pode melhorar a detecção e o tratamento dessa doença, consequentemente reduzindo sua duração e transmissão. Nosso objetivo foi identificar fatores sociodemográficos, clínicos e comportamentais associados à tuberculose pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado entre abril de 2008 e março de 2009 em três unidades de saúde na cidade de Fortaleza (CE). Foram selecionados 233 pacientes maiores de 14 anos que procuraram atendimento médico espontaneamente e que apresentavam tosse por > 2 semanas. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, clínicos e comportamentais. Foram realizadas baciloscopia direta para BAAR e cultura de micobactérias, bem como testes tuberculínicos e radiografias de tórax. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos (com e sem tuberculose pulmonar). As variáveis categóricas foram comparadas com o teste do qui-quadrado, seguido de análise de regressão logística quando as variáveis foram consideradas significativas. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de tuberculose pulmonar foi 41,2%. As OR não ajustadas indicaram que as seguintes variáveis foram fatores de risco significativos para tuberculose pulmonar: febre (OR = 2,39; IC95%: 1,34-4,30), anorexia (OR = 3,69; IC95%: 2,03-6,75) e perda de peso (OR = 3,37; IC95%: 1,76-6,62). Na análise multivariada, apenas perda de peso (OR = 3,31; IC95%: 1,78-6,14) associou-se significativamente com tuberculose pulmonar. CONCLUSÕES: Em áreas com elevada prevalência de tuberculose, a perda de peso poderia ser utilizada como um indicador de tuberculose pulmonar em pacientes com tosse crônica por > 2 semanas.<br>OBJECTIVE: The identification of behavioral and clinical factors that are associated with pulmonary tuberculosis might improve the detection and treatment of the disease, thereby reducing its duration and transmission. Our objective was to identify sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors that are associated with the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between April of 2008 and March of 2009 at three health care clinics in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. We selected 233 patients older than 14 years of age who spontaneously sought medical attention and presented with cough for > 2 weeks. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral data were collected. Sputum smear microscopy for AFB and mycobacterial culture were also carried out, as were tuberculin skin tests and chest X-rays. The patients were divided into two groups (with and without pulmonary tuberculosis). The categorical variables were compared by the chi-square test, followed by logistic regression analysis when the variables were considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 41.2%. The unadjusted OR showed that the following variables were statistically significant risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis: fever (OR = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.34-4.30), anorexia (OR = 3.69; 95% CI, 2.03-6.75), and weight loss (OR = 3.37; 95% CI, 1.76-6.62). In the multivariate analysis, only weight loss (OR = 3.31; 95% CI, 1.78-6.14) was significantly associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: In areas with a high prevalence of tuberculosis, weight loss could be used as an indicator of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with chronic cough for > 2 weeks

Analisando as pesquisas em educação especial no Brasil Analysing research in special education in Brazil

Nosso objetivo foi examinar a articulação lógica entre o problema e a proposição teórico-metodológica das produções na área da Educação Especial, focando os seus pressupostos epistemológicos. Nos fundamentamos nos pressupostos das tendências empírico-analítica, fenomenológica-hermenêutica, crítico-dialética e do paradigma da complexidade. O procedimento adotado foi interpretar todas as dissertações/teses produzidas nos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Educação e Educação Especial do Brasil, que versam sobre Educação Especial, produzidas nos anos de 2001, 2002 e 2003, disponíveis no banco de teses da CAPES. Encontramos as tendências empírica, fenomenológica e dialética. Os equívocos encontrados foram a não inserção da pesquisa entre as produções na área; ausência de criticidade; não posicionamento numa determinada concepção de educação; construção teórica fundamentada em concepções diferentes; falta de coerência nos pressupostos teórico-metodológicos; não explicitação metodológica; não descrição dos procedimentos éticos; e má elaboração dos resumos. Concluímos pela necessidade da melhoria das dissertações/teses para que possamos avançar na produção de conhecimento na área da Educação Especial.<br>Our objective was to analyze the logical articulation between the problem and the theoretical-methodological proposal of studies in the field of Special Education, focusing on the epistemological issues. We based our study on the empiric-analytical tendencies, phenomenology-hermeneutic, critical-dialectical and the complexity paradigm. The procedure that was adopted was interpreting all dissertations/thesis produced in Post-Graduate programs in Education and Special Education in Brazil, which focus on Special Education, produced in 2001, 2002 and 2003, available online at CAPES' thesis database. We found empirical, phenomenological and dialectic tendencies. The errors encountered included the failure to include the research among the productions in the field; lack of critical approach; lack of making explicit what educational conception the study was based on; theoretical construction based on different conceptions; lack of coherence in the theoretical-methodological proposals; lack of methodological specification; absence of ethical procedural descriptions; and poorly written abstracts. We came to the conclusion that improvements in theses /dissertations are necessary so as to continually move forward in the production of knowledge in the field of Special Education

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data