49 research outputs found
Intragenic antimicrobial peptides (IAPs) from human proteins with potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity
Following the treads of our previous works on the unveiling of bioactive peptides encrypted
in plant proteins from diverse species, the present manuscript reports the occurrence of four
proof-of-concept intragenic antimicrobial peptides in human proteins, named Hs IAPs.
These IAPs were prospected using the software Kamal, synthesized by solid phase chemistry,
and had their interactions with model phospholipid vesicles investigated by differential
scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism. Their antimicrobial activity against bacteria,
yeasts and filamentous fungi was determined, along with their cytotoxicity towards erythrocytes.
Our data demonstrates that Hs IAPs are capable to bind model membranes while
attaining α-helical structure, and to inhibit the growth of microorganisms at concentrations
as low as 1μM. Hs02, a novel sixteen residue long internal peptide (KWAVRIIRKFIKGFISNH2)
derived from the unconventional myosin 1h protein, was further investigated in its
capacity to inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced release of TNF-α in murine macrophages.
Hs02 presented potent anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting the release of TNF-α in LPSprimed
cells at the lowest assayed concentration, 0.1 μM. A three-dimensional solution
structure of Hs02 bound to DPC micelles was determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
Our work exemplifies how the human genome can be mined for molecules with biotechnological
potential in human health and demonstrates that IAPs are actual alternatives to antimicrobial
peptides as pharmaceutical agents or in their many other putative applications
Morphological study of adult male worms of Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907 by confocal laser scanning microscopy
Effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure on the healing process after surgical stapling of the stomach of dogs
Probability of occurrence of the Brazilian spotted fever in northeast of Paraná state, Brazil
Pathology and first report of natural infections of the eye trematode Philophthalmus lachrymosus Braun, 1902 (Digenea, Philophthalmidae) in a non-human mammalian host
Paracoccidioidomicose com comprometimento do sistema nervoso central: revisão sistemática da literatura
Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis
Background
Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis.
Methods
A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis).
Results
Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent).
Conclusion
Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified