A mediator for malaria stickiness in A versus O blood

© 2015 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.Malaria is thought to have shaped the worldwide distribution of human ABO blood but the underlying molecular details of this process have only recently started to be revealed. A new study provides insights on how malaria parasites interact with ABO blood group sugars, mediating rosetting events that cause severe disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutrition facts of infant formulas sold in São Paulo state: assessment of fat and fatty acid contents

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a informação nutricional fornecida pelos fabricantes de fórmulas infantis, comparando-as quanto aos teores obtidos na análise, ao conteúdo de lipídeos, ácidos graxos saturados, ácidos graxos trans, ácido linoleico, ácido alfa-linolênico, ácido araquidônico e ácido docosahexaenoico. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas 14 amostras de seis marcas diferentes de fórmulas infantis comercializadas no Estado de São Paulo. A extração e a quantificação dos lipídeos foram realizadas pelo método oficial (Roese Gottlieb), e a quantificação dos ácidos graxos, pela cromatografia em fase gasosa pelo método de adição de padrão interno. As análises foram realizadas em triplicata. RESULTADOS: De acordo com os resultados, todas as amostras estavam em conformidade com a rotulagem para gordura total, uma estava em desacordo para ácidos graxos saturados, seis para ácidos graxos trans, quatro para ácido linoleico, dez para ácido alfa-linolênico, dois para ácido araquidônico e três para o ácido docosahexaenoico. As fórmulas infantis para lactentes de zero a seis meses foram as que revelaram as maiores diferenças em relação à informação nutricional fornecida pelo fabricante. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos apontam a necessidade de um contínuo monitoramento desses produtos por meio de programas de vigilância sanitária, uma vez que a inadequação dos nutrientes da fração lipídica e outros pode afetar de maneira significativa o desenvolvimento infantil.OBJECTIVE: This study determined the contents of fats, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in infant formulas and compared them with the nutrition facts reported on the respective packaging. METHODS: Fourteen samples of six different infant formula brands sold in the state of São Paulo were analyzed. The extraction and quantification of fats were done by the official method (Roese Gottlieb) and the quantification of fatty acids by gas chromatography using an internal standard. All analyses were repeated three times. RESULTS: The results showed that the nutrition facts printed on the packaging regarding total fats were correct for all samples, one was incorrect for saturated fatty acids, six were incorrect for trans fatty acids, four were incorrect for linoleic acid, ten were incorrect for alpha-linolenic acid, two were incorrect for arachidonic acid and three were incorrect for docosahexaenoic acid. The formulas that presented the greatest differences between nutrition facts and actual contents were those for infants aged zero to six months. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that sanitary surveillance programs need to constantly monitor these products since the incorrect amount of nutrients may significantly affect the child's development

The unusually large Plasmodium telomerase reverse-transcriptase localizes in a discrete compartment associated with the nucleolus

Telomerase replicates chromosome ends, a function necessary for maintaining genome integrity. We have identified the gene that encodes the catalytic reverse transcriptase (RT) component of this enzyme in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (PfTERT) as well as the orthologous genes from two rodent and one simian malaria species. PfTERT is predicted to encode a basic protein that contains the major sequence motifs previously identified in known telomerase RTs (TERTs). At ∼2500 amino acids, PfTERT is three times larger than other characterized TERTs. We observed remarkable sequence diversity between TERT proteins of different Plasmodial species, with conserved domains alternating with hypervariable regions. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that PfTERT is expressed in asexual blood stage parasites that have begun DNA synthesis. Surprisingly, rather than at telomere clusters, PfTERT typically localizes into a discrete nuclear compartment. We further demonstrate that this compartment is associated with the nucleolus, hereby defined for the first time in P.falciparum

INDICADORES DE SAÚDE NA VISÃO DOS GESTORES DOS MUNICÍPIOS NO ÂMBITO DA 13° COORDENADORIA REGIONAL DE SAÚDE - RS

RESUMO: No desenvolvimento deste estudo elegeu-se como objetivo: identificar como se desenvolve a avaliação das ações e quais os indicadores de saúde utilizados nas unidades Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESFs) nos municípios de abrangência da 13° Coordenadoria Regional da Saúde - RS. Se configurando em um estudo qualitativo de caráter exploratório e descritivo. Na análise dos dados, a análise temática foi escolhida, por mais se adequar a esta investigação. Os resultados demonstram que cinco gestores avaliam suas ações em saúde e um não se utiliza da avaliação. A maioria destes se reúne periodicamente com suas equipes para análise dos dados do Sistema de Informação da Atenção Básica (SIAB) coletados. A carência de informação e capacitação dos gestores gera uma produção de dados, pouco utilizados no planejamento e avaliação das ações e dos serviços, e quando utilizados seguem os padrões preconizados pelo Ministério da Saúde

Targeting liver stage malaria with metformin

Copyright: © 2019, American Society for Clinical InvestigationDespite an unprecedented 2 decades of success, the combat against malaria - the mosquito-transmitted disease caused by Plasmodium parasites - is no longer progressing. Efforts toward eradication are threatened by the lack of an effective vaccine and a rise in antiparasite drug resistance. Alternative approaches are urgently needed. Repurposing of available, approved drugs with distinct modes of action are being considered as viable and immediate adjuncts to standard antimicrobial treatment. Such strategies may be well suited to the obligatory and clinically silent first phase of Plasmodium infection, where massive parasite replication occurs within hepatocytes in the liver. Here, we report that the widely used antidiabetic drug, metformin, impairs parasite liver stage development of both rodent-infecting Plasmodium berghei and human-infecting P. falciparum parasites. Prophylactic treatment with metformin curtails parasite intracellular growth in vitro. An additional effect was observed in mice with a decrease in the numbers of infected hepatocytes. Moreover, metformin provided in combination with conventional liver- or blood-acting antimalarial drugs further reduced the total burden of P. berghei infection and substantially lessened disease severity in mice. Together, our findings indicate that repurposing of metformin in a prophylactic regimen could be considered for malaria chemoprevention.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal) PTDC/SAU-MET/118199/2010 to LMS and European Research Council Proof of Concept Grant to MMM (ERC-2015-PoC-DL3–713691-REUSE4MALARIA).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake plays a crucial role during Plasmodium hepatic infection.

Intracellular pathogens have evolved mechanisms to ensure their survival and development inside their host cells. Here, we show that glucose is a pivotal modulator of hepatic infection by the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei and that glucose uptake via the GLUT1 transporter is specifically enhanced in P. berghei-infected cells. We further show that ATP levels of cells containing developing parasites are decreased, which is known to enhance membrane GLUT1 activity. In addition, GLUT1 molecules are translocated to the membrane of the hepatic cell, increasing glucose uptake at later stages of infection. Chemical inhibition of GLUT1 activity leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and the consequent impairment of hepatic infection, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results reveal that changes in GLUT1 conformation and cellular localization seem to be part of an adaptive host response to maintain adequate cellular nutrition and energy levels, ensuring host cell survival and supporting P. berghei hepatic development

ESTRATEGIAS PARA MINIMIZAR LOS RIESGOS ERGONÓMICOS EN TRABAJADORES DE LIMPIEZA: REVISIÓN INTEGRADORA

Objective: to identify strategies to minimize ergonomic risks in the cleaning staff.Method: an integrative review, carried out on LILACS, Scopus, and MEDLINE/PUBMED databases, between August and September of 2019. The descriptors “ergonomics”, “cleaning service”, and their synonyms were combined using Boolean operators.Results: from the 21 articles analyzed, intervention studies prevailed and were classified with a level of evidence 2 (52%); carried out in the year 2012 (33.3%), in Sweden (38%), with hospital cleaning staff (47.6%). The use of ergonomic education strategies, changes in work tools, aerobic exercise, a method for risk assessment, surveillance protocol, task diary, updating with organizational and psychosocial factors at work were evidenced.Conclusion: the evidenced strategies proved to be effective and may contribute, for the health area, in the promotion and recovery of the physical condition of the cleaning staff.Objetivo: identificar estrategias para la minimización de los riesgos ergonómicos en trabajadores de limpieza. Método: revisión integradora, realizada en las bases de datos LILACS, Scopus y MEDLINE/PUBMED, entre agosto y septiembre de 2019. Los descriptores “ergonomía”, “servicio de limpieza” y sus sinónimos fueron combinados por operadores booleanos. Resultados: entre los 21 artículos analizados, prevalecieron los estudios de intervención clasificados con nivel de evidencia 2 (52%); realizados en 2012 (33,3%), en Suecia (38%), con trabajadores de limpieza hospitalaria (47,6%). Se evidenció la utilización de estrategias de educación ergonómica, modificaciones en las herramientas de trabajo, ejercicio aeróbico, método para la evaluación del riesgo, protocolo de vigilancia, diario de tareas, contextualización con los factores organizacionales y psicosociales del trabajo. Conclusión: las estrategias evidenciadas se mostraron eficaces y podrán contribuir, en el campo de la salud, en la promoción de la salud y recuperación de las afecciones físicas que padecen los trabajadores de limpieza.Objetivo: identificar estratégias para minimização dos riscos ergonômicos em trabalhadores de limpeza.Método: revisão integrativa, realizada nas bases LILACS, Scopus e MEDLINE/PUBMED, entre agosto e setembro de 2019. Os descritores “ergonomia”, “serviço de limpeza” e seus sinônimos foram combinados por operadores booleanos.Resultados: dos 21 artigos analisados, prevaleceram estudos de intervenção e classificados com nível de evidência 2 (52%); realizados em 2012 (33,3%), na Suécia (38%), com trabalhadores de limpeza hospitalar (47,6%). Evidenciou-se a utilização de estratégias de educação ergonômica, modificações nas ferramentas de trabalho, exercício aeróbico, método para avaliação de risco, protocolo de vigilância, diário de tarefas, contextualização com os fatores organizacionais e psicossociais do trabalho.Conclusão: as estratégias evidenciadas mostraram-se eficazes e poderão contribuir, para o campo da saúde, na promoção e recuperação de acometimentos físicos dos trabalhadores de limpeza

Prevalence and associated factors to occupational accidents in the hospital housekeeping

Objective: Identify the prevalence and factors associated with the occurrence of accidents at work with hospital housekeeping personnel. Method: Cross-sectional study involving 157 workers from a public university hospital of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data collection occurred in 2013, it was used a form for socio-demographic, labor, habits, health and occupational accidents characterization. Results: In the last worked year, prevalence of occupational accidents was of 17,8%. Occurred with the highest percentage of male workers (26,3%), those with between 19 and 34 years (21,6%). Sharps injuries and falls stood out, his hands and fingers were the body parts most affected. Conclusion: None of evaluated factors presented itself meaningfully associated to occupational accidents. The population size may have affected this result

Plasmodium falciparum heterochromatin protein 1 binds to tri-methylated histone 3 lysine 9 and is linked to mutually exclusive expression of var genes

Increasing experimental evidence shows a prominent role of histone modifications in the coordinated control of gene expression in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The search for the histone-mark-reading machinery that translates histone modifications into biological processes, such as formation of heterochromatin and antigenic variation is of foremost importance. In this work, we identified the first member of a histone modification specific recognition protein, an orthologue of heterochromatin protein 1 (PfHP1). Analysis of the PfHP1 amino-acid sequence revealed the presence of the two characteristic HP1 domains: a chromodomain (CD) and a chromo shadow domain (CSD). Recombinant CD binds to di- and tri-methylated lysine 9 from histone H3, but not to unmodified or methylated histone H3 in lysine 4. PfHP1 is able to interact with itself to form dimers, underlying its potential role in aggregating nucleosomes to form heterochromatin. Antibodies raised against PfHP1 detect this molecule in foci at the perinuclear region. ChIP analysis using anti-PfHP1 shows that this protein is linked to heterochromatin of subtelomeric non-coding repeat regions and monoallelic expression of the major virulence var gene family. This is the first report implicating an HP1 protein in the control of antigenic variation of a protozoan parasite

Genome-wide analysis reveals extensive functional interaction between DNA replication initiation and transcription in the genome of trypanosoma brucei

Identification of replication initiation sites, termed origins, is a crucial step in understanding genome transmission in any organism. Transcription of the Trypanosoma brucei genome is highly unusual, with each chromosome comprising a few discrete transcription units. To understand how DNA replication occurs in the context of such organization, we have performed genome-wide mapping of the binding sites of the replication initiator ORC1/CDC6 and have identified replication origins, revealing that both localize to the boundaries of the transcription units. A remarkably small number of active origins is seen, whose spacing is greater than in any other eukaryote. We show that replication and transcription in T. brucei have a profound functional overlap, as reducing ORC1/CDC6 levels leads to genome-wide increases in mRNA levels arising from the boundaries of the transcription units. In addition, ORC1/CDC6 loss causes derepression of silent Variant Surface Glycoprotein genes, which are critical for host immune evasion