Interactions Between the Serotonergic and Other Neurotransmitter Systems in the Basal Ganglia: Role in Parkinson's Disease and Adverse Effects of L-DOPA

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. However, other non-dopaminergic neuronal systems such as the serotonergic system are also involved. Serotonergic dysfunction is associated with non-motor symptoms and complications, including anxiety, depression, dementia, and sleep disturbances. This pathology reduces patient quality of life. Interaction between the serotonergic and other neurotransmitters systems such as dopamine, noradrenaline, glutamate, and GABA controls the activity of striatal neurons and are particularly interesting for understanding the pathophysiology of PD. Moreover, serotonergic dysfunction also causes motor symptoms. Interestingly, serotonergic neurons play an important role in the effects of L-DOPA in advanced PD stages. Serotonergic terminals can convert L-DOPA to dopamine, which mediates dopamine release as a "false" transmitter. The lack of any autoregulatory feedback control in serotonergic neurons to regulate L-DOPA-derived dopamine release contributes to the appearance of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). This mechanism may also be involved in the development of graft-induced dyskinesias (GID), possibly due to the inclusion of serotonin neurons in the grafted tissue. Consistent with this, the administration of serotonergic agonists suppressed LID. In this review article, we summarize the interactions between the serotonergic and other systems. We also discuss the role of the serotonergic system in LID and if therapeutic approaches specifically targeting this system may constitute an effective strategy in PD

Vaccines for the common cold.

BACKGROUND The common cold is a spontaneously remitting infection of the upper respiratory tract, characterised by a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, malaise, sore throat, and fever (usually < 37.8 ºC). Whilst the common cold is generally not harmful, it is a cause of economic burden due to school and work absenteeism. In the United States, economic loss due to the common cold is estimated at more than USD 40 billion per year, including an estimate of 70 million workdays missed by employees, 189 million school days missed by children, and 126 million workdays missed by parents caring for children with a cold. Additionally, data from Europe show that the total cost per episode may be up to EUR 1102. There is also a large expenditure due to inappropriate antimicrobial prescription. Vaccine development for the common cold has been difficult due to antigenic variability of the common cold viruses; even bacteria can act as infective agents. Uncertainty remains regarding the efficacy and safety of interventions for preventing the common cold in healthy people, thus we performed an update of this Cochrane Review, which was first published in 2011 and updated in 2013 and 2017. OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of vaccines for preventing the common cold in healthy people. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (April 2022), MEDLINE (1948 to April 2022), Embase (1974 to April 2022), CINAHL (1981 to April 2022), and LILACS (1982 to April 2022). We also searched three trials registers for ongoing studies, and four websites for additional trials (April 2022). We did not impose any language or date restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of any virus vaccine compared with placebo to prevent the common cold in healthy people. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used Cochrane's Screen4Me workflow to assess the initial search results. Four review authors independently performed title and abstract screening to identify potentially relevant studies. We retrieved the full-text articles for those studies deemed potentially relevant, and the review authors independently screened the full-text reports for inclusion in the review, recording reasons for exclusion of the excluded studies. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion or by consulting a third review author when needed. Two review authors independently collected data on a data extraction form, resolving any disagreements by consensus or by involving a third review author. We double-checked data transferred into Review Manager 5 software. Three review authors independently assessed risk of bias using RoB 1 tool as outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We carried out statistical analysis using Review Manager 5. We did not conduct a meta-analysis, and we did not assess publication bias. We used GRADEpro GDT software to assess the certainty of the evidence and to create a summary of findings table.  MAIN RESULTS: We did not identify any new RCTs for inclusion in this update. This review includes one RCT conducted in 1965 with an overall high risk of bias. The RCT included 2307 healthy young men in a military facility, all of whom were included in the analyses, and compared the effect of three adenovirus vaccines (live, inactivated type 4, and inactivated type 4 and 7) against a placebo (injection of physiological saline or gelatin capsule). There were 13 (1.14%) events in 1139 participants in the vaccine group, and 14 (1.19%) events in 1168 participants in the placebo group. Overall, we do not know if there is a difference between the adenovirus vaccine and placebo in reducing the incidence of the common cold (risk ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 2.02; very low-certainty evidence). Furthermore, no difference in adverse events when comparing live vaccine preparation with placebo was reported. We downgraded the certainty of the evidence to very low due to unclear risk of bias, indirectness because the population of this study was only young men, and imprecision because confidence intervals were wide and the number of events was low. The included study did not assess vaccine-related or all-cause mortality.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This Cochrane Review was based on one study with very low-certainty evidence, which showed that there may be no difference between the adenovirus vaccine and placebo in reducing the incidence of the common cold. We identified a need for well-designed, adequately powered RCTs to investigate vaccines for the common cold in healthy people. Future trials on interventions for preventing the common cold should assess a variety of virus vaccines for this condition, and should measure such outcomes as common cold incidence, vaccine safety, and mortality (all-cause and related to the vaccine)

Acinetobacter Lwofii, an unusual cause of infectious pericarditis complicated with cardiac tamponade: a case report

Bacterial pericarditis can be considered a rare pathology, usually associated with cardiac procedures and, to a lesser extent, with immunosuppression and chronic diseases. The importance of its knowledge lies in the fact that mortality can reach up to 100% in untreated patients. Once diagnosed, pericardiocentesis and administration of intravenous antimicrobial therapy are mandatory for the prevention of its complications, which include cardiac tamponade and sepsis. Here we present an exceptional case of infectious pericarditis due to Acinetobacter Lwoffii in an older adult, which was complicated by pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade

Expressão da progranulina durante os primeiros estágios de desenvolvimento hepático em ratos Fischer 344

Transplants are the only effective therapy for the treatment of advanced liver diseases such as cirrhosis. Given the limited number of organ donors, regenerative medicine has sought for sources of cells and tissues for replacement therapy. Embryonic stem cells are a promising source of material for transplantation because of their exclusive property of being expanded indefinitely in culture, thus, they are a source of replacement tissue. Moreover, they are capable of differentiating into practically all cell types, and may be utilized in replacement therapy in various diseases. The liver bud has bipotent stem cells that have not yet differentiated into hepatocytes or biliary duct cells; however, they have great potential of proliferation and differentiation. Thus, the challenge is to identify methods that promote their differentiation in specific and functional strains. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the progranulin growth factor PGRN during the liver development of rats F344, since this growth factor could be utilized in protocols of differentiation of stem cells of the liver bud in functional hepatocytes. The results showed that PGRN is present during different periods of hepatogenesis in F344 rats, and that this growth factor should be involved in the process of differentiation of hepatoblasts into hepatocytes after activation by HNF4α , however, PGRN seems not to exert a cellular proliferation function during the hepatogenesis. Thus, PGRN can be used in future protocols of liver cell differentiation directed toward cellular therapy in Regenerative Medicine.Os transplantes são a única terapia eficaz para o tratamento de doenças hepáticas avançadas, como a cirrose. Dado o número limitado de doadores de órgãos, a medicina regenerativa tem procurado fontes de células para a terapia de substituição. As células embrionárias são uma fonte promissora de material para o transplante devido à sua propriedade exclusiva de ser expandida indefinidamente em cultura, assim, elas são uma fonte de tecido de substituição. Além disso, são capazes de se diferenciar em praticamente todos os tipos celulares, e podem ser utilizadas na terapia de substituição em várias doenças. O broto hepático tem células-tronco (CT) bipotenciais que ainda não se diferenciam em hepatócitos ou células do ducto biliar, contudo, elas têm um grande potencial de proliferação e de diferenciação. Desse modo, o desafio é identificar métodos que promovam sua diferenciação em linhagens específicas e funcionais. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o papel do fator de crescimento progranulina (PGRN) durante o desenvolvimento hepático em ratos F344, uma vez que a PGRN poderia ser utilizada em protocolos de diferenciação de CT do broto hepático em hepatócitos funcionais. Os resultados mostraram que PGRN está presente durante diferentes períodos da hepatogênese em ratos F344, e que a mesma deve estar envolvida no processo de diferenciação de hepatoblastos em hepatócitos após ativação por HNF4α, no entanto, a PGRN parece não desempenhar uma função de proliferação celular durante a hepatogênese. Assim, a PGRN pode ser usada em futuros protocolos de diferenciação de células hepáticas voltadas para a terapia celular na medicina regenerativa

Randomized controlled trial of probiotics for the prevention of spontaneous preterm delivery associated with intrauterine infection: study protocol

Background: Spontaneous preterm deliveries that occur before the 34th week of gestation, and particularly before the 32nd week of gestation, have been strongly associated to intrauterine infection, ascending from vagina, and represent the largest portion of neonatal deaths and neurological problems. Bacterial vaginosis, characterized by a diminished or absent flora of lactobacilli and increased colonization of several anaerobic or facultative microorganisms, increases two times the risk of preterm delivery before the 34th week. Trials of antibiotics failed to show efficacy and effectiveness against spontaneous preterm birth related to bacterial vaginosis. Some studies indicate benefit from selected probiotics to treat genitourinary infections, including bacterial vaginosis. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the early administration of selected probiotics to pregnant women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis/intermediate degree infection to reduce the occurrence of spontaneous preterm delivery and related neonatal mortality and morbidity. Methods/Design: Women attending public prenatal care services in Rio de Janeiro will be screened to select asymptomatic pregnant women, less than 20 weeks' gestation, with no indication of elective preterm delivery. Those with vaginal pH > = 4.5 and a Nugent score between 4 and 10 (intermediate degree infection or bacterial vaginosis) will be randomized to either the placebo or the intervention group, after written informed consent. Intervention consists in the use of probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14, 2 capsules a day, each capsule containing more than one million bacilli of each strain, for 6-12 weeks, up to the 24th-25th wk of gestation. Ancillary analyses include quantification of selected cervicovaginal cytokines and genotyping of selected polymorphisms. The randomization process is stratified for history of preterm delivery and blocked. Allocation concealment was designed as well as blinding of women, caregivers and outcome evaluators. The study will be supervised by an independent monitoring committee. Outcomes under study are preterm delivery (< 34- < 32 weeks of gestation) and associated neonatal complications: early neonatal sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and prematurity-related retinopathy; definitions were adapted from those recommended by the 2002 version of the Vermont-Oxford Network. Trial registration at NIH register: NCT00303082

Estudo de Bambuí sobre saúde e envelhecimento: metodologia e resultados preliminares de coorte de estudo de idosos no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: A cohort study has been designed to identify predictors of adverse health events in the elderly. The methodology of the study and preliminary descriptive results are presented. METHODS: The study population comprises all residents of Bambuí (Minas Gerais, Brazil), aged 60 or more years (n=1.742). From these, 92.2% were interviewed and 85.9% underwent clinical examination, consisting of haematological and biochemical tests, serology for Trypanosoma cruzi, anthropometric and blood pressure measures and electrocardiogram. Aliquots of serum, plasma and DNA were stored for future investigations. The baseline interview included sociodemographic characteristics, self-referred health condition and history of selected diseases, medication use, health service use, source of medical care, physical activities, smoking, drinking and eating habits, reproductive history, physical functioning, life events, social support and mental health. Individuals are being followed up annually. RESULTS: The following characteristics predominated among participants: women (60,0%), married (48.9%) or widowed (35.4%), people living in households with up to 2 residents (73.8%), heads of family (76.7%), people with monthly income between 1.00 and 2.99 Brazilian minimum wages (62.0%) and people with up to 4 years of schooling (89.1%). The median age was 68 years. Among the cohort members, only 1.7% were lost in the first follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the characteristics of the study population were very similar to those from other epidemiological studies of the elderly based on large Brazilian cities. The small number of losses to follow-up indicates that the choice of Bambuí was adequate, assuring the feasibility of a long term cohort study.OBJETIVO: Um estudo de coorte está sendo desenvolvido para identificar fatores preditores de eventos adversos à saúde em idosos. São apresentados a metodologia do estudo e os resultados descritivos preliminares. MÉTODOS: A população estudada é constituída por todos os residentes na cidade de Bambuí, Minas Gerais, com 60 ou mais anos de idade (n=1.742). Destes, 92,2% foram entrevistados e 85,9% foram submetidos a exames hematológicos e bioquímicos, sorologia para Trypanosoma cruzi , medidas antropométricas e de pressão arterial e eletrocardiograma. Alíquotas de soro, plasma e DNA foram estocadas para futuras investigações. A entrevista da linha de base do estudo incluiu: características sociodemográficas, percepção da saúde e morbidade auto-referida, uso de medicamentos, acesso a serviços de saúde e a planos de saúde, atividades físicas, uso de fumo e de álcool, hábitos alimentares, história reprodutiva, função física, eventos da vida, recursos sociais e saúde mental. Os participantes estão sendo acompanhados anualmente. RESULTADOS: As seguintes características predominaram entre os participantes: mulheres (60%), casados (48,9%) ou viúvos (35,4%), residentes em domicílios com até 2 pessoas (73,8%), chefes de família (76,7%), pessoas com renda mensal entre 1 e 2,99 salários-mínimos (62%) e pessoas com 4 ou menos anos de escolaridade (89,1%). A mediana da idade foi igual a 68 anos. Somente 1,7% dos membros da coorte foram perdidos no primeiro acompanhamento. CONCLUSÕES: Em geral, as características da população estudada foram muito semelhantes às de participantes de outros estudos epidemiológicos sobre envelhecimento, desenvolvidos em grandes cidades brasileiras. A pequena perda para acompanhamento mostra que a escolha de Bambuí foi adequada, garantindo a viabilidade de um estudo prospectivo de longa duração

Mercury adsorption on natural and organofunctionalized smectites - thermodynamics of cation removal

A natural smectite clay sample from Piauí State, Brazil, was organofunctionalized with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane silyating agents. The basal spacing of 0.99 nm and surface area of 48 m² g-1 for natural clay increased to 1.84 and 2.01 nm, and 781 and 795 m² g-1 for modified clays, respectively. The natural and chemically immobilized clay samples adsorb mercury cations from aqueous solutions at pH 3.0 at 298 ± 1 K. The Langmuir, Redlich-Peterson and Toth adsorption isotherm models were applied to fit the experimental data with a nonlinear approach. From the cation/basic center interactions for each smectite at the solid-liquid interface, by using calorimetry methodology, the equilibrium constant and exothermic thermal effects were obtained. By considering the net interactive number of moles for each cation and the equilibrium constant, the enthalpy, intHº (-11.98 to -13.93 kJ mol-1) and negative free Gibbs energy, intGº (-22.4 ± 0.1 to -23.9 ± 0.1 kJ mol-1) were calculated. These values enabled the determination of positive entropy, intSº (51 ± 01 to 55 ± 2 J K-1 mol-1). The cation-basic center interactions are spontaneous in nature as demonstrated from favorable enthalpic and entropic results. Natural and anchored smectites have the ability to complex mercury, acting as useful materials for removal of this hazardous metal from an ecosystem.Uma amostra natural de esmectita oriunda do estado do Piauí, Brasil, foi organofuncionalizada com 3-mercaptopropiltrimethoxissilano e 3-aminopropiltriethoxissilano. O espaçamento basal da argila natural é de 0,99 nm e área superficial 48 m² g-1. Houve um aumento no espaçamento basal para 1,84 e 2,01 nm e o aumento da área específica para 781 e 795 m² g-1 para as argilas quimicamente modificadas, respectivamente. A argila natural e a argila quimicamente modificada adsorveram cátions mercúrio em solução aquosa em pH 3,0 e 298 ± 1 K. Os modelos de isotermas de adsorção de Langmuir, Redlich-Peterson e Toth foram aplicados para ajuste dos dados experimentais com aproximação não linear. Para as interações cátion/centros básicos para cada esmectita na interface sólido/líquido foi utilizada metodologia calorimétrica e foram obtidas as constantes de equilíbrio e os efeitos térmicos exotérmicos. Considerando o número interativo de moles para cada cátion e as constantes de equilíbrio, a entalpia, intHº (-11,98 a -13,93 kJ mol-1) e a energia livre de Gibbs negativa, intGº (-22,4 ± 0,1 a -23,9 ± 0,1 kJ mol-1) foram calculadas, o que permitiram a determinação da entropia positiva intSº (51 ± 01 a 55 ± 2 J K-1 mol-1). As interações cátion/centros básicos são de natureza espontânea como demonstram os valores de energia livre de Gibbs, dando o conjunto de dados favoráveis como expressam a entalpia exotérmica e a entropia positiva, mostrando que a esmectita natural e as quimicamente modificadas têm habilidade em complexar mercúrio. Logo, esses materiais são úteis na remoção de mercúrio em um ecossistema.594603Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Mercury adsorption on natural and organofunctionalized smectites - thermodynamics of cation removal

A natural smectite clay sample from Piauí State, Brazil, was organofunctionalized with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane silyating agents. The basal spacing of 0.99 nm and surface area of 48 m² g-1 for natural clay increased to 1.84 and 2.01 nm, and 781 and 795 m² g-1 for modified clays, respectively. The natural and chemically immobilized clay samples adsorb mercury cations from aqueous solutions at pH 3.0 at 298 ± 1 K. The Langmuir, Redlich-Peterson and Toth adsorption isotherm models were applied to fit the experimental data with a nonlinear approach. From the cation/basic center interactions for each smectite at the solid-liquid interface, by using calorimetry methodology, the equilibrium constant and exothermic thermal effects were obtained. By considering the net interactive number of moles for each cation and the equilibrium constant, the enthalpy, "intHº (-11.98 to -13.93 kJ mol-1) and negative free Gibbs energy, "intGº (-22.4 ± 0.1 to -23.9 ± 0.1 kJ mol-1) were calculated. These values enabled the determination of positive entropy, "intSº (51 ± 01 to 55 ± 2 J K-1 mol-1). The cation-basic center interactions are spontaneous in nature as demonstrated from favorable enthalpic and entropic results. Natural and anchored smectites have the ability to complex mercury, acting as useful materials for removal of this hazardous metal from an ecosystem

Coffee resistance to the main diseases : leaf rust and coffee berry disease

Sucesso considerável tem sido obtido no uso do melhoramento clássico para o controle de doenças de plantas economicamente importantes, tais como a ferrugem alaranjada das folhas e a antracnose dos frutos do cafeeiro (CBD). Há um grande consenso de que o uso de plantas geneticamente resistentes é o meio mais apropriado e eficaz em termos de custos do controle das doenças das plantas, sendo também um dos elementos chave do melhoramento da produção agrícola. Tem sido também reconhecido que um melhor conhecimento do agente patogênico e dos mecanismos de defesa das plantas permitirá o desenvolvimento de novas abordagens no sentido de aumentar a durabilidade da resistência. Após uma breve descrição de conceitos na área da resistência das plantas às doenças, nesta revisão tentou-se dar uma idéia do progresso na investigação da ferrugem alaranjada do cafeeiro e do CBD relativamente ao processo de infecção e variabilidade dos agentes patogênicos, melhoramento do cafeeiro para a resistência e mecanismos de resistência do cafeeiro

Meaning of the Pap smear for health student

OBJECTIVE: To describe the meanings of the Pap smear for health students. METHODS: Descriptive study, qualitative approach, with 45 students from the health area of ​​a Higher Education Institution, in the Northeast of Brazil. Data were collected in 2017, by means of interviews, processed in the IRaMuTeQ software, and pushed by the Descending Hierarchical Classification. RESULTS: The students recognize that the education in health is the best strategy to prevent cervical cancer, as it is an essential tool in primary care and must be performed by health professionals. CONCLUSION: The meanings found by the students revealed a concern with their role in the Pap smear and, therefore, considers it very important to improve their knowledge in this area so that they can provide quality care to women seeking to prevent cervical cancer.OBJETIVO: Descrever os significados do exame de Papanicolaou para estudantes da saúde. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, com 45 estudantes da área de saúde de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior, no Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados em 2017, por meio de entrevistas, processados no software IRaMuTeQ, e analisados pela Classificação Hierárquica Descendente. RESULTADOS: Os estudantes reconhecem que a educação em saúde é a melhor estratégia para prevenir o cancro do colo do útero, por ser uma ferramenta essencial na atenção básica e deve ser realizada por profissionais de saúde. CONCLUSÃO: Os significados atribuídos pelos estudantes revelaram uma preocupação com seu papel no exame de Papanicolaou e, portanto, consideram muito importante aprimorar seus conhecimentos nessa área para que possam prestar um atendimento de qualidade às mulheres que buscam a prevenção do cancro de colo do úteroinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio