Epidemiological survey of dermatophytosis in meat rabbits with alopecia in Portugal

[EN] An epidemiological dermatophytosis survey was carried out in farmed rabbits with alopecia in Northern and Central Portugal. Between August and October 2008, samples from suspected clinical cases of alopecia in meat rabbits on industrial farms were collected and cultured by conventional methods. Effects on the prevalence of several variables, such as breed, age, month of sample collection, configuration of the lesions and presence of concomitant infections in the rabbitries were evaluated using a logistic regression model. The overall prevalence of dermatophytes species was 82.7% (95% CI: 80.1-85.3%). Two dermatophytes species were isolated: Trichophyton mentagrophytes (91.9%) and Microsporum canis (8.1%). Five variables were associated with dermatophyte isolation in univariate analysis. The multivariate logistic regression model identified configuration of lesions (OR=3.15; 95% CI: 1.39-7.15%) and the presence of concomitant infections on the farms (OR=2.71; 95% CI: 1.03-7.12%) as risk factors. Considering the paucity of epidemiological reports in this country, these results could make a useful contribution towards the diagnosis and prevention of rabbit dermatophytosis.Moreira, F.; Miranda, A.; Coelho, A.; Monteiro, J.; Coelho, A. (2012). Epidemiological survey of dermatophytosis in meat rabbits with alopecia in Portugal. World Rabbit Science. 20(1):43-48. doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1032SWORD434820

Studies on the association of the Quercus suber decline disease with Phytophthora cinnamomi in Portugal

En Portugal, la enfermedad de la “seca” se ha descrito en los Quercus de hoja perenne (Quercus suber L. and Q.ilex subsp. rotundifolia Lam.) desde el final del siglo XIX. La mortalidad de estas especies afecta, particularmente las regiones centrales y meridionales del país, siendo uno de los problemas forestales más graves. Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands es el principal patógeno responsable de la mortalidad de alcornoques y encinas en Portugal. Se han desarrollado varios estudios teniendo como objetivo una mejor comprensión del efecto de la acción de P. cinnamomi en el decaimiento de los Quercus. El actual trabajo describe resultados preliminares de algunos de estos estudios.___________________________________In Portugal, the decline disease has been described in evergreen oaks (Quercus suber L. and Q.ilex subsp. rotundifolia Lam.) since the end of the 19th century. The mortality of these species affects, particularly the central and southern regions of the country, being one of the most severe forest problems. Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is the main pathogen responsible for the cork and holm oak mortality in Portugal. Several studies have been developed aiming at a better understanding of the effect of the P. cinnamomi action on the cork oak trees decline. The present work describes preliminary results of some of these studies

Phenotype and genotype correlation of the microconversion from the CYP21A1P to the CYP21A2 gene in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Deficiency of 21-hydroxylase is the most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH-21OH). We determined by allele-specific PCR the frequency of microconversion in the CYP21A2 gene in 50 Brazilian patients with the classical (salt wasting: SW and simple virilizing: SV) forms and nonclassical (NC) form of CAH-21OH and correlated genotype with phenotype. Genotypes were classified into three mutation groups (A, B, and C) based on the amount of enzymatic activity in in vitro studies using adrenal cells. In 94 unrelated alleles, we diagnosed 76% of the affected alleles after screening for 7 microconversions. The most frequent point mutations observed in this series were I172N (19%), V281L (18%), and IVS2,A/C>G,-12 (15%). In the SW form, the most frequent mutation was IVS2,A/C>G,-12 (38%), in the SV form it was I172N (53%), and in the NC form it was V281L (57.7%). We observed a good correlation between genotype and phenotype. Discordance between genotype and phenotype was found in one SV patient with a mild mutation in one of the alleles (R356W/V281L). However, we cannot rule out the presence of an additional mutation in these alleles. We also observed a good correlation of genotype with 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione levels. The severity of external genitalia virilization correlated with the severity of mutation. In conclusion, the frequencies described in the present study did not differ from worldwide studies, including the Brazilian population. The few differences observed may reflect individual sample variations. This new Brazilian cohort study suggests the presence of new mutations in Brazilian patients with different forms of CAH-21OH.1311131

Mechanisms underlying gas exchange alterations in an experimental model of pulmonary embolism

The aim of the present study was to determine the ventilation/perfusion ratio that contributes to hypoxemia in pulmonary embolism by analyzing blood gases and volumetric capnography in a model of experimental acute pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolization with autologous blood clots was induced in seven pigs weighing 24.00 ± 0.6 kg, anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Significant changes occurred from baseline to 20 min after embolization, such as reduction in oxygen partial pressures in arterial blood (from 87.71 ± 8.64 to 39.14 ± 6.77 mmHg) and alveolar air (from 92.97 ± 2.14 to 63.91 ± 8.27 mmHg). The effective alveolar ventilation exhibited a significant reduction (from 199.62 ± 42.01 to 84.34 ± 44.13) consistent with the fall in alveolar gas volume that effectively participated in gas exchange. The relation between the alveolar ventilation that effectively participated in gas exchange and cardiac output (V Aeff/Q ratio) also presented a significant reduction after embolization (from 0.96 ± 0.34 to 0.33 ± 0.17 fraction). The carbon dioxide partial pressure increased significantly in arterial blood (from 37.51 ± 1.71 to 60.76 ± 6.62 mmHg), but decreased significantly in exhaled air at the end of the respiratory cycle (from 35.57 ± 1.22 to 23.15 ± 8.24 mmHg). Exhaled air at the end of the respiratory cycle returned to baseline values 40 min after embolism. The arterial to alveolar carbon dioxide gradient increased significantly (from 1.94 ± 1.36 to 37.61 ± 12.79 mmHg), as also did the calculated alveolar (from 56.38 ± 22.47 to 178.09 ± 37.46 mL) and physiological (from 0.37 ± 0.05 to 0.75 ± 0.10 fraction) dead spaces. Based on our data, we conclude that the severe arterial hypoxemia observed in this experimental model may be attributed to the reduction of the V Aeff/Q ratio. We were also able to demonstrate that V Aeff/Q progressively improves after embolization, a fact attributed to the alveolar ventilation redistribution induced by hypocapnic bronchoconstriction.1197120

MEBS, a software platform to evaluate large (meta)genomic collections according to their metabolic machinery: Unraveling the sulfur cycle

The increasing number of metagenomic and genomic sequences has dramatically improved our understanding of microbial diversity, yet our ability to infer metabolic capabilities in such datasets remains challenging. We describe the Multigenomic Entropy Based Score pipeline (MEBS), a software platform designed to evaluate, compare, and infer complex metabolic pathways in large "omic" datasets, including entire biogeochemical cycles. MEBS is open source and available through https://github.com/eead-csic-compbio/metagenome Pfam score. To demonstrate its use, we modeled the sulfur cycle by exhaustively curating the molecular and ecological elements involved (compounds, genes, metabolic pathways, and microbial taxa). This information was reduced to a collection of 112 characteristic Pfam protein domains and a list of complete-sequenced sulfur genomes. Using the mathematical framework of relative entropy (H''), we quantitatively measured the enrichment of these domains among sulfur genomes. The entropy of each domain was used both to build up a final score that indicates whether a (meta)genomic sample contains the metabolic machinery of interest and to propose marker domains in metagenomic sequences such as DsrC (PF04358). MEBS was benchmarked with a dataset of 2107 non-redundant microbial genomes from RefSeq and 935 metagenomes from MG-RAST. Its performance, reproducibility, and robustness were evaluated using several approaches, including random sampling, linear regression models, receiver operator characteristic plots, and the area under the curve metric (AUC). Our results support the broad applicability of this algorithm to accurately classify (AUC = 0.985) hard-to-culture genomes (e.g., Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator), previously characterized ones, and metagenomic environments such as hydrothermal vents, or deep-sea sediment. Our benchmark indicates that an entropy-based score can capture the metabolic machinery of interest and can be used to efficiently classify large genomic and metagenomic datasets, including uncultivated/unexplored taxa

Assessment of the relationship between the upper and lower arch changes with the opening of the expanding screw after the rapid maxillary expansion

Objective: the purpose of this study is to assess the relationship of the upper and lower arch dimension changes after the rapid maxillary expansion (RME) with the screw opening of the modified Hyrax® type appliance. Materials and methods: initial (T1) and final (T2) models of study of 63 children between 7 years and 6 months and 16 years and 5 months were performed. From these, 21 showed maxillary atresia and/ or posterior crossbite and were submitted to expansion and 42 children formed the control group .The appliance used in this work was the modified Hyrax appliance using the 7mm expanding screws 'Dentarum'. The measures of the upper intercanine and the upper and lower intermolar distances were performed in plaster models with the help of a digital paquimeter. The opening of the appliance's screw was also assessed. Results: the RME provoked a statistically significant increase in the upper interdental distances and no statistic significance in the lower interdental distances, i.e. the change in the 16 - 26, 13 - 23 and 36 - 46 distance was of 5,85 mm, 5,31 and 0,34 mm respectively. The average opening of the expander screw, which was of 6,27 mm. Conclusion: the appliance's opening is related to the interdental distance changes, i.e. for each appliance's opening mm, a 0,94 variation in the upper intermolar distance, a 0,87 in the upper intercanine distance and 0,054 in the lower intermolar distance are provoked

Estudo dos parâmetros de soldadura na corrosão da liga de alumínio AA6082-T6 soldada por fricção linear

Entre os processos de ligação utilizados na indústria para a ligação de materiais metálicos, a soldadura é o mais importante, já que é mais eficaz e económico. Na década de 1990 foi desenvolvida uma nova técnica de soldadura denominada de Fricção Linear, que é uma técnica no estado sólido e que foi inicialmente utilizada em ligas de alumínio. O presente trabalho apresenta o estudo do comportamento do fenómeno de corrosão em amostras da liga de alumínio AA6082-T6 soldadas por Fricção Linear. Variou-se a velocidade de avanço, enquanto a velocidade de rotação foi mantida constante. Para a análise da corrosão, realizaram-se dois ensaios em meios diferentes: água do mar (pH 8,5) e solução de ácido sulfúrico (pH 1). A perda de massa foi mais significativa nos provetes mergulhados na solução de ácido sulfúrico (superior a 10%) do que na água do mar (inferior a 0,1 %). Os resultados obtidos permitiram verificar que com o aumento da velocidade de avanço ocorreu um aumento da taxa de corrosão e de dureza no cordão de soldadura.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Electrochemical sensing of ecstasy with electropolymerized molecularly imprinted poly(o-phenylenediamine) polymer on the surface of disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes

This study demonstrates the ability of an electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to selectively quantify 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy, in biological samples. The device was constructed using ortho-phenylenediamine (o-PD) as the MIP’s building monomer at the surface of a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). The step-by-step construction of the SPCE-MIP sensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and modelling were performed not only to understand template-monomer interaction but also to comprehend which possible polymer structure - linear or ramified poly(o-PD) – indeed interacts with the analyte. The prepared sensor worked by directly measuring the MDMA oxidation signal through square-wave voltammetry (SWV) after an incubation period of 10 min. Several parameters were optimized, such as the monomer/template ratio, the number of electropolymerization scanning cycles, and the incubation period, to obtain the best sensing efficiency. Optimized sensors exhibited suitable selectivity, repeatability (2.6%), reproducibility (7.7%) and up to one month of stable response. A linear range up to 0.2 mmol L−1 was found with an r2 of 0.9990 and a limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.79 and 2.6 μmol L−1 (0.15 and 0.51 μg mL−1), respectively. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to human blood serum and urine samples, showing its potential for application in medicine and in forensic sciences.This work received financial support from FCT/MCTES through national funds and was co-financed by FEDER, under Partnership Agreement PT2020-UID/QUI/50006/2013-POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265. RASC wishes to acknowledge FCT for her PhD fellowship (PD/BD/127797/2016) from the PhD Programme in Medicines and Pharmaceutical Innovation (i3DU). AACB (grants 2014/25770-6 and 2015/01491-3) and LMG (grant 2018/14425-7) thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for financial support. AACB (grant 309715/2017-2) also thanks the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) for financial support and fellowships. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio