Caracterização dos biótopos de hospedeiros intermediários de trematódeos na Guiné-Bissau – observações na estação seca

Apresentação em PainelAs infecções parasitárias provocadas por trematódeos têm uma grande expressão em produção animal e em saúde pública na Guiné-Bissau, particularmente as provocadas por Dicrocoelium hospes, Fasciola gigantica, Paranfistomatídeos, Schistosoma haematobium e S. bovis, cujos ciclos biológicos exigem a presença de um ou mais hospedeiros intermediários (HI). O presente trabalho refere-se aos dados preliminares da prospecção, caracterização física e geográfica e pesquisa de moluscos potenciais HI no período seco, integradas num estudo pluridisciplinar que visa a compreensão da dinâmica das populações de moluscos HI e das relações que estabelecem com os trematódeos, responsáveis por infecções parasitárias na bacia do rio Geba. A prospecção realizou-se em 31 colecções de água e os biótopos observados foram caracterizados de acordo com propostas de vários autores, em função do tipo de escoamento, do tipo físico e da intervenção humana. De igual modo, registou-se o tipo de padrão de contacto das populações com a água. Realizou-se a colheita manual de moluscos HI observados, tendo sido mantidos em laboratório para pesquisa da presença de infecção parasitária. Das colecções de água prospectadas, 11 (35,48%) tinham moluscos dos géneros Lymnaea, Bulinus e Biomphalaria, das quais em três (27,27%) encontraram-se moluscos com formas larvares de trematódeos. A maioria dos biótopos identificados é do tipo natural, frequentemente rio com escoamento permanente, e apenas 3 antrópicos, constituídos por sistemas de irrigação e por arrozais. Salientou-se ainda a grande dependência dos animais e das populações humanas (actividades piscatórias, domésticas e agrícolas) das colecções de água, facilitando quer a contaminação do meio aquático, quer a aquisição da infecção

Speckle tracking echocardiographic deformation indices in Chagas and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy : incremental prognostic value of longitudinal strain

Background Chagas cardiomyopathy (CDC) is associated with a poor prognosis compared to other car-diomyopathies. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), which provides direct assessment of myocardial fiber deformation, may be useful in predicting prognosis. Objective This study assessed STE in CDC and compared with idiopathic cardiomyopathy (IDC), and also examined the incremental prognostic information of STE over left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in these patients. Methods We enrolled 112 patients, age of 56.7 ± 11.8 years, 81 with CDC and 31 with IDC. STE indices were obtained at baseline in all patients. The endpoint was a composite of death, hospitalization for heart failure, or need for heart transplantation. Results Patients with IDC had worse LV systolic function compared to CDC, with LVEF of 34.5% vs 41.3%, p = 0.004, respectively. After adjustment for LVEF, there were no differences in STE values between CDC and IDC. During a median follow-up of 18.2 months (range, 11 to 22), 26 patients met the composite end point (24%). LV longitudinal strain was a strong predictor of adverse events, incremental to LVEF and E/e’ ratio (HR 1.463, 95% CI 1.130–1.894; p = 0.004). The risk of cardiac events increased significantly in patients with GLS > - 12% (log-rank p = 0.035). Conclusions STE indices were abnormal in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, without differences between CDC and IDC. LV longitudinal strain was a powerful predictor of outcome, adding prognostic information beyond that provided by LVEF and E/e’ ratio

A Systematic Study on Approaches to deal with the Systems’ Evolution and Customization

System developers often face problems in the maintenance and evolution of software systems when they need to customize products to meet different customers needs, by creating new components and modifying existing source code. In this work, it is presented a comparative analysis of existing approaches that deal with variations in Software Product Lines (LPS) through a rigorous study of the state of the art, observing their applicability to handle customizations

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Cytotoxicity and Mitochondrial Effects of Phenolic and Quinone-Based Mitochondria-Targeted and Untargeted Antioxidants on Human Neuronal and Hepatic Cell Lines: A Comparative Analysis

Mitochondriotropic antioxidants (MC3, MC6.2, MC4 and MC7.2) based on dietary antioxidants and analogs (caffeic, hydrocaffeic, trihydroxyphenylpropanoic and trihydroxycinnamic acids) were developed. In this study, we evaluate and compare the cytotoxicity profile of novel mitochondria-targeted molecules (generally known as MitoCINs) on human HepG2 and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells with the quinone-based mitochondria-targeted antioxidants MitoQ and SkQ1 and with two non-targeted antioxidants, resveratrol and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). We further evaluate their effects on mitochondrial membrane potential, cellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rates. Overall, MitoCINs derivatives reduced cell viability at concentrations about six times higher than those observed with MitoQ and SkQ1. A toxicity ranking for both cell lines was produced: MC4 < MC7.2 < MC3 < MC6.2. These results suggest that C-6 carbon linker and the presence of a pyrogallol group result in lower cytotoxicity. MC3 and MC6.2 affected the mitochondrial function more significantly relative to MitoQ, SkQ1, resveratrol and CoQ10, while MC4 and MC7.2 displayed around 100-1000 times less cytotoxicity than SkQ1 and MitoQ. Based on the mitochondrial and cytotoxicity cellular data, MC4 and MC7.2 are proposed as leads that can be optimized to develop safe drug candidates with therapeutic application in mitochondrial oxidative stress-related diseases