Dendritic Cells in Cord Blood Transplantation: A Review

Dendritic cells (DCs) are a heterogeneous population of antigen-presenting cells derived from hematopoietic progenitors that bridge the transition between the innate and adaptive immune responses, while maintaining self-tolerance and Th1/Th2 homeostasis, by priming other cells in either an immunogenic or tolerogenic direction. Through their role in both innate and adaptive immunity, DCs play a major part in transplant engraftment and rejection and in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Preferentially tolerogenic or immunogenic DC subtypes offer targets for immunotherapy, to optimize transplant success rates and prolong disease-free and overall survival. Cord blood DCs are immature and preferentially tolerogenic, due to maternal-fetal tolerance, leading to better graft acceptance and immune reconstitution and explaining the lower incidence and severity of GvHD in CB transplantation, despite donor-host mismatching. Manipulation of DC maturation and cell loading with tumor-antigens can direct antitumor immunity and target minimal residual disease, as demonstrated for acute myeloid leukemia, optimizing the graft-versus-leukemia effect

Impact of allergic rhinitis and specific subcutaneous immunotherapy on peripheral blood basophils of patients sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.[Background: Basophils are important effectors cells in allergic rhinitis (AR) since they are involved in immunoglobulin (Ig) E – mediated inflammation and in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. Specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) provides clear immunologic modulation in some immune cells, however its systemic effects on basophils are not well known. [Methods]: Peripheral blood (PB) samples from 43 patients with allergic rhinitis mono-sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) [33 of them under SCIT with allergoid Dpt extract, in maintenance dose (SCIT), with evaluation just before SCIT injection (SCIT-T0) and 4 hours later (SCIT-T4) and the other 10 Dpt allergic patients never having, in the past, undergone specific immunotherapy treatment (NSIT)], and 15 healthy age- and gender-matched controls (HG), were analyzed. For each sample, the total (t-IgE) and specific IgE (s-IgE) was performed, as well as, the relative frequency and absolute number of PB basophils and receptor-bound IgE and IgG expression were evaluated by flow cytometry and the Histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) and tryptase α/β1 (TPSAB1) gene expression was assessed by real-time PCR. [Results]: Higher levels of receptor-bound IgE were observed in SCIT patients, which are correlated with the levels of serum t-IgE and s-IgE, whereas no significant differences were observed for receptor-bound IgG. Regarding HNMT mRNA expression, significantly lower expression levels were detected in AR patients compared to HG, independently of type of therapy. Moreover a negative correlation was found between HNMT gene expression and time under SCIT. Conversely, tryptase gene expression was significantly up-regulated in NSIT when compared to HG; however in SCIT patients, tryptase gene expression was significantly decreased than in NSIT patients. No differences were found for any parameter between SCIT-T0 and SCIT-T4 with exception of a transient increased expression of tryptase in SCIT-T4. [Conclusion]: PB basophils from patients with AR show altered functional features, which seems to be influenced by SCIT, suggesting that these cells could be useful to clarify the SCIT triggered mechanisms at a systemic level.Peer Reviewe

Carbon stock in cerrado sensu stricto in the Federal District

O objetivo do trabalho foi estimar o estoque de carbono da parte aérea (troncos, galhos e serapilheira)e subterrânea (raízes e solo) da vegetação lenhosa de um cerrado sensu stricto, localizado na Fazenda Água Limpa,da Universidade de Brasília, Distrito Federal. A área de estudo foi amostrada a partir de parcelas de 20 x 50 malocadas sistematicamente. Em cada parcela foram inventariados todos os indivíduos lenhosos arbóreo arbustivos,vivos e mortos em pé, com no mínimo 5 cm de diâmetro tomado a 30 cm do solo. Foram realizadas também coletas da biomassa de serapilheira; da biomassa de raízes (fina, média e grossa) e da densidade e teor de carbonono solo. A profundidade máxima adotada para a coleta de biomassa da parte subterrânea foi de 2 m. A maior parte do carbono correspondeu ao compartimento solo (88,7%), superando bastante as raízes (7,3%), onde as concentrações foram de 271,23 e 22,38 toneladas por hectare, respectivamente. Troncos e galhos totalizaram 8,60 toneladas de carbono por hectare e a serapilheira, 3,62 toneladas de carbono por hectare.The objective of this study was to estimate the carbon stock of the aerial section (stems, branchesand litter) and belowground (roots and soil) of woody vegetation in a cerrado sensu stricto located on águalimpa Farm, at University of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil. The studied area was sampled from 20 x 50mplots, allocated systematically. In each plot, it was uplifted all the woody shrubby arboreous individuals,being live and stand dead, with at least 5 cm of diameter taken at 30 cm from the ground level. It was alsoperformed collections of litter biomass, roots biomass (fine, medium and thick) and density and soil carbonconcentration. The maximum depth adopted for collection of belowground section was 2 meters. Most ofthe carbon corresponded to soil compartment (88.7%), which was much more than the roots (7.3%), wherethe concentrations were 271.23 and 22.38 tons per hectare, respectively. Stems and branches totalized 8.60tons of carbon per hectare and litter, 3.62 tons of carbon per hectare

OS CONDOMÍNIOS EXCLUSIVOS DA BARRA DA TIJUCA COMO EXEMPLOS DO PROCESSO DE HOMOGENEIZAÇÃO, HIERARQUIZAÇÃO E FRAGMENTAÇÃO DO ESPAÇO

In the present work, we seek to understand that the (re) production of a "new" selective and spatially fragmented centrality, Barra da Tijuca and its representations appear as products of the process of metropolization of the city space, supported by "strategic planning" To financial-real estate capital. Within this process, we emphasize the proliferation of residential projects closed by the city that use a vast security apparatus. This dynamics supports the practice of spatial self-segregation and expands within the city as spaces of control and domination, through the discourse of the wealthiest classes and the media, as an option that demonstrates quality of life, isolation of unwanted groups, security and closeness With economic activities.No presente trabalho, buscamos compreender que a (re)produção de uma “nova” centralidade seletiva e espacialmente fragmentada, a Barra da Tijuca e suas representações aparecem como produtos do processo de metropolização do espaço da cidade, apoiado no “planejamento estratégico” e vinculado ao capital financeiro-imobiliário. Dentro desse processo, enfatizamos a proliferação de empreendimentos residenciais fechados pela cidade que utilizam um vasto aparelho de segurança. Essa dinâmica fundamenta a prática da autossegregação espacial e se amplia no âmbito da cidade como espaços de controle e de dominação, através do discurso das classes mais abastadas e da mídia, como opção que demonstra qualidade de vida, isolamento de grupos indesejados, segurança e proximidade com as atividades econômica

Ensino para deficientes visuais mediante a utilização de um guia de saúde oral

A presente dissertação tem como tema o ensino para Deficientes Visuais mediante a utilização de um Guia de Saúde Oral. Teve como motivação o seguinte problema: como estudantes universitários com deficiência visual percebem o desenvolvimento de uma proposta de ensino em saúde bucal por meio do Guia de Saúde Oral para Deficientes Visuais? A pesquisa buscou analisar, a partir da mediação do Guia de Saúde Oral para Deficientes Visuais, como estudantes universitários com deficiência visual percebem o desenvolvimento de uma proposta de ensino em saúde bucal. Os sujeitos da pesquisa são universitários com algum grau de deficiência visual, que estudam em instituições de Ensino Superior no interior do estado da Bahia. No que diz respeito aos procedimentos metodológicos, trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo, aproximando-se de pressupostos do estudo de caso. Os dados foram analisados com base na categorização proposta por Moraes e Galiazzi (2015). Dentre os autores que fundamentaram a pesquisa estão Sassaki (1997), Moreira (2017), Moran (2015), Vidal e Coelho JR. (2013), Michelotti (2018), entre outros. Constatou-se que o conhecimento prévio dos estudantes identificando seus hábitos em relação à saúde bucal foi de valor ímpar para que fosse possível significar tais informações durante o desenvolvimento da proposta de ensino em saúde oral. O referido Guia mostrou-se uma ferramenta de ensino eficiente ao olhar dos estudantes universitários, por ser um recurso pedagógico organizado em forma de manual de instruções, com exercícios que devem ser executados pelo leitor na própria boca, de modo a auxiliar no reconhecimento de tais estruturas. Além disso, evidenciou-se que a ferramenta pôde ser transformada em mídias digitais, o que auxiliou na realização de uma proposta de ensino inclusivo, principalmente mediante uso das tecnologias digitais.The present dissertation has as its subject the teaching for the Visually Impaired through the use of an Oral Health Guide. It was motivated by the following problem: how do university students with visual impairments perceive the development of a teaching proposal in oral health through the Guide to Oral Health for the Visually Impaired? The research sought to analyze, based on the mediation of the Oral Health Guide for the Visually Impaired, how university students with visual impairment perceive the development of a teaching proposal in oral health. The research subjects are university students with some degree of visual impairment, who study at Higher Education institutions in the interior of the state of Bahia. With regard to methodological procedures, it is a field research, approaching the assumptions of the case study. The data were analyzed based on the categorization proposed by Moraes and Galiazzi (2015). Among the authors who supported the research are Sassaki (1997), Moreira (2017), Moran (2015), Vidal and Coelho JR. (2013), Michelotti (2018), among others. It was found that the prior knowledge of students identifying their habits in relation to oral health was of unparalleled value so that it was possible to signify such information during the development of the oral health teaching proposal. This Guide proved to be an efficient teaching tool in the eyes of university students, as it is an educational resource organized in the form of an instruction manual, with exercises that must be performed by the reader in his own mouth, in order to assist in the recognition of such structures. In addition, it became evident that the tool could be transformed into digital media, which helped in the realization of an inclusive education proposal, mainly through the use of digital technologies

Lipidomics in autoimmune diseases with main focus on systemic lupus erythematosus

Autoimmune diseases (AID) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that have in common a chronic inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most frequent systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by autoimmune phenomena in multiple organs. The tests used for evolution and prognosis assessment are either non-specific or non-sensitive, impairing an adequate therapeutics. To face this drawback, lipidomics is being used to provide more knowledge and insights regarding autoimmune disorders. Through lipidomic approaches using MS, it is possible to identify and quantify the level of lipid molecular species in the biological system and this could be useful to identify biomarkers and to better understand the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. There are some evidence that lipids and oxidized lipids can play a key role in AID pathogenesis. Although this field has been scarcely explored, there are some studies that reported variations on the lipid profile at a molecular level using lipidomic approaches based on MS in SLE. The results gathered herein showed changes mainly in the level of phospholipids, with decrease of some plasmenyl lipids, fatty acids, with reduction of PUFA, and sphingolipids, with changes in fatty acyl chain composition. These changes may be the result of lipids` modifications due to oxidation and increase of ROS. Some alterations can be associated with changes in membrane of lymphocytes and with the deregulation of the immune system. Thus, exploring the knowledge from modern lipidomic approaches in the study of the role of lipids and oxidized lipids, in oxidative stress and in inflammatory diseases, could contribute for the identification of new lipid biomarkers. Lipid biomarkers are promising tools to prognosis and treatment monitoring, tailored for the best therapeutic response and highest safety to ensure better patient care and to be used for personalized medicine.publishe

Interferon-beta treated-multiple sclerosis patients exhibit a decreased ratio between immature/transitional B cell subset and plasmablasts

Our aim was to quantify circulating B cell subsets; immature/transitional, naïve, CD27- and CD27+ memory cells and plasmablasts, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with IFN-β. The most relevant findings were a significant increase of plasmablasts and a decrease of immature/transitional B cells, resulting in a decreased ratio between those cells in relapse RRMS, together with an increase of CD27- and CD27+IgM+ memory B cell subsets in both phases of the disease. These alterations point to an active B cell response, particularly in relapse, and the above referred ratio could constitute a good biomarker of relapse in patients that underwent IFN-β treatment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Serum phospholipidomics reveals altered lipid profile and promising biomarkers in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease causing disability in young adults. Alterations in metabolism and lipid profile have been associated with this disease. Several studies have reported changes in the metabolism of arachidonic acid and the profile of fatty acids, ceramides, phospholipids and lipid peroxidation products. Nevertheless, the understanding of the modulation of circulating lipids at the molecular level in multiple sclerosis remains unclear. In the present study, we sought to assess the existence of a distinctive lipid signature of multiple sclerosis using an untargeted lipidomics approach. It also aimed to assess the differences in lipid profile between disease status (relapse and remission). For this, we used hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for phospholipidomic profiling of serum samples from patients with multiple sclerosis. Our results demonstrated that multiple sclerosis has a phospholipidomic signature different from that of healthy controls, especially the PE, PC, LPE, ether-linked PE and ether-linked PC species. Plasmalogen PC and PE species, which are natural endogenous antioxidants, as well as PC and PE polyunsaturated fatty acid esterified species showed significantly lower levels in patients with multiple sclerosis and patients in both remission and relapse of multiple sclerosis. Our results show for the first time that the serum phospholipidome of multiple sclerosis is significantly different from that of healthy controls and that few phospholipids, with the lowest p-value, such as PC(34:3), PC(36:6), PE(40:10) and PC(38:1) may be suitable as biomarkers for clinical applications in multiple sclerosis.publishe

Reductive biological treatment of textile effluents

Poster apresentado no "Simpósio Corantes e Pigmentos Orgânicos", na Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, em Vila Real, Portugal, em Novembro de 2004.Our group is undertaking an investigation on the potential application of ascomycete yeasts to the decolourisation of azo dyes. Two of these strains, Candida zeylanoides (UM2) and Issatchenkia occidentalis (UM41), were isolated from contaminated soil and have been shown to mediate dye decolourisation through reductive cleavage of the azo bond. The rates of colour loss in the presence of yeast cells are independent of their previous exposure to the dye, suggesting that the decolourising activity, under the conditions tested, is constitutive. The process requires intact cells and an external carbon and energy source and depends on pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen. Interestingly, anaerobic conditions do not allow decolourisation. The kinetic study of the cells decolourising activity demonstrated that such activity has a maximum in the late exponential growth phase. Although glucose is the standard carbon and energy source we have also observed decolourisation by cells growing at the expense of ethanol. Decolourisation rates are considerably dependent on the dye structure. Of considerable practical interest is the observation that some of the amines produced by azo dye reduction can be used as carbon and nitrogen sources by the yeast. In order to get further insight on the yeast decolourising activity we have prepared some mutants of a laboratory strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and performed inhibition studies. The experimental evidence suggests that major part of the decolourising activity of intact yeast cells is due to a very well characterized plasma membrane redox system.BIOEFTEX Project