Chloroquine Inhibits Dengue Virus Type 2 Replication in Vero Cells but Not in C6/36 Cells

Dengue viruses are the most important arthropod-borne viruses in terms of morbidity and mortality in the world. Since there is no dengue vaccine available for human use, we have set out to investigate the use of chloroquine as an antiviral drug against dengue. Chloroquine, an amine acidotropic drug known to affect intracellular exocytic pathways by increasing endosomal pH, was used in the in vitro treatment of Vero and C6/36 cells infected with dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2). Real-time RT-PCR and plaque assays were used to quantify the DENV-2 load in infected Vero and C6/36 cells after chloroquine treatment. Our results showed that a dose of 50 μg/ml of chloroquine was not toxic to the cells and induced a statistically significant inhibition of virus production in infected Vero cells when compared to untreated cells. In C6/36 cells, chloroquine does not induce a statistically significant difference in viral replication when compared to untreated cells, showing that this virus uses an unlikely pathway of penetration in these cells, and results were also confirmed by the plaque assay (PFU). These data suggest that the inhibition of virus infection induced by chloroquine is due to interference with acidic vesicles in mammalian cells

Microcirculation improvement after short-term infusion of vasopressin in septic shock is dependent on noradrenaline

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of vasopressin on the microcirculation and to develop a predictive model to estimate the probability of microcirculatory recruitment in patients with septic shock. METHODS: This prospective interventional study included patients with septic shock receiving noradrenaline for less than 48 hours. We infused vasopressin at 0.04 U/min for one hour. Hemodynamic measurements, including sidestream dark-field imaging, were obtained immediately before vasopressin infusion, 1 hour after vasopressin infusion and 1 hour after vasopressin withdrawal. We defined patients with more than a 10% increase in total vascular density and perfused vascular density as responders. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02053675. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included, and nine (50%) showed improved microcirculation after infusion of vasopressin. The noradrenaline dose was significantly reduced after vasopressin (p=0.001) and was higher both at baseline and during vasopressin infusion in the responders than in the non-responders. The strongest predictor for a favorable microcirculatory response was the dose of noradrenaline at baseline (OR=4.5; 95% CI: 1.2-17.0; p=0.027). For patients using a noradrenaline dose higher than 0.38 mcg/kg/min, the probability that microcirculatory perfusion would be improved with vasopressin was 53% (sensitivity 78%, specificity 77%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with septic shock for no longer than 48 h, administration of vasopressin is likely to result in an improvement in microcirculation when the baseline noradrenaline dose is higher than 0.38 mcg/kg/min

Structural characterization of a novel peptide with antimicrobial activity from the venom gland of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus: Stigmurin

AbstractA new antimicrobial peptide, herein named Stigmurin, was selected based on a transcriptomic analysis of the Brazilian yellow scorpion Tityus stigmurus venom gland, an underexplored source for toxic peptides with possible biotechnological applications. Stigmurin was investigated in silico, by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and in vitro. The CD spectra suggested that this peptide interacts with membranes, changing its conformation in the presence of an amphipathic environment, with predominance of random coil and beta-sheet structures. Stigmurin exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 8.7 to 69.5μM. It was also showed that Stigmurin is toxic against SiHa and Vero E6 cell lines. The results suggest that Stigmurin can be considered a potential anti-infective drug

Espesor del músculo aductor del pulgar en adolescentes brasileños y asociaciones con el estado nutricional, la maduración sexual y la actividad física (Estudio EVA-JF)

Objective: The present study aims to assess the associations of adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) with age, skin color, sexual maturation, anthropometric indicators and physical activity in Brazilian adolescents. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 14-19 years. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), APMT, body fat, fat-free mass (FFM), fat-free mass index (FFMI), sexual maturation, time of physical activity and skin color were evaluated. APMT was associated with categorical variables using Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests and correlated with anthropometric variables using Spearman’s correlation. Linear regression was used with APMT as a dependent and the other variables as predictors. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS® software (version 17.0) with a 5% significance level. Results: 828 adolescents were evaluated, 57.6% female, with a mean age of 16.13 ± 1.20 years. APMT had an average value of 18.0 mm in females and 21.0 mm in males. The measure was greater in males, in more advanced stages of sexual maturation, overweight and physical activity. It presented a moderate correlation with FFM, FFMI, body fat and AC. In the final model of multiple linear regression for females, the variables AC and body fat explain 20.1% of the APMT variability. For men, the variables AC and FFMI explain 30.5% of the APMT variability. Conclusion: It is recommended that APMT be used in a complementary manner in the nutritional assessment of adolescents.Objetivo: El presente estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar las asociaciones del grosor del músculo aductor del pulgar (EMAP) con la edad, el color de la piel, la maduración sexual, los indicadores antropométricos y la actividad física en adolescentes brasileños. Material y métodos: estudio transversal con adolescentes de 14 a 19 años. Peso, talla, índice de masa corporal (IMC), circunferencia del brazo (CB), EMAP, grasa corporal, masa libre de grasa (MLG), índice de masa libre de grasa (IMLG), maduración sexual, tiempo de actividad física y color de piel fueron juzgado. EMAP se asoció con variables categóricas mediante pruebas de Mann-Whitney o Kruskal-Wallis y se correlacionó con variables antropométricas mediante la correlación de Spearman. Se utilizó regresión lineal con EMAP como variable dependiente y el resto de variables como predictores. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante el software SPSS® (versión 17.0) con un nivel de significancia del 5%. Resultados: se evaluaron 828 adolescentes, 57,6% mujeres, con una edad media de 16,13 ± 1,20 años. EMAP tuvo un valor promedio de 18.0 mm en mujeres y 21.0 mm en hombres. La medida fue mayor en varones, en estadios más avanzados de maduración sexual, sobrepeso y practicantes de actividad física. Presentó una correlación moderada con MLG, IMLG, grasa corporal y CB. En el modelo final de regresión lineal múltiple para mujeres, las variables CB y grasa corporal explican el 20,1%; para los hombres, las variables CB y MLG explican el 30,5% de la variabilidad EMAP. Conclusión: Se recomienda que EMAP se utilice de forma complementaria en la valoración nutricional de adolescentes

Vulnerabilidade às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis de adolescentes privados de liberdade / Vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections of adolescents deprived of their liberty

INTRODUÇÃO: A população carcerária tem se destacado globalmente por apresentar uma considerável prevalência de Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis (IST), configurando-se como um potencial grupo de risco em virtude de fatores vinculados ao nível socioeconômico, escolaridade, estrutura familiar e práticas de risco, principalmente quando se trata de adolescentes. OBJETIVO: Objetivou-se conhecer aspectos relacionados à vulnerabilidade às IST de adolescentes privados de liberdade, assim como investigar a prevalência da infecção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV), hepatites B e C e sífilis, nesta população. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa e análise documental. A coleta dos dados foi realizada no Centro de Testagem e Aconselhamento em IST/Aids (CTA) de uma cidade do norte de Minas Gerais. Atende às diretrizes e normas determinadas pela resolução 466/2012 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde (CNS) e foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Unimontes. RESULTADOS: A amostra do estudo foi composta por 181 adolescentes, sendo todos do sexo masculino (100%) e com idades variando de 12 a 21 anos. A maioria (70,6%) já fez uso de alguma substância psicoativa, sendo a maconha a mais frequente (90,6%).  O uso regular do preservativo no último ano foi relatado por 32,4% dos adolescentes nas relações sexuais fixas e por 39,2%, nas relações eventuais. Quanto aos exames realizados, nenhum resultado foi reagente para o HIV e hepatite C, dois foram reagentes para hepatite B (1,1%) e 10 (5,5%), para sífilis. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo demonstrou que a população de adolescentes privados de liberdade possui múltiplos fatores de riscos que predispõem à transmissão de IST, sendo os principais deles relacionados a não adesão ao preservativo nas relações sexuais e ao uso de drogas

GESTÃO DE RISCO HOSPITALAR:: UM ENFOQUE NA QUALIDADE E SEGURANÇA DO PACIENTE

O presente estudo se norteou pelo objetivo de identificar ferramentas disponíveis para auxiliar o gerenciamento de riscos na atenção à saúde. Trata-se de estudo do tipo revisão integrativa de literatura, a qual foi realizada a partir de material disponível nas bases de dados eletrônicas MEDLINE, PubMed e Banco de Teses da USP. O material se compôs de artigos científicos e tese, publicados entre os anos de 2003 e 2012. A literatura evidencia que a gestão de risco busca a identificação precoce de riscos potenciais, bem como pretende diminuir ou eliminar efeitos adversos decorrentes do atendimento em saúde, com a finalidade de garantir a qualidade na assistência e a segurança do paciente. Por conseguinte, o gestor de risco deve garantir que se realize a prevenção, detecção, registro e correção de deficiências. A maior parte dos instrumentos descritos se refere ao sistema de notificação de acidentes. Outros instrumentos recomendados foram a revisão de prontuários, a participação da equipe multiprofissional e a cooperação do paciente. Adicionalmente, ressaltou-se a integração entre múltiplos métodos

Low temperatures reduce skin healing in the Jacaré do Pantanal (Caiman yacare, Daudin 1802)

Studies of skin wound healing in crocodilians are necessary given the frequent occurrence of cannibalism in intensive farming systems. Air temperature affects tissue recovery because crocodilians are ectothermic. Therefore, the kinetics of skin wound healing in Caiman yacare were examined at temperatures of 33°C and 23°C. Sixteen caiman were selected and divided into two groups of eight maintained at 23°C or 33°C. The studied individuals' scars were photographed after 1, 2, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days of the experimental conditions, and samples were collected for histological processing after 3, 7, 15 and 30 days. Macroscopically, the blood clot (heterophilic granuloma) noticeably remained in place covering the wound longer for the caiman kept at 23°C. Microscopically, the temperature of 23°C slowed epidermal migration and skin repair. Comparatively, new blood vessels, labeled using von Willebrand factor (vWF) antibody staining, were more frequently found in the scars of the 33°C group. The collagen fibers in the dermis were denser in the 33°C treatment. Considering the delayed healing at 23°C, producers are recommended to keep wounded animals at 33°C, especially when tanks are cold, to enable rapid wound closure and better repair of collagen fibers because such lesions tend to compromise the use of their skin as leather.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso (FAPEMAT), 715823/2008São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), 2010/04527-

Redução de fósforo em dietas para frangos com base em valores de equivalência da fitase

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of equivalency values of phytase as a basis for reduction of available phosphorus (aP) in broiler diets. Ten nutritional programs were evaluated with six replicates of 15 birds each. The following were evaluated: performance, tibia ash content, and feed costs. From 1 to 7 and 36 to 42 days of age, the birds received basal diet; from 8 to 21 days, diet without phytase containing 3.9 g kg-1 aP and four diets with phytase containing from 1.1 to 2.5 g kg-1 aP; and from 22 to 35 days, diet without phytase containing 3.4 g kg-1 aP plus diet with phytase containing 1.6 g kg-1 aP. The best nutritional plan was formed by the diets: 4.7 g kg-1 aP without phytase (1 to 7 days); 2.0 g kg-1 aP supplemented with phytase (8 to 21 days); 3.4 g kg-1 aP in feed without phytase (22 to 35 days); and 3.0 g kg-1 aP in feed without phytase (36 to 42 days). The reduction of aP occurs in the period from 8 to 21 days of age and corresponds to 2.0 g kg-1 of feed supplemented with phytase.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de valores de equivalência da fitase como base para redução de fósforo disponível (P-disp) em dietas para frangos. Foram avaliados dez planos nutricionais com seis repetições de 15 aves cada uma. Avaliaram-se: desempenho, teor de cinzas na tíbia e custo da ração. De 1 a 7 e de 36 a 42 dias de idade, as aves receberam dieta basal; de 8 a 21 dias, dieta sem fitase contendo 3,9 g kg-1 de P-disp e quatro dietas com fitase contendo de 1,1 a 2,5 g kg-1 de P-disp; e de 22 a 35 dias, dieta sem fitase contendo 3,4 g kg-1 de P-disp mais dieta com fitase contendo 1,6 g kg-1 de P-disp. O melhor plano nutricional foi composto pelas dietas: 4,7 g kg-1 de P-disp sem fitase (1 a 7 dias); 2,0 g kg-1 de P-disp suplementada com fitase (8 a 21 dias); 3,4 g kg-1 de P-disp em ração sem fitase (22 a 35 dias); e 3,0 g kg-1 de P-disp em ração sem fitase (36 a 42 dias). A redução do P-disp ocorre no período de 8 a 21 dias de idade e corresponde a 2,0 g kg-1 de ração suplementada com fitase