Mixoploidy in napiergrass x pearl millet hybrids treated with antimitotic agents

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar métodos de duplicação cromossômica, com uso de agentes antimitóticos e diversos materiais botânicos como explantes dos híbridos entre capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) e milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.). Utilizaram-se soluções de colchicina a 50 mg L-1 e 100 mg L-1, e de ciclohexamida 25 mg L-1 :8-hidroxiquinoleína 300 mg L-1 (1:1), aplicadas in vitro em segmentos nodais, e in vivo em plântulas e perfilhos, com diferentes períodos de exposição. O efeito dos antimitóticos foi avaliado por meio da taxa de sobrevivência, do número cromossômico e da presença de anomalias no ciclo celular, em meristemas de raízes das plantas sobreviventes. A colchicina apresentou melhor efeito sobre as plântulas, enquanto a ciclohexamida:8-hidroxiquinoleína (1:1) atuou melhor sobre os perfilhos. Observou-se ocorrência de mixoploidia em células que apresentaram de 14 até 42 cromossomos, o que indica que houve duplicação seguida de eliminação cromossômica, confirmada pelas aberrações cromossômicas. Das células analisadas 86,4%, em média, apresentaram número cromossômico diferente de 21.The objective of this work was to evaluate methods of chromosome duplication, using antimitotic agents and several botanical materials as explant hybrids between napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Shum.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.). Colchicine (50 mg L-1 and 100 mg L-1) and cycloheximide:8-hydroxyquinoline (1:1) (25 mg L-1:300 mg L-1) solutions have been applied in vivo to shoots and in vitro to seedlings and tillers. The antimitotic effect has been evaluated through survival rate, chromosome number and presence of cell cycle anomalies at the root tips of surviving plants. The best results have been obtained when seedlings have been treated with colchicine and tillers with cycloheximide: 8-hydroxyquinoline. Mixoploidy has been observed in cells having 14 to 42 chromosomes, indicating that duplication, followed by chromosome elimination, has occurred, which has been confirmed by chromosome aberrations. In the average, 86.4% of the analyzed cells have presented a chromosome number different from 21

Águas residuais como um indicador de alerta para COVID-19: monitoramento de evento de massa em uma cidade da Amazônia Legal no Norte do Brasil

One of the biggest challenges on health surveillance during COVID-19 pandemic was surveillance and detection of new cases of infection with the objective of stopping fast disease propagation. Mass gatherings are receiving attention from public authorities, considering their roles in circulating COVID-19 virus on an extensive contingent of people. Considering the limitation for mass laboratory tests, high rates of sub-notification and asymptomatic infections, some complementary surveillance strategies were implemented in many countries, such as sewage epidemiological surveillance. This study aimed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on sewage of the Araguaína-TO, Brazil, community during a mass gathering; a traditional agricultural exposition that gathered many people in a few weeks. Quantification of SARS-Cov-2 through sewage was performed by RT-qPCR and the detected viral loads were normalized using the population served by the studied sewage points. Data generated were compared to the city’s epidemiological data of clinical and laboratory trials of COVID-19 displaying a sub-notification of infections. Amidst vaccination progression, reduction of symptomatic infections and return of events, sewage monitoring presented itself as a fast alert system, exposing virus circulation in the city before and after an increase in case notifications. Results demonstrated a tool to aid surveillance, indirectly testing hundreds of people through a single sample, therefore, enhancing the health system to give assistance to new cases. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Environmental surveillance; Sewage-based epidemiology; People gathering.Uno de los mayores desafíos en la vigilancia de la salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19 fue la vigilancia y detección de nuevos casos de infección con el objetivo de detener la rápida propagación de la enfermedad. Las reuniones masivas están recibiendo atención de las autoridades públicas, considerando su papel en la circulación del virus COVID-19 en un amplio contingente de personas. Teniendo en cuenta la limitación para las pruebas de laboratorio masivas, las altas tasas de subnotificación y las infecciones asintomáticas, en muchos países se implementaron algunas estrategias de vigilancia complementarias, como la vigilancia epidemiológica de aguas residuales. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo detectar la presencia de SARS-CoV-2 en las aguas residuales de la comunidad Araguaína-TO, Brasil, durante una reunión masiva; una tradicional exposición agrícola que reunió a mucha gente en pocas semanas. La cuantificación de SARS-Cov-2 a través de aguas residuales se realizó mediante RT-qPCR y las cargas virales detectadas se normalizaron utilizando la población atendida por los puntos de aguas residuales estudiados. Los datos generados se compararon con los datos epidemiológicos de la ciudad de los ensayos clínicos y de laboratorio de COVID-19 que muestran una subnotificación de infecciones. En medio de la progresión de la vacunación, la reducción de las infecciones sintomáticas y el regreso de los eventos, el monitoreo de las aguas residuales se presentó como un sistema de alerta rápido, exponiendo la circulación del virus en la ciudad antes y después de un aumento en las notificaciones de casos. Los resultados demostraron una herramienta para ayudar a la vigilancia, probando indirectamente a cientos de personas a través de una sola muestra, por lo tanto, mejorando el sistema de salud para brindar asistencia a nuevos casos.  Um dos maiores desafios da vigilância sanitária na pandemia da COVID-19 foi o monitoramento e a detecção de novos casos de infecção, na tentativa de impedir rapidamente a propagação da doença. Eventos de Massa têm merecido crescente atenção das autoridades públicas, por favorecer a circulação do vírus da COVID-19 em um grande contingente de pessoas. Considerando a limitação da testagem laboratorial em massa, as elevadas taxas de subnotificação e as infecções assintomáticas, foram implementadas estratégias complementares de vigilância em vários países, como a vigilância epidemiológica baseada no esgoto. O presente estudo objetivou detectar a presença de SARS-CoV-2 na rede esgoto, em escala comunitária no município de Araguaína-TO, durante um evento de massa, uma tradicional exposição agropecuária, que mobilizou em poucas semanas uma grande circulação de pessoas. A quantificação do SARS-CoV-2 via esgoto foi realizada por RT-qPCR e a carga viral detectada foi normalizada pela população atendida pelo ponto de ligação à rede de esgoto estudada. Os dados gerados foram comparados aos dados epidemiológicos municipais notificados da testagem clínica e laboratorial da COVID-19 revelando a subnotificação das infecções. Com a progressão da vacinação, redução de casos sintomáticos e retomada de eventos, o monitoramento do esgoto se apresentou como um sistema de alerta rápido, revelando a circulação do vírus na cidade antes e durante o aumento de casos notificados. Os resultados demonstraram uma ferramenta de apoio à vigilância, testando indiretamente centenas de pessoas por meio de uma única amostra, assim potencializando o sistema de saúde para assistência dos novos casos. Palavras–chave: SARS-Cov-2; Vigilância Ambiental; Epidemiologia baseada em esgoto; Aglomeração de pessoas

Aplicações de inteligência artificial para gestão do conhecimento nas organizações: um estudo exploratório

Este estudo reconhece a importância das pessoas no processo de Gestão do Conhecimento e compreende que em última instância este se deve a elas. Entretanto, enfoca o aspecto do uso das capacidades da organização e ferramentas que possam habilitar tais capacidades, relacionando-o especifi camente à Inteligência Artificial (IA) e às ferramentas que auxiliam na Gestão do Conhecimento. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória, a qual contou com pesquisa bibliográfi ca, segmentada em dois momentos: (a) apresentar os conceitos de Gestão do Conhecimento e IA; e (b) explorar a relação entre ambas. Para tanto se realizou uma pesquisa junto ao site de periódicos da CAPES, entre 2005 e 2006. Foram encontrados 12 periódicos, dos quais foram extraídos 40 artigos. Dos 40 artigos 17 estavam alinhados ao objeto de estudo dentre os quais merecem destaque 4, os quais demonstraram ferramentas de IA apoiando o processo de Gestão do Conhecimento

SEROPREVALENCE OF LEISHMANIASIS, TOXOPLASMOSIS, AND LEPTOSPIROSIS IN THE DOMESTIC FAUNA OF AN ANTHROPIZED ENVIRONMENT OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO

O Campus da Fiocruz Mata Atlântica (CFMA) representa uma das principais frentes de crescimento urbano da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. O presente estudo avalia o ambiente associado à soroprevalência de leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC), toxoplasmose e leptospirose em cães e de toxoplasmose em gatos e aves de produção pertencentes aos moradores do CFMA. Amostras de sangue obtidas pelo censo foram utilizadas para avaliar a frequência de prevalência através de ensaios sorológicos. A proporção de soroprevalência de toxoplasmose, leptospirose e LVC em cães foi de 37,2%, 6,2% e 1,2%, respectivamente. A soroprevalência de leptospirose foi significativamente menor (P = 0,03) em cães de áreas antropizadas (3%), mas essa foi a única região com casos de leishmaniose. Para toxoplasmose, houve maior soroprevalência (50%) em cenários rurais. Nos gatos, a soroprevalência de toxoplasmose foi de 32,1% e em aves foi de 18,1%. A soroprevalência nesses animais foi semelhante nos ambientes estudados. Os resultados demonstram a soroprevalência de Leishmania sp., Toxoplasma gondii e Leptospira spp. em cães, gatos, galinhas e patos residentes em ambientes antropizados da Mata Atlântica, no município do Rio de Janeiro, sendo possível, ainda, associar os resultados entre essas espécies de animais domésticos e o ambiente de moradia

Leishmania infantum Virulence Factor A2 Protein: Linear B-Cell Epitope Mapping and Identification of Three Main Linear B-Cell Epitopes in Vaccinated and Naturally Infected Dogs

In Brazil, canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is caused by Leishmania infantum, presenting a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Dogs are the main parasite reservoir in urban areas and canine cases precede human infection. Currently, A2 protein based Leish-Tec® vaccine is the only vaccine commercially available against CVL in Brazil. Considering that the main screening and confirmatory tests of canine infection are serological, it is possible that the antibody response elicited after vaccination interfere with diagnosis, leading to the inability to distinguish between vaccinated and infected animals. In order to identify the specific B-cell response induced after vaccination, A2 protein sequence was screened for main linear B-cell epitopes using in silico prediction (Bepipred) and immunological confirmation by ELISA. Three amino acid sequences were described as potential B-cell epitopes (SV11-SAEPHKAAVDV, PP16-PQSVGPLSVGPQSVGP, and VQ34-VGPLSVGPQSVGPLSVGPLSVGPQAVGPLSVGPQ). Specific IgG ELISAs were performed in sera of 12 immunized dogs living in non-endemic areas, followed for up to 1 year after immunization. The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 10 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic CVL dogs. All predicted epitopes were confirmed as linear B-cell epitopes broadly recognized by sera from studied dogs. Total IgG ELISAs demonstrated distinct patterns of response between peptides in the immunized and CVL groups. VQ34 peptide was recognized by the majority of sera from vaccinated and symptomatic dogs, and increases after vaccination. PP16 induced low levels of specific IgG that increased 1 year after immunization. Interestingly, a low frequency of reactivity was found against SV11 in naturally infected dogs (symptomatic and asymptomatic), while 83.3% of vaccinated dogs presented positive responses 1 year after immunization. The two animals in the vaccinated group that did not respond to SV11 1 year after immunization presented positive serology both 30 days and 6 months after immunization. In summary, we identified three main linear B-cell epitopes in A2 based vaccine. Moreover, the humoral response against SV11 presented marked differences between infected and Leish-Tec vaccinated dogs, and should be further investigated, in large trials, to confirm its potential as a serological marker able to distinguish between infected and vaccinated dogs

Monitoring fungal burden and viability of Sporothrix spp. in skin lesions of cats for predicting antifungal treatment response

Skin lesions in feline sporotrichosis usually present a high fungal burden, making cats an important source of infection. This study evaluated the fungal burden and isolation in skin lesions of feline sporotrichosis during treatment with itraconazole (ITZ), combined with or without potassium iodide (KI). Treatment-naïve cats with culture-confirmed sporotrichosis and presenting skin ulcers were treated for up to 40 weeks with oral ITZ alone (n = 74) or combined with KI (n = 56). These cats were submitted to monthly sampling of the same lesion for mycological culture and cytopathology until healing of lesion or up to twelve weeks. The fungal burden was expressed as the mean yeast cell count in three microscopic fields from imprint smears. The fungal burden before treatment was significantly higher in cats in which the lesion persisted and in cases of treatment failure when using ITZ alone. After twelve weeks, the median fungal burden decreased to zero in both treatment protocols, suggesting a potential decrease in the risk of transmission of Sporothrix spp. from cats. These findings encourage the early treatment of feline sporotrichosis as a control measure. Moreover, the fungal burden in feline sporotrichosis lesions can be a prognostic indicator and a parameter for choosing appropriate therapeutic regimen

Tratamento cirúrgico associado à terapia antifúngica convencional na esporotricose felina

Esporotricose é causada pelo fungo Sporothrix schenckii, que infecta os humanos e animais. Os gatos domésticos apresentam elevado potencial zoonótico pela riqueza parasitária encontrada nas lesões cutâneas e a transmissão zoonótica pode correr principalmente através de contato com exsudatos de lesões, mordeduras ou arranhaduras de gatos. É relatado o caso de um gato com esporotricose que, após 19 meses de tratamento regular com itraconazol, apresentou uma nova lesão localizada na bolsa escrotal. Após 5 meses de tratamento, não havendo regressão da lesão, foi realizada a exérese da bolsa escrotal e orquiectomia. A terapia antifúngica foi mantida durante 2 meses após o procedimento cirúrgico. Três meses após a suspensão do itraconazol, o animal ainda permanece sem lesões. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar a associação do tratamento cirúrgico à terapêutica convencional da esporotricose felina, após falência da mesma utilizada isoladamente. No caso relatado, a excisão cirúrgica da bolsa escrotal e orquiectomia representaram uma opção terapêutica em associação com agentes antifúngicos

Use and misuse of biomarkers and the role of D-dimer and C-reactive protein in the management of COVID-19: A post-hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with high mortality among hospitalized patients and incurs high costs. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection can trigger both inflammatory and thrombotic processes, and these complications can lead to a poorer prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the association and temporal trends of D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), hospital mortality, and costs among inpatients with COVID-19. METHODS: Data were extracted from electronic patient records and laboratory databases. Crude and adjusted associations for age, sex, number of comorbidities, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at admission, and D-dimer or CRP logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations. RESULTS: Between March and June 2020, COVID-19 was documented in 3,254 inpatients. The D-dimer level ≥4,000 ng/mL fibrinogen equivalent unit (FEU) mortality odds ratio (OR) was 4.48 (adjusted OR: 1.97). The CRP level ≥220 mg/dL OR for death was 7.73 (adjusted OR: 3.93). The D-dimer level ≥4,000 ng/mL FEU VTE OR was 3.96 (adjusted OR: 3.26). The CRP level ≥220 mg/dL OR for VTE was 2.71 (adjusted OR: 1.92). All these analyses were statistically significant (p<0.001). Stratified hospital costs demonstrated a dose-response pattern. Adjusted D-dimer and CRP levels were associated with higher mortality and doubled hospital costs. In the first week, elevated D-dimer levels predicted VTE occurrence and systemic inflammatory harm, while CRP was a hospital mortality predictor. CONCLUSION: D-dimer and CRP levels were associated with higher hospital mortality and a higher incidence of VTE. D-dimer was more strongly associated with VTE, although its discriminative ability was poor, while CRP was a stronger predictor of hospital mortality. Their use outside the usual indications should not be modified and should be discouraged

Immunothrombosis and COVID-19 ‒ a nested post-hoc analysis from a 3186 patient cohort in a Latin American public reference hospital

Objective: COVID-19 is associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolism and excess mortality. Difficulties with best anticoagulation practices and their implementation motivated the current analysis of COVID-19 patients who developed Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). Method: This is a post-hoc analysis of a COVID-19 cohort, described in an economic study already published. The authors analyzed a subset of patients with confirmed VTE. We described the characteristics of the cohort, such as demographics, clinical status, and laboratory results. We tested differences amid two subgroups of patients, those with VTE or not, with the competitive risk Fine and Gray model. Results: Out of 3186 adult patients with COVID-19, 245 (7.7%) were diagnosed with VTE, 174 (5.4%) of them during admission to the hospital. Four (2.3% of these 174) did not receive prophylactic anticoagulation and 19 (11%) discontinued anticoagulation for at least 3 days, resulting in 170 analyzed. During the first week of hospitalization, the laboratory most altered results were C-reactive protein and D-dimer. Patients with VTE were more critical, had a higher mortality rate, worse SOFA score, and, on average, 50% longer hospital stay. Conclusion: Proven VTE incidence in this severe COVID-19 cohort was 7.7%, despite 87% of them complying completely with VTE prophylaxis. The clinician must be aware of the diagnosis of VTE in COVID-19, even in patients receiving proper prophylaxis