Cellular proteostasis during influenza A virus infection: friend or foe?

In order to efficiently replicate, viruses require precise interactions with host components and often hijack the host cellular machinery for their own benefit. Several mechanisms involved in protein synthesis and processing are strongly affected and manipulated by viral infections. A better understanding of the interplay between viruses and their host-cell machinery will likely contribute to the development of novel antiviral strategies. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on the interactions between influenza A virus (IAV), the causative agent for most of the annual respiratory epidemics in humans, and the host cellular proteostasis machinery during infection. We focus on the manipulative capacity of this virus to usurp the cellular protein processing mechanisms and further review the protein quality control mechanisms in the cytosol and in the endoplasmic reticulum that are affected by this virus.publishe

Production scheduling considering dynamic electricity price in energy-efficient factories

The 1st Virtual IFAC World Congress (IFAC-V 2020)Factories account for more than 42% of global energy consumption. In order to contribute to reduce carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency, it is important to optimize the tasks and time of product manufacturing according to the renewable generation and lower prices of the grid but without compromising production quality and output. This paper aims to develop flexible optimization platform for industrial production processes. The proposed production scheduling model is formulated as a 15-minute interval of one week time-span adopting mixed-integer linear optimization model and solved in TOMLAB. The model considers general production constraints for different products and takes into account with the photovoltaic generation of the factory as well as the dynamic price of the grid. The results are compared with a reference case without photovoltaic and where the dynamic price is not considered. The energy cost savings can amount up to 29% or 100 € in the considered example.This work has received funding from Portugal 2020 under SPEARproject (NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-040224) and from FEDER Fundsthrough COMPETE program and from National Funds through(FCT) under the project UIDB/00760/2020, Joao Soares is sup-ported by FCT under CEECIND/02814/2017 grant.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CICLOS ECONÔMICOS E MERCADO DE CRÉDITO: A ATUAÇÃO DOS BANCOS PÚBLICOS

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se os bancos públicos atuam de forma anticíclica, comparativamente aos bancos privados, em relação à concessão de crédito e ao reconhecimento da Provisão para Créditos de Liquidação Duvidosa (PCLD). Para a realização dos testes empíricos, por meio de modelos com dados em painel, foram utilizadas informações semestrais, de 2000 a 2017, de 118 bancos. Apesar dos sinais dos coeficientes apontarem (i) relação negativa entre a variação da carteira de crédito e o nível de atividade econômica e (ii) associação positiva entre a parcela discricionária da provisão para perdas e o nível de atividade econômica, por parte dos bancos públicos, tais resultados não registraram relevância estatística, não confirmando as hipóteses de que os bancos públicos apresentariam comportamento anticíclico, comparativamente aos bancos privados. Os resultados contribuem para o avanço da literatura sobre o tema, auxiliando na compreensão do comportamento dos bancos públicos, que assumem papel relevante na indústria bancária brasileira

A preservação em arquivos, bibliotecas e museus:: integrações, interseções e particularidades disciplinares

O trabalho objetiva analisar possibilidades de soluções metodológicas e conceituais comuns e particulares da Arquivologia, Biblioteconomia e Museologia para o estudo e as práticas da preservação de documentos. Compreende a preservação como um campo científico a partir de Bourdieu (2004), no qual se inserem e interagem algumas disciplinas científicas, como as supracitadas. A partir desta perspectiva, observaremos as relações de integração, interseção e as suas respectivas particularidades disciplinares para com a preservação em arquivos, bibliotecas e museus. Tem como objeto parte da literatura produzida no campo da preservação, especialmente algumas obras de referência sobre conservação preventiva e gestão de riscos, a saber: Michalski (2004), Castro (2008), Froner e Rosado (2008), Hollós e Pedersoli Júnior (2009), Pedersoli Júnior (2010), Spinelli e Pedersoli Júnior (2010), Ribeiro (2012), Tavares (2014), Zúñiga (2015), IBERMUSEUS e ICCROM (2017), Bojanoski (2018) e Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (2020). É resultante de parte de discussão realizada no âmbito de uma tese de doutorado, produzida e orientada pelas mesmas autorias deste texto

Clinical performance of an infliximab rapid quantification assay

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-based algorithms can be used to guide infliximab (IFX) adjustments in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This study aimed to explore a rapid IFX-quantification test from a clinical perspective. Methods: This manuscript describes a prospective cohort study involving 110 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients on the maintenance phase of IFX. IFX trough levels were quantified using a rapid quantification assay and a commonly-used reference kit. Results: Irrespective of the assay used to measure IFX, its through levels were statistically different between patients with and without endoscopic remission (Mayo endoscopic score = 0), as well as between patients stratified by their faecal calprotectin (FC) levels. Despite the fact that the two methods correlated well with each other [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.843, p < 0.001; intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.857, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.791-0.903], there was a discernible systematic variation; values obtained with the reference kit were on average 2.62 units higher than those obtained with the rapid assay. Notwithstanding, 3 mu g/ml was shown to be an acceptable cut-off to assess endoscopic status and inflammatory burden levels using both assays. The percentage of patients that had a positive outcome when the IFX concentration measured by the rapid assay ranked above 3 mu g/ml was 88% both for a Mayo endoscopic score <= 1 and for an FC concentration <250 mu g/g. Conclusions: Based on this study, we concluded that using the rapid IFX assessment system with a 3 mu g/ml threshold is a reliable alternative to the time-consuming enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in patients on the maintenance phase of IFX.Portuguese IBD Group (GEDII, Grupo de Estudo da Doenca Inflamatoria Intestinal)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reabilitação cardiopulmonar e metabólica, uma prática interdisciplinar para saúde e qualidade de vida: uma revisão bibliográfica

Introdução: A Reabilitação Cardiopulmonar e Metabólica (RCPM), é caracterizada pela integração de intervenções, denominadas ações não farmacológicas, assegurando melhores condições físicas, psicológicas e sociais aos   pacientes com doença cardiovascular, pulmonar e metabólica. Objetivo: Descrever a RCPM enfatizando a atuação interdisciplinar, para melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Método: Propondo uma revisão de literatura, foi realizada nas bases de dados virtuais: PubMed, Portal Capes, Scielo, Bireme e Cochrane Library, uma busca por artigos científicos dos últimos dez anos, com os descritores: Reabilitação; qualidade de vida; pesquisa Interdisciplinar e insuficiência cardíaca. Resultado: A RCPM possui quatro fases, objetivando o progresso  gradual da recuperação da saúde do paciente. As principais indicações para RCPM são: coronariopatia, insuficiência cardíaca, pneumopatia crônica, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, síndromes metabólicas, entre outras. Logo, as contraindicações são: angina instável, tromboflebite, embolia recente, infecção sistêmica aguda, entre outros. A equipe interdisciplinar na RCPM é composta por médicos, enfermeiros, fisioterapeutas, educadores físicos, psicólogos, terapeutas ocupacionais, assistentes sociais e nutricionistas. Conclusão: É necessário uma equipe multidisciplinar que trabalhe de forma interdisciplinar e coletiva, para potencializar os benefícios da reabilitação, podendo oferecer uma assistência diferenciada ao paciente e contribuir para  melhor qualidade de vida

Evaluation of the Genotoxicity of Endodontic Materials for Deciduous Teeth Using the Comet Assay

Objective: To evaluate genotoxicity of zinc oxide, P. A. calcium hydroxide, mineral trioxide aggregate and an iodoform paste using comet assay on human lymphocytes. Material and Methods: Two positive controls were used: methyl-methanesulfonate for the P.A. calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate; and doxorubicin for the iodoform paste and zinc oxide. There were also two negative controls: distilled water for the P.A. calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate; and DMSO for the iodoform paste and zinc oxide. Comets were identified using fluorescence microscopy and 100 of them were counted on each of the three slides analyzed per drug test. A damage index was established, taking into consideration the score pattern that had previously been determined from the size and intensity of the comet tail. Analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s test, was used to compare the means of the DNA damage indices. Results: The DNA damage index observed for mineral trioxide aggregate (7.08 to 8.58) and P.A. calcium hydroxide (6.50 to 8.33), which were similar to negative control index. On the other hand, damage index for zinc oxide (104.7 to 218.50) and iodoform paste (115.7 to 210.7) were similar to positive control index. Conclusion: Iodoform paste and zinc oxide showed genotoxicity at all concentrations used

Antileishmanial activity of extracts from Libidibia ferrea : development of in vitro and in vivo tests

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is difficult due to the scarce number of drugs able to eliminate completely the intracellular form of the parasite. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate: i) phytochemical properties of extracts from Libidibia ferrea; ii) antileishmanial activity of extracts from L. ferrea against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis; iii) the effects of topical treatment using hydrogel containing active extract of L. ferrea on golden hamsters infected with L. (L.) amazonensis. Extracts from leaves, branches and fruits of L. ferrea were obtained with hexane and methanol and were tested by in vitro assays in promastigotes and murine macrophages J774 experimentally infected with amastigotes of Leishmania. Groups of hamsters with CL received topical treatment with a formulation of extract (10%) hydrogels, 50 mg. day(-1) for 40 days. In vitro activity of FrMeOH (methanolic extract from fruits without seeds) resulted in significant reduction of viable promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis (IC50 of 15.4 mu g. mL(-1)) and demonstrated inhibition potential of amastigote forms of L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (V.) guyanensis and low cytotoxicity in macrophages. The overall data of topical treatment with extract hydrogels (GelFrMeOH) showed that lesion sizes were significantly reduced (42.78%), with low parasite burden by RT-qPCR and culture analysis by microscopy examination, and with histopathological findings such as lower inflammatory cell infiltration 40 days after treatment. Chemical analysis demonstrated FrMeOH contains high levels of phenolic compounds. The results indicate a possible alternative therapy for CL using phytotherapics. KEYWORDS: cutaneous leishmaniasis, natural products, topical formulations, experimental treatmentPeer reviewe