In utero ultrafine particulate matter exposure causes offspring pulmonary immunosuppression.

Early life exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) in air is associated with infant respiratory disease and childhood asthma, but limited epidemiological data exist concerning the impacts of ultrafine particles (UFPs) on the etiology of childhood respiratory disease. Specifically, the role of UFPs in amplifying Th2- and/or Th17-driven inflammation (asthma promotion) or suppressing effector T cells (increased susceptibility to respiratory infection) remains unclear. Using a mouse model of in utero UFP exposure, we determined early immunological responses to house dust mite (HDM) allergen in offspring challenged from 0 to 4 wk of age. Two mice strains were exposed throughout gestation: C57BL/6 (sensitive to oxidative stress) and BALB/C (sensitive to allergen exposure). Offspring exposed to UFPs in utero exhibited reduced inflammatory response to HDM. Compared with filtered air (FA)-exposed/HDM-challenged mice, UFP-exposed offspring had lower white blood cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and less pronounced peribronchiolar inflammation in both strains, albeit more apparent in C57BL/6 mice. In the C57BL/6 strain, offspring exposed in utero to FA and challenged with HDM exhibited a robust response in inflammatory cytokines IL-13 and Il-17. In contrast, this response was lost in offspring exposed in utero to UFPs. Circulating IL-10 was significantly up-regulated in C57BL/6 offspring exposed to UFPs, suggesting increased regulatory T cell expression and suppressed Th2/Th17 response. Our results reveal that in utero UFP exposure at a level close to the WHO recommended PM guideline suppresses an early immune response to HDM allergen, likely predisposing neonates to respiratory infection and altering long-term pulmonary health

Combined effect of bumetanide, bromide, and GABAergic agonists: An alternative treatment for intractable seizures

Univ Fed Sao Joao del Rei, Lab Neurociencia Expt & Computac, Programa Inst Bioengn, Sao Joao Del Rei, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Expt Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Su, Inst Cerebro, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Expt Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Plasma Cytokine Profile in Tropical Endomyocardial Fibrosis: Predominance of TNF-a, IL-4 and IL-10

Background: the participation of immune/inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of tropical endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) has been suggested by the finding of early blood and myocardial eosinophilia. However, the inflammatory activation status of late-stage EMF patients is still unknown.Methodology/Principal findings: We evaluated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in plasma samples from late stage EMF patients. Cytokine levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, Interferon (IFN)-gamma, Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were assayed in plasma samples from 27 EMF patients and compared with those of healthy control subjects. All EMF patients displayed detectable plasma levels of at least one of the cytokines tested. We found that TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 were each detected in at least 74% of tested sera, and plasma levels of IL-10, IL-4, and TNF-alpha were significantly higher than those of controls. Plasma levels of such cytokines positively correlated with each other.Conclusions/Significance: the mixed pro-and anti-inflammatory/Th2circulating cytokine profile in EMF is consistent with the presence of a persistent inflammatory stimulus. On the other hand, the detection of increased levels of TNF-alpha may be secondary to the cardiovascular involvement observed in these patients, whereas IL-4 and IL-10 may have been upregulated as a homeostatic mechanism to buffer both production and deleterious cardiovascular effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further studies might establish whether these findings play a role in disease pathogenesis.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ São Paulo, Sch Med, Inst Heart InCor, Immunol Lab, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Div Clin Immunol & Allergy, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Inst Heart InCor, Cardiomyopathy Unit, São Paulo, BrazilProSangue Fdn, São Paulo, BrazilInst Investigat Immunol, INCT, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, Div Immunol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, Div Immunol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Proteolytic potential of enzymes produced by candida parapsilosis and rhodotorula. Mucilaginosa isolated from liquid whey

The search for yeast with proteolytic activity that can be explored in technology and product innovation was the objective of this study to isolate and identify strains present in liquid whey and evaluate the proteolytic activity of isolates. From the isolated strains were selected for molecular identification, those with proteolytic activity. Verification of proteolytic activity was performed on milk agar and visualized by a translucent halo. Four strains belonging to two yeast species were identified as protease producers. Whey is promising in microbial sources of biotechnological interest and C. parapsilosis (ES01) and R. mucilaginosa (ES04) strains were good protease producers in commercial agar-like milk agar. These results indicate the proteolytic potentiality of strains isolated from whey.Fil: Monte, Aline Marques. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Matos da Silva, Ana Karoline. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Dourado Rodrigues, Aline Maria. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Muratori Costa, Luciana. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Sousa Santos, André Luis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Gomes Abreu Bacelar, Rafael. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: de Sousa Ramos, Lívia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Folmer Correa, Ana Paula. Universidade Federal de Roraima; BrasilFil: Brandelli, Adriano. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Pereyra, Carina Maricel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Sanches Muratori, Maria C.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; Brasi

Chronic Sleep Restriction during Pregnancy - Repercussion on Cardiovascular and Renal Functioning of Male Offspring

Changes in the maternal environment can induce fetal adaptations that result in the progression of chronic diseases in the offspring. the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of maternal chronic sleep restriction on blood pressure, renal function and cardiac baroreflex response on male offspring at adult age. Female 3-month-old Wistar rats were divided in two experimental groups: control (C) and chronic sleep restricted (CSR). Pregnancy was confirmed by vaginal smear. Chronic sleep restricted females were subjected to sleep restriction by the multiple platform technique for 20 h daily, between the 1st and 20th day of pregnancy. After birth, the litters were reduced to 6 rats per mother, and were designated as offspring from control (OC) and offspring from chronic sleep restricted (OCSR). Indirect blood pressure (BPi tail cuff) was measured by plethysmography in male offspring at 3 months old. Following, the renal function and cardiac baroreflex response were analyzed. Values of BPi in OCSR were significantly higher compared to OC [OC: 127 +/- 2.6 (19); OCSR: 144 +/- 2.5 (17) mmHg]. the baroreflex sensitivity to the increase of blood pressure was reduced in OCSR [Slope: OC: -2.6 +/- 0.15 (9); OCRS: -1.6 +/- 0.13 (9)]. Hypothalamic activity of ACE2 was significantly reduced in OCSR compared to OC [OC: 97.4 +/- 15 (18); OSR: 60.2 +/- 3.6 (16) UAF/min/protein mg]. Renal function alteration was noticed by the increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) observed in OCSR [OC: 6.4 +/- 0.2 (10); OCSR: 7.4 +/- 0.3 (7)]. Chronic sleep restriction during pregnancy caused in the offspring hypertension, altered cardiac baroreflex response, reduced ACE-2 activity in the hypothalamus and renal alterations. Our data suggest that the reduction of sleeping time along the pregnancy is able to modify maternal homeostasis leading to functional alterations in offspring.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Associacao Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa (AFIP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biociencias, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biociencias, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: FAPESP-10/51665-4Web of Scienc

Acute, chronic, and post-mortem toxicity: a review focused on three different classes of new psychoactive substances

Purpose: New psychoactive substances (NPS) are not controlled under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 or the 1971 Convention, but they may pose a public health threat. Knowledge of the main properties and toxicological efects of these substances is lacking. According to the current Drugs Law (Law n. 11.343/2006), the Brazilian Surveillance Agency issues directives for forbidden substances in Brazil, and structural classes of synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and phenylethylamines are considered illicit drugs. Considering that data on these controlled substances are scattered, the main objective of this work was to collect and organize data to generate relevant information on the toxicological properties of NPS. Methods: We carried out a literature review collecting information on the acute, chronic, and post-mortem toxicity of these classes of NSP. We searched info in fve scientifc databases considering works from 2017 to 2021 and performed a statistical evaluation of the data. Results: Results have shown a general lack of studies in this feld given that many NPS have not had their toxicity evaluated. We observed a signifcant diference in the volume of data concerning acute and chronic/post-mortem toxicity. Moreover, studies on the adverse efects of polydrug use are scarce. Conclusions: More in-depth information about the main threats involving NPS use are needed

Microsatellite markers for Amazon pellona Pellona castelnaeana (Clupeiformes: Pristigasteridae)

The Amazon pellona is one of the few species of Pristigasteridae with recognized commercial value in the Amazon. We isolated 24 and characterized 8 microsatellite loci for this species. The number of alleles ranges from 2-8 per locus. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.052-0.823, while expected heterozygosities from 0.052-0.836. These 8 microsatellites are potentially valuable tools for characterizing the levels and distribution of genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow. They may also be important parameters for the genetic conservation of this species, as well as for its sister taxon Pellona flavipinnis. © FUNPEC-RP