The long-term culture of human fibroblasts reveals a spectroscopic signature of senescence

Aging is a complex process which leads to progressive loss of fitness/capability/ability, increasing susceptibility to disease and, ultimately, death. Regardless of the organism, there are some features common to aging, namely, the loss of proteostasis and cell senescence. Mammalian cell lines have been used as models to study the aging process, in particular, cell senescence. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the senescence-associated metabolic profile of a long-term culture of human fibroblasts using Fourier Transform Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. We sub-cultivated fibroblasts from a newborn donor from passage 4 to passage 17 and the results showed deep changes in the spectroscopic profile of cells over time. Late passage cells were characterized by a decrease in the length of fatty acid chains, triglycerides and cholesterol and an increase in lipid unsaturation. We also found an increase in the content of intermolecular β-sheets, possibly indicating an increase in protein aggregation levels in cells of later passages. Metabolic profiling by NMR showed increased levels of extracellular lactate, phosphocholine and glycine in cells at later passages. This study suggests that spectroscopy approaches can be successfully used to study changes concomitant with cell senescence and validate the use of human fibroblasts as a model to monitor the aging process.publishe

Report of the first Brazilian infantile Pompe disease patient to be treated with recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase

Objetivo: Relatar o primeiro caso de forma infantil da doença de Pompe tratado no Brasil. Descrição: Trata-se de doença de depósito lisossomal que se caracteriza por defeitos da enzima alfa-glicosidase ácida, com acúmulo intracelular de glicogênio, principalmente nos músculos. São descritas a forma infantil e tardia. Desde 2006, está disponível tratamento com enzima recombinante humana. Descreve-se o primeiro caso de forma infantil da doença tratado no Brasil. Trata-se de menina com 2,5 meses de idade e progressão rápida da doença, com perda dos movimentos dos membros, miocardiopatia hipertrófica e insuficiência respiratória aos 7 meses de idade. Após 10 meses de tratamento, apresentou boa resposta clínica, com remissão da insuficiência respiratória, recuperação parcial dos movimentos dos membros e melhora importante do quadro cardiológico. Comentários: Apesar de pouco freqüente, a forma infantil da doença de Pompe é letal. A disponibilidade de tratamento eficaz aumenta a necessidade de conhecimento e diagnóstico precoce da doença.Objective: To describe the first case of infantile Pompe disease to be treated in Brazil. Description: Pompe disease is a glycogen storage disease related to defects in the acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme, leading to an intracellular accumulation of glycogen, mainly in muscles. Two forms are described: infantile and juvenile. Since 2006, treatment with recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase has been available. This article describes the first case of infantile Pompe disease treated in Brazil. A girl presented at 2.5 months of age with rapid disease progression, exhibiting severe hypotonia, loss of movements in both upper and lower limbs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, progressing to respiratory failure by the age of 7 months. After 10 months of treatment, she exhibited a good clinical response, with remission of the respiratory failure, partial recovery of arm and leg movements and improvement of cardiologic condition. Comments: Despite its low incidence, infantile Pompe disease is lethal. The availability of an effective treatment has created an urgent need to improve knowledge and early diagnosis of this disease

The importance of methodology to palliative care research: a new article type for palliative medicine

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Stability of polymeric membranes to UV exposure before and after coating with TiO2 nanoparticles

Acknowledgments: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, Nº 2019/ 04319-9), Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry—LAQV, Unidade de Tecnologia de Células Animais do iBET e à Paula Alves, iNOVA4Health—UIDB/Multi/04462/2020, a program financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/Ministério da Educação e Ciência, through national funds is acknowledged. Funding from INTERFACE Program, through the Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy Fund (FITEC), is also gratefully acknowledged. Funding Information: Funding: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, Nº 2019/04319-9), Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry—LAQV (through projects UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/ 50006/2020), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the project PTDC/EAM-AMB/30989/2017, Unidade de Tecnologia de Células Animais do iBET, iNOVA4Health—UIDB/Multi/04462/2020. Funding Information: Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de S?o Paulo (FAPESP, N? 2019/04319-9), Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry?LAQV (through projects UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/ 50006/2020), Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia through the project PTDC/EAM-AMB/30989/2017, Unidade de Tecnologia de C?lulas Animais do iBET, iNOVA4Health?UIDB/Multi/04462/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The combination of photocatalysis and membrane filtration in a single reactor has been proposed, since the photocatalytic treatment may degrade the pollutants retained by the membrane and reduce fouling. However, polymeric membranes can be susceptible to degradation by UV radiation and free radicals. In the present study, five commercial polymeric membranes were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation before and after applying a sol–gel coating with TiO2 nanoparticles. Membrane stability was characterized by changes in hydrophilicity as well as analysis of soluble substances and nanoparticles detached into the aqueous medium, and by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) for structural, morphological, and elemental distribution analysis, respectively. The TiO2 coating conferred photocatalytic properties to the membranes and protected them during 6 h of UV radiation exposures, reducing or eliminating chemical and morphological changes, and in some cases, improving their mechanical resistance. A selected commercial nanofiltration membrane was coated with TiO2 and used in a hybrid reactor with a low-pressure UV lamp, promoting photocatalysis coupled with cross-flow filtration in order to remove 17α-ethinylestradiol spiked into an aqueous matrix, achieving an efficiency close to 100% after 180 min of combined filtration and photocatalysis, and almost 80% after 90 min.publishersversionpublishe

Personality traits and health-related quality of life: The mediator role of coping strategies and psychological distress

Background: The study of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important topic in mental health around the globe. However, there is the need for more evidence about the cumulative influence of psychological variables on HRQOL. The main aim of the study was to evaluate how specific personality traits might explain scores in HRQOL and to explore how this relationship might be mediated by coping styles and psychological distress. Methods: Young Colombian subjects (N = 274) were included (mean age: 21.3; SD = 3.8). The Short-Form Health Survey was used to measure HRQOL. For assessment of psychological variables, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and the short version of Big Five Inventory were used. Results: The personality trait that was the best predictor of HRQOL was openness to experience, forming an explanatory model for HRQOL, along with emotional coping style and depressive and anxious symptoms. Emotional coping style and psychological distress were significant mediators of the relationship between openness and HRQOL. Conclusions: Our findings provide additional data about the cumulative influence of specific psychological variables on HRQOL, in a mostly young female Latin American sample

An analysis of the potentialities of portuguese vernacular architecture to improve energy efficiency

Vernacular architecture is characterised by a type of formal expression that has been developed in response to a number of factors â climatic, lithologic, cultural and economic â characterising the local area or region. In its various forms, a range of techniques has been employed in different regions to mitigate the effects of climate. Despite the fact that Portugal is a small country, it has a territory full of contrasts, which gave origin to many different architectural manifestations. The approaches adopted in the design and construction of vernacular buildings have the potential for further development and could be adapted in response to contemporary needs. In the future, a blend of tradition and modernity should be aimed at in order to develop a new form of aesthetics and functional construction. Portuguese vernacular architecture is associated with a fund of valuable knowledge that should be studied and aligned with the principles of sustainability. In this paper, is presented the climatic contrast between the northern and southern parts of Portugal and the relation with the purpose of different passive solar techniques used in vernacular architecture to provide comfort. The focus is on the effectiveness of passive cooling techniques (e.g. high thermal inertia, the use of light colours and patios), and the findings of a case study in which the thermal performance during the summer of a vernacular residential building located in the south of Portugal are presented. In the context of the current global drive for clean energy and sustainable buildings, much can be learned from a review of past experience in order to provide an understanding of such forms of construction, which are an intrinsic feature of specific places and have evolved over time in the face of a lack of resources

Degradation of neonicotinoids and caffeine from surface water by photolysis

Funding Information: Publicly available datasets were analyzed in this study. This data can be obtained by contacting the corresponding author of the work at: [email protected] Acknowledgments: Financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the project PTDC/EAM-AMB/30989/2017 is gratefully acknowledged. iNOVA4Health— UID/Multi/04462/2013, a program financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnolo-gia/Ministério da Educação e Ciência through national funds and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement is gratefully acknowledged. This work is also supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry—LAQV, which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020). Funding from the INTERFACE Programme, through the Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy Fund (FITEC), is gratefully acknowledged.Along with rapid social development, the use of insecticides and caffeine-containing products increases, a trend that is also reflected in the composition of surface waters. This study is focused on the phototreatment of a surface water containing three neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thi-amethoxam, and clothianidin) and caffeine. Firstly, the radiation absorption of the target pollutants and the effect of the water matrix components were evaluated. It was observed that the maximum absorption peaks appear at wavelengths ranging from 246 to 274 nm, and that the water matrix did not affect the efficiency of the removal of the target pollutants. It was found that the insecticides were efficiently removed after a very short exposure to UV irradiation, while the addition of hydrogen peroxide was needed for an efficient caffeine depletion. The electrical energy per order was estimated, being the lowest energy required (9.5 kWh m−3 order−1) for the depletion of thiamethoxan by indirect photolysis, and a concentration of hydrogen peroxide of 5 mg dm−3. Finally, a prelimi-nary evaluation on the formation of by-products reveals that these compounds play a key role in the evolution of the ecotoxicity of the samples, and that the application of direct photolysis reduces the concentration of these intermediates.publishersversionpublishe

Compliance in epilepsy: II. practical aspects.

Therapeutic regimen compliance was assessed in 84 epileptic patients. The compliance measurement was biased on two interviews, one has been taken by the physician and the other by the nurse. Most patients (72,6%) were detected as non-compliance by the nurse's interview. The forgetfulness of drugs intake was found in 50% subjects. The treatment length and changes from Medical Centers were negatively associated with compliance. Our findings point out the important role of detailed interview in order to detect the most influencing factors in compliance.Análise de 84 pacientes em relação à aderência ao tratamento. O método empregado para a avaliação da aderência constou de duas entrevistas com cada paciente, uma realizada pelo médico e outra pela enfermeira. Em nossos resultados detectamos maior número de pacientes epilépticos não-aderentes na entrevista realizada pela enfermeira (72,6%) em relação àquela conduzida pelo médico (23,3%). O esquecimento foi a principal barreira à aderência (50%). A duração do tratamento e a mudança de serviços médicos influenciaram negativamente na aderência. Por este estudo verificamos a importância de análise dos fatores que possam interferir na aderência e a utilidade da entrevista minuciosa para o diagnostico da não-aderência.Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Susceptibility of \u3ci\u3eAedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus\u3c/i\u3e Say, and \u3ci\u3eAnopheles quadrimaculatus\u3c/i\u3e Say to 19 Pesticides with Different Modes of Action

To access the relative potency of pesticides to control adult mosquitoes, 19 pesticides with various modes of action were evaluated against Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say. On the basis of 24-h LD50 values after topical application, the only pesticide that had higher activity than permethrin was fipronil, with LD50 values lower than permethrin for 107-, 4,849-, and 2-fold against Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, and An. quadrimaculatus Say, respectively. Abamectin, imidacloprid, spinosad, diazinon, and carbaryl showed slightly lower activity than permethrin (\u3c20-fold). However, bifenazate showed very low activity against the three mosquito species tested, with LD50 values higher than permthrin for \u3e1000-fold. On the basis of 24-h LD50 values, Cx. quinquefasciatus was the least susceptible species to nine pesticides tested (DNOC, azocyclotin, chlorfenapyr, carbaryl, spinosad, imidaclorid, diazinon, abamectin, and permethrin), whereas Ae. aegypti was the least susceptible species to six pesticides tested (dicofol, amitraz, propargite, hydramethylnon, cyhexatin, and diafenthiuron), and An. quadrimaculatus was the least susceptible species to four pesticides tested (bifenazate, pyridaben, indoxacarb, and fipronil). Our results revealed that different species of mosquitoes had different susceptibility to pesticides, showing the need to select the most efficacious compounds for the least susceptible mosquito species to achieve successful mosquito control

Susceptibility of \u3ci\u3eAedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus\u3c/i\u3e Say, and \u3ci\u3eAnopheles quadrimaculatus\u3c/i\u3e Say to 19 Pesticides with Different Modes of Action

To access the relative potency of pesticides to control adult mosquitoes, 19 pesticides with various modes of action were evaluated against Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say. On the basis of 24-h LD50 values after topical application, the only pesticide that had higher activity than permethrin was fipronil, with LD50 values lower than permethrin for 107-, 4,849-, and 2-fold against Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, and An. quadrimaculatus Say, respectively. Abamectin, imidacloprid, spinosad, diazinon, and carbaryl showed slightly lower activity than permethrin (\u3c20-fold). However, bifenazate showed very low activity against the three mosquito species tested, with LD50 values higher than permthrin for \u3e1000-fold. On the basis of 24-h LD50 values, Cx. quinquefasciatus was the least susceptible species to nine pesticides tested (DNOC, azocyclotin, chlorfenapyr, carbaryl, spinosad, imidaclorid, diazinon, abamectin, and permethrin), whereas Ae. aegypti was the least susceptible species to six pesticides tested (dicofol, amitraz, propargite, hydramethylnon, cyhexatin, and diafenthiuron), and An. quadrimaculatus was the least susceptible species to four pesticides tested (bifenazate, pyridaben, indoxacarb, and fipronil). Our results revealed that different species of mosquitoes had different susceptibility to pesticides, showing the need to select the most efficacious compounds for the least susceptible mosquito species to achieve successful mosquito control