Composição farmacêutica leishmanicida contendo óleo essencial de piper claussenianum

DepositadaA invenção descreve composições farmacêuticas contendo óleo essencial de Piper Claussenianum e excipientes farmaceuticamente aceitáveis para o tratamento das leishmanioses, preferencialmente para o tratamento das infecções causadas pelas espécies Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania major e Leishmania chegasi. As composições farmacêuticas podem ser apresentadas nas formas sólida, semisólida ou líquida. A presente invenção demostra apresentar uma ação leismanicida igual ou melhor em relação à ação observada para os medicamentos disponíveis no mercado, como a anfotericina B

Uso de entrevistadores externos na pesquisa qualitativa: plano de ação

Qualitative research has been growing, bringing along the need to think methodologically about it, in order to avoid biases and ethical dilemmas. Thus, it is necessary to think through its steps, among them the collection of data through interviews. Therefore, this study aims to introduce an action plan that guides the training and monitoring of external interviewers in conducting qualitative research. It describes the action plan proposed, which consists of five moments: feasibility; selection; negotiation; training; and monitoring. And, with the purpose of illustrating its practical use, authors’ experience in using the proposed action plan is described, indicating the benefits and difficulties found. It is concluded that employing an external person to perform data collection in a qualitative research is a facilitator, although it represents a challenge and requires researcher’s dedication and expertise. the need for greater financial incentives to conduct this kind of research is also recognized, as well as researchers’ commitment to pursue funding sources.La investigación cualitativa está creciendo, trayendo consigo lLa investigación cualitativa está creciendo, trayendo consigo la necesidad de pensar en ella metodológicamente, con el fin de evitar sesgos y dilemas éticos. Por lo tanto, es necesario reflexionar acerca de sus etapas, entre ellas la recogida de datos a través de entrevistas. Se objetiva, por lo tanto, presentar un plan de acción que guíe la capacitación y supervisión de entrevistadores externos durante la realización de la investigación cualitativa. Se describe el plan de acción propuesto, que tiene cinco momentos: viabilidad; selección; negociación; entrenamiento, y supervisión. Y, con el fin de ilustrar su uso práctico, se describe la experiencia de las autoras con el uso del plan de acción propuesto, las facilidades y las dificultades encontradas. Se concluye que emplear una persona externa para llevar a cabo la recogida de datos en una investigación cualitativa es un facilitador, aunque represente un reto y requiera dedicación y pericia del investigador. También se reconoce la necesidad de mayores incentivos financieros para llevar a cabo este tipo de investigación, así como el compromiso de los investigadores para buscar fuentes de financiación.A pesquisa qualitativa vem crescendo, trazendo consigo a necessidade de pensá-la metodologicamente, a fim de evitar vieses e dilemas éticos. Dessa forma, faz-se necessário refletir sobre suas etapas, dentre elas a coleta de dados por meio de entrevistas. Objetiva-se, portanto, apresentar um plano de ação que norteie a capacitação e acompanhamento de entrevistadores externos na realização da pesquisa qualitativa. Descreve-se o plano de ação proposto, que consta de cinco momentos: viabilidade; seleção; negociação; treinamento; e acompanhamento. E, a fim de exemplificar sua utilização prática, descreve-se a experiência das autoras com a utilização do plano de ação proposto, as facilidades e dificuldades encontradas. Conclui-se que empregar uma pessoa externa para realizar a coleta de dados em uma pesquisa qualitativa é um facilitador, embora represente um desafio e exija dedicação e expertise do pesquisador. Reconhece-se, ainda, a necessidade de maiores incentivos financeiros para a realização desse tipo de pesquisa, bem como comprometimento dos pesquisadores em buscar fontes de financiamento

Going the extra (synaptic) mile: excitotoxicity as the road toward neurodegenerative diseases

Copyright © 2020 Armada-Moreira, Gomes, Pina, Savchak, Gonçalves-Ribeiro, Rei, Pinto, Morais, Martins, Ribeiro, Sebastião, Crunelli and Vaz. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Excitotoxicity is a phenomenon that describes the toxic actions of excitatory neurotransmitters, primarily glutamate, where the exacerbated or prolonged activation of glutamate receptors starts a cascade of neurotoxicity that ultimately leads to the loss of neuronal function and cell death. In this process, the shift between normal physiological function and excitotoxicity is largely controlled by astrocytes since they can control the levels of glutamate on the synaptic cleft. This control is achieved through glutamate clearance from the synaptic cleft and its underlying recycling through the glutamate-glutamine cycle. The molecular mechanism that triggers excitotoxicity involves alterations in glutamate and calcium metabolism, dysfunction of glutamate transporters, and malfunction of glutamate receptors, particularly N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors (NMDAR). On the other hand, excitotoxicity can be regarded as a consequence of other cellular phenomena, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, physical neuronal damage, and oxidative stress. Regardless, it is known that the excessive activation of NMDAR results in the sustained influx of calcium into neurons and leads to several deleterious consequences, including mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, impairment of calcium buffering, the release of pro-apoptotic factors, among others, that inevitably contribute to neuronal loss. A large body of evidence implicates NMDAR-mediated excitotoxicity as a central mechanism in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and epilepsy. In this review article, we explore different causes and consequences of excitotoxicity, discuss the involvement of NMDAR-mediated excitotoxicity and its downstream effects on several neurodegenerative disorders, and identify possible strategies to study new aspects of these diseases that may lead to the discovery of new therapeutic approaches. With the understanding that excitotoxicity is a common denominator in neurodegenerative diseases and other disorders, a new perspective on therapy can be considered, where the targets are not specific symptoms, but the underlying cellular phenomena of the disease.This work was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (PTDC/BTM-SAL/32147/2017, PD/BD/114278/2016, IMM/BI/2-2020), and by FCT/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES) through Fundos do Orçamento de Estado (UID/BIM/50005/2019). TM was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska/Curie grant agreement No. 722053.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Jardim sensorial: discutindo conceitos de geografia física

Neste trabalho, foram realizadas aulas de campo no Jardim Sensorial, um projeto desenvolvido pelo IFF Campos em parceria com a secretaria de Desenvolvimento Ambiental e fisicamente localizado no Centro de Educação Ambiental (CEA) da prefeitura de Campos dos Goytacazes, onde se discute conteúdos relacionados à questão ambiental. O trabalho de campo foi considerado instrumento de ensino importante no aprendizado em várias áreas do conhecimento. Sua construção deve corresponder às expectativas dos professores na transposição de conteúdos, sendo local de descoberta e aproximação do ambiente visitado, para que o aluno possa vivenciar a teoria e a prática. Os resultados mostram a mudança de entendimento dos alunos com relação aos conteúdos discutidos e a importância da participação dos professores para o bom êxito das atividades

Identificação dos conceitos de medidas de desfechos de ensaios clínicos em osteogênese imperfeita utilizando a Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde - versão crianças e jovens

The biopsychosocial model from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) has been used as a reference in clinical practice to identify and analyze the functioning components in outcome measures. Objective: The objectives of this study were to identify the concepts contained in outcome measures of clinical trials on Osteogenesis Imperfecta, to analyze how these concepts are linked with the ICF - Children and Youth version (ICF-CY) and describe what the functioning components are that are assessed in these studies. Method: Randomized controlled trials on children with diagnoses of Osteogenesis Imperfecta carried out between 2000 and 2013 were selected using MedLine and Cochrane. The outcome measures were extracted and the concepts contained in the outcome measures were linked to the ICF-CY. Results: Fourteen trials were included. The concepts of clinical and technical measures and of one health assessment instrument (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - PEDI) were identified. The concepts of clinical and technical measures were linked to the ICF-CY Body Functions and Structures component. The PEDI concepts were linked to the Body Functions and especially to Activity and Participation. Conclusion: Using the linking of the concepts of outcome measures to the ICF-CY it was possible to verify that clinical trials on Osteogenesis Imperfecta assessed mainly the Body Functions and Body Structures component. Assessments of Activity and Participation and contextual factors are scarce on these studies. More research is necessary on the effects of interventions on these components.O modelo biopsicossocial da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF) tem sido utilizado como referência na prática clínica para identificação e análise dos componentes da funcionalidade presentes em medidas de desfechos. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivos identificar os conceitos de medidas de desfecho de ensaios clínicos em Osteogênese Imperfeita, analisar como estes conceitos se relacionam com a Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde versão crianças e jovens (CIF-CJ) e descrever quais componentes da funcionalidade mais avaliados. Método: Ensaios clínicos realizados entre 2000 e 2013 em crianças com diagnóstico de Osteogênese Imperfeita foram selecionados a partir de uma revisão nas bases de dados MedLine e Cochrane. As medidas de desfecho foram extraídas e os conceitos significativos de cada medida foram relacionados à CIF-CJ. Resultados: Foram incluídos para o estudo 14 artigos. Os conceitos de medidas clínicas e técnicas e de um instrumento de avaliação padronizado (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - PEDI) foram identificados. Os conceitos das medidas clínicas e técnicas relacionaram-se ao componente da CIF-CJ Funções e Estruturas do Corpo. Os conceitos do PEDI relacionaram-se aos componentes Funções do Corpo e principalmente Atividade e Participação. Conclusão: Através do link dos conceitos das medidas de desfecho com a CIF-CJ foi verificado que os ensaios clínicos em OI avaliam principalmente o componente Funções e Estruturas do Corpo. As avaliações da Atividade e Participação e os fatores contextuais ainda são pouco contempladas nestes estudos havendo necessidade de novas pesquisas sobre o efeito das intervenções nestes componentes

Gross motor function in children with Congenital Zika Syndrome from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is characterized by many impairments especially in the central nervous system, potentially compromising neurodevelopment and causing significant morbidity in affected children. The aim was to assess gross motor function in children with CZS. This was a cross-sectional investigation nested within a prospective cohort study of children with CZS based in a Brazilian referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Between March/2017 and February/2018, we performed gross motor function assessments using the Gross Motor Function Classification (GMFCS) and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), estimating the mean and standard deviation of GMFM scores among GMFCS groups. The study sample included 72 children, with a median age of 13 months (7-25). Of these, 63 (87.5%) had severe motor impairment, 3 (4%) had moderate impairment, and 6 (8%) had mild impairment. The mean GMFM score for each group was respectively 11.6, 26.1, and 81.6, with statistically significant differences (p-value < 0.001). Severely affected children only achieved head control in the sitting posture when supported. Children with milder forms were able to develop walking skills.Conclusion: Most children with CZS have major motor disabilities and a poor prognosis. Better understanding of limitations and functionality in children with CZS can serve as a prognostic guide in their management. What is Known: • Severe motor impairment was present in 63 (87.5%) children with CZS. • The degree of neurological impairment was inversely associated with motor performance. What is New: • Microcephaly was more frequent among children with severe gross motor function impairment. • Children with CZS have major motor disabilities and a poor prognosis

Subtractive phage display selection from canine visceral leishmaniasis identifies novel epitopes that mimic leishmania infantum antigens with potential serodiagnosis applications

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease that is endemic to Brazil, where dogs are the main domestic parasite reservoirs, and the percentages of infected dogs living in regions where canine VL (CVL) is endemic have ranged from 10% to 62%. Despite technological advances, some problems have been reported with CVL serodiagnosis. The present study describes a sequential subtractive selection through phage display technology from polyclonal antibodies of negative and positive sera that resulted in the identification of potential bacteriophage-fused peptides that were highly sensitive and specific to antibodies of CVL. A negative selection was performed in which phage clones were adhered to purified IgGs from healthy and Trypanosoma cruzi-infected dogs to eliminate cross-reactive phages. The remaining supernatant nonadhered phages were submitted to positive selection against IgG from the blood serum of dogs that were infected with Leishmania infantum. Phage clones that adhered to purified IgGs from the CVL-infected serum samples were selected. Eighteen clones were identified and their reactivities tested by a phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (phage-ELISA) against the serum samples from infected dogs (n 31) compared to those from vaccinated dogs (n 21), experimentally infected dogs with cross-reactive parasites (n 23), and healthy controls (n 17). Eight clones presented sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 100%, and they showed no crossreactivity with T. cruzi- or Ehrlichia canis-infected dogs or with dogs vaccinated with two different commercial CVL vaccines in Brazil. Our study identified eight mimotopes of L. infantum antigens with 100% accuracy for CVL serodiagnosis. The use of these mimotopes by phage-ELISA proved to be an excellent assay that was reproducible, simple, fast, and inexpensive, and it can be applied in CVL-monitoring programsThis work was supported by grants from the Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa of UFMG (supported 03/2013), the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nano-Biofarmacêutica (INCT Nano-Biofar), Rede Nanobiotec/Brasil-UFU (CAPES), PRONEX-FAPEMIG (APQ-01019- 09), FAPEMIG (APQ-00496-11 and APQ-00819-12), and CNPq (APQ- 472090/2011-9 and APQ-482976/2012-8). E.A.F.C. and L.R.G. are recipients of grants from CNPq. M.A.C.-F. is the recipient of a grant from FAPEMIG/CAPE

Sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs by using peptides selected from hypothetical proteins identified by an immunoproteomic approach

In Brazil, the percentage of infected dogs living in areas where canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is endemic ranges from 10 to 62%; however, the prevalence of infection in dogs is probably higher than figures reported from serological studies. In addition, problems with the occurrence of false-positive or false-negative results in the serodiagnosis of CVL have been reported. The present work analyzed the potential of synthetic peptides mapped from hypothetical proteins for improvement of the serodiagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs. From 26 identified leishmanial proteins, eight were selected, considering that no homologies between these proteins and others from trypanosomatide sequence databases were encountered. The sequences of these proteins were mapped to identify linear B-cell epitopes, and 17 peptides were synthesized and tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the serodiagnosis of L. infantum infection in dogs. Of these, three exhibited sensitivity and specificity values higher than 75% and 90%, respectively, to differentiate L. infantum-infected animals from Trypanosoma cruziinfected animals and healthy animals. Soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) showed poor sensitivity (4%) and specificity (36%) to differentiate L. infantum-infected dogs from healthy and T. cruzi-infected dogs. Lastly, the three selected peptides were combined in different mixtures and higher sensitivity and specificity values were obtained, even when sera from T. cruzi-infected dogs were used. The study’s findings suggest that these three peptides can constitute a potential tool for more sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of L. infantum infection in dogsThis work was supported by grants from the Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa from UFMG (Edital 07/2012), Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nano-biofarmacêutica (INCT-NANOBIOFAR, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) (CBB-APQ-02364-08, CBB-APQ-00356-10, CBB-APQ-00496-11, and CBB-APQ-00819-12), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (APQ-472090/2011-9), and the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Vacinas (INCT-V). E.A.F.C. and A.P.F. are CNPq grant recipients. M.A.C.-F. is a FAPEMIG/CAPES grant recipient. This study was supported in Spain, in part, by grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (FIS/PI1100095)

Fatores de risco de zoonoses presentes em comunidade universitária em Altamira-PA/Risk factors for zoonosis in the university community in Altamira-PA

Para intervenções educativas na área da saúde é importante ter um diagnóstico prévio que permita compreender o contexto social e cultural do público envolvido. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar os fatores de riscos de transmissão de zoonoses de forma a fornecer o direcionamento para educação em saúde. Foi realizada a aplicação de um questionário em turmas de nível superior com questões que abordavam o entendimento do termo zoonose, sobre a exposição do animal e do dono à fatores de risco para zoonoses e sobre os cuidados com o animal. Verificou-se que a maioria dos alunos tem noção que a palavra zoonoses está relacionada à doença e que os cursos de graduação apresentam diferenças entre si, apresentando grupos mais vulneráveis aos fatores de risco de zoonoses. As informações obtidas com este trabalho fornecem elementos para o planejamento prioritário de ações de educação em saúde e para a adequação de materiais educativos para a comunidade universitária

Enhanced Leishmania braziliensis Infection Following Pre-Exposure to Sandfly Saliva

Parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a variety of diseases known as leishmaniasis, that are transmitted by bites of female sand flies that, during blood-feeding, inject humans with parasites and saliva. It was shown that, in mice, immunity to sand-fly saliva is able to protect against the development of leishmaniasis. We have investigated, in the present study, whether this finding extends the sand fly species Lutzomyia intermedia, which is responsible for transmission of Leishmania braziliensis, a parasite species able to cause destructive skin lesions that can be fatal if left untreated. We observed that mice injected with sand fly saliva develop a specific immune response against salivary proteins. Most importantly, however, this immune response was unable to protect mice against a challenge infection with L. braziliensis, indicating that exposure to this sand fly saliva is harmful to the host. Indeed, subjects with cutaneous leishmaniasis have a higher immune response against L. intermedia saliva. These findings indicate that the anti-saliva immune response to sand fly saliva plays an important role in the outcome of leishmaniasis caused by L. braziliensis, in both mice and humans, and emphasize possible hurdles in the development of vaccines based on sand fly saliva