The intensive use of pesticides to control pests in agriculture has promoted several issues relating to environment. As chemical pesticides remain controversial, biocontrol agents originating from ...fungi could be an alternative. Among them, we highlight biocontrol agents derived from the fungi genus
, which have been documented in limiting the growth of other phytopathogenic fungus in the roots and leaves of several plant species. An important member of this genus is
, whose biocontrol agents have been used to promote plant growth while also treating soil diseases caused by microorganisms in both greenhouses and outdoor crops. To evaluate the safety of fungal biological agents for human health, tests to detect potentially adverse effects, such as allergenicity, toxicity, infectivity and pathogenicity, are crucial. In addition, identifying possible immunomodulating properties of fungal biocontrol agents merits further investigation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of
spores in the internalization of
yeast by mice phagocytes, in order to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanism of this interaction, as a model to understand possible
effects of this fungus. For this, mice were exposed to a fungal spore suspension through-intraperitoneal injection, euthanized and cells from the peripheral blood and peritoneal cavity were collected for functional, quantitative and phenotypic analysis, throughout analysis of membrane receptors gene expression, phagocytosis ability and cells immunophenotyping M1 (CCR7 and CD86) and M2 (CCR2 and CD206). Our analyses showed that phagocytes exposed to fungal spores had reduced phagocytic capacity, as well as a decrease in the quantity of neutrophils and monocytes in the peripheral blood and peritoneal cavity. Moreover, macrophages exposed to
spores did not display the phenotypic profile M1/M2, and had reduced expression of pattern recognition receptors, such as TLR2, dectin-1 and dectin-2, all involved in the first line of defense against clinically important yeasts. Our data could infer that
spores may confer susceptibility to infection by
.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder whose pathogenesis involves production and aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Aβ-induced toxicity is believed to involve alterations on as ...Na
+
,K
+
-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, prior to neuronal death. Drugs able to prevent or to reverse these biochemical changes promote neuroprotection. GM1 is a ganglioside proposed to have neuroprotective roles in AD models, through mechanisms not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Aβ1-42 infusion and GM1 treatment on recognition memory and on Na
+
,K
+
-ATPase and AChE activities, as well as, on antioxidant defense in the brain cortex and the hippocampus. For these purposes, Wistar rats received i.c.v. infusion of fibrilar Aβ1-42 (2 nmol) and/or GM1 (0.30 mg/kg). Behavioral and biochemical analyses were conducted 1 month after the infusion procedures. Our results showed that GM1 treatment prevented Aβ-induced cognitive deficit, corroborating its neuroprotective function. Aβ impaired Na
+
,K
+
-ATPase and increase AChE activities in hippocampus and cortex, respectively. GM1, in turn, has partially prevented Aβ-induced alteration on Na
+
,K
+
-ATPase, though with no impact on AChE activity. Aβ caused a decrease in antioxidant defense, specifically in hippocampus, an effect that was prevented by GM1 treatment. GM1, both in cortex and hippocampus, was able to increase antioxidant scavenge capacity. Our results suggest that Aβ-triggered cognitive deficit involves region-specific alterations on Na
+
,K
+
-ATPase and AChE activities, and that GM1 neuroprotection involves modulation of Na
+
,K
+
-ATPase, maybe by its antioxidant properties. Although extrapolation from animal findings is difficult, it is conceivable that GM1 could play an important role in AD treatment.
Background: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an effective agent for the arrest of caries in children, is easy to apply and can be used outside the clinical environment. Interim restorative treatment ...(IRT) using glass ionomer cement has also been claimed to be a simple and effective method to arrest caries in deciduous teeth. Objective: To examine whether, for underprivileged schoolchildren with cavities, treatment with 30% SDF gives better results than IRT for carries arrest. Method: This randomised controlled study compares the effect of IRT (FUJI IX) with 30% SDF in 91 children aged 5–6 years. Results: After 1 year, treatment with SDF was more effective relative risk (RR) = 66.9% than IRT (RR = 38.6%) for the arrest of caries; this was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The SDF technique showed better results than IRT for the arrest of cavities in deciduous teeth, indicating that its use for underprivileged communities may justify a paradigm shift in paediatric dentistry.
In this study, we report the ability of a set of eight 3-phenylcoumarin derivatives bearing 6,7- or 5,7-dihydroxyl groups, free or acetylated, bound to the benzopyrone moiety, to modulate the ...effector functions of human neutrophils. In general, (i) 6,7-disubstituted compounds (5, 6, 19, 20) downmodulated the Fcγ receptor-mediated neutrophil oxidative metabolism more strongly than 5,7-disubstituted compounds (21, 22, 23, 24), and (ii) hydroxylated compounds (5, 19, 21, 23) downmodulated this neutrophil function more effectively than their acetylated counterparts (6, 20, 22, 24, respectively). Compounds 5 (6,7-dihydroxy-3-3′,4′-methylenedioxyphenyl-coumarin) and 19 (6,7-dihydroxy-3-3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl-coumarin) effectively downmodulated the neutrophil oxidative metabolism elicited via Fcγ and/or complement receptors. Compound 5 also downmodulated the immune complex-stimulated phagocytosis, degranulation of elastase, and production and release of neutrophil extracellular traps, as well as the human neutrophil chemotaxis towards n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, without altering the expression level of formyl peptide receptor type 1. Both compounds 5 and 19 did not impair the neutrophil capacity to recognize and kill Candida albicans. Docking calculations revealed that compounds 5 and 19 directly interacted with three catalytic residues – Gln-91, His-95, and Arg-239 – inside the myeloperoxidase active site. Together, these findings indicate that (i) inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation and degranulation of elastase are closely associated with downmodulation of release of neutrophil extracellular traps; and (ii) compound 5 can be a prototype for the development of novel immunomodulating drugs to treat immune complex-mediated inflammatory diseases.
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•3-PD 5 downmodulates neutrophil ROS generation, phagocytosis, and degranulation.•3-PD 5 downmodulates the production and release of neutrophil extracellular traps.•3-PD 5 downmodulates neutrophil chemotaxis towards fMLP but not FPR1 expression.•3-PD 5 is not cytotoxic to neutrophils and does not interfere with microbial killing.•3-PD 5 directly interacts with three catalytic residues of myeloperoxidase.
BACKGROUND:Multiple Sclerosis (MS) presents some clinical manifestations that may indicate motor, sensory and cognitive dysfunctions. Motor dysfunctions in MS are related to balance impairment, ...muscle weakness, gait, and fatigue and can lead to a significant decrease in quality of life. Postural balance is crucial for daily life activities and can be assessed by posturography. AIM:The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of different levels of habitual physical activity (PA) on postural balance in women with MS. Additionally, we included an evaluation of walking, mobility, fatigue, and quality of life. METHOD:This is a cross-sectional study with 25 women with MS. Habitual PA was measured using the Baecke-Questionnaire, separated into low-level (LL) and high-level (HL) PA. Posturography was used to evaluate postural balance and obtain displacement of the center of pressure (CoP-speed, CoP-area). We evaluated gait spatiotemporal-parameters (GAITRite), walking performance (6MWT), functional mobility (TUG), fatigue (FSS, MFIS), and quality-of-life (FAMS). RESULTS:The difference in CoP-speed and CoP-area was significant (p<0.05) with LL group presented greater values than the HL group. We found a medium effect size CoP-speed (Cohen’s d=0.6) and higher CoP-area (Cohen’s d=1.1). No significant differences with the other variables were found. CONCLUSION:The results showed that the group with a LL PA presented worse postural balance compared to the group HL. Although level of PA and balance seem to be related, the results of this cross-sectional study could not confirm a causal inference. It is important to develop different strategies to increase PA levels and posture balance in women with MS.
The Paciência river estuary (PRE) is an Amazonian estuary with relevant socio-economic importance; however, it is undergoing a continuous anthropogenic pressure such as the input of untreated ...domestic effluents. Hence, the phytoplankton community and trophic indices were analysed during three seasons in 2017 to assess the water quality and understand the degree of human influence in a macrotidal estuary. The trophic state of the PRE was determined by applying the trophic state index (TSI), trophic index, and Karydis trophic index, and ecological status by diversity metrics (diversity, evenness, richness, and dominance). Multivariate analysis indicated that TSI and dominance index were the most sensitive indices to changes in environmental conditions. The precipitation regime characterised the estuary in two different trophic scenarios. PRE was hypereutrophic in the dry season and mesotrophic in the rainy/transitional seasons based on the TSI. A high dominance index was recorded in the dry season with blooms of Thalassiosira rotula, reflecting an ecological disturbance. A higher phytoplankton diversity was recorded in the rainy/transitional seasons, indicating a tendency toward a lower stressed ecosystem. Therefore, understanding the trophic state variability in tropical estuaries and its response to changes in phytoplankton ecology is essential to support the management of coastal ecosystems.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder whose pathogenesis involves production and aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta). Abeta-induced toxicity is believed to involve ...alterations on as Na^sup +^,K^sup +^-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, prior to neuronal death. Drugs able to prevent or to reverse these biochemical changes promote neuroprotection. GM1 is a ganglioside proposed to have neuroprotective roles in AD models, through mechanisms not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Abeta1-42 infusion and GM1 treatment on recognition memory and on Na^sup +^,K^sup +^-ATPase and AChE activities, as well as, on antioxidant defense in the brain cortex and the hippocampus. For these purposes, Wistar rats received i.c.v. infusion of fibrilar Abeta1-42 (2 nmol) and/or GM1 (0.30 mg/kg). Behavioral and biochemical analyses were conducted 1 month after the infusion procedures. Our results showed that GM1 treatment prevented Abeta-induced cognitive deficit, corroborating its neuroprotective function. Abeta impaired Na^sup +^,K^sup +^-ATPase and increase AChE activities in hippocampus and cortex, respectively. GM1, in turn, has partially prevented Abeta-induced alteration on Na^sup +^,K^sup +^-ATPase, though with no impact on AChE activity. Abeta caused a decrease in antioxidant defense, specifically in hippocampus, an effect that was prevented by GM1 treatment. GM1, both in cortex and hippocampus, was able to increase antioxidant scavenge capacity. Our results suggest that Abeta-triggered cognitive deficit involves region-specific alterations on Na^sup +^,K^sup +^-ATPase and AChE activities, and that GM1 neuroprotection involves modulation of Na^sup +^,K^sup +^-ATPase, maybe by its antioxidant properties. Although extrapolation from animal findings is difficult, it is conceivable that GM1 could play an important role in AD treatment. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Inferring shape evolution Campos Bianchi, Andrea G; Dos Santos, Marinilce F; Hamassaki Britto, Dânia E ...
Pattern recognition letters,
04/2003, Letnik:
24, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Dynamic shapes represent an important issue in several scientific and technological contexts. The current article presents a model-based mathematic-computational approach for inferring the processes ...of neural evolution, including analytical mappings, convolution models and normal wavefront propagation, illustrated with respect to stationary and non-stationary evolutions along time and space.
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