Peatlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where the water table is present on the surface or near it, or still presents itself in flooded conditions. Despite the ...recognized importance of these environmental matrices in the storage of organic carbon and water, little information has been known in the literature about their influence on the surface water quality. This study aims to evaluate the water quality from peatlands in the spring of the Rio Campo Belo, in Itatiaia National Park, Itatiaia–Brazil. The spring water quality from peat profiles was based in geochemical parameters, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total organic carbon (TOC), silica, ions, and trace elements (Al, Sb, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Sn, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, V, Ga, Rb, Sr, and Zn) on spring water and peat core samples. The highest DO values observed in the spring waters that leachate water and may be related to the lower water temperature, as well as the movement of water. The DOC values were relatively low suggesting no difference between the spring water and the water leached (1.6 and 1.7 mg L
−1
, respectively). Higher values of ions and trace elements in the leaching water from core peat demonstrate a greater contribution of the peatland to the concentration of these ions in spring water. Increase in TOC values did not cause an increase in pH values, in contrast to the observed with the organic matter removal, resulting in increase of pH values.
Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a zoonotic virus endemic to the African continent, has been reported in 33 non-endemic countries since May 2022. We report an almost complete genome of the first confirmed ...case of MPXV in Brazil. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was completed in 18 hours, from DNA extraction to consensus sequence generation.
In 2022, an outbreak of monkeypox is being reported in non-endemic areas, with unusual clinical manifestations. The detailed clinical description of the first patient that received the diagnosis of ...monkeypox in Brazil is reported here, whose clinical manifestations can easily lead to misdiagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. A 41 years old male presented to an emergency room with a vesicular rash with eight days of evolution. He had traveled to Portugal and Spain and reported non-penetrative sexual involvement with three different male individuals. On the third day of symptoms, he sought medical care and received empirical treatment directed to sexually transmitted infections. As the symptoms did not improve, he sought medical attention at an infectious disease referral center presenting, on admission, an ulcerated penile lesion with central necrotic crusts, a disseminated pleomorphic skin rash and an oropharyngeal ulcer. The monkeypox diagnosis was suspected due to the characteristics of the lesions and the history of intimate contact with casual partners, and it was later confirmed by sequencing the almost complete monkeypox genome. The patient was hospitalized for pain control, which required opiate administration. He developed a secondary bacterial infection on the penile lesions, which were treated with oral antibiotics. He was discharged after 14 days, with lesions in process of re-epithelialization. Given the current outbreak, we must consider the possibility of monkeypox in patients with suggestive lesions, anywhere on the body (including the genitals), added to an epidemiological link or history of intimate contact with strangers or casual partners.
This study aimed to carry out the extraction and chemical characterization of oil from crambe treated with resistance inducers during its cultivation to promote greater efficiency in the defense ...system of plants. For this purpose, Agromos® and Ecolife® inducers were applied at rates of 0.5 and 1.0 L hectare−1 during crambe cultivation. Crambe seed oil was obtained in a Soxhlet extractor using n-hexane as a solvent and the oils were characterized in terms of fatty acid composition and minority compound contents (phytosterol and tocopherol). The oil obtained from seeds without the application of inducers (control) was also characterized. We determine the oxidative stability of oils with inducer application that presented higher minority compound contents. Crambe seeds that received the treatment with the Agromos® resistance inducer had higher oil content. However, in general, the fatty acid profile of the obtained oils was similar and showed a predominance of erucic and oleic acids (which represent ~82% of the composition). The application of the Agromos® inducer allowed obtaining seeds that provided oil with higher contents of phytosterols and tocopherols and higher oxidative stability.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Background
The release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is associated with inflammation, coagulopathy, and organ damage found in severe cases of COVID-19. However, the molecular ...mechanisms underlying the release of NETs in COVID-19 remain unclear.
Objectives
We aim to investigate the role of the Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) pathway on NETs release and the development of organ damage during COVID-19.
Methods
We performed a single-cell transcriptome analysis in public data of bronchoalveolar lavage. Then, we enrolled 63 hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. We analyze in blood and lung tissue samples the expression of GSDMD, presence of NETs, and signaling pathways upstreaming. Furthermore, we analyzed the treatment with disulfiram in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Results
We found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly activates the pore-forming protein GSDMD that triggers NET production and organ damage in COVID-19. Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression of GSDMD and inflammasome-related genes were increased in COVID-19 patients. High expression of active GSDMD associated with NETs structures was found in the lung tissue of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we showed that activation of GSDMD in neutrophils requires active caspase1/4 and live SARS-CoV-2, which infects neutrophils. In a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the treatment with disulfiram inhibited NETs release and reduced organ damage.
Conclusion
These results demonstrated that GSDMD-dependent NETosis plays a critical role in COVID-19 immunopathology and suggests GSDMD as a novel potential target for improving the COVID-19 therapeutic strategy.
Background
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐c) is associated with severe cardiovascular impairment and eventually death. Pathophysiological mechanisms involved in myocardial injury ...were scarcely investigated, and cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain. Autopsy studies suggested that microvascular dysfunction may be relevant to LV impairment.
Objective
We aimed to evaluate segmental LV longitudinal strain by 2DST echocardiography and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) by 13 N‐ammonia PET‐CT, in six surviving MIS‐c patients.
Methods
Each patient generated 34 LV segments for combined 2DST and MRF analysis. MFR was considered abnormal when <2, borderline when between 2 and 2.5 and normal when >2.5.
Results
From July 2020 to February 2021, six patients were admitted with MIS‐c: three males, aged 9.3 (6.6–15.7) years. Time from admission to the follow‐up visit was 6.05 (2–10.3) months. Although all patients were asymptomatic and LV EF was ≥55%, 43/102 (42.1%) LV segments showed MFR <2.5. There was a modest positive correlation between segmental peak systolic longitudinal strain and MFR: r = .36, p = .03 for basal segments; r = .41, p = .022 for mid segments; r = .42, p = .021 for apical segments. Median peak systolic longitudinal strain was different among MRF categories: 18% (12%–24%) for abnormal, 18.5% (11%–35%) for borderline, and 21% (12%–32%) for normal MFR (p = .006).
Conclusion
We provided preliminary evidence that surviving MIS‐c patients may present subclinical impairment of myocardial microcirculation. Segmental cardiac strain assessment 2DST seems useful for MIS‐c cardiovascular follow‐up, given its good correlation with 13 N‐ammonia PET‐CT derived MFR.
To report a case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) that presented atypical initial manifestations and highlight the importance of complementary investigation to avoid diagnosis delay.
A 54-year-old ...female patient who presented with vertigo with positional nystagmus, nausea, and vomiting as initial CJD manifestations.
Neuro-otological and brain magnetic resonance images, which showed abnormal hyperintense cortical signal in both hemispheres.
We reached a presumptive diagnosis of the prion disease after the first magnetic resonance imaging. Eventually, the patient presented with typical neurological findings and met the criteria for probable CJD.
Our case report presents a patient with sporadic CJD who experienced dizziness as an initial manifestation and met the diagnostic criteria for probable CJD a few weeks after symptoms onset.
We believe that this case may serve to help otolaryngologists pay better attention to cases of dizziness associated with neurological signs and highlight the importance of complementary investigation using magnetic resonance imaging and neuro-otological tests to prevent delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is widespread throughout the world. After active penetration, the parasite is enclosed within a parasitophorous vacuole and ...survives in the host cell by avoiding, among other mechanisms, lysosomal degradation. A large number of studies have demonstrated the importance of ATP signalling via the P2X(7) receptor, as a component of the inflammatory response against intracellular pathogens. Here we evaluate the effects of extracellular ATP on T. gondii infection of macrophages. ATP treatment inhibits the parasite load and the appearance of large vacuoles in the cytoplasm of intracellular parasites. ROS and NO assays showed that only ROS production is involved with the ATP effects. Immunofluorescence showed colocalization of Lamp1 and SAG1 only after ATP treatment, suggesting the formation of phagolysosomes. The involvement of P2X(7) receptors in T. gondii clearance was confirmed by the use of P2X(7) agonists and antagonists, and by infecting macrophages from P2X(7) receptor-deficient mice. We conclude that parasite elimination might occur following P2X(7) signalling and that novel therapies against intracellular pathogens could take advantage of activation of purinergic signalling.
The respiratory tract is considered the main port of entry of
Mycobacterium leprae
, the causative agent of leprosy. However, the great majority of individuals exposed to the leprosy bacillus will ...never manifest the disease due to their capacity to develop protective immunity. Besides acting as a physical barrier, airway epithelium cells are recognized as key players by initiating a local innate immune response that orchestrates subsequent adaptive immunity to control airborne infections. However, to date, studies exploring the interaction of
M. leprae
with the respiratory epithelium have been scarce. In this work, the capacity of
M. leprae
to immune activate human alveolar epithelial cells was investigated, demonstrating that
M. leprae
-infected A549 cells secrete significantly increased IL-8 that is dependent on NF-κB activation.
M. leprae
was also able to induce IL-8 production in human primary nasal epithelial cells.
M. leprae
-treated A549 cells also showed higher expression levels of human β-defensin-2 (hβD-2), MCP-1, MHC-II and the co-stimulatory molecule CD80. Furthermore, the TLR-9 antagonist inhibited both the secretion of IL-8 and NF-κB activation in response to
M. leprae
, indicating that bacterial DNA sensing by this Toll-like receptor constitutes an important innate immune pathway activated by the pathogen. Finally, evidence is presented suggesting that extracellular DNA molecules anchored to Hlp, a histone-like protein present on the
M. leprae
surface, constitute major TLR-9 ligands triggering this pathway. The ability of
M. leprae
to immune activate respiratory epithelial cells herein demonstrated may represent a very early event during infection that could possibly be essential to the generation of a protective response.
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