Abstract The shape of the secondary sexual characters is, traditionally, used to discriminate the marine shrimps at the species level. However, the qualitative evaluation of structures that are ...morphologically variable in the taxonomy of species can favor misunderstandings and misidentifications. These possibilities of taxonomic inaccuracies are especially alarming when there is a need to evaluate the invasion of introduced species. The present study used geometric morphometric analyses to identify differences in the cephalothorax shape that would help discriminate the native and non-native species of Litopenaeus of the South American coast. The comparative morphology analysis was conducted using the right profile of adult males’ cephalothorax of L. schmitti, captured in the natural environment, and L. vannamei captured in the natural environment or grown in shrimp farms. In intraspecific evaluation, it was not possible to distinguish the specimens of L. vannamei that were grown in shrimp farms from those acclimated to the natural environment. However, significant interspecific differences in shape were found in the shape of this body structure. Additionally, the base position of the first rostral spine to the tip of the hepatic spine is indicated as a characteristic that can be used to distinguish these two species by eye in the field.
We investigated the structure of the binary mixture of Pluronic F-127 (PL F-127) and Pluronic L-81 (PL L-81), as hydrogels for sumatriptan delivery and investigated the mixture possible use via ...subcutaneous route for future applications as a long-acting antimigraine formulation. We studied the drug–micelle interaction by dynamic light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry, sol–gel process by rheology, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We also employed pharmaceutical formulation aspects by dissolution rate, release profile, and cytotoxicity studies for apoptosis and/or necrosis in fibroblasts (3T3) and neural cells (Neuro 2a). Micellar hydrodynamic diameter studies revealed the formation of binary PL-micelles by association of PL F-127/PL L-81. The mixed micelle and binary hydrogels formation was also verified by only one phase transition temperature for all formulations, even in the presence of sumatriptan. The characterization of the hydrogel supramolecular organization by SAXS, rheology studies, and in vitro dissolution/release results showed a probable relationship between the transition of the lamellar to the hexagonal phase and the lower release constant values observed, indicating that PL L-81 participates in micelle-hydrogel formation and aggregation processes. Furthermore, the reduced cytotoxicity (annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate positive staining), with minor PL L-81 concentration, points to its potential use for the development of binary PL-systems containing sumatriptan capable of modulating the gelation process. This use may employ the minimum PL concentration and be interesting for pharmaceutical applications, particularly for migraine treatment.
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The development of specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, chemoresistance of tumor cells to TKIs has ...already been described, and several mechanisms account for the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes, including the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). This decreases the rate of healing and complete tumor remission. Nanotechnological tools have been studied to allow advances in this field. Poloxamers (Pluronics®) have been proposed as drug carriers to improve therapeutic efficacy and decrease side effects, even in cancer therapy, due to their ability to inhibit P-gp. Antipsychotic phenothiazines have been described as potent cytotoxic drugs against several types of tumor cells in vitro. Here, we show that nanostructured micellar systems containing the phenothiazine derivative chlorpromazine (CPZ) potentiated the cytotoxicity of free CPZ and increased the selectivity against CML tumor cells, demonstrating the pharmacological potential of these poloxamer-based nanostructured systems containing CPZ in cancer therapy.
Cocaine is an addictive substance with a potential to cause deleterious effects in the brain. The strategies for treating its neurotoxicity, however, are limited. Evidence suggests that the ...endocannabinoid system exerts neuroprotective functions against various stimuli. Thus, we hypothesized that inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the main enzyme responsible for terminating the actions of the endocannabinoid anandamide, reduces seizures and cell death in the hippocampus in a model of cocaine intoxication. Male Swiss mice received injections of endocannabinoid-related compounds followed by the lowest dose of cocaine that induces seizures, electroencephalographic activity and cell death in the hippocampus. The molecular mechanisms were studied in primary cell culture of this structure. The FAAH inhibitor, URB597, reduced cocaine-induced seizures and epileptiform electroencephalographic activity. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor selective agonist, ACEA, mimicked these effects, whereas the antagonist, AM251, prevented them. URB597 also inhibited cocaine-induced activation and death of hippocampal neurons, both in animals and in primary cell culture. Finally, we investigated if the PI3K/Akt/ERK intracellular pathway, a cell surviving mechanism coupled to CB1 receptor, mediated these neuroprotective effects. Accordingly, URB597 injection increased ERK and Akt phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Moreover, the neuroprotective effect of this compound was reversed by the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. In conclusion, the pharmacological facilitation of the anandamide/CB1/PI3K signaling protects the brain against cocaine intoxication in experimental models. This strategy may be further explored in the development of treatments for drug-induced neurotoxicity.
•Cocaine toxicity is characterized by seizures and hippocampal cell death.•The endocannabinoid anandamide acts as a brain protective mechanism.•Inhibition of anandamide hydrolysis attenuates cocaine neurotoxicity.•This effect is mediated by the cannabinoid CB1 receptor/PI3K pathway.
Studies on the lysis of
L. chagasi caused by the bacteria
Serratia marcescens were carried out.
In vitro experiments demonstrated that
S. marcescens variant SM 365, a prodigiosin pigment producer, ...lysed this species of
Leishmania but variant DB11, a nonpigmented bacteria, was unable to lyse the parasite. High concentrations of
d-mannose were found to protect
L. chagasi markedly diminishing the lysis by
S. marcescens SM 365. Promastigotes of
L. chagasi bound the lectin Concanavalin A conjugated with FITC, the fluorescence was intensely found at the base of the flagellum (flagellar pocket). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the bacteria adherence occurred mainly in the flagellar pocket.
S. marcescens SM 365 formed filamentous structures, identified as biofilms, which connect the protozoan to the developing bacterial clusters, in low concentrations of bacteria after 30
min incubation time. We suggest that bacterial mannose-sensitive (MS) fimbriae are relevant to
S. marcescens SM 365 in the lysis of
L. chagasi.
Anamnesis: A 5-year-old mixed breed entire bitch was presented with bloody vaginal discharge and abdominal distension. Clinical and laboratory findings: Physical examination and abdominal ...ultrasonography suggested the presence of a left ovarian tumor. At histopathological examination it was diagnosed as granulosa cell tumor. Treatment approach: An exploratory laparotomy was performed followed by ovariohysterectomy to remove the intra-abdominal mass. Conclusion: The clinical, ultrasonographic and histologic signs in this case support other literature reports. Ultrasonography, in combination with histopathologic analysis is a fundamental tool for detection of ovarian tumors, especially tumors of the granulosa cells.
Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a rare genetic disorder leading to neurological defects, telangiectasias, and immunodeficiency. We aimed to study the clinical and immunological features of Latin ...American patients with AT and analyze factors associated with mortality. Referral centers from 9 Latin American countries participated in this retrospective cohort study, and 218 patients were included. Median (IQR) ages at symptom onset and diagnosis were 1.0 (1.0-2.0) and 5.0 (3.0-8.0) years, respectively. Most patients presented recurrent airway infections, which was significantly associated with IgA deficiency. IgA deficiency was observed in 60.8% of patients and IgG deficiency in 28.6%. T- and B-lymphopenias were also present in most cases. Mean survival was 24.2 years, and Kaplan-Meier 20-year-survival rate was 52.6%, with higher mortality associated with female gender and low IgG levels. These findings suggest that immunologic status should be investigated in all patients with AT.
In 2015, during the outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil, we identified 3 cases of acute hearing loss after exanthematous illness. Serology yielded finding compatible with ZIKV as the cause of a ...confirmed (n = 1) and a probable (n = 2) flavivirus infection, indicating an association between ZIKV infection and transient hearing loss.
Abstract During March 2005, 24 cases of acute human Chagas disease were detected in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, all of them related to the ingestion of Trypanosoma cruzi -contaminated ...sugar cane juice. Following field studies allowed the isolation of 13 T. cruzi strains from humans, opossums ( Didelphis aurita and Didelphis albiventris ), and vectors ( Triatoma tibiamaculata ). The isolated strains were characterized by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and analysis of the spliced-leader and 24Sα rRNA genes. The assays revealed that all strains isolated from humans belong to the TcII group but revealed a TcII variant pattern for the phosphoglucomutase enzyme. Strains isolated from opossums also showed a TcI profile in all analysis, but strains isolated from triatomines revealed a mixed TcI/TcII profile by MLEE. No indication of the presence of Trypanosoma rangeli was observed in any assay. Considering that mixed strains (TcI/TcII) were isolated from triatomines in an area without active vectorial transmission to humans and that all strains isolated from humans belong to the TcII group, our results show that T. cruzi TcI and TcII groups are circulating among reservoirs and vectors in southern Brazil and indicate that selection toward TcII group in humans may occur after ingestion of a mixed (TcI/TcII) T. cruzi population.
Three new azaphilones with an unusual methylene bridge, named mycoleptones A, B, and C (2, 4, and 5), were isolated from cultures of Mycoleptodiscus indicus, a fungus associated with the South ...American medicinal plant Borreria verticillata. Additionally, four known polyketides, austdiol (1), eugenitin (3), 6-methoxyeugenin (6), and 9-hydroxyeugenin (7), were also isolated. The structural characterization of compounds was carried out by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy, time-dependent density functional theory calculations, and X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1–9 were weakly active when tested in antileishmanial and cytotoxicity assays.
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