Cellular fatty acid (FA) composition was utilized as a taxonomic tool
to discriminate between different Aspergillus species. Several of the
tested species had the same FA composition and different ...relative FA
concentrations. The most important FAs were palmitic acid (C16:0),
estearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2),
which represented 95% of Aspergillus FAs. Multivariate data analysis
demonstrated that FA analysis is a useful tool for differentiating
species belonging to genus Aspergillus. All the species analyzed showed
significantly FA acid profiles (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it will be
possible to distinguish among Aspergillus spp. in the Flavi Section. FA
composition can serve as a useful tool for the identification of
filamentous fungi.
Achieving an effective management of geodiversity and geoheritage demands integrative, multidisciplinary approaches in different spheres. This mission is enlarged if taking into account the role of ...these elements in the maintenance of ecosystems and associated goods and services, and the huge responsibility of geoscientists on the dissemination of trustful information that can help people to deal with current socio-environmental issues. The status of geoconservation initiatives in a given territory depend on several aspects. It can be a challenge in developing countries where nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources may be taken as less relevant in face of major, more urgent topics. We present a three-module geoconservation framework aiming to contemplate essential steps for geoconservation strategies named: 1. diagnosis, 2. conservation and 3. promotion. On its basis we analysed six Brazilian case studies to identify strengths and weaknesses and to evaluate the role of these methods in the whole geoconservation chain. Our data indicate that the items related to the diagnosis and promotion are the most prevalent, but conservation represents the main weakness, particularly legal protection, geosite conservation and monitoring. This results from the fact that most of the people involved in diagnosis and promotion are geoscientists with multidisciplinary skills and expertise, whilst conservation involves the participation of national or local government administrators and the existence of adequate legislation. This brings light to the need of an integrated approach including cooperation between academia, public administrations and society in the proposition of fair environmental practices in the conservation of geoheritage.
•Observation of frameworks can bring more quality to geoconservation strategies.•Diagnosis and Promotion steps are more prevalent than Conservation.•Legal protection is the weakest link.•Cooperation between academia, public administrations and society is essential.
Information Systems (IS) and Information Technologies (IT) are fundamental elements for the competitiveness of organizations. Thus, an efficient development of IT/IS projects is a key factor for ...business success. Nowadays companies are increasingly outsourcing their activities, including the development of IT/IS projects. However, the results of investments often lead to frustration and are far from meeting the expectations. Bearing this in mind, this paper proposes a new framework – ISOPM – that identifies the most relevant activities for the IT/IS outsourcing projects management, aiming to contribute to the study and development of this specific area of project management.
Background
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood and is associated with long-term complications. We aimed to assess the effect of adjuvant ...dexamethasone treatment on reducing kidney scarring after acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.
Methods
Multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) where children from 1 month to 14 years of age with proven APN were randomly assigned to receive a 3-day course of either an intravenous corticosteroid (dexamethasone 0.30 mg per kg/day) twice daily or placebo. The late technetium 99 m-dimercaptosuric acid scintigraphy (> 6 months after acute episode) was performed to assess kidney scar persistence. Kidney scarring risk factors (vesicoureteral reflux, kidney congenital anomalies, or urinary tract dilatation) were also assessed.
Results
Ninety-one participants completed the follow-up and were finally included (dexamethasone
n
= 49 and placebo
n
= 42). Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. Twenty participants showed persistent kidney scarring after > 6 months of follow-up without differences in incidence between groups (22% and 21% in the dexamethasone and placebo groups,
p
= 0.907). Renal damage severity in the early DMSA (β = 0.648,
p
= 0.023) and procalcitonin values (β = 0.065
p
= 0.027) significantly modulated scar development. Vesicoureteral reflux grade showed a trend towards significance (β = 0.545,
p
= 0.054), but dexamethasone treatment showed no effect.
Conclusion
Dexamethasone showed no effect on reducing the risk of scar formation in children with APN. Hence, there is no evidence for an adjuvant corticosteroid treatment recommendation in children with APN. However, the study was limited by not achieving the predicted sample size and the expected scar formation.
Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02034851. Registered in January 14, 2014.
Graphical abstract
“A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.”
Companies can outsource Information Technologies (IT) /Information Systems (IS) at various scales, from a small percentage of services to the entire range of services that they need. Outsourcing is ...associated to a set of motivations related to perceived benefits, but it also has inherent risks. This paper discusses the main results of a survey carried out to determine several aspects of outsourcing practice in large companies. It presents the most frequently contracted services (application development and application maintenance), the most prevailing motivations (financial motives and access to world-class capabilities) and the main risks (loss of control, loss of intellectual capital, and unexpected costs), as perceived by companies.
Objective
Angiotensin-(1–7) Ang-(1–7) is a pro-resolving mediator. It is not known whether the pro-resolving effects of Ang-(1–7) are sustained and protect the lung from a subsequent inflammatory ...challenge. This study sought to investigate the impact of treatment in face of a second allergic or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.
Methods
Mice, sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), received a single Ang-(1–7) dose at the peak of eosinophilic inflammation, 24 h after the final OVA challenge. Subsequently, mice were euthanized at 48, 72, 96, and 120 h following the OVA challenge, and cellular infiltrate, inflammatory mediators, lung histopathology, and macrophage-mediated efferocytic activity were evaluated. The secondary inflammatory stimulus (OVA or LPS) was administered 120 h after the last OVA challenge, and subsequent inflammatory analyses were performed.
Results
Treatment with Ang-(1–7) resulted in elevated levels of IL-10, CD4
+
Foxp3
+
, Mres in the lungs and enhanced macrophage-mediated efferocytic capacity. Moreover, in allergic mice treated with Ang-(1–7) and then subjected to a secondary OVA challenge, inflammation was also reduced. Similarly, in mice exposed to LPS, Ang-(1–7) effectively prevented the lung inflammation.
Conclusion
A single dose of Ang-(1–7) resolves lung inflammation and protect the lung from a subsequent inflammatory challenge highlighting its potential therapeutic for individuals with asthma.
Aim
Febrile urinary tract infection is a common bacterial infection in childhood. The kidney damage after acute pyelonephritis (APN) could be related to the stimulation of the proinflammatory ...response. We aimed to investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines and the effect of dexamethasone after a first episode of APN.
Methods
Subanalysis of the DEXCAR RCT in which children with confirmed APN (1 month–14 years) were randomly assigned to receive a 3 days course of either intravenous dexamethasone or placebo. Urinary cytokine levels at diagnosis and after 72 h of treatment were measured.
Results
Ninety‐two patients were recruited. Younger patients, males and those with abnormalities in the ultrasound study or vesicoureteral reflux showed higher values of urinary cytokines. Patients with severe APN had higher Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)α levels (81.0 ± 75.8 vs. 33.6 ± 48.5 pg/mg creatinine, p = 0.015). Both intervention groups showed similar basal clinical characteristics, including urinary cytokine levels. Treatment reduced urinary cytokine levels irrespective of dexamethasone administration. Neither the intervention group nor the urinary cytokine levels modulated the development of kidney scars.
Conclusion
Basal urinary cytokines were associated with age, abnormal ultrasound and vesicoureteral reflux. Patients with severe APN had higher TNFa urinary levels. Administration of dexamethasone in children with APN does not improve the control of the proinflammatory cytokine cascade.
En las últimas décadas, se han producido profundos cambios en el manejo de la infección urinaria en pediatría, a partir de estudios que cuestionaban la eficacia de las estrategias para prevenir el ...daño renal y la evolución posterior a enfermedad renal crónica, muy poco probable en la mayoría de los casos. No obstante, todavía existe una gran variabilidad clínica en el manejo e incertidumbre en cuestiones relativas al diagnóstico, la indicación de una exploración radiológica, el tratamiento o el seguimiento de estos niños. La actualización de la guía de práctica clínica española ha examinado en la literatura publicada desde el año 2009 y de modo riguroso aspectos de la práctica actual, considerando la evidencia de los beneficios de cada intervención, junto con los riesgos asociados y desventajas, para intentar delimitar las pautas de actuación más precisas.
The management of urinary tract infection in infants and children has changed significantly over the past few decades based on scientific evidence that questioned the efficacy of strategies used to prevent kidney injury and subsequent progression to chronic kidney disease, which is very unlikely in most paediatric cases. However, there is still substantial heterogeneity in its management and uncertainty regarding the diagnosis, indication of imaging tests, treatment or followup in these patients. The Spanish clinical practice guideline has been updated through the review of the literature published since 2009 and a rigorous evaluation of current clinical practice aspects, considering the evidence on the benefits of each intervention in addition to its risks and drawbacks to attempt to provide more precise recommendations.
Aflatoxins are naturally occurring carcinogenic substances, extremely toxic to humans, which have been identified in wheat and wheat by-products. The use of reliable analytical methods to evaluate ...and monitor such contaminants is extremely important. This study aimed to in-house validate a methodology to determine aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in wheat grains using pre-column derivatization and quantification by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Three methods were evaluated and the most suitable one was the method based on the extraction with chloroform, removal of interfering chemicals by filtration, liquid-liquid partition with hexane-methanol-water and methanol-water-chloroform and pre-column derivatization with trifluoroacetic acid. The method showed a Relative Standard Deviation lower than 15% and recovery values in the 70-110% range, with limits of detection and quantification (0.6 µg kg-1 and 1.2 µg kg-1, respectively) below the maximum level of aflatoxins allowed in wheat and wheat by-products by the European Commission (4.0 µg kg-1) and by the Brazilian legislation (5.0 µg kg-1). Using the validated method, aflatoxins were quantified in 20 commercial samples of wheat grains, wheat bran, whole wheat flour and refined wheat flour intended for direct human consumption. Six samples (30%) were positive for aflatoxins and all samples presented levels below the maximum limit stipulated by the Brazilian legislation.
Aflatoxinas são substâncias carcinogênicas de ocorrência natural, extremamente tóxicas para humanos, que têm sido identificadas no trigo e em produtos derivados. O uso de métodos analíticos confiáveis para avaliar e monitorar tais contaminantes é de grande importância. Este trabalho objetivou validar, intralaboratorialmente, uma metodologia para a determinação de aflatoxinas B1, B2, G1 e G2, em grãos de trigo, utilizando derivatização pré-coluna e quantificação por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência com detecção por fluorescência (CLAE-DF). Três metodologias foram avaliadas e a que se adequou para tal propósito baseou-se na extração com clorofórmio, remoção dos interferentes por filtração, partição líquido-líquido com metanol-água-hexano e metanol-água-clorofórmio e derivatização pré-coluna com ácido trifluoracético. O método apresentou variação de repetibilidade inferior a 15% e recuperação na faixa de 70-110%, com limites de detecção e quantificação (0,6 µg kg-1 e 1,2 µg kg-1, respectivamente) inferiores ao nível máximo permitido pela Comissão Europeia (4,0 µg kg-1) e pela legislação brasileira (5,0 µg kg-1), para a presença de aflatoxinas em trigo e derivados. Por meio desta metodologia, foram quantificadas aflatoxinas em 20 amostras comerciais de grãos, farelo de trigo e farinha de trigo integral e refinada, destinadas ao consumo humano direto. Seis amostras (30%) foram positivas para aflatoxinas e todas apresentaram-se dentro do limite regulatório permitido pela legislação brasileira.
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