Introdução: Durante a gestação, é crucial adotar cuidados e realizar rastreamentos criteriosos em relação a várias infecções que podem afetar tanto a mãe quanto o feto. Evitar as causas infecciosas ...que representam um risco para a gestação, torna-se de extrema importância devido à elevada possibilidade de resultados negativos. Objetivos: Investigar a ocorrência de óbitos fetais por causas infecciosas em gestações no interior da Bahia. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo descritivo, realizado a partir da análise das fichas de investigação de óbitos fetais, registradas pelo Núcleo Regional de Saúde Leste - Regional Santo Antônio de Jesus-BA. Foram analisadas as causas mortis descritas nas 239 declarações de óbitos e fichas de investigação de 2010 a 2020. Os dados foram analisados no Statistical Package for Social Sciences (23.0). Resultados: Os dados revelaram que 11,7% (28/239) dos óbitos fetais analisados ocorreram por causas infecciosas, sendo a idade gestacional média dos defechos de 31 semanas (+6,56) variando de 20 a 41 semanas. Quanto às doenças diagnosticadas na gestação, notou-se que 21,4% (6/28) dessas gestantes receberam diagnóstico de sífilis, 64,3% (18/28) de infecções do trato urinário (ITU) e 3,6% (1/28) de infecção por citomegalovírus. Apenas 57,1% (16/28) pacientes realizaram antibioticoterapia durante a gestação, sendo que somente 50% (3/6) das diagnosticadas com sífilis e 77,7% (14/18)% das diagnosticadas com ITU foram tratadas. Na admissão para o trabalho de parto, todas as pacientes realizaram VDRL e 12,5% (3/28) foram submetidas à antibioticoterapia. Sobre os óbitos fetais, 25,0% (7/28) tiveram sífilis como causa registrada, 53,6% (15/28) tiveram ITU, 3,6% (1/28) citomegalovírus, 7,1% (2/28) corioamnionite e 14,3% (4/28) por infecção não especificada. No que diz respeito à investigação acerca da evitabilidade do óbito, 92,3% (24/26) foram classificados como evitáveis e 7,7% (2/26) tiveram investigação inconclusiva quanto à evitabilidade. Conclusão: É evidente uma preocupante prevalência de óbitos fetais evitáveis causados por infecções. Observa-se uma possível falta de conformidade na adoção dos tratamentos necessários para atender gestações diagnosticadas com doenças infectocontagiosas, o que justifica o significativo número de resultados negativos. Destaca-se, portanto, a importância de incentivar a realização de testes e o tratamento adequado, conforme preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde, a fim de assegurar a segurança materno-fetal.
Trans-sialidases (TS) are unusual enzymes present on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Encoded by the largest gene family in the T. cruzi genome, only few ...members of the TS family have catalytic activity. Active trans-sialidases (aTS) are responsible for transferring sialic acid from host glycoconjugates to mucins, also present on the parasite surface. The existence of several copies of TS genes has impaired the use of reverse genetics to study this highly polymorphic gene family. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we generated aTS knockout cell lines displaying undetectable levels of TS activity, as shown by sialylation assays and labeling with antibodies that recognize sialic acid-containing mucins.
infection assays showed that disruption of aTS genes does not affect the parasite's capacity to invade cells or to escape from the parasitophorous vacuole but resulted in impaired differentiation of amastigotes into trypomastigotes and parasite egress from the cell. When inoculated into mice, aTS mutants were unable to establish infection even in the highly susceptible gamma interferon (IFN-γ) knockout mice. Mice immunized with aTS mutants were fully protected against a challenge infection with the virulent T. cruzi Y strain. Altogether, our results confirmed the role of aTS as a T. cruzi virulence factor and indicated that aTS play a major role during the late stages of intracellular development and parasite egress. Notably, mutants lacking TS activity are completely avirulent in animal models of infection and may be used as a live attenuated vaccine against Chagas disease.
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that affects approximately 6 to 8 million people and for which there is no effective treatment or vaccine. The parasite expresses a family of surface proteins, named trans-sialidases, responsible for transferring sialic acid from host glycoconjugates to parasite mucins. Although recognized as a main virulence factor, the multiple roles of these proteins during infection have not yet been fully characterized, mainly because the presence of several copies of aTS genes has impaired their study using reverse genetics. By applying CRISPR-Cas9, we generated aTS knockout parasites and showed that, although aTS parasite mutants were able to infect cells
, they have an impaired capacity to egress from the infected cell. Importantly, aTS mutants lost the ability to cause infection
but provided full protection against a challenge infection with a virulent strain.
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a highly prevalent spectrum of pathologies caused by alcohol overconsumption. Morbidity and mortality related to ALD are increasing worldwide, thereby demanding ...strategies for early diagnosis and detection of ALD predisposition. A potential candidate as a marker for ALD susceptibility is the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), codified by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 gene (NFE2L2). Nrf2 regulates expression of proteins that protect against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by alcohol overconsumption. Here, we assessed genetic variants of NFE2L2 for association with ALD. Specimens from patients diagnosed with cirrhosis caused by ALD were genotyped for three NFE2L2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (SNPs: rs35652124, rs4893819, and rs6721961). Hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine the inflammatory score and Nrf2 expression, respectively. SNPs rs4893819 and rs6721961 were not specifically associated with ALD, but analysis of SNP rs35652124 suggested that this polymorphism predisposes to ALD. Furthermore, SNP rs35652124 was associated with a lower level of Nrf2 expression. Moreover, liver samples from ALD patients with this polymorphism displayed more severe inflammatory activity. Together, these findings provide evidence that the SNP rs35652124 variation in the Nrf2-encoding gene NFE2L2 is a potential genetic marker for susceptibility to ALD.
•Green tea and kombucha showed no difference in the concentration of total phenolic compounds.•Green tea exhibited greater antioxidant potential than kombucha.•Green tea presented greater inhibitory ...capacity of the α-glucosidase enzyme than kombucha.
The present study aimed to carry out the physical–chemical, antioxidant, and enzymatic characterization of green tea and kombucha. It was observed that kombucha had lower pH, higher acidity, and solids content compared to green tea. As for the concentration of total phenolic compounds by the Folin Ciocalteu method, there was no significant difference between the beverages. In the antioxidant analysis by the DPPH assay, it was observed that both green tea and kombucha presented significant antioxidant capacity. In the TBARS analysis with the pH of the beverages neutralized, both showed a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation; however, kombucha exhibited pro-oxidant activity when evaluated in its natural form by this method. The beverages also showed significant inhibitory activity of the α-glucosidase enzyme, however, green tea presented superior inhibitory potential.
The aim of this study was to obtain a Brazilian red propolis (BRP) enriched composite resin and to perform the characterization of its antibacterial activity, mechanical, and physical-chemical ...properties. Brazilian red propolis ethyl acetate extract (EABRP) was characterized by LC-ESI-Orbitrap-FTMS, UPLC-DAD, antibacterial activity, total flavonoids content, and radical scavenging capacity. BRP was incorporated to a commercial composite resin (RC) to obtain BRP enriched composite at 0.1, 0.15 and 0.25% (RP10, RP15 and RP25, respectively). The antibacterial activity RPs was evaluated against
by contact direct test and expressed by antibacterial ratio. The RPs were characterized as its cytotoxicity against 3T3 fibroblasts, flexural strength (FS), Knoop microhardness (KHN), post-cure depth (CD), degree of conversion (DC%), water sorption (Wsp), water solubility (Wsl), average roughness (Ra), and thermal analysis. Were identified 50 chemical compounds from BRP extract by LC-ESI-Orbitrap-FTMS. EABRP was bacteriostatic and bactericide at 125 and 500 μg/ml, respectively. The RP25 exhibited antibacterial ratio of 90.76% after 1 h of direct contact with
(
< 0.0001) while RC no showed significative antibacterial activity (
= 0.1865), both compared with cell control group. RPs and RC no showed cytotoxicity. RPs exhibited CD from 2.74 to 4.48 mm, DC% from 80.70 to 83.96%, Wsp from 17.15 to 21.67 μg/mm
, Wsl from 3.66 to 4.20 μg/mm
, Ra from 14.48 to 20.76 nm. RPs showed thermal resistance between 448-455°C. The results support that propolis can be used on development of modified composite resins that show antibacterial activity and that have compatible mechanical and physical-chemical properties to the indicate for composite resins.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (β-CoV) betacoronavirus has posed a significant threat to global health. Despite the availability of vaccines, the virus continues to spread, and there ...is a need for alternative strategies to alleviate its impact. Vitamin D, a secosteroid hormone best known for its role in bone health, exhibits immunomodulatory effects in certain viral infections. Here, we have shown that bioactive vitamin D (calcitriol) limits in vitro replication of SARS-CoV-2 and murine coronaviruses MHV-3 and MHV-A59. Comparative studies involving wild-type mice intranasally infected with MHV-3, a model for studying β-CoV respiratory infections, confirmed the protective effect of vitamin D in vivo. Accordingly, mice fed a standard diet rapidly succumbed to MHV-3 infection, whereas those on a vitamin D-rich diet (10,000 IU of Vitamin D
/kg) displayed increased resistance to acute respiratory damage and systemic complications. Consistent with these findings, the vitamin D-supplemented group exhibited lower viral titers in their lungs and reduced levels of TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ, alongside an enhanced type I interferon response. Altogether, our findings suggest vitamin D supplementation ameliorates β-CoV-triggered respiratory illness and systemic complications in mice, likely via modulation of the host's immune response to the virus.
Dyslipidemia presents high levels of serum cholesterol and is characterized as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, especially for the development of atherosclerosis. E. oleracea oil (OFEO), A. ...esculentus oil (OFAE), B. orellana oil (OFBO), and Chronic SM® granules (CHR) are rich in bioactive compounds with the potential to treat changes in lipid metabolism. This study investigated the effects of treatments with oils from A. esculentus, E. oleracea, B. orellana, and Chronic SM® on Cocos nucifera L. saturated-fat-induced dyslipidemia. The chromatographic profile showed the majority presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the tested oils. The quantification of tocotrienols and geranylgeraniol in OFBO and CHR was obtained. Treatments with OFEO, OFAE, OFBO, and CHR were able to significantly reduce glycemia, as well as hypertriglyceridemia, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol, besides increasing HDL-cholesterol. The treatments inhibited the formation of atheromatous plaques in the vascular endothelium of the treated rats. The obtained results suggest that the OFEO, OFAE, OFBO, and CHR exhibit antidyslipidemic effects and antiatherogenic activity.
Wickerhamomyces anomalus LBCM1105 is a yeast isolated from cachaça distillery fermentation vats, notable for exceptional glycerol consumption ability. We report its draft genome with 20.5x in-depth ...coverage and around 90% extension and completeness. It harbors the sequences of proteins involved in glycerol transport and metabolism.
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