Listeriosis is a rare, serious, and mainly food-borne infection caused by the bacterium
Listeria monocytogenes
. This food-borne infection primarily affects pregnant women and immunologically ...compromised individuals.
L
.
monocytogenes
is recognized as a problem for the food industry, mainly due to its environmental persistence, attributed in part to its ability to form biofilms. Biofilms are microbial communities adhered to biotic or abiotic surfaces coated by self-produced extracellular polymers. These structures confer protection to bacterial cells and decrease the efficiency of cleaning and disinfection procedures. This article presents a brief review of current perspectives on the formation of biofilms, with emphasis on
L
.
monocytogenes
, highlighting the importance of cell-to-cell communication and structural composition of the microbial communities. The techniques currently used to study biofilms and the need to develop new strategies for the prevention and control of biofilm-forming pathogens are also discussed.
This study evaluated the effect of different adhesive protocols on the shear bond strength (SBS) of bulk-fill resin composite repaired with bulk-fill or conventional composite. Cylindrical bulk-fill ...resin composite specimens were prepared and allocated into groups according to the bonding strategy: no treatment, Silane+Scotch Bond Multipurpose (S+SBMP), Tetric N Bond Universal, and Single Bond Universal. Following bonding strategy, bulk-fill or conventional composite buildups were performed. After 24 h of storage in distilled water at 37°C, shear force was applied to the interface using a universal testing machine. The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05). SBS was influenced by the bonding strategy and the composite used (p<0.001). Irrespective of the composite used, the group S+SBMP yielded the highest SBS values (p<0.001). Repair bond strength of bulk-fill composites can be improved by using a silane coupling agent followed by a hydrophobic resin.
The synthesis, characterisation and toxicological assessment of a new group of environmentally friendly ionic liquids are presented. Focussing on the toxic effect of the anion, the ionic liquids were ...designed by combining the benign cholinium cation, NMe3(CH2CH2OH)+, with a range of linear alkanoate anions (CnH2n+1CO2-, n = 1-9), as well as two structural isomers (n = 3 or 4). The toxicity of these ionic liquids was evaluated using filamentous fungi as model eukaryotic organisms. Surprisingly, most of the tested species showed active growth in media containing extremely high ionic liquid concentrations, up to molar ranges in some cases. The biodegradability of these ionic liquids was assessed, and new biotechnological applications for them are proposed, e.g. as solvents for biopolymers. This study leads to the better understanding of the anion influence on the ionic liquid toxicity, but its core is the recognition that conscious design of ionic liquids can be used to deliver truly biocompatible salts without adversely affecting one of the most striking of their properties-their outstanding solvent ability.
We conducted the genome sequencing and analysis of the first confirmed COVID-19 infections in Brazil. Rapid sequencing coupled with phylogenetic analyses in the context of travel history corroborate ...multiple independent importations from Italy and local spread during the initial stage of COVID-19 transmission in Brazil.
Microbial hyaluronic acid (HA) production has been preferred rather than extraction from animal tissue for medical and cosmetic applications. In this context, to obtain an economically competitive HA ...production by
Streptococcus zooepidemicus
, culture conditions were studied to improve the polymer production in sugarcane molasses. The highest HA production by
S. zooepidemicus
ATCC 39920 achieved was 2.825 g. L
−1
in a 4.5 L bioreactor with controlled pH (8.0) and medium containing molasses (85.35 g.L
−1
total sugar) pretreated with activated charcoal and yeast extract (50 g.L
−1
). The HA produced exhibited a high molecular weight of 1.35 × 10
3
kDa and the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the polymer at 1 g.L
−1
was 41 %. The FTIR and UV-Vis spectra showed no substantial differences in the spectral pattern between produced and standard HA. This study is a promising strategy for sugarcane molasses application by producing high value-added products such as hyaluronic acid.
We evaluated the potential application of Fourier-Transformed Infrared spectroscopy using Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) to characterize and detect adulteration of whey protein concentrate ...(WPC). Samples were adulterated by substituting WPC by milk whey powder (MWP). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to characterize the spectra. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regressions were applied to model and predict the protein content and the amount in grams of WPC and MWP in the samples. In WPC, Amide I and II bands showed decreasing trend with the protein content of the samples. The carbohydrate region between 1160 and 1000 cm−1 showed spectra with opposite behavior of the Amide bands, evincing the ν CO peak (1030 cm−1) that increases as MWP was added. In PCA, PC1 (64.5%) and PC2 (18.8%) described above 80% of total variance of the spectra. PC1 variance was most influenced by Amide I, II and carbohydrate regions. In all cases, PLS showed low prediction errors, high precision and coefficients of determination of the global fit above 0.99. Therefore, the association of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy with multivariate approaches revealed strong potential to detect adulteration in nutritional supplements and high accuracy to predict simultaneously the protein content and mass of WPC and MWP added.
•Mid infrared spectroscopy results revealed bands associated with milk components.•Amide I and II bands showed decreasing trend correlated to the protein content.•Carbohydrate band showed rising trend in opposition to the protein content.•Intense loadings were confirmed in Amide I, II and Carbohydrate bands.•Partial Least Squares regressions resulted in low prediction errors and high accuracy.
MiRNA (or microRNA) is a subclass of non-coding RNAs that is responsible for post-transcriptional gene regulation. It has approximately 22 nucleotides and regulates gene expression in plants and ...animals at the post-transcriptional level, by the cleavage of a target mRNA or by suppression of its translation. Although many of the processes and mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated, there is a strong association between miRNA expression and several diseases. It is known that miRNAs are expressed in the cardiovascular system, but their role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has not been clearly established. In this non-systematic review of the literature, we first present the definition of miRNAs and their action at the cellular level. Afterward, we discuss the role of miRNAs as circulating biomarkers of CVDs, and then their role in cardiac remodeling and atherosclerosis. Despite the complexity and challenges, it is crucial to identify deregulated miRNAs in CVDs, as it allows a better understanding of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and helps in the development of more accurate diagnostic and prognostic circulating biomarkers, and new therapeutic strategies for different stages of CVDs.
Two series of novel hybrid heterocyclic compounds that combine the imidazole ring with bioactive piperidine, morpholine or piperazine heterosystems, through a hydrazone unit, were easily obtained by ...two competitive pathways. Starting from 5‐amino‐4‐cyanoformimidoyl imidazoles and 1‐aminopiperidine, 4‐aminomorpholine or 1‐amino‐4‐methylpiperazine under mild acidic media led to the selective synthesis of 5‐aminoimidazole 4‐carboxamidrazones, whereas the corresponding 4‐hydrazonoyl cyanide derivatives were obtained under stronger acidic conditions. These highly functionalized imidazoles provide convenient synthetic precursors to a vast array of heterocycles with potential pharmaceutical applications. The reaction mechanisms were elucidated on the basis of experimental assays and in silico calculations. The compounds were screened against colorectal cancer HCT116‐p53 wt cell line, and significant IC50 values of 3.69 μM and 4.83 μM were obtained.
Novel imidazole‐based hydrazonoyl cyanides and amidrazones containing morpholine, piperidine and N‐methylpiperazine heterocycles were obtained by two competitive pathways, starting from the same imidazole precursors and corresponding heterocycloalkylhydrazines. These imidazoles provide convenient synthetic precursors to a vast array of heterocycles with pharmaceutical applications. The compounds were screened against colorectal cancer cell line HCT116‐p53 wt and significant IC50 values were obtained.
To assess whether hospitalization and feeding strategy impact the risk of hypozincemia and associated risk factors.
In this case–control study, serum zinc levels were compared between inpatients fed ...oral nutrition (ON) (n = 76) or enteral nutrition (EN) (n = 191) with outpatient controls (n = 1095).
Zinc levels were significantly lower in inpatients receiving EN compared with those receiving ON (P = 0.001). Significant (P < 0.001) β-values of −11.16 and −17.58 for serum zinc concentrations were found for inpatients receiving ON or EN, respectively, compared with the outpatients. Hospitalization and old age were both independent predictors of zinc deficiency. More than 75% of patients >60 years of age fed EN had a zinc concentration <68.75 μg/dL. Low hemoglobin levels increased the risk of low zinc levels for inpatients receiving EN (P = 0.003) and ON (P = 0.026). Age (P < 0.001), noninvasive mechanical ventilatory support (P = 0.016), and critical care (P = 0.018) were risk factors for hypozincemia in patients receiving ON. Low iron levels were associated with hypozincemia (P = 0.001) in patients receiving EN.
Hospitalization and being >60 years of age were risk factors for zinc deficiency. Intensive care and noninvasive mechanical ventilatory support were risk factors for hypozincemia in hospitalized patients who were fed orally. Low hemoglobin levels increased the risk of low zinc concentrations for inpatients receiving EN and ON, and low iron levels were associated with hypozincemia only after EN.
Display omitted
Histopathology remains the cornerstone for diagnosing canine mammary tumors (CMTs). Recently, 2 classification systems (the World Health Organization WHO classification of 1999 and the proposal of ...2011) and 2 grading methods based on the human Nottingham grade have been used by pathologists. Despite some evidence that the histological subtype and grade are prognostic factors, there is no comprehensive comparative study of these classification and grading systems in the same series of CMTs. In this study, the 2 classifications and the 2 grading methods were simultaneously applied to a cohort of 134 female dogs with CMTs. In 85 animals with malignant tumors, univariable and multivariable survival analyses were performed. Using the 2 systems, the proportion of benign (161/305, 53%) and malignant (144/305, 47%) tumors was similar and no significant differences existed in categorization of benign tumors. However, the 2011 classification subdivided malignant tumors in more categories—namely, those classified as complex, solid, and tubulopapillary carcinomas by the WHO system. Histological subtype according to both systems was significantly associated with survival. Carcinomas arising in benign tumors, complex carcinomas, and mixed carcinomas were associated with a better prognosis. In contrast, carcinosarcomas and comedocarcinomas had a high risk of tumor-related death. Slight differences existed between the 2 grading methods, and grade was related to survival only in univariable analysis. In this cohort, age, completeness of surgical margins, and 2 index formulas adapted from human breast cancer studies (including tumor size, grade, and vascular/lymph node invasion) were independent prognostic factors.
PDF
