Infections by protozoans of the genus
Leishmania are the major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the ...pentavalent antimonials, which exert renal and cardiac toxicity. Thus, there is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments against leishmaniasis. The present study was designated to evaluate, by a bioguided assay, the leishmanicidal activity of extracts (hexane, ethyl-acetate and ethanolic) and molecules both obtained by means of extraction from pericarps of
Garcinia brasiliensis fruits. The hexane extract presented the best activity on the extracellular (promastigotes) and intracellular (amastigotes) forms of
Leishmania (
L.)
amazonensis, when compared to the other extracts. Based on these findings, this extract was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography, affording nine fractions then resulting in three purified prenylated benzophenones – 7-epi-clusianone
(1), garciniaphenone
(2) and guttiferone-a
(3). They showed significant activity on
Leishmania (
L.)
amazonensis, and little toxicity for mammalian cells. Structure-activity relationships were evaluated showing that the IC
50 value displayed is dependent of prenyl groups and phenolic hydroxyls number, and inversely proportional to the hydrophobicity. Our results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active on
Leishmania (
L.)
amazonensis.
This study describes the design of an ongoing randomized trial initiated to compare the 2-year outcome of
uncomplicated type B aortic dissection when treated by endovascular implantation of a ...Medtronic Talent stent graft adjunctive to best medical treatment versus best medical treatment alone.
Patients older than 18 years with type B aortic dissection as diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography are randomized to either a thoracic aortic endoprosthesis and antihypertensive treatment, called “stent grafting,” or a tailored antihypertensive treatment, called “medical treatment.” Only patients in a clinically stable condition and without spontaneous thrombosis of the false lumen after 14 days of the index dissection are considered eligible for study inclusion.
Primary outcome measure is all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome variables include conversion to stent and/or surgery, induced thrombosis of the false lumen, cardiovascular morbidity, aortic expansion (>5 mm/y of maximum diameter including true and false lumina), quality of life, and length of intensive care unit and hospital stay. The study design calls for 136 patients to be randomized and monitored for 24 months.
The INSTEAD trial is the first randomized trial investigating the role of endoluminal treatment of uncomplicated type B aortic dissection. By the end of December 2004, 125 patients were randomized, accounting for 92% of the target. Final results of the INSTEAD trial should be available in 2006.
This study explores the synthesis and characterization of Fe-doped CaTiO
3
compounds via the Pechini method, focusing on their structural, magnetic, and electrical properties. Notably, a previously ...unreported magnetic property is observed in the Fe-doped CaTiO
3
compound. Despite significant structural distortions, ferroelectric polarization is identified using the Geometrical Polarization Approach (GPA), indicating its emergent nature. These distortions are attributed to robust chemical bonds between ionic O
1
−2
and Ti
+4
sites, as evidenced by electronic density maps. This research sheds light on the potential of these materials for various technological applications.
This study sampled the diversity of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) in three different ecosystems: a degraded pasture, a secondary forest and an area in recovery process using native tree seedlings. The ...objective was to verify the use of those insects as a tool to check the local conservation by examining Shannon's diversity index. Ten subfamilies were identified, and Microgastrinae was predominant in a number of individuals. The diversity index calculated varies among the sampled areas, thus showing a correlation with vegetation cover with the number of individuals collected and number of subfamilies found. The results showed changes in the community of Braconidae, in the recovery area between the first and second year of study, thereby leading to the conclusion that they are indicators of environmental quality.
The present study focused on the activity of the palladacycle complex DPPE 1.1 on
. Promastigotes of
were destroyed
by nanomolar concentrations of DPPE 1.1, whereas intracellular amastigotes were ...killed at drug concentrations fivefold less toxic than those harmful to macrophages.
-infected BALB/c mice were treated by intralesional injection of DPPE 1.1. Animals treated with 3.5 and 7.0 mg/kg of DPPE 1.1 showed a significant decrease of foot lesion sizes and a parasite load reduction of 93 and 99%, respectively, when compared to untreated controls. Furthermore, DPPE 1.1 was non-toxic to treated animals. The cathepsin B activity of
amastigotes was inhibited by DPPE 1.1 as demonstrated spectrofluorometrically by use of a specific fluorogenic substrate. Analysis of T-cells populations in mice treated with DPPE 1.1 and untreated controls was performed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). IFN-γ was measured in supernatants of lymphocytes from popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes isolated from treated and untreated mice and stimulated with
extract and active TGF-β was evaluated in supernatants of foot lesions; both dosages were carried out by means of a double-sandwich ELISA assay. A significant increase of TCD4
and TCD8
lymphocytes and IFN-γ secretion was displayed in mice treated with DPPE 1.1 compared to untreated animals, whereas a significant reduction of active TGF-β was observed in treated mice. These findings open perspectives for further investment in DPPE 1.1 as an alternative option for the chemotherapy of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
In this review article we discuss the present status of direct nuclear reactions and the nuclear structure aspects one can study with them. We discuss the spectroscopic information we can assess in ...experiments involving transfer reactions, heavy-ion-induced knockout reactions and quasifree scattering with (p,2p), (p,pn), and (e,e′p) reactions. In particular, we focus on the proton-to-neutron asymmetry of the quenching of the spectroscopic strength.
Summary
Spotted fever is a disease caused by bacteria from the genus Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is likely the main agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). With ...the objective of gathering information on the circulation of SFG rickettsiae in Londrina, Parana state, ticks from dogs and horses and also blood from dogs, horses and humans were collected in a neighbourhood of the city which presented potential for circulation of rickettsiae between hosts and vectors. Amblyomma cajennense, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction targeting a fragment of the Rickettsia gltA gene. This specific gene encodes the enzyme citrate synthase of Rickettsia spp., and results on all ticks were negative. Human and animal sera were tested by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay in which R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were used as antigens. Sera from 4.7% human, 2.7% canine and 38.5% equine were positive for R. rickettsii. For R. parkeri, 0.9% human, 2.7% canine and 11.5% equine samples were positive. All samples reactive to R. parkeri also reacted to R. rickettsii. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied, but there were no statistically significant results. Comparison of our serological results with previous studies in Brazil, among BSF endemic and non‐endemic areas, indicates that there is no established rickettsial infection in the study area, a statement corroborated with our molecular analysis. Nonetheless, as humans of the present study are highly exposed to tick infestations, health education within the population is needed to obtain efficient tick control.
Background: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by severe mental retardation, dysmorphic features, ataxia, seizures, and typical behavioural characteristics, ...including a happy sociable disposition. AS is caused by maternal deficiency of UBE3A (E6 associated protein ubiquitin protein ligase 3A gene), located in an imprinted region on chromosome 15q11-q13. Although there are four different molecular types of AS, deletions of the 15q11-q13 region account for approximately 70% of the AS patients. These deletions are usually detected by fluorescence in situ hybridisation studies. The deletions can also be subclassified based on their size into class I and class II, with the former being larger and encompassing the latter. Methods: We studied 22 patients with AS due to microdeletions using a microarray based comparative genomic hybridisation (array CGH) assay to define the deletions and analysed their phenotypic severity, especially expression of the autism phenotype, in order to establish clinical correlations. Results: Overall, children with larger, class I deletions were significantly more likely to meet criteria for autism, had lower cognitive scores, and lower expressive language scores compared with children with smaller, class II deletions. Children with class I deletions also required more medications to control their seizures than did those in the class II group. Conclusions: There are four known genes (NIPA1, NIPA2, CYFIP1, & GCP5) that are affected by class I but not class II deletions, thus raising the possibility of a role for these genes in autism as well as the development of expressive language skills.
Protozoal infections have been widely documented in marine mammals and may cause morbidity and mortality at levels that result in population level effects. The presence and potential impact on the ...recovery of endangered Hawaiian monk seals Neomonachus schauinslandi by protozoal pathogens was first identified in the carcass of a stranded adult male with disseminated toxoplasmosis and a captive monk seal with hepatitis. We report 7 additional cases and 2 suspect cases of protozoal-related mortality in Hawaiian monk seals between 2001 and 2015, including the first record of vertical transmission in this species. This study establishes case definitions for classification of protozoal infections in Hawaiian monk seals. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were the primary diagnostic modalities used to define cases, given that these analyses establish a direct link between disease and pathogen presence. Findings were supported by serology and molecular data when available. Toxoplasma gondii was the predominant apicomplexan parasite identified and was associated with 100% of mortalities (n = 8) and 50% of suspect cases (n = 2). Incidental identification of sarcocysts in the skeletal muscle without tissue inflammation occurred in 4 seals, including one co-infected with T. gondii. In 2015, 2 cases of toxoplasmosis were identified ante-mortem and shared similar clinical findings, including hematological abnormalities and histopathology. Protozoal-related mortalities, specifically due to toxoplasmosis, are emerging as a threat to the recovery of this endangered pinniped and other native Hawaiian taxa. By establishing case definitions, this study provides a foundation for measuring the impact of these diseases on Hawaiian monk seals.
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