Uric acid (UA), a product of purine nucleotide degradation able to initiate an immune response, represents a breakpoint in the evolutionary history of humans, when uricase, the enzyme required for UA ...cleavage, was lost. Despite being inert in human cells, UA in its soluble form (sUA) can increase the level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in murine macrophages. We, therefore, hypothesized that the recognition of sUA is achieved by the Naip1-Nlrp3 inflammasome platform. Through structural modelling predictions and transcriptome and functional analyses, we found that murine Naip1 expression in human macrophages induces IL-1β expression, fatty acid production and an inflammation-related response upon sUA stimulation, a process reversed by the pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Nlrp3. Moreover, molecular interaction experiments showed that Naip1 directly recognizes sUA. Accordingly, Naip may be the sUA receptor lost through the human evolutionary process, and a better understanding of its recognition may lead to novel anti-hyperuricaemia therapies.
Euphorbia umbellata (E. umbellata) belongs to Euphorbiaceae family, popularly known as Janauba, and its latex contains a combination of phorbol esters with biological activities described to ...different cellular protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Here, we identified deoxi-phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex alcoholic extract that are able to increase HIV transcription and reactivate virus from latency models. This activity is probably mediated by NF-kB activation followed by nuclear translocation and binding to the HIV LTR promoter. In addition, E. umbellata latex extract induced the production of pro inflammatory cytokines in vitro in human PBMC cultures. This latex extract also activates latent virus in human PBMCs isolated from HIV positive patients as well as latent SIV in non-human primate primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. Together, these results indicate that the phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex are promising candidate compounds for future clinical trials for shock and kill therapies to promote HIV cure and eradication.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the most common motor neuron disease in adults despite it being rare. It is a neurodegenerative disease in which dysphagia is a common and debilitating symptom. ...Dysphagia can be assessed by complementary exams, such as fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and the tongue strength test, as this is one of the main muscles involved in swallowing.
To compare the results of tongue strength and endurance measured by the Iowa oral performance instrument with the findings of the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing examination in patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Cross-sectional study, carried out in a tertiary hospital specialized in treatment and rehabilitation. Twenty-five patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis underwent dysphagia questionnaires, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing examination and tongue strength and resistance test with the Iowa oral performance instrument to assess the presence of dysphagia.
Forty-eight percent of the sample had dysphagia at the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and 76% had an altered tongue strength test. Ninety percent of patients with dysphagia had an average tongue pressure lower than 34.2KPa. The tongue strength test showed sensitivity of 91.67% and specificity of 38.46% and accuracy of 64%. There was a statistically significant relationship between tongue strength and dysphagia and between tongue resistance and dysphagia.
Tongue strength tests, such as the Iowa oral performance instrument, proved to be effective in assessing dysphagia. This result should encourage further research to facilitate the early diagnosis of dysphagia.
A esclerose lateral amiotrófica é a doença do neurônio motor mais comum nos adultos, a despeito da raridade e baixa incidência. É uma doença neurodegenerativa na qual a disfagia é um sintoma comum e debilitante. A disfagia pode ser avaliada por exames complementares como a videoendoscopia da deglutição e testes de força de língua, já que esta é um dos principais músculos envolvidos na deglutição.
Comparar os resultados da força e resistência da língua aferidos pelo Iowa oral performance instrument com os achados do exame de videoendoscopia da deglutição, em pacientes acometidos por esclerose lateral amiotrófica.
Estudo transversal, realizado em um hospital terciário especializado no tratamento e reabilitação. Vinte e cinco pacientes com diagnóstico de esclerose lateral amiotrófica foram submetidos a questionários de disfagia, exame de videoendoscopia da deglutição e teste de força e resistência de língua com o Iowa oral performance instrument para avaliar a presença de disfagia.
Quarenta e oito por cento da amostra apresentava disfagia ao videoendoscopia da deglutição e 76% tinha teste de força de língua alterado. Noventa por cento dos pacientes com disfagia apresentaram uma pressão de língua média menor que 34,2KPa. O teste de força de língua apresentou sensibilidade de 91,67% e especificidade de 38,46% e acurácia de 64%. Houve relação estatisticamente significativa entre força da língua e disfagia e entre resistência da língua e disfagia.
Testes de força de língua, como o Iowa oral performance instrument mostrou-se eficaz para avaliar disfagia. Esse resultado deve fomentar a realização de novas pesquisas para facilitar o diagnóstico precoce da disfagia.
In the present paper we describe the diversity of phlebotomine
sandflies collected in three sandstone caves in the municipality of
Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil. The phlebotomines
...were captured during 2006 with CDC light traps. Guano samples from
inside the Gruta Refúgio do Maruaga were collected to investigate
the presence of immature specimens. A total of 2,160 adult
phlebotomines representing 15 species were captured. Pintomyia pacae
was the dominant species in Gruta dos Animais (1,723 specimens) and
Gruta dos Lages (50 specimens) and Deanemyia maruaga new comb (280
specimens) was the dominant species in Gruta Refúgio do Maruaga. A
total of 18 guano samples were collected and seven of these samples
included immature specimens. A total of 507 immature specimens were
captured; 495 of these specimens were larvae and 12 were pupae. The
presence of paca (Agouti paca) footprints near Gruta dos Animais and
Gruta dos Lages suggests the association of Pi. pacae with this rodent.
This finding may explain the abundance of Pi. pacae in these locations,
while the species is relatively rare in the forest. Deanemyia maruaga
is a cave species that uses guano to breed during its immature stages.
Adult specimens of this species are apparently parthenogenetic and
autogenous and represent the second record of parthenogenesis for the
subfamily Phlebotominae.
ABSTRACT Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) duckei Oliveira, Alencar and Freitas sp. n. from Adolpho Ducke Reserve, Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, is described and illustrated based on three male specimens, the ...holotype and two paratypes. The paratypes have abnormalities in the external genitalia, one with asymmetric bilateral anomaly (different anomalies in each of certain paired structures) and the other with unilateral anomaly (anomaly in one of the paired structures). The new species probably belongs to the Serrana Series, integrating the list of the species whose males possess gonostylus with two stout spines (one apical and other subapical), as well as a small and very thin spine on the inner surface of the basal half.
RESUMO Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) duckei Oliveira, Alencar e Freitas sp. n. da Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Estado do Amazona, Brasil, é descrita e ilustrada com base em três espécimes machos, o holótipo e dois parátipos. Os parátipos possuem anomalias na genitália externa, sendo um com anomalia bilateral assimétrica (anomalias diferentes em cada uma das estruturas pareadas) e outro com anomalia unilateral (anomalia em uma das estruturas pareadas). A nova espécie provavelmente pertence à Série Serrana, integrando a lista das espécies, cujos machos possuem gonóstilo com dois espinhos robustos (um apical e outro subapical), bem como um espinho delgado e muito curto na superfície interna da metade basal.
A new species of phlebotomine sand fly is described and illustrated based on the male and female morphological characters of specimens collected from Tefé and Coari municipalities, Amazonas state. ...The phlebotomine sand flies were collected with CDC light traps used as aspirators at the base of tree trunks. Both male and female specimens collected in Tefé municipality were first identified as Psathyromyia souzacastroi. After the analysis of the holotype of Pa. souzacastroi deposited in Smithsonian Institute/Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, it was observed that the morphotypes collected in Tefé municipality belong to a distinct species, which characterization is here presented.
A coordenação das empresas em uma cadeia de suprimentos reduz potencialmente custos, prazos, perdas e danos, o que melhora o nível de serviço oferecido ao consumidor. Reconhecendo que a utilização da ...tecnologia da informação pode contribuir na melhoria de processos em uma cadeia de suprimentos, tem-se o seguinte questionamento: “Qual o papel da tecnologia da informação nos modos de coordenação das cadeias de suprimento?” Assim, neste estudo, objetivou-se discutir essa questão e abordar a influência que outros fatores, tais como a qualidade dos relacionamentos e a gestão orientada por processos, possuem na construção da coordenação. A partir de uma uma revisão da literatura, evidenciou-se que os recursos de sistemas de informação têm correlação com a gestão de processos, sendo estes antecedentes dos modos de coordenação e da qualidade do relacionamento.
A new species of parthenogenetic, autogenic and apparently extremely
endemic phlebotomine is described from a sandstone cave located in
primary terra firme forest to the North of the city of Manaus.
...Specimens were collected in the aphotic zone of the Refúgio do
Maruaga cave by light trap and reared from bat guano. The adult
morphology suggests a closer relationship to some Old World
Phlebotominae than to species of Lutzomyia França encountered in
the surrounding rainforest, but it shares characteristics with the
recently proposed Neotropical genera Edentomyia Galati, Deanemyia
Galati and Oligodontomyia Galati.
This work was carried out on the purpose of identifying the species of phlebotomine sandflies in the municipality of Monte Negro, state of Rondonia, Brazil, that may have been transmitting the ...American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), and concisely describe epidemiological aspects of disease.
The epidemiologic and socioeconomical indicators were obtained from government institutions and the local Municipal Secretary of Health. Phlebotomine sandflies were captured using CDC light traps between July 2006 to July 2008. The total of 1,240 of female sandflies were examined by PCR method directed to k-DNA.
There has been a significant decrease in the incidence of ACL of about 50% over the last ten years in the municipality. A total of 1,935 specimens of 53 sandfly species were captured, three of the genus Brumptomyia genus and 50 of the genus Lutzomyia. The predominant species was Lutzomyia acanthopharynx, Lutzomyia whitmani, Lutzomyia geniculata and Lutzomyia davisi. None were positive for Leishmania sp.
Four sandflies species were found in the State of Rondonia for the first time: Brumptomyia brumpti, Lutzomyia tarapacaensis, Lutzomyia melloi and Lutzomyia lenti. The presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis, was also captured. Socioeconomical improvement of Brazilian economy and the increase of environmental surveillance in the last 15 years collaborated in the decrease of people exposed to vectors, reducing the incidence of ACL.
The intensification of trade between countries has led to the need to regulate the conduct of trading partners. The World Trade Organization (WTO) forum emerged with the mission of arbitrating these ...disputes and making trade fairer. However, many countries choose not to participate in this forum because of the financial and legal resources required to conduct the proceedings. The purpose of this research was to verify how the relations within the WTO were configurated in 2014. We identified the dichotomy between central and emerging countries through the concept of forum shopping. The most important actors in the network were shown to be the United States and the European Union, whereas small economies had low participation, especially African and Central American countries. Thus, this study shows that many WTO’s members do not use its forum, which allows inferring they choose regional forums due to the restriction of resources.
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