STING (stimulator of interferon genes) is a cytosolic sensor for cyclic dinucleotides and also an adaptor molecule for intracellular DNA receptors. Although STING has important functions in the host ...defense against pathogens and in autoimmune diseases, its physiological relevance in intestinal homeostasis is largely unknown. In this study, we show that STING
mice presented defective protective mechanisms of intestinal mucosa, including decreased number of goblet cells, diminished mucus production, and lower levels of secretory IgA, when compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Fecal content and microbiota DNA could activate STING, indicating a role of this molecule in gut. Microbiota composition was altered in STING
mice toward a more inflammatory profile, evidencing a reduction in the Allobacolum and Bifidobacterium groups along with increase in Disulfovibrio bacteria. Absence of STING lead to decrease in induced intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and to increase in group 1 innate lymphoid cell (ILC1) as well as ILC3 frequencies and decrease in ILC2 in the colon. Development and function of Foxp3+ and LAP+ regulatory T cells were also compromised in STING
mice. Moreover, these mice were highly susceptible to dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis, T-cell-induced colitis, and enteric Salmonella typhimurium infection when compared with WT animals. Therefore, our results identify an important role of STING in maintaining gut homeostasis and also a protective effect in controlling gut inflammation.
The aim of this work is to understand the inactivation efficiency of medium pressure mercury lamps, measured in terms of growth inhibition as well as cell death, damage and response, using three ...strains from three different Aspergillus species (A. fumigatus, A. niger and, A. terreus) spiked in filtered surface water. A complete characterization of the effect of the treatment on each strain of the fungal species was assessed considering spores' morphology, cell wall integrity and enzymatic activity, the formation of pyrimidine dimers in the DNA and proteome analysis. Results showed that, when subjected to medium pressure mercury lamps, A. niger is the most resistant to inactivation, that both A. fumigatus and A. niger suffer more morphological changes and present a higher number of damaged spores and A. terreus presented more dead spores. DNA damages detected in A. niger were able to be repaired to some extent, under both light and dark conditions. Finally, proteome analysis showed that the UV radiation treatment triggered different types of stress response, including cell wall reorganization and DNA repair in A. fumigatus and A. terreus, and oxidative stress responses like the increase in production of citric acid and itaconic acid in A. niger and A. terreus, respectively.
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•Inactivation of different Aspergillus species was conducted using MP lamps.•DNA damages assessment was only possible for A. niger.•MP radiation triggered different proteome responses in the Aspergillus species.•Novel insights on the inactivation mechanisms of Aspergillus species by MP lamps.
Brain glucose hypometabolism and neuroinflammation are early pathogenic manifestations in neurological disorders. Neuroinflammation may also disrupt leptin signaling, an adipokine that centrally ...regulates appetite and energy balance by acting on the hypothalamus and exerting neuroprotection in the hippocampus. The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) animal model used to investigate diabetes-associated molecular mechanisms without obesity jeopardizing effects. Wistar and GK rats received the maintenance adult rodent diet. Also, an additional control group of Wistar rats received a high-fat and high-sugar diet (HFHS) provided by free consumption of condensed milk. All diets and water were provided ad libitum for eight weeks. Brain glucose uptake was evaluated by 2-deoxy-2-fluorine-18 fluoro-D-glucose under basal (saline administration) or stimulated (CL316,243, a selective β3-AR agonist) conditions. The animals were fasted for 10-12 h, anesthetized, and euthanized. The brain was quickly dissected, and the hippocampal area was sectioned and stored at -80°C in different tubes for protein and RNA analyses on the same animal. GK rats exhibited attenuated brain glucose uptake compared to Wistar animals and the HFHS group under basal conditions. Also, the hippocampus of GK rats displayed upregulated leptin receptor, IL-1β, and IL-6 gene expression and IL-1β and the subunit of the transcription factor NF-κB (p-p65) protein expression. No significant alterations were detected in the hippocampus of HFHS rats. Our data indicated that a genetic predisposition to T2DM has significant brain deteriorating features, including brain glucose hypometabolism, neuroinflammation, and leptin signaling disruption in the hippocampal area.
Abstract Introduction Chagas' disease is endemic in South America. Objective This research reviewed the experience with cardiac transplantation in Chagas' disease, emphasizing reactivation, ...immunosuppression, and mortality. Methods Over 25 years from March 1985 to March 2010, 107/409 (26.2%) patients with Chagas' disease underwent heart transplantation, patients including 74 (71.1%) men and 72 (67.2%), in functional class IV with 33 (30.8%) on vasopressors and 17 (10.7%) on mechanical circulatory support. Results The diagnosis of disease reactivation was performed by identifying the parasite in the myocardium ( n = 23; 71.8%) in the subcutaneous tissue ( n = 8; 25.0%), in blood ( n = 11; 34.3%), or in central nervous tissue ( n = 1; 3.1%). Hospital mortality was 17.7% ( n = 19) due to infection ( n = 6; 31.5%), graft dysfunction ( n = 6; 31.5%), rejection ( n = 4; 21.1%), or sudden death ( n = 2; 10.5%). Late mortality was 27 (25.2%) cases, which were distributed as: rejection ( n = 6; 22.2%), infection ( n = 6; 22.2%), ( n = lymphoma 4; 14.8%), sarcoma ( n = 2; 7.4%), for constrictive pericarditis ( n = 2; 7.4%) reactivation of Chagas' disease in the central nervous system ( n = 1; 7.1%). Conclusions Transplantation in Chagas' disease has peculiar problems that differ from other etiologies due to the possibility of disease reactivation and the increased possibility of emergence of cancers. However, transplantation is the only treatment able to modify the natural progression of the disease in its terminal phase. Early diagnosis and rapid introduction of benzonidazole reverses the histological patterns. Immunosuppression, especially steroids, predisposes to the development of cancer and disease reactivation.
Sodium titanate nanotubes (NaTiNT) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method; subsequently, ion exchange reactions were carried out on the ions of Na
+
present in the lamellar spaces of ...nanotubes by the intercalation of Ga
3+
and/or Ce
4+
and/or, revealing the presence of phases like: α-GaOOH and CeO
2
, probably decorating the surface of the nanotubes showing a complex heterostructure. As far as we know, these are the first titanate nanotubes intercalated with these two ions, gallium, and cerium, reported in the literature. Ion exchange processes preserved the original tubular structure of titanate nanotubes with relevant changes in their surface and interlamellar environment. It is known by the researchers that titanate nanotubes have low toxicity and acceptable biocompatibility. Here, we show that the insertion of Ce
4+
and/or Ga
3+
in titanate nanotubes increased its cytotoxic activity in melanoma cells, indicating that these hybrid nanomaterials are promising in future for health applications.
Graphical abstract
Essential oils encapsulated in a polymeric matrix can be used as an alternative method to control fungi and mycotoxins. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas ...chromatography. The nanofibres were produced from poly (acid lactic) (PLA) containing essential oils by the Solution Blow Spinning method. The antifungal and antimicotoxygenic properties were evaluated against Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus westerdijkiae by the fumigation method. Terpinen‐4‐ol (20·23%), sabinene (20·18%), 1·8‐cineole (16·69%) and γ‐terpinene (11·03%) were the principal compounds present in the essential oil from Alpinia speciosa, whereas citral (97·67%) was dominant from Cymbopogon flexuosus. Microscopy images showed that the addition of essential oils caused an increase in the diameter of the nanofibres. The infrared spectroscopy results indicated the presence of essential oils in the PLA nanofibres. Differential scanning calorimetry curves also indicated the existence of interactions between the essential oils and polymeric macromolecules through their plasticizing action. The hydrophobic character of nanofibres was revealed by the contact angle technique. An antifungal effect was observed, the mycelial growths (3·25–100%) and the synthesis of ochratoxin A (25·94–100%) were inhibited by the presence of the nanofibres. The results suggest that bioactive nanofibres hold promise for application to control toxigenic fungi.
Significance and impact of the study: The fungi Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus westerdjkiae contaminate food products with Ochratoxin A and cause deterioration because of their high metabolic activity, causing concerns about human health, food safety and economic losses. The induction of the biosynthesis of this toxic substance and the selection of fungi resistant to synthetic fungicides led to the need to search for new substances with inhibitory efficacy. The ability of the essential oils from Alpina speciosa and Cymbopogon flexuosus encapsulated in polymeric nanofibres to inhibit fungal proliferation and OTA production indicated that they have an antifungal potential to be explored against toxigenic fungi.
To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and short and long-term postoperative results of using BTA.
We conducted a systematic review following the recommendations of the PRISMA method. We systematically ...reviewed the MEDLINE/PubMed and SCOPUS electronic databases for studies published between January 2010 and September 2021. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, with registration number CRD42021252445.
After applying the selection criteria, 11 relevant articles were selected. The total sample size was 1058 patients. Most studies aimed to assess the rate of fascial closure, followed by the rate of recurrence and reporting of postoperative complications, as well as the need for the components separation technique (CST). None of the studies reported serious complications from using BTA. Regarding fascial closure, all articles had rates above 75%, except for one. Surgical site events ranged between 19% and 29.4%. No recurrence in the group that used BTA was recorded in five studies. The other articles reported recurrence rates ranging from 6.4 to 11.4% in the groups that received BTA. The studies had varying follow-up times ranging from 1 to 49 months, with a mean of 18.6 months (± 11.2).
This review described most of the key points about the preoperative use of BTA in hernia repair. It can be concluded that the use of BTA is a safe and effective practice that promotes good short and long-term results. However, the limitations of the current literature prevent more accurate conclusions on the subject.
Astronomy has evolved almost exclusively by the use of spectroscopic and imaging techniques, operated separately. With the development of modern technologies, it is possible to obtain data cubes in ...which one combines both techniques simultaneously, producing images with spectral resolution. To extract information from them can be quite complex, and hence the development of new methods of data analysis is desirable. We present a method of analysis of data cube (data from single field observations, containing two spatial and one spectral dimension) that uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to express the data in the form of reduced dimensionality, facilitating efficient information extraction from very large data sets. PCA transforms the system of correlated coordinates into a system of uncorrelated coordinates ordered by principal components of decreasing variance. The new coordinates are referred to as eigenvectors, and the projections of the data on to these coordinates produce images we will call tomograms. The association of the tomograms (images) to eigenvectors (spectra) is important for the interpretation of both. The eigenvectors are mutually orthogonal, and this information is fundamental for their handling and interpretation. When the data cube shows objects that present uncorrelated physical phenomena, the eigenvector's orthogonality may be instrumental in separating and identifying them. By handling eigenvectors and tomograms, one can enhance features, extract noise, compress data, extract spectra, etc. We applied the method, for illustration purpose only, to the central region of the low ionization nuclear emission region (LINER) galaxy NGC 4736, and demonstrate that it has a type 1 active nucleus, not known before. Furthermore, we show that it is displaced from the centre of its stellar bulge.
To evaluate the effect of the different radiant exposures from a multipeak light curing unit on the physical and mechanical properties of flowable and high-viscosity bulk-fill resin-based composites ...(RBC).
Five flowable bulk-fill RBCs (Tetric N-Flow Bulk-fill, Ivoclar Vivadent; Filtek Bulk Fill Flow, 3M Oral Care; Opus Bulk Fill Flow APS, FGM; Admira Fusion x-base, Voco and; and SDR Plus Bulk Fill Flowable, Dentsply Sirona) and five high-viscosity bulk-fill RBCs (Tetric N-Ceram Bulk-fill, Ivoclar Vivadent; Filtek One Bulk Fill, 3M Oral Care; Opus Bulk Fill APS, FGM; Admira Fusion x-tra, Voco; and SonicFill 2, Kerr) were photo-cured using a VALO Cordless light (Ultradent) for 10, 20, and 40 seconds at an irradiance of 1200, 800, or 400 mW/cm2, resulting in the delivery of 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, or 48 J/cm2. Post-gel shrinkage (Shr) was calculated using strain-gauge test. The degree of conversion (DC, %) was calculated using FTIR. Knoop hardness (KH, N/mm2) and elastic modulus (E, MPa) were measured at the top and bottom surfaces. Logarithmic regressions between the radiant exposures and mechanical properties were calculated. Radiodensity was calculated using digital radiographs. Data of Shr and radiodensity were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the DC, KH, and E data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA using split-plot repeated measurement tests followed by the Tukey test (a = 0.05).
Delivering higher radiant exposures produced higher Shr values (p<0.001) and higher DC values (R2=0.808-0.922; R2=0.648-0.914, p<0.001), KH (R2=0.707-0.952; R2=0.738-0.919; p<0.001), and E (R2=0.501-0.925; R2=0.823-0.919; p<0.001) values for the flowable and high-viscosity RBCs respectively. Lower KH, E and Shr were observed for the flowable bulk-fill RBCs. All bulk-fill RBCs had a radiopacity level greater than the 4-mm thick aluminum step wedge. The radiant exposure did not affect the radiopacity.
The Shr, DC, KH, and E values were highly correlated to the radiant exposure delivered to the RBCs. The combination of the higher irradiance for longer exposure time that resulted in radiant exposure between 24 J/cm2 to 48 J/cm2 produced better results than delivering 400 mW/cm2 for 40 s (16 J/cm2), and 800 mW/cm2 for 20 seconds (16 J/cm2) or 1200 mW/cm2 for 10 seconds (12 J/cm2). All the bulk-fill RBCs were sufficiently radiopaque compared to 4 mm of aluminum.
The sour passion fruit, Passiflora edulis Sims, is one of the main species of economic importance that can be injured by a variety of insect pest that feeds upon all parts of the plant reducing ...production. However, the most important Lepidoptera pests are larvae Dione juno juno and Agraulis vanillae vanillae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). The caterpillar of passion Azamora penicillana (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), attack leaves of passion and fruits. Here, Soares et al report the attack and loss of the A. penicillana on fruit passion in Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states from Brazil.
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