•PM2.5 inflammatory response has been studied on mice with or without XPC protein.•XPC-knockout mice show an increased oxidative stress response to PM2.5 exposure.•XPC mice induced 2-fold increase of ...γ-H2AX foci relative to wild type mice.•A high carcinogenic risk was estimated to PAHs and metals exposure in the SPMA.
Air pollution represents a considerable threat to health worldwide. The São Paulo Metropolitan area, in Brazil, has a unique composition of atmospheric pollutants with a population of nearly 20 million people and 9 million passenger cars. It is long known that exposure to particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) can cause various health effects such as DNA damage. One of the most versatile defense mechanisms against the accumulation of DNA damage is the nucleotide excision repair (NER), which includes XPC protein. However, the mechanisms by which NER protects against adverse health effects related to air pollution are largely unknown. We hypothesized that reduction of XPC activity may contribute to inflammation response, oxidative stress and DNA damage after PM2.5 exposure. To address these important questions, XPC knockout and wild type mice were exposed to PM2.5 using the Harvard Ambient Particle concentrator. Results from one-single exposure have shown a significant increase in the levels of anti-ICAM, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the polluted group when compared to the filtered air group. Continued chronic PM2.5 exposure increased levels of carbonylated proteins, especially in the lung of XPC mice, probably as a consequence of oxidative stress. As a response to DNA damage, XPC mice lungs exhibit increased γ-H2AX, followed by severe atypical hyperplasia. Emissions from vehicles are composed of hazardous substances, with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals being most frequently cited as the major contributors to negative health impacts. This analysis showed that benzobfluoranthene, 2-nitrofluorene and 9,10-anthraquinone were the most abundant PAHs and derivatives. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the participation of XPC protein, and NER pathway, in the protection of mice against the carcinogenic potential of air pollution. This implicates that DNA is damaged directly (forming adducts) or indirectly (Reactive Oxygen Species) by the various compounds detected in urban PM2.5.
The adaptation of people with ostomies may be associated with and affected by sociodemographic and clinical factors. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the ...sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the adaptation of people with an intestinal stoma.
An analytical study, carried out through an interview with 200 patients with ostomy for five months. For that, it was applied to scale for the level of adaptation of ostomy patients to measure the physiological domains, self-concept, role function and interdependence and a questionnaire was used in which sociodemographic and clinical information. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to test the study hypothesis.
The study pointed out statistically significant associations with male sex, age group below 60, low education level, Stoma time less than one year, below one minimum wage, temporary permanence criteria and presence of complications relation to low scores of adaptation.
The association of sociodemographic and clinical factors with the measured adaptive modes provides important information for the planning of nursing care and other care providers, since it directs actions to the aspects that give greater adaptive difficulty to people with stomas and which are the focus of care nursing to this clientele.
Transfusion-transmitted leishmaniasis has been a concern in regions endemic for the disease. Whether immediate or delayed, the risks posed by this mode of transmission call for careful assessment. ...The purpose of this study was to detect Leishmania infection in blood donors living in an endemic area and to investigate progression to the disease in these individuals. Immunofluorescent antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, leishmaniasis rapid test, and the polymerase chain reaction were applied to 430 donors in an initial evaluation. Of those donors with at least one positive test, 50 were reevaluated four years later by the same methods, as were 25 controls who had been negative on the same tests. In the first evaluation, Leishmania infection was detected in 41.4% (95% CI: 36.7-46.1) of donors (n = 430). None of the 75 reevaluated individuals had developed the disease, but retesting revealed positivity in at least one test in 36.0% (95% CI: 25.1-46.9) of donors. Of the 50 initially testing positive, 50% remained so on retesting. Of the 25 initially negative controls, two tested positive in the subsequent evaluation. The severity of the parasitosis and the risk of transfusion transmission warrant investigation of the potential inclusion of methods for Leishmania detection into blood banks for effective screening of infected donors.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected several business segments due to the lockdown period, including the illicit drug market. As Brazil usually imports new psychoactive substances (NPS), ...it was expected that their traffic would change during the pandemic. This study aimed to characterize NPS infused in pieces of paper seized inside prisons in the State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. All samples were identified as synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, with indole-indazole structures. It was the first record of methyl (2S)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(1-(pent-4-en-1-yl)- 1H-indazole-3-carboxamido) butanoate (MDMB-4en-PINACA), N-(2S)-1-amino-3,3-dimethyl1-oxobutan-2-yl-1-butylindazole-3-carboxamide (ADB-BUTINACA), and N-(1-adamantyl)- 1-(4-fluorobutyl)indazole-3-carboxamide (4F-ABUTINACA) in RJ, demonstrating that new NPS still arrived despite the lockdown. The integration of the data obtained via this study enabled the unequivocal identification of NPS even in the absence of standard reference materials, which is a common drawback faced by forensic laboratories in the analysis of NPS.
Free-living amoeba of the genus Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous protozoa involved in opportunistic and non-opportunistic infection in humans, such as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and amoebic ...keratitis. Both infections have challenging characteristics such as the formation of the resistant cysts in infected tissues, hampering the treatment and most usual diagnosis depending on time-consuming and/or low sensitivity techniques. The use of monoclonal antibodies presents itself as an opportunity for the development of more effective alternative diagnostic methods, as well as an important and useful tool in the search for new therapeutic targets. This study investigated the possibility of using a previously produced monoclonal antibody (mAb3), as a diagnostic tool for the detection of Acanthamoeba trophozoites by direct and indirect flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Immunoprecipitation assay and mass spectrometry allowed the isolation of the antibody's target and suggested it is a transporter part of the CPA (cation: proton antiporter) superfamily. In vitro tests indicate an important role of this target in Acanthamoeba's encystment physiology. Our results support the importance of studying the role of CPA2 transporters in the context of acanthamoebiasis, as this may be a way to identify new therapeutic candidates.
Free-living amoeba of the genus
Acanthamoeba
can eventually act as parasites, causing infections in humans. Some physiological characteristics of
Acanthamoeba
have been related to the grade of ...pathogenicity, allowing inferences about the pathogenic potential. The main goal of this study was to characterize isolates of
Acanthamoeba
obtained in Brazil and evaluate properties associated with their pathogenicity. A total of 39 isolates obtained from keratitis cases (
n
= 16) and environmental sources (
n
= 23) were classified into morphological groups and genotyped by sequencing the 18S rDNA fragments ASA.S1 and GTSA.B1. Samples were also tested regarding their thermo-tolerance, osmo-tolerance, and cytopathogenicity in MDCK cells. Isolates were identified and classified as follows: group I (T17, T18); group II (T1, T3, T4, T11); and group III (T5, T15), with the predominance of genotype T4 (22/39). Clinical isolates were genotyped as T3 (1/16), T4 (14/16) and T5 (1/16). The majority of isolates (38/39) were able to grow at 37 °C, but tolerance to 40 °C was more frequent among environmental samples. The tolerance to 1 M mannitol was infrequent (4/39), with three of these corresponding to clinical samples. The variable ability to cause cytopathic effects was observed among isolates of distinct genotypes and origins. This study identified, for the first time, T1, T15, and T18 in Brazil. It also indicated a weak association between the clinical origin of the isolates and tolerance to high temperatures, high osmolarity, and cytopathogenicity, demonstrating that some in vitro parameters do not necessarily reflect a higher propensity of
Acanthamoeba
to cause a disease.
Interleukin-6 has been recognized as a major role player in COVID-19 severity, being an important regulator of the cytokine storm. Hence, the evaluation of the influence of polymorphisms in key genes ...of the IL-6 pathway, namely IL6, IL6R, and IL6ST, may provide valuable prognostic/predictive markers for COVID-19. The present cross-sectional study genotyped three SNPs (rs1800795, rs2228145, and rs7730934) at IL6. IL6R and IL6ST genes, respectively, in 227 COVID-19 patients (132 hospitalized and 95 non-hospitalized). Genotype frequencies were compared between these groups. As a control group, published data on gene and genotype frequencies were gathered from published studies before the pandemic started. Our major results point to an association of the IL6 C allele with COVID-19 severity. Moreover, IL-6 plasmatic levels were higher among IL6 CC genotype carriers. Additionally, the frequency of symptoms was higher at IL6 CC and IL6R CC genotypes. In conclusion, the data suggest an important role of IL6 C allele and IL6R CC genotype on COVID-19 severity, in agreement with indirect evidence from the literature about the association of these genotypes with mortality rates, pneumonia, and heightening of protein plasmatic levels pro-inflammatory driven effects.
The aim of the present study was to verify whether penicillin-resistant, ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis (PRASEF) occurred in Brazil prior to the beginning of the 21st century, and to ...verify whether ampicillin susceptibility can predict susceptibility to other β-lactams in E. faecalis with this inconsistent phenotype. The presence of polymorphisms in the pbp4 gene and genetic diversity among the isolates were investigated. Of 21 PRASEF analyzed, 5 (23.8%) and 4 (19.0%) were imipenem and piperacillin resistant simultaneously by disk diffusion and broth dilution respectively, contradicting the current internationally accepted standards of susceptibility testing. Sequencing of pbp4 gene revealed an amino acid substitution (Asp-573→Glu) in all PRASEF isolates but not in the penicillin-susceptible, ampicillin-susceptible E. faecalis. Most PRASEF (90.5%) had related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles, but were different from other PRASEF described to date. Results demonstrate that penicillin-resistant, ampicillin-susceptible phenotype was already a reality in the 1990s in E. faecalis isolates in different Brazilian states, and some of these isolates were also imipenem- and piperacillin-resistant; therefore, internationally accepted susceptibility criteria cannot be applied to these isolates. According to pbp4 gene sequencing, this study suggests that a specific amino acid substitution in pbp4 gene found in all PRASEF analyzed is associated with penicillin resistance.
Penicillin-resistant, ampicillin-susceptible profile was already a reality in the 1990s in Enterococcus faecalis isolates in different Brazilian states, and polymorphisms in pbp4 gene seems be associated with penicillin resistance in these isolates.
The objective of this work was to elaborate the agricultural zoning of climatic risk (ZARC) for Physalis peruviana, through the thermal and water requirements of the crop in Southeastern Brazil. Air ...temperature (TAIR) and precipitation (PYEAR) data from 1,530 meteorological stations covering the entire region were used. Regions were considered climatically favorable to Physalis peruviana when TAIR was between 13 and 18ºC and PYEAR between 1,000 and 2,000 mm per year. Regions where TAIR was above 30ºC or less than 13ºC were considered inapt. Maps were created with this information and used to identify climatic characteristics and to establish the agricultural aptitude classes, termed apt, inapt, and marginal for the cultivation of Physalis peruviana. The Southeastern region of Brazil showed a thermal variation from 16.5 to 22.6°C and water amplitude from 800 to 2,800 mm. ZARC shows that 10% of Southeastern Brazil is climatically apt for the cultivation of Physalis peruviana, corresponding to the following regions of Brazilian states: central and southern Minas Gerais, western Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, and eastern and southern São Paulo.
Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar o zoneamento agrícola de risco climático (ZARC) para Physalis peruviana, por meio das exigências térmicas e hídricas da cultura na região Sudeste do Brasil. Foram utilizados dados de temperatura do ar (TAR) e precipitação (PANO) de 1.530 estações meteorológicas que contemplam toda a região. As regiões foram consideradas climaticamente favoráveis a Physalis peruviana quando a TAR foi entre 13 e 18ºC e a PANO entre 1.000 e 2.000 mm por ano. As regiões com TAR acima de 30ºC ou abaixo de 13ºC foram consideradas inaptas. Os mapas foram construídos a partir dessas informações e usadas para identificar as características climáticas e estabelecer as classes de aptidão agrícola, denominadas aptas, inaptas e marginais para o cultivo de Physalis peruviana. A região Sudeste apresentou variação térmica de 16,5 a 22,6°C e amplitude hídrica de 800 a 2.800 mm. O ZARC mostra que 10% da região Sudeste do Brasil são climaticamente aptos ao cultivo do Physalis peruviana, o que corresponde às regiões: Central e Sul de Minas Gerais, Oeste do Rio de Janeiro e do Espírito Santo e Leste e Sul de São Paulo.
Natural products are potential sources of anticancer components. Among various species, the lipophilic extract of the Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm. (VALE) has shown promising ...therapeutic potential. The present work aimed to qualify the plant source and characterize the extract's chemical profile. In addition, a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) containing VALE (SNEDDS-VALE) was developed.Background and PurposeNatural products are potential sources of anticancer components. Among various species, the lipophilic extract of the Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm. (VALE) has shown promising therapeutic potential. The present work aimed to qualify the plant source and characterize the extract's chemical profile. In addition, a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) containing VALE (SNEDDS-VALE) was developed.V. album subsp. austriacum histochemistry was performed, and the chemical profile of VALE was analyzed by GC-MS. After the SNEEDS-VALE development, its morphology was visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while its stability was evaluated by the average droplet size, polydispersity index (PdI) and pH. Lastly, SNEDDS-VALE chemical stability was evaluated by LC-DAD-MS.MethodsV. album subsp. austriacum histochemistry was performed, and the chemical profile of VALE was analyzed by GC-MS. After the SNEEDS-VALE development, its morphology was visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while its stability was evaluated by the average droplet size, polydispersity index (PdI) and pH. Lastly, SNEDDS-VALE chemical stability was evaluated by LC-DAD-MS.The histochemical analysis showed the presence of lipophilic compounds in the leaves and stems. The major compound in the VALE was oleanolic acid, followed by lupeol acetate and ursolic acid. SNEDDS was composed of medium chain triglyceride and Kolliphor® RH 40 (PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil). A homogeneous, isotropic and stable nanoemulsion was obtained, with an average size of 36.87 ± 1.04 nm and PdI of 0.14 ± 0.02, for 14 weeks.ResultsThe histochemical analysis showed the presence of lipophilic compounds in the leaves and stems. The major compound in the VALE was oleanolic acid, followed by lupeol acetate and ursolic acid. SNEDDS was composed of medium chain triglyceride and Kolliphor® RH 40 (PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil). A homogeneous, isotropic and stable nanoemulsion was obtained, with an average size of 36.87 ± 1.04 nm and PdI of 0.14 ± 0.02, for 14 weeks.This is the first histochemistry analysis of V. album subsp. austriacum growing on Pinus sylvestris L. which provided detailed information regarding its lipophilic compounds. A homogeneous, isotropic and stable SNEDDS-VALE was obtained to improve the low water solubility of VALE. Further, in vitro and in vivo experiments should be performed, in order to evaluate the antitumoral potential of SNEDDS-VALE.ConclusionThis is the first histochemistry analysis of V. album subsp. austriacum growing on Pinus sylvestris L. which provided detailed information regarding its lipophilic compounds. A homogeneous, isotropic and stable SNEDDS-VALE was obtained to improve the low water solubility of VALE. Further, in vitro and in vivo experiments should be performed, in order to evaluate the antitumoral potential of SNEDDS-VALE.
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