Influenza vaccination in older adults and patients with chronic disorders: A position paper from the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, the Portuguese Society of Diabetology, the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, the Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, the Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine, and the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology.

Influenza affects millions of people worldwide each year and can lead to severe complications, hospitalizations, and even death, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Annual vaccination is considered the most effective measure for preventing influenza and its complications. Despite the widespread availability of influenza vaccines, however, vaccination coverage rates remain suboptimal in several countries. Based on the latest scientific evidence and expert opinions on influenza vaccination in older people and patients with chronic disease, the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP), the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD), the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), the Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SPGG), the Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEGERMI-SPMI), and the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SPDIMC) discussed best practices for promoting vaccination uptake and coverage and drew up several recommendations to mitigate the impact of influenza. These recommendations focus on the efficacy and safety of available vaccines; the impact of influenza vaccination on older adults; patients with chronic medical conditions, namely cardiac and respiratory conditions, diabetes, and immunosuppressive diseases; and health care professionals, optimal vaccination timing, and strategies to increase vaccination uptake and coverage. The resulting position paper highlights the critical role that vaccinations play in promoting public health, raising awareness, and encouraging more people to get vaccinated.

An Overview of the Protein Binding of Cephalosporins in Human Body Fluids: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Protein binding can diminish the pharmacological effect of beta-lactam antibiotics. Only the free fraction has an antibacterial effect. The aim of this systematic literature review was to give an overview of the current knowledge of protein binding of cephalosporins in human body fluids as well as to describe patient characteristics influencing the level of protein binding. Method: A systematic literature search was performed in Embase, Medline ALL, Web of Science Core Collection and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials with the following search terms: "protein binding," "beta-lactam antibiotic," and "body fluid." Only studies were included where protein binding was measured in humans in vivo. Results: The majority of studies reporting protein binding were performed in serum or plasma. Other fluids included pericardial fluid, blister fluid, bronchial secretion, pleural exudate, wound exudate, cerebrospinal fluid, dialysate, and peritoneal fluid. Protein binding differs between diverse cephalosporins and between different patient categories. For cefazolin, ceftriaxone, cefpiramide, and cefonicid a non-linear pattern in protein binding in serum or plasma was described. Several patient characteristics were associated with low serum albumin concentrations and were found to have lower protein binding compared to healthy volunteers. This was for critically ill patients, dialysis patients, and patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery. While mean/median percentages of protein binding are lower in these patient groups, individual values may vary considerably. Age is not likely to influence protein binding by itself, however limited data suggest that lower protein binding in newborns. Obesity was not correlated with altered protein binding. Discussion/Conclusion: Conclusions on protein binding in other body fluids than blood cannot be drawn due to the scarcity of data. In serum and plasma, there is a large variability in protein binding per cephalosporin and between different categories of patients. Several characteristics were identified which lead to a lower protein binding. The finding that some of the cephalosporins display a non-linear pattern of protein binding makes it even more difficult to predict the unbound concentrations in individual patients. Taken all these factors, it is recommended to measure unbound concentrations to optimize antibiotic exposure in individual patients. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier (CRD42021252776).

Effect of bone loss on the fracture resistance of narrow dental implants after implantoplasty. An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Implantoplasty (IP) involves polishing of the exposed surface of implants affected by peri-implantitis (PI). A study was made to determine whether the degree of bone loss influences the fracture resistance of implants with or without IP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An in vitro study was carried out on 32 narrow (3.5 mm) dental implants with a rough surface and external hexagonal connection. Implantoplasty was performed in half of the implants of the sample. Both the IP and control implants were divided into two subgroups according to the amount of bone loss (3 mm or 7.5 mm). Standardized radiographic assessment of implant width was performed using specific software. The main outcome variable was the maximum compression force (Fmax) of implants when subjected to static resistance to fracture tests. Implant fractures were subsequently analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data was performed. RESULTS: Significant changes in implant width were observed after IP (p<0.05). No significant differences between IP and control implants were recorded in terms of the Fmax values in the two bone loss subgroups (3 mm: control 854.37N 195.08 vs. IP 752.12N 186.13; p=0.302, and 7.5 mm: control 548.82N 80.02 vs. IP 593.69N 111.07; p=0.370). Greater bone loss was associated to a decrease in Fmax, which proved significant for the control implants (p=0.001). Fractures were more frequently located in the platform (n=13). CONCLUSIONS: Implants with more apical bone levels appear to be more susceptible to fracture. On the other hand, IP does not seem to significantly decrease the fracture resistance of narrow (3.5 mm) platform dental implants with external hexagonal connections. The fact that most fractures occur in the platform area indicates that the latter is exposed to more mechanical stress.

γδ T cells compose a developmentally regulated intrauterine population and protect against vaginal candidiasis.

This most comprehensive analysis to date of γδ T cells in the murine uterus reveals them to compose a unique local T-cell compartment. Consistent with earlier reports, most cells expressed a canonical Vγ6Vδ1 TCR, and produced interleukin (IL)-17A upon stimulation. Nonetheless, contrasting with earlier reports, uterine γδ T cells were not obviously intraepithelial, being more akin to sub-epithelial Vγ6Vδ1+ T cells at several other anatomical sites. By contrast to other tissues however, the uterine compartment also included non-Vγ6+, IFN-γ-producing cells; was strikingly enriched in young mice; expressed genes hitherto associated with the uterus, including the progesterone receptor; and did not require microbes for development and/or maintenance. This notwithstanding, γδ T-cell deficiency severely impaired resistance to reproductive tract infection by Candida albicans, associated with decreased responses of IL-17-dependent neutrophils. These findings emphasise tissue-specific complexities of different mucosal γδ cell compartments, and their evident importance in lymphoid stress-surveillance against barrier infection.

Intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, production, and composition of goat milk supplemented with detoxified castor bean meal added urea as a replacement of soybean meal.

This study evaluated the castor bean meal detoxified with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] added urea replacing soybean meal in the diet of lactating goats from milk production and composition, intake, digestibility, and ingestive behavior. Eight Alpine multiparous goats weighting 44.3 ± 5.3 kg and at approximately 60 days of lactation were confined and randomly distributed in 4 × 4 double Latin squares, with four inclusion levels of detoxified castor meal: control (0), 25, 50, and 75 g/kg dry matter (DM) total. Detoxified castor bean meal replacing soybean meal (P > 0.05) in goats diet did not affect intake and digestibility of DM, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total carbohydrates, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients, times spent for eating, and efficiency ratios of rumination and eating. However, the times spent for rumination and idling showed a quadratic trend decrease (P < 0.01) from the level of 50.0-g/kg DM. The milk production, and the milk production correction showed a quadratic trend increase and feeding efficiency a quadratic decrease (P = 0.03) due inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal replacing soybean meal up to the level of 25.0 g/kg. The fat, protein, lactose, total solids, nonfat solids, and milk urea nitrogen content (g/day) presented a quadratic increase (P < 0.05) by detoxified castor meal inclusion. Detoxified castor bean meal added urea in the Alpine goats diet could be included up to the 25.0 g/kg level replacing soybean meal in the diet because improve milk production and composition and feeding efficiency of goats without negatively effect on intake, digestibility and ingestive behavior.

Dehydropeptide-based plasmonic magnetogels: a supramolecular composite nanosystem for multimodal cancer therapy.

Supramolecular hydrogels are highly promising candidates as biomedical materials owing to their wide array of properties, which can be tailored and modulated. Additionally, their combination with plasmonic/magnetic nanoparticles to form plasmonic magnetogels further improves their potential in biomedical applications through the combination of complementary strategies, such as photothermia, magnetic hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy and magnetic-guided drug delivery. Here, a new dehydropeptide hydrogelator, Npx-l-Met-Z-ΔPhe-OH, was developed and combined with two different plasmonic/magnetic nanoparticle architectures, i.e., core/shell manganese ferrite/gold nanoparticles and gold-decorated manganese ferrite nanoparticles with ca. 55 nm and 45 nm sizes, respectively. The magnetogels were characterized via HR-TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, circular dichroism and rheological assays. The gels were tested as nanocarriers for a model antitumor drug, the natural compound curcumin. The incorporation of the drug in the magnetogel matrices was confirmed through fluorescence-based techniques (FRET, fluorescence anisotropy and quenching). The curcumin release profiles were studied with and without the excitation of the gold plasmon band. The transport of curcumin from the magnetogels towards biomembrane models (small unilamellar vesicles) was assessed via FRET between the fluorescent drug and the lipid probe Nile Red. The developed magnetogels showed promising results for photothermia and photo-triggered drug release. The magnetogels bearing gold-decorated nanoparticles showed the best photothermia properties, while the ones containing core/shell nanoparticles had the best photoinduced curcumin release.

The Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS): Linking Health and Social Data in Brazil.

The Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) was created in 2016 in Salvador, Bahia-Brazil with the objective of integrating data and knowledge aiming to answer scientific questions related to the health of the Brazilian population. This article details our experiences in the establishment and operations of CIDACS, as well as efforts made to obtain high-quality linked data while adhering to security, ethical use and privacy issues. Every effort has been made to conduct operations while implementing appropriate structures, procedures, processes and controls over the original and integrated databases in order to provide adequate datasets to answer relevant research questions. Looking forward, CIDACS is expected to be an important resource for researchers and policymakers interested in enhancing the evidence base pertaining to different aspects of health, in particular when investigating, from a nation-wide perspective, the role of social determinants of health and the effects of social and environmental policies on different health outcomes.

Influence of solvent and a supplementary step with a finishing instrument on filling material removal from canals connected by an isthmus.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a solvent (eucalyptol) in improving filling material removal from canals connected by isthmuses, and the additional cleaning effect of a finishing instrument. METHODOLOGY: The mesial canals from 32 mandibular molars (Vertucci's type II morphology) were instrumented and filled with the single-cone technique using Reciproc R25 gutta-percha points (VDW, Munich, Germany) combined with Sealer 26 (Dentsply, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil). Each root was then subjected to retreatment using the Mtwo instrument system (VDW), with or without a solvent (n = 16 per group). The volume of filling material in the canals was assessed by micro-computed tomographic (micro-CT) scans taken before and after retreatment. Canals with remnants of filling material received a supplementary procedure with the XP-endo Finisher R instrument (FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland), with or without eucalyptol, and another micro-CT scan was taken. All retreatment procedures were performed inside a cabinet under a controlled temperature (37 °C). Filling material removal was evaluated in the 5-mm apical canal system for the canal+isthmus space or the isthmus alone. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the removal of filling material with and without eucalyptol, and after a supplementary approach with XP-endo Finisher R. The level of significance was set at 5% for all statistical tests (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The amount of filling material removed from the canal+isthmus with Mtwo instruments was 83.2% when no solvent was used and 83.8% using the solvent (P > 0.05). When the isthmus area was evaluated separately, most specimens were associated with a reduction in the filling material, with no significant difference between the groups with or without using a solvent (P > 0.05). The supplementary step with XP-endo Finisher R significantly improved removal of filling material from both canal and isthmus area (P < 0.05), regardless of the use of a solvent (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of eucalyptol did not improve filling material removal from Vertucci's type II molar mesial canals and isthmuses. XP-endo Finisher R significantly enhanced removal of filling material from the canals and isthmuses.

Magnetoliposomes containing magnesium ferrite nanoparticles as nanocarriers for the model drug curcumin.

Magnesium ferrite nanoparticles, with diameters around 25 nm, were synthesized by coprecipitation method. The magnetic properties indicate a superparamagnetic behaviour, with a maximum magnetization of 16.2 emu g-1, a coercive field of 22.1 Oe and a blocking temperature of 183.2 K. These MgFe2O4 nanoparticles were used to produce aqueous and solid magnetoliposomes, with sizes below 130 nm. The potential drug curcumin was successfully incorporated in these nanosystems, with high encapsulation efficiencies (above 89%). Interaction by fusion between both types of drug-loaded magnetoliposomes (with or without PEGylation) and models of biological membranes was demonstrated, using FRET or fluorescence quenching assays. These results point to future applications of magnetoliposomes containing MgFe2O4 nanoparticles in cancer therapy, allowing combined magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy.

Preactivation of neutrophils and systemic oxidative stress in dogs with hyperleptinemia.

High occurrence of obesity currently constitutes the main nutritional disease of the canine species. There is evidence that leptin increases during obesity in dogs. Hyperleptinemia is associated with increased neutrophil oxidative metabolism in obese humans and contributes to oxidative stress. However, in obese dogs, the probable relationship between this condition and the activation of the oxidative metabolism of neutrophils has yet to be established. Thus, we investigated the hypothesis that neutrophil activation and systemic oxidative stress occur in dogs with hyperleptinemia. A control group of 24 healthy dogs with a body condition score (BCS) of 4-5, an overweight group of 25 dogs with a BCS of 6-7, and 27 obese dogs with a BCS of 8-9, were composed. Two subgroups were formed composed of dogs with and without hyperleptinemia, grouped according to the 95% confidence interval obtained for plasma leptin values of the control group. Changes in obesity markers (body condition score, adiponectin and plasma leptin) and plasma oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant and oxidant capacities and oxidative stress index) were measured in all the dogs selected. Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was evaluated in flow cytometry by superoxide production with the probe hydroethidine and by hydrogen peroxide production with the probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, with or without phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation. Apoptosis and neutrophil viability were quantified in a capillary flow cytometer using Annexin VPE, with or without camptothecin apoptosis inducing effect. Obese dogs presented higher systemic oxidative stress, hyperleptinemia and preactivated neutrophils with accelerated apoptosis. Dogs with hyperleptinemia and obese dogs presented higher neutrophil superoxide production under PMA stimulation and the presence of systemic oxidative stress compared with control. To our knowledge, this is probably the first evidence that preactivation of the oxidative metabolism of circulating neutrophils occurs in dogs with hyperleptinemia, a condition that can induce systemic oxidative stress in the canine species.

Characteristics and outcome of patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic lung cancer admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

BACKGROUND: Although patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer have poor prognosis, admission to the ICU for management of life-threatening complications has increased over the years. Patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer appear as good candidates for ICU admission, but more robust information to assist decisions is lacking. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognosis of newly diagnosed unresectable lung cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective multicentric study analyzed the outcome of patients admitted to the ICU with a newly diagnosed lung cancer (diagnosis within the month) between 2010 and 2013. RESULTS: Out of the 100 patients, 30 had small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 70 had non-small cell lung cancer. (Thirty patients had already been treated with oncologic treatments.) Mechanical ventilation (MV) was performed for 81 patients. Seventeen patients received emergency chemotherapy during their ICU stay. ICU, hospital, 3- and 6-month mortality were, respectively, 47, 60, 67 and 71%. Hospital mortality was 60% when invasive MV was used alone, 71% when MV and vasopressors were needed and 83% when MV, vasopressors and hemodialysis were required. In multivariate analysis, hospital mortality was associated with metastatic disease (OR 4.22 [1.4-12.4]; p = 0.008), need for invasive MV (OR 4.20 [1.11-16.2]; p = 0.030), while chemotherapy in ICU was associated with survival (OR 0.23, [0.07-0.81]; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: This study shows that ICU management can be appropriate for selected newly diagnosed patients with advanced lung cancer, and chemotherapy might improve outcome for patients with SCLC admitted for cancer-related complications. Nevertheless, tumors' characteristics, numbers and types of organ dysfunction should be taken into account in the decisional process before admitting these patients in ICU.

Resveratrol atenua o estresse oxidativo e a lesão muscular de ratos sedentários submetidos ao exercício físico / Resveratrol attenuates oxidative stress and muscle damage in sedentary rats subjected to physical exercise

O sedentarismo é um problema de saúde pública e um dos maiores males da sociedade moderna. Já está bem estabelecido que esforço físico em excesso ou em indivíduos não condicionados acarreta estresse oxidativo e lesões musculares. No presente estudo, foi testada a hipótese de que um único esforço físico é capaz de causar estresse oxidativo e lesão muscular em indivíduos sedentários. Aditivamente foi avaliado efeito antioxidante do polifenol resveratrol (RV) quanto a sua capacidade de atenuar o estresse oxidativo e a lesão muscular causados pelo esforço físico. Para tal, 40 ratos (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar), machos, adultos e sedentários foram aleatoriamente submetidos ou não a 90 minutos de natação, com e sem tratamento com RV (100mg/kg/PV/14dias): N-RV- (n=10) grupo mantido em repouso e não tratado com RV; N-RV+ (n=10) grupo mantido em repouso e tratado com RV; N+RV- (n=10) grupo submetido ao esforço físico de natação e não tratado com RV e N+RV+ (n=10) grupo submetido ao esforço físico de natação e tratado com RV. Em ratos sedentários, o esforço físico da natação promoveu estresse oxidativo (aumento da peroxidação lipídica e diminuição da capacidade antioxidante total do plasma) e aumento significativo da atividade plasmática de creatina quinase (CK) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH). O tratamento com RV diminuiu a peroxidação lipídica e a concentração dos marcadores de lesão muscular (CK e LDH) de ratos sedentários submetidos à natação. Essa é uma das primeiras evidências de que um único esforço físico pode causar estresse oxidativo em indivíduos sedentários e que o RV pode ser uma alternativa para atenuar a lesão muscular causada por esse estresse.(AU)

Physical inactivity is a public health problem when a sedentary population practices physical activity sporadically. Exercise in unconditioned individuals causes oxidative stress and muscle damage. This study tested the hypothesis that a single physical exertion can cause muscle damage and oxidative stress in sedentary individuals, and resveratrol can attenuate it. For this, 40 sedentary adult male rats were equally and randomized into four groups subjected to 90min swimming or rest and administered aqueous resveratrol (100mg/kg/day) or saline for 14 days: N-RV-, rats maintained at rest and administered saline; N-RV+, rats maintained at rest and treated with resveratrol; N+RV-, rats subjected to physical exercise and administered saline; and N+RV+, rats subjected to physical exercise and treated with resveratrol. In sedentary rats, the physical exertion of swimming promoted oxidative stress, i.e. increased lipid peroxidation and decreased plasma total antioxidant capacity, and significant increases in CK and LDH plasma activities. Resveratrol diminished lipid peroxidation and the concentrations of muscle damage markers (CK and LDH) in sedentary rats subjected to swimming. The results provide evidence that a single sudden physical exertion can cause oxidative stress in sedentary rats. Resveratrol showed good results as a treatment for minimizing muscle damage caused by this stress.(AU)

Induction of haem oxygenase-1 increases infection of dog macrophages by L. infantum.

We aimed to induce and inhibit HO-1, ascertaining its effect on infection rate, parasite load and the levels of superoxide, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), TNF-alpha and IL-10 in cultured macrophages from healthy dogs infected by Leishmania infantum. Macrophages obtained from 15 healthy dogs were cultured alone or infected with L. infantum, with or without association of HO-1 inducer and inhibitor. The infection rate and the parasite load were determined by the number of infected macrophages and number of promastigotes per macrophage, respectively. HO-1 levels and gene expression, as well as IL-10 and TNF-alpha levels were also measured in these cultures. Superoxide, ROS and NO levels in macrophages were measured through flow cytometry. Induction of HO-1 increased the infection rate and parasite load, while its inhibition decreased the infection rate and IL-10 production. There was a positive correlation between HO-1 and infection rate or parasite load. Increased infection rate was associated with decreased superoxide, ROS and NO levels. Induction of HO-1 metabolism in dogs infected by L. infantum is possibly one of the mechanisms responsible for increasing the infection of macrophages, mainly through reduction in the oxidative and nitrosative metabolisms of these cells.

Stability of annual biomass energy production of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) genotypes in the Northern region of the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the stability of dry biomass production of elephant grass genotypes under an annual harvest regime, in soil-climatic conditions of the Northern region of the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and to compare methodologies for stability analyses of Yates and Cochran (YC), Plaisted and Peterson (PP), Annicchiarico (ANN), Lin and Binns (LB), Huenh (HU), and Kang and Phan (KP). A randomized block design with 83 treatments and two replicates was adopted. Four annual harvests were performed (2012-2015) and dry matter yield (DMY, t.ha-1.year-1) was evaluated. Individual and combined analyses of variance for DMY revealed significant effects for genotypes, harvests, and for the genotype x harvest interaction at the probability levels of 1 and 5%. Genotypes indicated by the YC and PP methods are associated with higher stability and lower DMY. The weighting of KP with YC and PP was highly effective in associating stability with DMY. The LB and ANN methods showed strong agreement with each other and produced similar classifications as to phenotypic stability, and so we recommend using one or the other. Genotypes Elefante Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, Cuba-116, Taiwan A-46, P241 Piracicaba, Taiwan A-144, Cameroon - Piracicaba, 10 AD IRI, Guaçu/I,Z,2, Mineirão IPEACO, Taiwan A-121, IJ7125 cv EMPASC308, 903-77, Mole de Volta Grande, and Porto Rico 534-B showed high stability and DMY, standing out as promising genotypes for the soil-climatic conditions of the Northern region of the Rio de Janeiro State. The methodologies based on ANOVA and non-parametric analyses were complementary and increased reliability in the recommendation of genotypes.

The uremic toxin methylguanidine increases the oxidative metabolism and accelerates the apoptosis of canine neutrophils.

We investigated the hypothesis that the increased concentration of plasma methylguanidine (MG) increases oxidative metabolism and accelerates apoptosis of neutrophils from dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To achieve this, the levels of MG were quantified in healthy (n=16) and uremic dogs with CKD stage 4 of according to the guidelines of the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS, 2015) (n=16) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To evaluate the isolated effect of MG on neutrophil oxidative metabolism and apoptosis, neutrophils isolated from 12 healthy dogs were incubated with the highest concentration of plasma MG (0.005g/L) observed in dogs with CKD. Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was assessed by flow cytometry, using the probes hydroethidine for superoxide production and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate for hydrogen peroxide production, with or without phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulus. Neutrophil apoptosis and viability were also evaluated in flow cytometer using the Annexin V-PE system, with or without the apoptosis-inducing effect of camptothecin. Uremic dogs presented higher concentrations of MG (p<0.0001), increased oxidative stress and primed neutrophils with higher apoptosis rate. The neutrophil abnormalities observed in vivo were also reproduced in vitro, using cells isolated from healthy dogs and incubated with MG. We obtained strong evidence that in dogs with CKD, increased MG levels contributed to oxidative stress and potentially compromised the non-specific immune response by altering the oxidative metabolism and viability of canine neutrophils.

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de iogurte adicionado de geleiada da casca de jabuticaba e de cultura probiótica / Development and characterization of added yogurt of jabuticaba and probiotic culture

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e caracterizar iogurte adicionado de geleiada de casca de jabuticaba e de Lactobacilos acidophilus LA-3 e analisar suas características microbiológicas e físico-químicas. Inicialmente, preparou-se geleiada com o resíduo do processamento de jabuticaba. Em seguida, o iogurte foi processado, adicionado de 5% de geleiada e dividido em dois tratamentos: iogurte adicionado de L. acidophilus LA-3 e controle, sem adição da cultura. Realizou-se análises de pH, acidez titulável, sólidos solúveis, coliformes a 30°C e a 45°C e de fungos filamentosos e leveduras nas amostras de geleiada. As amostras de iogurte foram submetidas às análises de pH, acidez titulável, extrato seco total, umidade, gordura, cinzas, proteína, além da contagem de bactérias láticas, fungos filamentosos e leveduras e coliformes a 30°C e a 45°C. Verificou-se resultados médios de 2,38 para pH, 1,166 para acidez (% ácido cítrico) e 67,33 °Brix para sólidos solúveis nas amostras de geleiadas. Por outro lado, as amostras de iogurte do tratamento controle diferenciaram daquelas adicionadas de cultura probiótica (p<0,05) em relação a pH, acidez, extrato seco e umidade. Os teores de cinzas e gordura não diferiram (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos ao longo do tempo. Constatou-se <3,0 NMP/g de coliformes a 30°C e a 45°C em ambos os tratamentos e <1,0x101 UFC/g estimado para fungos filamentosos e leveduras para geleiada e para iogurte. As contagens de L. acidophilus LA-3 e de L. bulgaricus no iogurte foram acima de 108 UFC/g logo após a produção, enquanto após 30 dias a 5°C observou- -se contagens acima de 107 UFC/g. Streptococus thermophilus manteve- -se acima 109 UFC/g durante a estocagem. Portanto, o iogurte contendo geleiada de casca de jabuticaba pode ser utilizado como substrato potencial para L. acidophilus LA-3 e para as culturas láticas uma vez que estas se mantiveram com elevada viabilidade celular durante a vida de prateleira. O produto elaborado pode ser considerado de dupla funcionalidade por unir as características das culturas a da casca de jabuticaba.

Correlations between peripheral parasite load and common clinical and laboratory alterations in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.

Intensity of peripheral parasite infection has an important role in the transmission of Leishmania spp. from one host to another. As parasite load quantification is still an expensive procedure to be used routinely in epidemiological surveillance, the use of surrogate predictors may be an important asset in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability. The present study examined whether common clinical and laboratory alterations can serve as predictors of peripheral parasitism in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania spp. Thirty-seven dogs were examined in order to establish correlations between parasite load (PL) in multiple peripheral tissues and common clinical and laboratory findings in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine PL in conjunctival swabs, ear skin, peripheral blood and buffy coat. Additionally, a series of hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress markers were quantified. Correlations between net peripheral infection and severity of clinical alterations and variation in laboratory parameters were assessed through a new analytical approach, namely Compressed Parasite Load Data (CPLD), which uses dimension reduction techniques from multivariate statistics to summarize PL across tissues into a single variable. The analysis revealed that elevation in PL is positively correlated with severity of clinical sings commonly observed in CVL, such as skin lesions, ophthalmic alterations, onycogriphosis, popliteal lymphadenomegaly and low body mass. Furthermore, increase in PL was found to be followed by intensification of non-regenerative anemia, neutrophilia, eosinopenia, hepatic injury and oxidative imbalance. These results suggest that routinely used clinical and laboratory exams can be predictive of intensity of peripheral parasite infection, which has an important implication in the identification of dogs with high transmitting ability.

M1 polarization and the effect of PGE2 on TNF-α production by lymph node cells from dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is caused by the intracellular parasite Leishmania infantum. Increased levels of arginase, nitric oxide (NO2 ) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) can play a regulatory role regarding the immune response in CVL cases. This study aimed to evaluate the arginase activity in adherent macrophages cultured from the lymph nodes of healthy and naturally infected dogs and to examine the NO2 and PGE2 levels in the supernatant of these cultures. In addition, the regulatory effect of PGE2 on the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in supernatants from the total lymph node was observed in leucocyte cultures. The arginase activity was lower in the adherent macrophages cultured from the lymph nodes of naturally infected dogs and there were higher concentrations of NO2 and PGE2 in the supernatants of these cultures. Higher TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations were observed in supernatants from total lymph node leucocytes cultures, from infected dogs, and the presence of indomethacin only decreased TNF-α in the supernatant of these cultures. We conclude that the low arginase activity in macrophages suggested that M1 polarization and PGE2 were participating in the immune response and were increasing TNF-α in CVL.