Action mechanisms of probiotics on Candida spp. and candidiasis prevention: an update.

Due to the high incidence of fungal infections caused by Candida species and their increasing resistance to antimicrobial treatments, alternative therapies such as probiotics have been studied. It has been show that several species of the genus Lactobacillus have anti-Candida activity, probably by direct inhibition, through competition for adhesion sites or production of secondary metabolites, and by indirect inhibition, through stimulation of the immune system of their host. However, the mechanisms of inhibition of these probiotics on Candida species have not yet been fully elucidated since this effect is related to more than one inhibition pathway. In the literature, several in vitro and in vivo studies have been developed seeking to elucidate the probiotics mechanisms of action. These studies have been focused on C. albicans inhibition assays, including analysis of antimicrobial activity, adherence capacity, biofilms formation, filamentation and interference on virulence genes, as well as assays of experimental candidiasis in invertebrate and vertebrate models. In this context, the purpose of this review was to gather different studies focused on the action mechanism of probiotic strains on Candida sp. and to discuss their impact on the candidiasis prevention.

Effect of dairy by-products as milk replacers on quality attributes of ice cream.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ricotta whey (RW), cheese whey (CW), and butter whey (BUW) as replacers of whole milk (WM) at different ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0) in the physicochemical and sensory qualities of ice cream. All formulations, including a commercial sample used as reference, were analyzed for nutritional composition, energy value, pH, titratable acidity (TA), melting behavior, desorption index, instrumental color properties, instrumental hardness, and consumer sensory testing. Overall, the addition of RW, CW, and BUW increased the moisture content, TA, melting rate, and redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values but decreased the pH, lightness (L*) value, energy value, levels of ash, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate. As exception, CW did not influence the TA, and BUW resulted in lower lipid reduction and in lower hardness changes, and it did not affect the content of ash, protein, and a* and b* values of ice creams. Any ice cream formulation had dietary fibers and a desorption index. Ricotta whey and CW at all ratios and BUW at 25% did not affect overall liking compared with the commercial sample, whereas purchase intention was only decreased by the addition of BUW from 50 to 100%. Ricotta whey at 75 and 100% decreased melting velocity and creaminess, and BUW at 50, 75, and 100% increased hardness, TA, and cream flavor but decreased creaminess, which contributed negatively to overall liking. Therefore, the evaluated dairy by-products, especially RW and CW, have great potential for replacing milk in ice creams.

Identification of Copy Number Variation by Array-CGH in Portuguese Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect many children with an estimated prevalence of 1%. Array-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) offers significant sensitivity for the identification of submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities and it is one of the most used techniques in daily practice. The main objective of this study was to describe the usefulness of array-CGH in the etiologic diagnosis of ASD. METHODS: Two-hundred fifty-three patients admitted to a neurogenetic outpatient clinic and diagnosed with ASD were selected for array-CGH (4 × 180K microarrays). Public databases were used for classification in accordance with the American College of Medical Genetics Standards and Guidelines. RESULTS: About 3.56% (9/253) of copy number variations (CNVs) were classified as pathogenic. When likely pathogenic CNVs were considered, the rate increased to 11.46% (29/253). Some CNVs apparently not correlated to the ASD were also found. Considering a phenotype-genotype correlation, the patients were divided in two groups. One group according to previous literature includes all the CNVs related to ASDs (23 CNVs present in 22 children) and another with those apparently not related to ASD (10 CNVs present in 7 children). In 18 patients, a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel were performed. From these, one pathogenic and 16 uncertain significance variants were identified. CONCLUSION: The results of our study are in accordance with the literature, highlighting the relevance of array-CGH in the genetic of diagnosis of ASD population, namely when associated with other features. Our study also reinforces the need for complementarity between array-CGH and NGS panels or whole exome sequencing in the etiological diagnosis of ASD.

Lactobacillus is able to alter the virulence and the sensitivity profile of Candida albicans.

AIMS: The study investigated whether the interaction with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC7469) interfere with the expression of virulence factors by Candida albicans (ATCC18804). METHODS AND RESULTS: These micro-organisms were grown in biofilms for 24, 48 and 72 h, Candida was isolated and the expression of the major virulence factors were investigated. The production of phospholipase, protease and haemolysin were observed in appropriate media; observation of germ tubes formation in serum; biofilm formation, after growth in microtitre plates and reading in spectrophotometer. Candida was also tested for antifungal sensitivity to amphotericin B, fluconazole and ketoconazole. The results were compared with the cells of Candida grown in the absence of lactobacilli (control group). Candida cells, which interacted with Lact. rhamnosus (test group), showed significantly lower proteinase and haemolysin activity, when compared with control group. The germ tube formation and biofilm formation capacity also decreased in tested groups, which demonstrated alterations in susceptibility to antifungal drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Lact. rhamnosus is able to influence the expression of virulence factors by C. albicans and can alter its antifungal sensitivity profile. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results suggest reduction in the pathogenicity of Candida and improvement in candidiasis therapy and control.

RHOBTB2 p.Arg511Trp Mutation in Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy-64: Review and Case Report.

Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-64 (EIEE 64), also called RHOBTB2-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), is caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants (EIEE 64; MIM#618004) in the Rho-related BTB domain-containing protein 2 ( RHOBTB2 ) gene. To date, only 13 cases with RHOBTB2-related DEE have been reported. We add to the literature the 14th case of EIEE 64, identified by whole exome sequencing, caused by a heterozygous pathogenic variant in RHOBTB2 (c.1531C > T), p.Arg511Trp. This additional case supports the main features of RHOBTB2-related DEE: infantile-onset seizures, severe intellectual disability, impaired motor functions, postnatal microcephaly, recurrent status epilepticus, and hemiparesis after seizures.

Effectiveness of three instrumentation systems to remove Enterococcus faecalis from root canals.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of three systems of mechanical preparation to reduce Enterococcus faecalis within root canals. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-four human single-rooted canine teeth were standardized to a length of 17 mm and the canal contents removed using a size 20 K-file, as the last apical file. After irrigation and sterilization, the canals were contaminated with E. faecalis and incubated for 21 days at 37 °C with 5% CO(2). Then, the teeth were divided into three groups for mechanical preparation with: ProTaper rotary system, ProTaper manual system and manual K-files. Samples of the root canal contents, before and after the debridement, were collected with sterile paper points for 1 min. Then, the samples were diluted and plated in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar. The colony-forming units were counted and the percentage reduction calculated. The reduction and log CFU mL(-1) were compared between groups using Wilcoxon nonparametric test and two-way analysis of variance, respectively. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the number of CFU/mL (P = 0.000) before and after debridement for all the systems used. However, there was no significant difference between the systems. CONCLUSION: All the three instrumentation systems reduced E. faecalis counts to a similar degree.

Differential expression of genes involved in entomopathogenicity of the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae and M. anisopliae var. acridum (Clavicipitaceae).

Expression analysis of the genes involved in germination, conidiogenisis and pathogenesis of Metarhizium anisopliae during its saprophytic and pathogenic life stages can help plan strategies to increase its efficacy as a biological control agent. We quantified relative expression levels of the nitrogen response regulator gene (nrr1) and a G-protein regulator of genes involved in conidiogenesis (cag8), using an RT-qPCR assay. Comparisons were made between M. anisopliae var. anisopliae and M. anisopliae var. acridum during germination and conidiogenesis and at different stages of pathogenesis. The cag8 gene was repressed during germination and induced during conidial development and the pathogenic phase, and the nrr1 gene was induced during germination, conidiogenesis and the pathogenic phase. Both genes were more expressed in M. anisopliae var. anisopliae, demonstrating that different varieties of M. anisopliae differ in activation of genes linked to virulence for certain environments and hosts. This suggests that differences among these varieties in the ability to adapt could be attributed not only to specific genomic regions and genes, but also to differential gene expression in this fungus, modulating its ability to respond to environmental stimuli.

Polymorphism in Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) based on internal transcribed spacer-RFLP, ISSR and intron markers.

Isolates of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae were characterized using internal transcribed spacer-RFLP, ISSR and intron splice site primers. Thirty-seven isolates were studied, most of which were obtained from the sugar cane pest, Mahanarva fimbriolata (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) from Tangará da Serra, Southwest Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Internal transcribed spacer-RFLP did not differentiate the isolates of M. anisopliae var. anisopliae, while ISSR and intron primers identified three distinct groups. Variability among these groups was 96% for (GTG)(5) and 100% for the other primers. We found considerable genetic variability, even among isolates from the same geographical origin and host.

Rapid motor cortical reorganization following subacute spinal cord dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Damage to the spinal cord is known to be associated with a posterior shift of the motor cortical upper limb representation, i.e. towards the somatosensory cortex. Due to missing pre-traumatic data, knowledge resulted from comparing findings between patients and healthy subjects. Here, we present a case of transient spinal cord injury resulting in a left-sided hemiparesis for 4 weeks. By chance, this patient had a pre-lesional navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) motor mapping 2 years before. Hence, nTMS mapping was repeated during the acute (after 1 day), sub-acute (after 10 days) and chronic (after 2 years) phase to trace the cortical reorganization following this incident. METHODS: Acute clinical work-up included magnetic resonance imaging and navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS). Motor mapping was performed with 110% of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB) resting motor threshold (rMT). Amplitudes and latencies of the motor-evoked potential (MEPs) were recorded and analyzed. In addition, motor function was evaluated by the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale, a standard Purdue Pegboard test and by a reaction time (RT) task. RESULTS: MRI revealed no aberrant findings. nTMS mapping, however, showed a posterior shift of the APB representation from the anatomical hand knob towards the somatosensory cortex in the acute in comparison to the pre-lesional phase. Concomitantly, there was an increase of rMT (6%). Within 10 days, there was an incomplete reversal of the posterior shift in parallel with improvement of the clinical motor function. Long-term follow-up revealed a complete restitution of nTMS cortical mapping and motor function. CONCLUSION: The present case report thoroughly documents a rapid cortical reorganization within a few days after a transient spinal shock. Our data adds further evidence to the literature suggesting a posterior shift of motor cortical representation following spinal cord injury. For the first time, 52 cortical reorganization was shown idiosyncratically in a single patient arising from the fortuitous fact of having a pre - lesional nTMS map.

Array-CGH: importance in the study of developmental delays in pediatrics. / Relevancia de los arrays de hibridación genómica comparada en el estudio de los retrasos del desarrollo en pediatría.

INTRODUCTION: Global developmental delay (GDD) is an intellectual and adaptive impairment in infants under 5 years of age who fail to meet expected developmental milestones. Intellectual disability is characterized by limitation in intellectual function and adaptive behavior, with onset in childhood. Frequent identifiable causes of GDD and intellectual disability are chromosomal imbalances. The array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) has contributed to improve the detection rate of genetic abnormalities and is considered the first-tier genetic test for unexplained intellectual disability. AIM: To analyze the results of a genetic study by aCGH due to GDD or intellectual disability in pediatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients followed in outpatient, which underwent a genetic study by aCGH, from 2012 to 2017. RESULTS: 215 patients were studied by aCGH. Of the total, 64.2% were investigated for intellectual disability and 35.8% for GDD. A 23.3% presented aCGH deletions or duplications, 56% for intellectual disability and 44% for GDD, with chromosomes 16, 22, 2 and 1 being the most implicated. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a higher prevalence in males, according to previously published reports. The rate of detection abnormalities classified as pathogenic was higher than in other studies.

TITLE: Relevancia de los arrays de hibridación genómica comparada en el estudio de los retrasos del desarrollo en pediatría.Introducción. El retraso general del desarrollo (RGD) constituye un trastorno intelectual y del comportamiento adaptativo que aparece en los niños menores de 5 años que no consiguen alcanzar los hitos del desarrollo normal. La discapacidad intelectual se caracteriza por la limitación en el funcionamiento intelectual y en el comportamiento adaptativo, surgida en la infancia. Entre las causas frecuentes y reconocibles del RGD y de la discapacidad intelectual se encuentran los desequilibrios cromosómicos. Los arrays de hibridación genómica comparada (aCGH) han contribuido a mejorar la tasa de detección de las anomalías genéticas y ya se consideran la prueba genética de elección para la discapacidad intelectual de origen desconocido. Objetivo. Analizar los resultados del estudio genético con aCGH motivado por un RGD o una discapacidad intelectual en pacientes pediátricos. Pacientes y métodos. Análisis retrospectivo de pacientes pediátricos sometidos a seguimiento ambulatorio que fueron objeto de un estudio genético con aCGH entre 2012 y 2017. Resultados. El número de pacientes sometidos al estudio con aCGH ascendió a 215. Del total, el 64,2% fueron investigados por discapacidad intelectual, y el 35,8%, por RGD. El 23,3% presentó deleciones o duplicaciones en la aCGH; el 56%, por la discapacidad intelectual; y el 44%, por el RGD, y los cromosomas 16, 22, 2 y 1 fueron los implicados con más frecuencia. Conclusión. El presente estudio demuestra la mayor prevalencia de ambos en el sexo masculino, en consonancia con otras publicaciones precedentes. La tasa de detección de las anomalías clasificadas como patógenas resultó superior a la notificada en otros estudios.

Chemical composition changes in eucalyptus and pinus woods submitted to heat treatment.

This study investigated the influence of heat treatment on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus saligna and Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis woods to understand its role in wood processing. E. saligna and P. caribaea var. hondurensis woods were treated in a laboratorial electric furnace at 120, 140, 160 and 180 degrees C to induce their heat treatment. The chemical composition of the resulting products and those from original wood were determined by gas chromatography. Eucalyptus and Pinus showed a significant reduction in arabinose, manose, galactose and xylose contents when submitted to increasing temperatures. No significant alteration in glucose content was observed. Lignin content, however, increased during the heat process. There was a significant reduction in extractive content for Eucalyptus. On the other hand, a slight increase in extractive content has been determined for the Pinus wood, and that only for the highest temperature. These different behaviors can be explained by differences in chemical constituents between softwoods and hardwoods. The results obtained in this study provide important information for future research and utilization of thermally modified wood.

Parasitism by Monogenoidea in Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characiformes, Characidae) cultivated in Paraná River (Brazil).

This study investigated the occurrence, prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of monogenoidean parasites in Piaractus mesopotamicus farmed in cages in the reservoir of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Station, Paraná River, Brazil. The parasite distribution pattern and the correlation of prevalence and abundance with the total length of hosts were also investigated. Four monogenoidean species were collected: Anacanthorus penilabiatus, A. toledoensis, Mymarothecium ianwhitingtoni and M. viatorum. All the parasites collected in P. mesopotamicus showed the typical aggregated distribution pattern, and the abundance and the prevalence did not shown any correlation with the total length of hosts.

Anthelmintic resistance in Creole horses in the South of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil / [Resistência anti-helmíntica em equinos da raça Crioula no sul do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil]

The objective of the study was to evaluate the antiparasitic resistance against horse nematodes in the South of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The results concerning the tests of anthelmintic efficacy on horses, stored in the database of the Parasitic Diseases Study Group (GEEP) - Veterinary Faculty, at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), were carried out in the laboratory from 2018 to 2019. Stool samples were received from farms with breeding of adult female and male Criollo horses naturally infected, located in municipalities in the country's southern region. The antiparasitic agents tested were Triclorfon + Fenbendazole, Closantel + Albendazole, Ivermectin + Praziquantel, Fenbendazole, Ivermectin, Doramectin, Mebendazole and Moxidectin. Techniques such as Gordon and Whitlock, Coproculture and Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test were performed. Of all the antiparasitic drugs tested, it was observed that only treatments with Ivermectin 2% showed desired values. The observed results indicate that resistance to macrocyclic lactones is usual in equine parasites in this Brazilian region, despite the results with isolated Ivermectin.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a resistência antiparasitária contra nematodeos de equinos no sul do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os resultados referentes aos testes de eficácia anti-helmíntica em cavalos, armazenados no banco de dados do Grupo de Estudos de Doenças Parasitárias (GEEP) - Faculdade de Veterinária, da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), foram realizados em laboratório, no período de 2018 a 2019. Amostras de fezes foram recebidas de fazendas com criação de cavalos Crioulos adultos fêmeas e machos naturalmente infectados, localizadas em municípios da região Sul do país. Os agentes antiparasitários testados foram triclorfon + fenbendazol, closantel + ivermectina + praziquantel, fenbendazol, ivermectina, doramectina, mebendazol e moxidectina. Técnicas como Gordon e Whitlock, coprocultura e teste de redução da contagem de ovos fecais foram realizadas. De todos os antiparasitários testados, observou-se que apenas os tratamentos com ivermectina 2% apresentaram os valores desejados. Os resultados indicam que a resistência às lactonas macrocíclicas é comum em parasitas equinos nessa região brasileira, apesar dos resultados com ivermectina isolada.(AU)

In vitro effects of calcium hydroxide and polymyxin B on endotoxins in root canals.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of intracanal medicaments on endotoxins in root canals. METHODS: Seventy-five freshly extracted maxillary incisors were used in this study. The crowns of teeth were sectioned near the CEJ in order to standardize the root length to 14 mm. The root canals were instrumented to an apical size #50 file and irrigated with 1% sodium hypochlorite solution and sterilized with 60Co gamma irradiation. Standardized suspension containing Escherichia coli endotoxin was inoculated into the 60 root canals. The specimens were randomly assigned to 5 groups (n=15), according to the intracanal medicament used: (G1) calcium hydroxide; (G2) polymyxin B; (G3) combination neomycin-polymyxin B-hydrocortisone; (G4) positive control (no intracanal medicament); (G5) negative control (no endotoxin and no intracanal medicament). After 7 days, the detoxification of endotoxin was evaluated by Limulus lysate assay and antibody production in B-lymphocytes culture. RESULTS: Groups 1, 2 and 5 presented the best results by Limulus lysate and were significantly different to groups 3 and 4 (p<0.05). Stimulation of antibodies production in cell culture by groups 1 and 6 was smaller and statistically different than groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 (p<0.05). Groups 2 and 5 induced a small increase in the antibodies production in relation to the groups 1 and 6. Groups 3 and 4 induced a significant increase of antibodies production (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The calcium hydroxide and polymyxin B intracanal medicaments detoxified endotoxin in root canals and altered the properties of LPS to stimulate the antibody production by B-lymphocytes. The combination neomycin-polymyxin B-hydrocortisone did not detoxified endotoxin.

Ozonation and peroxone oxidation of ethylenethiourea in water: operational parameter optimization and by-product identification.

The objective of this work was to study the degradation and mineralization of ethylenethiourea (ETU) in water by ozonation at different pH values and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Degradation experiments were performed using an initial ETU concentration of 50 ppm for 180 min with a gas flux of 0.25 dm(3) min(-1) and an O3 production rate of 12.1 mg min(-1). Degradation of by-products was monitored by direct injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ETU concentration was determined by HPLC-UV, and its mineralization was detected by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Optimum degradation of ETU in water was observed at pH = 11, whereas at pH = 3, the degradation of ETU was slowest, indicating that the reaction occurred through different mechanisms. The additional effects of hydroxyl radicals formed at the highest pH can be used to explain the results obtained in this study. Peroxone experiments were carried out in the presence of 400 and 800 mg L(-1) H2O2; the degradation of ETU was faster at 400 mg L(-1) H2O2. This was attributed to the scavenging effect of the excess H2O2. ETU treatment by ozonation produced several by-products of degradation such as ethylene urea and 2-imidazoline.

[Persistent respiratory distress or something else?] / ¿Distrés respiratorio persistente o algo más?

TITLE: ¿Distrés respiratorio persistente o algo más?

Solar energy for wastewater treatment: review of international technologies and their applicability in Brazil.

Several studies have reported the adverse effects of recalcitrant compounds and emerging contaminants present in industrial effluents, which are not degradable by ordinary biological treatment. Many of these compounds are likely to accumulate in living organisms through the lipid layer. At concentrations above the limits of biological tolerance, these compounds can be harmful to the ecosystem and may even reach humans through food chain biomagnification. In this regard, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) represent an effective alternative for the removal of the pollutants. This study focused on the AOP involving the use of ultraviolet radiation in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Based on the literature review, comparisons between natural and artificial light were established, approaching photoreactors constructive and operational characteristics. We concluded that the high availability of solar power in Brazil would make the implementation of the AOP using natural solar radiation for the decontamination of effluents feasible, thereby contributing to clean production and biodiversity conservation. This will serve as an important tool for the enforcement of environmental responsibility among public and private institutions.

Frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in Creole horses from the Southern Rio Grande do Sul / Frequência de parasitos gastrintestinais em equinos da raça Crioula do sul do Rio Grande do Sul

A criação de equinos brasileira movimenta anualmente cerca de R$ 16,15 bilhões e impulsiona o setor econômico primário do país. O mercado de animais da raça Crioula vem se expandindo devido ao seu alto potencial zootécnico. No Rio Grande do Sul, a criação é tipicamente extensiva, aliada, muitas vezes, à alta densidade animal, o que favorece as constantes infecções por diversos parasitos. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar retrospectivamente a frequência de parasitos gastrointestinais em cavalos da raça Crioula naturalmente infectados na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram utilizadas 585 amostras de fezes de equinos da raça Crioula, adultos, de ambos os sexos, recebidas de criatórios e centros reprodutivos localizados na região. Do total de amostras, 89,74% (525/585) foram positivas para algum helminto. Em 57,60% (337/585) das amostras, observaram-se somente ovos da família Strongylidae. Infecções por Parascaris spp. e Strongyloides sp., apresentaram frequências de 2,22% (13/585) e 1,53% (9/585), respectivamente. Assim, pode-se concluir que os parasitos mais frequentes na população equina da região sul do RS pertencem à família Strongylidae.(AU)

Evidence of central nervous system involvement in Watson syndrome.

In 1967, Watson described 3 families with an autosomal dominant condition characterized by pulmonary valvular stenosis, café-au-lait sports, and short stature. Presumed hamartomatous lesions have been observed in neurofibromatosis type I, but they were not reported to date in Watson syndrome. We report another family with Watson syndrome, in which 1 patient manifested increased intensity T2-weighted lesions on magnetic resonance imaging similar to those occurring in neurofibromatosis type I and possibly hamartomas. This finding demonstrates the overlap between neurofibromatosis type I and Watson syndrome and supports the hypothesis that those conditions are allelic or, less likely, that the gene that determines the Watson phenotype is very closely linked to the neurofibromatosis type I locus.