Development of mobile phone-based dietary data collection applications in pregnant women and infants for the M-SAKHI trial.

In nutritional epidemiological studies, it is imperative to collect high-quality data to ensure accurate dietary assessment. However, dietary data collection using traditional paper forms has several limitations that may compromise data quality. The aim of this study was to propose novel methods to design and develop software applications (Apps) for dietary data collection to assess the nutritional status of pregnant women and infants. This study is part of the M-SAKHI (Mobile-Solutions for Aiding Knowledge for Health Improvement) cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) implemented in central India. Three tablet-based software Apps were developed in this study: the ACEC (Automated Coding and Energy Calculation) App to establish a generic cooked food recipe database, the FFQ (Food Frequency Questionnaire), and the IDR (24 h Infant Dietary Recall) Apps to collect dietary data from pregnant women and their infants from rural area of Bhandara and Nagpur districts. Regional food lists, recipes, and portion resource kits were developed to support the data collection using the Apps. In conclusion, the Apps were user-friendly, required minimal prior training, had built-in validation checks for erroneous data entry and provided automated calculations. The Apps were successfully deployed in low-resource rural settings to accurately collect high-quality regional cooked food data and individual-level dietary data of pregnant women and their infants.

Obtaining a high titer of polyclonal antibodies from rats to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and its N- and C-terminal domains for diagnostic test development.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped, plus-stranded RNA virus responsible for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients infected with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or have symptoms ranging from mild manifestations to severe cases of the disease that could lead to death. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes 4 structural proteins, including the Spike protein (S), the Nucleocapsid protein (N), Membrane protein (M) and, the Envelope protein (E). The N protein forms a major component of the ribonucleoprotein complex within the virus particle and play a vital role in its transcription and replication. Nevertheless, the S protein was the most important protein in the development of vaccines against COVID-19. However, the decrease in number of registered immunizations against the disease and the rapid drop in neutralizing antibody titers together with looser preventive measures for virus transmission, favored the rapid appearance of new variants of concerns (VOCs) that primarily show mutations in the S protein. This fact makes the N protein a good candidate for the development of diagnostic tests, due to its stability, amino acid conservation, high immunogenicity, and the smaller likelihood of mutation. With the aim of developing a new diagnostic kit based on the N protein, we evaluated the humoral response in female Wistar rats against this target. Three constructions of the N protein were used to inoculate the animals: the full-length protein (Cfull), the N- (NTD), and the C-terminal (CTD) portion of the protein. The immunizations induced the animal's immune response, with specific polyclonal IgG antibodies against the Cfull protein and its fragments. There were not non-specific bind to the protein used as negative control. Anti-Cfull antibodies demonstrated high efficiency in binding to the NTD protein and the antibodies present in the anti-CTD and anti-NTD sera have recognized the Cfull protein, but they were not able to recognize the NTD and CTD proteins, respectively. Our results indicate an efficient protocol for obtaining high antibody titers against the N recombinant protein of SARS-CoV-2 and its fragments highlighting the Cfull protein, which can be used in the development of new diagnostic kits.

Rhabdomyosarcoma Associated with Core Myopathy/Malignant Hyperthermia: Combined Effect of Germline Variants in RYR1 and ASPSCR1 May Play a Role.

Rhabdomyosarcomas have been described in association with thyroid disease, dermatomyositis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and in muscular dystrophy models but not in patients with ryanodine receptor-1 gene (RYR1) pathogenic variants. We described here an 18-year-old male who reported a cervical nodule. Magnetic resonance images revealed a mass in the ethmoidal sinus corresponding to rhabdomyosarcoma. As his father died from malignant hyperthermia (MH), an in vitro contracture test was conducted and was positive for MH susceptibility. Muscle histopathological analysis in the biopsy showed the presence of cores. Molecular analysis using NGS sequencing identified germline variants in the RYR1 and ASPSCR1 (alveolar soft part sarcoma) genes. This report expands the spectrum of diseases associated with rhabdomyosarcomas and a possible differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors in patients with RYR1 variants.

Management of patients with recurrent/metastatic endometrial cancer: Consensus recommendations from an expert panel from Brazil.

Background: Endometrial cancer is of increasing concern in several countries, including Brazil, in part because of an ageing population, declines in fertility, and the increasing prevalence of obesity. Although endometrial tumors had lagged behind other cancer types in terms of treatment improvements, molecular characterization of these tumors is paving the way for novel therapies and an expansion of the therapeutic arsenal. We aimed to help medical oncologists who manage patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer in the Brazilian healthcare setting. Methods: The panel, composed of 20 medical oncologists, convened in November 2021 to address 50 multiple-choice questions on molecular testing and treatment choices. We classified the level of agreement among panelists as (1) consensus (≥75% choosing the same answer), (2) majority vote (50% to <75%), or (3) less than majority vote (<50%). Results: Consensus was present for 25 of the 50 questions, whereas majority vote was present for an additional 23 questions. Key recommendations include molecular testing for every patient with recurrent/metastatic endometrial cancer; choice of first-line treatment according to microsatellite instability and HER2, with the addition of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and hormone receptors (HRs) for second-line therapy; carboplatin and paclitaxel as the preferred option in first-line treatment of HER2-negative disease, with the addition of trastuzumab in HER2-positive disease; pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as a key option in second line, regardless of HER2, PD-L1 or HRs; and various recommendations regarding treatment choice for patients with distinct comorbidities. Conclusion: Despite the existing gaps in the current literature, the vast majority of issues addressed by the panel provided a level of agreement sufficient to inform clinical practice in Brazil and in other countries with similar healthcare environments.

Systemic therapy for advanced cervical cancer: Leveraging the historical threshold of overall survival.

Cervical cancer (CC) is a worldwide problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where patients are often diagnosed with locally advanced disease. Until recently, all chemotherapy drugs achieved low ORR and 12-month overall survival (12- month OS) for advanced CC after failure for platinum compounds. Advances in systemic therapy with immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) have leveraged the 12-month OS limit. Recently, immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) has become the standard of care in first-line advanced CC combined with platinum and taxane and in second-line after platinum doublet failure.

Phylogenomic characterization and pangenomic insights into the surfactin-producing bacteria Bacillus subtilis strain RI4914.

Bacillus subtilis is a versatile bacterial species able to produce surfactin, a lipopeptide biosurfactant. We carried out the phylogenomic characterization and pangenomic analyses using available B. subtilis complete genomes. Also, we report the whole genome of the biosurfactant-producing B. subtilis strain RI4914 that was isolated from effluent water from an oil exploration field. We applied a hybrid sequencing approach using both long- and short-read sequencing technologies to generate a highly accurate, single-chromosome genome. The pangenomics analysis of 153 complete genomes classified as B. subtilis retrieved from the NCBI shows an open pangenome composed of 28,511 accessory genes, which agrees with the high genetic plasticity of the species. Also, this analysis suggests that surfactin production is a common trait shared by members of this species since the srfA operon is highly conserved among the B. subtilis strains found in most of the assemblies available. Finally, increased surfactin production corroborates the higher srfAA gene expression in B. subtilis strain RI4914.

Leprosy patients quality of life: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the scientific evidence regarding the leprosy patients quality of life. METHOD: Scoping review according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, with articles indexed in PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PsyINFO, INFOLEP, and Google Scholar databases, published in full in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. RESULTS: Seventy-four studies were identified, with 71 of quantitative approach and 3 with a mixed method. There was a predominance of studies published in Brazil (58.1%), with an adult population, (97.3%) and recruited in reference centers for the treatment of leprosy (52.7%). There was greater use of the WHOQOL-bref (50%) and SF-36 (18.9%) instruments to assess quality of life. The study showed that the greatest impairment in quality of life was related to the delay in the diagnosis of the disease, to leprosy reactions, physical disabilities, neuropathic pain, and stigma. CONCLUSION: Most studies were developed in endemic countries, with adults, and based on observational studies, and the worst scores obtained were associated with physical domain impairment.

Bovine Lactoferrin to Prevent Neonatal Infections in Low-Birth-Weight Newborns in Pakistan: Protocol for a Three-Arm Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a common and severe complication in premature neonates, particularly those born with low birth weights (<2500 g). Neonatal sepsis is steadily emerging as a leading cause of neonatal mortality in Pakistan. Lactoferrin is a natural product with broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and glycoprotein that is actively involved in innate immune host responses. Clinical trials have revealed its protective effect on sepsis, but lactoferrin dosage, duration, and role in the prevention of sepsis are still uncertain. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to establish the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin in the prevention of late-onset sepsis and to determine the optimal dose and method of administering bovine lactoferrin that may contribute to improvement in overall survival of low birth weight infants. METHODS: We will implement the study in 2 phases at the Aga Khan University Hospital. The first phase, which we have completed, was formative research. This phase mainly focused on a qualitative exploration of perceptions about feeding and caring practices of low birth weight newborns and a trial of improved practices for the preparation and administration of bovine lactoferrin to newborns. The second phase is a 3-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial. In this phase, we randomly allocated 2 different daily oral prophylactic doses of bovine lactoferrin (150 mg or 300 mg) and placebo to 300 low-birth weight neonates starting within the first 72 hours of birth and continuing for the first 28 days of life. RESULTS: The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Aga Khan University on August 16, 2017. Data collection began in April 2018 and was completed in September 2020. Data analyses are yet to be completed. We expect the results to be published in peer-reviewed journals by autumn of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention, if effective, has the potential to be translated into a safe, affordable, and widely utilized treatment to prevent sepsis and, subsequently, may improve the survival outcomes of low birth weight neonates in Pakistan and other low- and middle-income countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03431558; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03431558. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/23994.

Cuidados de enfermagem e paliativo de um jovem com rabdomiossarcoma / Nursing and palliative care of a young man with rhabdomyosarcoma / Cuidados de enfermería y paliativo de un joven con rabdomiosarcoma

Objetivos: relatar o caso de um paciente jovem diagnosticado com rabdomiossarcoma alveolar avançado; descrever o planejamento da assistência de Enfermagem prestada ao paciente e sua família. Método: trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, descritivo, tipo estudo de caso clínico de um paciente internado em um hospital geral de grande porte. Utilizaram-se, para o planejamento do cuidado, as etapas do processo de Enfermagem, técnicas e modelos conceituais: comunicação de más notícias; construção de habilidades para o autogerenciamento e os princípios do cuidado humanizado (acolhimento e clínica ampliada). Resultados: relata-se no caso que o paciente evoluiu para óbito, e ele e sua família foram os focos das intervenções a partir da detecção de doze diagnósticos de Enfermagem: proteção ineficaz; risco de quedas; risco de confusão aguda; integridade da membrana mucosa oral prejudicada; dor crônica; ansiedade relacionada à morte; disposição para religiosidade melhorada; sofrimento espiritual; enfrentamento defensivo; sobrecarga de estresse; risco de sentimento de impotência e tensão do papel de cuidador. Conclusão: conclui-se que casos complexos exigem o uso adequado e sistemático de teorias e modelos conceituais que subsidiem o cuidado, além do uso de técnica para a comunicação de más notícias.(AU)

Objectives: to report the case of a young patient diagnosed with advanced alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma; describe the planning of nursing care provided to the patient and his family. Method: this is a qualitative, descriptive, clinical case study of a patient admitted to a large general hospital. For the care planning, the stages of the Nursing process, techniques and conceptual models were used: communication of bad news; construction of skills for selfmanagement and the principles of humanized care (welcoming and extended clinic). Results: it is reported that the patient evolved to death, and he and his family were the focus of interventions from the detection of twelve Nursing diagnoses: ineffective protection; risk of falls; risk of acute confusion; integrity of the damaged oral mucous membrane; chronic pain; anxiety related to death; willingness to religiosity improved; spiritual suffering; defensive confrontation; stress overload; risk of feeling powerless and tension in the role of caregiver. Conclusion: it is concluded that complex cases require the appropriate and systematic use of theories and conceptual models that subsidize care, in addition to the use of techniques for the communication of bad news.(AU)

Objetivos: reportar el caso de un paciente joven diagnosticado de rabdomiosarcoma alveolar avanzado; describir la planificación de la atención de Enfermería proporcionada al paciente y su familia. Método: se trata de un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo, a modo de estudio de caso clínico de un paciente ingresado en un gran hospital general. Para la planificación de los cuidados se utilizaron las etapas del proceso de Enfermería, técnicas y modelos conceptuales: comunicación de malas noticias; construcción de habilidades para la autogestión y los principios de la atención humanizada (recepción y clínica ampliada). Resultados: se reporta en el caso que el paciente falleció y él y su familia fueron el foco de intervenciones basadas en la detección de doce diagnósticos de Enfermería: protección ineficaz; riesgo de caídas; riesgo de confusión aguda; integridad de la membrana mucosa oral deteriorada; dolor crónico; ansiedad relacionada con la muerte; disposición para mejorar la religiosidad; sufrimiento espiritual; afrontamiento defensivo; sobrecarga de estrés; riesgo de sentirse impotente y tensión del rol de cuidador. Conclusión: se concluye que los casos complejos requieren el uso adecuado y sistemático de teorías y modelos conceptuales que apoyen el cuidado, además del uso de técnicas para comunicar malas noticias.(AU)

Exercise Intolerance, Benefits, and Prescription for People Living With a Fontan Circulation: The Fontan Fitness Intervention Trial (F-FIT)-Rationale and Design.

Background: Despite developments in surgical techniques and medical care, people with a Fontan circulation still experience long-term complications; non-invasive therapies to optimize the circulation have not been established. Exercise intolerance affects the majority of the population and is associated with worse prognosis. Historically, people living with a Fontan circulation were advised to avoid physical activity, but a small number of heterogenous, predominantly uncontrolled studies have shown that exercise training is safe-and for unique reasons, may even be of heightened importance in the setting of Fontan physiology. The mechanisms underlying improvements in aerobic exercise capacity and the effects of exercise training on circulatory and end-organ function remain incompletely understood. Furthermore, the optimal methods of exercise prescription are poorly characterized. This highlights the need for large, well-designed, multi-center, randomized, controlled trials. Aims and Methods: The Fontan Fitness Intervention Trial (F-FIT)-a phase III clinical trial-aims to optimize exercise prescription and delivery in people with a Fontan circulation. In this multi-center, randomized, controlled study, eligible Fontan participants will be randomized to either a 4-month supervised aerobic and resistance exercise training program of moderate-to-vigorous intensity followed by an 8-month maintenance phase; or usual care (control group). Adolescent and adult (≥16 years) Fontan participants will be randomized to either traditional face-to-face exercise training, telehealth exercise training, or usual care in a three-arm trial with an allocation of 2:2:1 (traditional:telehealth:control). Children (<16 years) will be randomized to either a physical activity and exercise program of moderate-to-vigorous intensity or usual care in a two-arm trial with a 1:1 allocation. The primary outcome is a change in aerobic exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake) at 4-months. Secondary outcomes include safety, and changes in cardiopulmonary exercise testing measures, peripheral venous pressure, respiratory muscle and lung function, body composition, liver stiffness, neuropsychological and neurocognitive function, physical activity levels, dietary and nutritional status, vascular function, neurohormonal activation, metabolites, cardiac function, quality of life, musculoskeletal fitness, and health care utilization. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, 4-months, and 12-months. This manuscript will describe the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in the Fontan circulation and the rationale and protocol for the F-FIT.

Inflammatory Reaction Induced by Two Metalloproteinases Isolated from Bothrops atrox Venom and by Fragments Generated from the Hydrolysis of Basement Membrane Components.

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) play an important role in local tissue damage of snakebite patients, mostly by hydrolysis of basement membrane (BM) components. We evaluated the proinflammatory activity of SVMPs Atroxlysin-Ia (ATXL) and Batroxrhagin (BATXH) from Bothrops atrox venom and their hydrolysis products of Matrigel. BALB/c mice were injected with SVMPs (2 µg), for assessment of paw edema and peritoneal leukocyte accumulation. Both SVMPs induced edema, representing an increase of ~70% of the paw size. Leukocyte infiltrates reached levels of 6 × 106 with ATXL and 5 × 106 with BATXH. TNF-α was identified in the supernatant of BATXH-or venom-stimulated MPAC cells. Incubation of Matrigel with the SVMPs generated fragments, including peptides from Laminin, identified by LC-MS/MS. The Matrigel hydrolysis peptides caused edema that increased 30% the paw size and promoted leukocyte accumulation (4-5 × 106) to the peritoneal cavity, significantly higher than Matrigel control peptides 1 and 4 h after injection. Our findings suggest that ATXL and BATXH are involved in the inflammatory reaction observed in B. atrox envenomings by direct action on inflammatory cells or by releasing proinflammatory peptides from BM proteins that may amplify the direct action of SVMPs through activation of endogenous signaling pathways.

M-SAKHI-Mobile health solutions to help community providers promote maternal and infant nutrition and health using a community-based cluster randomized controlled trial in rural India: A study protocol.

Reduction of childhood stunting is difficult to achieve by interventions that focus only on improving nutrition during infancy. Comprehensive interventions that extend through the continuum of care from pregnancy to infancy are needed. Mobile phones are now successfully being used for behaviour change communication to improve health. We present the methodology of an mHealth intervention "Mobile Solutions Aiding Knowledge for Health Improvement" (M-SAKHI) to be delivered by rural community health workers or Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) for rural women, below or up to 20 weeks of pregnancy through delivery until their infant is 12 months of age. This protocol paper describes the cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of M-SAKHI. The primary objective of the trial is to reduce the prevalence of stunting (height-for-age < -2 z-score) in children at 18 months of age by 8% in the intervention as compared with control. The secondary objectives include evaluating the impact on maternal dietary diversity, birth weight, infant and young child feeding practices, infant development, and child morbidity, along with a range of intermediate outcomes for maternal, neonatal, and infant health. A total of 297 ASHAs, five trained counsellors, and 2,501 participants from 244 villages are participating in this study. The outcome data are being collected by 51 field research officers. This study will provide evidence regarding the efficacy of M-SAKHI to reduce stunting in young children in rural India, and if effective, the cost-effectiveness of M-SAKHI.

Disparities in cancer epidemiology and care delivery among Brazilian indigenous populations.

OBJECTIVE:: To assess aspects related to cancer in indigenous population. METHODS:: This is a retrospective study developed in a public university hospital. We included patients with 18 or more years of age, diagnosed with solid tumors, and followed between 2005 and 2015. Clinical features were assessed by descriptive statistics, and survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression. RESULTS:: Fifty patients were included. The cancer incidence was 15.73 per 100,000. The mean age at diagnosis was 54 years and most patients were female (58%). Cancer of the cervix (28%) and prostate (16%) were the most common. The mean time between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis was 9 months and from diagnosis to the treatment was 3.4 months. Disease diagnosed at stage IV (17%) had worse overall survival (HR: 11.4; p<0.05). The 5-year survival rate ranged from 88% for prostate cancer to 0% for lung cancer. All 5-year survival rates were lower as compared to other populations. CONCLUSION:: The most prevalent cancer sites were cervix and prostate. Disease stage and primary site were prognostic factors. OBJETIVO:: Avaliar os aspectos relacionados a câncer em populações indígenas. MÉTODOS:: Estudo retrospectivo conduzido em um hospital universitário público. Foram incluídos pacientes com 18 anos ou mais, diagnosticados com tumores sólidos e acompanhados entre 2005 e 2015. Os aspectos clínicos foram avaliados por meio de estatística descritiva, e a sobrevida foi avaliada por meio de curvas de Kaplan-Meier e regressão multivariada de Cox. RESULTADOS:: Foram incluídos 50 pacientes. A incidência de câncer foi 15,73 por 100 mil. A média de idade ao diagnóstico foi 54 anos, e a maioria era do sexo feminino (58%). O câncer de colo uterino (28%) e o de próstata (16%) foram os mais frequentes. O tempo médio entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico foi 9 meses, e entre o diagnóstico e o tratamento, de 3,4 meses. Doença diagnosticada no estágio IV (17%) resultou em pior sobrevida global (HR: 11,4; p<0,05). A sobrevida em 5 anos variou de 88% para o câncer de próstata a 0% para pulmão. Todas as taxas de sobrevida em 5 anos foram menores em comparação a outras populações. CONCLUSÃO:: Os locais mais frequentes de neoplasia foram colo de útero e próstata. O estágio da doença e o sítio primário foram fatores prognósticos.

Disparities in cancer epidemiology and care delivery among Brazilian indigenous populations / Disparidades na epidemiologia e no tratamento de câncer nas populações indígenas brasileiras

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess aspects related to cancer in indigenous population. Methods: This is a retrospective study developed in a public university hospital. We included patients with 18 or more years of age, diagnosed with solid tumors, and followed between 2005 and 2015. Clinical features were assessed by descriptive statistics, and survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression. Results: Fifty patients were included. The cancer incidence was 15.73 per 100,000. The mean age at diagnosis was 54 years and most patients were female (58%). Cancer of the cervix (28%) and prostate (16%) were the most common. The mean time between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis was 9 months and from diagnosis to the treatment was 3.4 months. Disease diagnosed at stage IV (17%) had worse overall survival (HR: 11.4; p<0.05). The 5-year survival rate ranged from 88% for prostate cancer to 0% for lung cancer. All 5-year survival rates were lower as compared to other populations. Conclusion: The most prevalent cancer sites were cervix and prostate. Disease stage and primary site were prognostic factors.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os aspectos relacionados a câncer em populações indígenas. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo conduzido em um hospital universitário público. Foram incluídos pacientes com 18 anos ou mais, diagnosticados com tumores sólidos e acompanhados entre 2005 e 2015. Os aspectos clínicos foram avaliados por meio de estatística descritiva, e a sobrevida foi avaliada por meio de curvas de Kaplan-Meier e regressão multivariada de Cox. Resultados: Foram incluídos 50 pacientes. A incidência de câncer foi 15,73 por 100 mil. A média de idade ao diagnóstico foi 54 anos, e a maioria era do sexo feminino (58%). O câncer de colo uterino (28%) e o de próstata (16%) foram os mais frequentes. O tempo médio entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico foi 9 meses, e entre o diagnóstico e o tratamento, de 3,4 meses. Doença diagnosticada no estágio IV (17%) resultou em pior sobrevida global (HR: 11,4; p<0,05). A sobrevida em 5 anos variou de 88% para o câncer de próstata a 0% para pulmão. Todas as taxas de sobrevida em 5 anos foram menores em comparação a outras populações. Conclusão: Os locais mais frequentes de neoplasia foram colo de útero e próstata. O estágio da doença e o sítio primário foram fatores prognósticos.

Processing of Snake Venom Metalloproteinases: Generation of Toxin Diversity and Enzyme Inactivation.

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are abundant in the venoms of vipers and rattlesnakes, playing important roles for the snake adaptation to different environments, and are related to most of the pathological effects of these venoms in human victims. The effectiveness of SVMPs is greatly due to their functional diversity, targeting important physiological proteins or receptors in different tissues and in the coagulation system. Functional diversity is often related to the genetic diversification of the snake venom. In this review, we discuss some published evidence that posit that processing and post-translational modifications are great contributors for the generation of functional diversity and for maintaining latency or inactivation of enzymes belonging to this relevant family of venom toxins.

Characterising the enzymatic profile of crude tentacle extracts from the South Atlantic jellyfish Olindias sambaquiensis (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa).

Jellyfish venoms are of medical and biotechnological importance, with toxins displaying antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-tumor activities. Although proteolytic enzymes have also been described, detailed characterisation of these proteins is scant in Olindias spp. High throughput mass spectrometry profiling of cnidarian venoms has become increasingly popular since the first description of the proteomic profile of putative toxins isolated from nematocysts of the hydrozoan jellyfish Olindias sambaquiensis describing the presence of orthologous enzymes as presented in venoms of advanced species as snakes. Rigorous bioinformatics analyses can aid functional annotation, but biochemical assays are prerequisite to unambiguously assign toxic function to a peptide or protein. Here we present results that experimentally confirm previously predicted proteomic analysis that crude venom extracts from tentacles of O. sambaquiensis are composed of polypeptides with metalloproteinase, serine proteinase and phospholipases A2 activities. Surprisingly, levels of serine proteinase and phospholipase A2 activities were comparable to those observed in venoms of Bothrops snakes which were used as positive controls in this study. Hence, these data offer new opportunities to explore serine proteinase and phospholipase A2 activities in the clinical sequelae following O. sambaquiensis envenomation, with future possible biopharmaceutical applications.

Evaluation of target sequences for the polymerase chain reaction-based detection of Salmonella in artificially contaminated beef.

Salmonella is a major cause of foodborne diseases worldwide, which has fueled the demand for the development and evaluation of sensitive, specific, and rapid detection methodologies, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, six primer pairs for the detection of Salmonella were evaluated by PCR with isolates of Salmonella spp. (115) and other bacteria (104). The primers designed for the sifB gene provided the best performance regarding specificity and sensitivity (100%). These primers were selected and used to develop a PCR assay for Salmonella detection during the enrichment steps of the conventional detection method in spiked beef samples. The enrichment steps were: buffered peptone water (BPW), Rappaport-Vassiliadis soya broth (RVS) and at the Müller-Kauffmann tetrathionate novobiocin broth (MKTTn), after 18 h (BPW) and 24 h (RVS and MKTTn) of incubation. The initial concentrations of the Salmonella inocula were 10¹, 10², and 10³ colony-forming units/25 g. The protocol was able to detect Salmonella at all concentrations in the enrichment steps, but not in the nonenriched samples. These results indicated that the proposed protocol was suitable to detect Salmonella in beef during the intermediate stages of the conventional isolation protocol, substantially reducing the time required to obtain the final results.

Anti-tumor potential and acute toxicity of Jacaranda puberula Cham. (Bignoniacea).

Cancer chemotherapy is an important strategy to treat this leading cause of death worldwide and plants may constitute a source of new antineoplastic agents. This work fractionated the ethanolic extract of Jacaranda puberula leaves and studied the in vitro antitumoral action and some toxicological effects of the most bioactive fraction. Cell lines related to worldwide cancers were used. The Dichloromethane (DCM) and PP fractions were the most bioactive ones. The anti-tumoral action of the DCM fraction was higher than that of the crude EtOH extract while that of PP fraction was higher than the original one (DCM) for both breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC3) and lung (A549) tumor cells, chronic leukemia cells. The K562 cells were the most sensitive cell line. The PP fraction (20 µg/mL) cytotoxicity for these cells was similar to that of the ursolic acid triterpene or the antineoplastic ethoposide. The PP fraction inhibited K562 cell proliferation without cell cycle arrest in a specific phase or apoptosis. PP increased the mitochondrial reduction activity of lymphocytes. After a single dose by oral route, PP fraction did not induce intrinsic acute toxicity or animal death. This work demonstrated that the J. puberula fraction (PP) present high in vitro anti-tumoral effect with no cytotoxicity for immune system cells or oral acute toxicity, improving the Jacaranda puberula ethnopharmacology and reporting new biological effects for the genus Jacaranda.

Hypoglycemic effect of Bumelia sartorum polyphenolic rich extracts.

Bumelia sartorum (Sapotaceae) is used ethnomedicinally for treatment of several diseases, including diabetes mellitus. The aim of this work was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of B. sartorum extracts, rich in polyphenolic compounds, and the possible mechanisms of action. Assessment of B. sartorum hypoglycemic activity was performed from the blood glucose level in normoglycemic mice after administration of the extract by oral gavage. The hypothesis that sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) inhibition could prolong the increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, thus leading to an increase of insulin release was evaluated. The enzyme inhibition was measured by ATP hydrolysis using SERCA1 isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. The total content of phenolic compounds was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) partition and F5 fraction obtained from B. sartorum, both of them rich in polyphenolics, were shown to have a hypoglycemic effect on normoglycemic mice, more significant than that of the known antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide used as a standard comparable compound. Both samples significantly inhibited SERCA activity. Different extracts of B. sartorum, rich in polyphenolic compounds, were able to reduce blood glucose in normoglycemic mice and inhibit SERCA activity. SERCA inhibition may be one of the possible mechanisms involved in glucose decrease.

Inspected and non-inspected chilled chicken carcasses commercialized in Viçosa, MG, Brazil: microbiological parameters and Salmonella spp. occurrence / Carcaças de frango refrigeradas inspecionadas e não-inspecionadas comercializadas em Viçosa, MG, Brasil: parâmetros microbiológicos e ocorrência de Salmonella spp

Sixty samples of chilled chicken carcasses submitted (30) and not submitted (30) to Brazilian inspection services were analyzed to investigate if inspected and non-inspected chilled carcasses represented different food safety risks in the region of Viçosa, MG, Brazil. The mean counts of indicator microorganisms (mesophilic aerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms and Escherichia coli) of samples belonging to the inspected and non-inspected lots did not present significant differences (P>0.05). Also, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed for the numbers of Salmonella spp. and E. coli (higher than 2log cfu g-1) between samples submitted or not to inspection. Statistical differences were observed between the two sample classes only for the numbers of mesophilic aerobes higher than 4 and 5log cfu g-1 (P<0.05). The obtained results indicated the limitations of microbiological parameters to differentiate inspected and non-inspected chilled chicken carcasses commercialized in the specific studied area.

Sessenta amostras de carcaças de frango refrigeradas fiscalizadas (30) e não fiscalizadas (30) por serviços brasileiros de inspeção foram analisadas para investigar se carcaças refrigeradas inspecionadas ou não apresentam diferentes riscos alimentares na região de Viçosa, MG, Brasil. As médias de contagens de microrganismos indicadores de higiene (aeróbios mesófios, Enterobacteriaceae, coliformes e Escherichia coli) de amostras inspecionadas ou não inspecionadas não apresentaram diferenças significativas (P>0,05). Também não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre amostras inspecionadas e não inspecionadas com resultados positivos para Salmonella spp. e E. coli (contagens acima de 2log cfu g-1). Diferenças significativas (P<0,05) foram observadas somente entre os números de amostras com contagens de aeróbios mesófilos superiores a 4 e 5log cfu g-1. Os resultados obtidos indicam as limitações dos parâmetros microbiológicas para diferenciar carcaças de frango inspecionadas ou não na região específica onde o estudo foi conduzido.