Field performance of sterile male mosquitoes released from an uncrewed aerial vehicle.

Genetic control methods of mosquito vectors of malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika are becoming increasingly popular due to the limitations of other techniques such as the use of insecticides. The sterile insect technique is an effective genetic control method to manage insect populations. However, it is crucial to release sterile mosquitoes by air to ensure homogeneous coverage, especially in large areas. Here, we report a fully automated adult mosquito release system operated from an uncrewed aerial vehicle or drone. Our system, developed and tested in Brazil, enabled a homogeneous dispersal of sterile male Aedes aegypti while maintaining their quality, leading to a homogeneous sterile-to-wild male ratio due to their aggregation in the same sites. Our results indicate that the released sterile males were able to compete with the wild males in mating with the wild females; thus, the sterile males were able to induce sterility in the native female population. The use of drones to implement the sterile insect technique will lead to improvements in areal coverage and savings in operational costs due to the requirement of fewer release sites and field staff.

Decellularized human colorectal cancer matrices polarize macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype promoting cancer cell invasion via CCL18.

Macrophages are frequently identified in solid tumors, playing important roles in cancer progression. Their remarkable plasticity makes them very sensitive to environmental factors, including the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present work, we investigated the impact of human colorectal tumor matrices on macrophage polarization and on macrophage-mediated cancer cell invasion. Accordingly, we developed an innovative 3D-organotypic model, based on the decellularization of normal and tumor tissues derived from colorectal cancer patients' surgical resections. Extensive characterization of these scaffolds revealed that DNA and other cell constituents were efficiently removed, while native tissue characteristics, namely major ECM components, architecture and mechanical properties, were preserved. Notably, normal and tumor decellularized matrices distinctly promoted macrophage polarization, with macrophages in tumor matrices differentiating towards an anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype (higher IL-10, TGF-ß and CCL18 and lower CCR7 and TNF expression). Matrigel invasion assays revealed that tumor ECM-educated macrophages efficiently stimulated cancer cell invasion through a mechanism involving CCL18. Notably, the high expression of this chemokine at the invasive front of human colorectal tumors correlated with advanced tumor staging. Our approach evidences that normal and tumor decellularized matrices constitute excellent scaffolds when trying to recreate complex microenvironments to understand basic mechanisms of disease or therapeutic resistance.

Evaluation of physico-chemical characteristics of fresh, refrigerated and frozen Lacaune ewes' milk / Avaliação das características físico-químicas de leite fresco, resfriado e congelado de ovelhas Lacaune

The production of ewe milk is seasonal and milk yield per animal is low, even in specialized animals. This study aimed to verify the possibility of preserving bulk tank milk for seven days under cooling (5°C) and freezing (-5°C), verify the influence of cooling treatments and of the months of the year on the physical and chemical characteristics of the product. The chemical composition of milk, including the fat, protein, lactose and total solids contents, was not altered by cooling and freezing. Protein and lactose contents varied according to the months of the year. The average percentage and standard deviation of fat, protein, lactose and total solids was 8.10±1.30, 5.22±0.37, 4.43±0.23 and 19.34±1.54, respectively. The density, pH, titratable acidity, as well as alcohol and heat stability tests were significantly influenced by the treatments used (P < 0.05), but no differences were found between fresh and frozen milk. Prolonged refrigeration caused an increase in acidity and decrease in pH, with a consequent reduction in the stability of milk. These results demonstrated that freezing does not affect the chemical composition and physical characteristics of milk in nature and it could be a solution for the producer and the sheep milk industry...

O leite ovino, mesmo no caso de raças especializadas, apresenta sazonalidade de produção e baixa produtividade por fêmea. Em função disso, o objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a possibilidade de conservação do leite fresco, por um período de sete dias, sob refrigeração e congelamento, verificando a influência dos tratamentos aplicados, e dos meses do ano, sobre as características físico-químicas do produto. A composição química, incluindo gordura, proteína, lactose e sólidos totais, não sofreu alterações com o resfriamento e congelamento do leite, contudo os teores de proteína e lactose variaram durante os meses do ano. O percentual médio de gordura, proteína, lactose e sólidos totais foi de 8,10±1,30, 5,22±0,37, 4,43±0,23 e 19,34±1,54, respectivamente. A densidade, o pH, a acidez titulável e as provas de estabilidade ao álcool e ao calor sofreram influência significativa dos tratamentos aplicados (P<0,05), não havendo diferenças entre o leite fresco e o leite congelado. O resfriamento prolongado causou aumento da acidez e diminuição do pH, com a consequente diminuição da estabilidade do leite. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstram que o congelamento não afeta a composição química e as características físicas do leite in natura, podendo ser uma solução para o produtor e para a indústria de leite ovino...

Macrophages stimulate gastric and colorectal cancer invasion through EGFR Y(1086), c-Src, Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation and smallGTPase activity.

The interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment are crucial for malignant progression, as they modulate invasion-related activities. Tumor-associated macrophages are generally considered allies in the process of tumor progression in several types of cancer, although their role on gastric and colorectal carcinomas is still poorly understood. In this report, we studied the influence of primary human macrophages on gastric and colorectal cancer cells, considering invasion, motility/migration, proteolysis and activated intracellular signaling pathways. We demonstrated that macrophages stimulate cancer cell invasion, motility and migration, and that these effects depend on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and on the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (at the residue Y(1086)), PLC-γ (phospholipase C-gamma) and Gab1 (GRB2-associated binding protein-1), as evidenced by siRNA (small interference RNA) experiments. Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-immunodepletion impaired macrophage-mediated cancer cell invasion and motility, suggesting that EGF is the pro-invasive and pro-motile factor produced by macrophages. Macrophages also induced gastric and colorectal cancer cell phosphorylation of Akt, c-Src and ERK1/2, and led to an increase of RhoA and Cdc42 activity. Interestingly, whereas macrophage-mediated cancer cell c-Src and ERK1/2 phosphorylation occurred downstream EGFR activation, Akt phosphorylation seems to be a parallel event, taking place in an EGFR-independent manner. The involvement of EGF, EGFR-downstream signaling partners and MMPs in macrophage-mediated invasion provides novel insights into the molecular crosstalk established between cancer cells and macrophages, opening new perspectives for the design of new and more efficient therapeutic strategies to counteract cancer cell invasion.

Ensaios de penetração de Salmonella Enteritidis em ovos de galinha com diferentes qualidades de casca, submetidos ou não a lavagem industrial e a duas temperaturas de armazenagem / Penetration of Salmonella Enteritidis in chicken eggs, comparing different shell quality, industrial washing and temperature of storage

Estudou-se o comportamento da Salmonella Enteritidis quando em contato com a superfície de ovos de consumo, classificados de acordo com a qualidade da casca ou com tratamentos (lavados ou não), usando fezes de aves como veículo de contaminação, e armazenados a 8ºC e 70 por cento de umidade relativa ou a 30ºC e 90 por cento de umidade relativa. A 8ºC, o microrganismo permaneceu viável na superfície dos ovos, ao longo do tempo, enquanto a 30ºC foi possível identificar a sua inibição e até sua eliminação da superfície. A contaminação do conteúdo de ovos com defeito de casca foi mais frequente quando os ovos foram submetidos a temperaturas inadequadas de armazenagem (30ºC).

Salmonella Enteriditis behavior was studied when present on the surface of consume eggs, classified according to the shell quality or treatments (washed or not). Stools of fowls were used as a vehicle for contamination. The eggs were stored at 8ºC and 70 percent relative humidity or at 30ºC and 90 percent of relative humidity. At 8ºC, the microorganism stayed viable on the surface of the eggs throughout the study, while at 30ºC it was inhibited and eliminated from the egg shell. The contamination of content of the eggs with shell defect was more frequent when they were submitted to inappropriate temperatures of storage (30ºC).

Isolated or associated experimental contamination of albumen and egg yolk for Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli: influence of temperature and storage time / Contaminação experimental de albúmen e gema de ovos por Salmonella Enteritidis e Escherichia coli isoladas ou associadas: influência da temperatura e tempo de armazenagem

The behavior of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and Escherichia coli in albumen and yolk of chicken eggs submitted to two different temperatures, 8ºC and 30ºC, when separately inoculated or in the form of mixed cultures was studied. There was no difference in the behaviour of the tested agents even when inoculated together. Even under high temperature, E. coli did not multiply in the albumen, demonstrating the inhibition power for that microorganism, while SE increased its population up to three logarithmic cycles. In egg yolk, SE demonstrated psychrotrophic characteristics.

Avaliou-se o comportamento de Salmonella enteritidis (SE) e Escherichia coli em albúmen e gema de ovos de galinha, submetidos a duas diferentes temperaturas, 8 e 30ºC, quando inoculadas isoladamente ou na forma de culturas mistas. Não houve diferença no comportamento dos agentes testados mesmo quando inoculadas em conjunto. Mesmo sob temperatura alta, E. coli não se multiplicou no albúmen, demonstrando o poder inibidor de seus constituintes para esse microrganismo, enquanto a SE aumentou sua população em até três ciclos logarítmicos. Em gema de ovo, SE demonstrou características psicrotróficas.

[Familial aggregation of blood pressure over 17 years in children and young adults]. / Agrégation familiale de la pression artérielle de l'enfance à l'âge adulte après un suivi de 17 ans.

UNLABELLED: Familial aggregation of blood pressure is well known although its causes remain controversial. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the presence of a familial aggregation for blood pressure and body mass index over a 17-year period, in order to evaluate the importance of a primary prevention strategy beginning in familial environment. DESIGN AND METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was constructed from two cross-sectional surveys 17 years apart: 1,032 individuals, of both sexes, aged 5 to 24 years were seen in the initial study, and their parents whenever possible. Correlation coefficients and stepwise regression analysis were used to analyse the relationship between parents and children. RESULTS: The correlation between parents' and children BP are: systolic BP-0.34 (p < 0.01) and diastolic BP 0.19 (0.05); and for the anthropometric variables are: height-0.29 (0.01); weight-0.41 (p < 0.01); ponderal index -0.21 (p < 0.05); tricipt skinfold-0.21 (p < 0.05). All the coefficients are statistically significative. The variance of children's SBP and DBP explained through a stepwise regression analysis was 47%. The children's weight, skinfold, ponderal index, and parents' SBP and DBP were accepted by the model. CONCLUSION: The relation between BP and obesity variables suggest that a large proportion of familial aggregation for BP may be explained by aggregation for obesity, still after 17 years.

[Tracking indices of the blood pressure in a longitudinal study in infants and adolescents]. / Indices de tracking da pressão arterial num estudo longitudinal de crianças e adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the degree of BP Tracking from childhood to adulthood and to evaluate whether high BP levels persist over time and progress to adult hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-two healthy schoolchildren living in the North of Portugal were assessed at 17 year intervals, starting in 1979 (cohort 1) aged 5 to 18 years, and again in 1996 (cohort 2). Tracking indices (Ti) were calculated as follows: Ti = (2x + y-z) /N/0.89, where x, y and z refer to the total number in the same, adjacent and remote trisections, respectively, and N = x + y + z. If Ti > 1 there is positive tracking. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: For systolic and diastolic blood pressure, all Ti were greater than 1.0. All individuals that remained in the 3rd tertil, 17 years later, weigh more and are more obese than those of the 1st tertil. 56.6% of the individuals that belong to the 3rd tertil are now hypertensive, which means that a significant percentage of the children with high blood pressure in the first survey will be hypertensive in the future.

[Blood pressure in a population of youngsters and adults observed after 17 years]. / Estudo da pressão arterial numa população de jovens e adultos jovens observados após um período de 17 anos.

Many studies have assessed the blood pressure tracking among children and adolescents, but the results have been controversial. This study assessed the blood pressure tracking in 224 Portuguese school children and young adults following them for 17 years. The correlations obtained for systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both sexes are not very high, although positive and statistically significant. On the other hand, there was a stronger correlation between anthropometric variables and blood pressure and indices of obesity.