A genetic polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) affects the changes in circulating MMP-9 levels induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients.

We examined whether two functional polymorphisms (g.-1562C>T and g.-90(CA)14-24) in the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 gene or MMP-9 haplotypes affect the circulating levels of pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) ratios in AIDS patients, and modulate alterations in these biomarkers after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We studied 82 patients commencing HAART. Higher pro-MMP-9 concentrations and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were found in CT/TT patients compared with CC patients. HAART decreased pro-MMP-9 levels and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in CT/TT patients, it did not modify pro-MMP-9 levels and it increased pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in CC patients. The g.-90(CA)14-24 polymorphism, however, produced no significant effects. Moreover, we found no significant differences in HAART-induced changes in plasma pro-MMP-9, TIMP-1 and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios when different MMP-9 haplotypes were compared. These findings suggest that the g.-1562C>T polymorphism affects pro-MMP-9 levels in patients with AIDS and modulates the alterations in pro-MMP-9 levels caused by HAART, thus possibly affecting the risk of cardiovascular complications.

The flavonoid rutin induces astrocyte and microglia activation and regulates TNF-alpha and NO release in primary glial cell cultures.

Astrocyte and microglia cells play an important role in the central nervous system (CNS). They react to various external aggressions by becoming reactive and releasing neurotrophic and/or neurotoxic factors. Rutin is a flavonoid found in many plants and has been shown to have some biological activities, but its direct effects on cells of the CNS have not been well studied. To investigate its potential effects on CNS glial cells, we used both astrocyte primary cultures and astrocyte/microglia mixed primary cell cultures derived from newborn rat cortical brain. The cultures were treated for 24 h with rutin (50 or 100 micromol/L) or vehicle (0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide). Mitochondrial function on glial cells was not evidenced by the MTT test. However, an increased lactate dehydrogenase activity was detected in the culture medium of both culture systems when treated with 100 micromol/L rutin, suggesting loss of cell membrane integrity. Astrocytes exposed to 50 micromol/L rutin became reactive as revealed by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) overexpression and showed a star-like phenotype revealed by Rosenfeld's staining. The number of activated microglia expressing OX-42 increased in the presence of rutin. A significant increase of nitric oxide (NO) was observed only in mixed cultures exposed to 100 micromol/L rutin. Enhanced TNFalpha release was observed in astrocyte primary cultures treated with 100 micromol/L rutin and in mixed primary cultures treated with 50 and 100 micromol/L, suggesting different sensitivity of both activated cell types. These results demonstrated that rutin affects astrocytes and microglial cells in culture and has the capacity to induce NO and TNFalpha production in these cells. Hence, the impact of these effects on neurons in vitro and in vivo needs to be studied.

Potential of Mangrove-Associated Endophytic Fungi for Production of Carbohydrolases with High Saccharification Efficiency.

The endophytic fungi represent a potential source of microorganisms for enzyme production. However, there have been only few studies exploiting their potential for the production of enzymes of industrial interest, such as the (hemi)cellulolytic enzymatic cocktail required in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Here, a collection of endophytic fungi isolated from mangrove tropical forests was evaluated for the production of carbohydrolases and performance on the hydrolysis of cellulose. For that, 41 endophytic strains were initially screened using a plate assay containing crystalline cellulose as the sole carbon source and the selected strains were cultivated under solid-state fermentation for endoglucanase, ß-glucosidase, and xylanase enzyme quantification. The hydrolysis of a cellulosic material with the enzymes from endophytic strains of the Aspergillus genus resulted in glucose and conversion values more than twofold higher than the reference strains (Aspergillus niger F12 and Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30). Particularly, the enzymes from strains A. niger 56 (3) and A. awamori 82 (4) showed a distinguished saccharification performance, reaching cellulose conversion values of about 35% after 24 h. Linking hydrolysis performance to the screening steps played an important role towards finding potential fungal strains for producing enzymatic cocktails with high saccharification efficiency. These results indicate the potential of mangrove-associated endophytic fungi for production of carbohydrolases with efficient performance in the hydrolysis of biomass, thus contributing to the implementation of future biorefineries.

Addition of metal ions to a (hemi)cellulolytic enzymatic cocktail produced in-house improves its activity, thermostability, and efficiency in the saccharification of pretreated sugarcane bagasse.

High activity and stability are essential for (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes used in biomass conversion, while non-productive binding of cellulases to lignin reduces saccharification efficiency and needs to be avoided. One potential strategy is the addition of inexpensive metal ions. This paper describes the influence of divalent metal ions on the activity, thermostability, and saccharification efficiency of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes produced in-house by Aspergillus niger under solid-state fermentation (SSF). The use of Mn(2+) provided the best (hemi)cellulolytic activity and stability, with an increase in endoglucanase activity of up to 57%. The use of Mn(2+) was then investigated in the saccharification of sugarcane bagasse submitted to acid, steam-explosion, and hydrothermal pretreatments. The addition of Mn(2+) ions at 10mM in the saccharification of acid-pretreated bagasse resulted in a 34% increase in glucose release. These positive effects appeared to be due to a reduction in non-productive enzyme adsorption. The findings suggest that the addition of inexpensive metal ions can help to improve activity, thermostability, and saccharification efficiency of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes.

Rotavirus infection in Brazilian children with acute enteritis: a seasonal variation study.

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and electron microscopy (EM) were utilized to investigate the presence of rotavirus in feces of 388 children with acute enteritis hospitalized at the Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The survey covered 12 months, beginning in July 1981. There were 162 rotavirus-positive cases (41.8%). During the period of the study rotavirus was detected throughout the year, but there was a striking seasonal variation (78.1% of cases) during January 1982.

Drinking water as an iron carrier to control anemia in preschool children in a day-care center.

OBJECTIVE: Several foods have been used as iron (Fe) carriers to fight widespread global Fe deficiency and anemia. This paper describes the longitudinal effect of Fe-fortified drinking water given to a group of Brazilian preschool children. DESIGN: The experimental design included 31 preschool children who attended a day-care institution. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were the blood parameters used to check the Fe status. Fe++ sulfate (20 mg Fe/L) was added daily to their drinking water container and measurements were obtained before the addition, 4 and 8 months later. RESULTS: The number of Fe-deficient children decreased drastically after they started drinking the Fe-enriched water. Mean hemoglobin values increased from 10.6 to 13.7 g/dL and serum ferritin from 13.7 to 25.6 micrograms/L. There were no problems related to the salt addition or to the children drinking the Fe-enriched water. CONCLUSION: Fe-enriched drinking water was shown to be a practical alternative to supply Fe to children attending a day-care institution.

PIP: Iron deficiency affects more than one billion people worldwide, although it is most common among young children and women of childbearing age. Poor iron status has severe nutritional and health consequences. The authors describe the longitudinal effect of iron-fortified drinking water given to a group of Brazilian preschool children as a way of combatting iron deficiency and anemia. The statuses of 31 preschool children attending a day-care institution for low socioeconomic families in Ribeirao Preto were followed from November 1990 to October 1991. Iron sulfate was added daily to subjects' drinking water container. Measurements of hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in the children were taken before the addition and four and eight months later to evaluate iron status. Mean hemoglobin values increased from 10.6 to 13.7 g/dL and serum ferritin from 13.7 to 25.6 ug/L with no problems reported related to the salt addition or to the children drinking the iron-enriched water. The number of iron-deficient children decreased drastically after they began drinking the iron-enriched water. It may therefore be concluded that iron-enriched drinking water is a practical alternative to supply iron to children attending a day-care institution.