Chemical Profile and Biological Activities of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus Ex Situ Collection from Portugal.

This study aimed to analyse the chemical profile and biological activities of 29 accessions of Brassica rapa (turnips) and 9 of Brassica napus (turnips and seeds) collections, maintained ex situ in Portugal. HPLC-HRMS allowed the determination of glucosinolates (GLS) and polyphenolic compounds. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were determined by using relevant assays. The chemical profiles showed that glucosamine, gluconasturtiin, and neoglucobrassin were the most abundant GLS in the extracts from the turnip accessions. Minor forms of GLS include gluconapoleiferin, glucobrassicanapin, glucoerucin, glucobrassin, and 4-hydroxyglucobrassin. Both species exhibited strong antioxidant activity, attributed to glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. The methanol extracts of Brassica rapa accessions were assessed against a panel of five Gram-negative bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar, and Yersinia enterocolitica) and three Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus). The extracts exhibited activity against S. enterica and S. aureus, and two showed inhibitory activity against E. coli and Y. enterocolitica. This study provides valuable insights into the chemical composition and biological properties of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus collections in Portugal. The selected accessions can constitute potential sources of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds, which can be used in breeding programs and improving human health and to promote healthy food systems.

Phenotypic heterogeneity in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Copy Number Variants as genetic modifiers for congenital heart disease in a Brazilian cohort.

The clinical heterogeneity in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) underlies complex genetic mechanisms including variants in other regions of the genome, known as genetic modifiers. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most relevant phenotypes in the syndrome and copy number variants (CNVs) outside the 22q11.2 region could play a role in its variable expressivity. Since those described loci account for a small proportion of the variability, the CNV analysis in new cohorts from different ancestry-based populations constitutes a valuable resource to identify a wider range of modifiers. We performed SNP-array in 117 Brazilian patients with 22q11.2DS, with and without CHD, and leveraged genome-wide CNV analysis. After quality control, we selected 50 CNVs in 38 patients for downstream analysis. CNVs' genetic content and implicated biological pathways were compared between patients with and without CHD. CNV-affected genes in patients with CHD were enriched for several functional terms related to ubiquitination, transcription factor binding sites and miRNA targets, highlighting the complexity of the phenotype's expressivity. Cardiac-related genes were identified in both groups of patients suggesting that increasing risk and protective mechanisms could be involved. These genes and enriched pathways could indicate new modifiers to the cardiac phenotype in 22q11.2DS patients.

Treatment, clinical outcomes, and predictors of mortality among a national cohort of hospitalized patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze treatment, clinical outcomes, and predictors of inpatient mortality in hospitalized patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We included patients admitted to Veterans Affairs hospitals nationally with S. maltophilia cultures and treatment from 2010 to 2019. We described patient and clinical characteristics, antibiotic treatment, and clinical outcomes. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate predictors of inpatient mortality. RESULTS: We identified 3891 hospitalized patients treated for an S. maltophilia infection, of which 13.7% died during admission. The most common antibiotic agents were piperacillin/tazobactam (39.7%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (23.3%), and levofloxacin (23.2%). Combination therapy was used in 16.6% of patients. Independent predictors of inpatient mortality identified in multivariable analysis included the following: presence of current acute respiratory failure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.63-6.19), shock (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 2.31-3.90), acute renal failure (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.64-2.60), and septicemia (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.49-2.42), age 65 years and older (aOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.07-3.94, reference age 18-49 years), hospital-acquired infection (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.48-2.37), Black (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.21-2.06) and other races (aOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.41-2.41, reference White), liver disease (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.22), and median Charlson comorbidity score or higher (aOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08-1.71, reference less than median). Clinical outcomes were similar between patients infected with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim-resistant, levofloxacin-resistant, and multidrug-resistant S. maltophilia strains compared to non-resistant strains. CONCLUSIONS: In our national cohort of hospitalized patients with S. maltophilia infection, 13.7% of patients died during admission and several predictors of inpatient mortality were identified. Predictors related to the severity of infection were among the strongest identified. It is important that in severely ill patients presenting to the hospital, S. maltophilia be considered as a cause.

Predictors of potentially suboptimal treatment of urinary tract infections in long-term care facilities.

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal antibiotic treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI) is high in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and likely varies between facilities. Large-scale evaluations have not been conducted. AIM: To identify facility-level predictors of potentially suboptimal treatment of UTI in Veterans Affairs (VA) LTCFs and to quantify variation across facilities. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 21,938 residents in 120 VA LTCFs (2013-2018) known as Community Living Centers (CLCs). Potentially suboptimal treatment was assessed from drug choice, dose frequency, and/or treatment duration. To identify facility characteristics predictive of suboptimal UTI treatment, LTCFs with higher and lower rates of suboptimal treatment (≥median, < median) were compared using unconditional logistic regression models. Joinpoint regression models were used to quantify average percentage difference across facilities. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to quantify variation across facilities. FINDINGS: The rate of potentially suboptimal antibiotic treatment varied from 1.7 to 34.2 per 10,000 bed-days across LTCFs. The average percentage difference in rates across facilities was 2.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4-2.7). The only facility characteristic predictive of suboptimal treatment was the incident rate of UTI per 10,000 bed-days (odds ratio: 4.9; 95% CI: 2.3-10.3). Multilevel models demonstrated that 94% of the variation between facilities was unexplained after controlling for resident and CLC characteristics. The median odds ratio for the full multilevel model was 1.37. CONCLUSION: Potentially suboptimal UTI treatment was variable across VA LTCFs. However, most of the variation across LTCFs was unexplained. Future research should continue to investigate factors that are driving suboptimal antibiotic treatment in LTCFs.

High fidelity defines the temporal consistency of host-parasite interactions in a tropical coastal ecosystem.

Host-parasite interactions represent a selective force that may reduce hosts' lifespan, their reproductive success and survival. Environmental conditions can affect host-parasite communities, leading to distinct patterns of interactions with divergent ecological and evolutionary consequences for their persistence. Here, we tested whether climatic oscillation shapes the temporal dynamics of bird-haemosporidian associations, assessing the main mechanisms involved in the temporal dissimilarity of their interactions' networks. For two years, we monthly sampled birds in a tropical coastal ecosystem to avian malaria molecular diagnosis. The studied networks exhibited high specialization, medium modularity, with low niche overlap among parasites lineages. Moreover, alpha and ß-diversity of hosts, parasites and their interactions, as well as the structure of their networks were temporally consistent, i.e., stable under fluctuations in temperature or precipitation over seasons. The structure and temporal consistency of the studied antagonistic networks suggest a high fidelity between partners, which is likely relevant for their evolutionary persistence.

A systematic review of the complications of high-risk third molar removal and coronectomy: development of a decision tree model and preliminary health economic analysis to assist in treatment planning.

Coronectomy is an alternative surgical technique for the management of high-risk third molars. It involves the removal of the crown of a tooth and the deliberate retention of the roots, thereby avoiding injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Previous studies have suggested that it reduces the risk of nerve injury when compared with surgical extraction. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the incidence of complications following coronectomy such as IAN injury, pain, dry socket, infection, root migration, and need for re-operation. A comparative cost analysis of coronectomy and surgical extraction was done based on the results of the review. This provides an insight into the economic implications of the two procedures. A search through the MEDLINE database via Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE via Ovid, and Web of Science, was carried out to extract randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. Four studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted to measure the overall effect of each outcome. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for IAN injury was 0.16 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.39). Coronectomy reduced this risk by 84%. Dry socket may occur less frequently following coronectomy whereas infection did not show a higher incidence with either intervention. Root migration was found to occur in 13%-85% of cases and the average incidence of re-operation was 2.2%. The ratio of the average costs was 1.12 favouring coronectomy if cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was not done prior to the procedure. If a scan was taken routinely for coronectomy, the cost ratio marginally favoured extraction. Coronectomy reduced the risk of nerve injury in high-risk third molars. Definitive conclusions, however, cannot be made for outcomes such as the need for re-operation, which may alter the cost ratio of coronectomy:extraction, as higher quality studies with longer follow-up are needed.

Kondo effect under the influence of spin-orbit coupling in a quantum wire.

The analysis of the impact of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) on the Kondo state has generated considerable controversy, mainly regarding the dependence of the Kondo temperature T K on SOC strength. Here, we study the one-dimensional (1D) single impurity Anderson model (SIAM) subjected to Rashba (α) and Dresselhaus (ß) SOC. It is shown that, due to time-reversal symmetry, the hybridization function between impurity and quantum wire is diagonal and spin independent (as it is the case for the zero-SOC SIAM), thus the finite-SOC SIAM has a Kondo ground state similar to that for the zero-SOC SIAM. This similarity allows the use of the Haldane expression for T K, with parameters renormalized by SOC, which are calculated through a physically motivated change of basis. Analytic results for the parameters of the SOC-renormalized Haldane expression are obtained, facilitating the analysis of the SOC effect over T K. It is found that SOC acting in the quantum wire exponentially decreases T K while SOC at the impurity exponentially increases it. These analytical results are fully supported by calculations using the numerical renormalization group (NRG), applied to the wide-band regime, and the projector operator approach, applied to the infinite-U regime. Literature results, using quantum Monte Carlo, for a system with Fermi energy near the bottom of the band, are qualitatively reproduced, using NRG. In addition, it is shown that the 1D SOC SIAM for arbitrary α and ß displays a persistent spin helix SU(2) symmetry similar to the one for a 2D Fermi sea with the restriction α = ß.

Isolation and characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from gas station leaking-contaminated groundwater in the Southern Amazon, Brazil / Isolamento e caracterização de bactérias degradadoras de hidrocarbonetos de água subterrânea contaminada por vazamentos em posto de combustível no sul da Amazônia, Brasil

Abstract Twenty-three hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria strains were isolated from gas station leaking-contaminated groundwater located in the Southern Amazon, Brazil. Based on hydrocarbon (diesel, hexadecane, benzene, toluene and xylene) degradation ability, two strains were selected for further study. The amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that these two strains belonged to the genus Bacillus (Bacillus sp. L26 and Bacillus sp. L30). GC-MS analysis showed that strain L30 was the most effective in degrading n-alkane (C10-C27) from diesel after 7 days of cultivation in mineral medium. Both strains produced biosurfactants and showed emulsification activity, specially the strain L30. Alkane hydroxylase gene (group III), which is important for alkane biodegradation, was present in strains. As a result, this study indicated that these bacteria could have promising applications in hydrocarbon bioremediation.

Resumo Vinte e três linhagens bacterianas degradadoras de hidrocarbonetos foram isoladas de água subterrânea contaminada por vazamento em posto de combustível no sul da Amazônia, Brasil. Com base na habilidade de degradar hidrocarbonetos (diesel, hexadecano, benzeno, tolueno e xileno), duas linhagens foram selecionadas para estudos posteriores. A amplificação e sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA demonstrou que essas linhagens pertencem ao gênero Bacillus (Bacillus sp. L26 and Bacillus sp. L30). Análises de GC-MS mostraram que a linhagem L30 foi mais eficiente em degradar n-alcanos (C10-C27) presentes no diesel, após 7 dias de cultivo em meio mineral. Ambas as linhagens produziram biossurfactantes e apresentaram atividade emulsificante, especialmente a linhagem L30. O gene alcano hidroxilase (grupo III), o qual é importante para degradação de alcanos, foram detectados nas linhagens. Como resultado, este estudo indicou que essas linhagens bacterianas podem ser promissoras se aplicadas em processos de biorremediação.

Pathological profiles of systemic infections by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in a murine model.

AIMS: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens in hospital environment and community. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) production is clinically associated with skin abscesses, soft tissues infections, bacteraemia and sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the presence of genes lukF/S-PV coding for PVL, in histological and haematological features during systemic infection, using a Swiss mice experimental model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experiments were performed using 25 mice distributed into five experimental groups, intravenously inoculated with 50 µl suspensions at density 1·0 × 107  CFU per ml of strains: methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and pvl-negative strains isolated from nasal colonization; MSSA pvl-positive strains isolated from nasal colonization; methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and pvl-positive strains isolated from peripheral blood of a patient with severe pulmonary infection; and a MRSA pvl-positive strains isolated from a peripheral blood culture of a patient with bacteraemia. Haematological analysis was performed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post-infection. Morphoanatomy and histopathological analyses were performed at 96 h post-infection. For all S. aureus strains tested, the capability of intravenous dissemination and survival into mice tissues was demonstrated. Inflammatory processes at different levels were related to the presence of pvl genes, and included alterations in the format, size and colour of the organs. Staphylococcus aureus pvl-positive strains were detected in greater numbers in the organs of the infected animals. CONCLUSIONS: The pvl-positive strains isolated from blood cultures were capable to induce the greatest modifications in both haematological and histopathological profiles, and seemed to aggravate the systemic infections. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings are valuable in characterizing infections caused by S. aureus in humans and murine.

Isolation and characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from gas station leaking-contaminated groundwater in the Southern Amazon, Brazil.

Twenty-three hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria strains were isolated from gas station leaking-contaminated groundwater located in the Southern Amazon, Brazil. Based on hydrocarbon (diesel, hexadecane, benzene, toluene and xylene) degradation ability, two strains were selected for further study. The amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that these two strains belonged to the genus Bacillus (Bacillus sp. L26 and Bacillus sp. L30). GC-MS analysis showed that strain L30 was the most effective in degrading n-alkane (C10-C27) from diesel after 7 days of cultivation in mineral medium. Both strains produced biosurfactants and showed emulsification activity, specially the strain L30. Alkane hydroxylase gene (group III), which is important for alkane biodegradation, was present in strains. As a result, this study indicated that these bacteria could have promising applications in hydrocarbon bioremediation.

African histoplasmosis in a Guinea Bissau patient with HIV-2: Case report and review.

African histoplasmosis is the relatively unknown infection by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii. It is endemic to Central and West Africa, generally involving the skin with potential for systemic dissemination, and has been described mainly in immunocompetent hosts. We present the case of a 30-year-old Bissau-Guinean man with HIV-2 infection known for 16 years, irregularly treated, admitted with two weeks of fever, diarrhoea and cutaneous lesions. Examination revealed multiple subcutaneous nodes, Molluscum contagiosum-like lesions, generalized lymphadenopathy and painful palpation of the left iliac fossa. Laboratory tests showed severe nonhaemolytic anaemia and CD4+ count of 9/mm3, with normal creatinine and hepatic enzymes. Chest roentgenogram was unremarkable and a research for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by GeneXpert® was negative. Nonetheless, given the lack of further diagnostic tools, a presumptive diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis was made, and the patient was started on tuberculostatic and antiretroviral drugs. Despite initial improvement, a national shortage of antiretrovirals precluded further treatment, with worsening of the clinical picture, namely an increase in the number and dimensions of the skin lesions. An excisional biopsy of a subcutaneous nodule revealed Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii. Unfortunately, due to the unavailability of antifungals, the patient died one week later. To our best knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of an HIV infected patient with African histoplasmosis in Guinea-Bissau.

Phenotype comparison among individuals with developmental delay/intellectual disability with or without genomic imbalances.

BACKGROUND: The chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is recommended as a first-tier test for individuals with developmental delay (DD)/intellectual disability (ID) and/or multiple congenital anomalies. However, owing to high costs, this technique is not widely performed for diagnostic purposes in several countries. The aim of this study was to identify clinical features that could favour the hypothesis of genomic imbalances (GIs) in individuals with DD/ID. METHODS: The sample consisted of 63 individuals, and all of them underwent a detailed evaluation by a clinical geneticist and were investigated by the CMA. They were divided into two groups. Group A composed of 20 individuals with pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs); and group B composed of 43 individuals with normal CMA results or variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS). RESULTS: Pathogenic GIs were found in 20 cases (32%), including 11 individuals with an abnormal karyotype, VUS was found in five individuals (8%) and the results were normal in 38 individuals (60%). Major anomalies were found in 15/20 (75%) individuals in group A against 35/43 (81%) in group B. Dysmorphisms (≥5) were found in 17/20 (85%) in group A and 41/43 (95%) in group B. The most frequent major anomalies detected in group A were congenital heart disease, epilepsy and renal malformation; and in group B, they were malformations of central nervous system, congenital heart disease, microcephaly, epilepsy and hearing impairment. There was no significant statistical difference among the frequencies in groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Evidences point that every individual with DD/ID, with no specific clinical suspicion, should have screening for GIs as a first-tier test, regardless of the presence or absence of additional major anomalies or dysmorphisms. Future studies with a similar design would be helpful, especially in countries where the access to new technologies is still limited.

Body mass index and motor coordination: Non-linear relationships in children 6-10 years.

BACKGROUND: Given the concern for health-related consequences of an elevated body mass index (BMI; obesity), the potential consequences of a low BMI in children are often overlooked. The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between the BMI across its entire spectrum and motor coordination (MC) in children 6-10 years. METHODS: Height, weight, and MC (Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, KTK test battery) were measured in 1,912 boys and 1,826 girls of 6-10 years of age. BMI (kg/m2 ) was calculated. KTK scores for each of the four tests were also converted to a motor quotient (MQ). One-way ANOVA was used to test differences in the BMI, individual test items, and MQ among boys and girls within age groups. Sex-specific quadratic regressions of individual KTK items and the MQ on the BMI were calculated. Girls and boys were also classified into four weight status groups using International Obesity Task Force criteria: thin, normal, overweight, and obese. Differences in specific test items and MQ between weight status groups were evaluated by age group in each sex. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of the sample was overweight or obese, whereas 5% was thin. On average, normal weight children had the highest MQ in both sexes across the age range with few exceptions. Overweight/obese children had a lower MQ than normal weight and thin children. The quadratic regression lines generally presented an inverted parabolic relationship between the BMI and MC and suggested a decrease in MC with an increase in the BMI. CONCLUSION: In general, BMI shows a curvilinear, inverted parabolic relationship with MC in children 6-10 years.

Niveles elevados de aldosterona sérica en pacientes en diálisis: ¿estamos infrautilizando los bloqueantes del sistema renina angiotensina aldosterona en diálisis? / Elevated serum aldosterone levels in dialysis patients: Are we underusing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers?

La aldosterona sérica (AS) es un marcador de riesgo cardiovascular (CV) en población general. Objetivo: Analizar los niveles de AS en pacientes en diálisis y su relación con las características de la diálisis, antecedentes CV, tensión arterial y uso de bloqueantes del sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona (BSRAA). Métodos: Determinamos la AS en 102 pacientes: 81 en hemodiálisis (HD) y 21 en diálisis peritoneal; con una edad media de 71,4 ± 12 años; el 54,9% eran varones; el 29,4%, diabéticos; con un tiempo en diálisis de 59,3 ± 67 meses. En 44 pacientes en HD se midió la actividad de renina plasmática (ARP). Resultados: La media de AS fue 72,6 ± 114,9 ng/dl (rango normal: 1,17-23,.6ng/dl). El 57,8% de los pacientes tenía niveles por encima de la normalidad que no se relacionaron con características de diálisis ni antecedentes CV. Solo el 21% de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca y el 19,2% con cardiopatía isquémica utilizaban BSRAA. Los 25 pacientes en tratamiento con BSRAA tenían niveles de AS significativamente menores. Existe una correlación inversa entre la AS y la tensión arterial sistólica (TAS), y directa con ARP. En el análisis de regresión logística para ver factores asociados a niveles de AS superiores a la mediana, la TAS fue la única variable de riesgo independiente en la población global (OR 0,97; p = 0,022); en los 44 pacientes en HD en los que se determinó ARP este fue el único factor de riesgo independiente (OR 2,24; p = 0,012). Conclusiones: Un alto porcentaje de pacientes en diálisis tiene niveles elevados de AS que no se relacionan con características de la diálisis y sí con disminución de TAS y activación del SRAA. En pacientes con antecedentes de cardiopatía infrautilizamos los BSRAA

Serum aldosteronelevels (SA) are a marker of cardiovascular (CV) risk in the general population. Objective: To analyze SA levels in dialysis patients and its relationship with characteristics of dialysis; comorbidity; blood pressure and the use of blocking renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system agents (BSRAA). Methods: We determined SA in 102 patients: 81 on hemodialysis (HD) and 21 on peritoneal dialysis. Mean age 71.4 ± 12 years; 54.9% male; 29.4% diabetics. Mean time on dialysis 59.3 ± 67 months. In 44 HD patients plasma renin activity (PRA) was measured. Results: Mean SA was 72.6 ± 114.9ng/dl (normal range 1.17-23.6ng/dl). A total of 57.8% of patients had above normal levels which were not related to dialysis characteristics or comorbidity. Only 21% of patients with heart failure and 19.2% with ischemic heart disease used BSRAA. A number of 25 patients treated with BSRAA had significantly lower levels of SA. There was an inverse correlation between AS and systolic blood pressure (SBP), and direct with PRA. The logistic regression analysis conducted to find SA levels above the median associated factors showed that SBP was the only independent risk variable in the overall population (OR 0.97; P = .022); in the 44 patients in whom PRA was determined this was the only independent risk factor (OR 2.24; P = .012). Conclusions: A high percentage of dialysis patients have elevated levels of SA that are associated to diminished SBP and activated PRA and not to dialysis characteristics. In patients with a history of heart disease we underuse BSRAA

Parasitism and inflammation in ear skin and in genital tissues of symptomatic and asymptomatic male dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is transmitted through vector, although venereal transmission has been suggested. This study aimed to compare the parasitic loads and inflammatory processes in genital tissues with ear skin from seropositive male dogs. Forty-five seropositive dogs were separated into groups containing symptomatic (n = 23) and asymptomatic (n = 22) animals. The control group (n = 2) healthy animals with seronegative and negative results in direct parasitological test. Samples of ear tip skin, prepuce, glans penis, testis, epididymis, and prostate were collected for evaluation of parasitic load and inflammatory infiltrate. Although ear tip skin was the most intensely parasitized, prepuce and epididymis revealed no difference in parasitism when compared with ear tip skin (P > 0.05). Parasitic loads in testis and prostate were lower than other tissues (P < 0.05). Parasitism in glans penis was high, similar to prepuce and epididymis, but lower than ear tip skin. High parasitism was more frequent in symptomatic dogs than asymptomatic animals. Severe inflammatory processes were more frequent within the symptomatic animals compared with asymptomatic and more predominant in prepuce and epididymis. Ear tip skin and genital tissues presented signs of chronic inflammation. There were weak and moderate positive correlations between parasitic loads and inflammatory processes. Our results demonstrate that, likewise with the ear tip skin, the genital of seropositive dogs can carry a large number of Leishmania infantum amastigotes and this process are more intense in symptomatic animals. These data have important implications for understanding the possibility of venereal transmission of CVL.

[Elevated serum aldosterone levels in dialysis patients: Are we underusing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers?] / Niveles elevados de aldosterona sérica en pacientes en diálisis: ¿estamos infrautilizando los bloqueantes del sistema renina angiotensina aldosterona en diálisis?

Serum aldosteronelevels (SA) are a marker of cardiovascular (CV) risk in the general population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze SA levels in dialysis patients and its relationship with characteristics of dialysis; comorbidity; blood pressure and the use of blocking renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system agents (BSRAA). METHODS: We determined SA in 102 patients: 81 on hemodialysis (HD) and 21 on peritoneal dialysis. Mean age 71.4±12 years; 54.9% male; 29.4% diabetics. Mean time on dialysis 59.3±67 months. In 44 HD patients plasma renin activity (PRA) was measured. RESULTS: Mean SA was 72.6±114.9ng/dl (normal range 1.17-23.6ng/dl). A total of 57.8% of patients had above normal levels which were not related to dialysis characteristics or comorbidity. Only 21% of patients with heart failure and 19.2% with ischemic heart disease used BSRAA. A number of 25 patients treated with BSRAA had significantly lower levels of SA. There was an inverse correlation between AS and systolic blood pressure (SBP), and direct with PRA. The logistic regression analysis conducted to find SA levels above the median associated factors showed that SBP was the only independent risk variable in the overall population (OR 0.97; P=.022); in the 44 patients in whom PRA was determined this was the only independent risk factor (OR 2.24; P=.012). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of dialysis patients have elevated levels of SA that are associated to diminished SBP and activated PRA and not to dialysis characteristics. In patients with a history of heart disease we underuse BSRAA.

Flexibility is associated with motor competence in schoolchildren.

Available data on the associations between motor competence (MC) and flexibility are limited and result inconclusive. This study aims to examine the relationship between flexibility and MC in children. The sample comprised 596 Portuguese children (47.1% girls) aged 9.7 ± 0.6 years. Motor competence was evaluated with the body coordination test, Körperkoordination Test für Kinder. Cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), muscular strength (curl-up and push-up tests), and flexibility (back-saver sit and reach and trunk-lift tests) were evaluated using the Fitnessgram Test Battery. Z-scores by age and gender for the physical fitness tests were constructed. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed. Participants in the healthy zone groups of both flexibility tests exhibited significantly better scores of MC than the participants under the healthy zone (P < 0.001). Back-saver sit and reach and trunk-lift Z-scores, either individually or as a sum, were significant predictors of MC (P < 0.05 for all) after adjustments for the other physical fitness components, age, body mass index, and socioeconomic status, in both genders. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting and developing flexibility, as well as the other health-related physical fitness components in schoolchildren to reach adequate levels of MC.

Isolation and characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from gas station leaking-contaminated groundwater in the Southern Amazon, Brazil

Abstract Twenty-three hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria strains were isolated from gas station leaking-contaminated groundwater located in the Southern Amazon, Brazil. Based on hydrocarbon (diesel, hexadecane, benzene, toluene and xylene) degradation ability, two strains were selected for further study. The amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that these two strains belonged to the genus Bacillus (Bacillus sp. L26 and Bacillus sp. L30). GC-MS analysis showed that strain L30 was the most effective in degrading n-alkane (C10-C27) from diesel after 7 days of cultivation in mineral medium. Both strains produced biosurfactants and showed emulsification activity, specially the strain L30. Alkane hydroxylase gene (group III), which is important for alkane biodegradation, was present in strains. As a result, this study indicated that these bacteria could have promising applications in hydrocarbon bioremediation.

Resumo Vinte e três linhagens bacterianas degradadoras de hidrocarbonetos foram isoladas de água subterrânea contaminada por vazamento em posto de combustível no sul da Amazônia, Brasil. Com base na habilidade de degradar hidrocarbonetos (diesel, hexadecano, benzeno, tolueno e xileno), duas linhagens foram selecionadas para estudos posteriores. A amplificação e sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA demonstrou que essas linhagens pertencem ao gênero Bacillus (Bacillus sp. L26 and Bacillus sp. L30). Análises de GC-MS mostraram que a linhagem L30 foi mais eficiente em degradar n-alcanos (C10-C27) presentes no diesel, após 7 dias de cultivo em meio mineral. Ambas as linhagens produziram biossurfactantes e apresentaram atividade emulsificante, especialmente a linhagem L30. O gene alcano hidroxilase (grupo III), o qual é importante para degradação de alcanos, foram detectados nas linhagens. Como resultado, este estudo indicou que essas linhagens bacterianas podem ser promissoras se aplicadas em processos de biorremediação.

Efficacy and Safety of Monotherapy With Mycophenolate Mofetil in Liver Transplantation Patients With Nephrotoxicity.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) are the base of immunosuppressive regimens in liver transplantation but they are associated with significant side effects, namely nephrotoxicity, which leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Through time, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as monotherapy has been suggested as an alternative in patients with CNI-related toxicity, but still no consensus has been reached as to its efficacy. We have evaluated the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of MMF monotherapy in selected patients, developing CNI-associated events, focusing primarily on kidney dysfunction. Thirty patients were selected (60% men) with a mean age of 48.5 years. Four patients (13%) were initially on a multidrug regimen that included MMF ad initio due to increased risk of kidney dysfunction. CNI tapering was initiated 5.1 years after liver transplantation (5 months to 13.9 years). The mean time of follow-up after conversion to monotherapy with MMF was 5.6 years (14 months to 12 years). Kidney function analysis accessed by creatinine values and glomerular filtration rate measurement showed a gradual improvement (P < .01). Graft dysfunction after conversion to monotherapy was observed in three patients who required reintroduction of the previous immunosuppressive regimen. Four patients referred minor side effects that were managed with dose reduction. None required MMF withdrawal. Ten patients died during follow up, mainly due to disease progression, 6.8 years after MMF conversion. In conclusion, MMF monotherapy seems to be safe, effective, and well tolerated in selected patients.

Histology Utility in Liver Graft Surveillance: What About Normal Liver Tests?

INTRODUCTION: In liver transplantation, late graft dysfunction can have several causes, particularly rejection, infection, vascular, biliary complications, and others, usually suspected by abnormal liver tests. However, normal liver tests do not confirm a normal graft and liver biopsy could identify unexpected features with repercussions in immunosuppressive therapy. The aim of this study was to determinate the histological abnormalities in patients 10 years after liver allograft transplantation with sustainably normal liver tests and evaluate the changes in immunosuppressive therapy triggered by histological data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of liver allograft recipients was performed in an adult liver transplantation center with graft histological characterization 10 years after transplantation. Patients with abnormal liver tests and retransplantation were excluded. RESULTS: We evaluated 39 patients with repeatedly normal liver tests. Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (n = 27) was the mainly indication for liver transplantation. Allograft histological dysfunction was observed in 13 (21.7%) patients. In 3 patients we observed chronic hepatitis, signs of cellular rejection in another 3 patients, and histological features suggesting autoimmune hepatitis in 7 patients. The diagnosis of de novo autoimmune hepatitis was proposed according to contemporaneous positive autoantibodies. Changes in immunosuppressive treatment were proposed in 7 patients. CONCLUSION: Allograft histological dysfunctions 10 years after liver transplantation were observed in 21.7% of patients despite normal liver tests. Although the histological features led to alterations of immunosuppressive therapy in half of the cases, the absence of enzymatic tests changes makes monitoring a challenging process.