Cutaneous glands of the striped toad, Rhinella crucifer (Wied-Neuwied, 1821) (Amphibia: Bufonidae): Histological study and bioactivities of glandular secretions.

This study investigated the morphology of Rhinella crucifer cutaneous glands, as well as the protein/peptide profiles and bioactivities of body gland secretions (BGS) and parotoid macrogland secretions (PS). The parotoid as well as dorsal and ventral skin fragments of male and female individuals were processed for histological analysis. The protein and peptide profiles of male and female gland secretions were evaluated. Male secretions were also assessed for proteolytic, trypsin inhibiting, hemagglutinating, hemolytic, antimicrobial, and anticoagulant activities. The R. crucifer skin structure presented protuberances that are clearly visible and formed by the integument, which has cutaneous glands throughout the body. An average of 438 and 333 glands were identified in males in females, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of glands across the body as well as for area and perimeter of glands. Differences were observed in protein composition between the PS and BGS from males and females, and secretions from animals collected from undisturbed and anthropogenically disturbed areas. Proteins with similarities to catalase and elongation factor 1-alpha were detected in the PS. Zymography revealed proteolytic activity in both male BGS and PS. Male BGS showed antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli and anticoagulant activity, being able to prolong prothrombin time by 6.34-fold and activated partial thromboplastin time by 2.17-fold. Finally, male PS and BGS caused a maximum hemolysis degree of 1.4%. The data showed that the cutaneous secretions of R. crucifer are potentially promising for biotechnological prospecting.

A Set of Screening Techniques for a Quick Overview of the Neutrophil Function.

Neutrophils are known as one of the first lines of defense in the innate immune response and can perform many particular cellular functions, such as chemotaxis, reverse migration, phagocytosis, degranulation of cytotoxic enzymes and metabolites, and release of DNA as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Neutrophils not only have tightly regulated signaling themselves, but also participate in the regulation of other components of the immune system. As fresh neutrophils are terminally differentiated, short-lived, and highly variable among individuals, it is important to make the most of the collected samples. Researchers often need to perform screening assays to assess an overview of the many neutrophil functions that may be affected by specific conditions under evaluation. A set of tests following a single isolation process of normal density neutrophils was developed to address this need, seeking a balance between speed, comprehensiveness, cost, and accuracy. The results can be used to reason and guide in-depth follow-up studies. This procedure can be carried out in an average time of 4 h and includes the evaluation of cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, real-time migration, and phagocytosis of yeast on glass slides, leaving enough cells for more detailed approaches like omics studies. Moreover, the procedure includes a way to easily observe a preliminary suggestion of NETs after fast panoptic staining observed by light microscopy, with a lack of specific markers, albeit enough to indicate if further efforts in that way would be worthwhile. The diversity of functions tested combines common points among tests, reducing the analysis time and expenses. The procedure was named NeutroFun Screen, and although having limitations, it balances the aforementioned factors. Furthermore, the aim of this work is not a definite test set, but rather a guideline that can easily be adjusted to each lab's resources and demands.

Proteomics: Unraveling the Cross Talk Between Innate Immunity and Disease Pathophysiology, Diagnostics, and Treatment Options.

Inflammation is crucial in diseases, and proteins play a key role in the interplay between innate immunity and pathology. This review explores how proteomics helps understanding this relationship, focusing on diagnosis and treatment. We explore the dynamic innate response and the significance of proteomic techniques in deciphering the complex network of proteins involved in prevalent diseases, including infections, cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Proteomics identifies key proteins in host-pathogen interactions, shedding light on infection mechanisms and inflammation. These discoveries hold promise for diagnostic tools, therapies, and vaccines. In cancer research, proteomics reveals innate signatures associated with tumor development, immune evasion, and therapeutic response. Additionally, proteomic analysis has unveiled autoantigens and dysregulation of the innate immune system in autoimmunity, offering opportunities for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and new therapeutic targets. Moreover, proteomic analysis has identified altered protein expression patterns in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies. Proteomics of the innate immune system provides a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms, identifies biomarkers, and enables effective interventions in various diseases. Despite still in its early stages, this approach holds great promise to revolutionize innate immunity research and significantly improve patient outcomes across a wide range of diseases.

A proteomic perspective on the resistance response of Klebsiella pneumoniae to antimicrobial peptide PaDBS1R1.

BACKGROUND: The synthetic antimicrobial peptide, PaDBS1R1, has been reported as a powerful anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae antimicrobial. However, there is only scarce knowledge about whether K. pneumoniae could develop resistance against PaDBS1R1 and which resistance mechanisms could be involved. OBJECTIVES: Identify via label-free shotgun proteomics the K. pneumoniae resistance mechanisms developed against PaDBS1R1. METHODS: An adaptive laboratory evolution experiment was performed to obtain a PaDBS1R1-resistant K. pneumoniae lineage. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined through microdilution assay. Modifications in protein abundances between the resistant and sensitive lineages were measured via label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics. Enriched Gene Ontology terms and KEGG pathways were identified through over-representation analysis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD033020. RESULTS: K. pneumoniae ATCC 13883 parental strain challenged with increased subinhibitory PaDBS1R1 concentrations allowed the PaDBS1R1-resistant K. pneumoniae lineage to emerge. Proteome comparisons between PaDBS1R1-resistant K. pneumoniae and PaDBS1R1-sensitive K. pneumoniae under PaDBS1R1-induced stress conditions enabled the identification and quantification of 1702 proteins, out of which 201 were differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). The profiled DAPs comprised 103 up-regulated proteins (adjusted P value < 0.05, fold change ≥ 2) and 98 down-regulated proteins (adjusted P value < 0.05, fold change ≤ 0.5). The enrichment analysis suggests that PhoPQ-guided LPS modifications and CpxRA-dependent folding machinery could be relevant resistance mechanisms against PaDBS1R1. CONCLUSIONS: Based on experimental evolution and a label-free quantitative shotgun proteomic approach, we showed that K. pneumoniae developed resistance against PaDBS1R1, whereas PhoPQ-guided LPS modifications and CpxRA-dependent folding machinery appear to be relevant resistance mechanisms against PaDBS1R1.

Purification and Biological Properties of Raniseptins-3 and -6, Two Antimicrobial Peptides from Boana raniceps (Cope, 1862) Skin Secretion.

The number of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms has been growing in recent years, most of which is due to the inappropriate use of the commercial antibiotics that are currently available. The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance represents a serious global public health problem. Thus, it is necessary to search for and develop new drugs that can act as antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides are a promising alternative for the development of new therapeutic drugs. Anurans' skin glands are a rich source of broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds and hylids, a large and diverse family of tree frogs, are known as an important source of antimicrobial peptides. In the present study, two novel antimicrobial peptides, named Raniseptins-3 and -6, were isolated from Boana raniceps skin secretion and their structural and biological properties were evaluated. Raniseptins-3 and -6 are cationic, rich in hydrophobic residues, and adopt an α-helix conformation in the presence of SDS (35 mM). Both peptides are active against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive pathogens, with low hemolytic activity at therapeutic concentrations. No activity was observed for yeasts, but the peptides are highly cytotoxic against B16F10 murine melanoma cells and NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. None of the tested compounds showed improvement trends in the MTT and LDH parameters of MHV-3 infected cells at the concentrations tested.

Neutrophil Activated by the Famous and Potent PMA (Phorbol Myristate Acetate).

This review will briefly outline the major signaling pathways in PMA-activated neutrophils. PMA is widely used to understand neutrophil pathways and formation of NETs. PMA activates PKC; however, we highlight some isoforms that contribute to specific functions. PKC α, ß and δ contribute to ROS production while PKC ßII and PKC ζ are involved in cytoskeleton remodeling. Actin polymerization is important for the chemotaxis of neutrophils and its remodeling is connected to ROS balance. We suggest that, although ROS and production of NETs are usually observed together in PMA-activated neutrophils, there might be a regulatory mechanism balancing both. Interestingly, we suggest that serine proteases might determine the PAD4 action. PAD4 could be responsible for the activation of the NF-κB pathway that leads to IL-1ß release, triggering the cleavage of gasdermin D by serine proteases such as elastase, leading to pore formation contributing to release of NETs. On the other hand, when serine proteases are inhibited, NETs are formed by citrullination through the PAD4 pathway. This review puts together results from the last 31 years of research on the effects of PMA on the neutrophil and proposes new insights on their interpretation.

Mastoparans: A Group of Multifunctional α-Helical Peptides With Promising Therapeutic Properties.

Biologically active peptides have been attracting increasing attention, whether to improve the understanding of their mechanisms of action or in the search for new therapeutic drugs. Wasp venoms have been explored as a remarkable source for these molecules. In this review, the main findings on the group of wasp linear cationic α-helical peptides called mastoparans were discussed. These compounds have a wide variety of biological effects, including mast cell degranulation, activation of protein G, phospholipase A2, C, and D activation, serotonin and insulin release, and antimicrobial, hemolytic, and anticancer activities, which could lead to the development of new therapeutic agents.

Proteome dataset of Hemileia vastatrix by LC-MS/MS label-free identification.

Here we describe the proteome of the fungus Hemileia vastatrix by label free mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). H. vastatrix is the causal agent of coffee rust disease, causing great economic losses in this crop. The objective of our work was to identify H. vastatrix proteins potentially involved in host colonization and infection, by exploring the shotgun proteomics approach. A total of 742 proteins were identified and are associated with several crucial molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular components. The proteins identified contribute to a better understanding of the metabolism of the fungus and may help identify target proteins for the development of specific drugs in order to control coffee rust disease. All data can be accessed at the Centre for Computational Mass Spectrometry - MassIVE MSV000087665 -https://massive.ucsd.edu/ProteoSAFe/dataset.jsp?task=cc71ad75f767451abe72dd1ce0019387.

Shotgun proteomics coupled to transient-inducible gene silencing reveal rice susceptibility genes as new sources for blast disease resistance.

A comparative proteomic analysis between two near-isogenic rice lines, displaying a resistant and susceptible phenotype upon infection with Magnaporthe oryzae was performed. We identified and validated factors associated with rice disease susceptibility, representing a flourishing source toward a more resolute rice-blast resistance. Proteome profiles were remarkably different during early infection (12 h post-inoculation), revealing several proteins with increased abundance in the compatible interaction. Potential players of rice susceptibility were selected and gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Gene Ontology analysis disclosed susceptibility gene-encoded proteins claimed to be involved in fungus sustenance and suppression of plant immunity, such as sucrose synthase 4-like, serpin-ZXA-like, nudix hydrolase15, and DjA2 chaperone protein. Two other candidate genes, picked from a previous transcriptome study, were added into our downstream analysis including pyrabactin resistant-like 5 (OsPYL5), and rice ethylene-responsive factor 104 (OsERF104). Further, we validated their role in susceptibility by Transient-Induced Gene Silencing (TIGS) using short antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides that resulted in a remarkable reduction of foliar disease symptoms in the compatible interaction. Therefore, we successfully employed shotgun proteomics and antisense-based gene silencing to prospect and functionally validate rice potential susceptibility factors, which could be further explored to build rice-blast resistance. SIGNIFICANCE: R gene-mediated disease resistance is race-specific and often not durable in the field. More recently, advancements in new breeding techniques (NBTs) have made plant disease susceptibility genes (S-genes) a new target to build a broad spectrum and more durable resistance, hence an alternative source to R-genes in breeding programs. We successfully coupled shotgun proteomics and gene silencing tools to prospect and validate new rice-bast susceptibility genes that can be further exploited toward a more resolute blast disease resistance.

Exploring the biological activities and proteome of Brazilian scorpion Rhopalurus agamemnon venom.

Scorpion venoms are formed by toxins harmful to various organisms, including humans. Several techniques have been developed to understand the role of proteins in animal venoms, including proteomics approach. Rhopalurus agamemnon (Koch, 1839) is the largest scorpion in the Buthidae family in the Brazilian Cerrado, measuring up to 110 mm in total length. The accident with R. agamemnon is painful and causes some systemic reactions, but the specie's venom remains uninvestigated. We explore the venom protein composition using a proteomic and a biological-directed approach identifying 230 protein compounds including enzymes like Hyaluronidase, metalloproteinase, L-amino acid oxidase and amylase, the last two are first reported for scorpion venoms. Some of those new reports are important to demonstrate how distant we are from a total comprehension of the diversity about venoms in general, due to their diversity in composition and function. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, we explored the composition of venom proteins from the scorpion Rhopalurus agamemnon. We identified 230 proteins from the venom including new enzyme reports. These data highlight the unique diversity of the venom proteins from the scorpion R. agamemnon, provide insights into new mechanisms of envenomation and enlarge the protein database of scorpion venoms. The discovery of new proteins provides a new scenario for the development of new drugs and suggests molecular targets to venom components.

Proteomic profile of pre-implantational ovine embryos produced in vivo.

The present study was conducted to decipher the proteome of in vivo-produced pre-implantation ovine embryos. Ten locally adapted Morana Nova ewes received hormonal treatment and were inseminated 12 hr after ovulation. Six days later, 54 embryos (morula and blastocyst developmental state) were recovered from eight ewes and pooled to obtain sufficient protein for proteomic analysis. Extracted embryo proteins were analysed by LC-MS/MS, followed by identification based on four database searches (PEAKS, Proteome Discoverer software, SearchGUI software, PepExplorer). Identified proteins were analysed for gene ontology terms, protein clusters and interactions. Genes associated with the ovine embryo proteome were screened for miRNA targets using data sets of TargetScan (http://www.targetscan.org) and mIRBase (http://www.mirbase.org) servers. There were 667 proteins identified in the ovine embryos. Biological processes of such proteins were mainly related to cellular process and regulation, and molecular functions, to binding and catalytic activity. Analysis of the embryo proteins revealed 49 enriched functional clusters, linked to energy metabolism (TCA cycle, pyruvate and glycolysis metabolism), zona pellucida (ZP), MAPK signalling pathway, tight junction, binding of sperm to ZP, translation, proteasome, cell cycle and calcium/phospholipid binding. Sixteen miRNAs were related to 25 pre-implantation ovine embryo genes, all conserved in human, bovine and ovine species. The interaction network generated by miRNet showed four key miRNAs (hsa-mir-106b-5p; hsa-mir-30-5p; hsa-mir-103a-5p and hsa-mir-106a-5p) with potential interactions with embryo-expressed genes. Functional analysis of the network indicated that miRNAs modulate genes related to cell cycle, regulation of stem cell and embryonic cell differentiation, among others. Retrieved miRNAs also modulate the expression of genes involved in cell signalling pathways, such as MAPK, Wnt, TGF-beta, p53 and Toll-like receptor. The current study describes the first major proteomic profile of 6-day-old ovine embryos produced in vivo, setting a comprehensive foundation for our understanding of embryo physiology in the ovine species.

IL-4 absence triggers distinct pathways in apical periodontitis development.

Dental pulp is a specialized tissue able to respond to infectious processes. Nevertheless, infection progress and root canal colonization trigger an immune-inflammatory response in tooth-surrounding tissues, leading to apical periodontitis and bone tissue destruction, further contributing to tooth loss. In order to shed some light on the effects of IL-4 on periradicular pathology development modulation, microtomographic, histological and proteomic analyses were performed using 60 mice, 30 wild type and 30 IL-4-/-. For that, 5 animals were used for microtomographic and histological analysis, and another 5 for proteomic analysis for 0, 7 and 21 days with/without pulp exposure. The periapical lesions were established in WT and IL-4-/- mice without statistical differences in their volume, and the value of p < 0.05 was adopted as significant in microtomographic and histological analyses. Regarding histological analysis, IL-4-/- mice show aggravation of pulp inflammation compared to WT. By using proteomic analysis, we have identified 32 proteins with increased abundance and 218 proteins with decreased abundance in WT animals after 21 days of pulp exposure, compared to IL-4-/- animals. However, IL-4-/- mice demonstrated faster development of apical periodontitis. These animals developed a compensatory mechanism to overcome IL-4 absence, putatively based on the identification of upregulated proteins related to immune system signaling pathways. Significance: IL-4 might play a protective role in diseases involving bone destruction and its activity may contribute to host protection, mainly due to its antiosteoclastogenic action.

Figainin 1, a Novel Amphibian Skin Peptide with Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Properties.

Amphibian skin secretions are abundant in bioactive compounds, especially antimicrobial peptides. These molecules are generally cationic and rich in hydrophobic amino acids, have an amphipathic structure and adopt an α-helical conformation when in contact with microorganisms membranes. In this work, we purified and characterized Figainin 1, a novel antimicrobial and antiproliferative peptide from the cutaneous secretion of the frog Boana raniceps. Figainin 1 is a cationic peptide with eighteen amino acid residues-rich in leucine and isoleucine, with an amidated C-terminus-and adopts an α-helical conformation in the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE). It displayed activity against Gram-negative and especially Gram-positive bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 2 to 16 µM, and showed an IC50 value of 15.9 µM against epimastigote forms of T. cruzi; however, Figanin 1 did not show activity against Candida species. This peptide also showed cytolytic effects against human erythrocytes with an HC50 of 10 µM, in addition to antiproliferative activity against cancer cells and murine fibroblasts, with IC50 values ranging from 10.5 to 13.7 µM. Despite its adverse effects on noncancerous cells, Figainin 1 exhibits interesting properties for the development of new anticancer agents and anti-infective drugs against pathogenic microorganisms.

Paternal Resistance Training Modulates Calcaneal Tendon Proteome in the Offspring Exposed to High-Fat Diet.

The increase in high-energy dietary intakes is a well-known risk factor for many diseases, and can also negatively impact the tendon. Ancestral lifestyle can mitigate the metabolic harmful effects of offspring exposed to high-fat diet (HF). However, the influence of paternal exercise on molecular pathways associated to offspring tendon remodeling remains to be determined. We investigated the effects of 8 weeks of paternal resistance training (RT) on offspring tendon proteome exposed to standard diet or HF diet. Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: sedentary fathers and trained fathers (8 weeks, three times per week, with 8-12 dynamic movements per climb in a stair climbing apparatus). The offspring were obtained by mating with sedentary females. Upon weaning, male offspring were divided into four groups (five animals per group): offspring from sedentary fathers were exposed either to control diet (SFO-C), or to high-fat diet (SFO-HF); offspring from trained fathers were exposed to control diet (TFO-C) or to a high-fat diet (TFO-HF). The Nano-LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 383 regulated proteins among offspring groups. HF diet induced a decrease of abundance in tendon proteins related to extracellular matrix organization, transport, immune response and translation. On the other hand, the changes in the offspring tendon proteome in response to paternal RT were more pronounced when the offspring were exposed to HF diet, resulting in positive regulation of proteins essential for the maintenance of tendon integrity. Most of the modulated proteins are associated to biological pathways related to tendon protection and damage recovery, such as extracellular matrix organization and transport. The present study demonstrated that the father's lifestyle could be crucial for tendon homeostasis in the first generation. Our results provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in paternal intergenerational effects and potential protective outcomes of paternal RT.

Scorpion Toxins and Ion Channels: Potential Applications in Cancer Therapy.

Apoptosis, a genetically directed process of cell death, has been studied for many years, and the biochemical mechanisms that surround it are well known and described. There are at least three pathways by which apoptosis occurs, and each pathway depends on extra or intracellular processes for activation. Apoptosis is a vital process, but disturbances in proliferation and cell death rates can lead to the development of diseases like cancer. Several compounds, isolated from scorpion venoms, exhibit inhibitory effects on different cancer cells. Indeed, some of these compounds can differentiate between healthy and cancer cells within the same tissue. During the carcinogenic process, morphological, biochemical, and biological changes occur that enable these compounds to modulate cancer but not healthy cells. This review highlights cancer cell features that enable modulation by scorpion neurotoxins. The properties of the isolated scorpion neurotoxins in cancer cells and the potential uses of these compounds as alternative treatments for cancer are discussed.

Biological Properties of a Novel Multifunctional Host Defense Peptide from the Skin Secretion of the Chaco Tree Frog, Boana raniceps.

In recent years, the number of new antimicrobial drugs launched on the market has decreased considerably even though there has been an increase in the number of resistant microbial strains. Thus, antimicrobial resistance has become a serious public health problem. Amphibian skin secretions are a rich source of host defense peptides, which generally are cationic and hydrophobic molecules, with a broad-spectrum of activity. In this study, one novel multifunctional defense peptide was isolated from the skin secretion of the Chaco tree frog, Boana raniceps. Figainin 2 (1FLGAILKIGHALAKTVLPMVTNAFKPKQ28) is cationic and hydrophobic, adopts an α-helical structure in 50% (v/v) trifluoroethanol (TFE), and is thermally stable. This peptide exhibited activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria arboviruses, T. cruzi epimastigotes; however, it did not show activity against yeasts. Figainin 2 also showed antiproliferative activity on cancer cells, is moderately active on human erythrocytes, and activates the oxidative burst in human neutrophils.

Paternal Resistance Training Induced Modifications in the Left Ventricle Proteome Independent of Offspring Diet.

Ancestral obesogenic exposure is able to trigger harmful effects in the offspring left ventricle (LV) which could lead to cardiovascular diseases. However, the impact of the father's lifestyle on the offspring LV is largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of paternal resistance training (RT) on the offspring left ventricle (LV) proteome exposed to control or high-fat (HF) diet. Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: sedentary fathers and trained fathers (8 weeks, 3 times per week with weights secured to the animals' tails). The offspring were obtained by mating with sedentary females. Upon weaning, male offspring were divided into 4 groups (5 animals per group): offspring from sedentary fathers, exposed to control diet (SFO-C); offspring from trained fathers, exposed to control diet (TFO-C); offspring from sedentary fathers, exposed to high-fat diet (SFO-HF); and offspring from trained fathers, exposed to high-fat diet (TFO-HF). The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 537 regulated proteins among groups. Offspring exposure to HF diet caused reduction in the abundance levels of proteins related to cell component organization, metabolic processes, and transport. Proteins related to antioxidant activity, transport, and transcription regulation were increased in TFO-C and TFO-HF as compared with the SFO-C and SFO-HF groups. Paternal RT demonstrated to be an important intervention capable of inducing significant effects on the LV proteome regardless of offspring diet due to the increase of proteins involved into LV homeostasis maintenance. This study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular aspects involved in transgenerational inheritance.

DFT analysis, spectroscopic study and biological activity of a newly synthesized benzoylhydrazone binuclear Cu(II) complex.

The current work reports a joint experimental and theoretical study of a novel Cu(II) complex [CuL(µ-CH3COO)]2, based on 2-acetylpyridine-benzoylhydrazone ligand (HL). The two Cu(II) atoms are five-coordinated, consisting of three NNO-donor atoms from the hidrazone ligand connected by acetate bridges. In addition to the structural analysis, the complete characterization includes magnetic susceptibility, elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV-Vis. Two different approaches of Density Functional Theory (DFT) with localized basis set and plane waves were performed. The theoretical calculations were used to optimize the complex geometry of the new structure allowing a better understanding of its spectroscopic properties with insights of most important interactions. Thereunto, we made a comparison between the following functionals: B3LYP, PBE1PBE, B3PW91, ω-B97XD, M06 (hybrids), CAM-B3LYP (long range hybrid), and B97-d (pure), using localized basis set, and for plane waves we used the PW91 functional. Considering the expected antifungal and antibacterial activity of hydrazone derivative ligand, the antimicrobial activity of HL and the complex [CuL(µ-CH3COO)]2 was tested against pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The synthesized new structure of hydrazone complexed with copper (II) shows antimicrobial activity, and magnetic susceptibility results indicate weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper atoms.

The vertical radiation dose profile and decision-making in a simulated urban event.

A radiological dispersal device (RDD) is built using an explosive device laced with radioactive materials. The RDD appears as a speculative radiological weapon with the aim of spreading radioactive material across an inhabited area. This study seeks to evaluate how the official decision-making process is influenced by the radiation vertical profile dose, using the hypothetical scenario of a simulated RDD detonation in a densely populated urban area. A simulated plume of strong radiation was generated from the explosion site, contaminating the surrounding area. Several atmospheric conditions impact on the contamination. However, this study focusses on the following main variables considered by HotSpot for a conservative simulation: (a) the atmospheric stability conditions (Pasquill-Gifford - PG classes); (b) the explosive power, and (c) the source-term. Gaussian modeling was used for its speed, and for its capacity to estimate the time-integrated atmospheric concentration of an aerosol at any point in 3D space. The simulation provided information about four main outcomes: (a) contamination plume area; (b) radiological risk dependency on PG classes; (c) total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) with a possible dependence on receptor height; and (d) potentially affected population's size. The findings suggest that a protocolled response from authorities should be implemented in order to effectively follow possible changes in the PG class. Which, in turn, may negatively impact the decision-making process.

Bipolar disorder comorbidity in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: Prevalence and predictors.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often present with comorbidities, mainly anxiety and affective disorders, which may influence OCD course, help-seeking and treatment response. Some authors have studied bipolar disorder (BD) comorbidity in patients with OCD, but usually in small samples. The objective was to estimate the lifetime prevalence of BD in a large clinical sample of OCD patients, and to compare demographic and clinical features of patients with and without BD comorbidity. METHOD: This cross-sectional study with 955 adult OCD patients from the Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (C-TOC) used several assessment instruments, including the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were followed by logistic regression. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of BD was 7.75% (N = 74). The variables that were independently associated with BD comorbidity were: panic disorder with agoraphobia, impulse control disorders, and suicide attempts. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design does not permit causal inferences; the external validity may be limited, as the participants were from tertiary services. Despite the large sample size, some analyses may have been underpowered due to the relatively low prevalence of the outcome and of some explanatory variables. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OCD comorbid with BD have some clinical features indicative of greater severity, including higher suicide risk, and require a careful therapeutic approach for the appropriate treatment of both disorders.