The ethanolic extract of the fungus Trichoderma stromaticum decreases the Toxoplasma gondii replication in vitro and ameliorates the experimental toxoplasmosis in vivo.

Trichoderma are fungi that are well-known to inhibit the growth of a variety of plant pathogens. Currently, there is an increasing search for new drugs to treat toxoplasmosis. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of ExtTs in the control of Toxoplasma gondii proliferation in vitro and the course of toxoplasmosis in a mouse model. Firstly, the cytotoxicity of the ExtTs was evaluated by cultivating macrophages with different concentrations of the extract and cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay. Next, the infectivity of the T. gondii treated with extract was analyzed by infecting J774 macrophages. To evaluate the effect of the ExtTs in vivo, C57BL/6 mice were infected orally with T. gondii, ME-49, treated daily with ExtTs, and clinical, biochemical and histological changes were monitored. It was demonstrated that the extract did not affect the host cellular viability and, the treatment of parasites with ExtTs altered their morphology and decreased their ability to proliferate inside macrophages. Additionally, the treatment of mice with ExtTs decreased the parasitism and inflammation in the small intestine and liver of infected mice in parallel with increased IL-10/TNF ratio systemically and prevented alterations to serum VLDL and triglyceride levels. Thus, ExtTs could be considered an alternative/complementary therapy to control toxoplasmosis.

The imbalance of TNF and IL-6 levels and FOXP3 expression at the maternal-fetal interface is involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes in a susceptible murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes depending on the time at which the infection occurs and the immunological state of the mother. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice have been described as susceptible and resistant mouse lineages to congenital T. gondii infection, respectively. This study aimed to elucidate the systemic and local cytokine profile of pregnant mice infected with T. gondii and whether the expression of the transcription factor FOXP3, related to T regulatory cells, is associated with the resistance/susceptibility of these lineages of mice in the context of experimental congenital toxoplasmosis. For this purpose, C57BL/6 and BALB/c females were orally infected with the T. gondii ME-49 strain on the day of vaginal plug detection or day 14 of gestation, examined 7 or 5 days later, respectively, as models of early and late pregnancy. Cytokine levels were measured systemically and in the uterus/placenta. Additionally, the uterus/placenta were evaluated macroscopically for resorption rates and histologically for parasite and FOXP3 immunostaining. The FOXP3 protein expression was also evaluated by western blotting assay. It was found that, during early pregnancy, the infection leads to high IFN-γ, TNF and IL-6 levels systemically, with the TNF levels being higher in C57BL/6 mice. At the maternal-fetal interface, the infection induced high levels of IFN-γ in both mouse lineages; however, higher levels were observed in BALB/c, while high TNF and IL-6 levels were found in C57BL/6, but not in BALB/c mice. In contrast, in late gestation, T. gondii interfered less strongly with the cytokine profile. In early pregnancy, a reduction of FOXP3 expression at the maternal-fetal interface of infected mice was also observed, and the reduction was larger in C57BL/6 compared with BALB/c mice. Additionally, the parasite was seldom found in the uterus/placenta. Thus, the worse pregnancy outcomes observed in C57BL/6 mice were associated with higher TNF systemically, and TNF and IL-6 at the maternal-fetal interface, with lower FOXP3 expression.

Aplicativo para dispositivos móveis é alternativa válida para medida de altura em saltos verticais em lutadores / Aplicación para dispositivos móviles como alternativa válida para medición de la altura en saltos verticales en luchadores / Application for mobile devices is a valid alternative for vertical jump height measurement in fighters

Objetivo: Investigar a confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade do aplicativo Jumpo(R) para medida de saltos verticais de lutadores. Método: Participaram 16 atletas de ambos os sexos com idade média de 19 ± 5 anos, estatura de 1.7 ± 0.1 m, massa corporal de 65 ± 15 kg. A presente investigação contabilizou dois encontros, nos quais foram realizados teste-reteste de ambos os instrumentos de avaliações para os seguintes saltos verticais: Countermovement Jump, Squat Jump e Drop Jump, medidos simultaneamente com o Tapete de Contato e o Jumpo(R). Foram analisados o tempo de contato com o solo e a altura máxima de salto. Para análise estatística foi aplicado coeficiente de correlação intraclasse destinado às avaliações intra e inter-avaliadores. Já os comparativos entre Jumpo(R) e tapete de contato foram utilizados novamente o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse e a análise gráfica de Bland-Altman. Resultados: Concordâncias "quase perfeitas" para altura máxima em todos os saltos, tanto intra-avaliadores (CCI= 0.911-0.959), como inter-avaliadores (CCI= 0.939-0.951) e inter-instrumentos (CCI= 0.939-0.972) foram encontradas. Porém, o tempo de contato com o solo não apresentou concordância significante interinstrumentos (p<0.360). Entretanto, foram encontrados valores inter-avaliadores estatisticamente significativos (p<0.001). Conclusão: O Jumpo(R) parece ser uma ferramenta válida e reprodutível para medida de altura máxima de saltos verticais, mas não para o tempo de contato com o solo. Sugere-se, portanto, que treinadores e técnicos podem ser encorajados a utilizar esta ferramenta para avaliação e monitoramento do desempenho de saltos em lutadores

Objetivo: Investigar la confiabilidad y reproducibilidad de la aplicación Jumpo(R) para la medida de saltos verticales en luchadores. Método: Participaron 16 atletas de ambos os sexos con edad media de 19 ± 5 años, estatura de 1.7 ± 0.1 m, masa corporal de 65 ± 15 kg. La presente investigación contabilizó dos encuentros en los que se realizaron pruebas y re-test de ambos instrumentos de evaluación para los siguientes saltos verticales: Countermovement Jump, Squat Jump y Drop Jump, medidos simultáneamente con la Superfície de Contacto y el Jumpo(R). Se analizaron el tiempo de contacto con el suelo y la altura máxima de salto. Para el análisis estadístico se aplicó coeficiente de correlación intraclase destinado a las evaluaciones intra e inter-evaluadores. Los comparativos entre Jumpo(R) y la superfície de contacto se utilizaron nuevamente el coeficiente de correlación intraclase y el análisis gráfico de Bland-Altman. Resultados: Concordancias "casi perfectas" para altura máxima en todos los saltos, tanto intra-evaluadores (CCI = 0.911-0.959), como inter-evaluadores (CCI = 0.939-0.951) e inter-instrumentos (CCI = 0.939-0.972) encontrado. Sin embargo, el tiempo de contacto con el suelo no presentó concordancia significante inter-instrumentos (p <0.360). Sin embargo, se encontraron valores inter-evaluadores estadísticamente significativos (p <0.001). Conclusión: El Jumpo(R) parece ser una herramienta válida y reproducible para medida de altura máxima de saltos verticales, pero no para el tiempo de contacto. Se sugiere, por lo tanto, que entrenadores y técnicos puedan ser alentados a utilizar esta herramienta para evaluación y monitoreo del desempeño de saltos en luchadores

Objective: To investigate the reliability and reproducibility of the Jumpo(R) application for vertical jumping measurement. Method: 16 athletes of both sexes with a mean age of 19 ± 5 years, height of 1.7 ± 0.1 m, body mass of 65 ± 15 kg were included. The present investigation counted two meetings, in which test-retest of both assessment instruments for the following vertical jumps: Countermovement Jump, Squat Jump and Drop Jump, measured simultaneously with the Contact Mat and Jumpo(R). Contact time with soil the ground and maximum jump height were analyzed. For statistical analysis, intraclass correlation coefficient was applied for intra- and inter-rater assessments. The comparisons between Jumpo(R) and contact mat performed by intraclass correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman graphic analysis. Results: Almost perfect agreement for maximum height in all jumps, both intra-rater (ICC = 0.911-0.959), and inter-rater (ICC = 0.939-0.951) and inter-instrument (ICC = 0.939-0.972) were found. However, the contact time presented no significance (p <0.360) in relation to inter-instrument measurements. However, statistically significant inter-rater values were found (p <0.001). Conclusion: Jumpo(R) seems to be a valid and reproducible tool for measuring maximum vertical jumps height, but not for contact time. It is suggested, therefore, that coaches and trainers can be encouraged to use this tool for evaluation and monitoring of jumping performance in fighters