Smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 is not clinically different from other viruses: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of cases with olfactory loss, other respiratory viruses can also cause this condition. We aimed to compare the prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and other respiratory viruses in patients with sudden smell loss, and to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infection on olfactory symptoms. METHODS: Patients with sudden smell loss were recruited in a multicenter prospective cohort study in 15 hospitals in Brazil. Clinical questionnaire, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test and nasopharyngeal swab to perform a PCR-based respiratory viral panel were collected at first visit (day 0) and 30 and 60 days after recruitment. RESULTS: 188 of 213 patients presented positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, among which 65 were co-infected with other respiratory viruses (e.g., rhinovirus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza). 25 had negative test results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients in both SARSCoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 groups had objective anosmia (less than 2 points according to the psychophysical olfactory CCCRC) at day 0, with no significant difference between them. Both groups had significant smell scores improvement after 30 and 60 days, with no difference between them. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not impact olfactory scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with sudden smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses had similar presentation, with most participants initiating with anosmia, and total or near total recovery after 60 days. SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infections with other respiratory viruses were not associated with poorer olfactory outcomes.

Controlled Growth of the Self-Modulation of a Relativistic Proton Bunch in Plasma.

A long, narrow, relativistic charged particle bunch propagating in plasma is subject to the self-modulation (SM) instability. We show that SM of a proton bunch can be seeded by the wakefields driven by a preceding electron bunch. SM timing reproducibility and control are at the level of a small fraction of the modulation period. With this seeding method, we independently control the amplitude of the seed wakefields with the charge of the electron bunch and the growth rate of SM with the charge of the proton bunch. Seeding leads to larger growth of the wakefields than in the instability case.

Transition between Instability and Seeded Self-Modulation of a Relativistic Particle Bunch in Plasma.

We use a relativistic ionization front to provide various initial transverse wakefield amplitudes for the self-modulation of a long proton bunch in plasma. We show experimentally that, with sufficient initial amplitude [≥(4.1±0.4) MV/m], the phase of the modulation along the bunch is reproducible from event to event, with 3%-7% (of 2π) rms variations all along the bunch. The phase is not reproducible for lower initial amplitudes. We observe the transition between these two regimes. Phase reproducibility is essential for deterministic external injection of particles to be accelerated.

Luminescent κ-Carrageenan-Based Electrolytes Containing Neodymium Triflate.

In recent years, the synthesis of polymer electrolyte systems derived from biopolymers for the development of sustainable green electrochemical devices has attracted great attention. Here electrolytes based on the red seaweeds-derived polysaccharide κ-carrageenan (κ-Cg) doped with neodymium triflate (NdTrif3) and glycerol (Gly) were obtained by means of a simple, clean, fast, and low-cost procedure. The aim was to produce near-infrared (NIR)-emitting materials with improved thermal and mechanical properties, and enhanced ionic conductivity. Cg has a particular interest, due to the fact that it is a renewable, cost-effective natural polymer and has the ability of gelling in the presence of certain alkali- and alkaline-earth metal cations, being good candidates as host matrices for accommodating guest cations. The as-synthesised κ-Cg-based membranes are semi-crystalline, reveal essentially a homogeneous texture, and exhibit ionic conductivity values 1⁻2 orders of magnitude higher than those of the κ-Cg matrix. A maximum ionic conductivity was achieved for 50 wt.% Gly/κ-Cg and 20 wt.% NdTrif3/κ-Cg (1.03 × 10-4, 3.03 × 10-4, and 1.69 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 30, 60, and 97 °C, respectively). The NdTrif-based κ-Cg membranes are multi-wavelength emitters from the ultraviolet (UV)/visible to the NIR regions, due to the κ-Cg intrinsic emission and to Nd3+, 4F3/2→4I11/2-9/2.

Purinergic system in psychiatric diseases.

Psychiatric disorders are debilitating diseases, affecting >80 million people worldwide. There are no causal cures for psychiatric disorders and available therapies only treat the symptoms. The etiology of psychiatric disorders is unknown, although it has been speculated to be a combination of environmental, stress and genetic factors. One of the neurotransmitter systems implicated in the biology of psychiatric disorders is the purinergic system. In this review, we performed a comprehensive search of the literature about the role and function of the purinergic system in the development and predisposition to psychiatric disorders, with a focus on depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, anxiety and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We also describe how therapeutics used for psychiatric disorders act on the purinergic system.

Occurrence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in Rhipidomys spp. from a forest fragment of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of world importance, and its transmission depends on the interaction between humans and animals. Given the necessity to investigate potential hosts of Leptospira spp., this study verified the prevalence of different serovars in the species of Rhipidomys spp., a widespread sigmodont rodent in Brazil. The studied population originates from a semi-evergreen forest located in the county of Uberlândia, in the state of Minas Gerais. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed with 14 serovars. Thirteen out of the 43 wild rodents captured showed a positive agglutination reaction, with a greater prevalence of the serovars Pyrogenes, Copenhageni, and Canicola. This study found a prevalence of 30.3% anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies; all positive animals were reactive to more than one serovar.

Selection of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes using a genotype plus genotype x environment interaction biplot.

Recently, the genotype plus genotype x environment interaction (GGE) biplot methodology has been used to investigate genotype x environment interactions in several crop species, but has not been applied to the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crop in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify common bean genotypes that exhibit high grain yield and stability in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We conducted 12 trials from 2000 to 2006 in the municipalities of Aquidauana and Dourados, and evaluated 13 genotypes in a randomized block design with three replications. Grain yield data were subjected to individual and joint analyses of variance. After analyzing the GE interaction, the adaptability and phenotypic stability of the common bean genotypes were analyzed using GGE biplot methodology. The genotypes EMGOPA-201, Xamego, and Aporé are recommended for growing in Mato Grosso do Sul, because they exhibited high grain yield and phenotypic stability.

Adaptability and phenotypic stability of common bean genotypes through Bayesian inference.

This study used Bayesian inference to investigate the genotype x environment interaction in common bean grown in Mato Grosso do Sul State, and it also evaluated the efficiency of using informative and minimally informative a priori distributions. Six trials were conducted in randomized blocks, and the grain yield of 13 common bean genotypes was assessed. To represent the minimally informative a priori distributions, a probability distribution with high variance was used, and a meta-analysis concept was adopted to represent the informative a priori distributions. Bayes factors were used to conduct comparisons between the a priori distributions. The Bayesian inference was effective for the selection of upright common bean genotypes with high adaptability and phenotypic stability using the Eberhart and Russell method. Bayes factors indicated that the use of informative a priori distributions provided more accurate results than minimally informative a priori distributions. According to Bayesian inference, the EMGOPA-201, BAMBUÍ, CNF 4999, CNF 4129 A 54, and CNFv 8025 genotypes had specific adaptability to favorable environments, while the IAPAR 14 and IAC CARIOCA ETE genotypes had specific adaptability to unfavorable environments.

Artificial intelligence in the selection of common bean genotypes with high phenotypic stability.

Artificial neural networks have been used for various purposes in plant breeding, including use in the investigation of genotype x environment interactions. The aim of this study was to use artificial neural networks in the selection of common bean genotypes with high phenotypic adaptability and stability, and to verify their consistency with the Eberhart and Russell method. Six trials were conducted using 13 genotypes of common bean between 2002 and 2006 in the municipalities of Aquidauana and Dourados. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replicates. Grain yield data were submitted to individual and joint variance analyses. The data were then submitted to analysis of adaptability and stability through the Eberhart and Russell and artificial neural network methods. There was high concordance between the methodologies evaluated for discrimination of phenotypic adaptability of common bean genotypes, indicating that artificial neural networks can be used in breeding programs. Based on both approaches, the genotypes Aporé, Rudá, and CNFv 8025 are recommended for use in unfavorable, general and favorable environments, respectively by the grain yield above the overall average of environments and high phenotypic stability.

ORMOPLEXEs for gene therapy: In vitro and in vivo assays.

Gene therapy stays on the cutting edge of biomedical research, being the design of the optimal gene delivery vector one of the key requests. Silica-based nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising non-viral gene delivery vector, due to their high biocompatibility, nontoxicity, non-immunogenicity, biodegradability and enormous bioconjugation versatility. In this work a sol-gel methodology for the synthesis of amino-functionalized silica NPs (NH2-ORMOSIL NPs) was optimized, and NPs were characterized by TEM and FTIR. In a first step NH2-ORMOSIL NPs were bioconjugated with a plasmid DNA, pVAX1-GFP, assembling an ORMOPLEXE, confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. In a second step, in vitro studies have been performed with cultured CHO cells, where ORMOPLEXEs transfection was proved by CLSM. In vivo transfection efficiency and bio-distribution were performed in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, assessed by FM. Finally, NPs ecotoxicity was studied in zebrafish embryos by following the mortality and developmental endpoints.

Regulation of insulin sensitivity by adiponectin and its receptors in response to physical exercise.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived abundant plasma protein, also called Acrp30 (adipocyte complement-related protein), adipoQ, ApM1 (AdiPose Most abundant Gene transcript 1), or GBP28 (gelatin-binding protein-28). Insulin resistance is a primary contributing factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin binds to adiponectin receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, and exerts antidiabetic effects via activation of AMPK and PPAR-α pathways, respectively. In the same sense chronic exercise has been showed to induce numerous metabolic factors that can improve insulin resistance. It has been reported that physical exercise training increases adiponectin receptors, which may mediate the improvement of insulin resistance in response to exercise, which is the focus of the present review.

Laparoscopic paracostal herniorrhaphy in a dog: case report / Herniorrafia paracostal laparoscópica em um cão: relato de caso

Traumatic paracostal hernia is classified as an abdominal hernia that protrudes from the abdomen to a non physiologic space over the ribs. Treatment requires surgical reconstruction of the disrupted musculature in the thoracoabdominal region. Laparoscopic paracostal herniorrhaphy was performed in an eight-month-old male Teckel, presented after a car accident injury. A three-portal laparoscopic access was used for definitive diagnosis and hernia correction. After traction of the herniated omentum, a thoracoabdominal communication caused a left side pneumothorax, which was successfully drained with a chest tube placement. The herniorrhaphy was accomplished with intracorporeal sutures by a combination of Ford interlocking and cross mattress patterns. The postoperative period was uneventful. The laparoscopic paracostal herniorrhaphy was satisfactory, allowing both diagnosis and correction of the paracostal defect, showing to be a feasible alternative to the open surgery.

A hérnia traumática paracostal é classificada como uma hérnia abdominal com abaulamento do abdômen formando um espaço não fisiológico sobre as costelas. O tratamento consiste em reconstituir cirurgicamente a musculatura rompida da região toracoabdominal. A herniorrafia paracostal laparoscópica foi realizada em um cão da raça Teckel, macho de oito meses de idade, com histórico de trauma automobilístico. Optou-se pela utilização da abordagem laparoscópica tanto para o diagnóstico definitivo quanto para a correção da mesma. Foi utilizado o acesso com três portais, permitindo a tração do omento herniado, momento este em que o animal apresentou pneumotórax devido a uma comunicação toracoabdominal esquerda. O paciente foi submetido à toracocentese e adaptação de dreno no hemitórax esquerdo. A herniorrafia foi realizada com sutura intracorpórea em padrão contínuo de colchoeiro e festonada de Ford com fio monofilamentar náilon zero. O paciente apresentou rápida recuperação pós-operatória, sem ocorrências de recidivas. Assim, a herniorrafia paracostal laparoscópica mostrou-se satisfatória, possibilitando o diagnóstico definitivo e concomitante correção do defeito abdominal e diafragmático, podendo ser indicada como uma alternativa à cirurgia convencional.

Synthesis and characterization of magnetoliposomes for MRI contrast enhancement.

This work assesses the characteristics of magnetoliposomes of soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC):cholesterol (Chol) loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) stabilized with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) and their capacity to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast. Magnetoliposomes of SPC were used for comparative studies. IONPs and magnetoliposomes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, SQUID magnetometry, FTIR and MRI. The saturation magnetization at 10K was ~0.06 Am(2)/kg for SPC:Chol magnetoliposomes with 7 g iron oxide/mol of lipid and ~0.05 Am(2)/kg for SPC magnetoliposomes with 21 g iron oxide/mol of lipid. As these values are associated with the number of incorporated magnetic IONPs, the saturation magnetization is 1.2 times higher for magnetoliposomes of SPC:Chol as compared with magnetoliposomes of SPC alone. The behavior of temperature dependence in both cases is typical of superparamagnetic particles. FTIR spectra evidence the increase of magnetoliposome membrane ordering with the presence of Chol. Principal component analysis (PCA) applied to FTIR spectra evidenced a clear distinction between scores for SPC:Chol, and SPC magnetoliposomes and for SPC empty liposomes. PCA applied to FTIR data differentiate magnetoliposomes from empty liposomes. MR images of aqueous phantoms obtained with and without magnetoliposomes, clearly evidence their effect on T2 image weighting.

Human and animal infections by vaccinia-like viruses in the state of Rio de Janeiro: a novel expanding zoonosis.

Since 1999, vesicular infections caused by Orthopoxvirus in humans and animals, mainly in dairy cattle, have been identified in 20 municipalities in the Rio de Janeiro state of Brazil. This paper describes studies conducted in counties of the northwestern, middle-Paraíba Valley and southern regions of the Rio de Janeiro state where 77 human, 346 bovine and 78 rodent samples were collected over the past ten years. Laboratory investigations using virus isolation, electron microscopy, molecular biology (PCR) and serological analysis confirmed Orthopoxvirus infections in 77.9% of human, 49.2% of dairy cattle and 17.9% of rodent samples. The characterisation of the Cantagalo/IOC strain reconfirmed that this virus was a vaccinia-like virus. In other regions of the Rio de Janeiro state, vesicular/pustular infections in animals and humans are suspected but these have not yet been confirmed. A continuous surveillance system has been established to monitor these regions in addition to several other states of the Brazilian Federation.

Clonagem e expressão do gene da glicoproteína S1 do vírus da bronquite infecciosa das galinhas em Pichia pastoris / Cloning and expression in Pichia pastoris of the S1 glycoprotein gene of the chicken infectious bronchitis virus

Variações genética e antigênica são observadas com frequência elevada entre estirpes do VBIG e envolvem principalmente a glicoproteína S1. Com o objetivo de contribuir com a disponibilidade de ferramentas para o imunodiagnóstico e a imunoprofilaxia da bronquite infecciosa das galinhas foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para expressão recombinante da glicoproteína S1 na levedura Picchia pastoris. O cDNA do gene codificador dessa proteína foi obtido a partir de RNA viral de ovos embrionados infectados com a estirpe M41 do VBIG submetido à transcrição reversa (RT) e reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), amplificando-se a sequência codificadora de S1 acrescida de extremidades compatíveis com a clonagem no vetor usado na transformação de leveduras. A indução com metanol resultou na produção de uma proteína detectada como banda única do tamanho previsto, em western-blot, no lisado celular das leveduras transformadas. A expressão em P. pastoris mostrou ser um método eficaz para a produção recombinante da proteína S1 do VBIG, com potencial para utilização em técnicas de imunodiagnóstico da bronquite infecciosa das galinhas.

Genetic and antigenic variation are very frequently observed among IBV strains and affect mainly the S1 glycoprotein. In order to contribute to the availability of tools for immunodiagnosis and immunoprophylaxis of chicken infectious bronchitis we developed an expression system for production of recombinant S1 glycoprotein in Pichia pastoris. We obtained the cDNA from viral RNA on embryonated eggs infected with the M41 strain of IBV, by reverse transcription (RT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplifying the S1 coding sequence with extremities compatible with the vector used to transform yeast. Induction with methanol led to the production of a protein with the predicted molecular weight that was detected by Western blot in the cell lysate of transformed yeast. Expression in P. pastoris proved to be an effective method for recombinant production of S1 protein from IBV, with potential for use in immuno-diagnosis of chicken infectious bronchitis virus.

Clonagem, expressão e caracterização da nucleoproteína recombinante do vírus da bronquite infecciosa em Escherichia coli e em Pichia pastoris / Cloning, expression, and characterization of the nucleocapsid protein of infectious bronchitis virus in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris

O gene da proteína de nucleocapsídeo (1.230 pb) da estirpe M41 do vírus da bronquite infecciosa (VBI) foi amplificado pelas reações de transcrição reversa e em cadeia da polimerase (RT-PCR) e clonado, em seguida, em dois sistemas; pET28a - Escherichia coli e pFLD -Pichia pastoris. Os produtos recombinantes construídos para expressão (pET28a-N ou pFLD-N) foram identificados por análises de PCR e de sequenciamento de nucleotídeos. Os clones transformantes da linhagem BL21 de E. coli e da linhagem GS115 de P. pastoris foram submetidos aos protocolos apropriados de indução. A expressão da proteína N de fusão com etiqueta de poli-histidina e com massa molecular de 54 kDa foi determinada pelas técnicas de SDS-PAGE e de Western blotting, confirmando-se que ambas proteínas N recombinantes apresentaram tamanhos e antigenicidade compatíveis com a proteína N nativa do próprio VBI. O sistema E. coli expressou uma quantidade relevante da proteína N recombinante, enquanto que o sistema P. pastoris produziu uma baixa recuperação dessa proteína recombinante. A proteína N recombinante gerada pelo sistema bacteriano foi purificada em resina de níquel-sepharose. O conjunto de resultados indica que o sistema de expressão constituído por pET28a ­ E. coli é mais efetivo para produzir a proteína N recombinante do VBI destinada ao uso como antígeno para detectar anticorpos anti-virais específicos em ensaios de imunodiagnóstico para essa infecção viral.

The nucleocapsid protein (N) gene (1,230 bp) of the M41 strain of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and cloned in two systems; pET28a Escherichia coli and pFLD Pichia pastoris. The recombinant expression constructs (pET28a-N or pFLD-N) were identified by PCR and sequencing analysis. The transformant clones of BL21 strain of E. coli or GS115 of P. pastoris were submitted to appropriate inducting protocols. Expression of histidine-tagged fusion N proteins with a molecular mass of 54 kDa was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis, confirming that both recombinant N proteins were comparable in size and antigenicity to native IBV N protein. The E. coli system overexpressed the recombinant N protein, while the P. pastoris system produced a low yield of this recombinant protein. The bacteria expressed N protein was purified by chromatography on nickel-sepharose resin. These results indicated that the pET28a E. coli expression system is more effective to generate N recombinant protein for using as an antigen to detect anti-IBV antibodies in immuno-assays for this viral infection.

Amazonian plant crude extract screening for activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance is a subject of great concern in public health and also in the designing of strategies for current therapeutic protocols all over the world. New drugs, including those necessary for a reserve armamentarium and exhibiting less side effects deserve special attention. In rural areas, particularly in Brazil, a huge number of natural products, in different artisanal preparations, mainly from plants, have been used by traditional populations to cure diseases. Despite some of these plants have been studied, many of them are awaiting to have their compounds chemically characterized and investigated their pharmacodynamics properties. Further, as well known, the environment plays a crucial role in the metabolism of these plants, yielding different and varied molecular complexes depending on the period of collection, climate conditions, kind of soil and also the plant speciation. In this report, ethanol crude extract of 10 different botanical specimens from the Amazon region of Brazil, in the Amapa State, were screened for antibacterial activity of 7 clinical resistant microorganisms utilizing as control ATCC bacterial species by the Kirby-Bauer method. Plant extracts of Geissospermum argenteum, Uncaria guianensis, Brosimum acutifolium, Copaifera reticulate, Licania macrophylla, Ptycopetalum olacoides and Dalbergia subcymosa yielded activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both multidrug resistant, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC strain.

L-NAME administration prevents the inhibition of nucleotide hydrolysis by rat blood serum subjected to hyperargininemia.

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo and in vitro effect of Arg on serum nucleotide hydrolysis. The action of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on the effects produced by Arg was also examined. Sixty-day-old rats were treated with a single or a triple (with an interval of 1 h between each injection) intraperitoneal injection of saline (group I), Arg (0.8 g/kg) (group II), L-NAME (2.0 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) (group III) or Arg (0.8 g/kg) plus L-NAME (2.0 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) (group IV) and were killed 1 h later. The present results show that a triple Arg administration decreased ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis. Simultaneous injection of L-NAME (20 mg/kg) prevented such effects. Arg in vitro did not alter nucleotide hydrolysis. It is suggested that in vivo Arg administration reduces nucleotide hydrolysis in rat serum, probably through nitric oxide or/and peroxynitrite formation.

Eu3+ coordination in an organic/inorganic hybrid matrix with methyl end-capped short polyether chains.

Fourier Transform mid-infrared (FT-IR), Fourier Transform Raman (FT-Raman) and photoluminescence spectroscopies and Two-Dimensional (2D) Correlation Spectroscopic Analysis were employed to examine the anionic and cationic local environments in mono-urethanesils doped with europium triflate (Eu(CF(3)SO(3))(3)). The hybrid host framework of these materials is composed of a siliceous backbone bonded through urethane linkages to CH(3)-terminated polymer chains containing about 7 OCH(2)CH(2) units. Samples with infinity >/= n (composition) >/=5 (where n = OCH(2)CH(2)/Eu(3+)) were studied. In terms of ionic association, the level of complexity of these xerogels is very high. In all the compounds the triflate ions exist "free", weakly coordinated and forming cross-link separated ion pairs. At 20 >/= n >/= 5, in addition to all these species contact ion pairs occur. In agreement with these conclusions, photoluminescence establishes the presence of three distinct cation local sites (Eu(3+)/O=C(urethane cross-links), Eu(3+)/O-C-C(polyether chains) and weakly coordinated Eu(3+)/CF(3)SO(3)(-) ionic pairs).

Local structure and near-infrared emission features of neodymium-based amine functionalized organic/inorganic hybrids.

Nd(3+)-based organic/inorganic hybrids have potential application in the field of integrated optics. Attractive sol-gel derived di-urea and di-urethane cross-linked poly(oxyethylene) (POE)/siloxane hybrids (di-ureasils and di-urethanesils, respectively) doped with neodymium triflate (Nd(CF(3)SO(3))(3)) were examined by Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR), Raman (FT-Raman), (29)Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The goals of this work were to determine which cation coordinating site of the host matrix (ether oxygen atoms or carbonyl oxygen atoms) is active in each of the materials analyzed, its influence on the nanostructure of the samples and its relation with the photoluminescence properties. The main conclusion derived from this study is that the hydrogen-bonded associations formed throughout the materials play a major role in the hybrids nanostructure and photoluminescence properties.