Toxicity of butylone and its enantiomers to Daphnia magna and its degradation/toxicity potential using advanced oxidation technologies.

Butylone (BTL) is a chiral synthetic cathinone available as a racemate and reported as contaminant in wastewater effluents. However, there are no studies on its impact on ecosystems and possible enantioselectivity in ecotoxicity. This work aimed to evaluate: (i) the possible ecotoxicity of BTL as racemate or its isolated (R)- and (S)- enantiomers using Daphnia magna; and (ii) the efficiency of advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) in the removal of BTL and reduction of toxic effects caused by wastewaters. Enantiomers of BTL were obtained by liquid chromatography (LC) using a chiral semi-preparative column. Enantiomeric purity of each enantiomer was > 97 %. For toxicity assessment, a 9-day sub-chronic assay was performed with the racemate (at 0.10, 1.0 or 10 µg L-1) or each enantiomer (at 0.10 or 1.0 µg L-1). Changes in morphophysiological, behavioural, biochemical and reproductive endpoints were observed, which were dependent on the form of the substance and life stage of the organism (juvenile or adult). Removal rates of BTL in spiked wastewater (10 µg L-1) treated with different AOTs (ultraviolet, UV; ozonation, O3; and UV/O3) were similar and lower than 29 %. The 48 h D. magna acute toxicity assays demonstrated a reduction in the toxicity of the treated spiked effluents, but no differences were found amongst AOTs treatments. These results warn for the contamination and negative impact of BTL on ecosystems and highlight the need for efficient removal processes.

Time-varying pharmacodynamics in a simple non-integer HIV infection model.

In this paper we study the effect of time-varying drug exposure in the dynamics of a fractional order model for the human immunodeficiency virus infection. We compute the reproduction number of the model and verify the stability of the disease-free equilibrium. The model is simulated for parameters directly modelling the pharmacodynamics of HIV, namely the slope of the dose-response curve, the drug's half-life, and the dosing interval. The later affect in a significant way the infection patterns. The order of the fractional derivative is also a key player of the model, adding more information, which could be useful for a deeper understanding of the pharmacodynamics of HIV, necessary for more accurate therapeutic regimens.

Laboratory diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in adults: an overview of hospitals inserted in the Portuguese National Health System / Diagnóstico laboratorial de doença renal crônica em adultos: visão geral dos hospitais inseridos no Sistema Nacional de Saúde de Portugal

ABSTRACT Introduction: The laboratory diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a simple and cost-effective procedure that allows the detection of early stages of the disease, which is essential to avoid kidney damage and a life threateaning event. It consists of measuring serum creatinine concentration, urinary albumin concentration and calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In 2012, the guidelines for laboratory evaluation of the CKD were published by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate whether the laboratories in hospitals of the Portuguese National Health System follow these guidelines and provide a correct diagnosis of CKD. Material and method: A questionnaire composed of 32 questions was sent to the Clinical Pathology Services of all hospitals inserted in the System. Results: All 49 labs responded that measure serum creatinine, 18 reported measurering eGFR. Ten reported measuring eGFR only if specifically ordered. Forty-four measure total protein and albumin in the urine, three only protein, one albumin alone, and one measure none of them. The type of samples, methods, reagents, equipment, expression units of results and reference intervals varied. Conclusion: There is great variability among laboratories in relation to the methodology of measuring serum creatinine, albumin and total protein in the urine. There are wide variations in the release of results. Most laboratories do not follow the guidelines recommended by the KDIGO 2012. This work indicates that there is a need to develop education and alignment processes in the laboratory diagnosis of CKD in the laboratories installed in hospitals inserted in the Portuguese National Health System.

RESUMO Introdução: O diagnóstico laboratorial de doença renal crônica (DRC) é simples e econômico e permite a detecção de estágios iniciais da doença, o que é essencial para evitar danos renais e risco de morte. Consiste em medir a concentração de creatinina sérica e albumina urinária e calcular a taxa de filtração glomerular (eTFG). Em 2012, as diretrizes para avaliação laboratorial da DRC foram divulgadas pela Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). Objetivos: Os objetivos deste estudo são avaliar se os laboratórios em hospitais do Sistema Nacional de Saúde Português seguem essas diretrizes e se fornecem diagnóstico correto de DRC. Material e método: Um questionário com 32 perguntas foi enviado aos serviços de patologia clínica de todos os hospitais inseridos no sistema. Resultados: Todos os 49 laboratórios responderam que medem creatinina e 18, eTFG. Dez disseram que medem a eTFG apenas se especificamente solicitado. Quarenta e quatro medem proteínas totais e albumina urinária; três, apenas proteínas; um, somente albumina; e um não mede nenhuma delas. Tipo de amostras, métodos, reagentes, equipamentos, unidades de expressão dos resultados e intervalos de referência variaram. Conclusão: Existe grande variabilidade entre laboratórios em relação às metodologias de medida da creatinina sérica, albumina e proteínas totais na urina. Há grandes variações quanto à liberação dos resultados. A maioria dos laboratórios não segue as diretrizes recomendadas pela KDIGO 2012. Este trabalho indica que existe necessidade de serem desenvolvidos processos de educação e harmonização no diagnóstico laboratorial de DRC nos laboratórios instalados em hospitais inseridos no Sistema Nacional de Saúde Português.

A coinfection model for HIV and HCV.

We study a mathematical model for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatites C virus (HCV) coinfection. The model predicts four distinct equilibria: the disease free, the HIV endemic, the HCV endemic, and the full endemic equilibria. The local and global stability of the disease free equilibrium was calculated for the full model and the HIV and HCV submodels. We present numerical simulations of the full model where the distinct equilibria can be observed. We show simulations of the qualitative changes of the dynamical behavior of the full model for variation of relevant parameters. From the results of the model, we infer possible measures that could be implemented in order to reduce the number of infected individuals.