Ikaros expression is associated with an increased risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complex and extremely variable process. The Ikaros transcription factor plays an important role in hematopoiesis in several cell lines, especially in the lymphoid lineage. We hypothesized that Ikaros might influence immune reconstitution, and consequently, the risk of opportunistic infections, relapse, and graft versus host disease (GVHD). Samples were collected from the graft and from the peripheral blood (PB) of the recipients 3 weeks after neutrophil recovery. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to analyze the absolute and relative Ikaros expression. Patients were divided into two groups, according to Ikaros expression in the graft and in the recipients' PB based on the ROC curves for moderate/severe cGVHD. A cutoff of 1.48 was used for Ikaros expression in the graft, and a cutoff of 0.79 was used for Ikaros expression in the recipients' PB. Sixty-six patients were included in this study. Median age of patients was 52 years (range 16-80 years), 55% of them were male, and 58% of them had acute leukemia. Median follow-up period was 18 months (range 10-43 months). There was no association between Ikaros expression and the risk of acute GVHD, relapse, or mortality. However, a significant association was observed with the risk of chronic GVHD. Higher Ikaros expression in the graft was associated with a significantly higher cumulative incidence (CI) of moderate/severe chronic GVHD according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) classification at two years (54% vs. 15% for patients with lower expression, P = 0.03). A higher Ikaros expression in the recipients' PB 3 weeks after engraftment was also associated with a significantly higher risk of moderate/severe chronic GVHD (65% vs. 11%, respectively, P = 0.005). In conclusion, Ikaros expression in the graft and in the recipients' PB after transplantation was associated with a higher risk of moderate/severe chronic GVHD. Ikaros expression should be evaluated in larger prospective trials as a potential biomarker for chronic GVHD.

Characterization of organic compounds and drugs in sewage sludge aiming for agricultural recycling.

The application of sewage sludge in soils can bring benefits to agricultural productivity, however, the risks arising from this application must be measured and carefully evaluated. Persistent organics compounds and drugs can be present in the sewage sludge and if applied to the soil, they can cause severe risks to the soil biota and contamination of groundwater. This work determined 174 persistent organic compounds and drugs in sludge samples from a wastewater treatment plant using chromatographic methods. The drugs ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and diclofenac were quantified, and values varied according to sampling period. For persistent organic compounds, cresols were the most abundant compounds in sewage sludge. With the analyses made of both the elutriate and the filtrate, it was possible to verify the potential for soil retention or leaching that each compound can present with the application of sewage sludge in the agriculture.

Molecular investigation of Neorickettsia risticii in trematodes and snails in a region with serological evidence of this agent in horses, state of Rio de Janeiro / Pesquisa molecular de Neorickettsia risticii em trematódeos e moluscos em região com evidência sorológica do agente em equinos, estado do Rio de Janeiro

In Brazil, some studies have indicated that Neorickettsia risticii circulates in horses, but it is unclear which are the possible intermediate vectors of this bacterium in the country. The aim of this study was to use molecular techniques in order to analyze the presence of N. risticii in snails and larval stages of trematodes in farms in a region with a history of seroreactive horses towards this bacterium, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Convenience sampling was used in the studied region. The collected snails were exposed to incandescent light (60W) for 2-4 hours in order to investigate trematodes in larval forms. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from snail tissue and trematode. Real-time PCR (qPCR) technique was used to investigate the presence of a 16S rRNA gene fragment of N. risticii. Snail specimens (n=410) were collected from 11 horse-breeding farms, and the following species were identified: Melanoides tuberculata, Pomacea sp., Biomphalaria tenagophila, Physa acuta, Drepanotrema anatinum and Biomphalaria straminea. Only 3.17% (n=13/410) of the collected snails were infected by trematodes. The cercariae obtained from these snails were classified as Megalourous cercariae, Pleurolophocercus cercariae and Furcocercous cercariae. There was no amplification of the target DNA of N. risticii in the snail and trematode samples tested by qPCR. Based on these data, the transmission of N. risticii by trematodes using these snail species in this region does not appear to occur or occurs at very low rates. Thus, further studies are needed in order to clarify which species of invertebrate hosts are infected by this bacterium and potentially participate in the transmission chain of equine neorickettsiosis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.(AU)

No Brasil, estudos apontam a circulação de Neorickettsia risticii em equinos, contudo não estão claros quais os possíveis vetores intermediários dessa bactéria no país. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a presença de N. risticii, utilizando-se técnicas moleculares, em caramujos e estágios larvais de trematódeos em propriedades rurais de uma região com histórico de equinos sororreativos para essa bactéria, no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Uma amostragem por conveniência foi utilizada na região de estudo. Os caramujos coletados foram expostos à luz incandescente (60W) durante duas-quatro horas para a investigação de trematódeos nas formas larvais. A extração de ácido desoxirribonucleico (DNA) foi realizada em tecidos de caramujos e trematódeos. A técnica de PCR em tempo real (qPCR) foi utilizada para investigar a presença de um fragmento do gene 16S rRNA de N. risticii. Foram coletados 410 espécimes de caramujos de 11 propriedades com criações de equinos, sendo identificadas as seguintes espécies: Melanoides tuberculata, Pomacea sp., Biomphalaria tenagophila, Physa acuta, Drepanotrema anatinum e Biomphalaria straminea. Apenas 3,17% (n=13/410) dos caramujos identificados estavam infectados por trematódeos. As cercárias obtidas desses caramujos foram classificadas em Megalourous cercariae, Pleurolophocercus cercariae e Furcocercous cercariae. Não foi observada a amplificação do DNA-alvo de N. risticii, por meio da qPCR, em nenhuma das amostras de caramujos e trematódeos testadas. Com base nesses dados, a transmissão de N. risticii por trematódeos que utilizam as espécies de caramujos nessa região parece não ocorrer ou ocorre a taxas muito reduzidas. Portanto, novos estudos são necessários para elucidar quais espécies de hospedeiros invertebrados se infectam por essa bactéria e potencialmente participam da cadeia de transmissão da neorickettsiose equina no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.(AU)

Bioatividade de óleos essenciais no controle de Botrytis cinerea isolado de morangueiro / Essential oils bioactivity in strawberry grey mould control

Objetivou-se avaliar o uso de óleos essenciais sobre isolados de Botrytis cinerea, causador do mofo cinzento em morangueiro. Foram testados óleos essenciais de capim-limão, palmarosa, citronela, cravo, canela, menta, lavanda, tangerina, eucalipto, melaleuca, alecrim e laranja, todos estes analisados em cromatógrafo a gás acoplado a detector de massas, para identificação dos principais componentes dos óleos. Foram avaliados o crescimento micelial, produção e germinação de conídios de B. cinerea, com a incorporação do óleo no meio de cultura. Realizou-se ainda uma avaliação de voláteis e a eficiência de óleos em isolado resistente a fungicida. Para cada teste, diferentes óleos apresentaram eficiência, contudo capim limão, palmarosa, canela e menta demonstraram os melhores efeitos em todos os testes realizados. Todos os tratamentos a base de óleos demonstraram efeito semelhante a um fungicida recomendado para a cultura, a base de tiofanato metílico. Dois tratamentos mostraram-se efetivos no caso de isolado resistente (óleo de capim limão e de canela). Óleos essenciais mostram-se como opção promissora para o desenvolvimento de possíveis produtos fitossanitários para o manejo de doenças em plantas.

This study aimed evaluates essential oils in Botrytis cinerea isolates growth, which causes gray mould on strawberry. Were tested essential oils of lemon grass, palmrose, citronella, clove, cinnamon, mint, lavender, tangerine, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary and orange. The oils were analyzed in gas chromatograph attached to mass detector for identifying the mainly oils components. Were evaluated mycelial growth, conidia production and conidia germination of B. cinerea, with oil incorporation in culture medium. Were conducted an evaluation of oils volatile components and the efficiency of oils in fungicide-resistant isolate. For each test, different oils showed efficiency, however lemongrass, palmarosa, cinnamon and mint showed the best effects in all tests. All treatments demonstrated similar effects to recommended fungicide for the culture, which had methyl thiophanate. Two treatments (lemon grass and cinnamon oils), were effective against resistant isolate. Essential oils are shown as promising option for development of possible product for plant disease management.

C60-derived nanobaskets: stability, vibrational signatures, and molecular trapping.

C(60)-derived nanobaskets, with chemical formulae (symmetry point group) C(40)H(10) (C(5v)), C(39)H(12) (C(3v)), C(46)H(12) (C(2v)), were investigated. Molecular dynamic simulations (MDSs) indicate that the molecules preserve their bonding frame for temperatures up to 300 K (simulation time 100 ps), and maintain atomic cohesion for at least 4 ps at temperatures up to 3500 K. The infrared spectra of the C(60)-derived nanobaskets were simulated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, allowing for the attribution of infrared signatures specific to each carbon nanobasket. The possibility of using C(60)-derived nanobaskets as molecular containers is demonstrated by performing a DFT study of their bonding to hydrogen, water, and L-alanine. The carbon nanostructures presented here show a higher bonding energy (approximately 1.0 eV), suggesting that a family of nanostructures, C(n)-derived (n = 60,70,76,80, etc) nanobaskets, could work as molecular containers, paving the way for future developments such as tunable traps for complex molecular systems.