Mineral bioaccessibility in 3D printed gels based on milk/starch/ĸ-carrageenan for dysphagic people.

Dysphagia is a condition that affects the ability to chew and swallow food and beverages, having a major impact on people's health and wellbeing. This work developed gel systems with a customized texture suitable for intake by dysphagic people using 3D printing and milk. Gels were developed using skim powdered milk, cassava starch (native and modified by the Dry Heating Treatment (DHT)), and different concentrations of kappa-carrageenan (ĸC). The gels were evaluated in relation to the starch modification process and concentration of gelling agents, 3D printing performance, and suitability for dysphagic people (following both the standard fork test described by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI), and also using a new device coupled to a texture analyzer). Moreover, the best formulations were evaluated for mineral bioaccessibility through simulated gastrointestinal digestion based on INFOGEST 2.0 standardized method. The results showed that ĸC had a dominant effect compared to the DHT-modified starch on gel texture, 3D printing performance, and fork tests. The gels obtained by molding or 3D printing resulted in different behaviors during the fork test, which was associated with the gel extrusion process that breaks down their initial structure. The strategies applied to tailor the texture of the milk did not affect the mineral bioaccessibility, which was kept high (>80%).

T cell receptor excision circles as a tool for evaluating thymic function in young children.

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/µL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ.

T cell receptor excision circles as a tool for evaluating thymic function in young children

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/μL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ.

Chemokine Patterns in Children with Acute Bacterial Infections.

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that are mainly involved in the migratory patterns of immune cells. Few studies have evaluated the levels of chemokines in children with acute bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of chemokines MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and IP-10 in children with sepsis, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and skin abscess. Serum levels of MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and IP-10 were measured in 37 children with sepsis, 27 children with CAP, 25 children with skin abscess and 20 controls with no signs of infection. Patients with sepsis, CAP and skin abscess had higher concentrations of RANTES compared to controls (P = 0.0057, P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0108, respectively). IP-10 values were higher in patients with sepsis compared to children with skin abscess (P = 0.0075). However, MCP-1 levels were lower in septic patients compared to controls (P = 0.0136). There was no difference on MIG concentrations between the groups. Our original findings observed that RANTES was consistently elevated in all types of infections suggesting this chemokine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infection. Additionally, patients with sepsis had a unique pattern of response with high levels of IP-10 but low levels of MCP-1, which should be further explored as the markers of disease severity.

Short Communication Impact of early enzyme-replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis VI: results of a long-term follow-up of Brazilian siblings.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is an autosomal recessive multisystem lysosomal storage disorder, which is characterized by the deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase B encoded by the ARSB gene. Treatment of this disease with enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) improves the clinical status of and generates hope for MPS VI patients. However, only few reports on patients with MPS VI treated before 5 years of age have been published. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the clinical parameters of two sisters affected by MPS VI who started ERT at different ages (9 years and 1 year 5 months, respectively) and to determine the most relevant clinical impacts of early treatment after 85 months of evaluation. The treatment was well tolerated by both siblings. ERT in the younger sibling resulted in increased growth, an improved 6-minute walk test, less coarse face, slower progression of cardiac valve disease, and the absence of compressive myelopathy compared to that in her older sister. On the other hand, the older sibling had typical MPS VI phenotypic features before the commencement of ERT. Corneal clouding, clawed hands, and progressive skeletal changes were observed in both siblings despite the treatment. Both siblings displayed reduced frequencies of upper respiratory infections and apnea indices. This study emphasizes that early diagnosis and treatment of MPS VI are critical for a better disease outcome and to enhance the quality of life for these patients.

Records of Natural Enemies of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Biotype B in Brazil.

Collections of natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were made in Lavras, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In the greenhouse, 6,495 predators and 16,628 parasitoids belonging to three families were collected. In the field, 267 predators and 344 parasitoids belonging to five families were found. For the first time in Brazil, five species of predators associated with this whitefly were reported. Because of the diversity of natural enemies of B. tabaci biotype B recorded, this study points out the importance of these data for studies on integrated pest management.

Evaluation of the immune humoral response of Brazilian patients with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and toes, mental and growth deficiency, and recurrent respiratory infections. RTS has been associated with CREBBP gene mutations, but EP300 gene mutations have recently been reported in 6 individuals. In the present study, the humoral immune response in 16 RTS patients with recurrent respiratory infections of possible bacterial etiology was evaluated. No significant differences between patients and 16 healthy controls were detected to explain the high susceptibility to respiratory infections: normal or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels, normal salivary IgA levels, and a good antibody response to both polysaccharide and protein antigens were observed. However, most patients presented high serum IgM levels, a high number of total B cell and B subsets, and also high percentiles of apoptosis, suggesting that they could present B dysregulation. The CREBBP/p300 family gene is extremely important for B-cell regulation, and RTS may represent an interesting human model for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in B-cell development.

Evaluation of the immune humoral response of Brazilian patients with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and toes, mental and growth deficiency, and recurrent respiratory infections. RTS has been associated with CREBBP gene mutations, but EP300 gene mutations have recently been reported in 6 individuals. In the present study, the humoral immune response in 16 RTS patients with recurrent respiratory infections of possible bacterial etiology was evaluated. No significant differences between patients and 16 healthy controls were detected to explain the high susceptibility to respiratory infections: normal or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels, normal salivary IgA levels, and a good antibody response to both polysaccharide and protein antigens were observed. However, most patients presented high serum IgM levels, a high number of total B cell and B subsets, and also high percentiles of apoptosis, suggesting that they could present B dysregulation. The CREBBP/p300 family gene is extremely important for B-cell regulation, and RTS may represent an interesting human model for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in B-cell development.

Novos hospedeiros para Hemencyrtus herbertii Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) coletados em Lavras, Minas Gerais / News hosts for Hemencyrtus herbertii Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) collected in Lavras, Minas Gerais

This study verified the host species of the parasitoid Hemencyrtus herbertii Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The pupae were obtained by the flotation method. They were individually placed in gelatin capsules until the emergence of adult flies or their parasitoids. The overall occurence of parasitism was 6.5 percent. The occurrence of parasitism presented in the hosts Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Sarcodexia lambens (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was 1.3 percent and 29.4 percent, respectively.

Pseudomonas sp. strain KC represents a new genomovar within Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Pseudomonas sp. strain KC (= ATCC 55595 = DSM 7136) is a denitrifying aquifer isolate that produces and secretes pyridine-2,6-bis(thiocarboxylate) (PDTC), a chelating agent that fortuitously transforms carbon tetrachloride without producing chloroform. Although KC has been used successfully for full-scale bioremediation of carbon tetrachloride, its taxonomy has proven difficult to resolve, as it retains properties of both Pseudomonas stutzeri and Pseudomonas putida. In the present work, a polyphasic approach was used to conclude that strain KC represents a new genomovar (genomovar 9) within the species P. stutzeri.

Generation and initial characterization of Pseudomonas stutzeri KC mutants with impaired ability to degrade carbon tetrachloride.

Under iron-limiting conditions, Pseudomonas stutzeri KC secretes a small but as yet unidentified factor that transforms carbon tetrachloride (CT) to CO2 and nonvolatile products when activated by reduction at cell membranes. Pseudomonas fluorescens and other cell types activate the factor. Triparental mating was used to generate kanamycin-resistant lux::Tn5 recombinants of strain KC. Recombinants were streaked onto the surface of agar medium plugs in microtiter plates and were then screened for carbon tetrachloride degradation by exposing the plates to gaseous 14C-carbon tetrachloride. CT+ recombinants generated nonvolatile 14C-labeled products, but four CT- recombinants did not generate significant nonvolatile 14C-labeled products and had lost the ability to degrade carbon tetrachloride. When colonies of P. fluorescens were grown next to colonies of CT+ recombinants and were exposed to gaseous 14C-carbon tetrachloride, 14C-labeled products accumulated around the P. fluorescens colonies, indicating that the factor secreted by CT+ colonies had diffused through the agar and become activated. When P. fluorescens was grown next to CT- colonies, little carbon tetrachloride transformation was observed, indicating a lack of active factor. Expression of lux reporter genes in three of the CT- mutants was regulated by added iron and was induced under the same iron-limiting conditions that induce carbon tetrachloride transformation in the wild-type.

[Epilepsy and pregnancy. Risks and benefits of anticonvulsant treatment]. / Epilepsia y embarazo. Riesgos y beneficios del tratamiento anticonvulsivo.

Epilepsy is the most frequent neurological disorder during pregnancy. Potential adverse actions of anticonvulsant drugs of fetal development are one of the main concerns of practitioners. In this paper we investigated the pregnancy complications and teratogenic effects of several anticonvulsant agents in 50 epileptic women and their newborns delivered at "Dr. Manuel Gea González" SSA General Hospital, among 1989 and 1992. A large number of these patients (78%) were treated with carbamazepine or phenytoin and 10% needed combined anticonvulsant therapy. Most had a normal vaginal delivery (76%) and only in 3 cases (6%) minor birth defects were observed. These anomalies included distal digital hypoplasia and ear flap abnormalities. Our results suggest that anticonvulsant drugs induce a few maternal and obstetric complications and have a moderate teratogenic risk, particularly seizures can be controlled by using a single antiepileptic drug.

Nictitating membrane in trisomy 18 syndrome.

A 2,290-g infant boy born after a 43-week gestation had the classic, somatic, and dermatoglyphic findings of trisomy 18 (Edwards) syndrome. The diagnosis was established cytogenetically. A bilateral nictitating membrane was present. In contrast to those in lower species this membrane was established horizontally and moved cephalad for closure. Thus, the membrane occasionally coverd the conjunctiva and cornea completely, giving the impression of corneal clouding. Postmortem studies were not permitted.