Striving for Uniformity: A Review on Advances and Challenges To Achieve Uniform Polyethylene Glycol.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is the polymer of choice in drug delivery systems due to its biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. For over 20 years, this polymer has been widely used in the drug delivery of small drugs, proteins, oligonucleotides, and liposomes, improving the stability and pharmacokinetics of many drugs. However, despite the extensive clinical experience with PEG, concerns have emerged related to its use. These include hypersensitivity, purity, and nonbiodegradability. Moreover, conventional PEG is a mixture of polymers that can complicate drug synthesis and purification leading to unwanted immunogenic reactions. Studies have shown that uniform PEGylated drugs may be more effective than conventional PEGylated drugs as they can overcome issues related to molecular heterogeneity and immunogenicity. This has led to significant research efforts to develop synthetic procedures to produce uniform PEGs (monodisperse PEGs). As a result, iterative step-by-step controlled synthesis methods have been created over time and have shown promising results. Nonetheless, these procedures have presented numerous challenges due to their iterative nature and the requirement for multiple purification steps, resulting in increased costs and time consumption. Despite these challenges, the synthetic procedures went through several improvements. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in the synthesis of uniform PEGs and its derivatives with a focus on overall yields, scalability, and purity of the polymers. Additionally, the available characterization methods for assessing polymer monodispersity are discussed as well as uniform PEG applications, side effects, and possible alternative polymers that can overcome the drawbacks.

Vitamin A Deficiency and Its Association with Visceral Adiposity in Women.

Body adiposity is associated with increased metabolic risk, and evidence indicates that vitamin A is important in regulating body fat. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of vitamin A and its association with body adiposity in women with the recommended intake of vitamin A. A cross-sectional study was designed with 200 women divided into four groups according to Body Mass Index (BMI): normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), class I obesity (OI), and class 2 obesity (OII). The cut-off points to assess inadequate participants were retinol < 1.05 µmol/L and ß-carotene < 40 µg/dL. Body adiposity was assessed through different parameters and indexes, including waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW), lipid accumulation product (LAP), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), and Body Adiposity Index (BAI). It was observed that 55.5% of women had low serum concentrations of ß-carotene (34.9 ± 13.8 µmol/L, p < 0.001) and 43.5% had low concentrations of retinol (0.71 ± 0.3 µmol/L, p < 0.001). Women classified as OI and OII had lower mean values of ß-carotene (OI-35.9 ± 4.3 µg/dL: OII-32.0 ± 0.9 µg/dL [p < 0.001]). IAV showed significant negative correlation with retinol (r = -0.73, p < 0.001). Vitamin A deficiency is associated with excess body adiposity in women with the recommended intake of vitamin. Greater body adiposity, especially visceral, was correlated with reduced serum concentrations of vitamin A.

Visceral and body adiposity are negatively associated with vitamin A nutritional status independently of Body Mass Index and recommended intake of vitamin A in Brazilian Women.

Vitamin A (VA) has a negative association with body mass index (BMI) since it is involved in the regulation of body adiposity via nuclear receptors. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between VA nutritional status and the way body adipose is stored, which is the aim of this cross-sectional analytical study with Brazilian adult women in different BMI classes with the intake of VA recommended. VA nutritional status was assessed by serum retinol and ß-carotene measurements, dietary intake, and diagnosis of night blindness (NB). Results: 268 women with mean age of 38.00±5.80 years. According to the BMI, 30.97% were normal weight, 14.18% overweight, 25.37% class I obesity, 14.55% class II, and 14.93% class III.The prevalence of low serum of ß-carotene, retinol, and presence of NB in the total sample was 73.5%, 45.9%, and 20.1%, respectively. A total of 86.7% of normal weight women had inadequate visceral adiposity index (VAI) and 41.0% had inadequate body adiposity index (BAI).VAI was the body adiposity marker with the highest association with low serum retinol and b-carotene concentrations (P<.001). There was presence of NB in 100% of cases of inadequacy of BAI (P<.001). High visceral and body adiposity were associated with compromised VA nutritional status regardless of BMI and the recommended intake of VA. Additional measures to assess body adiposity, and especially its distribution, may collaborate in clinical practice to identify women at risk of compromising their VA nutritional status even when they are classified as normal weight according to their BMI.

Assessing the relationship between the rumen microbiota and feed efficiency in Nellore steers.

BACKGROUND: Ruminants rely upon a complex community of microbes in their rumen to convert host-indigestible feed into nutrients. However, little is known about the association between the rumen microbiota and feed efficiency traits in Nellore (Bos indicus) cattle, a breed of major economic importance to the global beef market. Here, we compare the composition of the bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities in the rumen of Nellore steers with high and low feed efficiency (FE) phenotypes, as measured by residual feed intake (RFI). RESULTS: The Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in positive-RFI steers (p-RFI, low feed efficiency) than in negative-RFI (n-RFI, high feed efficiency) steers. The differences in bacterial composition from steers with high and low FE were mainly associated with members of the families Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae, as well as the genus Prevotella. Archaeal community richness was lower (P < 0.05) in p-RFI than in n-RFI steers and the genus Methanobrevibacter was either increased or exclusive of p-RFI steers. The fungal genus Buwchfawromyces was more abundant in the rumen solid fraction of n-RFI steers (P < 0.05) and a highly abundant OTU belonging to the genus Piromyces was also increased in the rumen microbiota of high-efficiency steers. However, analysis of rumen fermentation variables and functional predictions indicated similar metabolic outputs for the microbiota of distinct FE groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that differences in the ruminal microbiota of high and low FE Nellore steers comprise specific taxa from the bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities. Biomarker OTUs belonging to the genus Piromyces were identified in animals showing high feed efficiency, whereas among archaea, Methanobrevibacter was associated with steers classified as p-RFI. The identification of specific RFI-associated microorganisms in Nellore steers could guide further studies targeting the isolation and functional characterization of rumen microbes potentially important for the energy-harvesting efficiency of ruminants.

Serum concentration of vitamin A and its relationship with body adiposity, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular risk in women with recommended dietary intake of vitamin A / Concentración sérica de vitamina A y su relación con la adiposidad corporal, el estrés oxidativo y los riesgos cardiovasculares en mujeres con ingesta dietética recomendada de vitamina A

BACKGROUND: evidence indicates a role of vitamin A in the regulation of fat mass influencing obesity and cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a cross-sectional study in 200 women, paired by age and by the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A. Subjects were divided into four groups according to body mass index (BMI): 80 eutrophic (E), 40 overweight (OW), 40 class I obesity (OI) and 40 class II obesity (OII). Lipid and glycemic profiles were measured and oxidative stress was evaluated through serum concentrations of uric acid, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). RESULTS: the cutoff points for deficiency of serum retinol and β-carotene levels were < 1.05 μmol/L and 40 μg/dL, respectively. For the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A it was 700 μg/day. Retinol and β-carotene deficiency was found in the E group at 5 % and 15 %, respectively, reaching 77.5 % and 82.5 % in the OII group. CONCLUSIONS: a correlation was observed between serum concentrations of retinol and β-carotene and glycemic, lipid, and markers of oxidative stress profiles in the groups studied. It was observed that OI and OII subjects who had retinol and β-carotene deficiency presented a risk that was 16 and 20.7 times greater, respectively, of having a diagnosis with DM2 as compared to E subjects with adequate concentrations of vitamin A. Increased demand of vitamin A may be related to increased BMI, body adiposity, and oxidative stress even when a recommended intake of vitamin A is reached

INTRODUCCIÓN: la evidencia indica un papel de la vitamina A en la regulación de la masa grasa que influye en la obesidad y las enfermedades cardiovasculares. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio transversal con 200 mujeres emparejadas por edad y por la ingesta dietética de vitamina A recomendada. Se dividieron en cuatro grupos según el índice de masa corporal (IMC): 80 eutróficas (E), 40 con sobrepeso (OW), 40 con obesidad de clase I (OI) y 40 con obesidad de clase II (OII). Se midieron los perfiles lipídicos y glucémicos y se evaluó el estrés oxidativo a través de las concentraciones séricas de ácido úrico, glutatión-peroxidasa (GSH-Px) y sustancias reactivas del ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). RESULTADOS: los puntos de corte para la deficiencia de las concentraciones séricas de retinol y caroteno fueron de 1,05 μmol/L y 40 g/dL, respectivamente. Para la ingesta dietética recomendada de vitamina A fue de 700 g/día. Se encontró deficiencia de retinol y caroteno en el grupo E, del 5 % y 15 %, respectivamente, alcanzando un 77,5 % y 82,5 % en el grupo OII. CONCLUSIONES: se observó correlación entre las concentraciones séricas de retinol y caroteno y los perfiles glucémico, lipídico y de marcadores de perfiles de estrés oxidativo en los grupos estudiados. Se observó que los sujetos con OI y OII que tenían deficiencia de retinol y caroteno presentaban un riesgo 16 y 20,7 veces mayor, respectivamente, de ser diagnosticados de DM2 en comparación con los E con concentraciones adecuadas de vitamina A. El aumento de la demanda de vitamina A puede estar relacionado con el aumento del IMC, la adiposidad corporal y el estrés oxidativo, incluso cuando se alcanza la ingesta recomendada de vitamina A

Serum concentration of vitamin A and its relationship with body adiposity, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular risk in women with recommended dietary intake of vitamin A.

INTRODUCTION: Background: evidence indicates a role of vitamin A in the regulation of fat mass influencing obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study in 200 women, paired by age and by the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A. Subjects were divided into four groups according to body mass index (BMI): 80 eutrophic (E), 40 overweight (OW), 40 class I obesity (OI) and 40 class II obesity (OII). Lipid and glycemic profiles were measured and oxidative stress was evaluated through serum concentrations of uric acid, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Results: the cutoff points for deficiency of serum retinol and ß-carotene levels were < 1.05 µmol/L and 40 µg/dL, respectively. For the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A it was 700 µg/day. Retinol and ß-carotene deficiency was found in the E group at 5 % and 15 %, respectively, reaching 77.5 % and 82.5 % in the OII group. Conclusions: a correlation was observed between serum concentrations of retinol and ß-carotene and glycemic, lipid, and markers of oxidative stress profiles in the groups studied. It was observed that OI and OII subjects who had retinol and ß-carotene deficiency presented a risk that was 16 and 20.7 times greater, respectively, of having a diagnosis with DM2 as compared to E subjects with adequate concentrations of vitamin A. Increased demand of vitamin A may be related to increased BMI, body adiposity, and oxidative stress even when a recommended intake of vitamin A is reached.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la evidencia indica un papel de la vitamina A en la regulación de la masa grasa que influye en la obesidad y las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Material y métodos: estudio transversal con 200 mujeres emparejadas por edad y por la ingesta dietética de vitamina A recomendada. Se dividieron en cuatro grupos según el índice de masa corporal (IMC): 80 eutróficas (E), 40 con sobrepeso (OW), 40 con obesidad de clase I (OI) y 40 con obesidad de clase II (OII). Se midieron los perfiles lipídicos y glucémicos y se evaluó el estrés oxidativo a través de las concentraciones séricas de ácido úrico, glutatión-peroxidasa (GSH-Px) y sustancias reactivas del ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). Resultados: los puntos de corte para la deficiencia de las concentraciones séricas de retinol y caroteno fueron de 1,05 µmol/L y 40 g/dL, respectivamente. Para la ingesta dietética recomendada de vitamina A fue de 700 g/día. Se encontró deficiencia de retinol y caroteno en el grupo E, del 5 % y 15 %, respectivamente, alcanzando un 77,5 % y 82,5 % en el grupo OII. Conclusiones: se observó correlación entre las concentraciones séricas de retinol y caroteno y los perfiles glucémico, lipídico y de marcadores de perfiles de estrés oxidativo en los grupos estudiados. Se observó que los sujetos con OI y OII que tenían deficiencia de retinol y caroteno presentaban un riesgo 16 y 20,7 veces mayor, respectivamente, de ser diagnosticados de DM2 en comparación con los E con concentraciones adecuadas de vitamina A. El aumento de la demanda de vitamina A puede estar relacionado con el aumento del IMC, la adiposidad corporal y el estrés oxidativo, incluso cuando se alcanza la ingesta recomendada de vitamina A.

The Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota of Nelore Steers Is Dynamic Across the Gastrointestinal Tract and Its Fecal-Associated Microbiota Is Correlated to Feed Efficiency.

The ruminant gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome plays a major role in the health, physiology and production traits of the host. In this work, we characterized the bacterial and fungal microbiota of the rumen, small intestine (SI), cecum and feces of 27 Nelore steers using next-generation sequencing and evaluated biochemical parameters within the GIT segments. We found that only the bacterial microbiota clustered according to each GIT segment. Bacterial diversity and richness as well as volatile fatty acid concentration was lowest in the SI. Taxonomic grouping of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) revealed that Lachnospiraceae (24.61 ± SD 6.58%) and Ruminococcaceae (20.87 ± SD 4.22%) were the two most abundant taxa across the GIT. For the fungi, the family Neocallismastigaceae dominated in all GIT segments, with the genus Orpinomyces being the most abundant. Twenty-eight bacterial and six fungal OTUs were shared across all GIT segments in at least 50% of the steers. We also evaluated if the fecal-associated microbiota of steers showing negative and positive residual feed intake (n-RFI and p-RFI, respectively) was associated with their feed efficiency phenotype. Diversity indices for both bacterial and fungal fecal microbiota did not vary between the two feed efficiency groups. Differences in the fecal bacterial composition between high and low feed efficiency steers were primarily assigned to OTUs belonging to the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae and to the genus Prevotella. The fungal OTUs shared across the GIT did not vary between feed efficiency groups, but 7 and 3 OTUs were found only in steers with positive and negative RFI, respectively. These results provide further insights into the composition of the Nelore GIT microbiota, which could have implications for improving animal health and productivity. Our findings also reveal differences in fecal-associated bacterial OTUs between steers from different feed efficiency groups, suggesting that fecal sampling may represent a non-invasive strategy to link the bovine microbiota with productivity phenotypes.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with body mass index and body adiposity in women with recommended intake of vitamin A.

INTRODUCTION: evidence indicates that vitamin A is involved in regulating fat mass. A low consumption of vitamin A has been reported in individuals with obesity, as have lower concentrations of this vitamin, than in eutrophic individuals when their dietary intake of vitamin A is not significantly different. OBJECTIVE: to investigate vitamin A nutritional status and its association with body mass index (BMI) and body fat in women who have the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A. METHODS: cross-sectional study with 200 women, paired by age and by the dietary intake of vitamin A recommended. Participants were divided into four groups, according to BMI. Anthropometric data were evaluated (weight, BMI and waist circumference [WC]), as well as the diagnosis of night blindness (NB). Lipid and glycemic profiles were measured. The cut-off points for deficiency of serum concentrations of retinol and ß-carotene were < 1.05 µmol/l and 40 µg/dl, respectively. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin A was 700 µg/day. RESULTS: there was a significant drop in retinol concentrations according to BMI (p < 0.001) and WC (p < 0.001). We found ß-carotene to behave similarly (p = 0.005; p < 0.001). We found NB in 7.5% of overweight (OW) cases and 20.0% of obesity class II (OII), and no functional alteration was found in the eutrophic group (EU). Inadequate levels of retinol and ß-carotene increased the odds ratio for the occurrence of OW, obesity class I (OI) and OII, as well as inadequate WC. CONCLUSION: even with recommended intake of vitamin A, we found a biochemical and functional inadequacy of vitamin A nutritional status,associated with overweight, obesity and body adiposity.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with body mass index and body adiposity in women with recommended intake of vitamin A / La deficiencia de vitamina A se asocia con el índice de masa corporal y la adiposidad corporal en mujeres con ingesta recomendada de vitamina A

Introduction: evidence indicates that vitamin A is involved in regulating fat mass. A low consumption of vitamin A has been reported in individuals with obesity, as have lower concentrations of this vitamin, than in eutrophic individuals when their dietary intake of vitamin A is not significantly different. Objective: to investigate vitamin A nutritional status and its association with body mass index (BMI) and body fat in women who have the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A. Methods: cross-sectional study with 200 women, paired by age and by the dietary intake of vitamin A recommended. Participants were divided into four groups, according to BMI. Anthropometric data were evaluated (weight, BMI and waist circumference [WC]), as well as the diagnosis of night blindness (NB). Lipid and glycemic profiles were measured. The cut-off points for deficiency of serum concentrations of retinol and β-carotene were < 1.05 μmol/l and 40 μg/dl, respectively. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin A was 700 μg/day. Results: there was a significant drop in retinol concentrations according to BMI (p < 0.001) and WC (p < 0.001). We found β-carotene to behave similarly (p = 0.005; p < 0.001). We found NB in 7.5% of overweight (OW) cases and 20.0% of obesity class II (OII), and no functional alteration was found in the eutrophic group (EU). Inadequate levels of retinol and β-carotene increased the odds ratio for the occurrence of OW, obesity class I (OI) and OII, as well as inadequate WC. Conclusion: even with recommended intake of vitamin A, we found a biochemical and functional inadequacy of vitamin A nutritional status, associated with overweight, obesity and body adiposity

Introducción: la evidencia indica que la vitamina A esta involucrada en la regulación de la masa grasa. Un bajo consumo de vitamina A ha sido reportado en individuos con obesidad, ya que tienen concentraciones mas bajas de esta vitamina que los individuos eutróficos a pesar de que su ingesta dietética de vitamina A no es significativamente diferente. Objetivo: investigar el estado nutricional de la vitamina A y su asociación con el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la grasa corporal en las mujeres que tienen la ingesta dietética recomendada de vitamina A. Métodos: estudio transversal con 200 mujeres, emparejado por edad y por la ingesta dietética de vitamina A recomendada. Se dividieron en cuatro grupos, de acuerdo con el IMC. Los datos antropométricos fueron evaluados (peso, índice de masa corporal [IMC] y circunferencia de la cintura [CC]), así como el diagnostico de ceguera nocturna (CN). Se midieron los perfiles lipídicos y glicémicos. Los puntos de corte para la deficiencia de las concentraciones séricas de retinol y β-caroteno fueron < 1,05 μmol/l y 40 μg/dl, respectivamente. La ingesta dietética recomendada de vitamina A fue de 700 μg/día. Resultados: hubo una disminución significativa de las concentraciones de retinol según el IMC (p < 0,001) y CC (p < 0,001). Se observo un comportamiento similar del β-caroteno (p = 0,005, p < 0,001). Encontramos NB en el 7,5% de los casos con sobrepeso (OW) y el 20,0% de los casos con obesidad clase II (OII), y no encontramos alteración funcional en la UE. Niveles inadecuados de retinol y (R)-caroteno aumentaron la odds ratio para la ocurrencia de OW, obesidad clase I (OI) y OII, al igual que los niveles insuficientes de CC. Conclusión: incluso con la ingesta recomendada de vitamina A, encontramos una deficiencia bioquímica y funcional del estado nutricional de vitamina A asociada al sobrepeso, la obesidad y la adiposidad corporal

Sorghum silage supplemented with crambe meal improves dry matter intake and milk production in crossbred Holstein cows.

We studied the feed intake and milk production of Holstein × Zebu crossbred cows fed sorghum silage diets and concentrates, with and without the addition of crambe meal. Using a change-over design for a total of 120 days, eight cows were fed two diets (concentrates + silages with and without crambe meal) in four 30-day periods, with four replications (animals). The crambe meal diet increased (P < 0.05) the dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein intake (CPI), and non-fibrous carbohydrates intake (NFCI) as well as milk production (4.3%). No difference was noted (P > 0.05) for the milk composition between the treatments. Crambe meal as an additive in sorghum silage (100 g/kg in natural matter) showed a great potential for introduction in dairy farming as it substantially increases CP intake, does not reduce food intake, raises animal productivity, and does not affect milk composition.

Acyl homoserine lactone changes the abundance of proteins and the levels of organic acids associated with stationary phase in Salmonella Enteritidis.

Quorum sensing (QS) is cell-cell communication mechanism mediated by signaling molecules known as autoinducers (AIs) that lead to differential gene expression. Salmonella is unable to synthesize the AI-1 acyl homoserine lactone (AHL), but is able to recognize AHLs produced by other microorganisms through SdiA protein. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of AI-1 on the abundance of proteins and the levels of organic acids of Salmonella Enteritidis. The presence of N-dodecyl-homoserine lactone (C12-HSL) did not interfere on the growth or the total amount of extracted proteins of Salmonella. However, the abundance of the proteins PheT, HtpG, PtsI, Adi, TalB, PmgI (or GpmI), Eno, and PykF enhanced while the abundance of the proteins RplB, RplE, RpsB, Tsf, OmpA, OmpC, OmpD, and GapA decreased when Salmonella Enteritidis was anaerobically cultivated in the presence of C12-HSL. Additionally, the bacterium produced less succinic, lactic, and acetic acids in the presence of C12-HSL. However, the concentration of extracellular formic acid reached 20.46 mM after 24 h and was not detected when the growth was in the absence of AI-1. Considering the cultivation period for protein extraction, their abundance, process and function, as well as the levels of organic acids, we observed in cells cultivated in presence of C12-HSL a correlation with what is described in the literature as entry into the stationary phase of growth, mainly related to nitrogen and amino acid starvation and acid stress. Further studies are needed in order to determine the specific role of the differentially abundant proteins and extracellular organic acids secreted by Salmonella in the presence of quorum sensing signaling molecules.

Tithonia diversifolia as a Supplementary Feed for Dairy Cows.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Tithonia diversifolia as a supplementary forage on dairy cow performance and methane production. Nine lactating Holstein × Zebu dairy cows (519 ± 53.3 kg of body weight and 66 ± 13.3 d in milk) were paired by milk yield (21.3 ± 2.34 kg/d) and body weight and randomly assigned to three dietary treatments in a Latin square design with 21-d experimental periods (14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for measurements and sample collection). The dietary treatments included the control diet consisting of fresh sugar cane plus concentrate (44:56, % of diet DM), and two treatment diets containing different levels of fresh T. diversifolia (6.5 and 15.4%, DM basis) which partially replaced both sugarcane and concentrates. Methane production was measured using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) technique from d 16 to d 21 of each experimental period. Analysis of the gas samples was performed by gas chromatography. The inclusion of T. diversifolia at 15.4% DM had no effects on DM intake, milk production, nitrogen balance or methane production. There was no effect on the concentrations of total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in milk fat (P ≥ 0.28), though individual milk fatty acids were affected. Serum concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen (BUN), triglycerides, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and cholesterol were unaffected by the dietary treatments (P ≥ 0.13). There was a time (2 and 6 h post-feeding) and dietary treatment effect (P < 0.01) on the acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen. A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the archaeal community showed distinct clustering of the archaea populations for control and treatment diets. Taken together, our results indicate the potential of T. diversifolia as a supplementary forage for dairy cattle in the tropics.

Malabsorption syndrome as a rare cause of nephrocalcinosis.

Nephrocalcinosis is characterized by calcification of kidney parenchyma and can be caused by an increased amount of calcium, phosphate or oxalate in urinary excretion. We report a 35-year-old female with nephrocalcinosis. She had fitful steatorrhea since last year. Physical examination was normal. Analytic exams found normal renal function and ionogram. Primary hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis and sarcoidosis were excluded. Urinalysis showed mild hematuria, without proteinuria and 24-hour urine collection exhibited hyperoxaluria. Patient was submitted to an endoscopy and duodenal biopsy whose histology sustained the diagnosis of celiac disease. Fluid intake increase and gluten and oxalate free diet were initiated.

Lots of steroids and vitamins, tons of complications. Hypercalcemia and nephrocalcinosis as important complications of performance-enhancing drugs / Montones de esteroides y vitaminas, toneladas de complicaciones. Hipercalcemia y nefrocalcinosis como complicaciones importantes de los fármacos para mejorar el rendimiento

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Distribution and Genetic Diversity of Bacteriocin Gene Clusters in Rumen Microbial Genomes.

Some species of ruminal bacteria are known to produce antimicrobial peptides, but the screening procedures have mostly been based on in vitro assays using standardized methods. Recent sequencing efforts have made available the genome sequences of hundreds of ruminal microorganisms. In this work, we performed genome mining of the complete and partial genome sequences of 224 ruminal bacteria and 5 ruminal archaea to determine the distribution and diversity of bacteriocin gene clusters. A total of 46 bacteriocin gene clusters were identified in 33 strains of ruminal bacteria. Twenty gene clusters were related to lanthipeptide biosynthesis, while 11 gene clusters were associated with sactipeptide production, 7 gene clusters were associated with class II bacteriocin production, and 8 gene clusters were associated with class III bacteriocin production. The frequency of strains whose genomes encode putative antimicrobial peptide precursors was 14.4%. Clusters related to the production of sactipeptides were identified for the first time among ruminal bacteria. BLAST analysis indicated that the majority of the gene clusters (88%) encoding putative lanthipeptides contained all the essential genes required for lanthipeptide biosynthesis. Most strains of Streptococcus (66.6%) harbored complete lanthipeptide gene clusters, in addition to an open reading frame encoding a putative class II bacteriocin. Albusin B-like proteins were found in 100% of the Ruminococcus albus strains screened in this study. The in silico analysis provided evidence of novel biosynthetic gene clusters in bacterial species not previously related to bacteriocin production, suggesting that the rumen microbiota represents an underexplored source of antimicrobial peptides.

[Case report: end stage renal disease in a chronic kidney patient on warfarin therapy]. / Relato de caso: Insuficiência renal crônica estádio 5 D em paciente com doença renal crônica medicado com varfarina.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin therapy can provoke severe hematuria and acute kidney injury with the presence of occlusive red blood cell casts. These findings are compatible with a recently described disease entity, warfarin related nephropathy, which adversely affects renal and patient outcome. CASE REPORT: We report a 74-year-old man with chronic kidney disease stage 3 A, who developed a decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after the initiation of warfarin therapy due to of atrial fibrillation. The diagnosis could be confirmed by renal histology which showed occlusion of renal tubules by red blood cells and casts consistent with this diagnosis. The patient did not recover the GFR and started renal replacement therapy in June (fourteen months after starting warfarin) 2014. DISCUSSION: The aim of the present report is to alert for this drug recognized complication and reinforce the need of carefully motorization of kidney function and coagulation parameters in patients treated with warfarin. The pathogenesis and outcome of warfarin-related nephropathy is also discussed here.

Diversity of endophytic fungi in Glycine max.

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that live within plant tissues without causing disease during part of their life cycle. With the isolation and identification of these fungi, new species are being discovered, and ecological relationships with their hosts have also been studied. In Glycine max, limited studies have investigated the isolation and distribution of endophytic fungi throughout leaves and roots. The distribution of these fungi in various plant organs differs in diversity and abundance, even when analyzed using molecular techniques that can evaluate fungal communities in different parts of the plants, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Our results show there is greater species richness of culturable endophytic filamentous fungi in the leaves G. max as compared to roots. Additionally, the leaves had high values for diversity indices, i.e. Simpsons, Shannon and Equitability. Conversely, dominance index was higher in roots as compared to leaves. The fungi Ampelomyces sp., Cladosporium cladosporioides, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Diaporthe helianthi, Guignardia mangiferae and Phoma sp. were more frequently isolated from the leaves, whereas the fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Fusarium sp. were prevalent in the roots. However, by evaluating the two communities by DGGE, we concluded that the species richness was higher in the roots than in the leaves. UPGMA analysis showed consistent clustering of isolates; however, the fungus Leptospora rubella, which belongs to the order Dothideales, was grouped among species of the order Pleosporales. The presence of endophytic Fusarium species in G. max roots is unsurprising, since Fusarium spp. isolates have been previously described as endophyte in other reports. However, it remains to be determined whether the G. max Fusarium endophytes are latent pathogens or non-pathogenic forms that benefit the plant. This study provides a broader knowledge of the distribution of the fungal community in G. max leaves and roots, and identifies the genetic relationships among the isolated species.

Relato de caso: Insuficiência renal crônica estádio 5 D em paciente com doença renal crônica medicado com varfarina / Case Report: End stage renal disease in a chronic kidney patient on warfarin therapy

Resumo Introdução A terapêutica com varfarina pode provocar hematúria grave e lesão renal aguda pela formação de cilindros eritrocitários oclusivos. Estas alterações são sugestivas de uma doença recentemente conhecida como nefropatia relacionada pela varfarina. Caso Clínico: Apresentamos um doente de 74 anos de idade com doença renal crônica estádio 3 A, que progrediu com declínio na taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) após o início de terapêutica com varfarina devido a um quadro fibrilação atrial. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pela histologia renal, que demonstrou a presença de oclusão tubular por cilindros eritrocitários, achados consistentes com este diagnóstico. O paciente não recuperou a TFG, tendo iniciado terapêutica substitutiva da função renal. Discussão: O objetivo da descrição deste caso clínico é alertar para a complicação associada a este fármaco e reforçar a necessidade de monitorização cuidada da função renal e dos parâmetros de coagulação em doentes tratados com a varfarina. A patogênese e o prognóstico desta entidade também serão discutidos. .

Abstract Background: Warfarin therapy can provoke severe hematuria and acute kidney injury with the presence of occlusive red blood cell casts. These findings are compatible with a recently described disease entity, warfarin related nephropathy, which adversely affects renal and patient outcome. Case report: We report a 74-year-old man with chronic kidney disease stage 3 A, who developed a decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after the initiation of warfarin therapy due to of atrial fibrillation. The diagnosis could be confirmed by renal histology which showed occlusion of renal tubules by red blood cells and casts consistent with this diagnosis. The patient did not recover the GFR and started renal replacement therapy in June (fourteen months after starting warfarin) 2014. Discussion: The aim of the present report is to alert for this drug recognized complication and reinforce the need of carefully motorization of kidney function and coagulation parameters in patients treated with warfarin. The pathogenesis and outcome of warfarin-related nephropathy is also discussed here. .