Relevance of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells for early and late phases of murine sepsis.

The role of Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in the course of the early hyper-inflammatory and subsequent hypo-inflammatory phases of sepsis is ambiguous. Whereas Nrp1 expression has been reported to discriminate natural Treg cells from induced Treg cells, the Treg cell stability depends on the methylation status of foxp3-TSDR. To specifically evaluate the role of Foxp3(+) Treg cells in the early and late phases of sepsis, we induced sepsis by caecal ligation and puncture and subsequent Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in a DEREG (DEpletion of REGulatory T cells) mouse model. We found an increase of Foxp3(+) Treg cells to all CD4(+) T cells during murine sepsis. Using a new methylation-sensitive quantitative RT-PCR method and deep amplicon sequencing, we demonstrated that natural (Nrp1(+) Foxp3(+) ) Treg cells and most induced (Nrp1(-) Foxp3(+) ) Treg cells are stable and exhibit unmethylated foxp3-TSDR, and that both Treg populations are functionally suppressive in healthy and septic mice. DEREG mice depleted of Foxp3(+) Treg cells exhibit higher disease scores, mortality rates and interleukin-6 expression levels than do non-depleted DEREG mice in early-phase sepsis, a finding indicating that Foxp3(+) Treg cells limit the hyper-inflammatory response and accelerate recovery. Treg cell depletion before secondary infection with P. aeruginosa 1 week after caecal ligation and puncture does not influence cytokine levels or the course of secondary infection. However, a moderate Treg cell recurrence, which we observed in DEREG mice during secondary infection, may interfere with these results. In summary, Treg cells contribute to a positive outcome after early-phase sepsis, but the data do not support a significant role of Treg cells in immune paralysis during late-phase sepsis.

Delineation of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from cystic fibrosis patients by fatty acid methyl ester profiles and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectra using hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunist multidrug-resistant pathogen that causes a wide range of nosocomial infections. Various cystic fibrosis (CF) centres have reported an increasing prevalence of S. maltophilia colonization/infection among patients with this disease. The purpose of this study was to assess specific fingerprints of S. maltophilia isolates from CF patients (n = 71) by investigating fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) through gas chromatography (GC) and highly abundant proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and to compare them with isolates obtained from intensive care unit (ICU) patients (n = 20) and the environment (n = 11). Principal component analysis (PCA) of GC-FAME patterns did not reveal a clustering corresponding to distinct CF, ICU or environmental types. Based on the peak area index, it was observed that S. maltophilia isolates from CF patients produced significantly higher amounts of fatty acids in comparison with ICU patients and the environmental isolates. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) based on the MALDI-TOF MS peak profiles of S. maltophilia revealed the presence of five large clusters, suggesting a high phenotypic diversity. Although HCA of MALDI-TOF mass spectra did not result in distinct clusters predominantly composed of CF isolates, PCA revealed the presence of a distinct cluster composed of S. maltophilia isolates from CF patients. Our data suggest that S. maltophilia colonizing CF patients tend to modify not only their fatty acid patterns but also their protein patterns as a response to adaptation in the unfavourable environment of the CF lung.

A criação do bombyx mori (bicho-da-seda) e as principais doenças / Cría del bombyx mori (gusano de seda) y las principales enfermedades / Bombyx mori (silkworm) breeding and main diseases

Este artigo revisa os principais aspectos relacionados à sericicultura, que abrange a criação do Bombyx mori, popularmente conhecido como bicho-da-seda, que representa uma atividade desenvolvida principalmente nas pequenas propriedades rurais, onde predomina o trabalho familiar, representando uma alternativa importante para a melhoria da renda e, contribuindo desta forma para a diminuição do êxodo rural. Além dessas características, a sericicultura é uma atividade de baixo impacto ambiental, que contribui para o desenvolvimento sustentável do país. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo discutir a criação do bicho-da-seda e as principais doenças que acarretam perdas na produção, destacando que o melhoramento genético pode auxiliar na criação de híbridos mais resistentes à doenças e com melhor qualidade e quantidade de seda por casulo.

This article revises the main aspects related to sericulture which includes the breeding of Bombyx mori, popularly known as silkworm. It represents an activity developed mainly in small rural properties, where the family work prevails, representing an important alternative for the income improvement and, thus, contributing to the decrease of rural exodus. Besides, sericulture is an activity with low environmental impact which contributes to the sustainable development of the country. This study aims to discuss silkworm breeding and the main diseases that cause production losses, noting that genetic improvement can help breed more disease-resistant hybrids with better quality and quantity of silk by cocoon.

Este artículo revisa los principales aspectos relacionados con la sericultura, que abarca la cría del Bombyx mori, popularmente conocido como gusano de seda, que representa una actividad desarrollada principalmente en las pequeñas propiedades rurales, donde predomina el trabajo familiar, representando una alternativa importante para la mejora de renta y, contribuyendo así a reducir el éxodo rural. Además de esas características, la sericultura es una actividad de bajo impacto ambiental, que contribuye al desarrollo sostenible del país. Este trabajo pretende discutir la cría del gusano de seda y las principales enfermedades que causan pérdidas en la producción, señalando que el mejoramiento genético puede ayudar a crear híbridos más resistentes a las enfermedades y con mejor calidad y cantidad de seda por capullo.

Leveduras nos tratos urinário e respiratório: infecção fúngica ou não? / Yeasts in the urinary and respiratory tracts: is it a fungal infection or not?

O início da década de 1980 foi marcado pela emergência das infecções fúngicas hospitalares, principalmente em pacientes imunocomprometidos, resultando em graves problemas de saúde. As leveduras do gênero Candida estão entre os principais agentes desse cenário. Entretanto, as espécies não-albicans surgem não só como colonizadores, mas como patógenos responsáveis por graves infecções. Os tratos urinário (TU) e respiratório (TR) são sítios anatômicos colonizados por esses microrganismos, os quais também são susceptíveis a infecções, podendo haver disseminação hematogênica. Contudo, ainda existem controvérsias sobre a conduta mediante um achado laboratorial de leveduras nas amostras oriundas da urina ou do TR, visto que os critérios utilizados para o diagnóstico de micoses nesses sítios não estão bem estabelecidos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi abordar os aspectos referentes às dificuldades na valorização dos achados de leveduras em amostras provenientes do TU e do TR em pacientes hospitalares, além do seu envolvimento nos processos de infecções invasivas.

The beginning of 80s was noticeable by hospital fungal infections, mainly in immunocompromised patients, resulting in serious health problems. Yeasts from Candida genus are among the most important agents of these infections. However, non-albicans species appear not only as colonizers, but also as pathogens responsible for severe infections. The urinary and the respiratory tracts are anatomical sites colonized by these microorganisms and they are susceptible to infections, which may cause hematogenic dissemination. Nevertheless, there are some controversies about the medical approach towards laboratory yeast findings in samples from the urine or respiratory tract, as the criteria used for the mycoses diagnosis in these sites are still not well established. The objective of this study was to discuss the aspects related to the difficulties in evaluating yeast findings in samples from the urinary and respiratory tracts in hospitalized patients, and also their involvement in invasive infection processes.

Characterization of Crohn’s disease patients in Maringá region

Crohn’s disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and its source of manifestation has not been clarified yet. Thus, the present work had as objective to describe Crohn’s disease patients in Maringá region - Paraná state, and also, to describe their social, demographic and clinic characters as well. Seven patients with Crohn’s Disease, diagnosed on the basis of accepted clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and pathologic criteria, and resident in the studied area, were recruited from ABCD centre in Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil. Patients were asked to fill up a standardized survey including questions related to demographic, social and clinical issues. Approximately 71.428% of patients were Caucasian, being 57.142 por cento of them Italian descendants, and apparently without Jewish inheritance. Nobody presented inflammatory bowel diseases heritage or either smoking habit. The terminal ileum was the portion of the gastrointestinal tract more affected, corresponding to 71.42 por cento of the patients. Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar to previous studies, aside from the patients that weren’t tobacco user and did not present Jewish heritage.

Uma compilação sobre glicogenose tipo I / A comprehensive review on glycogenosis type I

A glicose é um nutriente essencial para o organismo humano, sendo a principal fonte de energia para muitas células que dependem da circulação sangüínea, afim de suprir suas necessidades. Dessa forma, a presente revisão literária enfatizou a glicogenose tipo I, uma doença caracterizada pela deficiência da enzima glicose-6-fosfatase, responsável por catalisar a hidrólise de glicose-6-fosfato á glicose e fosfato, nas etapas finais tanto da gliconeogênese como da glicogenólise. Os estudos recentemente consentiram da necessidade do uso freqüente de altas taxas de amido nas refeições diárias, além de infusões intra-gástricas noturnas de líquidos contendo polímeros de glicose. Além disso, o presente trabalho também alerta as pessoas sobre o meticuloso cuidado sobre os pacientes portadores desta doença, afim de proporcionar uma melhor qualidade de vida para os mesmos, bem como evitar complicações e subseqüentes prognósticos.

Glucose is an essential nutrient for human organism, being the main source of energy for a lot of cells which depend on blood stream in order to supply their needs. Therefore, this literature review emphasized glycogenosis type I, a disease characterized by deficiency of the enzyme glucose-6-phospatase, responsible to catalyze the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate into glucose and phosphate, in the final steps not only neoglucogenesis but also glycogenolysis. Recent studies revealed the need for recurrent use of high rates of starch in diary meals, beyond nocturnal intra-gastric infusions of liquids containing glucose polymers. Moreover, this study also alerts people with respect to the meticulous care to those patients in order to provide them a better life style and prevent complications and subsequent prognostics.

Crohn's disease in adult from Maringá region: case report and review

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the main chronic disorders related to inflammatory bowel disease. The reasons are not yet clarified, but epidemiological studies suggest the involvement of immunology, genetics and environmental causes. In addition, Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and it is characterized for being a granulomatous, fibered and segmental disorder, preferentially of the ileum terminal region and the colon. Due to the difficult to understand its etiology and lack of information to obtain a precise number of its incidence, sometimes the treatment is not always adequate. Thus, the present work had as objective to report a Crohn’s disease case in adult, and also to expand the knowledge about this pathology.