Trypanosoma cruzi: insights into naphthoquinone effects on growth and proteinase activity.

In this study we compared the effects of naphthoquinones (α-lapachone, ß-lapachone, nor-ß-lapachone and Epoxy-α-lap) on growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes forms, and on viability of VERO cells. In addition we also experimentally analyzed the most active compounds inhibitory profile against T. cruzi serine- and cysteine-proteinases activity and theoretically evaluated them against cruzain, the major T. cruzi cysteine proteinase by using a molecular docking approach. Our results confirmed ß-lapachone and Epoxy-α-lap with a high trypanocidal activity in contrast to α-lapachone and nor-ß-lapachone whereas Epoxy-α-lap presented the safest toxicity profile against VERO cells. Interestingly the evaluation of the active compounds effects against T. cruzi cysteine- and serine-proteinases activities revealed different targets for these molecules. ß-Lapachone is able to inhibit the cysteine-proteinase activity of T. cruzi proteic whole extract and of cruzain, similar to E-64, a classical cysteine-proteinase inhibitor. Differently, Epoxy-α-lap inhibited the T. cruzi serine-proteinase activity, similar to PMSF, a classical serine-proteinase inhibitor. In agreement to these biological profiles in the enzymatic assays, our theoretical analysis showed that E-64 and ß-lapachone interact with the cruzain specific S2 pocket and active site whereas Epoxy-α-lap showed no important interactions. Overall, our results infer that ß-lapachone and Epoxy-α-lap compounds may inhibit T. cruzi epimastigotes growth by affecting T. cruzi different proteinases. Thus the present data shows the potential of these compounds as prototype of protease inhibitors on drug design studies for developing new antichagasic compounds.

Analysis of Protein Immunoexpression and Its Interrelationship in the Pathogenesis of Odontomas and Ameloblastic Fibro-Odontomas: A Systematic Review.

Odontomas and ameloblastic fibro-odontomas (AFOs) are the result of a developmental anomaly of odontogenic tissues. A literature review of proteins immunoexpressed in odontomas and AFOs was conducted in order to determine which proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of these lesions. AFO was changed to early odontoma in the 2017 WHO classification and will also be discussed in this article. A literature search was performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Lilacs, Cochrane Collaboration Library, and Science Direct. The research question was developed according to the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework: Which proteins are related to the differentiation of odontomas and what is their interrelationship with AFOs? Thirty articles met all inclusion criteria and were selected for this systematic review, totaling 355 cases of odontomas and 43 cases of AFO. Similar immunoexpression was observed in odontomas and AFOs. Immunoexpression of proteins involved in cell differentiation was higher in compound odontomas than in complex odontomas. Proteins involved in histodifferentiation and enamel formation were more frequent in odontomas. The immunoexpression of enamel matrix proteins differs between odontomas and tooth germs, with their persistence being related to the development of odontomas. Compound odontomas exhibit the highest immunoexpression of proteins involved in cellular histodifferentiation and the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is involved in tumor formation.

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: influence of successive in vitro cultivation on the expression of promastigote proteinases.

Cysteine proteinases are an important virulence factor in Leishmania parasites. In this study we analyzed the cysteine proteinase expression of infective Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigotes, examining the expression induced by successive in vitro passages in culture. We observed that this parasite presents a decrease in its virulence over BALB/c macrophages, after successive passages in culture, but still they present proteinase activity, being capable of hydrolyzing the substrate pGlu-Phe-Leu-p Nitroanilide at pH 7.0. This proteinase activity also decreases in the course of the successive passages. Additionally, the decrease in the amount of CPB proteins following successive passages of promastigotes was verified by immunoblotting assays, using an anti-CPB antiserum. Real-time PCR assays were performed to assess the relative cpb expression when compared to a housekeeping gene in promastigote cDNA preparations from the first, fourth and seventh passages. Interestingly, the data indicate a relative increase in cpb gene transcripts as the promastigotes were maintained under in vitro culture: 2.2 times higher for fourth and 2.7 times higher for seventh passages when compared to the first passage. Thus, the information gathered here shows that the expression of cysteine proteinases is modified during in vitro cultivation of L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes.

Inclusão, formação e educação física: uma análise na perspectiva dos professores / Inclusion, teacher training and physical education: an analysis from the teachers' perspective / Inclusión, formación y educación física: un análisis desde la perspectiva del profesor

Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever a formação, na perspectiva da inclusão, de professores de Educação Física que atuam com alunos com deficiência nas escolas da Rede Municipal de Rio Grande ­ RS. Fizeram parte da amostra do estudo 17 professores. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre os dados de identificação e formação acadêmica na perspectiva da inclusão. Posteriormente, foi utilizada a técnica dos Grupos Focais com as temáticas: formação do professor de Educação Física e políticas públicas educacionais inclusivas. Os resultados obtidos sinalizam que os conhecimentos docentes relacionados à inclusão, estão ligados à pratica da sala de aula na escola, tendo um diálogo contínuo com os conhecimentos da formação inicial e continuada.

The purpose of this study was to describe academic qualification in the perspective of inclusion of Physical Education teachers who works with students with disabilities in municipal schools in Rio Grande-RS. Seventeen teachers were involved in the sample. A questionnaire was sent on the identification data and academic background with a view to inclusion. After that, the Focus Group technic with the theme: the academic qualification of Physical Education teachers and public policies in inclusive education. The results has shown that the knowledge of the teachers toward inclusion has to do with teachers practice inside the classroom at school, keeping a continued dialogue between initial qualification and continuing qualification.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir la formación en la perspectiva de la inclusión de docentes de Educación Física que trabajan con estudiantes con discapacidad en las escuelas de la Red Municipal de Rio Grande - RS. 17 profesores formaron parte de la muestra del estudio. Se aplicó un cuestionario a los datos de identificación y formación académica desde la perspectiva de la inclusión. Posteriormente, se utilizó la técnica de Grupos Focales con los siguientes temas: formación de docentes de Educación Física y políticas públicas educativas inclusivas. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el conocimiento docente relacionado con la inclusión está vinculado a la práctica del aula en la escuela, teniendo un diálogo continuo con los conocimientos de la educación inicial y continua.