RESUMO
Ab initio metadynamics enables the extraction of free-energy landscapes having the accuracy of first-principles electronic structure methods. We introduce an interface between the PLUMED code that computes free-energy landscapes and enhanced-sampling algorithms and the Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE) module, which includes several ab initio electronic structure codes. The interface is validated with a Lennard-Jones cluster free-energy landscape calculation by averaging multiple short metadynamics trajectories. We use this interface and analysis to estimate the free-energy landscape of Ag5 and Ag6 clusters at 10, 100, and 300 K with the radius of gyration and coordination number as collective variables, finding at most tens of meV in error. Relative free-energy differences between the planar and non-planar isomers of both clusters decrease with temperature in agreement with previously proposed stabilization of non-planar isomers. Interestingly, we find that Ag6 is the smallest silver cluster where entropic effects at room temperature boost the non-planar isomer probability to a competing state. The new ASE-PLUMED interface enables simulating nanosystem electronic properties under more realistic temperature-dependent conditions.
RESUMO
Probiotics are usually isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. The search of probiotics in human milk is a recent field of research, as the existence of the human milk microbiome was discovered only about a decade ago. To our knowledge, no reports regarding the potential probiotic effect of bacteria from swine milk have been published. In this work, we isolated several lactic acid bacteria from swine milk and evaluated them for them potential as probiotics. Among the isolated strains, Lactobacillus curvatus TUCO-5E showed antagonistic effects against swine-associated gastrointestinal pathogens. TUCO-5E was able to reduce the growth of enterotoxigenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains as well as pathogenic salmonella. In vitro exclusion and displacement assays in intestinal epithelial cells showed a remarkable antagonistic effect for L. curvatus TUCO-5E against Salmonella sp. strain TUCO-I7 and Salmonella enterica ATCC 13096. Moreover, by using a mouse model of Salmonella infection, we were able to demonstrate that preventative administration of L. curvatus TUCO-5E for 5 consecutive days was capable of decreasing the number of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the liver and spleen of treated mice, compared with the controls, and prevented dissemination of the pathogen to the blood stream. Therefore, we have demonstrated here that swine milk is an interesting source of beneficial bacteria. In addition, the results of this work suggest that L. curvatus TUCO-5E is a good candidate to study in vivo the protective effect of probiotics against intestinal infection and damage induced by Salmonella infection in the porcine host.
Assuntos
Lactobacillus/isolamento & purificação , Leite/microbiologia , Probióticos/administração & dosagem , Salmonelose Animal/prevenção & controle , Salmonella typhimurium/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Doenças dos Suínos/prevenção & controle , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Trato Gastrointestinal/microbiologia , Proteínas Hemolisinas/análise , Humanos , Ácido Láctico/metabolismo , Lactobacillus/efeitos dos fármacos , Lactobacillus/fisiologia , Fígado/microbiologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Baço/microbiologia , SuínosRESUMO
The application of mindfulness-based interventions in school settings has increased considerably in recent years, showing that differences between the characteristics of programmes can impact on the receptivity and effectiveness of mindfulness training. However, few studies have explored the learning process from the perspective of the children and adolescents who participate in mindfulness practice. The goal of this paper is to analyse the subjective experience of a group of adolescents following the completion of a mindfulness-based intervention developed for schools in Chile. The intervention studied is the ".b curriculum", which is part of the Mindfulness in School Project (MiSP) developed in the UK. Twenty adolescents participated in semi-structured interviews within their school, in which three key areas were explored: pedagogy, perceived effects, and mechanisms of action, each of them being analysed from the perspective of thematic analysis. The results support the view that pedagogy is a very relevant consideration in the implementation, development, and efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions within the school context. We propose that the inclusion of structure, contents, process/mindful practices, and teachers' expertise provides the pedagogical-relational framework required for students to successfully develop mindfulness skills, which enables them to experience their cognitive, emotional, and somatic effects. These effects are linked to self-regulation strategies, based on paying attention to one's somatic experience with kindness and curiosity, which works as an attentional anchor. It is hoped that these results will contribute to the spread of mindfulness research in adolescents in Latin America, thus facilitating cross-cultural and international comparisons.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente , Atenção Plena , Adolescente , Chile , Humanos , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Instituições Acadêmicas , Estudantes/psicologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Mainly due to the high percentage of infection and the ineffectiveness of treatments, Helicobacter pylori is a global health problem. Knowing the age at acquisition is key to preventing the infection. PATIENTS: Sixty-seven mothers and their respective children participated. To evaluate the presence of H. pylori, the faeces of the mother and her child were analysed using the HpSA antigen test. RESULTS: 71.6% (48/67) of pregnant mothers were positive for H. pylori at the term of their pregnancy. In newborns, 8.96% (6/67) of them showed H. pylori colonisation/persistent infection. During the first month of life, a prevalence and incidence of infection of 23.9% and 13%, respectively, was observed. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results suggest that there is a high risk of H. pylori infection during the first month of life, even of the persistent type.
Assuntos
Infecções por Helicobacter/congênito , Helicobacter pylori/isolamento & purificação , Criança , Chile/epidemiologia , Fezes/microbiologia , Feminino , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Infecções por Helicobacter/epidemiologia , Infecções por Helicobacter/microbiologia , Infecções por Helicobacter/transmissão , Humanos , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/epidemiologia , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/microbiologia , PrevalênciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: There is evidence of detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the stool of newborns and in the yeast that colonizes the oral cavity of this age group. However, there is a lack of research to confirm it. This study proposes to determine the existence of the bacteria at an early age, specifically in newborns. OBJECTIVE: To identify intracellular H. pylori in oral yeasts and to detect antigens of the bacteria in newborn stools. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. Samples were obtained from infants (oral swab and meconium). Identification of yeast species was performed using the following techniques: CHROMagar Candida, Germinal Tube Test and API Candida Identification System, then the yeasts were observed by light microscopy and fluorescence. Detection of H. pylori antigen in meconium and PCR were performed to amplify specific genes of the bacterium (rRNA16S, cagA, vacA s1a, vacA s1b, vacA s2, vacA m1, vacA m2 and dupA). RESULTS: Intracellular H. pylori was detected in yeast of the species Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) isolated from an oral swab of a newborn. CONCLUSION: The results of this study evidenced the existence of intracellular H. pylori in newborns.
Assuntos
Candida glabrata , Fezes/microbiologia , Infecções por Helicobacter/microbiologia , Helicobacter pylori/isolamento & purificação , Mucosa Bucal/microbiologia , Saliva/microbiologia , Antígenos de Bactérias , Candida glabrata/isolamento & purificação , Estudos Transversais , Genótipo , Helicobacter pylori/genética , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Reação em Cadeia da PolimeraseRESUMO
La sacroileítis infecciosa (SII), también descrita en la literatura como sacroileítis séptica o piógena, es una patología infrecuente, y su diagnóstico constituye un reto debido a su rareza relativa y la diversa presentación clínica, que frecuentemente imita otros trastornos más prevalentes originados en estructuras vecinas. Se requiere un alto índice de sospecha y un examen físico acucioso para un diagnóstico oportuno, mientras que los estudios de laboratorio y de imagen ayudan a confirmar el diagnóstico y dirigir la estrategia de tratamiento apropiada para evitar complicaciones y secuelas a corto y mediano plazos. Presentamos un caso de paciente de género femenino de 36 años, con cuadro clínico de SII izquierda, secundaria a un absceso del músculo iliopsoas, condición que generalmente se presenta como una complicación de la infección. Se realizaron los diagnósticos clínico, imagenológico y Biológico, se inició el tratamiento antibiótico oportuno, y se logró una excelente evolución clínica, sin secuelas
Infectious sacroiliitis (ISI), also described in the literature as septic or pyogenic sacroiliitis, is an infrequent pathology, and its diagnosis constitutes a challenge due to its relative rarity and the diverse clinical presentation, frequently imitating other more prevalent disorders originating in neighboring structures. A high index of suspicion and a thorough physical examination are required in order to establish an opportune diagnosis, while laboratory and imaging studies help confirm the diagnosis and direct the appropriate treatment strategy to avoid complications and sequelae in the short and medium terms. We herein present a case of a female patient aged 36 years, with a clinical picture of left ISI, secondary to an iliopsoas muscle abscess, a condition that usually presents as a complication of the infection. The clinical, imaging and microbiological diagnoses were made, the timely antibiotic treatment was initiated, and an excellent clinical evolution without sequelae was achieved.
Assuntos
Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Abscesso do Psoas/diagnóstico por imagem , Sacroileíte/diagnóstico por imagem , Staphylococcus aureus/isolamento & purificação , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Tomografia por Raios X/métodosRESUMO
SUMMARY BACKGROUND: There is evidence of detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the stool of newborns and in the yeast that colonizes the oral cavity of this age group. However, there is a lack of research to confirm it. This study proposes to determine the existence of the bacteria at an early age, specifically in newborns. OBJECTIVE: To identify intracellular H. pylori in oral yeasts and to detect antigens of the bacteria in newborn stools. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. Samples were obtained from infants (oral swab and meconium). Identification of yeast species was performed using the following techniques: CHROMagar Candida, Germinal Tube Test and API Candida Identification System, then the yeasts were observed by light microscopy and fluorescence. Detection of H. pylori antigen in meconium and PCR were performed to amplify specific genes of the bacterium (rRNA16S, cagA, vacA s1a, vacA s1b, vacA s2, vacA m1, vacA m2 and dupA). RESULTS: Intracellular H. pylori was detected in yeast of the species Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) isolated from an oral swab of a newborn. CONCLUSION: The results of this study evidenced the existence of intracellular H. pylori in newborns.
RESUMO ANTECEDENTES: Há evidências de detecçâo de Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) em fezes de recém-nascidos, como também dentro de leveduras que colonizam a cavidade oral dessa faixa etária. No entanto, faltam investigações que confirmem esses achados. OBJETIVO: Identificar H. pylori intracelular em leveduras de origem oral e detectar antígenos dessa bactéria em fezes neonatais. METODOLOGIA: Estudo transversal e descritivo. As amostras foram obtidas de bebês (zaragatoa oral e mecônio). As identificações das espécies de leveduras foram realizadas utilizando as seguintes técnicas: CHROMagar Candida, teste de tubo germinativo e sistema de identificação API Cândida. As leveduras foram observadas por microscopía óptica e fluorescência. Realizou-se a detecçâo de antígeno de H. pylori em mecônio e PCR para a amplificação de genes específicos desta bactéria (rRNA16S, cagA, vacA s1a, vacA s1b, vacA s2, vacA m1, vacA m2 e dupA). RESULTADOS: Foi detectado H. pylori intracelular em leveduras da espécie Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) isoladas a partir de zaragatoas oral de um recém-nascido. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo evidenciaram a existência interna de levedura de H. pylori em recém-nascidos.