Mammalian cell entry genes in Streptomyces may provide clues to the evolution of bacterial virulence

Understanding the evolution of virulence is key to appreciating the role specific loci play in pathogenicity. Streptomyces species are generally non-pathogenic soil saprophytes, yet within their genome we can find homologues of virulence loci. One example of this is the mammalian cell entry (mce) locus, which has been characterised in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To investigate the role in Streptomyces we deleted the mce locus and studied its impact on cell survival, morphology and interaction with other soil organisms. Disruption of the mce cluster resulted in virulence towards amoebae (Acanthamoeba polyphaga) and reduced colonization of plant (Arabidopsis) models, indicating these genes may play an important role in Streptomyces survival in the environment. Our data suggest that loss of mce in Streptomyces spp. may have profound effects on survival in a competitive soil environment, and provides insight in to the evolution and selection of these genes as virulence factors in related pathogenic organisms

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Non-invasive cardiac imaging techniques and vascular tools for the assessment of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The criteria for the selection of those asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes who should undergo cardiac screening and the therapeutic consequences of screening remain controversial. Non-invasive techniques as markers of atherosclerosis and myocardial ischaemia may aid risk stratification and the implementation of tailored therapy for the patient with type 2 diabetes. In the present article we review the literature on the implementation of non-invasive vascular tools and cardiac imaging techniques in this patient group. The value of these techniques as endpoints in clinical trials and as risk estimators in asymptomatic diabetic patients is discussed. Carotid intima–media thickness, arterial stiffness and flow-mediated dilation are abnormal long before the onset of type 2 diabetes. These vascular tools are therefore most likely to be useful for the identification of ‘at risk’ patients during the early stages of atherosclerotic disease. The additional value of these tools in risk stratification and tailored therapy in type 2 diabetes remains to be proven. Cardiac imaging techniques are more justified in individuals with a strong clinical suspicion of advanced coronary heart disease (CHD). Asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia can be detected by stress echocardiography and myocardial perfusion imaging. The more recently developed non-invasive multi-slice computed tomography angiography is recommended for exclusion of CHD, and can therefore be used to screen asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes, but has the associated disadvantages of high radiation exposure and costs. Therefore, we propose an algorithm for the screening of asymptomatic diabetic patients, the first step of which consists of coronary artery calcium score assessment and exercise ECG

Medidas da dinâmica respiratória em idosos participantes de grupos de terceira idade

OBJETIVO: analisar medidas da dinâmica respiratória em participantes de grupos de terceira idade. MÉTODO: participaram 41 pessoas, 32 do sexo feminino e nove do masculino, idade média de 69,90 anos. A avaliação foi realizada por meio das medidas de tempos máximos de fonação (TMF) das vogais /a/, /i/, /u/, das consoantes /s/ e /z/ e contagem de números; relação s/z; medida de capacidade vital (CV) e cocientes fônicos simples (CFS) e composto (CFC). RESULTADOS: os valores médios dos indivíduos do sexo masculino para os TMF das vogais, consoantes e contagem de números foram respectivamente, 18,11s; 19,22s; 19,11s; 15,22s e 15,61s e 18,77s, sendo 0,98 o valor da relação s/z. No sexo feminino, as médias das mesmas medidas de TMF foram respectivamente 13,94s; 14,19s; 13,98s; 10,11s e 11,63s; 13,90s, sendo 0,92 a relação s/z. A média de TMF das vogais foi significativamente maior que a média das consoantes no grupo feminino. O valor médio da CV sem oclusão nasal no sexo feminino foi de 2.247ml e no masculino de 3.211 ml. Foi verificada relação significante entre a medida de CV e a variável idade, no grupo feminino. Os valores médios do CFS nos grupos de homens e mulheres foram respectivamente 182,11 ml/s e 176,58 ml/s e do CFC, 184,35 ml/s e 186,93 ml/s. CONCLUSÃO: as medidas da dinâmica respiratória dos participantes estiveram próximas aos valores de referência para adultos na literatura, bem como próximos aos de estudos de idosos, havendo diferenças para mais ou para menos nas diferentes medidas estudadas.PURPOSE: to analyze the measures of respiratory dynamics in elderly citizens taking part in elderly groups. METHOD: we studied 41 participants, 32 female and nine male, mean age of 69.90 years. The evaluation included measures of the maximum phonation time (MPT) of vowels /a/, /i/, /u/, consonants /s/ and /z/, and counting numbers; s/z ratio; value of Vital Capacity (VC), Simple Phonic Quotient (SPQ) and Composed Phonic Quotient (CPQ). RESULTS: the mean values of MPT, for males, of vowels, consonants and counting numbers were respectively 18.11s; 19.22s; 19.11s; 15.22s and 15.61s and 18.77s, and the s/z ratio was 0.98. For females, the means for the same measures of TMF were respectively 13.94s; 14.19s; 13.98s; 10.11s and 11.63s; 13.90 s and 0.92 to the s/z ratio. The mean time of vowels emission was significantly higher than the mean value for the consonants in the female group. The mean value of VC without nasal occlusion was 2.247ml for females and 3.211ml for males. Significant relation between the VC and age was observed in the female group. The mean values of SPQ found for the male and female groups were, respectively, 182.11 ml/s e 176.58 ml/s. The mean values of CPQ were 184.35 ml/s for the males and 186.93 ml/s for the females. CONCLUSION: measures of respiratory dynamics concerning the participants were close to the reference values in literature for adults as well as close to those of older studies, and differences were a little more or less than the different studied measures.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)UNESP Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Departamento de FonoaudiologiaUNESP Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Departamento de Fonoaudiologi

Larvicidal effects of endophytic and basidiomycete fungus extracts on Aedes and Anopheles larvae (Diptera, Culicidae)

Introduction In vitro bioassays were performed to access the larvicidal activity of crude extracts from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis virgulata (Melanconiales, Amphisphaeriaceae) and the saprophytic fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus (Basidiomycetes, Polyporaceae) against the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Anopheles nuneztovari. Methods The extracts were tested at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500ppm. Ethyl acetate mycelia (EAM) extracts and liquid culture media (LCM) from Pe. virgulata and Py. sanguineus were tested against third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and An. nuneztovari. Results The larvicidal activity of the EAM extracts from Pe. virgulata against Ae. aegypti had an LC50=101.8ppm, and the extract from the basidiomycete fungus Py. sanguineus had an LC50=156.8ppm against the Ae. aegypti larvae. The Pe. virgulata extract had an LC50=16.3ppm against the An. nuneztovari larvae, and the Py. sanguineus extract had an LC50=87.2ppm against these larvae. Conclusions These results highlight the larvicidal effect of EAM extracts from the endophyte Pe. virgulata against the two larval mosquitoes tested. Thus, Pe. virgulata and Py. sanguineus have the potential for the production of bioactive substances against larvae of these two tropical disease vectors, with An. nuneztovari being more susceptible to these extracts

From omnipotence to exhaustion: the perspectives of adolescents in drug therapy De la omnipotencia al desgaste: las perspectivas del adolescente en tratamiento de quimioterapia Da onipotência ao desgaste: as perspectivas do adolescente em quimioterapia

This study aimed at understanding the meaning of chemotherapeutic treatment for adolescents with cancer. It is a qualitative study using Alfred Schütz’s social phenomenology as a framework. Seven adolescents were interviewed. Four themes emerged from the analysis of their discourses: Impact of the disease on their lives; The discomfort of treatment; Coping strategies and Projection to the future without the disease. The statements of the adolescents revealed that the experience with the chemotherapeutic treatment affects several possibilities of being-in-the-world-with-the-others. The healthcare team plays a fundamental role in the lives of these adolescents, and this relationship goes beyond the scientific level.<br>Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comprender el significado del tratamiento quimioterápico para el adolescente acometido por cáncer. Se trata de investigación de naturaleza cualitativa, utilizando el referencial fenomenológico social de Alfred Schütz. Fueron entrevistados siete adolescentes. Del análisis de los discursos, emergieron cuatro temas: el impacto de la enfermedad en su vida; la incomodidad del tratamiento; las estrategias de enfrentamiento; y la proyección para el futuro sin la enfermedad. La declaración de los adolescentes reveló que la experiencia con el tratamiento quimioterápico afecta las varias posibilidades del ser-en-el-mundo-con-los-otros. El equipo que cuida es parte fundamental en la vida de esos adolescentes, cuya relación ultrapasa lo científico.<br>Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender o significado do tratamento quimioterápico para o adolescente acometido pelo câncer. Trata-se de pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, com referencial fenomenológico social de Alfred Schütz. Foram entrevistados sete adolescentes. Da análise dos discursos, emergiram quatro temas: impacto da doença em sua vida, o desconforto do tratamento, estratégias de enfrentamento e projeção para o futuro sem a doença. A fala dos adolescentes revelou que a experiência com o tratamento quimioterápico afeta as várias possibilidades do ser-no-mundo-com-os-outros. A equipe que cuida é parte fundamental na vida desses adolescentes, cuja relação ultrapassa o científico

Percepção de voz e qualidade de vida em idosos professores e não professores Voice perception and quality of life of elder teachers and non teachers

Este artigo tem como objetivos comparar os escores do protocolo de qualidade de vida e voz (QVV) de idosos professores (GP) e não professores (GNP) e verificar a relação entre os escores, a idade cronológica e a percepção da mudança vocal. Método: em 47 sujeitos, 23 GP e 24 GNP, acima de 65 anos, homens e mulheres, foram coletados dados sobre percepção de mudança vocal e aplicado o protocolo QVV. Resultados: não houve diferença significante entre os escores do QVV dos sujeitos GP e GNP, nem relação entre escores e percepção de mudança vocal. A idade cronológica apresentou correlação positiva (p=0,039) com escores do domínio físico para os GP. Para os sujeitos GP e GNP que perceberam a mudança vocal, houve diferença significante nas respostas às questões 2 (p=0,02), 4 (p=0,007), 5 (p=0,012) e 9 (p=0,002). Conclusão: Para ambos os grupos, o impacto das mudanças vocais foi maior no domínio físico do que no socioemocional do QVV. A autopercep��ão do envelhecimento vocal esteve relacionada à diferença quanto ao uso ou não da voz profissionalmente. Os professores, independentemente dessa percepção, têm maior problema em questões do domínio físico do QVV relacionadas à exigência profissional. Os não professores que perceberam o envelhecimento vocal apresentaram dificuldade em aspectos físicos e socioemocionais.<br>The aim of this article is to compare elder teachers (GP) and non-teachers' (GNP) scores from the voice related quality of life (VR-QOL) protocol and verify the relation between these scores, chronological age and voice change perception. Data from the vocal change perception was collected in 47 subjects, 23 GP and 24 GNP, over 65 years old, both sexes, and the VR-QOL protocol has been applied. There was no significant difference between the score of the two groups or between these scores and the voice change perception. There was a positive correlation (p=0,039) between chronological age and the VR-QOL physical domain scores for the GP. There was significant difference between the two groups of subjects that realized the vocal change, for the VR-QOL answers to questions 2 (p=0,02), 4 (p=0,007), 5 (p=0,012) and 9 (p=0,002). In both groups, the impact of the voice changes was higher in the VR-QOL physical than in the socio-emotional domain. The self perception of vocal aging was related to the professional or non-professional use of the voice. Teachers, apart from having this perception had more problems in the VR-QOL questions of the physical domain, related to the professional requests. Non-teachers that noticed the vocal aging had difficulties with the socio-emotional and physical aspects