Bat lung epithelial cells show greater host species-specific innate resistance than MDCK cells to human and avian influenza viruses

Background With the recent discovery of novel H17N10 and H18N11 influenza viral RNA in bats and report on high frequency of avian H9 seroconversion in a species of free ranging bats, an important issue to address is the extent bats are susceptible to conventional avian and human influenza A viruses. Method To this end, three bat species (Eidolon helvum, Carollia perspicillata and Tadarida brasiliensis) of lung epithelial cells were separately infected with two avian and two human influenza viruses to determine their relative host innate immune resistance to infection. Results All three species of bat cells were more resistant than positive control Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells to all four influenza viruses. TB1-Lu cells lacked sialic acid α2,6-Gal receptors and were most resistant among the three bat species. Interestingly, avian viruses were relatively more replication permissive in all three bat species of cells than with the use of human viruses which suggest that bats could potentially play a role in the ecology of avian influenza viruses. Chemical inhibition of the JAK-STAT pathway in bat cells had no effect on virus production suggesting that type I interferon signalling is not a major factor in resisting influenza virus infection. Conclusion Although all three species of bat cells are relatively more resistant to influenza virus infection than control MDCK cells, they are more permissive to avian than human viruses which suggest that bats could have a contributory role in the ecology of avian influenza viruses

Uso de esteróides anabolizantes em praticantes de musculação e/ou fisioculturismo

Os hormônios andrógeno-anabolizantes têm seu uso difundido entre os esportistas, usualmente para aumentar a massa e a potência musculares. Assim, através do uso de questionários auto-aplicáveis em um estudo transversal, foram entrevistados 305 atletas (escolhidos aleatoriamente) das academias de Santa Maria, RS, a fim de quantificar diversas variáveis relacionadas ao uso de esteróides anabolizantes (EA). A maioria dos participantes era de homens (81,1%) e a média de idade foi de 22 anos (DP ± 7). Enquanto 29% usavam aditivos alimentares, apenas 2% dos indivíduos admitiram ter usado EA (apesar de 46% dos entrevistados conhecerem algum usuário de EA). Dois terços dos usuários adquiriram a droga em farmácias (sem prescrição médica) e 35,1% desconheciam seus paraefeitos. Dos entrevistados, 28,4% acreditam que doses "adequadas" de EA não causam dano à saúde. Dessa forma, conclui-se que a principal medida preventiva à iniciação ao uso de EA é a educação dos atletas