Security framework for smart cyber infrastructure

Cluster Computing - The rapid deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices have led to the development of innovative information services, unavailable a few years ago. To provide these...     

A novel in vitro propagation system for West Indian elm [Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Malvaceae)]: a valuable medicinal woody species

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - The aim of this study was to establish a system of in vitro germination and propagation of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. microcuttings (Malvaceae)....     

Diez recomendaciones para mejorar la enseñanza de la Geriatría en el pregrado

IntroductionPopulation ageing and scientific progress have made specific training in Geriatrics essential for any medical students. There are different international recommendations on the teaching of Geriatric Medicine at undergraduate level, but they are still far from being offered systematically. The aim of this work was to develop a National list of recommendations in order to improve training in Geriatric Medicine at the undergraduate level.Material and methodsA list of 10 recommendations was produced by reflecting on the Geriatric training situation in Spain in 2016/2017 and international recommendations. Consensus was reached among the members of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SEGG) working group on «Geriatric training at undergraduate level» through 2 meetings and online discussions.ResultsA list of 10 of recommendations on Geriatric training in Spanish Medical Schools is proposed, including areas such as, the status of the discipline in the curriculum, length, contents, practical training, lecturers, teaching methods, and innovation.ConclusionsThese recommendations are intended to improve Geriatrics training. They can be used by different Medical Schools either to adapt their programs or to start training in Geriatric Medicine.     

Genetic Diversity of the Cryptococcus gattii Species Complex in Mato Grosso State,Brazil

Mycopathologia - Cryptococcosis is caused by fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. Owing to its importance, this study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of C. gattii isolates from animals, humans,...     

4-Deoxyraputindole C induces cell death and cell cycle arrest in tumor cell lines

Several molecules extracted from natural products exhibit different biological activities, such as ion channel modulation, activation of signaling pathways, and anti-inflammatory or antitumor activity. In this study, we tested the antitumor ability of natural compounds extracted from the Raputia praetermissa plant. Among the compounds tested, an alkaloid, here called compound S4 (4-Deoxyraputindole C), showed antitumor effects against human tumor lineages. Compound S4 was the most active against Raji, a lymphoma lineage, promoting cell death with characteristics that including membrane permeabilization, dissipation of the mitochondrial potential, increased superoxide production, and lysosomal membrane permeabilization. The use of cell death inhibitors such as Z-VAD-FMK (caspase inhibitor), necrostatin-1 (receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 inhibitor), E-64 (cysteine peptidases inhibitor), and N-acetyl- L -cysteine (antioxidant) did not decrease compound S4-dependent cell death. Additionally, we tested the effect of cellular activity on adherent human tumor cells. The highest reduction of cellular activity was observed in A549 cells, a lung carcinoma lineage. In this lineage, the effect on the reduction of the cellular activity was due to cell cycle arrest, without plasma membrane permeabilization, loss of the mitochondrial potential or lysosomal membrane permeabilization. Compound S4 was able to inhibit cathepsin B and L by a nonlinear competitive (negative co-operativity) and simple-linear competitive inhibitions, respectively. The potency of inhibition was higher against cathepsin L. Compound S4 promoted cell cycle arrest at G ₀ and G ₂ phase, and increase the expression of p16 and p21 proteins. In conclusion, compound S4 is an interesting molecule against cancer, promoting cell death in the human lymphoma lineage Raji and cell cycle arrest in the human lung carcinoma lineage A549.     

Parasite load evaluation by qPCR and blood culture in Chagas disease and HIV co-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy

Chagas disease also known as American trypanosomiasis, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by triatominae-contaminated feces. It is considered a neglected tropical disease that affects 6 to 7 million people worldwide. The reactivation of Chagas disease occurs when the chronically infected hosts are not able to control T. cruzi infection, generating recurrence of the acute phase. HIV is the main immunosuppressive infection that can lead to the reactivation of chronic Chagas disease in AIDS conditions. In co-infected patients, the reactivation of Chagas disease is related to their high parasite load, high HIV viral load, and CD4 T-cell counting less than 200/mm³, which may evolve to meningoencephalitis and myocarditis. Eight T. cruzi/HIV co-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ten Chagas disease patients without HIV infection that attended at Study Group of Chagas Disease, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Campinas (GEdoCh/HC/UNICAMP-SP) and Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas SP (PUCC/SP) were evaluated. Tests for Chagas disease were performed, such as qPCR and T. cruzi blood culture. The patient’s medical records were analyzed to verify clinical and epidemiological data, viral load, and CD4 T-cell counting since the outset of ART. For both groups, we found no statically significant differences between parasite load via blood culture and qPCR. In T. cruzi/HIV co-infected subjects, we observed a significant increase of CD4 T-cells counting and viral load decrease, which became undetectable over the years after ART. Parasites isolated from the patient’s blood culture were genotyped, being the majority of them infected with TcII and one case of mixed infection (TcII and TcV/TcVI). These results were expected according to the region of origin of the patients. We suggest that the parasite load be monitored through qPCR in T.cruzi/HIV co-infected patients. We conclude that ART in people living with HIV improves infection and immunosuppression control, enabling the natural evolution of the American trypanosomiasis.     

DNA-methyltransferase activities in Streptomyces antibioticus

Abstract To quantitate ammonia production by the intestinal flora, ammonia levels in arterial blood and the venous effluent of the small and large bowel of conventional, selectively decontaminated, germ-free and gnotobiotic rats were measured.
When the anaerobic flora was removed by decontamination a significant decrease in ammonia levels was observed in the effluent of both the small and large intestine. Decontamination of aerobic flora did not result in depression of ammonia production. Gnotobiotic rats colonised with an anaerobic flora or with a mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora, showed a slight increase in ammonia levels. No increase in ammonia production was observed when rats were colonised with aerobic flora. These results indicate that the Enterobacteriaceae were not responsible for ammonia generation.
The increase in ammonia levels after colonisation with anaerobic or mixed anaerobic/aerobic flora did not completely restore ammonia levels, despite reaching bacterial counts which were comparable to those in conventional rats. This may be explained by the limited number of species with which the rats were colonized. The finding that aerobic flora does not significantly contribute to ammonia production suggests that neomycin, known to be exclusively effective against aerobic flora, must have other effects to explain improvement of hepatic encephalopathy.     

Ontogeny of pituitary cell-types and the hypothalamo-hypophysial relationship during early development of chum salmon,Oncorhynchus keta

Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase is a membrane-bound glycoprotein enzyme which is characterized by its phosphohydrolytic, protein phosphatase, and phosphotransferase activities. This enzyme is distributed virtually in all mammalian tissues, particularly during embryonic development. Its expression is stagespecific and can be demonstrated in the developing embryo as early as the 2-cell stage. It has been suggested that tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase might play a role in tissue formation. In the study reported here, a genetransfer approach was employed to investigate possible roles for this enzyme by inserting the cDNA for rat tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase into CHO and LLC-PK1 cells. Permanently transfected cell-lines expressing varying levels of alkaline phosphatase were estblished. The data showed that functional enzyme was expressed in the transfected cells. Cell spreading and attachment were enhanced in transfected CHO cells expressing high levels of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase but not in the LLC-PK1 cells. Further, in CHO cells, proliferation was shown to be inversely proportional to the level of the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase expression. Homotypic cell association was demonstrated in both alkaline phosphatase-positive and alkaline phosphatase-negative cells in both CHO and LLC-PK1 celllines. Taken together, these findings suggest that in addition to a role in mineralization of bone, tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase might also play a role in other cell activities, including those related to differentiation, such as cell-cell or cell-substrate interaction and proliferation.     

Effects of Angular Leaf Spot and Rust on Leaf Gas Exchange and Yield of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris)

Isolated and interactive effects of angular leaf spot (caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola) and rust (caused by Uromyces appendiculatus) on leaf gas exchange and yield was studied in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Carioca) plants. Gas exchange was measured on 37, 44, 51, and 58 d after planting using a portable photosynthesis system. The inoculation of plants with P. griseola (P), U. appendiculatus (U), and the combination of both pathogens (P+U) caused a significant reduction of net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and yield. The reduction of stomatal conductance (g _s), P _N, and yield was higher under P and combination of P+U than under U treatment. By effect of U, the reduction on yield was higher than the reductions on gas exchange parameters. On the treatment P+U, a reduction of 23 % in P _N and a correspondent reduction of 32 % in yield was observed. The interactive effects of the pathogens on yield could be explained in part by the decreases in g _s and in P _N of diseased bean leaves. The combined effect of both diseases on yield and gas exchange parameters suggests an antagonistic interaction.