Minimal concentration of human IgM and IgG antibodies necessary to protect mice from challenges with live O6 Escherichia coli

This work evaluated the ability of human anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgM and IgG antibodies to protect mice challenged with Escherichia coli serotype O6 : K2ac. Purified IgM-effluent, purified IgG, pools of normal human serum (NHS), or control group were injected into mice 18 h before challenges with O6 E. coli. Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were quantified in the sera of test and control groups. All mice receiving purified IgM-effluent (66.6 mg L(-1) of anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgM antibodies) and NHS survived. Purified IgG (1.1 mg L(-1) of anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgG antibodies) protected 87.5% of the animals. The control group showed no protective ability. The minimal concentration of anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgM antibodies, able to protect 50% of the animals was 33.3 mg L(-1) of purified IgM-effluent, whereas purified IgG was able to protect 50% of the animals with only 1.1 mg L(-1) of anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgG antibodies. Serum from animals pretreated with purified IgM-effluent and purified IgG before challenges with lipopolysaccharide O6 did not have detectable pro-inflammatory cytokines. Hepatocytes of the control group were completely invaded by bacteria, whereas none was found in animals pretreated with purified IgM-effluent and purified IgG. Higher concentrations of anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgM antibodies as compared to anti-lipopolysaccharide O6 IgG antibodies were needed to protect mice from challenges with E. coli O6 serotype.     

Caatinga Ethnobotany: Anthropogenic Landscape Modification and Useful Species in Brazil’s Semi-Arid Northeast

Caatinga Ethnobotany: Anthropogenic Landscape Modification and Useful Species in Brazil’s Semi-Arid Northeast This study explores the contribution of anthropogenic landscapes in providing useful botanical resources to a Caatinga community in Pernambuco, Brazil. Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews using the checklist-interview method and by means of a “field herbarium” of the most abundant species in the anthropogenic zones. We recorded 119 species distributed in 36 families, of which 79 were found to be useful. Forage was the most prominent use category, containing 84% of the citations, followed by medicinals (36.70%), foods (10.12%), and wood (8.86%). Herbaceous species predominated (63.29%), followed by shrubs (3.79%), sub-shrubs (21.51%), trees (8.86%), and creepers (2.53%). Trees exhibited a greater number of uses than other life-forms (p < 0.05). Significant differences in richness were found, with the highest richness of species (χ2 = 60.28, p < 0.05), genera (χ2 = 49.03, p < 0.05), and families (χ2 = 20.16, p < 0.05) appearing in the rainy season. We concluded that fodder use was the most important category in our anthropogenic research areas, accounting for a higher number of species, genera, and families. The next most important categories were medicinal, timber, and food plants, respectively.     

The major chromoblastomycosis fungal pathogen, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, extracellularly releases proteolytic enzymes whose expression is modulated by culture medium composition: implications on the fungal development and cleavage of key's host structures

We investigated the possible secretion of peptidases by F. pedrosoi, when conidial cells were cultured in two distinct media. Aspartyl proteolytic activity was detected on the Czapeck-Dox-derived supernatant, which was blocked by pepstatin, and only active in extremely acidic conditions. The supernatant obtained after conidia growth in Kauffman medium presented metallopeptidase activity, which was active over a broad pH range and sensitive to 1,10-phenanthroline and EGTA. Additionally, both culture supernatants were able to cleave a wide range of proteinaceous substrates, including important human serum proteins (e.g. albumin and immunoglobulin G) and extracellular matrix components (e.g. fibronectin and laminin). As peptidases participate in different cellular metabolic pathways, we also tested the influence of proteolytic inhibitors on the F. pedrosoi conidia development in vitro. The metallopeptidase inhibitors, 1,10-phenanthroline, EGTA and EDTA, strongly abrogated the growth of conidial forms by approximately 95%, 85% and 60%, respectively. Moreover, 1,10-phenanthroline blocked the differentiation process from conidia to mycelia, an essential step during the F. pedrosoi life cycle. Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, a serine peptidase inhibitor, slightly reduced the conidial growth, whereas proteolytic inhibitors of cysteine (E-64) and aspartic (pepstatin) type peptidases did not alter conidial developmental behavior. In summary, our results showed for the first time the expression of extracellular proteolytic activity by F. pedrosoi conidial cells.     

Quantitative Progress Evaluation of Post-stroke Patients Using a Novel Bimanual Cable-driven Robot

Rehabilitation is the most effective way to reduce motor impairments in post-stroke patients.This process demands several hours with a specialized therapist.Given resources and personnel shortages,the literature reports a high interest in robotic assisted rehabilitation solutions.Recently,cable-driven robotic architectures are attracting significant research interest for post-stroke rehabilitation.However,the existing cable-driven robots are mostly unilateral devices allowing the rehabilitation only of the most affected limb.This leaves unaddressed the rehabilitation of bimanual activities,which are predominant within the common Activities of Daily Living(ADL).Thus,this paper presents a specific novel design to achieve bimanual rehabilitation tasks that has been named as BiCAR robot.Specifically,this paper provides a full insight on the BiCAR sys-tem as well as on its dedicated developed software BiEval.In particular,BiEval software has been developed as based on a serious game strategy and a virtual reality environment to track the patient exercising duration,motion ranges,speeds,and forces over time for achieving a quantitative assessment of the rehabilitation progress.Finally,the paper presents the BiCAR/BiEval capabilities by referring to a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial(RCT).The clinical trials have been used to validate the BiCAR/BiEval in terms of engineering feasibility and user acceptance to achieve an innovative cost-oriented integrated hardware/software device for the bimanual assistive rehabilitation of post-stroke patients.     

Relative expression of KLK5 to LEKTI is associated with aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a challenging cancer to treat despite all the advances of the last 50 years. Kallikrein 5 (KLK5) is among the serine proteases implicated in OSCC development. However, whether the activity of KLK5 promotes carcinogenesis is still controversial. Moreover, knowledge regarding the role of the KLK5 cognate inhibitor, Lympho-Epithelial Kazal-Type related Inhibitor (LEKTI), in OSCC is scarce. We have, thus, sought to investigate the importance of KLK5 and LEKTI expression in premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity.MethodsKLK5 and LEKTI protein expression was evaluated in 301 human samples, which were comprised of non-malignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Moreover, a bioinformatic analysis of the overall survival rate from 517 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples was performed. Additionally, to mimic the uncovered KLK5 to serine peptidase inhibitor (SPINK5) imbalance, the KLK5 gene was abrogated in an OSCC cell line using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The generated cell line was then used for in vivo and in vitro carcinogenesis related experiments.ResultsLEKTI was found to be statistically downregulated in OSCCs, with increased KLK5/SPINK5 mRNA ratio being associated with a shorter overall survival (p = 0.091). Indeed, disruption of KLK5 to SPINK5 balance through the generation of KLK5 null OSCC cells led to smaller xenografted tumors and statistically decreased proliferation rates following multiple time points of BrdU treatment in vitro.ConclusionThe association of increased enzyme/inhibitor ratio with poor prognosis indicates KLK5 to SPINK5 relative expression as an important prognostic marker in OSCC.     

Guidelines for indications for coronary revascularization in The Netherlands

In 1996 the Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Sports in The Netherlands published a 'Planning Decree Special Interventions in the Heart'. She requested from the professional organizations guidelines for the indications for interventions in the heart. A working group was formed with representatives from the Dutch professional organizations for cardiology and thoracic surgery, to address this issue for patients with coronary artery disease. The working group confirmed the need to discuss all patients who are considered for either elective or emergency revascularization during a multidisciplinary consultation in (or with) one of the specialized Dutch hospitals. During this meeting of the 'heart team', at least one interventional cardiologist and one thoracic surgeon should be present. There are three possible outcomes of the heart team's consultations for each patient: drug therapy only ('conservative management'), coronary surgery or catheter intervention. For each case, the team should indicate the expected benefit, the risk of the intervention, the urgency and the estimated waiting time. The guidelines presented in this paper address these issues for three patient categories: stable angina pectoris, unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction.     

Cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandins in reproductive tract physiology and pathology

Prostaglandins, thromboxanes (TX) and leukotrienes, collectively referred to as eicosanoids, are cyclooxygenase (COX) metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA). Prostaglandins, have been recognised for many years as key molecules in regulating reproductive tract physiology and pathology. Numerous recent studies in in vitro model systems and knockout mouse models have demonstrated specific functional roles for the respective cyclooxygenase enzymes, prostaglandins and prostanoid receptors. Here we review the findings obtained in several of these studies with emphasis on the roles played by cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandins, specifically prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and F2alpha in reproductive tract physiology and pathology.