Repeated-batch cultures of Baby Hamster Kidney cell aggregates in stirred vessels

Natural aggregates of Baby Hamster Kidney cells were grown in stirred vessels operated as repeated-batch cultures during more than 600 hours. Different protocols were applied to passaging different fractions of the initial culture: single cells, large size distributed aggregates and large aggregates. When single cells or aggregates with the same size distribution found in culture are used as inoculum, it is possible to maintain semi-continuous cultures during more than 600 hours while keeping cell growth and viability. These results suggest that aggregate culture in large scale might be feasible, since a small scale culture can easily be used as inoculum for larger vessels without noticeable modification of the aggregate chacteristics. However, when only the large aggregates are used as inoculum, it was shown that much lower cell concentrations are obtained, cell viability in aggregates dropping to less than 60%. Under this selection procedure, aggregates maintain a constant size, larger than under batch experiments, up to approximately 400 hours; after this time, aggregate size increases to almost twice the size expected from batch cultures.     

Temporal and spatial dynamics of grapevine anthracnose and its relationship to pathogen survival

Anthracnose, caused by Elsinoë ampelina, is an economically important grapevine disease in south and southeast Brazil. Control is achieved by lime sulphur application during grapevine dormancy and foliar fungicide sprays until the berries are half-grown. This study assessed the temporal and spatial progress of grapevine anthracnose under field conditions in order to describe the disease dynamics and its relationship to pathogen survival. The experiment was carried out in a vineyard of table grape Vitis labrusca in Brazil, during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. The incidence of vines with diseased leaves, stems and berries and the disease severity on leaves were recorded from bud break to veraison. Monomolecular, logistic and Gompertz models were fitted by non-linear regression to the incidence and severity data over time to characterize the temporal progress. Ordinary runs, dispersion index, modified Taylor's power law and spatial hierarchy analyses were used to characterize the spatial pattern of diseased plants. The monomolecular model showed the best fit for the incidence progress, with disease progress rates ranging from 0.051 to 0.136 per day. In both seasons, the incidence of diseased plants reached 100% 1 month after bud break. However, the incidence of diseased leaves per plant was around 60% and leaf disease severity was lower than 5% for both years. Ordinary runs and dispersion index analyses revealed that diseased grapevines were distributed randomly on the majority of the assessment dates. Meanwhile, a slight aggregation of diseased vines was observed in the modified Taylor's power law analysis. Our results suggested that the progress of anthracnose incidence and severity over time was governed mainly by the income of the primary inoculum, which survived in the vineyard. Therefore, anthracnose control measures in Brazilian vineyards should be focused on the reduction in inoculum within the vineyard.     

La participación de personas con demencia en las reuniones del plan de atención individualizada: impacto en el bienestar y la calidad del cuidado

Introduction

An individualised intervention plan (IIP) offers a new paradigm in the care of the elderly with dementia, with the aim of increasing their quality of life through personalisation, respect for their freedom, and their participation in the decisions that affect their lives.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of the residential home patient with dementia and their quality of care when they take part in the interdisciplinary meeting in which their care plan is decided.

Material and methods

A total of 52 elderly patients with dementia took part in the study. They were distributed into two groups, one experimental (37 residents) and another control (15 residents). The Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) tool was used to assess the well-being and quality of care of the residents. This tool was used twice, before and after the intervention.

Results

The well-being of the resident, evaluated using the DCM, was similar before and after the intervention in the experimental group. No differences were observed either on comparing the control and experimental groups. However, some indicators of carer behaviour were different before and after the intervention, and when the control and experimental group were compared.

Conclusion

The inclusion of elderly persons with dementia in their IIP meeting had a positive effect in the interaction of the staff with the residents, but not on the well-being of the resident.     

Expresión sexual y regulación de la sexualidad en residencias de personas mayores

Objectives

The study had three objectives: (a) To determine how staff perceives the frequency of different sexual expressions in long-term care facilities for older people; (2) to quantify policies aimed at guaranteeing residents’ sexual rights in such institutions, and (3) to determine factors influencing the presence of these kind of policies.

Biochemical and Functional Studies on the Burkholderia cepacia Complex bceN Gene,Encoding a GDP-D-Mannose 4,6-Dehydratase

This work reports the biochemical and functional analysis of the Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 bceN gene, encoding a protein with GDP-D-mannose 4,6-dehydratase enzyme activity (E.C.4.2.1.47). Data presented indicate that the protein is active when in the tetrameric form, catalyzing the conversion of GDP-D-mannose into GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose. This sugar nucleotide is the intermediary necessary for the biosynthesis of GDP-D-rhamnose, one of the sugar residues of cepacian, the major exopolysaccharide produced by environmental and human, animal and plant pathogenic isolates of the Burkholderia cepacia complex species. V_max and K_m values of 1.5±0.2 µmol.min⁻¹.mg⁻¹ and 1024±123 µM, respectively, were obtained from the kinetic characterization of the B. cenocepacia J2315 BceN protein by NMR spectroscopy, at 25°C and in the presence of 1 mol MgCl₂ per mol of protein. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by the substrate, with an estimated K_i of 2913±350 µM. The lack of a functional bceN gene in a mutant derived from B. cepacia IST408 slightly reduced cepacian production. However, in the B. multivorans ATCC17616 with bceN as the single gene in its genome with predicted GMD activity, a bceN mutant did not produce cepacian, indicating that this gene product is required for cepacian biosynthesis.     

Efficacy of a Vaccine Formula against Tuberculosis in Cattle

“Test-and-slaughter” has been successful in industrialized countries to control and eradicate tuberculosis from cattle; however, this strategy is too expensive for developing nations, where the prevalence is especially high. Vaccination with the Calmette-Guérin (BCG) strain has been shown to protect against the development of lesions in vaccinated animals: mouse, cattle and wildlife species. In this study, the immune response and the pathology of vaccinated (BCG-prime and BCG prime-CFP-boosted) and unvaccinated (controls) calves were evaluated under experimental settings. A 10⁶ CFU dose of the BCG strain was inoculated subcutaneously on the neck to two groups of ten animas each. Thirty days after vaccination, one of the vaccinated groups was boosted with an M. bovis culture filtrate protein (CFP). Three months after vaccination, the three groups of animals were challenged with 5×10⁵ CFU via intranasal by aerosol with a field strain of M. bovis. The immune response was monitored throughout the study. Protection was assessed based on immune response (IFN-g release) prechallenge, presence of visible lesions in lymph nodes and lungs at slaughter, and presence of bacilli in lymph nodes and lung samples in histological analysis. Vaccinated cattle, either with the BCG alone or with BCG and boosted with CFP showed higher IFN-g response, fewer lesions, and fewer bacilli per lesion than unvaccinated controls after challenge. Animals with low levels of IFN-g postvaccine-prechallenge showed more lesions than animals with high levels. Results from this study support the argument that vaccination could be incorporated into control programs to reduce the incidence of TB in cattle in countries with high prevalence.     

Synthesis and inotropic activity of hydroindene derivatives

A synthetic approach to hydroindenic inotropic agents has been developed, starting from enantiopure Hajos-Parrish (1). Hajos-Wiechert (2), and related diketones. Their transformation into C-1 formyl derivatives and other subsequent synthetic targets is described. The results of the thermodynamic equilibration between both epimers of each formyl derivative are analysed. The inotropic activities of selected compounds on right and left atrial preparations are also evaluated and discussed.     

Analgesic Effect of Photobiomodulation on Bothrops Moojeni Venom-Induced Hyperalgesia: A Mechanism Dependent on Neuronal Inhibition,Cytokines and Kinin Receptors Modulation

BackgroundEnvenoming induced by Bothrops snakebites is characterized by drastic local tissue damage that involves an intense inflammatory reaction and local hyperalgesia which are not neutralized by conventional antivenom treatment. Herein, the effectiveness of photobiomodulation to reduce inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by Bothrops moojeni venom (Bmv), as well as the mechanisms involved was investigated.Conclusion/SignificanceThese data demonstrate that LLLT interferes with mechanisms involved in nociception and hyperalgesia and modulates Bmv-induced nociceptive signal. The use of photobiomodulation in reducing local pain induced by Bothropic venoms should be considered as a novel therapeutic tool for the treatment of local symptoms induced after bothropic snakebites.