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MASPs at the crossroad between the complement and the coagulation cascades - the case for COVID-19
No full textComponents of the complement system and atypical parameters of coagulation were reported in COVID-19 patients, as well as the exacerbation of the inflammation and coagulation activity. Mannose binding lectin (MBL)- associated serine proteases (MASPs) play an important role in viral recognition and subsequent activation of the lectin pathway of the complement system and blood coagulation, connecting both processes. Genetic variants of MASP1 and MASP2 genes are further associated with different levels and functional efficiency of their encoded proteins, modulating susceptibility and severity to diseases. Our review highlights the possible role of MASPs in SARS-COV-2 binding and activation of the lectin pathway and blood coagulation cascades, as well as their associations with comorbidities of COVID-19. MASP-1 and/or MASP-2 present an increased expression in patients with COVID-19 risk factors: diabetes, arterial hypertension and cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Based also on the positive results of COVID-19 patients with antiMASP-2 antibody, we propose the use of MASPs as a possible biomarker of the progression of COVID-19 and the investigation of new treatment strategies taking into consideration the dual role of MASPs, including MASP inhibitors as promising therapeutic targets against COVID-19
In vitro and in vivo growth inhibition of human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells by Guatteria megalophylla Diels (Annonaceae) leaf essential oil
No full textBrazilian agencies
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
(CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do
Amazonas (FAPEAM) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da
Bahia (FAPESB).Guatteria megalophylla Diels (Annonaceae) is an 8-10 m tall tree that grows near streams and is widely spread throughout Colombian, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Brazilian and Guianese Amazon rainforest. Herein, we investigated for the first time the chemical composition and in vitro and in vivo anti-leukemia potential of G. megalophylla leaf essential oil (EO) using human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells as model. EO was obtained by a hydrodistillation clevenger-type apparatus and characterized quali- and quantitatively by GC-MS and GC-FID, respectively. In vitro cytotoxic potential of EO was evaluated in human cancer cell lines (HL-60, MCF-7 CAL27, HSC-3, HepG2 and HCT116) and in human non-cancer cell line (MRC-5) by Alamar blue method. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, cell cycle distribution and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry for HL-60 cells treated with EO. In vivo efficacy of EO (50 and 100 mg/kg) was evaluated in C.B-17 SCID mice with HL-60 cell xenografts. Chemical composition analyses showed spathulenol, γ-muurolene, bicyclogermacrene, β-elemene and δ-elemene as main constituents of assayed sample. EO displayed in vitro cytotoxicity, including anti-leukemia effect with IC50 value of 12.51 μg/mL for HL-60 cells. EO treatment caused augment of phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation without increasing of ROS in HL-60 cells. In vivo tumor mass inhibition rates of EO was 16.6-48.8 %. These data indicate anti-leukemia potential of G. megalophylla leaf EO
De pandemias, desenvolvimento e multilateralismo
No full textO texto foi originalmente publicado no Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil (3/4/2020) no link: https://diplomatique.org.br/de-pandemias-desenvolvimento-e-multilateralismo/Anexamos também o artigo original publicado no Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil em 03/4/2020
Predominance of Giardia duodenalis AII sub-assemblage in young children from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Predominio del subconjunto AII de Giardia duodenalis en niños pequeños de Salvador, Bahía, Brasil
No full textFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq/MCT) and Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Brazil.Objective. To characterize the Giardia duodenalis molecular isolates in children from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Methods. G. duodenalis positive fecal samples were obtained from 71 children from two daycare centers and from 39 users of a public clinical analysis laboratory. Samples were analyzed by PCR-RFLP of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and β-giardin genes, and by sequencing of β-giardin.
Results. Of the 110 G. duodenalis samples, 80 (72.7%) amplified one or both target genes analyzed. Of these, 62 (77.5 %) were identified as assemblage A, and 18 (22.5%) as assemblage B. The sub-assemblage AII was identified in 58.8% (n = 47) of isolates, followed by sub-assemblage AI (18.8%, n = 15), BIV (11.2%, n = 9) and BIII (5.0%, n = 4). The AII sub-assemblage was the most frequent in children of both day care centers, whereas AI was found only in the group attended at the clinical laboratory. There was a predominance of sub-assemblage AII in children under two years.
Conclusions. The higher frequency of AII sub-assemblage suggests that anthroponotic transmission is more common in Salvador, but that zoonotic transmission pathways are also present, and that a change in susceptibility to different molecular patterns of Giardia may occur during child growth.Objetivo. Caracterizar los aislamientos moleculares de Giardia duodenalis en niños de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil.
Materiales y métodos. Las muestras fecales positivas para G. duodenalis se obtuvieron de 71 niños de dos guarderías y de 39 usuarios de un laboratorio público de análisis clínicos. Las muestras fueram analizadas por PCR-RFLP de los genes de glutamato deshidrogenasa (gdh) y β-giardin, y por secuenciación de β-giardin.
Resultados. De las 110 muestras de G. duodenalis, 80 (72,7%) amplificaron uno o ambos genes analizados. De estos, 62 (77,5%) se identificaron como el ensamblaje A y 18 (22,5%) como el ensamblaje B. El subconjunto AII se identificó en el 58,8% (n=47) de los aislamientos, seguido del subconjunto AI (18,8%, n=15), BIV (11,2%, n=9) y BIII (5,0%, n=4). El subconjunto de AII fue el más frecuente en los niños de ambas guarderías, mientras que la AI solo se encontró en el grupo atendido en el laboratorio clínico. Hubo un predominio de sub-ensamblaje AII en niños menores de dos años.
Conclusiones. La mayor frecuencia de subconjuntos AII sugiere que la transmisión antroponótica es más común en Salvador, pero que también existen vías de transmisión zoonóticas, y que un cambio en la susceptibilidad a diferentes patrones moleculares de Giardia puede ocurrir durante el crecimiento infantil
Covid-19: Fiocruz contra as Fake News
No full textA Fiocruz tem produzido uma série de materiais informativos sobre a pandemia da doença pelo SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). A reprodução do material é livre e gratuita. Baixe e compartilhe informação correta e de qualidade
CD4+ cell count stratification to guide tuberculosis preventive therapy for people living with HIV
No full textObjectives: In 2018, Brazilian guidelines changed to recommend tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy for all people with HIV and a CD4þ cell count 350 cells/ml or less, but only for those with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) if CD4þ cell count is than 350 cells/ml. We determined the potential effectiveness of CD4þ-based guidelines for TB testing and preventive therapy. Design: Secondary analysis of the stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized THRio trial for isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT).
Methods: We analyzed data from 4114 newly registered patients with HIV in 29 clinics followed until TB diagnosis, death, or administrative censoring. We compared incidence rates of TB and TB/death between CD4þ, TST, IPT, and antiretroviral therapy categories. Results: Initial CD4þ cell count was 350 cells/ml or less in 2138 (52%) and more than 350 cells/mlin 1976 (48%) patients. TST was performed for 2922 (71%), ofwhom657(16%)
were TST-positive [278 (13%) CD4þ 350 vs. 379 (19%) CD4þ > 350]. A total of 619 (15%) received IPT and 2806 (68%) received antiretroviral therapy. For patients with CD4þ cellcount 350 cells/mlor less who did not receive IPT, the incidence rate of TB was 1.79/100 person-years (pys) and TB/death was 3.89/100 pys. For patients with CD4þ cell count more than 350 who did not receive IPT, the incidence rates of TB and TB/death were 0.57/100 and 1.49/100 pys for TST-negatives, and 1.05/100 and 1.64/100 pys for TST-unknowns. Conclusion: TB incidence was high among all patients who did not receive IPT, including those with CD4þ cell count more than 350 cells/ml and negative or unknown TST results. TB preventive therapy should be provided to all people living with HIV in medium burden settings, regardless of CD4þ cell count and TST status.2051-01-0
Fenbendazole controls in vitro growth, virulence potential, and animal infection in the Cryptococcus model
No full textThe human diseases caused by the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are associated with high indices of mortality and toxic and/or cost-prohibitive therapeutic protocols. The need for affordable antifungals to combat cryptococcal disease is unquestionable. Previous studies suggested benzimidazoles as promising anticryptococcal agents combining low cost and high antifungal efficacy, but their therapeutic potential has not been demonstrated so far. In this study, we investigated the antifungal potential of fenbendazole, the most effective anticryptococcal benzimidazole. Fenbendazole was inhibitory against 17 different isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii at a low concentration. The mechanism of anticryptococcal activity of fenbendazole involved microtubule disorganization, as previously described for human parasites. In combination with fenbendazole, the concentrations of the standard antifungal amphotericin B required to control cryptococcal growth were lower than those required when this antifungal was used alone. Fenbendazole was not toxic to mammalian cells. During macrophage infection, the anticryptococcal effects of fenbendazole included inhibition of intracellular proliferation rates and reduced phagocytic escape through vomocytosis. Fenbendazole deeply affected the cryptococcal capsule. In a mouse model of cryptococcosis, the efficacy of fenbendazole to control animal mortality was similar to that observed for amphotericin B. These results indicate that fenbendazole is a promising candidate for the future development of an efficient and affordable therapeutic tool to combat cryptococcosis
Adolescentes, televisión y ciencia: un estudio exploratorio a partir de la publicidade brasileña
No full textEste artigo apresenta uma análise qualitativa na intersecção entre os campos da divulgação científica e comunicação, trazendo reflexões sobre a percepção pública da ciência de adolescentes brasileiros identificada a partir de publicidades televisivas. Por meio de entrevistas, buscamos entender de que forma esses jovens entendem e se relacionam com os conteúdos científicos presentes nessas programações televisivas que, tão recorrentemente, fazem uso de tais conteúdos como um recurso motivador de compra. Os entrevistados se mostraram bastante críticos à programação televisiva, evidenciando que constroem diversos sentidos a partir dela. Embora os resultados não sejam conclusivos ou exaustivos, em virtude do caráter qualitativo desta pesquisa, percebemos que é possível que a percepção dos jovens sobre o conceito de ciência possa estar ligada à abordagem desses assuntos em publicidades.This paper shows a qualitative analysis at the intersection between scientific communication and communication, bringing reflections of Brazilian teenagers’ public perception of science generated by television advertising. Through interviews, we seek to understand how these young people understand and relate to the scientific content present in these kind of advertising that, so recurrently, make use of such content as a purchase motivator. The interviewees were very critical on television advertising, showing that they construct several meanings from it. Although the results are not conclusive or exhaustive, due to the qualitative nature of this research, we realize that it’s possible that the perception of the young people about Science can be linked to the approach of these subjects in advertisements.Este artículo presenta un análisis cualitativo en la intersección entre los campos de la divulgación científica y comunicación, trayendo reflexiones sobre la percepción pública de la ciencia de adolescentes brasileños identificada a partir de publicidades televisivas. Por medio de entrevistas, buscamos entender de qué forma esos jóvenes entienden y se relacionan con los contenidos científicos presentes en esas programaciones televisivas que, tan recurrentemente, hacen uso de tales contenidos como un recurso motivador de compra. Los entrevistados se mostraron bastantes críticos a la programación televisiva, evidenciando que construyen diversos sentidos a partir de ella. Aunque los resultados no son concluyentes o exhaustivos, en virtud del carácter cualitativo de esta investigación, percibimos que es posible que la percepción de los jóvenes sobre el concepto de ciencia pueda estar ligada al abordaje de esos asuntos en las publicidades
Produção Científica e Sociedade: A Fronteira entre o Passado e o Futuro
No full textA Revista Gestão e Sociedade desde 2017 vem promovendo uma intensa reflexão acerca dos desafios e perspectivas que perpassam a complexa rede que envolve diferentes atores, recursos e instituições ligadas à produção acadêmica, com especial ênfase no campo d a Administração. Sempre privilegiando a constituição de mesas e debates com pluralidade de visões, tem sido um espaço altamente qualificado na discussão de temas como fator de impacto e medidas de visibilidade, acesso aos periódicos, publicações locais e internacionais, ciência aberta, comunicação com a sociedade, redes sociais, interações institucionais, últimos movimentos da comunidade acadêmica, o papel dos programas de pós graduação, dentre outros. Este amplo conjunto de temas foi contemplado na Mesa de Debates intitulada Produção Científica e Sociedade: a Fronteira entre o Passado e o Futuro , realizado no dia 05 de setembro de 2019 nas dependências da Faculdade de Ciências Econômicas da UFMG, em Belo Horizonte, onde uma discussão altamente qualificada proporcionou uma riquíssima reflexão que ajuda a compreender os dilemas e perspectivas do passado e o que pode vir a ser o futuro. Por isso, a Editoria Cientifica da Revista Gestão e Sociedade considerou necessário materializar as contribuições dos conferencistas como contributo à comunidade acadêmica do que foi discutido naquele momento. Nele é possível identificar desafios e caminhos possíveis neste amplo esforço de consolidar a importância e visibilidade da comunicação cientifica. Mais do que sete diferentes visões e olhares, manifestam o arguto sentimento de que somente a diversidade e a busca do debate permitem construir caminhos que respeitem as diferenças e reconheçam a complexidade de um ambiente em contínua mutação.Since 2017 Gestão e Sociedade has been promoting a series of debates in themes involving the
academic production and its complex network of actors, resources and institutions . These forums
have been a highly qualified space for the discussion of hot-topics such as impact factor , visibility
measures, access to journ als, local and international publications, open science, communication
with society, social networks, institutional interactions, recent movements of the academic
community, the role of postgraduate programs, among others. As a contribution to the academic community, the scientific editors of Gestão e Sociedade decided to materialize the contributions of the seven lecturers in its latest debate table, entitled ‘Scientific Production and Society: the Frontier between the Past and the Future ’, held on September 5, 2019 in the premises of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of UFMG, in Belo Horizonte. The highly qualified discussion cast light on the challenges and possible paths in this broad effort to consolidate the importance and visibility of scientif ic communication. Moreover, the seven perspectives here presented express the view of this journal that only an open and plural debate can help forging a path that respect differences and recognize the complexity of this everchanging environment
Species composition of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in caves of Quadrilatero Ferrifero, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil
No full textCaves are extreme and inhospitable environments that can harbor several species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals. Among these animals are phlebotomine sand flies, vectors of parasites of the genus Leishmania that cause leishmaniasis. This study aimed to evaluate the species composition of sand flies of four caves, a cave located at Moeda Sul (MS) and three at Parque Estadual Serra do Rola Moça (PESRM), in the region of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Sand flies were collected with automatic light traps. Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling, using a dissimilarity matrix calculated with the Jaccard index, and Multivariate Permutation Analysis were used to evaluate sand fly species composition among entrance, interior, and the surrounding environments of each sampled cave and to infer biological mechanisms from patterns of distribution among these different cave environments. A total of 375 phlebotomine sand flies representing 14 species and six genera were collected. The most abundant species were Evandromyia tupynambai (54.7%), Brumptomyia troglodytes (25.6%), Evandromyia edwardsi (6.1%), Psathyromyia brasiliensis (4.8%) and Lutzomyia longipalpis (4.3%). Thirty individuals were collected at MS, 16 inside the cave and 14 from its surroundings. At PESRM, five individuals were collected from the surroundings of cave RM38, 190 individuals from cave RM39 (48 in the cave and 142 from its surroundings) and 150 individuals from cave RM40 (42 in the cave and 108 from its surroundings). The results revealed a rich sand fly fauna with similar species compositions among the entrance, interior, and surrounding environments of each sampled cave, suggesting that both caves and their surroundings are important for maintaining sand fly communities