Inter-sectoral prioritization of climate technologies: insights from a Technology Needs Assessment for mitigation in Brazil.

Unlabelled: Technological development is key for national strategies to cope with the Paris Agreement's goals. Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) aim to identify, prioritize, and diffuse climate change mitigation and/or adaptation technologies in developing countries. Their methodology includes a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework but, although many countries already conducted a TNA, literature lacks discussions on country-specific processes for a TNA, as it usually follows a one-size-fits-all approach.

Glucose-lowering Drugs and Hospitalization for Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Additive-effects Network Meta-analysis With More Than 500 000 Patient-years.

Background: Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) prevent hospitalization resulting from heart failure (HHF). However, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus use multiple antihyperglycemic drugs to achieve glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) targets. In these drug combinations, the risk of HHF is unpredictable and so is the parallel effect of glucose-lowering.

Synthesis and biological effects of small molecule enhancers for improved recombinant protein production in plant cell cultures.

Histone deacetylases are involved in chromatin remodelling and thus play a vital role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. HDAC inhibitors alter the acetylation status of histone and non-histone proteins to regulate various cellular events such as transcription. Novel HDAC inhibitors were designed and synthesised to promote higher levels of recombinant protein production in tobacco cell cultures.

Flow Cytometry as a Tool for Quality Control of Fluorescent Conjugates Used in Immunoassays.

The use of antibodies in immunodiagnostic kits generally implies the conjugation of these proteins with other molecules such as chromophores or fluorochromes. The development of more sensitive quality control procedures than spectrophotometry is essential to assure the use of better fluorescent conjugates since the fluorescent conjugates are critical reagents for a variety of immunodiagnostic kits. In this article, we demonstrate a new flow cytometric protocol to evaluate conjugates by molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochromes (MESF) and by traditional flow cytometric analysis.

Aspects of T Cell-Mediated Immunity Induced in Mice by a DNA Vaccine Based on the Dengue-NS1 Antigen after Challenge by the Intracerebral Route.

Dengue disease has emerged as a major public health issue across tropical and subtropical countries. Infections caused by dengue virus (DENV) can evolve to life-threatening forms, resulting in about 20,000 deaths every year worldwide. Several animal models have been described concerning pre-clinical stages in vaccine development against dengue, each of them presenting limitations and advantages.

Cooperation between CD4+ T Cells and Humoral Immunity Is Critical for Protection against Dengue Using a DNA Vaccine Based on the NS1 Antigen.

Dengue virus (DENV) is spread through most tropical and subtropical areas of the world and represents a serious public health problem. At present, the control of dengue disease is mainly hampered by the absence of antivirals or a vaccine, which results in an estimated half worldwide population at risk of infection. The immune response against DENV is not yet fully understood and a better knowledge of it is now recognized as one of the main challenge for vaccine development.

[Managers' perspective on continuous health education in a region of São Paulo State].

Objective: Analysing the concepts of Continuous Health Education - CHE (EPS - in Portuguese), operated by municipal managers and translated into official documents.

Method: Qualitative research with the use of official documents and semi-structured interviews with the Municipal Health Secretaries or Coordinators of Primary Health Care in the Northeast Region of São Paulo State, and thematic analysis of empirical material.

Results: Results indicate difficulties in the municipalities problematizing their management practices, services and health care; EPS tools presented are insufficient and unsatisfactory for amending the array of problems raised and are still far from the routine of Primary Care services.

Insulin complexation with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin: Spectroscopic evaluation of molecular inclusion and use of the complex in gel for healing of pressure ulcers.

The pressure ulcer healing is a complex process and difficult to be achieved. Insulin is known to promote wound healing, and when complexed with cyclodextrin presents improved solubility, stability and biological activity. Complexation of insulin with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) was performed in this work through the coprecipitation method, providing the inclusion complex (HPβCD-I).

Employing photoacoustic spectroscopy in the evaluation of the skin permeation profile of emulsion containing antioxidant phenolic-rich extract of Melochia arenosa.

Context: Oxidative stress is an important factor modulating skin alterations. Melochia arenosa Benth. (Malvaceae) is a Brazilian plant with antimicrobial activity and antioxidant potential.

Evaluation of Photoprotective Potential and Percutaneous Penetration by Photoacoustic Spectroscopy of the Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi Extract.

Schinus terebinthifolius is a plant rich in phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant properties and can provide new opportunities for treatment and prevention of diseases mediated by ultraviolet radiation like photoaging and skin cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the photoprotective potential and ex vivo percutaneous penetration of the crude extract of Schinus terebinthifolius leaves. The extract was tested for antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and β-carotene bleaching test.

Curcumin-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex: stability, solubility, characterisation by FT-IR, FT-Raman, X-ray diffraction and photoacoustic spectroscopy, and food application.

Curcumin was complexed with β-CD using co-precipitation, freeze-drying and solvent evaporation methods. Co-precipitation enabled complex formation, as indicated by the FT-IR and FT-Raman techniques via the shifts in the peaks that were assigned to the aromatic rings of curcumin. In addition, photoacoustic spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, with the disappearance of the band related to aromatic rings, by Gaussian fitting, and modifications in the spectral lines, respectively, also suggested complex formation.

Reduction of cell viability induced by IFN-alpha generates impaired data on antiviral assay using Hep-2C cells.

Type I interferons (IFNs) exert an array of important biological functions on the innate immune response and has become a useful tool in the treatment of various diseases. An increasing demand in the usage of recombinant IFNs, mainly due to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection, augmented the need of quality control for this biopharmaceutical. A traditional bioassay for IFN potency assessment is the cytopathic effect reduction antiviral assay where a given cell line is preserved by IFN from a lytic virus activity using the cell viability as a frequent measure of end point.

Formulation and characterization of ethylcellulose microparticles containing .L-alanyl- L-glutamine peptide.

Context: The L-alanyl-L-glutamine peptide (AGP) has been effective to promote acute glycemia recovery during long-term insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH), and the oral administration of AGP is suggested to prevent prolonged hypoglycemia, such as nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Objective: Considering the ability of AGP on glycemia recovery and AGP's fast metabolism, the aim of current study was to obtain and characterize ethylcellulose microparticles to deliver the drug for a prolonged time.

Materials And Methods: Microparticles were prepared by simple and double emulsification/hardening method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and FT-Raman spectroscopy and in vitro release.

Photosensitizer and light diffusion through dentin in photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy has been considered a potential antimicrobial modality against oral infections, including dental caries. A model to estimate the penetration of both photosensitizers and light through human dentin, a factor of interest in photodynamic therapy, is proposed. The photoacoustic spectroscopy technique was used to evaluate in vitro dentin permeability of three different photosensitizers.

Microencapsulation by freeze-drying of potassium norbixinate and curcumin with maltodextrin: stability, solubility, and food application.

Stability of potassium norbixinate and curcumin by microencapsulation with maltodextrin DE20 and freeze-drying was evaluated as a function of exposition to light, air, different pH, water solubility, and in food applications. The best results were obtained with microencapsulated potassium norbixinate 1:20, which, when vacuum-packed and in the presence of natural light, showed color retention of 78%, while microencapsulated curcumin 1:20 showed color retention of 71%. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry provided an indication of interaction between colorants and maltodextrin.

Trihalomethanes in Lisbon indoor swimming pools: occurrence, determining factors, and health risk classification.

Characterization of water quality from indoor swimming pools, using chorine-based disinfection techniques, was performed during a 6-mo period to study the occurrence, distribution, and concentration factors of trihalomethanes (THM). Several parameters such as levels of water THM, water and air chloroform, water bromodichloromethane (BDCM), water dibromochloromethane (DBCM), water bromoform (BF), free residual chlorine (FrCl), pH, water and air temperature, and permanganate water oxidizability (PWO) were determined in each pool during that period. Chloroform (CF(W)) was the THM detected at higher concentrations in all pools, followed by BDCM, DBCM, and BF detected at 99, 34, and 6% of the samples, respectively.

Potency determination of recombinant IFN-alpha based on phosphorylated STAT1 using flow cytometry.

The interferon (IFN) family of cytokines is recognized as a key component of the innate immune response and the first line of defense against viral infection. The usage of the IFN-alpha as a biopharmaceutical has been mainly applied in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. In the literature it is possible to find a great variety of methods to determine the potency of these cytokines, and many efforts have been made in order to develop practical bioassays to study the biological activity of IFNs.

Use of photoacoustic spectroscopy in the characterization of inclusion complexes of benzophenone-3-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and ex vivo evaluation of the percutaneous penetration of sunscreen.

This work is aimed to evaluate the application of photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) in the characterization of inclusion complexes of benzophenone-3 (BZ-3) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and to analyze the ex vivo percutaneous penetration of sunscreens and their reaction with the skin. The formation of inclusion complexes of BZ-3 and HPCD was performed by co-precipitation in stoichiometric ratios of 1:1 and 1:2. Thermal analysis and PAS characterized these inclusion complexes, and they indicated that the stoichiometric ratio of 1:2 was best.

RNA interference-mediated knockdown of CD49e (α5 integrin chain) in human thymic epithelial cells modulates the expression of multiple genes and decreases thymocyte adhesion.

Background: The thymus is a central lymphoid organ, in which bone marrow-derived T cell precursors undergo a complex process of maturation. Developing thymocytes interact with thymic microenvironment in a defined spatial order. A component of thymic microenvironment, the thymic epithelial cells, is crucial for the maturation of T-lymphocytes through cell-cell contact, cell matrix interactions and secretory of cytokines/chemokines.

Role of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent neurons and non-protein sulphydryl groups on gastroprotective effect of amifostine against ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats.

Background: Amifostine has been widely tested as a cytoprotective agent against a number of aggressors in different organs. Recently, a gastroprotective effect was observed for this drug in a model of indomethacin-induced gastric injury. Our objective was to investigate the effect of amifostine on ethanol-induced gastric injury and the role played in this mechanism by afferent sensory neurons, non-protein sulfhydryl groups, nitric oxide, ATP-sensitive potassium channels, and cyclooxygenase-2.

Echocardiographic evaluation of patients undergoing mitral valve replacement with crossed papillopexy.

Background: Techniques for mitral valve replacement with preservation of the subvalvular apparatus have proven their superiority, and crossed papillopexy is a new technical option which, besides allowing Preservation of the anatomical structures, provides contractility support and protection to the myocardium during ventricular diastole. The technique requires further studies that document its results.

Objective: To evaluate the left atrial and ventricular function by Doppler echocardiography in patients who have undergone mitral valve replacement with crossed papillopexy.

Hepatic damage associated with dengue-2 virus replication in liver cells of BALB/c mice.

One difficulty in studying dengue virus (DENV) is the lack of an experimental model that reproduces the human disease. In a previous work, we have shown that BALB/c mice intraperitoneally inoculated with a DENV-2 isolate presented viremia and mild focal areas of liver injuries. In this study, mice were inoculated by the intravenous route and presented extensive damage areas in the liver tissue, which were evaluated by histopathological and ultrastructural analysis.

Characterization of cells recovered from the xenotransplanted NG97 human-derived glioma cell line subcultured in a long-term in vitro.

Background: In order to elucidate tumoral progression and drug resistance, cultured cell lines are valuable tools applied on tumor related assays provided they are well established and characterized. Our laboratory settled the NG97 cell line derived from a human astrocytoma grade III, which started to develop and express important phenotypical characteristics of an astrocytoma grade IV after injection in the flank of nude mice. Astrocytomas are extremely aggressive malignancies of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and account for 46% of all primary malignant brain tumors.

Control of human thymocyte migration by Neuropilin-1/Semaphorin-3A-mediated interactions.

It is largely established that molecules first discovered in the nervous system are also found in the immune system. Neuropilin-1 (NP-1) was initially identified to mediate semaphorin-induced chemorepulsion during brain development and is also involved in peripheral T cell/dendritic cell interactions. Herein, we studied NP-1 during T cell development in the human thymus.