Sensing the cardiac environment: exploiting cues for regeneration.

Recent pre-clinical and clinical studies indicate that certain exogenous stem cells and biomaterials can preserve cardiac tissue after myocardial infarction. Regarding stem cells, a growing body of data suggests that the short-term positive outcomes are mainly attributed to paracrine signaling mechanisms. The release of such factors is due to the cell's ability to sense cardiac environmentally derived cues, though the exact feedback loops are still poorly understood.

Immune reactivity to dengue and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the population from Macao, China, before dengue occurrence.

A serological survey was conducted in Macao, China, in 753 individuals, with the objective of looking for antibodies to the mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae), and to dengue, before the occurrence of any autochthonous dengue cases. Blood samples were collected at several public health services, a questionnaire was answered, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Western blot techniques were performed with extracts of mosquito head and thorax (HT). Anti-Aedes albopictus IgG antibodies were present in titres 1:10(2)-1:10(3) in 9%, and in titres 1:10(4)-1:10(5) in 42% of the sera tested.

In silico design and search for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease with a suitable pharmacokinetic profile and low toxicity.

Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, characterized by amyloid-β deposits, τ-protein aggregation, oxidative stress and reduced levels of acetylcholine in the brain. One pharmacological approach is to restore acetylcholine level by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with reversible inhibitors, such as galanthamine, thus helping to improve the cognitive symptoms of the disease. In order to design new galanthamine derivatives and search for novel, potential inhibitors with improved interactions, as well as a suitable pharmacokinetic profile and low toxicity, several molecular modeling techniques were applied.

[Transsexuality: experiencing the transition process in the context of health care services].

Genital reconstruction surgery and hormonal treatment for transsexuals are performed in health care services following a long and complex evaluation process generally based on the guidelines proposed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Though important to ensure these individuals' health and well-being, such procedures may conflict with their reality, raising obstacles not only for the candidates but also for professionals who deal with them. The reality of this population has been the focus of recent studies, whose results are to be considered in the new version (the seventh) of the procedures, currently under elaboration.

Using computer-aided drug design and medicinal chemistry strategies in the fight against diabetes.

The aim of this work is to present a simple, practical and efficient protocol for drug design, in particular Diabetes, which includes selection of the illness, good choice of a target as well as a bioactive ligand and then usage of various computer aided drug design and medicinal chemistry tools to design novel potential drug candidates in different diseases. We have selected the validated target dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), whose inhibition contributes to reduce glucose levels in type 2 diabetes patients. The most active inhibitor with complex X-ray structure reported was initially extracted from the BindingDB database.

Genotoxicity of sodium metabisulfite in mouse tissues evaluated by the comet assay and the micronucleus test.

Sodium metabisulfite (SMB, Na(2)S(2)O(5)) is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, because of its ability to inhibit proliferation of microorganisms and its antioxidant properties. We have evaluated the genotoxic effects of SMB on different tissues of the mouse, by use of the comet assay (liver and blood cells) and the micronucleus test (blood and bone marrow cells). For all tissues, significant increases in damage index and damage frequency values were observed in the SMB-treated groups (1 and 2g/kg doses) compared to the control animals.

Covalent immobilization of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) onto biomaterial surfaces.

Bacterial adhesion to biomaterials remains a major problem in the medical devices field. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are well-known components of the innate immune system that can be applied to overcome biofilm-associated infections. Their relevance has been increasing as a practical alternative to conventional antibiotics, which are declining in effectiveness.

[Teaching doctor-patient communication - a proposal in practice].

Traditionally, doctor-patient communication was considered a matter of <> and <>, and a topic for informal learning. Recently, studies have shown the importance of communication skills in medical practice. Doctor-patient communication skills, such as knowing how to listen, how to observe, and how to inform are today considered important components of Medical Education, although they are often difficult to integrate in Medical Curricula.

Poling-assisted fabrication of plasmonic nanocomposite devices in glass.

We report on the fabrication and optical properties of large-scale plasmonic nanocomposite metamaterial directly within glass matrix by thermal electric-field poling of glass. The achieved structure exhibits an enhanced backscattering (see Figure), which has strong dependence on the exposure of the surface to different organic vapors and can be used for development of new sensing platforms.

Francisella-like endosymbiont in Dermacentor reticulatus collected in Portugal.

In Portugal, recent studies have confirmed the presence of Francisella tularensis in Dermacentor reticulatus. Bacterial endosymbionts with significant homology to F. tularensis have been described in several species of ticks.

Learning clinical communication skills: outcomes of a program for professional practitioners.

Objective: To assess the effects of a communication skills program on professional practitioners' performance and self-confidence in clinical interviewing.

Methods: Twenty-five health professionals took 3 months of basic communication skills followed by 3 months of advanced communication skills. An additional quarter dealt with self-awareness and communication in special situations.

Prolonged ingestion of prehydrolyzed whey protein induces little or no change in digestive enzymes, but decreases glutaminase activity in exercising rats.

Because consumption of whey protein hydrolysates is on the increase, the possibility that prolonged ingestion of whey protein hydrolysates affect the digestive system of mammals has prompted us to evaluate the enzymatic activities of pepsin, leucine-aminopeptidase, chymotrypsin, trypsin, and glutaminase in male Wistar rats fed diets containing either a commercial whey isolate or a whey protein hydrolysate with medium degree of hydrolysis and to compare the results with those produced by physical training (sedentary, sedentary-exhausted, trained, and trained-exhausted) in the treadmill for 4 weeks. The enzymatic activities were determined by classical procedures in all groups. No effect due to the form of the whey protein in the diet was seen in the activities of pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and leucine-aminopeptidase.

'Click chemistry' synthesis of a library of 1,2,3-triazole-substituted galactose derivatives and their evaluation against Trypanosoma cruzi and its cell surface trans-sialidase.

Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) plays a key role in the recognition and invasion of host cells and in enabling the parasite to escape the human immune response. To explore this potential drug target, we have synthesized a small library of substrate analogues based on 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives of galactose modified at either the C-1 or C-6 positions. This was achieved by coupling the appropriate azido-sugars with a panel of 23 structurally diverse terminal alkynes by using the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction, giving a library of 46 derivatives in good to excellent yield and with complete regioselectivity.

[Microbiological evaluation of drinking water used in feeding units].

The water for human consumption is the main vehicle for the transmission of pathogens that are capable of causing enteric parasitic diseases; therefore, its microbiological control is vital. This work had the purpose of evaluating the bacteriological quality of drinking water, in terms of the presence of total and thermotolerant coliforms, in different Feeding Units in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, according to the potableness standards established by Ordinance No. 518 of 2004 of the Brazilian Ministry of Health/ANVISA.

Omega-3 fatty acid desaturase genes isolated from purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.): expression in different tissues and response to cold and wound stress.

Two full-length cDNA clones PoleFAD7 and PoleFAD8, encoding plastidial omega-3 fatty acid desaturases were isolated from purslane (Portulaca oleracea). The encoded enzymes convert linoleic to alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). Three histidine clusters characteristic of fatty acid desaturases, a putative chloroplast transit peptide in the N-terminal, and three putative transmembrane domains were identified in the sequence.

Psoralen and bergapten: in silico metabolism and toxicophoric analysis of drugs used to treat vitiligo.

Purpose: To discuss the contribution of psoralen and bergapten metabolites on psoralens toxicity.

Methods: Computational chemistry prediction of metabolic reactions and toxicophoric groups based on the expert systems Derek and Meteor.

Results: a total of 15 metabolites were suggested for both psoralen and bergapten based on phase 1 and 2 biotransformations until the 3rd generation.

Hydrostatic pressure sensing with high birefringence photonic crystal fibers.

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the waveguiding properties of high birefringence photonic crystal fibers (HiBi PCF) is evaluated both numerically and experimentally. A fiber design presenting form birefringence induced by two enlarged holes in the innermost ring defining the fiber core is investigated. Numerical results show that modal sensitivity to the applied pressure depends on the diameters of the holes, and can be tailored by independently varying the sizes of the large or small holes.

Cytotoxicity and antiangiogenic activity of grandisin.

Objectives: The antitumoural properties of grandisin, a tetrahydrofuran neolignan from Piper solmsianum, were investigated by in-vitro and in-vivo assays using the Ehrlich ascites tumoural (EAT) model.

Methods: Viability of the tumour cells was evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion and MTT methods, after incubation with grandisin (0.017-2.

Short communication: detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction in bovine milk in Brazil.

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, a chronic granulomatous enteritis that affects all ruminants worldwide. Since the isolation of MAP from intestinal tissue of human patients bearing Crohn's disease, there has been a debate on the possibility of this agent playing a role in the etiology of Crohn's disease.

Molecular characterization of a new isolate of Borrelia lusitaniae derived from Apodemus sylvaticus in Portugal.

A total of 196 small mammals were collected in Portugal and tested for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Tissue samples were taken from each animal and cultured in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK)-II medium. The single strain of spirochete isolated was confirmed as Borrelia lusitaniae by genetic analyses.

Tuberculosis disease - statistics of a paediatric department in the 21st century.

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of world -wide mortality and morbidity. A reduced rate of tuberculosis in people aged less than 15 years has been seen in Portugal over the last decade of the twentieth century.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of tuberculosis cases in children admitted to the Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia January 1 2000 to December 31 2007.

Evaluation of hematological, virologic and anthropometric parameters as progression markers in HIV-1 infected children.

Objective: To analyze total lymphocyte count, total leukocyte count, hemoglobin levels, nutritional status, CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and viral load as markers of disease progression and/or death in HIV-infected children.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed antiretroviral naïve HIV-infected children who were asymptomatic or had mild and/or moderate symptoms. The events of interest were: progression to clinical category C (according to the classification of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC, 1994) or death.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of three omega-6 desaturase genes from purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.).

Two full-length cDNA clones of PoleFAD2 and one full-length cDNA clone of PoleFAD6, encoding omega-6 fatty acid desaturases, the key enzymes for the conversion of oleic into linoleic acid, were isolated from purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) leaves and seeds. The deduced amino acid sequence of both isoforms of PoleFAD2 showed higher similarities to other microsomal omega-6 desaturases then to PoleFAD6 or other plastidial orthologues, and vice versa.