Mortality in HIV-infected women, heterosexual men, and men who have sex with men in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: an observational cohort study.

Background: Mortality in HIV-infected individuals might differ by sex and mode of HIV acquisition. We aimed to study mortality in HIV-infected women, heterosexual men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) in a cohort from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we included HIV-infected women, heterosexual men, and MSM (aged ≥18 years) from the Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas database who were enrolled between Jan 1, 2000, and Oct 30, 2011, and who had at least 60 days of follow-up.

Two new species of genus Joruma McAtee (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) from Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Joruma abernardesi sp.nov. and Joruma phrolfsi sp.

Aptamer-based fiber sensor for thrombin detection.

The detection of thrombin based on aptamer binding is studied using two different optical fiber-based configurations: long period gratings coated with a thin layer of titanium dioxide and surface plasmon resonance devices in optical fibers coated with a multilayer of gold and titanium dioxide. These structures are functionalized and the performance to detect thrombin in the range 10 to 100 nM is compared in transmission mode. The sensitivity to the surrounding refractive index (RI) of the plasmonic device is higher than 3100  nm RIU−1 in the RI range 1.

Evaluation of using aluminum sulfate and water-soluble Moringa oleifera seed lectin to reduce turbidity and toxicity of polluted stream water.

Aluminum salts are used as coagulants in water treatment; however, the exposure to residual aluminum has been associated with human brain lesions. The water-soluble Moringa oleifera lectin (WSMoL), which is extracted with distilled water and isolated by chitin chromatography, has coagulant activity and is able to reduce the concentration of metal ions in aqueous solutions. This study evaluated the potential of using aluminum sulfate and WSMoL to reduce the turbidity and toxicity of water from the Cavouco stream located in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.

In vitro evaluation of the schistosomicidal effect of the extracts, fractions and major 3-hydroxy-2,6-dialkyl-substituted piperidine alkaloids from the flowers of Senna spectabilis (Fabaceae).

In this work, we present the in vitro schistosomicidal activity evaluation of the most active dichloromethane fraction (FDm) (ED50=83.5μg/mL) and of a mixture of the major alkaloids ((-)-cassine/(-)-spectaline, C/E) (ED50=37.4μg/mL) from the flowers of Senna spectabilis against adult worms and cercariae.

Review of Rhinotora (Diptera, Heleomyzidae) with description of a new species and key to all known heleomyzid species from Brazil.

Rhinotora Schiner, 1868, are a rare group of flies, previously including seven species distributed in the Americas, six of them occurring in Brazil. This work aims to provide a taxonomic review for Rhinotora Schiner, with addition of two species in the genus: Rhinotora fonsecai, which is transferred back to its original genus, and R. paschoali sp.

Gas-phase ammonia and water-soluble ions in particulate matter analysis in an urban vehicular tunnel.

Ammonia is a key alkaline species, playing an important role by neutralizing atmospheric acidity and inorganic secondary aerosol production. On the other hand, the NH3/NH4 (+) increases the acidity and eutrophication in natural ecosystems, being NH3 classified as toxic atmospheric pollutant. The present study aims to give a better comprehension of the nitrogen content species distribution in fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.

Non-aneurysmal spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage: perimesencephalic versus non-perimesencephalic.

Objective: To compare the clinical evolution of perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage and non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively in a tertiary hospital center in the north region of Portugal. Included patients had no identifiable cause for subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with COPD: mild-to-moderate COPD versus severe-to-very severe COPD.

Objective: To assess and compare the prevalence of comorbidities and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in COPD patients according to disease severity.

Methods: The study included 25 patients with mild-to-moderate COPD (68% male; mean age, 65 ± 8 years; mean FEV1, 73 ± 15% of predicted) and 25 with severe-to-very severe COPD (males, 56%; mean age, 69 ± 9 years; mean FEV1, 40 ± 18% of predicted). Comorbidities were recorded on the basis of data obtained from medical charts and clinical evaluations.

Coagulant Activity of Water-Soluble Moringa oleifera Lectin Is Linked to Lowering of Electrical Resistance and Inhibited by Monosaccharides and Magnesium Ions.

Moringa oleifera seeds contain a water-soluble lectin [water-soluble M. oleifera lectin (WSMoL)] that has shown coagulant activity. Magnesium ions are able to interfere with the ability of this lectin to bind carbohydrates.

MOLECULAR DETECTION OF CLARITHROMYCIN AND FLUOROQUINOLONES RESISTANCE IN HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION, DIRECTLY APPLIED TO GASTRIC BIOPSIES, IN AN URBAN BRAZILIAN POPULATION.

Background: - Antimicrobial resistance is the major factor leading to eradication failure in H. pylori treatment. Molecular tests are useful to detect genetic mutations predictive of clarithromycin and fluoroquinolones resistance.

l-(+)-Lactic acid production by Lactobacillus rhamnosus B103 from dairy industry waste.

Lactic acid, which can be obtained through fermentation, is an interesting compound because it can be utilized in different fields, such as in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries as a bio-based molecule for bio-refinery. In addition, lactic acid has recently gained more interest due to the possibility of manufacturing poly(lactic acid), a green polymer that can replace petroleum-derived plastics and be applied in medicine for the regeneration of tissues and in sutures, repairs and implants. One of the great advantages of fermentation is the possibility of using agribusiness wastes to obtain optically pure lactic acid.

A unique SaeS allele overrides cell-density dependent expression of saeR and lukSF-PV in the ST30-SCCmecIV lineage of CA-MRSA.

ST30 (CC30)-SCCmec IV (USA1100) is one of the most common community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) lineages. ST30 isolates typically carry lukSF-PV genes encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and are responsible for outbreaks of invasive infections worldwide. In this study, twenty CC30 isolates were analyzed.

Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Seed Lectin as a Metal Remover in Aqueous Solutions.

The efficacy of Moringa oleifera seed lectin (WSMoL) as a metal remover in water and the effects of metals on its hemagglutinating and antibacterial activities were determined. Aqueous metal solutions were incubated with WSMoL for 8 h at 4°C and the concentrations of metals were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Hemagglutination and antibacterial assays were conducted with WSMoL and lectin exposed or not to the metals.

Cratylia mollis lectin nanoelectrode for differential diagnostic of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia based on label-free detection.

The research for new biomarkers of cancer has studied the role of fetuin glycoprotein on the metastatic disease diagnosis. Cratylia mollis is a lectin with high finity to fetuin, and used here to differentiate prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. A label-free electrochemical nanosensor based on assembled carboxylated carbon nanotubes (COOH-CNTs) and poly-L-lysine (PLL) film was developed and applied to serum samples of prostate cancer positive for Gleason score.

Resection and microvascular reconstruction of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: The role of microvascular reconstruction.

Background: Current treatment guidelines caution against osseous reconstruction using free flap tissue to treat bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). The primary rationale for this stance is the theoretical risk of nonunion and recurrence of disease within the reconstruction. Emerging evidence suggests that these theoretical risks may be overestimated.

MOCAT2: a metagenomic assembly, annotation and profiling framework.

Unlabelled: MOCAT2 is a software pipeline for metagenomic sequence assembly and gene prediction with novel features for taxonomic and functional abundance profiling. The automated generation and efficient annotation of non-redundant reference catalogs by propagating pre-computed assignments from 18 databases covering various functional categories allows for fast and comprehensive functional characterization of metagenomes.

Availability And Implementation: MOCAT2 is implemented in Perl 5 and Python 2.

Stress Distribution Study Using the Finite Element Method in Three Different Implant-Supported Fixed Complete-Arch Mandibular Prostheses.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the stress distribution generated by a simulated loading (100 N) in the area of the cantilever in three different five-implant mandibular protocol prosthesis models.

Materials And Methods: The finite element analysis was carried out in three-dimensional models simulating: (1) a temporary all acrylic resin mandibular protocol prosthesis; (2) a metal-acrylic mandibular protocol prosthesis; and (3) a metal-ceramic mandibular protocol prosthesis.

Results: The all acrylic model promoted the highest stress values on the implant closest to the cantilever loading point.

[Conditions associated with impaired social skills in a convenience sample of crack users].

The article analyzes conditions associated with low scores on the Social Skills Inventory (SSI) among crack users in Greater Metropolitan Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, based on a cross-sectional study in a convenience sample of 519 individuals interviewed in 2011. Low SSI scores occurred in 52.8% of the sample, and there were no differences according to currently active use of crack (yes/no) or current addiction treatment.

Impact of stress on Aeromonas diversity in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and lectin level change towards a bacterial challenge.

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is among the most cultivated fish species in tropical countries. Stress is the main cause of disease in fish farms. The genus Aeromonas is a common causative agent of fish diseases.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of leaf lectin.

A galactose-specific lectin from leaves (BmoLL) has been purified through ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by guar gel affinity chromatography column. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of pure BmoLL in mice. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by 1% carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice treated with BmoLL.

Predictors of opportunistic illnesses incidence in post combination antiretroviral therapy era in an urban cohort from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Opportunistic illnesses still account for a huge proportion of hospitalizations and deaths among HIV-infected patients in the post combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era, particularly in middle- and low-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess predictors of the top four most incident opportunistic illnesses (tuberculosis, esophageal candidiasis, cerebral toxoplasmosis and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia) in an HIV clinical cohort from a middle-income country in the post cART era.

Methods: A total of 2835 HIV infected participants aged ≥ 18 years at enrollment were followed from January 2000 to December 2012 until the occurrence of their first opportunistic illness, death or end of study, whichever occurred first.

Reconsolidation and update of morphine-associated contextual memory in mice.

Drug addiction can be viewed as a pathological memory that is constantly retrieved and reconsolidated. Since drug abuse takes place in different contexts, it could be considered that reconsolidation plays a role in memory updating. There is consistent evidence supporting the role of reconsolidation in the strength and maintenance of contextual memories induced by drugs of abuse.

Biogeography and areas of endemism of Prepops Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae).

The Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are one of the most species rich families of insects, with about 11 100 described species. Mirinae is the largest subfamily and its endemism becomes evident at the tribal level and below. Mirines of the tribe Restheniini are found throughout America, with most of the diversity confined to the Neotropics.