Head-to-Tail Cyclization after Interaction with Trypsin: A Scorpion Venom Peptide that Resembles Plant Cyclotides.

Peptidase inhibitors (PIs) have been broadly studied due to their wide therapeutic potential for human diseases. A potent trypsin inhibitor from scorpion venom was characterized and named ToPI1, with 33 amino acid residues and three disulfide bonds. The X-ray structure of the ToPI1:trypsin complex, in association with the mass spectrometry data, indicate a sequential set of events: the complex formation with the inhibitor Lys in the trypsin S1 pocket, the inhibitor C-terminal residue Ser cleavage, and the cyclization of ToPI1 via a peptide bond between residues Ile and Lys.

A newborn screening pilot study using methylation-sensitive high resolution melting on dried blood spots to detect Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes.

Prader-Willi (PWS) and Angelman (AS) syndromes are two clinically distinct imprinted disorders characterized by genetic abnormalities at 15q11-q13. Early diagnosis of both syndromes provides improved treatment and accurate genetic counseling. Whole blood (WB) is the most common DNA source of many methodologies to detect PWS and AS, however, the need of WB makes a massive screening difficult in newborns due to economic and technical limitations.

Performance of discrete, reciprocal, and cyclic movements of the ipsilesional upper limb in individuals after stroke.

Aiming movements of the upper limbs can be classified either as discrete, or reciprocal, or cyclic. The control of these movements after a stroke can be affected. The aim of this experimental, cross-sectional study was to characterize the performance of these movements after the right and left hemisphere chronic stroke.

Blood pressure-lowering effects of a Bowman-Birk inhibitor and its derived peptides in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Bioactive plant peptides have received considerable interest as potential antihypertensive agents with potentially fewer side effects than antihypertensive drugs. Here, the blood pressure-lowering effects of the Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor, BTCI, and its derived peptides, PepChy and PepTry, were investigated using normotensive (Wistar-WR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). BTCI inhibited the proteases trypsin and chymotrypsin, respectively, at 6 µM and 40 µM, a 10-fold greater inhibition than observed with PepTry (60 µM) and PepChy (400 µM).

A method to assess heart rate variability in neonate rats: validation in normotensive and hypertensive animals.

Several studies have focused on the heart rate variability (HRV) of murine species, while studies discussing HRV in murine neonates and infants remain scarce, since recording hemodynamic signals through invasive methods in small animals has been found to be quite challenging. Thus, this study aimed at describing and validating a novel method to assess HRV in newborn rats. An electrocardiogram (ECG) system was used to determine RR intervals in awake newborns and evaluate HRV in normotensive (Wistar) and hypertensive (SHR) neonate rats.

Predicting Length of Stay in Hospital Using Electronic Records Available at the Time of Admission.

Predicting a patient's hospital length of stay (LoS) can help manage staffing. In this paper, we explore LoS prediction for a large group of patients admitted non-electively. We use information available at admission, including demographics, acute and long-term diagnoses and physiological tests results.

Molecular Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Associated with Nosocomial Infection in the Pelotas, RS, Brazil.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ACB) comprises some opportunistic pathogens associated with infectious outbreaks in hospital settings. A. baumannii is the most relevant species owing to its capacity to develop resistance to the different classes of antimicrobials.

Biological Properties of a Novel Multifunctional Host Defense Peptide from the Skin Secretion of the Chaco Tree Frog, .

In recent years, the number of new antimicrobial drugs launched on the market has decreased considerably even though there has been an increase in the number of resistant microbial strains. Thus, antimicrobial resistance has become a serious public health problem. Amphibian skin secretions are a rich source of host defense peptides, which generally are cationic and hydrophobic molecules, with a broad-spectrum of activity.

Presbylarynx: Does Body Muscle Mass Correlate With Vocal Atrophy? A Prospective Case Control Study.

Objective: To analyze the potential association between body muscle mass and presbylarynx.

Methods: Study performed on subjects referred to the otorhinolaryngology department in a tertiary center between January and September 2019 . Based on endoscopic findings of the larynx, the patients were subdivided into two main groups: presbylarynx versus no presbylarynx.

Performance of new low-cost handheld NIR spectrometers for nondestructive analysis of umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) quality.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of two new low-cost handheld NIR spectrometers for the determination of umbu fruit (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) quality. A third handheld spectrometer, representing a proven good performance for fruit quality analysis, was used as reference instrument. Multivariate calibration models were built using Partial Least Squares regression to determine dry matter (DM), soluble solids (SS), flesh firmness (FF) and skin color (SC).

Is there an improvement on acoustic voice parameters in patients with bilateral vocal fold nodules after voice therapy? a meta-analysis.

Background/objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of voice therapy intervention in adults with vocal fold nodules, on three acoustic voice parameters (fundamental frequency jitter and shimmer). The purpose of this meta-analysis is to present evidence based on literature regarding objective acoustic voice parameters changes, after voice therapy, in patients with bilateral VFNs. A pooled statistical analysis comparing pre- and post-therapy measurements of three acoustic voice parameters (average F0, % jitter and % shimmer) were performed.

Is Biceps Femoris Aponeurosis Size an Independent Risk Factor for Strain Injury?

This study examined whether professional footballers with previous biceps femoris long head (BF) injury in the last 3-years present a smaller proximal aponeurosis (Apo-BF) size compared to footballers with no previous injury. We examined the Apo-BF and BF size using magnetic resonance imaging and tested the knee flexor maximal isometric strength in 80 thighs of 40 footballers. Apo-BF size parameters were processed using a semi-automated procedure.

Morphological Aspects of Antennal Sensilla of the Matta, 1919 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from the Negro River, Amazon Region of Brazil.

Studies conducted in river Ererê located in the left margin of Negro River, municipality of Barcelos, state of Amazonas, have confirmed that has as its natural habitat the palm tree . By scanning electron microscopy, sensillum type was studied on the antennae of . The specimens used come from the field and laboratory colony.

Correlation Between Peritonitis and Incisional Infections in Horses.

Surgical site infection of abdominal incisions is an important complication after laparotomy with increased risk of incisional hernia formation in horses. This study aims to evaluate the healing process of abdominal incisions and correlate peritonitis with the occurrence of surgical site infection and incisional hernias. Nine horses underwent standardized laparotomy, intestinal exploration, and induced septic peritonitis.

Designing a cocktail containing redox enzymes to improve hemicellulosic hydrolysate fermentability by microorganisms.

Bioproducts production using monomeric sugars derived from lignocellulosic biomass presents several challenges, such as to require a physicochemical pretreatment to improve its conversion yields. Hydrothermal lignocellulose pretreatment has several advantages and results in solid and liquid streams. The former is called hemicellulosic hydrolysate (HH), which contains inhibitory phenolic compounds and sugar degradation products that hinder microbial fermentation products from pentose sugars.

Behçet's Disease and Tuberculosis: A Complex Relationship.

Unlabelled: Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent orogenital ulceration and several systemic manifestations (such as gastrointestinal involvement, vascular disease or arthritis). The pathogenesis is still unknown but the trigger role of certain pathogens such as is well documented. Furthermore, patients with BD are more susceptible to tuberculosis due to immunity defects.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian version of the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-5 (QEWP-5).

Introduction: The Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-5 (QEWP-5) is a self-report instrument developed to screen individuals for binge eating disorder (BED), as defined by the DSM-5. However, this version of the instrument had not been adapted for the Brazilian population.

Objective: To describe translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the QEWP-5 into Brazilian Portuguese.

Is there a relationship between back squat depth, ankle flexibility, and Achilles tendon stiffness?

This study investigated the relationship between back squat depth capacity, ankle dorsiflexion resistance to stretch and maximal range of motion (ROM), and Achilles tendon stiffness of healthy individuals (n = 20). Squat depth capacity was assessed with 2D kinematic analysis. Ankle dorsiflexion maximal ROM was assessed using a smartphone digital goniometry (lunge test) and isokinetic dynamometry (prone test).

and in the biological control of nematodiosis in extensive bovine production system.

Cattle production in extensive systems favours the occurrence of gastrointestinal nematodes, and the use of nematophagous fungi complements the control strategies for these nematodes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the fungi Arthrobotrys cladodes and Pochonia chlamydosporia in the biological control of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in grazing cattle. Twenty-four calves were randomly divided into four groups and allocated to independent paddocks from February 2018 to January 2019.

Synergic control of action in levodopa-naïve Parkinson's disease patients: I. Multi-finger interaction and coordination.

We explored the origin of the impaired control of action stability in Parkinson's disease (PD) by testing levodopa-naïve PD patients to disambiguate effects of PD from possible effects of long-term exposure to levodopa. Thirteen levodopa-naïve PD patients and 13 controls performed single- and multi-finger force production tasks, including producing a self-paced quick force pulse into a target. A subgroup of patients (n = 10) was re-tested about 1 h after the first dose of levodopa.

Links between Cognitive Status and Trace Element Levels in Hair for an Environmentally Exposed Population: A Case Study in the Surroundings of the Estarreja Industrial Area.

In the present study, trace elements (TE) levels were evaluated in scalp hair along the continuum from healthy subjects (HS) to patients suffering from subjective memory concerns (SMC), and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and those with already installed dementia (DEM) in order to: (i) assess the effects of environmental and lifestyle factors on TE concentrations and (ii) evaluate the analyzed elements as possible diagnostic biomarkers for the disease. The study involved 79 mainly permanent residents, >55 years old, from the city of Estarreja (northern Portugal), a former industrial area. The health status of the participants was assessed by means of a complete socio-demographic questionnaire and through cognitive screening tests, namely the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Effect of sonication on the quality attributes of juçara, banana and strawberry smoothie.

Effect of sonication on the quality parameters of juçara, banana and strawberry smoothie was evaluated using a rotational central composite design with power (73.5-250.0 W) and time (7-36 min) as independent variables.