Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi) parasites affect the release of soluble CD14 by infected macrophages.

Functionally, cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) is a co-receptor of the complex formed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-binding protein expressed on the membrane of a variety of cells. However, CD14 can be shed from the cell membrane into the circulation as soluble CD14 (sCD14) upon cell activation. Previously, our group reported that elevated sCD14 serum levels were associated with the clinical and laboratory findings in the context of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), but not in the context of LPS stimulation or bacterial infection.

Natural Products with Tandem Anti-inflammatory, Immunomodulatory and Anti-SARS-CoV/2 Effects: A Drug Discovery Perspective against SARS-CoV-2.

Background: COVID-19 is still causing long-term health consequences, mass deaths, and collapsing healthcare systems around the world. There are no efficient drugs for its treatment. However, previous studies revealed that SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV have 96% and 86.

Unbalance of Se and nutritional status in male infertility.

Objective: To evaluate the selenium status and oxidative stress in male infertility cases selected from a private human reproduction center in the state of Ceará, Brazil.

Methods: The present study had a cross-sectional quantitative approach, carried out between January and October 2013 at a Human Reproduction Center. The studied population was composed of 49 male individuals seen at the clinic, aged between 18 and 60 years.

Optimization and partial purification of beta-galactosidase production by Aspergillus niger isolated from Brazilian soils using soybean residue.

β-Galactosidases are widely used for industrial applications. These enzymes could be used in reactions of lactose hydrolysis and transgalactosylation. The objective of this study was the production, purification, and characterization of an extracellular β-galactosidase from a filamentous fungus, Aspergillus niger.

Effect of a single-tufted toothbrush on the control of dental biofilm in orthodontic patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the effect of a single-tufted toothbrush combined or not with a conventional toothbrush to control dental biofilm in healthy orthodontic patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty orthodontic patients were randomly assigned to receive three different treatments: Group 1-conventional toothbrush; Group 2-single-tufted toothbrush and Group 3-combination of single-tufted and conventional toothbrushes. Stained plaque index (SPI), visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were recorded.

Optimization of Xylanase Production from in Soybean Residue.

Enzymatic hydrolysis is an important but expensive step in the process to obtain enzyme derived products. Thus, the production of efficient enzymes is of great interest for this biotechnological application. The production of xylanase by in soybean residues was optimized using 2 × 2 factorial designs.

Infection of Human Macrophages by Is Influenced by Ecto-Nucleotidases.

Ecto-nucleotidase activity is involved in the infection process of and various other parasites that enables modulation of host immune responses to promote disease progression. One of the enzymes responsible for this activity is the ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase). The enzyme hydrolyzes nucleotides tri- and/or di-phosphate into monophosphate products, which are subsequently hydrolyzed into adenosine.

Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity and Cardiometabolic Risk in Non-Obese and Clinically Healthy Young Adults.

Background:: The oxidative biomarkers play an important role in the genesis of cardiometabolic risk-related processes.

Objective:: To investigate the total antioxidant capacity of plasma and its association with cardiometabolic risk in non-obese and clinically healthy young adults.

Methods:: University students of the state of Sergipe, Brazil, aged between 18 and 25 years, were recruited for this study from May of 2013 and October of 2014.

Epidemiological aspects and spatial distribution of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area in northeastern Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic disease endemic in tropical countries and transmitted through sand flies. In particular, Canis familiaris (or domesticated dogs) are believed to be a major urban reservoir for the parasite causing the disease Leishmania. The average number of human VL cases was 58 per year in the state of Sergipe.

The Severity of Visceral Leishmaniasis Correlates with Elevated Levels of Serum IL-6, IL-27 and sCD14.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease caused by infection with protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Classic VL is characterized by a systemic infection of phagocytic cells and an intense activation of the inflammatory response. It is unclear why 90% of infected individuals do not develop the disease while a minority develop the classical form.

Relationship between periodontal status and degree of visual impairment in institutionalized individuals.

Objective: Periodontal disease is a set of inflammatory infections that affect the supporting structures of the dentition. Patients with visual impairment (VI) may have more difficulty in cleaning and maintaining oral health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between periodontal status and degree of VI in institutionalized individuals.

Trypanosoma cruzi nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (TcNTPDase-1) biochemical characterization, immunolocalization and possible role in host cell adhesion.

Previous work has suggested that Trypanosoma cruzi diphosphohydrolase 1 (TcNTPDase-1) may be involved in the infection of mammalian cells and serve as a potential target for rational drug design. In this work, we produced recombinant TcNTPDase-1 and evaluated its nucleotidase activity, cellular localization and role in parasite adhesion to mammalian host cells. TcNTPDase-1 was able to utilize a broad range of triphosphate and diphosphate nucleosides.