Extraction and identification of endopeptidases in convection dried papaya and pineapple residues: A methodological approach for application to higher scale.

The use of agro-industrial waste for application in the obtention of products with high added value has become a trend in recent years, especially in tropical countries whose main economic sector is agricultural exports. In the present study, an applicable method to food industry of extracting proteolytic enzymes from dryed papaya and pineapple residues by convection was developed. Different to other scientific reports the heat treatment at 40 °C of waste residues, to reach 20% moisture, allowed an increase in total soluble protein content and did not alter the proteolytic activity of the extracts when phosphate buffer pH 7.

Brief, Web-based Education Improves Lay Rescuer Application of a Tourniquet to Control Life-threatening Bleeding.

Objective: The objective was to determine whether brief, Web-based instruction several weeks prior to tourniquet application improves layperson success compared to utilizing just-in-time (JiT) instructions alone.

Background: Stop the Bleed is a campaign to educate laypeople to stop life-threatening hemorrhage. It is based on U.

Alveolar bone resorption and Th1/Th17-associated immune response triggered during Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-induced experimental periodontitis are serotype-dependent.

Background: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans expresses several virulence factors that may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Based on the antigenicity of the O-polysaccharide component of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), different A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes have been described.

Emergence of Resistance to Colistin During the Treatment of Bloodstream Infection Caused by Carbapenemase-Producing .

We report the emergence of colistin resistance in carbapenemase (KPC)-producing after 8 days of colistin-based therapy, resulting in relapse of bloodstream infection and death. Disruption of the gene by insertion of a mobile genetic element was found to be the mechanism, which was replicated in vitro after exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of colistin and meropenem.

Serotype a of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans down-regulates the increased serotype b-induced cytokine and chemokine production in dendritic cells.

Objective: In Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, different serotypes have been described based on LPS antigenicity. Mixed infection with the different A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes is frequent in periodontitis patients; accordingly, the role of this bacterial species in the pathogenesis of periodontitis may differ depending whether patients or periodontal lesions harbour one or more of the A.

RADIOACTIVE DISEQUILIBRIUM AND DYNAMIC OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SOILS IN THE STATE OF PERNAMBUCO-BRAZIL.

Environmental radioactivity studies have been allowed establishing radiometric patterns in several area of the earth's crust. The work was conducted through radiometric analyses of regions with high levels of radionuclides and others with no history of anomalies. The research allowed establishing the radiometric profile of soils in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, using a gamma spectrometry system.

[The challenge in colistin dosing: Updating available recommendations].

Polymyxins have been available since the 1960s, however, because of their adverse effects, their use has been reserved for the treatment of infections caused by multiresistant bacteria. The increase in the clinical experience acquired in recent years and the published medical literature have raised doubts about the information provided by the product, indicating the need to update dosage recommendations, pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic information (PK/PD). In addition, differences in concentration and dose between the different products of colistin may lead to errors of indication/administration and pose a risk to patients.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in Chagas disease in the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chagas disease (CD) is a major public health concern in Latin America and a potentially serious emerging threat in non-endemic countries. Although the association between CD and cardiac abnormalities is widely reported, study design diversity, sample size and quality challenge the information, calling for its update and synthesis, which would be very useful and relevant for physicians in non-endemic countries where health care implications of CD are real and neglected. We performed to systematically review and meta-analyze population-based studies that compared prevalence of overall and specific ECG abnormalities between CD and non-CD participants in the general population.

Evidence of Anti-tumoral Efficacy in an Immune Competent Setting with an iRGD-Modified Hyaluronidase-Armed Oncolytic Adenovirus.

To enhance adenovirus-mediated oncolysis, different approaches that tackle the selectivity, tumor penetration, and spreading potential of oncolytic adenoviruses have been reported. We have previously demonstrated that insertion of the internalizing Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic (iRGD) tumor-penetrating peptide at the C terminus of the fiber or transgenic expression of a secreted hyaluronidase can improve virus tumor targeting and spreading. Here we report a new oncolytic adenovirus ICOVIR17K-iRGD in which both modifications have been incorporated.

Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Periodontitis: A Translational View.

Periodontitis is a chronic immuno-inflammatory disease in which the disruption of the balance between host and microbiota interactions is key to the onset and progression of the disease. The immune homeostasis associated with periodontal health requires a regulated immuno-inflammatory response, during which the presence of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is essential to ensure a controlled response that minimizes collateral tissue damage. Since Tregs modulate both innate and adaptive immunity, pathological conditions that may resolve by the acquisition of immuno-tolerance, such as periodontitis, may benefit by the use of Treg immunotherapy.

Th1/Th17/Th22 immune response and their association with joint pain, imagenological bone loss, RANKL expression and osteoclast activity in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: A preliminary report.

It is well accepted that the presence of cytokines belonging to the Th1/Th17/Th22 axis of immuno-inflammatory response in the joint environment, such as IL-1β, IL-17 and IL-22, respectively, are associated with pathogenesis of several synovial joint degenerative disorders. During temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA), IL-1β and IL-17 have been implicated in the inflammation and resorption of sub-chondral bone; however, the role of Th22 response in the TMJ-OA pathophysiology has not been established. This study aimed to compare the expression of Th1/Th17/Th22-type cytokines, chemokines and chemokine receptors in synovial fluid samples obtained from TMJ-OA or disk displacement with reduction (DDWR) patients.

Association between progestin-only contraceptive use and cardiometabolic outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims The association between progestin-only contraceptive (POC) use and the risk of various cardiometabolic outcomes has rarely been studied. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the impact of POC use on cardiometabolic outcomes including venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension and diabetes. Methods and results Nineteen observational studies (seven cohort and 12 case-control) were included in this systematic review.

Role of dendritic cells in peanut allergy.

The prevalence of peanut allergy (PA) has increased, affecting approximately 1.1% of children in Western countries. PA causes life-threatening anaphylaxis and frequently persists for life.

Menopause, ageing, and alcohol use disorders in women.

Alcohol intake affects the female body differently than it affects the male body. This is caused by females' lower levels of dehydrogenase enzymes, the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, coupled with the higher fat/water ratio of the female body. Both these factors cause alcohol levels to rise more quickly after ingestion in women than in men.

Theory, simulation and experiments for precise deflection control of radiotherapy electron beams.

Conventional radiotherapy is mainly applied by linear accelerators. Although linear accelerators provide dual (electron/photon) radiation beam modalities, both of them are intrinsically produced by a megavoltage electron current. Modern radiotherapy treatment techniques are based on suitable devices inserted or attached to conventional linear accelerators.

Sex steroids, sex hormone-binding globulin and levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in postmenopausal women.

Background: Amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has a well-documented prognostic value for cardiovascular disease and sex-hormones are suggested to modulate NT-proBNP levels.

Objective: To examine whether endogenous sex-hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with NT-proBNP levels in postmenopausal women free of clinical cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: Total estradiol (E), total testosterone (TT), androstenedione (AD), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and NT-proBNP were assessed in 4112 postmenopausal women free of cardiovascular diseases from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study.

Do clinicians want recommendations? A multicenter study comparing evidence summaries with and without GRADE recommendations.

Objectives: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations to assist clinicians in decision-making and to reduce the gap between best current research evidence and clinical practice. However, some argue that providing preappraised evidence summaries alone, rather than recommendations, is more appropriate. The objective of the study is to evaluate clinicians' preferences, and understanding of the evidence and intended course of action in response to evidence summaries with and without recommendations.

Correction to: Microbial diversity of saline environments: searching for cytotoxic activities.

The original version of this article (Diaz-Cardenas et al. 2017) unfortunately contained a mistake in Fig. 1.

Proton radiation effect on InAs avalanche photodiodes.

Unlabelled: With increasing interest over the past decade in space-related remote sensing and communications using near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, there is a need for radiation studies on NIR avalanche photodiodes (APDs), due to the high radiation environment in space. In this work, we present an experimental study of proton radiation effects on performance parameters of InAs APDs, whose sensitivity extends from visible light to ~3.5 μm.

Real-World Treatment Patterns, Survival, and Prediction of CNS Progression in ALK-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with First-Line Crizotinib in Latin America Oncology Practices.

Objective: This study describes the real-world characteristics, treatment sequencing, and outcomes among Hispanic patients with locally advanced/metastatic ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with crizotinib.

Methods: A retrospective patient review was conducted for several centers in Latin America. Clinicians identified ALK-positive NSCLC patients who received crizotinib and reported their clinical characteristics, treatments, and survival.

Natural Extracts Abolished Lipid Accumulation in Cells Harbouring non-favourable PNPLA3 genotype.

Unlabelled: Background & aims. G-allele of PNPLA3 (rs738409) favours triglycerides accumulation and steatosis. In this study, we examined the effect of quercetin and natural extracts from mushroom and artichoke on reducing lipid accumulation in hepatic cells.

Evaluation of Sensititre Broth Microdilution Plate for determining the susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae to polymyxins.

Colistin and polymyxin B MICs were determined for 106 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) isolates using Sensititre Research Use Only GNX2F plates (Thermo Fisher) and compared to CLSI broth macrodilution (BMD) as the reference method. For colistin, EUCAST breakpoints were applied and testing of isolates with very major (VM) errors was repeated in duplicate by both methods to determine a majority result. Essential agreement (MIC ± one dilution) of GNX2F with the reference method was 97.

A proactive transfer policy for critical patient flow management.

Hospital emergency departments are often overcrowded, resulting in long wait times and a public perception of poor attention. Delays in transferring patients needing further treatment increases emergency department congestion, has negative impacts on their health and may increase their mortality rates. A model built around a Markov decision process is proposed to improve the efficiency of patient flows between the emergency department and other hospital units.