Purinergic enzymatic activities in lymphocytes and cardiomyocytes of mice acutely infected by Trypanosoma cruzi modulating the inflammatory responses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of purinergic enzymes in lymphocytes and cardiac tissue of mice experimentally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Twelve female mice were used, divided into two groups (n = 6): uninfected and infected. On day 12 post-infection (PI), the animals were anesthetized and after euthanized, and samples were collected for analyses.

DNA base excision repair proteins APE-1 and XRCC-1 are overexpressed in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: DNA repair systems play a critical role in protecting the human genome from damage caused by carcinogens. Modifications in DNA repair genes may be responsible for tumor development and resistance of malignant cells to chemotherapeutic agents. The major pathway for oxidative DNA damage repair is the base excision repair pathway.

[The association between common mental disorders and subjective health conditions among the elderly].

The scope of this study was to evaluate the association between the presence of common mental disorders and the impairment of subjective health conditions among the elderly. It involved a cross-sectional analytical survey conducted among all the elderly residents in the urban area of a Brazilian municipality with low population density. Mental disorders were evaluated using the short version of the Goldberg General Health questionnaire.

Melaleuca alternifolia anthelmintic activity in gerbils experimentally infected by Haemonchus contortus.

Gastrointestinal parasites are one of the biggest health problems faced in sheep, mainly due to their pathogenicity and resistance to drugs used to control these parasites. Thus, the following study aimed to assess the anthelmintic efficacy of Melaleuca alternifolia against Haemonchus contortus in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) experimentally infected. Three treatments were tested: M.

Cognitive impairment and magnetic resonance imaging correlates in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To characterize cognitive impairment in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and to correlate the pattern of cognitive deficits with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric data.

Materials And Methods: In a multicenter cross-sectional study, we recruited consecutive patients with PPMS as well as age, sex, and education level-matched healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent neuropsychological (NP) assessment, and brain MRI was performed in patients with PPMS for analysis of lesion load, subcortical GM volumes, and regional cortical volumes.

[Type II Quadratus Lumborum block for a sub-total gastrectomy in a septic patient].

Introduction And Objectives: Quadratus Lumborum block was recently described and has already shown good results as an analgesic technique in abdominal surgeries, having the potential to significantly reduce opioids consumption and be a valid alternative to epidural catheter. We performed a type II Quadratus Lumborum block for analgesia in a septic patient having a sub-total gastrectomy.

Case Report: An 80 year-old, ASA III, male patient, weighting 50 kg, with a history of arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, diagnosed with sepsis due to purulent peritonitis was submitted to an open laparotomy.

Caffeoylquinic acids from antiplasmodial active extract of Xanthium cavanillesii fruits and their molecular modelling studies.

The antiplasmodial active extract of Xanthium cavanillesii contains 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (3,4-DCQA), 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (3,5-DCQA) and 1,3,5-tricaffeoyl quinic acid (1,3,5-TCQA). These results inspired us to investigate the interaction of these molecules with a promising validated target of Plasmodium, PfATP6 orthologue of mammalian Ca-ATPase. Models of this receptor were obtained through comparative modelling.

Sleep and circadian alterations in people at risk for bipolar disorder: A systematic review.

Background: Sleep and circadian abnormalities have been mostly demonstrated in bipolar patients. However, it is not clear whether these alterations are present in population at high risk for bipolar disorder (BD), indicating a possible risk factor for this condition.

Objective: This systematic review aims to define current evidence about sleep and rhythm alterations in people at risk for BD and to evaluate sleep and circadian disorders as risk factor for BD.

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive Narrative Crisis Intervention for Bereavement in Primary Healthcare.

Background And Aims: As there are known risks of retraumatization through bereavement crisis interventions, we tailored a new intervention lowering the degree of direct emotional activation. However, we need some evidence on the effects of depression and psychotraumatic symptoms between 1 and 6 months after a loss.

Method: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with two groups: control group (n = 18) and experimental group (n = 11) in two assessments (1 and 6 months after loss); both included a semi-structured interview (Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised-IES-R).

The Effect of Educational Intervention Regarding the Knowledge of Mothers on Prevention of Accidents in Childhood.

Early guidance emphasizes the provision of information to families about growth and normal development in childhood such as specific information about security at home. This research aimed to analyze mothers' knowledge about the prevention of accidents in childhood before and after an educational intervention. It was conducted as a quasi-experimental study with 155 mothers in a Basic Health Unit in northeastern of Brazil in April and May of 2015.

Inflammatory and oxidative stress airway markers in premature newborns of hypertensive mothers.

Although oxidative stress and inflammation are important mechanisms in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and preterm diseases, their contribution to the respiratory prognosis of premature infants of hypertensive mothers is not known. Our objective was to determine the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation markers in the airways of premature infants born to hypertensive and normotensive mothers, in the first 72 h of life, and to investigate whether they are predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)/death. This was a prospective study with premature infants less than 34 weeks' gestation on respiratory support who were stratified into 2 groups: 32 premature infants of hypertensive mothers and 41 of normotensive women, with a mean gestational age of 29 weeks.

Whole-genome mapping reveals a large chromosomal inversion on Iberian Brucella suis biovar 2 strains.

Optical mapping is a technology able to quickly generate high resolution ordered whole-genome restriction maps of bacteria, being a proven approach to search for diversity among bacterial isolates. In this work, optical whole-genome maps were used to compare closely-related Brucella suis biovar 2 strains. This biovar is the unique isolated in domestic pigs and wild boars in Portugal and Spain and most of the strains share specific molecular characteristics establishing an Iberian clonal lineage that can be differentiated from another lineage mainly isolated in several Central European countries.

Efficient genetic transformation and regeneration system from hairy root of Origanum vulgare.

Origanum vulgare L is commonly known as a wild marjoram and winter sweet which has been used in the traditional medicine due to its therapeutic effects as stimulant, anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and many other diseases. A reliable gene transfer system via Agrobacterium rhizogenes and plant regeneration via hairy roots was established in O. vulgare for the first time.

Autonomic dysfunction in multiple sclerosis is better detected by heart rate variability and is not correlated with central autonomic network damage.

Background: MS-associated autonomic dysfunction (AD) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood and the best method for its detection unestablished. We compared classical Ewing battery and newer methods as heart rate variability (HRV) and spontaneous baroreflex sensibility (BRS) to detect AD in MS and related them to central autonomic network (CAN) lesions.

Methods: We enrolled 20 relapsing-remitting MS patients, median age of 36 (interquartile range 32-46) years, disease duration of 5.

Thermographic and clinical evaluation of 808-nm laser photobiomodulation effects after third molar extraction.

Background: A randomized, blind, controlled clinical study was conducted with a convenience sample of 24 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of an aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) infrared laser 808 nm after third molar extraction by the use of infrared thermography technique.

Methods: Patients were divided into four groups: erupted third molars were extracted from the patients in Group I and Group II, and impacted third molars were extracted from the patients in Group III and Group IV. Group I and Group III received mock laser therapy in which the device was powered off, and Group II and Group IV were exposed to laser light.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Alouatta spp. Feces to Essential Oils.

This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of essential oils from Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano), Origanum vulgaris (oregano), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Cymbopogon nardus (citronella), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), and Eucalyptus citriodora (eucalyptus) against Escherichia coli (n = 22) strains isolated from Alouatta spp. feces. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for each isolate using the broth microdilution technique.

Correlation between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity and Plasma Levels of Monomeric Prolactin and Macroprolactin.

Unlabelled: The correlation of prolactin (PRL) levels with SLE activity is a controversial issue, which could be explained by the presence of macroprolactin (MPRL), a high molecular weight form of PRL with a lower in vivo biological activity.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia, PRL and MPRL levels in SLE patients, and to correlate these levels with disease activity as measured by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).

Material And Methods: We conducted a case-control, cross-sectional study with 73 SLE patients (L group), sixty-two of which were evaluated before and after treatment, and correlated the results with serum PRL and MPRL levels.

Immunoexpression of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1α and interleukin-10 on odontogenic cysts and tumours.

Aim: To analyse the immunoreactivity of IL-1α, TNF-α and IL-10 in odontogenic cysts and tumours and to investigate possible associations with established biological behaviours of these different lesions.

Methodology: Immunohistochemical expression of anti-IL-1α, anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-10 antibodies was assessed on epithelium and mesenchyme of 20 radicular cysts (RCs), 20 residual cysts (RECs), 20 dentigerous cysts (DCs), 18 solid ameloblastomas (SAs), 20 keratocystic odontogenic tumours (KCOTs) and 15 dental follicles (DFs). Comparative analysis of data was performed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Kruskal-Wallis's test.

Detection of virulence-associated genes in pathogenic and commensal avian Escherichia coli isolates.

Poultry colibacillosis due to Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is responsible for several extra-intestinal pathological conditions, leading to serious economic damage in poultry production. The most commonly associated pathologies are airsacculitis, colisepticemia, and cellulitis in broiler chickens, and salpingitis and peritonitis in broiler breeders. In this work a total of 66 strains isolated from dead broiler breeders affected with colibacillosis and 61 strains from healthy broilers were studied.

Acute Effects of Different Methods of Stretching and Specific Warm-ups on Muscle Architecture and Strength Performance.

Sá, MA, Matta, TT, Carneiro, SP, Araujo, CO, Novaes, JS, and Oliveira, LF. Acute effects of different methods of stretching and specific warm-ups on muscle architecture and strength performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(8): 2324-2329, 2016-The purpose of the study was to investigate the acute effects of 2 stretching interventions, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and passive static stretching (PSS), and a specific warm-up (SW) on the strength and architecture of the vastus laterallis and biceps femoris muscles in a subsequent performance on a strength training session (STS).

Relationship between DNA damage in liver, heart, spleen and total blood cells and disease pathogenesis of infected rats by Trypanosoma evansi.

Trypanosoma evansi is an important pathogen that causes changes in nitric oxide (NO) levels and antioxidant enzymes, as well as oxidative stress. The present study evaluated the in vivo effect of T. evansi infection on frequency and index of DNA damage in liver, heart, spleen and total blood of rats.

Seed-Specific Stable Expression of the α-AI1 Inhibitor in Coffee Grains and the Implications for the Development of the Coffee Berry Borer.

Genetic transformation of coffee ( spp.), the second most traded commodity worldwide, is an alternative approach to introducing features that cannot be introgressed by traditional crossings. The transgenic stability, heritability and quantitative and spatial expression patterns of the seed-specific promoter phytohemagglutinin (PHA-L) from were characterized in genetically modified expressing the α-amylase inhibitor-1 () gene.

Teaching health science students foundation motivational interviewing skills: use of motivational interviewing treatment integrity and self-reflection to approach transformative learning.

Background: Many undergraduate and graduate-entry health science curricula have incorporated training in motivational interviewing (MI). However, to effectively teach skills that will remain with students after they graduate is challenging. The aims of this study were to find out self-assessed MI skills of health students and whether reflecting on the results can promote transformative learning.

Imaging Nuclear Morphology and Organization in Cleared Plant Tissues Treated with Cell Cycle Inhibitors.

Synchronization of root cells through chemical treatment can generate a large number of cells blocked in specific cell cycle phases. In plants, this approach can be employed for cell suspension cultures and plant seedlings. To identify plant cells in the course of the cell cycle, especially during mitosis in meristematic tissues, chemical inhibitors can be used to block cell cycle progression.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with sodium hyaluronate enhance bone mineralization.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium hyaluronate (HY), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and HY-functionalized SWCNTs (HY-SWCNTs) on the behavior of primary osteoblasts, as well as to investigate the deposition of inorganic crystals on titanium surfaces coated with these biocomposites. Primary osteoblasts were obtained from the calvarial bones of male newborn Wistar rats (5 rats for each cell extraction). We assessed cell viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and by double-staining with propidium iodide and Hoechst.