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Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: A.D.M.F., M.A.M.-G., and W.S.B. are consultants for Omron.

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii with or without metronidazole in experimental giardiasis., Methods and Results: The effect of treatment with S. boulardii with or without metronidazole on the intestinal mucosa, the antioxidant defence system and the parasitic load was determined in experimental giardiasis. Eight groups of animals with infection and/or treatment with the probiotic and/or drugs for 1 week after infection with Giardia lamblia were used. A reduction of approximately 90% in the parasitic load was observed in all the treated groups. Saccharomyces boulardii attenuated the damage caused by infection in the intestinal mucosa preserving its architecture and inhibiting the oxidative stress induced by parasite and metronidazole., Conclusions: Saccharomyces boulardii was effective alone or in combination with metronidazole in resolving already established G. lamblia infection., Significance and Impact of the Study: These results suggest the use of S. boulardii as an alternative treatment for giardiasis mainly in cases of resistance or intolerance to conventional treatment., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Aims: This study evaluates the action of Weissella paramesenteroides WpK4 on amoebic colitis., Methods and Results: Weissella paramesenteroides WpK4 was administered in Entamoeba dispar infected and noninfected mice and clinical parameters were evaluated. Following 7 days, the caeca were collected for histopathology, morphometry and immunohistochemical staining of MUC-2, CDC-47 and IgA. The treatment reduced diarrhoea and the presence of blood in the faeces and diminished the area of necrosis, also causing weight gain. Also, the addition of this bacterium enhanced the expression of the mucin (MUC-2). The reduction in necrosis and increased CDC-47 expression indicates significant epithelial regeneration. The negative correlation between CDC-47 and the necrosis area reveals that the bacterium favoured the recovery of the necrotic regions and the positive correlation found between the expression of MUC-2 and CDC-47 indicates that the epithelial regeneration also supports the synthesis of MUC-2., Conclusions: Weissella paramesenteroides WpK4 was able to increase the protection of the intestinal mucosa against experimental amoebic colitis through the increase of MUC-2 and epithelial regeneration., Significance and Impact of the Study: Weissella paramesenteroides WpK4 presents the potential to become a complementary tool in the treatment of amoebic colitis., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Hypertension is a pathology of high prevalence in the world. In Brazil, it is the main risk factor for the major cause of death in the country, coronary heart disease. The May Measurement Month Campaign in 2018 (MMM18) included a population with representation from all Brazilian states and reflects some of the characteristics of hypertension in Brazil. Questionnaire data were collected and three measures of blood pressure (BP) were performed. The sample consisted of 12 413 individuals, 59.1% were white, 51.3% were women. The average age was 54. ± 16.0 years. Diabetes was present in 11.6%, previous myocardial infarction in 5.9%, and previous stroke in 2.7%. Current smokers were 9.3% and 12.4% were regular drinkers. The average body mass index was 27.3 ± 4.5 kg/m 2 . After multiple imputations, 67.9% were hypertensive (>140/90 mmHg). Of the individuals who were not taking antihypertensive medication, 27.9% were hypertensive and of those taking antihypertensive medication, 40.3% were uncontrolled. Systolic BP increased with age. The MMM18 campaign demonstrated a large number of unknown hypertensives and a high rate of uncontrolled hypertension in Brazil, unfortunately in keeping with 2017 findings., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. © The Author(s) 2020.)

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the probiotic potential of genuine strains of Bifidobacterium longum 5 1A and Weissella paramesenteroides WpK4, in experimental giardiasis., Methods and Results: The bacteria were administered orally to gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) 10 days before oral infection with trophozoites of Giardia lamblia. After 7 days of infection, the animals were euthanized and portions of the duodenum were processed for histopathologic, histochemical and morphometric assessment. The height of the intestinal crypts and crypt/villi ratio were higher in infected groups (P < 0·05) than in noninfected groups. The area of mucus production was higher (P < 0·05) in infected animals pretreated with B. longum 5 1A than in other groups. The parasitic load of the animals that received both bacteria decreased significantly (P < 0·05) compared to the ones of the control group., Conclusions: Our results suggest a probiotic function of B. longum 5 1A and W. paramesenteroides WpK4 and may result in their use as a prophylactic and therapeutic alternative for promoting human and animal health., Significance and Impact of the Study: Bifidobacterium longum 5 1A and W. paramesenteroides WpK4 may constitute prophylactic alternatives, reversing the emergence of side effects and resistance observed in the conventional treatment of giardiasis., (© 2019 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Hypertension is a pathology of high prevalence in the world. In Brazil, it is the main risk factor for the major cause of death in the country, coronary heart disease. The May Measurement Month Campaign in 2017 (MMM17) included a population with representation from all Brazilian states and reflects some of the characteristics of hypertension in Brazil. Questionnaire data were collected and three measures of blood pressure (BP) were performed. The sample consisted of 7260 individuals, 40% were white, 56.4% were women. The average age was 52 years. Diabetes was present in 11.9%, previous myocardial infarction in 4.0% and stroke in 2.7%. About 8.4% were smokers and 26.2% were users of alcoholic drinks. The average BMI was 26.9 kg/m 2 . Considering the means of the last two measures of BP 47.0% were hypertensive (>140/90 mmHg). Of the individuals who did not use medication, 19.5% were hypertensive and of those who used anti-hypertensive medication 40.0% were uncontrolled. Systolic BP increased with age. The use of alcohol was related to higher BP levels, as well as diabetes and obesity. The MMM17 campaign demonstrated a large number of unknown hypertensives and a high rate of uncontrolled hypertension in Brazil.

α-Synuclein misfolding and aggregation is a hallmark in Parkinson's disease and in several other neurodegenerative diseases known as synucleinopathies. The toxic properties of α-synuclein are conserved from yeast to man, but the precise underpinnings of the cellular pathologies associated are still elusive, complicating the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Combining molecular genetics with target-based approaches, we established that glycation, an unavoidable age-associated post-translational modification, enhanced α-synuclein toxicity in vitro and in vivo, in Drosophila and in mice. Glycation affected primarily the N-terminal region of α-synuclein, reducing membrane binding, impaired the clearance of α-synuclein, and promoted the accumulation of toxic oligomers that impaired neuronal synaptic transmission. Strikingly, using glycation inhibitors, we demonstrated that normal clearance of α-synuclein was re-established, aggregation was reduced, and motor phenotypes in Drosophila were alleviated. Altogether, our study demonstrates glycation constitutes a novel drug target that can be explored in synucleinopathies as well as in other neurodegenerative conditions., (© The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Twenty bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients were studied to establish any correlation between free anti-basement membrane zone (BMZ) antibodies, circulating immune complexes (CIC) and dermo-epidermal junction deposits. CIC levels were evaluated by 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. The twenty patients were found to have IgG and/or C3 deposited in the BMZ. Eight of the twelve patients who had no free anti-BMZ antibodies displayed a positive in vivo C4 and/or CIq staining and high levels of CIC. Moreover, CIC were detected in only one patient with positive circulating free anti-BMZ antibodies. The presence of free anti-BMZ antibodies was generally found to correlate with the absence of cutaneous deposits of CIq and /or C4 and with negative CIC; on the other hand, the absence of free anti-BMZ antibodies was generally found to correlate with high levels of CIC and with deposits of C3 and CIq and/or C4. The absence of circulating free anti-BMZ antibodies in BP patients, could be explained by the formation of CIC. It is possible that BMZ antigens released from damaged tissue could combine with free antibodies and form complexes in the blood. The release could involve locally formed immune complexes. Elevated CIC levels were generally found to correlate with the presence of active disease.