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Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) modifies the electrical activity of accessory respiratory muscles, also leading to a marked peripheral muscular dysfunction, measured by the handgrip strength taken as an indicator of total body strength. Objective: To compare the effects of two different physiotherapeutic programs on handgrip strength and myoelectric activity in COPD patients. Methods: Participated in the study 17 individuals, randomly allocated into 2 groups: 1) Maneuvers: 62.7±15.4 years, 1.65±0.12 m, 81.4±18.2 kg, BMI: 29.9±5.0 kg/m2 ; 2) Threshold: 64.4±11.2 years, 1.58±0.08 m, 70.7±9.4 kg, BMI: 28.6±3.7 kg/m2 , diagnosed with COPD, submitted to surface electromyographic (sEMG) evaluation of sternocleidomatoid (SCM) and anterior scalene (AS), and handgrip strength, before and after the interventions. The data were analyzed with SPSS (20.0). Pared t-student and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare mean values of the handgrip strength and the Root Mean Square (RMS) of the sEMG signal (SCM and AS muscles), pre- and post-interventions. In addition, independent t-Student and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the RMS average of the sEMG signal between the right and left sides. Significant level was set at 5%. Results: When comparing pre and post-intervention values, there was a significant increase for the Threshold group handgrip strength (P=0.037). It was observed a sEMG activity of SCM and AS during dynamometry, vital capacity, forced vital capacity on inspiratory and expiratory pressure (P

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treatment includes a multidisciplinary approach, with physiotherapy a prominent role that promotes a positive impact on the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. Objective: To analyze the effects of physiotherapeutic interventions on QOL, lung volumes and capacities, and respiratory muscle strength in COPD patients. Methods: 17 subjects participated in the study, randomly divided into 2 groups: 1) Maneuvers: 62.7 ± 15.4 years, 1.65 ± 0.12 m, 81.4 ± 18.2 kg, body Mass Index (BMI) 29.9± 5.0 kg/m2 ; 2) Threshold: 64.4 ± 11.2 years, 1.58 ± 0.08 m, 70.7 ± 9.4 kg, BMI 28.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 , with COPD, without neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular or cognitive impairment, which made it impossible to participate in the physiotherapeutic intervention programs. QOL was analyzed using the Saint George Hospital questionnaire on Respiratory Disease (SGRQ); spirometry and respiratory muscle strength were analyzed by manovacuometry using a pneumotachograph. Data were analyzed in SPSS (20.0), Student’s t-test (paired) and Wilcoxon test were used for pre and post-intervention comparison of the SGRQ domains and total score, Vital Capacity (VC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1 ), Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP); and Student’s t-tests (independent) and Mann-Whitney were used in the intergroup comparison, all with a significance level of 5%. Results: There was a significant difference in both groups (P

Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor, highly aggressive by being proliferative, neovascularized and invasive, heavily infiltrated by immunosuppressive glioma-associated myeloid cells (GAMs), including glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMM) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Quantifying GAMs by molecular imaging could support patient selection for GAMs-targeting immunotherapy, drug target engagement and further assessment of clinical response. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and amino acid positron emission tomography (PET) are clinically established imaging methods informing on tumor size, localization and secondary phenomena but remain quite limited in defining tumor heterogeneity, a key feature of glioma resistance mechanisms. The combination of different imaging modalities improved the in vivo characterization of the tumor mass by defining functionally distinct tissues probably linked to tumor regression, progression and infiltration. In-depth image validation on tracer specificity, biological function and quantification is critical for clinical decision making. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of the relevant experimental and clinical data concerning the spatiotemporal relationship between tumor cells and GAMs using PET imaging, with a special interest in the combination of amino acid and translocator protein (TSPO) PET imaging to define heterogeneity and as therapy readouts.

Proximity labeling is a technology for tagging proteins and other biomolecules in living cells. These methods use enzymes that generate reactive species whose properties afford high spatial resolution for the localization of proteins to subcellular compartments and the identification of endogenous interaction partners. Here we present the adaptation of the engineered peroxidase APEX2 to proximity labeling in mycobacteria, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. APEX2 is uniquely suited for general use in bacteria because unlike other proximity labeling enzymes, it does not depend on metabolites like ATP that are found in the cytoplasm, but are absent from the bacterial periplasm. Importantly, we found that in slow-growing mycobacteria like M. tuberculosis, codon usage optimization is required for APEX2 export into the periplasm via fusion to an N-terminal secretion signal. APEX2 expressed from codon-optimized genes affords robust, compartment-specific protein labeling in the cytoplasm and the periplasm of both fast- and slow-growing species. Here we detail these updated constructs and provide an optimized protocol for APEX2-mediated protein labeling in mycobacteria. We expect this approach to be broadly useful for determining the localization of specific proteins, cataloging subcellular proteomes, and identifying interaction partners of 'bait' proteins expressed as fusions to APEX2.

Translational methods are needed to monitor the impact of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) and therapies on brain function in animal models and patients. The formation of amyloid plaques was investigated using [

One of the obstacles for ex situ conservation of wild and exotic animals are the diseases that affect them in captivity and, among them, the endoparasitoses, which are very frequent. The objective of this study is to report the occurrence of endoparasites in the fecal samples of animals from the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, at João Pessoa, Paraiba State, Brazil, as well as to identify significant statistical differences between the percentages of each parasite species found. To this end, 66 fecal samples were obtained from 50 species of animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Statistical differences between the percentages of each parasite species were obtained using the binomial test at 5% significance level. A total of 54.5% (36/66) of the fecal samples were positive (p=0.539), among which 80.5% (29/36) presented nematodes, followed by cestodes 19.4% (07/36), protozoans 13.9% (05/36), and mites 16.7% (06/36). This study reports for the first time the association of Balantidium sp. with Tapirus terrestris, Bertiella sp. with Alouatta caraya, Hymenolepis spp., and Aspiculuris spp. as spurious parasites in reptiles; and Entamoeba coli and Eimeria spp. with Iguana iguana in the northeastern part of the country. This study provides knowledge about some of the endoparasites that may occur in zoos in the northeastern region of the country, as well as in expanding the ecological data on wild and exotic animals. Uno de los obstáculos para la conservación ex situ de los animales silvestres y exóticos son las enfermedades que los afectan en cautiverio y, entre ellas, las endoparasitosis, que son muy frecuentes. El objetivo de este estudio es reportar la ocurrencia de endoparásitos en las muestras fecales de animales del Parque Zoobotánico Arruda Câmara, en João Pessoa, Estado de Paraíba, Brasil, así como identificar diferencias estadísticas significativas entre los porcentajes de cada especie parasitaria encontrada. Para ello, se obtuvieron 66 muestras fecales de 50 especies de animales, incluidos mamíferos, aves y reptiles. Las diferencias estadísticas entre los porcentajes de cada especie de parásito se obtuvieron mediante la prueba binomial al nivel de significancia del 5%. El 54,5% (36/66) de las muestras fecales resultaron positivas (p = 0,539), de las cuales el 80,5% (29/36) presentaron nematodos, seguido de los cestodos 19,4% (07/36), protozoos 13,9% (05 / 36) y ácaros 16,7% (06/36). Este estudio reporta por primera vez la asociación de Balantidium sp. con Tapirus terrestris, Bertiella sp. con Alouatta caraya, Hymenolepis spp. y Aspiculuris spp. como parásitos espurios en reptiles; y Entamoeba coli y Eimeria spp. con Iguana iguana en el noreste del país. Este estudio brinda conocimiento sobre algunos de los endoparásitos que pueden ocurrir en los zoológicos de la región noreste del país, así como en la ampliación de los datos ecológicos sobre animales silvestres y exóticos. Resumo Um dos obstáculos da conservação ex situ de animais silvestres e exóticos são as doenças que os acometem em cativeiro e, dentre elas, as endoparasitoses são muito frequentes. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar a ocorrência de endoparasitos em amostras fecais de animais do Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara, em João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil, bem como identificar diferenças estatísticas significativas entre os percentuais de cada espécie de parasito encontrada. Para tanto, foram obtidas 66 amostras fecais de 50 espécies de animais, entre mamíferos, aves e répteis. As diferenças estatísticas entre as porcentagens de cada espécie de parasito foram obtidas pelo teste binomial com nível de significância de 5%. Um total de 54,5% (36/66) das amostras fecais foram positivas (p = 0,539), entre as quais 80,5% (29/36) eram de nematoides, seguidos de cestoides 19,4% (07/36), protozoários 13,9% (05/36), e ácaros 16,7% (06/36). Este estudo relata pela primeira vez a associação de Balantidium sp. em Tapirus terrestris, Bertiella sp. em Alouatta caraya, Hymenolepis spp. e Aspiculuris spp. como parasitas espúrios em répteis; e Entamoeba coli e Eimeria spp. com Iguana Iguana no nordeste do país. Este estudo fornece conhecimento sobre alguns dos endoparasitos que podem ocorrer em zoológicos da região Nordeste do país, bem como auxilia na ampliação dos dados ecológicos sobre animais silvestres e exóticos.

Focused ultrasound in combination with microbubbles (FUS) provides an effective means to locally enhance the delivery of therapeutics to the brain. Translational and quantitative imaging techniques are needed to noninvasively monitor and optimize the impact of FUS on blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability in vivo. Positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging using [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-sorbitol ([18F]FDS) was evaluated as a small-molecule (paracellular) marker of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. [18F]FDS was straightforwardly produced from chemical reduction of commercial [18F]2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose. [18F]FDS and the invasive BBB integrity marker Evan’s blue (EB) were i.v. injected in mice after an optimized FUS protocol designed to generate controlled hemispheric BBB disruption. Quantitative determination of the impact of FUS on the BBB permeability was determined using kinetic modeling. A 2.2 ± 0.5-fold higher PET signal (n = 5, p &lt, 0.01) was obtained in the sonicated hemisphere and colocalized with EB staining observed post mortem. FUS significantly increased the blood-to-brain distribution of [18F]FDS by 2.4 ± 0.8-fold (VT, 0.01). Low variability (=10.1%) of VT values in the sonicated hemisphere suggests reproducibility of the estimation of BBB permeability and FUS method. [18F]FDS PET provides a readily available, sensitive and reproducible marker of BBB permeability to noninvasively monitor the extent of BBB disruption induced by FUS in vivo.

Woody biomass is an important feedstock for biofuel production. Manipulation of wood properties that enable efficient conversion of biomass to biofuel reduces cost of biofuel production. Wood cell wall composition is regulated at several levels that involve expression of transcription factors such as wood-/secondary cell wall-associated NAC domains (WND or SND). InArabidopsis thaliana, SND1regulates cell wall composition through activation of its down-stream targets such as MYBs. The functional aspects ofSND1homologs in the woodyPopulushave been studied through transgenic manipulation. In this study, we investigated the role ofPdWND1B, Populus SND1sequence ortholog, in wood formation using transgenic manipulation through over-expression or silencing under the control of a vascular-specific4-coumarate-CoAligase (4CL) promoter. As compared to control plants,PdWND1B-RNAi plants were shorter in height, with significantly reduced stem diameter and dry biomass, whereas there were no significant differences in growth and productivity ofPdWND1Bover-expression plants. Conversely,PdWND1Bover-expression lines showed a significant reduction in cellulose and increase in lignin content, whereas there was no significant impact on lignin content of down-regulated lines. Stem carbohydrate composition analysis revealed a decrease in glucose, mannose, arabinose, and galactose, but an increase in xylose in the over-expression lines. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of several downstream transcription factors and secondary cell wall related structural genes in thePdWND1Bover-expression lines that corresponded to significant phenotypic changes in cell wall chemistry observed inPdWND1Boverexpression lines. Relative to the control, glucose release and ethanol production from stem biomass was significantly reduced in over-expression lines but appeared enhanced in the RNAi lines. Our results show thatPdWND1Bis an important factor determining biomass productivity, cell wall chemistry and its conversion to biofuels inPopulus.

Woody biomass is an important feedstock for biofuel production. Manipulation of wood properties that enable efficient conversion of biomass to biofuel reduces cost of biofuel production. Wood cell wall composition is regulated at several levels that involve expression of transcription factors such as wood-/secondary cell wall-associated NAC domains (WND or SND). In

Background: Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are leading causes of disability and lead to substantial healthcare costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of home telemonitoring in reducing healthcare usage and costs in patients with heart failure or COPD. Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study with a follow-up duration of up to 3 years in which for all participants data before and after enrollment in the telemonitoring program was compared. Hundred seventy-seven patients with heart failure (NYHA functional class 3 or 4) and 83 patients with COPD (GOLD stage 3 or 4) enrolled in a home telemonitoring program in addition to receiving usual hospital care. The primary outcome was the number of hospitalizations; the secondary outcomes were total number of hospitalization days and healthcare costs during the follow-up period. Generalized Estimating Equations were applied to account for repeated measurements, adjusting for sex, age and length of follow-up. Results: In heart failure patients, after initiation of home telemonitoring both the number of hospitalizations and the total number of hospitalization days significantly decreased (incidence rate ratio of 0.35 (95% CI: 0.26–0.48) and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.24–0.51), respectively), as did the total healthcare costs (exp(B) = 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08–0.17)), all p