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Cerrado is a savanna-like region that covers a large area of Brazil. Despite its biological importance, the Cerrado has been the focus of few microbial diversity studies. A molecular approach was chosen to characterize the soil fungal communities in four areas of the Cerrado biome: a native Cerrado, a riverbank forest, an area converted to a soybean plantation, and an area converted to pasture. Global diversity of fungal communities in each area was assessed through Ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis which revealed remarkable differences among the areas studied. Sequencing of approximately 200 clones containing 18S rDNA sequences from each library was performed and, according to the genetic distance between sequences, these were assigned to operational taxonomic units (OTUs). A total of 75, 85, 85, and 70 OTUs were identified for the native Cerrado, riverbank forest, pasture, and soybean plantation, respectively. Analysis of sequences using a similarity cutoff value of 1% showed that the number of OTUs for the native Cerrado area was reduced by 35%; for the soybean plantation, a reduction by more than 50% was observed, indicating a reduction in fungal biodiversity associated with anthropogenic activity. This is the first study demonstrating the anthropogenic impact on Cerrado soil fungal diversity.

Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) causes great economic losses in tomato crops worldwide. Despite efforts undertaken by different research groups, there are no immune commercial plant materials available. Recently, our group reported partial resistance to TYLCD in line L102, derived from Solanum pimpinellifolium UPV16991. Resistance in this line is monogenic, with partial recessiveness and incomplete penetrance. Even though the resistance gene in L102 is not dominant, we also proved that levels of resistance were high in hybrids with different tomato lines. The objective of this work was to evaluate the level of resistance in plants which combined UPV16991-derived resistance and the Ty-1 gene, both in heterozygosis. Most of the hybrids between S. pimpinellifolium- and S. chilense-derived resistant lines exhibited milder symptoms than heterozygotes for either S. pimpinellifolium- or S. chilense-derived resistance. In some of the hybrids, viral accumulation was also lower than in respective heterozygotes. Our results support the utility of resistance derived from UPV16991 combined with the Ty-1 gene in increasing levels of resistance to TYLCD in tomato hybrids. This is the most practical approach to exploiting resistance derived from UPV16991, because it allows the development of hybrids without the need of fixing the resistance gene in both parents.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rehospitalization rates of patients discharged from the Institute of Psychiatry of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Universidade de São Paulo Medical School while being treated with haloperidol, risperidone or clozapine., Method: This is a naturalistic study designed to monitor rehospitalization rates for patients discharged on haloperidol (n=43), risperidone (n=22) or clozapine (n=31). Time to readmission over the course of three years was measured by the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method. Risk factors associated with rehospitalizations were examined., Results: At 36 months, remained in the community 74% of the haloperidol-treated patients, 59% of the risperidone-treated patients and 84% of the clozapine-treated patients. The haloperidol group showed a higher proportion of women, a late age of onset and shorter length of illness than the other groups, whereas the opposite was observed in the clozapine group., Conclusions: This study suggests that the rehospitalization rates of patients taking clozapine are lower than the rate for patients treated with haloperidol and risperidone. However confounding variables such as gender distribution and age of onset represent limitations that should be taken into account for the interpretation of the results.

Two hundred eighty methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates recovered from a tertiary care hospital in Oporto, Portugal, between 2003 and 2005 were studied by a combination of molecular typing techniques in order to investigate the genetic backgrounds associated with the changes in the resistance phenotypes observed since 2001 and compare them to those previously found in the hospital. All MRSA isolates were grouped into resistance profiles for a panel of seven antibiotics and characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and SCCmec (staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec) typing. Representative isolates of PFGE types were further studied by spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. Our findings clearly document that the increasing isolation of nonmultiresistant MRSA strains was associated with the decline (from 69% in 1996 to 2000 to 12% in 2003 to 2005) and massive replacement of the multiresistant Brazilian clone (ST239-IIIA) by the epidemic EMRSA-15 clone (ST22-IV), in which resistance to antibiotics other than beta-lactams is very rare, as the major clone (80% of isolates). The Iberian clone (ST247-IA), a major clone in 1992 to 1993, was represented in the present study by just one isolate. Two other pandemic MRSA clones were detected, as sporadic isolates, for the first time in our hospital: the New York/Japan (ST5-II) and the EMRSA-16 (ST36-II) clones. Furthermore, the pattern of susceptibility of MRSA isolates both to gentamicin and to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was shown to be an excellent phenotypic marker for the discrimination of the EMRSA-15 clone from other nonmultiresistant MRSA clones present in our hospital.

Resistance to tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) in accession UPV16991 Solanum pimpinellifolium has been previously reported by our group. A breeding program was developed from an initial S. lycopersicum × S. pimpinellifolium UPV16991 cross. This first cross was followed by several selfing generations. Selection for resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) was carried out for plants of each generation. One partially resistant F 6 plant (L102) was chosen to form the family to study the genetic control of resistance to TYLCV. Crosses between four breeding lines susceptible to TYLCD and L102 were also performed to study the dominance of the resistance in S. lycopersicum genetic backgrounds. Response to TYLCV infection of P 1 , P 2 , F 1 , F 2 , BC 1 , and BC 2 generations fitted, for this line, a monogenic control with partial recessiveness and incomplete penetrance. The percentage of homozygotic plants with partial resistance was 72.75. Among the four hybrids developed, the highest levels of resistance were found in the hybrid formed from the most vigorous S. lycopersicum line. These results must be considered for breeding purposes. Partial resistance derived from UPV16991 will be useful in homozygosis or combined with resistance genes from other sources.

Objective: Characterising legal action taken for protecting health rights in Manizales during 2003 and 2004., Methods: This was a descriptive kind of study, based on a sample of 375 legal actions filed in the city of Manizales' legal offices during 2003 and 2004. The study was carried out in two steps; the files kept in the legal offices were reviewed and semi-structured interviews were held with personnel from the General Social Health Security System (GSHSS), monitoring and control centres, the legal offices and the academic sector. Their concept regarding legal action and its subsequent impact on the health services was also consulted., Results: 54.2% of the 375 legal actions were brought by women. Information regarding age was only registered in 53.8% of the files consulted; 81% of these corresponded to the population group aged older than 25 and 3% were presented by the population group less than 5 years of age. 74.7% of the people were in the regime making contributions and 14% in the subsidized regime. Most reasons for making a claim were made on at least two grounds, including complaints about integral treatment including drug prescriptions, exams, surgery, specialist appointments, carrying out procedures, etc., Conclusions: Taking legal action has become the most effective tool for gaining access to health services in Manizales.

Teratomas account for 8-13% of all mediastinal tumors. A 27-year-old patient presented with chest pain and dyspnea of prolonged evolution. A chest X-ray revealed near total opacification of the right hemithorax. On a tomography scan of the chest, a collection of heterogeneous fluid, with irregular borders and 10.1 x 11.7 cm in size, was seen in the pleura of the lower two-thirds of the right hemithorax but was not encroaching on any of the adjacent structures. Based on the hypothesis that these findings represented a benign mediastinal teratoma, an exploratory thoracotomy was performed, during which such a teratoma was found and completely excised. The post-operative evolution was favorable. The atypical presentation and considerable growth of the tumor hindered the pre-operative diagnosis.

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The activities of microbiomes in river sediments play an important role in sustaining ecosystem functions by driving many biogeochemical cycles. However, river ecosystems are frequently affected by anthropogenic activities, which may lead to microbial biodiversity loss and/or changes in ecosystem functions and related services. While parts of the Atlantic Forest biome stretching along much of the eastern coast of South America are protected by governmental conservation efforts, an estimated 89% of these areas in Brazil are under threat. This adds urgency to the characterization of prokaryotic communities in this vast and highly diverse biome. Here, we present prokaryotic sediment communities in the tropical Juliana River system at three sites, an upstream site near the river source in the mountains (Source) to a site in the middle reaches (Valley) and an estuarine site near the urban center of Ituberá (Mangrove). The diversity and composition of the communities were compared at these sites, along with environmental conditions, the former by using qualitative and quantitative analyses of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. While the communities included distinct populations at each site, a suite of core taxa accounted for the majority of the populations at all sites. Prokaryote diversity was highest in the sediments of the Mangrove site and lowest at the Valley site. The highest number of genera exclusive to a given site was found at the Source site, followed by the Mangrove site, which contained some archaeal genera not present at the freshwater sites. Copper (Cu) concentrations were related to differences in communities among sites, but none of the other environmental factors we determined was found to have a significant influence. This may be partly due to an urban imprint on the Mangrove site by providing organic carbon and nutrients via domestic effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored forest management goals - conservation and socio-economic goals. It is seen that the goal of socio-economic reduces forest conservation. The ideological conflict between the two approaches can be overcome through the management of property rights and access to forest resource utilization that is not for the purpose of local interests. Ownership rights to land in Minangkabau are in the hands of women, but men have the ability to determine the use of the land. The difference between property rights and access rights between women and men in processing customary land and Nagari land is a means of resolving conflicts between the government, traditional leaders and land managers in processing social forestry in the inheritance and matrilineal system of the Minangkabau community. This study focused on the role women play in conflict management of social forests in Nagari Sungai Buluh. From the results of research conducted using qualitative research methods and case study approaches, it was found that the role of women in conflict management included bringing together the community and the government in meetings discussing the planning and management of social forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of physical exercise on human health make it desirable to identify new approaches that would mimic or potentiate the effects of exercise to treat metabolic diseases. However, whether far-infrared (FIR) hyperthermia therapy could be used as exercise mimetic to realize wide-ranging metabolic regulation, and its underling mechanisms remain unclear. Here, a specific far-infrared (FIR) rays generated from graphene-based hyperthermia devices might promote exercise capacity and metabolisms. The material characterization showed that the graphene synthesized by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) was different from carbon fiber, with single-layer structure and high electrothermal transform efficiency. The emission spectra generated by graphene-FIR device would maximize matching those adsorbed by tissues. Graphene-FIR enhanced both core and epidermal temperatures, leading to increased blood flow in the femoral muscle and the abdominal region. The combination of microbiomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that graphene-FIR modulates the metabolism of the gut-muscle axis. This modulation was characterized by an increased abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing bacteria and AMP, while lactic acid levels decreased. Furthermore, the principal routes involved in glucose metabolism, such as glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, were found to be altered. Graphene-FIR managed to stimulate AMPK activity by activating GPR43, thus enhancing muscle glucose uptake. Furthermore, a microbiota disorder model also demonstrated that the graphene-FIR effectively restore the exercise endurance with enhanced p-AMPK and GLUT4. Our results provided convincing evidence that graphene-based FIR therapy promoted exercise capacity and glucose metabolism via AMPK in gut-muscle axis. These novel findings regarding the therapeutic effects of graphene-FIR suggested its potential utility as a mimetic agent in clinical management of metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) pose a significant threat to human and animal health. However, the diversity and antibiotic resistance of animal ExPEC, and their connection to human infections, remain largely unexplored. The study performs large-scale genome sequencing and antibiotic resistance testing of 499 swine-derived ExPEC isolates from China. Results show swine ExPEC are phylogenetically diverse, with over 80% belonging to phylogroups B1 and A. Importantly, 15 swine ExPEC isolates exhibit genetic relatedness to human-origin E. coli strains. Additionally, 49 strains harbor toxins typical of enteric E. coli pathotypes, implying hybrid pathotypes. Notably, 97% of the total strains are multidrug resistant, including resistance to critical human drugs like third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins. Correspondingly, genomic analysis unveils prevalent antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), often associated with co-transfer mechanisms. Furthermore, analysis of 20 complete genomes illuminates the transmission pathways of ARGs within swine ExPEC and to human pathogens. For example, the transmission of plasmids co-harboring fosA3, blaCTX-M-14, and mcr-1 genes between swine ExPEC and human-origin Salmonella enterica is observed. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and controlling ExPEC infections in animals, as they can serve as a reservoir of ARGs with the potential to affect human health or even be the origin of pathogens infecting humans. Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) is a significant cause of human and animal disease. Here, the authors compile a collection of 499 ExPEC samples from swine in China and characterise their phylogenetic population structure and antibiotic resistance profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 may have different effects on animal growth and health due to unique metabolism in vivo. This study was investigated to explore the different effects of altering the ratio of C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 in fat supplements on growth performance, lipid metabolism, intestinal barrier, cecal microbiota, and inflammation in fattening bulls. Thirty finishing Angus bulls (626 ± 69 kg, 21 ± 0.5 months) were divided into 3 treatments according to the randomized block design: (1) control diet without additional fat (CON), (2) CON + 2.5% palmitic acid calcium salt (PA, 90% C16:0), and (3) CON + 2.5% mixed fatty acid calcium salt (MA, 60% C16:0 + 30% cis-9 C18:1). The experiment lasted for 104 d, after which all the bulls were slaughtered and sampled for analysis. Results: MA tended to reduce 0–52 d dry matter intake compared to PA (DMI, P = 0.052). Compared with CON and MA, PA significantly increased 0–52 d average daily gain (ADG, P = 0.027). PA tended to improve the 0–52 d feed conversion rate compared with CON (FCR, P = 0.088). Both PA and MA had no significant effect on 52–104 days of DMI, ADG and FCR (P > 0.05). PA tended to improve plasma triglycerides compared with MA (P = 0.077), significantly increased plasma cholesterol (P = 0.002) and tended to improve subcutaneous adipose weight (P = 0.066) when compared with CON and MA. Both PA and MA increased visceral adipose weight compared with CON (P = 0.021). Only PA increased the colonization of Rikenellaceae, Ruminococcus and Proteobacteria in the cecum, and MA increased Akkermansia abundance (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, both PA and MA down-regulated the mRNA expression of Claudin-1 in the jejunum (P < 0.001), increased plasma diamine oxidase (DAO, P < 0.001) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, P = 0.045). Compared with CON and MA, PA down-regulated the ZO-1 in the jejunum (P < 0.001) and increased plasma LPS-binding protein (LBP, P < 0.001). Compared with CON, only PA down-regulated the Occludin in the jejunum (P = 0.013). Compared with CON, PA and MA significantly up-regulated the expression of TLR-4 and NF-κB in the visceral adipose (P < 0.001) and increased plasma IL-6 (P < 0.001). Compared with CON, only PA up-regulated the TNF-α in the visceral adipose (P = 0.01). Compared with CON and MA, PA up-regulated IL-6 in the visceral adipose (P < 0.001), increased plasma TNF-α (P < 0.001), and reduced the IgG content in plasma (P = 0.035). Compared with CON, PA and MA increased C16:0 in subcutaneous fat and longissimus dorsi muscle (P < 0.05), while more C16:0 was also deposited by extension and desaturation into C18:0 and cis-9 C18:1. However, neither PA nor MA affected the content of cis-9 C18:1 in longissimus dorsi muscle compared with CON (P > 0.05). Conclusions: MA containing 30% cis-9 C18:1 reduced the risk of high C16:0 dietary fat induced subcutaneous fat obesity, adipose tissue and systemic low-grade inflammation by accelerating fatty acid oxidative utilization, improving colonization of Akkermansia, reducing intestinal barrier damage, and down-regulating NF-κB activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit seeds are leftovers from a variety of culinary sectors. They are generally unutilized and contribute greatly to global disposals. These seeds not only possess various nutritional attributes but also have many heath-beneficial properties. One way to make use of these seeds is to extract their bioactive components and create fortified food items. Nowadays, researchers are highly interested in creating innovative functional meals and food components from these unconventional resources. The main objective of this manuscript was to determine the usefulness of seed powder from 70 highly consumed fruits, including Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Cherry, Common plum, Cranberry, Gooseberry, Jackfruit, Jamun, Kiwi, Lemon, Mahua, Mango, Melon, Olive, Orange, and many more have been presented. The nutritional attributes, phytochemical composition, health advantages, nanotechnology applications, and toxicity of these fruit seeds have been fully depicted. This study also goes into in-depth detailing on creating useful food items out of these seeds, such as bakery goods, milk products, cereal-based goods, and meat products. It also identifies enzymes purified from these seeds along with their biochemical applications and any research openings in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluidic behavior of porous scaffolds plays a vital role in the mass transportation of cells and the formation of new tissue, which is crucial for promoting bone ingrowth. TPMS porous structures are widely recognized in the field of tissue engineering as a versatile solution for designing biomorphic scaffolds due to their unique structural and biological properties. To explore the flow behavior of TPMS-based porous scaffolds, we employed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. Our study focused on two types of TPMS structures: I-graph wrapped package (IWP) and diamond (D); both were developed by using mathematically defined TPMS equations. For each structure, we created four model variants with porosities of 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%, respectively. These models underwent systematic fluid flow simulations to evaluate important parameters such as permeability, wall shear stress (WSS), pressure distribution, velocity distribution, and pressure drop. These aspects are critical for assessing the suitability of scaffolds as bone substitutes. Our simulation results revealed that the IWP structure exhibited superior fluid accessibility compared to the diamond structure in terms of permeability and WSS. Overall, this investigation emphasizes the benefits of utilizing TPMS structures as a viable option for bone applications. The significant finding of this work underscores the importance of optimizing scaffold architecture to enhance cell ingrowth and transport phenomena at targeted anatomical sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leishmania infantum is endemic in the Mediterranean region, presenting mostly as visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In Portugal, reporting of VL cases to public health authorities is mandatory, but significant underreporting is likely. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the VL cases diagnosed in hospitals of the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS), between 2010 and 2020. Methods: Collaboration was requested to every hospital of the Portuguese NHS in Mainland Portugal. Cases were screened through a search of diagnostic discharge codes or, if not available, by a search of positive laboratory results for Leishmania infection. Sociodemographic and clinical data was retrieved from medical records. Simultaneously, the National Health authority was contacted to request access to data of notified cases of VL between 2010 and 2020. Descriptive, hypothesis testing and multiple binary logistic regression models were performed. Results: A total of 221 VL cases were identified. A significant increase in estimated national incidence was seen in the years after 2016 (P = 0.030). VL was predominantly diagnosed in people living with HIV (PLWH) and in children (representing around 60% of the new cases), but the outcome was generally poorer in non-HIV patients with associated immunosuppression, with significantly lower rates of clinical improvement at 7 (P = 0.003) and 30 days (P = 0.008) after treatment. Atypical presentations, with gastrointestinal and/or respiratory involvement, were seen in 8.5% of VL cases. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was diagnosed in 40.0% of children under 5 years of age. Only 49.7% of incident VL cases were reported. Simultaneous involvement of the skin was confirmed in 5.9% of patients. Conclusions: VL presents a continuing threat in Portugal, especially to PLWH and children, and an increasing threat to other immunosuppressed groups. Recent increases in incidence should be closely monitored to allow prompt interventions. Programs to control the disease should focus on providing tools for earlier diagnosis and on reducing underreporting and promoting an integrated surveillance of human and animal disease. These data should be combined with asymptomatic infection and vector information, following a One Health approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple diseases can decrease levels and changes in gut microbial populations, while increasing microbiota diversity causes an increase in the immune response. Evidence shows that exercise can affect the gut microbiota and, subsequently, the health of individuals. Also, regular exercise provides many benefits for health, protection against the spread of chronic diseases, and improved quality of life. Exercise can increase the number of helpful microbiota species, enrich microflora diversity, and improve the growth of commensal microbiota. This article reviews recent findings on the interaction of gut microbiota and exercise. Also, another purpose of this research is to suggest different mechanisms that using them can provide the way that the exercise factor can change the gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidiosis is an opportunistic, globally distributed parasitic disease. Whereas Cryptosporidium causes asymptomatic infection and diarrhea in healthy people, it may lead to severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. Limited, effective therapeutic alternatives are available against cryptosporidiosis in those categories of patients. So, we are in urgent need of better drugs for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis. Fifty male Swiss albino mice were used. Mice were grouped into five groups of ten mice each. Group I was left uninfected, and four groups were infected with 1000 oocysts of cryptosporidium. The first infected group was left untreated. The remaining three-infected groups received nitazoxanide (NTZ), eugenol, and eugenol + NTZ, respectively, on the 6th day post infection (dpi) for five days. Mice were sacrificed on the 30th dpi. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated using parasitological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters. Combination therapy of eugenol with NTZ caused a significant reduction of the number of oocysts secreted in stool and improved cryptosporidiosis-induced liver injury manifested by the restoration of normal levels of liver enzymes (ALT and AST). Treatment with eugenol-NTZ combination maintained a well-balanced antioxidant status, as evidenced by a reduced level of nitric oxide (NO) and increased antioxidant Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity. Moreover, the combination of eugenol with NTZ resulted in the restoration of the normal morphology of intestinal villi, crypts, and muscularis mucosa. Based on the findings extracted from the present work, we can conclude that eugenol is a complementary therapeutic when used with NTZ in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis. The addition of eugenol to NTZ in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis synergized the effect of NTZ, causing a greater reduction of the number of shedded oocysts, improving liver enzyme levels, and restoring normal intestinal pathology. Therefore, we presume that eugenol's antioxidant capacity accounts for the protective effect seen in the current study. We suggest eugenol as a supplemental chemotherapeutic agent with good therapeutic potential and high levels of safety in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis based on the findings of the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine physiology is a complex subject for students. Game-based learning (GBL) and case-based learning (CBL) are active methodologies that are widely used because of their potential for motivation and greater proximity to the reality of modern students. We evaluated the effectiveness of GBL and CBL among veterinary medicine students compared with a control group using peer tutoring. Students (n = 106) from two institutions volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were submitted to a pretest questionnaire and subsequently were divided into three paired groups by their performance on the pretest exam: 1) traditional class + peer tutoring, 2) traditional class + GBL, and 3) traditional class + CBL. After the students completed the activities, their performance was once again evaluated by applying a new test with the same initial 10 questions and another set of 10 different questions. The students' perceptions and satisfaction with the methodologies and learning strategies were assessed. Anxiety was assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after the conventional class and after the active methodologies. The GBL group significantly improved their correct answers compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), with no significant difference from CBL and peer tutoring. Anxiety levels did not differ regardless of the time of evaluation or the teaching methodology applied. GBL promoted a greater perception of the stimulus for self-study and problem-solving ability and contributed to the development of group dynamics compared with the group who received CBL (P < 0.05). In conclusion, GBL showed better results than peer tutoring and CBL. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We compared the supplementary use of game-based learning, case-based learning, and peer tutoring in the study of endocrine physiology by veterinary students and observed a slight advantage for game-based learning over the other two methodologies. The game was developed by the authors and is an unprecedented tool that can prove useful to improve knowledge acquisition in students of veterinary medicine. Thus, game-based learning is an effective supplementary teaching strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidisciplinary nature of physiology requires students to acquire, retain, apply, and evaluate knowledge from different scientific disciplines. Optimal learning techniques, such as active learning, interleaving topics and conditions, and recall, can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness with which students achieve this type of higher-order thinking. However, developing and implementing optimal learning techniques in the classroom can be both time-intensive and challenging for the instructor. In addition, students may be resistant or slow to accept novel learning processes. One way to potentially introduce these learning techniques in a fun and engaging way is through educational gaming, or using a game or game elements intentionally to support learning. In this article we present an easy-to-implement adaptation of the Codenames board game for the physiology classroom. The activity requires minimal preparation while addressing high-level learning outcomes. Postintervention surveys of students were collected in three different health-related academic programs, both graduate and undergraduate, at two different institutions. Results suggest that participating in the activity both actively engaged the students and pushed them toward high-level, integrative thinking regardless of class level. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: An easy-to-implement word game (Codenames) was used to engage students in higher-level Bloom's thinking about physiology. The gameplay required students to recall, apply, evaluate, and debate as they developed and guessed clues as part of the game. Students found the activity fun, engaging, and challenging. The activity is relatively easy to implement both online and in person, requiring at minimum a simple list of vocabulary terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identify risk factors for asthma in adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil., Methods: total of 528 adolescents (141 asthmatics, 387 control subjects) from the ISAAC study (phase III) were submitted to a complementary questionnaire to evaluate risk factors, through response to questions regarding personal history, environment, and diet and an agreement to undergo the skin prick test (SPT) for aeroallergens., Results: Positive SPT to at least one allergen occurred in 49.4% adolescents. The risk factors for asthma were: prematurity (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.54-9.64), rhinitis (OR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.71-5.91), positivity in the SPT (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.48-5.32), eczema in characteristic skin-folds (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.13-7.26), and an allergic mother (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.02-3.93). The consumption of cooked vegetables was a protective factor for asthma (OR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18-0.79), Conclusions: Asthma is a multifatorial disease. An allergic mother, aeroallergen sensitization, rhinitis, eczema and prematurity were considered risk factors and the consumption of cooked vegetables was considered a protective factor for asthma in this population.

Objective: To review the role of calcineurin inhibitors in the treatment of allergic dermatitis, focusing on mechanisms of action, efficacy and topical and systemic adverse effects., Sources: Articles written in English and published in MEDLINE using the following keywords: pimecrolimus, tacrolimus, calcineurin inhibitors. Original articles that presented controlled and open studies for assessing efficacy, tolerability and adverse effects were selected. Review articles and case series were also evaluated; the latter was only considered for assessing adverse effects. The official websites of the Food and Drug Administration and of manufacturers of calcineurin inhibitors were also used., Summary of the Findings: The data showed that calcineurin inhibitors are efficient in the treatment of mild to severe atopic dermatitis, leading to improvement in symptoms, reduction in number of attacks and need of topical corticotherapy. Calcineurin inhibitors have good tolerability and few topical adverse effects. To date, there has been no evidence to support higher prevalence of neoplasia in patients using these drugs; however, an adequate pharmacovigilance system has been set up to assess this aspect., Conclusions: Calcineurin inhibitors, which are a new drug class in the treatment of allergic dermatitis, are efficient, well tolerated and have few adverse effects. Calcineurin inhibitors should always be used according to recommended guidelines, and patients should always be followed by the physician during and after their administration.

The aim of this study was to translate into Portuguese and to assess the reliability of an instrument for the diagnosis of diabetic distal polyneuropathy (DPN). The process for translation and adaptation into Portuguese of the Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) and the Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS) was performed following internationally standardized procedures. The instruments were applied by 2 raters in 57 consecutive subjects. Spearman correlation was used to evaluate the reliability and Cronbachs' alpha to evaluate the internal consistency of the items. Both, ECN and ESN, showed a good reliability (r= 0.77, p< 0.0001 and r= 0.76, p< 0.0001, respectively). ESN showed a good internal consistency (alpha= 0.74). The diagnosis of DPN, defined as the combination of the two scores (ECN+ESN) also showed a good reliability (r= 0.63, p< 0.0001). The Portuguese versions of the ESN and the ECN seem to be adequate for the diagnosis of DPN in this population.

The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the experience of Brazilian psychiatrists in treatment, formal training, attitudes, and knowledge with respect to epilepsy (and associated mental disorders). One hundred fifty-seven Brazilian psychiatrists completed a specially developed questionnaire. Most (95%) had previously treated patients with epilepsy and mental disorders. About one-third (35%) admitted a lack of any formal training in epilepsy, and only 46% confirmed having received some formal training in mental disorders related to epilepsy. Eighty percent were dissatisfied with their knowledge. Three knowledge-based questions were answered correctly by only 10%. Almost half (48%) admitted that among psychiatrists, prejudice exists toward patients with epilepsy. Difficulties with treatment (50%) and lack of knowledge of epilepsy (50%) were considered the main causes of such prejudice. These data indicate an urgent need for improvement in education on epilepsy and associated mental disorders, as well as inclusion of formal epilepsy training in psychiatry residency programs.

Unlabelled: This study aims to describe the emotional manifestation of hypertension patients. A qualitative and quantitative methodology was used to examine emotional manifestations of stress in hypertensive patients., Methods: the instrument for the evaluation of stress in hypertensive patients was adapted for this study, using the part about emotional manifestations. The study population consisted of 136 hypertensive patients who were attending a hypertension clinic at the Cardiology and Nephrology Division of the Medical Clinic Department of the Ribeirão Preto "Hospital das Clínicas" HCFMRP-USP. This study was submitted to and approved by the ethics committee. Examining emotional manifestations is very important for hypertensive patients and appeared in 52% of hypertensive patients with stress symptoms. This research contributes to teaching, research and care delivery to hypertensive patients.

Cyclophilins are peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases involved in catalyzing conformational changes and accelerating the rate of protein folding and refolding in several cellular systems. In the present study, we analyzed the expression pattern and intracellular distribution of the cellular isomerase cyclophilin A (CypA) during vaccinia virus (VV) infection. An impressive increase in CypA stability was observed, leading to a practically unchanged accumulation of CypA during infection, although its synthesis was completely inhibited at late times. By confocal microscopy, we observed that CypA went through an intense reorganization in the cell cytoplasm and colocalized with the virosomes late in infection. CypA relocation to viral factories required the synthesis of viral postreplicative proteins, and treatment of infected cells with cyclosporine (CsA) prevented CypA relocation, clearly excluding the virosomes from CypA staining. Immunoelectron microscopy of VV-infected cells showed that CypA was incorporated into VV particles during morphogenesis. Biochemical and electron microscopic assays with purified virions confirmed that CypA was encapsidated within the virus particle and localized specifically in the core. This work suggests that CypA may develop an important role in VV replication.

Visceral larva migrans syndrome by Toxocara affects mainly children between 2 and 5 years of age, it is generally asymptomatic, and the seroprevalence varies from 3 to 86% in different countries. A total of 399 schoolchildren from 14 public schools of the Butantã region, São Paulo city, Brazil, were evaluated by Toxocara serology (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Epidemiological data to the Toxocara infection obtained from a protocol were submitted to multiple logistic regression analysis for a risk profile definition. Blood was collected on filter paper by finger puncture, with all samples tested in duplicate. Considering titers > or = 1/160 as positive, the seroprevalence obtained was 38.8%. Among infected children, the mean age was 9.4 years, with a similar distribution between genders. A significant association was observed with the presence of onychophagia, residence with a dirty backyard, living in a slum, previous wheezing episodes, school attended, and family income (p < 0.05). All data, except "living in a slum", were considered to be determinant of a risk profile for the acquisition of Toxocara infection. A monthly income > or = 5 minimum salaries represented a protective factor, although of low relevance. Toxocara eggs were found in at least one of the soil samples obtained from five schools, with high prevalence of Toxocara infections, indicating the frequent soil contamination by this agent.

We report the accidental needlestick inoculation of a laboratory worker with vaccinia virus. Although the patient had previously been vaccinated against smallpox, severe lesions appeared on the fingers. Western blot and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to analyze the virus recovered from the lesions. The vaccinia virus-specific immunoglobulin G levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our study supports the need for vaccination for laboratory workers that routinely handle orthopoxvirus.

Objective: To evaluate epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial aspects of patients with Down syndrome, who present recurrent and/or severe infections, as well as to evaluate the presence of immunodeficiency in this population., Methods: Patients with Down syndrome diagnosed by chromosome analysis with recurrent and/or severe infections, followed at the Allergy and Immunology Unit of Children's Institute from 1990 to 1999, were submitted to an epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial protocol, including immunological aspects., Results: Sex distribution was 1.6 M:1 F, with age ranging from 1 to 12 years and 10 months (average = 2y7m). Forty patients reported recurrent infections and five, sepsis. Out of all patients with recurrent infection, 31 fulfilled the repeated infection criteria, with pneumonia and rhinopharyngitis as the most common infections. Congenital heart diseases were found in 62.2% of cases, more frequent in the repeated pneumonia group. Immunological evaluation showed two cases with IgG2 deficiency, two with low lymphocytes CD4+ count, and two cases with reduced blastogenic response to mitogens. Five cases had reduced NK cells function. Seropositivity for CMV was found in 22 of 36 cases analyzed (61.1%)., Conclusions: Although the data found in this study are valid for this specific population, the authors point out the necessity of the immunodeficiency research in Down syndrome patients with maintenance of infection besides the appropriated control of associated diseases.

We describe a case report of disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis as the initial presentation of AIDS in a 24-year-old HIV-positive male patient. He presented multiple ulcerated skin lesions distributed over the face, thorax, legs and arms. Biopsy of one of the cutaneous lesions was suggestive of sporotrichosis and culture isolated Sporothrix schenckii. Itraconazole was started and the lesions progressively resolved after 15 days of medication. The patient was discharged with this medication but he did not return for follow-up. He died three months later in another hospital. Therapy of sporotrichosis in HIV-infected patients remains unclear and the response to therapy is variable. Itraconazole is highly concentrated in the skin and is one of the options for treatment of disseminated sporotrichosis.

Background: PCR detection of CSF Herpes virus DNA is an important tool in the diagnosis of CNS infections. Use of this test has been shown to have an impact on patient management as measured by shortened patient stays, specific therapeutic intervention, reduction of empirical expensive therapy administration, all of which should translate into significant health care savings., Objective: The present study aimed at implementing, and evaluating both clinically and analytically the performance of several commercially available PCR based assays for the detection of Herpes virus infections of the CNS., Study Design: A total of 314 patients with suspected CNS Herpesvirus infection were investigated, between 1999 and 2001, by Stair primers PCR. Starting on January 2002, two commercially available real-time-PCR systems were implemented and tested using the Stair primers PCR assay as golden standard and three external control proficiency panels along with serial dilutions of positive clinical samples., Results: Sensitivity of the assay was determined to be <200 copies per ml for HSV and <1250 copies per ml for CMV. Positive results were obtained for 17 patients (6 HSV-1, 1 HSV-2, 1 EBV, 1 CMV, 6 VZV and 2 HHV-6) whose clinical and analytical findings were consistent with the PCR results. A real-time-PCR procedure was introduced in 2002 with similar sensitivity, but a more rapid response., Conclusion: Conventional end-point PCR proved useful to the diagnosis of CNS herpes virus infection, with an impact on the clinical intervention. However, the use of Real-Time-PCR has greatly enhanced these advantages, making results available at a much earlier time, thus significantly reducing the need for empirical treatment.

Immunologic disorders related to anticonvulsant therapy have been described in the last three decades, including cellular and humoral alterations that result in recurrent infections; however, the physiopathologic mechanisms are not completely understood. This report describes a patient with complex partial epilepsy and hypogammaglobulinemia while in treatment with carbamazepine, with significant improvement in clinical signs and laboratory tests after substitution to sodium valproate. The authors stress the importance of clinical and laboratory evaluation of patients in continuous anticonvulsant therapy, including immunoglobulins levels and peripheral blood evaluations.

Background: CMV is a major clinical problem in transplant recipients. Thus, it is important to use sensitive and specific diagnostic techniques to rapidly and accurately detect CMV infection and identify patients at risk of developing CMV disease. In the present study, CMV infection after liver transplantation was monitored retrospectively by two molecular biology assays - a quantitative PCR assay and a qualitative NASBA assay. The results were compared with those obtained by prospective pp65 antigenemia determinations., Materials and Methods: 87 consecutive samples from 10 liver transplanted patients were tested for CMV by pp65 antigenemia, and CMV monitor and NASBA pp67 mRNA assay., Results: CMV infection was detected in all patients by antigenemia and CMV monitor, whereas NASBA assay identified only 8/10 patients with viremia. Furthermore, CMV infection was never detected earlier by molecular biology assays than by antigenemia. Only 5/10 patients with CMV infection developed CMV disease. Using a cut off value of 8 cells/50,000, antigenemia was found to be the assay that better identified patients at risk of developing CMV disease. However, the kinetics of the onset of infection detected by NASBA and CMV monitor seemed to have better identified patients at risk of developing CMV disease. Furthermore, before onset of disease, CMV pp67 mRNA was found to have similar or better negative and positive predictive values for the development of CMV disease., Conclusions: The present data, suggests that the concomitant use of antigenemia and pp67 mRNA assay gives the best identification of patients at risk of developing CMV disease.

Leadership and communication are strategies that enable nurses to improve the management of nursing care within the hospital context. The present study aimed at reporting a Continuing Education Program developed by nurses from a private hospital on leadership and communication and to present the application of situational leadership in their professional practice. The technique of critical incidents was applied in data collection. The subjects evaluated positively the contributions of the Program and authors found the viability of the application of situational leadership in nursing daily practice.

In the present study, the experimental model of Mycobacterium leprae infection in the foot pads of BALB/c mice was used to investigate the effects of BCG administration on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production and granuloma development. It was observed that mice intravenously infected with BCG 7 months after M. leprae inoculation into the foot pads presented a more effective mycobacteria clearance, revealed by a significant reduction of BCG-colony forming units in the spleen and by the reduction of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in the foot pads. BCG infection at the peak of M. leprae infection also modulated the granulomatous response to M. leprae by converting mononuclear granulomas into an epithelioid-cell granuloma. Furthermore, lower TNF-alpha serum levels were detected in M. leprae-infected mice when compared to mice infected with M. leprae + BCG. An analysis of the TNF-alpha gene expression in the spleen by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) demonstrated that co-infection with BCG induced an earlier expression of TNF-alpha mRNA than in M. leprae-infected mice. The numbers of TNF-alpha-positive cells and apoptotic cells were also enhanced in epithelioid versus non-epithelioid granulomas. As a whole, the data suggest that co-infection of M. leprae-infected mice with BCG modulates TNF-alpha synthesis which, in turn, leads to induction of protective epithelioid granuloma formation in the foot pads and subsequent mycobacterial clearance. Macrophage differentiation into epithelioid cells, in association with the enhancement of TNF-alpha production at the granuloma site, may represent a triggering signal that induced apoptosis in these cells, leading to mycobacterial elimination. Moreover, the rate of apoptosis in epithelioid granulomas may well be related to the extent of immunopathologically mediated tissue damage.

Leadership and communication are themes of importance for the development of Nurse's work so that the upbringing of this professional needs to begin in the undergraduate course and continue through professional life. The present study aimed to identify the knowledge of students of the 4th year of the Nursing School of a public University about leadership na communication. In order to achieve this goal, the authors elaborated an instrument and submitted it to apparent and content validation, pilot test and statistic treatment. Data was collected through the application of the instrument to 67 students in October of 1998. The analysis of the results indicated that the students showed knowledge about leadership and communication, although they did not affirm that what they had learned it in the Undergraduate Course about it was enough.

Introduction: Vibroacoustic disease (VAD) occurs in workers exposed for more 10 yr to large pressure amplitude and low frequency (LPALF) noise (> or = 90dB, < or = 500 Hz). In its initial stages (2 yr exposure), VAD is associated with an increase in infections of the respiratory tract. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether exposure of mice to LPALF noise leads to immunological changes as expressed by the number of different lymphocyte subpopulations in the animals' spleen., Methods: Flow cytometry analysis of spleen lymphocytes was performed in BALB/c mice that had been exposed to occupationally simulated LPALF noise (8 h x d(-1), 5 d x wk(-1)) for a total of 1272 h (approximately 8 mo). The following surface phenotypes of splenic lymphocytes were quantified: IgM, CD4, CD8. Quantification of splenic lymphocytes from non-exposed, age-matched, control BALB/c mice was also performed., Results: Noise-exposed BALB/c mice had decreased T cells, involving both helper (CD4+) and cytotoxic (CD8+) lymphocytes, and also of IgM+ B lymphocytes., Conclusion: The data indicate that relatively short term exposure (3 mo) to LPALF noise induces a decrease in spleen lymphocytes in mice which is particularly significant (p < 0.003) in CD8+ T lymphocytes. The data suggest that exposure to LPALF noise causes changes in the immune system of mice. This is in agreement with previous human studies where VAD patients presented an enhancement in the number of circulating CD8+ lymphocytes.

Introduction: We investigated the effect of low frequency noise on the natural history of autoimmune diseases using hybrid New Zealand Black (NZB) and White (NZW) male mice that are prone to spontaneously develop systemic lupus erythematosus after 6 mo of age., Methods: We exposed 3-mo-old mice to periods of low frequency noise (> or = 90 dB SPL, < or = 500 Hz) for a total of 216 h; the animals were studied up to 12 mo of age and data were compared with results obtained with age-matched controls., Results: We found that noise exposure caused an earlier expression of proteinuria, a change that was associated with acceleration of kidney lesions and increased mortality. At 8 mo of age, after 3 mo of chronic exposure to noise, the exposed mice presented significantly higher numbers of splenic IgM+ lymphocytes and CD8+ T cells than the age-matched controls., Conclusion: Exposure of lupus-prone mice to low frequency noise accelerates the expression of the autoimmune disease and it affects the immune system by raising the number of splenic IgM+ B lymphocytes and CD8+ T cells.

Introduction: Some workers employed by the aviation industry are exposed to large pressure amplitude and low frequency (LPALF) noise (> or =90 dB SPL, < or = 500 Hz) and have developed vibroacoustic disease (VAD), a whole-body noise-induced pathology. Since VAD patients have an increased prevalence of respiratory and skin infections, we investigated whether these individuals had any quantitative changes in the number of peripheral blood cell populations. Also, we investigated whether different types of noise environments are related to cell quantification., Methods: Quantification of peripheral blood cell populations was performed in venous blood samples of 34 VAD-diagnosed patients, and 41 controls. Leukocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and surface phenotypes of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes were considered., Results: We found that VAD patients showed a statistically significant elevation in the number of circulating CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes when compared with the control population, but not when compared among different noise-environments. Monocyte and granulocyte populations did not register significant differences., Conclusion: VAD patients present enhancement in the number of circulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+ and CD4+ T cells) thus indicating that this environmental disease is associated with quantitative changes in immune cells.

Hereditary angioedema is caused by a defect in C1 inhibitor activity (C1INH). Its occurrence is rare and it is associated with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. We describe seven patients (4M:3F), age from 12 to 50 years old, who are affected by hereditary angioedema; four of them belong to the same family. The main clinical manifestations were: angioedema of face, hands and feet (6/7) and abdominal pain (2/7). No triggering factors were associated with symptoms in 4/7 patients and trauma (2/7) and menses (1/7) were reported in the other three ones. One patient was submitted to laparotomy for partial intestinal resection, before diagnosis. Laboratory complement analysis revealed the absence of hemolytic function of complement, reduced C4 (6/7) and low C1INH levels. All patients received Danazol (100 mg/day) with clinical control. Hereditary angioedema has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of angioedema, since an early diagnosis of this immunodeficiency, leading to specific treatment in order to decrease the complications.

We have investigated the effect of inflammation on host resistance against infection by Mycobacterium avium, an atypical mycobacteria species that is responsible for life-threatening opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. Inflammation was induced in BALB/c mice by two intraperitoneal injections of mineral oil (Freund's incomplete adjuvant, FIA). The BALB/c strain was chosen because it is naturally susceptible to Myco. avium infection. One week after the second FIA injection, the BALB/c mice were infected intravenously with 2.6 x 10(6) Myco. avium bacilli; at this time, the mice showed systemic granulocytosis because of the FIA injections. The kinetics of the murine infection was determined during 3 months by quantification of Myco. avium loads in the major target organs (liver and spleen) of the mycobacteria. The FIA treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the growth of Myco. avium in the infected BALB/c mice. This enhancement in host resistance to Myco. avium infection lasted for 2-3 months. In contrast with BALB/c animals, C3H mice (naturally resistant to Myco. avium infection) did not show an increased anti-Myco. avium action in association with the FIA treatment. The antimycobacterial effect of the FIA injections in BALB/c mice was compared with that produced by the injection of mycobacterial antigens (heat-killed Myco. tuberculosis) added to the mineral oil (i.e. Freund's complete adjuvant, FCA). The FCA treatment resulted in strong and sustained enhancements in the microbicidal capacities of BALB/c, and also of C3H mice. Data obtained with mutant athymic BALB/c mice revealed that the anti-Myco. avium effect of the FCA treatment was T cell-dependent. Our results indicate that: (i) non-immune inflammatory stimulation (FIA) of Myco. avium-susceptible hosts is able to cause a significant, albeit transient, increase in the resistance to Myco. avium infection; (ii) this protective effect is enhanced if heat-killed mycobacteria are added to the phlogistic agent (FCA), i.e. if a T cell-dependent response is induced; and (iii) systemic increase in the number of circulating granulocytes may help host defence against Myco. avium infection.

We have used the MRL/lpr murine model of spontaneous lupus to investigate three questions in infection immunity: (1) does mycobacterial infection have any effect on the mortality of the autoimmunity-prone lpr mice?; (2) does the infection modify the progression of kidney disease of lpr lupus?; and (3) does the lpr gene change the resistance of mice to mycobacteria? Experimental infections were induced by intraperitoneal inoculation of 10(7) viable bacilli of Mycobacterium avium in 3 months old MRL/lpr mice and also in congeneic MRL/+ mice (lacking the lpr gene). MRL mice were sacrificed 1, 2.5 and 4 months after the M. avium injection. We found that infection caused lowering of urine protein concentration in lpr mice as compared with age-matched lpr controls. Mycobacteriosis also induced a marked decrease in the mortality of lpr animals, e.g. 85% of infected lpr mice reached the age of 7 months whereas only 10% of control lpr mice reached the same age. MRL/lpr mice showed, after 1 and 2.5 months of infection, higher mycobacterial loads than the congeneic non-lpr MRL mice; after 4 months of infection, however, differences in M. avium loads between the two groups of MRL mice became not statistically significant. We conclude that: (1) mycobacterial infection increases the life span of lpr mice; (2) the infection slows down the progression of kidney disease in the lupus-prone lpr animals; (3) the autoimmunity gene lpr is associated with a transient decrease in host resistance to mycobacteria.

New Zealand (NZ) mouse strains comprise both autoimmune and non-autoimmune animals: NZ black (NZB) mice and the F1 hybrid (NZB/W) of NZB and NZ white (NZW) mice show spontaneous autoimmune disease by 6 months of age and die before the first year of age from renal disease, while NZW mice do not show autoimmune disorders. We investigated whether the autoimmunity-prone NZ animals (NZB and NZB/W) differ from the non-autoimmune NZW mice in susceptibility/resistance to mycobacterial infection. The three groups of NZ mice were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of 10(8) colony forming units (cfu) of Mycobacterium avium. The M. avium infection was induced in 3-month-old mice (i.e., before NZB and NZB/W mice develop autoimmune disease) and studied for 4 months. Infected NZB and NZB/W mice showed evidence of renal disease at 2 and 4 months of infection (but not at 1 month). The non-autoimmune NZW mice were found to be susceptible to M. avium since they allowed massive proliferation (4-5 log growth) of the bacilli in liver and spleen. In contrast, both groups of autoimmunity-prone mice (NZB and NZB/W) were resistant to M. avium since their mycobacterial loads remained below the value of the initial inoculum. We conclude that in NZ mice the acquisition of autoimmunity genes is associated with expression of natural resistance to mycobacterial infection. This is consistent with the view that autoimmunity genes may have been evolutionarily selected because of their association with increased resistance of the host to infections by intracellular parasites.

This study aims to explore technological advances and prospects in phenol treatment by providing a detailed bibliometric survey of wastewater treatment applications, highlighting innovative advances in research. Using the Web of Science database, we identified 79,104 articles from 2003 to 2023, later refined to 1848. The keywords were used for the initial search: "phenol", "wastewater", "degradation", "treatment" and "removal". The bibliographic review details the occurrence of journals, authors, newspapers, countries, institutions, keywords, highly cited articles, and prominent predominant research fields. In particular, the field of "Engineering" was responsible for 32% of the published articles, followed by "Ecology of Environmental Sciences" (25%) and "Chemistry" (12%). In addition, a keyword analysis revealed five major groups of clusters that indicate where the research is progressing. This aspect is crucial for understanding the evolution and perspectives of research interests over time. Therefore, future research in the field should prioritize wastewater treatment and feedstock diversification. This focus is essential to address significant challenges, such as production costs, stability, and durability of treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Pesquisa is the property of Saude e Pesquisa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Liver transplantation is a highly complex and challenging field of clinical practice. Although it was originally developed in western countries, it has been further advanced in Asian countries through the use of living donor liver transplantation. This method of transplantation is the only available option in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to the lack of deceased organ donation. As a result of this clinical situation, there is a growing need for guidelines that are specific to the Asia-Pacific region. These guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for evidence-based management throughout the entire process of liver transplantation, covering both deceased and living donor liver transplantation. In addition, the development of these guidelines has been a collaborative effort between medical professionals from various countries in the region. This has allowed for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences, leading to a more comprehensive and effective set of guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)