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The purpose of this article is to analyze the outcomes of two surgical techniques to treat major trichiasis. A retrospective chart review of 67 patients (89 eyelids) with major trichiasis was performed who underwent surgical treatment using one of two techniques: intermarginal split lamella with graft (ISLG group) or lid lamella resection (LLR group). There were 30 lids in the ISLG group with mean patient age of 71.8 years and 63.3% were females. There were 59 lids in the LLR group with mean patient age of 72.5 years and 52.5% were female. The minimum postoperative follow up was six months. Statistical analysis included descriptive measures, Goodman association test for contrasts between and within multinomial populations and nonparametric Mann–Whitney test for comparison between groups.P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The underlying causes of trichiasis were blepharitis (37.07%), chronic meibomitis (21.3%), multiple causes (20.2%), ectropion (11.2%), actinic keratosis (6.7%), or prior ocular surgery (3.3%). Postoperatively, in the ISLG group, there were 20% lids with complete success, 50% underwent laser or electrolysis, 16.7% required further surgery, and 13.3% were unsuccessful. Postoperatively, in the LLR group, there were 47.5% eyelids with complete success, 46.7% underwent laser or electrolysis, 6.8% required further surgery, and 5.1% were unsuccessful. There was a higher statistical chance of complete success with LLR (P < 0.05). LLR is superior to ISLG surgery for the treatment of major trichiasis. There is a greater chance of success with LLR and it is technically simpler. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to investigate the chemical profile of 14 specimens of Aplysinaspp. marine sponges, we have developed a method based on LC-PDA-MS for the detection of bromotyrosine-derived metabolites. The method enabled the dereplication of three distinct chemotypes of bromotyrosine-derived compounds based on UV absorptions, which were further refined by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis of the brominated quasi-molecular ion clusters. This procedure led to either a single compound assignment, or a maximum of two possible isobaric compounds. The dereplication study indicated that the chemical profile of the 14 specimens of Aplysinaspp. analyzed presented practically the same dibromotyrosine-derived compounds. The results obtained suggested a possible biogenetic pathway for the formation of dibromotyrosine-derived compounds of wide occurrence in Verongida sponges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly lethal type of cancer, frequently presenting an unfavorable prognosis. The current treatment options for this neoplasia are still limited, highlighting the need for further research evaluating new drugs to treat GBM or to serve as an adjuvant to improve the efficiency of currently used therapies. In this sense, the inhibition of A2A receptors in the brain has presented a neuroprotective role for several diseases, such as neurodegenerative conditions, and it has been suggested as a possible pharmacological target in some types of cancer; thus, it also can be underscored as a potential target in GBM. Recently, Istradefylline (IST) was approved by the FDA for treating Parkinson's disease, representing a safe drug that acts through the inhibition of the A2A receptor, and it has also been suggested as an antineoplastic drug. Therefore, this work aims to explore the effects of A2A receptor inhibition as a therapy for GBM and assess the feasibility of this blockage occurring through the effects of IST.

Objectives: To compare the performance of Cention-N® with direct restorative materials used at the daily practice (e.g., resin-based composites/RBC, glass ionomer cements/GIC, bioactive resins, silver amalgam) via a systematic review study., Methods: The review followed the PRISMA-NMA recommendations, and the protocol of the review was published at osf.io/ybde8. The search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Lilacs, and SciELO databases, as well as in the grey literature (Open Grey, Proquest, and Periódicos CAPES). Studies with an in vitro experimental design evaluating the characteristics and properties of Cention-N in comparison to other restorative materials were included. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the RoBDEMAT tool, and meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4 and MetaInsight V3 tools., Results: A total of 85 studies were included in the review, from which 79 were meta-analyzed. Several characteristics of direct restorative materials were analyzed, including physical (color change, degree of conversion, hardness, microleakage, polymerization rate, roughness, water solubility, water sorption), mechanical (bond strength to dentin, compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, flexural modulus, flexural strength, load-to-fracture, wear), and biological (alkalinizing effect, antibacterial activity, calcium and fluoride release) properties., Significance: Cention-N presented similar physico-mechanical properties compared to RBCs, but a stronger behavior than GICs. Despite the Alkasite nature of Cention-N, GICs may still demonstrate the greatest fluoride releasing ability from all direct restorative materials. This review confirmed the adequate behavior of Cention-N when compared to several other more traditionally used materials, confirming its applicability for the permanent restoration of decayed or fractured teeth., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMPs) are a promising alternative for application in diagnostic tests and, given their wide application in the most diverse diseases, this review article aims to survey the use of these antigens for diagnosis, as well as discuss the main points surrounding these antigens. RMPs usually consisting of linear, immunodominant, and phylogenetically conserved epitopes, has been applied in the experimental diagnosis of various human and animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, hepatitis, leptospirosis, leprosy, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and COVID-19. The synthetic genes for these epitopes are joined to code a single RMP, either with spacers or fused, with different biochemical properties. The epitopes' high density within the RMPs contributes to a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The RMPs can also sidestep the need for multiple peptide synthesis or multiple recombinant proteins, reducing costs and enhancing the standardization conditions for immunoassays. Methods such as bioinformatics and circular dichroism have been widely applied in the development of new RMPs, helping to guide their construction and better understand their structure. Several RMPs have been expressed, mainly using the Escherichia coli expression system, highlighting the importance of these cells in the biotechnological field. In fact, technological advances in this area, offering a wide range of different strains to be used, make these cells the most widely used expression platform. RMPs have been experimentally used to diagnose a broad range of illnesses in the laboratory, suggesting they could also be useful for accurate diagnoses commercially. On this point, the RMP method offers a tempting substitute for the production of promising antigens used to assemble commercial diagnostic kits., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary responses during unsupported upper limb function assessment may vary in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)., Objective: To compare the cardiopulmonary responses during the function assessment with the Six-Minute Pegboard and Ring Test (6PBRT) and the incremental Unsupported Upper Limb Exercise (UULEX) test in COPD and to investigate the correlations with muscle strength and the limitations on activity of daily living (ADLs)., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Cardiopulmonary variables were recorded during tests using a breath-by-breath analyzer. Muscle strength was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer. Self-reported ADL was evaluated using the modified Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire (PFSDQ-M). Paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Spearman correlation coefficients were used., Results: Fifteen individuals with moderate-to-severe COPD participated (66 ± 9 years old, forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV 1 ]: 48%±14% of predicted). The UULEX induced higher oxygen consumption (0.54 ± 0.20 vs . 0.44 ± 0.09 L/min, p = .01) and dyspnea (4.0 [2.6 to 6.9] vs . 0.5 [0.9 to 5.1], p < .01) than 6PBRT. The performance in both tests was correlated with self-reported ADL limitations on PFSDQ-M (6PBRT: r = -0.69, p < .01; UULEX: r = -0.62, p = .01)., Conclusion: The UULEX promoted greater cardiopulmonary responses than 6PBRT, and performance in 6PBRT and UULEX was correlated with ADL limitations in individuals with COPD.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus schistosoma, which affects approximately 240 million people worldwide. the diagnosis of the disease can be performed by parasitological, molecular, and/or immunological methods, however, the development of new diagnostic methods still essential to guide policy decisions, monitor disease trends and assess the effectiveness of interventions., Objective: in this sense, the current work summarizes the findings of a systematic review regarding antigens applied in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, which were patented and published over the last ten years., Methods: the literature search strategy used medical subject heading (mesh) terms to define as descriptors. "schistosoma mansoni" was used in arrangement with the descriptors "immunoassay", "enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay", "elisa", and "antigens", using the "and" connector. the patent search was done using keywords, including diagnosis and schistosoma or schistosomiasis or schistosome. several databases were employed for the patent search, such as intellectual property national institute; european patent office; the united states patent and trademark office; patent scope, and google patents., Results: forty-one articles were retrieved, of which only five met the eligibility criteria. seventeen patents were taken from the databases, and a brief description of the most relevant inventions is given here., Conclusion: schistosomiasis is considered the most important helminthic disease in worldwide. therefore, it is important to of searching for and develops diagnostic methods based on serology to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the disease., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Chagas disease remains a neglected disease that is considered to be a public health problem. The early diagnosis of cases is important to improve the prognosis of infected patients and prevent transmission. Serological tests are the method of choice for diagnosis. However, two serological tests are currently recommended to confirm positive cases. In this sense, more sensitive and specific serological tests need to be developed to overcome these current diagnosis problems. This study aimed to develop a new recombinant multiepitope protein for the diagnosis of Chagas disease, hereafter named rTC. The rTC was constructed based on amino acid sequences from different combinations of Trypanosoma cruzi antigens in the same polypeptide and tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect different types of Chagas disease. rTC was able to discriminate between indeterminate (IND) and cardiac (CARD) cases and cross-reactive diseases, as well as healthy samples, with 98.28% sensitivity and 96.67% specificity, respectively. These data suggest that rTC has the potential to be tested in future studies against a larger serological panel for the diagnosis of Chagas disease.

Monkeypox is a zoonosis that re-emerged in 2022, generating cases in non-endemic countries for the disease and creating a public health issue. The rapid increase in the number of cases kindles a need for quick, inexpensive diagnostic tests for the epidemiological control of the disease. The high cost of molecular tests can make this control more difficult to access in poorer regions, with immunological tests being a more viable option. In this mini-review, a search was conducted in the main databases for peptide and protein options that could be used in the development of serological diagnostic tests. Nine viable registres were found, and seven were selected (two patents and five studies). The main studies used the B21R peptide sequence as it is a high immunogenic epitope. In addition, studies on the improvement of these sequences were also found to avoid cross-reactions against other viruses of the same family, proposing a rational approach using multiepitope recombinant proteins. These approaches demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity values and are seen as viable options for developing new tests. New effective serological testing options, when combined with awareness, disease surveillance, early diagnosis, and rapid communication, form a set of key strategies used by health systems to control the spread of the monkeypox virus., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Rubella, caused by the Rubella virus (RV), is considered a mild self-limited illness. However, RV has teratogenic potential. Laboratory investigation plays an important role in both diagnosis and surveillance of the disease. The main methods for diagnosing Rubella are serological assays for the detection of specific IgM and molecular assays for detecting viral RNA. However, some laboratories perform IgG avidity testing, virus isolation and analysis of genetic sequence as tools to help Rubella eradication. The importance of the diagnosis of Rubella involves the appropriate treatment of the disease, because the Rubella clinical symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases, and the population monitoring to avoid new emergent cases. This study addresses different methods of diagnosing Rubella and contributes as a source of knowledge to assist health systems in controlling the disease., Objective: The main objective of this study was to review the available patents regarding Rubella diagnosis published in intellectual property databases, and provides an overview of the technologies available for the diagnosis of Rubella., Method: The search strategy was based on the keywords searched separately or together using a Boolean operator either in the patent title or abstract the time interval was restricted to patents filed or granted from January 2009 until February 2022. The database used was Google Patents., Results: This study analyzed 24 patent documents regarding strategies for the diagnosis of Rubella. Of these, 15 patents disclose strategies for detecting Rubella antibodies, 7 patents the detection of Rubella virus nucleic acid, and 2 patents the production of antibodies applied in Rubella diagnosis., Conclusion: Rubella is still a public health problem in some countries, mainly those in development, especially due to congenital Rubella syndrome, which can cause malformation or fetal death. However, its diagnosis is challenging, due to similarity of symptoms with other diseases, and for this reason, laboratory diagnosis is essential. Studies like this encourage researchers and governments to invest in research to continue the development of new products, using different areas of biotechnology, to solve society's problems, especially diseases that have an impact on global health, such as Rubella., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is traditionally used by different populations of Africa, América, Asia, and Europa to control diabetes. Although its action has been evaluated in several preclinical rodent trials, they have not been systematically analyzed., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of using okra in the treatment of diabetes in experimental rodent models., Material and Methods: Controlled and randomized rodent animal trials with induced diabetes published between January 2000 and January 2021 were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included studies comprising the descriptors: animal species, diabetes induction method, intervention time, part of okra fruit used (whole, seeds, or peels), and dose as well as observed effects on biochemical and metabolic parameters. The systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA statement, Cochrane bias risk tool (SYRCLE's RoB tool), and registered for systematic review protocols (PROSPERO)., Results: A total of 326 articles were identified and after the exclusion of studies with gestational animal models, non-rodent animals, and non-diabetic animals, 11 studies involving 388 rodents were selected for the synthesis of results. The diabetes induction methods included streptozotocin, streptozotocin-nicotinamide, alloxan monohydrate, insulin resistance by high-fat diets or formulation described in AIN - 76, and feeding with high-fat food. Both Wistar albino rats, Sprague-Dawley males, and rats of both sexes of the Long-Evans lineage as well as male albino mice and C57BL females were included in the experiments. Studies showed that extracts of the fruit, the fresh fruit, or its various fractions had positive effects on the following markers: glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, HOMA-IR, oral glucose tolerance test, and blood glucose, in acute (2 and 24 h), and chronic (up to 4 months) treatment., Conclusion: An important hypoglycemic effect of okra in its various fractions on induced diabetes was observed by different authors. Moreover, okra promoted improvement in metabolic markers such as insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and bodyweight loss., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biotin-labeled proteins are widely used as tools to study protein-protein interactions and proximity in living cells. Proteomic methods broadly employ proximity-labeling technologies based on protein biotinylation in order to investigate the transient encounters of biomolecules in subcellular compartments. Biotinylation is a post-translation modification in which the biotin molecule is attached to lysine or tyrosine residues. So far, biotin-based technologies proved to be effective instruments as affinity and proximity tags. However, the influence of biotinylation on aspects such as folding, binding, mobility, thermodynamic stability, and kinetics needs to be investigated. Here, we selected two proteins [biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) and FKBP3] to test the influence of biotinylation on thermodynamic and kinetic properties. Apo (without biotin) and holo (biotinylated) protein structures were used separately to generate all-atom structure-based model simulations in a wide range of temperatures. Holo BCCP contains one biotinylation site, and FKBP3 was modeled with up to 23 biotinylated lysines. The two proteins had their estimated thermodynamic stability changed by altering their energy landscape. In all cases, after comparison between the apo and holo simulations, differences were observed on the free-energy profiles and folding routes. Energetic barriers were altered with the density of states clearly showing changes in the transition state. This study suggests that analysis of large-scale datasets of biotinylation-based proximity experiments might consider possible alterations in thermostability and folding mechanisms imposed by the attached biotins.

The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic required educational institutions to adapt face-to-face to remote teaching. This study reports the experience in the first semester of 2020 for a Chemical Engineering Capstone Design Course at the University of Campinas in Brazil. In this course, senior year students develop a group project, in which they simulate a chemical plant and evaluate its technoeconomic feasibility. In 2020, the groups were proposed to design a process to replace diesel fuel from the bus fleet in Campinas city with renewable fuel DME. Because of the pandemic, several adaptations were needed: the theoretical classes became asynchronous, group meetings were online, a commercial simulator was replaced by an open access one, and the schedule was extended by 2 weeks. Despite that, the students had a great performance, comparable to face-to-face. To assess student satisfaction, a questionnaire was used. The course met the expectations of most of the students who also recommended keeping it in the remote format or merging it with face-to-face teaching. Therefore, these changes made it possible to apply new teaching dynamics and tools that could be used in the future to improve the course quality., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.)

Aberrant Wnt signaling is implicated in carcinogenesis triggering efforts for the development of new therapeutic agents, many of which have entered clinical trials. We extend our previous analysis of WNT3, FZD7, LEF1 expression levels in breast and colorectal cancer including WNT2, FZD4 and β-catenin expression, in an effort to delineate their relative expression levels along with concurrent expression patterns and possible prognostic value. We analyzed 82 breast and 102 colorectal carcinomas for relative mRNA expression levels of the investigated genes by RT-PCR relative quantification with the ΔΔCt method. Statistical analysis was performed in order to determine associations of relative mRNA expression and linear correlations. β-catenin expression was determined by immunochemistry. Regarding breast carcinomas, decreased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT2, FZD4 were found frequently and WNT2 expression was correlated with ER/ PR status (p = 0.045/p = 0.028), whereas β-catenin with grade (p = 0.026). In colorectal carcinomas, increased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT2 and FZD4 were found in 59% and 32% of cases respectively, whereas β-catenin showed decreased mRNA expression levels in 57% of cases and a correlation with pN-category (p = 0.037). Linear correlations were observed between WNT2/FZD4 (R=0.542, p < 0.001), WNT2/β-catenin (R=0.254, p = 0.010), FZD4/β-catenin (R=0.406, p < 0.001) expression and a correlation between mRNA expression and membranous/cytoplasmic β-catenin emerged (p = 0.039/0.046). Our results suggest a possible clinical significance for Wnt pathway gene expression levels in both tumour types. The concurrent expression of the investigated genes as well as the different expression profiles, underlines the complexity of this pathway and the necessity of patient selection in order to maximize the efficacy of drugs targeting Wnt pathway., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral pathogen and made the disease a major health concern worldwide. However, specific antiviral drugs against this arbovirose or vaccines are not yet available for treatment or prevention. Thus, here we aimed to study the antiviral activity of hydroethanolic extract, fraction ethyl acetate and subfractions of the leaves of Bauhinia holophylla (Fabaceae:Cercideae), a native plant of the Brazilian Cerrado, against DENV-2 by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method in mammalian cells culture. As results, the hydroethanolic extract showed the most potent effect, with an inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 3.2 μg mL -1 and selectivity index (SI) of 27.6, approximately 16-times higher anti-DENV-2 activity than of the ribavirin (IC 50 52.8 μg mL -1 ). Our results showed in this study appointed that B. holophylla has a promising anti-dengue activity, which was associated mainly with the presence of flavonoids.

Background: Coronaviruses have caused outbreaks of respiratory disease since the beginning of the 21st century, representing a significant threat to public health. Together, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and, more recently, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have caused a large number of deaths around the world. Thus, investments in research and the development of strategies aimed at diagnosing, treating, and preventing these infections are urgently needed., Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the patents that address pathogenic coronaviruses in Google Patents databases in the last year (2019-2020)., Methods: The search strategy was carried out in April 2020, based on the keywords "SARS", "SARS-CoV", "MERS", "MERS-CoV", "SARS-CoV-2" and "COVID-19. Out of the patents examined, 25 were selected for a short description in this study., Results: A total of 191 patents were analyzed, 149 of which were related to SARS-CoV, and 29 and 12 were related to MERS-CoV and SARS- CoV2, respectively. The patents addressed the issues of diagnosis, therapeutic agents, prevention and control, along with other applications., Conclusion: Several promising strategies have been documented in intellectual property databases favoring the need for further studies on the pathogenesis and optimization of the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment for these emerging infections., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

In this paper, we discuss the bivariate Birnbaum-Saunders accelerated lifetime model, in which we have modeled the dependence structure of bivariate survival data through the use of frailty models. Specifically, we propose the bivariate model Birnbaum-Saunders with the following frailty distributions: gamma, positive stable and logarithmic series. We present a study of inference and diagnostic analysis for the proposed model, more concisely, are proposed a diagnostic analysis based in local influence and residual analysis to assess the fit model, as well as, to detect influential observations. In this regard, we derived the normal curvatures of local influence under different perturbation schemes and we performed some simulation studies for assessing the potential of residuals to detect misspecification in the systematic component, the presence in the stochastic component of the model and to detect outliers. Finally, we apply the methodology studied to real data set from recurrence in times of infections of 38 kidney patients using a portable dialysis machine, we analyzed these data considering independence within the pairs and using the bivariate Birnbaum-Saunders accelerated lifetime model, so that we could make a comparison and verify the importance of modeling dependence within the times of infection associated with the same patient., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Wnt signaling pathway regulates important cell functions such as proliferation and migration and is frequently deregulated in colorectal and breast cancer. Thus, it constitutes an attractive therapeutic target with many drugs being investigated in clinical trials. Eighty-two breast and 102 colorectal carcinomas were analyzed for: relative mRNA expression levels of Wnt pathway components namely Wnt3 ligand, Frizzled 7 receptor and LEF1 transcriptional factor, their concurrent expression patterns and their correlation with clinicopathological features. Regarding breast carcinomas, increased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT3 were found in 54 % of cases whereas decreased relative mRNA expression levels were observed in FZD7 and LEF1 in 82 % and 43 % of cases, respectively. Expression levels of WNT3 were significantly correlated with tumour grade (p = 0.021) in breast cancer. As far as colorectal carcinomas are concerned, increased relative mRNA expression levels of WNT3, FZD7 and LEF1 were found in 60 %, 37 % and 48 % of cases respectively. A statistically significant correlation emerged between LEF1expression levels and pT-category (p = 0.027), suggesting a possible association with tumour aggressiveness in colorectal carcinomas. Statistically significant linear correlations were observed between the expression of WNT3/LEF1 (R = 0.233, p = 0.035) and FZD7/LEF1 (R = 0.359, p = 0.001) in breast carcinomas as well as in colorectal carcinomas (R = 0.536, p < 0.01 and R = 0.210, p = 0.034) respectively. Our results demonstrate a possible clinical significance of Wnt pathway gene expression levels in both tumour types. The distinct expression patterns and simultaneous expression of the investigated genes underscore the complexity of this pathway in breast and colorectal carcinogenesis and highlights the necessity of patient selection with regard to the effectiveness of Wnt pathway inhibitors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Citrus sinensis and Citrus limonia were obtained by germination from seeds, and isotopic-labeling experiments using d-[1- 13 C]glucose were performed with the seedlings. After 60 days, the seedlings were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-solid-phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance, data and the 13 C enrichment patterns of xanthyletin and seselin indicated that the pyran ring was formed by the methylerythritol phosphate pathway and that the coumarin moiety was derived from the shikimate pathway in both compounds. This information regarding the biosynthetic pathway can be used to increase resistance against phytopathogens, because xanthyletin and seselin are reported to have antimicrobial activity on the growth of Xylella fastidiosa , which causes citrus variegated chlorosis in orange.

Objectives: Autophagy plays a dual role in tumorigenesis. In the initial stages, it promotes cell survival and suppresses carcinogenesis, whereas in cancer development, it induces cancer cell survival. In this study, we investigate the role of autophagy as a protective or tumor suppressor mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines and evaluate its role as a potential biomarker in human tumor samples., Materials and Methods: The data of 68 patients with CRC treated at our Department from January 1 to December 31, 2016 were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry evaluation of p62, LC3B, Beclin-1, and Rab-7 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples was performed and their expression was correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics, mutation status, and therapeutic approach. The χ was used to test an association among categorical variables. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences were assessed using the log-rank test. Colo-205, HT29, SW-480, and Caco-2 cell lines were also used so as to test the autophagy markers with oxaliplatin, irinotecan, hydroxychloroquine, and 3-methyladenine., Results: Overexpression of Beclin-1 is associated with poor survival (P=0.001) in patients with CRC treated with chemotherapy, irrespective of the stage and mutational status. Rab-7 is also correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) (P=0.088). Oxaliplatin (10 and 20 μΜ) and irinotecan (10 and 20 μΜ) inhibit autophagy in microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC cell lines. The inhibition of autophagy in MSS CRC cell lines after treatment with oxaliplatin and irinotecan is further identified through monodancylcadaverine staining. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy with molecules such as hydroxychloroquine (20 μΜ) and 3-methyladenine (5 mM) was identified by the accumulation of p62 and LC3B., Conclusions: Beclin-1 is an independent prognostic factor of overall survival and PFS. Also, Rab-7 is identified as an independent prognostic factor of PFS. Besides, several chemotherapeutic drugs such as oxaliplatin and irinotecan inhibit autophagy in MSS CRC cell lines in a similar way like hydroxychloroquine and 3-methyladenine. Thus, in MSS patients who develop chemoresistance, a combination of other therapies that include an autophagy inhibitor could be more beneficial. Further clinical trials are needed to investigate these therapeutic strategies.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different water-to-powder ratios on the dimensional stability and compressive strength of Portland cement and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA)., Materials and Methods: Five different volumes of distilled water (0.26; 0.28; 0.30; 0.33 and 0.35 mL) were used for every 1 g of the cements. Twelve samples (12 mm long x 6 mm in diameter) were prepared in Teflon molds. After measuring the initial length, the specimens were stored in distilled water for 24 hours or 30 days. At the end of these time intervals, the specimens were measured again, and the dimensional change was calculated. The same samples used in the previous test were submitted to compression in a universal test machine (1 mm/min-1)., Results: Analysis of the dimensional stability results showed no statistical difference between the cements, proportions and time intervals tested, or between their interactions. After 24 hours, MTA was more resistant than Portland cement (p<0.05). At 30 day-period, both cements had similar, and significantly higher resistance than they did at 24 hours (p<0.05)., Conclusion: The powder/water ratio had no influence on the dimensional stability of cements. Compressive strength of Portland cement was affected at the proportions of 0.30 and 0.35 mL/g.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection can lead to a wide range of clinical manifestations, including fatal hemorrhagic complications. There is a need to find effective pharmacotherapies to treat this disease due to the lack of specific immunotherapies and antiviral drugs. That said, the DENV NS2B/NS3pro protease complex is essential in both the viral multiplication cycle and in disease pathogenesis, and is considered a promising target for new antiviral therapies. Here, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the pharmacophoric characteristics of promising compounds against NS2B/NS3pro reported in the past 10 years. Online searches in the PUBMED/MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases resulted in 165 articles. Eight studies, which evaluated 3,384,268 molecules exhibiting protease inhibition activity, were included in this review. These studies evaluated anti-dengue activity in vitro and the IC 50 and EC 50 values were provided. Most compounds exhibited non-competitive inhibition. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in BHK-21, Vero, and LLC-MK2 cells, and the CC 50 values obtained ranged from < 1.0 to 780.5 µM. Several groups were associated with biological activity against dengue, including nitro, catechol, halogen and ammonium quaternaries. Thus, these groups seem to be potential pharmacophores that can be further investigated to treat dengue infections.

The data presented here are related to the research paper entitled "PCL- b -P(MMA- co -DMAEMA) 2 new triblock copolymer for novel pH-sensitive nanocapsules intended for drug delivery to tumors" by Franco et al. [1]. Characterization data of PCL-diol, macroinitiator Br-PCL-Br, homopolymers (PMMA and PDMAEMA) and copolymers (batch 1 and batch 2) analyzed by FTIR, SEC and NMR, as well as, characterization of PCL-NS formulation by laser diffraction and DLS analysis, initial nanocapsule formulations and 1 C -NC and 2 C -NC formulations, including hydrodynamic diameter at different pH media, and DMSO cytotoxicity.

Introduction: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli is an important causative agent of acute diarrheic syndrome. , Objective: To identify clonal groups of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), in 485 children with acute diarrhea aged 0 to 10 years attending health care centers in Arismendi, Benítez and Sucre municipalities, Sucre state, Venezuela, from March to December, 2011. , Materials and Methods: After obtaining the informed consent, stool samples were collected. Escherichia coli was identified using standard coproculture methods and serology with polyvalent and monovalent antisera. DNA was isolated, and eae (intimin) and bfpA (bundlin) genes were amplified through two multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCR). , Results: The presence of bacterial infection was determined in 39.6% of coprocultures. The prevalence of E. coli was 54.7%; 82.9% of these isolates were positive by serology for the evaluated serogroups and serotypes, which were mostly identified in children between 0 and 2 years (37.9%); 48.6% of E. coli strains amplified the eae gene; of these, 58.8% were classified as typical EPEC (eae+ y bfp+). EPEC II was the most common serogroup (38.7%), with predominance of typical EPEC (60%). In positive strains for eae gene, the β intimin allele was the most frequently identified (74.5%). Only four strains with O157:H7 serotype were identified, which showed no PCR amplification of the eae and bfpA genes. , Conclusion: This study showed the importance of molecular tests to identify diarrheagenic E. coli strains causing clinical conditions of varying severity.

The CHEK2 gene encodes a protein kinase that plays a crucial role in maintenance of genomic integrity and the DNA repair mechanism. CHEK2 germline mutations are associated with increased risk of breast cancer and other malignancies. From a clinical perspective, the most significant mutation identified is the c.1100delC mutation, which is associated with an approximately 25% lifetime breast cancer risk. The distribution of this mutation shows wide geographical variation; it is more prevalent in the Northern European countries and less common, or even absent, in Southern Europe. In order to estimate the frequency of the CHEK2 c.1100delC mutation in Greek breast cancer patients, we genotyped 2,449 patients (2,408 females and 41 males), which was the largest series ever tested for c.1100delC. The mean age of female and male breast cancer diagnosis was 49 and 59 years, respectively. All patients had previously tested negative for the Greek BRCA1 founder and recurrent mutations. The CHEK2 c.1100delC mutation was detected in 0.16% (4 of 2,408) of females, all of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50 years. Only one c.1100delC carrier was reported with breast cancer family history. The present study indicates that the CHEK2 c.1100delC mutation does not contribute substantially to hereditary breast cancer in patients of Greek descent., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To entomologically monitor Aedes spp. and correlate the presence of these vectors with the recent epidemic of dengue in Divinopolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil., Methods: Ovitraps were installed at 44 points in the city, covering six urban areas, from May 2011 to May 2012. After collection, the eggs were incubated until hatching. In the 4th stage of development, the larvae were classified as Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus., Results: In total, 25 633 Aedes spp. eggs were collected. February was the month with the highest incidence, with 5635 eggs collected and a hatching rate of 46.7%. Ae. aegypti eggs had the highest hatching rate, at 72.3%, whereas Ae. albopictus eggs had 27.7%. Climate and population density influenced the number of eggs found. Indicators of vector presence were positively correlated with the occurrence of dengue cases., Conclusion: These data reinforce the need for entomological studies, highlight the relevance of Ae. albopictus as a possible disease vector and demonstrate its adaptation. Ae. albopictus, most commonly found in forested areas, comprised a substantial proportion of the urban mosquito population., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in adults with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) from the endocrinology outpatient setting in a university hospital in Southern Brazil., Subjects and Methods: From the years 2007 to 2011, 254 patients with ATD were enrolled consecutively, Grave's disease was diagnosed in 143 (56.3%) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 111 (43.7%) of them. All patients answered a questionnaire related to symptoms that could be associated with CD and serum samples to screen for IgA anti-endomysial (EmA-IgA) were collected. EmA-IgA-positive patients were offered upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy of duodenum., Results: A total of 254 patients were included; 222 (87.4%) female, mean age 45.4 ± 13.43 years (18 to 79 years). EmA-IgA was positive in seven patients (2.7%) and five done endoscopy with biopsy. Of these, three diagnosis of CD was confirmed (1.2%). All the three patients with CD had higher EmA-IgA titration, were female and had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Like other patients with ATD, CD patients had nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms, such as heartburn and gastric distention. In our study, one in each 85 patients confirmed the diagnosis of CD., Conclusion: We found a prevalence of 1.2% (1:85) of confirmed CD among Brazilian patients with ATD. Although some IgA-EmA positive patients had Graves' disease and one was male, all three patients with confirmed CD were female and had Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Lamellipodin protein (Lpd), encoded by the RAPH1 gene, modulates the assembly of actin cytoskeleton through its binding to the Ena/VASPs proteins, and acts in cellular motility and lamelipodial protrusion. The region where RAPH1 gene is located (2q33) is deleted in various types of cancer and the gene expression changes in tumors when compared to normal tissues. Amplifications and deletions of the RAPH1 gene were investigated in breast carcinoma samples, in order to determine the possible relationship of the gene with breast cancer tumorigenesis and lymph node metastasis. RAPH1 gene alterations were determined by relative quantification, standard curve method using Real-time PCR technique in samples of tumor and peripheral blood from 52 patients. Regression and correlation analyses were conducted using gene alterations and clinicopathological data. All samples analyzed were altered, with 63.5 % deletion cases and 36.5 % amplification cases. The logistic regression and correlation analysis with clinicopathological data did not show significant results. The results suggest that although the RAPH1 gene was deleted or amplified in all samples, the Lpd does not seem to play a major role in tumorigenesis of mammary carcinomas and probably other proteins, also involved in the process of cellular motility and metastasis, are acting more effectively for or against the migration of breast tumor cells.