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Dahan da Cunha Nascimento,1,2 Bernardo Petriz,2 Samuel da Cunha Oliveira,1 Denis Cesar Leite Vieira,2,3 Silvana Schwerz Funghetto,4 Alessandro Oliveira Silva,5,6 Jonato Prestes1 1Graduate Program in Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasilia (UCB), Brasilia, Brazil; 2Department of Physical Education, University Center of the Federal District (UDF), Brasilia, Brazil; 3Department of Physical Education, University of Brasilia (UNB), Brasilia, Brazil; 4Department of Nursing, University of Brasilia (UNB), Brasilia, Brazil; 5Department of Medicine and Physical Education, University Center of Brasilia (UniCEUB), Brasilia, Brazil; 6Department of Medicine and Physical Education, Integrated Colleges of the Central Plateau Educational Union (FACIPLAC), Brasilia, Brazil Background: Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise has shown to induce a positive influence on bone metabolism and attenuate muscle strength loss and atrophy in subjects suffering from musculoskeletal weakness. Despite the known benefits of BFR exercise, it remains unclear whether or not the pressurization of blood vessels damages the endothelial cells or increases risk for formation of thrombi. Thus, the effects of BFR exercise on coagulation, fibrinolysis, or hemostasis, remains speculative.Objective: The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the short and long- term effects of BFR exercise on blood hemostasis in healthy individuals and patients with known disease (ie, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and ischemic heart disease).Data Sources: A systematic review of English and non-English articles was conducted across PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases, including reference lists of relevant papers. Study quality assessment was evaluated using the modified version of Downs and Black checklist. Search results were limited to exercise training studies investigating the effects of BFR exercise on blood hemostasis in healthy individuals and patients with disease. Level of evidence was determined according to the criteria described by Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine. Study selection: Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs) that examined the effects of exercise with BFR exercise vs exercises without BFR on blood hemostasis in healthy individuals and patients were included.Data extraction: Nine studies were eligible (RCT =4; NRCT =5).Results: The average score on the Downs and Black checklist was 11.22. All studies were classified as having poor methodological quality wherein the level of evidence provided in all reviewed studies was level IIb only (ie, poor quality RCTs).Conclusion: Considering the limitations in the available evidence, firm recommendations cannot be provided. Keywords: exercise, hemostasis, vascular occlusion, blood flow restriction, coagulation system, Kaatsu training

Pulmonary vascular disease is not a single condition; rather it can accompany a variety of pathologies that impact the pulmonary vasculature. Applying precision medicine strategies to better phenotype, diagnose, monitor, and treat pulmonary vascular disease is increasingly possible with the growing accessibility of powerful clinical and research tools. Nevertheless, challenges exist in implementing these tools to optimal effect. The 2023 Grover Conference Series reviewed the research landscape to summarize the current state of the art and provide a better understanding of the application of precision medicine to managing pulmonary vascular disease. In particular, the following aspects were discussed: (1) Clinical phenotypes, (2) genetics, (3) epigenetics, (4) biomarker discovery, (5) application of precision biology to clinical trials, (6) the right ventricle (RV), and (7) integrating precision medicine to clinical care. The present review summarizes the content of these discussions and the prospects for the future., Competing Interests: ARH has served as a consultant for United Therapeutics, Bayer, GossamerBio, Merck, Janssen and Tenax Therapeutics and has stock in Tenax Therapeutics. AJ has previously served on an advisory board for Janssen (12/2023. GAH receives funding from Bayer Healthcare: non‐branded Speakers Bureau, Advisory Boards, and Research Funding; and Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Clinical Trial Steering Committee and Advisory Boards., (© 2025 The Author(s). Pulmonary Circulation published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.)

This work presents a comprehensive investigation into the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel series of 4-alkoxyquinolines as potential antimycobacterial agents. The design approach, which combined molecular simplification and chain extension, resulted in compounds with potent and selective activity against both drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. The lead molecule, targeting the cytochrome bc 1 complex, exhibited favorable kinetic solubility and remarkable chemical stability under acidic conditions. Despite in vitro ADME evaluations showing low permeability and high metabolism in rat microsomes, the lead compound exhibited bacteriostatic activity in a murine macrophage model of TB infection and demonstrated promising in vivo exposure following gavage in mice, with an AUC 0- t of 127.5 ± 5.7 μM h. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, a simplified structure from 2-(quinolin-4-yloxy)acetamides has shown such potential. These findings suggest a new avenue for exploring this chemical class as a source of antituberculosis drug candidates.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, chronic, and incurable inflammatory pulmonary vascular disease characterized by significant sex bias and largely unexplored microbial-associated molecular mechanisms that may influence its development and sex prevalence across various subgroups. PAH can be subclassified as idiopathic, heritable, or associated with conditions such as connective tissue diseases, congenital heart defects, liver disease, infections, and chronic exposure to drugs or toxins. During PAH progression, lung vascular endothelial cells (ECs) undergo dramatic morphofunctional transformations in response to acute and chronic inflammation. These transformations include the appearance and expansion of abnormal vascular cell phenotypes such as those derived from apoptosis-resistant cell growth and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT). Compelling evidence indicates that these endothelial phenotypes seem to be triggered by chronic lung vascular injury and dysfunction, often characterized by reduced secretion of vasoactive molecules like nitric oxide (NO) and exacerbated response to vasoconstrictors such as Endothelin-1 (ET-1), both long-term known contributors of PAH pathogenesis. This review sheds light on the mechanisms of EC dysfunction, apoptosis, and EndoMT in PAH, aiming to unravel the intricate interactions between ECs, pathogens, and other cell types that drive the onset and progression of this devastating disease. Ultimately, we hope to provide an overview of the complex functions of lung vascular ECs in PAH, inspiring novel therapeutic strategies that target these dysfunctional cells to improve the treatment landscape for PAH, particularly in the face of current and emerging global pathogenic threats.

Leveraging the potential of virtual platforms in the post-COVID-19 era, the Infection and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Consortium (iPVDc), with the support of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI), launched a globally accessible educational program to highlight top-notch research on inflammation and infectious diseases affecting the lung vasculature. This innovative virtual series has already successfully brought together distinguished investigators across five continents - Asia, Europe, South and North America, and Africa. Moreover, these open global forums have contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay among immunology, inflammation, infection, and cardiopulmonary health, especially concerning pulmonary hypertension and related pulmonary disorders. These enlightening discussions have not only heightened awareness about the impact of various pathogenic microorganisms, including fungi, parasites, and viruses, on the onset and development of pulmonary vascular diseases but have also cast a spotlight on co-infections and neglected illnesses like schistosomiasis - a disease that continues to impose a heavy socioeconomic burden in numerous regions worldwide. Thus, the overall goal of this review article is to present the most recent breakthroughs from infectious PVDs as well as bring to light the scientific and educational insights from the 2023 iPVDc/PVRI virtual symposium series, shaping our understanding of these crucial health issues in this more than ever interconnected world., (© 2024 The Author(s). Pulmonary Circulation published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to global healthcare systems, particularly impacting individuals with pre-existing conditions like hypertension. This study sought to assess the impact of the antihypertensive medications, losartan and enalapril maleate on SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. Vero E6 cells were infected and treated in vitro, evaluating cell viability via the MTT colorimetric assay. Additionally, the study measured relative levels of viral RNA and selected gene messenger RNAs using reverse transcriptase followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction., Results: The findings revealed that losartan substantially reduced nucleocapsid RNA levels of SARS-CoV-2 to nearly undetectable levels, while enalapril maleate did not demonstrate a significant effect. In response to viral infection, the expression of il-18, p53, p21, and p62 increased compared to uninfected-untreated cells. Notably, il-6 expression was upregulated by both infection and treatments. A comparison between infected cells treated with losartan or enalapril maleate highlighted the presence of distinct profiles in the expression of il-6, p53, p21, and p62., Conclusions: The data from our study suggest that these medications could interfere with certain effects triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cells. However, their influence appears to vary both quantitatively and qualitatively in the modulation of metabolic and signal transduction pathways., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) are arbitrarily defined as those containing 20% or more glycine residues and constitute a superfamily divided into subfamilies based on their structure and/or function. GRPs have been identified in a diverse array of organisms and have been shown to possess a number of distinctive biological characteristics, including nucleic acid binding, adhesive glue-like properties, antimicrobial activity, involvement in the stress response and in the formation of cuticle components. In ticks, their expression has been described and studied mainly in the salivary glands, and their primary function is usually associated with cement formation and/or structure. Conversely, several GRPs are present in all tick developmental stages, and the expression of many GRP genes is modulated by physiological processes and immune challenges, such as feeding and pathogen infection. Considering that some tick GRPs appear to play essential roles in the tick life cycle, they have been evaluated as immune targets, with a focus on their potential application in vaccine development. This review highlights the roles that tick GRPs may perform beyond the formation and maintenance of the cement scaffold, including structural characterization, locations and functional relevance, hypothetical functions, and their potential use in anti-tick vaccine development.

Introduction: Orthognathic surgery can lead to sinus alterations, including sinusitis, attributed to the exposure of maxillary sinuses during Le Fort I osteotomy. Furthermore, being a hospital-based procedure, there is potential risk of complications arising from bacteria prevalent in such environments. This study evaluated maxillary sinusitis occurrence and the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the nasal cavity before and after orthognathic surgery., Methods: Ten patients with dentofacial deformities underwent Le Fort I osteotomy. Clinical evaluations using SNOT-22 questionnaire were performed, and nasal cavity samples were collected pre-surgery and 3-6 months post-surgery to quantify total mesophilic bacteria and detect Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) was performed pre- and post-operatively, and the results were evaluated using the Lund-Mackay system. This study was registered and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of PUCRS (No. 4.683.066)., Results: The evaluation of SNOT-22 revealed that five patients showed an improvement in symptoms, while two remained in the same range of interpretation. One patient developed post-operative maxillary sinusitis, which was not detected at the time of evaluation by SNOT-22 or CBCT. CBCT showed a worsening sinus condition in three patients, two of whom had a significant increase in total bacteria count in their nasal cavities. The Brodsky scale was used to assess hypertrophy in palatine tonsils, where 60% of the subjects had grade 1 tonsils, 20% had grade 2 and 20% had grade 3. None of the patients had grade 4 tonsils, which would indicate more than 75% obstruction. Two patients harboured S. aureus and K. pneumoniae in their nasal cavities. Notably, K. pneumoniae, which was multidrug-resistant, was present in the nasal cavity of patients even before surgery, but this did not result in maxillary sinusitis, likely due to the patients' young and healthy condition., Conclusion: There was an improvement in signs and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis and quality of life in most patients after orthognathic surgery. However, some patients may still harbour multidrug-resistant bacteria, even if they are asymptomatic. Therefore, a thorough pre-operative assessment is essential to avoid difficult-to-treat post-operative complications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Spasticity is a prevalent symptom of upper motor neuron syndrome, becoming debilitating when hindering voluntary movement and motor function and causing contractures and pain. Functional neurosurgery plays a crucial role in treating severe spasticity. Despite extensive literature on SDR for lower limb spasticity, there is a scarcity of papers regarding the procedure in the cervical region to alleviate upper limb spasticity. This case report details a cervical dorsal rhizotomy (CDR) performed for upper limb spasticity, resulting in significant improvement in spasticity with sustained outcomes and low complication rates. Neuroablative procedures like CDR become an option to treat spasticity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

J-domain proteins (JDPs) form a very large molecular chaperone family involved in proteostasis processes, such as protein folding, trafficking through membranes and degradation/disaggregation. JDPs are Hsp70 co-chaperones capable of stimulating ATPase activity as well as selecting and presenting client proteins to Hsp70. In mitochondria, human DjC20/HscB (a type III JDP that possesses only the conserved J-domain in some region of the protein) is involved in [FeS] protein biogenesis and assists human mitochondrial Hsp70 (HSPA9). Human DjC20 possesses a zinc-finger domain in its N-terminus, which closely contacts the J-domain and appears to be essential for its function. Here, we investigated the hDjC20 structure in solution as well as the importance of Zn +2 for its stability. The recombinant hDjC20 was pure, folded and capable of stimulating HSPA9 ATPase activity. It behaved as a slightly elongated monomer, as attested by small-angle X-ray scattering and SEC-MALS. The presence of Zn 2+ in the hDjC20 samples was verified, a stoichiometry of 1:1 was observed, and its removal by high concentrations of EDTA and DTPA was unfeasible. However, thermal and chemical denaturation in the presence of EDTA led to a reduction in protein stability, suggesting a synergistic action between the chelating agent and denaturators that facilitate protein unfolding depending on metal removal. These data suggest that the affinity of Zn +2 for the protein is very high, evidencing its importance for the hDjC20 structure., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Here, we investigate the transcriptome profiles of two S. Enteritidis and one S. Schwarzengrund isolates that present different persister levels when exposed to ciprofloxacin or ceftazidime. It was possible to note a distinct transcript profile among isolates, time of exposure, and treatment. We could not find a commonly expressed transcript profile that plays a role in persister formation after S. enterica exposure to beta-lactam or fluoroquinolone, as only three DEGs presented the same behavior under the conditions and isolates tested. It appears that the formation of persisters in S. enterica after exposure to ciprofloxacin is linked to the overexpression of genes involved in the SOS response (recA), cell division inhibitor (sulA), iron-sulfur metabolism (hscA and iscS), and type I TA system (tisB). On the other hand, most genes differentially expressed in S. enterica after exposure to ceftazidime appeared to be downregulated and were part of the flagellar assembly apparatus, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, carbon metabolism, bacterial secretion system, quorum sensing, pyruvate metabolism pathway, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The different transcriptome profiles found in S. enterica persisters induced by ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime suggest that these cells modulate their response differently according to each stress., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Schistosomiasis-associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (Sch-PAH) is a life-threatening complication of chronic S. mansoni infection that can lead to heart failure and death. During PAH, the expansion of apoptosis-resistant endothelial cells (ECs) has been extensively reported; however, therapeutic approaches to prevent the progression or reversal of this pathological phenotype remain clinically challenging. Previously, we showed that depletion of the anti-apoptotic protein Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) by shedding extracellular vesicles contributes to shifting endoprotective bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) towards transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-mediated survival of an abnormal EC phenotype. However, the mechanism underlying the reduced endoprotection in PAH remains unclear. Interestingly, recent findings indicate that, similar to the gut, healthy human lungs are populated by diverse microbiota, and their composition depends significantly on intrinsic and extrinsic host factors, including infection. Despite the current knowledge that the disruption of the gut microbiome contributes to the development of PAH, the role of the lung microbiome remains unclear. Thus, using a preclinical animal model of Sch-PAH, we tested whether S. mansoni infection alters the gut-lung microbiome composition and causes EC injury, initiating the expansion of an abnormal EC phenotype observed in PAH. Indeed, in vivo stimulation with S. mansoni eggs significantly altered the gut-lung microbiome profile, in addition to promoting injury to the lung vasculature, characterized by increased apoptotic markers and loss of endoprotective expression of lung Cav-1 and BMPR2. Moreover, S. mansoni egg stimulus induced severe pulmonary vascular remodeling, leading to elevated right ventricular systolic pressure and hypertrophy, characteristic of PAH. In vitro , exposure to the immunodominant S. mansoni egg antigen p40 activated TLR4/CD14-mediated transient phosphorylation of Cav-1 at Tyr14 in human lung microvascular EC (HMVEC-L), culminating in a mild reduction of Cav-1 expression, but failed to promote death and shedding of extracellular vesicles observed in vivo . Altogether, these data suggest that disruption of the host-associated gut-lung microbiota may be essential for the emergence and expansion of the abnormal lung endothelial phenotype observed in PAH, in addition to S. mansoni eggs and antigens., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Marinho, Villarreal, Aboagye, Williams, Sun, Silva, Lutz and Oliveira.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of spontaneous fermentation on physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of acerola and guava fruit industrial by-products. Viable cell counts of lactic acid bacterial (LAB) in acerola and guava by-products were ≥ 5.0 log CFU/mL from 24 h up to 120 h of fermentation. Fermented acerola and guava by-products had increased luminosity and decreased contrast. Contents of total soluble solids and pH decreased, and titrable acidity increased in acerola and guava by-products during fermentation. Ascorbic acid contents decreased in acerola by-product and increased in guava by-product during fermentation. Different phenolic compounds were found in acerola and guava by-products during fermentation. Fermented acerola and guava by-products had increased contents of total flavonoids, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The contents of total flavonoids and total phenolics positively correlated with antioxidant activity in fermented acerola and guava by-products. These results indicate that spontaneous fermentation could be a strategy to improve the contents of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of acerola and guava by-products, adding value and functionalities to these agro-industrial residues., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestPartial financial support was received from CAPES—Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Brazil), grant number: 001., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Sepsis is a life-threatening clinical condition caused by infection and transposition of pathogens and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) into the host bloodstream. During sepsis, activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) on immune cells triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and overstimulates the production of vasodilatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO). These vascular changes lead to widespread inflammation, tissue damage, multiple organ failure, and often death. New therapeutic options are urgently needed. To this end, thiostrepton (TST) has emerged as a candidate for sepsis treatment due to its action as an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory molecule (TLR7-9 inhibitor). Reports in the literature suggest that TLR9 inhibition substantially suppresses the excessive host inflammatory response and attenuates sepsis-induced mortality in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) murine model of sepsis. However, to the best of our knowledge, TST has never been directly tested as a therapeutic option for the management of sepsis, possibly due to its low water solubility and drug delivery issues. These facts prompted us to test the central hypothesis that TST encapsulated in phospholipid sterically stabilized micelles (TST-SSM) could be developed into a novel treatment for sepsis. Thus, using our published method of encapsulating the hydrophobic antibiotic TST-SSM, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of TST-SSM nanomedicine in the murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. We found that TST-SSM increased the median survival of CLP-induced septic mice from 31 to 44 hr by reducing the bacterial burden in the blood and peritoneal lavage. Moreover, plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and NO derivatives were also reduced, whereas renal and hepatic function biomarkers creatinine and aspartate transferase were significantly improved. In conclusion, we identified that TST-SSM nanomedicine has significant potential as a therapeutic agent for sepsis management, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 K. Esparza et al.)

Multifunctional surfaces may display the potential to accelerate and promote the healing process around dental implants. However, the initial cellular biocompatibility, molecular activity, and the release of functionalized molecules from these novel surfaces require extensive investigation for clinical use. Aiming to develop and compare innovative surfaces for application in dental implants, the present study utilized titanium disks, which were treated and divided into four groups: machined (Macro); acid-etched (Micro); anodized-hydrophilic surface (TNTs); and anodized surface coated with a rifampicin-loaded polymeric layer (poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PLGA) (TNTsRIMP). The samples were characterized regarding their physicochemical properties and the cumulative release of rifampicin (RIMP), investigated at different pH values. Additionally, differentiated osteoblasts from mesenchymal cells were used for cell viability and qRT-PCR analysis. Antibacterial properties of each surface treatment were investigated against Staphylococcus epidermidis. TNTsRIMP demonstrated controlled drug release for up to 7 days in neutral pH environments. Osteogenic cell cultures indicated that all the evaluated surfaces showed biocompatibility. The TNTs group revealed up-regulated values for bone-related gene quantification in 7 days, followed by the TNTsRIMP group. Furthermore, the antibiotic-functionalized surface revealed effectiveness to inhibit S. epidermidis and stimulate promising conditions for osteogenic cell behavior. Characteristics such as nanomorphology and hydrophilicity were determinants for the up-regulated quantification of osteogenic biomarkers related to early bone maturation, encouraging application in intra-osseous implant surfaces; in addition, antibiotic-functionalized surfaces demonstrated significant higher antibacterial properties compared to the other groups. Our findings suggest that polymeric-antibiotic-loaded coating might be applied for the prevention of early infections, favoring its application in multifunctional surfaces for intra- and/or trans-mucosal components of dental implants, while, hydrophilic nanotextured surfaces promoted optimistic properties to stimulate early bone-related cell responses, favoring its application in bone-anchored surfaces., 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 © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the main causes of healthcare-associated infections that threaten public health, and carbapenems, such as meropenem, have been a therapeutic option for these infections. Therapeutic failure is mainly due to the antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii, as well as the presence of persister cells. Persisters constitute a fraction of the bacterial population that present a transient phenotype capable of tolerating supra-lethal concentrations of antibiotics. Some proteins have been suggested to be involved in the onset and/or maintenance of this phenotype. Thus, we investigated the mRNA levels of the adeB (AdeABC efflux pump component), ompA, and ompW (outer membrane proteins) in A. baumannii cells before and after exposure to meropenem., Results: We found a significant increase (p-value < 0.05) in the expression of ompA (> 5.5-fold) and ompW (> 10.5-fold) in persisters. However, adeB did not show significantly different expression levels when comparing treated and untreated cells. Therefore, we suggest that these outer membrane proteins, especially OmpW, could be part of the mechanism of A. baumannii persisters to deal with the presence of high doses of meropenem. We also observed in the Galleria mellonella larvae model that persister cells are more virulent than regular ones, as evidenced by their LD 50 values., Conclusions: Taken together, these data contribute to the understanding of the phenotypic features of A. baumannii persisters and their relation to virulence, as well as highlight OmpW and OmpA as potential targets for drug development against A. baumannii persisters., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The irrational use of antimicrobial drugs has become a serious epidemiological problem due to the development of bacterial resistance, causing consequences for global health. In dentistry, antibiotics are the second most common pharmacological class prescribed. Thus, we evaluated the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis by dentists in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and the metropolitan region using an online questionnaire. Dentists were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire concerning antimicrobial prescription. The questionnaire was prepared on the Microsoft Forms platform and shared with dentists through social media and was available for a period of 40 days. The questionnaire was answered by 82 dentists, and 85.3% of them reported prescribing antibiotic prophylaxis (AP). Many different protocols were observed, but the majority of dentists prescribe amoxicillin (2 g) 1 hour before a procedure. The greatest diversity was found in the prescriptions for post-procedure prophylaxis, but most professionals prescribe 500 mg of antibiotics every 8 hours for 7 days. An overwhelming 91.5% of participants think that guidelines for prescribing antibiotics in dentistry are necessary, and 62.2% believe that the use of AP can have some impact on bacterial resistance. There is a wide range of different prescriptions for antimicrobials, suggesting a need for better aligned guidelines and education of professionals on the proper use of antimicrobials and its consequences on bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Background: Alveolitis occurs after dental extraction without blood clot formation, leading to an inflammatory process and bacterial contamination. Boric acid (BA) demonstrates anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and osteogenic properties. This study aims to evaluate the possible antimicrobial effects and bone repair of BA in a rat model of alveolitis (dry socket)., Methods: 33 male Wistar rats were submitted to the extraction of the upper right incisor and dry socket induction. They were first divided into two groups: dry socket (n = 17) and dry socket + 0.75 % BA (n = 16). Samples for the microbiological analysis were collected immediately after dental extraction, at the detection of clinical alveolitis, 7, and 14 days after BA application. For microCT and histological analysis, samples from euthanized rats were used in 14 and 28 days after alveolitis detection., Results: Higher bacterial counts were found in 4-5 days after alveolitis induction, compared to the baseline in both experimental groups, decreasing significantly after 7 and 14 days of treatment with BA (P < 0.05). The microCT evaluation displayed increased bone volume, bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and bone mineral density in a time-dependent manner, regardless of BA treatment. On the other hand, the number of trabeculae and total bone porosity decreased over the 28 days of the experiment in the dry-socket group and both groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Histological analysis did not differ on bone repair in both experimental groups., Conclusion: This was the first report investigating the effects of BA in a rat model of alveolitis regarding microbiological and bone repair aspects. The BA local application decreased the total aerobic and facultative bacteria counts and does not seem to benefit the bone repair after alveolitis development. This study paves the way for more studies involving alveolitis and different BA applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a global challenge and an even more staggering concern when related to microorganisms capable of resisting and surviving for long periods in the environment, such as Acinetobacter spp. Strategies that allow a reduction of pathogens from hospital environments represent an additional barrier in infection control protocols, minimizing transmission to hospitalized patients. Considering the antimicrobial properties of copper, here, the bacterial load and the presence of Acinetobacter spp. were monitored on high handling surfaces covered by 99.9% copper films on intensive and non-intensive care unit bedrooms in a tertiary care hospital. Firstly, copper-coated films were able to inhibit the adhesion and biofilm formation of A. baumannii strains in in vitro assays. On the other hand, Acinetobacter spp. were isolated from both copper-coated and uncoated surfaces in the hospital, although the majority was detected on surfaces without copper. All carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates identified harbored the bla oxa-23 gene, while the A. nosocomialis isolates were susceptible to most antimicrobials tested. All isolates were susceptible to polymyxin B. Regarding the total aerobic bacteria, surfaces with copper-coated films presented lower total loads than those detected for controls. Copper coating films may be a workable strategy to mitigate HAIs, given their potential in reducing bacterial loads in nosocomial environments, including threatening pathogens like A. baumannii., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Low back pain (LBP) and sleep quality are two very prevalent complaints in the older population. However, little is known about the prognostic relationship between sleep quality and disability in older adults with LBP. The aim of this study was to examine the association between sleep quality and disability in older adults with LBP. This was a longitudinal study over a 6-month period. Older adults with LBP in the last 12 weeks and who had preserved cognitive functions were recruited. The questionnaires used were the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. At baseline, we collected information on demographic/anthropometric variables, cognitive status, depression, daytime sleepiness, and comorbidities. Linear regression adjusted for potential covariates were performed. Poor sleep at baseline predicted higher disability after 6 months [β = 0.30 (CI95%:0.07 to 0.55)]. Our results support the existence of an important relationship between sleep and disability in older adults with LBP.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of gastric acid on the surface roughness and biofilm formation of bulk-fill composite resins. Twenty-seven samples of each composite resin were obtained: G1: Filtek Z250 XT (Z250), G2: Filtek Bulk Fill (FTK), G3: Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill (TTC), and G4: Aura Bulk Fill (AUR). The samples were quantitatively analyzed for surface roughness (Ra) using a roughness tester (n=15) and for biofilm formation (Cn) by the counting of colony-forming units (CFUs/mL) (n=9) in three different moments: after polishing (Ra0 and Cn0), after gastric acid immersion (Ra1 and Cn1), and after gastric acid and simulated tooth brushing (Ra2 and Cn2). Qualitative analysis through surface topography (n=3) was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ra values were subjected to two-way repeated measures ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test. Cn values were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis analysis, followed by multiple comparisons analysis (α=0.05). Z250 and FTK showed significant increases in surface roughness at Ra1. There were fewer CFUs/mL on TTC and AUR in relation to those of Z250 and FTK for Cn0, Cn1 and Cn2. The SEM images showed that gastric acid increased the formation of cracks, exposure of fillers and micro cavities for all composite resins. After tooth brushing, the topographical changes were more evident but did not influence biofilm formation. The gastric acid promoted both degradation of the surfaces and bacterial adhesion for all composite resins.

Dysfunctional bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) have been largely implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); a life-threatening cardiopulmonary disease. Although the incident of PAH is about three times higher in females, males with PAH usually have a worse prognosis, which seems to be dependent on estrogen-associated cardiac and vascular protection. Here, we evaluated whether hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in humanized BMPR2 +/R899X loss-of-function mutant mice contributes to sex-associated differences observed in PAH by altering eNOS expression and inducing expansion of hyperactivated TGF-β-producing pulmonary myofibroblasts. To test this hypothesis, male and female wild-type (WT) and BMPR2 +/R899X mutant mice were kept under hypoxic or normoxic conditions for 4 weeks, and then right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) were measured. Chronic hypoxia exposure elevated RVSP, inducing RVH in both groups, with a greater effect in BMPR2 +/R899X female mice. Lung histology revealed no differences in vessel thickness/area between sexes, suggesting RVSP differences in this model are unlikely to be in response to sex-dependent vascular narrowing. On the other hand, hypoxia exposure increased vascular collagen deposition, the number of TGF-β-associated α-SMA-positive microvessels, and eNOS expression, whereas it also reduced caveolin-1 expression in the lungs of BMPR2 +/R899X females compared to males. Taken together, this brief report reveals elevated myofibroblast-derived TGF-β and eNOS-derived oxidants contribute to pulmonary microvascular muscularization and sex-linked differences in incidence, severity, and outcome of PAH., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Pulmonary Circulation published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.)

Over the last 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated the scientific community by starting a race to develop new vaccines and therapeutic approaches to fight this life-threatening illness. At the same time, the pandemic also evoked an urge for innovative communication strategies to maintain scientific networking and data sharing among investigators. Communication through audiovisual platforms has quickly become a unique tool to sustain scientific interaction, whereas social media has turned into an unmistakable pivotal environment for sharing scientific data and combating misinformation around SARS-CoV-2 infection, prevention, and therapy. Amid this challenging scenario, the scientific community organically established new roles, such as a social media ambassador, a conference-associated role to virtually promote breakthrough science while reconnecting investigators and forging new scientific networks via social media. Moreover, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it also became clear the critical need for the scientific community to support efforts to empower flexibility, creativity, and the inclusion of new forms of communication to advance science. Thus, the goal of this brief article is to provide a structured follow-up on the importance for researchers to occupy the internet to promote scientific findings and events, to combat science mistrust by stimulating communication among nonscientists to scientists, and to provide essential strategies for young and senior investigators on how to virtually expand their professional networks within and across research and clinical areas of the cardiovascular field.

Using cycloalkyl and electron-donating groups to decrease the carbonyl electrophilicity, a novel series of 2-(quinoline-4-yloxy)acetamides was synthesized and evaluated as in vitro inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth. Structure-activity relationship studies led to selective and potent antitubercular agents with minimum inhibitory concentrations in the submicromolar range against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Mtb strains. An evaluation of the activity of the lead compounds against a spontaneous qcrB mutant strain indicated that the structures targeted the cytochrome bc 1 complex. In addition, selected molecules inhibited Mtb growth in a macrophage model of tuberculosis infection. Furthermore, the leading compound was chemically stable depending on the context and showed good kinetic solubility, high permeability, and a low rate of in vitro metabolism. Finally, the pharmacokinetic profile of the compound was assessed after oral administration to mice. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, a 2-(quinoline-4-yloxy)acetamide was obtained with a sufficient exposure, which may enable in vivo effectiveness and its further development as an antituberculosis drug candidate., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 American Chemical Society.)

Objective: Surface alterations have been employed to enhance the osseointegration process in biomedical implants. However, these modifications may influence bacterial adhesion in different ways. Therefore, this study developed five different surfaces and evaluated the Staphylococcus epidermidis growth in early (1 h) and late (24 h) contact., Design: The Titanium (Ti) and Zirconia (Zr) surfaces were divided in five groups and characterized concerning your morphology, roughness, wettability and chemical surface composition. Then, were evaluated regarding bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation/thickness, viability and morphology., Results: Different topographies were manufactured resulting in a variety of combinations of surface properties. High roughness showed significantly higher bacterial adhesion in 1 h, while high hydrophilicity revealed greater bacterial proliferation in 24 h. Morphological changes were not found visually, however the viability test showed some cell membrane damage in the Ti micro and nano groups., Conclusions: Finally, surface distinct properties influence the growth of S. epidermidis independent of the based-material. Furthermore, some surface properties require precautions for use in contaminated sites according to the increased adhesion of S. epidermidis presented when in contact., 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 © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bacillus sporothermodurans currently possesses one of the most highly heat-resistant spores (HRS), which can withstand ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing. Determination of multiple whole genome sequences of B . sporothermodurans provided an opportunity to perform the first comparative genome analysis between strains and with B . oleronius , B . cereus , and B . subtilis groups. In this study, five whole genome sequences of B. sporothermodurans strains, including those belonging to the HRS clone (SAD and BR12) normally isolated from UHT milk, were compared with the aforementioned Bacillus species for gene clusters responsible for heat resistance. In the phylogenomic analysis, B. sporothermodurans , with its closest phylogenetic neighbor, B . oleronius , clustered with B . thermoamylovorans and B . thermotolerans. Heat shock proteins GrpE, GroES, GroEL, and DnaK presented identical sequences for all B . sporothermodurans strains, indicating that differences in functional efficiency are not involved in the thermal resistance variations. However, comparing all species evaluated, B . sporothermodurans exhibited a different gene configuration in the chromosomal region of the heat shock protein GrpE. Furthermore, only B . sporothermodurans strains presented the stage II sporulation protein P gene located in this region. Multisequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the ClpB protein showed differences for HRS and non-HRS strains. The study identified ClpC, ClpE, and ClpX as the three ATPases putatively involved in protein disaggregation in B . sporothermodurans . Bacillus sporothermodurans exhibits high homology with other Bacillus species in the DnaK, DnaJ, GroEL, and GroES cluster of genes involved in heat resistance. The data presented here pave the way to select and evaluate the phenotypic effects of genes putatively involved in heat resistance.

Purpose: Surface treatments may significantly affect physical-chemical properties and surface biologic responses. This study aimed to investigate the influence of alterations in the physical-chemical properties of pure titanium with different surface topographies on biocompatibility and early microbiologic response., Materials and Methods: Titanium disks were exposed to five different surface treatments created through acid etching and anodizing methods. Surface morphology, 2D and 3D roughness, wettability, biocompatibility, and cell viability were evaluated. Osteoblast adhesion and bacterial adhesion tests were also executed. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Tukey test, roughness (P < .05), and bacterial proliferation (P < .05)., Results: Five different surface morphologies were developed; double acid etching was shown to be significantly rougher than the others. The 2D roughness measurements were shown to be less consistent than the 3D measurements. All surfaces presented biocompatibility to allow cell behavior and differentiation. Osteoblasts presented better evolution in terms of adhesion and behavior in the nanomorphologies. High roughness significantly increased bacterial adhesion., Conclusion: Surface treatments may critically alter titanium properties and morphology. Therefore, roughness measurements with a wide area should be used in their evaluation. Nanotextured surfaces show a positive effect on bone cells and antibacterial response; their application is suggested when considering surface texturization for biomedical implants.

Background: Arachnoid cysts are benign extra-axial lesions corresponding to 1% of intracranial expansive lesions. They are usually incidental findings in asymptomatic patients. Most cases are congenital, and when symptomatic are diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. Symptomatic arachnoids cyst in elderly patients is very rare. This report documents the second case in the literature of a symptomatic elderly patient with an arachnoid cyst located in the foramen of Magendie., Case Description: A 68-year-old male had weakness in the lower limbs, imbalance, and gait disturbance for 3 years, associated with frequent falls. The patient complained of paresthesia in the upper right limb and right hemiface. An magnetic resonance imaging showed a massive cystic lesion in the posterior fossa in the foramen of Magendie. A median suboccipital craniectomy was performed, and the cyst was removed., Conclusion: This case report adds to the literature the second case of a patient with a symptomatic arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa successfully treated by surgery., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Surgical Neurology International.)

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 3 Bacillus sporothermodurans strains isolated from ultra-high-temperature milk products in South Africa and Brazil and the type strain MB 581 (DSM 10599). The genomes will provide valuable information on the molecular dynamics of heat resistance in B sporothermodurans ., (Copyright © 2019 Owusu-Darko et al.)

Persistence phenotype and small colony variants (SCVs) can be part of a bacterial bet-hedging strategy for survival under environmental stresses, such as antimicrobial exposure. These phenotypes are of particular concern in persistent and relapsing infections, since cells resume to normal growth after cessation of the stressful condition. In this context, we found persisters and unstable SCVs as phenotypic variants of Salmonella enterica that were able to survive ciprofloxacin exposure. A high heterogeneity in persister levels was observed among S. enterica isolates grown under planktonic and biofilm conditions and exposed to ciprofloxacin or ceftazidime, which may indicate persistence as a non-multidrug-tolerant phenotype. Nevertheless, a comparable variability was not found in the formation of SCVs among the isolates. Indeed, similar proportions of SCV in relation to normal colony phenotype (NCP) were maintained even after three successive cycles of ciprofloxacin exposure testing colonies from both origins (SCV or NCP). Additionally, we found filamentous and dividing cells in the same scanning electron microscopy images from both SCV and NCP. These findings lead us to hypothesize that besides variability among isolates, a single isolate may generate distinct populations of persisters, where cells growing under distinct conditions may adopt different and perhaps complementary survival strategies.

The fast evolution of surface treatments for biomedical implants and the concern with their contact with cells and microorganisms at early phases of bone healing has boosted the development of surface topographies presenting drug delivery potential for, among other features, bacterial growth inhibition without impairing cell adhesion. A diverse set of metal ions and nanoparticles (NPs) present antibacterial properties of their own, which can be applied to improve the implant local response to contamination. Considering the promising combination of nanostructured surfaces with antibacterial materials, this critical review describes a variety of antibacterial effects attributed to specific metals, ions and their combinations. Also, it explains the TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) surface creation, in which the possibility of aggregation of an active drug delivery system is applicable. Also, we discuss the pertinent literature related to the state of the art of drug incorporation of NPs with antibacterial properties inside TNTs, along with the promising future perspectives of in situ drug delivery systems aggregated to biomedical implants.

We compared the antimicrobial efficacy of EDTA and 0.5% peracetic acid (PAA), with manual agitation (MA) or passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) in an Enterococcus faecalis biofilm model. Fifty-five single-rooted human premolar teeth were chemo-mechanically prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for biofilm formation. These were divided into five groups (n = 11): saline solution, PAA+MA, PAA+PUI, EDTA+MA and EDTA+PUI. Root canal sampling and scanning electron microscopy of the canal lumen and dentinal tubule areas at the different root thirds were performed. The images were ranked based on contamination level. Only the PAA groups presented with no bacterial growth, with the remaining groups not presenting significant differences among them. PAA+PUI presented with the highest median position rankings in every third and location, whereas EDTA+MA performed similarly to the saline control. No differences were found when comparing MA and PUI within the same solution, however, PUI was associated with lower contamination levels mean rankings., (© 2018 Australian Society of Endodontology Inc.)

Bacteriophages, viruses capable of killing bacteria, were discovered in 1915, but the interest in their study has been limited since the advent of antibiotics. Their use in dentistry is still very limited. The authors reviewed studies about bacteriophage structure, mode of action, uses in oral health, and possible future uses in dentistry associated with their possible action over biofilm, as well as the advantages and limitations of phage therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to review the current literature with regard to the use of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine in the treatment of oral wounds., Background: Oral mucosa is continuously subjected to physical or chemical injuries, where it becomes a common site for the occurrence of ulcerated lesions. These lesions are susceptible to infections that may delay healing., Materials and Methods: A search of the medical and dental literature was conducted in Medline/Pubmed and Scielo using a combination of the terms oral ulcer, oral wound, wound healing, povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine, to review their mechanism of action and their use in the healing of oral wounds., Results and Conclusion: The use of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine is effective in the control of local infection in a concentration-dependent manner, exerting a positive influence on the tissue repair process. Oral antiseptics appear be a good alternative in the management of these lesions, since there is a low risk of systemic toxicity and allergies, and less clinical evidence of bacterial resistance.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of diseases of the respiratory tract in young children and babies, being mainly associated with bronchiolitis. RSV infection occurs primarily in pulmonary epithelial cells and, once infection is established, an immune response is triggered and neutrophils are recruited. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying NET production induced by RSV. We show that RSV induced the classical ROS-dependent NETosis in human neutrophils and that RSV was trapped in DNA lattices coated with NE and MPO. NETosis induction by RSV was dependent on signaling by PI3K/AKT, ERK and p38 MAPK and required histone citrullination by PAD-4. In addition, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL were essential to RSV-induced NETosis. MLKL was also necessary to neutrophil necrosis triggered by the virus, likely promoting membrane-disrupting pores, leading to neutrophil lysis and NET extrusion. Finally, we found that RSV infection of alveolar epithelial cells or lung fibroblasts triggers NET-DNA release by neutrophils, indicating that neutrophils can identify RSV-infected cells and respond to them by releasing NETs. The identification of the mechanisms responsible to mediate RSV-induced NETosis may prove valuable to the design of new therapeutic approaches to treat the inflammatory consequences of RSV bronchiolitis in young children.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of topical application of 0.12% chlorhexidine, 10% povidone-iodine and 50% erythromycin on the optimization of healing process of traumatic ulcers made on ventral tongue of rats., Design: Forty-Eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, chlorhexidine (Chx), povidone-iodine (PvI) and erythromycin (Er). An ulcer of 5 mm in diameter was made on the ventral tongue of the animals. After 24 h, a microbiological sample was taken and daily application of the substances started. Six animals each group were euthanized at 4 days and the others at 8 days postoperative, totaling three and seven days of treatment. Prior to euthanasia, a new microbiological collection was performed., Results: The experimental groups showed less area of residual ulcer. A significant difference was seen between the PvI and Chx in relation to the control after three days of treatment (p < 0.05). Although the experimental groups displayed greater newly formed epithelial area, there was no significant difference compared to the control (p > 0.05). Er exhibed the lowest inflammation scores after seven days of treatment (p < 0.05). PvI showed reduction of microorganisms at both times and under aerobic (p < 0.01 at 3 days and p < 0.001 at 7 days) and microaerophilic (p < 0.05) conditions. Er significantly reduced the count of microorganisms in aerobic condition when compared to control group (p < 0.05 at 3 days and p < 0.01 at 7 days)., Conclusions: All drugs promoted reduction of the microorganisms at the site of the injury, which may have a direct effect on the tissue repair process., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To evaluate the influence of aeration on persister levels from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii isolates exposed to meropenem or tobramycin, as well as analyze morphological and structural changes in persisters., Materials & Methods: Levels of persisters were determined after a 48-h exposure to tobramycin or meropenem under aerated or static conditions, and persisters were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy., Results: The fractions of persisters varied between isolates. Aeration reduced cell survival under each antibiotic treatment, and cell survival decreased as the tobramycin concentration was increased. Interestingly, division septa were observed in persisters by electron microscopy., Conclusion: Aeration may have stimulated bacterial growth, providing more targets for antibiotic action and leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species, which decreased levels of persisters.

Background: Lipid modification results in several benefits for the food industry, biotechnology advances and human health. Customizing bioactive lipids is very appealing because it improves the product's nutritional quality. Lipases are sustainable biocatalysts that can be reused, show selectivity towards substrates and reactions occur in mild conditions., Objectives: We aimed at systematically searching for patents deposited worldwide, that approached the production of structured lipids by using lipases as biocatalysts., Method: A patent-search strategy was set up in Questel-Orbit and the search strategy adopted was based on the combination of specific keywords in the title/abstract of the documents, encompassing thoroughly the search scope. We revised all patents relating structured lipids produced by enzyme reactions and provided an overview of the main objectives of the patents describing it, as well as a view of the principal depositors, years of publication and principal countries of deposit, as a mean to access the technological landscape on the subject., Results: Forty-four documents, published over the last 34 years, were retrieved. Nine main patents' objectives were found, and the two major groups are: SL with bioactive properties and/or with fatty acids (FA) esterified at specific triacylglycerol positions and SL analogous of natural lipids. China, Japan and USA were the three main patent depositors., Conclusion: Although the number of patents retrieved was relatively low, this review indicates that SL production aiming at improvements in nutritional/health and/or physical attributes for food enhancement is a new field, and technological interest and innovation have been increasing over the last ten years., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo, by histological and radiographic analysis, the response of apical tissues of rats' teeth with experimentally induced apical periodontitis, after one- and two-session endodontic treatment with and without photodynamic therapy (PDT). A microbiological analysis was also performed to verify bacterial reduction after each treatment., Background Data: Studies carried out in recent years highlighted the antibacterial potential of PDT when associated with conventional endodontic therapy in vitro. Although the antimicrobial effect of PDT is well-established, tissue response to PDT in teeth with apical periodontitis lacks studies., Methods: Thirty-two rats' root canals were assigned to four groups: one session/PDT-[chemomechanical preparation (CMP)+root canal filling (RCF)]; two sessions/PDT- [CMP+calcium hydroxide (CH) for 14 days+RCF]; one session/PDT+ [CMP+PDT+RCF], and two sessions/PDT+ [CMP+PDT+CH for 14 days+RCF]. For microbiological evaluation, samples were collected before and after proposed treatments. For radiographic and histological analysis, the animals were euthanized after 28 days and the mandibles surgically removed., Results: PDT associated with conventional endodontic therapy was able to promote significant bacterial reduction in root canals with induced apical periodontitis, but this reduction was not significantly different to conventional endodontic therapy alone. Although radiographic evaluation showed no significant differences, histological analysis showed lower scores for neutrophils/eosinophils in PDT-treated groups and macrophages/giant cells in CH groups., Conclusions: The use of low-level laser as light source did not promote major improvement on radiographic and histological repair, but since the number of inflammatory cells slightly decreased, it may optimize repair by modulating inflammatory process. PDT may be indicated as an adjunct to conventional endodontic therapy for teeth with apical periodontitis, in association with an interappointment dressing with CH, in an attempt to produce better conditions to stimulate repair.

Introduction:: Candida parapsilosis complex species, frequently found in hospital environments, have gained importance as etiological agents of candidemia., Methods:: Candida parapsilosis complex isolates from a nosocomial environment were identified and their hydrolitic enzyme activity and ability to form biofilm were characterized., Results:: Twenty-two C. parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates produced proteinase and three produced phospholipase. Most Candida metapsilosis isolates produced proteinase and one also produced phospholipase. All 29 isolates formed biofilms., Conclusions:: The nosocomial environment may act as a reservoir for C. parapsilosis complex isolates with phenotypic features that could possibly lead to nosocomial infections and health complications in hospital patients.

Introduction:: Acinetobacter baumannii is a major pathogen causing infections in intensive care units (ICUs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of A. baumannii in an ICU environment and gloves from ICU workers and to characterize the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates in comparison with those isolated from ICU patients at the same hospital., Methods:: ICU samples were collected from March to November 2010. Isolates biochemically characterized as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex were evaluated by PCR targeting the 16S rDNA and bla OXA-51 genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion method, and carbapenem-resistant isolates were also evaluated for the minimum inhibitory concentration of imipenem using broth microdilution. The presence of the bla OXA-23 gene was evaluated in isolates with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems., Results:: A. baumannii was detected in 9.5% (84) of the 886 samples collected from the ICU environment, including from furniture, medical devices, and gloves, with bed rails being the most contaminated location (23.8%; 20/84). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii was found in 98.8% (83/84) of non-clinical and 97.8% (45/46) of clinical isolates. Reduced susceptibility to carbapenems was detected in 83.3% (70/84) of non-clinical and 80.4% (37/46) of clinical isolates. All isolates resistant to carbapenems harbored bla OXA-23., Conclusions:: We found a strong similarity between the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of non-clinical and clinical A. baumannii isolates. Such data highlight the ICU environment as a potential origin for the persistence of MDR A. baumannii, and hence the ICU may be a source of hospital-acquired infections caused by this microorganism.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of meropenem in the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACB) persister levels., Methods: Persister levels in planktonic and biofilm cultures from ACB isolates were evaluated after exposure to different meropenem concentrations., Results: A high variability of persister fractions was observed among the isolates cultured under planktonic and biofilm conditions. Meropenem concentration did not influence persister fractions, even when far above the MIC. No correlation was found between persister levels and biofilm biomass., Conclusion: The magnitude of persister levels from ACB planktonic and, particularly, biofilm cultures exposed to meropenem was independent of the antibiotic concentration, dosing regimen and biofilm biomass. These findings, in a context of meropenem failure to treat chronic infections, strengthen the importance of understanding persister behavior.

Virtual water trade is often considered a solution for restricted water availability in many regions of the world. Brazil is the world leader in the production and export of various agricultural and livestock products. The country is either a strong net importer or a strong net exporter of these products. The objective of this study is to determine the volume of virtual water contained in agricultural and livestock products imported/exported by Brazil from 1997 to 2012, and to define the water self-sufficiency index of agricultural and livestock products in Brazil. The indexes of water scarcity (WSI), water dependency (WDI) and water self-sufficiency (WSSI) were calculated for each Brazilian state. These indexes and the virtual water balance were calculated following the methodology developed by Chapagain and Hoekstra (2008) and Hoekstra and Hung (2005). The total water exports and imports embedded in agricultural and livestock products were 5.28 × 10 10 and 1.22 × 10 10  Gm 3  yr -1 , respectively, which results in positive virtual water balance of 4.05 × 10 10  Gm 3  yr -1 . Brazil is either a strong net importer or a strong net exporter of agricultural and livestock products among the Mercosur countries. Brazil has a positive virtual water balance of 1.85 × 10 10  Gm 3  yr -1 . The indexes used in this study reveal that Brazil is self-sufficient in food production, except for a few products such as wheat and rice. Horticultural products (tomato, onion, potato, cassava and garlic) make up a unique product group with negative virtual water balance in Brazil., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging nosocomial pathogen responsible for several infections in immunocompromised patients. To characterize the antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of this microorganism in a Brazilian hospital, a total of 936 samples were collected from a nosocomial environment and medical devices, and 100 isolates from clinical specimens were obtained in the same hospital. S. maltophilia was found in 3% of the samples collected, especially in bed rails from hospital rooms. The smf-1 gene was detected in 23% and 42% of the clinical and hospital environment isolates, respectively, and almost all (96.8%) isolates that harbored smf-1 were able to form biofilm. All isolates were susceptible to minocycline and chloramphenicol, and the majority of isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin. High resistance to ceftazidime was detected in both groups of isolates. Resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) was found in 14.8% of the isolates. All TMP/SMX-resistant isolates presented class 1 integron and sul1 gene, and 47.4% of them also harbored the sul2 gene, which was inserted into a 7.3 kb plasmid. Genetic relatedness among the isolates was evaluated by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR, and eight genetic patterns were identified. One pattern comprised 54.7% of isolates and was spread among clinical and environmental (furniture and medical devices) sources. The presence of S. maltophilia in the hospital environment indicates that it can act as a reservoir of this microorganism. In addition, hospital isolates resistant to TMP/SMX showed that the genetic determinants were present in mobile elements, which can constitute great concern, as it may indicate a tendency to spread.