Characterization of Arthropeptide B, an Antifungal Cyclic Tetrapeptide from Arthrobacter humicola.

Disease suppressive composts are known, yet little information on the potential role of specific microbial antagonist within are available. Arthrobacter humicola isolate M9-1A has been obtained from a compost prepared from marine residues and peat moss. The bacterium is a non-filamentous actinomycete with antagonistic activity against plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes sharing its ecological niche in agri-food microecosystems. Our objective was to identify and characterize compounds with antifungal activity produced by A. humicola M9-1A. Arthrobacter humicola culture filtrates were tested for antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo and a bioassay-guided approach was used to identify potential chemical determinants of its observed activity against molds. The filtrates reduced the development of lesions of Alternaria rot on tomatoes and the ethyl acetate extract inhibited growth of Alternaria alternata. A compound, arthropeptide B [cyclo-(L-Leu, L-Phe, L-Ala, L-Tyr)], was purified from the ethyl acetate extract of the bacterium. Arthropeptide B is a new chemical structure reported for the first time and has shown antifungal activity against A. alternata spore germination and mycelial growth.

Expression profiling of heat shock protein genes in whole blood of Romosinuano cattle breed.

Background and Aim: Heat shock proteins are highly conserved proteins that work as molecular chaperones expressed in response to thermal stress. This study aimed to determine the expression profile of genes related to the heat stress response in whole blood obtained from the Romosinuano creole breed. Materials and Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the transcript of hsp90, hsp70, hsp60, and hsf1 in the whole blood of Romosinuano under different temperature-humidity indices (THIs). Results: The expression levels of the hsp70 and hsf1 genes at the high-THI level were higher (p = 0.0011 and p = 0.0003, respectively) than those at the low-THI level. In addition, no differences in the expression levels of the hsp60 and hsP90 genes were detected between the two THIs. Conclusion: The overexpression of hsf1 and hsp70 genes play an important role in protecting cells from damage induced by heat stress.

Heat stress on cattle embryo: gene regulation and adaptation.

Global warming has been affecting animal husbandry and farming production worldwide via changes in organisms and their habitats. In the tropics, these conditions are adverse for agriculture and animal production in some areas, due to high temperatures and relative humidity, affecting competitiveness related to economic activities. These environments have deteriorated livestock production, due to periods of drought, reduction in forage quality and heat stress, eliciting negative effects on reproduction, weight gain, and reduced meat and milk production. However, the use of animals adapted to tropics such as breeds derived from subspecies Bos primigenius indicus and native breeds from tropical countries or their crossings, is an alternative to improve production under high-temperature conditions. Therefore, physiological adaptation including gene expression induced by heat stress have been studied to understand the response of animals and to improve cross-breeding between cattle breeds to maintain high productivity in adverse weather conditions. Heat stress has been associated with lower reproductive performance in cows, due to the impact on blastocyst production, decreased implantation and increased embryonic death. Thus, for decades, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer techniques have focused on studying the optimal conditions for production of high-quality embryos to transfer. The aim of this review is to discuss the effects of heat stress in bovine embryos, and their physiological and genetic modulation, focusing on the genes that are related with major adaptability to heat stress conditions and their relationship with different embryonic stages.

Immunotherapy and Thyroid Dysfunction: Relevance to Nuclear Medicine.

We report a case of a 66-year-old woman with small cell lung cancer (stage IIB, T2N1M0), who received immunotherapy with nivolumab monthly for 2 months and then presented with thyrotoxic symptoms associated with suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and elevated free thyroid hormone levels, although previous thyrotropin performed 1 month ago was normal. Thyroid uptake and scan demonstrated diffusely decreased uptake in both thyroid lobes. The 4-hour percentage uptake was 0.7%, and the 24-hour percentage uptake was 0.3%. This was followed by development of hypothyroidism within few weeks. Findings suggested drug-induced thyroiditis secondary to nivolumab therapy.

Inmunopatología del dengue: importancia y participación de los monocitos y sus subpoblaciones / Dengue immunopathology: Importance and participation of monocytes and their subsets

RESUMEN El dengue es una infección viral aguda transmitida por la picadura de mosquitos del género Aedes, la cual produce hasta 100 millones de infecciones anuales en el mundo. Una gran proporción de individuos infectados con el virus presentan infecciones asintomáticas. Sin embargo, de los individuos que desarrollan la enfermedad, el 95 % presentan signos y síntomas similares a una virosis común, que por lo general se autoresuelven (dengue con y sin signos de alarma). El 5 % restante puede evolucionar a manifestaciones graves, caracterizadas por hemorragias, daño orgánico, choque hipovolémico e incluso la muerte (dengue grave). Los monocitos son uno de los blancos principales de la infección producida por el virus del dengue (DENV), los cuales participan en la replicación del mismo y en la producción de una gran variedad de citoquinas que contribuyen con el daño de diferentes tejidos y órganos en respuesta a la infección. Los monocitos se dividen en tres subpoblaciones: clásica (CD14++CD16-), no clásica (CD14+CD16++) e intermedia (CD14++CD16+), las cuales poseen respuestas funcionales contrastantes en diferentes procesos inflamatorios, en cuanto a la producción de mediadores solubles e interacción con el endotelio. Los monocitos no clásicos parecen ser los principales productores de mediadores inflamatorios como el TNF-α y la IL-1β en respuesta a la infección por DENV. Por lo tanto, se propone que cada subpoblación de monocitos debe tener un papel diferencial en la inmunopatología de la enfermedad. En esta revisión se recopilan los principales aspectos de la replicación viral y la inmunopatología del dengue, así como los principales hallazgos referentes al papel de los monocitos en esta infección y además, se propone un papel potencial y diferencial de las subpoblaciones de monocitos.

SUMMARY Dengue is an acute viral infection transmitted by the bite of the mosquito belonging to the genus Aedes, which produce until 100 millions of infections worldwide per year. A high proportion of infected individuals develop an asyntomatic infection. Nevertheless, among patients that develop a clinical disease, 95 % of them show clinical signs and symptoms similar to common virosis, that in the most of the cases can recover by themselves (dengue with and without alarm signs); the remaining 5 % can evolve to severe manifestations, characterized for hemorrhages, organic damage, hypovolemic shock and death (severe dengue). Monocytes are one of the main targets of the infection by dengue virus (DENV), supporting the viral replication, contributing to the production of high levels of cytokine and the damage of different tissues and organs in response to the infection. Monocytes are divided in 3 subsets: classical (CD14++CD16-), non-classical (CD14+CD16++) and intermediate (CD14++CD16+); which have differential functional responses in the inflammatory process, regarding the production of inflammatory mediators and the interaction with the endothelium. The non-classic monocytes seem to be the main producers of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-1β in response to DENV infection. Therefore, it is proposed that each monocyte subset may have a different role in the disease immunopathology. This review collect the main evidence regarding the viral replication and the immunopathology of dengue, also it shows the most important findings about the role of monocytes in this infection and proposes a potential differential involvement of monocytes subsets.

Septic Pulmonary Embolism Secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae Epididymitis: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) is defined as the occurrence of septic thrombi in the pulmonary circulation. We report a case of SPE secondary to K. pneumoniae epididymitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus experienced SPE secondary to epididymitis, with isolation of K. pneumoniae in blood and presence of lung nodules, with a chest computed tomography showing the halo and reversed halo signs. DISCUSSION: SPE is characterized by the presence of septic thrombi in the pulmonary circulation coming from an extrapulmonary infective focus. SPE secondary to K. pneumoniae epididymitis is an uncommon condition that is characterized by the presence of multiple bilateral nodules of peripheral distribution. CONCLUSION: SPE is an unusual complication of acute epididymitis. Suspicion of SPE should be considered in patients with a diagnosis of epididymitis, respiratory symptoms, and multiple nodules in chest imaging assessments.

Caracterización de las lesiones derivadas del entrenamiento físico militar / Caracterização das lesões decorrentes do treinamento físico militar / Characterization of injuries resulting from military training

Introducción: En busca del mejoramiento físico se han desarrollado diferentes formas y maneras de trabajar el cuerpo y así generar el óptimo desarrollo de este en las actividades diarias; es el caso del entrenamiento físico militar, el cual conlleva a unas altas exigencias físicas en los cadetes por el tiempo de concentración, las horas de entrenamiento y la densidad de las actividades las cuales se dan de manera diaria por lo que esta práctica se encuentra asociada inevitablemente con la aparición de lesiones. Objetivo: Caracterizar las lesiones derivadas del entrenamiento físico militar en cadetes de tercero, cuarto y quinto nivel de la Escuela Militar de Cadetes General José María Córdova. Materiales y Métodos: Se planteó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, con una muestra tomada aleatoriamente para los hombres y se tomó a todas las mujeres por ser una cantidad menor en cada uno de los niveles. El instrumento aplicado se validó a través de test-retest y juicio de expertos. Resultados y Discusión: Se encontró que la principal lesión dentro de estos niveles es la periostitis, seguida de lesiones como fisuras, tendinitis y esguinces por sobrecargas que se presentan en el entrenamiento, mala técnica e inadecuada rehabilitación. Conclusiones: La carga física a la que están sometidos constantemente los cadetes es elevada por lo que es una población que se encuentra siempre expuesta a sufrir lesiones importantes en sus extremidades inferiores debido a factores como la indumentaria militar, carga del entrenamiento, práctica deportiva, terreno y falta de descanso como lo expresan los cadetes.

Introdução: Em busca da melhoria física tem sido desenvolvido diferentes formas e maneiras de trabalhar o corpo e gerar o desenvolvimento ideal deste nas atividades diárias; no caso de o treinamento físico militar, o que leva a uma alta demanda física sobre os cadetes pelo tempo de concentração, horas de treinamento e densidade de atividades que ocorrem em uma base diária para que esta prática esteja associada inevitavelmente, com o aparecimento das lesões. Objetivo: Caracterizar as lesões decorrentes do treinamento físico militar dos cadetes de terceiro, quarto e quinto nível da Escola Militar de Cadetes General José María Córdova. Materiais e Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal, com uma amostra aleatória para todos os homens, e foram selecionadas todas as mulheres por serem uma quantidade menor em cada um dos níveis. O instrumento aplicado foi validado pelo teste-reteste e julgamento dos juízes. Resultados e Discussão: Encontramos que a principal lesão dentro destes níveis é a periostite, seguido por lesões como rachaduras, tendinite e entorses por sobrecargas que ocorrem no treinamento, técnica e reabilitação inadequada. Conclusões: A carga física a que estão constantemente expostos os cadetes é alta por isso é uma população que está sempre em risco de desenvolver lesões significativas para as suas extremidades inferiores devido a fatores tais como o vestuário militar, carga de treinamento, prática esportiva, terreno e falta de descanso como é expressa pelos cadetes.

Introduction: In search of physical improvement is have developed different forms and ways of working the body looking for the optimum development of it in daily activities. It is the case of military physical training, which leads to a high physical demands on the cadets caused by the time of concentration, training hours and density of activities which occur on a daily basis so this practice is associated inevitably with the appearance of lesions. Objective: To characterize physical injuries resulting from military training in cadets of third, fourth and fifth level at Escuela Militar de Cadetes General José María Córdova. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, with a randomly taken sample for all men and all women were studied to be lower in each of the levels amount. The applied instrument was validated by test- retest and expert judgment. Results and Discussion: It was found that the main lesion within this levels is periostitis, followed by injuries such as cracks, tendinitis and sprains that occur in overload training, inadequate rehabilitation and bad technique. Conclusions: The physical burden that are constantly subjected cadets is high so it is a population that is always at risk of significant injuries to their lower extremities due factors such as military clothing, training load, sport practice, terrain and lack of rest as expressed by the cadets.

Empiema Necessitatis / Empyema necessitatis

Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 73 años, agricultor, quien consulta por cuadro de tres meses de tos húmeda con expectoración verdosa, posteriormente hemoptoica, de predominio matutino, asociado a dolor lumbar izquierdo. Se documentó en imágenes empiema que se comunica con región lumbar izquierda, constituyendo así un cuadro de empiema necessitatis con presentación poco usual como lo es el drenaje hacia espacio paravertebral. (Acta Med Colomb 2013; 38: 28-31).

We present the case of a 73-year-old farmer, who consults for a 3 months clinical picture of wet cough with greenish sputum, subsequently hemoptoic predominantly in the mornings, associated with left lumbar pain. We documented in images empyema communicating with the left lumbar region, constituting an empyema necessitatis picture with unusual presentation as is the drainage to the paravertebral space. (Acta Med Colomb 2013; 38: 28-31).