Combining computational tools and experimental studies towards endocrine disruptors mitigation: A review of biocatalytic and adsorptive processes.

The endocrine disruptors (EDCs) are an important group of emerging contaminants, and their mitigation has been a huge challenge due to their chemistry complexity and variety of these compounds. The traditional treatments are inefficient to completely remove EDCs, and adsorptive processes are the major alternative investigated on their removal. Also, the use of EDCs degrading enzymes has been encouraged due to ecofriendly approach of biocatalytic processes. This paper highlights the occurrence, classification, and toxicity of EDCs with special focus in the use of enzyme-based and adsorptive technologies in the elimination of EDCs from ambiental matrices. Numerous prior reviews have focused on the discussions toward these technologies. However, the literature lacks theoretical discussions about important aspects of these methods such as the mechanisms of EDCs adsorption on the adsorbent surface or the interactions between degrading enzymes - EDCs. In this sense, theoretical calculations combined to experimental studies may help in the development of more efficient technologies to EDCs mitigation. In this review, we point out how computational tools such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics have to contribute to the design of new adsorbents and efficient catalytic processes towards endocrine disruptors mitigation.

Stress as cause of signs and symptoms of pseudo-Cushing's syndrome in buffy-tufted marmosets (Callithrix aurita).

Hyperadrenocorticism is a medical condition caused by the increase in cortisol production by the cortex of the adrenal gland. Although infrequently described in most animal species, its naturally occurring form, called Cushing's syndrome, is the most prevalent endocrinopathy in dogs. Cushing's syndrome is also present in humans and might be confused with the pseudo-Cushing's syndrome (PCS), rarely described in animals. PCS shares many of the clinical and biochemical features of Cushing's syndrome. However, the hypercortisolemia seen is usually idiopathic and, in some circumstances, associated with psychological disruptions. This report describes PCS-like disorder in two marmosets Callithrix aurita that were exposed to environmental changes, suggesting stress as the main cause of the process and reviewing the mechanisms involved in the pathogeny of the two syndromes.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of endophytic bacteria associated with transgenic and non-transgenic soybean plants.

Endophytic bacteria isolated from non-transgenic and transgenic Roundup Ready® glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean plants were investigated to analyze the correspondence between phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and to determine whether or not the strains could be grouped based on the source of isolation in transgenic or non-transgenic plants, respectively. Most of the strains recovered from GR plants have shown the ability for plant growth promotion (PGP) by means of IAA production and inorganic phosphate solubilization, and 100% of the strains showed great motility (swarm or swim); in addition, 90% of the strains were able to metabolize the majority of carbon sources tested. GR soybean fields showed higher endophytes abundance than non-transgenic; however, analyzing the phylogenetic trees constructed using the partial 16SrRNA gene sequences, higher diversity was observed in non-transgenic soybean fields. Overall the majority of isolated endophytes could utilize multiple patterns of carbon sources and express resistance to antibiotics, while isolates varied widely in the PGP ability. The greater pattern and frequency of utilization of carbon sources and frequency and intensity of antibiotic resistance compared with PGP ability within the soybean endophytes community suggest that carbon sources metabolism and antibiotic resistance confer a greater relative fitness benefit than PGP ability. In conclusion, cluster analysis of the phenotypes and 16SrRNA gene sequences reveals lack of correspondence between the pattern of bacterial isolates and the transgenic character of plants, and the heterogeneity of clustering suggested that various adaptive processes, such as stress response, could have contributed to generate phenotypic variability to enhance endophytes overall fitness.

Screening of bacterial endophytes as potential biocontrol agents against soybean diseases.

AIMS: This research was aimed at identifying and characterizing endophytic micro-organisms associated with soybean that have antimicrobial activity towards soybean pathogens. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soybean plants were collected from field trials in four locations of southern Brazil that were cultivated with conventional (C) and transgenic glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybeans. Endophytic bacteria isolated from roots, stems and leaves of soybeans were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit fungal and bacterial plant pathogens and 13 micro-organisms were identified with antagonistic activity. Approximately 230 bacteria were isolated and identified based on the 16S rRNA and rpoN gene sequences. Bacteria isolated from conventional and transgenic soybeans were significantly different not only in population diversity but also in their antagonistic capacity. Thirteen isolates showed in vitro antagonism against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Phomopsis sojae and Rhizoctonia solani. Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. were the most effective isolates in controlling bacterial and fungal pathogens in vitro. Extracts and precipitates from culture supernatants of isolates showed different patterns of inhibitory activity on growth of fungal and bacterial pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. were the most effective isolates in controlling fungal pathogens in vitro, and the activity is mainly due to peptides. However, most of the studied bacteria showed the presence of antimicrobial compounds in the culture supernatant, either peptides, bacteriocins or secondary metabolites. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results could be significant to develop tools for the biological control of soybean diseases. The work brought to the identification of micro-organisms such as Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. that have the potential to protect crops in order to enhance a sustainable management system of crops. Furthermore, the study provides the first evidences of the influence of management as well as the genetics of glyphosate-resistant soybean on the diversity of bacterial endophytes of soybean phytobiome.

Physiological evaluation of the behavior and epidermis of freshwater planarians (Girardia tigrina and Girardia sp.) exposed to stressors.

Planarians are metazoan freshwater flatworms which are free-living organisms. Their body has pluripotent stem cell promoters of tissue regeneration capacity. The water temperature and the potential of hydrogen (pH) of lentic ecosystems are important factors involved in the distribution and abundance of these animals. Although the pH factor is directly related to the physiology and behavior of planarians, their adaptive and regenerating capacities still remain unknown. The Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) is a very widespread method used in the evaluation of thermal tolerance. In this study, Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) and Girardia sp., a species found in Brazil, which is under study as a new species, had their epidermis assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze their physiological structures before and after exposure to different stressors. SEM was used as a method to evaluate the planarians' epidermis as a result of the increasing temperature (CTM) and pH alterations, the latter with the use of a new methodology defined as Critical Hydrogen ion concentration Maximum (CHM). In increasing temperatures from 20°C to 37°C, both Girardia tigrina and Girardia sp. proved to be adaptable to thermal stress. Girardia sp. was shown to be more resistant to higher temperatures. However, Girardia tigrina was more resistant to extreme pH conditions (4.0 to 10.0). SEM analysis showed morphological differences among planarian species, such as the arrangement of the structures and cell types of the dorsal epidermis. Moreover, planarians demonstrated the ability to change the surrounding pH of their external environment in order to maintain the function of their physiological mechanisms, suggesting that these animals have a complex survival system, possibly related to protonephridia, flame cells and excretory pores.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Hipermetropia após ceratotomia radial: flutuação da refração e da acuidade visual entre manhã e tarde e correlações com a pressão ocular e o estado biomecânico da córnea / Hyperopia after radial keratotomy: fluctuation of refraction and visual acuity from morning to evening and correlations with intraocular pressure and corneal biomechanics

OBJETIVO: Verificar as variações entre manhã e tarde da refração, da acuidade visual, das medidas da pressão ocular e dos parâmetros biomecânicos da córnea em pacientes operados de ceratotomia radial e interesse em retratamento refrativo; correlacionar os parâmetros biomecânicos da córnea com a refração, com a acuidade visual e com as suas variações. MÉTODOS: Foram examinados trinta e oito olhos de 19 pacientes pela manhã (9 am) e à tarde (6 pm), obtendo-se refração esfero-cilíndrica dinâmica, acuidade visual (logMAR) sem correção (AVsc) e corrigida (AVcc) e parâmetros do ORA (Ocular Response Analyzer): histerese corneana (corneal hysteresis - CH), fator de resistência da córnea (corneal resistance factor - CRF), pressão intraocular (intraocular pressure &- IOP) calibrada para o padrão Goldmann (IOPg) e pressão compensada da córnea (IOPcc). Considerando a não distribuição normal das variáveis (teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov), o teste de Wilcoxon signed rank foi utilizado para verificar significância nas diferenças entre as medidas da manhã e as da tarde de cada variável. O teste de Spearman foi utilizado para verificar correlações das medidas do ORA com o estado refracional e com a acuidade visual pela manhã e à tarde, assim como para verificar as correlações entre as medidas do ORA pela manhã e à tarde e as variações da refração e da acuidade visual. RESULTADOS: Grau esférico (E), equivalente esférico (EE), equivalente desfoco (ED), AVsc, IOPcc e IOPg variaram significativamente (Wilcoxon, p<0,05) entre manhã e tarde, havendo maior hipermetropia, pior acuidade visual não corrigida, maior pressão ocular e menor CH pela manhã. Nas medidas pela manhã, observaram-se correlações positivas (Spearman, p<0,05) do EE e do ED com IOPcc (rs=0,39 e 0,34 respectivamente), mas não com IOPg. Nas medidas da tarde, não houve correlações significantes entre os parâmetros refracionais e os pressóricos. Observaram-se correlações negativas (Spearman, p<0,05) entre AVsc (logMAR) e CH pela manhã e à tarde (rs= -0,48 e rs= -0,51), entre E e CH pela manhã e à tarde (rs= -0,66 e -0,76), entre E e CRF pela manhã e à tarde (rs= -0,40 e -0,47), entre EE e CH pela manhã e à tarde (rs= -0,70 e -0,68), entre EE e CRF pela manhã e à tarde (rs= -0,41 e -0,46), entre ED e CH pela manhã e a tarde (rs= -0,64 e -0,54) e entre ED e CRF pela manhã e a tarde (rs= -0,35 e -0,34). Observou-se correlação significante e negativa do CRF pela manhã com a variação do ED (p = 0,05; rs = -0,30) e com a variação da AVsc (p = 0,04; rs = -0,33). CONCLUSÃO: Maior hipermetropia pela manhã foi associada a maior pressão compensada (IOPcc), mas não com IOPg em pacientes operados de ceratotomia radial, o que deve ser considerado no planejamento do retratamento refrativo. Parâmetros biomecânicos (CRF e CH) mais baixos foram associados com maior hipermetropia e pior acuidade visual. Uma tendência de haver maior flutuação relacionada com córneas mais fracas foi encontrada. Novos estudos envolvendo parâmetros biomecânicos derivados do sinal do ORA, além dos parâmetros CH e CRF (derivados das pressões de aplanamento do ORA), juntamente com dados tomográficos da córnea e de aberrometria total são necessários.

PURPOSE: To verify the morning to evening variations of refraction, visual acuity, intraocular pressure and biomechanical parameters on patients operated by radial keratotomy who presented for refractive re-treatments; and to correlate the biomechanical parameters with refraction, visual acuity and their variations among morning and evening. METHODS: 19 patients were examined, respectively thirty-eight eyes in the morning (9 am) and evening (6 pm), recording sphere-cylindrical dynamic refraction, visual acuity (logMAR) without correction (AVsc) and corrected (AVcc) and ORA (Ocular Response Analyzer) parameters: corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), intraocular pressure calibrated for Goldmann (IOPg) e corneal compensated (IOPcc). Variables had no normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), so that the Wilcoxon signed rank was used for testing the significance on the differences for each variable between morning and afternoon. The Spearman test was used for assessing the correlations between the ORA parameters and refraction, visual acuity in the morning and afternoon, as well as to verify the correlations between the ORA parameters and the variations on refraction and visual acuity. RESULTS: Sphere (E), spherical equivalent (EE), defocus equivalent (ED), AVsc, IOPcc e IOPg varied significantly (Wilcoxon, p<0.05) between morning and evening. There was more hyperopia, worse visual acuity, higher pressure and lower CH in the morning measurements. In the morning measurements, there was a positive correlation (Spearman, p<0.05) between EE and ED and IOPcc (rs=0.39 and 0.34 respectively), but not with IOPg. In the evening measurement, there were no correlations between the refractive and pressure measurements. Negative correlations were observed (Spearman, p<0.05) between AVsc (logMAR) and CH in the morning and in the evening (rs= -0.48 e rs= -0,51), between E and CH in the morning and in the evening (rs= -0.66 and -0.76), between E and CRF in the morning and in the evening (rs= -0.40 and -0.47), between EE and CH in the morning and in the evening (rs= -0.70 and -0.68), between EE and CRF in the morning and in the evening (rs= -0.41 and -0.46), between ED and CH in the morning and in the evening (rs= 0.64 and -0.54) and between ED and CRF in the morning and in the evening (rs= -0.35 and -0.34). There was a significant negative correlation between the morning measurement of CRF and the variation of defocus equivalent (p = 0.05; rs = -0.30) and the variation of AVsc (p = 0.04; rs = -0.33). CONCLUSION: More hyperopia was recorded in the morning which was associated with higher compensated pressure (IOPcc) but not with IOPg ten years after RK. Lower biomechanical parameters (CRF e CH) were associated with higher hyperopia and worse visual acuity. A trend was observed for having higher fluctuation on weaker corneas. New studies involving the variables derived from the waveform signals, beyond CH and CRF (derived from the applanation pressures) along with data from corneal tomography and wavefront aberrometry are necessary.

Uma experiência multiprofissional na abordagem ao paciente hipertenso / An Interdistiplinarian Experience on Approaching Patients with Hypertension

Objetivo - Estudar o impacto das atividades educativas na abordagem ao paciente hipertenso, com equipe multiprofissional, num período mínimo de 5 e máximo de 9 meses, em aspectos relacionados à hipertensão arterial (HA). Métodos - Cinqüenta indivíduos constituindo dois grupos de 25 cada. O grupo A formado de pacientes que participavam das atividades educativas da Liga de Hipertensão Arterial (LHA) e o grupo B. também de pessoas matriculadas na LHA, mas não participantes. Os grupos eram comparáveis no tocante à idade, sexo, tipo e duração do tratamento. Foram estudados os grupos com relação à pressão arterial (PA), peso, tabagismo, ingestão alcoólica, exercícios físicos e freqüência às consultas. Resultados - Houve queda da PA em 84% dos pacientes do grupo A e 88% do grupo B. redução de peso em 60% do grupo A e 44% do grupo B e a prática de exercícios físicos foi hábito regular em 56% do grupo A e 36% do grupo B. No grupo A foi encontrado 4% de tabagistas e no grupo B 16%. A ingestão alcoólica esteve presente em 12% do grupo A e 24% do grupo B. Os pacientes do grupo A faltaram menos às consultas (30%) do que os do grupo B (44%). Conclusão - Apesar de não observarmos diferenças significativas entre as duas formas de abordagem, no que diz respeito ao controle da PA, observamos nítida vantagem a favor de uma abordagem educativa em grupo, com participação de equipe multiprofissional

Purpose - To evalvate the impact of the educational approach of activities on the approach of patients with hypertension, with an interdisciplinarian team. Methods - Fifty patients divided into two groups: A) with 25 patients who participated in educational activities in the Hipertension League (HL) and B) who were also registered and did not take part in the activities. They were studied regarding blood pressure (BP), weight control, smoking habits, alcoholic beverage consumption, physical activities and frequency of medical care. Results - There was a drop in BP of 84% of the patients in group A and 88% in group B. a drop in weight in 60% of group A and 44% of group B. We registered the presence of 4% of smokers in group A and 16% in group B. Physical activities were regular in 56% of group A and 36% in group B. Absenteeism to meetings was slighty higher among group B (44°/0) when compared with group A (30°/0). Conclusion - In spite of not having observed any significant differences between both approaches, regarding to strict BP control, we were able to observe a noticeable advantage in favor of the educational approach to the group, with participation of interdisciplinarian team