The FOXP3-924 A/G Single Nucleotide Polymorphism May Be Associated with Predictive Factors for Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1 Associated Myelopathy.

Human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus associated with inflammatory diseases, including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM), and host genetic factors may be involved in disease evolution. The forkhead Box P3 (FOXP3) transcription factor is linked to homeostasis of the immune system, and the presence of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the FOXP3 gene should reflect its expression levels and consequent activation of regulatory T cells, which may contribute to severe inflammatory disorders, such as HAM. This study evaluated the rs2232365 polymorphism (-924 A/G) located in the promoter region of the FOXP3 gene and its association with HAM. Forty DNA samples from asymptomatic carriers and 25 samples from HAM patients were used, in addition to 130 control samples. The polymorphism was genotyped by conducting real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (quantitative PCR [qPCR]) on extracted DNA. The proviral loads (PVLs) and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts were determined by qPCR and FACSCalibur flow cytometry, respectively. The PVLs, CD4+ T lymphocyte concentrations, and tumor necrosis factor-α dosages were considered predictive factors of the clinical profiles of HTLV-1 infection, all of which had higher levels in the HAM group. Carriers of the GG genotype for the polymorphism rs2232365 had high PVLs and CD4+ T lymphocyte concentrations.

The Relevance of a Diagnostic and Counseling Service for People Living With HTLV-1/2 in a Metropolis of the Brazilian Amazon.

Introduction: To identify the prevalence of infection in the urban area of the capital city of Belém, Brazil, the Laboratory of Virology of the Federal University of Pará implemented, as a public service, serological screening for human T-lymphotropic viruses 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) infection and, if necessary, counseling service and referral to specialized medical care. The project is funded by the National Council of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health of Brazil and the Pan American Health Organization. Methods: From January 2020 to June 2021, 1,572 individuals of both sexes were approached to answer a questionnaire and were tested using an enzyme immunoassay (Murex HTLV-I+II, DiaSorin, Dartford, UK). Seropositive samples were confirmed as HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection by line immunoassay (INNO-LIA® HTLV I/II Score, Fujirebio, Japan) and/or by real-time polymerase chain reaction. G and Fisher's exact tests were applied to identify the association between epidemiological characteristics and HTLV-1/2 infection. Results: Of the 1,572 screened individuals, 63.74% were females between the ages of 30 and 59 years (49.04%). Infection was confirmed in six individuals (0.38%), among whom three (0.19%) were infected with HTLV-1 and three with HTLV-2 (0.19%). Blood transfusion before 1993 was the main risk factor associated with the route of exposure to the virus (p = 0.0442). The infected individuals were referred to a counseling session with a nursing professional, and two patients who manifested signs and symptoms suggestive of myelopathy associated with HTLV were referred to a neurologist. Conclusion: The implementation of the screening service revealed the occurrence of moderate endemicity of HTLV-1/2 in Belém, reinforcing the importance of continuing the service as a means of establishing an early diagnosis and providing counseling as a measure to prevent and control viral transmission in the general population.

Sex and FOXP3 gene rs2232365 polymorphism may be associated with the clinical and pathological aspects of chronic viral diseases.

BACKGROUND: The forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) transcription factor is one of the main markers of immunological suppression in different pathological profiles, and the presence of polymorphic variants may alter the gene expression of this factor. Despite descriptions of an association between the presence of the rs2232365 polymorphism and chronic diseases, the role of the sex variant in this context has not yet been elucidated, as the FOXP3 gene is located on the human sex chromosome X. RESULTS: To contribute to this topic, 323 women and 373 men were enrolled in the study, of which 101 were diagnosed with chronic viral liver diseases (39 women and 62 men), 67 with HTLV-1 infection (44 women and 23 men), 230 with coronary artery disease (91 women and 139 men) and 298 healthy and uninfected blood donors (149 women and men). They were genotyped for the rs2232365 polymorphism. The rs2232365 polymorphism was associated with clinical and pathological aspects and biomarkers of viral infections only in men, with functional differences between different infections. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship is suggested between sex and FOXP3 rs2232365 polymorphism, resulting in different biological repercussions.

Pilates exercise improves the clinical and immunological profiles of patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 associated myelopathy: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an infectious chronic-inflammatory disease, which can lead to lower limb motions. METHODS: The study evaluated the effects of serial Pilates exercises on the clinical and immunological profiles of patients with HAM/TSP. Eight patients with ages ranging from 39 to 70 years old (2 males and 6 females), 2 wheelchair users and 6 with compromised gait, were evaluated. The patients were submitted to 20 Pilates sessions for 10 weeks. Data were collected at 3 time points (beginning of the study, after Pilates sessions and after 10 weeks without Pilates) and consisted of evaluations of the pain level, spasticity, motor strength, balance, mobility, functional capacity, quality of life and quantification of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-9 cytokines levels. RESULTS: After the Pilates sessions, significant improvements in pain level, static and dynamic balance, trunk control, mobility and quality of life were observed, with simultaneous and significant reductions in the serum levels of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10. However, after 10 weeks without Pilates, there were significant changes in terms of increasing pain and regression of mobility, with no changes in strength, spasticity, functional capacity in any of the periods of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Pilates may be a promising auxiliary physical therapy for patients with HAM/TSP.

Adsorption of indigo carmine on Pistia stratiotes dry biomass chemically modified.

Pistia stratiotes is a common aquatic plant of the northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, and its use as adsorbent material was studied in the present work. The preparation process included washing, drying, grinding, and acid activation. The sorption potential for removal of the indigo carmine dye from aqueous solutions was tested under various conditions, such as initial concentration, contact time, and temperature. The tests showed that the obtained biosorbent showed good performance for dye removal with a maximum capacity of 41.2 mg/g. The kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second-order equation provided the best fit of the experimental data. The Freundlich isotherm provided the best fit of the experimental sorption data for the system under study. The results obtained show that Pistia stratiotes has great potential to be used as biosorbent for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions.

Chemical fragment arrays for rapid druggability assessment.

Incorporation of early druggability assessment in the drug discovery process provides a means to prioritize target proteins for high-throughput screening. We present chemical fragment arrays as a method that is capable of determining the druggability of a given target with low protein and compound consumption, enabling rapid decision making during early phases of drug discovery.

Adaptação da EAH para população de surdos falantes de LIBRAS / Adaptation of the MAS to deaf speech

O objetivo deste estudo é traduzir a Escala Analógica de Humor, para surdos usuários da língua brasileira de sinais (LIBRAS) e do alfabeto digital, gerando uma escala trilíngüe. A amostra de estudo foi composta de 15 surdos que dominam o alfabeto digital e a LIBRAS e 40 ouvintes com idades entre 11 e 18 anos de ambos os sexos. Após o treino prévio, os participantes preencheram uma versão da escala segundo as características do seu grupo: em português para o grupo-controle (ouvinte) ou em LIBRAS para o grupo experimental (surdos). A aplicação foi realizada em grupo. Os resultados obtidos no experimento mostraram que a escala analógica de humor apresentou equivalência em ambos os grupos, dado que nas suas duas versões (escala analógica padrão e escala traduzida), não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas no índice total e nos componentes da escala: ansiedade, sedação física e sedação mental. O único fator que apresentou diferença estatística significativa foi o componente outros sentimentos. Tais resultados indicam a possibilidade do uso desta escala para estudos de ansiedade em pacientes com surdez.

The aim of the present study was to adapt the Analogic Mood Scale for hearing impaired individuals speaking Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) and talking by the finger alphabet, yielding a bilingual scale. The sample of Study was composed of 15 hearing impaired individuals talking by the finger alphabet and LIBRAS and 40 normal hearing individuals aged 11 to 18 years of both genders. After previous training, the participants filled a version of the scale according to the characteristics of their group, in Portuguese or in LIBRAS. The scales were applied in group. The results showed that both versions of the analogue mood scale were equivalent, because no-statistical significant differences in the total index and in the components of the scale (anxiety, physical sedation and mental sedation) were related. The only factor presenting statistically significant difference was the presence of other feelings. Such results suggest the possibility of use of this scale for studies of anxiety among hearing impaired patients.

Adaptação da EAH para população de surdos falantes de LIBRAS / Adaptation of the MAS to deaf speech

O objetivo deste estudo é traduzir a Escala Analógica de Humor, para surdos usuários da língua brasileira de sinais (LIBRAS) e do alfabeto digital, gerando uma escala trilíngüe. A amostra de estudo foi composta de 15 surdos que dominam o alfabeto digital e a LIBRAS e 40 ouvintes com idades entre 11 e 18 anos de ambos os sexos. Após o treino prévio, os participantes preencheram uma versão da escala segundo as características do seu grupo: em português para o grupo-controle (ouvinte) ou em LIBRAS para o grupo experimental (surdos). A aplicação foi realizada em grupo. Os resultados obtidos no experimento mostraram que a escala analógica de humor apresentou equivalência em ambos os grupos, dado que nas suas duas versões (escala analógica padrão e escala traduzida), não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas no índice total e nos componentes da escala: ansiedade, sedação física e sedação mental. O único fator que apresentou diferença estatística significativa foi o componente outros sentimentos. Tais resultados indicam a possibilidade do uso desta escala para estudos de ansiedade em pacientes com surdez.(AU)

The aim of the present study was to adapt the Analogic Mood Scale for hearing impaired individuals speaking Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) and talking by the finger alphabet, yielding a bilingual scale. The sample of Study was composed of 15 hearing impaired individuals talking by the finger alphabet and LIBRAS and 40 normal hearing individuals aged 11 to 18 years of both genders. After previous training, the participants filled a version of the scale according to the characteristics of their group, in Portuguese or in LIBRAS. The scales were applied in group. The results showed that both versions of the analogue mood scale were equivalent, because no-statistical significant differences in the total index and in the components of the scale (anxiety, physical sedation and mental sedation) were related. The only factor presenting statistically significant difference was the presence of other feelings. Such results suggest the possibility of use of this scale for studies of anxiety among hearing impaired patients.(AU)

Enantiospecific synthesis of the (9S,18R)-diastereomer of the leukocyte adhesion inhibitor cyclamenol A.

Cyclamenol A is one of the very few non-carbohydrate and non-peptide natural products that inhibit leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. We report on the first enantioselective total synthesis of the (9S, 18R)-diastereomer of this macrocyclic polyene lactam. Key elements of the synthesis are i) the synthesis of the required chiral building blocks by employing readily accessible building blocks from the chiral pool, that is, (S)-malic acid and (R)-hydroxyisobutyric acid, ii) assembly of a linear polyene precursor by means of Wittig and Horner olefination reactions as key C-C bond-forming transformations, iii) ring closure by means of a vanadium-mediated pinacolisation reaction and iv) conversion of the generated cis-diol into a (Z)-olefin to complete the entire polyene system of the natural product. Attempts to close the macrocyclic ring by a macrolactamisation, a double Stille coupling or direct olefination in a McMurry reaction failed. Crucial to the successful completion of the synthesis was the correct orchestration of the final steps. It was necessary to first deprotect the intermediate formed after macrocycle formation and to generate the sensitive heptaene system in the last step by means of a Corey-Hopkins sequence.

Malaria transmission

No Brasil, a malária está restrita à regiäo amazônica, onde ocorre mais de 95 por cento dos casos registrados no país. Somente as fêmeas de mosquitos do gênero Anopheles säo capazes de transmitir os parasitos da malária humana. Treze espécies de anofelinos do Brasil foram encontradas naturalmente infectadas com Plasmodium, mas somente poucas estäo envolvidas na transmissäo. Anopheles darlingi é o principal vetor de malária nas ecorregiões de savana e floresta plana enquanto que o A. aquasalis é responsável pela transmissäo desta infecçäo na área costeira. Todavia, A. deaneorum, A. oswaldoi e A. marajoara tem sido incriminados como vetores locais de malária. Controlar a transmissäo de malária na regisäo Amazônica é uma tarefa muito difícil por causa de suas características ecológicas, ambientais, sociais e econômicas. Nos últimos 10 anos, os assentamentos desordenados (invasões) têm sido uma das principais causas de disseminaçäo de malária humana nos grandes centros urbanos, como é o caso da cidade de Manaus e Belém.