Repurposing Terfenadine as a Novel Antigiardial Compound.

Giardia lamblia is a highly infectious protozoan that causes giardiasis, a gastrointestinal disease with short-term and long-lasting symptoms. The currently available drugs for giardiasis treatment have limitations such as side effects and drug resistance, requiring the search for new antigiardial compounds. Drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy to expedite the drug development process. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of terfenadine on Giardia lamblia trophozoites. Our results showed that terfenadine inhibited the growth and cell viability of Giardia trophozoites in a time-dose-dependent manner. In addition, using scanning electron microscopy, we identified morphological damage; interestingly, an increased number of protrusions on membranes and tubulin dysregulation with concomitant dysregulation of Giardia GiK were observed. Importantly, terfenadine showed low toxicity for Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal cell line. These findings highlight the potential of terfenadine as a repurposed drug for the treatment of giardiasis and warrant further investigation to elucidate its precise mechanism of action and evaluate its efficacy in future research.

The contribution of penguin guano to the Southern Ocean iron pool.

Iron plays a crucial role in the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll Southern Ocean regions, promoting phytoplankton growth and enhancing atmospheric carbon sequestration. In this area, iron-rich Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and baleen whale species, which are among their main predators, play a large role in the recycling of iron. However, penguins have received limited attention despite their representing the largest seabird biomass in the southern polar region. Here, we use breeding site guano volumes estimated from drone images, deep learning-powered penguin census, and guano chemical composition to assess the iron export to the Antarctic waters from one of the most abundant penguin species, the Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus). Our results show that these seabirds are a relevant contributor to the iron remobilization pool in the Southern Ocean. With an average guano concentration of 3 mg iron g-1, we estimate that the Chinstrap penguin population is recycling 521 tonnes iron yr-1, representing the current iron contribution half of the amount these penguins were able to recycle four decades ago, as they have declined by more than 50% since then.

Assessment of the environmental acceptability of potential artificial reef materials using two ecotoxicity tests: Luminescent bacteria and sea urchin embryogenesis.

Ecotoxicological analysis of construction products is a relatively unexplored area at international level. Aquatic toxicity tests on construction products has been recommended recently for freshwater environment. However, the biological effects of alternative materials on marine ecosystem are still not considered. In this study, the main aim was to assess the environmental impact of alternative mortars proposed as artificial reefs (ARs) materials. The ARs specimens were developed by 3D printing, based on cement and geopolymer mortars using recycled sands of glass and seashells. For this purpose, a leaching test and two different toxicity bioassays, luminosity reduction of marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox®) and the success of embryo-larval development of sea-urchin Paracentrotus lividus, were conducted. From the leaching results it should be noted that the mobility of all trace elements considered in both, raw materials and mortars, meet the inert landfill limits, except As, Mo, Se or Sb in the leachates geopolymer mortars. However, the results obtained from the both bioassays show low environmental acceptability for those mortars containing shell sand, probably due to the degradation of the organic matter adhered to the shells. On the other hand, cement mortars obtain better results than geopolymer mortars, regardless of the aggregate used, showing certain consistency with the leaching behaviour, since they present the lowest mobility of trace chemical elements. Therefore, the results supporting the environmental acceptability of its potential use as alternative materials in the production of ARs.

Curcumin Stimulates the Overexpression of Virulence Factors in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium: In Vitro and Animal Model Studies.

Salmonella spp. is one of the most common food poisoning pathogens and the main cause of diarrheal diseases in humans in developing countries. The increased Salmonella resistance to antimicrobials has led to the search for new alternatives, including natural compounds such as curcumin, which has already demonstrated a bactericidal effect; however, in Gram-negatives, there is much controversy about this effect, as it is highly variable. In this study, we aimed to verify the antibacterial activity of curcumin against the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium growth rate, virulence, and pathogenicity. The strain was exposed to 110, 220 or 330 µg/mL curcumin, and by complementary methods (spectrophotometric, pour plate and MTT assays), we determined its antibacterial activity. To elucidate whether curcumin regulates the expression of virulence genes, Salmonella invA, fliC and siiE genes were investigated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, to explore the effect of curcumin on the pathogenesis process in vivo, a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model was employed. No antibacterial activity was observed, even at higher concentrations of curcumin. All concentrations of curcumin caused overgrowth (35−69%) and increased the pathogenicity of the bacterial strain through the overexpression of virulence factors. The latter coincided with a significant reduction in both the lifespan and survival time of C. elegans when fed with curcumin-treated bacteria. Our data provide relevant information that may support the selective antibacterial effects of curcumin to reconsider the indiscriminate use of this phytochemical, especially in outbreaks of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.

Modelling the bioconcentration of Zn from commercial sunscreens in the marine bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum.

Sunscreens contain ZnO particles used as a UV filter cause adverse effects in the marine environment through the release of this metal into seawater and its bioaccumulation in organisms. A mathematical model using sunscreen colloidal residues, seawater and R. philippinarum clams as differentiated compartments, is proposed in order to interpret both the kinetic pattern and the bioaccumulation of Zn in clams. Two kinetic laboratory experiments were conducted, both with and without clams exposed to sunscreen concentrations from 0 to 200 mg L-1. Both the lowest value of uptake rate coefficient obtained when 5 mg L-1 of sunscreen is added (0.00688 L g-1 d-1) and the highest obtained at sunscreen addition of 100 mg L-1 (0.0670 L g-1 d-1), predict a lower bioavailability of Zn in a complex medium such as the seawater-sunscreen mixtures, in comparison to those studied in the literature. The efflux rate coefficient from clams to seawater increased from 0 to 0.162 d-1 with the sunscreen concentrations. The estimated value of the inlet rate coefficient at all studied concentrations indicates that there is a negligible colloidal Zn uptake rate by clams, probably due to the great stability of the organic colloidal residue. An equilibrium shift to higher values of Zn in water is predicted due to the bioconcentration of Zn in clams. The kinetic model proposed with no constant Zn (aq) concentrations may contribute to a more realistic prediction of the bioaccumulation of Zn from sunscreens in clams.

Products released from surgical face masks can provoke cytotoxicity in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Surgical face masks are more present than ever as personal protective equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this work, we show that the contents of regular surgical masks: i) polypropylene microfibres and ii) some added metals such as: Al, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and Ba, may be toxic to some marine life. This work has got two objectives: i) to study the release rate of the products from face masks in marine water and ii) to assess the toxicity in Phaeodactylum tricornutum of these by-products. To achieve these two objectives, we performed release kinetic experiments by adding masks in different stages of fragmentation to marine water (i.e. whole face masks and fragments of them 1.52 ± 0.86 mm). Released microfibres were found after one month in shaking marine water; 0.33 ± 0.24 and 21.13 ± 13.19 fibres·mL-1 were collected from the whole and fragmented face masks, respectively. Significant amounts of dissolved metals such as Mn, Zn and Ni, as well as functional groups only in the water containing the face mask fragments were detected. Water from both treatments was employed to study its toxicity on the marine diatom. Only the water from the face mask fragments showed a significant, dose-dependent, decrease in cell density in P. tricornutum; 53.09 % lower than in the controls. Although the water from the face mask fragments showed greater effects on the microalgae population than the water from the whole face mask, the latter treatment did show significant changes in the photosynthetic apparatus and intrinsic properties of the cells. These results indicate that during fragmentation and degradation face masks a significant chemical print can be observed in the marine environment.

Drug repositioning: antiprotozoal activity of terfenadine against Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites.

The infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica is still a serious public health problem, especially in developing countries. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of terfenadine against Entamoeba histolytica. The trophozoites were exposed to 1, 2, 3, and 4 µM of terfenadine, for 24 and 48 h. Consequently, the viability of cells was determined by trypan blue exclusion test. The effect of terfenadine on adhesion of Entamoeba histolytica was evaluated in Caco-2 cells. In addition, the effect of terfenadine on the erythrophagocytic capacity of the parasite was investigated. The results show that terfenadine affects the growth and cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The higher inhibitory effects were observed with 4 µM at 48 h; 91.6% of growth inhibition and only 22.5% of trophozoites were viable. Additionally, we demonstrate that terfenadine is highly selective for the parasite and has low toxicity on Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, adhesion to Caco-2 cells and erythrophagocytic capacity were significantly inhibited. These findings demonstrate that terfenadine exerts significant effects on the virulence of Entamoeba histolytica. This is the first study demonstrating the amoebicidal activity of terfenadine and the results suggest it may be effective in the treatment of amoebiasis.

Trace elements in Antarctic penguins and the potential role of guano as source of recycled metals in the Southern Ocean.

Penguins dominate the Antarctic avifauna. As key animals in the Antarctic ecosystem, they are monitored to evaluate the ecological status of this pristine and remote region and specifically, they have been used as effective bioindicators suitable for long-term monitoring of metals in the Antarctic environment. However, studies about the role of this emblematic organism could play in the recycling of trace metals (TMs) in the Antarctic ecosystem are very limited. In this study we evaluate, using the peer review research articles already published and our own findings, the distribution of metals (i.e., Ca, Fe, Al, Na, Zn, Mg, Cu, K, Cd, Mn, Sr, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, V, Ba, Co, La, Ag, Rb, Hf, Sc, Au and Cs) and metalloids (As and Sb), measured in different biotic matrices, with emphasis on guano, of the Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus), Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins. Regarding bioactive metals, the high concentrations (µg g-1 dry weight) of Cu (2.0 ± 1.4) x 102, Fe (4.1 ± 2.9) x 102, Mn (30 ± 34) and Zn (210 ± 90) reported in the guano from all the penguin species studied including our data, are of the same order of magnitude as those reported for whale feces (µg g-1 dry weight): Cu (2.9 ± 2.4) x 102, Fe (1.5 ± 1.4) x 102, Mn (28 ± 17) and Zn (6.2 ± 4.3) x 102, and one order of magnitude higher than the metal contents in krill (µg g-1 dry weight) of Cu (10.2 ± 5.5), Fe (24 ± 29) and Zn (13.5 ± 1.7). This suggest that penguin's excretion products could be an important source of these essential elements in the surface water, with an estimated annual release on a breeding season for Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn respectively of 28, 56, 4 and 29 tons, for the Chinstrap, Adélie and Gentoo penguins. The results provide evidence on the potential influence of penguins recycling TMs in the surface layer of the water column.

MDR1 protein (ABC-C1) Over Expression in Giardia Intestinalis Incubated with Albendazole and Nitazoxanide.

BACKGROUND: Giardia intestinalis is a worldwide parasite. Drugs used for the treatment of giardiasis are metronidazole, albendazole and nitazoxanide. The development of drug resistance is an obstacle to the effective treatment. Resistance mechanisms in some parasites involve the participation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. PURPOSE: To find if the ATP-binding cassette genes are overexpressed in trophozoites treated with albendazole or nitazoxanide. METHODS: A search for ATP-binding cassette genes in Giardia sequence database (GiardiaDB) was done and six genes were selected. Trophozoites treated with albendazole or nitazoxanide and the expression of these six ABC genes was quantitated by real-time RT-PCR. The ABC-C1 gene was selected, and a fragment cloned. The ABC-C1 protein was expressed, and polyclonal antibodies were elicited in mice to detect the protein in treated trophozoites, finally a docking analysis was performed for ABC-C1 and tizoxanide interaction. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis showed that the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) topology is present in the six proteins. The qRT-PCR revealed that the ABC-C1 gene was overexpressed in cells incubated with nitazoxanide or albendazole. Confocal analysis showed that ABC-C1 protein levels increased in trophozoites with both treatments but was higher with nitazoxanide. The mark was detected heavily in the periphery of the cells. Using a docking analysis, it was found that the nitazoxanide metabolite, tizoxanide was docked close to the ATP-binding region as well as in the exit tunnel, located in the transmembrane region. CONCLUSION: These findings in Giardia intestinalis, support the possible role of ABC-C1 in drug efflux.

Clinical characteristics of older patients with COVID-19: a systematic review of case reports.

In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, higher morbidity and mortality have been reported in older adults. This age group presents physiological changes and its own clinical conditions such as frailty, dementia, among others. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of COVID-19 patients, both over and under 80 years old, by conducting a systematic review of the literature describing case reports, and to summarize and critically assess these characteristics. METHODS: Systematic review. The study was registered on the Registry of Health Research Projects (PRISA) of the Peruvian National Institute of Health (code EI00000631). Five electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, LILACS, and SCIELO) were systematically searched during the period between December 31, 2019 and April 16, 2020. The search focused on case reports, case studies, and case series of older people with COVID-19 infection aged over or under 80 years. When selecting the cases, priority was given to clinical and epidemiological profile, laboratory and imaging patterns, and comprehensive geriatric evaluation. RESULTS: 1,149 articles were identified; after applying the filters, a total of 15 publications of case reports and complete records of 27 older adults were obtained. The most frequent age group was between 60 to 69 years old. There is little literature regarding case reports of older adults aged over 80 years. The most frequent parameters were hypertension, fever, cough, respiratory distress, ground-glass opacification in chest radiography and tomography. Furthermore, decrease in PaO2/FiO2 ratio and lymphocytes, and increase in C-reactive protein and Interleukin 6 were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review found little available information of patients under 80 years old, and far less for those over 80 years old, and an absence of comprehensive geriatric assessment.

No contexto da atual pandemia de covid-19, maior morbidade e mortalidade têm sido relatadas em idosos. Sabe-se que essa faixa etária apresenta alterações fisiológicas e condições clínicas próprias, como fragilidade, demência, entre outras. OBJETIVO: Descrever as características de pacientes com covid-19, maiores e menores de 80 anos, por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura que descreve relatos de casos, e resumir e avaliar criticamente essas características. MÉTODO: Revisão sistemática. O estudo foi registrado no Registro de Projetos de Pesquisa em Saúde (PRISA) do Instituto Nacional de Saúde do Peru (código EI00000631). Local: cinco bases de dados eletrônicas (Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, LILACS e SCIELO) foram sistematicamente pesquisadas entre 31 de dezembro de 2019 e 16 de abril de 2020. A busca se concentrou em relatos de caso, estudos de caso e séries de casos mais antigos pessoas com infecção por SARS-CoV-2 com mais e menos de 80 anos. Na seleção dos casos, a prioridade foi dada ao perfil clínico e epidemiológico, padrões laboratoriais e de imagem, e avaliação geriátrica abrangente. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 1.149 artigos. Após a aplicação dos filtros, obteve-se um total de 15 publicações de relatos de caso e registros completos de 27 idosos. A faixa etária mais frequente foi de 60 a 69 anos. Há pouca literatura sobre relatos de casos de adultos com mais de 80 anos. Os parâmetros mais frequentes foram hipertensão, febre, tosse, dificuldade respiratória, vidro fosco na radiografia e tomografia de tórax. Também foram observados diminuição da PaO2 / FiO2 e linfócitos, e aumento da proteína C reativa e Interleucina 6. CONCLUSÕES: Esta revisão sistemática encontrou poucas informações disponíveis sobre pacientes com menos de 80 anos, em quantidade ainda menor para aqueles com mais de 80 anos, além de uma ausência de avaliação geriátrica abrangente.

Spatial distribution and level of contamination of potentially toxic elements in sediments and soils of a biological reserve wetland, northern Amazon region of Ecuador.

This study quantifies the degree of pollution and assess the ecological risk of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in sediments and soils of the Limoncocha Biological Reserve (Ecuador), identified as a Ramsar site with high ecological and socioeconomic value. The hydrologic system of the Reserve is mainly formed by two rivers that drain into the Limoncocha lagoon, which occupies only five percent of the protected area but support a high anthropic influence. Local statistical baseline of studied potentially toxic elements is established using cumulative frequency method, and Al is selected as reference element due to the good correlation with the studied elements. The grade of pollution and the potential ecological risk are evaluated applying three individual (Contamination Factor, Geo-accumulation Index and Enrichment Factor) and six integrated (Degree and modified degree of contamination, Pollution Load Index, Nemerow and modified Nemerow pollution indexes and potential ecological risk index) indices. Results analysis are based on the combined application of traditional statistics, multivariate data analysis and self organizing maps. Outcomes suggest to classify sediments and soils as "moderate contamination and enrichment" due mainly to the concentrations of Cu (66.4-110 mg/kg) and Cd (0.0262-0.808 mg/kg), derived from domestic wastewaters and agricultural activities, and in a lesser extent due to Mo (0.822-4.37 mg/kg), Ni (10.3-25.8 mg/kg), Co (7.27-24.8 mg/kg) and V (60.3-178 mg/kg), derived from oil field drilling activities. The distributions of As (0.328-8.83 mg/kg), Ba (143-1100 mg/kg), Pb (7.20-26.5 mg/kg), Zn (60.1-276 mg/kg) and Cr (10.1-48.6 mg/kg) are heterogeneous in the studied sampling sites. Sediments located next to the pier and at the central area of the Limoncocha lagoon, show moderate potential risk and according to sediment quality guidelines, the calculated mean Effect Range Median quotient (mERMq) classify the sites as medium-low priority risk level. A three-level classification of a mean quotient based on soil quality and soil potential uses is proposed. Soil sites with high anthropogenic activities show low to moderate potential ecological risk being classified as poor soil quality sites but with all potential soil uses allowed according to the legal limits for land uses in Ecuador.

Clinical characteristics of older patients with COVID-19: a systematic review of case reports / Características clínicas de pacientes idosos com covid-19: uma revisão sistemática de relatos de casos

ABSTRACT. In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, higher morbidity and mortality have been reported in older adults. This age group presents physiological changes and its own clinical conditions such as frailty, dementia, among others. Objective: To describe the characteristics of COVID-19 patients, both over and under 80 years old, by conducting a systematic review of the literature describing case reports, and to summarize and critically assess these characteristics. Methods: Systematic review. The study was registered on the Registry of Health Research Projects (PRISA) of the Peruvian National Institute of Health (code EI00000631). Five electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, LILACS, and SCIELO) were systematically searched during the period between December 31, 2019 and April 16, 2020. The search focused on case reports, case studies, and case series of older people with COVID-19 infection aged over or under 80 years. When selecting the cases, priority was given to clinical and epidemiological profile, laboratory and imaging patterns, and comprehensive geriatric evaluation. Results: 1,149 articles were identified; after applying the filters, a total of 15 publications of case reports and complete records of 27 older adults were obtained. The most frequent age group was between 60 to 69 years old. There is little literature regarding case reports of older adults aged over 80 years. The most frequent parameters were hypertension, fever, cough, respiratory distress, ground-glass opacification in chest radiography and tomography. Furthermore, decrease in PaO2/FiO2 ratio and lymphocytes, and increase in C-reactive protein and Interleukin 6 were observed. Conclusions: This systematic review found little available information of patients under 80 years old, and far less for those over 80 years old, and an absence of comprehensive geriatric assessment.

RESUMO. No contexto da atual pandemia de covid-19, maior morbidade e mortalidade têm sido relatadas em idosos. Sabe-se que essa faixa etária apresenta alterações fisiológicas e condições clínicas próprias, como fragilidade, demência, entre outras. Objetivo: Descrever as características de pacientes com covid-19, maiores e menores de 80 anos, por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura que descreve relatos de casos, e resumir e avaliar criticamente essas características. Método: Revisão sistemática. O estudo foi registrado no Registro de Projetos de Pesquisa em Saúde (PRISA) do Instituto Nacional de Saúde do Peru (código EI00000631). Local: cinco bases de dados eletrônicas (Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, LILACS e SCIELO) foram sistematicamente pesquisadas entre 31 de dezembro de 2019 e 16 de abril de 2020. A busca se concentrou em relatos de caso, estudos de caso e séries de casos mais antigos pessoas com infecção por SARS-CoV-2 com mais e menos de 80 anos. Na seleção dos casos, a prioridade foi dada ao perfil clínico e epidemiológico, padrões laboratoriais e de imagem, e avaliação geriátrica abrangente. Resultados: Foram identificados 1.149 artigos. Após a aplicação dos filtros, obteve-se um total de 15 publicações de relatos de caso e registros completos de 27 idosos. A faixa etária mais frequente foi de 60 a 69 anos. Há pouca literatura sobre relatos de casos de adultos com mais de 80 anos. Os parâmetros mais frequentes foram hipertensão, febre, tosse, dificuldade respiratória, vidro fosco na radiografia e tomografia de tórax. Também foram observados diminuição da PaO2 / FiO2 e linfócitos, e aumento da proteína C reativa e Interleucina 6. Conclusões: Esta revisão sistemática encontrou poucas informações disponíveis sobre pacientes com menos de 80 anos, em quantidade ainda menor para aqueles com mais de 80 anos, além de uma ausência de avaliação geriátrica abrangente.

Giardia intestinalis coiled-coil cytolinker protein 259 interacts with actin and tubulin.

Giardia intestinalis is a human parasite that causes a diarrheal disease in developing countries. G. intestinalis has a cytoskeleton (CSK) composed of microtubules and microfilaments, and the Giardia genome does not code for the canonical CSK-binding proteins described in other eukaryotic cells. To identify candidate actin and tubulin cross-linking proteins, we performed a BLAST analysis of the Giardia genome using a spectraplakins consensus sequence as a query. Based on the highest BLAST score, we selected a 259-kDa sequence designated as a cytoskeleton linker protein (CLP259). The sequence was cloned in three fragments and characterized by immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS). CLP259 was located in the cytoplasm in the form of clusters of thick rods and colocalized with actin at numerous sites and with tubulin in the median body. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry revealed that CLP259 interacts with structural proteins such as giardins, SALP-1, axonemal, and eight coiled-coils. The vesicular traffic proteins detected were Mu adaptin, Vacuolar ATP synthase subunit B, Bip, Sec61 alpha, NSF, AP complex subunit beta, and dynamin. These results indicate that CLP259 in trophozoites is a CSK linker protein for actin and tubulin and could act as a scaffold protein driving vesicular traffic.

Minimal impact at current environmental concentrations of microplastics on energy balance and physiological rates of the giant mussel Choromytilus chorus.

Microplastic particles (MP) uptake by marine organisms is a phenomenon of global concern. Nevertheless, there is scarce evidence about the impacts of MP on the energy balance of marine invertebrates. We evaluated the mid-term effect of the microplastic ingestion at the current higher environmental concentrations in the ocean on the energy balance of the giant mussel Choromytilus chorus. We exposed juvenile mussels to three concentrations of microplastics (0, 100, and 1000 particles L-1) and evaluated the effect on physiology after 40 days. The impacts of MP on the ecophysiological traits of the mussels were minimum at all the studied concentrations. At intermediate concentrations of MP, Scope for Growth (SFG) had little impact. Other relevant key life-history and physiological processes, such as size and metabolism, were not affected by microplastics. However, individuals treated with MP presented histopathological differences compared to control group, which could result in adverse health effects for mussels.

Acquiring an evolutionary perspective in marine ecotoxicology to tackle emerging concerns in a rapidly changing ocean.

Tens of thousands of anthropogenic chemicals and wastes enter the marine environment each year as a consequence of the ever-increasing anthropogenic activities and demographic growth of the human population, which is majorly concentrated along coastal areas. Marine ecotoxicology has had a crucial role in helping shed light on the fate of chemicals in the environment, and improving our understanding of how they can affect natural ecosystems. However, chemical contamination is not occurring in isolation, but rather against a rapidly changing environmental horizon. Most environmental studies have been focusing on short-term within-generation responses of single life stages of single species to single stressors. As a consequence, one-dimensional ecotoxicology cannot enable us to appreciate the degree and magnitude of future impacts of chemicals on marine ecosystems. Current approaches that lack an evolutionary perspective within the context of ongoing and future local and global stressors will likely lead us to under or over estimations of the impacts that chemicals will exert on marine organisms. It is therefore urgent to define whether marine organisms can acclimate, i.e. adjust their phenotypes through transgenerational plasticity, or rapidly adapt, i.e. realign the population phenotypic performances to maximize fitness, to the new chemical environment within a selective horizon defined by global changes. To foster a significant advancement in this research area, we review briefly the history of ecotoxicology, synthesis our current understanding of the fate and impact of contaminants under global changes, and critically discuss the benefits and challenges of integrative approaches toward developing an evolutionary perspective in marine ecotoxicology: particularly through a multigenerational approach. The inclusion of multigenerational studies in Ecological Risk Assessment framework (ERA) would provide significant and more accurately information to help predict the risks of pollution in a rapidly changing ocean.

A new approach for the determination of sunscreen levels in seawater by ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry.

Sunscreen is released into the marine environment and is considered toxic for marine life. The current analytical methods for the quantification of sunscreen are mostly specific to individual chemical ingredients and based on complex analytical and instrumental techniques. A simple, selective, rapid, reproducible and low-cost spectrophotometric procedure for the quantification of commercial sunscreen in seawater is described here. The method is based on the inherent properties of these cosmetics to absorb in the wavelength of 300-400 nm. The absorption at 303 nm wavelength correlates with the concentration of most commercial sunscreens. This method allows the determination of sunscreens in the range of 2.5-1500 mg L-1, it requires no sample pretreatment and offers a precision of up to 0.2%. The spectrophotometric method was applied to quantify sunscreen concentrations at an Atlantic Beach with values ranging from 10 to 96.7 mg L-1 in the unfiltered fraction and from the undetectable value to 75.7 mg L-1 in the dissolved fraction. This method is suggested as a tool for sunscreen quantifications in environmental investigations and monitoring programs.

Antigiardial Activity of Acetylsalicylic Acid Is Associated with Overexpression of HSP70 and Membrane Transporters.

Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan responsible for giardiasis, a worldwide diarrheal disease. The adverse effects of the pharmacological treatments and the appearance of drug resistance have increased the rate of therapeutic failures. In the search for alternative therapeutics, drug repositioning has become a popular strategy. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) exhibits diverse biological activities through multiple mechanisms. However, the full spectrum of its activities is incompletely understood. In this study we show that ASA displayed direct antigiardial activity and affected the adhesion and growth of trophozoites in a time-dose-dependent manner. Electron microscopy images revealed remarkable morphological alterations in the membrane, ventral disk, and caudal region. Using mass spectrometry and real-time quantitative reverse transcription (qRT-PCR), we identified that ASA induced the overexpression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). ASA also showed a significant increase of five ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (giABC, giABCP, giMDRP, giMRPL and giMDRAP1). Additionally, we found low toxicity on Caco-2 cells. Taken together, these results suggest an important role of HSPs and ABC drug transporters in contributing to stress tolerance and protecting cells from ASA-induced stress.

Repellency and mortality effects of sunscreens on the shrimp Palaemon varians: Toxicity dependent on exposure method.

Contamination by sunscreens has become a serious environmental problem due to the increasing use of these products in coastal regions. Their complex chemical composition supposes an input of different chemical compounds capable of producing toxic effects and repelling organisms. The aim of the current study was to experimentally check the repellency of three commercial sunscreens [A (lotion), B (gel) and C (milk spray)] by assessing the escape (displacement towards areas with lower sunscreen levels) of the estuarine shrimp Palaemon varians exposed (4 h) to a gradient (0-300 mg/L) of the sunscreens in a heterogeneous non-forced exposure scenario. Additionally, mortality and immobility (72 h) were checked in a traditional forced exposure scenario. Considering that the toxicity of sunscreens is a little controversial regarding their chemical availability in the medium, two different methods of sunscreen solubilisation were tested: complete homogenization and direct immersion. Very low mortality was observed in the highest concentration of sunscreens A and C applied by direct immersion; however, for sunscreen B, the main effect was the loss of motility when homogenization was applied. Repellency was evidenced for two sunscreens (A and B) applied by direct immersion. The homogenization in the medium seemed to lower the degree of repellency of the sunscreens, probably linked to the higher viscosity in the medium, preventing the motility of shrimps. By integrating both short-term responses (avoidance and mortality/immobility), the PID (population immediate decline) calculated showed that avoidance might be the main factor responsible for the reduction of the population at the local scale.

Barriers and facilitators to dissemination and adoption of precision medicine among Hispanics/Latinos.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid advances in gene technologies in recent years, the potential benefits of precision medicine (PM) may spread unevenly to disadvantaged populations, such as Hispanics/Latinos. The objective of this study was to explore patient-level barriers and facilitators to dissemination and adoption of PM among Hispanics/Latinos, including knowledge and awareness. METHODS: Self-identified Hispanics/Latinos from diverse countries in Latin America (N = 41) participated in the study. Using a cross-sectional observational qualitative research design, six focus groups and a demographic questionnaire were collected in English and Spanish. Qualitative content analysis was utilized to code the transcripts and identify emerging themes. RESULTS: Hispanics/Latinos never heard of and had no knowledge about PM. Barriers to dissemination and adoption of PM included lack of health insurance, financial burden, participants' immigration status, distrust of government, limited English proficiency, low literacy levels, cultural norms, fear about genetic testing results, lack of transportation, newness of PM, and lack of information about PM. Facilitators included family support; information provided in Spanish; use of plain language and graphics; assistance programs for uninsured; trust in physicians, healthcare staff, well-known hospitals, academic institutions, and health care providers and community organization as sources of reliable information; personal motivation, and altruism or societal benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally-and linguistically-tailored, low-literacy educational material about PM should be created in English and Spanish. Future research should examine provider-level and system-level barriers and facilitators to implementation and adoption of PM among Hispanic/Latino patients.

GABAergic system's Injuries Induced by Sodium Sulfite in Caenorhabditis elegans Were Prevented by the Anti-Oxidative Properties of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate.

Several pathophysiological processes involve Hypoxia conditions, where the nervous system is affected as well. We postulate that the GABAergic system is especially sensitive. Furthermore, drugs improving the resistance to hypoxia have been investigated, such as the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) which has shown beneficial effects in hypoxic processes in mammals; however, at the cellular level, its exact mechanism of action has yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we used a chemical hypoxia model through sodium sulfite (SS) exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a nematode whose response to hypoxia involves pathways and cellular processes conserved in mammals, and that allows study the direct effect of DHEAS without its conversion to sex hormones. This work aimed to determine the effect of DHEAS on damage to the GABAergic system associated with SS exposure in C. elegans. Worms were subjected to nose touch response (Not Assay) and observed in epifluorescence microscopy. DHEAS decreased the shrinkage response of Not Assay and the level of damage in GABAergic neurons on SS-exposed worms. Also, the enhanced nuclear localization of DAF-16 and consequently the overexpression of chaperone HSP-16.2 by hypoxia were significantly reduced in SS + DHEAS exposed worms. As well, DHEAS increased the survival rate of worms exposed to hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that hypoxia-caused damage over the GABAergic system was prevented at least partially by DHEAS, probably through non-genomic mechanisms that involve its antioxidant properties related to its chemical structure.