Lesions caused by anisakid and capillariid in Cairina moschata raised on Marajó island, state of Pará, Brazil / [Lesões por anisakideos e capillariideos em Cairina moschata criados na Ilha de Marajó, estado do Pará, Brasil]

The Muscovy duck is a commercially important bird on the island of Marajó usually raised in a peculiar system that includes supplying fish viscera to the birds under semi-extensive farming conditions. This enables a risk of contamination and losses in the production of these birds, resulting from injuries caused by helminth infections, especially nematodes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the histopathological changes caused by nematodes of the genera: Eucoleus, Anisakis and Contracaecum. Thirty-three ducks with lesions in the esophagus and ventricle were analyzed. Histopathological exams showed a mild inflammatory infiltrate in the submucosa of the esophagus caused by the fixation of E. contortus and third stage larvae of Anisakis sp., and we recorded third stage larvae of Contracaecum sp. parasitizing the ventricle, this being the first record of this parasite in ducks in Brazil.(AU)

O pato doméstico é uma ave amplamente comercializada na Ilha de Marajó, com um peculiar manejo que inclui a oferta de vísceras de peixes aos animais em criações semiextensivas, propiciando, assim, risco de contaminação e perdas na produção dessas aves decorrentes de lesões oriundas de infecções por helmintos, especialmente os nematódeos. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se avaliar as alterações histopatológicas causadas por nematódeos dos gêneros: Eucoleus, Anisakis e Contracaecum. Foram analisados 33 patos, e três exemplares apresentaram lesões no esôfago e no ventrículo. Exames histopatológicos demonstraram discreto infiltrado inflamatório na submucosa do esôfago ocasionado pela fixação de E. contortus e larvas de terceiro estágio de Anisakis sp., bem como foram registradas larvas de terceiro estágio de Contracaecum sp. parasitando o ventrículo, sendo esse o primeiro registro desse parasito em patos no Brasil.(AU)

Tooth avulsion accidents due to urgent and emergency orotracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND: Intubation is necessary during critical situations to reduce the risk of death. In Brazil, a need exists to determine the prevalence of tooth avulsions in emergency and urgent care. The objective of this study was to identify the causes of orotracheal intubation (OTI), the number of tooth avulsions, and the avulsed teeth that result from urgent and emergency intubation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 116 patients (total group) in intensive care units (ICUs) distributed across Group 1 (G1), which was composed of 71 patients from an urgent-care hospital, and Group 2 (G2), which was composed of 45 patients from an emergency hospital. Clinical examinations showed dental alveolus with signs of recent exodontia in the upper and lower anterior regions. Sociodemographic data and the reason for intubation were evaluated. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and univariate logistic regression were performed with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The avulsion prevalence was 4.3%, with more cases receiving emergency intubation (n=4). All avulsions occurred in adults, and a significant difference (p=0.011) was observed with regard to the elderly. A 1-year reduction in age increased the chance of tooth avulsion during intubation by 1.09 times; being female increased the chance by 2.88 times. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary problems were the major causes of intubation, with the highest tooth avulsion prevalence observed during emergency intubation. The avulsed teeth were 11, 12, 13, 22, 32, and 33 across all cases.

Use of Salvinia sp on the adsorption of hexavalent chromium.

The remotion of hexavalent chromium in the form of chromate in aqueous solution was done using the aquatic plant Salvinia sp as biosorbent. The chemical modification of the Salvinia surface was performed by organosolv adapted method. The untreated Salvinia and the modified were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, Boehm titration, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive system, point of zero charge, surface area analysis, and porosity. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to observe the effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature on the metal removal process. The characterization results show the chemistry modifically changed the modified Salvinia structure compared with untreated Salvinia. The adsorption test results showed the maximum adsorption capacity of 26.03 mg g-1. The kinetic equilibrium was reached in about 3 h, and the better temperature and pH were 298 K and 7, respectively. The adsorption and kinetic models were Freundlich and pseud-second order, respectively. This study showed the Salvinia sp after the chemical treatment can be used with biosorbent for hexavalent chromate in the form of chromate, being a natural material with low cost and plentiful in the environment.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by fast-track cytoreductive surgery plus short-course hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in advanced ovarian cancer: preliminary results of a promising all-in-one approach.

PURPOSE: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been considered a promising treatment option for advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer, but there is no clear evidence based on randomized controlled trials to advocate this approach as a standard therapy. In this study, we aim to present the early outcomes and insights after an interim analysis of a pioneering clinical trial in Brazil. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of early data from our ongoing clinical trial - an open-label, double-center, single-arm trial on the safety and efficacy of using HIPEC for advanced ovarian cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02249013). A fast-track recovery strategy was also applied to improve patient outcomes. RESULTS: Nine patients with stage IIIB (n=1) or IIIC (n=8) epithelial malignancies were enrolled until February 2017. The median (range) serum CA125 level at diagnosis was 692 (223.7-6550) U/mL. The median number of preoperative cycles of intravenous (i.v.) chemotherapy was 3 (2-4), resulting in peritoneal cancer index scores of 9 (3-18) at the time of HIPEC. Time of restarting i.v. chemotherapy was 37 (33-50) days with all patients completing 6 cycles as planned. The median operation time was 395 (235-760) minutes, the length of hospital stay was 4 (3-10) days, and all the patients left the ICU on the morning after the procedure. Two patients experienced no postoperative complications, whereas 91% of the complications were minor G1/G2 events. Preliminary assessment also suggested no impairment of the patient's quality of life. CONCLUSION: Our comprehensive protocol might represent a promising all-in-one approach for advanced ovarian cancer. The patient recruitment for this trial is ongoing.

Cow's milk-based beverage consumption in 1- to 4-year-olds and allergic manifestations: an RCT.

BACKGROUND: Nutrients such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), prebiotics and ß-glucan have been associated with reduced incidence of respiratory illnesses and allergic manifestations (AM). Our objective was to assess if consumption of a cow's milk-based beverage with these and other nutrients supports respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin health in otherwise well-nourished, healthy children. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, healthy children (1-4 years of age) from two daycare centers in Brazil were fed three servings/day of a cow's milk-based beverage (CMBB; n = 125) containing DHA, the prebiotics polydextrose (PDX) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS), ß-glucan, and other key nutrients, or a control cow's milk-based beverage (control; n = 131) for up to 28 weeks. Occurrence of respiratory infections, diarrheal disease and AM was assessed by study pediatricians and the number of episodes were analyzed with the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and the Andersen-Gill model. RESULTS: The CMBB group had fewer episodes of AM, which included allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, wheezing, allergic cough, eczema and urticaria, compared to the control group (p = 0.021). The hazard ratio for increased number of episodes of AM was lower in the CMBB group compared to control (HR, 0.64; 95 % CI 0.47-0.89; p = 0.007). There was no difference in the incidence of respiratory infections and diarrheal disease between groups. CONCLUSION: A cow's milk-based beverage containing DHA, PDX/GOS, and yeast ß-glucan, and supplemented with micronutrients, including zinc, vitamin A and iron, when consumed 3 times/day for 28 weeks by healthy 1- to 4-year-old children was associated with fewer episodes of allergic manifestations in the skin and the respiratory tract. TRIAL REGISTRATION: registration number: NCT01431469.

Transmission of a multidrug-resistant HIV-! from an accupational exposure, in São Paulo, Brazil

We documented the first transmission of a multidrug-resistant HIV from an occupational exposure in Sao Paulo, Brazil, albeit with antiretroviral prophylaxis instituted within 1 h after the accident. A 27-year-old female healthcare worker (HCW) sustained an index finger needle stick injury with a 20-gauge needle while puncturing the forearm of an HIV-infected patient. The putative source (index) patient was a 44-year-old homeless female, on irregular use of zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC) and ritonavir boosted lopinavir(LPV/r). She was hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected and had been prescribed different regimens including nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), non-nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) or protease inhibitors since 2011. Around the time of the accident, she had a HIV viral load of 4.56 log10, HCV viral load of 5.9 log10 (Abbott Real Time HIV and HCV, USA) and CD4+ cell count (BD Biosciences FACSCalibur Flow Cytometer, USA) of 143 cells/µl. After the HCW tested negative by rapid test, AZT/3TC/LPV/r was instituted, as suggested by current guidelines [1,2], within 1 h of the accident.

Comparative study of nanocrystalline diamond deposition on WC-Ni and WC-Co substrates.

Tungsten carbide alloys possess a large number of applications, due to its high hardness, high resistance to heat and to wear, which makes it ideal to be used in wear parts of machinery or on surfaces liable to corrosion, abrasion or high temperatures. For practical applications, it is alloyed with cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni) in order to improve its properties. The increasing demand of broadening the operation limits of some components, impose the need to improve its life time. Coating these parts with hard and smooth diamond thin film may improve the wear performance and decrease their roughness and friction coefficient. In this work, a comparative study of nanodiamond films deposit onto WC-Co and WC-Ni, by means of a hot-filament Chemical Vapour Deposition (HFCVD) system, is presented. The study was accomplished by varying the CH4/H2/Ar gas ratio of the deposition process. The substrate temperature was kept low (< 700 degrees C) to minimize the thermal stress in the coating-substrate system. The microstructure of the deposited diamond film was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. Roughness of the working surfaces were also accessed prior and after the depositions.

Neocentrics and holokinetics (holocentrics): chromosomes out of the centromeric rules.

The centromere appears as a single constriction at mitotic metaphase in most eukaryotic chromosomes. Holokinetic chromosomes are the exception to this rule because they do not show any centromeric constrictions. Holokinetic chromosomes are usually forgotten in most reviews about centromeres, despite their presence in a number of animal and plant species. They are generally linked to very intriguing and unusual mechanisms of mitosis and meiosis. Holokinetic chromosomes differ from monocentric chromosomes not only in the extension of the kinetochore plate, but also in many other peculiar karyological features, which could be understood as the 'holokinetic syndrome' that is reviewed in detail. Together with holokinetic chromosomes we review neocentromeric activity, a similarly intriguing case of regions able to pull chromosomes towards the poles without showing the main components reported to be essential to centromeric function. A neocentromere is a chromosomal region different from the true centromere in structure, DNA sequence and location, but is able to lead chromosomes to the cell poles in special circumstances. Neocentromeres have been reported in plants and animals showing different features. Both in humans and Drosophila, neocentric activity appears in somatic cells with defective chromosomes lacking a functional centromere. In most cases in plants, neocentromeres appear in chromosomes which have normal centromeres, but are active only during meiosis. Because of examples such as spontaneous or induced neocentromeres and holokinetic chromosomes, it is becoming less surprising that different structures and DNA sequences of centromeres appear in evolution.

Towards optimization of time modulated chemical vapour deposition for nanostructured diamond films on Ti6Al4V.

In this paper, we report the use of the TMCVD technique for the optimisation of deposited diamond films onto Ti6Al4V substrates. A number of samples were made varying the experimental parameters. The specimen surfaces were characterised using micro Raman spectra and SEM analyses. Results show that very different surface finish (from micro to nanostructures) and film characteristics can be obtained from the experimental parameters used. The quality of deposited diamond is very dependant on the experimental settings and process. It was found that lower residual stresses are developed using the TMCVD technique than with conventional CVD but depend on the structural diamond growth during the process. The quality of the deposited film was evaluated as a function of diamond to amorphous carbon ratio but showed no direct relation with the surface finish since it characterises the quality of the deposited diamond but not the quality of the film surface.

Spatial patterns in the brood combs of Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae): male clusters.

Genetic models of sex and caste determination in eusocial stingless bees suggest specific patterns of male, worker and gyne cell distribution in the brood comb. Conflict between queen and laying workers over male parentage and center-periphery gradients of conditions, such as food and temperature, could also contribute to non-random spatial configuration. We converted the positions of the hexagonal cells in a brood comb to Cartesian coordinates, labeled by sex or caste of the individuals inside. To detect and locate clustered patterns, the mapped brood combs were evaluated by indexes of dispersion (MMC, mean distance of cells of a given category from their centroid) and eccentricity (DMB, distance between this centroid and the overall brood comb centroid) that we developed. After randomizing the labels and recalculating the indexes, we calculated probabilities that the original values had been generated by chance. We created sets of binary brood combs in which males were aggregated, regularly or randomly distributed among females. These stylized maps were used to describe the power of MMC and DMB, and they were applied to evaluate the male distribution in the sampled Nannotrigona testaceicornis brood combs. MMC was very sensitive to slight deviations from a perfectly rounded clump; DMB detected any asymmetry in the location of these compact to fuzzy clusters. Six of the 82 brood combs of N. testaceicornis that we analyzed had more than nine males, distributed according to variations in spatial patterns, as indicated by the two indexes.

Hydrogen adsorption onto nickel modified carbon nanotubes.

The Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition (HFCVD) method was employed to study hydrogen adsorption on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified by nickel doping. Prior to the nickel doping, effective functionalisation of CNTs was achieved by treating them in HNO3/H2O2 medium. Samples were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques. SEM analyses revealed the morphology of the samples and the presence of nickel was identified by EDS analyses. Raman analysis revealed the enhancement of defects on the CNTs after the nickel modification. The defects created along with the catalytic activity of nickel supplied more hydrogen access to the CNTs. This was inferred from highest intensity ratio of D and G band (ID/IG) for hydrogen treated samples. However, FTIR spectra did not exhibit any C-H related bands. This confirms that the adsorption of hydrogen onto CNTs is primarily by surface adsorption.

Prediction of the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite/polymethyl methacrylate/carbon nanotubes nanocomposite.

In this work carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to increase the strength and toughness of the hydroxyapatite (HA) and consequently to reduce its brittleness. The combination of CNT, HA and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has led to a new composite material, which has mechanical properties superior to those of conventional HA/PMMA for biomedical scaffold in tissue engineering. PMMA is a well known bone cement which is highly compatible with HA and also it can act as a functionalizing/linking material with HA. The mechanical properties of the new nanocomposite were predicted with a self-consistent computational model taking into account the structure morphology and the orientation of the CNTs. CNT reinforced HA composite is shown to be a promising coating material for high-load-bearing metal implants. The development of this new nanocomposite based on HA/PMMA and CNTs, may significantly contribute to the bond strength of the HA/PMMA metal interface and the overall mechanical properties of the HA/PMMA coating.

Cannabinoids as therapeutic agents for ablating neuroinflammatory disease.

Cannabinoids have been reported to alter the activities of immune cells in vitro and in vivo. These compounds may serve as ideal agents for adjunct treatment of pathological processes that have a neuroinflammatory component. As highly lipophilic molecules, they readily access the brain. Furthermore, they have relatively low toxicity and can be engineered to selectively target cannabinoid receptors. To date, two cannabinoid receptors have been identified, characterized and designated CB(1) and CB(2). CB(1) appears to be constitutively expressed within the CNS while CB(2) apparently is induced during inflammation. The inducible nature of expression of CB(2) extends to microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain that play a critical role during early stages of inflammation in that compartment. Thus, the cannabinoid-cannabinoid receptor system may prove therapeutically manageable in ablating neuropathogenic disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, HIV encephalitis, closed head injury, and granulomatous amebic encephalitis.

CB2 receptors in the brain: role in central immune function.

Recently, it has been recognized that the cannabinoid receptor CB2 may play a functionally relevant role in the central nervous system (CNS). This role is mediated primarily through microglia, a resident population of cells in the CNS that is morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally related to macrophages. These cells also express the cannabinoid receptor CB1. The CB1 receptor (CB1R) is constitutively expressed at low levels while the CB2 receptor (CB2R) is expressed at higher levels and is modulated in relation to cell activation state. The relatively high levels of the CB2R correspond with microglia being in 'responsive' and 'primed' states, suggesting the existence of a 'window' of functional relevance during which activation of the CB2R modulates microglial activities. Signature activities of 'responsive' and 'primed' microglia are chemotaxis and antigen processing, respectively. The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol has been reported to stimulate a chemotactic response from these cells through the CB2R. In contrast, we have shown in vivo and in vitro that the exogenous cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and CP55940 inhibit the chemotactic response of microglia to Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, an opportunistic pathogen that is the causative agent of Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis, through activation of the CB2R. It is postulated that these exogenous cannabinoids superimpose an inhibitory effect on pro-chemotactic endocannabinoids that are elicited in response to Acanthamoeba. Furthermore, the collective results suggest that the CB2R plays a critical immune functional role in the CNS.

The interaction between the amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris and extracellular matrix glycoproteins in vitro.

Balamuthia mandrillaris, a soil amoeba, is the causative agent of Balamuthia granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a life-threatening brain infection. This amoeba is acquired from contaminated soil and may enter the host through cutaneous lesions or through nasal passages, migrating to the lungs or brain. During invasion, B. mandrillaris has access to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the host. Therefore, we investigated the interaction of B. mandrillaris with 3 ECM glycoproteins (collagen-I, fibronectin and laminin-1) that are encountered in host connective tissues and at the basal lamina. Using optical microscopy, amoeba association on ECM-coated surfaces was examined. Binding of amoebae on laminin was greater than that on collagen or fibronectin. Laminin-adhered B. mandrillaris exhibited elongated and spread forms, distinctive from those observed for amoebae on a plastic surface. Collagen and fibronectin-adhered B. mandrillaris presented elongated shapes with cellular expansions. Binding to collagen, fibronectin, or laminin was inhibited when amoebae were pre-treated with sialic acid. Treatment with galactose resulted in diminished binding of amoebae on laminin, while mannose increased binding in all coating conditions tested. Dependence of divalent cations on amoeba binding was demonstrated for laminin-amoeba interaction. Collectively, the results indicate that B. mandrillaris recognizes specific glycoproteins of the mammalian extracellular matrix.

Cannabinoid receptors in microglia of the central nervous system: immune functional relevance.

Microglia, resident macrophages of the brain, function as immune effector and accessory cells. Paradoxically, they not only play a role in host defense and tissue repair but also have been implicated in a variety of neuropathological processes. Microglia, in addition to exhibiting phenotypic markers for macrophages, express CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Recent studies suggest the existence of a third, yet-to-be cloned, non-CB1, non-CB2 cannabinoid receptor. These receptors appear to be functionally relevant within defined windows of microglial activation state and have been implicated as linked to cannabinoid modulation of chemokine and cytokine expression. The recognition that microglia express cannabinoid receptors and that their activation results in modulation of select cellular activities suggests that they may be amenable to therapeutic manipulation for ablating untoward inflammatory responses in the central nervous system.

Effects on the immune system.

Marijuana and other exogenous cannabinoids alter immune function and decrease host resistance to microbial infections in experimental animal models and in vitro. Two modes of action by which delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids affect immune responses have been proposed. First, cannabinoids may signal through the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Second, at sites of direct exposure to high concentrations of cannabinoids, such as the lung, membrane perturbation may be involved. In addition, endogenous cannabinoids or endocannabinoids have been identified and have been proposed as native modulators of immune functions through cannabinoid receptors. Exogenously introduced cannabinoids may disturb this homoeostatic immune balance. A mode by which cannabinoids may affect immune responses and host resistance maybe by perturbing the balance of T helper (Th)1 pro-inflammatory versus Th2 anti-inflammatory cytokines. While marijuana and various cannabinoids have been documented to alter immune functions in vitro and in experimental animals, no controlled longitudinal epidemiological studies have yet definitively correlated immunosuppressive effects with increased incidence of infections or immune disorders in humans. However, cannabinoids by virtue of their immunomodulatory properties have the potential to serve as therapeutic agents for ablation of untoward immune responses.

Cannabinoids and morphine differentially affect HIV-1 expression in CD4(+) lymphocyte and microglial cell cultures.

The influence of substances of abuse on the progression of HIV-1 infection is controversial, and pharmacologic factors have been postulated as a potential explanation for conflicting data arising from epidemiological studies and animal models. In the present study, cell culture models of HIV-1 infection were used to test this hypothesis. The synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 was found to potently inhibit HIV-1 expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in CD4(+) lymphocyte and microglial cell cultures. In sharp contrast, morphine either inhibited or stimulated viral expression, depending upon the time of drug exposure, and marked differences were observed between CD4(+) and microglial cells. Also, WIN 55,212-2 inhibited the stimulatory effect of morphine in HIV-1 infected CD4(+) cells. These in vitro findings support the notion that pharmacologic factors need to be considered in epidemiological studies and animal models that pertain to HIV-1 infection.