Immunodetection of the toxic portion of Vip3A reveals differential temporal regulation of its secretion among Bacillus thuringiensis strains.

AIMS: To devise a protocol for heterologous expression and purification of a partial toxic portion of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3A and using it as an antigen for anti-Vip3A polyclonal antibody development. Also, to evaluate the regulation of Vip3A secretion into culture supernatants (SNs) of different Bt strains based on this antibody. METHODS AND RESULTS: A primer pair was designed to amplify partially the toxic portion of the vip3A gene from the HD125 strain. The amplicon was cloned in expressing vector to produce a ~35 kDa peptide, which was HPLC-purified prior to rabbit immunizations. The serum containing the polyclonal anti-Vip3A antibody demonstrated a detection sensitivity of 0·4 ng mm-2 for the antigen in slot-blot experiments. Seven Bt strains from different origins were assessed regarding their temporal secretion of Vip3A toxin. ELISA results showed a strain-specific temporal regulation of Vip3A secretion in culture for the temperate isolates, with no detection of the toxin for the tropical strains, even when the presence of the gene was confirmed by PCR and sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Conformational variation in the toxic portion of Vip3A may explain lack of its detection in the tropical strains. Isolates from the same subspecies display physiological variability in proteins' secretion into culture SNs, which can affect screening procedures for more effective strains/toxins. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Immunoassays based on the developed anti-Vip3A antibody can be useful in a variety of basic studies. This method can be also coupled with toxicity assays on target insects, for more efficient screening methods of novel Bt strains/toxins with biocontrol applicability.

Effect of Different Adhesive Systems Used for Immediate Dentin Sealing on Bond Strength of a Self-Adhesive Resin Cement to Dentin.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and three-month water storage behavior of adhesives when used for immediate dentin sealing (IDS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Four adhesive systems were used to perform IDS: a one-step self-etch (Xeno V), a two-step self-etch (Clearfil SE Bond), a two-step etch-and-rinse (XP Bond), and a three-step etch-and-rinse (Optibond FL). For the control group, IDS was not performed. The self-adhesive resin cement RelyX Unicem was used for the luting procedures. After seven days of water storage, specimens (n=6) were sectioned into beams (n=5) with an approximately 1-mm2 cross-sectional area. Half of the specimens were tested in tension after seven days of water storage at 37°C, while the other half was stored for three months prior to testing in tension using a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). The failure pattern was determined using a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy. Microtensile bond strength (µTBS) data were statistically analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test (α=0.05). RESULTS: After seven days, the control group presented the lowest µTBS but did not differ from XP Bond and Clearfil SE Bond. After three months, there was no µTBS difference between the IDS groups and the control. CONCLUSIONS: After seven days of water storage, the groups with IDS presented higher µTBS values than the control group, although XP Bond and Clearfil SE Bond did not present significant differences. However, after three months of storage in water, IDS groups did not differ significantly from control group, which did not receive IDS.

Adverse events during the removal of impacted maxillary third molars.

The purpose of the present study was to estimate the frequency of the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events during the removal of impacted maxillary third molars and to correlate predictive variables. A prospective cohort study was carried out involving patients submitted to at least one surgical removal of an impacted maxillary third molar as part of a line of research on third molar surgery developed at the study university. Predictor variables indicative of the occurrence of adverse events during surgery were classified by their demographic, clinical, radiographic, and surgical features. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. In total, 106 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria, and 204 surgeries were performed. The mean patient age was 22.8 ± 2.2 years and the ratio of women to men was 3:1. Nine different adverse events occurring during surgery were recorded. These events occurred in approximately 6.9% of cases and were significantly associated with the second molar relationship (P=0.008) and periodontal space (P=0.05). The study revealed a low frequency of adverse events during the surgical removal of an impacted maxillary third molar. The results suggest that adverse events during surgery are associated with the second molar relationship and periodontal space.

High prevalence of Salmonella in tegu lizards (Tupinambis merianae), and susceptibility of the serotypes to antibiotics.

Species of tegu (Tupinambis) are the largest lizards in South America. Large numbers of these lizards are hunted; there is a vigorous trade in their skins and the meat is consumed by rural and native peoples. The animals are also bred in captivity, an economic activity for rural populations which can help in the animals' conservation. Faecal samples from 30 captive-born tegus were analysed for the presence of Salmonella in two separate samplings. In the first analysis, samples from 26 animals (87%) yielded Salmonella enterica of which 23% were of Rubislaw serotype; 20% Carrau and Agona serotypes; 7% Infantis and Saint-Paul serotypes; 3% Panama and Brandenburg serotypes; 10% were S. enterica subsp. enterica and 7% were rough form. In the second analysis, four tegus (13%) which had been negative in the first sampling were positive, thus, 100% of the animals studied carried the bacterium. Antibiotic susceptibility showed resistance to sulfonamide in 82% of the isolates, streptomycin in 64%, tetracycline in 6% and Chloramphenicol in 20%. Two animals carried strains of the same serotype with different patterns of antibiotic susceptibility. Although it is well known that reptiles are a significant source of Salmonella, to our knowledge, its prevalence in tegu has not been studied previously.

[Are the spontaneous coronary recanalization and the coronary collateral circulation really important in the left ventricular preservation in acute myocardial infarct?]. / A recanalização coronária espontânea e a circulação colateral coronária são realmente importantes na preservação ventricular esquerda no infarto agudo do miocárdio?

PURPOSE: To determine if maintenance of residual blood flow to culprit coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction is important in preserving left ventricular systolic function. METHODS: Prospective study of 63 consecutive survivors of acute myocardial infarction in the prethrombolytic era that were submitted to cinecoronary angiography and 30 degrees RAO left ventriculography on the 4th week. Culprit coronary artery patency and collateral circulation were correlated with global and segmental left ventricular contractility. RESULTS: Spontaneous coronary recanalization correlated significantly with better left ventricular systolic function only in patients with anterior wall myocardial infarction. This relationship was stronger with segmental than with global contractility. Besides, it was seen that absence of recanalization of pre-septal left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion resulted in significantly worse global and segmental left ventricular systolic function than post-septal occlusion, resulting in left ventricular aneurysm in all patients (2/3 of recanalized patients versus 1/3 of post-septal occlusions). Collateral circulation to culprit coronary artery correlated significantly with better global and segmental left ventricular contractility only in patients with inferior wall myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: In acute anterior wall myocardial infarction spontaneous coronary artery recanalization is associated with better global and segmental left ventricular systolic function, specially if the occlusion is of pre-septal localization, while collateral circulation is not related to better contractility. In acute inferior wall myocardial infarction one sees the reverse.

Avaliaçäo da açäo protetora do misoprostol sobre a mucosa gastrintestinal em pacientes artrósicos em uso de naproxen / Evaluation of the protective effect of misoprostol in the gastrointestinal mucosa in patients with osteo-arthritis using naproxen

Foi realizado um estudo aberto, näo comparativo, com o Misoprostol, prostaglandina sintética no tipo E1, na terapêutica de 30 pacientes portadores de osteoartrose em uso de Naproxen e que, concomitantemente, exibiram manifestaçöes clínicas relativas ao trato gastrintestinal superior. Esses pacientes receberam Misoprostol na dose de 200 mcg, três vezes ao dia, administrados simultanemante com sua dose diária do antiinflamatório näo hormonal. O tempo de observaçäo máxima seria de oito semanas, com avaliaçöes clínicas intermediárias sendo efetuadas no final das 2ª, 4ª e 8ª semanas. Dezenove (19) pacientes (63,3%), já ao final da 2ª semana, relataram acentuadas diminuiçöes digestivas enquanto que, mais 8 pacientes (26,7%) totalizando 27 (90%) ao final da 4ª semana, exibiam tal melhora. Apenas dois pacientes acusaram efeitos colaterais significativos, porém näo foram demonstradas alteraçöes de monta nos dados vitais nem nos exames laboratoriais executados. Os autores concluem pela validade do uso de Misoprostol na atenuaçäo dos sintomas gastrintestinais superiores de pacientes artrósicos em uso simultâneo de Naproxen

Estudo do quadro clinico de 121 pacientes portadores de glomerulopatias. 1). Estudo geral. / Clinical characteristics of 121 patients with glomerulopathy. 1). General study

Estudou-se retrospectivamente o quadro clinico de 121 pacientes portadores de glomerulopatias. Destes, 42 apresentaram sindrome nefritica (hematuria, edema, hipertensao diastolica), 33 sindrome nefrotica com proteinuria superior a 3,0g nas 24 horas e 46 constituiram o grupo "nao nefrotico" por apresentarem sintomas e sinais isolados ou associados sem, no entanto, satisfazerem os criterios de inclusao nas duas sindromes anteriores. Observou-se que: a idade media dos pacientes do grupo "sindrome nefrotica" foi superior a dos outros grupos; a funcao renal, avaliada pela creatinina plasmatica, esteve mais comprometida no grupo "nao nefritico nao nefrotico", nos pacientes hipertensos e nos mais idosos; os sinais mais frequentes de glomerulopatia foram edema (85,9%) e hipertensao (78,5%). O seguimento durante 36 meses do grupo "nao nefritico nao nefrotico mostrou que os pacientes com creatinina plasmatica inicial alterada tiveram pior prognostico

Correlacao anatomo-clinica em glomerulopatias. Estudo retrospectivo de 65 casos em adultos. / Anatomo-clinical correlation in glomerulopathies. Retrospective study of 65 cases in adults

O presente trabalho compreende estudo anatomo-clinico retrospectivo de 65 casos de glomerulopatias em adultos. Os casos foram classificados em tres sindromes clinicas: nefritica, nefrotica, nao nefritica - nao nefrotica. A intensidade das lesoes histologicas renais foi avaliada no material de biopsia e/ou autopsia atraves de metodo semiquantitativo (0 a 4 +) obtendo-se indices de lesao glomerular, tubular, intersticio-vascular e renal total. Para cada paciente, foram estabelecidas correlacoes entre estes indices com a apresentacao clinica, niveis pressoricos, funcao renal (creatinina serica) e evolucao. No conjunto, observou-se que lesoes historicas mais graves associam-se a agravamento da funcao renal e piora da evolucao dos pacientes.A analise estatistica de regressao linear simples demonstrou correlacao significante entre os diferentes indice de lesao com os niveis de creatinina serica, porem o indice de lesao intersticio-vascular foi o que melhor se correlacionou com a funcao renal (r2 = 0,53)