Biological recognition of graphene nanoflakes.

The systematic study of nanoparticle-biological interactions requires particles to be reproducibly dispersed in relevant fluids along with further development in the identification of biologically relevant structural details at the materials-biology interface. Here, we develop a biocompatible long-term colloidally stable water dispersion of few-layered graphene nanoflakes in the biological exposure medium in which it will be studied. We also report the study of the orientation and functionality of key proteins of interest in the biolayer (corona) that are believed to mediate most of the early biological interactions. The evidence accumulated shows that graphene nanoflakes are rich in effective apolipoprotein A-I presentation, and we are able to map specific functional epitopes located in the C-terminal portion that are known to mediate the binding of high-density lipoprotein to binding sites in receptors that are abundant in the liver. This could suggest a way of connecting the materials' properties to the biological outcomes.

LABAs in asthmatic children: highlights and new inside.

International asthma guidelines recommend increasing the dose of ICS or adding leukotriene modifiers or the use of long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (LABAs) in combination with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) when uncontrolled asthma occurs in adult and children in treatment with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids. However, in children, the effects of this last treatment option are unclear because there are few studies on the efficacy and safety of these drugs in pediatric age. Furthermore, salmeterol is licensed for use in children over 4 years and formoterol in children of more than 6 years. Finally, recent data provides evidence that repeated bronchoconstriction induces epithelial cell stress that may lead to remodeling and these findings may have potential implications for asthma management, particularly for LABAs treatment in the future.

Isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum from bats in the urban area of São Paulo State, Brazil.

The presence of bats in caves, attics, ceilings, and roofs is important epidemiologically as they can increase the chance of human acquisition of pathogens, including Histoplasma capsulatum. Brazilian urban areas contain many species of bats, especially insectivorous bats, that are attracted by a wide range of readily available food and shelter. From August 2003 to December 2008, we analysed 2427 bats in the São Paulo State region. Homogenates of the livers and spleens of the bats were plated on specific medium to identify animals infected with H. capsulatum. The fungus was isolated from 87 bats (3·6%). The infected bats were identified as Molossus molossus (74), Nyctinomops macrotis (10), Tadarida brasiliensis (1), Molossus rufus (1) and Eumops glaucinus (1), all insectivorous species. The data presented are a relevant contribution to the epidemiology of H. capsulatum in densely populated urban areas such as in São Paulo State, especially since histoplasmosis is not included in the mandatory disease notification system.

Clinical and epidemiological study in an AIDS patient with Microsporum gypseum infection.

A 37 years old homosexual male with AIDS was diagnosed as having Tinea cruris and Tinea corporis. The patient was a garden designer and therefore he used to handle soil very often. Microsporum gypseum was identified on cultures from skin-scrapings and biopsy material taken from different cutaneous lesion. The same species was isolated from samples of soil the patient used to work with. The clinical history of the patient and its epidemiological aspects were deeply studied by the authors. We stress the value of identifying possible sources of dermatophytic infections in order to give advice to patients.