Co-Expression Analysis of microRNAs and Proteins in Brain of Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia globally; however, the aetiology of AD remains elusive hindering the development of effective therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulators of gene expression and have been of growing interest in recent studies in many pathologies including AD not only for their use as biomarkers but also for their implications in the therapeutic field. In this study, miRNA and protein profiles were obtained from brain tissues of different stage (Braak III-IV and Braak V-VI) of AD patients and compared to matched controls. The aim of the study was to identify in the late stage of AD, the key dysregulated pathways that may contribute to pathogenesis and then to evaluate whether any of these pathways could be detected in the early phase of AD, opening new opportunity for early treatment that could stop or delay the pathology. Six common pathways were found regulated by miRNAs and proteins in the late stage of AD, with one of them (Rap1 signalling) activated since the early phase. MiRNAs and proteins were also compared to explore an inverse trend of expression which could lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets. These results suggest that specific miRNA changes could represent molecular fingerprint of neurodegenerative processes and potential therapeutic targets for early intervention.

Estudo da incidência de amostras clínicas do gênero Candida Estudo da incidência de amostras clínicas do gênero Candida isoladas de diversos sítios anatômicos / Study of the incidence of clinical samples belonging to the genus Candida obtained from different anatomic sites

A candidíase, principal infecção fúngica do ser humano, é provocada por leveduras do gênero Candida, que fazem parte da microbiota endógena e exógena do corpo humano. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a presença das espécies de Candida spp, em diversos sítios anatômicos. Um total de 90 amostras clínicas foram isoladas em ágar Sabouraud contendo antibióticos e identificadas em meio cromogênico CHROMagar Candida ®. Deste total, 58 amostras foram provenientes de secreção vaginal, 17 de raspado de unha, 8 de escarro e 7 de raspado de pele. Das amostras de secreção vaginal, 89% corresponderam a espécie C. albicans, seguido de espécies de Candida não-albicans, sendo 5,1% de C. krusei e 1,7% de C. glabrata, C. tropicalis e Cândida sp. , individualmente. Para as amostras isoladas de raspado de pele não foi observada prevalência de C. albicans (28%). As espécies Candida não-albicans corresponderam a 70% das amostras, sendo distribuídas em C. glabrata (14%), C. krusei (28%) e demais espécies de Candida (28%). A prevalência de espécies Candida não-albicans foi também observada para as amostras isoladas de raspado de unha, sendo que 29% foram caracterizadas como C. glabrata, 23% C. krusei e Cândida sp. , individualmente e 11% de C. tropicalis. Amostras de C. albicans, isoladas neste sítio anatômico, representaram somente 11%. Em amostras obtidas de escarro foi observada somente duas espécies, com prevalência de C. albicans (75%) seguida de C. tropicalis (25%). As amostras identificadas como C. albicans em meio CHROMagar Candida ® , foram confirmadas quanto ao crescimento a 42ºC e pelo emprego da técnica de seminested PCR.

Candidiasis is the main human fungal infection caused by yeasts of the genus Candida which are part of endogenous microflora of the human body. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of Candida species obtained from different infection processes. A total of 90 clinical samples were isolated in Sabouraud agar supplemented with antibiotics, and identified by CHROMagar Candida ®. Among them, 58 samples were isolated from vaginal secretion, 17 samples were from nail, 8 were from sputum and 7 were from skin. From the former, 89% were identified as C. albicans, followed by non albicans species, being 5.1% C. krusei, 1.7% C. glabrata, 1.7% C. tropicalis and 1.7% Candida sp. For samples isolated from nail it was not observed prevalence of C. albicans (28%); species nonalbicans corresponded to 70% of the samples, being 14% C. glabrata, 528% C. krusei and 28% Candida sp. The prevalence of non albicans species was also observed from samples isolated from nail, being 29% C. glabrata, 23% C. krusei, 23% Candida sp and 11% C. tropicalis. C. albicans in this infection site represented only 11%. Only two species were present in samples from sputum, being 75% C. albicans and 25% C. tropicalis. Samples identified as C. albicans in CHROMagar Candida ® agar were confirmed by growth at 42ºC and by seminested PCR approach.