T-cell recognition of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis gp43-derived peptides in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis and healthy individuals

Vaccines with synthetic peptides induce the immune response to epitopes that bind to several HLA alleles. By using a TEPITOPE algorithm, we selected and analyzed the T-cell responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 29 paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) patients to peptides of the immunodominant gp43 antigen of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the causative agent of PCM.     

Evaluation of different promoter sequences and antigen sorting signals on the immunogenicity of Bacillus subtilis vaccine vehicles

Recombinant Bacillus subtilis strains, either in the form of spores or vegetative cells, may be employed as safe and low-cost vaccine vehicles. In this study, we studied the role of promoter sequences and antigen-sorting signals on the immunogenicity based on previously constructed B. subtilis episomal expression systems. Mice orally immunized with spores or cells encoding the B subunit of the heat labile toxin (LTB), originally expressed by some enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, under control of the stress-inducible gsiB promoter developed higher anti-LTB serum IgG and fecal IgA responses with regard to vaccine strains transformed with plasmids encoding the antigen under control of IPTG-inducible (Pspac) or constitutive (PlepA) promoters. Moreover, surface expression of the vaccine antigen under the control of the PgsiB promoter enhanced the immunogenicity of vegetative cells, while intracellular accumulation of LTB led to higher antibody responses in mice orally immunized with recombinant B. subtilis spores. Specific anti-LTB antibodies raised in vaccinated mice recognized and neutralized in vitro the native toxin produced by ETEC strains. Nonetheless, only mice orally immunized with recombinant B. subtilis strains, either as vegetative cells or spores, expressing intracellular LTB under the control of the gsiB promoter conferred partial protection to lethal challenges with purified LT. The present report further demonstrates that B. subtilis plasmid-based heterologous protein expression systems are adequate for antigen delivery via the oral route.     

The effect of hip abduction on the EMG activity of vastus medialis obliquus, vastus lateralis longus and vastus lateralis obliquus in healthy subjects

Study design  

Controlled laboratory study.     

Temporal artery and axillary thermometry comparison with rectal thermometry in children presenting to the ED

Background

Accurate temperature readings, often obtained rectally, are an important part of the initial evaluation of pediatric patients in the Emergency Department. Temporal artery thermometry (TAT) is one way to noninvasively measure temperature. We sought to compare the accuracy of axillary and temporal artery temperatures compared to rectal.

Differences in the inflammatory response between patients with and those without diabetes mellitus after coronary stenting

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus who undergo coronary stenting are at increased risk of restenosis. It is known that inflammation plays a crucial role in restenosis. Objective: We assessed the inflammatory response to elective coronary stent implantation (CSI) in stable diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Methods: C‐reactive protein (CRP), soluble (s) P‐selectin, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)‐1 plasma levels were determined in diabetic (n = 51) and nondiabetic (n = 56) patients before and 48 hours and 4 weeks after bare metal stenting (BMS). Results: Diabetic patients presented significantly higher inflammatory marker levels before and after CSI. Nonetheless, diabetic and nondiabetic patients had postintervention peak of markers attained within 48 hours. At baseline, diabetic and nondiabetic patients presented CRP levels of 5.0 ± 20.1 (P ≤ 0.04) and 3.8 ± 9.4 μg/ml and, at 48 hours postintervention, 22.0 ± 20.2 (P = 0.001; P = 0.002) and 12.6 ± 11.3 (P ≤ 0.0001) μg/ml. Regarding sP‐selectin, diabetic and nondiabetic patients obtained levels of, at baseline, 182 ± 118 (P ≤ 0.04) and 105 ± 48 ng/ml and, at 48 hours, 455 ± 290 (P = 0.001; P ≤ 0.01) and 215 ± 120 (P ≤ 0.04) ng/ml. For diabetic and nondiabetic patients, sICAM‐1 levels were, at baseline, 248 ± 98 (P ≤ 0.04) and 199 ± 94 ng/ml and, at 48 hours, 601 ± 201 (P = 0.001; P ≤ 0.01) and 283 ± 220 (P = 0.001) ng/ml. At 4 weeks, for all patients, markers returned to preprocedural levels: versus before PCI: *P = 0.001, ^§P ≤ 0.0001; versus nondiabetic patients: ^#P ≤ 0.04, ^¶P = 0.002, ^?P ≤ 0.01. Conclusions: Diabetic and nondiabetic patients exhibited a temporal inflammatory response after an elective BMS. However, diabetic patients present higher preprocedural levels of CRP, sP‐selectin, and sICAM‐1 and reveal a further exacerbated inflammatory response after intervention. The differences in inflammatory response may have implications in restenosis within these two sets of patients.     

Self-supported nickel nanoparticles on germanophosphate glasses: synthesis and applications in catalysis

The development of supported catalysts based on simple procedures without waste products and time-consuming steps is highly desirable. In this paper, self-supported nickel-based nanoparticles were obtained at the surface of the germanophosphate glasses by bottom-up process and evaluated as potential catalysts for the benzyl alcohol oxidation and bis(indolyl)methanes synthesis. A classical melt-quenching technique was used for preparing the nickel-doped germanophosphate glasses, followed by annealing under a hydrogen atmosphere at 400 °C for two different times. The approach enabled the synthesis of self-supported nanoparticles as a homogeneous film, covering the glass surface. The physical and chemical properties of synthesized glasses were characterized by UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies and thermal analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed to monitor the growth process, morphology and chemical bonding structure of the nanoparticles surface.

The development of supported catalysts based on simple procedures without waste products and time-consuming steps is highly desirable.     

Dendritic Cell Apoptosis and the Pathogenesis of Dengue

Dengue viruses and other members of the Flaviviridae family are emerging human pathogens. Dengue is transmitted to humans by Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes. Following infection through the bite, cells of the hematopoietic lineage, like dendritic cells, are the first targets of dengue virus infection. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen presenting cells, sensing pathogens, processing and presenting the antigens to T lymphocytes, and triggering an adaptive immune response. Infection of DCs by dengue virus may induce apoptosis, impairing their ability to present antigens to T cells, and thereby contributing to dengue pathogenesis. This review focuses on general mechanisms by which dengue virus triggers apoptosis, and possible influence of DC-apoptosis on dengue disease severity.     

Validity of the six-minute step test of free cadence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives:

to evaluate the concurrent validity of the six-minute step test (6MST) in assessing exercise capacity of COPD patients using the six-minute walk test (6MWT) as a gold-standard. The predictive validity of the 6MST was assessed to determine a cut-off point for identification of low exercise capacity.

Method:

thirty-two COPD patients (50-87 years old) with mild to very severe obstruction performed the 6MST and 6MWT twice.

Results:

Concurrent validity: a strong positive correlation (Pearson) between the number of ascents on the first (T1), second (T2) and the best of both (T1 or T2) tests during the 6MWT was observed. Although a moderate negative correlation with BODE index and FEV₁ was found, it was considered insufficient to test the validity, therefore ROC curves were not applied. The predictive validity (ROC) of the 6MST to identify low physical capacity (compared with the 6MWT) using the performance of T1 or T2, or solely T1 was considered accurate, and the area under the curve was 0.8 (IC95% 0.62-0.98) and 0.85 (IC95% 0.70-0.99), respectively. To classify patients, the cut-off points of 86 and 78 steps were chosen, with both values showing 90% of sensitivity and specificity of 64% and 68% for T1 or T2, or solely T1, respectively.

Conclusion:

The number of steps on the 6MST was valid to verify exercise capacity in COPD patients and the cut-off point of 78 steps was able to identify patients with poor exercise tolerance. Values under this cut-off point are considered to identify patients with a poorer prognosis.