Effect of copper on ion content in isolated mantle cells of the marine clam Mesodesma mactroides

The effect of copper on ion content (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), and Cl(-)) was evaluated in isolated mantle gills of the marine clam Mesodesma mactroides. Clams were collected at the Mar Grosso Beach (S?o José do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul [RS], southern Brazil), cryoanesthetized, and had their mantles dissected. Mantle cells were isolated and incubated in a calcium-free phosphate solution without (control) or with Cu (CuCl(2)). Cells were exposed to Cu for 1 h (5 μM) or 3 h (2.5 and 5 μM). In cells incubated with 2.5 μM Cu, a significant decrease in intracellular Cl(-) content was observed. However, in cells incubated with 5.0 μM Cu, significant reductions in Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) intracellular content were observed. Given the mechanisms involved in ion transport in mantle cells of the marine clam M. mactroides, the findings described here suggest that Cu exposure inhibits carbonic anhydrase and Na(+)/K(+) -ATPase activity. Also, it can be suggested that Cu is competing with Na(+) for the same mechanisms of ion transport in the cell membrane, such as the Na(+) channels and the Na(+)/K(+)/2Cl(-) cotransporter. Results from the present study also clearly indicate that processes involved in cellular anion regulation are more sensitive to Cu exposure than those associated with the cellular cation regulation. Characterization of sites for Cu accumulation and toxicity in aquatic animals is important for derivation of metal binding constants at the biotic ligand. Also, identification of the mechanism of metal toxicity is needed for modeling metal accumulation in the biotic ligand and its consequent toxicity. Therefore, the findings reported here are extremely valuable for the development of a biotic ligand model version for marine and estuarine waters.     

Relationship between pharyngeal response time and lateralized brain lesion in stroke

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between pharyngeal response time (PRT) and lateralization of brain lesions.

Methods: A Cross-sectional study. 73 videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS)were conducted on patients after stroke The study subjects were divided into : group 1 (G1) consisting of 39 individuals with left cortical lesion and group 2 (G2) consisting of 34 individuals with right cortical lesions. The VFSS of G1 and G2 subjects were analyzed using puree (A) and liquid (B) consistencies, and were also subdivided into young adults and older persons. . The mean PRT was divided into times shorter and longer than 250 ms.

Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between G1 and G2 for the A and B consistencies, being obtained : G1 (A mean: 56.6 ms; B mean: 99.5 ms; A mean: 3627 ms; B mean: 1712 ms) and G2 (A mean: 79.6 ms; B mean: 110.7 ms; A mean: 2040 ms, B mean: 1529 ms), for PRT shorter (A:p = .673; B: p = 1.000) and longer (A: p = .435; B: p = .847) than 250 ms, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found regarding the variable age in the comparison between young and old adults for mean PRT according to the A and B consistencies in G1 (A: p = .260; B: p = .732) and G2 (A: p = .586; B: p = .104).

Conclusion: No relationship between PRT and lateralization of brain lesion was observed with respect to subject age and to the swallowing of different food consistencies.     

Impact of a medication therapy management service on the clinical status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background At this moment, there is no information in the literature showing the impact of comprehensive medication management (CMM) service delivered to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Objective This study aims to present the clinical outcomes of this service provided to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Settings Public specialty pharmacy where high cost drug treatments are provided for medical conditions not covered by the primary care such as COPD, located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted for 83 patients. The dependent variable in this study was the sum of the drug therapy problems detected during the first and second consultation. The independent variables were age, number of diseases and medications, diagnosis of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, and tabagism. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Pearson’s Chisquare test. A level of significance of 5% was adopted for all analyses. Main outcomes Number, types and proportion of resolved drug therapy problems. Results Two hundred seventy seven drug therapy problems were identified, of which 53.1% were resolved. The most frequent drug therapy problem was the “use of unnecessary drug therapy” (n = 55; 19.8%). The identification of three or more drug therapy problem was higher among patients using five medications or more and among those using ten or more (p < 0.05). After the delivery of medication therapy management, the proportion of patients presenting “stable” clinical status was raised from 27 to 54% (p = 0.001). Conclusion CMM service demonstrates a positive impact on clinical outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and should prioritize patients with polypharmacy because they might have a higher number of drug therapy problems.     

Potential application of small myristoylated protein-3 evaluated as recombinant antigen and a synthetic peptide containing its linear B-cell epitope for the serodiagnosis of canine visceral and human tegumentary leishmaniasis

Serological tests are important tools for the diagnosis of Leishmania infection. However, they are not effective markers to diagnose asymptomatic cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and patients developing tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL), since antileishmanial antibodies can be encountered in low levels resulting in false-negative results in the serological trials. In this context, antigens able to be recognized by antibodies in sera from both VL and TL patients will be desirable to be employed in a more sensitivity and specific diagnosis of disease. In the present study, a conserved Leishmania protein, small myristoylated protein-3 (SMP-3), which was showed to be conserved in different Leishmania species and an effective vaccine candidate against Leishmania infantum infection in a murine model, was cloned and the recombinant protein was evaluated as a serological marker for the diagnosis of human TL and canine VL. In addition, a linear B cell-specific epitope (MQKDEESGEFKCEL) was identified, synthetized and also investigated as a serological marker. As antigen controls, rA2 protein and antigenic Leishmania extracts (SLA) were used. Results showed that ELISA-rSMP-3 and ELISA-Peptide presented sensitivity and specificity values higher than 90% in both diseases in humans and canids, having identified all asymptomatic cases and did not present cross-reaction with cross-reactivity diseases in both mammalian hosts. On the other hand, sensitivity and specificity values were worst when rA2 or SLA were used as antigens in humans and dogs. In conclusion, results showed the efficacy and Leishmania SMP-3 protein, employed as a recombinant antigen or a B cell epitope, for the improvement of the serodiagnosis of human TL and canine VL. This candidate can be tested in other diagnostic platforms, such as rapid immunochromatographic dipstick tests, aiming its use in epidemiological studies in remote areas where laboratories are not readily accessible for conventional assays.     

A biomarker for tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis based on a recombinant Leishmania hypothetical protein

The measures for leishmaniasis control include the precise diagnosis of disease. However, although several recombinant antigens have been tested with this biotechnological purpose, no effective product exists, which could detects patients with the active disease, as well as differentiates them from cured and treated patients. In this study, a conserved Leishmania hypothetical protein, which was identified in Leishmania infantum parasites, but evaluated to presents high homology in the amino acid sequences between distinct parasite species, was evaluated for the diagnosis of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis. In addition, PBMCs collected from treated and untreated mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients, as well as in healthy subjects living in endemic region of disease, were in vitro stimulated, when IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were evaluated in the cell supernatant. Regarding the serological analyses, ELISA experiments using the recombinant protein (rLiHyL) and a human serological panel revealed high sensitivity and specificity values to detect both diseases, while control antigens showed worst results. Regarding the cellular response, results showed that rLiHyL-stimulated cells produced higher IFN-γ and lower IL-4 and IL-10 levels in the supernatants. Also, the anti-protein antibody production was evaluated in these patients, and data showed higher IgG2 and lower IgG1 levels found in the treated patients and healthy controls, demonstrating the stimulation of a Th1-type response induced by the rLiHyL protein. In conclusion, this hypothetical protein can be considered as antigenic in TL and VL, as well as a vaccine candidate to be tested in future studies to protect against disease.     

6,7-Dehydroroyleanone diterpene derived from Tetradenia riparia essential oil modulates IL-4/IL-12 release by macrophages that are infected with Leishmania amazonensis

Parasitology Research - The treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in associated with several adverse effects and therapeutic failure, resulting in patients’ abandonment of treatment. Research...