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Introduction Inflammation is a critical component in carcinogenesis. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (nlr) has been retrospectively studied as a biomarker of prognosis in metastatic colorectal cancer (mcrc). Compared with a low nlr, a high nlr is associated with worse prognosis. In the present study, we compared real-world survival for patients with mcrc based on their nlr group, and we assessed the utility of the nlr in determining first-line chemotherapy and metastasectomy benefit. Methods In this retrospective and descriptive analysis of patients with mcrc undergoing first-line chemotherapy in a single centre, the last systemic absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte count before treatment was used for the nlr. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to estimate the nlr cut-off value, dividing the patients into low and high nlr groups. Median overall survival (mos) was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. A multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox regression model. Results The 102 analyzed patients had a median follow-up of 15 months. Regardless of systemic therapy, approximately 20% of patients underwent metastasectomy. The nlr cut-off was established at 2.35, placing 45 patients in the low-risk group (nlr < 2.35) and 57 in the high-risk group (nlr = 2.35). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a mos of 39.1 months in the low-risk group and 14.4 months in the high-risk group (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression on the nlr estimated a hazard ratio of 3.08 (p = 0.01). Survival analysis in each risk subgroup, considering the history of metastasectomy, was also performed. In the low-risk group, mos was longer for patients undergoing metastasectomy than for those not undergoing the procedure (95.2 months vs. 22.6 months, p = 0.05). In the high-risk group, mos was not statistically different for patients undergoing or not undergoing metastasectomy (24.3 months vs. 12.7 months, p = 0.08). Conclusions Our real-world data analysis of nlr in patients with mcrc confirmed that this biomarker is useful in predicting survival. It also suggests that nlr is an effective tool to choose first-line treatment and to predict the benefit of metastasectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antidiabetic drug metformin (MET) is one of a group of emerging pharmaceutical drug contaminants in the wastewater treatment plants. The electrochemical behaviour of MET−Cu(II) complex by differential pulse and square wave voltammetry, in a wide pH range, at a glassy carbon electrode modified with a carbon black dihexadecylphosphate film (CB−DHP/GCE), was investigated. The MET−Cu(II) complex oxidation showed one pH‐dependent process, which leads to the formation of an oxidation product, being oxidized at a lower potential. The electroanalytical MET−Cu(II) complex detection limit, LOD=0.63 μM, and quantification limit, LOQ=2.09 μM, were obtained, and the MET−Cu(II) complex determination in wastewater samples collected from a senior residence effluent, using the CB−DHP/GCE, was achieved. Considering MET toxicity, the electrochemical evaluation of MET−dsDNA interaction, in incubated solutions and using dsDNA‐electrochemical biosensors, following the changes in the oxidation peaks of guanosine and adenosine residues electrochemical currents, was also investigated. The MET−dsDNA interaction mechanism, for shorter times, occurs by the binding of MET molecules in the minor grooves of the dsDNA, and for long times, the stabilization of the MET−dsDNA complex, causing a local distortion and/or unwinding of dsDNA morphology, is described. However, MET did not promote DNA oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragrant and antimicrobial properties were conferred to cotton fabrics following microencapsulation using green materials. Limonene and vanillin microcapsules were produced by complex coacervation using chitosan/gum Arabic as shell materials and tannic acid as hardening agent. The effect of two emulsifiers; Span 85 and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), on the encapsulation efficiency (EE%), microcapsule's size and morphology, and cumulative release profiles was studied. The mean diameter of the produced microcapsules ranged between 10.4 and 39.0 μm, whereas EE% was found to be between 90.4% and 100%. The use of Span 85 resulted in mononuclear morphology while PGPR gave rise to polynuclear structures, regardless of the core material (vanillin or limonene). The obtained microcapsules demonstrated a sustained release pattern; namely the total cumulative release of the active agents after 7 days at 37 ± 1 °C was 75%, 52% and 19.4% for the polynuclear limonene microcapsules, the mononuclear limonene microcapsules and the polynuclear vanillin microcapsules, respectively. Grafting of the produced microcapsules onto cotton fabrics through an esterification reaction using citric acid as a nontoxic cross-linker followed by thermofixation and curing, was confirmed by SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. Standard antibacterial assays conducted on both microcapsules alone and impregnated onto the fabrics indicated a sustained antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A concrete dam was built on the early 1970s in the Douro River about 70 km from the estuary in the Atlantic Ocean, at Porto city. According to other studies developed in Portugal and some reports in the literature, granitic aggregates can be potentially reactive in concrete. The study of the concrete was, therefore, focused on the assessment of the deterioration of concrete by alkali-silica reactions and also on the influence of the conditions of exposure on concrete deterioration processes. The site inspection permitted the identification of signs of deterioration in those structural elements of the dam which were more exposed to the environmental conditions, but not on the dam body. Concrete cores were obtained by drilling and petrographic analysis was performed in order to identify possible products resultant from internal reactions. Products of alkali-silica reaction and sulfate attack were detected on thin-sections of the concrete collected from the thinner structural elements exposed to the external environmental conditions. Their qualitative composition was assessed under a scanning electron microscope and by energy dispersive spectrometry. The study confirmed the occurrence of alkali-silica reactions with granitic aggregates in which very scarce microcrystalline silica was identified. The deterioration was influenced by the environmental conditions of exposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the enological interest of cork, this study aimed to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds able to migrate from different classes (natural cork stoppers 'Flor' and 'Third' quality and microagglomerate cork stopper) of cork stoppers into bottled wine model solutions. Another aim was to evaluate some antioxidant and biological features of cork phenolics that migrated into the wine model solutions. The main phenolic acids and aldehydes detected were as follows: gallic and protocatechuic acid detected both around 3.5 mg/L and vanillin and protocatechuic aldehyde detected around 2.5 and 1.5 mg/L after 27 months of bottling, respectively. Trace amounts of more complex polyphenols, namely hydrolysable tannins (castalagin/vescalagin and mongolicain A/B), were also detected. Two antioxidant features of the wine model solutions bottled with different wine cork stoppers were studied, namely the antiradical capacity and the reducing capacity, being the natural cork stoppers the ones with the higher activities. The intestinal absorption of the compounds in each wine model solution after 27 months in bottled was evaluated. The simpler phenolic compounds were able to cross Caco-2 cell model. The antiproliferative activity of the same wine model solutions was also evaluated against gastric and breast cancer cells. All samples were active against the two cell lines, which highlight the possible health outcomes of wine sealed with cork stoppers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BaP1 is a P-I class of Snake Venom Metalloproteinase (SVMP) relevant in the local tissue damage associated with envenomations by Bothrops asper, a medically-important species in Central America and parts of South America. Six monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against BaP1 (MABaP1) were produced and characterized regarding their isotype, dissociation constant (K d), specificity and ability to neutralize BaP1-induced hemorrhagic and proteolytic activity. Two MABaP1 are IgM, three are IgG1 and one is IgG2b. The K ds of IgG MoAbs were in the nM range. All IgG MoAbs recognized conformational epitopes of BaP1 and B. asper venom components but failed to recognize venoms from 27 species of Viperidae, Colubridae and Elapidae families. Clone 7 cross-reacted with three P-I SVMPs tested (moojeni protease, insularinase and neuwiedase). BaP1-induced hemorrhage was totally neutralized by clones 3, 6 and 8 but not by clone 7. Inhibition of BaP1 enzymatic activity on a synthetic substrate by MABaP1 was totally achieved by clones 3 and 6, and partially by clone 8, but not by clone 7. In conclusion, these neutralizing MoAbs against BaP1 may become important tools to understand structure–function relationships of BaP1 and the role of P-I class SVMP in snakebite envenomation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When analysing H ii regions, a possible source of systematic error on empirically derived quantities, such as the gas temperature and the chemical composition, is the limited size of the slit used for the observations. In order to evaluate this type of systematic error, we use the photoionization code aangaba to create a virtual photoionized region and mimic the effect of a slit observation. A grid of models was built varying the ionizing radiation spectrum emitted by a central stellar cluster, as well as the gas abundance. The calculated line surface brightness was then used to simulate slit observations and to derive empirical parameters using the usual methods described in the literature. Depending on the fraction of the object covered by the slit, the empirically derived physical parameters and chemical composition can be different from those obtained from observations of the whole object. This effect is mainly dependent on the age of the ionizing stellar cluster. The low-ionization lines, which originate in the outer layers of the ionized gas, are more sensitive to the size of the area covered by the slit than the high-ionization forbidden lines or recombination lines, because these lines are mainly produced closer to the inner radius of the nebula. For a slit covering 50 per cent or less of the total area, the measured [O iii], [O ii] and [O i] line intensities are less than 78, 62 and 58 per cent of the total intensity for a young H ii region ; for older objects the effect due to the slit is less significant. Regarding the temperature indicator , the slit effects are small (usually less than 5 per cent) because this temperature is derived from [O iii] high-ionization lines. On the other hand, for the abundance (and temperature) indicator R23, which depends also on the [O ii] line, the slit effect is slightly higher. Therefore, the systematic error due to slit observations on the O abundance is low, being usually less than 10 per cent, except for H ii regions powered by stellar clusters with a relative low number of ionizing photons between 13.6 and 54.4 eV, which create a smaller O++ emitting volume. In this case, the systematic error on the empirical O abundance deduced from slit observations is more than 10 per cent when the covered area is less than 50 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We analyse long-slit spectral observations of 14 Wolf-Rayet (WR) galaxies from the sample of Schaerer, Contini & Pindao. All 14 galaxies show broad WR emission in the blue region of the spectrum, consisting of a blend of N iii λ4640, C iii λ4650, C iv λ4658 and He ii λ4686 emission lines, which is a spectral characteristic of WN stars. Broad C iv λ5808 emission, termed the red bump, is detected in nine galaxies and C iii λ5996 is detected in six galaxies. These emission features are due to WC stars. We derive the numbers of late WN and early WC stars from the luminosity of the blue and red bumps, respectively. The number of O stars is estimated from the luminosity of the Hβ emission line, after subtracting the contribution of WR stars. The Schaerer & Vacca models predict that the number of WR stars relative to O stars, NWR/ NO, increases with metallicity. For low-metallicity galaxies, the results agree with predictions of evolutionary synthesis models for galaxies with a burst of star formation, and indicate an initial mass function (IMF) slope −2 ≲Γ≲− 2.35 in the low-metallicity regime. For high-metallicity galaxies our observations suggest a Salpeter IMF (Γ=−2.35) and an extended short burst. The main possible sources of error are the adopted luminosities for single WCE and WNL stars. We also report, for the first time, on NGC 450 as a galaxy with WR characteristics. For NGC 450, we estimate the number of WN and WC stars. The number ratio NWR/ NO, and the equivalent widths of the blue bump, EWλ4686, and of the red bump, EWλ5808, in NGC 450 are also in good agreement with the instantaneous burst model prediction for WR galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, were used residual Açaí seeds as a biosorbent for two textile dyes (Acid Yellow 219 (AY) and Acid Red 361 (AR)), in single and binary solutions. Further, kinetic and isothermal studies were carried to evaluate if the chemical modifications in the Açaí seeds would promote an increase in biosorption. Kinetic assays for all solutions showed that more than 50 % of the dyes were removed in the first 15 minutes. The acid treatment of the biosorbent increased the removal of acid dyes in solution by 46 % and 32 %, respectively. In conclusion, chemically modified Açaí seeds showed high capacity for the removal of textile dyes in single (AY qe= 1.40 mg g-1; AR qe= 1.76 mg g-1) and multi-component solutions (AY MIX qe = 2.09 mg g-1; AR MIX qe = 2.23 mg g-1). These results demonstrate that Açaí seeds can be applied in an inexpensive strategy for removing pollutants (single or binary solutions) from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophiocordyceps species infecting ants are globally distributed, with diversity concentrated in the tropics and decreasing with increasing latitude. Among these myrmecophilous species, the ones exhibiting the ability to manipulate host behavior, the so-called "zombie-ant fungi" of the O. unilateralis clade, have been studied progressively over the last decade. However, we know very little about other myrmecophilous groups, such as species within the Ophiocordyceps subgenus Neocordyceps. Species within this group exhibit Hymenostilbe asexual morphs with the ascospores readily breaking into part-spores and regularly kill their hosts on the forest floor, with few records of behavioral manipulation. Here, we describe five new species of Ophiocordyceps belonging to the subgenus Neocordyceps infecting ants in the rainforests of the Brazilian Amazon and Ghana and analyze their ability to manipulate host behavior. We also propose a new status for a species previously described as a variety, providing its phylogenetic placement for the first time. The species proposed herein can readily be separated using classic taxonomic criteria, and this is further supported by ecological and molecular multiloci data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study done to evaluate the adaA protein as a potential marker for the detection of Q-fever abortion in goats. It states that the adaA gene of caprine, ovine, bovine and Nine Mile strains of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), the causative agent of Q-fever, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the study. The results suggested a complete deletion of the gene for ovine strains and showed that the adaA gene is polymorphic among the caprine strains.

Introduction Limbic encephalitis is an inflammatory disorder, commonly characterized by psychiatric features and cognitive impairment. It used to be considered a rare disease, usually paraneoplastic, with poor prognosis. Recent findings of membrane-surface directed antibodies, including anti-VGKC (Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels) antibodies, showed a substantial proportion of cases with no association with any malignancy and better prognosis. Case presentation A 56-year-old woman was admitted to the psychiatric ward in Nov/2007, with an acute onset of psychomotor retardation and agitation periods, apathy and nihilistic symptoms. She improved very slowly with lorazepam, clomipramine and quetiapine. In Jun/2014, she was admitted again to the psychiatric ward with acute onset of intense headache, confusion, insomnia, agitation and prejudice ideas. There was a clinical deterioration with mnesic deficits, catatonic stupor, autonomic dysfunction and seizures. Complementary exams revealed: ESR>120mm; hyponatraemia; acelular CSF with slightly elevated protein; EEG with slow base activity; Brain MRI with diffuse cortical atrophy and multiples subcortical hyperintensities of frontoparietal regions on FLAIR and T2 sequences; and positive anti-VGKC antibodies. Initially there was a poor transitory improvement with high-dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulins. After 5 months, she did plasmapheresis with relevant clinical improvement. Discussion and Conclusions About 80% of anti-VGKC encephalitis patients have clinical improvement following prompt treatment. In this case, there was not as good improvement as initially expected probably because of the prolonged duration of disease prior to effective treatment. Given the good prognostic outcome with prompt initiation of immunotherapy, early recognition and diagnosis of this rare neuropsychiatric syndrome is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the synovial rupture of rheumatoid elbow causing radial nerve compression. Complication of rheumatoid arthritis; Absence of digital ischemia or other cutaneous lesions of vasculitis; Evidence of neuropathy.

Each species has a reproductive strategy that is adapted to the intensity and predictability of spatial and temporal variations in local environmental conditions. This study sets out to evaluate the temporal and spatial variations in some life history traits, including maturation time and length at first maturity, of three small fish species from streams of south-eastern Brazil. Environmental factors and fishes were sampled in streams across four sub-basins during twelve months and were measured for both traits. Statistical models indicated both spatial and temporal differences in maturation time for all species. This variation was related to a different combination of environmental factors for each species. Finally, length at first maturity exhibited spatial variation for all species. The results suggest that all species have the ability to alter life history parameters, and this may be a factor contributing to their persistence in each habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Involuntary admission rates differ between gender across various countries. In several European Union countries, men are more frequently involuntarily admitted, while an opposite trend, associating women with involuntary care, has been observed in countries like Switzerland, Brazil, and China. Objectives: Considering the contradictory evidence about gender and involuntary care in the literature, we aim to analyze the gender patterns of involuntary care in Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo's Psychiatric Acute Unit, exploring the gender differences in diagnosis among involuntary patients. Methods: We stored and analyzed the data using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics. We studied psychiatry admissions at Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, Portugal over 2 years. The Acute Psychiatric Unit, located within a general hospital, has 24 beds, and offers acute mental healthcare services to adults aged 18 and above, serving a coverage area of approximately 251,000 residents. As part of our data collection process for all admissions to the Acute Psychiatry Unit, we recorded information such as gender, age, diagnosis at discharge, treatment type (voluntary or involuntary), and length of stay. Results: From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, there were 686 psychiatry admissions at Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, of which 125 (18,2%) were involuntary. The admission rates were approximately 136.6 per 100,000 people annually, with 24.9 being involuntary admissions per 100,000 people annually. In our analysis of involuntary admissions, women had a lower rate of such admissions, making up 6.4%, while men had a higher rate at 11.8%. No other gender identity was mentioned. Schizophrenia-related disorders were the primary cause for involuntary admissions for both genders, with 67.9% for men and 50% for women. Mood disorders were the second most common reason for involuntary admission, accounting for around 40.9% of cases for women and a significantly lower 16% for men. Involuntarily hospitalized patients exhibited longer lengths of stay independently of the gender. Men hospitalized involuntarily tended to be younger, whereas for women, involuntary hospitalizations were associated with older ages. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study reveals gender differences in psychiatric involuntary admissions, with more men being involuntarily admitted than women. Schizophrenia group disorders were the most common diagnoses among male and female involuntary patients. Furthermore, all hospitalized women exhibited a higher prevalence of mood disorders, a trend that was more pronounced among those admitted involuntarily. These gender trends match the overall patterns seen in the epidemiology of schizophrenia and mood disorders. Additionally, women with schizophrenia generally exhibit better social functioning than men, which may explain the lower needs of involuntary hospitalization. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During food processing, and particularly in cheese manufacturing processes, Listeria monocytogenes may be exposed routinely to environments of low pH or high salt concentration. It has been suggested that these environmental conditions may contribute to bacterial adherence to abiotic surfaces and increased resistance to disinfection. In this study strains isolated from the environment of artisanal cheese-making dairies were used to investigate the behaviour of L. monocytogenes in response to acid and salt stress and clear differences between strains was observed. In planktonic culture, strains varied in resistance to low pH or high NaCl concentration and in the occurrence of an adaptive response to moderate acid or NaCl. There was dislocation in responses to salt and acid. Strains resistant, or adaptive, to acid were not resistant or adaptive to NaCl. The reverse also was observed. Exposure to moderate acid did not promote adherence to polystyrene but survival, at low pH or high NaCl concentration, of cells adherent to stainless steel was increased, even for strains that had no adaptive response planktonically, but the detail of these observations varied between strains. In contrast to acid adaptation, with some strains salt adaptation enhanced adherence of L. monocytogenes to polystyrene but this was not true for all strains. For some strains salt- or acid adaptation may enhance the survival of sessile cells exposed to hypochlorite disinfection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Part of the reason for rejecting aquatic environments as possible vectors for the transmission of Helicobacter pylori has been the preference of this microorganism to inhabit the human stomach and hence use a direct oral-oral route for transmission. On the other hand, most enteric bacterial pathogens are well known for being able to use water as an environmental reservoir. In this work, we have exposed 13 strains of seven different Helicobacter spp. (both gastric and enterohepatic) to water and tracked their survival by standard plating methods and membrane integrity assessment. The influence of different plating media and temperatures and the presence of light on recovery was also assessed. There was good correlation between cultivability and membrane integrity results (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.916), confirming that the culture method could reliably estimate differences in survival among different Helicobacter spp. The species that survived the longest in water was H. pylori (>96 h in the dark at 25°C), whereas H. felis appeared to be the most sensitive to water (<6 h). A. hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated that there was no relationship between the enterohepatic nature of Helicobacter spp. and an increased time of survival in water. This work assesses for the first time the survival of multiple Helicobacter spp., such has H. mustelae, H. munidarum, H. felis, H. canadensis, H. pullorum, and H. canis, in water under several conditions and concludes that the roles of water in transmission between hosts are likely to be similar for all these species, whether enterohepatic or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Local and systemic hemorrhages are major problems concerning bites by viper snakes. Therefore, accessing venom hemorrhagic activity is an important feature in order to characterize viper venom major toxicities or to assay antivenom efficacy. The methods currently used to access hemorrhagic activity involve animal experiments and according to the general ethical committees, these procedures should be substituted to in vitro assays in order to minimize animal use in research. In this work, we have developed an immunoassay to detect the content of hemorrhagic metalloproteinases in snake venoms using a neutralizing monoclonal antibody anti-jararhagin (MAJar 3). The correlation between the reactivity of this monoclonal antibody and venom-induced hemorrhage was further revealed by a study comparing the hemorrhagic activity of venom samples collected individually from 88 specimens of Bothrops jararacussu with their reactivity with MAJar 3. As a result, a significant correlation (r=0.942) was achieved between samples hemorrhagic activity and their reactivity with MAJar 3, suggesting that this assay can be used as a substitute of the conventional tests performed in vivo to estimate the hemorrhagic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports on argininium hydrogen selenite, a semiorganic compound of the hydrogen selenite family with non-linear optical properties. Finding that the crystal lattice is monoclinic; Use of second harmonic generation measurements on powder samples; Existence of a phase transition revealed by differential scanning calorimetry measurements.

Introduction: Sustained alcohol intake, when combined with incomplete treatment, can result in chronic structural changes in the Central Nervous System, including generalized cortical and cerebellar atrophy, amnesic syndromes like Korsakoff's syndrome, and white matter disorders such as Central Pontine Myelinolysis and Marchiafava-Bignami syndrome. It is crucial to prevent these complications due to their potential for irreversible and debilitating consequences. For Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, early recognition and thiamine administration for prevention are paramount, as it arises from thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition caused by persistent alcohol use. In the case of Central Pontine Myelinolysis, which is caused by abrupt fluctuations in serum osmolality, controlled sodium correction is essential. Objectives: Through a clinical case and a review of published literature, this study aims to reflect on the importance of preventing neurological injuries associated with chronic alcohol consumption, specifically Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis. Methods: A literature review was conducted by searching for articles on PubMed using the terms "Alcohol Use Disorder," "Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome," and "Central pontine myelinolysis." A clinical case is presented, featuring a 50-year-old patient with alcohol use disorder who developed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis. Considering this case, we reflect on the primary approaches that could have been beneficial in preventing these complications and propose a straightforward method for doing so. Results: A 50-year-old patient presented with poor general condition, characterized by low weight, significant loss of strength in the limbs and arms, and incoherent speech with anterograde amnesia and confabulation. This condition had progressed to a point where the patient could no longer walk, perform basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating independently, underscoring the severity of his condition. The diagnoses of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis were established based on clinical manifestations and the presence of hyperintense lesions observed in the central pons on T2/FLAIR axial MRI scans. This clinical case highlights the importance of proper and precocious prevention of complications in patients with alcohol use disorder. The foremost step in preventing these complications is to treat alcohol dependence effectively, even when faced with patient resistance. It's vital to remain vigilant about potential complications and implement suitable prophylactic measures. Conclusions: The devastating effects of complications arising from Alcohol Use Disorder, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis, underscore the importance of enhanced attention that clinicians should provide when approaching these patients at all clinical interactions. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The control of body waste emptying is a constant research topic in stoma care. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy and safety of an innovative colostomy appliance. Methods: An interventional prospective non-comparative pilot study was conducted in seven French centers. The study device is a new type of two-piece appliance including a base plate and a "capsule cap" (CC) composed of a capsule cover and a folded collecting bag. The device gently seals the stoma to provide stoma output control. When the bowel movement pressure increases the patient may control the deployment of the folded bag and collect stools. Patients with left-sided colostomy all using a flat appliance, were enrolled in a 2-week trial. Outcome measures were type of CC removal and peristomal fecal leaks while wearing the device. Results: Of 30 patients (females 66.7%), with left-sided colostomy (permanent 76.7%), 23 (76.7%) completed the 2-week trial. A total of 472 CC changes were analyzed. Efficacy: of 404 (85.5%) CC changes reported in diaries, 302 (74.8%) were linked with stool and/or gas. In 244 (60.3%) changes, the patient controlled stoma bag deployment and it occurred with bowel emptying 301 (74.5%) times. No leaks around the appliance were observed in 400 (85.3%) changes. Safety: no serious adverse event occurred. Peristomal skin was not modified during the trial. Conclusions: In the short term this new device has provided an increased control over bowel emptying at no risk in half of the trial population suggesting that an alternative approach to bag wearing is achievable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The incidence of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) has been increasing in the last five decades, but there is no large-scale data regarding these tumours in Portugal. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicentric study in main Portuguese centers to evaluate the clinical, pathological, and therapeutic profile of GEP-NENs. Methods. From November, 2012, to July, 2014, data from 293 patients diagnosed with GEP-NENs from 15 centers in Portugal was collected and registered in an online electronic platform. Results. Median age at diagnosis was 56.5 (range: 15-87) years with a preponderance of females (54.6%). The most frequent primary sites were the pancreas (31.1%), jejunum-ileum (24.2%), stomach (13.7%), and rectum (8.5%). Data regarding hormonal status was not available in most patients (82.3%). Stratified by the tumour grade (WHO 2010 classification), we observed 64.0% of NET G1, 24.7% of NET G2, and 11.3% of NEC. Poorly differentiated tumours occurred mainly in older patients (p=0.017), were larger (p<0.001), and presented more vascular (p=0.004) and lymphatic (p=0.001) invasion. At the time of diagnosis, 44.4% of GEP-NENs presented metastatic disease. Surgery (79.6%) and somatostatin analogues (30.7%) were the most frequently used therapies of GEP-NENs with reported grading. Conclusion. In general, Portuguese patients with GEP-NENs presented similar characteristics to other populations described in the literature. This cross-sectional study represents the first step to establish a national database of GEP-NENs that may aid in understanding the clinical and epidemiological features of these tumours in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different subsets of asthma patients may be recognized according to the exposure trigger and the frequency and severity of clinical signs and symptoms. Regarding the exposure trigger, generally asthma can be classified as allergic (or atopic) and nonallergic (or nonatopic). Allergic and nonallergic asthma are distinguished by the presence or absence of clinical allergic reaction and in vitro IgE response to specific aeroallergens. The mechanisms of allergic asthma have been extensively studied with major advances in the last two decades. Nonallergic asthma is characterized by its apparent independence from allergen exposure and sensitization and a higher degree of severity, but little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms. Clinically, allergic and nonallergic asthma are virtually indistinguishable in exacerbations, although exacerbation following allergen exposure is typical of allergic asthma. Although they both show several distinct clinical phenotypes and different biomarkers, there are no ideal biomarkers to stratify asthma phenotypes and guide therapy in clinical practice. Nevertheless, some biomarkers may be helpful to select subsets of atopic patients which might benefit from biologic agents, such as omalizumab. Patients with severe asthma, uncontrolled besides optimal treatment, notwithstanding nonatopic, may also benefit from omalizumab therapy, although currently there are no randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trials to support this suggestion. However, omalizumab discontinuation according to each patient’s response to therapy and pharmacoeconomical analysis are questions that remain to be answered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study investigated the acute residual effects induced by different frequencies of whole-body vibration (WBV) on postural control of elderly women. Design. Thirty physically active elderly women (67±5 years) were randomly divided into three groups: two experimental groups (high WBV frequency: 45 Hz and 4 mm amplitude, n=10; low WBV frequency: 30 Hz and 4 mm amplitude, n=10) and one control group (n=10), with no treatment. The participants were first subjected to stabilometry tests and were then guided through three sets of isometric partial squats for 60 s while the WBV stimulation was applied. The control group was subjected to the same conditions but without the WBV stimulation. The participants were again subjected to body balance tests immediately following the end of the intervention period and again at 8, 16, and 24 min. To measure body sway control, three 60 s tests were performed at 10 s intervals for each of the following experimental conditions: (1) eyes opened and (2) eyes closed. The following variables were investigated: the average velocity of the displacement of the centre of pressure in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral planes as well as in the elliptical area. Results. A 3 (condition) × 5 (test) two-way repeated-measures ANOVA did not identify significant differences in the stabilometric variables, regardless of group, time, or experimental condition. Conclusions. The effect of WBV, regardless of the stimulation frequency, did not have a significant effect immediately after or up to 24 minutes after vibration cessation, on the variables involved in the control of postural stability in physically active elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplodia corticola is one of the most aggressive fungal pathogens of Quercus species and is involved in the decline of Mediterranean cork oak forests and Californian oaks. Information regarding variation in virulence between strains is scarce. We hypothesize that D. corticola strains differ in virulence and consequently induce different symptoms in infected plants. To test this, infection assays were carried out on Quercus suber half-sib seedlings with seven strains of D. corticola. Visual symptoms of infection (external lesions, leaf wilting, exudation and others) were recorded in parallel with physiological and biochemical parameters. All strains were able to cause lesions but at differing levels of aggressiveness. We show that internal lesion length did not correlate directly with strain aggressiveness and this agrees with physiological parameters that should be taken into account to infer about strain pathogenicity. Infection by all strains induced an overall negative impact on the net photosynthetic rate and an increase in the oxidative stress status of plants; however, significant differences were found when the effects of different strains were compared. Results also suggest that being under optimum growth conditions, prior to and during infection, allowed plants to respond to the pathogen. At the end of the experiment, some strains of D. corticola established a latent pathogen-like relationship with cork oak. This is the first study to show that D. corticola virulence is strain-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Astyanax is described from the upper Rio Paraguai basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by having the body intensely yellowish in life ( v. silvery, reddish or lightly yellow) and by morphometric and meristics traits. Astyanax dolinae n. sp. cannot be assigned to any of the Astyanax species complex currently recognized for the genus. It is only known from the Dolina Água Milagrosa, a karstic sinkhole lake, entirely fed by groundwater, surrounded by Cerrado, the savannah-like vegetation of central South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the evaluation of the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) protocol for typing Coxiella burnetii strains isolated in France. It states that C. burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, and the human infection mainly occurs after inhalation of contaminated aerosols. The study done on 10 French C. burnetii isolates obtained from goats, sheep and cows showed that the RAPD method was suitable for generating polymorphisms among closely related C. burnetii strains.

Ischemic preconditioning ( IPC) of one or two limbs improves performance of exercise that recruits the same limb(s). However, it is unclear whether IPC application to another limb than that in exercise is also effective and which mechanisms are involved. We investigated the effect of remote IPC ( RIPC) on muscle fatigue, time to task failure, forearm hemodynamics, and deoxygenation during handgrip exercise. Thirteen men underwent RIPC in the lower limbs or a control intervention ( CON), in random order, and then performed a constant load rhythmic handgrip protocol until task failure. Rates of contraction and relaxation (ΔForce/ΔTime) were used as indices of fatigue. Brachial artery blood flow and conductance, besides forearm microvascular deoxygenation, were assessed during exercise. RIPC attenuated the slowing of contraction and relaxation throughout exercise ( P < 0.05 vs CON) and increased time to task failure by 11.2% (95% confidence interval: 0.7-21.7%, P <0.05 vs CON). There was no significant difference in blood flow, conductance, and deoxygenation between conditions throughout exercise ( P > 0.05). In conclusion, RIPC applied to the lower limbs delayed the development of fatigue during handgrip exercise, prolonged time to task failure, but was not accompanied by changes in forearm hemodynamics and deoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaP1 is a P-I class snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) relevant in the local tissue damage associated with envenomings by Bothrops asper, a medically important snake species in Central America and parts of South and North America. The main treatment for these accidents is the passive immunotherapy using antibodies raised in horses. In order to obtain more specific and batch-to-batch consistent antivenons, recombinant antibodies are considered a good option compared to animal immunization. We constructed a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) from a monoclonal antibody against BaP1 (MABaP1) formerly secreted by a hybridoma clone. This recombinant antibody was cloned into pMST3 vector in fusion with SUMO protein and contains VH and VL domains linked by a flexible (G4S)3 polypeptide (scFvBaP1). The aim of this work was to produce scFvBaP1 and to evaluate its potential concerning the neutralization of biologically important activities of BaP1. The cytoplasmic expression of this construct was successfully achieved in C43 (DE3) bacteria. Our results showed that scFvBaP1-SUMO fusion protein presented an electrophoretic band of around 43 kDa from which SUMO alone corresponded to 13.6 kDa, and only the scFv was able to recognize BaP1 as well as the whole venom by ELISA. In contrast, neither an irrelevant scFv anti-LDL nor its MoAb partner recognized it. BaP1-induced fibrinolysis was significantly neutralized by scFvBaP1, but not by SUMO, in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, scFvBaP1, as well as MaBaP1, completely neutralized in vivo hemorrhage, muscle necrosis, and inflammation induced by the toxin. Docking analyses revealed possible modes of interaction of the recombinant antibody with BaP1. Our data showed that scFv recognized BaP1 and whole B. asper venom, and neutralized biological effects of this SVMP. This scFv antibody can be used for understanding the molecular mechanisms of neutralization of SVMPs, and for exploring the potential of recombinant antibody fragments for improving the neutralization of local tissue damage in snakebite envenoming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We report detailed morphological and kinematical insights into the disturbed galaxy FM287-14, which is reported in the literature as a member of strongly interacting galaxies with a clear case of mergers. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a first observational study of this double-nuclei object based on photometry and spectroscopy. Methods. The study is based on BVR photometry with the 1.6-m telescope at OPD, and long-slit spectroscopy with Gemini South's GMOS spectrograph, with two-gratings centered at 5 011 Åand 6 765 Å. Image enhancement techniques were applied to the direct images, and the main lines in the spectra were used to determine the radial velocity. Line ratios and color-color diagnostic diagrams helped determine the nature of this object. Results. The external NE section is populated with well-defined Hii regions and is bluer than the SW region with less evidence of Hii regions. A double nucleus has been identified. The (B - R) × (B - V) diagram shows that the main nucleus is redder than the second one; the internal "ring-like" structure is redder than the external one. The main object redshift is z = 0.0311, corresponding to a line-of-sight velocity of 9334 km s-1 (a distance of 133.3 Mpc), and the second nucleus has a redshift of z = 0.0310, corresponding to a line-of-sight velocity of 9300 km s-1 (a distance of 132.9 Mpc). Both nuclei show characteristics of early-type galaxies, but the main one also shows modest emission evidence of the [Nii]λ6583 line. Conclusions. The peculiarities of FM 287-14 can be adequately interpreted as an ongoing merging-stage of interaction of the main object with a companion galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We investigate the nature of the galaxy pair FM047-02, which has been proposed as an archetype of the Solitaire types of peculiar (collisional) ring galaxies. Methods. The study is based on long-slit spectrophotometric data in the range of 3500-9500 Å obtained with the GeminiMulti-Object Spectrograph at Gemini South (GMOS-S). The absorption spectra were used to determine the radial velocity. The stellar population synthesis code STARLIGHT was used to investigate the star formation history of the galaxy pair FM047-02. Results. During the whole long-slit signal, the spectra of both galaxies resemble those of an early-type galaxy. Both objects are dominated by an old stellar population of 2 × 109 < t ⩽ 13 × 109 yr and a small, but a non-negligible fraction (about 13%) of young stars of t ⩽ 5 × 107 yr are estimated to contribute to the optical flux for NED02. Both observed small radial-velocity differences, and the structures around NED01 suggest an ongoing tidal interaction of both galaxies. Conclusions. The spectroscopic results and the morphological peculiarities of NED01 can be adequately interpreted as continuing off-center stage of interaction with the companion galaxy NED02. The core of NED01 and NED02 are in counter-rotating motion. The visual appearance of NED01, its kinematical properties, the smooth distribution of material in the ring, and its off-centered nucleus, characterize it as a true archetype of a Solitaire-type ring galaxy in an advanced stage of ring formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Interactions between galaxies are very common. There are special types of interactions that produce systems called polar ring galaxies (PRGs), composed of a lenticular, elliptical or spiral host galaxy, surrounded by a ring of stars and gas, orbiting in an approximately polar plane. In this paper, we study AM 2020-504, a PRG with an elliptical host galaxy, and a narrow and well-defined ring, probably formed by accretion of material from a donor galaxy, collected by the host galaxy. Our observational study is based on BVRI broad-band imagery as well as long-slit spectroscopy in the wavelength range 4100-8600 Å, performed at the 1.6-m telescope at the Observatório do Pico dos Dias, Brazil. We have estimated a redshift of z = 0.01683, corresponding to a heliocentric radial velocity of 5045 ± 23 km s−1. The ( B − R) colour map shows that the ring is bluer than the host galaxy, which indicates that the ring is a younger structure. Standard diagnostic diagrams have been used to classify the main ionizing source of selected emission-line regions (nucleus, host galaxy and ring). We find that the ring regions are mainly ionized by massive stars, while the nucleus presents the characteristics of an active galactic nucleus. Using two empirical methods, we have found oxygen abundances for the H ii regions located in the ring in the range 12+log(O/H) = 8.3-8.8 dex. We have also found the presence of an oxygen gradient across the ring, and it appears that AM 2020-504 follows the metallicity-luminosity relation of spiral galaxies. These results support the accretion scenario for this object and they rule out cold accretion as the source for the H i gas in the polar ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study addressed the impacts of wildfire and, in particular, its severity on the seed bank of the litter/ash layer and the topsoil of a Mediterranean pine plantation (Pinus pinaster Ait.) in north-central Portugal. The study location was selected for presenting a homogeneous pine cover before the fire, on the one hand, and, on the other, heterogeneous patches with distinct degrees of damage to the pine crowns immediately after the fire. The experimental design involved the selection, from the opposite valley side, of three zones with adjacent strips of Low and High Canopy Consumption (L/HCC). Within each of these strips, a transect was laid out along which three plots were established at 10m intervals. The same was done in the unburnt area immediately outside the fire perimeter. At each plot, samples were collected within the first two weeks after the fire to: (i) asses viable seed densities for three sampling layers, using the indirect method for a 10-month period; (ii) estimate maximum temperature reached (MTRs) at 0–3cm depth, on the basis of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR). Fire severity at the plots was further determined by verifying, in situ, pine canopy consumption (FCC) as well as by measuring the minimum diameter of remaining shrub twigs (TDI). In comparison with the unburnt area, the recently burnt area as a whole revealed a substantial increase in overall densities of viable seeds. Seed bank composition, however, varied markedly within the burnt area but this could be explained reasonably well by differential effects of the wildfire associated with its severity, in terms of the two crown consumption classes as well as the TDI index but not the MTRs. The inclusion of the litter/ash layer and the separation of two soil depths were amply justified by providing clear support for the important role of fire severity, in particular for the two principal taxa (Calluna vulgaris and Erica spp., presumably mainly E. australis). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims. We report first results of an investigation of the tidally disturbed galaxy system AM546-324, whose two principal galaxies 2MFGC04711 and AM0546-324 (NED02) were previously classified as interacting doubles. This system was selected to study the interaction of ellipticals in a moderately dense environment. We provide spectral characteristics of the system and present an observational study of the interaction effects on the morphology, kinematics, and stellar population of these galaxies. Methods. The study is based on long-slit spectrophotometric data in the range of ∼4500-8000 Å obtained with the Gemini Multi- Object Spetrograph at Gemini South (GMOS-S). We have used the stellar population synthesis code STARLIGHT to investigate the star formation history of these galaxies. The Gemini/GMOS-S direct r-G0303 broad band pointing image was used to enhance and study fine morphological structures. The main absorption lines in the spectra were used to determine the radial velocity. Results. Along the whole long-slit signal, the spectra of the Shadowy galaxy (discovered by us), 2MFGC 04711, and AM0546-324 (NED02) resemble that of an early-type galaxy. We estimated redshifts of z = 0.0696, z = 0.0693 and z = 0.0718, corresponding to heliocentric velocities of 20 141 km s-1, 20 057 km s-1, and 20 754 km s-1 for the Shadowy galaxy, 2MFGC 04711 and AM0546-324 (NED02), respectively. The central regions of 2MFGC04711 and AM0546-324 (NED02) are completely dominated by an old stellar population of 2 × 109 < t ⩽ 13 × 109 yr and do not show any spatial variation in the contribution of the stellar-population components. Conclusions. The observed rotation profile distribution of 2MFGC 04711 and AM0546-324 (NED02) can be adequately interpreted as an ongoing stage of interaction with the Shadowy galaxy as the center of the local gravitational potential-well of the system. The three galaxies are all early-type. The extended and smooth distribution of the material in the Shadowy galaxy is a good laboratory to study direct observational signatures of tidal friction in action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Crotalus durissus terrificus venom and its main component, crotoxin (CTX), have the ability to down-modulate the immune system. Certain mechanisms mediated by cells and soluble factors of the immune system are responsible for the elimination of pathogenic molecules to ensure the specific protection against subsequent antigen contact. Accordingly, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of CTX on the immune response of mice that had been previously primed by immunisation with human serum albumin (HSA). CTX inoculation after HSA immunisation, along with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) or Aluminium hydroxide (Alum) immunisation, was able to suppress anti-HSA IgG1 and IgG2a antibody production. We showed that the inhibitory effects of this toxin are not mediated by necrosis or apoptosis of any lymphoid cell population. Lower proliferation of T lymphocytes from mice immunised with HSA/CFA or HSA/Alum that received the toxin was observed in comparison to the mice that were only immunised. In conclusion, CTX is able to exert potent inhibitory effects on humoural and cellular responses induced by HSA immunisation, even when injected after an innate immune response has been initiated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT We present the first optical long-slit spectroscopy for the galaxy HRG 10103, an Sa(r)-type peculiar galaxy seen face-on with an asymmetrical elliptical structure. The main goal of this work is to provide the spectral classification of the current object using 'standard' diagnostic diagrams. We also include empirical boundaries and a recent analysis involving the known emission-line ratio R23, usually used to estimate the O/H abundance ratio. The idea is to make a better distinction between the narrow-line AGNs [i.e. the Seyfert 2 galaxies and the low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs)] and the H ii galaxies (i.e. the Starburst galaxies). The spectra were obtained in two observatories (OPD-LNA/MCT and Gemini-South) and includes some of the most important emission lines for ionization diagnostic. Based on the observed spectra, HRG 10103 is a Seyfert 2 galaxy with typical line-ratio values in the optical range. We have estimated nuclear redshift of ∼ z= 0.040, corresponding to a heliocentric velocity of ∼11 800 km s−1. The resulting reddening-corrected fluxes as a function of distance from the nucleus are presented too. The errors in the fluxes were mostly caused by uncertainties in the placement of the continuum level. To map the gas kinematics, we averaged the central wavelengths of Gaussians which we had fitted to the most prominent emission lines observed in each spectrum. For each position angle on the sky, it was observed that the velocity fields of the ionized gas are smooth and similar at an orientation not far from the major axis [position angle (PA) = 0° and 9° (OPD-LNA/MCT), and PA = 6° (Gemini-South)]. Some other physical and geometrical parameters were derived whenever possible. The spectroscopic data reduction was carried out using the gemini.gmos package as well as the standard iraf procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against intimin in the detection of enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli isolates using immunoblotting. Methods and Results: Polyclonal and Mabs against the intimin-conserved region were raised, and their reactivities were compared in enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) isolates using immunoblotting analysis. In comparison with rat antiserum, rabbit anti-intimin IgG-enriched fraction had a stronger recognition pattern to a wide spectrum of intimin types in different EPEC and EHEC serotypes. On the other hand, murine monoclonal IgG2b specific to intimin, with dissociation constant of 1·3 × 10−8 mol l−1, failed in the detection of some of these isolates. Conclusion: All employed antibodies showed 100% specificity, not reacting with any of the eae-negative isolates. The sensitivity range was according to the employed antisera, and 97% for rabbit anti-intimin IgG-enriched fraction, followed by 92% and 78% sensitivity with rat antisera and Mab. Significance and Impact of the Study: The rabbit anti-intimin IgG-enriched fraction in immunoblotting analysis is a useful tool for EPEC and EHEC diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first spectroscopic observations for the galaxies ESO 089−G018 (hereafter G18, an Sb(?)-type galaxy seen nearly edge-on) and ESO 089−G019 (hereafter G19, an SA(s): a peculiar galaxy), extracted from the sample of ring-shaped galaxies compiled in Faúndez-Abans & de Oliveira-Abans. The main goal of this work is to investigate the spectral classification using the three line-ratio diagrams, called diagnostic diagrams, of Veilleux & Osterbrock. However, in order to separate the different types of galaxies [H ii galaxies, Seyfert 2 galaxies and low-ionization nuclear emission-line region galaxies (LINERs)] we have to used empirical boundaries between them. Based on the observed spectra, we suggest G18 is a ‘weak-[O i] LINER’ or even a ‘transition object’ or LINER/H ii. In the case of G19, we see Hβ in absorption and no [O iii] lines, impeding the [O iii]/Hβ ratio to be estimated. However, other lines ratios have been evaluated for the discussion. We classify the nature of G19 as ambiguous, because of the difficulty in determining its ionizing source (narrow-line active galactic nuclei or H ii galaxies) in different diagnostic diagrams. The errors in the fluxes were mostly caused by uncertainties in the placement of the continuum level. We have estimated nuclear redshift of (G18) and (G19), corresponding to a heliocentric velocity of 10 246 and 11 734 km s−1, respectively. Some other physical parameters have been derived whenever possible. All spectra were reduced and analysed in a homogeneous way with the standardiraf procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of our spectroscopic and morphological studies of the galaxy UGC 7388 with the 8.1-m Gemini North telescope. Judging by its observed characteristics, UGC 7388 is a giant late-type spiral galaxy seen nearly edge-on. The main body of the galaxy is surrounded by two faint ( μ B ∼ 24 m /□″ and μ B ∼ 255/□″) extended (∼ 20–30 kpc) loop-like structures. A large-scale rotation of the brighter loop about the main galaxy has been detected. We discuss the assumption that the tidal disruption of a relatively massive companion is observed in the case of UGC 7388. A detailed study and modeling of the observed structure of this unique galaxy can give important information about the influence of the absorption of massive companions on the galactic disks and about the structure of the dark halo around UGC 7388. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are multifunctional enzymes involved in several symptoms following snakebite, such as severe local hemorrhage. Multidomain P-III SVMPs are strongly hemorrhagic, whereas single domain P-I SVMPs are not. This indicates that disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains allocate motifs that enable catalytic degradation of ECM components leading to disruption of capillary vessels. Interestingly, some P-III SVMPs are completely devoid of hemorrhagic activity despite their highly conserved disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains. This observation was approached in the present study by comparing the effects of jararhagin, a hemorrhagic P-III SVMP, and berythractivase, a pro-coagulant and non-hemorrhagic P-III SVMP. Both toxins inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation, but only jararhagin was able to bind to collagen I with high affinity. The monoclonal antibody MAJar 3, that neutralizes the hemorrhagic effect of Bothrops venoms and jararhagin binding to collagen, did not react with berythractivase. The three-dimensional structures of jararhagin and berythractivase were compared to explain the differential binding to collagen and MAJar 3. Thereby, we pinpointed a motif within the Da disintegrin subdomain located opposite to the catalytic domain. Jararhagin binds to both collagen I and IV in a triple helix-dependent manner and inhibited in vitro fibrillogenesis. The jararhagin–collagen complex retained the catalytic activity of the toxin as observed by hydrolysis of fibrin. Thus, we suggest that binding of hemorrhagic SVMPs to collagens I and IV occurs through a motif located in the Da subdomain. This allows accumulation of toxin molecules at the site of injection, close to capillary vessels, where their catalytic activity leads to a local hemorrhage. Toxins devoid of this motif would be more available for vascular internalization leading to systemic pro-coagulant effects. This reveals a novel function of the disintegrin domain in hemorrhage formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: Isoflavones present in soybean may contribute to soy atheroprotective effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of soy isoflavones supplementation on the formation of electronegative LDL (LDL(-)) and its autoantibodies in blood plasma and aortic atheromas of rabbits fed an atherogenic casein-based diet enriched with isoflavones. METHODS: New Zealand male rabbits (n = 15) were fed an atherogenic diet (27% casein) supplemented with isoflavones (0.73 or 7.3 mg of isoflavones/kg/day, Low and High Iso groups, respectively) for 180 days. Monthly, blood samples were collected after 12-15 h fasting and at 180 days of treatment all animals were sacrificed. Isoflavones were analyzed in plasma and urine samples by HPLC. LDL(-) in plasma and atheromas was detected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively, with a monoclonal antibody reactive to LDL(-). Autoantibodies reactive to LDL(-) were analyzed in plasma and aorta by ELISA. RESULTS: Low and High Iso groups had decreased LDL-cholesterol, increased HDL-cholesterol and lower levels of LDL(-) in blood plasma and aortic atherosclerotic lesions than the non-supplemented Control group. IgG autoantibodies reactive to LDL(- )were higher in plasma of the Control group in comparison with the High and Low Iso groups. In contrast, the aortas from animals that consumed isoflavones showed higher levels of IgG reactive to LDL(- )than the Control group. CONCLUSION: Soy isoflavones showed hypolipidemic effects and decreased the pro-inflammatory LDL(-) subfraction in blood plasma and aorta of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]