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Day care centers are a relatively new phenomenon in Brazil that bring together large numbers of young children susceptible to contagious diseases. Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) is an important infection in the age range of those attending day care centers. In the present study, the carriage rate of Haemophilus influenzae was identified in 38 day care attendees age 6 to 37 months, and 23 staff members, at a day care center in Ribeirão Preto-São Paulo, in 1997. To identify the carriers, two nasopharyngeal swabs were collected; one in July and one in December. The rate of H. influenzae carriers among the children was 77%. Only 2 of 23 staff members (9%) had Hi. Among the children, there were 58 isolates in the two sampling periods; 6 of the Hi were serotype b, 1 was serotype e, and 48 isolates were non-typeable. Two were identified as H. parainfluenzae. One adult had a non-typeable Hi and 1 had H. paraphrohaemolyticus. Three of the 6 children with type B had received a conjugate vaccine against H. influenzae type b, but they still carried this bacterium in the nasopharynx (50%). Forty ribotype patterns were found among the isolates, showing a high exchange rate of nontypeable H. influenzae carriers. The results indicate that, because of the high and changing biotype of Hi carriage, day care centers should be carefully monitored as potential point source of HI disease in the community.

Considering the partitions of a set into nonempty subsets, we obtain an expression for the number of all partitions of a given type. The chromatic polynomial of a graph subdivision is generalized, considering two sets of colors, and a general explicit expression is obtained for this generalization. Using these results, we determine the generalized chromatic polynomial for the particular case of complete graph subdivision., UDC 519.17 1. Introduction One of the most important problems studied in graph theory is the coloring of the vertices of a graph. A proper vertex-coloring is color assignment to [...]

In order to characterise the changes produced by boiling and roasting on the mechanical properties of 11 Portuguese chestnut cultivars (cvs.), the moisture, mass, force and energy required as well as shell and kernel stiffness of raw, boiled and roasted chestnuts were evaluated. In comparison to raw chestnuts, boiling increased the moisture content about 4% and roasting decreased the moisture content about 20%. Lamela and Judia cvs. required more energy to rupture the shell, while Negra and Boaventura kernels offered higher resistance to penetration. Colour was also evaluated because it is a parameter that influences the consumers' choice. Thus, processed chestnuts showed lower brightness than the raw fruits. After boiling, the most attractive chestnuts with higher brightness were cvs. Judia and Lamela, and after roasting, cvs. Lada and Lamela. These results provide important information about the cultivars most suitable for processing, resistant to mechanical harvest and most attractive to consumers. Con el fin de caracterizar los cambios producidos por el hervido y asado en las propiedades de once cultivares de castana portugueses (cvs.), se evaluo la humedad, masa, fuerza y enegia requeridas, asi como la cascara y dureza de a semilla de castanas crudas, hervidas y asadas. Comparado con las castanas crudas, el hervido aumento el contenido de humedad en un 4% y el asado lo disminuyo en un 20%. Lamela y Judia cvs. neesitaron mas energia para el rasgado de la cascara, mientras los frutos de Negra y Boaventura ofrecieron una mayor resistencia a penetracion. Tambien se evaluo el color, ya que es un parametro que influye en la eleccion del consumidor. Asi, las castanas procesadas mostraron un menor brillo que los frutos crudos. Tras el hervido, las castanas mas atractivas con un mayor brillo resultaron cvs. Juadia y Lamela, y tras el asado, cvs. Lada y Lamela. Estos resltados aportan informacion importante sobre los cultivos mas adecuados para procesado, resistente a cosecha mecanica y mas atractivos al consumidor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In addition to its classic glycolytic role, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been implicated in many activities unrelated to glycolysis, such as membrane fusion, binding to host proteins and signal transduction. GAPDH can be the target of several modifications that allow incorporation to membranes and possible regulation of its activity; among these modifications is mono-ADP-ribosylation. This post-translational modification is important for the regulation of many cellular processes and is the mechanism of action of several bacterial toxins. In a previous study, we observed the extracellular ADP-ribosylation of a 37-kDa ameba protein. We report here that GAPDH and cysteine synthase A are the main ADP-ribosylated proteins in Entamoeba histolytica extracellular medium, GAPDH is secreted from ameba at 37°C in a time-dependent manner, and its enzymatic activity is not inhibited by ADP-ribosylation. Extracellular GAPDH from ameba may play an important role in the survival of this human pathogen or in interaction with host molecules, as occurs in other organisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose The ability of foods to aid in the prevention of chronic metabolic diseases, has recently become an area of increased interest. In addition, there is growing interest in exploring the benefits of consuming underutilized fruits as alternatives to commercially available fruits. Eugenia uvalha Cambess (uvaia) is a native fruit of Brazil with great market and phytotherapy potential. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of uvaia juice (UJ) on the levels of protein carbonyls (PCO) and antioxidant enzymes in the livers of rats fed a high-fat diet. Methods Thirty-two female rats were randomly assigned to four groups. The rats were fed either a standard diet (group C) or a high-fat diet (group HF). In addition, groups CUJ and HFUJ were treated with UJ (2 mL/day) administered via gavage for 8 weeks. Results In our study, UJ displayed high antioxidant activity (135.14 ± 9.74 GAE/100 g). Administration of UJ caused a significantly reduced concentration of rat liver PCO (47.4%), which was associated with a 29% increase in catalase activity. A significant increase in the concentration of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (15.04 ± 5.08 nmol/ml) and a reduction in the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) (11.30 ± 2.68) were found in the HF group, whilst these changes were not observed in the HFUJ group (a result similar to that of group C). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that UJ decreases oxidative damage by improving antioxidant efficiency and attenuating oxidative damage to proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the involvement of the rennin–angiotensin system (RAS) in the control of the blood pressure (BP), baroreceptor-mediated bradycardia and the reactivity of caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) neurons to Ang II and to AT2 receptor antagonist in sedentary or trained renovascular hypertensive rats. Physical activity did not significantly change the baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) or the sensitivity of the baroreflex bradycardia in normotensive Sham rats. However, in 2K1C hypertensive rats, physical activity induced a significant fall in baseline MAP and HR and produced an improvement of the baroreflex function (bradycardic component). The microinjections of Ang II into the CVLM produced similar decreases in MAP in all groups, Sham and 2K1C, sedentary and trained rats. The hypotensive effect of Ang II at the CVLM was blocked by previous microinjection of the AT2 receptors antagonist, PD123319, in all groups of rats. Unexpectedly, microinjection of PD123319 at the CVLM produced a depressor effect in 2K1C sedentary that was attenuated in 2K1C trained rats. No significant changes in MAP were observed after PD123319 in Sham rats, sedentary or trained. These data showed that low-intensity physical activity is effective in lowering blood pressure and restoring the sensitivity of the baroreflex bradycardia, however these cardiovascular effects are not accompanied by changes in the responsiveness to Ang II at CVLM in normotensive or hypertensive, 2K1C rats. In addition, the blood pressure changes observed after AT2 blockade in 2K1C rats suggest that hypertension may trigger an imbalance of AT1/AT2 receptors at the CVLM that may be restored, at least in part, by low-intensity physical activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Exergame training improved the "language" domain. • Exergame training demonstrated improved in the "abstraction" and "memory/delayed recall" domains. • Exergame training increased BDNF levels. • BDNF enhancement might mediate the cognitive changes. Background: Prior research has reported cognitive improvements in elderly individuals when mental and physical exercise are practiced simultaneously, as in exergaming. However, the molecular mechanisms driving this beneficial response remain unclear. Moreover, there is robust evidence that regular exercise increases neurotrophic factors and promotes neuroplasticity, contributing to cognitive improvement. This research aimed to assess the impact of a 6-week Xbox 360 Kinect exergame protocol on cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in institutionalized older individuals. Methods: Participants living in a long-term care facility were included. The intervention (Xbox 360 Kinect exergame protocol) was conducted individually and consisted of two sessions per week (40 min each) over 6 weeks. Participants' cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) was evaluated before and after the intervention. Blood samples (15 ml) were collected at the same time to measure BDNF levels. Results: Although there were no changes in total MoCA scores, exergame training improved the "language" domain and demonstrated a tendency toward an improvement in the "abstraction" and "memory/delayed recall" domains. Furthermore, BDNF levels were significantly increased after the intervention. Conclusion: BDNF enhancement might mediate, at least in part, the cognitive changes induced by a 6-week Xbox 360 Kinect exergame protocol in institutionalized older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]