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Unauthorized immigrants and permanent residents may experience challenges in accessing kidney transplantation due to limited healthcare access, socioeconomic and cultural barriers. Understanding the United States (US) national landscape of kidney transplantation for non-citizens may inform policy changes. To evaluate this, we utilized two cohorts from the US national registry (2013-2023): 287,481 adult candidates for first transplant listing and 190,176 adult first transplant recipients. Citizenship was categorized as US citizen (reference), permanent resident, and presumed unauthorized immigrant. Negative binomial regression was used to quantify the incidence rate ratio over time by citizenship status. Cause-specific hazards models, with clustering at the state of listing/transplant, were used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio of waitlist mortality, kidney transplant, and post-transplant outcomes (mortality/death-censored graft failure) by citizenship category. The crude proportion of presumed unauthorized immigrants listed increased over time (2013:0.9%, 2023:1.9%). However, after accounting for case mix and waitlist size, there was no change in listing over time. Presumed unauthorized immigrants were less likely to experience waitlist mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.54, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.46-0.62), were more likely to obtain deceased donor kidney transplant (1.11: 1.05-1.18), but less likely to receive live donor (0.80: 0.71-0.90) or preemptive kidney transplant (0.52: 0.43- 0.62). When stratified by insurance status, presumed unauthorized immigrants on Medicaid were less likely to receive deceased donor kidney transplants compared to their citizen counterparts; however, presumed unauthorized immigrants with Private insurance or Medicare were more likely to receive deceased donor kidney transplants. Presumed unauthorized immigrants were less likely to experience post-transplant death (0.56: 0.43-0.69) and graft failure (0.69: 0.57-0.84). Residents had similar pre- and post-transplant outcomes. Despite the barriers to kidney transplantation faced by presumed unauthorized immigrants and residents in the US, better post-transplant outcomes for presumed unauthorized immigrants compared to citizens persisted, even after accounting for differences in patient characteristics., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: The use of Hormone Dosage (HD) in Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNA) needle washout fluid, introduced in the 1990s, initially aimed at measuring Thyroglobulin (TG). Elevated TG concentration in an extrathyroidal cervical lesion suggests metastases of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas (WDTC). Over the years, HD has evolved to incorporate Calcitonin (CT) and Parathormone (PTH), improving sensitivity and specificity in diverse clinical scenarios. Despite varying cutoffs in the literature, existing data underscore significant advancements in diagnostic accuracy., Methods: This paper presents a case series of 762 cervical lesions with FNA cytology and HD in different cervical regions., Results: It was possible to establish the histogenesis of the lesion based on a combination of the FNA cytology and PTH HD findings, so PTH was useful to determine parathyroid origin in all regions, Thyroglobulin (TG) and PTH together provide insights on cell origin in difficult cases. Thyroglobulin (TG) dosage enhances the accuracy of detecting well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas. In post-thyroidectomy by bed lesions, dosages help to determine non-thyroid/parathyroid lesions., Discussion: The case series and review underscore the valuable contribution of HD in fine-needle aspiration for the evaluation of cervical lesions. By integrating HD with cytological, ultrasound, and clinical data, clinicians can enhance the accuracy and specificity of FNA in diagnosing various cervical lesions, ultimately improving patient care and management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Lung disease due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is rising in incidence. While both two dimensional cell culture and animal models exist for NTM infections, a major knowledge gap is the early responses of human alveolar and innate immune cells to NTM within the human alveolar microenvironment. Here we describe development of a humanized, three-dimensional, alveolus lung-on-a-chip (ALoC) model of Mycobacterium fortuitum lung infection that incorporates only primary human cells such as pulmonary vascular endothelial cells in a vascular channel, and type I and II alveolar cells and monocyte-derived macrophages in an alveolar channel along an air-liquid interface. M. fortuitum introduced into the alveolar channel primarily infected macrophages, with rare bacteria inside alveolar cells. Bulk-RNA sequencing of infected chips revealed marked upregulation of transcripts for cytokines, chemokines and secreted protease inhibitors (SERPINs). Our results demonstrate how a humanized ALoC system can identify critical early immune and epithelial responses to M. fortuitum infection. We envision potential application of the ALoC to other NTM and for studies of new antibiotics., Competing Interests: Competing interests All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Objective: To assess the association of residual diuresis with sarcopenia in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) on hemodialysis., Methods: Through a cross-sectional study, patients on hemodialysis were subjected to a Dual Energy Radiologic Absorption (DEXA) exam to record muscle mass. Based on the volume of urine collected in 24 hours, patients were classified as anuric (diuresis ≤ 100 mL/day) or non-anuric (diuresis > 100 mL/day). Functional performance was evaluated by Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and muscle strength by handgrip strength and 5-repetition sit-to-stand test. The association between the absence of residual urine and the presence of sarcopenia, low SPPB, and low muscle strength was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model., Results: Ninety-two patients, with a mean age of 54.4 years (95% CI 51.3 - 57.4) and with a mean diuresis volume of 476.3 mL/day (95% CI 320.4 - 632.2) were evaluated (48 anuric and 44 non-anuric). Anuric patients had a 2.77 (95% CI 1.14 - 6.73) times greater probability of sarcopenia and had a 3.55 (1.14 - 11.0) times greater probability of low SPPB, regardless of gender, age, and time on dialysis. Gender was the other associated variable for the presence of sarcopenia, with males having a 3.30 (95% CI 1.34 - 8.13) times higher risk. There were no associations with muscle strength., Conclusion: The absence of residual diuresis in patients on hemodialysis is associated with a higher risk of sarcopenia and low functional performance., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) is a very rare genetic disease characterized by insulin resistance due to a loss of subcutaneous fat from the extremities together with a progressive storage of fat around the face and neck and inside the abdomen. In over 50% of cases, molecular genetic testing reveals pathogenic variants in two nuclear genes, LMNA and PPARG. The case reported here refers to a woman phenotypically diagnosed with FPLD, who presented with diabetes and multiple cervical lipomatosis and in whom no variant had been found in the nuclear genes classically associated with this syndrome that could explain her phenotype. Genetic sequencing using a target panel containing 48 nuclear genes related to monogenic diabetes plus the whole mitochondrial genome revealed the mitochondrial variant m.A8344G in 84.1% heteroplasmy. Following molecular diagnosis, her phenotype was expanded with the recognition of additional clinical characteristics: mild sensorineural hearing loss, proximal myopathy, fatigue, cognitive impairment, sensory ataxia, cardiac abnormalities and, finally, muscle biopsy findings compatible with mitochondrial disease. Therefore, careful and detailed phenotypic and genotypic reanalysis proved crucial in improving molecular diagnosis in FPLD., Competing Interests: Disclosure: no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Crotalus neutralizing factor (CNF) is an endogenous glycoprotein from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake blood that inhibits secretory phospholipases A 2 (sPLA 2 ) from the Viperid but not from Elapid venoms (subgroups IA and IIA, respectively). In the present study, we demonstrated that CNF can inhibit group III-PLA 2 from bee venom by forming a stable enzyme-inhibitor complex. This finding opens up new possibilities for the potential use of CNF and/or CNF-based derivatives in the therapeutics of bee stings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Evidence-based home visiting services (EBHV) are available in states and localities nationwide through the federally-funded Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. Nevertheless, the anticipated benefits of EBHV, such as improved child developmental outcomes and increased positive parenting practices, may be undermined by the fact that most families withdraw from services earlier than the model developers planned. Prior studies have linked family attrition with staff turnover. The current study used a mixed methods design to investigate the conditions under which families remained active in the home visiting program after their assigned home visitor resigned. Coincidence Analysis revealed that giving families advance notice (at least 1 month) prior to the home visitors' upcoming resignation or developing a strong positive working alliance with the inheriting home visitor appears to independently make a difference for ongoing family engagement at 3 and 6 months following a staff transition. These findings suggest that emphasizing how staff turnover is managed may mitigate the risk of family withdrawal during these transitions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To investigate the effects of auditory training with synthesized voices on intra- and inter-rater agreement of the auditory-perceptual voice analysis of roughness and breathiness., Methods: This was an experimental study consisting of four auditory training sessions. The sample consisted of twenty raters, students from a Speech-Language Pathology course, who had previous experience with auditory-perceptual assessment. The raters participated in the four training sessions with a seven-day break in between sessions. Each training consisted of three tasks: 1) Pre-training activity: Participants were asked to rate 20 natural voices, normal and dysphonic, from zero to three, according to the parameters of roughness and breathiness; 2) Training activity: Synthesized voice anchor stimuli were presented, and participants were asked to rate them from zero to three. Four stimuli were related to roughness and four to breathiness. Participants heard 20 voice stimuli and were instructed to pair the natural voice with the synthesized anchor stimulus that most resembled it; and 3) Post-training activity: the 20 voices from the pre-training activity were randomized and participants rated the same voices, without prior knowledge that these were repeated. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the AC 2 test, to assess the extent of agreement between raters, and the Friedman test to compare the training sessions. A 5% significance level was considered., Results: For the auditory-perceptual voice analysis of roughness, intra-rater agreement results ranged from 79% to 86% between the first and fourth auditory training session, with improvement in intra-rater agreement from the fourth session forward (P = 0.005). For the analysis of breathiness, results ranged from 88% to 92% between the first and fourth auditory training sessions, with improvement from the fourth session forward (P = 0.036). Inter-rater agreement results for the auditory-perceptual analysis of roughness ranged from 23% to 34%, and from 48% to 61% for breathiness, with no differences regarding training (P = 0.855)., Conclusion: The auditory-perceptual breathiness parameter had a higher AC 2 indicator compared to the roughness parameter, suggesting better agreement. The intra-rater agreement showed improvement starting from the fourth auditory training session for the assessment of roughness and breathiness. The auditory training program did not show a positive inter-rater agreement impact., (Copyright © 2021 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity of the Patient Generated Index (PGI) in individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CDK) undergoing hemodialysis., Methods: Through a non-experimental study with repeated measures, PGI was applied twice to assess internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Correlations with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF), the Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire, the Social Participation Scale, and the Glittre ADL Test were used., Results: 91 individuals with CKD were evaluated. There was high reliability for the PGI (ICC= 0.97) PGI correlated with KQDOL - SF in Functional Capacity r  = 0.38 ( p  < 0.001), Emotional Well-Being r  = 0.31 ( p  = 0.003), Social Aspect r  = 0.22 ( p  = 0.036), Emotional Function r  = 0.22 ( p  = 0.038) and Effect of Kidney Disease r  = 0.21 ( p  = 0.042), and Physical scores r  = 0.24 ( p  = 0.021)), Mental r  = 0.21 ( p  = 0.05) and General r  = 0.22 ( p  = 0.037) summarized. There was a significant correlation between PGI and HAP r  = 0.40 ( p  < 0.001) and the Social Participation Scale r  = -0.36 ( p  < 0.001). There was no correlation between the PGI and Glittre ADL scores r  = 0.12 ( p  = 0.247)., Conclusion: In adults receiving hemodialysis, the PGI proved to be an accurate and reliable instrument for the assessment of the quality of life from the perspective of the patient.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONAlthough hemodialysis treatment is associated with increased survival and symptom control, there is a significant change in the patient's lifestyle.In order to provide a more focused view of the individual, the Patient Generated Index (PGI) was created to evaluate the quality of life.PGI is reliable and correlates with KQDOL - SF and the Social Participation Scale in this population.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis, an infectious disease with one of the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Leveraging its highly evolved repertoire of non-protein and protein virulence factors, Mtb invades through the airway, subverts host immunity, establishes its survival niche, and ultimately escapes in the setting of active disease to initiate another round of infection in a naive host. In this review, we will provide a concise synopsis of the infectious life cycle of Mtb and its clinical and epidemiologic significance. We will also take stock of its virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms that modulate host immunity and facilitate its spread. Developing a greater understanding of the interface between Mtb virulence factors and host defences will enable progress toward improved vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat tuberculosis.

Phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 s) are main components of snake venoms. Several snake species possess endogenous PLA 2 inhibitors in their circulating blood, which are generally known as sbPLIs (an acronym for snake blood phospholipase A 2 inhibitors). The sbPLIs are categorized in three classes (alpha, beta or gamma) depending on the existence of distinguishing protein domains in their structure. The Crotalus durrissus terrificus venom has a highly neurotoxic PLA 2 - crotoxin (CTX) - in its composition and the self-protection of the snake is mainly ensured by a sbγPLI named CNF (standing for Crotalusneutralizing factor). In an attempt to find smaller molecules able to inhibit the catalytic activity of CTX, in the present study we used linear peptide arrays to identify CNF segments possibly involved in the interaction with the toxin. Five reacting segments were identified as possible interacting regions. The target peptides were synthesized and located in the in silico CNF structure. Although all of them are exposed to the solvent, high concentrations were needed to inhibit the PLA 2 activity of the whole venom or CTX. Limitations of the methodology employed and particular characteristics of CTX inhibition by CNF are discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction : Oral health literacy relates to the capacity of individuals to acquire, understand and to act upon oral health information to make appropriate health decisions. This scientific review's main goal is to analyze the strategies that improve oral health literacy within the community, specifically oriented to a community-based learning model focused on the most vulnerable risk groups in society. Materials and Methods : The current review is based on the literature on oral health literacy within community-based learning strategies. The present review selected scientific studies by searching MEDLINE and related databases, such as Web of Science and PUBMED, and by consulting existing bibliographies. Results : Based on the application of the inclusion criteria to the abstracts, 45 publications were retrieved which explicitly dealt with the definitions of oral health literacy, community-based learning, and service learning. Several studies have demonstrated that health consumers with low health literacy fail to understand the available health information. Therefore, innovative oral health literacy strategies should be undertaken. Service learning is an example of an educational approach where the student learns specific soft skills in the classroom and collaborates directly with an agency or institution and engages in reflection activities to deepen their understanding of what is being taught. Conclusions : One of the main strategies used to incorporate the oral health professional in social responsibility and direct contact in the community is through experiencing community-based learning projects. The future graduate must be an educator capable of educating patients in order to themselves acquire high-level skills in oral health literacy.

Background: In 2009, Portugal ratified the UN CRPD and a turn to a rights-based approach in disability law and policy has intensified since. It thus becomes important to understand whether these legal changes are furthering the social inclusion of adults with intellectual and complex disabilities., Method: Questionnaires were applied to a stratified sample of 127 adults with intellectual and complex disabilities attending social care and vocational training programmes across the country., Results: Participants reported low rates of social participation, and many (49%) were found to live below the poverty line. High rates of discrimination and violence and feelings of loneliness and sadness were also reported, which can be strong indicators of the oppression that many of them daily endure., Conclusion: Adults with intellectual and complex disabilities in Portugal face exclusion, discrimination, and violence. The poverty and isolation in which many of them live compounds their (de)citizenship status in Portuguese society., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is defined as the occurrence of severe hyperglycemia in infants under 6 months old and may be permanent (PNDM) or transient (TNDM). When diabetes is diagnosed at 6-12 months of age (early onset diabetes [EOD]), the etiology may be monogenic; however, most cases consist of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Molecular diagnosis was determined in a cohort of 35 unrelated Brazilian patients with NDM or EOD based on targeted next-generation sequencing panel and/or chromosome 6q24 abnormalities. The impact of genetic testing on treatment and follow-up was evaluated. Overall, 24 patients had NDM: with 18 (75.0%) having PNDM, 5 TNDM (20.8%) and 1 case in which this information was unknown. Eleven patients had EOD. Genetic testing was positive in 20/24 patients with NDM (83.3%) and in 18.2% of cases of EOD. The commonest causes were ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel genes, and GCK and IPEX mutations (37.1%, 11.4% and 5.7%, respectively). Patients with PNDM due to KCNJ11 and ABCC8 mutations transitioned successfully to sulfonylureas in almost 60% of cases, reinforcing the benefit of performing genetic testing in NDM as early as possible. This report refers to the largest series of cases of NDM (TNDM and PNDM) and EOD in Brazil in which patients were submitted to molecular investigation and in which the clinical impact of genetic diagnosis was also evaluated., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This work aimed to evaluate the impact of inoculation single and co-cultivation of LAB and yeasts during the wet process of Coffea canephora using the self-induced anaerobic fermentation method. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Totulaspora delbrueckii delbrueckii, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were monitored during fermentation. L. mesenteroides was detected in high concentrations in the coffee fruits (8.54 log10 cells/mL) and remained until the end of fermentation. Lactic and acetic acids were the main acids produced during fermentation. After 36 h of fermentation, 75.39% of malic acid was consumed in the L. mesenteroides + S. cerevisiae (MC) fermentations. In roasted coffee, the caffeine concentration reached 3.29 higher than the green beans in MC fermentation. Specific volatile compounds were detected in inoculated fermentation and may contribute to the beverage quality. Coffee inoculated with Leuconostoc mesenteroides was classified as fine (80.0-89.0), while the other fermentations were classified as premium (70.0-79.0). L. mesenteroides inoculation showed the best sensory score, and the beverage was characterized by caramel, fruity, and spices notes. L. mesenteroides inoculated alone or in co-culture with S. cerevisiae are promising starter cultures to improve Conilon coffee quality and obtain beverages with differentiated sensory profiles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors do not have any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hops' (Humulus lupulus L.) phytochemicals are well known for their bioactivity. In the present study, the functional properties of hop extract rich in β-acids, as potassium-salts structures (KBA), were investigated to develop a sustainable active food packaging. Polylactic acid (PLA)-based sheets were incorporated with increasing concentrations of hop extract (0.1-5 % w/w in terms of KBA) and characterized through performance and bioactive properties. KBA-added sheets presented decreased crystallinity and affected mechanical and thermal properties, especially with higher KBA amounts. The sheets' surface hydrophobicity gradually decreased by KBA-extract addition, while the water vapor permeability was not affected. A Fickian diffuse behavior and a better fit to application in fatty foods were observed during release tests. UV-blocking and antioxidant properties were improved by KBA incorporation. Furthermore, results from antibacterial assays revealed great susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes towards sheets added with 5 % of KBA. Moreover, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations revealed that KBA led to strong effects on the cell membranes of both bacteria, including disruption of membrane integrity and cell death. Therefore, this study is a sign of great prospects of hop β-acids use, as KBA compound, in the production of sustainable active packaging for safe food shelf-life extension., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: A maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) calculator has been described and validated for use in European Caucasians. This study evaluated its performance in Brazilians diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) before 35 years of age., Methods: The electronic records of 391 individuals were reviewed in 2020 at the diabetes clinic of a quaternary hospital in São Paulo were analyzed: 231 with type 1 DM (T1DM), 46 with type 2 (T2DM) and 114 with MODY. The MODY calculator was applied to the three groups. A receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to obtain cut-off points for this population., Results: The principal differences between the MODY and the T1DM and T2DM groups were body mass index, a positive family history of diabetes and mean HbA1c level. Age at diagnosis in the MODY group was only significantly different compared to the T2DM group. Specificity and sensitivity were good for the cut-off points of 40%, 50% and 60%, with the accuracy of the model for any of these cut-off points being > 95%., Conclusion: The capacity of the calculator to identify Brazilian patients with MODY was good. Values ≥ 60% proved useful for selecting candidates for MODY genetic testing, with good sensitivity and specificity., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aim: To show the oddity of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and illustrate the histopathological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of this disease entity., Material and Methods: We obtained the histopathological diagnosis through stereotactic biopsy, and all lesions were resected at the Department of Neurosurgery, Centro Medico Nacional 20 de Noviembre., Results: We identified and included six lymphoma cases in a 5-year period: none of the patients had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; none were Epstein-Barr virus (EVB)-positive; all of them received chemotherapy and radiotherapy; and the survival rate was ≥1 year., Conclusion: Regarding the clinical data, the symptoms entirely depended on the location of the lesions. If the symptoms suggest malignancy, such as fever, weight loss, and night sweats, we searched for causes, other than the usual ones, to find a diagnosis. This is a rare disease, which responds well to medical treatment and has a survival greater than 5 years in some cases.

The untargeted metabolomics approach was used to compare the chemical profiles of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) pomace extracts. The effect of drying the raw material before subcritical water extraction (SWE) at different temperatures on the yield, phenolic content, and in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated. The results were compared with those obtained via Soxhlet and the findings suggest that SWE saves time (15 min) and solvent for extracting valuable components as compared to Soxhlet (6 h). An increase in temperature significantly improved the extraction yield (23.9 to 33.4 %), phenolic content (119.1 to 362 mgGAEg -1 ), and antioxidant activity, and higher values were obtained with SWE as compared to Soxhlet. The most abundant compounds detected by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS were ascorbic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. The investigation of different moisture contents in the SWE showed promising results for eliminating the drying operation, saving time and energy, and obtaining highly concentrated phenolic-rich by-products., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chlorinated compounds are usually applied in vegetable sanitization, but there are concerns about their application. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate ultrasound (50 kHz), acetic acid (1000; 2000 mg/L), and peracetic acid (20 mg/L) and their combination as alternative treatments to 200 mg/L sodium dichloroisocyanurate. The overall microbial, physicochemical, and nutritional quality of kale stored at 7 °C were assessed. The impact on Salmonella enterica Typhimurium was verified by plate-counting and scanning electron microscopy. Ultrasound combined with peracetic acid exhibited higher reductions in aerobic mesophiles, molds and yeasts, and coliforms at 35 °C (2.6; 2.4; 2.6 log CFU/g, respectively). Microbial counts remained stable during storage. The highest reduction in Salmonella occurred with the combination of ultrasound and acetic acid at 1000 mg/L and acetic acid at 2000 mg/L (2.8; 3.8 log CFU/g, respectively). No synergistic effect was observed with the combination of treatments. The cellular morphology of the pathogen altered after combinations of ultrasound and acetic acid at 2000 mg/L and peracetic acid. No changes in titratable total acidity, mass loss, vitamin C, or total phenolic compounds occurred. Alternative treatments presented equal to or greater efficacies than chlorinated compounds, so they could potentially be used for the decontamination of kale.

Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), remains a significant global epidemic. Host resistance to Mtb depends on both adaptive and innate immunity mechanisms, including development of antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells, production of inflammatory cytokines, bacterial phagocytosis and destruction within phagolysosomes, host cell apoptosis, and autophagy. A key regulatory mechanism in innate immunity is the attachment of the small protein ubiquitin to protein and lipid targets by the enzymatic activity of ubiquitin ligases. Here, we summarize the latest advances on the role of ubiquitination and ubiquitin ligases in host immunity against Mtb, with a focus on innate immunity signaling, inflammation, and antimicrobial autophagy. Understanding how ubiquitin ligases mediate immunity to Mtb, and the specific substrates of distinct ubiquitin ligases in the context of Mtb infection, could facilitate development of new host-directed antimicrobials., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Malay apple (MA) on the glycaemic response, lipid metabolism and liver health of rats fed a normal- or high-fat diet. Male Wistar rats were initially randomized into two groups: normal-fat diet (NF, n = 16) and high-fat diet (HF, n = 16) for three weeks. Then, they were subdivided into: normal-fat diet (NF, n = 8); normal-fat diet supplemented with MA (NFMA, n = 8); high-fat diet (HF, n = 8); high-fat diet supplemented with MA (HFMA, n = 8), continuing for another three weeks with their respective diets. Simultaneously, the supplemented groups received MA (400 mg/kg body weight) via gavage. MA contains anthocyanins (26.59 mg/100 g), catechin (2.55 ± 0.33 mg/100 g) and gallic acid (1.07 ± 0.20 mg/100 g) as the main phenolics. MA had a low-key effect on insulin and glucose tolerance, however decreased serum lipids and protected the liver from steatosis induced by the high-fat diet. HFMA rats showed changes in the fatty acid composition of the liver and faeces and decreased liver cholesterol levels (20.5%); as well as increased faecal excretion of fat (98%), cholesterol (10.5%) and bile acids (42.2%) when comparing to HF. MA supplementation reduced food and fat intake in HFMA in the last two weeks of the experiment, which may also have influenced these results. Our results suggest that MA was not able to improve glycaemic parameters, however, had hepatoprotective effect and minimizes changes in lipid metabolism caused by high-fat diet intake, which can relate mainly to the phenolic compounds present in this fruit., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) treatment affects functioning, physical activity level, clinical biomarkers, and body composition. However, the association between these variables with functioning, considering International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between physical activity, biomarkers, and body composition with functioning in HD patients in reference to the ICF., Methods: Eighty HD patients performed different tests grouped according to ICF domain: Body structure and function - handgrip strength (HS), 5-repetition sit-to-stand test, and 60-s sit-to-stand test (5-STS, 60-STS, respectively); Activity - short physical performance battery (SPPB); and Participation - participation scale questionnaire. Physical activity [Human Activity Profile questionnaire (HAP)], body composition (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), Parathormone (PTH), and alkaline phosphatase were analyzed as possible variables associated with ICF domains. Data analyses were performed using simple and multiple regression models adjusted for age, duration of HD, and diuresis volume., Results: In the body structure and function domain, appendicular lean mass, PTH level, and age were associated with HS (R 2  = 0.558); HAP and PTH were associated with 5-STS (R 2  = 0.263); and HAP, PTH, duration of HD, and age were associated with 60-STS (R 2  = 0.337). In the activity domain, HAP, PTH, alkaline phosphatase, duration of HD, age, and body fat were associated with SPPB (R 2  = 0.689). Finally, only HAP was associated with the participation scale (R 2  = 0.067)., Conclusion: Physical activity and PTH levels are determinant protagonists of functioning in all ICF domains in hemodialysis patients., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate Incidental Thyroid Carcinoma (ITC) by comparing the results of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) cytology and the postoperative pathological findings., Methods: Data of 1479 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were retrieved. Three hundred eighty-six patients were excluded due to insufficient data. Each surgical specimen studied received two histopathological diagnoses: the local diagnosis ‒ for the same area in which the FNAB was performed; and the final diagnosis, which includes a study of the entire surgical specimen., Results: A thousand and ninety-three patients were investigated. FNAB result was malignant in 187 patients, benign in 204, suspicious or indeterminate in 668 cases, and inconclusive in 34 cases. The prevalence of ITC was 15.1%. Most of the ITC in this series was less than 0.5 cm. The incidence of ITC was higher in Bethesda III (17.5% ITC) and IV (19% ITC) than in Bethesda II cases (1.5% false negatives and 9% ITC)., Conclusion: Although the incidence of false-negative results in Bethesda II nodules is only 1.5%, 9% of these patients had ITC in the thyroid parenchyma outside the nodule that underwent preoperative FNAB. The incidence of ITC in the same scenario was even higher in Bethesda III (17.5%) and Bethesda IV cases (19%). Ultrasonography-guided FNAB is an excellent method for the assessment of thyroid nodules. However, biopsy sites should be carefully selected. Despite the high incidence of incidentalomas, total thyroidectomy should not always be the treatment of choice due to its rare but potentially serious complications. The findings of the present study can assist future clinical decisions towards active surveillance strategies for the management of papillary thyroid carcinoma., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 HCFMUSP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we provide evidence that galectin-3 (Gal-3) plays an important role in Brucella abortus infection. Our results showed increased Gal-3 expression and secretion in B. abortus infected macrophages and mice. Additionally, our findings indicate that Gal-3 is dispensable for Brucella-containing vacuoles disruption, inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. On the other hand, we observed that Brucella-induced Gal-3 expression is crucial for induction of molecules associated to type I IFN signalling pathway, such as IFN-β: Interferon beta (IFN-β), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and guanylate-binding proteins. Gal-3 KO macrophages showed reduced bacterial numbers compared to wild-type cells, suggesting that Gal-3 facilitates bacterial replication in vitro. Moreover, priming Gal-3 KO cells with IFN-β favoured B. abortus survival in macrophages. Additionally, we also observed that Gal-3 KO mice are more resistant to B. abortus infection and these animals showed elevated production of proinflammatory cytokines when compared to control mice. Finally, we observed an increased recruitment of macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils in spleens of Gal-3 KO mice compared to wild-type animals. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that Brucella-induced Gal-3 is detrimental to host and this molecule is implicated in inhibition of recruitment and activation of immune cells, which promotes B. abortus spread and aggravates the infection. TAKE AWAYS: Brucella abortus infection upregulates galectin-3 expression Galectin-3 regulates guanylate-binding proteins expression but is not required for Brucella-containing vacuole disruption Galectin-3 modulates proinflammatory cytokine production during bacterial infection Galectin-3 favours Brucella replication., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This work aimed to evaluate Coffea canephora's microbiological, chemical, and sensory characteristics at 300 and 600 m elevation plantations processed by the natural method inoculated with yeasts. The coffee was spread on suspended terraces and sprayed with approximately 10 7  cfu/mL of Meyerozyma caribbica CCMA 1738 or Pichia kluyveri CCMA 1743, separately. Cherries containing bark and parchment were collected during fermentation for microbial groups counting, qPCR, quantification of organic acids, and sugars (HPLC). Volatile compounds (GC-MS) and sensory analyses, cupping test with expert coffee tasters and triangular test with consumers, were performed on roasted coffee beans. The inoculated yeasts persisted during the entire fermentation process. M. caribbica reduced the filamentous fungal population by 63% and 90% in the 300- and 600-m coffees, respectively. The 300-m coffee fruits showed higher concentrations of organic acids in all fermentation times when compared to the 600-m reaching out to 8 times more. Twenty-four volatile compounds were identified in the roasted coffee beans, with the predominance of pyrazines. The 600-m coffee inoculated with M. caribbica showed an increase of more than one point in the score given by certified tasters. Consumers noticed the M. caribbica inoculation in the 300- and 600-m-elevation coffees. M. caribbica is a promising starter culture for Conilon coffee with the potential to increase the beverage quality., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EO) is associated with the presence of secondary metabolites synthesized by plants. Its mechanism of action involves the interaction of its hydrophobic components with the lipids present in the cell membrane of microorganism, resulting in metabolic damages and cell death. Spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms are contaminants in meat and meat products with considerable impacts on food quality and safety. Research shows the potential of applying essential oils in the preservation of meat food systems as compounds of low toxicity, extracted from a natural source, and as an alternative to consumer demand for healthy foods with a more natural appeal. In addition, there is a great diversity of plants from which essential oils can be extracted, whose antimicrobial activity in vitro and in meat and meat products has been proven., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Measure umbilical cord pulsatility time and evaluate correlation/association with maternal and neonatal characteristics., Method: Cross-sectional study, with 76 binomials, carried out in 2017, in a maternity hospital in Alagoas. Analysis with Pearson or Spearman correlation test and Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis test., Results: Sixty-two parturients and their newborns participated of the research. The women had a gestational age ≥ 37 weeks, natural cephalic birth, without distortions. The newborns had average weight of 3326.29g, mostly male. The umbilical cord pulsatility time was 285.48s. There is a correlation between umbilical cord pulsatility time and placental delivery time (p<0.001). Other correlations/associations were not significant., Conclusion: It suggested using a correlation between pulsatility time and placental delivery time in clinical decision making for good practices in childbirth assistance.

Brucella abortus is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for a worldwide zoonotic infection-Brucellosis, which has been associated with high morbidity rate in humans and severe economic losses in infected livestock. The natural route of infection is through oral and nasal mucosa but the invasion process through host gut mucosa is yet to be understood. Studies have examined the role of NLRP6 (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing-6 protein) in gut homeostasis and defense against pathogens. Here, we investigated the impact of gut microbiota and NLRP6 in a murine model of Ba oral infection. Nlrp6-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were infected by oral gavage with Ba and tissues samples were collected at different time points. Our results suggest that Ba oral infection leads to significant alterations in gut microbiota. Moreover, Nlrp6-/- mice were more resistant to infection, with decreased CFU in the liver and reduction in gut permeability when compared to the control group. Fecal microbiota transplantation from WT and Nlrp6-/- into germ-free mice reflected the gut permeability phenotype from the donors. Additionally, depletion of gut microbiota by broad-spectrum-antibiotic treatment prevented Ba replication in WT while favoring bacterial growth in Nlrp6-/-. Finally, we observed higher eosinophils in the gut and leukocytes in the blood of infected Nlrp6-/- compared to WT-infected mice, which might be associated to the Nlrp6-/- resistance phenotype. Altogether, these results indicated that gut microbiota composition is the major factor involved in the initial stages of pathogen host replication and partially also by the resistance phenotype observed in Nlrp6 -/- mice regulating host inflammation against Ba infection., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

This study aimed to assess the microbial diversity in Coffea canephora grown in four different environments of Espirito Santo state, Brazil. Coffee cherries of two different altitudes (300 and 600 m) and two terrain aspects (Southeast-facing and Northwest-facing slopes) were processed by the dry method. Samples were collected during the drying/fermentation process. Microorganisms were counted, isolated, and identified by MALDI-TOF, followed by sequencing of the ribosomal region. Sugars and organic acids were quantified by HPLC and volatile compounds of the roasted coffees were evaluated by GC-MS. Bacteria population presented a significant number of isolates as well as higher counts during the drying/fermentation process with respect to the population of yeasts. The principal genera of microorganisms found were Bacillus, Pichia, Candida, and Meyerozyma. Meyerozyma guilliermondii was the most frequent yeast in all environments. On the other hand, Pichia kluyveri was found only in coffee cherries from the 600 m altitude. The highest concentration of acetic and succinic acids observed was 6.06 mg/g and 0.84 mg/g, respectively. Sucrose concentrations ranged from 0.68 to 5.30 mg/g, fructose from 1.30 to 4.60 mg/g, and glucose from 0.24 to 1.25 mg/g. Thirty-six volatile compounds, belonging to the groups of pyrazines, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and furans were identified in roasted coffee, with differences between altitude and terrain aspects. Information about microbial diversity is crucial to better understand the coffee quality and distinct characteristics of coffee produced in different environments.

Background: Clinical studies related to the obesity pandemic have intensified in recent years, being the animal studies are also considered of great relevance. However, despite the fact that many diets have been reported in the literature to induce obesity in animal models, there is still a gap regarding evidence of the efficacy of these models, considering not only changes in somatic parameters, but also the triggering of comorbidities associated with obesity. In this scenario, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of western and cafeteria diets as obesity-inducing protocols, focusing on the evaluation of metabolic, somatic, oxidative, histological and behavioural parameters of Wistar rats., Methods: The rats were fed a control (CON), western (WTD) or cafeteria (CAF) diet for 16 weeks., Results: The CAF diet caused anxiogenic-like behaviour. Body mass (BMI), Lee and adiposity indices increased in the CAF group. CAF and WTD diets reduced glucose and insulin tolerance, caused dyslipidemia, increased lipid peroxidation and decrease antioxidant capacity in the liver, kidneys and brain. The WTD and CAF groups shows greater IL-6 protein expression in adipose tissue, developed hepatic steatosis and ischaemic neurons, whereas interstitial nephritis was observed only in the CAF group., Conclusion: The CAF diet was most effective in inducing obesity, as shown both by the somatic parameters and by the greater number of obesity-related metabolic and neurobehavioural disorders in the evaluated rats., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: To know what hospital managers and safety leaders in Ibero-American countries are doing to respond effectively to the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) with serious consequences for patients., Design: Cross-sectional international study., Setting: Public and private hospitals in Ibero-American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Spain)., Participants: A convenience sample of hospital managers and safety leaders from eight Ibero-American countries. A minimum of 25 managers/leaders from each country were surveyed., Interventions: A selection of 37 actions for the effective management of AEs was explored. These were related to the safety culture, existence of a crisis plan, communication and transparency processes with the patients and their families, attention to second victims and institutional communication., Main Outcome Measure: Degree of implementation of the actions studied., Results: A total of 190 managers/leaders from 126 (66.3%) public hospitals and 64 (33.7%) private hospitals participated. Reporting systems, in-depth analysis of incidents and non-punitive approaches were the most implemented interventions, while patient information and care for second victims after an AE were the least frequent interventions., Conclusions: The majority of these hospitals have not protocolized how to act after an AE. For this reason, it is urgent to develop and apply a strategic action plan to respond to this imperative safety challenge. This is the first study to identify areas of work and future research questions in Ibero-American countries., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press in association with the International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The ST2 receptor plays an important role in the gut such as permeability regulation, epithelium regeneration, and promoting intestinal immune modulation. Here, we studied the role of ST2 receptor in a murine model of oral infection with Brucella abortus , its influence on gut homeostasis and control of bacterial replication. Balb/c (wild-type, WT) and ST2 deficient mice (ST2 -/- ) were infected by oral gavage and the results were obtained at 3 and 14 days post infection (dpi). Our results suggest that ST2 -/- are more resistant to B. abortus infection, as a lower bacterial colony-forming unit (CFU) was detected in the livers and spleens of knockout mice, when compared to WT. Additionally, we observed an increase in intestinal permeability in WT-infected mice, compared to ST2 -/- animals. Breakage of the intestinal epithelial barrier and bacterial dissemination might be associated with the presence of the ST2 receptor; since, in the knockout mice no change in intestinal permeability was observed after infection. Together with enhanced resistance to infection, ST2 -/- produced greater levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the small intestine, compared to WT mice. Nevertheless, in the systemic model of infection ST2 plays no role in controlling Brucella replication in vivo. Our results suggest that the ST2 receptor is involved in the invasion process of B. abortus by the mucosa in the oral infection model., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy was used in the investigation of the adsorption of folic acid (FA) on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the absence and presence of surface modifiers hydrochloride acid (HCl) and 1-mercaptoethanol (ME). The proposal for the chemical interactions of FA with the metallic surface was based on vibrational assignment supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. In the absence of surface modifiers, FA interacts with the gold surface through the pteridine moiety in a tilted geometry. In the presence of ME, the molecule of FA is anchored through hydrogen bonds with the surface modifier. The presence of HCl induced ion-pair interactions involving chloride ions, adsorbed on gold surfaces, and both the nitrogen N1 of the pteridine ring and the γ-carboxylic acid of the glutamic acid moiety. In this condition, keto-enol equilibrium can be evidenced by a remarkable enhancement of marker bands in the SERS spectra., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this work was to validate a method for direct determination in grape juice and wine of 1-kestose, nystose and raffinose oligosaccharides by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with refractive index detection using a new type of RP-C 18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 4 µm) with polar end-capping. The validated methodology was also used to characterize grape juice and fine wine products from Northeastern Brazil; and presented suitable linearity, precision, recovery, limits of detection and quantification. The method presented good specificity, revealing that sugars, organic acids, and ethanol (the main interferences in refraction detection) did not influence the quantification of the studied oligosaccharides. The main oligosaccharide found was 1-kestose (approximately 50% of the samples), followed by raffinose (20% of the samples). The results obtained in this are an indication that grape juices and wines have the potential to be functional beverages in relation to the presence of prebiotics., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2019.)

Color is a sensory attribute that influences the acceptance of food and dyes are added into food products to provide them attractiveness. In this context, anthocyanins have merged as an alternative to synthetic dyes. This study aimed to develop food model systems of fermented or unfermented dairy beverages containing added microencapsulated anthocyanin-rich extracts from juçara palm fruit. The stabilities of both pigment and beverage throughout storage in opaque or transparent packaging have been evaluated. Acidity, pH and anthocyanin content in both beverages did not vary during 28 days of storage, and the content of bioactive compounds did not decrease over time. A slight overall color difference that is probably invisible to naked eyes was detected between the beverages analyzed at days 0 and 28. The potential of applying microencapsulated natural pigments into dairy matrices is an effort to increase their nutritional and sensorial values.

The immune system is armed with a broad range of receptors to detect and initiate the elimination of bacterial pathogens. Inflammasomes are molecular platforms that sense a diverse range of microbial insults to develop appropriate host response. In that context, noncanonical inflammasome arose as a sensor for Gram-negative bacteria-derived LPS leading to the control of infections. This review describes the role of caspase-11/gasdermin-D-dependent immune response against Gram-negative bacteria and presents an overview of guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) at the interface of noncanonical inflammasome activation. Indeed, caspase-11 acts as a receptor for LPS and this interaction elicits caspase-11 autoproteolysis that is required for its optimal catalytic activity. Gasdermin-D is cleaved by activated caspase-11 generating an N-terminal domain that is inserted into the plasmatic membrane to form pores that induce pyroptosis, a cell death program involved in intracellular bacteria elimination. This mechanism also promotes IL-1β release and potassium efflux that connects caspase-11 to NLRP3 activation. Furthermore, GBPs display many features to allow LPS recognition by caspase-11, initiating the noncanonical inflammasome response prompting the immune system to control bacterial infections. In this review, we discuss the recent findings and nuances related to this mechanism and its biological functions., (©2019 Society for Leukocyte Biology.)

NLRP3 inflammasome is a protein complex crucial to caspase-1 activation and IL-1β and IL-18 maturation. This receptor participates in innate immune responses to different pathogens, including the bacteria of genus Brucella. Our group recently demonstrated that Brucella abortus-induced IL-1β secretion involves NLRP3 inflammasome and it is partially dependent on mitochondrial ROS production. However, other factors could be involved, such as P2X7-dependent potassium efflux, membrane destabilization, and cathepsin release. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that nitric oxide acts as a modulator of NLRP3 inflammasome. The aim of this study was to unravel the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by B. abortus, as well as the involvement of bacterial nitric oxide (NO) as a modulator of this inflammasome pathway. We demonstrated that NO produced by B. abortus can be used by the bacteria to modulate IL-1β secretion in infected murine macrophages. Additionally, our results suggest that B. abortus-induced IL-1β secretion depends on a P2X7-independent potassium efflux, lysosomal acidification, cathepsin release, mechanisms clearly associated to NLRP3 inflammasome. In summary, our results help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of NLRP3 activation and regulation during an intracellular bacterial infection., (© 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Innovative solutions have been designed to meet the global demand for energy and environmental sustainability, such as enhanced hydrocarbon recovery and geo-sequestration of CO 2 . These processes involve the movement of immiscible fluids through permeable rocks, which is affected by the interfacial properties of rocks at the pore scale. Overcoming major challenges in these processes relies on a deeper understanding about the fundamental factors that control the rock wettability. In particular, the efficiency of oil recovery strategies depends largely on the 3D wetting pattern of reservoir rocks, which is in turn affected by the adsorption and deposition of 'contaminant' molecules on the pores' surface. Here, we combined high-resolution neutron tomography (NT) and synchrotron X-ray tomography (XRT) to probe the previously unobserved 3D distribution of molecular and mineralogical heterogeneity of oil reservoir rocks at the pore scale. Retrieving the distribution of neutron attenuation coefficients by Monte Carlo simulations, 3D molecular chemical mappings with micrometer dimensions could be provided. This approach allows us to identify co-localization of mineral phases with chemically distinct hydrogen-containing molecules, providing a solid foundation for the understanding of the interfacial phenomena involved in multiphase fluid flow in permeable media.

Brucella abortus is a facultative intracellular bacterium that causes brucellosis, a prevalent zoonosis that leads to abortion and infertility in cattle, and undulant fever, debilitating arthritis, endocarditis, and meningitis in humans. Signaling pathways triggered by B. abortus involves stimulator of IFN genes (STING), which leads to production of type I IFNs. In this study, we evaluated the pathway linking the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the endoplasmic reticulum-resident transmembrane molecule STING, during B. abortus infection. We demonstrated that B. abortus infection induces the expression of the UPR target gene BiP and XBP1 in murine macrophages through a STING-dependent pathway. Additionally, we also observed that STING activation was dependent on the bacterial second messenger cyclic dimeric GMP. Furthermore, the Brucella -induced UPR is crucial for induction of multiple molecules linked to type I IFN signaling pathway, such as IFN-β, IFN regulatory factor 1, and guanylate-binding proteins. Furthermore, IFN-β is also important for the UPR induction during B. abortus infection. Indeed, IFN-β shows a synergistic effect in inducing the IRE1 axis of the UPR. In addition, priming cells with IFN-β favors B. abortus survival in macrophages. Moreover, Brucella -induced UPR facilitates bacterial replication in vitro and in vivo. Finally, these results suggest that B. abortus -induced UPR is triggered by bacterial cyclic dimeric GMP, in a STING-dependent manner, and that this response supports bacterial replication. In summary, association of STING and IFN-β signaling pathways with Brucella -induced UPR unravels a novel link between innate immunity and endoplasmic reticulum stress that is crucial for bacterial infection outcome., (Copyright © 2019 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

The current study aimed obtaining antimicrobial sachets that could be used as preservatives for foods. Basil (BEO) and Pimenta dioica (PDEO) essential oils (EOs) were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS and tested against the foodborne bacteria S. aureus, E. coli, L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, S. Enteritidis, and the food-spoilage mold B. nivea. Then, inclusion complexes (ICs) with EOs and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were prepared as a strategy to reduce volatility and increase the release time of EOs. Eight ICs were prepared by kneading and freeze-drying methods, in two molar ratios, and have been characterized by complementary methods: FT-IR, thermal analysis (DSC and TG/DTG), powder XRD, and solid state 13 C NMR. In vitro antimicrobial activities of ICs, both dispersed in agar and loaded in sachets, have also been investigated. Complexation was confirmed for all samples. PDEO-based ICs prepared by kneading method, at both molar ratios, displayed better in vitro antimicrobial activity. The obtained results strongly suggest a potential application of these ICs as natural antimicrobials., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Several snake species possess, in their circulating blood, endogenous PLA 2 inhibitors (sbPLIs) with the primary function of natural protection against toxic enzymes from homologous and heterologous venoms. Among the three structural classes of sbPLIs - named α, β, and γ - the β class (sbβPLIs) is the least known with only four identified sequences, so far. The last class of inhibitors encompass molecules with leucine rich repeats (LRRs) motifs containing repeating amino acid segments. In the present study, we identified and characterized putative sbβPLIs from the liver and venom glands of six Latin American pit vipers belonging to Bothrops and Crotalus genera. The inhibitor from Crotalus durissus terrificus snakes ( Cdt sbβPLI) was chosen as a reference for the construction of the first in silico structural model for this class of inhibitors, using molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations. Detailed analyses of the electrostatic surface of the Cdt sbβPLI model and protein-protein docking with crotoxin B from homologous venoms predict the interacting surface between these proteins., (© 2019 The Authors.)

Brucella spp. infection is frequently acquired through contaminated aerosols. The role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the early pulmonary response to respiratory Brucella infection is unknown. As shown here, IL-1β levels in lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice intratracheally inoculated with B. abortus were increased at 3 and 7 days p.i. At 7 days p.i., pulmonary CFU numbers were higher in IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) knockout (KO) mice than in wild type (WT) mice. At different times p.i. CFU in lungs and BALF were higher in mice lacking some inflammasome components (caspase-1, AIM2, NLRP3) than in WT mice. At 2 days p.i. pulmonary levels of IL-1β and CXCL1 (neutrophils chemoattractant) were lower in caspase-1/11 KO mice. At day 3 p.i., neutrophils counts in BALF were lower in caspase-1/11 KO mice than in WT mice. During in vitro infections, IL-1β secretion was lower in alveolar macrophages from caspase-1/11, NLRP3 or AIM2 KO mice than in WT controls. Similarly, IL-1β production by B. abortus -infected alveolar epithelial cells was reduced by pretreatment with a specific caspase-1 inhibitor. This study shows that IL-1R, probably through IL-1β action, and the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes are involved in pulmonary innate immune protective mechanisms against respiratory B. abortus infection.

Introduction: A randomized clinical trial (RCT) was performed to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for hypothyroidism induced by chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT)., Objective: The objective was to assess the safety and actions of LLLT 6 years after completion of the RCT., Materials and Methods: Forty-three participants were invited to participate in this study 6 years after completion of the RCT. Twenty-five were subjected to LLLT (group L), and 18 were subjected to placebo (group P). Primary outcome measure: frequency of thyroid nodules, which were subjected to fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Secondary outcome measures: dose of levothyroxine required to treat hypothyroidism, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg)., Results: In group L, a nodule was observed in three patients, who all had a Bethesda II classification. In group P, a nodule was also observed in three patients, with two classified as Bethesda II and one as Bethesda III. The levothyroxine dose required by group L was significantly lower than that required by group P ( P = 0.002). The anti-TPO and anti-Tg levels did not differ between the groups., Conclusion: LLLT, by the methods described, has been shown to be safe for the treatment of hypothyroidism resulting from CAT. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02240563.

Background: Adequate selection of patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) remains critical for successful long-term outcomes. Factors reflecting tumor biology are currently poorly represented in the selection process. The prognostic relevance of RAS/RAF mutations in patients with PM remains unclear., Methods: Survival data of patients with colorectal PM operated in 6 European tertiary centers were retrospectively collected and predictive factors for survival identified by Cox regression analyses. A simple point-based risk score was developed to allow patient selection and outcome prediction., Results: Data of 524 patients with a median age of 59 years and a median peritoneal cancer index of 7 (interquartile range: 3-12) were collected. A complete resection was possible in 505 patients; overall morbidity and 90-day mortality were 50.9% and 2.1%, respectively. PCI [hazard ratio (HR): 1.08], N1 stage (HR: 2.15), N2 stage (HR: 2.57), G3 stage (HR: 1.80) as well as KRAS (HR: 1.46) and BRAF (HR: 3.97) mutations were found to significantly impair survival after CRS/HIPEC on multivariate analyses. Mutations of RAS/RAF impaired survival independently of targeted treatment against EGFR. Consequently, a simple point-based risk score termed BIOSCOPE (BIOlogical Score of COlorectal PEritoneal metastasis) based on PCI, N-, G-, and RAS/RAF status was developed, which showed good discrimination [development area under the curve (AUC) = 0.72, validation AUC = 0.70], calibration (P = 0.401) and allowed categorization of patients into 4 groups with strongly divergent survival outcomes., Conclusion: RAS/RAF mutations impair survival after CRS/HIPEC. The novel BIOSCOPE score reflects tumor biology, adequately stratifies long-term outcomes, and improves patient assessment and selection.

Salmonella outbreaks related to fruits and vegetables have been reported being lettuce one of the most contaminated. Peracetic acid (PA) at 50 mg/L, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SD) at 100 mg/L, and the combination of SD at 100 mg/L and babaçu coconut ( Attalea speciosa ) oil detergent at 100 mg/L were applied to fresh lettuce. Natural contaminant microbiota, physicochemical characteristics, and sensory attributes were evaluated. PA and SD reduced mesophilic aerobic counts by 2.1 and 1.5 log cfu/g, respectively. The most efficient treatment in reducing natural microbiota (i.e., PA) was applied alone and in combination with ultrasound (US). It reduced Salmonella enterica Typhimurium counts to undetectable levels (< 1 log cfu/g). US further reduced S. Typhimurium counts by 0.6 log cfu/g in relation to PA, treatment which lessened the pH but increased the titratable acidity of lettuce, but did not cause total color difference. Therefore, the combination of PA and US holds a potential industrial application for sanitization purposes.

The consumer's interest in ready-to-eat, fast-ready, nutritious and fresh foods is a major challenge for the food industry. Thus, studies on new sanitization methods are relevant. The effect of Sodium Hypochlorite (SH), Benzalkonium Chloride (BC), and Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (SD) isolated or combined with Ultrasound (US) in purple cabbage quality over 7 days of storage at 8 ± 1 °C was evaluated. The natural microbiota (mesophilic aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and coliforms), intentionally inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium, physicochemical quality (anthocyanins, pH, total titratable acidity, instrumental color and mass loss) and sensorial quality (multiple comparison test and visual sensory acceptance) were analyzed. The best treatments for natural microbiota reduction were BC and US + BC, which in general reduced between 1.9 and 3.2 log cfu/g. US improved (p < .05) the effect of SD reducing almost 4 log cycles in the population of S. Typhimurium adhered to cabbage. The treatments with benzalkonium chloride resulted in important physicochemical changes in cabbage. The treatments SD and US + SD did not alter the physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of purple cabbage. Therefore, ultrasound combined with sodium dichloroisocyanurate is a promising alternative for the reduction of microbiological contaminants of purple cabbage without physicochemical, sensory and anthocyanin content loss., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The immunoproteasome is a specific proteasome isoform composed of three subunits, termed β1i, β2i, and β5i. Its proteolytic activity enhances the quantity and quality of peptides to be presented by major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules to CD8 + T cells. However, the role of the combined deficiency of the three immunoproteasome subunits in protective immunity against bacterial pathogens has not been investigated. In this study, we addressed the role of the immunoproteasome during infection by Brucella abortus , an intracellular bacterium that requires CD8 + T cell responses for the control of infection. Here, we demonstrate that immunoproteasome triple-knockout (TKO) mice were more susceptible to Brucella infection. This observed susceptibility was accompanied by reduced interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production by mouse CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes. Moreover, the absence of the immunoproteasome had an impact on MHC-I surface expression and antigen presentation by dendritic cells. CD8 + T cell function, which plays a pivotal role in B. abortus immunity, also presented a partial impairment of granzyme B expression and, consequently, reduced cytotoxic activity. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that immunoproteasome subunits are important components in host resistance to B. abortus infection by impacting both the magnitude and quality of CD8 + T cell responses., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.)

This study configures a first report regarding the variability of meat quality of locally adapted Pantaneiro sheep depending on different physiological stages and breeding systems. Pantaneiro sheep are raised in Brazil under a tropical wetland ecosystem denominated Pantanal. Twenty-nine Pantaneiro sheep from different sex and physiological stages were sorted into three groups, simulating three of the most representative ovine meat products commercialized by South American industries: a) non castrated male lambs (n = 11); b) wethers (n = 9); c) cull ewes (n = 9). Animals from each physiological stage were submitted to different breeding systems, resembling farming strategies adopted in several developing countries of South America. The effect of physiological stages on the quality of meat was accessed using 16 variables measured in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LM) and the semimembranosus (SM) muscles. The variables were related to brightness, color, physical aspects, soluble and total collagen as well as chemical traits. The physiological stage was defined as a classification variable in order to proceed ANOVA tests and comparison of means (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis was used to identify patterns of similarity and differentiation between samples of different physiological stages (a, b, c). The results revealed that meat quality varies according to different physiological stages, especially between lambs (a) and cull ewes (c). As a consequence, the physiological stage at slaughter should be taken into consideration to cote the quality of meat from indigenous sheep raised in tropical regions. The results contribute towards sensorial evaluation and the characterization of potential food products derived from indigenous sheep bred under tropical climate in developing countries.