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The intra-articular injury most often associated with a chronic anterior cruciate ligament tear involves the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. A specific type of medial meniscal injury, called a ramp lesion, has received greater attention for identification and treatment because of its considerable incidence and diagnostic difficulty. Based on their location, these lesions may be arthroscopically “hidden” during traditional anterior visualization. The purpose of the present Technical Note is to describe the Recife maneuver. This maneuver diagnoses injuries to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus using additional arthroscopic management through a standard portal. The Recife maneuver is performed with the patient in the supine position. A 30° arthroscope is inserted through the anterolateral portal, and the posteromedial compartment is accessed according to the transnotch view (modified Gillquist view). In the proposed maneuver, with the knee in 30° of flexion, a valgus stress with internal rotation is performed, followed by palpation of the popliteal region and digital pressure on the joint interline. This maneuver allows a greater visualization of the posterior compartment, allowing the diagnostic evaluation of the integrity between the meniscus and the capsule, in a safer way, being able to identify ramp tears without the need to create a posteromedial portal. We recommend that the addition of the diagnostic visualization step of the posteromedial compartment as described by the Recife maneuver be performed to assess the meniscal status in routine anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Physical examination in the presence of a multiligament knee injury can be complex and challenging. Hence, stress radiography is a useful and inexpensive tool that is widely used in the assessment of this type of injury. It guarantees an objective analysis of the magnitude of knee instability, which may reduce the observer's interpretation bias in relation to the physical examination. However, for the radiographic analysis to be reproducible, it is necessary to standardize the technique to evaluate each of the main knee ligaments. This article aims to describe in detail how to perform stress radiography to assess the sufficiency of the posterior cruciate ligament and collateral ligaments in the context of a multiligament injury.

Parameniscal cysts are usually small cystic lesions, less than 2 cm in size, found along the meniscal periphery. They are rarely associated with extra-articular palpable mass. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic method of choice; giant meniscal cysts (>5 cm at its greatest diameter) are very rare, with few cases described in the literature. We describe a step-by-step open exeresis and arthroscopic meniscal suture technique for the treatment of a 9-cm giant parameniscal cyst located on the lateral side of the knee. Treatment of giant meniscal lesions requires caution during dissection and exeresis. Because acute meniscal lesions benefit from meniscal suture rather than meniscectomy, horizontal degenerative lesions may also present excellent results with repair techniques. We conclude that the combination of the open excision of the giant cyst with careful dissection and protection of neurovascular structures, combined with the arthroscopic meniscal suture, is a good strategy to approach such lesions.

Serodiagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs relies on the detection of antibodies against leishmanial crude extracts or parasitic defined antigens. The expansion of canine leishmaniasis from geographical areas of Brazil in which the infection is endemic to regions in which the disease is emerging is occurring. This fact makes necessary the analysis of the serodiagnostic capabilities of different leishmanial preparations in distinct geographical locations. In this article sera from dogs infected with Leishmania and showing the clinical form of the disease, were collected in three distinct Brazilian States and were tested against soluble leishmanial antigens or seven parasite individual antigens produced as recombinant proteins. We show that the recognition of soluble leishmanial antigens by sera from these animals was influenced by the geographical location of the infected dogs. Efficacy of the diagnosis based on this crude parasite preparation was higher in newly endemic regions when compared with areas of high disease endemicity. We also show that the use of three of the recombinant proteins, namely parasite surface kinetoplastid membrane protein of 11 kDa (KMP-11), and two members of the P protein family (P2a and P0), can improve the degree of sensitivity without adversely affecting the specificity of the diagnostic assays for canine leishmaniasis, independently of the geographical area of residence. In addition, sera from dogs clinically healthy but infected were also assayed with some of the antigen preparations. We demonstrate that the use of these proteins can help to the serodiagnosis of Leishmania infected animals with subclinical infections. Finally, we propose a diagnostic protocol using a combination of KMP-11, P2a y P0, together with total leishmanial extracts. Keywords: Leishmania, Canine leishmaniasis, Serodiagnosis, Antibodies, Recombinant proteins

OBJETIVO: Determinar os obstáculos à efetiva redução da transmissão materno-infantil do HIV em Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ). MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte, com acompanhamento médico de gestantes com diagnóstico confirmado de infecção pelo HIV e de seus bebês, atendidos no Serviço Municipal de Atendimento Especializado de Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis e AIDS, no período de janeiro de 2004 a abril de 2007; coleta de informações relativas às variáveis de exposição e desfecho a partir dos prontuários; determinação de frequências das variáveis e análise bivariada entre os fatores de exposição e o desfecho; cálculo de riscos relativos de transmissão materno-infantil do HIV associados às variáveis de exposição, com intervalo de confiança de 95%; e avaliação de significância estatística de associações de risco. RESULTADOS: Foram acompanhados 78 binômios, sendo de 7,7% a taxa de transmissão materno-infantil do HIV. As variáveis que mostraram associações estatisticamente significantes com a transmissão materno-infantil do HIV foram: a não utilização de antirretrovirais para profilaxia ou tratamento na gestação (RR = 21,00; IC95% 2,64-166,74, p = 0,001); e o diagnóstico materno após a gestação (RR = 6,80; IC95% 1,59-29,17, p = 0,025). Novas gestações em mulheres com outros filhos já expostos ao HIV ocorreram em 19,12% dos casos. CONCLUSÕES: Não houve redução da taxa de transmissão materno-infantil do HIV no período de 2004-2007 em relação ao triênio anterior. Foram caracterizados como obstáculos determinantes desta não redução: a baixa cobertura pela testagem anti-HIV no pré-natal, impossibilitando tratamento ou profilaxia materna eficiente; e o uso incorreto do teste rápido na admissão para o parto.

Microplastics (MP) are suitable substrates for the colonization of harmful microalgal cells and the adsorption of their lipophilic compounds including phycotoxins. Moreover, such interactions likely change as physical-chemical characteristics of the MP surface are gradually modified during plastic degradation in aquatic environments. Using a combination of innovative laboratory experiments, this study systematically investigated, for the first time, the influence of various MP characteristics (polymeric composition, shape, size, and/or surface roughness) on its capacity to carry both living harmful algal cells and dissolved phycotoxins. Cell colonization by the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima started early (within 24 h) on particles of all shapes tested. However, cell colonization was much more intense on polystyrene ∼800 µm microspheres (0.63-46.4 cells mm - ²; mean=11.7) and 500 × 1000 μm cuboid fragments (0.64-28.3 cells mm - ²; mean=7.0), compared to polypropylene 11,000 × 50 µm microfibers of equivalent surface area (0.01-0.64 cells mm - ²; mean=0.28), which were probably too narrow and light to interact with these benthic cells. Similar to lipophilic pollutants, adsorption of the diarrhetic toxin okadaic acid (OA) was greater on smaller MP particles (50 µm), attaining up to 8.0 pg mm² after 168 h of exposure. Moreover, in the short term (24 h), OA adsorption was significantly higher on aged MP, whose surface was modified following common degradation processes (abrasion, UV-photodegradation or microbial biodegradation), relative to virgin particles. During benthic P. lima blooms, the presence of aged MP covered by toxic cells and/or their dissolved compounds are expected to make diarrhetic toxins available to a greater diversity of organisms., 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 © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Public awareness about Benthic Harmful Algal Blooms (BHABs) and their negative impacts has increased substantially over the past few decades. Even so, reports of BHABs remain relatively scarce in South America (SA). This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on BHABs in the continent, by integrating data from published articles, books, and technical reports. We recorded ∼300 different occurrences of potentially toxic BHAB species over the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific coasts, mostly in marine (>95%) but also in estuarine areas located from 12⁰36' N to 54⁰53' S. Over 70% of the data was published/released within the past 10 years, and ∼85% were concentrated in Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. Benthic species were mainly associated with macroalgae, seagrass and sediment. Incidental detection in the plankton was also relevant, mainly in places where studies targeting BHAB species are still rare, like Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru. The study listed 31 infrageneric taxa of potentially toxic benthic dinoflagellates and eight of estuarine cyanobacteria occurring in SA, with the greatest species diversity recorded in the equatorial-tropical zone, mainly in northeastern Brazil (Atlantic), Venezuela and Colombia (Caribbean), and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (Pacific). Local strains of Amphidinium, Gambierdiscus, Coolia and Prorocentrum spp. produced toxic compounds of emerging concern. Prorocentrum lima species complex was the most common and widely distributed taxon, followed by Ostreopsis cf. ovata. In fact, these two dinoflagellates were associated with most BHAB events in SA. Whereas the former has caused the contamination of multiple marine organisms and cases of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning in subtropical and temperate areas, the latter has been associated with faunal mortalities and is suspected of causing respiratory illness to beach users in tropical places. Ciguatera Poisoning has been reported in Colombia (∼240 cases; no deaths) and Venezuela (60 cases; two deaths), and may be also a risk in other places where Gambierdiscus spp. and Fukuyoa paulensis have been reported, such as the Galapagos Islands and the tropical Brazilian coast. Despite the recent advances, negative impacts from BHABs in SA are intensified by limited research/training funding, as well as the lack of official HAB monitoring and poor analytical capability for species identification and toxin detection in parts of the continent., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Several species of microalgae can produce potent phycotoxins that negatively affect aquatic organisms and their consumers following different exposure routes, as well as toxicokinetic (TK) and toxicodynamic (TD) processes. Benthic organisms are especially vulnerable as they are exposed to both benthic and planktonic species causative of harmful algal blooms (HABs). While benthic algae can come into direct contact with annelids during substrate remobilization, planktonic cells can settle to the bottom mostly during senescence and/or encystment stages, and in shallow and calm waters. We performed a systematic, qualitative review of the literature on the phycotoxin TK and TD processes in marine annelids, summarizing the most relevant findings and general trends. Besides, by using innovative analytical/statistical approaches, we were able to detect patterns and gaps in the current literature, thus pointing to future research directions. We retrieved and analyzed studies involving diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs), paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), brevetoxins (PbTXs), domoic acid (DA), as well as palytoxin and its congeners, the ovatoxins (treated together as PLTXs). It is worth mentioning that studies evaluating other phycotoxins (e.g., ciguatoxins, yessotoxins) were not found in the literature. The absence of data on PbTXs, PSTs and DA is the largest gap hampering TK assessment in annelids, although some relevant information on TD is already available. Whereas lethal effects from DSTs have not been reported, more potent toxins like PbTXs, PSTs, DA and those grouped as PLTX-like compounds can cause mortality and/or marked decrease in annelid abundance. In addition, phycotoxins have been linked to sublethal effects on annelid cells. Although very sparse, field and laboratory studies offer strong evidence that annelids may be reliable indicators of toxin exposure and their negative effects during both early and later stages of HABs in marine environments. Besides quickly responding to these compounds at both organismic and suborganismic levels, annelids are easily found in areas affected by HABs. The use of annelids in future investigations evaluating the action mechanisms of toxic microalgae on marine invertebrates should be thus encouraged. In this case, the choice for widely dispersed and numerically dominant species of annelids would strengthen the validation and extrapolation of results from risk assessments in areas affected by HABs worldwide., 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.)

Injuries to the patellar tendon (PT) are associated with knee function deterioration and loss of the capacity to perform daily and sports activities. Patellar tendon injury is often misdiagnosed at emergency rooms, leading to chronic proximal retraction and a challenging clinical scenario. Proximal PT injuries are more common, while distal ones, which can involve tibial bone avulsion fractures or direct tendon avulsion, are rarer. The low incidence of distal PT rupture and the variety of injury patterns make a personal approach reasonable when based on the intraoperative findings and the surgeon's experience. Our purpose is to describe a surgical technique to restore the knee extensor mechanism after chronic distal PT rupture using two kinds of graft, one as a waveform augmentation of the native tendon and the other as reinforcement in a letter X aspect., (© 2022 The Authors.)

The key to preventing early knee osteoarthritis is meniscal preservation. The main functions of the meniscus are impact absorption, mechanical load transmission, lubrication, joint stability, and proprioception. Radial lesions that extend to the joint capsule are called complete radial tears. This type of injury compromises 2 of the main meniscal functions, which are impact absorption and load distribution, which is equivalent, from a biomechanical perspective, to a total meniscectomy. In the recent past, the treatment of choice for this type of injury was partial meniscectomy. However, several studies have observed progressive joint degeneration after this type of treatment. Recently, different types of meniscal sutures involving radial lesions of the meniscus have been developed. It is believed that such repairs may bring a decrease in future osteoarthritis in this patient profile. The purpose of this article is to describe the steps of continuous meniscal suture for the treatment of radial tears of the medial and lateral menisci., (© 2021 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier.)

American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) is a zoonosis caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Brazil, the disease is caused by Leishmania infantum and the main vector is the phlebotomine sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis, found both in natural ecotopes and in the rural and urban environments, being very well adapted to the peridomestic environment. The domestic dog has been incriminated as the main reservoir of the parasite in the urban environment, but the control measures based on culling seropositive dogs have not shown to be effective to contain the spread of the disease throughout the country. Many studies evaluated risk factors for human visceral leishmaniasis but few focused on the socioeconomic and environmental factors associated with infection among dogs. Knowledge of these factors might help identify the conditions that contribute to the maintenance of transmission cycles in the urban environment and identify new targets for intervention. The objective of this study was to assess the association between socioeconomic and environmental factors and the occurrence of canine leishmaniasis at Teresina city, Brazil. This cross-sectional study was developed in ten districts of Teresina, involving 532 houses and 810 dogs. Peripheral blood samples were collected by vein punction using vacutainer tubes without anticoagulant for performing serological test (indirect immunofluorescence - IFI). Serum samples with IFI titers ≥1: 80 were considered positive. Owners of the selected dwellings were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire addressing socioeconomic and environment aspects. The association between variables and seropositivity was assessed through multilevel logistic regression models. Global seropositivity was 39%. There was no statistically significant difference between seropositivity and age and sex of animals, literacy of the household head, presence of other domestic animals or with household characteristic like water supply, inadequate sewage disposal system, type of floor and roof. Mixed-breed dogs and those living for a long time in houses with absence of masonry walls and presence of a kennel showed higher odds of seropositivity. These results suggest that some peridomestic characteristics, especially the absence of barriers that allow dogs to have free access to the street, in association with the presence of a kennel, might contribute to maintaining the infection cycle in urban areas. Intervention measures oriented to the management of the peridomestic environment and responsible dog possession could be useful tools for reducing disease burden in endemic area., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Firefly luciferase (FLuc) is a powerful tool for molecular and cellular biology, and popular in high-throughput screening and drug discovery. However, FLuc assays have been plagued with positive and negative artefacts due to stabilisation and inhibition by small molecules from a range of chemical classes. Here we disclose Phase II clinical compound SMT C1100 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy as an FLuc inhibitor (K D of 0.40 ± 0.15 µM). Enzyme kinetic studies using SMT C1100 and other non-competitive inhibitors including resveratrol and NFκBAI4 identified previously undescribed modes of inhibition with respect to FLuc's luciferyl adenylate intermediate. Employing a photoaffinity strategy to identify SMT C1100's binding site, a photolabelled SMT C1100 probe instead underwent FLuc-dependent photooxidation. Our findings support novel binding sites on FLuc for non-competitive inhibitors., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Homologous recombination (HR) serves to repair DNA double-strand breaks and damaged replication forks and is essential for maintaining genome stability and tumor suppression. HR capacity also determines the efficacy of anticancer therapy. Hence, there is an urgent need to better understand all HR proteins and sub-pathways. An emerging protein that is critical for RAD51-mediated HR is RAD51-associated protein 1 (RAD51AP1). Although much has been learned about its biochemical attributes, the precise molecular role of RAD51AP1 in the HR reaction is not yet fully understood. The available literature also suggests that RAD51AP1 expression may be relevant for cancer development and progression. Here, we review the efforts that led to the discovery of RAD51AP1 and elaborate on our current understanding of its biochemical profile and biological function. We also discuss how RAD51AP1 may help to promote cancer development and why it could potentially represent a promising new target for therapeutic intervention., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Proteomic approaches are gaining increasing importance in the context of all fields of animal and veterinary sciences, including physiology, productive characterization, and disease/parasite tolerance, among others. Proteomic studies mainly aim the proteome characterization of a certain organ, tissue, cell type or organism, either in a specific condition or comparing protein differential expression within two or more selected situations. Due to the high complexity of samples, usually total protein extracts, proteomics relies heavily on separation procedures, being 2D-electrophoresis and HPLC the most common, as well as on protein identification using mass spectrometry (MS) based methodologies. Despite the increasing importance of MS in the context of animal and veterinary science studies, the usefulness of such tools is still poorly perceived by the animal science community. This is primarily due to the limited knowledge on mass spectrometry by animal scientists. Additionally, confidence and success in protein identification is hindered by the lack of information in public databases for most of farm animal species and their pathogens, with the exception of cattle (Bos taurus), pig (Sus scrofa) and chicken (Gallus gallus). In this article, we will briefly summarize the main methodologies available for protein identification using mass spectrometry providing a case study of specific applications in the field of animal science. We will also address the difficulties inherent to protein identification using MS, with particular reference to experiments using animal species poorly described in public databases. Additionally, we will suggest strategies to increase the rate of successful identifications when working with farm animal species., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Molecular mechanisms by which fertilization competent acrosome-reacted sperm bind to the oolemma remain uncharacterized. To identify oolemmal binding partner(s) for sperm acrosomal ligands, affinity panning was performed with mouse oocyte lysates using sperm acrosomal protein, SLLP1 as a target. An oocyte specific membrane metalloproteinase, SAS1B (Sperm Acrosomal SLLP1 Binding), was identified as a SLLP1 binding partner. cDNA cloning revealed six SAS1B splice variants, each containing a zinc binding active site and a putative transmembrane domain, with signal peptides in three variants. SAS1B transcripts were ovary specific. SAS1B protein was first detected in early secondary follicles in day 3 ovaries. Immunofluorescence localized SAS1B to the microvillar oolemma of M2 oocytes. After fertilization, SAS1B decreased on the oolemma and became virtually undetectable in blastocysts. In transfected CHO-K1 cells SAS1B localized to the surface of unpermeabilized cells. Recombinant and native SLLP1 co-localized with SAS1B to the microvillar domain of ovulated M2 oocytes. Molecular interactions between mouse SLLP1 and SAS1B were demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance, far-western, yeast two-hybrid, recombinant- and native-co-IP analyses. SAS1B bound to SLLP1 with high affinity. SAS1B had protease activity, and SAS1B protein or antibody significantly inhibited fertilization. SAS1B knockout female mice showed a 34% reduction in fertility. The study identified SAS1B-SLLP1 as a pair of novel sperm-egg binding partners involving the oolemma and intra-acrosomal compartment during fertilization., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Avian tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a skeletal disease characterized by disruption of endochondral bone formation. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules and ECM-degrading enzymes [matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)] in the growth plates of normal and TD-affected 3-week-old broiler chicks (Cobb strain). Protein levels were analyzed by immunoblotting and gelatin zymography and gene expression by polymerase chain reaction. Expression of genes encoding the ECM macromolecules (collagen types II, IX, X and XI; and aggrecan) was not altered in dyschondroplasia; however, there was down-regulation of genes encoding MMP-9, MMP-13, MMP-10 and MMP-11 in addition to reduced amounts of MMP-2 and MMP-13 proteins. In contrast, there was up-regulation of genes encoding MMP-7 and the vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings suggest that the accumulation of cartilage associated with the disease may be the result of decreased proteolysis due to the down-regulation of MMPs and not to an increased production of ECM macromolecules., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In order to increase understanding of the basis of the stability of the native conformational state of porcine pepsin A, a strategy based on induction and monitoring of protein denaturation was developed. Structural perturbation was achieved by adding acetonitrile (MeCN) to the protein-solvent system. MeCN was found to induce non-coincident disruption of the secondary and tertiary structural features of pepsin A. It is proposed that gross unfolding is prompted by disruption of the protein hydration pattern induced by the organic co-solvent. It should be noted that the functional properties and thermal stability of the protein were already impaired before the onset of global unfolding. Low and intermediate contents of MeCN in the protein-solvent system affected the sharpness of the thermal transition and the degree of residual structure of the heat-denatured state. The importance of hydration to the conformational stability of pepsin A in its biologically active state is discussed.

Progesterone has been implicated in the process of spermatogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association of progesterone receptor (PR) expression with spermatogenesis in the testis of infertile men. PR mRNA and protein were assessed by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in testicular biopsies obtained from 18 infertile men. The extent of spermatogenesis was assessed by Johnsen scoring. None of the patients included in the study had Yq microdeletions. PR expression was almost undetectable in all the testicular sections displaying Sertoli cell only (SCO) or arrest at spermatogonia. Weak cytoplasmic expression was observed in biopsies showing arrest at different stages of meiosis. In biopsies displaying spermatogenesis up to the round spermatid stages, PR expression was observed in both nucleus and cytoplasm of different cell types at intensity lower than that detected in normal biopsies. Normal PR expression was observed in biopsies demonstrating hypospermatogenesis. In biopsies showing mixed phenotypes, the tubules with SCO or spermatogonia arrest showed absence of PR expression; normal PR expression was observed in adjacent tubules showing complete spermatogenesis. Semi-quantitative assessment of PR expression and Johnsen scores in the testicular biopsies of infertile men demonstrating different phenotypes indicated a direct relationship between PR expression and extent of spermatogenesis.