Dendritic cells from X-linked hyper-IgM patients present impaired responses to Candida albicans and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Background: Patients with X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (X-HIGM) due to CD40 ligand (CD40L) mutations are susceptible to fungal pathogens; however, the underlying susceptibility mechanisms remain poorly understood. Objective: To determine whether monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) from patients with X-HIGM exhibit normal responses to fungal pathogens. Methods: DCs from patients and controls were evaluated for the expression of costimulatory (CD80 and CD86) and MHC class II molecules and for their ability to produce IL-12 and IL-10 in response to Candida albicans and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We also evaluated the ability of C albicans- and P brasiliensis-pulsed mature DCs to induce autologous T-cell proliferation, generation of T helper (T-H) 17 cells, and production of IFN-gamma, TGF-beta, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-17. Results: Immature DCs from patients with X-HIGM showed reduced expression of CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR, which could be reversed by exogenous trimeric soluble CD40L. Most important, mature DCs from patients with X-HIGM differentiated by coculturing DCs with fungi secreted minimal amounts of IL-12 but substantial amounts of IL-10 compared with mature DCs from normal individuals. Coculture of mature DCs from X-HIGM patients with autologous T cells led to low IFN-g production, whereas IL-4 and IL-5 production was increased. T-cell proliferation and IL-17 secretion were normal. Finally, in vitro incubation with soluble CD40L reversed the decreased IL-12 production and the skewed T-H(2) pattern response. Conclusion: Absence of CD40L during monocyte/DC differentiation leads to functional DC abnormalities, which may contribute to the susceptibility to fungal infections in patients with X-HIGM. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129: 778-86.)

THE PRESENT OF THE READING: BEAUTY AND CONTRADICTION

This article examines the metaphor of reading and new reading in Guimaraes Rosa's last book, Tutameia (1967), with a reading of the story "Desenredo". In the first part we discuss some theoretical issues concerning the place of the reader according to Wolfgang Iser and then show the singular place of the reader - metaphor of the activity of reading and fiction of an enunciative situation.

Desmodus rotundus and Artibeus spp. bats might present distinct rabies virus lineages

In Brazil, bats have been assigned an increasing importance in public health as they are important rabies reservoirs. Phylogenetic studies have shown that rabies virus (RABV) strains from frugivorous bats Artibeus spp. are closely associated to those from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus, but little is known about the molecular diversity of RABV in Artibeus spp. The N and G genes of RABV isolated from Artibeus spp. and cattle infected by D. rotundus were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The N gene nucleotides tree showed three clusters: one for D. rotundus and two for Artibeus spp. Regarding putative N amino acid-trees, two clusters were formed, one for D. rotundus and another for Artibeus spp. RABV G gene phylogeny supported the distinction between D. rotundus and Artibeus spp. strains. These results show the intricate host relationship of RABV's evolutionary history, and are invaluable for the determination of RABV infection sources. (C) 2012 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

A non-cross-bridge, static tension is present in permeabilized skeletal muscle fibers after active force inhibition or actin extraction

Cornachione AS, Rassier DE. A non-cross-bridge, static tension is present in permeabilized skeletal muscle fibers after active force inhibition or actin extraction. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 302: C566-C574, 2012. First published November 16, 2011; doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00355.2011.-When activated muscle fibers are stretched, there is a long-lasting increase in the force. This phenomenon, referred to as "residual force enhancement," has characteristics similar to those of the " static tension," a long-lasting increase in force observed when muscles are stretched in the presence of Ca2+ but in the absence of myosin-actin interaction. Independent studies have suggested that these two phenomena have a common mechanism and are caused either by 1) a Ca2+-induced stiffening of titin or by 2) promoting titin binding to actin. In this study, we performed two sets of experiments in which activated fibers (pCa(2+) 4.5) treated with the myosin inhibitor blebbistatin were stretched from 2.7 to 2.8 mu m at a speed of 40 L-o/s, first, after partial extraction of TnC, which inhibits myosin-actin interactions, or, second, after treatment with gelsolin, which leads to the depletion of thin (actin) filaments. We observed that the static tension, directly related with the residual force enhancement, was not changed after treatments that inhibit myosin-actin interactions or that deplete fibers from troponin C and actin filaments. The results suggest that the residual force enhancement is caused by a stiffening of titin upon muscle activation but not with titin binding to actin. This finding indicates the existence of a Ca2+-regulated, titin-based stiffness in skeletal muscles.

SEASONAL VARIATION OF THE MAJOR SECONDARY METABOLITES PRESENT IN THE EXTRACT OF Eremanthus mattogrossensis Less (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) LEAVES

The species Eremanthus mattogrossensis, known as "veludo do cerrado" (cerrado velvet), is native to the Brazilian Cerrado. Because the amount of metabolites present in plants may be influenced by biological and environmental factors, here we conducted an HPLC-DAD-MS/MS investigation of the metabolite concentrations found in the MeOH/H2O extract of the leaves of this species. The main compounds were identified and quantified, and the metabolites were grouped by chemical class (caffeoylquinic acids, flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactone). Statistical analysis indicated a straight correlation between the quantity of metabolites and seasonality, suggesting that environmental properties elicit important metabolic responses.

Present bounds on new neutral vector resonances from electroweak gauge boson pair production at the LHC

Several extensions of the standard model predict the existence of new neutral spin-1 resonances associated with the electroweak symmetry breaking sector. Using the data from ATLAS (with integrated luminosity of L = 1.02 fb(-1)) and CMS (with integrated luminosity of L = 1.55 fb(-1)) on the production of W+W- pairs through the process pp --> l(+)l(-)' is not an element of(T), we place model independent bounds on these new vector resonances masses, couplings, and widths. Our analyses show that the present data exclude new neutral vector resonances with masses up to 1-2.3 TeV depending on their couplings and widths. We also demonstrate how to extend our analysis framework to different models with a specific example.

Do extrafloral nectaries present a defensive role against herbivores in two species of the family Bignoniaceae in a Neotropical savannas?

Despite the general belief that the interaction between extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and ants is mutualistic, the defensive function of EFNs has been poorly documented in South American savannas. In this article, we evaluate the potential impact of EFNs (benefits and costs) on two species of plants from the dry areas of Central Brazil, Anemopaegma album and Anemopaegma scabriusculum (Bignoniaceae). In particular, we characterize the composition of substances secreted by the EFNs, test whether EFNs attract ants, and whether ants actually present a defensive role, leading to reduced herbivory and increased plant fitness. Histochemical analyses indicated that EFNs from both species of Anemopaegma secrete an exudate that is composed of sugars, and potentially lipids and proteins. Furthermore, EFNs from both species were shown to present a significant role in ant attraction. However, contrary to common expectations, ants were not found to protect plants against herbivore attack. No effect was found between ant visitation and flower or fruit production in A. album, while the presence of ants led to a significant decrease in flower production in A. scabriusculum. These results suggest that EFNs might present a similar cost and benefit in A. album, and a higher cost than benefit in A. scabriusculum. Since the ancestor of Anemopaegma occupied humid forests and already presented EFNs that were maintained in subsequent lineages that occupied savannas, we suggest that phylogenetic inertia might explain the presence of EFNs in the species of Anemopaegma in which EFNs lack a defensive function.

Photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms present on complete dentures. A clinical investigation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the disinfection of complete dentures. Biofilm samples were collected from dentures of 60 denture users who were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 15 each): subjects whose maxillary dentures were sprayed with 50 and 100 mg/l of PhotogemA (R) suspension (groups P50S and P100S) and patients whose maxillary dentures were treated with 50 and 100 mg/l of PhotogemA (R) gel (groups P50G and P100G). Dentures with photosensitizers were left in the dark for 30 min (pre-irradiation time) and then irradiated with blue LED light at 37.5 J/cm(2) (26 min). Denture samples were taken with sterile cotton swab before (left side surfaces) and after (right side surfaces) PDT. All microbial material was diluted and plated on selective media for Candida spp., Staphylococcus mutans spp., streptococci and a non-selective media. After incubation (48 h/37A degrees C), the number of colony-forming units (cfu/ml) was counted. Microorganisms grown on selective media were identified using biochemical methods before and after PDT. The data were submitted to McNemar and Kruskal-Wallis tests (alpha = 0.05). No growth after PDT was observed in 60, 53, 47, and 40% of dentures from P100G, P50G, P100S, and P50S groups, respectively. When evidence of microorganisms' growth was observed, PDT regimens eliminated over 90% of microorganisms on dentures. This clinical study showed that PDT was effective for disinfecting dentures.

Cochlear implanted children present vocal parameters within normal standards

Objective: to compare acoustic and perceptual parameters regarding the voice of cochlear implanted children, with normal hearing children. Method: this is a cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative study. Methods: Thirty six cochlear implanted children aged between 3y and 3 m to 5y and 9 m and 25 children with normal hearing, aged between 3y and 11 m and 6y and 6 m, participated in this study. The recordings and the acoustics analysis of the sustained vowel/a/and spontaneous speech were performed using the PRAAT program. The parameters analyzed for the sustained vowel were the mean of the fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer and harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR). For the spontaneous speech, the minimum and maximum frequencies and the number of semitones were extracted. The perceptual analysis of the speech material was analyzed using visual-analogical scales of 100 points, composing the aspects related to the overall severity of the vocal deviation, roughness, breathiness, strain, pitch, loudness and resonance deviation, and instability. This last parameter was only analyzed for the sustained vowel. Results: The results demonstrated that the majority of the vocal parameters analyzed in the samples of the implanted children disclosed values similar to those obtained by the group of children with normal hearing. Conclusion: implanted children who participate in a (re) habilitation and follow-up program, can present vocal characteristics similar to those vocal characteristics of children with normal hearing. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seasonal variation of the major secondary metabolites present in the extract of Eremanthus mattogrossensis Less (Asteraceae: Vernonieae) leaves

The species Eremanthus mattogrossensis, known as "veludo do cerrado" (cerrado velvet), is native to the Brazilian Cerrado. Because the amount of metabolites present in plants may be influenced by biological and environmental factors, here we conducted an HPLC-DAD-MS/MS investigation of the metabolite concentrations found in the MeOH/H2O extract of the leaves of this species. The main compounds were identified and quantified, and the metabolites were grouped by chemical class (caffeoylquinic acids, flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactone). Statistical analysis indicated a straight correlation between the quantity of metabolites and seasonality, suggesting that environmental properties elicit important metabolic responses.

Desmodus rotundus and Artibeus spp. bats might present distinct rabies virus lineages

In Brazil, bats have been assigned an increasing importance in public health as they are important rabies reservoirs. Phylogenetic studies have shown that rabies virus (RABV) strains from frugivorous bats Artibeus spp. are closely associated to those from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus, but little is known about the molecular diversity of RABV in Artibeus spp. The N and G genes of RABV isolated from Artibeus spp. and cattle infected by D. rotundus were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The N gene nucleotides tree showed three clusters: one for D. rotundus and two for Artibeus spp. Regarding putative N amino acid-trees, two clusters were formed, one for D. rotundus and another for Artibeus spp. RABV G gene phylogeny supported the distinction between D. rotundus and Artibeus spp. strains. These results show the intricate host relationship of RABV's evolutionary history, and are invaluable for the determination of RABV infection sources.