Cryptococcosis: epidemiology, fungal resistance, and new alternatives for treatment

Cryptococcosis is an important systemic mycosis and the third most prevalent disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. The incidence of cryptococcosis is high among the 25 million people with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with recent estimates indicating that there are one million cases of cryptococcal meningitis globally per year in AIDS patients. In Cryptococcus neoformans, resistance to azoles may be associated with alterations in the target enzyme encoded by the gene ERG11, lanosterol 14α-demethylase. These alterations are obtained through mutations, or by overexpressing the gene encoding. In addition, C. gattii and C. neoformans present a heteroresistance phenotype, which may be related to increased virulence. Other species beyond C. neoformans and C. gattii, such as C. laurentii, have been diagnosed mainly in patients with immunosuppression. Infections of C. albidus have been isolated in cats and marine mammals. Recent evidence suggests that the majority of infections produced by this pathogen are associated with biofilm growth, which is also related with increased resistance to antifungal agents. Therefore, there is a great need to search for alternative antifungal agents for these fungi. The search for new molecules is currently occurring from nanoparticle drugs of plant peptide origin. This article presents a brief review of the literature regarding the epidemiology of cryptococcosis, as well as fungal resistance and new alternatives for treatment. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Zinc sulphate administered by transdermal iontophoresis improves breaking strength of surgical wounds in skin of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The role of leukotriene B4 in early stages of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis induced in phenotypically selected mouse strains

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a human systemic mycosis caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The mechanisms involved in innate immune response to this fungus are not fully elucidated. Leukotrienes are known to be critical for the clearance of various microorganisms, mainly by mediating the microbicidal function of phagocytes. We investigated the involvement of leukotriene B4 in the early stages of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis, which was induced by intratracheal inoculation of the fungus in selected mouse lines. The mouse lines utilized were produced through bi-directional phenotypic selection, endowed with maximal or minimal acute inflammatory reactivity, and designated AIRmax and AIRmin, respectively. AIRmax mice were more resistant to the infection, which was demonstrated by reduced lung fungal loads. However, the two lines produced similar amounts of leukotriene B4, and pharmacological inhibition of this mediator provoked similar fungal load increases in the two lines. The lower fungal load in the AIRmax mice was associated with a more effective inflammatory response, which was characterized by enhanced recruitment and activation of phagocytic cells and an increased production of activator cytokines. This process resulted in an increased release of fungicidal molecules and a diminution of fungal load. In both lines, leukotriene production was associated with a protective response in the lung that was consequent to the effect of this eicosanoid on the influx and activation of phagocytes. © 2013 ISHAM.

Isokinetic eccentric resistance training prevents loss in mechanical muscle function after running

The aim of the study was to verify whether 8 weeks of resistance training employing maximal isokinetic eccentric (IERT) knee extensor actions would reduce the acute force loss observed after high-intensity treadmill running exercise. It was hypothesized that specific IERT would induce protective effects against muscle fatigue and ultrastructural damages, preventing or reducing the loss in mechanical muscle function after running. Subjects were tested before and after IERT protocol for maximal isometric, concentric and eccentric isokinetic knee extensor strength (60 and 180 s-1). In a second session, subjects performed treadmill running (~35 min) and the previously mentioned measurements were repeated immediately after running. Subsequently, subjects were randomized to training (n = 12) consisting of 24 sessions of maximal IERT knee extensors actions at 180 s-1, or served as controls (n = 8). The effects of acute running-induced fatigue and training on isokinetic and isometric peak torque, and rate of force development (RFD) were investigated. Before IERT, running-induced eccentric torque loss at 180 s-1 was -8 %, and RFD loss was -11 %. Longitudinal IERT led to reduced or absent acute running-induced losses in maximal IERT torque at 180 s-1 (+2 %), being significantly reduced compared to before IERT (p < 0.05), however, RFD loss remained at -11 % (p > 0.05). In conclusion, IERT yields a reduced strength loss after high-intensity running workouts, which may suggest a protective effect against fatigue and/or morphological damages. However, IERT may not avoid reductions in explosive muscle actions. In turn, this may allow more intense training sessions to be performed, facilitating the adaptive response to running training. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Cannabidiol administration into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis alters cardiovascular responses induced by acute restraint stress through 5-HT1A receptor

Systemic administration of cannabidiol (CBD) is able to attenuate cardiovascular responses to acute restraint stress through activation of 5-HT1A receptors. Previous results from our group suggest that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in the antiaversive effects of the CBD. Moreover, it has been proposed that synapses within the BNST influence restraint-evoked cardiovascular changes, in particular by an inhibitory influence on the tachycardiac response associated to restraint stress. Thus, the present work investigated the effects of CBD injected into the BNST on cardiovascular changes induced by acute restraint stress and if these effects would involve the local activation of 5-HT1A receptors. The exposition to restraint stress increased both blood pressure and heart rate (HR). The microinjection of CBD (30 and 60nmol) into the BNST enhanced the restraint-evoked HR increase, in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the pressor response. The selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 by itself did not change the cardiovascular responses to restraint stress, but blocked the effects of CBD. These results showed that CBD microinjected into the BNST enhanced the HR increase associated with acute restraint stress without affecting the blood pressure response. Although these results are not in agreement with those observed after systemic administration of CBD, they are similar to effects observed after reversible inactivation of the BNST. Moreover, similar to the effects observed after systemic administration, CBD effects in the BNST seem to depend on activation of 5-HT1A receptors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP.

Age Affects Exercise-Induced Improvements in Heart Rate Response to Exercise

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of age on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength and heart rate (HR) response to exercise adaptation in women in response to a long-term twice-weekly combined aerobic and resistance exercise program. 85 sedentary women, divided into young (YG; n=22, 30.3±6.2 years), early middle-aged (EMG; n=28, 44.1±2.5 years), late middle-aged (LMG; n=20, 56.7±3.5 years) and older (OG; n=15, 71.4±6.9 years) groups, had their CRF, muscle strength (1-repetition maximum test) and HR response to exercise (graded exercise test) measured before and after 12 months of combined exercise training. Exercise training improved CRF and muscle strength in all age groups (P<0.05), and no significant differences were observed between groups. Exercise training also improved resting HR and recovery HR in YG and EMG (P<0.05), but not in LMG and OG. Maximal HR did not change in any group. Combined aerobic and resistance training at a frequency of 2 days/week improves CRF and muscle strength throughout the lifespan. However, exercise-induced improvements in the HR recovery response to exercise may be impaired in late middle-aged and older women. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG.

Avaliação do sinal insulínico em ratos adultos com lesão periapical

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito da suplementação nutricional com cogumelos A. blazei sobre a infecção experimental murina aguda por Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos da dexmedetomidina administrada em infusão intravenosa contínua, associada ou não ao butorfanol, em equinos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeitos do sevofluorano e do desfluorano sobre variáveis intracranianas e hemodinâmicas em cães

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Índice biespectral, variáveis intracranianas e cardiovasculares em cães anestesiados com diferentes doses de infusão de propofol, associados ou não ao óxido nitroso

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influência de uma superfície modificada por fluoretos na osseointegração de implantes dentais em ratos diabéticos

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOAR

Reconstruction of molecular networks involved in citokine-induced myotubes atrophy integrating microRNA and mRNA expression

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Genética) - IBB

Resveratrol reduces chronic inflammation and improves insulin action in the myocardium of high-fat diet-induced obeserats

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do resveratrol sobre a via de sinalização da insulina e melhora do quadro inflamatório no miocárdio de ratos Wistar obesos induzidos por dieta.MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar foram divididos em grupos: controle (dieta padrão para roedores), obeso (dieta hiperlipídica) e obeso suplementado com resveratrol (20 mg/kg/dia), por 8 semanas (n=10). Ao final do período experimental, realizou-se o teste de tolerância à insulina, nos tempos 0 (sem insulina), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30 minutos após injeção intraperitoneal de insulina (2 U/kg). O peso corporal e o tecido adiposo epididimal foram mensurados. Fragmentos do miocárdio foram extraídos para análises da via da insulina e moléculas pró-inflamatórias através de Western blot.RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicam que a intervenção com resveratrol aumenta a constante de decaimento da glicose, fosforilação do receptor de insulina, substrato do receptor de insulina e da proteína quinase B. A suplementação de resveratrol também reduziu os níveis proteicos do fator de necrose tumoral alfa e de moléculas envolvidas com a transdução do sinal pró-inflamatório (quinase indutora do kappa B e fator nuclear kappa B). Os resultados ainda sugerem que a melhora na sensibilidade à insulina e a redução das moléculas pró-inflamatórias ocorreram independentemente da perda de peso corporal e da redução do tecido adiposo epididimal.CONCLUSÃO: A suplementação de resveratrol aumenta a sensibilidade à insulina, o que está relacionado à redução de fatores inflamatórios no miocárdio.

Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation: clinical findings and its effect on hepcidin mRNA expression in horses

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)