Mucosal and systemic immune responses in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup) bath challenged with Tenacibaculum maritimum: A time-course study

Tenacibaculosis, caused by Tenacibaculum maritimum, continues to inflict substantial losses among cultured marine species, particularly in the Senegalese sole. However, the immune mechanisms in fish involved in fighting against this disease are still poorly understood. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the skin mucus's terminal carbohydrate composition, several immune-related enzymes (i.e. lysozyme, peroxidase, proteases and antiproteases), the haemolytic activity of complement and the bactericidal activity in the skin mucus and plasma of the Senegalese sole in a time-course study following a bath challenge with T. maritimum. The haematological profile and the kinetics of cell migration post-infection were also considered. The bath challenge induced slight variations in the terminal carbohydrate composition of Senegalese sole skin mucus. In general, results from this study showed a delay in the mucosal immune response compared to that found at the systemic level (i.e. blood and plasma). For instance, a significant increase in the skin mucus's lysozyme, complement, protease and antiprotease activities were observed at the end of the experiment (14 d post-challenge). Interestingly, the higher activity of these enzymes could be related to the skin mucus's bactericidal capacity and haemolytic complement activity, suggesting that these enzymes play an important role in the defence against Gram-negative bacteria. The haematological profile revealed a significant increase in circulating neutrophils in challenged fish after 48 and 72 h, which was positively correlated to the increments observed in peroxidase and lysozyme activities, respectively, in the plasma of challenged fish at the same time. Although the route of entry and the survival strategy of T. maritimum are still not fully elucidated, results from the present study will contribute to this endeavour through the study of the mucosal immune responses of fish against this particular pathogen.

A histological evaluation of the surgical margins from human oral fibrous-epithelial lesions excised with CO2 laser, Diode laser, Er:YAG laser, Nd:YAG laser, electrosurgical scalpel and cold scalpel

Background

We aim to evaluate the presence of histological artefacts in the surgical margins of human oral fibro-epithelial hyperplasias excised with lasers of different wavelengths, and also electrosurgical scalpel and cold scalpel. Moreover, we aim to determine if some of these instruments could impair the normal histological diagnosis of these lesions.

Material and Methods

We included 130 consecutive surgical samples of 80 females and 50 males (mean age of 53.82±16.55) with a histological diagnosis of an oral benign fibrous-epithelial hyperplasias. The samples were categorized into 6 groups according to the type of instrument used: CO2 laser group, diode laser group, Er:YAG laser group, Nd:YAG laser group, electrosurgical scalpel group and cold scalpel group. Histological instrument-induced changes were microscopic evaluated and related with clinical and pathological variables.

Results

The instrument with highest tissue damage extension (TDE) was the electrosurgical scalpel (1002.2µm±434.92), followed by diode laser (913.73 µm±322.45), Nd:YAG (899.83µm±327.75), CO2 laser (538.37µm±170.50), Er:YAG laser (166.47µm±123.85), and at last with fewer alterations the cold scalpel group (2.36µm±7.27) (P< 0.001). The most regular incision was observed in CO2 laser group, followed by Er:YAG laser, Nd:YAG laser, electrosurgical scalpel and diode laser group with the less regular incision using cold scalpel as comparison (P< 0.001). A correlation was found between the incision score and TDE (P< 0.001). Regarding histological diagnosis, no case showed any limitation of diagnosis related with the use of any instrument evaluated.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that lasers can be used for the excision of oral benign fibrous-epithelial hyperplasias, without hispathological diagnosis limitations, as long as the physical properties of each laser are known and respected. Er:YAG laser have shown to be a laser with few tissue damage extension and with good incision regularity, been a possible instrument of choice for the surgical removal of these lesions.

Key words:CO2 laser, diode laser, Er:YAG laser, Nd:YAG laser, oral mucosa.

Phytophthora parasitica Effector PpRxLR2 Suppresses Nicotiana benthamiana Immunity

Phytophthora species secrete several classes of effector proteins during interaction with their hosts. These proteins can have multiple functions including modulation of host physiology and immunity. The RxLR effectors have the ability to enter plant cells using the plant machinery. Some of these effectors have been characterized as immunity suppressors; however, very little is known about their functions in the interaction between Phytophthora parasitica and its hosts. Using a bioinformatics pipeline, we have identified 172 candidate RxLR effectors (CREs) in the isolate IAC 01_95 of P. parasitica. Of these 172 CREs, 93 were found to be also present in eight other genomes of P. parasitica, isolated from different hosts and continents. After transcriptomics and gene expression analysis, we have found five CREs to be up-regulated in in-vitro and in-planta samples. Subsequently, we selected three CREs for functional characterization in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. We show that PpRxLR2 is able to completely suppress INF-1-induced cell death, whereas PpRxLR3 and PpRxLR5 moderately suppressed N. benthamiana immunity in a less-extensive manner. Moreover, we confirmed the effector-triggered susceptibility activity of these proteins after transient transformation and infection of N. benthamiana plants. All three CREs enhanced virulence of P. parasitica during the interaction with N. benthamiana. These effectors, in particular PpRxLR2, can be targeted for the development of biotechnology-based control strategies of P. parasitica diseases.

Local immune response of two mucosal surfaces of the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, fed tryptophan- or methionine-supplemented diets

Immune responses relies on an adequate provision of multiple nutrients that sustain the synthesis of key effector molecules. These needs are depicted in the already reported increase of circulating free amino acids in fish under stressful conditions. Since aquaculture and the inherent fish welfare are an emergent call, the immunomodulatory effects of amino acids on gut- and skin-associated lymphoid tissues of the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were studied under unstressed conditions and after an inflammatory insult. To achieve this goal, fish were distributed in duplicate tanks (fifteen fish per tank) and were fed for 14 days with methionine or tryptophan-supplemented diets at 2× dietary requirement level (MET and TRP, respectively) or a control diet meeting the amino acids requirement levels (CTRL). Afterwards, samples of skin and posterior gut were collected from 6 fish per dietary treatment for the assessment of the immune status while the remaining animals were intraperitoneally-injected with inactivated Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida and subsequently sampled either 4 or 24 h post-injection. The immune status of both mucosal surfaces was poorly affected, although a tryptophan effect was denoted after bacterial inoculation, with several immune-related genes up-regulated in the gut at 4 h post-injection, which seems to suggest a neuroendocrine-immune systems interaction. In contrast, skin mucosal immunity was inhibited by tryptophan dietary supplementation. Regarding methionine, results were often statistically non-significant, though increasing trends were denoted in a few parameters. Overall, dietary methionine did not significantly affect neither gut nor skin immunity, whereas tryptophan supplementation seems to induce modulatory mechanisms that might be tissue-specific.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among inpatients at the university hospital of Sergipe, Brazil

Introduction

Depressive Symptoms (DS) generate a public and economic health problem, with decreasing productivity, labour market withdrawal and increased demand for health services. Studies show that in hospitalized patients, DS rates are higher than in the general population, in medical practice, however, they are under diagnosed or under-treated. Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (LP) can prevent aggravation of the psychic symptoms by early identification of them and by integration of psychiatry with the other medical specialties.

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of DS and associated factors in inpatients and the frequency of consultation LP.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in March 2016, with 87 patients hospitalized in the clinical and surgical wards at the University Hospital (Sergipe/BR), through two instruments: (1) Structured Questionnaire prepared by the authors, (2) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data analysis through descriptive and analytical statistics with final step of logistic regression.

Results

The prevalence of DS were 54%, of which 24% correspond to moderate and severe symptoms, and only 3.4% of the patients had a LP. In Logistic Regression, the only factor associated with DS was the reason for hospitalization. Clinical causes (87.2%) were 9.24 times more likely to develop DS than surgical causes.

Conclusions

Results suggest a high prevalence of inpatients with some psychic symptom. Physicians did not detect these symptoms and, therefore, LP request was low. These data reinforce the importance of LP for early identification of DS that should be stimulated during medical training.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Tuberculosis in native- and foreign-born populations in Portugal

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem, and during the last 20 years, industrialised countries have shown similar patterns in TB notifications: decreasing TB incidence in native populations and increasing incidence in foreign-born populations.

OBJECTIVES

To characterise risk factors associated with TB among native- and foreign-born TB patients in Portugal and identify barriers to the management of foreign cases.

METHODS

Analysis of the data from the national tuberculosis surveillance system and data from an online survey of physicians managing TB cases in the country.

RESULTS

Risk factors in the two populations differed. Foreign-born patients were younger, less likely to use drugs or alcohol and had fewer comorbidities. They were also more likely to be human immunodeficiency virus positive, to be employed and to be homeless/living in shelters. The outcome of the disease and the time to diagnosis were not significantly different between the two populations. The most important barriers to the management of foreign-born TB cases were language and fear of deportation.

CONCLUSIONS

As there are significant differences between the two populations, different TB control strategies should be implemented in the two populations.

Tenacibaculosis induction in the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) and studies of Tenacibaculum maritimum survival against host mucus and plasma

Tenacibaculum maritimum, the aetiological agent for marine tenacibaculosis, is one of the most significant pathogens that threaten Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis (Kaup), aquaculture. Because no immersion challenge with T. maritimum has been reported previously for this flatfish species, this study aimed to optimize bacterial yields as well as to establish a challenge model for tenacibaculosis induction. Several approaches were performed to optimize bacterial culture conditions, including treatment with non-ionic surfactants, detergents, cellulase hydrolysis and strong shaking. A prolonged bath challenge was performed for 24 h under two different temperatures, 16 and 23 °C. Moreover, mucus and plasma bactericidal activities against T. maritimum were also assessed. Culturing bacteria with strong shaking and continuous shaking provided suitable culture conditions to obtain higher bacterial yields without aggregation and fluctuation, contrary to most other treatments that showed a huge amount of bacterial aggregates. A prolonged bath method for 24 h, without skin or gill scarification, was considered suitable for disease induction with high mortality rates. Moreover, data regarding mucus and plasma bactericidal activities suggested that there is a lack of host innate immune response against T. maritimum or that this particular pathogen presents evading strategies against Senegalese sole.

Oxygenated monoterpenes-rich volatile oils as potential antifungal agents for dermatophytes

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from Lavandula luisieri and Cymbopogon citratus were tested for their antifungal activity against ten clinical isolates of dermatophytes isolated from cases of tinea pedis. Inhibition of conidial germination and antifungal drug/EO combination assay were tested on two ATCC reference strains of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. EOs were characterised by high amount of oxygenated monoterpenes in their composition. Strong antifungal activity was observed for the majority of clinical strains, and fungicidal activity was demonstrated. Positive interaction between L. luisieri EO combined with terbinafine was observed against terbinafine-resistant strain (Tr ATCC MYA-4438). Significative reduction of the germination was observed above 100 μg mL^-1. Both oils were safe to macrophage mammalian cells at tested concentration. This study describes the antifungal activity of L. luisieri and C. citratus EOs against dermatophytes, which could be useful in designing new formulations for topical treatments.

192 PREMATURATION OF BOVINE CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEXES WITH CYCLIC ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE MODULATORS AFFECTS BOTH OOCYTE AND BLASTOCYST ULTRASTRUCTURE

Oocytes resume meiosis spontaneously when subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) elevating agents have been used for artificial blocking of meiotic resumption (pre-IVM) to allow the oocyte to prepare for maturation, potentially increasing its developmental competence. However, the ultrastructural effects of this pharmacological approach on oocytes and embryos remain to be addressed. We assessed the effects of pre-IVM with cAMP modulators in oocytes (10 for each group) at the end of IVM and in blastocyst (10 for each group) after 7 days of culture. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were subjected to pre-IVM for 2 h with forskolin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA; 100 μM) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) (IBMX, Sigma, 500 μM) followed by 24 h of IVM with FSH-enriched media (IVF Vet Solutions, Adelaide, Australia). Simultaneously, another group of COC was subjected to conventional IVM (con-IVM) for 24 h (EmbryoTransBiotech, Copenhagen, Denmark) with BSA (4 mg mL–1, Sigma), gentamycin (50 mg mL–1), and FSH (0.1 IU mL–1). Matured oocytes were collected for qualitative ultrastructural analysis or followed to IVF. The morphology was carefully evaluated on serially sectioned oocytes and embryos, where each serial section (~60.2-μm section per oocyte/embryo) was analysed under light microscopy. Subsequently, the equatorial section from each oocyte and the section giving the optimal representation of the inner cell mass in each blastocyst was re-embedded and sectioned for electron microcopy as previously described (Hyttel and Madsen 1987 Acta Anat. 129, 12–14). Blastocyst rates did not differ between groups. Ultrastructural analyses revealed subtle ultrastructural differences between pre-IVM and con-IVM conditions. In both groups, oocytes had matured to metaphase II. The perivitelline space of pre-IVM oocytes was significantly narrower than con-IVM. The cytoplasmic vesicles were more abundant and globally distributed in pre-IVM oocytes, whereas at con-IVM a vesicle-free periphery of the ooplasm was frequent, except for cortical granules and clusters of mitochondria associated with smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). We observed typical hooded mitochondria and cortical granules either clustered in the periphery or solitarily distributed in the cortical ooplasmic region for both groups. In the blastocysts, differences were noted with respect to especially distribution of ribosomes. In pre-IVM blastocysts, ribosomes were mostly organised in free clusters (polysomes) and peripherally located in cells of the inner cell mass. Con-IVM blastocysts showed ribosomes preferentially associated with the rough ER and often associated with mitochondria. Lipid droplets and rounded mitochondria were observed in both groups as well as apically located tight junctions and desmosomes between adjacent trophectoderm (TE) cells. Pleomorphic and elongated mitochondria were abundant in the TE of pre-IVM blastocysts, whereas the mitochondrial population was more homogenous at con-IVM. These findings suggest that pre-IVM for 2 h affects oocyte and blastocyst ultrastructure. Research was supported by grants 12/50533-2 and 12/23409-9 from FAPESP.

Assessment of the variation of skin barrier function with anatomic site, age, gender and ethnicity

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and its functions include protection, thermoregulation sensation and secretion. Significant advances in our understanding of how the morphology and physiology of the skin contribute to the skin's barrier role have been achieved in recent years. The aim of this review is to summarize the principal approaches which have been used to assess variation in skin barrier function with anatomic site, age, gender, and ethnicity. The methods discussed include trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement, assessment of corneocyte size, response to vasoactive compounds and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) interrogation of skin. The utility of the various methods is considered and the most important findings in the literature to date are highlighted.