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Brooks SJ, Gomes T, Almeida AC, Christou M, Zheng C, Shaposhnikov S, Popa DG, Georgescu F, Oancea F. An ecotoxicological assessment of a strigolactone mimic used as the active ingredient in a plant biostimulant formulation. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 275:116244. [PMID: 38537480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
A risk assessment on the aquatic toxicity of the plant biostimulant strigolactone mimic (2-(4-methyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydro-furan-2-yloxy)-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3-dione (SL-6) was performed using a suite of standardised bioassays representing different trophic groups and acute and chronic endpoints. In freshwater, three trophic groups of algae, crustacea and fish were used. Whilst in seawater, algae (unicellular and macroalgae), Crustacea and Mollusca were employed. In addition, the genotoxicity of SL-6 was determined with the comet assessment performed on unicellular marine algae, oysters, and fish embryos. This was the first time ecotoxicity tests have been performed on SL-6. In freshwater, the lowest LOEC was measured in the unicellular algae at 0.31 mg/L SL-6. Although, similar LOEC values were found for embryo malformations and impacts on hatching rate in zebrafish (LOEC 0.31-0.33 mg/L). Consistent malformations of pericardial and yolk sac oedemas were identified in the zebrafish embryos at 0.31 mg/L. In marine species, the lowest LOEC was found for both Tisbe battagliai mortality and microalgae growth at an SL-6 concentration of 1.0 mg/L. Significant genotoxicity was observed above control levels at 0.0031 mg/L SL-6 in the unicellular algae and 0.001 mg/L SL-6 in the oyster and zebrafish larvae. When applying the simple risk assessment, based on the lowest NOECs and appropriate assessment factors, the calculated predicted no effect concentration (PNEC), for the ecotoxicity and the genotoxicity tests were 1.0 µg/L and 0.01 µg/L respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Brooks
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, Oslo 0579, Norway.
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, Oslo 0579, Norway
| | | | - Maria Christou
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, Oslo 0579, Norway
| | | | | | - Daria G Popa
- ICECHIM, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry-ICECHIM, Splaiul Independentei No. 202, Sector 6, Bucharest 060021, Romania
| | | | - Florin Oancea
- ICECHIM, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry-ICECHIM, Splaiul Independentei No. 202, Sector 6, Bucharest 060021, Romania
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Santos AR, Almeida AC, Rocha AC, Reste-Ferreira D, Marques IP, Cunha-Vaz Martinho A, Mendes L, Santos T, Lewis W, Cunha-Vaz J. CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL INVOLVEMENT OF THE RETINA IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY. Retina 2024; 44:700-706. [PMID: 38109709 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000004021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the degree of central microvascular closure using optical coherence tomography angiography in eyes of patients with type 2 diabetes with visible lesions only in the central retina or only in the periphery. METHODS Cross-sectional study. All 127 eyes underwent ultra-widefield fundus photography 200° examinations with OPTOS California (Optos, Dunfermline, United Kingdom) and Cirrus Angioplex optical coherence tomography angiography 3 × 3 mm acquisitions (ZEISS, Dublin, CA). RESULTS Twenty-five eyes showed visible lesions only in the central retina, 57 only in the peripheral retina, and 45 presented visible lesions in entire retina. The group with visible lesions only in the periphery showed definite closure in the superficial capillary plexus in 49% of the eyes, whereas the group with visible lesions only in the central seven-early treatment diabetic retinopathy study fields area showed a definite closure in 64%. CONCLUSION Central capillary closure is already present in the initial stages of diabetic retinopathy even when lesions are only visible in the peripheral retina. Capillary closure in the superficial capillary plexus is three times more frequent than in the deep capillary plexus, demonstrating earlier closure of the superficial capillary plexus. Eyes with visible lesions only in the periphery show a milder form of retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Santos
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- CORC-Coimbra Ophthalmology Reading Center, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Orthoptics, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Rocha
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Débora Reste-Ferreira
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês Pereira Marques
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- CORC-Coimbra Ophthalmology Reading Center, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Luís Mendes
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Torcato Santos
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Warren Lewis
- Bayside Photonics, Inc, Yellow Springs, Ohio; and
| | - José Cunha-Vaz
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
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Barbosa DLA, Oliveira MLR, Assis Júnior SL, Rech AR, Soares MA, Almeida AC, Ferreira EA, Frazão LA. The exploitation of resources by Trigona spinipes bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae) in Eucalyptus cloeziana (Myrtaceae) trees in an integrated crop-livestock-forest system. BRAZ J BIOL 2024; 84:e277025. [PMID: 38422284 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.277025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D L A Barbosa
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Ciência Florestal, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - M L R Oliveira
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Ciência Florestal, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - S L Assis Júnior
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Ciência Florestal, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - A R Rech
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Ciência Florestal, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - M A Soares
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Ciência Florestal, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - A C Almeida
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Ciência Florestal, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - E A Ferreira
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, MG, Brasil
| | - L A Frazão
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, MG, Brasil
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Santos T, Santos AR, Almeida AC, Rocha AC, Reste-Ferreira D, Marques IP, Cunha-Vaz Martinho A, Mendes L, Foote K, Cunha-Vaz J. Retinal Capillary Nonperfusion in Preclinical Diabetic Retinopathy. Ophthalmic Res 2023; 66:1327-1334. [PMID: 37820590 PMCID: PMC10641810 DOI: 10.1159/000534553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of the study was to identify retinal microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with preclinical retinopathy identified by ultra-widefield fundus photography (UWF-FP). METHODS This is a cross-sectional observational study. All patients underwent UWF-FP 200° examinations with OPTOS California (Optos, Dunfermline, UK) and Cirrus AngioPlex® spectral-domain (SD)-OCTA 3 × 3 mm acquisitions (ZEISS, Dublin, CA, USA). The absence of visible lesions was identified using UWF-FP. RESULTS One hundred and ninety three eyes of individuals with T2D with no visible lesions in the fundus and identified in a screening setting were included in the study. Skeletonized vessel density (SVD), perfusion density (PD), and areas of capillary nonperfusion (CNP) values on SD-OCTA were significantly decreased when compared with healthy population (p < 0.001). SVD and CNP values of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) were more frequently decreased (35% and 45%, respectively) than SVD values of the deep capillary plexus (DCP) (9% and 15%, respectively), demonstrating that diabetic microvascular changes occur earlier in the SCP than in the DCP. The ischemic phenotype, identified by a definite decrease in SVD or CNP in the SCP may, therefore, be identified in the preclinical stage of diabetic retinal disease. CONCLUSIONS Retinal capillary nonperfusion detected by OCTA metrics of SVD and CNP can be identified in the central retina in eyes with T2D before development of visible lesions in the retina. Our findings confirm the relevance of OCTA to identify macular microvascular changes in the initial stages of diabetic retinopathy, allowing the identification of its ischemic phenotype very early in the disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torcato Santos
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Santos
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Orthoptics, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Rocha
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Débora Reste-Ferreira
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês Pereira Marques
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Luís Mendes
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - José Cunha-Vaz
- AIBILI-Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
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Pivodic A, E H Smith L, Hård AL, Löfqvist C, Almeida AC, Al-Hawasi A, Larsson E, Lundgren P, Sunnqvist B, Tornqvist K, Wallin A, Holmstrom G, Gränse L. Validation of DIGIROP models and decision support tool for prediction of treatment for retinopathy of prematurity on a contemporary Swedish cohort. Br J Ophthalmol 2023; 107:1132-1138. [PMID: 35277395 PMCID: PMC10359565 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-320738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is currently diagnosed through repeated eye examinations to find the low percentage of infants that fulfil treatment criteria to reduce vision loss. A prediction model for severe ROP requiring treatment that might sensitively and specifically identify infants that develop severe ROP, DIGIROP-Birth, was developed using birth characteristics. DIGIROP-Screen additionally incorporates first signs of ROP in different models over time. The aim was to validate DIGIROP-Birth, DIGIROP-Screen and their decision support tool on a contemporary Swedish cohort. METHODS Data were retrieved from the Swedish national registry for ROP (2018-2019) and two Swedish regions (2020), including 1082 infants born at gestational age (GA) 24 to <31 weeks. The predictors were GA at birth, sex, standardised birth weight and age at the first sign of ROP. The outcome was ROP treatment. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% CI were described. RESULTS For DIGIROP-Birth, the AUC was 0.93 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.95); for DIGIROP-Screen, it ranged between 0.93 and 0.97. The specificity was 49.9% (95% CI 46.7 to 53.0) and the sensitivity was 96.5% (95% CI 87.9 to 99.6) for the tool applied at birth. For DIGIROP-Screen, the cumulative specificity ranged between 50.0% and 78.7%. One infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome who fulfilled criteria for ROP treatment and had no missed/incomplete examinations was incorrectly flagged as not needing screening. CONCLUSIONS DIGIROP-Birth and DIGIROP-Screen showed high predictive ability in a contemporary Swedish cohort. At birth, 50% of the infants born at 24 to <31 weeks of gestation were predicted to have low risk of severe ROP and could potentially be released from ROP screening examinations. All routinely screened treated infants, excluding those screened for clinical indications of severe illness, were correctly flagged as needing ROP screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldina Pivodic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lois E H Smith
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna-Lena Hård
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Chatarina Löfqvist
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Health Care Science, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Beatriz Angelo, Loures, Portugal
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hospital São Francisco Xavier-Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
- CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Luz Saúde, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Abbas Al-Hawasi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eva Larsson
- Department of Surgical Sciences/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pia Lundgren
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Kristina Tornqvist
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Gerd Holmstrom
- Department of Surgical Sciences/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lotta Gränse
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Sørensen L, Gomes T, Igartua A, Lyngstad IL, Almeida AC, Wagner M, Booth AM. Organic chemicals associated with rubber are more toxic to marine algae and bacteria than those of thermoplastics. J Hazard Mater 2023; 458:131810. [PMID: 37336109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The current study investigated the chemical complexity of fifty plastic (36) and elastomer/rubber (14) methanol extracts from consumer products, focusing on the association with toxicity in two screening assays (bacteria luminescence and marine microalgae). The chemical composition varied considerably between the products and polymers. The most complex sample (car tire rubber) contained 2456 chemical features and the least complex (disposable water bottle) only 39 features, with a median of 386 features across all products. Individual extract toxicity also varied significantly across the products and polymers, with the two toxicity assays showing comparable results in terms of defining low and high toxicity extracts, and correlation between medium toxicity extracts. Chemical complexity and abundance both correlated with toxicity in both assays. However, there were strong differences in toxicity between plastic and elastomer extracts. Overall, 86-93 % of the 14 elastomer extracts and only 33-36 % of other polymer extracts (n = 36) were more toxic than the median. A range of compounds were tentatively identified across the sample set, with several concerning compounds being identified, mostly in the elastomers. While the current focus on plastic chemicals is towards thermoplastics, we show that elastomers may be of more concern from an environmental and human health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbet Sørensen
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Department of Climate and Environment, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Oslo, Norway
| | - Amaia Igartua
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Department of Climate and Environment, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Inger Larsen Lyngstad
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Wagner
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Biology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andy M Booth
- SINTEF Ocean AS, Department of Climate and Environment, Trondheim, Norway.
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Santos-Neves JMCO, Patchineelam SR, Araujo DF, Godoy JMO, Almeida AC. Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements (REE) in urban reservoirs: the case of Funil Reservoir, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 2023; 195:659. [PMID: 37166583 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11246-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REE) have unique chemical properties, which allow their use as geochemical tracers. In this context, the present study aims to assess the role of Funil Reservoir on REE biogeochemical behavior. We collected water samples upstream of the reservoir (P-01) in the city of Queluz, inside the reservoir (P-02), and downstream of Funil Reservoir (P-03) in the city of Itatiaia, RJ. In the field, physicochemical parameters were measured using a probe (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen). In the laboratory, water samples were filtered (0.45 µm) and properly packed until chemical analysis. Chlorophyll a concentrations were determined by a spectrophotometric method and suspended particulate matter (SPM) by a gravimetric method. Ionic concentrations were determined by ion chromatography technique and REE concentrations were determined by ICP-MS. Chlorophyll a concentrations were higher in Funil Reservoir. Ionic concentrations in Queluz (P-01) suggest anthropic contamination. The sum of REE in the dissolved fraction ranged from 2.12 to 12.22 µg L-1. A positive anomaly of La in Queluz indicates anthropic contamination. The observed patterns indicate that Funil Reservoir acts as a biogeochemical barrier, modifying the fluvial transport of REE. Nonetheless, another factor that probably influences REE behavior is the algal bloom that occurs in reservoirs during the rainy season. The seasonal behavior of algae can influence REE biogeochemistry through the incorporation and release of trace metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M C O Santos-Neves
- Centro de Formação em Desenvolvimento Territorial, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Teixeira de Freitas, Brazil.
| | - S R Patchineelam
- Departamento de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - D F Araujo
- Chimique des Écosystèmes Marins (CCEM), F-44300, Ifremer - Institut Français de Recherche Pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Nantes, France
| | - J M O Godoy
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A C Almeida
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Almeida AC, Carlos C, Salvação J, Ferreira AR, Oliveira I, Nave A, Torres L, Gonçalves F. A traça-da-uva, Lobesia botrana, na Região Demarcada do Douro: Efeito da sub-região, ano, geração e casta, na intensidade do ataque da praga. Ciência Téc Vitiv 2022. [DOI: 10.1051/ctv/ctv20223702126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A traça-da-uva, Lobesia botrana, é praga-chave da vinha na Região Demarcada do Douro (RDD). A sua importância económica, a par da necessidade de reduzir o uso de inseticidas de síntese na vinha, conferem relevância ao desenvolvimento de estratégias de proteção contra a praga, alternativas aos meios químicos. Incluem-se nestas estratégias, a seleção das castas, as medidas culturais e a confusão sexual. O seu adequado uso obriga a um aprofundado conhecimento do comportamento do inseto em relação a diversos parâmetros biológicos. Com o presente trabalho, pretendeu-se, através da análise de dados recolhidos entre 2000 e 2019, estudar a influência, na intensidade do ataque de L. botrana, na RDD, da sub-região, ano, geração e casta. Os resultados mostraram que, a intensidade do ataque da praga: i) foi, em geral, inferior no Douro Superior, comparativamente, quer ao Cima Corgo quer ao Baixo Corgo; ii) diferiu entre anos, na dependência das condições climáticas, mas tendencialmente diminuiu ao longo dos anos; iii) na primeira geração, em geral manteve-se em valores inferiores ao nível económico de ataque, enquanto nas restantes gerações se situou entre os limites estabelecidos para o mesmo (i.e. 1 – 10% cachos atacados); iv) as castas ‘Touriga Franca’, no caso das castas tintas, e ‘Malvasia Fina’, no caso das castas brancas foram, de entre as estudadas, as tendencialmente mais atacadas.
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Almeida AC, Gomes T, Lomba JAB, Lillicrap A. Specific toxicity of azithromycin to the freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021; 222:112553. [PMID: 34325198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals are produced to inflict a specific physiological response in organisms. However, as only partially metabolized after administration, these types of compounds can also originate harmful side effects to non-target organisms. Additionally, there is still a lack of knowledge on the toxicological effects of legacy pharmaceuticals such as the antibiotic azithromycin. This macrolide occurs at high concentrations in the aquatic environment and can constitute a threat to aquatic organisms that are at the basis of the aquatic food chain, namely microalgae. This study established a high-throughput methodology to study the toxicity of azithromycin to the freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. Flow cytometry and pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry were used as screening tools. General toxicity was shown by effects in growth rate, cell size, cell complexity, cell viability and cell cycle. More specific outcomes were indicated by the analysis of mitochondrial and cytoplasmatic membrane potentials, DNA content, formation of ROS and LPO, natural pigments content and photosystem II performance. The specific mode of action (MoA) of azithromycin to crucial components of microalgae cells was revealed. Azithromycin had a negative impact on the regulation of energy dissipation at the PSII centers, along with an insufficient protection by the regulatory mechanisms leading to photodamage. The blockage of photosynthetic electrons led to ROS formation and consequent oxidative damage, affecting membranes and DNA. Overall, the used methodology exhibited its high potential for detecting the toxic MoA of compounds in microalgae and should be considered for future risk assessment of pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway.
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | | | - Adam Lillicrap
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
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10
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Afonso M, Mestre AR, Silva G, Almeida AC, Cunha RA, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Gonçalves T, Rodrigues L. Candida Extracellular Nucleotide Metabolism Promotes Neutrophils Extracellular Traps Escape. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:678568. [PMID: 34327150 PMCID: PMC8313894 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.678568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host innate immunity is fundamental to the resistance against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata infection, two of the most important agents contributing to human fungal infections. Phagocytic cells, such as neutrophils, constitute the first line of host defense mechanisms, and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) represent an important strategy to immobilize and to kill invading microorganisms, arresting the establishment of infection. The purinergic system operates an important role in the homeostasis of immunity and inflammation, and ectophosphatase and ectonucleotidase activities are recognized as essential for survival strategies and infectious potential of several pathogens. The expression and unique activity of a 3′-nucleotidase/nuclease (3′NT/NU), able to hydrolyze not only AMP but also nucleic acids, has been considered as part of a possible mechanism of microbes to escape from NETs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if yeasts escape from the NET-mediated killing through their 3′NT/NU enzymatic activity contributing to NET-hydrolysis. After demonstrating the presence of 3′NT/NU activity in C. albicans, C. glabrata, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that, during neutrophils-Candida interaction, when NETs formation and release are triggered, NETs digestion occurs and this process of NETs disruption promoted by yeast cells was prevented by ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), a 3′NT/NU inhibitor. In conclusion, although the exact nature and specificity of yeasts ectonucleotidases are not completely unraveled, we highlight the importance of these enzymes in the context of infection, helping yeasts to overcome host defenses, whereby C. albicans and C. glabrata can escape NET-mediate killing through their 3′NT/NU activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Afonso
- Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Mestre
- Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Guilherme Silva
- Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo A Cunha
- FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Purines at CNC - Neuromodulation Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lisa Rodrigues
- Medical Microbiology Research Group, CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal.,FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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11
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Almeida AC, Vale AC, Reis RL, Alves NM. Bioactive and adhesive properties of multilayered coatings based on catechol-functionalized chitosan/hyaluronic acid and bioactive glass nanoparticles. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 157:119-134. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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12
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Gomes T, Almeida AC, Georgantzopoulou A. Characterization of cell responses in Rhodomonas baltica exposed to PMMA nanoplastics. Sci Total Environ 2020; 726:138547. [PMID: 32320882 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Due to their small size, nanoplastics (NPLs) possess specific properties which can potentiate their toxicity towards aquatic organisms. As primary producers, microalgae are at the base of aquatic food chains, thus negative impacts of NPLs will likely lead to disturbances in ecosystem productivity. The majority of data available on the toxicity of NPLs is limited to polystyrene and green microalgae, leaving a significant lack of knowledge on impacts of other polymer types across different taxonomic groups. So, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the cell responses of the red microalgae Rhodomonas baltica to plain and carboxylated poly(methyl methacrylate) NPLs (PMMA and PMMA-COOH, 50 nm). Results showed different NPL behaviour in media over time, with PMMA forming micro-scale aggregates and PMMA-COOH maintaining its nominal size range. PMMA caused a higher impact in cellular and physiological parameters than PMMA-COOH, even though a decrease in algal growth was only seen for the later. Overall, PMMA caused a significant decrease in cell viability followed by an increase in cell size and complexity, overproduction of pigments, loss of membrane integrity, hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, increased production of ROS and LPO, decrease in DNA content and reduced photosynthetic capacity. Conversely, a decrease in algal growth for PMMA-COOH was connected to an impairment in cell cycle and consequent decrease in cell viability, metabolic activity and photosynthetic performance, with negligible effects in ROS formation and pigments content. This study provided a first insight into the mechanistic understanding of the toxic impacts of PMMA and PMMA-COOH NPLs in red microalgae. Results obtained suggest an interaction between both NPLs and R. baltica cell surface that is dependent on particle behaviour and surface chemistry. Future experiments focusing on the in-depth characterization of the mode of action of these particles are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Anastasia Georgantzopoulou
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
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13
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Almeida AC, Gomes T, Habuda-Stanić M, Lomba JAB, Romić Ž, Turkalj JV, Lillicrap A. Characterization of multiple biomarker responses using flow cytometry to improve environmental hazard assessment with the green microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata. Sci Total Environ 2019; 687:827-838. [PMID: 31412486 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microalgal toxicity tests using integrative endpoints as algal growth are regularly required to analyse the toxicity of potentially hazardous substances in the aquatic environment. However, these do not provide mechanistic information on the toxic mode of action by which contaminants may affect algae. Bottled waters can be used as a substitute for culturing media and should not impose any stress to the cultured organisms. However, certain chemical components can interfere with specific cell targets which are not revealed by general toxicity assays. The present study investigated the sensitivity of flow cytometry (FCM) to analyse sub-lethal effects of different bottled waters to the freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata. Several endpoints were analysed including growth rate, natural pigments content, cell size, complexity, viability and cycle, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation, mitochondrial membrane potential and Lipid Peroxidation (LPO). Additionally, photosystem II (PSII) performance was analysed by PAM fluorometry, to provide further information on the absorption, distribution and use of energy in photosynthesis. Results indicated that the most sensitive endpoints were the oxidative stress related endpoints ROS formation and LPO, pigment content, morphological endpoints as cell size, complexity and cycle, with growth rate being one of the least sensitive. Although being essential macronutrients for algal growth, the chemical elements Ca, Na, Mg, and NH4 were identified as being primarily responsible for the observed toxicological effects to exposed algae. The applied methodology proved to be of high throughput, simultaneously assembling information on morphological, biochemical, and physiological status of algal cells. FCM also showed potential to reveal mechanistic information on the toxic mode of action of the bottled waters before any effects on algal growth was observed. The used approach demonstrated its potential for being integrated into future microalgal toxicity bioassays for testing chemicals to improve the hazard information obtained from currently approved internationally accepted test guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway.
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | - Mirna Habuda-Stanić
- Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | | | - Željka Romić
- Vodovod-Osijek d.o.o., Poljski put 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | | | - Adam Lillicrap
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
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14
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Almeida AC, Gomes T, Langford K, Thomas KV, Tollefsen KE. Oxidative stress potential of the herbicides bifenox and metribuzin in the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Aquat Toxicol 2019; 210:117-128. [PMID: 30849631 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The widespread presence of herbicides in the aquatic environment has raised awareness about the need to develop further in depth ecotoxicological risk assessments, more specifically on potential effects on photosynthetic organisms as microalgae. The majority of the information available regarding the toxicity of herbicides towards microalgae is related to traditional toxicological and regulatory-relevant endpoints such as growth inhibition, leaving a significant gap on knowledge regarding underlying interactions and damage to biological targets. In this context, this study aimed to supplement the general toxicity information of bifenox and metribuzin in the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using a battery of selected high-throughput methods. This multiple-endpoint approach included the measurement of formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alterations in reduced glutathione (GSH) content, formation of lipid peroxidation (LPO), photosystem II (PSII) performance and loss of photosynthetic pigments after 24 h exposure. Results obtained showed that both herbicides caused a concentration-dependent increase in ROS formation, with bifenox showing higher but less reactive ROS. This increase in ROS production by bifenox and metribuzin was followed by alterations in the antioxidant capacity of algae, oxidative damage in the form of LPO and alterations in pigment content. Furthermore, both herbicides impacted the photosynthetic activity of algae, as seen by alterations in the maximum and effective quantum efficiency of PSII, PSII photochemistry and energy dissipation pathways, impact in the water-splitting apparatus and reduction in the electron transport rate. The inhibitory effect of metribuzin on photosynthetic processes/components was larger than that seen for bifenox. The impact of bifenox and metribuzin in the photosynthetic processes of C. reinhardtii seems to be in close association with the formation of ROS and consequent oxidative stress and damage in algal cells. Overall, this study showed that the high-throughput methods developed could successfully characterise both potential Modes of Action and adverse effects of bifenox and metribuzin in C. reinhardtii.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Katherine Langford
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway; Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Post box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
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15
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Tousova Z, Oswald P, Slobodnik J, Blaha L, Muz M, Hu M, Brack W, Krauss M, Di Paolo C, Tarcai Z, Seiler TB, Hollert H, Koprivica S, Ahel M, Schollée JE, Hollender J, Suter MJF, Hidasi AO, Schirmer K, Sonavane M, Ait-Aissa S, Creusot N, Brion F, Froment J, Almeida AC, Thomas K, Tollefsen KE, Tufi S, Ouyang X, Leonards P, Lamoree M, Torrens VO, Kolkman A, Schriks M, Spirhanzlova P, Tindall A, Schulze T. Corrigendum to "European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters" [Sci. Total Environ. 601-602 (2017) 1849-1868]. Sci Total Environ 2018; 635:1620-1621. [PMID: 29739659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Tousova
- Environmental Institute (EI), Okruzna 784/42, 972 41 Kos, Slovak Republic; Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Oswald
- Environmental Institute (EI), Okruzna 784/42, 972 41 Kos, Slovak Republic
| | - Jaroslav Slobodnik
- Environmental Institute (EI), Okruzna 784/42, 972 41 Kos, Slovak Republic
| | - Ludek Blaha
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Melis Muz
- UFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Meng Hu
- UFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- UFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- UFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolina Di Paolo
- RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Zsolt Tarcai
- RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
- RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Inst. for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sanja Koprivica
- Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marijan Ahel
- Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jennifer E Schollée
- Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Hollender
- Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc J-F Suter
- Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anita O Hidasi
- Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland; EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manoj Sonavane
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Selim Ait-Aissa
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Nicolas Creusot
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Francois Brion
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Jean Froment
- UFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin Thomas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 39 Keesels Road, Coopers Plains 4108, Australia
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Science & Technology, Dept. for Environmental Sciences, Post box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Sara Tufi
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xiyu Ouyang
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pim Leonards
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Victoria Osorio Torrens
- KWR, Watercycle Research Institute, Department of Chemical Water, Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Kolkman
- KWR, Watercycle Research Institute, Department of Chemical Water, Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Merijn Schriks
- KWR, Watercycle Research Institute, Department of Chemical Water, Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; Vitens drinking water company, P.O Box 1205, 8001 BE Zwolle, The Netherlands
| | | | - Andrew Tindall
- WatchFrog S. A., 1 rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Tobias Schulze
- UFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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16
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Altenburger R, Scholze M, Busch W, Escher BI, Jakobs G, Krauss M, Krüger J, Neale PA, Ait-Aissa S, Almeida AC, Seiler TB, Brion F, Hilscherová K, Hollert H, Novák J, Schlichting R, Serra H, Shao Y, Tindall A, Tollefsen KE, Umbuzeiro G, Williams TD, Kortenkamp A. Mixture effects in samples of multiple contaminants - An inter-laboratory study with manifold bioassays. Environ Int 2018; 114:95-106. [PMID: 29499452 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemicals in the environment occur in mixtures rather than as individual entities. Environmental quality monitoring thus faces the challenge to comprehensively assess a multitude of contaminants and potential adverse effects. Effect-based methods have been suggested as complements to chemical analytical characterisation of complex pollution patterns. The regularly observed discrepancy between chemical and biological assessments of adverse effects due to contaminants in the field may be either due to unidentified contaminants or result from interactions of compounds in mixtures. Here, we present an interlaboratory study where individual compounds and their mixtures were investigated by extensive concentration-effect analysis using 19 different bioassays. The assay panel consisted of 5 whole organism assays measuring apical effects and 14 cell- and organism-based bioassays with more specific effect observations. Twelve organic water pollutants of diverse structure and unique known modes of action were studied individually and as mixtures mirroring exposure scenarios in freshwaters. We compared the observed mixture effects against component-based mixture effect predictions derived from additivity expectations (assumption of non-interaction). Most of the assays detected the mixture response of the active components as predicted even against a background of other inactive contaminants. When none of the mixture components showed any activity by themselves then the mixture also was without effects. The mixture effects observed using apical endpoints fell in the middle of a prediction window defined by the additivity predictions for concentration addition and independent action, reflecting well the diversity of the anticipated modes of action. In one case, an unexpectedly reduced solubility of one of the mixture components led to mixture responses that fell short of the predictions of both additivity mixture models. The majority of the specific cell- and organism-based endpoints produced mixture responses in agreement with the additivity expectation of concentration addition. Exceptionally, expected (additive) mixture response did not occur due to masking effects such as general toxicity from other compounds. Generally, deviations from an additivity expectation could be explained due to experimental factors, specific limitations of the effect endpoint or masking side effects such as cytotoxicity in in vitro assays. The majority of bioassays were able to quantitatively detect the predicted non-interactive, additive combined effect of the specifically bioactive compounds against a background of complex mixture of other chemicals in the sample. This supports the use of a combination of chemical and bioanalytical monitoring tools for the identification of chemicals that drive a specific mixture effect. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a panel of bioassays can provide a diverse profile of effect responses to a complex contaminated sample. This could be extended towards representing mixture adverse outcome pathways. Our findings support the ongoing development of bioanalytical tools for (i) compiling comprehensive effect-based batteries for water quality assessment, (ii) designing tailored surveillance methods to safeguard specific water uses, and (iii) devising strategies for effect-based diagnosis of complex contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Altenburger
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Martin Scholze
- Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Wibke Busch
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beate I Escher
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Environmental Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gianina Jakobs
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Janet Krüger
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peta A Neale
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Selim Ait-Aissa
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques INERIS, Unité d'Ecotoxicologie, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research NIVA, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - François Brion
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques INERIS, Unité d'Ecotoxicologie, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Klára Hilscherová
- Masaryk University, Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Kamenice 753/5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Henner Hollert
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jiří Novák
- Masaryk University, Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Kamenice 753/5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rita Schlichting
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hélène Serra
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques INERIS, Unité d'Ecotoxicologie, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Ying Shao
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andrew Tindall
- WatchFrog, Bâtiment Genavenir 3, 1 rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research NIVA, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gisela Umbuzeiro
- Faculdade de Tecnologia, FT-UNICAMP, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Limeira, SP 13484-332, Brazil
| | - Tim D Williams
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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17
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Tousova Z, Oswald P, Slobodnik J, Blaha L, Muz M, Hu M, Brack W, Krauss M, Di Paolo C, Tarcai Z, Seiler TB, Hollert H, Koprivica S, Ahel M, Schollée JE, Hollender J, Suter MJF, Hidasi AO, Schirmer K, Sonavane M, Ait-Aissa S, Creusot N, Brion F, Froment J, Almeida AC, Thomas K, Tollefsen KE, Tufi S, Ouyang X, Leonards P, Lamoree M, Torrens VO, Kolkman A, Schriks M, Spirhanzlova P, Tindall A, Schulze T. European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters. Sci Total Environ 2017. [PMID: 28629112 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Growing concern about the adverse environmental and human health effects of a wide range of micropollutants requires the development of novel tools and approaches to enable holistic monitoring of their occurrence, fate and effects in the aquatic environment. A European-wide demonstration program (EDP) for effect-based monitoring of micropollutants in surface waters was carried out within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network EDA-EMERGE. The main objectives of the EDP were to apply a simplified protocol for effect-directed analysis, to link biological effects to target compounds and to estimate their risk to aquatic biota. Onsite large volume solid phase extraction of 50 L of surface water was performed at 18 sampling sites in four European river basins. Extracts were subjected to effect-based analysis (toxicity to algae, fish embryo toxicity, neurotoxicity, (anti-)estrogenicity, (anti-)androgenicity, glucocorticoid activity and thyroid activity), to target analysis (151 organic micropollutants) and to nontarget screening. The most pronounced effects were estrogenicity, toxicity to algae and fish embryo toxicity. In most bioassays, major portions of the observed effects could not be explained by target compounds, especially in case of androgenicity, glucocorticoid activity and fish embryo toxicity. Estrone and nonylphenoxyacetic acid were identified as the strongest contributors to estrogenicity, while herbicides, with a minor contribution from other micropollutants, were linked to the observed toxicity to algae. Fipronil and nonylphenol were partially responsible for the fish embryo toxicity. Within the EDP, 21 target compounds were prioritized on the basis of their frequency and extent of exceedance of predicted no effect concentrations. The EDP priority list included 6 compounds, which are already addressed by European legislation, and 15 micropollutants that may be important for future monitoring of surface waters. The study presents a novel simplified protocol for effect-based monitoring and draws a comprehensive picture of the surface water status across Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Tousova
- Environmental Institute (EI), Okruzna 784/42, 972 41 Kos, Slovak Republic; Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Oswald
- Environmental Institute (EI), Okruzna 784/42, 972 41 Kos, Slovak Republic
| | - Jaroslav Slobodnik
- Environmental Institute (EI), Okruzna 784/42, 972 41 Kos, Slovak Republic
| | - Ludek Blaha
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Melis Muz
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Meng Hu
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carolina Di Paolo
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Zsolt Tarcai
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V), Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sanja Koprivica
- Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marijan Ahel
- Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jennifer E Schollée
- Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Hollender
- Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marc J-F Suter
- Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anita O Hidasi
- Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manoj Sonavane
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Selim Ait-Aissa
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Nicolas Creusot
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Francois Brion
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité ECOT, Parc ALATA - BP2, 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Jean Froment
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin Thomas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 39 Keesels Road, Coopers Plains 4108, Australia
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadallèen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Science & Technology, Dept. for Environmental Sciences, Post Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Sara Tufi
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xiyu Ouyang
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pim Leonards
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Victoria Osorio Torrens
- KWR, Watercycle Research Institute, Department of Chemical Water, Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Kolkman
- KWR, Watercycle Research Institute, Department of Chemical Water, Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Merijn Schriks
- KWR, Watercycle Research Institute, Department of Chemical Water, Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; Vitens drinking water company, P.O Box 1205, 8001 BE Zwolle, The Netherlands
| | | | - Andrew Tindall
- WatchFrog S. A., 1 rue Pierre Fontaine, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Tobias Schulze
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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Almeida AC, Gomes T, Langford K, Thomas KV, Tollefsen KE. Oxidative stress in the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to biocides. Aquat Toxicol 2017; 189:50-59. [PMID: 28582701 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The toxicity of biocides can be associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative damage, interfering with the normal function of photosynthetic organisms. This study investigated the formation and effects of ROS in the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to three environmentally relevant biocides, aclonifen, dichlofluanid and triclosan. After a first screening to identify which biocides induced ROS, a 24h multi-endpoint analysis was used to verify the possible consequences. A battery of high-throughput methods was applied in algae for measuring ROS formation, reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), photosystem (PS) II performance and pigments (chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids). Results show that only aclonifen induced ROS after the first 6h exposure, with the other two biocides not showing any ROS formation. Aclonifen, a Protox and carotenoid inhibitor, induced a concentration-dependent ROS formation, LPO and interfered with algae pigments content, while no alterations were detected in GSH content. A significant effect was also seen in the photosynthetic process, especially a reduction in the maximum and effective quantum yields, accompanied by alterations in energy dissipation in PSII reaction centers and the impairment of the electron transport rate. This study demonstrated the successful use of a battery of high-throughput methods for quickly screening biocides capacity to induce the formation of ROS and the subsequent effects in C. reinhardtii, thus revealing their mode of action (MoA) at concentrations before an impact on growth can become effective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tânia Gomes
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway; Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Post Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Katherine Langford
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway; Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Post Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
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19
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Xavier AREO, Almeida AC, Souza CN, Silva LMV, Ruas AXA, Sanglard DA, Júnior AFM, Oliveira AME, Xavier MAS. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in milk from flocks diagnosed with subclinical mastitis. Genet Mol Res 2017; 16:gmr-16-02-gmr.16029709. [PMID: 28671260 DOI: 10.4238/gmr16029709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The Staphylococcus aureus is the most common isolated microorganism in ruminant animal species diagnostic with clinical or subclinical mastitis. Dairy herds with these diseases can transfer S. aureus into the milk supply, which can lead to food poisoning in humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of antimicrobial susceptibility, the presence of femA gene, the genetic relationships among isolates of S. aureus obtained from milk originating from flocks diagnosed with subclinical mastitis in nine rural properties in the northern of Minas Gerais State. To this end, 498 samples of bovine milk tested positive for the California mastitis test (CMT) were subjected to morphological methods and biochemical patterns for microbiological presumptive identification of S. aureus. The PCR test with the genetic marker femA was used to confirm the species S. aureus. All the 26 isolates presumptively identified as S. aureus amplified a fragment of 132 bp corresponding to the femA gene. The profile of antimicrobial susceptibility was performed according to the disk-diffusion methodology and two isolates were susceptible to all the antibiotics tested. The drug multiresistence was found in 80.76% of the isolates. The determination of the genetic profile and the clonal relationship among the isolates was performed by the method of DNA RAPD-PCR polymorphism. The S. aureus isolates were divided into two groups with 26 distinct subgroups. The analysis of RAPD-PCR showed no genetic diversity among them, heterogeneous profile and absence of clonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R E O Xavier
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Recursos Genéticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, , , Brasil
| | - A C Almeida
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Centro de Pesquisa em Ciências Agrárias, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, , , Brasil
| | - C N Souza
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Centro de Pesquisa em Ciências Agrárias, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, , , Brasil
| | - L M V Silva
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Centro de Pesquisa em Ciências Agrárias, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, , , Brasil
| | - A X A Ruas
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Centro de Pesquisa em Ciências Agrárias, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, , , Brasil
| | - D A Sanglard
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Centro de Pesquisa em Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, MG, Brasil
| | - A F M Júnior
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Recursos Genéticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, , , Brasil
| | | | - M A S Xavier
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Recursos Genéticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, , , Brasil
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Andrade JP, Figueiredo S, Matias J, Almeida AC. Surgical resection of invasive adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland and wound closure using a vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous free flap. BMJ Case Rep 2016; 2016:bcr-2015-209473. [PMID: 27646316 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2015-209473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A 64-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of recurrent conjunctivitis. He was evaluated by an ophthalmologist and submitted to a CT scan that revealed an intraconic mass with invasion of the lateral orbital wall. He was operated, the mass was completely removed (with preservation of the intraorbital structures) and the lateral orbital wall rebuilt. The histopathological analysis revealed an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland. 4 months later a painful recurrence of the lesion was diagnosed with invasion of the orbital roof and eyelids. After a multidisciplinary discussion and request from the patient, an exenteration of the orbit and removal of the lateral and superior orbital wall and dura mater was performed with the objective of a total resection. The wound and orbit were closed with a vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous free flap to ensure closure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julio Matias
- Department of Plastic Surgery, CHLO, Lisboa, Portugal
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21
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Queiroz RA, Soriano EP, Carvalho MVD, Caldas-Junior AF, Souza EHA, Coelho-Junior LGTM, Campello RIC, Almeida AC, Farias RCAP, Vasconcellos A. First forensic records of termite activity on non-fossilized human bones in Brazil. BRAZ J BIOL 2016; 0:0. [PMID: 27463832 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.11415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the first records of termite activity on non-fossilized human bones in Brazil. The cases reported in this study resulted from forensic analysis of six human skeletons found in northeastern Brazil between 2012 and 2014. Traces of tunnels and nests commonly produced by termites were found on several human bone surfaces as well as the specimens and characteristic signs of osteophagic activity. In four cases, the species were identified: Amitermes amifer Silvestri, 1901, Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) (on two skeletons), and Microcerotermes indistinctus Mathews, 1977. In two other cases, the activity of termites on bone surfaces was evidenced by remains of nests and tunnels produced by these insects. At least in the samples of human remains available for this report, the number of termites collected was greater on bones found during autumn, the rainy season in the Northeast of Brazil. The human bones examined showed termites like insects with lots of strength at bone degradation, capable of continuing the process of decomposition of human remains even in completely skeletonized bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Queiroz
- Núcleo de Medicina e Odontologia Legal - NUMOL, R. Antônio Teotônio, s/n, CEP 58071-620, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - E P Soriano
- Núcleo de Medicina e Odontologia Legal - NUMOL, R. Antônio Teotônio, s/n, CEP 58071-620, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.,Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil
| | - M V D Carvalho
- Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.,Instituto de Medicina Legal Antônio Persivo Cunha - IMLAPC, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - A F Caldas-Junior
- Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil
| | - E H A Souza
- Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil
| | - L G T M Coelho-Junior
- Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil
| | - R I C Campello
- Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil
| | - A C Almeida
- Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE, Av. Gal Newton Cavalcanti, 1650, CEP 54753-220, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil
| | - R C A P Farias
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, Cidade Universitária, CEP 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - A Vasconcellos
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, Cidade Universitária, CEP 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
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Almeida EP, Almeida AC, Almeida FF, Montessi J, Gomes CA, Ferreira LEVVC. Transtracheal puncture: a forgotten procedure. Braz J Med Biol Res 2015; 48:725-7. [PMID: 26176310 PMCID: PMC4541692 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20154438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transtracheal puncture has long been known as a safe, low-cost procedure. However, with the advent of bronchoscopy, it has largely been forgotten. Two researchers have suggested the use of α-amylase activity to diagnose salivary aspiration, but the normal values of this enzyme in tracheobronchial secretions are unknown. We aimed to define the normal values of α-amylase activity in tracheobronchial secretions and verify the rate of major complications of transtracheal puncture. From October 2009 to June 2011, we prospectively evaluated 118 patients without clinical or radiological signs of salivary aspiration who underwent transtracheal puncture before bronchoscopy. The patients were sedated with a solution of lidocaine and diazepam until they reached a Ramsay sedation score of 2 or 3. We then cleaned the cervical region and anesthetized the superficial planes with lidocaine. Next, we injected 10 mL of 2% lidocaine into the tracheobronchial tree. Finally, we injected 10 mL of normal saline into the tracheobronchial tree and immediately aspirated the saline with maximum vacuum pressure to collect samples for measurement of the α-amylase level. The α-amylase level mean ± SE, median, and range were 1914 ± 240, 1056, and 24-10,000 IU/L, respectively. No major complications (peripheral desaturation, subcutaneous emphysema, cardiac arrhythmia, or hemoptysis) occurred among 118 patients who underwent this procedure. Transtracheal aspiration is a safe, low-cost procedure. We herein define for the first time the normal α-amylase levels in the tracheobronchial secretions of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Almeida
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - A C Almeida
- Departamento de Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - F F Almeida
- Departamento de Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - J Montessi
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - C A Gomes
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - L E V V C Ferreira
- Departamento de Endoscopia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
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Portelinha J, Passarinho MP, Almeida AC, Costa JM. Bilateral optic neuropathy associated with cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent patient. BMJ Case Rep 2014; 2014:bcr-2013-203451. [PMID: 24920512 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-203451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is associated with significant morbidity and is rare among immunocompetent patients. Clinical presentation as well as the course of disease is usually indolent which may delay the diagnosis. We present the case of a 52-year-old woman admitted with headaches, vomiting and fatigue for 3 weeks. She was diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis and treated with antifungal therapy. She was referred for ophthalmological examination presenting with decreased vision in the left eye (OS; count fingers), left relative afferent pupillary defect and bilateral sixth nerve palsy. Funduscopy revealed florid bilateral papilloedema. Cranial MRI showed indirect signs of intracranial hypertension as well as multiple parenchymal lesions and optic nerve sheath enhancement after contrast administration. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. In spite of the control of intracranial pressure there was a decrease in vision in the right eye (OD) and deterioration of visual fields. Intravenous methylprednisolone was used to reverse optic neuropathy and to prevent OD visual loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Portelinha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Picoto Passarinho
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Almeida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Marques Costa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
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Soares F, Leitão A, Moreira M, de Sousa JT, Almeida AC, Barata M, Feist SW, Pousão-Ferreira P, Ribeiro L. Sarcoma in the thymus of juvenile meagre Argyrosomus regius reared in an intensive system. Dis Aquat Organ 2012; 102:119-127. [PMID: 23269386 DOI: 10.3354/dao02545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile meagre Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1809) maintained in experimental conditions developed lateral and/or bilateral circular-shaped sarcoma within the opercular cavity. The sarcoma was dense, reddish and its growth from the branchial arch exerted pressure on the operculum forcing it to open. Histologically, the neoplasm exhibited marked proliferation of mesenchymal connective tissue composed largely of fusiform cells, which developed in a solid pattern accompanied by abundant mononuclear cell types. Multifocal areas of discrete necrosis were also observed, compatible with a sarcomatous proliferation. The immunological parameters analysed suggested an inflammatory response. No bacteria were isolated from the hematopoietic organs. However, Vibrio species, components of the normal seawater flora, were isolated from the tumour, which may have had a role in eliciting the immune response. No evidence of viral pathogens was found by electron microscopy. In order to look for cytogenetic alterations often linked to sarcomas, the diploid number and karyotype of this species were determined for the first time. An increase in the aneuploidy level was observed in sarcoma cell metaphase stages compared to other tissues. The aetiology of this tumour remains unknown.
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Almeida AC, Fung A, Guedes ME, Costa JM. Bilateral metastatic melanoma to the extraocular-muscles simulating thyroid eye disease. BMJ Case Rep 2012; 2012:bcr-2012-007068. [PMID: 23112262 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-007068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a case of bilateral metastatic melanoma to the extraocular muscles that simulated thyroid eye disease. A 71-year-old man presented with bilateral painless axial proptosis, lid retraction and left gaze restriction. Orbital CT scan demonstrated enlargement of the extraocular muscles with tendon sparing, consistent with thyroid eye disease. However, thyroid function tests and antithyroid antibodies were normal. Systemic review including orbital MRI scan determined the correct diagnosis of metastatic melanoma to the orbit. Metastatic melanoma to the orbit can simulate thyroid eye disease.
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Abstract
Choroidal tuberculosis (TB) infection may present itself as a diffuse choroiditis that resembles serpiginous choroiditis, usually treated with immunossupressants. Recent studies have demonstrated that patients with serpiginous-like choroiditis and evidence of systemic or latent TB are best treated with antituberculosis treatment (ATT) in addition to the corticosteroid therapy. The authors present a case of a 58-year-old man with decreased vision in his left eye. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 right eye and 20/200 left eye. Funduscopic examination revealed a diffuse choroiditis. Mantoux skin test showed an area of induration measuring 30×35 mm and the patient started ATT with complete resolution of retinal lesions after 2 weeks of treatment. His final visual acuity was 20/25 in the left eye with no recurrences over a follow-up of 6 months. The use of ATT in these patients is likely to reduce active inflammation and eliminate future recurrences.
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Abstract
Although retrograde transsynaptic degeneration in the visual pathway of monkeys has been described since 1963, data in humans are sparse. The authors present a 24-year-old female referred to a neuro-ophthalmology consult for assessment before neurosurgery for a right occipital ependymoma. Clinical examination was unremarkable, including visual fields evaluated by computerised static perimetry. Four years after tumour extraction, the patient showed a left homonymous haemianopia documented by computerised static perimetry and a bow-tie like atrophy on the left on funduscopy. MRI revealed right occipital cortex lobectomy and optic tract atrophy. The presence of left homonymous haemianopia, the characteristic pattern of optic disc atrophy and right optic tract atrophy 4 years after right occipital tumour excision, strongly suggest the presence of retrograde transsynaptic degeneration. To our knowledge, this is the first time that retrograde transsynaptic degeneration-associated optic tract atrophy is clearly demonstrated by MRI.
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Cedraz-Mercez PL, Almeida AC, Thomaz CM, Costa-e-Sousa RH, Olivares EL, Côrtes WS, Medeiros MA, Reis LC. Effect of L-5-Hydroxytryptophan on drinking behavior in Coturnix japonica (Temminck and Schlegel, 1849) (Galliformes: Aves): involvement of renin-angiotensin system. BRAZ J BIOL 2007; 67:771-6. [DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842007000400027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2006] [Accepted: 04/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the role of L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-HTP) and its relationship with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on the drinking behavior in Japanese quails. Normally-hydrated quails that received injections of L-HTP (12.5; 25 and 50 mg.kg-1) by the intracoelomic route (ic) expressed an increase in water intake, which was inhibited by captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. In addition, captopril also induced such a response in birds under previous fluid deprivation. High doses of captopril (35-70 mg.kg-1, sc) in normally-hydrated quails decreased the spontaneous water intake while low doses of captopril (2-5 mg.kg-1, sc) did not prompt water intake after L-HTP administration. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist in mammals, did not change the water intake levels in normally-hydrated or water-deprivated birds. Serotonin (5-HT) injections did not provoke its known dipsogenic response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - AC Almeida
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - CM Thomaz
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - EL Olivares
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - WS Côrtes
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - MA Medeiros
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - LC Reis
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Reis LC, Almeida AC, Ribeiro MC, Polo PA, Olivares EL, Medeiros MA, Nonaka KO, Castilhos LR. Nocturnal plasma levels of melatonin in quails (Coturnix japonica) injected with l-5-hydroxy-tryptophan. BRAZ J BIOL 2007; 67:369-71. [PMID: 17876450 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842007000200025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2005] [Accepted: 10/21/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to demonstrate the influence of the systemic administration of l-5-hydroxy-tryptophan (L-HTP) on the plasma levels of melatonin during the dark period in quails. Throughout daylight, the plasma levels of melatonin did not differ significantly, oscillating between 110.2 ± 15.8 pg.mL-1 and 157.4 ± 34.8 pg.mL-1, from 8 to 16 hours. L-HTP (25 mg.kg-1, through the intracelomic route) administered at 18 hours lessened significantly the nocturnal increase of the plasma levels of melatonin (controls, 327.3 ± 20.1 and 315.8 ± 20.9 pg.mL-1 vs. 242.1 ± 24.8 and 217.5 ± 21 pg.mL-1, respectively, at 20 and 24 hours, P < 0.05). The results obtained showed that the administration of LHTP reduced the nocturnal melatonin release, possibly by bringing about an increase in serotonin synthesis and synaptic release in the pineal. Therefore, the serotoninergic transmission from the raphe towards the pineal would constitute a mechanism of modulation of the synthesis and melatonin release in quails.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Reis
- Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 23890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
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Cedraz-Mercez PL, Almeida AC, Costa-e-Sousa RH, Badauê-Passos Júnior D, Castilhos LR, Olivares EL, Marinho Júnior A, Medeiros MA, Reis LC. Influence of serotonergic transmission and postsynaptic 5-HT2C action on the feeding behavior of Coturnix japonica (Galliformes: Aves). BRAZ J BIOL 2005; 65:589-95. [PMID: 16532182 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842005000400005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the role of 5-HT2C receptors and serotonergic transmission in the feeding behavior control of quails. Administration of serotonin releaser, fenfluramine (FEN) and 5-HT2C agonists, mCPP and MK212, 1.0 and 3.3 mg/Kg induced significant inhibition of food intake in previously fasted fowls (0.71 ± 0.18 g and 0.47 ± 0.2 g; 0.49 ± 0.22 g and 0.48 ± 0.29 g; 0.82 ± 0.13 g and 0.71 ± 0.16 g, respectively). Control groups ranged from 2.89 ± 0.21 g to 2.97 ± 0.22 g, 60 min after reintroduction of food, P < 0.0001). Similar results were obtained with normally fed quails. Both serotonin releaser and 5-HT2C agonists, in a 3.3 mg/Kg dose, induced hypophagy (FEN, 0.78 ± 0.08 g; mCPP, 0.89 ± 0.07 g; MK212, 1.25 ± 0.17 g vs. controls, 2.05 ± 0.12 g, 120 min after food was presented, P < 0.0001 to P < 0.01). Previous administration of 5-HT2C antagonist, LY53857 (5.0 mg/Kg) blocked the hypophagic response induced by 5-HT2C agonists 60 min after food was reintroduced. Current data show a modulatory role of serotonin release and postsynaptic 5-HT2C receptors in the feeding behavior of quails.
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Reis LC, Almeida AC, Cedraz-Mercez PL, Olivares EL, Marinho A, Thomaz CM. Evidence indicating participation of the serotonergic system in controlling feeding behavior in Coturnix japonica (Galliformes: Aves). BRAZ J BIOL 2005; 65:353-61. [PMID: 16097739 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842005000200020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated participation of the brain serotonergic system in food intake control by using oral and systemic administration of serotonin precursors in quails (Coturnix japonica). Dietary supplemental tryptophan (0.1-50.0 g/kg) provoked a dose-dependent inhibition of food intake during a 5-h observation period, which persisted up to 24 h for doses of 30.0 and 50.0 g/kg. Normally fed and fasted animals treated with hydroxytryptophan (12.5-50.0 mg/kg) by the intracoelomic route showed an acute inhibition of food intake. Hypophagia in fasted birds was only effective when the precursor was administered immediately before food presentation. A similar response was obtained by administering serotonin (0.125-2.5 mg/kg, sc), with animals showing a hypnogenic response within the first ten minutes after administration, suggesting that, in contrast to mammals, the amine crosses the blood-brain barrier in quails. Administration of hydroxytryptophan at all doses tested induced significant dipsogenic behavior despite the concomitant hypnogenic response. The results suggest the involvement of serotonergic pathways in food intake control in quails and also show, for the first time, hypnogenic action induced by serotonin and a hyperdipsic effect elicited by hydroxytryptophan.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Reis
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, UFRuralRJ, RI, Brazil.
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Martins AMC, Nobre ACL, Almeida AC, Bezerra G, Lima AAM, Fonteles MC, Monteiro HSA. Thalidomide and pentoxifylline block the renal effects of supernatants of macrophages activated with Crotalus durissus cascavella venom. Braz J Med Biol Res 2004; 37:1525-30. [PMID: 15448874 DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2004001000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Because thalidomide and pentoxifylline inhibit the synthesis and release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), we determined the effect of these drugs on the renal damage induced by supernatants of macrophages activated with Crotalus durissus cascavella venom in order to identify the role of TNF-alpha in the process. Rat peritoneal macrophages were collected with RPMI medium and stimulated in vitro with C.d. cascavella venom (10 micro g/ml) in the absence and presence of thalidomide (15 micro M) or pentoxifylline (500 micro M) for 1 h and washed and kept in culture for 2 h. Supernatant (1 ml) was tested on an isolated perfused rat kidney (N = 6 for each group). The first 30 min of each experiment were used as control. The supernatant was added to the perfusion system. All experiments lasted 120 min. The toxic effect of the preparation of venom-stimulated macrophages on renal parameters was determined. At 120 min, thalidomide (Thalid) and pentoxifylline (Ptx) inhibited (P < 0.05) the increase in perfusion pressure caused by the venom (control = 114.0 +/- 1.3; venom = 137.1 +/- 1.5; Thalid = 121.0 +/- 2.5; Ptx = 121.4 +/- 4.0 mmHg), renal vascular resistance (control = 4.5 +/- 0.2; venom = 7.3 +/- 0.6; Thalid = 4.5 +/- 0.9; Ptx = 4.8 +/- 0.6 mmHg/ml g-1 min-1), urinary flow (control = 0.23 +/- 0.001; venom = 0.44 +/- 0.01; Thalid = 0.22 +/- 0.007; Ptx = 0.21 +/- 0.009 ml g-1 min-1), glomerular filtration rate (control = 0.72 +/- 0.06; venom = 1.91 +/- 0.11; Thalid = 0.75 +/- 0.04; Ptx = 0.77 +/- 0.05 ml g-1 min-1) and the decrease in percent tubular sodium transport (control = 77.0 +/- 0.9; venom = 73.9 +/- 0.66; Thalid = 76.6 +/- 1.1; Ptx = 81.8 +/- 2.0%), percent tubular chloride transport (control = 77.1 +/- 1.2; venom = 71.4 +/- 1.1; Thalid = 77.6 +/- 1.7; Ptx = 76.8 +/- 1.2%), and percent tubular potassium transport (control = 72.7 +/- 1.1; venom = 63.0 +/- 1.1; Thalid = 72.6 +/- 1.0; Ptx = 74.8 +/- 1.0%), 30 min before and during the stimulation of macrophages with C.d. cascavella venom. These data suggest the participation of TNF-alpha in the renal effects induced by supernatant of macrophages activated with C.d. cascavella venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M C Martins
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Instituto de Biomedicina e Unidade de Pesquisas Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60420-970 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
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da Silva ZN, Cunha AS, Lins MC, de AM Carneiro L, Almeida AC, Queiroz ML. Isolation and serological identification of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in pasteurized milk in Brazil. Rev Saude Publica 2001; 35:375-9. [PMID: 11600927 DOI: 10.1590/s0034-89102001000400007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the microbiological quality of pasteurized milk commercialized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and determine serologically enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains in E. coli isolates obtained from milk samples. METHODS Ninety samples of pasteurized milk - types B and C - of three different commercial brands, purchased in supermarkets and bakeries in Rio de Janeiro, were examined. The amount of total and fecal coliform bacteria was estimated using the Most Probable Number technique. Mesophilic, psychrotrophic, and thermoduric microorganism counts were determined by the Standard Plate Count technique. Isolation and identification of E. coli were carried out using conventional physiological tests. Commercial antisera were used for serological characterization of EPEC. RESULTS The three milk brands analyzed revealed bacterial counts above the regulated values of the Brazilian government. It was found that among 208 strains of E. coli isolated, 46 (22.1%) were serologically classified as EPEC. The most common EPEC serogroup was O55 (15.2%). CONCLUSIONS Though recent studies on virulence factors indicate that not all strains serologically classified as EPEC are able to attaching/effacing lesion, it is believed that the isolation of EPEC serogroups from pasteurized milk represent a potential risk for children, as well as an indicative of the presence of other enteropathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z N da Silva
- Departamento de Patologia e Laboratórios, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Alves PM, Fonseca LL, Peixoto CC, Almeida AC, Carrondo MJ, Santos H. NMR studies on energy metabolism of immobilized primary neurons and astrocytes during hypoxia, ischemia and hypoglycemia. NMR Biomed 2000; 13:438-448. [PMID: 11252029 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Changes in high-energy phosphate metabolites (ATP and phosphocreatine) were monitored, in real time, by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance in primary cell cultures of neurons and astrocytes during periods of hypoxia, ischemia and hypoglycemia, and also during the recovery periods following the re-establishment of standard conditions. Cells were immobilized in basement membrane gel threads and perfused with oxygen-depleted medium (oxygen concentration below 30 microM), to create hypoxic conditions, or with aerobic medium (oxygen concentration approximately 460 microM) containing different concentrations of glucose (hypoglycemia). Ischemic conditions were imposed by stopping perfusion for different periods of time (15 min to 2 h). The experimental set-up enabled the acquisition of 31P-spectra with high signal-to-noise ratio within 10-20 min for both cell types. The effect of hypoxia on glucose metabolism was assessed by 13C-NMR using [1-13C]glucose as substrate. The levels of ATP and PCr in astrocytes were unaffected during hypoxia (up to 2 h), but decreased notably under ischemia. In neurons, hypoxic periods caused a sharp drop of the ATP and PCr levels, and considerable damage to the capacity of neurons to replenish the ATP and PCr pools upon returning to normoxic conditions. However, neurons were remarkably less sensitive to ischemic conditions, the ATP and PCr pools being restored quickly, even after 2 h under challenging conditions. The data show that neurons were more resistant to ischemia than astrocytes, and suggest that the capacity to sustain the pools of ATP and PCr was part of the neuronal protective strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Alves
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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Einicker-Lamas M, Almeida AC, Todorov AG, de Castro SL, Caruso-Neves C, Oliveira MM. Characterization of the myo-inositol transport system in Trypanosoma cruzi. Eur J Biochem 2000; 267:2533-7. [PMID: 10785372 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01302.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
myo-inositol is a growth factor for mammalian cells as well as for the pathogenic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi. Most of the cell surface molecules in this organism rely on myo-inositol as the biosynthetic precursor for phosphoinositides and glycosylated phosphatidylinositols. The aim of this work was to investigate the process of myo-inositol translocation across the parasite cell membrane. myo-Inositol uptake was concentration-dependent in the concentration range 0.1-10 microM with maximal transport obtained at 8 microM. Using sodium-free buffers, where Na+ was replaced by choline or K+, myo-inositol uptake was inhibited by 50%. Furosemide, an inhibitor of the ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase, inhibited the Na+-dependent and Na+-independent myo-inositol uptake by 68 and 33%, respectively. In contrast, ouabain, an (Na++/K+) ATPase inhibitor, did not affect transport. Part of the myo-inositol uptake is mediated by active transport as it was inhibited when energy metabolism inhibitors such as carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenylhydrazone (34%), 2,4-dinitrophenol (50%), KCN (71%) and NaN3 (69%) were added to the medium, or the temperature of the medium was lowered to 4 degrees C. The addition of glucose (5-50 mM) or mannose (10 mM) did not change the myo-inositol uptake, whereas the addition of 10 mM nonlabeled myo-inositol totally inhibited this transport, indicating that the transporter is specific for myo-inositol. Phloretin (0.3 mM) and phoridzin (5 mM), but not cytochalasin B, were efficient inhibitors of myo-inositol uptake. A portion of the accumulated myo-inositol is converted to inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides. These data show that myo-inositol transport in T. cruzi epimastigotes is mediated by at least two specific transporters - one Na+-dependent and the other Na+-independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Einicker-Lamas
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
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Abstract
A mathematical transcription of the intrinsic circuit of the CA1 region of the rat dorsal hippocampus was made and the model parameters adjusted according to experimental data from intracellular recordings and single channel kinetics. This model was able to simulate well the profile of the field potentials recorded extracellularly and the well known phenomenon of the paired-pulse depression. The results suggest that the depression of the second pulse, often interpreted in the literature as resulting from GABA(A) inhibition, can also be due to 'shunting' effects on the CA1 pyramids' membrane. The rhythmic oscillations of the field potential (EEG) was obtained as an emergent property of the network dynamics. The frequency of the field oscillation followed the main synaptic input in the region (Schaffer collaterals).
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Almeida
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, FUNREI, São João del-Rei, MG, Brazil.
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Abstract
Two cases of chagasic megacolon associated with colon cancer are reported. This is the first communication with complete clinical details of this association. Our two cases presented tumors (adenocarcinomas) in a nondilated segment of the transverse colon. The associated tumor lesions were diagnosed by a barium enema. Both patients had a typical clinical epidemiology and history of chagasic megacolon.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Oliveira
- Department of Surgery, Laboratorio de Pesquisa de Doenca de Chagas, School of Medicine, Federal University of Goias, Brazil
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de Moraes-Pinto MI, Almeida AC, Kenj G, Filgueiras TE, Tobias W, Santos AM, Carneiro-Sampaio MM, Farhat CK, Milligan PJ, Johnson PM, Hart CA. Placental transfer and maternally acquired neonatal IgG immunity in human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Infect Dis 1996; 173:1077-84. [PMID: 8627057 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/173.5.1077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplacental transfer of specific IgG antibodies was studied in 46 pairs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women and their neonates and in 53 pairs of healthy HIV-seronegative mothers and their newborns. Neonatal and maternal sera were assessed by nephelometry for total levels of serum IgG and by ELISA for IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), measles virus, tetanus toxoid, streptolysin O, and Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigens. Placental transfer of IgG antibodies to VZV, tetanus toxoid, measles, streptolysin O, and S. pneumoniae was decreased by maternal HIV infection. Maternal levels of total IgG had an independent effect on transfer of antibodies to HSV, VZV, measles, and S. pneumoniae. Neonatal antibody levels to tetanus toxoid, measles, and S. pneumoniae were significantly lower in the HIV group. Both maternal hypergammaglobulinemia and maternal HIV infection may contribute to these low antibody levels at birth and thus lead to early infection in this high-risk population.
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