First metal and metalloid study assessment for the Black Triggerfish Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786): Baseline data from a pristine South Atlantic oceanic island

Metal and metalloid concentrations in Black Triggerfish, Melichthys niger (Tetraodontiformes, Balistidae), and sediments from Trindade Island, an isolated, pristine, and understudied environment in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean were determined. Several elements were detected in sediment, including Rare Earth Elements (REE). Hg and the REE Nd were, however, not detected. Elements determined in triggerfish are indicative of systemic circulation and the presence of toxic elements indicates an exposure source. No significant associations were detected between elements in fish organs and total length, suggesting no bioaccumulation with age, nor between organs and sediment, indicating probable dietary origin. Biliary excretion indicated a local chronic source of As and Cd and non-quantifiable REE elimination. Hg concentrations were over thresholds that affect fish biochemistry processes. These baseline data are valuable concerning elemental contamination in remote oceanic islands, with the potential to be applied to future biomonitoring efforts and conservation measures for reef ecosystems worldwide.

Food safety concerns on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in fish products from estuarine bays throughout the American continent

Estuarine environments are highly productive ecosystems exhibiting high fish biodiversity and richness. Estuarine bays yield significant fisheries catches, making them the target of extractive activities by both artisanal and industrial fisheries. These areas, however, are highly vulnerable to chemical contamination, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) associated with oil spills and other anthropogenic activities, which can jeopardize animal health and consumer welfare. In this context, this systematic review aimed to evaluate PAH levels detected in seafood from estuarine bays throughout the entire American continent and assess potential human health risks. The PICO methodology was applied, and 27 experimental papers were evaluated. The findings indicate that naphthalene and pyrene are routinely detected at high concentrations in several species, such as white mullet and catfish, and that biliary metabolites concentrations tend to be higher than tissue levels. Although the effects of PAH on animal health are well defined due to several decades of assessments, food safety evaluations are still not routine, evidencing a significant knowledge gap and the need for legislative measures based on toxicological data.

Portuguese consensus document for the management of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic autosomal codominant disorder caused by mutations in SERPINA1 gene. It is one of the most prevalent genetic disorders, although it remains underdiagnosed. Whereas at international level there are several areas of consensus on this disorder, in Portugal, inter-hospital heterogeneity in clinical practice and resources available have been adding difficulties in reaching a diagnosis and in making therapeutic decisions in this group of patients. This raised a need to draft a document expressing a national consensus for AATD. To this end, a group of experts in this field was created within the Portuguese Pulmonology Society - Study group on AATD, in order to elaborate the current manuscript. The authors reviewed the existing literature and provide here general guidance and extensive recommendations for the diagnosis and management of AATD that can be adopted by Portuguese clinicians from different areas of Medicine. This article is part of a supplement entitled "Portuguese consensus document for the management of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency" which is sponsored by Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia.

IL4-10 fusion protein: a novel immunoregulatory drug combining activities of interleukin 4 and interleukin 10

The objective of this study was to test the capacity of a newly developed fusion protein of interleukin 4 (IL‐4) and IL‐10 [IL4‐10 fusion protein (FP)] to shift multiple pro‐inflammatory pathways towards immune regulation, and to inhibit pro‐inflammatory activity in arthritis models. The effects of IL4‐10 FP in comparison with IL‐4, IL‐10 and IL‐4 plus IL‐10 on pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory mediators, T cells and immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors in favour of immunoregulatory activity were studied. In addition, the capacity of IL4‐10 FP to inhibit pro‐inflammatory activity in ex‐vivo and in‐vivo arthritis models was investigated. IL4‐10 FP robustly inhibited pro‐inflammatory cytokine [IL‐1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐8] production in whole blood cultures, mediated by both the IL‐10 and the IL‐4 moiety. IL4‐10 fusion protein induced IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA) production and preserved soluble TNF receptor (sTNFR) levels, strongly increasing IL‐1RA/IL‐1β and sTNFR/TNF‐α ratios. In addition, IL4‐10 FP strongly inhibited T helper (Th) type 1 and 17 cytokine secretion, while maintaining FoxP3 expression and up‐regulating Th2 activity. In addition, while largely leaving expression of activating Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)I, III and Fc epsilon receptor (FcεR) unaffected, it significantly shifted the FcγRIIa/FcγRIIb ratio in favour of the inhibitory FcγRIIb. Moreover, IL4–10 FP robustly inhibited secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines by rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue and suppressed experimental arthritis in mice, without inducing B cell hyperactivity. IL4‐10 fusion protein is a novel drug, signalling cells to induce immunoregulatory activity that overcomes limitations of IL‐4 and IL‐10 stand‐alone therapy, and therefore has therapeutic potential for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The Effect of Calendula officinalis on Oxidative Stress and Bone Loss in Experimental Periodontitis

Periodontitis is associated with reduced antioxidant capacity and increased oxidative damage. Oxidative stress induces inflammation and bone loss contributing to the pathological progression of periodontal disease. Calendula officinalis (CLO) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CLO on oxidative stress and bone loss in rats subjected to experimental periodontitis (EP). For this, 72 male Wistar rats were divided into groups: Naïve, Saline (SAL) and CLO. Rats received SAL or CLO (90 mg/kg) 30 min before ligature and daily until the 11th day. Naïve group experienced no manipulation. After 11 days, the animals were euthanized and left maxillae collected for macroscopic analysis of alveolar bone loss (ABL). Periodontium was analyzed by macroscopy, scanning electron microscopy; confocal and light polarized microscopy. Immunohistochemical examination of DKK1, WNT 10b and β-catenin was performed. The gingival tissue was collected to reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) analyses. The 11 days of ligature induced bone loss, breakdown of collagen fibers, increased the immunostaining DKK-1 while reduced WNT 10b and β-catenin expressions. Periodontitis reduced GSH, SOD, CAT and increase MDA. All findings were reversed by 90 mg/kg of CLO. In summary our findings demonstrated that CLO reduced oxidative stress and bone loss and preserved collagen fibers in rats with EP, with participation of WNT signaling pathway.

Prevalence of Babesia microti-like infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Portugal

The prevalence of piroplasm (order Piroplasmida) infection was assessed in blood and bone marrow samples from 91 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from northern, central and southern Portugal by means of molecular methods. PCR for the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp. followed by sequencing revealed 63 foxes positive for the Babesia microti-like piroplasm (syn. Theileria annae) (69.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.7-78.5%) and one fox positive for Babesia canis (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.0-6.0%). Positivity to the B. microti-like piroplasm or B. canis in 43 blood samples (83.7%) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than in 43 paired bone marrow samples (20.9%). There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of infection between genders (p=0.219) or age groups (<2 years vs. ≥ 2 years) (p=1.0). This is the first report of the B. microti-like piroplasm in foxes from Portugal as well as the first report on detection by PCR and genotyping of B. canis in a red fox worldwide. A natural cycle of the B. microti-like piroplasm is suggested in red fox populations based on the high prevalence of the protozoan. Red foxes might be a reservoir of the B. microti-like piroplasm and a source of infection to dogs.

Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the antistasin-type inhibitor ghilanten (domain I) from Haementeria ghilianii in complex with porcine beta-trypsin

Ghilanten, isolated from the leech Haementeria ghilianii, is a potent two-domain anticoagulant protein homologous to the factor Xa inhibitor antistasin. A synthetic gene encoding the amino-terminal domain of ghilanten (ghilanten-D1) was constructed, expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and purified by heparin-Sepharose chromatography. Recombinant ghilanten-D1 inhibits bovine trypsin and human factor Xa with equilibrium inhibition constants (K(i)) of 126 and 1.2 nM, respectively. Ghilanten-D1 has been crystallized in complex with porcine beta-trypsin; three different-looking but isomorphous crystal forms were obtained, each belonging to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). These crystals diffracted to beyond 3.6 A resolution using a rotating-anode X-ray source. A data set complete to 3.7 A resolution was collected.

Albumin purification from human placenta

Albumin is the human protein used mainly for therapeutic purposes. Besides the traditionally used plasma, blood from placenta is an alternative source for albumin purification. We describe here an industrial process for purification of albumin from human placenta. The proposed albumin-purification process, for 50 kg of placentas, comprises: (i) extraction of haemolysed blood with saline and solid/liquid separation by basket centrifugation; (ii) selective precipitation of haemoglobin by ethanol/chloroform and precipitate removal by filtration in a press filter; (iii) concentration/diafiltration of the filtrate in a 30 kDa cross-flow ultrafiltration (CFUF) membrane; (iv) thermo-coagulation at 70 degrees C with sodium octanoate/EDTA; (v) treatment with activated charcoal at pH 3; (vi) concentration/diafiltration of the filtrate in a 30 kDa CFUF membrane; (vii) anion-exchange chromatography Q-Sepharose; (viii) hydrophobic-interaction chromatography with phenyl-Sepharose; and (ix) conditioning and pasteurization. The process yields an average of 4.5 g of albumin/kg of placenta with a purity of 97.1% and A(403) of 0.05 (1% protein). The final product passes pyrogen and toxicity tests in vivo and it does not contain polymers or aggregates, even after the accelerated stability test, as judged by gel filtration, as required by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia.

Kinetics of eosinophil cationic protein release in mite-allergic rhinitis after specific nasal provocation

Nasal allergen challenges, despite not reproducing exactly natural allergen exposures, are a useful method to try to understand the complex mediator and cellular kinetics as well as the cellular interactions triggered by allergen exposure in allergic rhinitis. In this article we evaluated the kinetics of Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) release into nasal lavage fluid after nasal allergen challenge. Our results have shown heterogeneity in ECP kinetics, probably due to heterogeneous activation of the eosinophils already present in the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis patients. More studies in this field are needed to evaluate the effect of specific immunotherapy and/or prolonged topical steroid therapy on the kinetics of ECP liberation after allergen challenge. These studies will ultimately lead to a more clear definition of the clinical usefulness of this procedure.