Caffeine supplementation in diet mitigates Aeromonas hydrophila-induced impairment of the gill phosphotransfer network in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Some evidence suggests the involvement of phosphotransfer network in the pathogenesis of fish bacterial diseases, catalyzed by creatine kinase (CK), pyruvate kinase (PK) and adenylate kinase (AK); nevertheless, the effects on fish affected by Aeromonas hydrophila remain unknown. Recent evidence suggested a potent protective effect of caffeine on the branchial phosphotransfer network of fish subjected to challenge conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether A. hydrophila infection impaired branchial bioenergetics. We also determined whether dietary supplementation with caffeine protected against A. hydrophila-induced gill bioenergetic imbalance. We found that branchial cytosolic CK and AK activities were significant lower in fish experimentally infected with A. hydrophila than in uninfected fish, while mitochondrial CK activity was significant higher. Branchial lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lactate levels were significant higher in fish experimentally infected by A. hydrophila than in uninfected fish, while sodium-potassium ion pump (Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase) activity and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were significant lower. No significant difference was observed between groups with respect to branchial PK activity. The dietary supplementation with 8% caffeine improved the branchial CK (cytosolic and mitochondrial), AK, and LDH activities, as well as ATP levels, but did not prevent increases in branchial lactate levels or the inhibition of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity elicited by aeromonosis. Based on this evidence, we believe that reduction of CK (cytosolic) and AK activities contributes to impairment of bioenergetic homeostasis, while augmentation of mitochondrial CK activity can be considered an attempt to prevent or reduce the energetic imbalance during aeromonosis caused by A. hydrophila. The use of 8% caffeine dietary supplementation improved the energetic metabolism via protective effects on CK and AK activities, avoiding the necessity of using anaerobic metabolism. In summary, 8% dietary caffeine can be used to improve branchial energetic homeostasis during aeromonosis caused by A. hydrophila.

PEGylated meloxicam-loaded nanocapsules reverse in vitro damage on caspase activity and do not induce toxicity in cultured human lymphocytes and mice

Meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory drug that has a potential protective effect in many common diseases. However, this molecule is quickly eliminated from the body due to it short half-life. One way to overcome this problem is to incorporate meloxicam into lipid-core nanocapsules which may increase it anti-inflammatory effects. In view of this, the objective of this work was to evaluate the potential toxicity and safety of these novel nanomaterials both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we evaluated the effects of uncoated meloxicam-loaded nanocapsules (M-NC), uncoated and not loaded with meloxicam or blank (B-NC), PEGylated meloxicam-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules (M-NCPEG), blank PEGylated lipid-core nanocapsules (B-NCPEG) and free meloxicam (M-F) in vitro through the analysis of cell viability, caspase activity assays and gene expression of perforin and granzyme B. Meanwhile, the in vivo safety was assessed using C57BL/6 mice that received nanocapsules for seven days. Thus, no change in cell viability was observed after treatments. Furthermore, M-NC, M-NCPEG and M-F groups reversed the damage caused by H₂O₂ on caspase-1, 3 and 8 activities. Overall, in vivo results showed a safe profile of these nanocapsules including hematological, biochemical, histological and genotoxicity analysis. In conclusion, we observed that meloxicam nanocapsules present a safe profile to use in future studies with this experimental protocol and partially reverse in vitro damage caused by H₂O₂.

The role of municipal committees in the development of an integrated urban water policy in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

This paper discusses the challenges involved in adopting an integrated approach to urban water policies and management, a particularly problematic issue in Brazil due to the incomplete nature of urbanization, defined as the lack of adequate and/or universalized access to infrastructure and services, informal housing and conflicts between environmental protection and social housing needs. In the last two decades strong social movements have influenced urban environmental policies from national to local levels. In Belo Horizonte since 1993, decision-making processes have involved important mechanisms of democratic inclusion, which have contributed to fairer urban policies. A brief discussion of the concept of governance follows, introducing the municipal urban policy within which drainage and sanitation policies have been implemented. This paper presents the constitutional and institutional role of the five municipal committees dealing with water governance issues, as they are important arenas for civil society participation. The main constraints to achieving integrated urban water governance at the local level and the extent to which such policies are able to reduce social inequalities and promote social environmental justice in the use and appropriation of urban water, are discussed. This paper is part of the SWITCH-Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow's Cities' Health-research network.

Wall position and thickness estimation from sequences of echocardiographic images

Presents a new method for endocardial (inner) and epicardial (outer) contour estimation from sequences of echocardiographic images. The framework herein introduced is fine-tuned for parasternal short axis views at the papillary muscle level. The underlying model is probabilistic; it captures the relevant features of the image generation physical mechanisms and of the heart morphology. Contour sequences are assumed to be two-dimensional noncausal first-order Markov random processes; each variable has a spatial index and a temporal index. The image pixels are modeled as Rayleigh distributed random variables with means depending on their positions (inside endocardium, between endocardium and pericardium, or outside pericardium). The complete probabilistic model is built under the Bayesian framework. As estimation criterion the maximum a posteriori (MAP) is adopted. To solve the optimization problem, one is led to (joint estimation of contours and distributions' parameters), the authors introduce an algorithm herein named iterative multigrid dynamic programming (IMDP). It is a fully data-driven scheme with no ad-hoc parameters. The method is implemented on an ordinary workstation, leading to computation times compatible with operational use. Experiments with simulated and real images are presented.

OR resuscitation for trauma patients

1. The results of multiple studies have shown evidence that immediate access to the operating room has significantly contributed to improved outcome in several categories of trauma patients. 2. "Walk through" table top exercises were held in the OR suite to identify problems. These mock resuscitations were particularly helpful in solving logistical and equipment problems. 3. Prehospital care providers were given classes regarding triage criteria and operating room logistics. 4. Continuing education for OR and trauma nurses included videotape review and critique of ORR, trauma-specific inservice programs presented by the trauma coordinators and physicians, and attendance at weekly videotape review and trauma conference presented by the Division of Trauma. Easy recognition of individual team members, an important issue, required the use of name badges.