Cystic Fibrosis: Clinical Phenotypes in Children and Adolescents

Ana Luiza Melo dos Santos,Helen de Melo Santos,Marina Bettiol Nogueira,Hugo Tadashi Oshiro Távora,Maria de Lourdes Jaborandy Paim da Cunha,Renata Belém Pessoa de Melo Seixas,Luciana de Freitas Velloso 대한소아소화기영양학회 2018 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.21 No.4

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical phenotypes of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF); and to assess the role of pancreatic insufficiency and neonatal screening in diagnosis.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 77 patients attending a reference center of CF between 2014 and 2016. Epidemiological data, anthropometric measurements, and the presence of pulmonary, pancreatic, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary manifestations were evaluated based on clinical data and complementary examinations.Results: Of the 77 patients, 51.9% were male, with a median age of 147 months (7.0-297.0 months), and the majority showed adequate nutritional status. The most common phenotype was pulmonary (92.2%), followed by pancreatic (87.0%), with pancreatic insufficiency in most cases. Gastrointestinal manifestation occurred in 46.8%, with constipation being the more common factor. Hepatobiliary disease occurred in 62.3% of patients. The group with pancreatic insufficiency was diagnosed earlier (5.0 months) when compared to the group with sufficiency (84.0 months) (p=0.01). The age of diagnosis was reduced following implementation of neonatal screening protocols for CF (6.0 months before vs. 3.0 months after, p=0.02).Conclusion: The pulmonary phenotype was the most common, although extrapulmonary manifestations were frequent and clinically relevant, and should mandate early detection and treatment. Neonatal screening for CF led to earlier diagnosis in patients with pancreatic failure, and therefore, should be adopted universally.

Negative magnetoresistance in sputtered niobium thin films grown on silicon substrates

T.C. Freitas,J.L. Gonzalez,V.P. Nascimento,A.Y. Takeuchi,E.C. Passamani 한국물리학회 2017 Current Applied Physics Vol.17 No.11

Nb-films (thicknesses of 20 nm, 50 nm and 100 nm), directly grown on orientated Si substrates by DC sputtering, have shown reduced superconducting critical temperatures TC as compared to the bulk value; an effect associated with their disordered granular character (the disorder phenomenon of the Nb-films depresses the density of states at the Fermi level, consequently shifts the TC value towards low temperatures). The disorder effect was also correlated to the semiconducting-like behavior observed in the RðTÞ measurements. At the normal state, while the 100 nm Nb-film is dominated by a metallic-like behavior, the thinner Nb-films (20 nm and 50 nm thick) show significant negative magnetoresistances in a small temperature range about TC. This behavior was also explained assuming their granular characters, where the applied magnetic field first destroys the global superconducting character of the Nb-films, leaving Cooper pairs localized inside Nb-grains. A further increase of the applied field strength affects the superconductivity inside Nb-grains, enhancing the normal intergranular electric transport channel, which decreases the whole resistance of the Nb-films. The present study suggests that the microscopic disorder, at the grain surfaces/interfaces, seems to be an essential point to comprehend the negative magnetoresistance effect observed in some superconducting granular systems.

HPV Infection and Cervical Abnormalities in HIV Positive Women in Different Regions of Brazil, a Middle-Income Country

Freitas, Beatriz C,Suehiro, Tamy T,Consolaro, Marcia EL,Silva, Vania RS Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.18

Human papillomavirus is a virus that is distributed worldwide, and persistent infection with high-risk genotypes (HR-HPV) is considered the most important factor for the development of squamous cell cervical carcinoma (SCC). However, by itself, it is not sufficient, and other factors may contribute to the onset and progression of lesions. For example, infection with other sexually transmitted diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be a factor. Previous studies have shown the relationship between HPV infection and SCC development among HIV-infected women in many regions of the world, with great emphasis on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Brazil is considered a LMIC and has great disparities across different regions. The purpose of this review was to highlight the current knowledge about HPV infection and cervical abnormalities in HIV+ women in Brazil because this country is an ideal setting to evaluate HIV impact on SCC development and serves as model of LMICs and low-resource settings.

Genotoxic Evaluation of Mikania laevigata Extract on DNA Damage Caused by Acute Coal Dust Exposure

Freitas, Tiago P.,Heuser, Vanina D.,Tavares, Priscila,Leffa, Daniela D.,Silva, Gabriela A. da,Citadini-Zanette, Vanilde,Romao, Pedro R.T.,Pinho, Ricardo A.,Streck, Emilio L.,Andrade, Vanessa M. The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.3

In the present article, we report data on the possible antigenotoxic activity of Mikania laevigata extract (MLE) after acute intratracheal instillation of coal dust using the comet assay in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and liver cells and the micronucleus test in peripheral blood of Wistar rats. The animals were pretreated for 2 weeks with saline solution (groups 1 and 2) or MLE (100 mg/kg) (groups 3 and 4). On day 15, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (20 mg/kg), and gross mineral coal dust (3 mg/0.3mL saline) (groups 2 and 4) or saline solution (0.3 mL) (groups 1 and 3) was administered directly in the lung by intratracheal administration. Fifteen days after coal dust or saline instillation, the animals were sacrificed, and the femur, liver, and peripheral blood were removed. The results showed a general increase in the DNA damage values at 8 hours for all treatment groups, probably related to surgical procedures that had stressed the animals. Also, liver cells from rats treated with coal dust, pretreated or not with MLE, showed statistically higher comet assay values compared to the control group at 14 days after exposure. These results could be expected because the liver metabolizes a variety of organic compounds to more polar by-products. On the other hand, the micronucleus assay results did not show significant differences among groups. Therefore, our data do not support the antimutagenic activity of M. laevigata as a modulator of DNA damage after acute coal dust instillation.

Preemptive Analgesia with Acupuncture Monitored by c-Fos Expression in Rats

André T.A. Gonçalves de Freitas,Lino Lemonica,Julio De Faveri,Sergio Pereira,Maria D. Bedoya Henao 사단법인약침학회 2016 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.9 No.1

Pain behavior and awareness are characterized by heightened alertness and anxiety, which begin to disappear as soon as the curative process starts. The present study aimed to quantify c-fos expression in rat spinal cords and brains after a surgical stimulus and with preoperative or postoperative acupuncture. Animals were randomly divided into preoperative and postoperative groups and were then further divided into control, manual acupuncture (MA), or electroacupuncture (EA) groups. Expression of c-fos was quantified using immunohistochemistry. The collected data were analyzed using the t test at a 5% probability level. Presurgery and postsurgery spinal cord c-fos expressions were similar in all of the treatment groups. In the control rats, c-fos expression was higher before surgery than after surgery, contradicting the expected outcome of acupuncture and preemptive analgesia. After treatment, the expression of c-fos in the brains of the rats in the MA and the EA groups was reduced compared with that of the rats in the control group. These findings suggest that acupuncture used as preemptive analgesia in rats is a useful model for studying its application in human treatment.

Effects of Mikania glomerata Spreng. and Mikania laevigata Schultz Bip. ex Baker (Asteraceae) Extracts on Pulmonary Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Caused by Acute Coal Dust Exposure

Tiago P. Freitas,Paulo C. Silveira,Luís G. Rocha,Gislaine T. Rezin,João Rocha,Vanilde Citadini-Zanette,Pedro T. Romão,Felipe Dal-Pizzol,Ricardo A. Pinho,Vanessa M. Andrade,Emilio L. Streck 한국식품영양과학회 2008 Journal of medicinal food Vol.11 No.4

Several studies have reported biological effects of Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata, used in Brazilian folk medicine for respiratory diseases. Pneumoconiosis is characterized by pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure. In this work, we evaluated the effect of pretreatment with M. glomerata and M. laevigata extracts (MGE and MLE, respectively) (100 mg/kg, s.c.) on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in lung of rats subjected to a single coal dust intratracheal instillation. Rats were pretreated for 2 weeks with saline solution, MGE, or MLE. On day 15, the animals were anesthetized, and gross mineral coal dust or saline solutions were administered directly in the lung by intratracheal instillation. Fifteen days after coal dust instillation, the animals were killed. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was obtained; total cell count and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were determined. In the lung, myeloperoxidase activity, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, and protein carbonyl and sulfhydryl contents were evaluated. In BAL of treated animals, we verified an increased total cell count and LDH activity. MGE and MLE prevented the increase in cell count, but only MLE prevented the increase in LDH. Myeloperoxidase and TBARS levels were not affected, protein carbonylation was increased, and the protein thiol levels were decreased by acute coal dust intratracheal administration. The findings also suggest that both extracts present an important protective effect on the oxidation of thiol groups. Moreover, pretreatment with MGE and MLE also diminished lung inflammatory infiltration induced by coal dust, as assessed by histopathologic analyses. The present study indicates that M. glomerata and M. laevigata might become good candidates for the prevention of lung oxidative injury caused by coal dust exposure.

Signal transduction pathways in erythrocyte nitric oxide metabolism under high fibrinogen levels

Saldanha, Carlota,Freitas, T.,de Almeida, J.P. Lopez,Silva-Herdade, A. 한국유변학회 2014 Korea-Australia rheology journal Vol.26 No.2

Previous studies show that the fibrinogen molecule modulates the metabolism of nitric oxide (NO) in erythrocyte. The in vitro induced hiperfibrinogenemia interferes in the metabolism of the NO in the erythrocyte in dependence of the phosphorylation degree of the band 3. The soluble form of fibrinogen binds into CD47 protein present in the erythrocyte membrane. The soluble thrombomodulin is an inflammatory marker that binds to the erythrocyte CD47 in a site with a sequence peptide known as 4N1K. A study done in vitro shows that when hiperfibrinogenemia was induced in the presence of the peptide 4N1K agonist of CD47 it were observed variations in the efflux of NO from erythrocyte and an increase in the concentrations of GSNO, peroxinitrite, nitrite and nitrate of the erythrocytes. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the peptide 4N1K, on the metabolism of NO in the erythrocyte under high fibrinogen concentration and in the presence of inhibitors of the status of phosphorylation of protein band 3. In this in vitro study, whole blood samples were harvested from healthy subjects and NO, peroxynitrite, nitrite, nitrate and S-nitroglutathione (GSNO) were determined in presence of 4N1K, calpeptine, Syk inhibitor and under high fibrinogen concentrations. The results obtained in erythrocytes under high fibrinogen levels when 4N1K is present with the Syk inhibitor or with calpeptine, showed in relation to the control samples increased significant concentrations of efflux of NO and of peroxynitrite, nitrite, nitrate and GSNO. In conclusion it was verified that in the in vitro model of hiperfibrinogenemia the peptide 4N1K, agonist of CD47, induces mobilization of NO in the erythrocyte in dependence of the status of phosphorylation of protein band 3.

Genotoxic Evaluation of Mikania laevigata Extract on DNA Damage Caused by Acute Coal Dust Exposure

Tiago P. Freitas,Vanina D. Heuser,Priscila Tavares,Daniela D. Leffa,Gabriela A. da Silva,Vanilde Citadini-Zanette,Pedro R.T. Romão,Ricardo A. Pinho,Emilio L. Streck,Vanessa M. Andrade 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.3

In the present article, we report data on the possible antigenotoxic activity of Mikania laevigata extract (MLE) after acute intratracheal instillation of coal dust using the comet assay in peripheral blood, bone marrow, and liver cells and the micronucleus test in peripheral blood of Wistar rats. The animals were pretreated for 2 weeks with saline solution (groups 1 and 2) or MLE (100mg/kg) (groups 3 and 4). On day 15, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine (80mg/kg) and xylazine (20mg/kg), and gross mineral coal dust (3mg/0.3mL saline) (groups 2 and 4) or saline solution (0.3mL) (groups 1 and 3) was administered directly in the lung by intratracheal administration. Fifteen days after coal dust or saline instillation, the animals were sacrificed, and the femur, liver, and peripheral blood were removed. The results showed a general increase in the DNA damage values at 8 hours for all treatment groups, probably related to surgical procedures that had stressed the animals. Also, liver cells from rats treated with coal dust, pretreated or not with MLE, showed statistically higher comet assay values compared to the control group at 14 days after exposure. These results could be expected because the liver metabolizes a variety of organic compounds to more polar by-products. On the other hand, the micronucleus assay results did not show significant differences among groups. Therefore, our data do not support the antimutagenic activity of M. laevigata as a modulator of DNA damage after acute coal dust instillation.

Signal transduction pathways in erythrocyte nitric oxide metabolism under high fibrinogen levels

Carlota Saldanha,T. Freitas,J.P. Lopez de Almeida,A. Silva-Herdade 한국유변학회 2014 Korea-Australia rheology journal Vol.26 No.2

Previous studies show that the fibrinogen molecule modulates the metabolism of nitric oxide (NO) in erythrocyte. The in vitro induced hiperfibrinogenemia interferes in the metabolism of the NO in the erythrocytein dependence of the phosphorylation degree of the band 3. The soluble form of fibrinogen binds into CD47protein present in the erythrocyte membrane. The soluble thrombomodulin is an inflammatory marker thatbinds to the erythrocyte CD47 in a site with a sequence peptide known as 4N1K. A study done in vitroshows that when hiperfibrinogenemia was induced in the presence of the peptide 4N1K agonist of CD47it were observed variations in the efflux of NO from erythrocyte and an increase in the concentrations ofGSNO, peroxinitrite, nitrite and nitrate of the erythrocytes. The aim of this work was to study the influenceof the peptide 4N1K, on the metabolism of NO in the erythrocyte under high fibrinogen concentration andin the presence of inhibitors of the status of phosphorylation of protein band 3. In this in vitro study, wholeblood samples were harvested from healthy subjects and NO, peroxynitrite, nitrite, nitrate and S-nitroglutathione(GSNO) were determined in presence of 4N1K, calpeptine, Syk inhibitor and under high fibrinogenconcentrations. The results obtained in erythrocytes under high fibrinogen levels when 4N1K ispresent with the Syk inhibitor or with calpeptine, showed in relation to the control samples increased significantconcentrations of efflux of NO and of peroxynitrite, nitrite, nitrate and GSNO. In conclusion it wasverified that in the in vitro model of hiperfibrinogenemia the peptide 4N1K, agonist of CD47, induces mobilizationof NO in the erythrocyte in dependence of the status of phosphorylation of protein band 3.

Plasmonically enhanced emission from a group-III nitride nanowire emitter

Mastro, Michael A,Freitas Jr, Jaime A,Glembocki, Orest,Eddy Jr, Charles R,Holm, R T,Henry, Rich L,Caldwell, Josh,Rendell, Ronald W,Kub, Fritz,Kim, J IOP Pub 2007 Nanotechnology Vol.18 No.26

<P>The plasmonic response from a nanotextured silver coating was utilized to enhance the transfer of ultraviolet light generated in a group-III nitride nanowire emitter. A two-step approach was developed in a metal–organic chemical vapour deposition system to grow nanowires initially vertically by the vapour–liquid–solid mechanism and, subsequently, laterally by increasing the growth temperature and the group-V/III reactant ratio. This controllably produced a 20 nm GaN:Si core with a 200 nm outer-diameter AlGaN:Mg sheath structure. Solvothermal chemistry based on an ethylene glycol solvent was employed to deposit a silver coating that approximated a dense packing of metallic nanospheres. Nanoscale emission and plasmonically enhanced transfer of this energy were simulated to aid the development and understanding of this system.</P>