RESUMO
Dysphagia is a condition that affects the ability to chew and swallow food and beverages, having a major impact on people's health and wellbeing. This work developed gel systems with a customized texture suitable for intake by dysphagic people using 3D printing and milk. Gels were developed using skim powdered milk, cassava starch (native and modified by the Dry Heating Treatment (DHT)), and different concentrations of kappa-carrageenan (ĸC). The gels were evaluated in relation to the starch modification process and concentration of gelling agents, 3D printing performance, and suitability for dysphagic people (following both the standard fork test described by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI), and also using a new device coupled to a texture analyzer). Moreover, the best formulations were evaluated for mineral bioaccessibility through simulated gastrointestinal digestion based on INFOGEST 2.0 standardized method. The results showed that ĸC had a dominant effect compared to the DHT-modified starch on gel texture, 3D printing performance, and fork tests. The gels obtained by molding or 3D printing resulted in different behaviors during the fork test, which was associated with the gel extrusion process that breaks down their initial structure. The strategies applied to tailor the texture of the milk did not affect the mineral bioaccessibility, which was kept high (>80%).
Assuntos
Transtornos de Deglutição , Leite , Humanos , Animais , Amido , Carragenina , Géis , Minerais , Impressão TridimensionalRESUMO
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/µL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ.
Assuntos
Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Timo/fisiologia , Adolescente , Biomarcadores/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Rearranjo Gênico do Linfócito T , Humanos , Lactente , Valores de Referência , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Timo/citologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation of T cells as well as the immunological central tolerance. It is in the antenatal period and infancy that it plays its major role. In clinical practice, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) are considered a direct and reliable measure of the thymic function. TRECs are a by-product of DNA formation in gene rearrangement of T cell receptors. They are stable and they do not duplicate during mitosis, representing the recent emigrant T cells from the thymus. Despite their importance, TRECs have been neglected by physicians and there is a lack of data regarding thymic function during infancy of healthy children. In order to evaluate thymic function in the first years of life, we propose measuring TRECs as a valuable tool. One hundred and three blood samples from children and adolescents between 3 months and 20 years of age were analyzed. The mean TRECs count was 136.77±96.7 copies of TRECs/μL of DNA. The individuals between 0 and 5 years of age had significantly higher TRECs values than those between 10 and 20 years of age. No significant difference was observed in TRECs values among age groups below 5 years of age. An inverse correlation between TRECs and age was found (r=0.3 P=0.003). These data highlight and validate the evidence of decreased thymus function with age, even during infancy. Awareness should be raised with this important albeit ignored organ.
Assuntos
Humanos , Lactente , Pré-Escolar , Criança , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Timo/fisiologia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Valores de Referência , Timo/citologia , Biomarcadores/sangue , Rearranjo Gênico do Linfócito T , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that are mainly involved in the migratory patterns of immune cells. Few studies have evaluated the levels of chemokines in children with acute bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of chemokines MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and IP-10 in children with sepsis, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and skin abscess. Serum levels of MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and IP-10 were measured in 37 children with sepsis, 27 children with CAP, 25 children with skin abscess and 20 controls with no signs of infection. Patients with sepsis, CAP and skin abscess had higher concentrations of RANTES compared to controls (P = 0.0057, P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0108, respectively). IP-10 values were higher in patients with sepsis compared to children with skin abscess (P = 0.0075). However, MCP-1 levels were lower in septic patients compared to controls (P = 0.0136). There was no difference on MIG concentrations between the groups. Our original findings observed that RANTES was consistently elevated in all types of infections suggesting this chemokine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infection. Additionally, patients with sepsis had a unique pattern of response with high levels of IP-10 but low levels of MCP-1, which should be further explored as the markers of disease severity.
Assuntos
Abscesso/imunologia , Quimiocinas/sangue , Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/imunologia , Pneumonia Bacteriana/imunologia , Sepse/imunologia , Dermatopatias Bacterianas/imunologia , Doença Aguda , Quimiocina CCL2/sangue , Quimiocina CCL5/sangue , Quimiocina CXCL10/sangue , Quimiocina CXCL9/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is an autosomal recessive multisystem lysosomal storage disorder, which is characterized by the deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase B encoded by the ARSB gene. Treatment of this disease with enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) improves the clinical status of and generates hope for MPS VI patients. However, only few reports on patients with MPS VI treated before 5 years of age have been published. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the clinical parameters of two sisters affected by MPS VI who started ERT at different ages (9 years and 1 year 5 months, respectively) and to determine the most relevant clinical impacts of early treatment after 85 months of evaluation. The treatment was well tolerated by both siblings. ERT in the younger sibling resulted in increased growth, an improved 6-minute walk test, less coarse face, slower progression of cardiac valve disease, and the absence of compressive myelopathy compared to that in her older sister. On the other hand, the older sibling had typical MPS VI phenotypic features before the commencement of ERT. Corneal clouding, clawed hands, and progressive skeletal changes were observed in both siblings despite the treatment. Both siblings displayed reduced frequencies of upper respiratory infections and apnea indices. This study emphasizes that early diagnosis and treatment of MPS VI are critical for a better disease outcome and to enhance the quality of life for these patients.
Assuntos
Terapia de Reposição de Enzimas/efeitos adversos , Mucopolissacaridose VI/tratamento farmacológico , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Mucopolissacaridose VI/diagnóstico , Irmãos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Collections of natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were made in Lavras, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In the greenhouse, 6,495 predators and 16,628 parasitoids belonging to three families were collected. In the field, 267 predators and 344 parasitoids belonging to five families were found. For the first time in Brazil, five species of predators associated with this whitefly were reported. Because of the diversity of natural enemies of B. tabaci biotype B recorded, this study points out the importance of these data for studies on integrated pest management.
Assuntos
Hemípteros , Controle Biológico de Vetores , Animais , Brasil , Comportamento PredatórioAssuntos
Mutação , Síndrome de Rubinstein-Taybi/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Sequência de Bases , Brasil , Proteína de Ligação a CREB , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Cromossomos Humanos Par 16/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 2/genética , Códon sem Sentido , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Feminino , Humanos , Hibridização in Situ Fluorescente , Lactente , Masculino , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Síndrome de Rubinstein-Taybi/patologia , Deleção de Sequência , Translocação Genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and toes, mental and growth deficiency, and recurrent respiratory infections. RTS has been associated with CREBBP gene mutations, but EP300 gene mutations have recently been reported in 6 individuals. In the present study, the humoral immune response in 16 RTS patients with recurrent respiratory infections of possible bacterial etiology was evaluated. No significant differences between patients and 16 healthy controls were detected to explain the high susceptibility to respiratory infections: normal or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels, normal salivary IgA levels, and a good antibody response to both polysaccharide and protein antigens were observed. However, most patients presented high serum IgM levels, a high number of total B cell and B subsets, and also high percentiles of apoptosis, suggesting that they could present B dysregulation. The CREBBP/p300 family gene is extremely important for B-cell regulation, and RTS may represent an interesting human model for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in B-cell development.
Assuntos
Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto Jovem , Anticorpos Monoclonais/análise , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral/imunologia , Imunoglobulinas/análise , Infecções Respiratórias/imunologia , Síndrome de Rubinstein-Taybi/imunologia , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Proteína de Ligação a CREB/genética , Imunidade Humoral/genética , Imunoglobulinas/imunologia , RecidivaRESUMO
Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and toes, mental and growth deficiency, and recurrent respiratory infections. RTS has been associated with CREBBP gene mutations, but EP300 gene mutations have recently been reported in 6 individuals. In the present study, the humoral immune response in 16 RTS patients with recurrent respiratory infections of possible bacterial etiology was evaluated. No significant differences between patients and 16 healthy controls were detected to explain the high susceptibility to respiratory infections: normal or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels, normal salivary IgA levels, and a good antibody response to both polysaccharide and protein antigens were observed. However, most patients presented high serum IgM levels, a high number of total B cell and B subsets, and also high percentiles of apoptosis, suggesting that they could present B dysregulation. The CREBBP/p300 family gene is extremely important for B-cell regulation, and RTS may represent an interesting human model for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in B-cell development.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/análise , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral/imunologia , Imunoglobulinas/análise , Infecções Respiratórias/imunologia , Síndrome de Rubinstein-Taybi/imunologia , Adolescente , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Proteína de Ligação a CREB/genética , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Imunidade Humoral/genética , Imunoglobulinas/imunologia , Masculino , Recidiva , Adulto JovemRESUMO
ABSTRACT The occurrence of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is record for the first time in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. seedlings in Lavras, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The attack was seen on 16/1/2007 at 30 seedlings of E. camaldulensis kept in greenhouse. The infested plants were yellowish and in initial stage of weakening as response to the attack of the insect.
RESUMO A ocorrência da mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) foi registrada pela primeira vez em mudas de Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. em Lavras, Estado de Minas Gerais. O ataque foi observado no dia 16/1/2007 em 30 mudas de E. camaldulensis mantidas em casa-de-vegetação. As plantas infestadas apresentavam-se amarelecidas e em estágio inicial de definhamento como resposta ao ataque do inseto.