RESUMO Antecedentes: A predisposição genética para a esclerose múltipla (EM) está associada a alelos HLA, principalmente o HLA-DRB1*15:01. Objetivo: Identificar associações entre lesões na ressonância magnética e características genéticas em uma coorte brasileira de pacientes com EM. Métodos: Estudamos retrospectivamente os dados de 95 pacientes consecutivos com EM. Dois observadores independentes que desconheciam os dados clínicos identificaram “black holes” e lesões realçadas pelo contraste nas sequências de ressonância magnética T1 e contaram e mediram as lesões nas sequências T2 e FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery). Os casos foram classificados de acordo com tamanho, número e volume da lesão. Os alelos HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1 e HLA-DQA1 e os polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único rs4774, rs3087456, rs6897932, rs731236 e rs1033182 foram identificados por amplificação de reação em cadeia da polimerase com iniciadores específicos de sequência usando o kit One Lambda Inc., Canoga Park, CA, EUA. Resultados: Os pacientes com alelo HLA-DQA1*04:01 apresentaram carga de lesão (ajustada para idade, sexo e duração da EM) acima da mediana em comparação com outros pacientes com demais alelos HLA-DQA1 (p=0,02). Não houve diferenças entre todos os outros alelos HLA e polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único e carga lesional. Conclusões: A correlação do alelo HLA-DQA1*04:01 com maior carga de lesão nas sequências de RM em T2 sugere que a presença desse alelo pode estar associada ao risco de maior gravidade da EM.

ABSTRACT Background: The genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with HLA alleles, especially HLA-DRB1*15:01. Objective: To identify associations between findings in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic features in a Brazilian cohort of patients with MS. Methods: We retrospectively studied data from 95 consecutive patients with MS. Two independent observers who were blinded to the clinical data identified black holes and enhanced lesions on T1 MRI sequences, and counted and measured contrast-enhanced lesions on T2 and Flair (fluid attenuation inversion recovery) sequences. Cases were classified according to lesion size, number, and volume. The HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DQA1 alleles, and the rs4774, rs3087456, rs6897932, rs731236, and rs1033182 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers using the One Lambda Inc. Kit, Canoga Park, CA, USA. Results: Patients with the HLA-DQA1*04:01 allele had lesion load (adjusted for age, sex, and MS duration) above median compared with patients with other HLA-DQA1 alleles (p=0.02). There were no differences among all the other HLA alleles and single nucleotide polymorphisms and lesion load. Conclusions: The correlation of the HLA-DQA1*04:01 allele with a higher lesion load on T2/Flair MRI sequences suggests that the presence of this allele is associated with the risk of greater MS severity.

Abstract Background Insects can be found in numerous diverse environments, being exposed to pathogenic organisms like fungi and bacteria. Once these pathogens cross insect physical barriers, the innate immune system operates through cellular and humoral responses. Antimicrobial peptides are small molecules produced by immune signaling cascades that develop an important and generalist role in insect defenses against a variety of microorganisms. In the present work, a cecropin B-like peptide (AgCecropB) sequence was identified in the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis and cloned in a bacterial plasmid vector for further heterologous expression and antimicrobial tests. Methods AgCecropB sequence (without the signal peptide) was cloned in the plasmid vector pET-M30-MBP and expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) expression host. Expression was induced with IPTG and a recombinant peptide was purified using two affinity chromatography steps with Histrap column. The purified peptide was submitted to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and structural analyses. Antimicrobial tests were performed using gram-positive (Bacillus thuringiensis) and gram-negative (Burkholderia kururiensis and E. coli) bacteria. Results AgCecropB was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) at 28°C with IPTG 0.5 mM. The recombinant peptide was purified and enriched after purification steps. HRMS confirmed AgCrecropB molecular mass (4.6 kDa) and circular dichroism assay showed α-helix structure in the presence of SDS. AgCrecropB inhibited almost 50% of gram-positive B. thuringiensis bacteria growth. Conclusions The first cecropin B-like peptide was described in A. gemmatalis and a recombinant peptide was expressed using a bacterial platform. Data confirmed tertiary structure as predicted for the cecropin peptide family. AgCecropB was capable to inhibit B. thuringiensis growth in vitro.

Resumo Apesar de a fisiopatologia da coagulopatia associada à doença do coronavírus 2019 (COVID‐19) não ser bem conhecida, a ocorrência de embolia pulmonar (EP) é frequentemente observada. No entanto, foram descritos na literatura poucos casos de pacientes que tiveram COVID-19 oligossintomática, sem nenhum fator de risco para tromboembolismo venoso (TEV) e que apresentaram EP aguda extensa. Relatamos um caso de paciente com COVID-19 oligossintomática, complicada por trombose venosa profunda e, posteriormente, EP aguda extensa, sugerindo que esses quadros devem ser considerados de forma sistemática mesmo em pacientes com COVID-19 oligossintomática e sem fatores de risco conhecidos para TEV.

Abstract Although the pathophysiology of coagulopathy associated with the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is not well known, occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequently observed. However, few cases have been described in the literature in which patients who had asymptomatic COVID-19, with no risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE), presented extensive acute PE. We report the case of a patient with asymptomatic COVID-19, complicated by deep vein thrombosis and later by extensive acute PE, suggesting that these conditions should be systematically considered, even in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients with no known risk factors for VTE.

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar um processo de pesquisa e extensão que envolve a Universidade Federal do Ceará e a comunidade Lauro Vieira Chaves, de Fortaleza. Ameaçada de remoção de cerca de quatrocentas famílias devido a obras de mobilidade urbana em Fortaleza, uma das sedes da Copa do Mundo, a comunidade buscou a universidade para a regularização fundiária. Desse encontro nasce o projeto "Se essa rua fosse nossa", com ações de arte e resistência urbana para dar visibilidade ao local e reivindicar sua permanência. Durante o processo de realização deste projeto a universidade se envolveu com outras demandas da comunidade, como fortalecer o sentido de resistência, identidade e territorialidade. Como um dos resultados, houve um desvio da rota do Veiculo Leve sobre Trilhos e apenas 66 famílias foram removidas para uma localidade próxima. Como continuidade, está em andamento o projeto de um publicação de interesse social intitulada “Nossa Rua”. Três parâmetros guiam o projeto: o conteúdo, a linguagem e a distribuição. O conteúdo aborda todo processo que envolveu a comunidade e a universidade. A linguagem busca ser uma ligação direta, sensível e útil entre o processo vivenciado e outras comunidades que enfrentam situações semelhantes. A distribuição pretende ser de acesso livre virtualmente, para abranger o seu público alvo específico e não limitar seu alcance. Dessa forma, design social, design gráfico, arte urbana e urbanismo se integram em repercussões visuais, individuais e comunitárias, por possibilitar o entendimento, na prática, da responsabilidade e importância de ações participativas.

This article presents the process of research and extension involving a public university and the community Lauro Vieira Chaves. That community was threatened with removal of about four hundred families due to urban mobility labor in Fortaleza, one of the host cities for the 2014 World Cup, the community sought the university for land regularization. The project " If this street was our”, was born from this meeting with stocks of art and urban resistance to give visibility to the community and claim their permanency. During the process of completing this project the university was involved with other community demands, like to strengthen the sense of resistance, identity and territoriality. As a result, there was a deviation from the route of the light rail and only 66 families were removed to a nearby location. As a continuity is underway to design a publication of social interest titled "Our Street". Three parameters guide the project: content , language and distribution. The content covers the entire process involving the community and the university. The language aims to be a direct , sensitive and useful link between the experienced process and other communities facing similar situations. The distribution is intended to be virtually free access to cover your specific target audience and not limit their scope. Thus, social design , graphic design, street art and urbanism integrate visual, individual and community impact, by allowing the understanding, practice, responsibility and importance of participatory actions.

Due to the importance of biofilms in the food industry, new products are being developed to enhance the efficiency of cleaning food-contact surfaces. Biosurfactants could be an alternative to synthetic products. The major advantages of biosurfactants over synthetic detergents are their low toxicity and highly biodegradable nature. Biosurfactants may also exhibit antimicrobial, anti-adhesive and anticorrosive activity concomitantly. In this review, we emphasize the potential application of biosurfactants as surface coating agents to prevent corrosion and decrease planktonic and sessile microbial growth.