Abstract Enzymatic degradation of the hybrid layer can be accelerated by the activation of dentin metalloproteinases (MMP) during the bonding procedure. MMP inhibitors may be used to contain this process. Objective To evaluate the degree of conversion (DC%), dentin bond strength (µTBS) (immediate and after 1 year of storage in water), and nanoleakage of an experimental (EXP) and a commercial (SB) adhesive system, containing different concentrations of the MMP inhibitor GM1489: 0, 1 µM, 5 µM and 10 µM. Methodology DC% was evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy. Dentin bond strength was evaluated by µTBS test. Half of beams were submitted to the µTBS test after 24 h and the other half, after storage for 1 year. From each tooth and storage time, 2 beams were reserved for nanoleakage testing. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test to compare means (α=0.05). Results All adhesive systems maintained the µTBS after 1 year of storage. Groups with higher concentrations of inhibitor (5 µM and 10 µM) showed higher µTBS values than groups without inhibitor or with 1 µM. The nanoleakage values of all groups showed no increase after 1 year of storage and values were similar for SB and EXP groups, in both storage periods. The inhibitor did not affect the DC% of the EXP groups, but the SB5 and SB10 groups showed higher DC% values than those of SB0 and SB1. Conclusions The incorporation of GM1489 in the adhesive systems had no detrimental effect on DC%. The concentrations of 5 µM GM1489 for SB and 5 µM or 10 µM for EXP provided higher μTBS than groups without GM1489, in the evaluation after 1 year of storage; whereas the concentration of inhibitor did not affect adhesive systems nanoleakage.

The construction of gold electrodes using 3 kinds of gold recordable compact discs (CDtrodes) and characterization by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques are herein reported. Following a surface pretreatment in 0.5 mol L-1 sulfuric acid (H2SO4), the electrochemical experiments were performed in the presence of redox couple ferro/ferricyanide [Fe(CN)6]3-/4-. The immobilization of an oligopeptide bio-inspired by acetylcholinesterase onto the CDtrode was also evaluated. Surface characterization was done by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. CDtrodes are known to be of low cost, fast and simple construction. They are suitable for immobilizing biological molecules and could be used as disposable transducer for the construction of biosensors.

In the early 2015, several cases of patients presenting symptoms of mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis and arthralgia were reported in the northeastern Brazil. Although all patients lived in a dengue endemic area, molecular and serological diagnosis for dengue resulted negative. Chikungunya virus infection was also discarded. Subsequently, Zika virus (ZIKV) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from the sera of eight patients and the result was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the ZIKV identified belongs to the Asian clade. This is the first report of ZIKV infection in Brazil.

INTRODUÇÃO: A leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) é uma zoonose com diferentes manifestações clínicas. O parasitismo ocorre frequentemente na medula óssea e têm sido relatadas alterações hematológicas e bioquímicas. Objetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros clínicos, hematológicos e bioquímicos de cães naturalmente infectados por Leishmania chagasi. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 85 cães adultos, ambos os sexos, peso e idade variados, oriundos do Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Fortaleza, selecionados pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), sendo considerados positivos os animais com títulos de RIFI > 1:40 e pelo exame parasitológico das formas amastigotas de Leishmania chagasi em esfregaços de medula óssea. Os cães foram agrupados conforme os sinais clínicos associados à doença: negativos (CN=7); subclínicos (CS=10) e clínicos (CC=68). Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para determinação dos parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos séricos. O protocolo experimental foi aprovado pelo CEUA/UECE, protocolo n° 08622833-1. RESULTADOS: Os sinais clínicos mais frequentes foram caquexia (77,9%), ceratoconjuntivite (61,8%) e linfadenopatia (55,9%), sendo que 86, 8% dos animais apresentaram mais de um sinal clínico característico de LVC. Em CC foram observadas reduções nas hemácias (63%), hematócrito (72%) e hemoglobina (62%), leucocitose (33%), neutropenia (28%), trombocitopenia (50%), uremia (45%), hiperproteinemia (53%, p<0,05), hiperglobulinemia (62%, p<0,01) e hipoalbuminemia (58%). CONCLUSÕES: Concluiu-se que os animais com a forma clínica da doença apresentam alterações condizentes com anemia, uremia, hiperproteinemia e hiperglobulinemia, as quais se apresentam como marcadores clínicos da leishmaniose visceral, associados aos sinais previamente relatados.

INTRODUCTION: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease with different clinical manifestations. Parasitism often occurs in bone marrow, but changes have been observed in peripheral blood and serum biochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological and biochemical parameters in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi. METHODS: Eighty-five adult dogs of both sexes and various weights and ages from the Zoonosis Control Center of Fortaleza (CCZ) were used, selected by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and considered positive with IFA titers greater than 1:40 and by visualizing amastigotes of Leishmania chagasi in smears obtained by bone marrow aspiration. The dogs (n = 85) were grouped according to clinical signs: negative (CN = 7), subclinical (CS = 10), and clinical (CC = 68). Blood samples were collected for determination of hematological and biochemical serum values. The experimental protocol was approved by the CEUA/UECE. RESULTS: The most frequent clinical signs were cachexia (77.9%), keratitis (61.8%), and lymphadenopathy (55.9%), and 86.8% of the animals showed more than one clinical sign characteristic of CVL. In CC were observed reductions in red blood cells (63%), hematocrit (72%), and hemoglobin (62%), as well as leukocytosis (33%), neutropenia (28%), thrombocytopenia (50%), uremia (45%), hyperproteinemia (53%, p<0.05), hypergammaglobulinemia (62%, p<0.01), and hypoalbuminemia (58%). CONCLUSIONS: Animals with the clinical form of the disease demonstrate hematological and biochemical changes consistent with anemia, uremia, hyperproteinemia, and hyperglobulinemia, which present themselves as strong clinical markers of visceral leishmaniasis associated with the signs previously reported.

Objetivos: Este trabalho teve o objetivo de identificar possível associação entre conjuntivite alérgica e infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis. Método: Realizamos um estudo prospectivo em 104 olhos de 52 pacientes com hipótese diagnóstica de conjuntivite alérgica primaveril e atópica. Os pacientes foram examinados no Núcleo Especializado em Oftalmologia de João Pessoa - NEO. Foi realizada em todos os 52 pacientes, a citologia conjuntival, uma vez que pode evidenciar a presença de eosinófilos e corpúsculos de inclusões no esfregaço do raspado conjuntival, como também a imunofluorescência direta por ser o exame de escolha para confirmação de infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis. Todos os procedimentos foram aprovados pelo Comitê de Ética em pesquisa. Resultados: Dos 52 pacientes, 41 (78,8%) apresentou conjuntivite primaveril e 11 (21,2%) conjuntivite atópica. Quarenta e um (78,8%) eram do sexo masculino e 11 (21,2%) do feminino. As idades variaram de 3 a 19 anos, com uma média de 9,8 anos. Quanto à distribuição racial, 16 (30,8%) pacientes eram brancos, 14 (26,9%) eram negros e 22 (42,3%) eram pardos. Pacientes com doença alérgica sistêmica observou-se que 25 (48,1%) pacientes apresentaram asma brônquica, 20 (38,5%) rinite alérgica e 5 (9,6%) dermatite atópica. Os principais sintomas relatados pelos pacientes foram coriza (59,6%), prurido ocular (98,1%), ardor ou queimação (61,5%), lacrimejamento (65,3%) e fotofobia (61,5%). Os principais sinais clínicos foram: hiperemia ocular (100%), bilateralidade (100%), papilas no tarso (92,3%) e secreção mucosa (82,7%). A citologia do raspado conjuntival encontrou o eosinófilo em 86,5% dos casos. Apenas 7 pacientes não apresentaram eosinófilos no raspado conjuntival. Observamos que 3 pacientes (5,8%) apresentou imunofluorescência positiva para Chlamydia, evidenciando associação entre conjuntivite alérgica e tracoma. Conclusão: É importante determinar a existência simultânea de Chlamydia trachomatis com a conjuntivite alérgica, dada à possibilidade de alterar o prognóstico visual e os sintomas se potencializarem no caso de acometimento duplo. Desta forma faz-se necessário a realização da imunofluorescência direta para o devido diagnóstico em pacientes com conjuntivite alérgica.

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to identify a possible association between allergic conjunctivitis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Methods: A prospective study was carried out in 104 eyes of 52 patients with diagnosis of vernal conjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Conjunctival cytology was performed in all the 52 patients, once it can evidence eosinophils presence and inclusions corpuscles in the conjunctival scraping smear, as well as the direct immunofluorescence that is the choice exam for Chlamydia trachomatis infection confirmation. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board Ethics Committee. Results: Of the 52 patients, 41 (78.8%) presented vernal conjunctivitis and 11 (21.2%) atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Forty-one patients (78.8%) were male and 11 (21.2%) female. The ages varied from 3 to 19 years, with an average of 9.8 years. Regarding racial distribution, 16 (30.8%) patients were caucasian, 14 (26.9%) were black and 22 (42.3%) were brown. Regarding systemic allergic diseases, it was observed that 25 (48.1%) patients presented asthma, 20 (38.5%) allergic rhinitis and 5 (9.6%) atopic dermatitis. The main symptoms complained by the patients were coryza (59.6%), ocular itching (98.1%), burning (61.5%), tearing (65.3%) and photophobia (61.5%). The main clinical signs were: ocular hyperemia (100%), bilaterality (100%), superior tarsal papilla (92.3%) and mucous secretion (82.7%). The cytology of the conjunctival scrapings found eosinophil in 86.5% of the cases. Only seven patients did not present eosinophils in the conjunctival scrapings. Three patients (5.8%) presented positive immunofluorescence for Chlamydia, evidencing an association between allergic conjunctivitis and trachoma. Conclusion: It is important to determine the simultaneous coexistence of Chlamydia trachomatis and allergic conjunctivitis, due to the possibility to change the visual prognostic and of symptoms potentiation in case of double attack. Therefore, it is necessary to performe direct immunofluorescence for the correct diagnosis in patients with allergic conjunctivitis.

Neste trabalho são apresentados os números cromossômicos observados em 22 espécies pertencentes a 19 gêneros de angiospermas coletadas em Pernambuco. Os dados principais foram resumidos em uma tabela incluindo referências de herbário, locais de coleta, números diplóides e determinações cromossômicas prévias. Para oito espécies não encontramos nenhuma referência anterior na literatura específica. Por outro lado, alguns autores têm relatado números cromossômicos diferentes para uma mesma espécie. Nossas observações sugerem que essas discordâncias, em geral, podem ser atribuídas à ocorrência, nessas espécies, de cromossomos satelitados com constrições secundárias elásticas. Características citogenéticas especiais, observadas em algumas espécies, são também apresentadas e discutidas.

Chromosome numbers are reported for 22 species belonging to 19 genera of angiosperms collected in the State of Pernambuco. A table with the herbarium voucher, collecting sites, diploid numbers and previous chromosomes counts for all the species is presented. Eight of the species have no previous counts. For some species, two or more different chromosome numbers have been presented in the literature. Our data suggest that most of such disagreements might be due to the presence of satellited chromosomes with elastic secondary constriction. Furthermore, special cytogenetics features of every species are hereby presented and discussed.