Abstract Pitaya is a rich source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and betalains. Moreover, these compounds has been associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of this fruit on glycemia and oxidative stress in aloxan-induced diabetic mice. Thus, considering that In the in vivo assays, the mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 6): (a) healthy group treated with water; (b) diabetic mice treated with metformin at 200 mg/kg body weight diluted in water; (c) untreated diabetic mice; (d) diabetic mice treated with pitaya at 200 mg/kg and (e) diabetic mice treated with pitaya at 400 mg/kg of body weight diluted in water. The results shows that pitaya was able significantly to reduce blood glucose (p < 0.05) (200 mg/kg); significantly reduce cholesterol (200 and 400 mg/kg) and significantly increase HDL-c (400 mg/kg) levels. In the oxidative stress experiment, Malondialdehyde levels in the liver were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the groups treated with pitaya, when compared to the other groups, suggesting lower lipid peroxidation. The consumption of pitaya reduced the blood glucose and cholesterol and increase the HDL, in addition, the lipid peroxidation - which is common in diabetic patients, was reduced.

BACKGROUND The first dengue cases in Brazil with laboratory confirmation occurred in the northern region of the country, with the isolation of two serotypes, dengue virus 1 (DENV-1) and DENV-4. In Ceará, the introduction of DENV-4 was reported during a DENV-1 epidemic in 2011, with only two isolations. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterise the first DENV-4 epidemic in the state of Ceará, Brazil. METHODS The study population was composed of patients with suspected dengue that were reported to health care units from January to December 2012. The laboratory confirmation of infection was made by viral isolation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), AgNS1, immunohistochemistry and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MAIN CONCLUSIONS In the study year, 72,211 suspected dengue cases were reported and 51,865 of these cases (71.8%) were confirmed to be positive. Co-circulation of three serotypes, DENV-1, DENV-3 and DENV-4, was detected with a predominance of DENV-4 (95.3%). Most cases were not severe, but there were 44 fatal outcomes. DENV-4 Genotype II was identified for the first time in Ceará.

Abstract We report on four patients with fatal influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and dengue virus coinfections. Clinical, necropsy and histopathologic findings presented in all cases were characteristic of influenza-dengue coinfections, and all were laboratory-confirmed for both infections. The possibility of influenza and dengue coinfection should be considered in locations where these two viruses’ epidemic periods coincide to avoid fatal outcomes. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by one of the four dengue viruses (DENV-1 to 4). Each of these viruses is capable of causing nonspecific febrile illnesses, classic dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever (Gubler 1998). As a result, dengue is often difficult to diagnose clinically, especially because peak dengue season often coincides with that of other common febrile illnesses in tropical regions (Chacon et al. 2015). In April 2009, a new virus, influenza A/H1N1/pandemic (FluA/H1N1/09pdm), caused a severe outbreak in Mexico. The virus quickly spread throughout the world, and in June 2009, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic (WHO 2010). In Brazil, the first laboratory confirmed case of FluA/H1N1/09pdm was in July 2009 (Pires Neto et al. 2013). The state of Ceará, in Northeast Brazil, is a dengue endemic area. In this state, the virus influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 has circulated since 2009, and through the first half of 2012, 11 deaths caused by the virus were confirmed (Pires Neto et al. 2013). The influenza and dengue seasons in Ceará overlap, which led to diagnostic difficulties. We report four cases of laboratory-confirmed coinfection of deadly influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 with DENV, which occurred during the dengue and influenza season in 2012 and 2013 in Ceará.

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico de infecções por dengue e sua diferenciação entre infecções primárias e secundárias são importantes para monitorar a disseminação de epidemias e para identificar riscos de formas graves da doença. A detecção de anticorpos IgM e IgG tem sido o principal mecanismo para o diagnóstico laboratorial. Este estudo visa avaliar a capacidade do teste rápido para dengue para: detectar casos novos da doença, diagnosticar reinfecções e estimar taxas de ataque de epidemias. MÉTODOS: Este trabalho consiste de estudo descritivo, transversal retrospectivo, sobre dengue, que utiliza o banco de dados da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Fortaleza. Os resultados de 1.530 amostras testadas entre 2005-2006 foram confrontados com dados de estudos epidemiológicos relativos aos surtos de dengue em 1996, 2003 e 2010. RESULTADOS: o teste foi capaz de confirmar 52% de infecções recentes entre pacientes com suspeitas clínicas de dengue: 40% das infecções foram confirmadas pela banda IgM e 12% de casos extras foram detectados pela banda IgG reagente em amostras IgM nãoreagentes. Resultados IgM reagentes e IgG não-reagentes mostraram que 38% das infecções eram primárias, enquanto resultados IgG reagentes, com ou sem IgM reagente, indicaram que 62% das infecções recentes eram reinfecções. Esta proporção de infecções secundárias permitiu estimar a taxa de ataque como maior ou igual a 62% naquela população amostral. CONCLUSÕES: O teste rápido para dengue apresentou capacidade aumentada para diagnosticar infecções recentes e de caracterizá-las entre infecções primárias e secundárias, permitindo estimar a taxa de ataque mínima para a população amostral de um surto.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of dengue and the differentiation between primary and secondary infections are important for monitoring the spread of the epidemic and identifying the risk of severe forms of the disease. The detection of immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies is the main technique for the laboratory diagnosis of dengue. The present study assessed the application of a rapid test for dengue concerning detection of new cases, reinfection recognition, and estimation of the epidemic attack rate. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study on dengue using the Fortaleza Health Municipal Department database. The results from 1,530 tested samples, from 2005-2006, were compared with data from epidemiological studies of dengue outbreaks in 1996, 2003, and 2010. RESULTS: The rapid test confirmed 52% recent infections in the tested patients with clinical suspicion of dengue: 40% detected using IgM and 12% of new cases using IgG in the non-reactive IgM results. The positive IgM plus negative IgG (IgM+ plus IgG-) results showed that 38% of those patients had a recent primary dengue infection, while the positive IgG plus either positive or negative IgM (IgG+ plus IgM+/-) results indicated that 62% had dengue for at least a second time (recent secondary infections). This proportion of reinfections permitted us to estimate the attack rate as >62% of the population sample. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid test for dengue has enhanced our ability to detect new infections and to characterize them into primary and secondary infections, permitting the estimation of the minimal attack rate for a population during an outbreak.

Three isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, collected from the University Hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, were analyzed to determine their resistance to multiple antibiotics. The results of this study showed that the resistance of the clinically isolated bacteria is associated with the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESLBs) and loss of outer membrane proteins.

A ricina é uma proteína bastante tóxica presente nas sementes de mamona que impossibilita o uso da torta de mamona "in natura", como ração. A torta de mamona destoxificada necessita ainda de métodos de análise que garantam a ausência de traços dessa proteína. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, produzir e avaliar a sensibilidade e especificidade de anticorpos policlonais anti-ricina, para serem empregados como possíveis componentes de métodos sorológicos na detecção de ricina em torta de mamona destoxificada. Foram avaliadas três doses da proteína: 400, 180 e 100 µg cada uma dividida em duas aplicações em coelhos. A primeira dose foi injetada no animal no início do experimento e a segunda após 21 dias. O método de ELISA indicou que as duas doses menores (100 e 180 µg) induziram respostas imunológicas primária e secundária com produção de anticorpos específicos. Enquanto a dose maior (400 µg) de ricina apresentou uma resposta primária com elevação dos títulos de anticorpos, seguida de uma supressão da resposta. Esse perfil é sugestivo de tolerância imunológica. Pela técnica de Western blotting verificou-se que os anticorpos policlonais produzidos são bastante específicos para a ricina, no entanto, por detectarem ricina na forma nativa e desnaturada não são recomendados para o monitoramento de ricina em torta de mamona destoxificada por tratamento térmico.

Ricin is a very toxic protein found in castor bean plants, making it impossible to use natural castor cake as animal food. The detoxificated castor cake needs to be analyzed by methods that ensure the absence of traces of this protein. This work had the objective to produce and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of anti-ricin polyclonal antibodies, to be employed as component of sorologic methods as the ELISA in the detection of ricin in detoxificated castor cake. Three doses of protein, 400, 180 and 100 µg were evaluated each one injected twice into rabbit, with one half in the begin of the experiment and the other half after 21 days of immunization. The ELISA method indicated that the lower doses (100 e 180 µg) induced primary and secondary immunological response with production of specific antibodies, while the higher dose of ricin (400 µg) showed a primary response with increase of the antibody titre, followed of immunological suppression. This profile suggests immunological tolerance. By Western blotting technique it was verified that polyclonal antibodies are too specific to ricin, however, they detected ricin in native and denaturated form and are not recommended for the monitoring of ricin in detoxificated castor bean cake by heat treatment.

INTRODUÇÃO: desde seu registro, em 2005, no município de Fortaleza, o Aedes albopictus tem exibido uma rápida dispersão. Um estudo visando à identificação das áreas de sua ocorrência, os seus criadouros e a associação com Aedes aegypti e outros culicídeos foi realizado durante o ano de 2008. MÉTODOS: foram coletadas, de janeiro a julho de 2008, amostras de formas imaturas de culicídeos provenientes de imóveis situados nos bairros de Fortaleza, ressaltando-se algumas características dos criadouros, tais como localização (intradomicílio ou peridomicílio), presença de cobertura (proteção contra a incidência de raios solares e chuva), turbidez da água (água límpida e não límpida), material constituinte, volume, altura em relação ao nível do solo e presença simultânea de diferentes espécies de culicídeos no mesmo criadouro. RESULTADOS: a localização no intradomicílio foi um fator importante para os criadouros do Aedes albopictus [RP=0,52 IC95% (0,33-0,81)], por outro lado, a turbidez da água e a cobertura do depósito não se mostraram como diferenciadores para a infestação [p>0,05]. Para o Aedes aegypti a ausência de turbidez da água foi significativa para a infestação nos criadouros [RP=1,14 IC95% (1,06-1,22)]. CONCLUSÕES: a ausência de uma das espécies nos criadouros favorecia sua infestação por outra; criadouros não infestados por Aedes albopictus tinham uma prevalência de infestação de 2,05 [IC95%1,72-2,44] vezes maior pelo Aedes aegypti. Não houve associação significativa entre volume e altura do criadouro e infestação por ambas as espécies. As duas espécies encontram-se dispersas por todo o município, ocupando os mais diversos tipos de criadouros. No entanto, pode-se identificar uma ligeira separação física, com uma infestação maior do Aedes albopictus no peridomicílio.

INTRODUCTION: Since the registration of Aedes albopictus in the municipality of Fortaleza in 2005, it has shown rapid dispersion. A study aiming to identify its occurrence areas, breeding sites and associations with Aedes aegypti and other culicids was carried out during 2008. METHODS: Between January and July 2008, samples of immature forms of culicids were gathered from properties located in districts of Fortaleza. Certain features of the breeding sites were highlighted, such as location (indoors or outdoors), presence of covering (protection against impact of sunlight and rain), water turbidity (water clear or not clear), constituent material, volume, height above ground level and simultaneous presence of different species of culicids in the same breeding site. RESULTS: Indoor location was an important factor for the breeding sites for Aedes albopictus [PR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.33-0.81]. On the other hand, water turbidity and reservoir covering were not shown to be differentiators regarding infestation [p > 0.05]. Absence of water turbidity was significant for Aedes aegypti infestation in breeding sites [PR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.06-1.22]. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of one of the species from the breeding sites enhanced the infestation by another species. Breeding sites that had not been infested by Aedes albopictus had a prevalence of infestation by Aedes aegypti that was 2.05 times greater [95% CI: 1.72-2.44]. There was no significant association between volume and height of the breeding sites and infestation by both species. Both species were found to be dispersed throughout the municipality, occupying a wide diversity of breeding sites. However, a slight physical separation could be identified, with higher infestation with Aedes albopictus outdoors.

A análise SDS-PAGE do Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) purificado revelou a migração de três frações protéicas estimadas em 43, 23 e 21 kDa, correspondentes às proteínas do capsídeo: denominadas proteína maior (43 kDa) e menor (23 kDa; intacta e 21 kDa; clivada). As proteínas do capsídeo, na sua forma nativa, foram utilizadas na imunização de camundongos pelas vias oral e nasal, durante 10 dias consecutivos. As frações protéicas de 43 e 23 kDa, em sua forma desnaturada, foram utilizadas para imunização subcutânea. A resposta imunológica da mucosa foi avaliada pela proliferação celular das placas de Peyer de camundongos imunizados pela via oral com o CPSMV purificado. Ficou demonstrado que o CPSMV induz resposta imunológica, evidenciada pela síntese de anticorpos séricos, quando administrado na sua forma nativa pelas vias oral e nasal ou através de suas proteínas do capsídeo desnaturadas, pela via subcutânea. Não foi necessário o uso de adjuvantes, quer por via oral quer por via nasal. As frações protéicas de 43 e 23 kDa mostraram-se responsáveis pela imunogenicidade do vírus, como foi evidenciado pela síntese de anticorpos específicos detectados por ELISA. A análise da proliferação celular da placas de Peyer revelou um aumento (r=0,88) do número de leucócitos ao longo de 42 dias após a imunização. Esses resultados reforçam a possibilidade do uso do CPSMV como vetor seguro de antígenos de doenças humanas/animais pouco imunogênicos para produção de vacinas.

SDS-PAGE analysis of purified Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) revealed the migration of three protein fractions of 43, 23 and 21 kDa, corresponding to the capsid protein called large protein (43 kDa) and small protein (23 kDa; intact and 21 kDa; cleaved). The capsid proteins, in their native form, were used to immunize mice through oral and nasal routes for ten consecutive days. The denatured form of the 43 and 23 kDa protein fractions were used for subcutaneous immunization. The mucosal immune response was detected by the cellular proliferation of the Peyer's patches of mice immunized by oral route with CPSMV. It was demonstrated that CPSMV induces immune response, evidenced by the synthesis of specific antibodies, when administered in the native form by the oral and nasal routes or with two denatured capsid proteins by the subcutaneous route. The use of adjuvants in the oral and nasal immunizations was not necessary. The 43 and 23 kDa protein fractions were responsible for the immunogenicity of the virus, evidenced by the synthesis of specific antibodies detected by ELISA test. The cellular proliferation analysis of the Peyer's patches revealed an increase (r=0.88) of leucocytes along 42 days after immunization. The results reinforce the possibility of the use of CPSMV as a safe vector of antigens for human/animal diseases of low immunogenicity for the production of vaccines.

The D-type cyclins form complexes with the cyclin dependent (CD) kinases CDK4 and CDK6 and promote the G1-S phase transition of the cell cycle by antagonizing the retinoblastoma suppresser protein pRB. In the developing nervous system D-type cyclins show spatially and temporally dynamic patterns of expression. We demonstrated that cyclin D1 was transiently expressed in differentiating spinal cord ventral interneurons while cyclin D3 protein was expressed in differentiating motor neurons and dorsal interneurons. This expression of cyclin D3 in neurons of the mantle zone was extended to all regions of the spinal cord at E15.5. The results suggest that cyclin D1 and D3 have specific functions in differentiating neurons. Similarly, in the developing midbrain-hindbrain region the D-type cyclins were expressed in different subsets of cells. Our results argue in favor of different functions for D-type cyclins during proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors.

Pela primeira vez é registrada a ocorrência de Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus em área urbana da cidade de Fortaleza, no Estado do Ceará, Brasil. De janeiro a julho de 2005 foram utilizadas ovitrampas para a coleta de ovos de Aedes spp., os quais foram mantidos em laboratório para desenvolvimento até a fase adulta. Os mosquitos resultantes foram identificados e submetidos a testes para o isolamento dos vírus da dengue. Foram identificados 13 espécimes de Aedes albopictus, todos fêmeas. Não foi isolado vírus da dengue em nenhum dos pools de mosquitos. Apesar de o Aedes albopictus não ter sido incriminado por surtos de dengue no Brasil, não se pode descartar a possibilidade da transmissão dos vírus da dengue por tais mosquitos.

For the first time, the occurrence of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in an urban area of the city of Fortaleza, Northeastern, Brazil, is reported. From January to July 2005, ovitraps were used to collect eggs from Aedes spp., which were kept under laboratory conditions to develop into the adult phase. The resultant mosquitoes were identified and subjected to dengue virus isolation tests. Thirteen specimens of Aedes albopictus, all females, were identified. No dengue virus was isolated in any of the mosquito pools. Even though Aedes albopictus has not been incriminated in Brazilian dengue outbreaks, the possibility of dengue virus transmission by these mosquitoes cannot be dismissed.

Pela primeira vez é registrada a ocorrência de Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus em área urbana da cidade de Fortaleza, no Estado do Ceará, Brasil. De janeiro a julho de 2005 foram utilizadas ovitrampas para a coleta de ovos de Aedes spp., os quais foram mantidos em laboratório para desenvolvimento até a fase adulta. Os mosquitos resultantes foram identificados e submetidos a testes para o isolamento dos vírus da dengue. Foram identificados 13 espécimes de Aedes albopictus, todos fêmeas. Não foi isolado vírus da dengue em nenhum dos pools de mosquitos. Apesar de o Aedes albopictus não ter sido incriminado por surtos de dengue no Brasil, não se pode descartar a possibilidade da transmissão dos vírus da dengue por tais mosquitos.

For the first time, the occurrence of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in an urban area of the city of Fortaleza, Northeastern, Brazil, is reported. From January to July 2005, ovitraps were used to collect eggs from Aedes spp., which were kept under laboratory conditions to develop into the adult phase. The resultant mosquitoes were identified and subjected to dengue virus isolation tests. Thirteen specimens of Aedes albopictus, all females, were identified. No dengue virus was isolated in any of the mosquito pools. Even though Aedes albopictus has not been incriminated in Brazilian dengue outbreaks, the possibility of dengue virus transmission by these mosquitoes cannot be dismissed.

O vírus da Artrite-encefalite caprina (CAEV) pertence à família Retroviridae, gênero Lentivirus. O CAEV infecta caprinos do mundo inteiro causando artrite, encefalite, mamite, pneumonia e emagrecimento progressivo. Este trabalho mostra a formação de uma quimera construída através da mistura da p28 do CAEV com glutaraldeído e CPSMV, purificada por meio de cromatografia em biogel e sephadex G-150. As cromatografias foram monitoradas através de leituras em espectrofotômetro no comprimento de onda de 280nm, dos líquidos coletados nos tubos. Os picos contendo a quimera foram coletados e submetidos à eletroforese (SDS-PAGE), sendo assim evidenciada a banda correspondente à mesma. Grupos de camundongos swiss foram imunizados com o vírus quimérico (CPSMV + p28), com o vírus CPSMV purificado e com a proteína p28 do CAEV, utilizando o adjuvante de Freund incompleto. Os anticorpos específicos produzidos contra o CPSMV e p28 reconheceram a proteína quimérica em Western Blotting e em teste de ELISA. Os anticorpos contra o vírus quimérico apresentaram títulos mais elevados do que os anticorpos produzidos contra a p28, demonstrando que o vírus quimérico apresenta maior imunogenicidade do que a proteína p28 sozinha. Os resultados mostraram que o acoplamento covalente entre o CPSMV e a p28 do CAEV foi obtido com sucesso, originando uma molécula estável não comprometendo a estrutura do capsídeo do CPSMV. Desta forma, sugere-se que o CPSMV possa ser utilizado como molécula carreadora na produção de vacinas para vírus que infectam animais.

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) belongs to Retroviridae family, Lentivirus genus. This virus infects caprine all over the world causing arthritis, encephalitis, mammitis and progressive emaciating. This research showed chimera's building made by mixing up CAEV p28, with glutaraldehyde, and CPSMV, purified through the chromotography in biogel and sephadex (G-150). After that, some measures in a spectrophometric were developed to absorbance at 280nm. Peaks, which contained chimera, were collected and submitted to SDS-PAGE, evidencing the band relative to itself. Groups of swiss mice were immunized with chimeric virus, purified CPSMV and with p28 protein using incomplete Freund Adjuvant. CPSMV and p28 specific antibodies recognized chimeric protein in Western Blotting and ELISA showing the efficacy of the method. The results showed the covalent coupling between CPSMV and CAEV p28 was successfully archieved, originating a stable molecule, which no disestablished the capside from CPSMV. Besides, it showed that chimeric virus presents more immunogenicity than protein p28 isolated. It's suggesting CPSMV can be used as a carrier molecule in the production of vaccines to the virus, which infect animals.

Vita 3 e Vita 5 são cultivares de Vigna unguiculata que diferem na capacidade de sobrevivência em ambiente salino: Vita 3 é mais tolerante e, Vita 5, mais suscetível. Ambas as cultivares foram submetidas a um tratamento salino com NaCl 0,1 M. Após 8 dias da germinação, o crescimento das raízes e das partes aéreas foram reduzidas, sendo a redução mais acentuada na cultivar Vita 5. Além do mais, houve uma diminuição na sua área foliar. Os conteúdos de clorofila, bem como seus parâmetros de fluorescência não foram afetados pelo estresse salino, mas as atividades da ribulose-1,5-bisfosfato carboxilase/oxigenase (Rubisco) diminuiu na Vita 3 e aumentou na Vita 5. Uma abordagem imunológica mostrou que o conteúdo da proteína Rubisco diminuiu para a cultivar Vita 3 e aumentou para a cultivar Vita 5. Esses resultados são discutidos para obter melhor entendimento das diferenças entre essas cultivares em relação ao estresse salino.

Vita 3 and Vita 5 are two Vigna unguiculata cultivars that differ in their capacities for survival in saline environments; Vita 3 is more tolerant and Vita 5 more sensitive. Both cultivars were submitted to salt stress with 0.1 M NaCl. After 8 days, root and shoot growth from both cultivars was reduced but reduction was more pronounced in Vita 5. Furthermore, leaf area was also reduced in this cultivar. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were not affected by salt stress, but the specific activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) decreased in Vita 3 and increased in Vita 5. The use of immunological techniques also revealed that the Rubisco content from Vita 3 decreased while that of Vita 5 increased. The discussion of these results is aimed at reaching a better understanding of the differences between these cultivars in relation to salt stress.