Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is a rheumatic syndrome affecting to 2-3% of individuals of productive age, mainly women. Neuroendocrine and genetic factors may play a significant role in development of the disease which is characterized by diffuse chronic pain and presence of tender points. Several studies have suggested an association between FS, especially pain sensitivity, and polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. The aim of the present study was to characterize the SNPs rs4680 and rs4818 of the COMT gene and assess its influence in pain sensitivity of patients with fibromyalgia screened by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 112 patients with fibromyalgia and 110 healthy individuals and was used as template in PCR for amplification of a 185-bp fragment of the COMT gene. The amplified fragment was sequenced for analyses of the SNPs rs4680 and rs4818. The frequency of mutant genotype AA of SNP rs6860 was 77.67% in patients with FS and 28.18% for the control group. For the SNP rs4818, the frequency of mutant genotype CC was 73.21 and 39.09% for patients with FS and controls, respectively. Moreover, the FIQ score was higher in patients with the homozygous mutant genotype for SNPs rs4680 (87.92 points) and rs4818 (86.14 points). These results suggest that SNPs rs4680 and rs4818 of the COMT gene may be associated with fibromyalgia and pain sensitivity in FS Brazilian patients.
The dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum is the major fungal pathogen of skin, hair, and nails that uses keratinized substrates as the primary nutrients during infection. Few strategies are available that permit a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of T. rubrum with the host because of the limitations of models mimicking this interaction. Dual RNA-seq is a powerful tool to unravel this complex interaction since it enables simultaneous evaluation of the transcriptome of two organisms. Using this technology in an in vitro model of co-culture, this study evaluated the transcriptional profile of genes involved in fungus-host interactions in 24 h. Our data demonstrated the induction of glyoxylate cycle genes, ERG6 and TERG_00916, which encodes a carboxylic acid transporter that may improve the assimilation of nutrients and fungal survival in the host. Furthermore, genes encoding keratinolytic proteases were also induced. In human keratinocytes (HaCat) cells, the SLC11A1, RNASE7, and CSF2 genes were induced and the products of these genes are known to have antimicrobial activity. In addition, the FLG and KRT1 genes involved in the epithelial barrier integrity were inhibited. This analysis showed the modulation of important genes involved in T. rubrum–host interaction, which could represent potential antifungal targets for the treatment of dermatophytoses.
The dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum is the main causative agent of dermatophytoses worldwide. Although a superficial mycosis, its incidence has been increasing especially among diabetic and immunocompromised patients. Terbinafine is commonly used for the treatment of infections caused by dermatophytes. However, cases of resistance of T. rubrum to this allylamine were reported even with the efficacy of this drug. The present study is the first to evaluate the effect of terbinafine using a co-culture model of T. rubrum and human keratinocytes, mimicking a fungus-host interaction, in conjunction with RNA-seq technique. Our data showed the repression of several genes involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis cascade and the induction of genes encoding major facilitator superfamily (MFS)- and ATP-binding cassette superfamily (ABC)-type membrane transporter which may be involved in T. rubrum mechanisms of resistance to this drug. We observed that some genes reported in the scientific literature as candidates of new antifungal targets were also modulated. In addition, we found the modulation of several genes that are hypothetical in T. rubrum but that possess known orthologs in other dermatophytes. Taken together, the results indicate that terbinafine can act on various targets related to the physiology of T. rubrum other than its main target of ergosterol biosynthetic pathway.
Introdução: O Covid-19 é caracterizado por uma infecção que pode acarretar uma variedade de sintomas, onde a dispneia é destaque. Pesquisas já demonstraram que treino de exercícios aeróbicos podem melhorar a função cardiorrespiratória. Objetivo: Investigar se pacientes pós-covid19, sem comorbidades associadas, têm desenvolvido dispneia ao exercício aeróbico. Métodos: Revisão sistemática conduzida conforme as recomendações e diretrizes PRISMA. As bases de dados utilizadas foram PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, LILACS e Scielo, compreendendo desde janeiro de 2020 até dezembro de 2021, sendo utilizadas as palavras do dicionário Mesh para as bases de dados PubMed e Cochrane, com os seguintes descritores e operadores boleanos: [(COVID-19 OR 2019-nCoV Disease OR COVID-19 Virus Infection) AND (Exercise OR Aerobic Exercise AND Exercise, Aerobic AND Dyspnea; Breathlessness; AND Shortness of Breath)], sendo estas posteriormente adequadas para as demais bases. Dois revisores conduziram os critérios de seleção e elegibilidade. Resultados: Inicialmente 281 estudos foram identificados, sendo que apenas um foi considerado elegível. A amostra total foi de um indivíduo, onde a avaliação da dispnéia ocorreu em conjunto com as escalas Medical Research Council (MRC-dispneia) e Modified Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (mRPE). A escala MRC-dispneia foi utilizada pré e pós tratamento, já a escala mRPE foi utilizada durante o exercício, modulando a intensidade conforme a paciente se encontrava, com limiar de 5-6/10. Em junto aos exercícios aeróbios, houve a combinação de exercícios fisioterapêuticos respiratórios. Conclusão: O tratamento fisioterapêutico com intervenções voltadas ao exercício aeróbico, em conjunto com outras técnicas, pode melhorar os sintomas pós-virais de dispneia.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.