Ultrastructure of the urethra of the Mongolian gerbil

Objective: the urethra is the main port of entry of sexually transmitted pathogens. However, papers on the morphology of the urethra are scarce. The Mongolian gerbil is a rodent native of the Mongolia and China and has been utilized as a laboratory animal since the 1960s. This work describes the ultrastructure of the urethra of the Mongolian gerbil to provide data for future experimental studies. Methods: the urethra of ten adult male gerbils was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Results: the epithelium of the pelvic urethra possesses two cell types: I and II, without the formation of cellular layers, while the penile urethra possesses cellular layers: basal, intermediate and superficial. The urethra presents neurosecretory cells belonging to the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system. Conclusions: the urethral epithelium of the gerbil is a neurosecretory epithelium, part of the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system.

Predictive factors of outcome following staphylococcal peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Background and aims: Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most common agents of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis. Episodes caused by Staphylococcus aureus evolve with a high method failure rate while CoNS peritonitis is generally benign. The purpose of this study was to compare episodes of peritonitis caused by CoNS species and S. aureus to evaluate the microbiological and host factors that affect outcome. Material and methods: Microbiological and clinical data were retrospectively studied from 86 new episodes of peritonitis caused by staphylococci species between January 1996 and December 2000 in a university dialysis center. The influence of microbiological and host factors (age, sex, diabetes, use of vancomycin, exchange system and treatment time on CAPD) was analyzed by logistic regression model. The clinical outcome was classified into two results (resolution and non-resolution). Results: the odds of peritonitis resolution were not influenced by host factors. Oxacillin susceptibility was present in 30 of 35 S. aureus lineages and 22 of 51 CoNS (p = 0.001). There were 32 of 52 (61.5%) episodes caused by oxacillin-susceptible and 20 of 34 (58.8%) by oxacillin-resistant lineages resolved (p = 0.9713). of the 35 cases caused by S. aureus, 17 (48.6%) resolved and among 51 CoNS episodes 40 (78.4%) resolved. Resolution odds were 7.1 times higher for S. epidermidis than S. aureus (p = 0.0278), while other CoNS had 7.6 times higher odds resolution than S. epidermidis cases (p = 0.052). Episodes caused by S. haemolyticus had similar resolution odds to S. epidermidis (p = 0.859). Conclusions: S. aureus etiology is an independent factor associated with peritonitis non-resolution in CAPD, while S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus have a lower resolution rate than other CoNS. Possibly the aggressive nature of these agents, particularly S. aureus, can be explained by their recognized pathogenic factors, more than antibiotic resistance.

Structural and functional characterization of BnSP-7, a Lys49 myotoxic phospholipase A(2) homologue from Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis Venom

BnSP-7, a Lys49 myotoxic phospholipase A, homologue from Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis venom, was structurally and functionally characterized. Several biological activities were assayed and compared with those of the chemically modified toxin involving specific amino acid residues, the cDNA produced from the total RNA by RT-PCR contained approximately 400 bp which codified its 121 amino acid residues with a calculated pi and molecular weight of 8.9 and 13,727, respectively. Its amino acid sequence showed strong similarities with several Lys49 phospholipase A, homologues from other Bothrops sp, venoms. By affinity chromatography and gel diffusion, it was demonstrated that heparin formed a complex with BnSP-7, held at least in part by electrostatic interactions. BnSP-7 displayed bactericidal activity and promoted the blockage of the neuromuscular contraction of the chick, biventer cervicis muscle. In addition to its in vivo myotoxic and edema-inducing activity, it disrupted artificial membranes, Both BnSP-7 and the crude venom released creatine kinase from the mouse gastrocnemius muscle and induced the development of a dose-dependent edema. His, Tyr, and Lys residues of the toxin were chemically modified by 4-bromophhenacyl bromide (BPB), 2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl fluoride (NBSF), and acetic anhydride (AA), respectively. Cleavage of its N-terminal octapeptide was achieved with cyanogen bromide (CNBr), the bactericidal action of BnSP-7 on Escherichia coli was almost completely abolished by acetylation or cleavage of the N-terminal octapeptide, the neuromuscular effect induced by BnSP-7 was completely inhibited by heparin, BPB, acetylation, and CNBr treatment. The creatine kinase releasing and edema-inducing effects were partially inhibited by heparin or modification by BPB and almost completely abolished by acetylation or cleavage of the N-terminal octapeptide, the rupture of liposomes by BnSP-7 and crude venom was dose and temperature dependent. Incubation of BnSP-7 with EDTA did not change this effect, suggesting a Ca2+-independent membrane lytic activity. BnSP-7 cross-reacted with antibodies raised against B. moojeni (MjTX-II), B. jararacussu (BthTX-I), and B. asper (Basp-II) myotoxins as well as against the C-terminal peptide (residues 115-129) from Basp-II. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

Population structure and stock assessment of Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes: Erythrinidae) caught by artisanal fishermen in river-reservoir transition area in Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Infection levels of Austrodiplostomum compactum (Digenea, Diplostomidae) metacercariae in Plagioscion squamosissimus (Teleostei, Sciaenidae) from the Nova Avanhandava reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A new species of Leucoagaricus (Agaricaceae) from Colombia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphological and physiological responses of the recalcitrant Euterpe edulis seeds to light, temperature and gibberellins

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Interfacial surface charge and free accessibility to the PLA(2)-active site-like region are essential requirements for the activity of Lys49 PLA(2) homologues

Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologues are highly myotoxic and cause extensive tissue damage but do not display hydrolytic activity towards natural phospholipids. The binding of heparin, heparin derivatives and polyanionic compounds such as suramin result in partial inhibition (up to 60%) of the myotoxic effects due to a change in the overall charge of the interfacial surface. In vivo experiments demonstrate that polyethylene glycol inhibits more than 90% of the myotoxic effects without exhibiting secondary toxic effects. The crystal structure of bothropstoxin-I complexed with polyethylene glycol reveals that this inhibition is due to steric hindrance of the access to the PLA(2)-active site-like region. These two inhibitory pathways indicate the roles of the overall surface charge and free accessibility to the PLA2-active site-like region in the functioning of Lys49 phospholipases A(2) homologues. Molecular dynamics simulations, small angle X-ray scattering and structural analysis indicate that the oligomeric states both in solution and in the crystalline states of Lys49 phospholipases A2 are principally mediated by hydrophobic contacts formed between the interfacial surfaces. These results provide the framework for the potential application of both clinically approved drugs for the treatment of Viperidae snakebites. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lista de Cyanobacteria do Estado de São Paulo

Com base no levantamento bibliográfico realizado sobre as cianobactérias citadas para o Brasil e para o Estado de São Paulo em particular, além de consulta à lista de espécies da flora brasileira e aos bancos de dados de coleções paulistas, encontramos um total de 460 espécies citadas para o Brasil e 378 para o estado de São Paulo. Considerando que o grupo tem ao redor de 2800 espécies, estes números representam bem menos de 20% das espécies conhecidas. Assim, frente a diversidade de ambientes e habitats existentes nos biomas tropicais/subtropicais, o reduzido número de espécies já conhecidas indica que certamente essa biodiversidade está subestimada e deve ser muito maior do que identificamos até agora.

Microhabitat use by Peucetia flava (Oxyopidae) on the glandular plant Rhyncanthera dichotoma (Melastomataceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ocorrência e diversidade de ácaros (Acari, Arachnida) associados a Tabebuia roseo-alba (Ridl.) Sand (Bignoniaceae), no município de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cardiovascular Disease Parameters in Periodontitis

Background: Recently, there has been an increasing in the impact of oral health on atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between chronic periodontitis and cardiovascular risk markers.Methods: Forty patients with periodontitis and 40 healthy gender-, body mass index-, and age-matched individuals were compared by measuring total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, levels of cytokines, antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, total and differential white blood cell counts, and the non-linear index of refraction.Results: The levels of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein in periodontitis patients were significantly higher and lower, respectively (P=0.002 and P=0.0126), compared to controls. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and lipid peroxide levels were the same in both groups (P = 0.2943, P = 0.1284, and P = 0.067, respectively). Interleukin (IL)-6 and -8, antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly higher in periodontitis patients (P<0.05). The value of the non-linear index of refraction of low-density lipoprotein solutions was higher in the controls (P = 0.015) compared to individuals with periodontitis.Conclusion: Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between coronary artery disease and periodontitis. J Periodontol 2009;80:378-388.

Dynamical gluon mass corrections in heavy quarkonia decays

Using the expression of the dynamical gluon mass obtained through the operator product expansion we discuss the relevance of gluon mass effects in the decays V --> hadrons (V = J/psi, Y), Relativistic and radiative corrections are also introduced to calculate alpha(s)(m(c)) and alpha(s)(m(b)) comparing them with other values available in the literature. The effects of dynamical gluon masses are negligible for Y decay but important for J/psi decay. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Z gamma production and limits on anomalous ZZ gamma and Z gamma gamma couplings in pp collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present a study of eey and mu mu gamma events using 1109 (1009) pb-(1) of data in the electron (muon) channel, respectively. These data were collected with the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp collider at Is = 1.96 TeV. Having observed 453 (515) candidates in the eey (jtAy) final state, we measure the Z gamma production cross section for a photon with transverse energy ET > 7 GeV, separation between the photon and leptons Delta Rey > 0.7, and invariant mass of the di-lepton pair Mee > 30 GeV/(2)(c), to be 4.96 0.30(stat. + syst.) zE 0.30(lumi.) pb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of 4.74 0.22 pb. This is the most precise Zy cross section measurement at a hadron collider. We set limits on anomalous trilinear Zyy and ZZy gauge boson couplings of -0.085 < h(30)(y) < 0.084, -0.0053 < h(40)(y) < 0.0054 and -0.083 < h(30)(Z) < 0.082, 30 40 30 -0.0053 < h(40)(Z) < 0.0054 at the 95% C.L. for the form-factor scale A = 1.2 TeV. 40 Published by Elsevier B.V.