A GEP-ISFG collaborative study on the optimization of an X-STR decaplex: data on 15 Iberian and Latin American populations

In a collaborative work carried out by the Spanish and Portuguese ISFG Working Group (GEP-ISFG), a polymerase chain reaction multiplex was optimized in order to type ten X-chromosome short tandem repeats (STRs) in a single reaction, including: DXS8378, DXS9902, DXS7132, DXS9898, DXS6809, DXS6789, DXS7133, GATA172D05, GATA31E08, and DXS7423. Using this X-decaplex, each 17 of the participating laboratories typed a population sample of approximately 200 unrelated individuals (100 males and 100 females). In this work, we report the allele frequencies for the ten X-STRs in 15 samples from Argentina (Buenos Aires, CA(3)rdoba, Rio Negro, Entre Rios, and Misiones), Brazil (SA o pound Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Parana, and Mato Grosso do Sul), Colombia (Antioquia), Costa Rica, Portugal (Northern and Central regions), and Spain (Galicia and Cantabria). Gene diversities were calculated for the ten markers in each population and all values were above 56%. The average diversity per locus varied between 66%, for DXS7133, and 82%, for DXS6809. For this set of STRs, a high discrimination power was obtained in all populations, both in males (a parts per thousand yen1 in 5 A- 10(5)) and females (a parts per thousand yen1 in 3 A- 10(9)), as well as high mean exclusion chance in father/daughter duos (a parts per thousand yen99.953%) and in father/mother/daughter trios (a parts per thousand yen99.999%). Genetic distance analysis showed no significant differences between northern and central Portugal or between the two Spanish samples from Galicia and Cantabria. Inside Brazil, significant differences were found between Rio de Janeiro and the other three populations, as well as between SA o pound Paulo and Parana. For the five Argentinean samples, significant distances were only observed when comparing Misiones with Entre Rios and with Rio Negro, the only two samples that do not differ significantly from Costa Rica. Antioquia differed from all other samples, except the one from Rio Negro.

Ventrolateral periaqueductal gray lesion attenuates nociception but does not change anxiety-like indices or fear-induced antinociception in mice

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

Environmentally induced antinociception and hyperalgesia in rats and mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Corticosterone does not change open elevated plus maze-induced antinociception in mice

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

The Effects of N Helix Deletion and Mutant F29W on the Ca2+ Binding and Functional Properties of Chicken Skeletal Muscle Troponin C

To assess the structural and functional significance of the N helix (residues 3-13) of avian recombinant troponin C (rTnC), we have constructed NHdel, in which residues 1-11 have been deleted, both in rTnC and in the spectral probe mutant F29W (Pearlstone, J. R., Borgford, T., Chandra, M., Oikawa, K., Kay, C. M., Herzberg, O., Moult, J., Herklotz, A., Reinach, F. C., and Smillie, L.B. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 6545-6553). Comparison of the far- and near-UV CD spectra (±Ca2+) of F29W and F29W/ NHdel and titration of the Ca2+-induced ellipticity and fluorescence changes indicates that the deletion has little effect on the global fold of the molecule but reduces the Ca2+ affinity of the N domain, but not the C domain, by 1.6-1.8-fold. Comparisons of the mutants NHdel, F29W, and F29W/NHdel with rTnC have been made using several functional assays. In reconstituted troponin-tropomyosin actomyosin subfragment 1 and myofibrillar ATPase systems, both F29W and NHdel have significantly reduced Ca2+-activated enzymic activities. These effects are cumulative in the double mutant F29W/ NHdel. On the other hand, maximal isometric tension development in Ca2+-activated reconstituted skinned fibers is not affected with F29W and NHdel, although the Ca2+ sensitivity of NHdel in this system is markedly reduced. We conclude that both mutations, NHdel and F29W, are functionally deleterious, possibly affecting interactions of the N domain with troponin I and/or T.

Molecular and cytogenetic analysis of the telomeric (TTAGGG)n repetitive sequences in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

The majority of chromosomes in Oreochromis niloticus, as with most fish karyotyped to date, cannot be individually identified owing to their small size. As a first step in establishing a physical map for this important aquaculture species of tilapia we have analyzed the location of the vertebrate telomeric repeat sequence, (TTAGGG)n, in O. niloticus. Southern blot hybridization analysis and a Bal31 sensitivity assay confirm that the vertebrate telomeric repeat is indeed present at O. niloticus chromosomal ends with repeat tracts extending for 4-10 kb on chromosomal ends in erythrocytes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that (TTAGGG)n is found not only at telomeres, but also at two interstitial loci on chromosome 1. These data support the hypothesis that chromosome 1, which is significantly larger than all the other chromosomes in the karyotype, was produced by the fusion of three chromosomes and explain the overall reduction of chromosomal number from the ancestral teleost karyotype of 2n=48 to 2n=44 observed in tilapia.

Experimental candidosis and recovery of Candida albicans from the oral cavity of ovariectomized rats

The aim of this study was to analyze the development of candidosis and the recovery of C. albicans from the oral cavity of ovariectomized and sham-ovariectomized rats. One hundred aiid twenty-four rats originally negative for Candida spp. in the oral cavity were divided into two groups: ovariectomized and sham-ovariectomized. Fifty-eight ovariectomized and the same quantity of sham-ovariectomized rats were inoculated with C. albicans for the study of candidosis development and recovery of yeast. Four animals from each group were not inoculated with yeast suspension and were submitted to tongue dorsum morphologic analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The development of candidosis in the tongue dorsum was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy in the periods of 6 hr, 24 hr, 7 days and 15 days after the last inoculation. Recovery of C. albicans was performed by oral samples plating on Sabouraud agar after 1,2, 5 and 7 days and progressively at each 15-day interval until negative cultures for yeasts were obtained. The results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Student's t tests. The tongue dorsum of sham-ovariectomized and ovariectomized rats, not infected by Candida, presented normal aspect. Among the infected rats, the ovariectomized group showed less occurrence of candidosis lesions and lower recovery of C. albicans from the oral cavity in relation to the sham-ovariectomized group. It could be concluded that candidosis was less frequent from the oral cavities of ovariectomized rats in relation to sham-ovariectomized.

Propolis: anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity and synergism with antimicrobial drugs

Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from tree exudates and secretions. Its antimicrobial activity has been investigated and inhibitory action on Staphylococcus aureus growth was evaluated The in vitro synergism between ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and antimicrobial drugs by two susceptibility tests (Kirby and Bauer and E-Test) on 25 S. aureus strains was evaluated Petri dishes with sub-inhibitory concentrations of EEP were incubated with 13 drugs using Kirby and Bauer method and synergism between EEP and five drugs [choramphenicol (CLO), gentamicin (GEN), netilmicin (NET), tetracycline (TET), and vancomycin (VAN)] was observed. Nine drugs were assayed by the E-test method and five of them exhibited a synergism [CLO, GEN, NET, TET, and clindamycin (CLI)]. The results demonstrated the synergism between EEP and antimicrobial drugs, especially those agents that interfere on bacterial protein synthesis.

Genetic population data from Araraquara region (SP State, Brazil) using PowerPlex® 16 Systems

In the present study, allele frequency distributions for the 15 STR loci included in the PowerPlex® 16 Systems (Promega) were obtained from a sample of 55 unrelated individuals living in Araraquara region (SP, Brazil). The frequency of each allele for each locus tested, the exact test and the forensic and paternity parameters were calculated using POWERSTATS ver. 1.2 (Promega) and GENEPOP ver. 3.2 software. All loci are in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and they reached a combined power discrimination of 0.999999999999999973 and combined power exclusion of 0.99999987, showing to be a powerful tool for paternity testing and individual identification in the population analyzed. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Representaciones imaginarias de la interacción y violencia en la escuela

School violence research (sociopaedagogical and psychosocial perspectives) has not appropiately taken into account interpersonal and imaginary elements that may be extremely relevant for the understanding of this phenomena. This article analizes the imaginaries that articulates the violence of youth groups in a context of interpersonal relationships in the institutional space of a Rio Claro (Brazil) secondary school. The results are based on the analysis of four youth groups discourses, gathered in succesive group interviews, as well as the drawings made and pictures taken on their respective schools. They show a strong imaginary of generalized violence, in and out the school, with a representation of the school as unfair and aggressor and the students, aggressors themselves, as humiliated and undervalued.

Baccharis dracunculifolia, the main source of green propolis, exhibits potent antioxidant activity and prevents oxidative mitochondrial damage

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) is the main botanical source used by honeybees to produce Brazilian green propolis whose hepatoprotective properties have been already described. In this work we investigated the protective effects of the glycolic extract of B. dracunculifolia (GEBd) against oxidative stress in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM). The GEBd was prepared by fractionated percolation using propylene glycol as solvent. The total phenols and flavonoids, which are substances with recognized antioxidant action, were quantified in GEBd and the phytochemical analysis was carried out by HPLC. GEBd exhibited significant scavenger activity towards DPPH radicals and superoxide anions in a concentration-dependent manner, and also a Fe 2+ chelating activity. GEBd decreased the basal H 2O 2 generation and the Fe 2+- or t-BuOOH-induced ROS production in isolated mitochondria. Lipid oxidation of mitochondrial membranes, protein thiol groups and GSH oxidation were also prevented by GEBd. This shows that B. dracunculifolia exhibit potent antioxidant activity protecting liver mitochondria against oxidative damage and such action probably contribute to the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of green propolis. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Ethopharmacological analysis of the open elevated plus-maze in mice

Exposure of rodents to an open elevated plus-maze (oEPM) elicits antinociception and increases plasma corticosterone levels. However, no studies have yet assessed the defensive behaviour repertoire of animals in this modified test. In Experiment 1, factor analysis was employed to characterise the behavioural profile of mice exposed to the oEPM. Experiments 2 and 3 assessed the effects of acute alprazolam (0.5-1.5. mg/kg; diazepam 0.5-1.5. mg/kg), pentylenetetrazole (10.0-30.0. mg/kg), yohimbine (2.0-6.0. mg/kg), mCPP (0.3-3.0. mg/kg), and acute and chronic fluoxetine (10.0-30.0. mg/kg) and imipramine (1.0-15.0. mg/kg) on behaviours identified in Experiment 1. The factor analyses revealed that behaviour in the oEPM can largely (77% total variance) be accounted for in terms of 3 factors: factor 1 ('. depth exploration'; e.g. head-dipping on the arms), factor 2 ('. cautious exploration of arms'; e.g. flatback approach), and factor 3 ('. risk assessment'; stretched attend postures - SAP). Experiments 2 and 3 showed that, over the dose range used, alprazolam selectively attenuated all measures of defensiveness. Similar, though more modest, effects were seen with diazepam. Confirming the intensity of the emotional response to the oEPM (nociceptive, endocrine and behavioural), relatively few significant behavioural changes were seen in response to the anxiogenic compounds tested. Although acute fluoxetine or imipramine treatment failed to modify behaviour in the oEPM, chronic fluoxetine (but not chronic imipramine) attenuated total flat back approach and increased head dipping outside the central square. Together, the results indicate that the oEPM induces behavioural defensive responses that are sensitive to alprazolam and chronic fluoxetine. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Effects of BST and high energy diet on gene expression in mammary parenchyma of dairy heifers

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary energy and recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) injection to identify genes that might control mammogenesis. Total RNA was extracted from the parenchymal tissue of 32 heifers randomly assigned to one of four treatments: two diets (a standard diet and a high energy, high protein diet), each with or without bST. To perform microarray experiments, RNA samples were pooled (2 animals/pool) before reverse transcription and labeling with Cy3 or Cy5. A 4-node loop design was used to examine the differential gene expression among treatments using a bovine-specific cDNA micro array (National Bovine Functional Genomics Consortium Library, NBFGC) containing 18,263 unique expressed sequence tags (EST). Significance levels of differential gene expression among treatments were assessed using a mixed model approach. Injection of bST altered the expression of 12 % of the genes on NBFGC slide related to tissue development, whereas 6% were altered by diet. Administration of bST increases the expression of genes positively related to cell proliferation and mammary parenchyma to a greater extent than a high energy diet. © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.

Association of the Leptin Gene with Carcass Characteristics in Nellore Cattle

Advances in DNA technology have created biotechnological tools that can be used in animal selection and new strategies for increasing herd productivity and quality. The objective of the present work was to associate the genotypes of leptin gene exon 2 polymorphisms with productive traits in Nellore cattle. Blood was collected from Nellore males and PCR-RFLP reactions were performed with the restriction enzymes ClaI and Kpn2I. The gene frequencies resulting from digestion by ClaI were 0.60 and 0.40 for allele A and T, respectively; the genotypic frequencies were AA = 0.20 and AT = 0.80. The gene frequencies from digestion by Kpn2I were 0.81 for allele C and 0.194 for allele T; the genotypic frequencies were CC = 0.62 and CT = 0.38. The populations in both cases were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05), and the TT genotype was not found. Significant associations were noted between leptin gene exon 2 polymorphisms and five productive traits in Nellore cattle: carcass fat distribution, the intensity of red muscle coloration, pH, marbling, and post-slaughter fat thickness. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.