Increased Levels of NOTCH1, NF-kappa B, and Other Interconnected Transcription Factors Characterize Primitive Sets of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

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

Acupuntura e implante de fragmentos de ouro em pontos de acupuntura e pontos Acupuntura e implante de fragmentos de ouro em pontos de acupuntura e pontos gatilho para o tratamento de displasia coxo-femoral em Pastor Alemão

Background: Canine hip dysplasia (HD) is characterized by hip joint laxity and subluxation. It is the most common cause of osteoarthritis in dogs, especially in larger breeds. Its management includes nutritional supplements, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, acupuncture or surgical procedures. Implantation of gold beads in acupuncture points and trigger points around a joint has been used in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs for at least 30 years. Gold bead implants(GBI) acts as continuous acupuncture stimulation and trigger point treatment in canine HD with long lasting results. Electrophysiological investigations of trigger points reveal dysfunctional muscle spindles which indicate that the electrical activity of active loci arises from extrafusal motor endplates.Case: This is a report on the use of acupuncture and GBI for bilateral HD in a nine year old female German Shepherd. The patient has a HD non-responsive to anti-inflammatory drugs and was unable to stand up or walk by its own. Radiographs showed marked dysplasia, significant subluxation with the femoral head partly out of a shallow acetabulum and massive secondary arthritic bone changes, mainly on the right side. The animal was submitted to eight acupuncture sessions with seven days interval. After the first acupuncture session the use of NSAID was interrupted. After eight weeks the dog was considered rehabilitated and underwent GBI in acupoints and trigger points as maintenance treatment. During the one-year follow-up period the improvement remained unchanged with no need of analgesics.Discussion: It has been suggested that acupuncture or GBI can treat the chronic pain resulting from osteoarthritis induced by HD. According to AP theory, GBI is permanent and long-lasting acupoint stimulation. Moreover, the method is inexpensive, quick and easy to perform, with no postoperative pain or need of exercise restriction. Although gold is extremely corrosion-resistant, the surface of the gold implants stimulates a reaction from the immune system causing an oxidative liberation of gold ions with anti-inflammatory actions. It is well known that gold ions are effective inhibitors of the respiratory burst of neutrophils and monocytes and the proliferation of lymphocytes. These findings suggest that gold implantation, on a local scale, mimics the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect of drugs with chemically bound gold ions. The relatively slow speed of the process results in a limited liberation of gold ions securing that they are taken up almost exclusively by cells close to the implant. The nine year old female German shepherd had a positive response to acupuncture with pain relieve and locomotor rehabilitation. For the nine year old female German shepherd previous acupuncture sessions to GBI resulted in no post-implant worsening period. Indeed, the association acupuncture/GBI does not have the anti-inflammatory drugs undesirable effects and brings long lasting results. In conclusion, GBI therefore should be considered for canine HD when conservative or medical treatments fail to give the desired effect.

Short communication longitudinal variation in the concentrations of C, N and P in the stem of Echinochloa polystachya (H.B.K.) Hitchcock

The Concentrations of C, N and P were determined in the internodes of the stem of Echinochloa polystachya (H.B.K.) Hitchcock with the aim of showing their longitudinal distributions. The concentrations ranged from 421.93 to 466.03 mgCgDW-1; from 2.78 to 13.61 mg N gDW-1 and from 0.151 to 1.074 mg P gDW-1. N and P concentrations increased towards the apical direction of the stem. C concentrations showed an inverse trend. These distributions suggest that N and P are transported to the apical region of the stem, while the majority of the C compounds observed in the distal region must be retained in the supporting structure of the plant.

Leaf and stem anatomy of Vochysiaceae in relation to subfamilial and suprafamilial systematics

Several leaf anatomical features are potentially systematically informative within both the family Vochysiaceae and the order Myrtales, notably tracheoidal idioblasts, mucilage cells and secretory canals. Tracheoids with spiral wall thickenings are present in the mesophyll of most species of Vochysia, and also occur in several other families of Myrtales. Mucilage cells are common in the leaf epidermis in some Vochysiaceae. Secretory ducts are present in the midrib in Salvertia and Vochysia, which are apparently closely related, although Salvertia also shares some leaf anatomical characters with Qualea and Callisthene. Anatomical data do not support the segregation of Ruizterania from Qualea; leaves of R. albiflora leaves are very similar to those of Q. paraensis in venation pattern, and leaf and stem anatomy. Different venation patterns are characteristic of sections within the genus Qualea, but within the large genus Vochysia, leaf anatomy is variable even within a subsection. Amongst other Myrtales, leaf anatomy of Vochysiaceae most closely resembles that of Combretaceae and Onagraceae. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London.

Effect of substrata on the development of stem cuttings of Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. BR. - Limonene-carvone chemotype

Studies were conducted to show the effect of different substrata on the development of stem cuttings of Lippia alba made of limonene-carvone chemotype. The experiment was done in the College of Agronomical Sciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil in 2000. The cuttings were planted in polystyrene trays consisting of 72 cells. The cuttings had about 0.20 m of length and were put in the following substrata: Fine sand (T1), commercial substratum (T2), carbonised rice peel and local soil (T3), local soil, cow manure and carbonised rice peel (T4), vermiculite (T5), and carbonised rice peel (T6). After 40 days the development of stem cuttings were evaluated. High rate of rooting of stem cuttings was verified, with average of 95% and no significant difference between the treatments. In relation to dry mass of aerial parts and dry mass of roots, significant differences were found. For dry mass production of aerial parts the commercial substratum (T2) and the local soil, cow manure, carbonised rice peel (T4) were optimal. For mass of roots the local soil, cow manure, carbonised rice peel (T4) proved to be the best.

Características estruturais da parede das artérias renal e femoral de coelho (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

In the renal and femoral arteries of rabbit was verified that both vessels had walls structured by myostromal components, despite of their different distributive of blood, being the renal artery a visceral blood vessel and the femoral artery a parietal vessel. This wall pattern in these vessels concerned to presence of connective stromal elements (collagen and elastic fibres and lamellae) and smooth muscle cells coexisting with some equilibrium in the wall structure of the renal and femoral arteries, mainly in the medial layer architecture. An intimal folding pattern was verified around the vascular lumen, possibly related to capacitance of the both arteries regarding to variability of pressure levels in cardiac cycle. Furthermore, myostromal relations of connective elements and smooth muscle cells verified in the medial layer and the network formed by connective elements in the adventitial layer of these arteries contributed to maintenance of wall viscoelasticity properties of the vessels.

Influence of IBA and boric acid on rooting of stem-cuttings of Aloysia triphylla (L'Hérit) Britton

Aloysia triphylla (L'Hérit) Britton is a perennial and bushy plant, with simple, entire, lanceolate and whorl shaped leaves and originally from South America. It is used as medicinal plant in Brazil with stomatic and sedative properties. The employment of stem cuttings for propagation of pre-selected plants, acquired great importance, because it eliminates the juvenile phase of seedlings, which can be produced in a shorter period of time. The rooting of stem cuttings is stimulated by auxin and, boric acid supply is essential for growth and development of initial rootlets. This micronutrient is required 48 hours after plant segments have been placed into auxin solution and it can be supplied any time, including the seedling growth period. The experiment was carried out in the Department of Plant Production, UNESP-Botucatu-SP-Brazil, with stem-cuttings of Aloysia triphylla (L'Hérit) Britton, Verbenaceae obtained from the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Garden. The aim of the work was to verify the influence of growth regulators and boric acid on stem cutting rooting of this species. The 15 cm-stem cuttings, without leaves, were submerged during 24 hs in the following solutions: water; 150 mg.L-1 of IBA; 150 mg.L-1 of IBA+ Boric acid; 250 mg.L-1 of IBA; 250 mg.L-1 of IBA + Boric acid. The statistical design was entirely randomized with 5 treatments and 3 replications, totalizing 15 plots with 10 stem cuttings each. They were planted on propylene trays with vermiculite and kept under spraying condition during twenty five days. The best results were observed in treatment 250 mg.L -1 of IBA+ Boric acid on number of roots, length of roots, rooting percentage, fresh and dry weight of leaves when compared with all other treatments. We can conclude that this treatment is the most suitable for stem cutting rooting of this species.

Isolamento de células-tronco mesenquimais da medula óssea

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have a high ability to renew and differentiate themselves into various lineages of conjunctive tissues. This study aimed to isolate the MSCs from murine bone marrow by using two different growth media and to characterize them with immunostaining with antivimentin antibody. We used six 2-week old BALB/c mice. Bone marrow was collected from mice's tibial and femoral channels and re-suspended in a final strength of 6x105 in Knockout-DMEM and high-glucose-DMEM media, supplemented by 10% FBS, and kept in a humidified 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C for 72 h, when non-adherent cells were removed during the change of medium. The number and density of adherent fibroblast-like colonies was greater with the Knockout-DMEM medium (within 5 days of culture) versus 10-20 days in DMEM-high glucose to get the same cellular concentration. The cells in both groups were highly positive for antivimentin antibody, characterizing them as MSCs. Obtaining MSCs as quickly as possible is essential for cell therapy field, especially when those cells are intended to be used for the repair of tissues from mesenchymal sources.

Development of SCAR marker linked to stem canker resistance gene in soybean

Stem canker caused by the fungus Diaporthe phaseolorum f. sp. meridionalis is a disease that limits soybean cultivation. Phenotypic evaluations aiming at disease resistance require labor-intensive processes, as for instance handling and transport of phytopathogens. The use of DNA markers in the selective procedures eases certain phases, besides being practical, safe and reliable. A RAPD fragment of 588pb was identified among bulks of resistant and susceptible plants in the cross BR92-15454 (R) x IAC-11 (S). Through co-segregation, the distance between the resistance locus and the fragment was estimated at 7.4 ± 2.1 cM, with a Lodmax. of 23.072 (first year) and at 6.0 ± 3.4 cM with a Lodmax. of 7.806 (second year). The fragment was converted into a SCAR marker and digested with enzyme Hinc II, which made the classification in homozygous resistant, heterozygous resistant and susceptible plants possible. This SCAR marker is suitable for use in the improvement program conducted in Jaboticabal.

Clinical outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: The experience of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of FUNFARME/BRAZIL using FISH

Investigation of the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in chronic myeloid leukemia patients is essential to predict prognosis and survival. In 20 patients treated at the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of São José do Rio Preto (São Paulo, Brazil), we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to investigate the frequency of cells with BCR/ABL rearrangement at diagnosis and at distinct intervals after allo-HSCT until complete cytogenetic remission (CCR). We investigated the disease-free survival, overall survival in 3 years and transplant-related mortality rates, too. Bone marrow samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplantation and additional intervals as necessary. Success rate of the FISH analyses was 100%. CCR was achieved in 75% of the patients, within on average of 3.9 months; 45% patients showed CCR within 60 days after HSCT. After 3 years of the allo-HSCT, overall survival rate was 60%, disease-free survival was 50% and the transplant-related mortality rate was 40%. The study demonstrated that the BCR-ABL FISH assay is useful for follow-up of chronic myeloid leukemia patients after HSCT and that the clinical outcome parameters in our patient cohort were similar to those described for other bone marrow transplantation units. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Response of rootstocks to stem canker and the production and quality of melon under protected cultivation

Two tests were performed. In the first, resistance to Didymella bryoniae was determined for the following genotypes: the pumpkins 'Ikky', 'Agroceres', 'Kirameki' and 'Shelper', watermelon progenies 1a, 2a, 3a, 5a, 1b, 2b, 3b and 5b, and 'Gherkin' (C. anguria). The plants were inoculated with the fungus during transplanting. The evaluations of the test were performed every 15 d according to a scoring scale adopted by Dusi et al. (1994). The second test examined compatibility among the rootstocks x grafts, and their effects on production. The rootstocks, 5 pumpkins including 'Ikky', 'Agroceres', 'Kirameki', 'Shelper', six watermelon progenies 1a, 2a, 5a, 1b, 2b and 5b, and one 'Gherkin', were planted one week before planting of the grafted 'Bônus No. 2' melon. The experiments were carried out with 12 treatments, including the control ('Bônus No. 2') with 3 replications with 14 grafted plants per each replication. For the first test, the first three evaluations (at 15, 30 and 45 d after inoculation) did not show characteristic lesions of stem canker, but progeny 3b was found to be susceptible in evaluations performed at 60 and 75 d after inoculation. Progeny 3a demonstrated intermediate susceptibility, while progenies 1a, 2a, 5a, 1b, 2b and 5b, the pumpkins 'Kirameki', 'Shelper', 'Ikky' and 'Agroceres', and 'Gherkin', showed resistance to Didymella bryoniae. In the second test, watermelon progenies 1a, 5a, 1b and 2b, and the pumpkins 'Kirameki', 'Shelper', 'Ikky' and 'Agroceres' showed a level of grafting success of 100%, while results with progenies 2a and 5b, and 'Gherkin' were different in grafting success, respectively 91.67, 98.33 and 43.33%. For other fruit parameters, weight, longitudinal and transverse diameters, pulp thickness and level of total soluble solids, there were no differences among the treatments.