Kinetic study of the plastoquinone pool availability correlated with H2O2 release in seawater and antioxidant responses in the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii exposed to single or combined high light, chilling and chemical stresses

Under biotic/abiotic stresses, the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii reportedly releases massive amounts of H2O2 into the surrounding seawater. As an essential redox signal, the role of chloroplast-originated H2O2 in the orchestration of overall antioxidant responses in algal species has thus been questioned. This work purported to study the kinetic decay profiles of the redox-sensitive plastoquinone pool correlated to H2O2 release in seawater, parameters of oxidative lesions and antioxidant enzyme activities in the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii under the single or combined effects of high light, low temperature, and sub-lethal doses of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) and 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB), which are inhibitors of the thylakoid electron transport system. Within 24 h, high light and chilling stresses distinctly affected the availability of the PQ pool for photosynthesis, following Gaussian and exponential kinetic profiles, respectively, whereas combined stimuli were mostly reflected in exponential decays. No significant correlation was found in a comparison of the PQ pool levels after 24 h with either catalase (CAT) or ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, although the H2O2 concentration in seawater (R = 0.673), total superoxide dismutase activity (R = 0.689), and particularly indexes of protein (R = 0.869) and lipid oxidation (R = 0.864), were moderately correlated. These data suggest that the release of H2O2 from plastids into seawater possibly impaired efficient and immediate responses of pivotal H2O2-scavenging activities of CAT and APX in the red alga K. alvarezii, culminating in short-term exacerbated levels of protein and lipid oxidation. These facts provided a molecular basis for the recognized limited resistance of the red alga K. alvarezii under unfavorable conditions, especially under chilling stress. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

SED-brachydactyly and distinctive speech: Report of a new familial case

Background: Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia-brachydactyly and distinctive speech (SED-BDS) is a syndrome characterized by short stature, disproportionately short limbs, peculiar face, thick and abundant hair, high-pitched and coarse voice, small epiphyses, brachymetacarpalia, brachymetatarsalia and brachy-phalangia of fingers and toes, small pelvis and delayed carpal bone age, among other features. Case Report: We report a Brazilian patient with father, brother and sister presenting with the same typical features of the syndrome. Clinically, he showed disproportionately short stature, rhizo-meso-acromelic shortness of the extremities, short hands and feet, a peculiar distinctive high-pitched voice, peculiar facies, and other features already reported as characteristic of this syndrome. Radiographic fndings included shape anomalies of the vertebral bodies such as cuboid-shaped vertebral bodies, mild scoliosis, short and broad tubular bones, brachymetacarpalia, brachymetatarsalia, and brachy-dactyly, lumbar hyperlordosis, generalized osteopenia, and hypoplastic iliac wings. Conclusions: Few cases have been described, as this is a rare skeletal dysplasia. This paper describes a new familial case of SED-BDS. © The American Journal of Case Reports.

Simulation of dynamic pinion course using Runge-Kutta's method and impact modeling

Once defined the relationship between the Starter Motor components and their functions, it is possible to develop a mathematical model capable to predict the Starter behavior during operation. One important aspect is the engagement system behavior. The development of a mathematical tool capable of predicting it is a valuable step in order to reduce the design time, cost and engineering efforts. A mathematical model, represented by differential equations, can be developed using physics laws, evaluating force balance and energy flow through the systems degrees of freedom. Another important physical aspect to be considered in this modeling is the impact conditions (particularly on the pinion and ring-gear contact). This work is a report of those equations application on available mathematical software and the resolution of those equations by Runge-Kutta's numerical integration method, in order to build an accessible engineering tool. Copyright © 2011 SAE International.

Performance of children with learning difficulties in fine motor function and handwriting

This study aimed to compare and characterize the fine, sensory and perceptive function performance and handwriting quality between students with learning difficulties and students with good academic performance. Methods: This study comprised 192 students from 2nd to 4th grades, both genders, whose ages ranged from 7 to 11 years old. The students were distributed into: GI, GII, GIII and GIV, comprising 96 students with learning difficulties, and groups GV, GVI, GVII, GVIII comprising 96 students with good academic performance. The students were submitted to evaluation of fine motor, sensorial and perception functions and handwriting evaluation under dictation. Results: The results showed that the students with learning difficulties, from 1st to 3rd grade, had lower performance on tests of fine motor, sensory and perceptive function, when compared to the students with good academic performance in the same grade; the students from 4th grade, both groups, did not show changes on fine motor, sensory and perceptive function; and only the students of GII showed dysgraphia. Conclusions: the results presented in this study suggest that the qualitative aspects of fine motor, sensory and perceptive skills reflect the integrity and maturity of central nervous system and can probably play an important role in early diagnosis of development disorders and consequently prevent academic disorders such as handwriting performance.

Ovarian morphology and oogenesis of Leptodesmus dentellus (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae)

This study presents the ovarian morphology and the dynamics of the vitellogenesis process in the oocytes of the diplopod Leptodesmus dentellus. The oocytes are arranged in clusters called ovisacs which are distributed in pairs along the midline of the body forming the ovary. Regions similar to the germarium appear paired in the anterior region of the ovary; however, the development of the oocytes of this species does not follow a regionalisation in the reproductive organ. Cells in three developmental stages are found throughout the length of the ovary. Calcium, proteins, lipids and neutral polysaccharides were detected in the oocytes of L. dentellus. The polysaccharides and the proteins found in the oocytes have a double origin: endogenous, with the participation of the germinative vesicle, and exogenous, from follicular epithelium. The origin of the lipids is exogenous, i.e., they are incorporated into the oocytes, probably derived from the perivisceral fat body, which are highly developed in this region. The deposition of calcium is pre-vitellogenic and probably functions as a reserve during the juvenile stages. © 2012 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden.

Exploring the multifactorial nature of autism through computational systems biology: Calcium and the Rho GTPase RAC1 under the spotlight

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication accompanied with repetitive behavioral patterns and unusual stereotyped interests. Autism is considered a highly heterogeneous disorder with diverse putative causes and associated factors giving rise to variable ranges of symptomatology. Incidence seems to be increasing with time, while the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain virtually uncharacterized (or unknown). By systematic review of the literature and a systems biology approach, our aims were to examine the multifactorial nature of autism with its broad range of severity, to ascertain the predominant biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions integral to the disorder, and finally, to elucidate the most central contributions (genetic and/or environmental) in silico. With this goal, we developed an integrative network model for gene-environment interactions (GENVI model) where calcium (Ca2+) was shown to be its most relevant node. Moreover, considering the present data from our systems biology approach together with the results from the differential gene expression analysis of cerebellar samples from autistic patients, we believe that RAC1, in particular, and the RHO family of GTPases, in general, could play a critical role in the neuropathological events associated with autism. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Insulin concentrations in cerebellum and body balance in diabetic male rats: Aerobic training effects

Brain insulin has had widespread metabolic, neurotrophic, and neuromodulatory functions and has been involved in the central regulation of food intake and body weight, learning and memory, neuronal development, and neuronal apoptosis. Purpose: The present study investigated the role of swimming training on cerebral metabolism on insulin concentrations in cerebellum and the body balance performance of diabetic rats. Methods: Forty Male Wistar rats were divided in four groups: sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary diabetic (SD), and trained diabetic (TD). Diabetes was induced by alloxan (32 mg kg b.w.), single dose injection. The mean blood glucose of diabetic groups was 367 ± 40 mg/dl. Training program consisted in swimming 5 days/week, 1 h/day, 8 weeks, supporting a workload corresponding to 90% of maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). For the body balance testing rats were trained to traverse for 5 min daily for 5-7 days. All dependent variables were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a significance level of p < 0.05 was used for all comparisons. Results: The body balance testing scores were different between groups. Insulin concentrations in cerebellum were not different between groups. Conclusion: It was concluded that in diabetic rats, aerobic training does not induce alterations on cerebellum insulin but induces important metabolic, hormonal and behavioral alterations which are associated with an improvement in glucose homeostasis, serum insulin concentrations and body balance. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

The success rate of immediate implant placement of mandibular molars: A clinical and radiographic retrospective evaluation between 2 and 8 years

Background: Dental implants, indicated for re-establishing both mastigatory and aesthetic functions, can be placed in the sockets immediately after tooth extraction. Most studies investigate the anterior and upper regions of the dental arch, whereas few examine longitudinal appraisal of immediate implant installation in the mandibular molar region. Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the success rate of immediate dental implants placement in mandibular molars within a follow-up period as long as 8 years. Materials and methods: Seventy-four mandibular molar implants after non-traumatic tooth extraction between 2002 and 2008 were examined in the study. All implants were evaluated radiographically immediately after prosthesis placement, 1 year after implantation, and by the end of the experimental period, in 2010. Clinical evaluation was done according to [Albrektsson et al. (1986) The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 1, 11-25] success criteria for marginal bone loss. The mean bone losses, calculated as the difference between the final evaluation measures and those taken by the end of the first year of implant, were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test with a significance level of 5%. Results: All implants presented clinical and radiographic stable conditions, that is, 100% success rate. Significant bone loss was not found between final evaluation and that of the first functional year (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Immediate implant placement of mandibular molars proved to be a viable surgical treatment given the high success rate up to 8 years after implantation. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

High levels of heat shock protein 70 are associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and may differentiate early- from late-onset preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE), a specific syndrome of pregnancy, can be classified into early and late onset, depending on whether clinical manifestations occur before or after 34 weeks' gestation. We determined whether plasma concentrations of Hsp60 and Hsp70 were related to circulating cytokine levels, as well as kidney and liver functions, in early- and late-onset PE. Two hundred and thirty-seven preeclamptic women (95 with early- and 142 with late-onset PE) were evaluated. Plasma levels of Hsp60, Hsp70, and their specific antibodies, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-10, IL-12, and soluble TNF-α-receptor I (sTNFRI) concentrations, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Concentrations of Hsp70, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12, and sTNFRI were significantly elevated in patients with early-onset PE compared with women with late-onset PE; IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the early-onset PE group. Concentrations of urea, uric acid, proteinuria, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also significantly higher in early-onset PE. The percentage of infants with intrauterine growth restriction was also significantly higher in women with early-onset PE. There were positive correlations between Hsp70 levels and TNF-α, TNFRI, IL-1β, IL-12, GOT, GPT, LDH, and uric acid concentrations in early-onset PE group. Thus, early-onset PE was associated with greater maternal and fetal impairment. There are differences in pathophysiology between early- and late-onset PE, highlighting by the difference in Hsp70 levels. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influência do exercício físico em memória e funções executivas de pessoas com doença de Parkinson

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência da prática regular de atividade física sobre sintomas depressivos em idosos institucionalizados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Algumas distribuições de probalidade para idosos grupados e censurados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Incertezas na estimativa da variabilidade espacial da emissão de CO2 do solo e propriedades edáficas em área de cana crua

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise dinâmica de placas delgadas utilizando elementos finitos triangulares e retangulares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudos de birrefringência fotoinduzida em filmes LB mistos do azopolímero poli (metacrilato de lauroila-co-metacrilato de DR1) com estearato de cádmio

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC